The Rudolf Steiner Archive

40. Planetary Chains

[ 1 ] To fully understand the evolution of our planet, we must draw upon another form of evolution. The purpose of this development is to advance the host of the Pitris by a certain stage—from Kama to the Manasic realm, passing through Kama-Manas. The purpose is to do everything that advances the consciousness of the Pitris. They had a dull consciousness, completely lacking in M. Similar to [gap in the transcript]

[ 2 ] Intellectual consciousness—the consciousness of the mind—is now to be developed throughout all 7 × 7 races. So that the earthly [gap in the transcript]

[ 3 ] We have become familiar with the 7x7 stages to a certain extent. Many stages of evolution were necessary to bring humanity to this point. This stage of consciousness does not simply exist; it is subject to a certain process of development.

[ 4 ] ........higher animal------------------divine human.........

[ 5 ] Thus we have come to know human beings from the level of consciousness of the Pitris—the animal-man—up to that of the Mahatma—the god-man. Three stages precede the consciousness of the animal-man, and three follow that of the god-man. The first is, in relation to the last, lower in one respect and higher in another.

1, 2, 3, 4: our level of consciousness
5, 6, 7: those are coming.

[ 6 ] The first is a state in which they know everything, but with immense dullness. Nothing could have happened that they did not know, but they were oblivious to it. A dull, all-encompassing awareness, the deepest trance. When the yogi perceives no longer with the brain, but with the skeletal system. Everything within him stands still except for the chemical processes; it is a dull, all-encompassing consciousness, a stage long since overcome; one that, when evoked atavistically, brings about a kind of vision of our entire universe. In female individuals, it is even more possible to evoke this mineral consciousness through intoxication, pathological substances, and the like.

[ 7 ] The second state of consciousness, in which consciousness is merely dormant or not yet developed, is animal consciousness, in which only the consciousness associated with the digestive and respiratory systems is developed. It was that of the second Pitris; only the gastric organs perceive; it is plant consciousness, neither so all-knowing nor so dull, perceiving through the vital organs.

[ 8 ] The carbon content within stimulates the vegetative life force, while oxygen stimulates the animal life force. To imbue the body with carbon, the yogi [gap in the transcript] and acquires knowledge of all life on Earth.

[ 9 ] The third level of consciousness is the animal level, which the Pitris pass through until they are entrusted to us in the earthly evolution. Dream trance is animal consciousness. The animal has a similar state, artificially achieved through /gap in the transcript]

[ 10 ] So we have now passed through three levels of consciousness. The fourth is our earthly one. Thus,

7 cycles with 7 races for the development of mineral consciousness,
7 cycles with 7 races for the development of plant consciousness,
7 cycles with 7 races for the development of animal dream consciousness,
7 cycles with 7 races for the development of intellectual consciousness.

[ 11 ] Now come the future tenses:

[ 12 ] 7 rounds with 7 races toward psychic consciousness—a reawakening of the animal nature at a higher level. The medium becomes

[ 13 ] set back, the Hellscher led out. Clear consciousness with dream perception. That is why Theosophy frowns upon mediumship.

[ 14 ] 7 rounds with 7 races in hyperpsychic consciousness, where the

[ 15 ] Humans perceive all living things directly, but when awake

[ 16 ] Consciousness.

[ 17 ] 7 cycles involving 7 races in spiritual consciousness. The mind

[ 18 ] remains, but is expanded to encompass all-seeing.

[ 19 ] These are the seven planetary chains, and when ancient writings speak of seven planets, this is what they mean. The fourth is the Earth, both esoterically and, of course, exoterically. The third was the Moon, where the Pitris evolved. We must view it esoterically, from the standpoint of ancient mysticism.

[ 20 ] The fifth is Mercury, esoterically.

[ 21 ] Then we have the two esoteric planets; the Sun, not understood as the Sun, but as an esoteric planet.

[ 22 ] Then the sixth esoteric planet, Venus, hyperpsychic, where everything will be connected to love, Budhi.

[ 23 ] The first esoteric planet is Mars; the seventh is Jupiter. These are the names for the respective 7x7 cycles. We now know what the astrologers are referring to: seven different levels of consciousness corresponding to seven different cosmological states.

[ 24 ] This is the solar system to which our Earth belongs. Every time such a planetary cycle takes place, it enters a physical state seven times. For the second planet, the Sun; for the third, the Moon; and so on, a physical state always occurred once.

[ 25 ] Always start with arupa, rupa, astral, physical, and so on.

[ 26 ] When we are placed on Earth as human beings and look up into the sky, we see the stars that are currently in the physical state of their cyclical development. In addition, countless others are visible to those who stand at a different level of consciousness. Mars is currently at the [illegible] stage of the 7x7 cycle of development.

[ 27 ] Thus we must distinguish between the sevenfold development of the Pitris—at seven levels of consciousness. Esoterically, these Pitris in this series of development are called the microcosm. Let us imagine it at its first level of consciousness; everything else passes through it there. On every planet, all the kingdoms of nature are brought to the Pitri. We call these kingdoms of nature the macrocosm.

[ 28 ] So that we can say:

[ 29 ] Occult statement: Our current stage of development consists in the macrocosm coming together with the microcosm for the fourth time. In our current stage of development, the macrocosm has been united with the microcosm for the fourth time.

[ 30 ] Now we must be clear about what is happening here: The cosmos has now united for the fourth time, and through this, Manas is awakened. Through this alone, evil is awakened. Manas had to descend into the separate existence to awaken the intellectual. When the macrocosm meets the microcosm for the fourth time, Four is united with Five.

[ 31 ] Postscript: Since Manas is now in a state of distinctness, it can act upon matter of its own accord and cast a part of it out of the evolutionary process. From this follows the third occult proposition:

[ 32 ] When the macrocosm encounters the microcosm for the fourth time, Four is united with Five, and as a result, a portion of the matter is hurled into space, so that it accompanies the planet as a satellite. This satellite is called the “Eighth Sphere,” and everything it brings into being here separates its path from earthly evolution.