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'''Polaris''', the '''polar epoch''', also called the '''first root race'''<ref name=subrace>The term ''[[root race]]'' derives from the terminology used at that time by the [[Theosophical Society]] and was later no longer used by [[Rudolf Steiner]], as was the term ''[[subrace]]''. Steiner repeatedly pointed out that the term "[[race]]" is actually no longer justified in the [[cultural epochs|post-Atlantean time]], since now it is no longer the physical but the soul-spiritual development that comes to the fore. The division of humanity into races will gradually be completely overcome and is already meaningless for the spiritual development of man.</ref> according to obsolete theosophical tradition, is the first of the seven [[main ages]] into which the actual physical earth evolution, the 4th form state of the entire [[Earth evolution]], is divided<ref>The ''actual'' [[Earth evolution]] begins in the fourth and middle of the seven so-called [[Rounds]], during which Earth existence unfolds. In the first three rounds, earlier states of embodiment of the Earth, namely the [[Old Saturn]], the [[Old Sun]] and the [[Old Moon]], were repeated in an abbreviated form in order to make the fruits of these earlier forms of existence ripe for the Earth evolution itself. The Earth evolution, the fourth round, will be followed by three more rounds in which future new embodiments of the Earth will be, in a sense, foreshadowed.</ref>. The name of this developmental epoch is derived from the fact that these original Earth conditions of the polar time were preserved for the longest time around the "North Pole". However, this was a huge nebulous gaseous structure that still encompassed the entire planetary system and also contained the Sun and the other nascent planets. The polar age was followed by the hyperborean age, in which only the Earth separated from the Sun as an independent celestial body and condensed to a liquid state {{GZ||106|69ff}}. According to a statement by [[Rudolf Steiner]], which has, however, only been handed down inadequately, Polaris falls into the time of the "primitive form", in which the first "primeval mountains" were formed {{GZ|300a|107}}. On the present [[w:geologic time scale|geologic time scale]], this would correspond to the time from the beginning of the [[w:Hadean|Hadean]] 4,600 million years ago until about the middle of the [[w:Archean|Archean]].All references to time here are only for comparison with the present state of external research and are to be taken with great caution, as Rudolf Steiner also clearly points out.<ref>Abstract concepts of time, detached from things, are not meaningful for the contemplation of nature. Rather, one must rely on the [[intrinsic time]] of the system under consideration. For example, the Earth year or the Platonic year can only serve as a reference since the separation of the Sun, Earth and Moon.  
'''Polaris''', the '''polar epoch''', also called the '''first root race'''<ref name=subrace>The term ''[[root race]]'' derives from the terminology used at that time by the [[Theosophical Society]] and was later no longer used by [[Rudolf Steiner]], as was the term ''[[subrace]]''. Steiner repeatedly pointed out that the term "[[race]]" is actually no longer justified in the [[cultural epochs|post-Atlantean time]], since now it is no longer the physical but the soul-spiritual development that comes to the fore. The division of humanity into races will gradually be completely overcome and is already meaningless for the spiritual development of man.</ref> according to obsolete theosophical tradition, is the first of the seven [[main ages]] into which the actual physical earth evolution, the 4th form state of the entire [[Earth evolution]], is divided<ref>The ''actual'' [[Earth evolution]] begins in the fourth and middle of the seven so-called [[Rounds]], during which Earth existence unfolds. In the first three rounds, earlier states of embodiment of the Earth, namely the [[Old Saturn]], the [[Old Sun]] and the [[Old Moon]], were repeated in an abbreviated form in order to make the fruits of these earlier forms of existence ripe for the Earth evolution itself. The Earth evolution, the fourth round, will be followed by three more rounds in which future new embodiments of the Earth will be, in a sense, foreshadowed.</ref>. The name of this developmental epoch is derived from the fact that these original Earth conditions of the polar time were preserved for the longest time around the "North Pole". However, this was a huge nebulous gaseous structure that still encompassed the entire planetary system and also contained the Sun and the other nascent planets. The polar age was followed by the hyperborean age, in which only the Earth separated from the Sun as an independent celestial body and condensed to a liquid state {{GZ||106|69ff}}. According to a statement by [[Rudolf Steiner]], which has, however, only been handed down inadequately, Polaris falls into the time of the "primitive form", in which the first "primeval mountains" were formed {{GZ||300a|107}}. On the present [[w:geologic time scale|geologic time scale]], this would correspond to the time from the beginning of the [[w:Hadean|Hadean]] 4,600 million years ago until about the middle of the [[w:Archean|Archean]].All references to time here are only for comparison with the present state of external research and are to be taken with great caution, as Rudolf Steiner also clearly points out.<ref>Abstract concepts of time, detached from things, are not meaningful for the contemplation of nature. Rather, one must rely on the [[intrinsic time]] of the system under consideration. For example, the Earth year or the Platonic year can only serve as a reference since the separation of the Sun, Earth and Moon.  


