Four Mystery Plays
GA 14
The Soul's Awakening
Scene 8
As in Scene 7. An Egyptian woman is seen crouching by the wall. She is a previous incarnation of Johannes Thomasius.
Egyptian woman:
This is the hour in which he dedicates
Himself to serve the ancient holy laws
Of sacred wisdom,—and in doing this
He must forever tear himself from me.
From out those heights of light to which his soul
Progresses there must flash into mine own
The ray of death. When I am torn from him—
Naught doth remain for me in life on earth
But mourning—resignation—sorrow—death.
(Clinging to the wall.)
Yet though in this hour he abandons me
I, none the less, will stay close to the spot
Where he unto the spirit gives himself.
And if mine eyes are not allowed to see
How he loth tear himself away from earth,
Perchance 'twill be now granted in a dream
To linger disembodied by his side.
Part II
Inside the temple. The hall of initiation. The ceremony is performed on a broad flight of steps descending from the back to the front of the stage. The characters stand in groups below one another and on different steps. The drop-curtain goes up, disclosing everything in readiness for the initiation of the Neophyte, who is to be thought of as an earlier in-carnation of Maria; behind the altar and to the left of it stands the Chief Hierophant who is to be thought of as an earlier incarnation of Benedictus; on the other side the Recorder, an earlier incarnation of Hilary True-to-God; a little in front of the altar the Keeper of the Seals, an earlier incarnation of Theodora; in front, on the right side of the altar, the Impersonator of the Earth Element, an earlier in-carnation of Romanus, and with him the Impersonator of the Air Element, an earlier incarnation of Magnus Bellicosus; quite close to the Chief Hierophant, stands the Hierophant, an earlier incarnation of Capesius; on the left side of the altar the Impersonator of the Fire Element, an earlier incarnation of Doctor Strader, with the Impersonator of the Water Element, an earlier incarnation of Torquatus. In front of them Philia, Astrid, Luna and ‘the Other Philia.’ Four other priests stand in front of them. In front of all Lucifer to the left of altar and Ahriman to the right in the guise of sphinxes, with the cherubim emphasized in the case of Lucifer and the bull in the case of Ahriman. Dead silence for a while after the interior of the temple with its grouped mystics has become visible. The Keeper of the Temple, an earlier incarnation of Felix Balde, and the Mystic, an earlier incarnation of Dame Betide, lead the Neophyte in through a doorway on the right of stage. They place him in the inner circle near the altar, and remain standing near him.
The Keeper of the Temple:
From out that web of unreality
Which thou, in error's darkness named'st world,
The mystic hath conducted thee to us.
From being and from naught the world was made
Which to a semblance wove itself for thee.
Semblance1N.B.—Dr. Steiner has also translated the word ‘schein’ by ‘glory’ in an old English sense; we have here adopted the word semblance. is good, when from existence viewed;
Thou didst but dream it in thy sembled life;
And semblance known by semblance disappears.
Learn, semblance of a semblance, what thou art.
The Mystic:
Thus speaks the guardian of this temple's door.
Feel in thyself the sore weight of his words.
The Impersonator of the Earth Element:
Beneath the weight of earth-life seize upon
The semblance of your being without fear.
That thou mayst sink into the cosmic depths
In darksome cosmic depths thy being seek.
Bind to thy semblance that which thou dost find;
Its weight will give thy being unto thee.
The Recorder:
Thou wilt not understand, as thou dost sink,
Whereto we lead, till thou hast heard his call.
We forge for thee the form of thy real self;
Perceive our work; else must thou lose thyself
As semblance in the cosmic nothingness.
The Mystic:
So speaks the guardian of this temple's words.
Feel in thyself the sore weight of his words.
The Impersonator of the Air Element:
Fly from the weight of earth-life which would kill
The being of thyself, as thou dost sink.
Fly from it on the lightness of the air.
In light of cosmic space thy being seek.
Bind to thy semblance that which thou dost find
Its flight will give thy being unto thee.
The Recorder:
Thou wilt not understand, as thou dost fly,
Whereto we lead, till thou hast heard his call.
We light for thee the life of thy real self;
Perceive our work; else must thou lose thyself
As semblance in the cosmic weightiness.
The Mystic:
So speaks the guardian of this temple's words.
Feel in thyself the uplift of his words.
The Chief Hierophant:
My son, thou wilt on wisdom's noble road
The mystic's counsel carefully obey.
Thou canst not see the answer in thyself;
For error's darkness still doth weigh thee down
And folly strives in thee for distant things.
Gaze therefore—on this flame which is more close
(The bright, quivering sacred flame flares up on the altar in the middle of the stage.)
