Bernard'Lievegoed s'impulse'in'the'light'of'the'old' and'the'new'mysteries' '

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1 BernardLievegoed simpulseinthelightoftheold andthenewmysteries TheAssociationforSocialDevelopmenttakesitsinspirationfromtheworkof BernardLievegoed.LookingattheAssociation sdevelopment,greatcreativeforce mustbeatworkwithinthisimpulse.wheredoesitcomefrom?thebestwayto deriveananswertothisquestionistolookatthesourcesfromwhichthisimpulse takesnourishment. AsBernardLievegoedwasthepersonthroughwhomtheimpulsereachedearth,the beststartingpointforourinvestigationistolookatlievegoedhimselfandhis biography,andtoaskourselves: Whatdidhehavetooffertheimpulsethatenabled ittofindanearthlyincarnation,anearthlysheath? 1. Lievegoed*the*healer BernardLievegoedstudiedmedicineandbecameadoctor.Adesiretohealwas deeplyrootedwithinhim.forhim,healingwasnotaboutrepairingadisturbancein abiochemicalsystem;forlievegoed,ithadadeeplychristianmeaning.disease resultsiforganslosetheirconnectionwiththegreaterwhole,shutthemselvesoff, becomeseparate,whentheyarenolongerembeddedinandsupportedbytheir environment.thearchetypalimageofthisseparationisthefall,wherelucifer s interventioncausedmantobedrivenfromparadise.throughthisseparation,this originalsin,humanbeingswereabletoasserttheirindividuality.allfurther developmentmustnowaim inastateoffreedom atreintegration,rejoining, mergingintothemainstreamofdevelopment,becomingwhole awayfromdeath s domain(therealmofmatterinwhicheverythingisdrivenbydifferentiation)intoa new,spiritualrealmoflife. BernardLievegoed sdesiretohealwasatworkinthisperspective.heknewthe secretoftherhythm,ofactivatinglifeprocesseswithintheframeworkofahealthy polarity;histhinkingrevolvedaroundmovement,development,andheconsidereda hardeningofviewpoints,fixedproceduresandstructuresasobstaclesto development.atatimewhenhardlyanyonespokeofprocessorganisation,hechose thecloverleaf afourfold,healingethericstructure asthesymbolforhisbookon organisationaldevelopment(initselfanewtermatthetime!).hisconceptofthe integrationphasewasa situationinwhichpeopleactautonomouslyand intelligentlyforthebenefitofthewhole.freelyconnectingoneselfwiththegreater whole.butifthatistobethecase,thewholemustalsoholdmeaning.thushealing takesonamoraldimensionwhoselongtermaimishealinginthesenseofthe saviour. 2. Lievegoed*the*educator* * Havingcompletedhismedicalstudies,Lievegoedspecialisedinpsychiatry. Throughouthislifeheworkedasapsychiatristforadults,especiallyforstudents,and 1

2 duringhistimeatzonnehuishefocusedonworkingwithchildrenwithphysicaland mentaldisabilities.anumberofquestionsoccupiedhimduringhislifetime:how doesthesoullivewithinthebodyandwhichspiritualforcesareatworkwithinthe soul?howcanthesoul sdifferentfacultiessupportandstrengthenoneanother,but alsoparalyseandextinguishoneanother?howdothesoulfacultiesdevelopduring thecourseoflife,howareahrimanandluciferatworkwithinthesoul,howdoes thedoublecomeintobeing? Withinthecontextofhissocialimpulse,hewonderedabouttheconnection betweensocialproblemsontheonehandandinsufficientlydevelopedfacultiesof thesoulontheother.thus,hebecameincreasinglyinterestedinadulteducation, managementtraining,socialskillseminars,ingroupdynamicsandsensitivity training.helookedforappropriateformsofsouldevelopmentthatarecompatible withtheconsciousnesssoul.bernardlievegoed spioneeringworkinthefieldof biographicalworkalsoneedstobeseenagainstthisbackground.thebiography seminarsthatarewidelyavailabletodayarebasedonlievegoed sbooksonthe developmentalphasesofchildrenandonpeople slifestories, 1 2 whichwere bestsellersinthenetherlandsforseveralyearsrunning. 3. Lievegoed*the*entrepreneur Lievegoedwasnotonlyahealerandaneducator,hewasalsoanentrepreneur.In thisguisehesuccessfullysetupthreedifferentorganisations,eachveryimportant andinfluential:thezonnehuis(aninstitutionforchildrenwithspecialneeds)thenpi (InstituteforOrganisationalDevelopment)andtheVrijeHogeschool(FreeCollege,a culturalcentreforadulteducationandsocialdevelopment). BernardLievegoedwasamanofmanyinitiatives.Apartfromtheabovementioned projects,hewrotebooks,chairedtheanthroposophicalsociety,ledanumberof committees,andasanextraordinaryprofessorattheuniversityofrotterdamhe developedanewfaculty. Asaleader,healwaysbasedhisactivitiesonpersonalresponsibility,hemaderoom forinitiatives,encouragedinnovation.irememberanoccasionwhenhereturned fromgermanywithabookbymechler,entitled 1000Workers,1000 Entrepreneurs Hesaid: Thisisthefuture!Nomoreemployeesawaiting instructionsfromtheirsuperiors.thisemployeeattitudeonlycontributesto maintainingtraditionalhierarchicalstructuresontheonehand,andtocreating bureaucracyontheother.instead,weneedtobuildonindividualentrepreneurial responsibility. BernardLievegoedplacedgreatimportanceonentrepreneurshipasabasicattitude, aviewthatwasultimatelyrootedinhisunderstandingofthehumanego:theegois characterisedbyspiritualendeavour,itlendsstrengthtothesoulandshapetoa person slife;itisthesourceofmoralityand,finally,itistheonlyfoundationon whichhealthysocialrelationshipscanbebuilt. 2

3 ForBernardLievegoedentrepreneurshipwasthewaytowardsstrongmoraland socialegoforces. 4. Lievegoed*the*builder* * InsomerespectsBernardLievegoedwasacraftsman.Idon tmeanthisliterally, althoughhewasveryinterestedintechnologyandalwayswantedtoknowexactly howmachineswork,butratherinasocialcontext.hesucceededatrealisinghis initiatives,puttinginplaceorganisationalstructuresandlegalframeworks.he excelledatfundraising,infindingfinancialresourcesinordertoimplementhisplans. Heknewhowtoengageandmotivatepeople.Andlast,butnotleast:hewasableto findbuildingsinwhichhisinitiativescouldberealised.wholenovelscouldbe writtenaboutthewayinwhichbernardlievegoedmanagedtoacquiretheaugust mayor shouseinzeist whichhousesthezonnehuistothisday;howhefoundthe fourbuildingswhichbecamesuccessivehomesofthenpi;andhowhechancedon thecountryestatedereehorstwhichwastobetheabodeofthevrijehogeschool. BernardLievegoedwasabuilder,notofsocialempiresbutofnewsociallandscapes. Itisnoaccidentthathewantedtonamethefacultywhichwasofferedtohimat Rotterdam SocialEcology.Socialecologistsaresocialartists,designersofsocial landscapes.inthesamewaythatnaturallandscapesareformedthroughthe interplayofthethreenaturalrealms(minerals,plants,animals),sociallandscapes areshapedbytheinterplayofthecultural,thesocialandthelegal/political,andthe economiclife. ThecommitteeinRotterdamrejectedthenamebecausenobodywouldbeableto understandit itdidnotexistatthattime.soitbecamethefacultyforsocial Education.ButBernardLievegoed soriginalchoiceofnameforthefacultybears witnesstohisimpulseasasocialarchitect,asabuilder. Insummary,BernardLievegoed sbiographyclearlyshowshimasahealer,educator, entrepreneurandbuilder.takingthis,asitwere,astheshell,theinstrumentwhich BernardLievegoedofferstotheimpulse,doesthefourfoldnatureofhisactivities pointtoan entity fromwhichtheimpulsedrawsnourishment? The*four*mystery*streams*in*the*light*of*evolution* In1977BernardLievegoedpublishedabooklet 3 whichformeholdsthekeyto answeringthequestionihavejustposed.thebookletisentitled MysteryStreams ineuropeandthenewmysteries.itscomplexcontentcannoteasilybe summarised,andiwouldrecommendthatyoureaditforyourself.however,iwill brieflysetoutitsmainpoints,sothaticanthenmaketheconnectionwith Lievegoed simpulse. ItstartswiththeevolutionaryperspectivethatispresentedtousinRudolfSteiner s spiritualscience: 4 hierarchicalentitieslendtheiressencetoformthebasisforthe vitalelements,theshells,ofhumanbeings.thisprocesstakesplaceinfourmajor 3

