IN ORDER to follow this explanation it is necessary to know that man on earth does not live in Primordial Creation but in a subsequent Creation. Primordial Creation consists solely of the Spiritual Realm, which exists quite independently and is known to men as Paradise. The Grail Castle stands at the summit of Paradise with the gate facing towards the Divine, which as such lies outside Creation.

Subsequent Creation, on the other hand, is the so-called »world«, eternally rotating below Primordial Creation, the various solar systems of which are subject to evolution and dissolution, that is, they ripen, grow old and decay, because they were not created by Divinity directly like the Eternal Primordial Creation, Paradise.

Subsequent Creation came into existence through the volition of the Primordial Beings and is subject to the influence of the maturing human spirits, whose path of development leads through this Subsequent Creation. For this reason it also contains an imperfection not to be found in Primordial Creation, which is open to the direct influence of the Divine Holy Spirit.

To comfort the Primordial Beings, who were extremely perturbed about the ever-increasing and more noticeable imperfections in Subsequent Creation, a Voice from Divinity called: »Wait for Him Whom I have chosen ... to bring you help« — which to a certain extent is accurately transmitted from Primordial Creation in the legend of the Grail.

Now to the subject at hand! Every earthly action can only be considered as the outward expression of an inward process. By »inward process« is meant a spiritual intuitive volition. Each volition of the intuitive perception is a spiritual action which becomes decisive for every man’s existence, because it brings about ascent or descent. In no case may it be put on the same level with thought volition!

Intuitive volition concerns the core of man proper, thought volition merely a weaker outer circle! It is not always necessary for either of these to become visible on earth, despite their unfailing effect. An earthly gross material action is not necessary for the creation of karma. But, on the other hand, there is no earthly gross material activity that does not have to be preceded by a thought volition or an intuitive volition. The earthly visible action, therefore, is dependent upon either a thought volition or an intuitive volition, but not vice versa.

However, what is really decisive for the existence of a human spirit, for his ascent or for his descent, is most strongly anchored in the intuitive volition, to which man pays the least attention, and yet from the absolute and never-failing effects of which there is no escape, also no mitigation or falsification! This alone contains the real »experiencing« of the human spirit, for the intuitive volition is the sole lever for the release of the spiritual power waves which rest in the work of the Creator, waiting only for an impulse from the intuitive volition of the human spirits, which they immediately put into effect with manifold strength! Up till now mankind have hardly paid any attention to this so important, even most important, process!

For this reason I shall again and again draw attention to an apparently simple but essential point which contains everything: The spiritual power permeating the work of Creation can make contact only with the intuitive volition of the human spirits, all else being excluded from making such contacts!

Even the thought volition can no longer make any such contact, much less any products of the thought volition. This fact excludes every hope that the actual principal power in Creation could ever be associated with some »invention«! This is irretrievably blocked! Man does not know this principal power nor its effects, although he stands in it!

What this or that thinker and inventor imagines as Primordial Power is not so! It is invariably a far inferior form of energy only, of which there can still be found many kinds with astonishing effects, but without mankind approaching even a step closer to the real power which the human spirit uses daily without being conscious of it. Unfortunately man trifles with it without being aware of the dreadful consequences of his boundless frivolity! And in his unbounded ignorance he always wantonly tries to cast the responsibility for the consequences upon God which, however, does not free him from the great guilt he has incurred by his refusal to gain knowledge!

I want to try and give a clear picture here! As an example, let us assume that a man intuitively feels envy! Usually it is said: »Envy arises within him!« At first this is a general intuitive feeling, of which quite often the human spirit is not even clearly conscious. This intuitive perception, however, which as yet is not clad in definite thoughts, that is, which as yet has not »risen« to the brain, carries within it the key which alone can establish contact with the »Living Power«, can build a bridge to it.

Immediately this is done, as much of the »Living Power« resting in Creation passes into this particular intuitive perception as it is capable of absorbing, this in each case depending on the strength of the perception. Only through this is the human or »spiritualised« intuitive perception called to life within itself, thus receiving an enormous capacity to generate (not to create) in the Ethereal World. This makes man lord among all creatures, the highest of all creatures in Creation! This process also permits him to exert an immense influence upon the entire Subsequent Creation, thereby ... investing him with personal responsibility which no other creature besides him can have in Subsequent Creation, because only man possesses the ability which is decisive in this matter and which rests in the very nature of the spirit!

And only he alone in the entire Subsequent Creation bears spirit in his innermost core, and as such he alone receives connection with the Supreme Living Power resting in Subsequent Creation! The Primordial Beings in Paradise are of a different species of spirit to the world wanderers, the so-called earth-men, and their capacity for connection is therefore directed towards another, a higher and far stronger wave of power. This they use consciously, being naturally able to create with it things quite different to those of the world wanderers to whom the earth-men belong. The highest wave of power of the earth-men is but a gradation of the power resting in Primordial Creation, just as they themselves are but a gradation of the Primordial Beings!