To thee than is the life of thine own self,
And read thine answer hidden in its fire.
The Mystic:
So speaks the leader of this temple's rites.
Feel in thyself the ritual's holy power.
The Impersonator of the Fire Element:
Let all the errors of thine own ideas
Be burned in fire that this rite lights for thee.
Let, with thine errors, thyself also burn.
As flame of cosmic fire thy being seek;
Bind to thy semblance that which thou dost find;
Its fire will give thy being unto thee.
The Keeper of the Seals:
Thou wilt not understand why to a flame
We fashion thee till thou hast heard his call.
We cleanse for thee the form of thine own self
Perceive our work; else must thou lose thyself
As formless being in the cosmic sea.
The Mystic:
So speaks the guardian of this temple's seals.
Feel in thyself the power of wisdom's light.
The Impersonator of the Water Element:
Resist the flame-powers of the world of fire
That they may not devour thy being's might.
From semblance, being will not rise in thee
Unless the wave-beat of the cosmic sea
Can fill thee with the music of the spheres.
As wave in cosmic sea thy being seek;
Bind to thy semblance that which thou dost find;
Its waves will give thy being unto thee.
The Keeper of the Seals:
Thou wilt not understand why to a wave
We fashion thee till thou hast heard his call.
We build for thee the form of thine own self;
Perceive our work; else must thou lose thyself
A formless being in the cosmic fire.
The Chief Hierophant:
My son, by powerful exercise of will
These mystic counsels too thou must obey.
Thou canst not see the answer in thyself;
By cowardly fear thy power is still congealed;
Thou canst not fashion weakness to a wave
That lets thy note ring out amongst the spheres.
So listen to thy soul-powers when they speak;
And thine own voice within their words perceive.
Philia:
In fire cleanse thou thyself;—and lose thyself
As cosmic wave in music of the spheres.
Astrid:
Build thou thyself in music of the spheres;
In cosmic distances fly light as air.
Luna:
Sink with thy weight of earth to cosmic depths;
Take courage as a self in thy sore weight.
The Other Philia:
From thine own separateness withdraw; unite thyself
With all the forces of the elements.
The Mystic:
Thine own soul speaks thus in these temple halls;
Feel thou therein the guidance of the powers.
The Chief Hierophant (addressing the Hierophant):
My brother hierophant, explore this soul,
Which we are to direct to wisdom's path,
Down to its depths; tell us what thou dost find
Its present state of consciousness to be.
The Hierophant:
All hath been done that our rite doth demand.
The soul no more remembers what it was.
The web of semblance, spun on error's loom,
Opposing elements have swept away;
In elemental strife it doth live on;
Naught save its being hath the soul retained.
Now of this being it shall read the life
In cosmic words, that speaks from out the flame.
The Chief Hierophant:
O human soul, read now what through the flame
The cosmic word declares within thyself.
(A pause of considerable length ensues, during which the stage is darkened till only the flame and indistinct outlines of the characters are visible; at the conclusion of the pause the Chief Hierophant continues.)
And now from out the cosmic vision wake!
Declare what can be read from cosmic words!
(The Neophyte is silent. The Chief Hierophant, much alarmed, continues):
He speaks not. Doth the vision leave thee? Speak!
The Neophyte:
Obedient to thy strict and sacred rite
I sank into the being of this flame
To wait the sound of lofty cosmic words.
(The assembled mystics, the Hierophant excepted, show an ever-increasing alarm during the speech of the Neophyte.)
I felt that I could shake off from myself
The weight of earth and be as light as air.
I felt the loving tide of cosmic fire
Did bear me up on streaming spirit-waves.
I saw the body that I wear on earth
As other being stand outside myself.
Though wrapt in bliss, and conscious of the light
Of spirit round me, yet I could regard
Mine earthly sheath with longing and desire.
(Consternation all around.)
Spirits rayed light thereon from lofty worlds;
Like shining butterflies there hovered near
The beings who attend its active life;
The body by these beings hathed in light
Reflected sparkling colours manifold;
They shone close by, grew fainter further off,
And then were scattered and dispersed in space.
Within the being of my spirit soul
There lurked the wish that weight of earth should sink
Me down into my sheath, that I might feel
And learn the sense of joy within life's warmth.
So, diving gladly down into my sheath,
I heeded thy stern summons to awake.
The Chief Hierophant (himself alarmed, to the alarmed Mystics):
This is no spirit-vision; earth's desires
Escaped the mystic and as offering rose
To radiant spirit-heights;—O sacrilege!
The Recorder (angrily to the Hierophant):
This could not have occurred, hadst thou performed
The office granted thee as hierophant
As ancient holy duty did demand.