4 4 evolutionaryphases.thesacrificeofthethrones(spiritsofwill)representstheseed forthephysicalbody,basisforthesoulforceofthewill;thesacrificeofthe yriotetes(spiritsofwisdom)representstheseedfortheethericbody,basisforthe soulforceoffeeling;thesacrificeofthedynameis(spiritsofmovement)represents theseedfortheastralbody,basisforthinkingconsciousness;thesacrificeofthe Exusiai(spiritsofform)presentsthepossibilitytobecomeaselfawareentity, representingfreedom. Fromthemomenttheegoentersintothesepreparedmembers,allofevolution representsonelargetransformationprocess.firsttheselfwillusethepowersofthe astralbody,theethericbodyandthephysicalbodytocreateasentientsoul,amind soul,andaconsciousnesssoul sheathsofthesoulinwhichtheegocanliveon earthasaspiritualentity.latertheegowilltransformthesesheathsfurtherstill, shapingthemintoorganswhichenableittoliveinthespiritualrealmasanequal amongsthierarchicalentities organsfortruth,beautyandgoodness,thethree provincesofthespiritualrealm.steinerspeaksoftheseorgansasthespiritself(the transformedastralbody),thelifespirit(thetransformedethericbody)andthespirit man(thetransformedphysicalbody).inordertomakepossiblethistransforming work,thespiritualrealmhasestablishedmysterycentresonearth, 5 where particularlysuitedpeople,havingundergonealongperiodofpreparationduring whichtheyaresubjectedtoseveretests,areinitiatedintocertainsecretsofthe humanbeingandthecosmos.thustheyarereceptivetoinspirationfromthe spiritualrealmandcantakeonaleadingroleintheculturalsphere. Thesemysterieshavelongbeendifferentiateddependingontheirpositiononearth. BeforetheAtlanteancatastrophethesemysteriesweredistinguishedaccordingto theplanetaryqualitiestheyrepresent(socalledsaturnoracles,jupiteroraclesand soon).afterthecatastrophethecultureinspiringmysteriesweredistinguishedby thefourpointsofthecompass. Theforcefields,orstreams,whichemanatefromthesemysterycentreseventually flowintotheeuropeanregion.theyweregivenastheirimpulsetheseedofthe mostcloselyshroudedmysterythattookplaceattheturningpointoftime:the MysteryofGolgotha.Itislocatedinthenorthernmostpartofthesouthernstream andthewesternmostpartoftheeasternstream. IntheEuropeanregionthemysterystreamsfallpreytothecounterforcesofLucifer, AhrimanandtheAzuras.Inthisareatherewillalsobeaneedfor,andthepossibility of,afundamentalrenewalthroughthesocalledchristmasconference.butbefore wegoontothis,ifirstwanttooutlinethespecifictasksofthefourmysterystreams. The*southern*stream 6 * Themysterytaskofthesouthernstreamliesinfathomingthesecretsofthephysical bodyandinpreparingitstransformationintospiritman.ithasitssourceinold Lemuria,hadapervasiveinfluenceonEgyptiancultureandreachedtheEuropean regionviatheromanempire.themysteryofthephysicalbodyiscloselyrelatedto

5 themysteryofmatter,ofspaceandofdeath.egyptiancultureprovidesan impressiveillustrationofapeopleseekingtodealwiththetensionswhicharisein thisstream.thisculturewasconfinedtoanarrowstripoflandeithersideofthe Nile,whichflowsfromsouthtonorth.Theannualfloodsensuredthefertilityofthe soil,butimmediatelyadjacentwerehugedeserts.anarrowstripoflifeintherealm ofdeath. Egyptianculturewascharacterisedbyawidelypractiseddeathcult:thedeadwere mummifiedandtheirsarcophagiburiedingraveswhichgrewintowholecitiesofthe dead(necropolis).sunworship,too,stoodunderthesignofdeathandrebirth: everydaythesunwasrebornintheeastashorus,roseasretoitsmiddaypeakand diedasosirisinthewest.duringthesun snightlypassageunderneaththeearth whichonlyinitiatedpriestswereawareof OsirismatedwithIsis,andthenew Horuswasborn.Aneast westmovementofthesunoverasouth northmovement ofthenile:inthiswaytheegyptianswereconstantlyawareofthefourspatial directions. TheMysteryofSpacebecomesvisibleintheimageofthepyramid.Startingfroma spiritualcentre,thespiritmovesintrinity(triangles!)towardsearth.infourfold arrangementitflowsdownwards,whereitformsamathematicalrectangle.every daytheegyptianssawthissecretofincarnation. Bybuildingthepyramids,thisculturealsoplacedunimaginabledemandsonitselfin termsofhandlingphysicalmatter.giganticstonemasseswerehewnfromquarries, transportedtothebuildingsitesanderectedtotoweringheights.themysteryof howthiswasachievedremainsunsolvedtoday. TheEgyptiansdidpioneeringworkinthedesignofsocialspaces.Immense organisationalproblemshadtobesolvedtobuildapyramid(a20yearproject): accommodationandfoodfortensofthousandsofworkerswhocamefloodingin fromallareasofthecountry(peasantswhocouldnotworktheirlandduringthe annualfloods),logisticalproblemsintermsoftransportingthebuildingmaterial fromfardistantquarries,organisingthebuildingprocessonsite. ButtheEgyptianswerealsobuildersinpoliticalterms.TheyunifiedUpperandLower Egyptintoa%single%stateandbuiltanextensiveempirereachingasfarasBabylonia, Assyria,MesopotamiaandChaldaea. ThecontinuationofthesouthernstreamintheRomanEmpirealsoshowsthisability tobuildempires,thecreationofromanjurisprudenceforminganimportant prerequisite. Thesouthernstreamholdstheseedsoftoday smaterialism.butitalsoholds alchemistsandrosicrucians atworkmuchmoreinthehiddenesotericsphere. Whenpreparingforthenewmysteries,theyorientthemselvestowardsthetrans substantiationofmatter,thetransformationoftheearth.fromthisperspectivethe 5