The main lack in human knowledge so far is the realisation of the many gradations which become ever weaker as they descend from Primordial Creation, and the recognition that men themselves belong to these gradations only. Once this understanding has really penetrated, their hitherto presumptuous attitude will fall away and clear the path for ascent!

The stupid vaingloriousness exhibited by men in claiming supremacy, even of carrying Divinity within themselves, will suffer an ignominious collapse, and finally there will only remain a liberating shame. The Primordial Beings, who stand so much higher and who are of much greater value, are not possessed of such conceit. They only smile indulgently at the straying earthworms, just as many parents smile at the fantastic chatter of their children!

But let us return to the intuitive perception! A man’s intuitive perception which has thus been strengthened now, in a further gradation, immediately and automatically produces a form which exactly embodies the nature of the intuition, in this case of envy. In the beginning the form stands within its creator and later beside him, connected to him by a cord through which it receives nourishment. At the same time, however, in obedience to the Law of the Attraction of Homogeneous Species, it immediately and automatically makes contact with the power-centre of the same species of forms and receives strong reinforcements therefrom. Together with the young form, these then fashion the ethereal environment of the person concerned.

Meanwhile this intuitive perception rises higher and finally reaches the brain, exciting thoughts of a like nature which set themselves a very definite aim. Thus the thoughts become channels or roads upon which these forms drift towards a very definite goal, there to do harm if they find the proper soil.

However, if the man who is to be the target of these forms is only pure within, that is, if he has a pure volition, he offers no point of attack for these forms, no anchorage! Still, this does not mean that they are rendered harmless again! Instead they continue to wander about singly, or unite themselves with their homogeneous species in places of assembly which one may well call »planes«, because they are subject to the law of their spiritual gravity and therefore must form definite planes which can only admit and hold the same species.

Thus they remain an absolute danger to all those human spirits whose volition to do what is good is not of sufficient strength and purity! Finally they also bring destruction upon their authors, who constantly remain in touch with them, and who through the cord of nourishment continually permit new envy-energy to flow back to them, which the forms themselves receive from the power-centres.

This makes it difficult for such a creator to indulge again in purer intuitions, because he remains very badly handicapped by the return flow of envy-energies, which continually tear him away from it. He is forced to expend far greater efforts for his ascent than a human spirit not so hampered. And it is only through a constantly pure volition that such a nourishing-cord of evil gradually decays, until it finally shrivels up and falls feebly away.

This means the liberation of the author of such evil, provided that his form has meanwhile done no harm; but if it has done some harm new ties are then immediately formed which must also be redeemed!

To effect the redemption of such threads it is absolutely necessary that the author should again cross the path, either on this earth or in the beyond, of any person harmed by the evil, so that recognition and forgiveness can be obtained. Consequently the ascent of the author of such forms cannot take place before those persons who have suffered injury have made their ascent. The connecting thread or threads of fate hold him back until redemption has been effected through compensation and forgiveness.

But this is not all! This intuitive volition, under the strengthening influence of the »Living Power«, has a far greater effect, for it not only populates the Ethereal World, but also influences the World of Gross Matter, either building up or destroying!

This should at last make man recognise the folly which he has already perpetrated, instead of fulfilling the duties ordained through the abilities of his spirit for the benefit of Subsequent Creation and of all creatures. Man often asks why there should be such a conflict in nature, and yet what is of animistic substantiality adjusts itself in Subsequent Creation ... to the nature of man! With the exception of the Primordial Elemental Beings!

But let us continue! The creations of the intuitive volition of the human spirit, the forms mentioned above, do not cease to exist when detached from their author, but continue to exist independently as long as they receive nourishment from human spirits who by nature are like-minded! It need not be the author himself. They seek an opportunity to attach themselves to this or that person who is open to their influence, or even to those whose power of resistance is weak. If evil they are the demons born of envy, hatred and all that is similar. If good they are benevolent beings which only lovingly make peace and further ascent!

With all these processes a visible earthly action by a human being is not in the least necessary; it only adds further chains or threads which must be redeemed on the gross material plane, and would require a reincarnation if redemption cannot take place in one life on earth.

These forms of the human intuitive volition have power within themselves because they come into being through spiritual volition in combination with the »neutral principal power« and, what is most important, because thereby during the process of their formation they also absorb animistic substantiality (* see Appendix), that is, that species from which gnomes and their like develop.

The volition of an animal cannot achieve this because the animal soul is not of a spiritual nature, but only animistic. Thus this is a process which only takes place with the forms of the human intuitive volition and which must therefore bring great blessings if the volition is good, but incalculable mischief if the volition is evil, because the animistic core of such forms carries its own motive power, and is thus able to influence all that is gross material. And thereby the responsibility of the human spirit becomes enormous! According to its nature its intuitive volition creates benevolent entities as well as demons!

