The Karma of Vocation

Motivation for Everyday Work
from Worlds Beyond the Senses

Motivating oneself to get through the demands of daily life is difficult. Finding the will to excel is even harder. Occupation or vocation can become routine, even boring. What is the purpose of our work? Is it just to satisfy the demands of our stomachs which in turn allow us to keep working. Is it for the additional income allowing us to buy more things? It can all come to appear without meaning.

In these remarkable lectures Steiner's spiritual perception takes us behind the scenes of the routine activity of vocation, we are shown how the combined vocational activity of humanity affects higher or super-sensible worlds. This activity sets in motion forces which will bring about future worlds. This is the karma of vocation. It prepares new worlds in which we will participate.

An understanding of this deeper aspect of our work can bring meaning into even the most insignificant activity. We understand that, in fact, no human work is insignificant. It all contributes to great cosmic processes. An understanding of these connections can bring us enthusiasm for our work and life.

During the last two decades of the nineteenth century the Austrlan-born Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) became a respected and well-published scientific, literary, and philosophical scholar, particularly known for his work on Goethe's scientific writings. After the turn of the century he began to develop his earlier philosophical principles into an approach to methodical research of psychological and spiritual phenomena.

His multi-faceted genius has led to innovative and holistic approaches in medicine, science, education (Waldorf schools), special education, philosophy, religion, economics, agriculture (Bio-Dynamic method), architecture, drama, the new art of eurythmy, and other fields. In 1924 he founded the General Anthroposophical Society, which today has branches throughout the world.