6 Templars 7,too,arepartofthesouthernstream:theyweresearchingforthebuilding principlesforachristiancommunity. * * The*western*stream 8 Themysterytaskofthewesternstreamliesinfathomingthesecretsoftheetheric bodyandinpreparingitforthetransformationintothelifespirit.wedirectour attentiontoireland,theoldhibernia.thislandwasthelast,northeasterlyregionof thesunkenlandofatlantis.atlanteanculturewasethericinnature. 9 Itperished whentheseethericforcesbecamecorruptedasaresultofimmoralandegotistical abuse.hiberniawastaskedwithpreservingtheatlanteanheritage.itwastherefore giventhetasktolearntodealselflesslywiththepowersoftheethericbodyandthe ethericrealm.thepupilsofthehibernianmysteriestrainedtheirethericbodies,and thisenabledthemtousetheirimaginativepowerstolookintothemysteriesofthe elementalrealm.intheelementalrealmeverythingmoves,develops,constantly changesform;everythingdynamicallyinteractswitheverythingelse.tousea modernterm,onlyaholisticapproachcanperceivethisreality.allgravityis defeatedinthisethericrealm.thegeocentricgiveswaytotheheliocentric,the peripherybecomesthecentre. FormanycenturiesingArthur thereweremanyofthem andhisroundtable carriedthewesternstream.hiscastlestoodonthecoastofcornwall,neartintagel.i havecampedseveraltimesnearitsremains.sittingonarock,surroundedbythe sprayoftheoceanandtheaircloudedbyfoaminwhichthesuncreatesmagical rainbows,ihavefelttheseeingawarenessoftheseirishcelticinitiates. Eventually,aroundthetimeoftheMysteryofGolgotha,theirawarenessshowed themthatanentityofthesunhadenteredtheearthlyrealm;thisbecameapparent fromtheelementalrealm.fromthismomenton,theprechristianmysteryculture seamlesslytransformeditselfintoalivingchristendom.whenchristianmissionaries fromromereachedthesewesternlandsseveralcenturieslater,tobringthe glad tidings ofthegospel,theywereamazedtofindchristianityalreadythrivinghere. However,therepresentativesofthesouthernstreamconsideredthisanunworthy Christendom:lackinghierarchicalstructure(small communities connectedinasort ofhorizontalnetwork),notbasedonecclesiasticaldogmaand worstofall connectedwithnatureinapaganmanner.someasureshadtobetakenagainstit. AndsinceIrish,ScottishandCelticChristianityhadspreadthroughoutEurope,a comprehensive,lengthybattleensued.ittookatleastuntilthe10thcenturyaduntil theromanchurchhaderadicatedthelastremainsofcelticchristianity. The*eastern*stream* Unlikethesouthernandwesternstream,whichstemfromLemuriaandAtlantis respectively,theeasternstreamdoesnotoriginatefromolderdevelopmental phasesoftheearth.itseffectemanatesfromthefareast,asapostatlantean 6

7 7 culturecreatingimpulse.thedivinemanuleftthesinkinglandsofatlantiswitha smallbandofothersandcreatedaspiritualcentreinthegobidesert,fromwhere thefirstpostatlanteancultureswerecreated.themysterytaskofthiseastern streamwasthecleansingandennoblingoftheastralbody.thesoulhadbeen corruptedbylucifer sinterventionandhadtobeshapedintoaworthysoulshellfor thehumanspiritualentity theego.atalaterstagethisastralbodywouldneedto betransformedintothespiritself. TheeasternstreamspreadfromtheancientIndiantotheancientPersianculture, andmetthesouthernstreamatitsmiddleeasternedges,beforeflowingintothe EuropeanregionviatheGreekculture. Thisstreamhadthreeinstrumentsforennoblingofthesoulforcesofthinking, feelingandwill:science,artandreligion.ittrainsthinkingcapacity,first imaginativelythroughmythology,thenviathereligiousideasoftheology,andfinally intheabstractconceptsofphilosophy.ittrainsfeelingcapacitythroughart: architecture,sculpture,painting,music,poetryanddance.andittrainsthewill throughthemanyritualactionsthathavetobeperformedandthemanyreligious ruleswhichhavetobeobservedinthecontextofculture,everydaylifeandwork. Noothermysterystreamhascomeneartheeasternstreaminitsflourishingand refinementofscience,cultureandreligion. ThereisawonderfulstoryinGreekmythologywhichdemonstratestheessential characteristicsofthiseasternstream.itisthestoryofjason,whosetsoutwitha selectgroupofheroes(theargonauts)tofindthegoldenfleece.thisgoldenfleece symbolisesthepureastralbody.theymarcheastwards toolchisonthebanksof theblacksea becausetheyknowthatthisiswherethesourceis.thenameof Jason sship theargo showsthattheyaresearchingforthewaybacktotheorigin totheastralbodybeforethefall. The*northern*stream 10 * Thenorthernstreamisthemostcloselyshrouded.ItrunsthroughtheGermanic Nordicregions,intheareaoftheHyperboreaofancienttimesandwherethesun lefttheearth.themysteryimpulseofthenorthernstreamistaskedwithattending tothebirthoftheegoinsuchawaythatitdoesnotloseitsconnectionwiththe spiritualworld,andtoensurethatitdevelopsthepowertotransformthethree elementsofitsbeing,firstintoasoulgarmentandthenintoaspiritualorgan. GermanicNordicmythology(theEdda)holdsimportantevidenceofthismystery impulse.atthecentreofthedivinestandstheworldtree,thesuntreeknownas Yggdrasil,meaningcarrieroftheego.Itsrootsfindtheirwaytothesourcesoftruth, beautyandgoodness. ThecentralfigureintheNordicGermanicpantheonisOdin(Woden),thedeitywho livesinwindandbreathandwhosegifttohumanityisthepowerofspeech.because

8 ofthis,mancanbecomeaspeaking,thinkingbeing,andthisformsthebasisofhis freedom.odin ssonthor(donar)livesinthunderandlightningandinhumanblood. Hisgiftistheego.Theegoresidesintheblood siron,whichflowstowardsthe outermostperipherybutalwaysreturnstotheheart.thorhasahammerofiron, anditshammeringislikethebeatoftheheart.howeverfarheflingsthehammer,it alwaysreturnstohim. Throughthetwilightofthegods,thedeathofBaldur,thegodoflight,andinhis return,theeddashowedthecosmicevolutionarydramaofthebirthoffreeman,the fragmentationoftheoldmysterystreamsandtheirresurrectioninanewchristian culture. TheinitiationintotheGermanicNordicmysteriesinvolvedtestsofcourage,which strengthenedandcleansedtheego.thebattlefieldwasanimportantarenafortests ofcourage.thegermanicculturewascentredaroundheroes,andtherewereplenty ofopportunitiestoproveoneselfahero,asfightingbetweenclans,betweenblood communities,wasanintegralpartoflife.theegowasstillverymuchconnectedwith bondsofblood,andthisledtofighting.thosewhodiedinbattleweretakenbytheir Valkyry(higherselforangel):anegoinitiation. Thetestofcouragealsotookplacewithinone sownsoul.inthegermanic,northern regionstheselfdescendedintounprepared,uncultivatedsheaths.intheeastern streaminparticular,thevitalelementswerecarefullypreparedthroughscience,art andreligion,sothattheself,asitwere,couldsettleintoa madeupbed.thiswas notthecaseinthenorth,whichpaidlittleheedtoscience,artandreligionassoul formingculturalelements.intheastralbodytheselfencounteredthe savageryof thenibelungs,intheethericbodyitmetwiththerampantlifeforces,represented intheeddabythesymbolofthegiants,andinthephysicalbodyitwasconfronted withtheforcesofdeath,assymbolisedbytheedda sfenriswolf.consciouslyto descendintotheseworldsdemandedgreatpowersofcourage. Therewerealsotestsofcouragestagedinthemysteries:walkingoveraswaying chainbridgefromonerocktoanother,25metresaboveground(theexternstones nearpaderborningermanystillbearwitnesstothis),orenteringfingalscaveinthe OuterHebrides(offtheScottishcoast).Thecavehadtobeenteredatlowtide it wasnotaccessibleathightide.thenitbecamedarkandthethunderingrollofthe wavesreboundedfromallthewalls.theboatviolentlyrolledfromsidetoside.it wasatestofcourageintheelementaryworld:sixhoursbeforethelowtideonce againpermittedexitfromthecave Europe*as*a* waiting*room.*the*decadence*of*the*mystery*streams*and*their* renewal*through*the*christmas*conference* SofarwehavedescribedhowtheimpulsesofmysterystreamsenterEuropefrom thefourwinddirections.rudolfsteinerspokeoftheeuropeanregionasa waiting room.whatmighthehavemeant? 8

