The Influences of Lucifer and Ahriman
5 lectures by Rudolf Steiner

In the lecture series, The Influences of Lucifer and Ahriman, Rudolf Steiner focuses on the vital task of developing a right orientation toward a free spiritual life. With characteristic insight and understanding he shows how humanity must walk a conscious middle path between the two "tempting" powers of Lucifer and Ahriman. He describes the incarnation of Lucifer, in the third millennium B.C., from which flowed not only the wisdom of paganism but also the intellectual consciousness we enjoy today. Ahriman, on the other hand, is shown to be approaching humanity through phenomena such as materialism, nationalism, and literalism in preparation for his incarnation in the millennium now opening. It must not be thought, however, that these two powers work apart; on the contrary, they work together in a reciprocal relationship. Our task is to hold them in balance, continually permeating the one with the other:

Lucifer and Ahriman must be regarded as two scales of a balance, and it is we who must hold the beam in equipoise. How can we train ourselves to do this? By permeating what takes Ahrimanic form within us with a strongly Luciferic element.

Doing this requires a new form of conscious spirituality as contained in the principles and practices of anthroposophical spiritual development.

Trans. D. S. Osmond
5 lectures, Dornach 1-15 Nov, Berne 4 Nov 1919, GA191/193
Anthroposophic Press
84pp; paperback
ISBN: 0 88010 375 2

Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) called his spiritual philosophy 'anthroposophy', which he defined as 'the consciousness of one's humanity', and the disciplined methods of studying this he termed ‘spiritual science’.  As a highly developed clairvoyant and spiritual initiate, he spoke from his direct cognition of the spiritual world. However, he did not see his work as religious or sectarian, but rather sought to found a universal 'science of the spirit'.

His many published works (written books and lectures) - which include his research into the spiritual nature of the human being, the evolution of the world and humanity, and methods of personal development - invite readers to develop their own spiritual faculties.  He also provided indications for the renewal of many human activities, including education - both general and special - agriculture, medicine, economics, architecture, science, philosophy, religion and the arts. He wrote some 30 books and delivered over 6000 lectures across Europe, and in 1924 founded the General Anthroposophical Society which today has branches throughout the world.
 

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