The Foundation Stone Meditation
This Meditation was given by Rudolf Steiner on December 25, 1923 in Dornach, Switzerland, during the Christmas Conference for the founding of the General Anthroposophical Society. It was first published in the Nachrichtenblatt of the Society, Number 1, 13th January , 1924. The Meditation was given to members for ongoing, lifelong meditation, to help them - if they were so moved to - lay the foundations of this new Society in their own hearts. This revised translation by George Adams, assisted by Dr. Maria Roeschel-Lehrs, Miss E Hearsy, Dr. E Lehrs and Dr. A Heidenreich, was first published in 1942, and included in the book "The Foundation Stone", London 1957. Newcomers to anthroposophy may meet certain unfamiliar terms and concepts in the verse. Clarification can be found in various places in Rudolf Steiner's spiritual scientific work ; but much can also be gained simply by closely contemplating it - again and again over time - in a direct and phenomenological way.
This Meditation was given by Rudolf Steiner on December 25, 1923 in Dornach, Switzerland, during the Christmas Conference for the founding of the General Anthroposophical Society. It was first published in the Nachrichtenblatt of the Society, Number 1, 13th January , 1924. The Meditation was given to members for ongoing, lifelong meditation, to help them - if they were so moved to - lay the foundations of this new Society in their own hearts. This revised translation by George Adams, assisted by Dr. Maria Roeschel-Lehrs, Miss E Hearsy, Dr. E Lehrs and Dr. A Heidenreich, was first published in 1942, and included in the book "The Foundation Stone", London 1957. Newcomers to anthroposophy may meet certain unfamiliar terms and concepts in the verse. Clarification can be found in various places in Rudolf Steiner's spiritual scientific work ; but much can also be gained simply by closely contemplating it - again and again over time - in a direct and phenomenological way.
The Foundation Stone Meditation
"The Foundation Stone of Love"
Soul of Man !
Thou livest in the Limbs
Which bear thee through the world of Space
Into the ocean-being of the Spirit.
Practice Spirit-recollection
In depths of Soul
Where in the wielding
World-Creator-Life
Thine own I
Comes to being
Within the I of God.
Then in the All-World-Being of Man
Thou wilt truly live.
For the Father-Spirit of the Heights holds sway
In Depths of Worlds begetting Life.
Spirits of Strength !
Let this ring out from the Heights
And in the Depths be echoed,
Speaking :
From God, Mankind has being.
The Spirits hear it in East and West and North and South :
May human beings hear it !
Soul of Man !
Thou livest in the beat of Heart and Lung
Which leads thee through the rhythmic tides of time
Into the feeling of thine own Soul-being.
Practice Spirit-mindfulness
In balance of the Soul,
Where the surging
Deeds of the World's Becoming
Do thine own I
Unite
Unto the I of the World.
Then 'mid the weaving of the Soul of Man
Thou wilt truly feel.
For the Christ-Will in the encircling Round holds sway
In the Rhythms of the Worlds, blessing the Soul.
Spirits of Light !
Let this be fired from the East
And through the West be formed,
Speaking :
In Christ, Death becomes Life.
The Spirits hear it in East and West and North and South :
May human beings hear it !
Soul of Man !
Thou livest in the Resting Head
Which from the ground of the Eternal
Opens to thee the Thoughts of Worlds.
Practice Spirit-vision
In quietness of Thought,
Where the eternal aims of Gods
World-Being’s Light
On thine own I
Bestow
For thy free Willing.
Then from the ground of the Spirit in Man
Thou wilt truly think.
For the Spirit's Universal Thoughts hold sway
In the Being of all Worlds, craving for Light.
Spirits of Soul !
Let this be prayed in the Depths
And from the Heights be answered,
Speaking :
In the Spirit's Universal Thoughts, the Soul awakens.
The Spirits hear it in East and West and North and South :
May human beings hear it !
At the turning-point of time
The Spirit-Light of the World
Entered the stream of Earthly Being.
Darkness of Night
Had held its sway ;
Day-radiant Light
Poured in the souls of men ;
Light that gives Warmth
To simple Shepherds’ Hearts,
Light that enlightens
The wise heads of Kings.
O Light Divine,
O Sun of Christ !
Warm Thou
Our Hearts,
Enlighten Thou
Our Heads,
That Good may become
What from our Hearts we would found
And from our Heads direct
With single purpose.
The Daily Rhythms
Wednesday
Practice Spirit-recollection
In depths of Soul
Where in the wielding
World-Creator-Life
Thine own I
Comes to being
Within the I of God.
Practice Spirit-mindfulness
In balance of the Soul,
Where the surging
Deeds of the World's Becoming
Do thine own I
Unite
Unto the I of the World.
