Myths and Legends
Occult Signs and Symbols
This volume begins with part of an ongoing series given by Rudolf Steiner to the Besant branch of the German Section of the Theosophical Society. Rudolf Steiner continued the themes begun in the Besant branch during the 6th General Assembly of the German Section which held October 18-21, 1907, with two lectures given on October 21, 1907. A question posed during the General Assembly led to the lecture on “White and Black Magic,” which had not originally been included in the program. The occasion for this may have been a view circulating in theosophical circles, according to which “black magic” was defined as the use of supernatural powers for selfish ends, while “white magic” was the use of such powers for the benefit of the general public.
Additional lectures include talks given in Stuttgart on 13-16 September 1907 known as Occult Signs and Symbols. In the 16 September lecture Rudolf Steiner discusses the seven apocalyptic seals, the original black and white images of which are included here. Additionally included are four lectures given in Cologne 26-29 December 1907.
Concluding this volume, is one lecture given in Berlin on 13 December 1907 that elucidates the profound meaning of the Christmas festival in relationship to the earth. Here, Rudolf Steiner expounds upon the Christ, "the Ruler of the Sun, who, at the moment the blood flowed from the wounds on Golgotha, transferred his work to the earth and thereby included the earth in the work of the Sun." Since the Mystery of Golgotha, the "I AM" that existed even before Abraham—the innermost spiritual being that everyone carries within themselves—overcomes the brotherly love of the blood ties and heredity. Humanity is thereby reunited in a new form of universal brotherly love through Christ. "Then spiritual science will become a living reality of the soul; it will be Vitaesophia. And it can be this most fully in the times when the world soul bends down to us in a very special way and connects with us in a very intimate manner."
| 1. | Old Norse Myths and Legends | October 7, 1907 |
| 2. | Norse and Persian Myths | October 14, 1907 |
| 3. | Dying and Rising Organ Developments in the Human Body. The Physiognomy of Death | October 21 a.m., 1907 |
| 4. | Germanic Legends | October 21 p.m., 1907 |
| 5. | Germanic and Persian Mythology | October 28, 1907 |
| 6. | The First Chapters of Genesis | November 13, 1907 |
| 7. | White and Black Magic | October 21, 1907 |
| 8. | Occult Signs and Symbols I | September 13, 1907 |
| 9. | Occult Signs and Symbols II | September 14, 1907 |
| 10. | Occult Signs and Symbols III | September 15, 1907 |
| 11. | Occult Signs and Symbols IV | September 16, 1907 |
| 12. | The Relationship Between People and Their Environment | December 26, 1907 |
| 13. | Group Ego and Individual Ego | December 27, 1907 |
| 14. | Forms and Numbers in their Spiritual Significance | December 28, 1907 |
| 15. | Pictorial Representations as a Necessary Educational Tool for Mental Training | December 29, 1907 |
| 16. | Christmas: A Reflection from the Wisdom of Life (Vitaesophia) | December 13, 1907 |