The Hierophant:
I did the duty in this solemn hour
Which those from higher realms did lay on me.
I did not think that which it is my place
To think, according to the ritual,
And which, proceeding from me, should appear
In spirit-working in the neophyte.
The young man therefore path declared to us
None other's thoughts but his own being's self.
The truth hath conquered. Ye may punish me
I had to do what ye perceived with fear.
I feel the times approach which will set free
The ego from the group-soul and let loose
Its own true individual powers of thought.
What if the youth escapes your mystic path
At present?—Later lives on earth will show
With clearest signs the kind of mystic way
Which destiny hath foreordained for him.
The Mystics:
O sacrilege;—thou must atone—and pay
(The sphinxes begin to speak one after the other as Ahriman and Lucifer; hitherto they have been as statues motionless; what they say is heard only by the hierophant, the chief hierophant, and the neophyte;—the others are full of excitement over the preceding events.)
Ahriman as Sphinx:
For my realm I must lay my hands upon
What here doth wrongly seek the way to light,
And in the darkness further foster it;
That it may bring forth spirit-qualities
Which later on will let it weave itself
With rightful meaning into human life.
But till it gains these spirit-qualities,
What in this holy service did appear
As earthly burden, this will serve my work.
Lucifer as Sphinx:
For my realm I will bear away what here
As spirit-wish in semblance doth rejoice;
T'will gladly shine as semblance in the light,
And thus in spirit dedicate itself
To beauty from which it is kept apart
At present by the burden of earth's weight.
In beauty, semblance into being turns,
Which later shall illuminate the earth,
Descending as the light which flies from here.
The Chief Hierophant:
The sphinxes speak—who were but images
Since e'er this rite by sages was performed.
Upon dead form the spirit now hath seized.
O Fate, thou dost sound forth as cosmic word!
(The other mystics, with the exception of the Hierophant and the Neophyte, are amazed at the words of the Chief Hierophant.)
The Hierophant (to the Chief Hierophant):
This holy mystic rite which we perform
Rath not importance for ourselves alone.
Fate's stream of cosmic evolution pours
Through word and deed of sacred priestly rites.
Curtain
Achtes Bild.
Dieselbe Tempelszenerie wie im siebten Bild; sie ist anfangs durch einen Zwischenvorhang gedeckt, vor dem eine Ägypterin das Folgende spricht. Die Ägypterin ist als eine der vorhergehenden Inkarnationen des Thomasius zu denken.
Die Ägypterin:
Dies ist die Zeit, in welcher er sein Sein
dem uralt’ heiligen Weisheitsdienste weiht, ‒
und mir für immer sich entreißen muß.
Aus jenen Lichteshöhn, in die er sich
mit seiner Seele wendet, muß der meinen
der Todesstrahl erscheinen; ‒ ohne ihn ‒
ist Trauer nur für mich, Entsagung, Leid
im Erdenfeld zu finden, ‒ und der Tod ‒ ‒.
‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒
Verlässt mich er in dieser Stunde auch,
will ich mich doch ganz nah dem Orte halten,
in dem er sich dem Geiste anvertraut.
Darf ich mit meinen Augen auch nicht schauen,
wie er der Erde sich entringen wird ‒ ‒;
vielleicht lässt Traumes Offenbarung mich
im Ahnen geistig jetzt bei ihm verweilen.
Der Zwischenvorhang geht auf. Man erblickt alles vorbereitet zur Initiation des Neophyten, der als eine frühere Inkarnation der Maria gedacht ist; an der einen Seite des Opferaltars steht der höchste Opferweise, der als eine frühere Inkarnation des Benedictus gedacht ist; an der andern Seite des Altars der Wortebewahrer, eine frühere Inkarnation des Hilarius Gottgetreu; etwas vor dem Altar der Siegelbewahrer, eine frühere Inkarnation der Theodora; dann auf der einen Altarseite nach vorn: der Vertreter des Erdelementes, eine frühere Inkarnation des Romanus; der Vertreter des Luftelementes, eine frühere Inkarnation des Magnus Bellicosus; ganz nahe dem höchsten Opferweisen der Opferweise, eine frühere Inkarnation des Capesius; auf der anderen Seite der Vertreter des Feuerelementes, eine frühere Inkarnation des Doktor Strader; der Vertreter des Wasserelementes, eine frühere Inkarnation des Torquatus. Vorne Philia, Astrid, Luna und die »andre Philia«. Ganz vorn in Sphinxgestalt Lucifer und Ahriman, Lucifer so, daß der Cherub mehr betont ist, Ahriman so, daß der Stier mehr betont ist. Vier andre Priester stehen vorne. Nachdem der Tempelraum mit den Mysten sichtbar geworden ist, eine Weile lautlose Stille; dann führen der Schwellenhüter, eine frühere Inkarnation des Felix Balde, und der Myste, eine frühere Inkarnation der Frau Balde, den Neophyten durch die Pforte links ein. Sie stellen ihn in den inneren Kreis in die Nähe des Altars. Die beiden Einführer bleiben in seiner Nähe stehen.
