Apocalyptic Seals: Difference between revisions

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And in the end there will be the Word, and creation is a realisation of the Word; and what man will bring forth in the future will be a realisation of what is Word today. But then man will no longer have such a physical form as he has today; he will have advanced to that form which was on Saturn, to fire matter. Thus the creative power at the beginning of the world's evolution unites with our own creative power at the end of the world's evolution.
And in the end there will be the Word, and creation is a realisation of the Word; and what man will bring forth in the future will be a realisation of what is Word today. But then man will no longer have such a physical form as he has today; he will have advanced to that form which was on Saturn, to fire matter. Thus the creative power at the beginning of the world's evolution unites with our own creative power at the end of the world's evolution.


That Being who has spoken out into the world all that is in it today is the great archetype of man. It has spoken out into the world Saturn, the Sun, the Moon, the Earth - in its two halves Mars-Mercury - Jupiter, Venus. This is indicated by the seven stars; they are a sign of the height to which man can develop. In the fire-matter the planet will be again in the end; and man will be able to speak creatively in this fire-matter: that is the fiery sword that will protrude from his mouth. Everything will be fiery, hence the feet of molten ore.|284|74f}}  
That Being who has spoken out into the world all that is in it today is the great archetype of man. It has spoken out into the world Saturn, the Sun, the Moon, the Earth - in its two halves Mars-Mercury - Jupiter, Venus. This is indicated by the seven stars; they are a sign of the height to which man can develop. In the fire-matter the planet will be again in the end; and man will be able to speak creatively in this fire-matter: that is the fiery sword that will protrude from his mouth. Everything will be fiery, hence the feet of molten ore.|284|74f}}
 
=== Seal II ===
[[File:Siegel 02 (Tafel VIII) AS.jpg|thumb|Second apocalyptic seal]]
 
"The second seal, with the corresponding accessories, represents one of the first states of development of earth humanity. In its primeval times, this earthly humanity had not yet developed what is called the individual soul. At that time there was still present what is still found in the animals: the group soul. Whoever can trace the old human group souls on the astral plan by means of imaginative clairvoyance will find the four types of them which are represented in the four apocalyptic animals of the second seal: the lion, the bull, the eagle, the man. This touches the truth of what is often so dryly allegorically 'interpreted' in the four beasts." (Lit.:GA 34, p. 597)
 
"Seal II represents one of the first states of development of earth humanity, with all that belongs to it. In the distant primeval times man on earth did not yet have what is called the individual soul. At that time he had what the animals of an earlier stage of human development still have today: the group soul. If, by means of imaginative clairvoyance, the human group souls are traced on the astral plane in retrospect to prehistoric times, it is found that the various forms of these can be traced back to four basic types. And these are represented in the four apocalyptic animals of the second seal: the lion, the bull, the eagle and that figure which also approaches the individual soul of the present man as a group soul, and which is therefore also called: the "man". This touches the truth of what is often so dryly 'interpreted' allegorically in the four animals." (Lit.:GA 284, p. 93)
 
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version) 


==Literature==
==Literature==

Revision as of 04:44, 4 May 2022

The Apocalyptic Seals were designed by Miss Clara Rettich according to Rudolf Steiner's sketches for the Congress of the "Federation of European Sections of the Theosophical Society", which took place in Munich from 18 - 21 May 1907. The planetary columns between the seal images were created by Karl Stahl.

The meaning of the seals

"The Seven Seals of Saint John", in: Éliphas Lévi: Dogme et rituel de la haute magie, vol. 2, Paris 1861, p. 364.

According to occult tradition, the seven apocalyptic seals are not directly those seals which are broken at the opening of the book with the seven seals mentioned in Rev 5:1–14. Rather, the apocalyptic seals span a much wider range and represent the imaginatively seen astral archetypes of the entire evolution of humanity on earth in symbolic form. The capitals of the seven planetary columns, on the other hand, represent the level of the spiritual primordial tones or elementary forces, which can only be grasped through inspiration, in plastic forms. Through their transformation of form from pillar to pillar, they give a vivid picture of the planetary stages of world evolution. Due to the limited possibilities, however, the columns for the congress in Munich could initially only be executed as paintings. It was not until 1908/09 that the motifs of the planetary columns were realised in the model building in Malsch, which was built according to Rudolf Steiner's ideas. They were only created in full size for the First Goetheanum.

