INTRODUCTORY ESSAYS
ON RUDOLF STEINER'S STAR-KNOWLEDGE

 

References to Rudolf Steiner's Star-Knowledge

R.S.W.Bobbette
1998

The following is a simple listing of those references of Dr. Steiner's books and lecture cycles that I have found to contain what could be considered star-knowledge (employing Steiner's use of the term `star' to include planets), including relationships of the earth and moon. This also includes a scattering of methodological comments by Steiner, that I think useful or necessary; otherwise only the most direct comments I could find are meant. This summary of Dr. Steiner's observations is begun because I can find it nowhere else . . . I have tried to limit myself to the most direct references of celestial phenomena or stages of human star-knowledge; many indirect observations await collection and correlation also.

For whatever reason, the first, almost introductory, change in relevant quotes comes with the year 1908. This could of course change, but what I have found to date shows brief facts of solar system evolution, or qualities and relationships of a few celestial bodies given from 1901 to 1907. Beginning in 1908, detailed descriptions and whole lecture cycles describe the nature of the solar system.

An introduction to Dr. Steiner's view of solar system evolution and the consequent relationships between the heavenly bodies is necessary, or many of his statements are quite unintelligible. I will therefore add explanatory contexts that seem necessary.

As an introductory summary of Rudolf Steiner's view of the nature of the solar system, observations he reported from 1901-1907 give a provocative picture. Reading them will show that there is a depth to be discussed; I would like to bring forward the following facts to aid in the orientation of the reader:

1. The present solar system is the fourth incarnation of a pattern of seven `great cycles' or evolutionary planets, called respectively (old) Saturn, (old) Sun, (old) Moon, Earth, (future) Jupiter, (future) Venus, and (future) Vulcan. The speed of evolution slows to the point of human self-consciousness during late Atlantean times of our Earth and is now speeding up again.
2. Mankind has been present at various evolutionary stages throughout this pattern, and life in general is able to persist and evolve forms in states of purely fiery and gaseous conditions.
3. The Zodiac is the creator of and exists beyond the physical existence of the evolutionary planets, which is reflected in the twelve daylight and twelve night-time hours.
4. Civilization has epochs related to the occurrence of the vernal sun in different constellations of the Zodiac. The governance of each sign was revised to a then-consistent 2,160 years, with the sun entering Aries about 747B.C. and entering Pisces about 1413A.D. (see 3 & 8 Oct. 1905, June 1906, 25 Aug. 1906, 4 Sept. 1906)
5. Sun, moon and earth were united in one body, but the sun had too fast, too dissolving a pace of evolution, so it had to depart the earth and moon. (see 1904)
6. Sometime after the sun left the earth+moon, Mars penetrated the fiery, gaseous mass and left astral iron. Mercury left etheric mercury in mid-Atlantean times; thus occultists sometimes designate the evolutionary planet Earth, as Mars - Mercury. This had been incorporated into the naming of the days of the week. (see 1 & 28 Oct. 1905, June, 1906, 30 Aug. 1906)
7. The moon departed because it had a too hardening, mummifying effect on the early albumin; but its leaving also weakened the reproductive forces of the earth and caused the sexes to arise. (see 1904, 31 Aug. 1906)
8. The movements of sun, earth and planets are actually spirals within spirals.
9. Radio-activity has only existed for a few thousand years because the Earth-evolution is on the decaying side. Rocks were formerly softer and `more alive'; they are progressively hardening and crumbling, including nuclear decay.

References that gave two to five pages of information are italicized, whereas those that gave over five pages of information are in bold type. The titles are listed in the order in which they were reviewed for the survey. To date, an additional 61 books and lecture cycles have been reviewed that had nothing to offer, directly, to this survey.

(1) Readings in Goethean Science, 1978, Bio-Dynamic Literature.

(2) An Outline of Occult Science, 1972, Anthroposophic Press.

(3) Foundations of Esotericism, 1983, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(4) At the Gates of Spiritual Science, 1970, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(5) The Occult Significance of Blood, 1967, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(6) The Inner Nature of Music and the Experience of Tone, 1983, Anthroposophic Press.

(7) Occult Signs and Symbols, 1972, Anthroposophic Press.