9 9 ForthousandsofyearsculturesflourishedaroundEurope,particularlytothesouth andeast,inwhicheuropehadnopart.europewascoveredbywoodlandand sparselyinhabited.itwaswaitingforanimportanttask.inthiswaitingroomthe consciousnesssoulwasborn.inthisroomatotallynewsenseofselfandan experienceoffreedomwouldenablehumanitytoliberateitselffromalloldspiritual bonds,alltraditionalsocialstructuresandfromnature.inthisroomthe consciousnesssoulwouldalsoshowitsdarkside:materialismandegotism.evil wouldroamfreely.butinthisveryconflictwiththecounterforces,freedomwould berealised i.e.inafreelymadedecisiontochoosewhatisgood.inthisroom importanteventswouldoccurinquicksuccession,enablingtheculturetotakeona trulynewimpulseandaneworientation. In1879MichaelbecametheTimespirit.AftertheMysteryofGolgothathis archangelofthesunbecamethespiritoftheageforthefirsttime. In1899,5000yearsofaliYugacametoanend.Thiswasthedarkperiodin whichthespiritconsciousnessonearthwasdarkenedinordertofacilitate freedom. In1910increasingmaterialismledtoaseconddeathandresurrectionofChrist. Hecannowbeexperienceddirectlyasaspiritentityofthesunintheetheric world. Asaresultofthesedevelopmentstheconditionswereinplaceforarenewalofthe mysteriesonearth.rudolfsteinerbroughtanthroposophyasanewspiritualscience, asthemichaelmystery,givingmodernconsciousnessapathtowardsawakeningon ahigherplaneofrealityandopeningthedoortoanewesotericchristianity.he spentthefirst42yearsofhislifelayingthephilosophicalandepistemological foundationsforallthis.subsequently,inthreesevenyearperiods,hedeveloped anthroposophyasaspiritualscience,anartformandchristiandoctrine,andasan impulseforrenewalinallspheresofwork. TheChristmasConferenceof1923addedanewsocialdimensiontoallthis,inthe shapeofahumancommunity,builtonafoundationstoneplacedinpeople shearts. ThisFoundationStoneverseencompassesallofanthroposophy,aswellasthe MysteryofChrist.Thesamesourcegivesanadequatelegalformtothiscommunity, thesocalled15principles.thefreehighschoolofspiritualscienceisplacedatits centreasitsesotericcore.itistaskedwithlookingafterspiritualresearch.allofthis hastobeconsideredtheseedforanewmysteryculture,acultureinwhichallareas oflifeareinspiredbyanewspirituality,anew sociality andanewmorality. 11 TheEuropean waitingroom didnotremainemptywhileitwasawaitingfulfilment; rather,itfilledwitheverythingthemysterystreamsbroughtfromthefourpointsof thecompass.overtime,thesestreamsbecamedecadent.theylosttheirspiritual inspiration,nolongerhadacentre,wereoverpoweredbythecounterforcesorwere enslavedbydecadentoccultstreams.esotericundercurrentsretainedonly precariousfootholdsonwhichthechristmasconferencecouldbuild:therosicrucian streamfromthesouth,thegrailstreamfromtheeast,thearthurianstreamfrom thewestandthewidarstreamfromthenorth.

10 Howdothecounterforcesmanifestthemselvesinthefourstreams?Itispointless andunrealisticto divide theseforcesbetweenthefourdirections.theydonot adheretosuchcategories.itislikelythatallofthemareperceptibleeverywhere.in hislecturesonthebackgroundtothemysteries,steinerestablishesarelationship withthethreefoldsocialorder 12.Inhisbook,BernardLievegoedprovidesananalysis fromadifferentperspective.howthisquestioncanbeapproachedinthecontextof thisarticleisbestdemonstratedinrelationtobernardlievegoed simpulse. The*four*mystery*streams*and*Lievegoed s*impulse* * Basedonthedetailed althoughnaturallystillextremelycondensed descriptionof thefourmysterystreams,itisnotdifficulttomaketheconnectionbetweenthefour aspectsofbernardlievegoed simpulse,andhispersonalqualities,asoutlinedatthe beginningofthisarticle,andthefourstreams.wecharacterisedhimasahealer,an educator,andentrepreneurandabuilder.hisimpulseisrelatedtothewestern, eastern,northernandsouthernstreamsinthatsamesequence.wewillnow describethisalittlemorefully,alsotakingintoaccountthecounterforces. The%western%stream% %Bernard%Lievegoed%the%healer% % Thewesternstreamistheethericworld:movement,process,transformation, wholeness.thiswasbernardlievegoed sworldasahealer.rigidattitudes, polarisationorstagnationcausedhimpain.heapproachedeveryphenomenonand everyproblemfromtheprocessperspective:thedevelopmentofchildren,adults, groupsandorganisations.whenhisfirstbookonorganisationaldevelopmentwas published, 13 henotonlydescribedtheorganisationfromtheviewpointofits development,hepenetratedasfarastheessentialcharacteroftheorganisationas anethericentity.thecloverleafwasthesymboloftheethericorganisation:life ether(resourceorganisation),chemicalether(productionorganisation),lightether (informationorganisation)andwarmthether(relationshiporganisation)jointlyform thelivingbodyoftheorganisation. BernardLievegoedintroducedthehealingconceptoftheethericorganismofan organisationatatimewhentheliteraturehardlyspokeofthetermprocess organisation. Thecounterforcewhichprimarilymanifestsitselfintherealmofthelivingforcesis Ahriman.Whenthesacrificeofthespiritsofwisdomgaverisetotheappearanceof theethericontheoldsun,ahrimantookonhisroleasthe adversary.heharbours aprofoundaversiontoeverythingthathasprocesscharacterandmanifestsitselfas autonomouslife.hewantsplansandprogrammes.hewantstocontroland dominate.heisthecold,intelligenttechnocrat.whenanawarenessoftherealityof lifeasaprocess,oftheideaofholism,emergedinthe1960s,ahrimanwasreadyto intercept thisbreakthroughwithlinear,mechanisticideas 14.Heintroducedthe conceptof processdesign,modeltheoriesandsystemthinking.withthehelpof computers,complexprocessescouldbesimulated,complicatedmodelsbuiltand 10

