Synopsis
The Rose Cross meditation is central to the Western, Rosicrucian path of personal development as presented by Rudolf Steiner. He repeatedly referred to the meditation as a “symbol of human development” that illustrates the transformation of human instincts and desires, which work unconsciously in the soul, and in thought, feeling, and the will. Through personal development, the "I," or essential self, can gain mastery over these unconscious forces of the soul.
The Rose Cross meditation features the red rose as the image to which a student, via specific means, aspires. Added to the plant is the black cross, which points to the mystery of death and resurrection and provides a symbol of the higher development of the human “I.” The metamorphosis of the roses and the cross into the symbol of the Rose Cross is brought about by the one’s inner efforts, creating an entirely new image. This becomes the starting point for further steps along the meditative path.
The Rose Cross meditation is the only pictorial meditation whose content and structure Steiner described in such detail. In this invaluable book, the editor has gathered virtually all Steiner’s statements on this subject, arranging them chronologically. Commentary and notes support his words.
About the Authors
Rudolf Steiner (b. Rudolf Joseph Lorenz 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. Steiner termed his spiritual philosophy anthroposophy, meaning “wisdom of the human being.” As an exceptionally developed seer, he based his work on direct knowledge and perception of spiritual dimensions. He initiated a modern, universal “spiritual science” that is accessible to anyone willing to exercise clear and unbiased thinking. From his spiritual investigations, Steiner provided suggestions for the renewal of numerous activities, including education (general and for special needs), agriculture, medicine, economics, architecture, science, philosophy, Christianity, and the arts. There are currently thousands of schools, clinics, farms, and initiatives in other fields that involve practical work based on the principles Steiner developed. His many published works feature his research into the spiritual nature of human beings, the evolution of the world and humanity, and methods for personal development. He wrote some thirty books and delivered more than six thousand lectures throughout much of Europe. In 1924, Steiner founded the General Anthroposophical Society, which today has branches around the world.
Christiane Haid, PhD, was born in 1965 and studied German literature, history, art, and educational science in Freiburg and Hamburg. She was a research assistant at Friedrich von Hardenberg for cultural studies, working on the history of anthroposophy in the 20th century. She was also a research associate in the Section for the Fine Arts and cultural scientist at the Albert Steffen Foundation Dornach. In 2009, she was head of the publishing house at the Goetheanum. Christiane Haid holds a doctorate in Literary Studies: Myth, Dream, and Imagination. She has been head of the Section for Fine Arts at the Goetheanum since 2012, and in 2019 became program director of the publishing house at the Goetheanum.
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