(8) The Influence of Spiritual Beings Upon Man, 1961, Anthroposophic Press.

(9) The Apocalypse of St. John, 1943, Rudolf Steiner Publ. Co.

(10) Universe, Earth and Man, 1987, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(11) Egyptian Myths and Mysteries, 1971, Anthroposophic Press.

(12) The Deed of Christ, 1954, Rudolf Steiner Publ. Co.

(13) The Principle of Spiritual Economy, 1986, Anthroposophic Press.

(14) The Spiritual Hierarchies and Their Reflection in the Physical World, 1970, Anthroposophic Press.

(15) Rosicrucian Esotericism, 1978, Anthroposophic Press

(16) The Gospel of St. John and Its Relation to the Other Gospels, 1982, Anthroposophic Press

(17) The Reappearance of Christ in the Etheric, 1983, Anthroposophic Press.

(18) The Festivals and Their Meaning, 1981, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(19) Genesis, 1959, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(20) The Spirit in the Realm of Plants, 1978, Mercury Press.

(21) The World of the Senses and the World of the Spirit, 1947, Rudolf Steiner Publ. Co.

(22) Reincarnation and Karma, 1960, Anthroposophical Publ. Co.

(23) The Spiritual Beings in the Heavenly Bodies and the Kingdoms of Nature, 1951, Rudolf Steiner Publ. Co.

(24) Between Death and Rebirth, 1975, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(25) Life Between Death and Rebirth, 1968, Anthroposophic Press.

(26) The Effects of Spiritual Development, 1945, Rudolf Steiner Publ. Co.

(27) Occult Reading and Occult Hearing, 1975, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(28) The Balance in the World and Man: Lucifer and Ahriman, 1948, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(29) An Occult Physiology, 1951, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(30) Chance, Providence and Necessity, 1988, Anthroposophic Press.

(31) The Occult Movement in the Nineteenth Century, 1973, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(32) Inner Impulses of Evolution, 1984, Anthroposophic Press.

(33) The Karma of Evolution of Materialism, 1985, Anthroposophic Press.

(34) Ancient Myths, 1971, Steiner Book Centre, Inc.

(35) The Challenge of the Times, 1941, Anthroposophic Press.

(36) The Influences of Lucifer and Ahriman, 1954, Rudolf Steiner Publ. Co.

(37) Man - Hieroglyph of the Universe, 1972, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(38) Polarities in the Evolution of Mankind, 1987, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(39) Materialism and the Task of Anthroposophy, 1987, Anthroposophic Press.

(40) Man as a Being of Sense and Perception, 1958, Anthroposophical Publ. Co.

(41) The Human Soul in Relation to World Evolution, 1984, Anthroposophic Press.

(42) Planetary Spheres and Their Influence on Man's Life on Earth and in Spiritual Worlds, 1952, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(43) Man and the World of Stars, 1963, Anthroposophic Press.

(44) Health and Illness, Vol. II, 1983, Anthroposophic Press.

(45) Awakening to Community, 1974, Anthroposophic Press.

(46) The Cycle of the Year, 1984, Anthroposophic Press.

(47) Man in the Past, Present and Future, 1966, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(48) The Four Seasons and The Archangels, 1984, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(49) Beekeeping - Nine Lectures on Bees, 1964, Rudolf Steiner Publications.

(50) Agriculture, 1974, Bio-Dynamic Agriculture Assoc.

(51) True and False Paths in Spiritual Investigation, 1969, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(52) The Evolution of the Earth and Man, 1987, Anthroposophic Press.

(53) An Esoteric Cosmology, 1987, Spiritual Science Library.

(54) The Mission of the Folk Souls, 1989, Spiritual Research Editions Series XIII, Garber Communications Inc.

(55) Mysticism at the Dawn of the Modern Age, 1960, Steinerbooks.

(56) Cosmic Memory, 1959, Rudolf Steiner Publ. Co.

(57) Metamorphosis of the Soul; Paths of Experience, Vol. I, 1983, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(58) The East in the Light of the West, 1986, Garber Communications Inc.

(59) The Karma of Untruthfulness, Vol. I, 1988, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(60) The Karma of Untruthfulness, Vol. II, 1992, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(61) Macrocosm and Microcosm, 1968, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(62) The Gospel of St. Matthew, 1965, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(63) First Scientific Lecture Course, undated typescript, Goethean Science Foundation.

