Secret Brotherhoods and the Mystery of the Human Double

7 lectures (of 9), St. Gallen, Zurich, and Dornach, Nov. 6–25, 1917 (CW 178)

“This is a stark and extremely challenging group of lectures, given at a decisive time of tremendous crisis for humanity and dealing with themes that stretch from 1917 back into the distant past as well as into the far future.” — Terry Boardman (the introduction)

In the age of the internet and the proliferation of “conspiracy theories,” ideas that secret groups are trying to gain control of humanity are no longer rare. But this was not true in 1917 when Rudolf Steiner spoke of such matters in the extraordinary lectures contained in this book. His unique contribution to this controversial topic is not based on abstract theories; it arose from exact research methods that use advanced forms of perception and cognition.

Using the firsthand knowledge available to him, Steiner takes us behind the scenes of events in outer history and contemporary culture to reveal a dark world of secret elitist brotherhoods that are attempting to control the masses through the forces of economics, technology, and political assassinations. These hidden groups, he explains, seek power through the use of ritual magic and suggestion.

Never before available in English as a complete volume, the text of this book has been freshly translated for this edition.

Secret Brotherhoods is a translation of 7 lectures from German of Individuelle Geistwesen und ihr Wirken in der Seele des Menschen. Geistige Wesen und Ihre Wirkung Band II (GA 178).