The Rudolf Steiner Archive

69. First Aid Course: Lecture Four

My dear Theosophical friends!

[ 1 ] In these times, in these sad times, when war has broken out in Europe, some of our friends raised the following question in my presence: How does the idea we have often discussed (namely, in the lecture series I was privileged to give in Kristiania on “The Mission of the Individual Folk-souls in Connection with Germanic-Norse Mythology”) relate to these events—the idea that individual nations are guided and led by beings from the hierarchy of the archangels, whom we call national spirits?

[ 2 ] Indeed, some of our friends are asking: Does the interaction of these higher beings come together to form a harmonious chorus? And how does this harmony (if it exists) relate to the events currently unfolding in Europe?

[ 3 ] Before we answer this question, I would like to remind you of what we said yesterday in preparation—about trust, that unshakable trust in the Spirit. Also, since we are gathered here as a community of brothers and sisters—with members of nations that are currently at war with one another, as well as with those from countries [that are not participating in the world war]—and since we are privileged to work on this building, which is meant to be a sign of the Spirit for us, let us bring to mind the words of Theodosius to the other Mary:

For beings driven by dark impulses,
The temple’s influence does not extend,
Even if they wish to do good.

[ 4 ] We should also remember the first principle of our Anthroposophical Society: [Wisdom lies only in truth.]

[ 5 ] And now I would like to quote what a German statesman read aloud before the Reichstag in the spring of 1914: (Here, a passage is quoted in which the favorable political situation is discussed and there is mention of a “easing of tensions”). At the end of the quotation, the doctor notes that he is merely presenting it as a fact.

[ 6 ] A second quotation comes from an article by a columnist who is taken far too seriously in certain circles, who writes something to the effect that: “Despite Mr. Liebknecht’s words, there are cases where it is not only necessary but a duty for those in power to spread false information ...”

[ 7 ] After these two quotes, the doctor talks about the truth and how, for example, what matters is not whether one believes what one says, but whether it corresponds to the deeper reality. Yes, it is not at all uncommon to find people who believe in the truth of what they say. But for karma, it is absolutely irrelevant whether one believes what one says or not. The only thing that matters for karma is whether the words correspond to the facts—the real facts. Here, the doctor once again firmly emphasizes our principle: “Wisdom through Truth.”

[ 8 ] The question of whether the national spirits form a harmonious chorus can be answered by considering two points:

1. The Mystery of Golgotha and
2. what might be called the age of the individual national spirits.

[ 9 ] Certainly, the great, powerful Christ Impulse has not only intervened in evolution on behalf of humanity, but it has also permeated the hierarchies that stand above humankind. We are to believe, we are to trust them, that they, too, have received the influence of the Christ impulse—this impulse that says: “Love God above all else, and then your neighbor more than yourself.” And the national spirits—they are permeated by this truth; they have been Christified.

[ 10 ] Now, however, each national spirit has its own task in guiding its respective nation. And how they fulfill this task depends on their age. Certain national spirits are older than others, who are younger (for example, the Russian national spirit is the youngest, the German one is older, and so on). But we know that, for example, in a family, the father, mother, and children are of different ages, and yet harmony and peace reign within the family.

[ 11 ] But the fact is that, even though harmony and peace reign among the national spirits in the spiritual world, war breaks out here on earth from time to time. Why is that?

[ 12 ] Yes, my dear friends, if only people could have a true spiritual relationship with the national spirits, there would never be a war. But that is not the case. In fact, in our time, people are not able to [rise] spiritually to the level of their national spirits. And what is this spiritual relationship with the national spirit?

[ 13 ] Yes, my dear friends, let us consider what has come about in Earth’s evolution through the Mystery of Golgotha. In the past, before the Mystery of Golgotha, the relationship between human beings and their national spirits was different from what it is now. In the past, human beings stood before their national spirit, and Christ was not yet present. But now, since the Mystery of Golgotha, a possibility has been created for human beings to turn to the national spirit with a soul permeated by Christ.

[ 14 ] The proper relationship a person has with the spirit of their people is what one might call “a Christ-imbued dialogue with the spirit of the people.” Such a relationship can be attained by one who, through the Christ principle, rises to the higher beings. There, he comes to have communion with these archangel-like beings. He is in dialogue with the national spirit—a being that is entirely spiritual—and in this dialogue, Christ acts as the mediator.

