The Principle of Spiritual Economy: In Connection with Questions of Reincarnation: An Aspect of the Spiritual Guidance of Man (CW 109)

11 lectures, various cities, January – May, 1909 (CW 109)

These talks reveal a particular aspect of how humankind have been guided spiritually throughout history―by the life forces and astral bodies of the great initiates and avatars that were preserved, duplicated, and interwoven with the leading personalities of history. Steiner gives numerous examples of this process, but he says that such inspired people are rare today. Nevertheless, we have the possibility of elevating ourselves in the future to the point where we can receive into ourselves the "I"-being of the Christ, which is indeed our greatest goal―"not I but Christ in me."

This volume is a translation from German of Das Prinzip der spirituellen Ökonomie im zusammenhang mit Widerverkürperungsfragen. Ein Aspekt der geistigen Führung der Menschheit (GA 109).

Rudolf 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. At the beginning of the twentieth century, he began to develop his early philosophical principles into an approach to systematic research into psychological and spiritual phenomena. Formally beginning his spiritual teaching career under the auspices of the Theosophical Society, Steiner came to use the term Anthroposophy (and spiritual science) for his philosophy, spiritual research, and findings. The influence of Steiner's multifaceted genius has led to innovative and holistic approaches in medicine, various therapies, philosophy, religious renewal, Waldorf education, education for special needs, threefold economics, biodynamic agriculture, Goethean science, architecture, and the arts of drama, speech, and eurythmy. In 1924, Rudolf Steiner founded the General Anthroposophical Society, which today has branches throughout the world. He died in Dornach, Switzerland.