When designing the first six seal images, Rudolf Steiner was guided by the seals on the Apocalypse shown by the French occultist Éliphas Lévi (1810-1875) in his work Dogme et rituel de la haute magie.[1] Steiner designed the seventh seal, which establishes the reference to the New Jerusalem, entirely independently.[2] He said about the deeper meaning of the seal images:

„They are not arbitrary "symbols" which can be interpreted intellectually, but spiritual-scientific "signs" which must be taken as they correspond to true spiritual science. This does not invent such "signs" out of the intellect or the arbitrary imagination, but only reproduces in them what is really present to spiritual perception in the supersensible worlds. No speculation, no explanation of the intellect, however witty, is appropriate in relation to such signs, since they are not invented but merely provide a description of what the so-called 'seer' perceives in the invisible worlds. The signs reproduced here are descriptions of experiences of the "astral" and the "spiritual" (devachanic) world. The "seals" of the first seven panels represent such real facts of the astral world, and the seven "pillars" represent such facts of the spiritual world. But while the seals directly represent the experiences of "spiritual seeing", this is not the case in the same way with the seven pillars. For the perceptions of the spiritual world cannot be compared with "seeing" but rather with "spiritual hearing". It is important not to think of this as being too similar to "hearing" in the physical world, for although it can be compared to it, it is still very dissimilar. The experiences of this spiritual hearing can only be expressed in a picture if they are translated from "sound" into form. This is what has happened with these "pillars", whose essence can only be understood if one thinks of the forms as plastic (not painted).

In the sense of spiritual science, the causes of the things of the physical world lie in the supersensible, the invisible. What reveals itself physically has its archetypes in the astral world and its spiritual primal forces (primal tones) in the spiritual world. The seven seals give the astral archetypes of the development of humanity on earth in the sense of spiritual science. When the "seer" on the "astral plane" follows this development into the times of the distant past and the distant future, it presents itself to him in the given seven seal pictures. He has nothing to invent, but merely to understand the facts which he perceives spiritually...“ (Lit.:GA 284, p. 91)

„The most significant of the symbols that we have at all, and which has been recognised as such by all occultists of all times, is the human being himself. The human being has always been called a microcosm, a small world. And rightly so, for he who gets to know man closely and intimately becomes more and more aware of the fact that in him is contained, in what might be called a miniaturisation, everything, everything that is spread out in the rest of nature outside. This is perhaps difficult to understand at first, but if you think about it, you will understand what is meant by it: all substances and forces are found in the human being, as a kind of extract, excerpt from the rest of nature. If you study any plant with regard to its essence and can only investigate deeply enough, you will find that in the human organism there is something of this same essence, however small. And if you take an animal outside: you will always be able to prove something in the human organism which, in its essence, looks like something that has been taken into the human organism in a certain way [...]

Paracelsus used a very beautiful comparison for this connection between man and nature. He says: "It is as if the individual beings in nature were the letters, but man were the word composed of these letters. Outside the big world: the macrocosm, inside us the small world: the microcosm. Outside, each exists for itself, in the human being it is determined by the harmony in which it is placed with the other organs. And for this very reason we can illustrate in the human being the development of our whole universe, in so far as it belongs to us.“ (Lit.:GA 284, p. 73)

Seal I

First apocalyptic seal

„The first seal represents man's entire development on earth in the most general way. In the Revelation of St. John it is indicated by the words: "And when I turned, I saw seven candlesticks of gold, and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like the son of man, clothed in a long robe, and girded about the breast with a girdle of gold. And his head and his hair were white as white wool, as the snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet were as brass burning in the furnace; and his voice was as the sound of great waters; and he had seven stars in his right hand; and out of his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and his face shone as the bright sun." In general terms, such words point to the most comprehensive secrets of the development of mankind. If one wanted to describe in detail what each of these deeply significant words contains, one would have to write a thick volume. Our seal is a pictorial representation of this. Among the bodily organs and forms of expression of man there are those which in their present form represent the descending stages of development of earlier forms, which have therefore already passed their degree of perfection; others, however, represent the initial stages of development; they are now, as it were, the preparations for what they are to become in the future. The occult scientist must know these secrets of development. The organ of speech represents an organ which in the future will be something much higher and more perfect than it is at present. By expressing this, one touches upon a great mystery of existence, which is often also called the "mystery of the creating word". This is an indication of the future state of this human organ of speech, which will one day, when man is spiritualised, become a spiritual organ of production (procreation). In myths and religions, this spiritual production is indicated by the appropriate image of the "sword" coming out of the mouth. Thus every line, every point in the picture signifies something that is connected with the secret of human development. The fact that such pictures are made does not merely arise from a need for a sensualisation of supersensible processes, but corresponds to the fact that living into these pictures - if they are the right ones - really means an arousal of forces which lie dormant in the human soul, and through the awakening of which the ideas of the supersensible world emerge. For it is not right in theosophy to describe the supersensible worlds only in schematic terms; the true way is to arouse the imagination of such images as are given in these seals. (If the occultist has no such pictures at hand, he should give orally the description of the higher worlds in pertinent images).“ (Lit.:GA 34, p. 596f)

