Supersensible Impulses in the Historical Development of Humanity

8 lectures, Dornach, September 16 – October 1, 1922 (CW 216)

“When you perform a ritual, it is an appeal to the spiritual powers of the universe, an appeal to the powers that are meant to connect with the earth precisely through what people do.”— Rudolf Steiner

With rituals or cultic forms as his central motif, Rudolf Steiner refers extensively to Indian, Persian, and Egyptian initiation rites in particular, and how these enabled people of antiquity to connect with specific spiritual beings. He explains the practical purpose of mummification for the religious life of ancient Egypt, and the ritual in certain secret societies and brotherhoods today as the mummification of Egyptian rites. But he also points to the future, describing how truly formulated rituals have a positive effect on human development. Whereas “inhalation” exercises were relevant to past cultures, the principle of “exhalation” is important for future evolution.

On the one hand, these extraordinary lectures relate to Steiner’s ceremonial work in the Esoteric School of 1906 to 1914, but more significantly they were given in parallel to the founding of The Christian Community, whose sacraments were mediated by Steiner. Today, he states, Christ must be sought through new access to the spiritual world, and that any remaining traditional ritualistic forms should be permeated with the power of the Mystery of Golgotha. These lectures are introduced by Dale Brunsvold and include editorial notes and an index.

This volume is a translation from German of Die Grundimpulse des weltgeschichtlichen Werdens der Menschheit, Rudolf Steiner Verlag; 3rd ed., 1988 (GA 216).