The Rudolf Steiner Archive

Michaelmas
Conquering the Ahrimanic Forces of Darkness

September 17, 2023

This time of year, we recognize the power of the spirit known as Michael and his victory over the forces that would drag us down. The Michaelmas Festival coincides with the autumn equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, September 23, 2023. We invite you to explore Rudolf Steiner’s teachings on the battle of Michael and the Dragon, Michaelmas, and the importance of the seasons in our soul development.

In this article, we highlight Steiner's teachings on how:

• There arose a revolt of divine spirits seeking free will prematurely before men came into human form. Ahriman, the Dragon, was their leader.
• Michael banished the super-sensible Dragon to the earthly realm where he did not belong.
• The battle with the Dragon moved from the outer cosmos into human nature.
• The Dragon and leagues of Ahrimanic beings repeatedly attack Michael and his army but are always defeated.
• Both human freedom and our increased materialism resulted from these uprisings.
• With the Dragon now entrenched in human nature, mankind must fight those inner forces that would hinder our spiritual development. We do this through our will and heartfelt thinking. In this way, we align ourselves with the forces of Michael.
• While Easter commemorates the death and resurrection of Christ, Michaelmas represents the reverse: the resurrection of the human soul and physical death, like waking up from summer's dreamy slumber and the withering of autumn foliage.

Through our efforts to resurrect our souls, we no longer remain chained to the material realm like Ahriman but can be confident in our death that we will continue to evolve spiritually as intended.

Read more...

Recent Additions

Date Added	Volume	Document Title	Document Date
26 Apr	GA 297.	The Intent of the Waldorf School	24 Aug 1919
26 Apr	GA 297.	The Spirit of the Waldorf School	31 Aug 1919
28 Apr	GA 298.	At the opening of the Independent Waldorf School	07 Sep 1919
28 Apr	GA 298.	Address at the Christmas Assembly	21 Dec 1919
28 Apr	GA 298.	Address at a Monthly Assembly	10 Jun 1920
28 Apr	GA 298.	Educational Practices in an Age of Decline and the Educational Practices of the Day to Come	11 Jun 1920
28 Apr	GA 298.	Address at the assembly at the end of the first school year	24 Jul 1920
28 Apr	GA 298.	Address at a monthly assembly	23 Nov 1920
28 Apr	GA 298.	Address and discussion at a parents' evening	13 Jan 1921
28 Apr	GA 298.	Address at the assembly at the end of the second school year	11 Jun 1921
28 Apr	GA 298.	Address at the first official members’ meeting of the Independent Waldorf School Association	17 Jun 1921
28 Apr	GA 298.	Address at the assembly at the beginning of the third school year	18 Jun 1921
28 Apr	GA 298.	Address at the foundation-stone laying of the Waldorf School’s new building	16 Dec 1921
28 Apr	GA 298.	Address and discussion at a parents' evening	09 May 1922
28 Apr	GA 298.	Address at the assembly at the beginning of the fourth school year	20 Jun 1922
28 Apr	GA 298.	Address at the second official members’ meeting of the Independent Waldorf School Association	20 Jun 1922
28 Apr	GA 298.	Address at the monthly assembly after the burning of the Goetheanum!	01 Mar 1923
28 Apr	GA 298.	Address at the assembly at the beginning of the fifth school year	24 Apr 1923
28 Apr	GA 298.	Address at a monthly assembly	03 May 1923
28 Apr	GA 298.	Address at the third official members’ meeting of the Independent Waldorf School Association	25 May 1923
28 Apr	GA 298.	Issues of School and Home	22 Jun 1923
28 Apr	GA 298.	Address at a monthly assembly	27 Mar 1924
28 Apr	GA 298.	Address at the assembly at the beginning of the sixth school year	30 Apr 1924
28 Apr	GA 298.	The fourth official meeting of the Independent Waldorf School Association: How Teachers Interact with the Home in the Spirit of Waldorf Pedagogy	01 Jun 1924
29 Apr	GA 228.	The Spiritual Individualities of Our Planets	27 Jul 1923

SEE MORE . . .