Anthroposophical Leading Thoughts
GA 26
2. The Condition of the Human Soul Before the Dawn of the Michael Age
[ 1 ] Today I will take the opportunity of giving some further thoughts in line with my article ‘At the Dawn of the Michael Age’.
The Michael Age has taken its rise in the evolution of mankind at a time that follows on the one hand the predominance of the intellectual ‘forming of thoughts,’ and on the other hand the turning of human perception and vision to the outer world of the senses, to the physical world.
[ 2 ] Thought-forming is in its nature not essentially an evolution in the direction of materialism. That which in bygone times came to the human being as something inspired into him, namely, the world of ideas, became, in the time that preceded the Michael epoch, the property of the human soul. The soul no longer receives the ideas ‘from above’ out of the spiritual content of the Cosmos: it draws them itself actively forth out of the human being's own spiritual nature. Man has thereby become ripe for reflection upon his own spiritual being. Hitherto he did not penetrate to these depths of his own nature. He saw in himself as it were a drop out of the sea of cosmic spirituality, a drop that has separated itself off for the time of this earthly life, only to unite itself again when the earthly life is over.
[ 3 ] The thought-forming that goes on in the human being marks an advance in human self-knowledge. Viewed from the supersensible, it appears thus. The spiritual Powers that we may designate with the Michael-name held rule over the ideas in the spiritual Cosmos. The human being experienced these ideas by partaking with his soul in the life of the Michael-world. This experience has now become his own, and a temporary separation of the human being from the Michael-world has therewith come about. With the inspired thoughts of earlier times man received at the same time the content of the spiritual world. Since this inspiration has ceased and man now forms his thoughts from his own activity, he is referred to the perception of the senses to find a content for these thoughts. Thus was man obliged to fill with material content the spirituality that he had won. He fell into the materialistic outlook in the very epoch of time that brought his own spiritual being a stage higher in development.
[ 4 ] This is easily liable to misunderstanding. We may observe only the ‘fall’ into materialism and lament over it. Whilst, however, the perception and vision of this age had to be limited to the external physical world, there was unfolding within the soul, as actual experience, a purified and self-subsisting spiritually of the human being. And now in the Michael Age this spirituality must no longer remain as unconscious experience, it must become conscious of its own proper nature. This signifies the entry of the Michael Being into the human soul. For a certain length of time man has filled his own spirit with the material side of Nature; he is to fill it again with cosmic content consisting of a spirituality that is his very own.
[ 5 ] Thought-forming was lost for a time in the Matter of the Cosmos; it must be found again in the cosmic Spirit. Into the cold, abstract world of thought can enter warmth, can enter a spirit-reality that is filled with being. That represents the dawn of the Michael Age.
[ 6 ] The consciousness of freedom could develop only in the depths of the human soul through this separation from the thought-being of the world. What came from the heights had to be found again in the depths. For this reason the development of the consciousness of freedom was connected first of all with a knowledge of Nature that was directed only to the external. While man was unconsciously developing his mind in the formation of clear ideas, his senses were directed outward solely to what is material, but this did not in any way disturb the tender seed that was beginning to germinate in the soul.
[ 7 ] But the experience of the Spiritual, and together with it the vision of the Spiritual, can re-enter the vision of the outward material world in a new way. The knowledge of Nature acquired during the age of materialism can be comprehended in the soul's inner life in a spiritual way. Michael, who has spoken ‘from above,’ can be heard ‘from within,’ where he will begin to dwell. Speaking more imaginatively this may be expressed as follows: The Sun-nature which for long periods man received only from the Cosmos, will begin to shine within his soul. He will learn to speak of an ‘inner Sun.’ This will not prevent him from knowing himself to be an earthly being during his life between birth and death; but he will recognise that this his earthly being is led by the Sun. He will learn to feel as a truth, that a being places him, in his inner nature, into a light which shines indeed upon earthly existence but which is not enkindled within it. In the dawn of the Michael Age it may still seem as if all this were very far remote from humanity; but ‘in the spirit’ it is near; it only needs to be ‘seen.’ A very great deal depends upon this fact, that the ideas of man do not merely remain ‘thinking,’ but in thought develop sight.