(64) Evolution in the Aspect of Realities, 1989, Spiritual Research Editions, Series XXXV, Garber Communications Inc.

(65) Man in the Light of Occultism, Theosophy and Philosophy, 1989, Spiritual Science Library, Garber Communications Inc.

(66) Esoteric Christianity and the Mission of Christian Rosencreutz, 1984, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(67) Human and Cosmic Thought, 1961, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(68) Toward Imagination, 1990, Anthroposophic Press.

(69) Cosmic and Human Metamorphosis, 1989, Spiritual Research Editions, Garber Communications Inc.

(70) Building Stones for an Understanding of the Mystery of Golgotha, 1972, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(71) Geographic Medicine, 1986, Mercury Press.

(72) Earthly Death and Cosmic Life, 1989, Spiritual Research Editions, Garber Communications, Inc.

(73) Three Streams in Human Evolution, 1965, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(74) From Symptom to Reality in Modern History, 1976, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(75) Spiritual Science and Medicine, 1989, Steinerbooks.

(76) The Bridge Between Universal Spirituality and the Physical Constitution of Man, 1958, Anthroposophic Press.

(77) Cosmosophy, Vol. I, 1985, Anthroposophic Press.

(78) The Human Being in Body, Soul and Spirit: Our Relationship to the Earth, 1989, Anthroposophic Press.

(79) The Spiritual Individualities of the Planets, The Golden Blade, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(80) The Evolution of the World and of Humanity, 1989, Spiritual Science Library, Garber Communications, Inc.

(81) Man as Symphony of the Creative Word, 1991, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(82) Mystery Centers, 1989, Spiritual Research Editions, Garber Communications Inc.

(83) Background to the Gospel of St. Mark, 1968, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(84) Reading the Pictures of the Apocalypse, 1993, Anthroposophic Press.

(85) The Mysteries of the East and of Christianity, 19.. Spiritual Science Library, Garber Communications Inc.

(86) Christ and the Spiritual World and the Search for the Holy Grail, 1963, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(87) The Destinies of Individuals and of Nations, 1987, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(88) Self-consciousness; The Spiritual Human Being, 1986, Spiritual Science Library, Garber Communications Inc.

(89) Karmic Relationships, Vol. I, 1972, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(90) Old and New Methods of Initiation, 1991, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(91) The Evolution of Consciousness, 1991, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(92) The Fall of the Spirits of Darkness, 1993, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(93) Curative Education, 1972, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(94) The Michael Mystery, 1984, St. George Publications.

(95) Fundamental of Therapy, 1983, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(96) Karmic Relationships, Vol. II, 1974, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(97) Karmic Relationships, Vol. III, 1977, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(98) Karmic Relationships Vol.. IV, 1983, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(99) Karmic Relationships Vol.. V, 1966, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(100) Karmic Relationships, Vol. VI, 1971, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(101) Karmic Relationships, Vol. VII, 1973, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(102) Karmic Relationships, Vol. VIII, 1975, Rudolf Steiner Press

(103) Rosicrucianism and Modern Initiation, 1982, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(104) The Being of Man and His Future Evolution, 1981, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(105) The Riddle of Humanity, 1990, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(106) Pastoral Medicine, 1987, Anthroposophic Press.

(107) Anthroposophy and the Inner Life, 1994, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(108) The Origins of Natural Science, 1985, Anthroposophic Press.

(109) How Can Mankind Find the Christ Again?, 1984, Anthroposophic Press.

(110) Wonders of the World, Ordeals of the Soul, Revelations of the Spirit, 1963, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(111) Angels, 1996, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(112) World History in the Light of Anthroposophy, 1977, Rudolf Steiner Press.

(113) Earthly Knowledge and Heavenly Wisdom, 1991, Anthroposophic Press.

(114) Colour, 1992, Garber Communications Inc.

(115) The Universal Human, 1990, Anthroposophic Press.

(116) Education for Adolescents, 1996, Anthroposophic Press.

(117) The Relation of the Diverse Branches of Natural Science to Astronomy, undated typescript.