Both are merely the products of man’s spiritual abilities in Subsequent Creation. Their cores, self-motivated and thus unpredictable in their influence, do not originate in that part of Animistic Substantiality which has the capacity to will, and from which the animal souls come, but issue from a gradation therein which does not possess the personal ability to will. In the World of Animistic Substantiality, as well as in the Spiritual Sphere above it, there are also many gradations and special species, about which I shall have to speak separately.

Let me add as a further explanation that animistic substantiality also has contact with a living power resting in Creation which, however, is not the same as the Living Power with which the volition of the human spirit is connected, but a gradation of it.

It is just these possibilities and impossibilities of combination which are the strictest maintainers of order in Subsequent Creation and bring about a firm, immutable system in all evolution and dissolution!

So far-reaching, then, is the activity of the human spirit! Now look closely at men of the present day, and you can imagine what mischief they have already done, especially when you consider the further consequences of the activity of these living forms which are let loose upon all creatures! These resemble a stone which, once it has left the hand, is no longer subject to the control and will of the thrower!

Besides these forms, the far-reaching activity and influence of which it would take a whole book to describe, there is another species which is next to and closely connected with these, but forming a weaker section. Yet it is still dangerous enough to molest many people, to hinder them and even cause them to fall! These are the forms of thoughts, that is to say, the thought-forms or phantoms.

The volition of the thoughts, being the product of the earthly brain, in contrast to the volition of the intuitive perception, does not have the ability to make direct contact with the neutral principal power resting in Creation. Therefore these forms lack the self-acting core of the intuitive forms, which later we might call »animistic shadows of the soul«. Thought-forms remain absolutely dependent upon their creator, with whom they are connected in a similar way as the forms of the intuitive volition, that is, through a cord of nourishment which simultaneously constitutes the road for the returning reciprocal actions. I have already spoken about this species in the lecture on »Thought-forms«, and therefore I need not repeat it here.

Thought-forms have the weakest effect according to the Law of Reciprocal Action. Despite this they still work dangerously enough, and can not only bring about the doom of individual human spirits, but even that of great masses! They can also contribute to the devastation of whole parts of the world as soon as they are over-nourished and over-cultivated by men, thus receiving undreamt of power, as has happened in the last few thousand years.

Thus the whole of this evil has been brought about by men alone, due to their uncontrolled and false intuitive volition and thought volition, as well as through their levity in these matters!

These two realms, the realm of the forms of the human intuitive volition and the realm of the forms of the human thought volition, in which naturally real human spirits are also forced to live, alone formed the field of action and the range of vision of the greatest »magicians« and »masters« of all time, who became entangled in them and who finally are retained there when they pass over. And what do we find today?

The »great masters of occultism«, the »enlightened ones« of so many different sects and lodges ... are no better off! They are masters only in these realms! They live amid forms of their own devising, and only there can they be »masters«, but not in the real life of the beyond! Their power and mastership never extend so far!

Pitiable people, regardless of whether they have followed the black or the white art, according to their evil or good volition ... they imagined and still believe themselves mighty in their spiritual power, whereas in reality they are less than a man ignorant in these matters! In his childlike simplicity such a man stands far above these actually low fields of activity of such »ignorant« spiritual princes, that is, he stands higher spiritually than they do!

All would be well if the retroactive effects of the work of such eminent ones could fall back upon themselves only, but such »masters« through their efforts and activities agitate these nether regions, which are of no particular importance in themselves, stirring them up unnecessarily and thereby increasing their strength, so that they become a danger to all whose resistance is weak! For others, happily, they hold no danger, because a harmless human spirit, one who enjoys his life like a child, rises without any difficulty above these nether regions, into which the pseudo-scientists burrow and probe, finally being retained there by the forms and images which they themselves have helped to strengthen!

Although this should all be taken seriously, yet seen from above it makes an unspeakably ridiculous and sad impression, entirely unworthy of the human spirit! Tricked out with ridiculous frippery and puffed up with false conceit, they creep and crawl about in this realm, busily endeavouring to animate it! A shadow-land in the truest sense, an entire world of sham, which becomes capable of deception with everything possible and impossible! And he who first conjured it into existence can in the end no longer cast it out, but must succumb to it!

Many eagerly dig and delve into these nether regions, priding themselves on the tremendous height they have reached thereby! A clear and simple human spirit, however, can pass through these nether regions without heed or further ado — there is no need to be detained there in any way!

What else shall I say about these »great ones«? Not one of them would listen to it, for in their sham world they can pretend for a time to be what, in the real existence of the living spirit, they could never hope to become, for there they must »serve«, and their desire to be master would quickly cease. For this reason many fight against it, because much is taken from them through the Truth! And they lack the courage to hear this! Who likes to have all that his imagination and vanity have created pulled down? He would indeed have to be a right and really great man! Such a person would never have fallen into these snares laid by vanity!

