Description: Immediately after the Christmas Conference, Rudolf Steiner set about to renew and deepen anthroposophy, which had been the ultimate goal of that Conference. Beginning already in January, he gave a series of nine lectures entitled Anthroposophy: an Introduction (GA 234). The lectures are out of print, and have been so for many years. This cycle is exceedingly important. In it, Steiner sets a new tone, in keeping with his desire to recast anthroposophy in a form that is it once more concrete and more esoteric. More concrete in that the abstract, bald, and schematic presentation of spiritual realities in his book Theosophy (which dates from 1903, and Steiner refers to specifically) gives way to phenomenological discussions of matters much closer to home, especially memories and dreams. More esoteric, in that Steiner greatly expands the screen, both spatially and temporally. There is one lecture however that stands out especially for its beauty and profundity: Lecture 5, given on February 2, 1924. It also can, I believe, stand on its own, as it offers in many ways a complete and organic picture.