Further Leading Thoughts issued from the Goetheanum for the Anthroposophical Society
[ 8 ] 85. It is in the waking day-consciousness that man experiences himself to begin with, during the present cosmic age. This experience conceals from him the fact that in this waking state the Third Hierarchy is present in his experience.
[ 9 ] 86. In the dream-consciousness man experiences, in a chaotic way, his own being unharmoniously united with the Spirit-being of the world. When the Imaginative Consciousness is realised as the other pole of the dream-consciousness, man becomes aware that the Second Hierarchy is present in his experience.
[ 10 ] 87. In dreamless sleep-consciousness man experiences, all unconsciously, his own being united with the Spirit-being of the World. When the Inspired Consciousness is realised as the other pole of the sleep-consciousness, man becomes aware that the First Hierarchy is present in his experience.
Die menschliche Seelenverfassung vor dem Anbruch des Michael-Zeitalters
[ 1 ] Heute soll eine Betrachtung hier eingefügt werden, die sich an die Ideen «Im Anbruch des Michael-Zeitalters» anschließt. Dieses Michael-Zeitalter ist in der Entwickelung der Menschheit heraufgekommen nach dem Vorherrschen der intellektuellen Gedankenbildung auf der einen Seite und der auf die äußere Sinnenwelt - die physische Welt - gerichteten menschlichen Anschauungsweise auf der ändern.
[ 2 ] Die Gedankenbildung ist in ihrer eigenen Wesenheit nicht eine Entwickelung nach dem Materialistischen hin. Dasjenige, was in altern Zeitaltern wie inspiriert an den Menschen herantrat, die Ideenwelt, wurde in der Zeit, die der Michael-Epoche voranging, Eigentum der menschlichen Seele. Diese empfängt nicht mehr die Ideen «von oben» aus dem geistigen Inhalt des Kosmos; sie holt sie aktiv aus der eigenen Geistigkeit des Menschen herauf. Damit ist der Mensch erst reif geworden, sich auf die eigene geistige Wesenheit zu besinnen. Vorher drang er bis zu dieser Tiefe des eigenen Wesens nicht vor. Er sah in sich gewissermaßen den Tropfen, der aus dem Meere der kosmischen Geistigkeit sich für das Erdenleben abgetrennt hat, um sich nach demselben wieder mit ihm zu vereinigen.
[ 3 ] Es ist die im Menschen stattfindende Gedankenbildung ein Fortschritt in der menschlichen Selbsterkenntnis. Im Übersinnlichen angeschaut, stellt sich die Sache so dar: Die geistigen Mächte, die man mit dem Michael-Namen bezeichnen kann, verwalteten im geistigen Kosmos die Ideen. Der Mensch erlebte diese Ideen, indem er mit seiner Seele an dem Leben der Michael-Welt teilnahm. Dieses Erleben ist nun sein eigenes geworden. Dadurch ist eine zeitweilige Trennung des Menschen von der Michael-Welt eingetreten. Mit den inspirierten Gedanken der Vorzeit empfing der Mensch zugleich die geistigen Weltinhalte. Indem diese Inspiration aufhörte und der Mensch in eigener Tätigkeit die Gedanken bildet, ist er auf die Anschauung der Sinne verwiesen, um für diese Gedanken einen Inhalt zu haben. So mußte der Mensch zunächst die errungene eigene Geistigkeit mit materiellem Inhalt erfüllen. Er fiel in die materialistische Anschauung in dem Zeitalter, das sein eigenes geistiges Wesen auf eine Stufe brachte, die höher ist als die vorangehenden.
[ 4 ] Das kann leicht verkannt werden; man kann den «Fall» in den Materialismus nur allein beachten, und dann über ihn traurig sein. Aber während das Anschauen dieses Zeitalters sich auf die äußere physische Welt beschränken mußte, entfaltete sich im Innern der Seele eine gereinigte, in sich selbst bestehende Geistigkeit des Menschen als Erleben. Diese Geistigkeit muß nun im Michael-Zeitalter nicht mehr unbewußtes Erleben bleiben, sondern sich ihrer Eigenart bewußt werden. Das bedeutet den Eintritt der Michael-Wesenheit in die menschliche Seele. Der Mensch hat eine gewisse Zeit hindurch das eigene Geistige mit dem Materiellen der Natur erfüllt; er soll es wieder mit ureigener Geistigkeit als kosmischen Inhalt erfüllen.