11 comprehensivesystemsdesigned.butthethoughtprocessesthemselvesremained lockedinmechanisticstructures.thehealingpowersoftheethericcouldnotgain access. Inthewesternstream,BernardLievegoedthehealerfightstobeabletoworkwith therealityoftheethericinthesocialrealm. The%eastern%stream% %Bernard%Lievegoed%the%educator% Theeasternstreamisfocusedonthecleansinganddevelopmentofthesoulforces. Themysteriesintheeasternstreamtookcareofthisthroughscience,artand religion.themorethesemysteriesfadedandlosttheirpower,themoremanhadto takeresponsibilityforthedevelopmentofhisownsoul.whatdoeseducationdoto man?whatdoweknowaboutthehumansoul?doweknowthatitprovidesahome foraspiritualentity?howdothesoulforcesdevelopandhowdotheybecome blocked?whichsoulforcesmakepossibleahealthy,dignifiedwayoflivingtogether? Whatistheroleofthedoubleinthesoul,howdoesitariseandhowcanman releaseit?thesewerethequestionsbernardlievegoedsoughttoanswerinhiswork asapsychiatrist,specialneedsteacherandmanagementtrainer.hesearchedfor formsandwaysoflearningwhichwereappropriatefortheconsciousnesssoulofthis time:theyneededtoaddressallthesoulfacultiesintheircontext,theteacher s authorityhadtobeminimal,peoplehadtotakechargeoftheirownlearning process.inthisrespectthenpiwasfaraheadofitstime.wediscussed communicationtrainingatanearlystage,organised socialskillseminars andspoke about actionlearning.wetalkedaboutthelearningorganisation(inadditionto thelivingandactingorganisation)whenpetersengewasstillasmallboy. InthisworkBernardLievegoedalsotookinspirationfromothers.Irememberhim enthusiasticallytellingusaboutsensitivitytrainingandtgroupsessionsafterhehad visitedthelaboratoryforgroupdynamicsinbethel(leebradford).buthequickly refashioneditintoaworthyformoflearningfortheconsciousnesssoul,addingan elementofwillandconsciousnesstothemonocultureoffeelingandexperience.the groupfirstagreesobjectivesandaprocedureforthediscussioninaplanning meeting;thisisfollowedbythegroupdiscussionitselfandfinallyacriticalreviewto learnfromtheexperience.thenthereisfurtherplanning.formanyyearsthis learningspiralformedthebasicstructureforoursocialskillcourses. Luciferisthedominantcounterforceintherealmofthesoul.When,atthebeginning oftheoldmoonphase,thesacrificeofthespiritsofmovementcreatesthe possibilityofanastralbodyasthecarrierofsoulfunctions,lucifertakesontherole ofadversary.hehatestheselflesssoulforceswhichformaworthysheathforanego thatturnstowardsthespiritinfreedom.hecorruptstheastralbodyandpenetrates allthesoulforceswithapowerfulegotism.thiscreatesespeciallyfertilegroundfor illusion,vanityandarrogance. WhenAhriman stechnocraticbidforthesocialsphereledtoastrongcounter reactioninthe1960s,luciferwasatthereadywithopenarmstolendsupportto 11

12 12 thisopposition.thefactthathetookholdintheeasternstreamalsoexplainswhy thisreactionmanifesteditselfinasearchforeasternspiritualityandeastern mysticism. 15 Inthehumanrelationsmovementofthe1930sand1940s(areaction againsttaylor sscientificmanagement),thiseasternorientationwasasyetoflittle importance;itwasalreadypresentinthegroupdynamicsapproachmentioned above,butonlyburstthroughfullyintheflowerpowerandnewagemovements,in thesearchfornewformsofcommunity(communes)andsimilarapproaches. IntheeasternstreamBernardLievegoedtheeducatorfoughttoawakenselflesssoul forcesasabasisforahealthysociallife. The%northern%stream% %Bernard%Lievegoed%the%entrepreneur% % Themysterystreamfromthenorthisfocusedontheego.Theegoisagiftfromthe spiritsofformatthebeginningoftheearthphase.inourtime,theareainwhichthe egoisprimarilyabletomanifestandproveitselfistheentrepreneurialrealmof work.thisiswhereinitiative,strength,creativityandstayingpowerareindemand, andwhereourpowersofcouragearecalledfor:beingentrepreneurialalwaysgoes handinhandwithtakingrisks itisastepintoadark,uncertainfuture. Entrepreneurshipnecessitatesintuitionandselfconfidence,orbetterstill:trustin theideawewanttobringtotheearththroughourinitiative.werecognisebernard Lievegoedinqualitiesofthiskind.Whenhespokeaboutorganisations,itwasclear thathewasthinkingofamodelofcooperationconsistingnotofoppressed employeesorobedientbureaucratsbutoffree,enterprisinghumanbeings.of peoplewhostandbywhattheydoandwhodowhattheysay.peoplewho,in freedom,formgroupstotakeonresponsibility,inwhichtheytrusteachother peoplewhoneedoneanotherandprovideprotectionforeachother.theterm intrapreneur hadnotbeeninvented,butitlivedinthenpifromanearlystage. Iftheegofindsitsconnectionwithitshigherself(itsvalkyry)inthenorthernstream, itcanalsobecomeawareofthekarmatheselfcarries,andofthekarmicnetworkin whichthisegoisintegrated.infuture,karmawillincreasinglybecomeaforcefor socialorder.bernardlievegoedwasveryinterestedinquestionsaroundkarmaand oftenspokeaboutit.heconsideredtheawakeningofanewkarmicconsciousnessto beatthecoreofthenewmysteries. Ifwelookforthecounterforceswhichareactiveinthisnorthernstream,theAzuras springtomind.theyareentitieswhichappearedasadversariesasfarbackasthe beginningsoftheoldsaturn,whenthesacrificeofthespiritsofwillformedthebasis forthephysicalbody.thisphysicalbodywilllaterformtheshellforthehumanself. Fromtheverybeginning,theAzurasarenotinterestedindevelopmentofanykind. Theiressenceisthenegationofthehumanentityandofkarma.Theyliveon destruction.theegomustengageitselfinthebattleagainstthisaccumulationof evil.azurastakeholdbothinthenorthernandinthesouthernstream.inthe northernstream whichfocusesoneconomiclife,orinsteiner swords the MysteriesoftheEarth 16 theyaremanifestedinaruthless,shameless predominanceofeconomiclife.wegetatasteofthiswhenwelookat

