Foundation Stone Meditation

The Foundation Stone Meditation for the new formation of the Anthroposophical Society was given by Rudolf Steiner in two different versions. The first version was recited during the 1923/24 Christmas Conference, the other was used for printing in the first newsletter "Was in der Anthroposophischen Gesellschaft vorgeht. Nachrichten für deren Mitglieder" ("What is going on in the Anthroposophical Society. News for its members") of 13 January 1924. The essential difference is that the version in the newsletter does not mention the hierarchies by name, the elementary spirits are only addressed in general terms as spirits and the Rosicrucian saying is not given in Latin but in German translation.

Marie Steiner later explained on various occasions why Rudolf Steiner gave the second version of the Foundation Stone saying for the Nachrichtenblatt. Marie Steiner's co-worker Günther Schubert recorded her communication as follows:

„She repeatedly spoke of having to think back to how difficult it was for Dr Steiner to bring himself to the decision to publish the saying of the laying of the foundation stone in 1923, and how in the version finally printed he had toned down the immediate appeal of the hierarchies towards the abstract. Dr. Steiner wanted only this weakened wording to be used in membership circles, for there was a law with such cultically formed esoteric sayings according to which the force that is sent out strikes back again with the same strength, so that one had to consider whether one would be able to endure this.“ (Lit.:GA 260, p. 300)

Version from the Christmas Conference 1923/24

Weihnachtstagung 1923/24

Christmas Conference 1923/24

Menschenseele! Du lebest in den Gliedern, Die dich durch die Raumeswelt In das Geistesmeereswesen tragen: Übe Geist-Erinnern In Seelentiefen, Wo in waltendem Weltschöpfer-Sein Das eigne Ich Im Gottes-Ich Erweset; Und du wirst wahrhaft leben Im Menschen-Welten-Wesen. Denn es waltet der Vater-Geist der Höhen In den Weltentiefen Sein-erzeugend: Seraphim, Cherubim, Throne, Lasset aus den Höhen erklingen, Was in den Tiefen das Echo findet; Dieses spricht: Ex Deo nascimur. Das hören die Elementargeister Im Osten, Westen, Norden, Süden: Menschen mögen es hören. Menschenseele! Du lebest in dem Herzens-Lungen-Schlage, Der dich durch den Zeitenrhythmus Ins eigne Seelenwesensfühlen leitet: Übe Geist-Besinnen Im Seelengleichgewichte, Wo die wogenden Welten-Werde-Taten Das eigne Ich Dem Welten-Ich Vereinen; Und du wirst wahrhaft fühlen Im Menschen-Seelen-Wirken. Denn es waltet der Christus-Wille im Umkreis In den Weltenrhythmen Seelen-begnadend. Kyriotetes, Dynamis, Exusiai, Lasset vom Osten befeuern, Was durch den Westen sich gestaltet; Dieses spricht: In Christo morimur. Das hören die Elementargeister Im Osten, Westen, Norden, Süden: Menschen mögen es hören. Menschenseele! Du lebest im ruhenden Haupte, Das dir aus Ewigkeitsgründen Die Weltengedanken erschließet: Übe Geist-Erschauen In Gedanken-Ruhe, Wo die ew’gen Götterziele Welten-Wesens-Licht Dem eignen Ich Zu freiem Wollen Schenken; Und du wirst wahrhaft denken In Menschen-Geistes-Gründen. Denn es walten des Geistes Weltgedanken Im Weltenwesen Licht-erflehend. Archai, Archangeloi, Angeloi, O lasset aus den Tiefen erbitten, Was in den Höhen erhöret wird: Dieses spricht: Per spiritum sanctum reviviscimus. Das hören die Elementargeister Im Osten, Westen, Norden, Süden; Menschen mögen es hören. In der Zeiten Wende Trat das Welten-Geistes-Licht In den irdischen Wesensstrom; Nacht-Dunkel Hatte ausgewaltet; Taghelles Licht Erstrahlte in Menschenseelen; Licht, Das erwärmet Die armen Hirtenherzen; Licht, Das erleuchtet Die weisen Königshäupter - Göttliches Licht, Christus-Sonne, Erwärme Unsere Herzen; Erleuchte Unsere Häupter; Dass gut werde, Was wir aus Herzen Gründen, Aus Häuptern Zielvoll führen wollen.

