Böcker av Rudolf Steiner

11 lectures, Oslo, June 7-17, 1910 (CW 121)"It is particularly important...especially at the present time, to speak about the mission of the individual folk souls...because the destiny of humanity in the near future will bring people together in far greater measure than has hitherto been the case in order to fulfil a mission common to the whole of humanity. But the members of the individual peoples will only be able to offer their proper, free, and positive contributions if they have, above all else, an understanding of their own native origin, an understanding of what we might call the self-knowledge of their people, their folk."-- Rudolf SteinerIn the mythologies of all ancient cultures, humanity is portrayed as intimately interwoven with the activity of lesser and greater gods, spirits, devas, and elemental beings--as members of the grand symphony of creation. Who are these gods, pictured so vividly in various myths and legends? And how are they connected with the mission of humanity as a whole and the diverse peoples of the Earth? In his preface to this lecture course, Steiner argues that a true basis for a "psychology of peoples" cannot be given by the "anthropological, ethnographical, or even historical studies" of conventional science, but requires "a basis...in spiritual reality." It is precisely this spiritual reality--the creative activity of the beings of the hierarchies in connection with the destiny of humanity--that forms the heart of these lectures and of Steiner's view of folk psychology more broadly.These lectures form Rudolf Steiner's most comprehensive and profound account of the mission of folk souls.The Mission of Folk Souls is a translation of Die Mission einzelner Volksseelen im Zusammenhange mit der germanisch-nordischen Mythologie (6th rev, ed.), Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Basel, 2017 (GA 121). Cover image Old Sun. The Awakening of the Archangels, by Zvi Szir.

The art of movement called eurythmy began about eighty years ago, based on Rudolf Steiner's knowledge of spiritual beings and meanings behind various human movements, as well as knowledge of the inner spiritual qualities of human beings when we move.Eurythmy performance is choreographed according to "forms" drawn to reflect the inner nature of spoken language (speech eurythmy) or a musical piece (tone eurythmy), which is the subject of Eurythmy Forms for Tone Eurythmy.Steiner produced about 1500 forms for speech and tone eurythmy to be performed in Dornach and other locations. Many of his forms for tone eurythmy arose spontaneously in response to requests for forms from eurythmists. Steiner's spontaneity is readily apparent in the sketches themselves, with some drawn at rehearsals as he listened to the music. Steiner sketched others in the evening after hearing the music once, making them available for rehearsal the next day. When he was confined to bed during his final illness, he drew forms simply by looking at the sheet music.Eurythmy Forms for Tone Eurythmy contains facsimiles of the Rudolf Steiner's original drawings and, in many cases, instructions for performing them. Included are forms for compositions by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Franck, Grieg, Handel, Lewerenz, Liszt, Mozart, Reger, Schubert, Schumann, Scriabin, van Stuten, Tartini, and many more. This is a valuable resource for all eurythmists, as well as for those who wish to gain a better understanding of eurythmy forms.This book is intended primarily for eurythmy students, performers, and teachers, and is also useful to anyone who would like to study eurythmy movements and better appreciate eurythmy performances.

14 lectures, Dornach, September 29 - October 28, 1917 (CW 177) Speaking toward the end of the catastrophic World War I, Rudolf Steiner reveals the spiritual roots of the crises of today. Since 1879, human minds have been influenced by backward angels, he says, "spirits of darkness," who--following their defeat in battle with Archangel Michael--were forced out of the heavens and "fell" to earth. That war in the spiritual worlds has had consequences, and it is essential for us today to become sufficiently awake to the retrogressive influences surrounding us. In a positive sense, we can choose freely to engage with the spirits of light, who seek to emancipate humankind from bonds of race, nation, and blood. In this extraordinary series of lectures, Steiner sheds light on hidden aspects of world affairs. The Bolshevik Revolution was a recent event when he discussed events in Russia and humanity's attempts to build a theoretically ideal social order. Steiner also speaks in these lectures about the roles and spiritual backgrounds of significant individuals, including Johann Valentin Andreae, Vladimir Solovyov, Louis Claude de Saint-Martin, and American and British politicians Woodrow Wilson and Lloyd George, as well as world-renown figures such as Charles Darwin and Goethe."In earlier times, the elemental spirits of birth and death essentially served the divine spirits who guided the world; since our day--and this has been going on for some time now--the elemental spirits of birth and death are serving technology, industry, and human commerce. It is important to let this disturbing truth enter our souls with all its power and intensity." -- Rudolf Steiner (lecture 4)This new edition of features a revised translation, notes, and extensive appendices by Frederick Amrine and a new introduction by Christopher Schaefer.This volume is a translation from German of Die spirituellen Hintergründe der äußeren Welt. Der Sturz der Geister der Finsternis. Geistige Wesen und Ihre Wirkung, Band I, Dornach, 1999 (GA 177). Cover image San Michele sconfigge gli angeli ribelli (ca.1666), by Luca Giordano (1660-1665), Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.