Der Schwellenhüter:
Aus jenem Scheingewebe, das du Welt
in deines Irrtums Finsternis genannt,
hat dich der Myste uns hieher gebracht. ‒
Es war die Welt aus Sein und Nichts gewoben,
die dir im Weben sich zum Schein gebildet.
Der Schein ist gut, wenn er vom Sein erschaut;
doch du erträumtest ihn im Scheinesleben;
und Schein vom Schein erkannt, entsinkt dem All. ‒
Du, Schein des Scheines, lerne dich erkennen.
Der Myste:
So spricht, der dieses Tempels Schwelle hütet,
erleb’ in dir des Wortes Schwergewicht.
Der Vertreter des Erdelements:
Im Schwergewicht des Erdeseins ergreif’
den Schein des eignen Wesens schreckenlos,
daß du versinken kannst in Weltentiefen ‒ ‒.
in Weltentiefen such’ das Sein im Finstern;
verbinde, was du findest, deinem Schein;
im Lasten wird es dir das Sein gewähren.
Der Wortbewahrer:
Verstehn, wohin wir dich im Sinken führen,
du wirst es erst, wenn du sein Wort befolgst.
Wir schmieden deines eignen Wesens Form;
erkenne unser Werk, du müsstest dich
im Weltennichts als Schein sonst völlig lösen.
Der Myste:
So spricht, der dieses Tempels Worte hütet,
erleb’ in dir der Worte Schwergewicht.
Der Vertreter des Luftelements:
Dem Schwergewicht des Erdeseins entflieh’;
es tötet deines Selbstes Sein im Sinken.
Enteile ihm mit Lüfteleichtigkeit. ‒
In Weltenweiten such’ das Sein im Leuchten:
verbinde, was du findest, deinem Schein;
im Fluge wird es dir das Sein gewähren.
Der Wortbewahrer:
Verstehn, wohin wir dich im Fluge führen,
du wirst es erst, wenn du sein Wort befolgst.
Wir leuchten dir in deines Wesens Leben;
erkenne unser Werk; du müsstest dich
im Weltgewicht als Schein sonst völlig lösen.
Der Myste:
So spricht, der dieses Tempels Worte hütet,
erleb’ in dir der Worte Schwingekraft.
Der höchste Opferweise:
Mein Sohn, du wirst auf edlem Weisheitspfade
der Mysten Worte sinngerecht befolgen. ‒
In dir kannst du die Antwort nicht erschau’n.
Denn finstrer Irrtum lastet noch in dir;
und Torheit strebt in dir nach Weltenfernen.
Drum schau ‒ in diese Flamme, die dir näher
(es entzündet sich die helleuchtende, züngelnde Opferflamme, die sich
auf dem Altar, der in der Mitte steht befindet.)
als deines eignen Wesens Leben ist.
Und lies die Antwort aus dem Feuer dir.
Der Myste:
So spricht, der dieses Tempels Opfer leitet,
erleb’ in dir des Opfers Weihekraft.
Der Vertreter des Feuerelements:
Den Irrtum deines Selbstsinns lass’ verbrennen
im Feuer, das im Opfer dir entzündet.
Verbrenne selbst mit deines Irrtums Stoff. ‒
Im Weltenfeuer such’ dein Sein als Flamme;
verbinde, was du findest, deinem Schein.
Im Brennen wird es dir das Sein gewähren.
Der Siegelbewahrer:
Verstehn, warum wir dich zur Flamme bilden,
du wirst es erst, wenn du sein Wort befolgst.
Wir läutern deines eignen Wesens Form. ‒
Erkenne unser Werk, du müsstest dich
im Weltenwasser formlos sonst verlieren.
Der Myste:
So spricht, der dieses Tempels Siegel hütet,
Erleb’ in dir der Weisheit Lichteskraft.
Der Vertreter des Wasserelements:
Der Flammenmacht der Feuerwelt verwehre,
des Eigenseins Gewalt dir aufzuzehren.
Der Schein ersteht zum Sein dir anders nicht,
als wenn des Weltenwassers Wellenschlag
dich mit dem Sphärenton durchdringen kann.
Im Weltenwasser such’ das Sein als Welle;
verbinde, was du findest, deinem Schein.
im Wogen wird es dir das Sein gewähren.
