Folk spirit

Folk spirits belong to the hierarchy of Archangels. As the people's I, they have an inspiring effect on the individual peoples and give them their specific, unmistakable character. Thus, through their work, very special soul characteristics are first formed and cultivated in each people, which are later to pass on as spiritual gifts to the whole of humanity. Each individual people, no matter how small and seemingly insignificant, has an essential and indispensable task in the course of the development of humanity as a whole. How and in what rhythm of time the spiritual fruits of each people are to overflow into the whole of humanity is guided by spiritual beings who are superior to the folk spirits, namely by the Time Spirits who are recruited from the hierarchy of the Archai (Primordial Angels, Primordial Beginnings, Spirits of Personality).

Just as a very clear distinction must be made between soul and spirit in human beings, so in a higher sense also in peoples. Folk soul and folk spirit are not the same thing. The characteristic feelings, moods, sympathies and antipathies and habits common to a people are expressed in the folk soul. It is the soul atmosphere in which all members of a people are involved to a greater or lesser extent. This unmistakable fundamental soul mood of a people changes in the course of time, it undergoes a process of development and is gradually refined. However, this requires the creative-inspiring activity of the folk spirit, which is taken up by individual outstanding human individuals - by artists, sages or important folk leaders - and incorporated into the folk soul.

Literature

• Rudolf Steiner: Geistige Hierarchien und ihre Widerspiegelung in der physischen Welt, GA 110 (1991), ISBN 3-7274-1100-7 Template:Vorträge
• Rudolf Steiner: Die Mission einzelner Volksseelen im Zusammenhang mit der germanisch-nordischen Mythologie, GA 121 (1982), 5th edition, ISBN 3-7274-1210-0 Template:Vorträge ; 6th heavily revised and expanded new edition 2017: ISBN 3727412119

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.