Intrinsic time is rooted in the essence of a living, developing wholeness and expresses itself through the processes that take place in it periodically in an orderly sequence and thereby constantly metamorphose. All living beings and all living systems, such as our earth, the entire planetary system and the cosmos as a whole, are such wholes and each has its own specific time. There is no absolute time deducted from things. Time measurements can therefore not be related to them, but consist in comparing different proper times with each other.  
Intrinsic time is rooted in the essence of a living, developing wholeness and expresses itself through the processes that take place in it periodically in an orderly sequence and thereby constantly metamorphose. All living beings and all living systems, such as our earth, the entire planetary system and the cosmos as a whole, are such wholes and each has its own specific time. There is no absolute time deducted from things. Time measurements can therefore not be related to them, but consist in comparing different proper times with each other.  
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Moreover, developmental epochs do not simply follow each other, but overlap in wide areas. As a rule, the beginning of the following epoch is already indicated in the middle of the preceding one and continues to have an effect until the middle of the next one.
Moreover, developmental epochs do not simply follow each other, but overlap in wide areas. As a rule, the beginning of the following epoch is already indicated in the middle of the preceding one and continues to have an effect until the middle of the next one.


Cf. also {{LZ||Bosse 2002, p 38ff and table p. 57}}</ref>The time of Polaris is the time of the first "primitive mountains".
Cf. also {{LZ||Bosse 2002, p 38ff and table p. 57}}</ref>The time of Polaris is the time of the first "primitive mountains". The Sun had not yet reached its full luminosity at that time. From an astrophysical point of view, the [[nuclear fusion]] process, the so-called [[hydrogen burning]], probably only began in the [[hyperborean epoch]] after the Earth and the other planets had split off.
 
At the end of the third round of Earth's evolution, the whole Earth had passed into a purely spiritual existence, into a so-called small [[Pralaya]]. Now, at the beginning of the fourth round, it first descended again to the [[astral state of form]]. Man had then brought with him from the earlier states of evolution the [[physical body]], the [[etheric body]] and the [[astral body]]. All this now first appeared in [[astral]] form. Man was therefore a being with physical, etheric and astral laws, which, however, existed in purely spiritual form, and the whole globe, shining in the [[astral light]], which now formed, consisted exclusively of these astral human formations.
 
{{GZ|Everything that exists of the human being in this period still has its astral form. In order to understand this state of man, special attention should be paid to the fact that man has within him a physical body, a life body and an astral body, but that both the physical and the life body do not exist in physical and etheric form, but in astral form. What makes the physical body physical is not its physical form, but the fact that, although it has the astral form, it still has the physical laws within it. It is a being with physical laws in a spiritual form. The same is true of the life body.|13|220f}}


== Literature ==
== Literature ==

Revision as of 13:55, 12 March 2021

Polaris, the polar epoch, also called the first root race[1] according to obsolete theosophical tradition, is the first of the seven main ages into which the actual physical earth evolution, the 4th form state of the entire Earth evolution, is divided[2]. The name of this developmental epoch is derived from the fact that these original Earth conditions of the polar time were preserved for the longest time around the "North Pole". However, this was a huge nebulous gaseous structure that still encompassed the entire planetary system and also contained the Sun and the other nascent planets. The polar age was followed by the hyperborean age, in which only the Earth separated from the Sun as an independent celestial body and condensed to a liquid state (Lit.:GA 106, p. 69ff). According to a statement by Rudolf Steiner, which has, however, only been handed down inadequately, Polaris falls into the time of the "primitive form", in which the first "primeval mountains" were formed (Lit.:GA 300a, p. 107). On the present geologic time scale, this would correspond to the time from the beginning of the Hadean 4,600 million years ago until about the middle of the Archean.All references to time here are only for comparison with the present state of external research and are to be taken with great caution, as Rudolf Steiner also clearly points out.[3]The time of Polaris is the time of the first "primitive mountains". The Sun had not yet reached its full luminosity at that time. From an astrophysical point of view, the nuclear fusion process, the so-called hydrogen burning, probably only began in the hyperborean epoch after the Earth and the other planets had split off.

