The Rudolf Steiner Archive

42. The Universe from the Outside

[ 1 ] Let us adopt the perspective of the universe and view the world from the standpoint of consciousness, life, and being—or vice versa. Here, too, we must distinguish between body, soul, and spirit. The body would correspond to being, the soul to life, and the spirit to consciousness. This also gives us a trinity.

[ 2 ] If we consider the body from a cosmic perspective, Indian philosophy refers to it as Adi-Buddha = the Universal Body. Christian esotericism designates the same concept as Kyriotetes—the Kingdom. Indian philosophy refers to the Universal Soul as Adi-Atma. Christian esotericism refers to the same as “Dynamis”—power. Then there is the All-Spirit: in Indian terms, Adi-Deva; in Christian esotericism, “Exusiai”—revelation or power. Thus, from the standpoint of the microcosm, we must distinguish between:

Adi-Buddha	Adi-Atma	Adi-Deva
First Elemental Realm	Deep Trance	Divine Power
Second Elemental Realm	Sleep Consciousness	Etheric Power
Third Elemental Realm	Dream Consciousness	Fire Power
Mineral Realm	Daytime Consciousness	Power of Light
Plant Kingdom	Psychic Consciousness	Power of Strength
Animal Kingdom	Superpsychic Consciousness	Creative Power
Kingdom of Humans	Spiritual Consciousness	Blessed Power, Gods

[ 3 ] The gods circle the axis/rod 7×7 times, and each set of seven circles represents one of the seven realms. However, with each circuit, the gods themselves advance one level, so that humans in the present mineral realm are ruled by the gods of light, while in the mineral realm of the next cycle they are already ruled by the gods of power.

Adi-Buddha	Kyriotetes	Realm
Adi-Atma	Dynamis	Power
Adi-Deva	Exusiai	Revelation, Force

[ 4 ] In all three, we must distinguish seven levels: seven regions of the Adi-Buddha, then of the Adi-Atman—seven levels of living consciousness. — In the case of Adi-Deva, we must also distinguish seven levels.

[ 5 ] "Daily consciousness manifests itself in the fourth round of the Earth in the mineral kingdom, and the forces of light manifest themselves from the outside.

[ 6 ] So when we view the threefold world from the perspective of the universe, we find the bright consciousness of the day within the mineral kingdom. When we look at the body, we see that it consists of [gap in the transcript] the mineral kingdom [gap in the transcript], and what is revealed within it are the forces of light.

[ 7 ] When light manifests itself on the physical plane, darkness must manifest itself along with it, for the opposites [gap in the transcript] of the realm stand in opposition to it and cause obscurations.

[ 8 ] In the realm of deception, the powers can reveal themselves only through the gap [in the transcript], so that the powers of darkness necessarily stand opposed to the powers of light.

[ 9 ] When we consider the creation of the Earth from this perspective, the powers of light—and with them, those of darkness—are revealed. Let us first consider the powers of light: Elohim.

[ 10 ] Now, as a kind of force manifests itself, the Earth passes through all the kingdoms: the first, second, and third elemental kingdoms—the mineral, plant, and animal kingdoms.

[ 11 ] Adi-Atma goes through seven stages, which are called “Planetary Evolutions” or “Chains.”

[ 12 ] In each of these realms, seven stages are traversed. In each

[ 13 ] Seven globes in a circle; these are the powers. An Atman must pass through 343 cycles to reach its goal.

7 x 7—7 levels of consciousness, 7 cycles, 7 globes in each.
Planetary Evolution
Cycle Evolution
Globe Evolution
In the past, the forces of heat were outside of us; now they are within us.
1. The soul attains 7 levels of consciousness. Each level of consciousness is called a “chain of planets.”
2. At each level of consciousness, the soul progresses through all 7 realms—the Buddhas. Each realm is called a “round.”
3. In each round, one of the 7 different types of Devas reigns. Each Deva’s reign is a “globe” or a “planet.”

[ 14 ] In Christian writings, the Devas are called “angels of the cycles.” Human beings themselves are manifestations of the World Soul in the mineral kingdom.

[ 15 ] So before—that is, before our Earth reached the stage where the Elohim revealed themselves upon it—it was engulfed by a sea of heat. At that time, we had an organ, the pineal gland, that had developed; it was also the single eye of the Cyclopes; they were the people of fire. A great eye of heat—with it, he would swim about in this sea, which was then the Earth, and perceive everything around him. That was the globe of heat. Even earlier was the globe of ether, and before that, the globe that was nothing but life.

[ 16 ] Going back from this state, we would arrive at the third round. In the third round, the various forces would again appear seven times. Forces of heat in the mineral kingdom. In the preceding second round, the forces of fire prevailed in the mineral kingdom.

1. The Arupa Devas reign in the mineral kingdom during the first cycle.
2. The Rupa Devas, or fire spirits, reign in the mineral kingdom during the second cycle.
3. The Astral Devas, or heat spirits, reign in the mineral kingdom during the third cycle.
4. The spirits of light reign in the mineral kingdom during the fourth round.
5. The spirits of power reign in the mineral kingdom during the fifth round.
6. The creative spirits reign in the mineral kingdom during the sixth round.
7. The divine spirits reign in the mineral kingdom during the seventh round.

[ 17 ] If we follow this, we have: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth”—the Arupa-Devas came into being.

[ 18 ] “The earth was formless and empty”—It continues to evolve from globe to globe.

[ 19 ] “Then God separated the light from the darkness and called the light ‘day’ and the darkness ‘night.’”

[ 20 ] Description of the first cycle. The first cycle is the first day of creation; darkness is Pralaya, which now gives way to the second cycle.

[ 21 ] After the Spirits of Light, the Spirits of Power reign in the second cycle; they are to pass on to the next cycle. “Then God made the firmament.”

[ 22 ] When the third round comes to an end, it releases its deities as creative spirits. The fourth round releases divine spirits. Exactly the same process that was involved earlier has now evolved. Accordingly, the fourth round is described in the Bible:

[ 23 ] “Let there be lights”—Lights, Exusiai, Elohim.

[ 24 ] The fifth, sixth, and seventh days represent the future.