Sandro Parise
The Foundation Stone Meditation was given by Rudolf Steiner for the refounding of the Anthroposophical Society on Christmas Day 1923 in Dornach, Switzerland, where the Universal Anthroposophical Society has its headquarters.
On the ashes of the First Goetheanum, which had been consumed by flames only a year earlier, Steiner wanted to refound the center of anthroposophical activity, not only in the building, the Temple of the New Mysteries, but also in the heart of the human soul.
This cultic act is both human and cosmic, giving the possibility to unfold all future anthroposophical activity, to raise the Second Goetheanum and to found the spiritual center of the West in the heart of every spiritual seeker.
Meditation reunites man with the entire cosmic evolution, in union with the elemental spirits, the Hierarchies and the Trinity, beyond space and time, so that in the powers of the Christ he may eternally find the unquenchable strength to rise from the dead.
English translation by Frank Thomas Smith.
Soul of man! You live in the limbs That carry you through the world of space Into the sea of spirit-being: Practice spirit remembrance In the depths of soul, Where in the reigning Cosmic creator-being Your own I In God’s I Is begotten; And you will truly live In the cosmic human being. For the Father Spirit of the heights reigns Creating being in the cosmic depths: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones Let resound from the heights What in the depths its echo finds; This speaks: Ex deo nascimur. The elemental spirits In East, West, North, South hear this: May men hear it too. Soul of man! You live in the heart-lung-beat That guides you through the rhythm of times To the sensing of your own soul’s being: Practice spirit contemplation In equanimity of soul, Where the surging Cosmic creative deeds Unite Your own I To the cosmic I; And you will truly feel In deeds of the human soul. For the will of Christ reigns in the earthly sphere Granting grace to souls in cosmic rhythms: Kyriotetes, Dynamis, Exusiai Let from the east inflame What through the west takes form; This speaks: In Christo morimur. The elemental spirits In East, West, North, South hear this: May men hear it too.
Soul of man! You live in the reposing head Which opens cosmic thoughts from eternal founts to you: Practice spirit-seeing In peace of mind, Where the eternal goals of the gods Confer The cosmic being’s light On your own I For its free will; And you will truly think From founts of human spirit. For the cosmic thoughts of spirit, light imploring, reign in cosmic being; Archai, Archangeloi, Angeloi Let from the depths demand What will be heard in the heights; This speaks: Per spiritum sanctum reviviscimus The elemental spirits In East, West, North, South hear this: May men hear it too.
At the turning point of time The cosmic spirit-light stepped Into earthly evolution; Night darkness Had ended its reign; The bright light of day Streamed into human souls; Light That warms The poor shepherd hearts Light That enlightens The wise kings’ heads. Light divine, Sun of Christ, Warm Our hearts — Enlighten Our heads,So that good results From what Our hearts beget, What we By thinking Forcefully will to do.
The whole meditation sums up all Anthroposophy in itself, being at the same time the Philosopher’s Stone and the Holy Grail, in super-sensible form. Steiner also called it the Foundation Stone of Love, where the ancient cosmos, formed by the Ancient Saturn, the Ancient Sun, the Ancient Moon, and the Earth-Mars, had been founded upon the Foundation Stone of Wisdom, it will now have to become what will bring the present Earth-Mercury to the Future Jupiter. From the Cosmos of Wisdom inherited from the Ancient Moon, we will finally reach the Cosmos of Love which will be brought to completion in the Future Jupiter. But such a Cosmos of Love must first of all be received in the heart of each individual who will carry the cosmic thoughts of Michael and the renewed wisdom of Sophia.
We can see how the entire cosmic evolution and occult constitution of man is unfolded in the Foundation Stone:
Ancient Saturn
Physical Body – Will – Metabolic System – Limbs – Space
Soul of man! You live in the limbs That carry you through the world of space Into the sea of spirit-being: Practice spirit remembrance In the depths of soul, Where in the reigning Cosmic creator-being Your own I In God’s I Is begotten; And you will truly live In the cosmic human being.
Future Vulcan
Man-Spirit – Father – First Hierarchy – Birth
For the Father Spirit of the heights reigns Creating being in the cosmic depths: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones Let resound from the heights What in the depths its echo finds; This speaks: Ex deo nascimur. The elemental spirits In East, West, North, South hear this: May men hear it too.
Ancient Sun
Ethereal Body – Feeling – Rhythmic System – Heart and Lungs – Time
Soul of man! You live in the heart-lung-beat That guides you through the rhythm of times To the sensing of your own soul’s being: Practice spirit contemplation In equanimity of soul, Where the surging Cosmic creative deeds Unite Your own I To the cosmic I; And you will truly feel In deeds of the human soul.
Future Venus
Vital Spirit – Son – Second Hierarchy – Death
For the will of Christ reigns in the earthly sphere Granting grace to souls in cosmic rhythms: Kyriotetes, Dynamis, Exusiai Let from the east inflame What through the west takes form; This speaks: In Christo morimur. The elemental spirits In East, West, North, South hear this: May men hear it too.
Ancient Moon
Astral Body – Thinking – Head System – Mind – Eternity
Soul of man! You live in the reposing head Which opens cosmic thoughts from eternal founts to you: Practice spirit-seeing In peace of mind, Where the eternal goals of the gods Confer The cosmic being’s light On your own I For its free will; And you will truly think From founts of human spirit.
Future Jupiter
Spiritual Self – Holy Spirit – Third Hierarchy – Resurrection
For the cosmic thoughts of spirit, light imploring, reign in cosmic being; Archai, Archangeloi, Angeloi Let from the depths demand What will be heard in the heights; This speaks: Per spiritum sanctum reviviscimus The elemental spirits In East, West, North, South hear this: May men hear it too.
Present Earth
I – Christ – Shepherds – Three Kings – Mystery of Golgotha
At the turning point of time The cosmic spirit-light stepped Into earthly evolution; Night darkness Had ended its reign; The bright light of day Streamed into human souls; Light That warms The poor shepherd hearts Light That enlightens The wise kings’ heads.
Holy Spirit
Sentient Soul
Light divine, Sun of Christ, Warm Our hearts —
Son
Rational Soul
Enlighten Our heads,
So that good results From what Our hearts beget,
Father
Consciousness Soul
What we By thinking Forcefully will to do.