Der Siegelbewahrer:
Verstehn, warum wir dich als Welle bilden,
du wirst es erst, wenn du sein Wort befolgst.
Wir bilden deines eignen Wesens Form;
erkenne unser Werk, du müsstest dich
im Weltenfeuer formlos sonst verlieren.
Der höchste Opferweise:
Mein Sohn, du wirst mit starker Willenskraft
auch dieser Mysten Worte recht befolgen.
In dir kannst du die Antwort nicht erschauen.
In feiger Furcht erfriert noch deine Macht;
die Schwäche kannst du nicht zur Welle bilden,
die dich im Sphärenreich erklingen lässt.
Drum höre deine Seelenkräfte sprechen;
erkenn’ in ihrem Wort die eigne Stimme.
Philia:
Im Feuer läut’re dich; ‒ ‒ als Weltenwelle
verliere dich im Ton der Geistessphären.
Astrid:
Erbilde dich im Ton der Geistessphären; ‒
in Weltenfernen fliege lüfteleicht.
Luna:
In Weltentiefen sinke erdeschwer;
erkühne dich als Selbst im Schwergewicht.
Die andre Philia:
Entferne dich aus deinem Eigensein;
vereine dich der Elemente Macht.
Der Myste:
So spricht im Tempel deine eigne Seele,
erleb’ in ihm der Kräfte Lenkemacht.
Der höchste Opferweise:
Gefährte Opferweiser, diese Seele,
die wir zum Weisheitspfade führen sollen,
ergründ’ in ihren Tiefen, ‒ künde uns,
was du erschaust als ihre Gegenwart.
Der Opferweise:
Es ist geschehn, was unsrem Opfer frommt.
Die Seele hat vergessen, was sie war.
Der Elemente Widersprüche haben
des Irrtums Scheingewebe ihr getilgt;
der lebt im Streit der Elemente fort.
Gerettet hat die Seele nur ihr Wesen.
Und was im Wesen lebt, sie soll es lesen
im Weltenwort, das aus der Flamme spricht.
Der höchste Opferweise:
So lies, du Menschenseele, was die Flamme
als Weltenwort im Innren dir verkündet.
‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒
(Es tritt eine längere Pause ein, während welcher es ganz dunkel wird, ‒ nur die Flamme und die unbestimmten Umrisse der Personen sind zu sehen; der höchste Opferweise fährt nach der Pause fort):
Und nun erwache aus der Weltenschau!
Verkünde, was im Wort zu lesen ist.
(Der Neophyt schweigt. Der höchste Opferweise fährt bestürzt fort.)
Er schweigt! ‒ Entschwindet dir Geschautes? ‒ Sprich!
Der Neophyt:
Gehorchend eurem strengen Opferworte,
versenkt’ ich mich in dieses Flammenwesen,
erwartend hoher Weltenworte Tönen.
‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒
(Die anwesenden Mysten, mit Ausnahme des Opferweisen, zeigen bei der
Rede des Neophyten einen immer grössern Schrecken.)
Ich fühlte, wie ich mich vom Erdgewicht
mit Lüfteleichtigkeit befreien konnte. ‒ ‒
Vom Weltenfeuer liebend hingenommen,
erfühlt’ ich mich in Geisteswellenströmen.
Ich sah, wie meine Erdenlebensform
sich ausser mir als andres Wesen hielt. ‒
Von Seligkeit umhüllt, im Geisteslicht
mich fühlend, konnt’ ich doch die Erdenhülle
mit Anteil nur betrachten, wunscherfüllt. ‒ ‒
Ihr strahlten Geister hoher Welten Licht ‒ ‒;
Es nahten ihr wie Falter, glitzernd hell,
die Wesen, die ihr Leben regsam pflegten.
Von dieser Wesen Lichtgeflimmer strahlte
erfunkelnd Farbenspiel der Leib zurück,
Das glänzend nah, erglimmend fern sich zeigt’;
zuletzt im Raum zerstiebend sich verlor.
Es keimte mir im Geistesseelensein
der Wunsch, das Erdgewicht versenke mich
in meine Hülle, daß ich Freudesinn
in Lebenswärme fühlend pflegen könne. ‒ ‒
In meine Hülle fröhlich untertauchend,
Empfand ich Euren strengen Weckeruf.
Der höchste Opferweise (selbst bestürzt zu den bestürzten Mysten):
Das ist nicht Geist-Erschautes; ‒ irdisch Fühlen ‒
entwand dem Mysten sich und stieg als Opfer
in lichte Geisteshöhn, ‒ O Frevel, Frevel ‒ ‒!
