While preparing lectures for conferences in which not all of the participants were versed in Anthroposophy, I was seeking to include a wide scope of understanding in a few words. I came up with a few insights for your contemplation.

The first is a key to understanding an occult-alchemical history of the architectural works leading up to the building of the First Goetheanum in Dornach Switzerland, and, following through to the building of the Second Goetheanum. It is another level of the old alchemical metamorphoses made possible through the Christ impulse

The path comprises seven steps in twenty-one years:

SATURN

The first step, I believe, was the Munich Conference 1907 ‘The Hall of the Word’ which has been described in earlier issues of this Journal. The seven pictorial representations of the Book of Revelations were brought forth by super-sensible seeing, while the Planetary Columns and their Seals were engendered through super-sensible hearing, as metamorphosed by Rudolf Steiner.

This step is analogous to the occult experience called ‘Prima Materie’, the

beginning alchemical transmutation, described in Paul M. Allen’s

The Time Is at Hand, Anthroposophic Press, 1995 (pp. 90-91).

SUN

The second step comprises The Model Building at Malsh, Germany 1909,

by Karl Stockmeyer, and the Building at Landhaus Strasse, Stuttgart, Germany,

by Dr. Schmidt-Curtius in 1911- the two ‘offspring’ of the Munich Hall.

This step is analogous to the occult experience called ‘Sevetorio divisio’.

It means separation or clarification.

MOON

The third step is the building of the First Goetheanum in Dornach Switzerland

From 1913 to 1920 ‘The House of the Word’, by Rudolf Steiner.

This step could be seen as Conjunctio of male and female. The two Cupolas,

giving and receiving in communion with one another, could be experienced in

performances and lectures.

MARS

The fourth step is the burning of the First Goetheanum on January 1, 1923.

A tragedy, engendered by the counter-forces, would eventually lead to a rebirth

out of the ashes.

This step is analogous to The Mystical Death or Mortificato calcinato, an ex-

perience of carbon to ashes.

MERCURY

The fifth step, from January 1, 1924 to December, 1923 is the creation of the

‘Foundation Stone Mantrum’, by Rudolf Steiner. This act of creative will is

born out of the living etheric forces of the first Goetheanum.

This corresponds to what is called Ablutio Baptismo, the catharsis or

whitening, in which the soul reunites with the dead body.

JUPITER

The sixth step can be seen as the speaking of the ‘Foundation Stone Mantrum’

by Rudolf Steiner in 1923, a rebirth through the Word.

It is analogous to the Albedo tinctura alba which is an enhanced bursting

out. The inner motive for the creation of the First Goetheanum was in response

to the ‘cry of longing of mankind for the spirit’. ‘The Foundation Stone

Mantrum’ is heard in answer to this cry as well.

VENUS

The seventh step is the phoenix-like resurgence of the second Goetheanum,

‘out of the ashes’ 1928, carried through the efforts of Albert Baravalle.

This step corresponds to the seventh alchemical step known as Rubedo,

the red king and the white queen. The invisible First Goetheanum is

etherically present inside the Second Goetheanum.

This progression of occult architectural metamorphosis can only be seen in

retrospect.

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In my poem ‘The Intervals’ , on the following page, one can experience the

evolution of mankind.

as interpreted from the wisdom of the Columns of the first Goetheanum and

their culmination in the Small Cupola of the First Goetheanum. The

mission of the earth can be experienced in the progression from the Fourth,

Mars, Column through the Fifth, Mercury Column. The wounds inflicted

by aggressive, warlike behavior of an unregenerate Mars will be healed by

Mercury and transformed into a new kind of courage for peace by the

period of the Jupiter evolution.

It is also interesting to note that the progression from the Fourth to the Fifth,

seen in relation to the life between death and rebirth relates to the time

when the ‘limbs’ of the past incarnation are to be metamorphosed into the

head of the individual human being’s coming incarnation.

This seven fold process will be seen to have the same ‘roots’ as are found in

The seven therapeutic phases of healing, which are :

Receiving The Beginning Phase
Uniting The Support Phase
Deepening The Phase of Conscious Confrontation
Standing Firm The Maturation of Self Phase
Independence The Self-Orientation Phase
Letting go The Phase of Gaining Strength
New Birth The Phase of Individual Creativity