Soul of man! You live in the limbs That carry you through the world of space Into the sea of spirit-being: Practice spirit remembrance In the depths of soul, Where in the reigning Cosmic creator-being Your own I In God's I Is begotten; And you will truly live In the cosmic human being. For the Father Spirit of the heights reigns Creating being in the cosmic depths: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones Let resound from the heights What in the depths its echo finds; This speaks: Ex deo nascimur. The elemental spirits In East, West, North, South hear this: May men hear it too. Soul of man! You live in the heart-lung-beat That guides you through the rhythm of times To the sensing of your own soul's being: Practice spirit contemplation In equanimity of soul, Where the surging Cosmic creative deeds Unite Your own I To the cosmic I; And you will truly feel In deeds of the human soul. For the will of Christ reigns in the earthly sphere Granting grace to souls in cosmic rhythms: Kyriotetes, Dynamis, Exusiai Let from the east inflame What through the west takes form; This speaks: In Christo morimur. The elemental spirits In East, West, North, South hear this: May men hear it too. Soul of man! You live in the reposing head Which opens cosmic thoughts from eternal founts to you: Practice spirit-seeing In peace of mind, Where the eternal goals of the gods Confer The cosmic being's light On your own I For its free will; And you will truly think From founts of human spirit. For the cosmic thoughts of spirit, light imploring, reign in cosmic being; Archai, Archangeloi, Angeloi Let from the depths demand What will be heard in the heights; This speaks: Per spiritum sanctum reviviscimus The elemental spirits In East, West, North, South hear this: May men hear it too. At the turning point of time The cosmic spirit-light stepped Into earthly evolution; Night darkness Had ended its reign; The bright light of day Streamed into human souls; Light That warms The poor shepherd hearts Light That enlightens The wise kings' heads. Light divine, Sun of Christ, Warm Our hearts — Enlighten Our heads, So that good results From what Our hearts beget, What we By thinking Forcefully will to do.

Literature

• Bernard Lievegoed: Besinnung auf den Grundstein, Vlg. Freies Geistesleben, Stuttgart 1989
• Jörgen Smit: Geistesschulung und Lebenspraxis - die Grundstein-Meditation als Zukunftsimpuls, Vlg. am Goetheanum, Dornach 1987
• Valentin Tomberg: Die Grundsteinmeditation Rudolf Steiners, Achamoth Vlg., Schönach 1993
• Rudolf Steiner: Die Weihnachtstagung zur Begründung der Allgemeinen Anthroposophischen Gesellschaft 1923/24, GA 260 (1994), ISBN 3-7274-2602-0 English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org
• Rudolf Steiner: «Eine große Verantwortung» für das Schicksal aller Menschen, Rudolf Steiner Ausgaben, Bad Liebenzell 2015

References to the work of Rudolf Steiner follow Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works (CW or GA), Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Dornach/Switzerland, unless otherwise stated. Email: verlag@steinerverlag.com URL: www.steinerverlag.com. Index to the Complete Works of Rudolf Steiner - Aelzina Books A complete list by Volume Number and a full list of known English translations you may also find at Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works Rudolf Steiner Archive - The largest online collection of Rudolf Steiner's books, lectures and articles in English. Rudolf Steiner Audio - Recorded and Read by Dale Brunsvold steinerbooks.org - Anthroposophic Press Inc. (USA) Rudolf Steiner Handbook - Christian Karl's proven standard work for orientation in Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works for free download as PDF.