The Rudolf Steiner Archive

5. Theosophy and German Culture

Abstract by Rudolf Steiner, “Luzifer” No. 5/1903

[ 1 ] Here we present a brief excerpt of what Dr. Rudolf Steiner (as General Secretary of the German Section of the Theosophical Society) stated on July 3 of this year in London on the occasion of the first meeting of the Federation of European Sections of the Theosophical Society (see Issue 3 of “Luzifer,” p. 126): The European sections have agreed to meet annually to foster the Theosophical movement together. On these occasions, there will be a convergence of the individual contributions that the various regions of Europe are able to make toward our great international task, and the representatives of the individual sections will take the inspiration from the congresses back to their home regions to allow it to continue to have an effect there. Our German Section is not even a year old. It is therefore only natural that it can point to only modest successes in the past. But it may be said that we have every reason to harbor the highest hopes for the future of Theosophy in Germany. For the very essence of the German national spirit is drawn toward Theosophy. Wherever German intellectual culture has produced its finest blossoms, there has always been a hidden—but no less effective—theosophical mindset underlying the bearers of that culture. For not only did the profound mysticism of Meister Eckhart and Tauler, of Valentin Weigel, Jakob Böhme, Angelus Silesius, and the secret mystical societies spring from this mindset and way of thinking; but the worldviews of our more recent German thinkers—Fichte, Schelling, and Hegel—are also rooted in this foundation. And what found expression in these outstanding personalities has its roots in the depths of the German Folk-soul. That is why the greatest modern German poet, Goethe, was also imbued with such a mindset, with such a way of thinking. One does not truly know Goethe until one discerns the theosophical perspective—which is to be discovered not on the surface but in the depths of his works—theosophical. This aspect of Goethe’s work has remained almost entirely misunderstood. Once it is understood, however, Goethe’s work will become a significant driving force behind the theosophical movement in Germany. Goethe’s entire view of nature rests on a theosophical foundation. Much of what he, in his own words, “embedded as a mystery” in his *Faust* consists of theosophical truths. Moreover, he summarized his worldview in his deeply symbolic fairy tale “The Green Snake and the Beautiful Lily.” This fairy tale is, in fact, Goethe’s “secret revelation.” One must read it as one reads esoteric writings; one must study its meaning as one studies the meaning of secret representations of deeply hidden truths. Until one has done so, one does not truly know the whole of Goethe. Under the influence of such study, new light is also shed on many other aspects of Goethe’s life and work; and above all, it is proven that the Germans have in him a theosophical poet. - And let us turn to Novalis, whose “magical idealism” is, after all, also theosophical; let us finally turn to Schelling, who, in the 1840s, presented his views—gained through long and profound research—at the University of Berlin in his lectures on “The Philosophy of Mythology” and “The Philosophy of Revelation.” Only one thing is missing in all these theosophical endeavors of the Germans: a deeper understanding of the great universal laws of reincarnation and karma. For even though Jean Paul, acting on his intuition, advocated the doctrine of reincarnation, it was never organically connected to the movements mentioned earlier. The theosophical movement will incorporate these comprehensive truths into German culture. In doing so, it will bring the Germans closer to their great personalities—indeed, to their very Folk-souls—and Theosophy itself will experience the most beautiful enrichment from this source. Just as it is true that German life has much to expect from Theosophy, so too is it true that it itself has a valuable contribution to make to the theosophical world movement.