But there is one distressing feature — how many or, better said, how few human beings are so clear and firm within themselves, how few still command such a childlike, gay simplicity that they could safely traverse these planes, which are so wantonly created and constantly reinforced by man’s volition? For all others, however, a continually increasing danger is evoked!

If only men could at last become really seeing in these things, how much harm could be avoided! A purer intuitive perception and pure thinking on the part of every individual would soon so weaken the dark and dismal planes of the beyond that even the struggling human spirits retained there would be released the sooner, because they could more easily free themselves from their weakening surroundings!

What holds true for many great »masters« here on earth also holds true for the human spirits in the beyond. They experience everything as being quite genuine in the various environments, in the forms and images, regardless of whether it be in the lower or gloomier regions or in the already higher ethereal and more friendly regions ... fear as well as joy, despair and also liberating release ... and yet they are not in the realm of real life at all, but only they themselves are really alive! All else, their quite diversified and changing surroundings, can only exist through them and through those on earth who think as they do!

Even hell itself is but a product of the human spirits! Hell exists, it is true, and it also holds serious dangers and causes terrible suffering, but it is completely dependent on the volition of all those human beings whose intuitive perceptions supply hell with strength to exist from the neutral Divine Power which rests in Creation for the use of human spirits. Thus hell is not a Divine institution, but the work of man!

He who recognises this aright, and then consciously makes use of this knowledge, will help many, and he himself will also ascend more easily towards the Light, in which alone lies all real Life!

If men would only just open themselves once so far as to be able to perceive what a treasure rests in Creation for them! A treasure which should be discovered and unearthed by every human spirit, which means that it should be used consciously — the neutral principal power that I have so often mentioned! It makes no distinction between good or evil, but stands outside these conceptions. It simply is »Living Power«!

Every intuitive volition of a human being is the equivalent of a key to this treasure chamber and makes contact with this sublime power, the good volitions as well as the evil volitions. Both are reinforced and animated by this »power« because it immediately reacts upon the intuitive volition of the human spirit, but only upon this, and upon nothing else. Man determines the nature of the volition, this being in his hand alone. The power as such brings neither good nor evil, but is simply »power«, and it vitalises what man has willed.

It is important, however, to know that man does not bear this life-giving power within himself, but only possesses the key to it in the ability of his intuitive perception. Thus he is the steward of this creative forming power which works in accordance with his volition! For this reason he has to render account of his stewardship which he exercises every hour. But he unconsciously plays with fire in these matters like an ignorant child, and therefore causes great damage, as a child is apt to do! Yet he need not be so ignorant! That is his fault alone! All the prophets and finally the Son of God Himself tried in their parables and teachings to enlighten men on this point, to show the way they should take, and how they should intuitively perceive, think and act in order to tread the right path!

But it was in vain! Men continued to play with this tremendous power entrusted to them only in accordance with their opinions, without listening to the warnings and advice from the Light! Ultimately, therefore, they will bring about the collapse, the destruction of their works and also of themselves! For this power works in a completely neutral manner, strengthening the good as well as the evil volitions of the human spirit, and thus will not hesitate coldly to wreck the car and its driver, just as happens with any motor vehicle that is badly driven!

Surely the picture has now been made clear enough! Through their volition and thoughts men direct the destiny of the entire Subsequent Creation as well as their own, without knowing anything about it! They further either progress or decadence, they can achieve either development in the fullest harmony or that wild confusion which now reigns! Instead of building up in a reasonable manner they waste their time and energy unnecessarily in a great deal of petty trifling!

Intelligent people now call this punishment and judgment, which is correct in a certain sense. Yet it is men themselves who have forcibly brought about everything that must now happen!

Often there have been thinkers and observers who already surmised all this, but they erred when they falsely assumed that in its manifestation this power of the human spirit is a sign of personal divinity. This is an error which only originates through a one-sided judging by appearances. The human spirit is neither God nor Divine! Such wiseacres see only the external shell and not the core of the happening! They confuse the effect with the cause!

Unfortunately many false doctrines and much presumption originated from this inadequacy. Therefore let me stress once more: The Divine Power which continually permeates and rests in Creation is only lent to all human spirits. As they use it they can guide it, but they do not have it within themselves, nor is it their own! Divinity alone possesses this power, but uses it only for the good, because Divinity does not know Darkness at all. The human spirits to whom it is lent, however, only dig their own grave with it!

Therefore I once more adjure all men: Keep the hearth of your volition and our thoughts pure, and you will become peacemakers and be happy! Then at last Subsequent Creation will begin to resemble Primordial Creation, where all is Light and Joy! All this lies in the hands of man, in the capacity of every self-conscious human spirit, who will no longer remain a stranger in this Subsequent Creation.

