Description: A predominant topic here is that of death. Rudolf Steiner seeks to explain how people on earth can reach the dead in a non-mediumistic way, and how such interaction between living and dead is mutually beneficial. Startlingly, he states that people who do not recognize the being of Lucifer during their earthly life who have not already got to intuit and know the luciferic impulses in the human soul properly whilst here in life--will be vampirized by this being after death. Rudolf Steiner also elaborates on the activities of the adversary beings in present-day civilization--spiritual powers that play a necessary role in Earth evolution and how we can counteract them. The longer someone can stay alive, for example, is a victory over Ahrimans activity. Even the losing of teeth has beneficial aspects, allowing us to gain certain impulses and these overcome Ahriman. Steiner relates the actions of such spiritual entities to child development too, indicating the various influences in the seven-year cycles of growth.
Brief description: Margaret Jonas was the librarian at Rudolf Steiner House, London, for many years, and has studied anthroposophy since 1975. Her special interests include history, religion, astrology, astronomy, literature, the Grail, psychology, and states of consciousness. She is the author of The Templar Spirit and editor of an anthology by Rudolf Steiner on the subject. She has edited several other anthologies of Steiner's work and has written articles for various journals. She lives in Sussex, England, and has a son.