[ 5 ] Die Gedankenbildung verlor sich eine Weile an die Materie des Kosmos; sie muß sich in dem kosmischen Geiste wieder finden. In die kalte, abstrakte Gedankenwelt kann Wärme, kann wesenserfüllte Geist-Wirklichkeit eintreten. Das stellt den Anbruch des Michael-Zeitalters dar.
[ 6 ] Nur in der Trennung von dem Gedankenwesen der Welt konnte in den Tiefen der menschlichen Seele das Bewußtsein der Freiheit erwachsen. Was von den Höhen kam, mußte aus den Tiefen wiedergefunden werden. Deshalb ist die Entwickelung dieses Bewußtseins der Freiheit zunächst mit einer nur auf das Äußere gerichteten Naturerkenntnis verbunden gewesen. Während der Mensch im Innern seinen Geist unbewußt zur Reinheit der Ideen erbildete, waren seine Sinne nach außen nur auf das Materielle gerichtet, das in keiner Weise störend in das eingriff, was zunächst als zarter Keim in der Seele aufleuchtete.
[ 7 ] Aber es kann in die Anschauung des äußeren Materiellen das Erleben des Geistigen und damit die geistige Anschauung in neuer Art wieder einziehen. Was im Zeichen des Materialismus an Naturerkenntnis gewonnen worden ist, kann in geistgemäßer Art im inneren Seelenleben erfaßt werden. Michael, der «von oben» gesprochen hat, kann «aus dem Innern», wo er seinen neuen Wohnsitz aufschlagen wird, gehört werden. Mehr imaginativ gesprochen, kann dies so ausgedrückt werden: Das Sonnenhafte, das der Mensch durch lange Zeiten nur aus dem Kosmos in sich aufnahm, wird im Innern der Seele leuchtend werden. Der Mensch wird von einer «innern Sonne» sprechen lernen. Er wird sich deshalb in seinem Leben zwischen Geburt und Tod nicht weniger als Erdenwesen wissen; aber er wird das auf der Erde wandelnde eigene Wesen als sonnengeführt erkennen. Er wird als Wahrheit empfinden lernen, daß ihn im Innern eine Wesenheit in ein Licht stellt, das zwar auf das Erdendasein leuchtet, aber nicht in diesem entzündet wird. Im Anbruche des Michael-Zeitalters mag es noch scheinen, als ob dies alles der Menschheit recht ferne liegen könne; doch es ist «im Geiste» nahe; es muß nur «gesehen» werden. Von dieser Tatsache, daß die Ideen des Menschen nicht nur «denkend» bleiben, sondern im Denken «sehend» werden, hängt unermeßlich viel ab.
Weitere Leitsätze, die für die Anthroposophische Gesellschaft vom Goetheanum ausgesendet werden
[ 8 ] 85. Im wachen Tagesbewußtsein erlebt sich im gegenwärtigen Weltenalter zunächst der Mensch. Dieses Erleben verhüllt ihm, daß innerhalb der Wachheit die dritte Hierarchie in seinem Erleben gegenwärtig ist.
[ 9 ] 86. Im Traumbewußtsein erlebt der Mensch in chaotischer Art das eigene Wesen mit dem Geistwesen der Welt unharmonisch vereinigt. Stellt sich dem Traumbewußtsein das imaginative als dessen anderer Pol gegenüber, so wird der Mensch gewahr, daß die zweite Hierarchie in seinem Erleben gegenwärtig ist.
[ 10 ] 87. Im traumlosen Schlafbewußtsein erlebt der Mensch ohne eigene Bewußtheit das eigene Wesen mit dem Geistwesen der Welt vereinigt. Stellt sich dem Schlafbewußtsein das inspirierte als dessen anderer Pol gegenüber, so wird der Mensch gewahr, daß die erste Hierarchie in seinem Erleben gegenwärtig ist.