Many of my readers and hearers will quietly wish that I should give some suitable picture of such a happening in addition to my explanations, a living illustration that would help them to understand better. Others again might think this disturbing. There may also be some who think that I would thereby weaken the seriousness of what has been said, because the reproduction of a living happening in these planes might easily be construed as a flight of fancy or clairvoyance. I already heard similar remarks when I published my lectures »The Holy Grail« and »Lucifer«. Those who investigate deeply, however, and whose spiritual ears are not closed, will understand the reason which prompts me. And the picture I wish to give about it is for these persons alone, for they will know that it is neither fantasy nor clairvoyance, but more!

Therefore let us take an example! A mother has taken her life by drowning herself, and in so doing has carried her two-year-old child to its earthly death along with her! Upon awakening in the beyond she finds herself sinking in a dismal, muddy expanse of water, for the last terrible moment of the soul has come to life in the Ethereal World. This is the place where all those who belong to the same species suffer continual torment with her in a similar way. She has the child in her arms, and it clings to its mother in deadly terror, even though she had flung it into the water before throwing herself in!

Depending on her psychic condition, she has to live through these agonising moments for a shorter or longer period, that is, she must always be on the verge of drowning but never accomplishing it, never losing consciousness! It may take decades and even longer before a genuine cry for help, uttered in pure humility, awakens in her soul! This is not so easily done, for round about her there is only what is of the same species, but no light. She hears only ghastly cursing, maledictions and coarse language, and sees nothing but the most callous brutality!

First of all there may gradually awaken within her the urge at least to protect her child from this, or to remove it from such dreadful surroundings, with their perpetual danger and torment! Trembling with fear, while still on the verge of drowning, she therefore holds her child above the stinking, slimy surface, while many another being in the vicinity clings to her and tries to drag her down into the depths!

This heavy, leaden-coloured water is composed of the thoughts of those who have committed suicide by drowning, thoughts which have not yet taken precise shape but which have come to life ethereally, as well as of the thoughts of those still on earth who harbour similar ideas. These thoughts have contact with one another and, in the process of mutual attraction, constantly reinforce each other, whereby the torment is endlessly renewed. But these waters would have to dry up if, instead of receiving reinforcements of the same nature, waves of fresh, happy and joyful thoughts would stream forth from the earth!

Grief over the child, which the maternal instinct might gradually fan into apprehensive and fearful love, receives enough strength to form the first step of salvation towards the stairway leading the mother out of the torments, which she herself created through bringing her life on earth to a premature end! In trying to save the child from the horror into which she herself has plunged it, she nourishes within herself more noble qualities which can ultimately lift her into the next and less dismal environment!

The child in her arms, however, is not in reality the living soul of the child she murdered when she dragged it into the water with herself. No such injustice would be possible! In most cases the living soul of the child is merrily gambolling about in sunny meadows, whereas the child in the arms of the struggling mother is only ... a phantom, a living form of the intuitive perception of the murderess and also ... of the intuitive perception of the child! This may be a guilt-form, arising perhaps from the pressure of a guilty conscience, or it may be a desperation-form, a hatred-form, a love-form, but whichever it is the mother imagines it to be the living child itself, because the form exactly resembles the child, also moves like it, cries like it, etc.! I do not wish to go into such details nor into their many variations!

It would be possible to describe numberless happenings, the nature of which is always bound precisely to the deeds which preceded them.

But I wish to mention one more example as to how this world is interlocked with the beyond!

Take the case of a woman or girl who, contrary to her wishes, has become pregnant and who has, as unfortunately very often happens, done something against it. Even if in specially favourable cases all went well without any bodily harm ensuing, it is not thereby simultaneously redeemed! The Ethereal World, as the environment in which the soul lives after physical death, records everything exactly and impartially.

From the moment it happened an ethereal body of the growing child has fastened itself to the ethereal neck of the unnatural mother, where it remains clinging until the deed is atoned for. Naturally the woman or girl in question does not notice this as long as she lives in her physical body here on earth. She may perhaps have an uneasy feeling now and then as a reaction, for the small ethereal body is as light as a feather in comparison with the physical body, and today most girls are much too obtuse to be able to feel this little burden! This dullness, however, is not in the least a sign of progress, nor of robust health, but indicates retrogression; it is a sign of being psychically buried!

But at the moment of physical death the weight and density of the clinging child’s body become the same in nature as that of the ethereal body of the mother (which has now left its earthly vessel), and it is thus a distinct burden! It will immediately cause as much discomfort to the ethereal body of the mother as would a child’s physical body when clinging round her neck here on earth. Depending on the nature of the happening which preceded this, it may well increase to a breath-taking agony! The mother must drag the child’s body around with her in the beyond, and she does not become free of it until mother love awakens within her and, setting aside her own comfort, she faithfully tries to labour and provide for the relief and care of the little body. Very often a long and thorny path has to be traversed to reach that point!

