Soul Exercises, 1903–1924 (CW 267)

"The whole world stands facing the human soul—dark, unknown as the blue of
the sky. But what is unknown comes. The human soul must feel this coming as
its own extinguishing. Sensing this self-extinguishing is followed by the right
to re-create oneself anew from the outer world that has been absorbed.... "I am 'I.'"

Rudolf Steiner made it his task to teach nothing that he had not experienced
himself and always encouraged others to make individual spiritual-meditative
research the basis of their spiritual lives. Therefore he gave many spiritual
exercises to his pupils who asked for them. This was especially the case during
the period of the Esoteric School (1904-1914), which closed with the outbreak
of World War I, which made a certain kind of esoteric work impossible.
Steiner, however, continued to give individuals exercises and meditations
in private conversations until 1924, when his health no longer allowed it.
Usually he would write all instructions out by hand. A few were communicated
verbally. Although every exercise originated in a particular context, he believed
that because the same conditions apply to all who take up this path of training,
in principle the exercises should be available in “the widest possible context.”

Beginning with general rules and conditions (the so-called supplementary
exercises), meditations for the days of the week, and morning and evening
exercises, Soul Exercises collects all of the word and symbol meditation
exercises Steiner gave. This includes nine groups of exercises based on
Mabel Collins’ “Light on the Path” and a multitude of exercises with
individually composed meditative verses.

The book concludes with explanations and contextual commentary
relating to the exercises, including notes on the value of symbolic ideas
on the path of spiritual schooling; the Rose Cross meditation; the verse
“More radiant than the Sun”; the backward review (Rückshau);
contemplation of one’s own divine ideal; and alcohol and diet.

Soul Exercises will be a help to all who take up the anthroposophic path
of inner work.

This volume is a translation from German of Seelenübungen:
Band I. Übungen mit Wort- und Sinnbild-Meditationen zur methodischen
Entwicklung höherer Erkenntniskräfte, 1904–1924 (GA 267). Cover art: De tio största, n° 2 (1907) by Hilma af Klint (1862-1944), Swedish artist and mystic.