[ 15 ] If people were able to [rise] spiritually and Christianly to the level of the national spirit, they would see the harmonious chorus of national spirits. That would be the proper spiritual relationship to the national spirit. A dialogue with the national spirit permeated by Christ. But this is not the case, for people are not yet able to rise spiritually to the level of the national spirit.

[ 16 ] And added to this is the intervention of the beings who have remained behind, whom we call the Luciferic and Ahrimanic beings. We should not pass any judgment on such beings who have remained behind. These beings are archai-like (Ahrimanic) and archangel-like (Luciferic).

[ 17 ] In the last lecture series we held in Munich, we emphasized that these less-developed beings have a purpose in the world; in the plan of the universe, they are intended to cooperate with the gods. We should not criticize them. But we also know that as soon as these beings cross the spiritual realms prescribed for them by the gods, they become opponents of the gods.

[ 18 ] In the spiritual world, these backward beings are benevolent, and their actions are in harmony with the plan of the worlds. However, as soon as these beings transfer their mission to the physical plane, they begin to act as adversaries of the gods. And these beings carry out their activities through what exists in human beings as natural forces.

[ 19 ] My dear friends, we know, of course, that within the forces of nature at work out there, beings from higher hierarchies than the Archai or the Archangels are active. Within the forces of nature, beings such as the Spirits of Form, the Spirits of Movement, and so on are at work. However, in what exists as natural forces within the human being, the fallen hierarchies (Ahriman and Lucifer) are at work.

[ 20 ] One example of a natural force within the human being is the nature of the larynx. Depending on whether a person’s larynx is structured in one way or another, they can speak one language or another. And this is where the Luciferic and Ahrimanic beings are at work. (Compare this with what was said in Munich about the diversity of languages; there was once a proto-language, and then—the Tower of Babel—various languages; and this was brought about by Ahriman. Compare also what was said about the Latin letters—which have an Ahrimanic character—and the Gothic letters—which have a Luciferic character.)

[ 21 ] Now, when these backward entities intervene in what lives within human beings as a natural force in relation to the national spirit, they cause the human being (in this relationship—which is no longer spiritual or permeated by Christ, but rather a relationship based on natural forces) to desire, on behalf of his national spirit, an expansion of his people on the physical plane. He strives for an unlimited expansion of his people and his territory.

[ 22 ] When a person is engaged in a Christ-imbued dialogue with the spirit of his people, he is in the spiritual world; and in the spiritual world, everything is permeable, space is boundless, and the person feels no boundaries; all dialogues among different peoples interpenetrate one another in the spirit ... If that were the case, then it would be correct. But on the physical plane, it does not work that way.

[ 23 ] Here, every space has its boundaries. Nothing permeates anything else here. And as each people here strives to expand (as a result of the interference of a natural force in its relationship to the national spirit—a natural force arising from backward entities), it comes into conflict with another—and then war breaks out.

[ 24 ] And now, my dear friends, we can say something else, since we are permitted to speak here at our gathering to members—to people who are of a brotherly spirit and who strive for a spiritual elevation of the national spirit. There are certain times in Earth’s evolution when it is necessary for certain forces, certain impulses, to flow into humanity. We are living in such a time. As you know, a period began around the 1870s that we call the Michael Era. As you know, Michael (who has advanced from archangel to Archai) is a herald of Christ, a servant of the Christ forces ...

[ 25 ] We are only at the beginning of the Michael Epoch, the epoch in which Michael acts as the forerunner of the Christ, the solar influence (Paris Lodge Lecture, 1913). And this signifies a tremendous influx of forces from the spiritual world. But every time good, divine forces flow in more strongly, they simultaneously give rise to a counteraction—an increase in the opposing forces. And so in our time, these opposing forces are coming more strongly, since the Michael Epoch is just beginning. But the inflow of the Michael forces into evolution is a necessity. “What must happen will happen.”