Der Wortbewahrer (im Zorne zu dem Opferweisen):
Es wär’ nicht möglich, hättet Ihr das Amt,
das Euch als Opferweiser anvertraut,
im Sinne uralt heil’ger Pflicht verwaltet.
Der Opferweise:
Ich tat, was mir als Pflicht aus höhern Reichen
in dieser Feierstunde auferlegt.
Enthalten hab ich mich, das Wort zu denken,
das nach der Sitte mir geboten ist,
und das, von meinem Denken aus, hinüber
zum Neophyten geistig wirken sollte.
So hat der junge Mann nicht fremdes Denken,
er hat sein eignes Wesen hier verkündet.
Die Wahrheit hat gesiegt. ‒ Ihr mögt mich strafen;
ich mußte tun, was Ihr in Furcht erlebt.
Ich fühle schon die Zeiten nahe kommen,
die aus dem Gruppengeist das Ich befreien
und ihm das eigne Denken lösen werden.
Es mag der Jüngling eurem Mystenweg
sich jetzt entringen ‒. Spätres Erdesein
wird ihm die Mystenweise sicher zeigen,
die ihm von Schicksalsmächten vorgedacht.
Die Mysten:
O Frevel, ‒ der nach Sühne ruft, ‒ nach Strafe ‒.
(Die Sphinxe beginnen nacheinander zu sprechen als Ahriman und Lucifer, sie waren bisher reglos wie Bildsäulen; ihr Sprechen wird nur von dem Opferweisen, dem höchsten Opferweisen und dem Neophyten gehört; ‒ die andern bleiben in Aufregung durch das Vorhergehende.)
Ahriman als Sphinx:
Ich muß für meine Stätte mir erbeuten,
was hier nur ungerecht zum Lichte will.
Ich muß es weiter dann im Finstern pflegen;
es soll sich so die Eignung geistig schaffen,
in Zukunft sich mit rechtem Werdesinn
dem Menschenleben günstig einzuweben.
Doch bis es diese Eignung sich erwirkt,
wird meinem Werke dienen, was sich hier
dem Weihedienst als Erdenlast erwiesen.
Lucifer als Sphinx:
Ich will für meine Stätte mir entführen,
was hier als Geisteswunsch am Schein sich freut.
Er soll als Schein im Lichte fröhlich glänzen
und so im Geiste sich der Schönheit weihn,
die ihm das Erdgewicht in dieser Zeit
durch seine Last noch ferne halten will.
Im Schönen wandelt Schein zum Sein sich um:
er wird dann künftig Licht der Erde sein;
als Licht sich senkend, welches hier entflieht.
Der höchste Opferweise:
Die Sphinxe sprechen, ‒ sie, die Bild nur waren,
seit Weise hier den Dienst verrichtet haben.
Der Geist, er hat die tote Form ergriffen ‒ ‒;
O Schicksal, du ertönst als Weltenwort ‒ ‒!
(Die andern Mysten, ausser dem Opferweisen und dem Neophyten, sind erstaunt über die Worte des höchsten Opferweisen.)
Der Opferweise (zum höchsten Opferweisen):
Was wir als mystisch Weihewerk vollbringen,
Bedeutung hat es doch nicht hier allein.
Es geht des Weltgeschehens Schicksalsstrom
durch Wort und Tat des ernsten Opferdienstes.
(Über die durch das Vorhergehende bewirkte Stimmung fällt der Vorhang.)
Scene Eight
he same temple scene as in the seventh scene; it is initially covered by a curtain, in front of which an Egyptian woman speaks the following words. The Egyptian woman is to be thought of as one of Thomasius' previous incarnations.
The Egyptian woman:
This is the time when he devotes his being
to the ancient sacred service of wisdom, ‒
and must tear himself away from me forever.
From those heights of light to which he turns
with his soul, mine must appear
the ray of death; without him,
there is only grief for me, renunciation, suffering
to be found on earth, and death.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Even if he leaves me at this hour,
I still want to stay very close to the place
where he entrusts himself to the spirit.
Even if I am not allowed to see with my eyes
how he will leave the earth ‒ ‒;
perhaps the revelation of dreams will allow me
to remain with him spiritually in my intuition.