Practice Spirit-vision
In quietness of Thought,
Where the eternal aims of Gods
World-Being’s Light
On thine own I
Bestow
For thy free Willing.
Thursday
Thine own I
Comes to being
Within the I of God.
Then in the All-World-Being of Man
Thou wilt truly live.
Thine own I
Unite
Unto the I of the World.
Then 'mid the weaving of the Soul of Man
Thou wilt truly feel.
World-Being’s Light
On thine own I
Bestow
For thy free Willing.
Then from the ground of the Spirit in Man
Thou wilt truly think.
Friday
In the Being of all Worlds, craving for Light.
Practice Spirit-mindfulness
In balance of the Soul
For the Christ-Will in the encircling Round holds sway
In the Rhythms of the Worlds, blessing the Soul.
Practice Spirit-vision
In quietness of Thought
For the Spirit's Universal Thoughts hold sway
In the Being of all Worlds, craving for Light.
Saturday
Practice Spirit-recollection
In depths of Soul
Spirits of Strength !
Let this ring out from the Heights
And in the Depths be echoed,
Speaking :
From God, Mankind has being.
Practice Spirit-mindfulness
In balance of the Soul
Spirits of Light !
Let this be fired from the East
And through the West be formed,
Speaking :
In Christ, Death becomes Life.
Practice Spirit-vision
In quietness of Thought
Spirits of Soul !
Let this be prayed in the Depths
And from the Heights be answered,
Speaking :
In the Spirit's Universal Thoughts, the Soul awakens.
Sunday
Practice Spirit-recollection
In depths of Soul
Practice Spirit-mindfulness
In balance of the Soul
Practice Spirit-vision
In quietness of Thought
That Good may become
What from our Hearts we would found
And from our Heads direct
With single purpose.
Monday
O Light Divine
O Sun of Christ
The Spirits hear it
in East and West and North and South
May human beings hear it !
Tuesday
Thou livest in the limbs
For the Father-Spirit of the Heights holds sway
In Depths of Worlds begetting Life.
Thou livest in the beat of heart and lung
For the Christ-Will in the encircling Round holds sway
In the Rhythms of the Worlds, blessing the Soul.
Thou livest in the resting head
For the Spirit's Universal Thoughts hold sway
In the Being of all Worlds, craving for Light.
Spirits of Soul !
"The Foundation Stone of Love"
Soul of Man !
Thou livest in the Limbs
Which bear thee through the world of Space
Into the ocean-being of the Spirit.
Practice Spirit-recollection
In depths of Soul
Where in the wielding
World-Creator-Life
Thine own I
Comes to being
Within the I of God.
Then in the All-World-Being of Man
Thou wilt truly live.
For the Father-Spirit of the Heights holds sway
In Depths of Worlds begetting Life.
Spirits of Strength !
Let this ring out from the Heights
And in the Depths be echoed,
Speaking :
From God, Mankind has being.
The Spirits hear it in East and West and North and South :
May human beings hear it !
Soul of Man !
Thou livest in the beat of Heart and Lung
Which leads thee through the rhythmic tides of time
Into the feeling of thine own Soul-being.
Practice Spirit-mindfulness
In balance of the Soul,
Where the surging
Deeds of the World's Becoming
Do thine own I
Unite
Unto the I of the World.
Then 'mid the weaving of the Soul of Man
Thou wilt truly feel.
For the Christ-Will in the encircling Round holds sway
In the Rhythms of the Worlds, blessing the Soul.
Spirits of Light !
Let this be fired from the East
And through the West be formed,
Speaking :
In Christ, Death becomes Life.
The Spirits hear it in East and West and North and South :
May human beings hear it !
Soul of Man !
Thou livest in the Resting Head
Which from the ground of the Eternal
Opens to thee the Thoughts of Worlds.
Practice Spirit-vision
In quietness of Thought,
Where the eternal aims of Gods
World-Being’s Light
On thine own I
Bestow
For thy free Willing.
Then from the ground of the Spirit in Man
Thou wilt truly think.
For the Spirit's Universal Thoughts hold sway
In the Being of all Worlds, craving for Light.
Spirits of Soul !
Let this be prayed in the Depths
And from the Heights be answered,
Speaking :
In the Spirit's Universal Thoughts, the Soul awakens.
The Spirits hear it in East and West and North and South :
May human beings hear it !
At the turning-point of time
The Spirit-Light of the World
Entered the stream of Earthly Being.
Darkness of Night
Had held its sway ;
Day-radiant Light
Poured in the souls of men ;
Light that gives Warmth
To simple Shepherds’ Hearts,
Light that enlightens
The wise heads of Kings.
O Light Divine,
O Sun of Christ !
