This collection of lectures contains Steiner's strongest statements on the issues of human relationships within a spiritual community. Occasioned by a scandal involving people influenced by psychoanalysis, these lectures are Steiner's comprehensive assessment of Freud's work and psychoanalysis as a whole. Steiner shows, our physical life, including human sexuality, has spiritual roots; and that looking to sexuality for the explanation of human behavior is therefore looking in the wrong direction. He also makes clear that becoming part of a spiritual community, such as the Anthroposophical Society, entails special responsibilities and a new way of being.

"The future of such spiritual esoteric movements as ours will depend more and more upon the realization that the spiritual development of humankind is a necessity" (Rudolf Steiner). "Even before we are called to the stages of higher development, we can prepare ourselves by understanding the way and the truth of the unfolding schooling we shall take. Recognizing the power and place of the inner exercises and meditations means we work with them in a way that they bear the fruits of genuine transformation" (Lisa Romero). We live in a time when many are striving to develop inner faculties because they recognize the need for true spiritual development. This book offers direct insight into how the inner exercises and meditations work and their intended results on various levels. It also discusses the well-trodden path of inner development, helping us understand the experiences we encounter as we move as individual through the several stages of consciousness. Working with this book supports clarity for those who are striving to make headway on the path and are experiencing encounters in the inner realms. It also helps us understand the efforts and experiences of others on their journey.

“Every step an individual takes affects the collective development of humanity. The world we experience now is a result of the inner work of past generations. By consciously working to understand and experience our connection to the higher worlds we are more able to fully realize and contribute to the higher unfolding of humankind.” —Lisa Romero The author provides accessible insights into the activities of the human soul, outlines its relationship to spiritual life, and shows the way toward developing and strengthening our inner capacities through practical exercises, experience, and deep understanding. By building a bridge between the spiritual and the earthly, the development of such soul capacities awakens our consciousness, through which we can engage and transform our outer lives.

At the foundation of Western esoteric studies is an understanding of the evolution of consciousness. Anthroposophically based esoteric training focuses on strengthening the human soul. Ancient and modern practices are reenlivened to meet humanity’s evolving needs and to fulfill our present task of cultivating freedom and love to its highest degree. Individual efforts toward developing the higher self is essential for genuine progress on the inner work path. The clear insights and exercises outlined in this book reveal the meaning and necessity of this essential effort in the present age of the consciousness soul, contributing to simultaneously enlivening both our inner and outer work. The path of developing the self and our work in the world are not separated but united through our practices and their results.

An introductory lecture on the nature of esoteric training.

The selections in this compilation provide an overview of the meaning, nature, and processes of inner development. These include the first awakening of consciousness, the basic requisites and initial stages of inner growth, the individual means and methods to grow in consciousness, some of the difficulties and pitfalls along the way, and the eventual new birth into a spiritual life that comes from a reversal of consciousness. The focus of the book is inner growth as an experiential process based on certain universal psychological elements and principles, and its purpose is to help seekers understand and recognise the processes and experiences of inner development and foster its growth in their lives.

In a concise study, Rudolf Steiner presents an inspirational sketch of the evolution of the Mysteries – from ancient Persia through Egypt and Greece, to the Christian era and the present day. He traces the line of initiates from Egyptian divinities Isis and Osiris to Moses, King Arthur’s Round Table and the Holy Grail in the twelfth century. Steiner focuses on the process of initiation as a historical topic: how initiation worked in ancient Egypt and in the late Middle Ages. But his presentation is also inspirational, leading to the question: How can we advance to initiation now? He underscores the potential for achieving enlightenment today without a teacher in the flesh, and explains the four stages of the process towards initiation. He also highlights the need for strenuous efforts to overcome the subtle power of evil – in the form of Lucifer and Ahriman – through selfless work. The four lectures collected here form an important landmark in Rudolf Steiner’s biography: the first being delivered on 3 February 1913 – the very day that the Anthroposophical Society was founded. First published in English under the title The Mysteries of the East and of Christianity and unavailable for many years, this edition has been re-edited by Professor Frederick Amrine and features appendices, an index as well as an introduction by Robert McDermott.

We live in a world characterized by intolerance, war, environmental degradation, and economic collapse. By contrast, is it possible to build a society in which tolerance, love, and peace are the abiding principles? In this positive and inspiring book, van Dijk shows how, beginning with our personal development, we can contribute to such a new and transformed world. She describes how we can develop a universal spiritual consciousness--what she calls "Christ Consciousness." The author emphasizes that the Christian mysteries took place on the physical plane, distinguishing with great clarity between Jesus as a human being, the incarnation of Christ on Earth, and the Cosmic Christ. She builds bridges between the spiritual research of Rudolf Steiner, the Nag Hammadi writings, and the gospels of Mary Magdalene and Judas, culminating in a comprehensive and wide-ranging picture of the Christ. By gaining insight into the nature of Christ's being and undertaking practical exercises described here, each of us can achieve the new Christ Consciousness. In ancient times, selected individuals underwent rites of initiation in secret mystery schools. Any student who made public the knowledge obtained there was put to death. In our time, however, the spiritual mysteries have become open and available to all. Initiation, van Dijk tells us, involves "walking the inner path to all-embracing love, which is known in Gnostic and esoteric lore as Christ, the highest divine Being," leading to sublime, cosmic-orientated consciousness that comes into existence when the higher self exists wholly within the individual human being.

Rudolf Steiner is perhaps best known for his influence and wisdom in the fields of education, agriculture, medicine, science, and art. It is often forgotten that it was as a spiritual teacher that he made these contributions. Unfortunately, while his immediate students had the advantage of Steiner as a personal guide to their inner lives, later readers have had only his written works to guide them. Steiner, however, did give a few lectures on inner development--especially on beginning a path of practice. This book now collects these lectures--some of which have never been in English--for the first time. It also contains a number of the basic meditations and exercises shared by Steiner with his students. Here readers will find descriptions of various practical exercises, including exercises for the moral qualities that students must develop, and for the various qualities of consciousness that inner development requires. This book is not only for beginners. Wherever you are on the path, this book will be your companion. CONTENTS: Introduction by Christopher Bamford 1. The Inner Life 2. The Path 3. First Steps 4. Ways to Inner Development (extracts) Six Essential Exercises The Three Ways The Christian Way 5. How Does the Soul Find Its True Being? Bibliography

Now you can stop your self-defeating thoughts and start loving yourself and feeling more confident using bestselling authors Christine Arylo and Amy Ahlers’s seven-step method to shutting down your inner mean girl. Most of us quickly recognize when others bully or disrespect us, but it’s harder to discern when we do it to ourselves. We all have the voice that whispers in our ears that we are not good enough, smart enough, beautiful enough, or deserving of all we desire. Well, that voice now has a name—ladies, meet your Inner Mean Girl, the judgmental, critical, and belittling inner bully that almost every woman hears running through her mind on a daily basis, creating a constant mindset of anxiety, insecurity, and stress. But there is way to hush this toxic voice. Reform Your Inner Mean Girl introduces a universal seven-step program that helps women transform their relationships with themselves from self-sabotage to self-love and self-confidence. With a mix of play, humor, creativity, and self-inquiry, Reform Your Inner Mean Girl transforms a woman’s self-bullying thoughts, emotions, actions, and feelings, and helps her get in touch with her most powerful voice—her Inner Wisdom. By quieting our inner critics, we become aware of the hold that societal pressures have on us and recognize all the wonderful traits we do possess, leaving us feeling strong, empowered, and ready to take on the world!