17 lectures, Berlin, May 29 - September 25, 1917 (CW 176)"When faced with the way events are depicted in history, we should sense how necessary it is to rethink them. We should sense that today's difficult time, which has brought such misery upon humanity, is the karmic effect of distorted, superficial thinking. We should sense that the painful experiences we are going through are in many respects the karma of materialism."--Rudolf SteinerWe read in modern history books about external events isolated within themselves or subject to the random, blind working of mechanistically conceived causes and effects. But is it possible to view the events of our times--pandemics, war, political upheaval, etc.--as symptoms of an underlying disease, karmic consequences of humanity's fall into materialism? In these lectures, given in the midst of World War I, Rudolf Steiner addresses this question with insight, nuance, and a deep love for humanity and the collective spiritual mission of our Earth.Science--which should not be a set of beliefs or dogmas but a method and practice of inquiry--has become wedded, especially since the nineteenth century, to the worldview of materialism. This problematic union is most dangerous when erroneous concepts and lines of thought are extended beyond the domain of theory into the sphere of practical life. In these lectures, Steiner implores his audience "to become conscious of where humanity will be led if what today calls itself science is allowed to set the tone and to insinuate itself into realms where concepts become realities." Although given more than one hundred years ago, the message of these lectures is more urgent today than ever before.This volume is a translation of Menschliche und menschheitliche Entwicklungswahrheiten. Das Karma des Materialismus, 2nd edition, Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Dornach, Switzerland, 1982 (GA 176). Cover image: Materia by Umberto Boccioni (1882-1916).

"Sixteen lectures given in Berlin, Cologne and Nuremberg in 1904, 1905 and 1907 (from audience notes)" -- title page.

'The mission of our age is not to reproduce an ancient wisdom, but to engender a new one - a wisdom that points not only to the past but that works prophetically into the future.' - Rudolf SteinerBeginning with ancient Egypt, the pyramids and sphinxes - and a comparison of that epoch with our own - Rudolf Steiner surveys a vast spiritual landscape of human development. In symphonic style, he describes the conquest of the physical plane in post-Atlantean civilizations, the relationships between the various cultural epochs, the human being's connections with the kingdoms of nature and the different planetary bodies, and the relationship of animal forms to 'the physiognomy of human passions'. Through this panoramic vision, we discover how the changed conditions of human consciousness call for a new spiritual understanding today.In her Introduction, Marie Steiner relates the special experience of being a member of Rudolf Steiner's audience for this timeless series of lectures: 'Enormous cosmic pictures were unfolded before the spiritual gaze of the listeners; insights were of such depths of ancient wisdom, views of distant futures of human and world development, that deepest devotion flowed through their hearts...' This new edition features a revised translation, introduction, notes and an index.

Translation of: Die geschichte und die bedingungen der anthroposophischen bewegung im Verhèaltnis zur anthroposophischen gesellschaft. Eine anregung zur selbstbesinnung.

Reassessing human history in relation to the cosmic-earthly events of Christ's incarnation, Rudolf Steiner stresses the significance of both Gnostic spirituality and the legends of the Holy Grail. The 'Christ-Impulse', he tells us, is not a one-time event but a continuous process, beginning well before Jesus of Nazareth walked the earth. This mighty impulse is a force that gives impetus to human development, such as with the extraordinary blossoming of free thinking of the last two millennia. Surveying this pattern of evolving human thought, Steiner explains the roles of contrasting historical figures, for example the great teacher Zarathustra, Joan of Arc and Johannes Keplar. We are shown the widespread influence of the clairvoyant prophetesses, the sibyls, who formed a backdrop to the Greco-Roman world. Steiner contrasts their revelations to those of the Hebrew prophets.The lectures culminate in the secret background to the Parzival narrative. Steiner illustrates how it is possible to experience the Holy Grail by reading the stellar script in the sky at Easter. Here, he provides a rare personal account of the processes he utilized to conduct esoteric research. The new edition of these much-loved lectures features a revised translation and an introduction, appendices and notes by Frederick Amrine.