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 The
Occult Movement in the Nineteenth Century
10 lectures by Rudolf Steiner
In the
lecture series, The Occult Movement in the Nineteenth Century, Rudolf Steiner discusses the forces behind the explosion of
interest in spiritual matters which started around the middle of the
nineteenth century. He covers
the essential threads which wove together to form various
secret brotherhoods and esoteric activities which emerged in the last decades
of this century, including the origins and development of the
Theosophical Society, the beginnings of the Anthroposophical
movement within this society and its eventual separation.
He addresses the unique character and mixed
fortune of Madame H. P. Blavatsky, including her difficult
relationships with occult orders of the day and her mediumistic
channelling of Theosophy.
The mysterious subject of the Eighth Sphere
which had been erroneously described through the mediumistic
channelling of the book, Esoteric Buddhism by A. P. Sinnett, is
addressed at some length.
Other subjects included are:
materialism and
its culmination in the 19th century, the dangers of
mysticism and the fallacies of mediumism (channelling as it is more
often called nowadays), the revitalisation of the etheric body
through the new experience of Christ, the period of kamaloka
following death, the problems of Ahrimanic
Intelligence and Luciferic Will, the dangers of objective occultism
and subjective mysticism, and the guiding principles of Spiritual
Science.
Trans. D. S. Osmond
10 lectures, Dornach, Oct 1915, GA254
Rudolf Steiner Press
190pp; hardback
ISBN: 0 85440 280 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.
Copyright © 2003 Skylark Books
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