The curtain rises. Everything is prepared for the initiation of the neophyte, who is thought to be a former incarnation of Mary; on one side of the sacrificial altar stands the highest sacrificer, who is thought to be a former incarnation of Benedictus; on the other side of the altar stands the keeper of words, a former incarnation of Hilarius Gottgetreu; slightly in front of the altar stands the keeper of seals, a former incarnation of Theodora; then, on one side of the altar, facing forward: the representative of the earth element, a former incarnation of Romanus; the representative of the air element, a former incarnation of Magnus Bellicosus; very close to the highest sacrificer, a former incarnation of Capesius; on the other side, the representative of the fire element, a former incarnation of Doctor Strader; the representative of the water element, a former incarnation of Torquatus. In front, Philia, Astrid, Luna, and the “other Philia.” At the very front, in sphinx form, Lucifer and Ahriman, Lucifer in such a way that the cherub is more emphasized, Ahriman in such a way that the bull is more emphasized. Four other priests stand in front. After the temple room with the mystics has become visible, there is a moment of silence; then the guardian of the threshold, a former incarnation of Felix Balde, and the mystic, a former incarnation of Mrs. Balde, lead the neophyte through the gate on the left. They place him in the inner circle near the altar. The two guides remain standing near him.
The Guardian of the Threshold:
From that web of appearances which you
in your error called darkness,
the Mystic has brought you here. ‒
It was the world woven from being and nothingness,
which formed itself into appearance for you in the weaving.
Appearance is good when it is seen from being;
but you dreamed it in the life of appearance;
and appearance recognized from appearance sinks into the universe. ‒
You, appearance of appearance, learn to recognize yourself.
The Mystic:
So speaks he who guards the threshold of this temple,
experience in yourself the weight of the word.
The representative of the earth element:
In the weight of earthly being, grasp
the appearance of your own being without fear,
that you may sink into the depths of the world ‒ ‒.
In the depths of the world, seek being in darkness;
connect what you find to your light;
in burdens, it will grant you being.
The keeper of the word:
Understand where we lead you as you sink,
you will only do so if you obey his word.
We forge the form of your own being;
recognize our work, you would otherwise have to
completely dissolve yourself in the nothingness of the world as an illusion.
The Mystic:
Thus speaks he who guards the words of this temple,
experience the weight of the words within you.
The representative of the element of air:
Escape the weight of earthly existence;
it kills your self in sinking.
Outrun it with the lightness of air. ‒
In worlds wide, seek being in radiance:
connect what you find to your radiance;
in flight, it will grant you being.
The keeper of words:
You will only understand where we are leading you in flight
when you obey his word.
We shine for you in the life of your being;
recognize our work; otherwise you would have to
completely detach yourself from the weight of the world as illusion.
The Mystic:
So speaks he who guards the words of this temple,
experience the vibrating power of the words within you.
The highest form of sacrifice:
My son, you will follow the words of the mystic in a noble path of wisdom
in accordance with their meaning. ‒
You cannot see the answer within yourself.
For dark error still weighs upon you;
and folly strives within you for worlds far away.
Therefore, look—into this flame, which is closer to you than
(the bright, flickering sacrificial flame is lit, which is
on the altar in the middle.)
the life of your own being.
And read the answer from the fire.
The Mystic:
Thus speaks he who presides over the sacrifice in this temple,
experience within yourself the consecrating power of the sacrifice.
The representative of the element of fire:
Let the error of your self-will be burned
in the fire kindled for you in the sacrifice.
Burn yourself with the substance of your error.
In the world fire, seek your being as a flame;
connect what you find to your light.
In burning, it will grant you being.
The keeper of the seal:
Understand why we form you into a flame,
you will only do so when you obey his word.
We purify the form of your own being. ‒
Recognize our work, you would otherwise lose yourself
formlessly in the water of the world.
The Mystic:
Thus speaks he who guards the seal of this temple,
Experience within yourself the light power of wisdom.
The representative of the water element:
Denying the flame power of the fire world,
the power of your own being consumes you.
The illusion arises for you to be no other way,
than when the waves of the world's waters
can penetrate you with the sound of the spheres.
In the world's waters, seek being as a wave;
connect what you find to your illusion.
In the waves, it will grant you being.
The keeper of the seal:
Understand why we form you as a wave,
you will only do so when you obey his word.
We form the shape of your own being;
recognize our work, you would otherwise lose yourself
formlessly in the fire of the world.
The highest sacrifice:
My son, with strong willpower
you will also obey these mystic words.
You cannot see the answer within yourself.
Your power still freezes in cowardly fear;
you cannot form your weakness into a wave
that lets you resound in the realm of the spheres.
Therefore, listen to the voices of your soul;
recognize your own voice in their words.
Philia:
Purify yourself in the fire; ‒ ‒ as a world wave
lose yourself in the sound of the spiritual spheres.
Astrid:
Form yourself in the sound of the spiritual spheres; ‒
fly light as air in distant worlds.
Luna:
Sink earthbound into the depths of the world;
become bold as yourself in heavyweight.
The other Philia:
Remove yourself from your own being;
unite yourself with the power of the elements.
