The Cycle of the Year as Breathing-Process of the Earth

By Rudolf Steiner

Translated by Barbara D. Betteridge and Frances E. Dawson
Bn 223, GA 223

These lectures focus on the four Christian festival seasons, elaborating on the complementary nature of Christmas with Midsummer and Easter with Michaelmas. The esoteric realities behind the festivals are discussed in relation to sub-earthly and super-earthly powers, the equinoxes, the ancient Mysteries, Michael's activity, morality, and the musical-poetic and visual arts. This volume along with Michaelmas and the Soul-Forces of Man completes the entire German volume GA 223.

In the collected edition of Rudolf Steiner's works, the volume containing the German texts is entitled Der Jahreskreislauf als Atmungsvorgang der Erde und die vier grossen Festeszeiten. (Vol. 223 in the Bibliographic Survey). They were translated from the German by Barbara D. Betteridge and Frances E. Dawson. Cover Design by Peter Stebbing.

This lecture series is presented here with the kind permission of the Rudolf Steiner Nachlassverwaltung, Dornach, Switzerland. From Bn 223/GA 223.