„Seal I comprehensively depicts the whole earthly development of man. This and other seals of the series can also be found described in a certain sense in the "Revelation of St. John" (Apocalypse). For whoever is able to understand this scripture in the spiritual-scientific sense sees in it nothing other than the description given in words of what the "seer" perceives as the development of humanity on the astral plane. This is how such a person understands the first words of this scripture, which (rendered approximately correctly) read as follows: "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God presented to him to illustrate to his servants how the necessary events will shortly take place; this was sent in signs by God's angel to his servant John. He expressed the 'Word' of God and its revelation through Jesus Christ in the way he saw it." The "signs" he saw have been depicted by the writer of the "secret revelation". - We may find in the following seals that they are in many respects similar to what is described in the Apocalypse, but not quite. For our pictures are based on a spiritual-scientific method which, although in harmony with all traditions, has developed in its own form since the fourteenth century, in accordance with the modern spiritual needs of mankind, in those circles which since that time have had the task of cultivating these things. Nevertheless, where it is relevant, the description will be given here with reference to the "Revelation of St. John". It should be expressly noted that some of the seven seals have already been published in this or that work of more recent times; however, those who are initiated in such matters will find that these other renderings deviate in some points from the form given here, which is intended to present the true spiritual-scientific basis.

For the first seal, compare its description in the Apocalypse. "And I turned to hear the sound that came to me, and behold seven lights of gold, and in the midst of the lights the image of the son of man, clothed in a long robe, with a golden girdle about his loins; and his head and his hair were as white wool or as snow, and his eyes were as the fire. And his feet were molten with fire, as in a fiery furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. And in his right hand were seven stars, and out of his mouth came a two-edged sword, and his face was like the brightness of the sun. In general images, the most comprehensive secrets of the development of mankind are pointed out. If one wanted to describe in detail what the seer can see from these pictures, one would have to write a thick book. Only a few hints may be made. Every sign, every form in the seal pictures is telling, and what is said here can only be something of many. Among the organs and means of expression of the human being are those which in their present form represent the descending stages of development of earlier forms, which have therefore already passed their degree of perfection; others, however, represent the initial stages of a development which is moving in an ascending direction. Such members of the human being are only imperfect today and will have to fulfil quite different higher tasks in the future. One organ which in the future will be something much higher and more perfect than it is at present is the organ of speech, with all that belongs to it in the human being. By hinting at this, one touches upon a great mystery of existence, which is also called the "mystery of the creating word". This is an indication of the future state of this organ, which will one day, when the human being is spiritualised, be the organ of production (procreation).

In the myths and religious narratives this future spiritualised form of production is indicated by the appropriate image of the fiery "sword" coming out of the mouth. The first stages of man's earthly development took place at a time when the earth was still "fiery"; and out of the element of fire the first human embodiments took shape; at the end of his earthly career man himself will radiate his inner being creatively outwards through the power of the fire element. This development from the beginning of the earth to the end of the earth is revealed to the "seer" when he sees the archetype of the developing human being on the astral plan, as it is depicted in the first seal. The beginning of the earth's development is there in the fiery feet, the end in the fiery face and the perfect power of the "creative word", which is to be attained at last, in the fiery sword that comes out of the mouth. As this development proceeds, man's becoming and the powers he unfolds in the process are successively under the influence of forces expressed in the seven stars of the right. Thus every line, every point, represents, as it were, something in the picture which is connected with the comprehensive secret of man's development.“ (Lit.:GA 284, p. 91f)

„The first shows a man dressed in white clothes, his feet like metal, like the flow of ore; from his mouth protrudes a fiery sword; his right hand is surrounded by the signs of our planet: Saturn, Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus. Those who know the Apocalypse of John will remember that there is a fairly consistent description of this image, for John was an initiate. This seal, in fact, represents, one might say, the idea of all humanity. We shall understand this if we recall some ideas already known to the elders here.