13 developmentstowardsglobalisation.companiesarechasedfromonemergerto another,andthenfromonemegamergertothenext.intheinterestofrecordshare figures,socialresponsibilityispushedasideandculturalvaluesaresteamrollered.a caricatureofentrepreneurship!thepublicsector,too,isdraggedintothisgeneral commercialisationoflife.administrativeandfinancialpowerlessnessleadsto privatisation:themarketisseenasthepanaceatosolveallproblems.thisisa paradoxofepicproportions:globaleconomiclife,builtonthedivisionoflabour, shouldbeatraininggroundforeveryonewithentrepreneurialdriveandinitiative, andthroughthisgiverisetoatotallynewsocialandculturallife.instead,forcesare atworkintheeconomiclifethatisunfoldingtodaywhichmakeentrepreneurship theprerogativeofasmalleliteoftopexecutivesinhugecompanies,andwhich subordinateallsocialandculturalvaluestothemechanismsofthemarket. InthenorthernstreamBernardLievegoedrepresentedamodestexampleforthe socialsignificanceofentrepreneurshiparisingfromthepowersoftheegoand spiritualinspiration. The%southern%stream% %Bernard%Lievegoed%the%builder% BernardLievegoedthebuilderfeltathomeinthesouthernstream.Hewasableto engagepeopleandtomotivatethem,tofreeresourcestoraisemoney,andfinallyto findthebuildingswhichbecamehometohisinitiatives.whilstbernardlievegoed wasnotanorganiserintheusualsense,andhecertainlywasnotanadministrator, hisinitiativeswerenevertheless organised.theoriginalnameforhisfaculty SocialEcology pointstothefactthathisimpulsewasalsoanimpulseforsocial construction.laterhespokeofcreatingachristianinfrastructure.thistypeofimage alsocomesfromthesouthernstream.politically,bernardlievegoedwasnotvery activeatall.hewasnotreallyconnectedwiththeideaofthethreefoldsocialorder. Hehadsomethingofablindspotfortherightsandpoliticallife.Hedidnotcreate empiresthathadtobeorganisedoradministered,buthisinitiativesgaveriseto movementswhichtookonalifeoftheirown:thezonnehuisbecameamovement forspecialneedseducation,thenpianassociationforsocialdevelopment,andthe VrijeHogeschoolanimpulseforadulteducation(includingthebiographywork referredtoearlier). Asstatedabove,theAzurasarealsoactiveascounterforcesinthesouthernstream. TheirmachinationsarediscernibleasfarbackastheEgyptianculture buildingan empire,governingithierarchicallyandcontrollingitbureaucratically althoughat thattimetheywerestillspirituallyoriented.todaythesituationisdifferent:empires arebuiltwhereverquantitymeanspower:intheeconomiclife,inpolitics,in religiousmovementsandsects.hierarchymeansthatpeoplearetiedtotheir organisationsinarelationshipinwhichtheyhavenofreedom.themorerefineda bureaucracybecomes,themoreitkillsoffallpersonalinitiative.combiningthese factors,theazurassucceedatreducingthehumanselfanditsfreedevelopmentto zero.theireffortsarefurtherassistedbythefactthatmaterialismhasdeeply penetratedourcultureinthewakeofthesouthernstream. 13

14 InthesouthernstreamBernardLievegoedstrovetocreatesocialformsandshape sociallandscapesonahumanscaleandwithahumanface. The*relationship*between*the*four*streams*and*the*Christmas*Conference.*The*four* archangels* * TheFoundationStonemeditation 17 addressesthehumanbeinginitsthreeaspects, onamicrocosmicandamacrocosmiclevel.andeachverseendswith Thisisheard bythespiritsineast,west,northandsouth.mayhumanbeingshearit.thiscanbe interpretedasfollows:thespiritimpulsesfromthefourstreamsknowobjectively thatthechristmasconferencehasgivenafundamentallyneworientationtotheir respectivestreams,butmakingthisaudibletothehumanbeingswhoworkinand outofthesestreamsremainsawishforthetimebeing.ithinkthatbernard Lievegoedwantedtomakethiswishcometrue.Leavingasidehisprevious incarnations,itcanbesaidthathewasabletomoveinallfourstreams.hewas deeplyconvincedthatthestreamsretainedtheiridentityandspecifictask,butalso that throughtheirorientationtowardsthechristianmichaeliceventsofthe ChristmasConference theyhavetosacrificethemselves.theycanonlycontribute toahealthysocialdevelopmentiftheyjoinforces.itispossibletothinkoneselfinto thestreamsandaskoneself:whatdoesonehavetooffertotheotherthree,and whathelpcantheotherthreeoffertothefirst?theconnectinglinesalwaysrun throughthecentre,thequintessenceofthefourmysterystreams,themysteryof Golgotha,theturningpointofthetransitionfromtheoldmysteriestothenew. Althoughthestreams,becauseoftheirnames,arestillalwaysassociatedwiththeir locationonearth,istillthinkthat,sincethechristmasconference,theyhavelost theirgeographicalcentresofactivity.thisreallyhappenedlongbefore,butnowthey haveanewcommonorientation,andthisenablesthemtomaketheircontribution, irrespectiveoftheirdirection.italsoenablesthemtoacttogether.inanoccult sense,thisjointactivitygoesbackalongway.inhisbookbernardlievegoedgives twoexamplesofthis:betweenceltsandgermanicpeoples(e N),andbetween ArthurianknightsandknightsoftheHolyGrail(E W).ButsincetheChristmas Conference,ithasbeenpossibletolendconsciousshapetothejointactivity(ofall four). Duringourinternalworksessions,BernardLievegoedoftenspokeaboutthefour archangels:michael,raphael,gabrielanduriel.allfourarethefaceandthe servantsofthesunentity,ofchrist. 18 BernardLievegoedwasparticularlyfascinated withthetensionbetweenmichaelandraphael.hethoughtofthisintermsofthe mystery insteiner swords thatexistsbetweenheartandlungs:theheartasthe sunorgan(michael),thelungsasthemercuryorgan(raphael).hewasalso interestedintherelationshipofforcesbetweengabrielanduriel. 19 Althoughthe fourarchangelsconstantlymovearoundtheearthandthustheirpositionrelativeto thesunchangesallthetime,itisstilllikelythateachofthemhasanindividual relationshipwithoneofthefourstreams.perhapsnotonlytheelementalbeings fromthefourpointsofthecompasshearthefoundationstone;perhapsthefour archangelshearittoo 14

15 15 Raphaelinthewest.Heisthehealeramongstthearchangels.Everydoctortakes hisorientationfromhim. Gabrielinthesouth.Throughtheportalofbirth,whichisguardedbyGabriel,we entertheearthlyrealmandbecomeincarnateinaphysicalbody.* Michaelinthenorth.Michaelfocusesonwillandcourage.Heisthepatronof entrepreneurswholooktowardstheconsequencesoftheiractionsratherthan theircauses.michaelwantstoseethemoralpowersdirectedinwardsaswell,in battlewithone sself.ifweleadthewillintothinking,ourthinkingbecomes spiritualised,itbecomesmichaelic.* Urielintheeast.Urielkeepsastricteyeontheactionsofhumanbeings.When webegantodevelopactionlearningbasedoncriticalselfevaluationasa learningpathforadults,wewereorientingourselvestowardsuriel.* The*social*impulse*of*anthroposophy.*Steiner s*path*along*the*four*beacons*of*the* mystery*streams* * WehavedescribedtheChristmasConferenceasaneminentlysocialimpulse.Itis herethatthemysteryimpulsebeginstoworktowardsaspiritselfculture,aculture inwhichcommunityemergesoutofthepowersofthefreeego,inspiredbythe spirit.itisacultureinwhichhumanbeingsbecomeinterestedinwhatlivesinthe otherandwhatcouldarisefromthem.inameetingbetweentwopeople,both awakeneachother,andbecomeawareofwhatitistheyreallywant.thesocial questionbecomesincreasinglyindividual.eachpersontakeshisownpathinorderto achievethepeakofhispotential,butheneedstheothertogivehimthestrengthto achievewhatotherwisehewouldbeunabletoachieve.thisispossibleonlywith surplusforces,bornfromspiritualenthusiasm.itisthespiritselfculturetowhich thechristmasconferenceshowstheway.thisachievementbyrudolfsteinercanbe seenasthesummitofaprocesswhichrunsthroughhisentirebiography.duringthe 1980sIspentalongtimesearchingforit,untilIdiscoveredtomyamazementthat likethedevelopmentofahumanbeing thesocialimpulseinanthroposophy followsasevenyearrhythm.therearefourmajormilestonesalongthis developmentpath. 1898Inanessay 20,Steinerwroteaboutthesocalled fundamentalsociologicallaw : Atthebeginningofculturalevolution,humanitystrivestowardsthecreation ofsocialgroupings;initially,theinterestsoftheindividualaresacrificedtothe interestsofthesegroupings;furtherdevelopmentleadstoaliberationofthe individualfromtheinterestsofthegroupandtoafreeunfoldingoftheneeds andfacultiesoftheindividual. 1905Inthelastofhisthreeessayson SpiritualScienceandtheSocialQuestion 21, Steinerformulatedthesocalled mainsociallaw : Thehealthofaliving organismofpeopleworkingtogetheristhegreater,thelesseachindividual claimstheoutcomesofhisworkforhimself,thatis,themoreofthese outcomeshegivesovertohiscolleaguesandthemorehisneedsaresatisfied notfromhisowneffortsbutfromtheeffortsofothers.

