Secrets of the Threshold: (Cw 147)

8 lectures in Munich, August 24-31, 1913 (CW 147)

Rudolf Steiner gave these lectures just after the first performance of his mystery drama The Souls' Awakening in Munich. He offers details of one's experience of spiritual development and crossing the threshold of the spiritual world. Steiner explains that humanity stands today at this threshold, and that the keys to crossing it include self-knowledge, self-control, and a clear recognition of the activities of Lucifer and Ahriman.

These lectures contain some of Steiner's most profound insights into the path to higher knowledge. He gave the lectures twice each day, mornings and evenings, in the "Princes' Hall" of the Café Luitpold in Munich. Performances of The Guardian of the Threshold: Soul Events in Dramatic Scenes and The Souls' Awakening: Soul and Spirit Events in Dramatic Scenes at the Volkstheaters, also given twice. The drama receiving its first performance was named in the program announcements as "The Awakening of Maria and Thomasius (or The Other Side of the Threshold)."

A fifth mystery drama had been planned for summer 1914, and a lecture course titled "Occult Hearing and Occult Reading" would have been given August 18 to 27, but the beginning of World War I prevented further festivals in Munich.

Secrets of the Threshold is a translation from German of Die Geheimnisse der Schwelle (GA 147).

Author: Rudolf Steiner
Publisher: Steiner Books
Published: 06/01/1987
Pages: 168
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.48lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.39d
ISBN: 9780880101950

About the Author
Pusch, Ruth: - Ruth Pusch, born Ruth Barnett, was raised in New Haven, Connecticut. After a period of time spent in Dornach, Switzerland, as a student of spiritual science, she married the actor Hans Pusch in 1932 while in the U.S. Together, they returned to Dornach, where Ruth studied eurythmy with some of the pioneers of that new art form. She later taught eurythmy in New York City and was an early teacher at the Waldorf School New York City. She and her husband were also active in bringing the anthroposophic impulse to the dramatic arts in North America. Along with Hans, Ruth Pusch also helped translate Rudolf Steiner's four mystery plays.Steiner, Rudolf: - Rudolf Steiner (b. Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner, 1861-1925) was born in the small village of Kraljevec, Austro-Hungarian Empire (now in Croatia), where he grew up. As a young man, he lived in Weimar and Berlin, where he became a well-published scientific, literary, and philosophical scholar, known especially for his work with Goethe's scientific writings. Steiner termed his spiritual philosophy anthroposophy, meaning "wisdom of the human being." As an exceptionally developed seer, he based his work on direct knowledge and perception of spiritual dimensions. He initiated a modern, universal "spiritual science" that is accessible to anyone willing to exercise clear and unbiased thinking. From his spiritual investigations, Steiner provided suggestions for the renewal of numerous activities, including education (general and for special needs), agriculture, medicine, economics, architecture, science, philosophy, Christianity, and the arts. There are currently thousands of schools, clinics, farms, and initiatives in other fields that involve practical work based on the principles Steiner developed. His many published works feature his research into the spiritual nature of human beings, the evolution of the world and humanity, and methods for personal development. He wrote some thirty books and delivered more than six thousand lectures throughout much of Europe. In 1924, Steiner founded the General Anthroposophical Society, which today has branches around the world.