The Mystic:
Thus speaks your own soul in the temple,
experience in it the guiding power of forces.
The Highest Sacrificial Priest:
Fellow Sacrificial Priests, this soul,
which we are to lead to the path of wisdom,
probe its depths, ‒ tell us,
what you behold as its presence.
The Sacrificer:
What is beneficial to our sacrifice has been done.
The soul has forgotten what it was.
The contradictions of the elements have
erased the illusory fabric of error;
it lives on in the conflict of the elements.
Only its essence has saved the soul.
And what lives in its essence, it shall read
in the word of the world that speaks from the flame.
The supreme sacrificer:
So read, O human soul, what the flame
proclaims to you within as the word of the world.
(There is a long pause, during which it becomes completely dark—only the flame and the vague outlines of the figures can be seen; the High Priest continues after the pause):
And now awaken from your world view!
Proclaim what is written in the Word.
(The neophyte remains silent. The high priest continues, dismayed.)
He is silent! ‒ Have your visions vanished? ‒ Speak!
The neophyte:
Obeying your stern sacrificial words,
I immersed myself in this being of flame,
expecting to hear the sounds of higher worldly words.
‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒
(The mystics present, with the exception of the high priest, show
speech of the neophyte.)
I felt how I could free myself from the weight of the earth
with airy lightness. ‒ ‒
Lovingly accepted by the world fire,
I felt myself in waves of spirit.
I saw how my earthly form of life
remained outside of me as another being. ‒
Enveloped in bliss, feeling myself in the light of the spirit,
I could still observe the earthly shell
with only interest, my wishes fulfilled. ‒ ‒
Spirits from higher worlds shone their light upon it;
They approached it like moths, glittering brightly,
the beings who actively nurtured their lives.
From the flickering light of these beings,
the body reflected a sparkling play of colors,
shining close, glowing far away';
finally dissipating in space and disappearing.
It germinated in my spiritual soul
the desire to sink the weight of the earth
into my shell, so that I could cultivate a sense of joy
feeling the warmth of life. ‒ ‒
Merrily submerging myself in my shell,
I felt your stern wake-up call.
The highest sacrifice (even dismayed to the dismayed mystics):
This is not spirit-seen; ‒ earthly feeling ‒
escaped the mystic and rose as a sacrifice
into bright spiritual heights, ‒ O sacrilege, sacrilege ‒ ‒!
The keeper of the word (in anger toward the sacrificer):
It would not be possible if you had administered the office
entrusted to you as sacrificer
in accordance with ancient sacred duty.
The sacrificer:
I did what was imposed on me as a duty from higher realms
in this hour of celebration.
I refrained from thinking the words
that custom dictates I should say,
and which, according to my thinking, should have a spiritual effect on the neophyte.
Thus the young man has no foreign thoughts,
he has proclaimed his own being here.
Truth has prevailed. ‒ You may punish me;
I had to do what you experience in fear.
I already feel the times approaching
that will free the ego from the group spirit
and release it to its own thinking.
The young man may now break away from your mystic path
. Later earthly existence
will surely show him the mystic wisdom,
which was conceived for him by the powers of destiny.
The mystics:
O sacrilege, ‒ which calls for atonement, ‒ for punishment.
(The sphinxes begin to speak one after the other as Ahriman and Lucifer; until now they have been motionless as statues; their speech is heard only by the sacrificial priest, the highest sacrificial priest, and the neophyte; the others remain agitated by what has preceded.)
Ahriman as Sphinx:
I must capture for my place
what here unjustly seeks the light.
I must then nurture it further in darkness;
it shall thus create its spiritual suitability
to weave itself favorably into human life in the future
with a true sense of becoming.
But until this suitability is achieved,
what has proven here to be a burden on the earth
will serve my work.
Lucifer as the Sphinx:
I will carry off for my place
what here rejoices in the appearance of spiritual desire.
It shall shine joyfully as an illusion in the light
and thus consecrate itself in spirit to beauty,
which the weight of the earth in this time
wishes to keep distant from it through its burden.
In beauty, illusion transforms into being:
it will then be the light of the earth in the future;
descending as light that escapes here.
The highest sacrifice:
The sphinxes speak, ‒ they who were only images,
since sages have performed their service here.
The spirit has taken hold of the dead form ‒ ‒;
O fate, you resound as the word of the world—!
(The other mystics, except for the high priest and the neophyte, are astonished at the words of the high priest.)
The high priest (to the high priest):
What we accomplish as a mystical consecration,
has meaning not only here.
It flows through the stream of world events
through the words and deeds of the solemn sacrificial service.
(The curtain falls on the mood created by the preceding events.)