These happenings are naturally not without a certain tragicomic aspect! One need only imagine a man from whom the partition between this world and the beyond has been removed, entering a family gathering or a party! Perhaps there is a group of ladies sitting there in lively conversation. One of the women or »virgins«, in a tone of moral indignation, voices a disdainful opinion of her fellow-men, and all the while the visitor sees one or even several little children’s bodies hanging from the neck of this proud and zealous disclaimer! Not only that, but every other person also has the works of his real volition hanging on to him, distinctly visible, and often in the most grotesque contrast to his words, to how he wishes to appear and maintain himself before the world!

Many a judge sitting before the person on whom he passes sentence has a much greater burden of sin on his shoulders than the delinquent! How quickly his few years on earth will be over! Then he will stand before his Judge where other laws are valid! What then?

Unhappily in most cases man is easily able to deceive the Gross Material World! In the Ethereal World, however, this is impossible! Fortunately there a man must really reap what he has sown! Therefore no one need despair if here on earth injustice temporarily has the upper hand! Not one single evil thought will remain unexpiated, even when it has not developed into a physical deed!

 

THE EFFORTS of the occult schools as well as of those aiming to reform our way of living have set a high goal for themselves, the attainment of which will mean a further epoch in the development of humanity. The time when these valuable aims will be fulfilled will surely come, but the present rapidly growing efforts in this direction are only part of the process of fermentation of this new period.

While with the best of intentions the leaders of occult schools have taken an entirely wrong road in this field which is unknown to them, thereby accomplishing nothing but clearing the road to darkness and exposing mankind to increased dangers from the beyond, the so-called health reformers in their efforts to reach their valuable goal far exceed what is possible in the present time!

The activities of both parties must be directed differently! Fundamentally the psychic exercises must be carried out on a higher level than has been the practice so far. In these matters an entirely different road must be taken in order to reach the summit. The present road only leads into the undergrowth of the beyond, in which the majority of the followers are totally enveloped in darkness and dragged down!

The right way must lead upwards from the very start, and must not first lose itself in a lower environment and perhaps in an environment on the same level. These two roads are not in any way similar, but entirely different basically. The right way immediately uplifts the inner man, and thus goes upward from the very beginning, without first making contact with the ethereal environment on its own level, much less with one that is lower; for this is not necessary, as normally there should only be a striving upwards from the earth. Therefore let me again warn you seriously against all spiritual acrobatics!

During its life on earth the spirit positively needs a strong and healthy body in a normal physical condition, in order completely to fulfil the purpose of its existence. If the condition of the body is disturbed, this derangement upsets the absolutely necessary harmony between body and spirit. Only such complete harmony brings about a healthy and strong development of the Spirit, preventing the possibility of any morbid eccentricity!

Due to its normal condition a healthy and unrestrained body will always quite naturally harmonise with the spirit, thereby providing it with a firm foundation in the World of Matter. The spirit does not stand in the World of Matter without a purpose, and therefore a healthy body will give it the best help wholly to fulfil the purpose of developing itself and simultaneously furthering Creation.

Each body creates certain definite radiations which are absolutely essential to the spirit for its work in the World of Matter. Foremost of these is the so mysterious generative power, which is quite independent of sexual instinct. If the harmony between body and spirit is disturbed, the power of this penetrating radiation and emanation is drawn off in another direction, and thus weakened for its real purpose.

This hinders or paralyses the fulfilment of the purpose of the spirit during its existence in the World of Matter, and consequently it cannot achieve normal development either. At some later point in its efforts to ascend it must therefore irrevocably sink back exhausted, and in the natural course of events will have to repeat a great part of its development. For what it misses in the World of Gross Matter it cannot make up in the Ethereal World, because there it does not have the radiations of its physical body at its disposal. It must go back in order to fill this gap!

Such a clear objectivity is to be found in these events, such naturalness and simplicity, that it just cannot be any different! Every child will understand this and take it for granted once it has grasped the basic laws aright! It will require a whole series of lectures to bring the vast Creation so close to mankind that they can survey all the great web of events and trace all the accompanying threads and influences in this incomparably glorious lawfulness.

There are many ways in which this generative power so necessary for the spirit in the World of Matter can be diverted; through over-indulgence in sexual intercourse, or even merely by stimulating the desire for it; also through occult training or wrong psychic exercises in which the spirit forcibly appropriates this power of the mature body, only to dissipate it in this false and unnecessary activity. In both cases it is a wrong application, which will also gradually bring in its train a weakening of the physical body!

In turn the weakened body can then no longer send forth such strong radiations as are really needed by the spirit, and thus each becomes more and more ill through the other. This produces a one-sidedness which is always detrimental to the right goal and therefore harmful. Here I do not wish to deal with other by-paths on which the spirit also absorbs too much of the generative power for wrong purposes, such as through the reading of books which conjure up a false world in the imagination, and so on, as a result of which there is not enough power left for the main purpose.

In all these cases the spirit arrives in the Ethereal World still immature and also takes a weak ethereal body along with it. The consequences of such earthly sins are so decisive for his entire existence that every man must atone for them heavily in manifold ways! Such a delay and such false actions during his time on earth cling to a man, hinder him and become ever heavier until, as already mentioned, at one point in his ascent he can continue no further and sinks back to the place where he began his wrongdoing! This is the borderline up to which he still possessed his harmony.