[ 26 ] And now, my dear friends, let us ask ourselves: What is the situation—what could the situation be—once we clearly recognize such a necessity? It could be, for example, that certain impulses must arise at a specific moment, and yet there are very few people on earth capable of receiving them. - We are speaking here to people who, gathered in a spirit of brotherhood, are permitted to work on a structure that is a sign of the Spirit, and these people have indeed heard the words; they have taken in the impulses that flowed into them, word for word, from person to person.

[ 27 ] But now, my friends, if people are unable to perceive or hear these words, this language, and if there is nevertheless a need for certain ideas, certain impulses to flow into humanity... What happens then? What is to happen? — What happens is that these impulses flow in by a different path than through language, through words...

[ 28 ] Events are necessary where people cannot or will not accept words. (This means that the World War is a necessary event, after which people will be able to accept what must be accepted. But people could not have accepted it in any other way than through these terrible events. Since the beginning of the war, it has become clear to us anthroposophists—through various statements made here and there—that the World War will be immensely conducive to the acceptance of spiritual truths; the bankruptcy of materialism.) These events must be viewed in this light.

[ 29 ] So I (A.B.[razol]) summarize: The inflow of Michael’s forces brings about an increase in the Ahrimanic and Luciferic forces. These forces bring about the non-spiritual (attributable to natural forces) [elevation] to the national spirit, the consequence of which is a longing for expansion on the physical plane. On the other hand: the necessity for certain ideas and certain impulses to flow in and be absorbed. In any case: whether through language, through the spoken word from person to person (though few have heard it or wanted to hear it), or through the events currently unfolding. That is the entire train of thought of the lecture.

[ 30 ] Then the doctor added: My dear friends, perhaps some of our friends already have the first volume of The Riddles of Philosophy. Well, there is supposed to be a second one. Twelve sheets of this second volume have already been printed, and the thirteenth is only halfway through printing. I received it the other day; the first few pages of the sheet are printed, then there are blank pages, and, my friends, in this thirteenth sheet I spoke about modern French philosophy—that of Bergson and Boutroux—and how they arrived at the concept that man was created at the beginning and that the other kingdoms are something from which man has risen... Well, my dear friends, in this issue I also spoke of a little-known philosopher who is to be regarded as a German theosophist. He is little known, but in this very book, The Riddles of Philosophy, I have set myself the task of mentioning works that are important for the spiritual world, even if the figures in question have been recognized only in narrower circles.

[ 31 ] And now there lived in Germany a philosopher named Preuss; he was from Oldenburg, and he achieved—entirely on his own, of his own accord—what was later to become the theosophical truths: that human beings were created first, and the other kingdoms were something that was once within human beings but which human beings cast out in their progress toward [perfection].

[ 32 ] Kran And look, my dear friends, the war—the World War—interrupted the momentum right at the point where, in my book, I described the convergence of German and French intellectual life ...

[ 33 ] Just at the point where I wanted to emphasize this convergence, the war broke out and interrupted the printing process... right at that point. My dear friends, I would like to present this to you as a symbol—a symbol of what I felt when I saw the blank pages after this passage... (At this point, the doctor paused for a long, meaningful silence...)

[ 34 ] Our task, then, my dear friends, is to elevate ourselves to the level of the national spirits. We are gathered here in a spirit of brotherhood, and each of us should strive spiritually to reach our national spirit. That is our task. Only by working our way spiritually toward a Christ-filled dialogue with the national spirit can we gain an understanding of the harmonious interplay of the national spirits.

[ 35 ] And if there are people among you for whom the age of their national spirit might at first seem to be an obstacle—if there are those among us who might find it difficult because of the age of their national spirit—let them simply reflect on the words of Vladimir Solovyov, who said: “When Shakespeare was five years old, the last citizen of Stratford (Shakespeare’s birthplace) was immeasurably wiser than he. And yet Shakespeare became Shakespeare.” You must bear this in mind.

[ 36 ] And now everything that has been said can be summarized in seven lines—seven lines that can help you achieve what we have described as a Christ-imbued dialogue with the spirit of the people.

You, Spirit of my earthly realm

[ 37 ] Spirit of my earthly realm, spirit of my people (Doctor's note)

Reveal the light of your age
To the soul gifted with faith,
So that, striving, it may find
In the choir of the spheres of peace
You, resounding with praise and power
Of the human spirit devoted to Christ!