The Rudolf Steiner Archive

Evolution und Involution

[ 1 ] When we imagine the development of a planetary system, we must take the following into account. Development occurs in such a way that two things always alternate for every being: evolution and involution. Now we must imagine the seven evolving and involuting.

[ 2 ] On the next planet, each of the rulers has to go one step further. 8 is the evolved 7. As they evolve, they develop into the others. Once they reach 7, they cannot go any further. If 7 became 8, the process would already have taken place; it is nothing more than a repetition of the first, 7 on another level. As we move on, we see that the leaders themselves change. We get 12 rulers and a 13th superfluous one. This 13th brings the whole planet into a state as it was in the beginning, only in a higher one.

[ 3 ] We must conclude with 12. So that in every constitution of a planetary chain we have not 7, but 12 exalted leading spirits. Of these, only the first of the 8 is not in action, and so on. (Our concepts belong to the Ruppish-mental world; these beings lie beyond our concepts, so that there is no question of emergence, but of timeless relationships).

[ 4 ] These beings have been recognized as 12 rulers in symbols, for example, of the zodiac through which the sun passes. The increase in consciousness of microcosmic development corresponds to the stages of the macrocosm. Thus, the number 12 has always been decisive, and there have been 12 leading spirits everywhere: 12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles, 12 knights of the Grail. Both macrocosmically and microcosmically, 12 is therefore the sacred number that underlies everything. Seven are in action, five have other tasks. Only 7 are relevant to the physical planet, which is why only 7 of the 12 principles of man are taught.

[ 5 ] Mental derivation of beings that lie beyond the mental realm.

[ 6 ] We can best understand how evolution and involution relate to each other by looking at some historical examples.

[ 7 ] Evolution and involution are always opposed to each other. Let us consider Greek sculpture: the form is pronounced, the essential remains inside. Now let us look at Renaissance painting. In Greek sculpture: involution of color, evolution of form. If we allow painting to develop from sculpture, we have form in involution and color in evolution. What was previously in involution later passes into evolution.

[ 8 ] The 16th century marks the beginning of the age of personal mental and scientific development. It was preceded by the age of painting (since Cimabue) in the High Renaissance. In Michelangelo, the personal Kama-Manasic appears in involution, while color and sculpture appear in evolution. The principle of Kama-Manas appeals, but not through itself; it is in involution. As development continues, Kama-Manas, intelligence, must evolve in the new era. Therefore, we see that what is called science is replacing painting. People are, as it were, stepping down from the pictures and speaking for themselves. Painters have, as it were, foreseen the future, but in form and color. People [of modern times] have translated what is involved there into science. If we resurrect Michelangelo, we have Galileo [1564-1642]. So while the intellect evolves, wisdom was again involved and evolves in poetry. Poetry becomes the guardian of wisdom. Therefore, completion is not given with an intuition in theory, but in poetry. [Goethe?]

[ 9 ] So that whoever recognizes their mission in relation to the present must translate the wisdom involved there into thought wisdom. These are the alternating periods of involution and evolution. We can only truly observe a phenomenon if we take into account not only what is evolving, but also what has involuted.

[ 10 ] Each subsequent evolutionary state of the planets thus denotes a previous state of involution. Everything that is intellect on Earth today was involution on the previous planet. On the other hand, what is repelled downward today is evolving: Kama-Rupa [astral or desire body], the sensual nature, played the same role then as Kama-Manas [intellectual consciousness] does today.

[ 11 ] Not all Pitris had reached the normal state. Their highest principle today is still Kama-Rupa, and they strive above all to refine Kama-Rupa. So if our goal or ideal is the refinement of Kama-Manas to the highest peak, we cannot say that this goal is of this world; it is first evolved by us. What belongs to this world is Kama-Rupa; it is the given. Kama-Manas is the ideal. Their ideal belongs to this world, which still regards Kama-Rupa as an ideal.

[ 12 ] There are therefore two kinds of people on this earth, apart from all others: those who do not have their ideal in this world. Tempters are those who tell him: Hold on to the joys of this world. These beings, whose highest nature is related to our lowly nature, are called Satan or the unlawful prince of this world in Christian esotericism. So if the one who [appears] as a leader, also called the Sun Runner, really wants to show the ideal, he must completely overcome the tempter. Hence the symbolic suggestion that the overcoming of the last stage of evolution is represented by temptation. The being that works its way out of involution into evolution always fights the already evolved being: knights and dragons, Siegfried and Lindworm.