{"product_id":"dying-earth-and-living-cosmos-rudolf-steiner-9781855844193","title":"Dying Earth and Living Cosmos: The Living Gifts of Anthroposophy: The Need for New Forms of Consciousness (Cw 181) Volume 181","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e21 lectures, Berlin, January 22 - August 6, 1918 (CW 181)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese 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 touring Central Europe while also completing his architectural masterpiece in neutral Switzerland, the first Goetheanum.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe building of the Goetheanum--built by a community of people from seventeen nations at war--forms a thematic backdrop to the lectures. In speaking of the walls of the new building, for example, Steiner describes how their forms do not confine but express openness to the surrounding cosmos. Similarly, the carved motifs on the wooden pillar architraves are not fixed \"symbols,\" but are alive and continually metamorphosing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese observations are reflected in Steiner's broader discussions. He speaks of extending and deepening our connection with the world and the cosmos, going beyond our usual narrow limits and definitions to engage in \"community with the realities of existence.\" We can do this, for example, with the so-called dead, who find it difficult to relate to sensory-bound thinking. Steiner explains how we can connect with them and greatly enrich our lives and \"making an enormous difference to their souls.\" The distinction between fixed symbols and living motifs takes us to the core of Anthroposophy, striving never to rest in inert forms of thought. In the field of education, Steiner thus warns about the \"external measuring\" of students and linear models of cognitive learning.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThroughout the three lecture courses included here that combine to form a kind of compendium of Anthroposophy at the time, Steiner touches on a wealth of absorbing themes, including the \"discovery\" of America, the contrast between East and West, the qualities of European \"folk souls,\" Valentin Andreae's \u003ci\u003eChymical Wedding, \u003c\/i\u003e and Darwinism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRegardless of his topic, Steiner consistently and urgently appeals to us to \"grasp reality\" and look further than abstract schemes such as social and political 'program' and to participate in the cosmos as conscious, fully human co-creators.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis volume is a translation from German of \u003ci\u003eErdensterben und Weltenleben. Anthroposophische Lebensgaben. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003eBewu tseins-Notwendigkeiten für Gegenwart und Zukunft\u003c\/i\u003e (GA 181)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Rudolf Steiner\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1855844192\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781855844193\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Rudolf Steiner Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/15\/2015\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 400\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.25lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 5.90w x 1.20d","brand":"Rudolf Steiner","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":49097082994943,"sku":"9781855844193","price":37.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/dying-earth-and-living-cosmos-rudolf-steiner-9781855844193","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}