The Threshold of the Spiritual World
GA 17
Translated by Steiner Online Library
Summary of the Foregoing
[ 1 ] A subtle etheric human entity underlies the physical human being. This lives in an elemental environment, just as the physical human being lives in a physical environment. The elemental outer world is structured into the supersensible life body of the earth. This results as the transformation being of an old world (Moon world) and as the preparatory state for a future world (Jupiter world). Schematically, the human being can be viewed as follows:
[ 2 ] I. The physical body in the physical-sensual environment. Through it, man recognizes himself as an independent being (ego).
[ 3 ] II The subtle (etheric) body in the elementary environment. Through it man recognizes himself as a member of the earth-life body and thus indirectly as a member of three successive planetary states.