At the end of the third round of Earth's evolution, the whole Earth had passed into a purely spiritual existence, into a so-called small Pralaya. Now, at the beginning of the fourth round, it first descended again to the astral state of form. Man had then brought with him from the earlier states of evolution the physical body, the etheric body and the astral body. All this now first appeared in astral form. Man was therefore a being with physical, etheric and astral laws, which, however, existed in purely spiritual form, and the whole globe, shining in the astral light, which now formed, consisted exclusively of these astral human formations.

„Everything that exists of the human being in this period still has its astral form. In order to understand this state of man, special attention should be paid to the fact that man has within him a physical body, a life body and an astral body, but that both the physical and the life body do not exist in physical and etheric form, but in astral form. What makes the physical body physical is not its physical form, but the fact that, although it has the astral form, it still has the physical laws within it. It is a being with physical laws in a spiritual form. The same is true of the life body.“ (Lit.:GA 13, p. 220f)

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.
  1. The term root race derives from the terminology used at that time by the Theosophical Society and was later no longer used by Rudolf Steiner, as was the term subrace. Steiner repeatedly pointed out that the term "race" is actually no longer justified in the post-Atlantean time, since now it is no longer the physical but the soul-spiritual development that comes to the fore. The division of humanity into races will gradually be completely overcome and is already meaningless for the spiritual development of man.
  2. The actual Earth evolution begins in the fourth and middle of the seven so-called Rounds, during which Earth existence unfolds. In the first three rounds, earlier states of embodiment of the Earth, namely the Old Saturn, the Old Sun and the Old Moon, were repeated in an abbreviated form in order to make the fruits of these earlier forms of existence ripe for the Earth evolution itself. The Earth evolution, the fourth round, will be followed by three more rounds in which future new embodiments of the Earth will be, in a sense, foreshadowed.
  3. Abstract concepts of time, detached from things, are not meaningful for the contemplation of nature. Rather, one must rely on the intrinsic time of the system under consideration. For example, the Earth year or the Platonic year can only serve as a reference since the separation of the Sun, Earth and Moon. Intrinsic time is rooted in the essence of a living, developing wholeness and expresses itself through the processes that take place in it periodically in an orderly sequence and thereby constantly metamorphose. All living beings and all living systems, such as our earth, the entire planetary system and the cosmos as a whole, are such wholes and each has its own specific time. There is no absolute time deducted from things. Time measurements can therefore not be related to them, but consist in comparing different proper times with each other.

    „And this brings me to the fact that basically every entity that may be regarded at all as a totality actually carries its time within itself. I can consider a piece [of an] inorganic body for itself, but not a leaf, because it only has a part in the tree. In my observation, therefore, I must take into consideration what is a total system closed in on itself, what is a totality. But every totality that I look at in this way has time in it as something immanent. So that I can't really have much to spare for the abstract time that is still outside every thing and exists [alongside] the time immanent in every thing or process. When I consider the time that is to go from beginning to end, it seems to me just as when someone forms the abstract concept for the individual horse. The individual horses are there in the external spatial reality, but in order to get the concept, I have to attribute something else to it. It is the same with time. The question: Is time in itself variable or not? - has no real content, because every total system has its [own] time in its immanent being, and its [own] course of speed. The course of velocity of the inorganic or of the process of life leads back to this immanent time...

    In geology we describe one period after another, as if it were a reality. It is not. It is only a reality with the whole of the Earth, in the same way that an organism is a reality, where I must not tear out one thing. Instead of relating our processes to coordinate axis systems, it would be more important to relate them to their own inner reality, then we would arrive at totality systems. And then we would have to come back to a kind of monadism.“ (Lit.:GA 324a, p. 144)

    Moreover, developmental epochs do not simply follow each other, but overlap in wide areas. As a rule, the beginning of the following epoch is already indicated in the middle of the preceding one and continues to have an effect until the middle of the next one.

    Cf. also (Lit.: Bosse 2002, p 38ff and table p. 57)