The state of the human soul before the dawn of the Michael Age
[ 1 ] Today an observation is to be inserted here which follows on from the ideas "At the dawn of the Michael Age". This Michael Age has arisen in the development of mankind after the predominance of intellectual thought formation on the one hand and the human way of looking at things directed towards the external sense world - the physical world - on the other.
[ 2 ] The formation of thought is in its own essence not a development towards the materialistic. That which approached man as inspired in older ages, the world of ideas, became the property of the human soul in the time that preceded the Michael epoch. This no longer receives the ideas "from above" from the spiritual content of the cosmos; it actively brings them up from man's own spirituality. In this way, man has become mature enough to reflect on his own spiritual essence. Previously, he did not penetrate to this depth of his own being. He saw in himself, as it were, the drop that had separated itself from the sea of cosmic spirituality for earthly life in order to reunite with it afterwards.
[ 3 ] The formation of thought taking place in man is a progress in human self-knowledge. Seen in the supersensible, the matter presents itself thus: The spiritual powers, which can be referred to by the name of Michael, administered the ideas in the spiritual cosmos. Man experienced these ideas by participating with his soul in the life of the Michael world. This experience has now become his own. This has led to a temporary separation of man from the Michael world. With the inspired thoughts of prehistoric times, man also received the spiritual contents of the world. When this inspiration ceased and man formed the thoughts through his own activity, he was referred to the perception of the senses in order to have a content for these thoughts. Thus man first had to fill the spirituality he had attained with material content. He fell into the materialistic view in the age that brought his own spiritual being to a level higher than the preceding ones.
[ 4 ] This can easily be misjudged; one can only note the "fall" into materialism alone, and then be sad about it. But while the observation of this age had to confine itself to the outer physical world, a purified spirituality of man, existing in itself, unfolded within the soul as experience. This spirituality must now in the Michael Age no longer remain unconscious experience, but become conscious of its own nature. This means the entry of the Michael-entity into the human soul. For a certain time, man has filled his own spirituality with the materiality of nature; he is to fill it again with his own spirituality as cosmic content.
[ 5 ] The formation of thought lost itself for a while in the matter of the cosmos; it must find itself again in the cosmic spirit. Warmth can enter the cold, abstract world of thought, spirit-reality filled with essence. This represents the dawn of the Michael Age.
[ 6 ] Only in the separation from the thought-being of the world could the consciousness of freedom grow in the depths of the human soul. What came from the heights had to be found again from the depths. That is why the development of this consciousness of freedom was initially connected with a knowledge of nature that was only directed towards the external. While man unconsciously educated his spirit inwardly to the purity of ideas, his senses were directed outwardly only to the material, which in no way interfered with what first shone forth as a tender germ in the soul.
[ 7 ] But the experience of the spiritual and thus the spiritual view can re-enter the perception of the external material in a new way. The knowledge of nature gained under the sign of materialism can be grasped in a spiritual way in the inner life of the soul. Michael, who has spoken "from above", can be heard "from within", where he will take up his new abode. Speaking more imaginatively, this can be expressed in this way: The sun-like, which man absorbed through long ages only from the cosmos, will become luminous within the soul. Man will learn to speak of an "inner sun". He will therefore know himself in his life between birth and death no less as an earth being; but he will recognize his own being walking on earth as sun-led. He will learn to perceive as truth that within him an entity places him in a light which shines on the earthly existence but is not kindled in it. At the dawn of the Michael Age it may still seem as if all this could be quite distant to mankind; but it is near "in spirit"; it only has to be "seen". On this fact, that the ideas of man not only remain "thinking", but in thinking become "seeing", immeasurably much depends.
Further guiding principles sent out by the Goetheanum for the Anthroposophical Society
[ 8 ] 85 In the waking day-consciousness man first experiences himself in the present world-age. This experience conceals from him that within wakefulness the third hierarchy is present in his experience.
[ 9 ] 86 In dream consciousness man experiences his own being united in a chaotic way with the spiritual being of the world. If the imaginative is placed opposite the dream consciousness as its other pole, man becomes aware that the second hierarchy is present in his experience.
[ 10 ] 87 In dreamless sleep consciousness, man experiences his own being united with the spiritual being of the world without his own consciousness. If the sleep consciousness is contrasted with the inspired consciousness as its other pole, man becomes aware that the first hierarchy is present in his experience.