Warm Thou
Our Hearts,
Enlighten Thou
Our Heads,
That Good may become
What from our Hearts we would found
And from our Heads direct
With single purpose.
The Daily Rhythms
Wednesday
Practice Spirit-recollection
In depths of Soul
Where in the wielding
World-Creator-Life
Thine own I
Comes to being
Within the I of God.
Practice Spirit-mindfulness
In balance of the Soul,
Where the surging
Deeds of the World's Becoming
Do thine own I
Unite
Unto the I of the World.
Practice Spirit-vision
In quietness of Thought,
Where the eternal aims of Gods
World-Being’s Light
On thine own I
Bestow
For thy free Willing.
Thursday
Thine own I
Comes to being
Within the I of God.
Then in the All-World-Being of Man
Thou wilt truly live.
Thine own I
Unite
Unto the I of the World.
Then 'mid the weaving of the Soul of Man
Thou wilt truly feel.
World-Being’s Light
On thine own I
Bestow
For thy free Willing.
Then from the ground of the Spirit in Man
Thou wilt truly think.
Friday
- Practice Spirit-recollection
In depths of Soul
In the Being of all Worlds, craving for Light.
Practice Spirit-mindfulness
In balance of the Soul
For the Christ-Will in the encircling Round holds sway
In the Rhythms of the Worlds, blessing the Soul.
Practice Spirit-vision
In quietness of Thought
For the Spirit's Universal Thoughts hold sway
In the Being of all Worlds, craving for Light.
Saturday
Practice Spirit-recollection
In depths of Soul
Spirits of Strength !
Let this ring out from the Heights
And in the Depths be echoed,
Speaking :
From God, Mankind has being.
Practice Spirit-mindfulness
In balance of the Soul
Spirits of Light !
Let this be fired from the East
And through the West be formed,
Speaking :
In Christ, Death becomes Life.
Practice Spirit-vision
In quietness of Thought
Spirits of Soul !
Let this be prayed in the Depths
And from the Heights be answered,
Speaking :
In the Spirit's Universal Thoughts, the Soul awakens.
Sunday
Practice Spirit-recollection
In depths of Soul
Practice Spirit-mindfulness
In balance of the Soul
Practice Spirit-vision
In quietness of Thought
That Good may become
What from our Hearts we would found
And from our Heads direct
With single purpose.
Monday
O Light Divine
O Sun of Christ
The Spirits hear it
in East and West and North and South
May human beings hear it !
Tuesday
Thou livest in the limbs
For the Father-Spirit of the Heights holds sway
In Depths of Worlds begetting Life.
Thou livest in the beat of heart and lung
For the Christ-Will in the encircling Round holds sway
In the Rhythms of the Worlds, blessing the Soul.
Thou livest in the resting head
For the Spirit's Universal Thoughts hold sway
In the Being of all Worlds, craving for Light.
Spirits of Soul !
Mystery Knowledge and Mystery Centers
Preparing for the 1923 Christmas Foundation Conference
Mystery Knowledge and Mystery Centers is a cycle of 14 lectures by Rudolf Steiner (CW 232), given in the month before the 1923 Conference, in preparation for the refounding of the Anthroposophical Society. Again for those new to Steiner's work, bear in mind : these lectures were given to audiences in many cases deeply familiar with his ideas and terminology - some for as long as 20 years or more. To newcomers to anthroposophy, this may seem like deep water ; but if it resonates strongly for you, find your way in. Be assured that there are also other, perhaps more introductory ways to meet Rudolf Steiner's spiritual scientific and practical work - some of which you can investigate here. In any case, take heart and persevere, as among serious modern spiritual researchers, Rudolf Steiner may prove among the most transparent to earnest study.
For the brave and committed, the book Mystery Knowledge and Mystery Centers can be bought at Rudolf Steiner Press here , read for free at Rudolf Steiner Archive here or listened to on audio at Rudolf Steiner Audio here. Audios of the individual lectures of this cycle are also linked below. Please note that Rudolf Steiner Archive and Rudolf Steiner Audio offer great services for free - but also rely on donations for funding. g If you appreciate their work, or use their websites often, we heartily recommend donating !