16 1912Inaseriesoflecturesindifferenttowns,culminatingintheNorköpinglectures on TheosophicalMorality 22,Steinerdescribedthethree virtuesofthe sentientsoul,theintellectual/mindsoulandtheconsciousnesssoul :wonder, compassionandconscience.withinthesoulcorruptedbylucifer,theseare selflessseedsfromwhichatotallynewsociallifecanemerge. 23 Theyarealso linkedwithfaith,loveandhope. 1919In TowardsSocialRenewal, 24 Steinersetouthisvisionofthethreefoldsocial order:asocialorderwhichbelongstotheselfconscious,selfresponsible humanbeingsoftheageoftheconsciousnesssoul. 1923ChristmasConference. 25 ItisnotdifficulttoseethatonthispathSteinerfollowstheflowofthefourmystery streams,asitwerewith sevenleagueboots.itseemsthathegatheredthefruit fromallfourpointsofthecompassinordertosowtheirseedsinthechristmas Conference. 1898Northernstream.Thefundamentalsociologicallawputstheegoatthecentre. Nottheoldmaxim,caricaturedinthephrase Youarenothing,thepartyis everything,butthesocialintheserviceoftheindividualpersonality.only thencantheexpanditselftothewe! 1905Westernstream.Themainsociallawbeginswith Thehealth.Wehear Raphaelinthis.Itgoesontofocusonthedevelopmentofaperipheral consciousness:givingupone sowneffortstotheperiphery,andhavingone s ownneedsmetbywhatcomesbackfromtheperiphery.thistakesplaceinthe ethericrealm,wherewemustlearntothinkfromtheperiphery. 1912Easternstream.Withinthesoul,powersslumberwhichgobeyondthe limitationsoftheself:interest,empathyandresponsibility.theymanifest themselvesasthegerminatingforcesforthefreespirituallife,thedemocratic rightsandpoliticallifeandtheserviceprovidingeconomiclife,ofwhich Steinerwouldspeakin Southernstream.Inrealitythethreefoldsocialorderisastructuralconcept.It revealsthebuildingprinciplesofthesocialtemple.itisnocoincidencethatin thesameyear after30years research Steinerrevealedthebuilding principlesofman sphysicalbody. 26 Thehumantempleisan ecological system inwhichthenervoussystemofthesenses,therespiratoryand circulatorysystem,andthesystemofthemetabolismandlimbsare interconnected,whileeachstillretainsitsindividuality. 1923ChristmasConference.Hereweareinthecentrebetweenthestreams.They arepresentasseedsinthefoundationstonemeditationandthestatutes(the 16

17 socalledprinciples),andfromthereallfourcanfloweranewinachristian Michaelicsense. IrememberthatwhenIpresentedtheabovetocolleaguesinZeist,Bernard Lievegoedwasdeeplysatisfied,saying: Thisisanexampleofspiritualresearch. Goethe s*fairy*tale*and*the*michael*school* * Onequestionthatremainsunanswerediswherethisdevelopmentpathisrooted. Wewillprobablyfindananswertothisquestionifwegobackonestagefurtherin thesevenyearrhythmdescribed.in1891steinergaveanexotericlectureabout Goethe sfairytale TheGreenSnakeandtheBeautifulLily 27 atthegoethe AssociationinVienna.AndattheendofhislifeSteinerdescribedinanesoteric lecturehow,intheimagesofhisfairytale,goethecapturedsomethingofthe supersensiblecultwhichmichaelcelebratedattheendofthe18thandbeginningof the19thcentury.inasensethiscultwastheconceptualendofthesupersensible schoolmichaelhadestablishedforthebeingsthathadorientedthemselvestowards him. 28 Theschool covered thecontentoftheoldmysteriesandpreparedthe arrivalofthenewmysteries(ofanthroposophy)onearth. Twostreamsemergefromthisfairytale:oneexoteric,theotheresoteric.Wehave alreadydescribedtheexotericstream.ittakesplaceinsevenyearperiodsfrom1891 andculminatesinthechristmasconference.theesotericstreamisdifferent.in 1899Steinerrevisedthecontentofhislectureandturneditintoa semiesoteric articleforthe MagazineforLiterature tomarkgoethe s150thbirthday.inthe sameyear,butinthepresenceofcountandcountessbrockdorffonly,andwithout holdingbackinanyway,hegavehisfirstesotericlectureaboutgoethe ssecret revelation,givingaspiritualanalysisofthefairytale.thisisthebeginningof Steiner soccultistactivity. In1910Steinerwasgiventheopportunitytodistilwhathehadhithertopublished underthebannerofspiritualscienceinartisticform.hewrotehisfirstmystery drama, ThePortalofInitiation.ARosicrucianMystery.Thisdramaisa metamorphosisofgoethe sfairytaleineveryrespect.initwemeetagainallthe charactersfromthefairytale,transformed.hewouldwritethreefurthermystery dramas(1911,1912,1913),inwhichheskilfullyshowsthecomplicatedkarmic connectionsbetweenthecharactersofthefirstdrama. 29 Steinersaidthatthewhole ofanthroposophyiscontainedwithinthefourdramas. 1913sawthelaunchofaninitiativetobuildaworthyenvironmentforthesedramas. InSeptember1913thefoundationstonewaslaidforthefirstGoetheanumin Dornach.Itwasbuiltbetween1913and RudolfSteineralsosaidthatthefirst Goetheanumcontainsthewholeofanthroposophy notasadramaticact,butin termsofsensoryperception. TheGoetheanumburneddownduringNewYear snight1922/23.ayearlaterrudolf Steinerinspirationallyenshrinedtheconceptualformsoftheburneddown 17

