A fascinating look at how the idea of karma has developed and the challenges it poses to our modern scientific outlook. Jens Heisterkamp draws on the work of Rudolf Steiner to offer a fresh perspective on a controversial subject.Although belief in karma is widespread today, found in the teachings of established religions and New Age groups alike, it is often misunderstood by both critics and believers. It is seen by some as fatalistic and lacking in compassion when...

In 1924, Rudolf Steiner gave a series of urgent, impassioned, talks to members of the Anthroposophical Society regarding their karma and its relationship to the culture of the time. Steiner's words characterize vividly a spiritual battle, of forces gathering to fight for the soul of humanity itself. Given the challenges faced by humanity today, it has, perhaps, never been more urgent for those who ally themselves with Rudolf Steiner's work to study, absorb and take to heart the contents of...

"It is not always right to send someone to the chemist for some medicine when he's ill. Instead we should organize our lives in a way that renders us less susceptible to illness, or alleviates its impact. Disorders will impinge on us less severely if we strengthen the ego's influence on the astral body, the astral body's influence on the etheric and the etheric on the physical."Nervousness, anxiety and agitation are all common symptoms of our increasingly stressed and pressured society. Th...

Rudolf Steiner, the often undervalued, multifaceted genius of modern times, contributed much to the regeneration of culture. In addition to his philosophical teachings, he provided ideas for the development of many practical activities, including education - both general and special - agriculture, medicine, economics, architecture, science, religion and the arts.Steiner's original contribution to human knowledge was based on his ability to conduct 'spiritual research', the investigation of...

From the ancient British tales of King Arthur and his knights through the medieval Central European sagas of Parzival, right up to modern-day blockbuster novels and films, the Grail has long maintained its enigmatic presence in western culture. It is said to be many things: a lost and priceless treasure, the chalice cup of the Last Supper, the cup that caught Jesus Christ's blood from the cross on Golgotha, or even a secret royal bloodline...Basing his presentations on far-reaching spiritu...

' Eurythmy, if you have heard of it at all, is more than you realize. It is certainly different from how it usually appears...'With no previous training or knowledge required, Sivan Karnieli's handy workbook presents a range of focused, practical exercises to calm, strengthen and centre. Accessible to all, it gives instructions for daily practice that can effectively counteract stress and burn-out, psychological blocks and other symptoms of modern life. Whether you work wit...

'Truth is simple only for those who first wrestle their way through multiplicity. It is like a thread of many pearls.' – Rudolf SteinerLike pearls in the oyster, pearls of thought are easily overlooked. Lying hidden in texts, they keep their light under a bushel, serving the greater framework and context. But if we draw them out they begin to shine, revealing their translucent facets and intrinsic harmony.In this meditative treasure, the editor has harvested and threaded together such pear...

Mysticism and beyond: the importance of prayer; The meaning of sin and grace; Rediscovering the Bible; What is true communion?; Rediscovering the festivals and the life of the earth; Finding one's destiny: walking with Christ; The significance of religion in life and death; Christ's second coming: the truth for our time; Universal religion: the meaning of love.

These authoritative lectures, delivered during a period of deep crisis and conflict in world history, present a comprehensive spiritual teaching for contemporary humanity. Despite the raging world war, Rudolf Steiner was still actively touring Central Europe whilst simultaneously completing work on his architectural masterpiece, the first Goetheanum, in neutral Switzerland.The building of the Goetheanum – undertaken by a community of people from seventeen nations at war – forms a thematic ...

While we know of Ahriman from Persian mythology, Rudolf Steiner spoke of him as an actual, living spiritual entity. This being, he said, works to embed people firmly into physicality, encouraging dull, materialistic attitudes and a philistine, dry intellect. In these extraordinary lectures Steiner, in rare prophetic mode, talks about an actual incarnation of Ahriman on the earth and the potential consequences. Just as Christ incarnated in a physical body, so would Ahriman incarnate in the ...

"The butterfly flutters above and over the earth, borne on the air and shimmering with light... We ought really to see them as nothing other than beings of light, joyous in their colours and the play of colours. All the rest is garment and luggage." - Rudolf Steiner. Truly poetic and deeply esoteric, these lectures by Rudolf Steiner have been gathered here in a single volume for the first time, with an in-depth introduction that traces and explains the stages of butterfly metamorphosis. Th...

Many spiritual traditions speak of a 'guardian' or 'dweller' who protects the threshold to the spiritual world, warning the unprepared to pause in their quest for access to higher knowledge. The Guardian reveals the consequences of our negative actions and points to the full reality of our untransformed nature. This experience is said to be one of the deepest and most harrowing on the inner path, but is an essential precondition to any form of true initiation.The words 'Know thyself' were ...