The strength a spirit has cultivated through occult training at the cost of the body is also only apparent. The spirit then is actually not strong, but like a hot-house plant which can hardly withstand a wind, much less a storm! Such a spirit is sick, and not advanced. Its condition resembles that of artificially produced fever. Periodically the fever patient may have considerable strength at his command, only to relapse into even greater weakness. What lasts only seconds or minutes in the case of a fever patient, lasts decades or centuries in the case of the spirit. The moment arrives when all this comes home to it bitterly!

Harmony is the only right thing in every case! And harmony is only to be found in the middle way! When the beauty and power of harmony are so much extolled, why is it not approved in these matters and why is everything done to destroy it?

The way all occult training has been carried out so far is wrong, even though the goal is a high and necessary one!

The case is quite different with the leaders and adherents of the movements aimed at reforming our way of living. Although they are on the right road, they wish to accomplish already today what will only be proper for future generations, and for this reason they are at present no less dangerous in their ultimate influence on most human beings. The necessary transition is lacking! The time to begin is now at hand, but one must not jump into it with both feet without further ado! Man must be gradually led to accept it! Decades do not suffice for this! As practised today, the rapidity of the transition actually causes a weakening of the body, even if it appears to be in good health. And a body weakened in this way will never be able to regain its vigour!

Vegetarianism! It is quite true that it brings about a refinement of the human body, ennobling it and also strengthening it and helping it towards a good recovery! The spirit is also still further uplifted thereby. But all this is not meant to be adopted immediately by mankind of the present day! In all these efforts and struggles circumspect leadership is lacking!

The human body of today should on no account be suddenly subjected to a vegetarian diet, as is so often tried! It is quite good when used temporarily, and perhaps even for years at a time in the case of sick people; indeed, it may even be necessary in order to cure some ailment, or to assist in one-sidedly strengthening some physical organ, but it must not be lasting. If his body is to maintain its full vigour the patient must gradually return to the diet to which he is so much accustomed today. The appearance of well-being is deceptive!

Certainly it is very beneficial if healthy people also adopt a strict vegetarian diet for a time. Without doubt they will feel well and will also feel a free soaring upward of the spirit. This, however, is the result of the change, just as every change is refreshing, spiritually as well!

If, however, they suddenly start this one-sided diet on a permanent basis, they will not notice that they are actually becoming weaker and much more sensitive over many things. In most cases the attributes of composure and equanimity do not indicate strength, but a definite kind of weakness. This shows itself in an agreeable manner and has nothing depressing about it, because it does not originate from any disease!

This equanimity resembles the equanimity of healthy old age where only the body is becoming weaker. At least it resembles this sort of weakness much more than the weakness resulting from illness! Suddenly deprived of what it has been accustomed to for thousands of years, the body cannot produce the generative power the spirit needs for the full accomplishment of its purpose in the World of Matter.

Many confirmed vegetarians notice this in a slight abatement of their sexual instinct, which they joyfully acclaim as progress. But this is by no means a sign that their spirit has been ennobled through vegetarian diet, only that their generative power has been lowered, which must subsequently lessen their spiritual capacity to soar upwards in the World of Matter.

The errors about this continue to grow, because man almost invariably sees only what is closest to him. Certainly it is to be welcomed, and may be regarded as a measure of progress, if by ennobling the spirit the baser sexual instinct is greatly moderated compared with what it is today! It is also true that eating meat aggravates sexual desire, but in these matters we must not judge by mankind of today, for in their case the sexual instinct has been cultivated one-sidedly and abnormally! It is altogether unnatural today. However, this cannot be attributed to the enjoyment of meat alone!

The moderation of the sexual instinct is by no means dependent on the lessening of the generative power. On the contrary, the latter is able to help the human spirit advance, and liberate it from its dependence upon the coarse instinct, which is so marked today. In fact, the generative power is the best means to accomplish this!

The first step in the transition is to restrict oneself only to white meat such as poultry, veal, lamb, and so on, together with an increased amount of vegetable food.

»Do not neglect your body!« I would call out as a warning to the one party! And »Think of your spirit!« I would say to the other party! The right way will then grow out of the present-day confusion!

 

HEALING by magnetism is taking a leading role in the further development of the human race.

When I speak of magnetopaths I only mean serious practitioners who are prepared to help mankind with an honest volition. Not the group of those who, with a low average radiation, make many words and mysterious gestures, and imagine that they are accomplishing great things!

There is a nervous disquiet in the ranks of those courageous pioneers who for many years and in numerous cases have brought to their fellow-men the best earthly gift they could bring — recovery from many an illness through the so-called magnetism of their bodies, or through the transmission of similar currents from the Ethereal World, the beyond!