18 Goetheanumintoamotto.DuringtheChristmasConferencehelaidthismottointo theheartsofthosepresentasafoundationstoneforanewcommunity.inthe heartsofthenewcommunityheplantedthefreehighschoolforspiritualscienceas anesotericcentreofthenewmysteries.hecalledthesenewmysteriesthemichael Mysteriesbecause,throughthem,themessageoftheMichaelSchoolandthecult connectedwithitcancomealiveanddevelopfurther.thistakesusbacktogoethe s fairytale. Theesotericandtheexotericstreamswhichemanatefromthisfairytaleuniteinthe ChristmasConference.Theesotericandtheexotericmustpermeateeachother; spiritualcontentcanonlylivewithinanadequatesocialform. BernardLievegoedtookonthistask.WhatIhavedescribedherecanbesummarised graphically,andithinkbernardwouldhaverecognisedhimselfinthisillustration. 18

19 1891 Lecture about Goethe s fairy tale Esoteric stream Goethe s fairy tale as a revelation from the Michael School Exoteric stream Lecture about Goethe s fairy tale Magazine article Brockdorff lecture North Fundamental sociological law 1898 West Main social law Four mystery dramas Foundation stone laid for first Goetheanum East Social virtues 1912 First Goetheanum built South Threefold social order Goetheanum burns down 1923 Christmas Conference Christmas Conference Christmas Conference Rudolf Steiner dies The Michael School at work in social life Rudolf Steiner dies

20 20 M G Earth U R N M W R U E G S Tasks*for* mystagogues EducatorswhowanttocontinueinBernardLievegoed sfootstepsandworkonthe basisofthenewmysteriesinordertobringtheoldmysterystreamstofruitionin thechristiansense,shouldbeabletocallthemselves inallmodesty mystery agogues,orsimplymystagoguesforshort.unfortunatelythattermhasalreadybeen taken,bysteinerhimself.inthefirstsceneofthethirdmysterydrama,steiner showsamysticassociationemergingfromhiding,believingthatitistimethatthe uninitiated,too,becomeawareofthespiritualknowledgewhichholdsittogether. FerdinandReineckeisamongstthepeopletheassociationturnsto.Heishighly criticalandsuspicious,andhewarnsthosepresentagainstthe temptation emanatingfromthetempleofthemystagogues. ForthisreasonIwillsimplyconcludethisarticlebyinvitingyoutoundertakethree piecesofhomework. Thefirsttaskcentreson threeandfour.bernardlievegoedalwayssaidthathehad aprimaryconnectionwiththefourfoldentity andthisiswhatthiswholearticleis about.yetheconcludedhislifewithavisionaryanalysisofthethreemajorstreams ofhumanity:rudolfsteiner s,manu sandthatofchristianrosenkreuz. 31 The importantquestionishowthesethreestreamsarerelatedtothefourdescribed here. Thesecondtaskisaboutthefourarchangels.Inthe archangellectures,thefourmoveinafixedconstellation aroundearth.intheirrelationshiptothefourmystery streamstheyarearrangeddifferently.howarethese differentconstellationsrelated?howcanweregardbothas simultaneousreality? Thethirdtaskisaboutthesearchforfourkeyquestions,orperspectives,whichwill helpustorecognisethequalitiesofthefourstreamsinourresearchandconsultancy work. Intryingtoapplytheperspectiveofthemysterystreamsinmypracticalwork,Ihave oftenaskedmyselfthefollowingquestionsaboutanorganisationihaveworked with: Thenorthernquestion:Forwhomandtowhatextentdoesitofferspacefor personalinitiativeandindividualresponsibility? Thewesternquestion:Areprocessesabletounfoldfreely,andtowhatextent aretheycontrolledfromtheperiphery? Theeasternquestion:Isthereaconsciousefforttodevelopthesoulforceswhich strengthenandenrichtherelationshipsbetweenpeople? Thesouthernquestion:Aretheorganisationalformsandtherightsstructure suchthattheyhaveapositiveinfluenceonthepreviousquestions?

21 Ithinkwecanfindquestionsthatarebetterstill.Ihopeyouwilltakeupthe challenge. ThishasbeenanattempttolocateBernardLievegoed simpulseinthebroad perspectiveofthefourmysterystreamsandthenewmysteries.inevitably,it becameapersonalaccount.ithinkthatbernardlievegoed simpulseissorichthatit lendsitselftocompletelydifferentanalysesfromdifferentviewpoints.ihopethat,in time,thesewillcomplementthisessay. LexBos Summer Lievegoed, B. Phases of Childhood. Floris Books Lievegoed, B. Phases. Rudolf Steiner Press Lievegoed, B. Mystery Streams in Europe and the New Mysteries. Anthroposophic Press Steiner, R. An Outline of Esoteric Science. Anthroposophic Press Steiner, R. Mystery nowledge and Mystery Centres. GA 232 Rudolf Steiner Press, London 1997 Rosicrucianism and Modern Initiation. GA 233a Rudolf Steiner Press, London Teichmann, F. Die ultur der Empfindungsseele. Verlag Freies Geistesleben (not translated) 7 Bos, L. Die Templer. Verlag Urachhaus (not translated) 8 Streit, J. Sun and Cross. Floris, Edinburgh Steiner, R. Cosmic Memory. Garber Publications, Blauvelt Steiner, R. The Mission of the Individual Folksouls in relation to Teutonic Mythology. GA 121 Rudolf Steiner Press, London Prokofieff, S. Rudolf Steiner and the Founding of the New Mysteries. Temple Lodge, London Steiner, R. Ideas for a New Europe. GA 194 Rudlof Steiner Press, Lievegoed, B. Managing the Developing Organisation. B. Blackwell Bos, L. Anthroposophie, Mystik und New Age. Verlag am Goetheanum (not translated) 15 Bos, L. See Steiner, R. See Zeylmans von Emmichoven, W. The Foundation Stone. Rudolf Steiner Press, London Steiner, R. The Four Seasons and the Archangels. GA 229 Rudolf Steiner Press, London Lievegoed, B. Der geistige Strom der heilpädagogischen Bewegung. In: Lievegoed, B. und Rascher, I. Geistquellen der Heilpädagogik. Verlag am Goetheanum (not translated) 20 Steiner, R. Das soziologische Grundgesetz, in Gesammelte Aufsätze zur ulturgeschichte GA 31 (not translated) 21 Steiner, R. Anthroposophy and the Social Question. 3 Essays from Lucifer-Gnosis, , Mercury Press, Spring Valley, 1982 (from GA 34) 22 Steiner, R. Spiritual Foundations of Morality. GA 155 Anthroposophic Press Bos, L. Christus-Wirken im Sozialen. Verlag am Goetheanum (not translated) 24 Steiner, R. Towards Social Renewal. GA 23 Rudolf Steiner Press, London Steiner, R. The Christmas Conference for the Foundation of the General Anthroposophical Society 1923/24. GA 260 Anthroposophic Press, Hudson Steiner, R. The Case for Anthroposophy. GA 21- Rudolf Steiner Press, London Goethe, W. v. The Fairy Tale of the Green Snake and the Beautiful Lily. Hawthorn Press 1998 Steiner, R. Goethe s Secret Revelation. GA 30 Typescript Z92 28 Steiner, R. armic Relationships, Vol. VI. GA 240 Rudolf Steiner Press, London Steiner, R. Four Mystery Dramas. GA 14 Rudolf Steiner Press, London Steiner, R. The Architectural Conception of the Goetheanum. GA 290 Rudolf Steiner Publishing Co., London Lievegoed, B. The Battle for the Soul. Hawthorn Press