The Rudolf Steiner Archive

The Visit of the Anthroposophical Society to France

[ 1 ] From May 23 to 27, I gave lectures in Paris for French friends of anthroposophy. Miss Alice Sauerwein, whom I have appointed as head of the Anthroposophical Society in France, prepared this visit in the most devoted, self-sacrificing, and thoughtful manner. And thanks to these preparations, the event proceeded in the most satisfactory way. Dr. Ita Wegman, the secretary, and Dr. Vreede accompanied me from the Executive Council at the Goetheanum.

[ 2 ] I began with a lecture for members on May 23, which I gave in the style dictated by the Christmas Conference at the Goetheanum. I must be especially grateful to our friend Dr. Jules Sauerwein, who had already taken the trouble to translate my German lectures during the French course (1922) at the Goetheanum, and who also took on this task for all my Paris lectures this time. It was remarkable to see what a beautiful response there was in the hearts of our friends to the tone that came through in the messages from the spiritual realm during the Christmas Conference. The abandonment of all reservations and the very direct presentation of what emerges from the revelations of the spiritual world meets the expectations of the souls of anthroposophy. It is safe to say in general that since Christmas, it has been possible to truly feel the warmth of soul that is so beneficial to the communication of anthroposophical ideas in the lecture halls.

[ 3 ] What is particularly noteworthy about this event within the French Anthroposophical Society is that this warmth of soul was fully preserved through Dr. Sauerwein's excellent translation, so that, on the whole, I, the speaker, was met with the most wonderful atmosphere from the circle of members.

[ 4 ] This lecture for members was continued with two further lectures on May 24 and 25. The content of these lectures was the question of destiny (karma). The way in which destiny is present in human life on earth, how a completely different lawfulness than in natural processes is revealed in its workings, was discussed. The formation of fate in human existence between death and new birth then leads in the description to the spiritual worlds to which human beings belong and through which they pass in this existence. Of particular importance is the description of how, through human beings themselves in their successive earthly lives, the forces of one historical epoch are carried over into another. The examples I now give without reservation in this area seem to me to enhance the esoteric aspect. The nature of Christ within all these complexes of facts has been characterized accordingly.

[ 5 ] On May 25, the General Assembly of the Anthroposophical Society took place in France. I was able to express to Ms. Sauerwein the fullest appreciation of her energetic work on behalf of the Executive Council of the Anthroposophical Society at the Goetheanum. I then explained the significance of the impulses of the Christmas Conference for the further work of the Anthroposophical Society and recalled how, exactly ten years ago, I was able to give a lecture on anthroposophy to a limited audience in Paris.

[ 6 ] And I was able to give another public lecture to an invited audience on May 26. It dealt with the topic “How does one gain knowledge of the spiritual worlds?” I believe one can say that the esoteric impulse that has prevailed in the anthroposophical movement since the Christmas Conference was also alive in this public lecture. And here, too, one could notice how souls open up when one speaks without reservation about the truth of the spiritual world. There were over four hundred listeners, and here, too, the need for translation did not detract from the atmosphere.

[ 7 ] Miss Rihouet introduced us visitors from the Goetheanum to the children of the eurythmy school, which she leads with such dedication and insight. We could only express our complete satisfaction with the wonderful successes Miss Rihouet has achieved. It is also a heartfelt desire of mine to say here that I feel deep joy at Miss Rihouet's work within French society. The journal “Science spirituelle,” which she edits and publishes at great sacrifice, must bear the best fruit, for it is excellently designed and represents the anthroposophical cause with great energy.

[ 8 ] Two esoteric lectures were also held at the School of Spiritual Science on May 26 and 27, thus working directly in the spirit of the Goetheanum.

[ 9 ] On May 27, I was able to organize a medical evening together with my dear colleague, Dr. Ita Wegman. Dr. Auzimour, the distinguished physician, gave us the opportunity to do so by kindly making his home available for the evening and inviting his physician friends to the lecture. I explained the principles of pathology and therapy that can enrich medicine from an anthroposophical perspective. I pointed out how far anthroposophy is from underestimating scientific medicine in a dilettantish or amateurish way, how it is rather concerned with fully recognizing it and only adding to it what can be grasped from a truly scientific spiritual knowledge for understanding the process of illness and healing. I mentioned how the ancient mysteries always treated the attainment of spiritual knowledge and healing in close association with each other, and that through the similar close connection between the clinical-therapeutic institute in Arlesheim, which is directly linked to the Goetheanum and so competently directed by Dr. Wegman, the beginning of a renewal of the mystery tradition is also to be made in this field. It goes without saying, however, that it is not the soul-instinctive nature of the ancient mysteries that can be revived, but rather one that corresponds to the fully developed but spiritually elevated modern consciousness. We must express our warmest thanks to Dr. Auzimour for his friendly cooperation and for his support of our cause.

Further Leading Thoughts issued from the Goetheanum for the Anthroposophical Society

[ 10 ] 50. It is particularly important to point out how the study of the historical life of humanity is enlivened by showing that it is human souls themselves that carry the results of one historical epoch into another, as they pass from epoch to epoch in their repeated earthly lives.

[ 11 ] 51. It is easy to object to such a view, saying that it robs history of its elemental and naive character; but this is wrong. Rather, it deepens our understanding of history, which it traces to the very core of human nature. History thereby becomes richer and more concrete, not poorer and more abstract. One need only develop heart and mind for the living human soul in the presentation, into which one thereby looks deeply.

[ 12 ] 52. The epochs in life between death and new birth are to be dealt with in relation to karma formation.

[ 13 ] The “how” of this treatment of karma formation should form the content of the further guiding principles.