Unfortunately there are continued and repeated attempts to represent the whole class of magnetopaths as inferior, if not even worse, to hinder them and to suppress them! With much clamour their opponents magnify out of all proportion the individual exceptions where a low desire for money-making created dishonest characters, or where fraudulent intentions were the basis from the beginning, but in those cases this beautiful gift did not even exist with those who »practised« it!

Just look around you! Where do you not find impostors and swindlers? You will find them everywhere — even more so in other vocations! For this reason the deliberate injustice characterising such enmity immediately makes itself clear to everyone!

But envy, and still more fear, causes the number of opponents and enemies to increase. Naturally this art of healing cannot be acquired at beer and wine orgies!

It demands serious and, above all, abstemious and healthy human beings!

This perhaps is the deepest root of all the envy, of which the great animosity is a consequence, for today such conditions are not so easily fulfilled. And what has once been neglected in this respect cannot be retrieved!

Besides, the genuine, strong healing power cannot be acquired by learning. It is a gift, which ordained the one thus gifted as a »called one«!

He who wishes to suppress such people proves that he is not interested in the welfare of humanity, much less has it in his heart. He thereby burdens himself with a guilt which must become fatal to him!

The little group of courageous pioneers need have no fear, for the obstacles are only temporary! In truth they are a sure sign of an early, joyful and proud ascent!

 

IF YOU study mankind you will find that they fall into different groups. There is one group which lives exclusively in the past. That is to say, they begin to understand an event only when it is past! As a result they can neither truly rejoice about something that is happening, nor intuitively perceive its full gravity. Only afterwards do they begin to talk about it, to enthuse about it, or to feel regret. And while constantly speaking of the past, either feeling happy about it or lamenting it, they continually overlook present events. Such must first become old and past before they begin to value them!

Again, there is another group which lives in the future! They set all their wishes and hopes on the future, and thereby forget that the present has so much to offer them. They also forget to bestir themselves sufficiently to enable many of their dreams about the future to become reality!

Both groups, to which the majority of men belong, have not, so to speak, really lived on earth at all; they just fritter away their time!

Then there will be men who, on hearing the call to »live in the present«, will imagine something entirely wrong, thinking perhaps that I would encourage them to relish and enjoy every moment, and incite them to live in a somewhat frivolous way! There are more than enough of these sauntering through life, senselessly indulging the moment in this fashion!

With this call I do indeed encourage the full enjoyment of every minute, but inwardly, not only outwardly! Every single hour of the present must become a real experience for a human being, sorrow as well as joy! In all his reflection, his thinking and his intuition he must be open to the present moment, and thus awake! Only in this way can he profit from his life on earth as it is meant that he should! Neither in his thoughts about the past, nor in his dreams of the future, can he find real experiences so strong as to impress his spirit with a stamp which he can take over with him into the beyond as something gained!

If he does not live in the present he cannot mature, for maturing depends on experiencing only!

If during his life on earth he has not always experienced the present within himself, then he will return empty-handed. He must therefore once more wander through the time he lost, because he was not awake and did not gain anything for himself through experiencing!

Life on earth is like one step in the entire existence of a man, but so great that he cannot omit it. Unless he sets his foot firmly and securely on this step, it will be quite impossible for him to ascend to the next one, for he needs the first as a foundation!

If a man will envisage his whole existence as it rises upwards in steps, beginning from this earth and returning to the Light, it must then become clear that he cannot reach the next step unless he has stood firmly upon the previous one and fulfilled what awaited him there properly! It should even be expressed more strongly: Only through the complete and absolute fulfilment of each step to be experienced can the next higher one develop itself. Experiencing alone serves to give a man maturity, and if he does not fully experience on the step on which he happens to be, then the new step will not become visible to him, because for this to happen he needs the experiencing of the previous step. Only when he is equipped with these experiences does he receive the power to recognise and ascend to the next higher step!

And so it goes on from one step to another! If he keeps his eyes fixed only on the high goal, without paying careful attention to the individual steps leading him there, he will never reach it. The steps which he must build for his own ascent would then be far too unsubstantial and flimsy and would collapse when he tried to climb them.

But there is always a safeguard against this danger in the natural course of events, inasmuch as the next step can only develop after the complete fulfilment of the present step. Thus he who does not wish to spend half his existence standing upon one and the same step, nor constantly to return there, should force himself always to belong completely to the present, to grasp it aright deep within himself, and to experience it so that he gains spiritually from it!

Neither will he lose from a worldly point of view, for the first advantage he gains is not to expect either from the people or from the time more than they can really give him! Thus he will never be disappointed, and also remain in harmony with his environment!

If, on the other hand, he lives only in the past or dreams only of the future, his expectations will easily reach beyond the compass of the present, which must bring him into disharmony with his time, not only making him suffer but also his nearer surroundings!

It is right to think of the past in order to learn the lessons it teaches, and also to dream of the future to receive encouragement therefrom, but in the present one must do nothing but live fully and consciously!