If we go back in human evolution, we arrive at a time when man was still at a very imperfect stage. For example, he did not yet have what you carry on your shoulders today; the head. It would sound quite grotesque to describe the human being of that time. The head, in fact, has only gradually developed and will continue to develop. There are organs in the human being today that have, so to speak, reached their conclusion; they will no longer be in the human body later on. There are others that will be transformed, such as our larynx, which has a tremendous future, admittedly in connection with our heart. Today the human larynx is only at the beginning of its development; one day it will be the reproductive organ transformed into the spiritual. You will get an idea of this mystery if you realise what man does today with his larynx. As I speak here, you hear my words: Through the fact that this hall is filled with air and certain vibrations are produced in this air, my words are transmitted to your ear, to your soul. When I speak a word, for example "world", waves of air vibrate - these are embodiments of my words. That which man brings forth in this way today is called bringing forth in the mineral realm. The movements of the air are mineral movements; through the larynx man has a mineral effect on his surroundings. But man will rise and one day have a vegetable effect; he will then call forth not only mineral but also vegetable vibrations. He will speak plants. The next stage will be that he will speak to sentient beings; and at the highest stage of development he will call forth his own kind through his larynx. Just as he can now only express the contents of his soul through the word, he will then express himself. And just as man will speak beings in the future, so the predecessors of mankind, the gods, were endowed with an organ with which they pronounced all things that are there today. They pronounced all human beings, all animals and everything else. They are all pronounced words of the gods in the literal sense.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and a God was the Word." This is not a philosophical word in the speculative sense - John has put down a primordial fact which is to be taken quite literally.

And in the end there will be the Word, and creation is a realisation of the Word; and what man will bring forth in the future will be a realisation of what is Word today. But then man will no longer have such a physical form as he has today; he will have advanced to that form which was on Saturn, to fire matter. Thus the creative power at the beginning of the world's evolution unites with our own creative power at the end of the world's evolution.

That Being who has spoken out into the world all that is in it today is the great archetype of man. It has spoken out into the world Saturn, the Sun, the Moon, the Earth - in its two halves Mars-Mercury - Jupiter, Venus. This is indicated by the seven stars; they are a sign of the height to which man can develop. In the fire-matter the planet will be again in the end; and man will be able to speak creatively in this fire-matter: that is the fiery sword that will protrude from his mouth. Everything will be fiery, hence the feet of molten ore.“ (Lit.:GA 284, p. 74f)

Seal II

Second apocalyptic seal

"The second seal, with the corresponding accessories, represents one of the first states of development of earth humanity. In its primeval times, this earthly humanity had not yet developed what is called the individual soul. At that time there was still present what is still found in the animals: the group soul. Whoever can trace the old human group souls on the astral plan by means of imaginative clairvoyance will find the four types of them which are represented in the four apocalyptic animals of the second seal: the lion, the bull, the eagle, the man. This touches the truth of what is often so dryly allegorically 'interpreted' in the four beasts." (Lit.:GA 34, p. 597)

"Seal II represents one of the first states of development of earth humanity, with all that belongs to it. In the distant primeval times man on earth did not yet have what is called the individual soul. At that time he had what the animals of an earlier stage of human development still have today: the group soul. If, by means of imaginative clairvoyance, the human group souls are traced on the astral plane in retrospect to prehistoric times, it is found that the various forms of these can be traced back to four basic types. And these are represented in the four apocalyptic animals of the second seal: the lion, the bull, the eagle and that figure which also approaches the individual soul of the present man as a group soul, and which is therefore also called: the "man". This touches the truth of what is often so dryly 'interpreted' allegorically in the four animals." (Lit.:GA 284, p. 93)

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Literature

References to the work of Rudolf Steiner follow Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works (CW or GA), Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Dornach/Switzerland, unless otherwise stated.
Email: verlag@steinerverlag.com URL: www.steinerverlag.com.
Index to the Complete Works of Rudolf Steiner - Aelzina Books
A complete list by Volume Number and a full list of known English translations you may also find at Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works
Rudolf Steiner Archive - The largest online collection of Rudolf Steiner's books, lectures and articles in English.
Rudolf Steiner Audio - Recorded and Read by Dale Brunsvold
steinerbooks.org - Anthroposophic Press Inc. (USA)
Rudolf Steiner Handbook - Christian Karl's proven standard work for orientation in Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works for free download as PDF.

References

  1. Éliphas Lévi: Dogme et rituel de la haute magie, volume 2, Paris 1861, p. 364 archive.org
  2. Bernd Lampe: Das Buch mit den sieben Siegeln, in: Das Goetheanum Nr. 7, 14. February 2014, p. 5 ff.