Click here to visit the overview page of audios for this lecture cycle ; or listen to the individual lectures here :
Lecture 1 Concerning the Soul-Life of Man, and the Perception of the Spiritual Foundations of the World - The Experience of Thinking - The Experience of Feeling - The Experience of Gesture. (November 23, 1923)
Lecture 2 The Activity of the Soul-Nature in Physical Man - The Influence of the Luciferic and the Ahrimanic Beings on Man and in Nature - Heredity and Adaptation to Environment (November 24, 1923)
Lecture 3 Identification with the Inner Life of Nature, through Imagination and Will - The Life of Memory - The Being of Gesture and of Physiognomy - Experience of Day and Year - Summer-Will and Winter-Will. (November 25, 1923)
Lecture 4 THE EPHESIAN MYSTERIES OF ARTEMIS. The Connection of Man with the Earth-Planet - The Crystal Covering of the Earth - The Speech of the Metals - The Backward-Raying Forces of the Metals, and the Connection between Earth-lives. (November 30, 1923)
Lecture 5 Mineral and Plant-Animal Creation - The Previous Earth-Atmosphere - Plants as Gifts of Heaven - Animals as Earth-Forms - The Cosmic Memory of the Metals. (December 1, 1923)
Lecture 6 The Ephesian Mysteries of Artemis. (December 2, 1923)
Lecture 8 The Being of the Hibernian Mysteries. (December 8, 1923)
Lecture 9 The Great Mysteries of Hibernia. (December 9, 1923)
Lecture 10 THE CHTHONIC AND THE ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES. The Transition from Plato to Aristotle. (December 14, 1923)
Lecture 11 The Secret of Plants, of Metals, and of Men. (December 15, 1923)
Lecture 12 The Mysteries of the Samothracian Kabiri. (December 21, 1923)
Lecture 13 Transition from the Spirit of the Ancient Mysteries to the Spirit of the Mysteries of the Middle Ages. (December 22, 1923)
Lecture 14 Human Soul-Strivings During the Middle Ages the Rosicrucian Mysteries. (December 23, 1923)
Preparing for the 1923 Christmas Foundation Conference
Mystery Knowledge and Mystery Centers is a cycle of 14 lectures by Rudolf Steiner (CW 232), given in the month before the 1923 Conference, in preparation for the refounding of the Anthroposophical Society. Again for those new to Steiner's work, bear in mind : these lectures were given to audiences in many cases deeply familiar with his ideas and terminology - some for as long as 20 years or more. To newcomers to anthroposophy, this may seem like deep water ; but if it resonates strongly for you, find your way in. Be assured that there are also other, perhaps more introductory ways to meet Rudolf Steiner's spiritual scientific and practical work - some of which you can investigate here. In any case, take heart and persevere, as among serious modern spiritual researchers, Rudolf Steiner may prove among the most transparent to earnest study.
For the brave and committed, the book Mystery Knowledge and Mystery Centers can be bought at Rudolf Steiner Press here , read for free at Rudolf Steiner Archive here or listened to on audio at Rudolf Steiner Audio here. Audios of the individual lectures of this cycle are also linked below. Please note that Rudolf Steiner Archive and Rudolf Steiner Audio offer great services for free - but also rely on donations for funding. g If you appreciate their work, or use their websites often, we heartily recommend donating !
Click here to visit the overview page of audios for this lecture cycle ; or listen to the individual lectures here :
Lecture 1 Concerning the Soul-Life of Man, and the Perception of the Spiritual Foundations of the World - The Experience of Thinking - The Experience of Feeling - The Experience of Gesture. (November 23, 1923)
Lecture 2 The Activity of the Soul-Nature in Physical Man - The Influence of the Luciferic and the Ahrimanic Beings on Man and in Nature - Heredity and Adaptation to Environment (November 24, 1923)
Lecture 3 Identification with the Inner Life of Nature, through Imagination and Will - The Life of Memory - The Being of Gesture and of Physiognomy - Experience of Day and Year - Summer-Will and Winter-Will. (November 25, 1923)
Lecture 4 THE EPHESIAN MYSTERIES OF ARTEMIS. The Connection of Man with the Earth-Planet - The Crystal Covering of the Earth - The Speech of the Metals - The Backward-Raying Forces of the Metals, and the Connection between Earth-lives. (November 30, 1923)
Lecture 5 Mineral and Plant-Animal Creation - The Previous Earth-Atmosphere - Plants as Gifts of Heaven - Animals as Earth-Forms - The Cosmic Memory of the Metals. (December 1, 1923)
Lecture 6 The Ephesian Mysteries of Artemis. (December 2, 1923)
Lecture 8 The Being of the Hibernian Mysteries. (December 8, 1923)
Lecture 9 The Great Mysteries of Hibernia. (December 9, 1923)
Lecture 10 THE CHTHONIC AND THE ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES. The Transition from Plato to Aristotle. (December 14, 1923)
Lecture 11 The Secret of Plants, of Metals, and of Men. (December 15, 1923)
Lecture 12 The Mysteries of the Samothracian Kabiri. (December 21, 1923)
Lecture 13 Transition from the Spirit of the Ancient Mysteries to the Spirit of the Mysteries of the Middle Ages. (December 22, 1923)
Lecture 14 Human Soul-Strivings During the Middle Ages the Rosicrucian Mysteries. (December 23, 1923)