Cosmic intelligence = Relationships among the hierarchies
When speaking about Cosmic Intelligence, Steiner says “‘Intelligence’ means the mutual relationships of conduct among the higher Hierarchies. What they do, how they relate themselves to one another, what they are to one another, — this is the Cosmic Intelligence” (Karmic Relationships Lecture 8/8/24).
The fall and its further rending among the hierarchies
He speaks about how this Cosmic Intelligence fell to the earth by 900AD, and also about a split in the hierarchy of angels. The planetary intelligences, ruled by Archangels, used to be ruled by the Sun, by Michael. However, now, the rest of the planetary Archangels have split off from Michael’s rulership, and instead follow Oriphiel, of Saturn, and the associated angels have come down to earth to exert their influence here, since here is where the intelligence now is.
One result of this is that karma has been thrown into disarray. Whereas before, the angels of two people who were karmically related would work together to bring about the proper re-meeting of the two in later lives, this cooperation no longer occurs if one angel remained “Michaelic” and the other one took up abode on the earth. This creates incredible splits in relationships, and contributes to social chaos. Angels are the ones who first and foremost assure “the unfolding of karma — in the way the earthly thoughts, the earthly deeds and earthly feelings are transformed and elaborated between death and a new birth” (same lecture).
“Now that all the power is among men, will Michael be able to carry into all the future that which is Eternal in his working — now that that which appears in the physical sun grows darker and vanishes slowly away?”
“Thus, as we see, as an outcome of cosmic events, a split among the Angeloi who were formerly united with Michael. But these Beings themselves partake in the karmic evolution.”
“Michael himself is bringing the power which is to bring order again into the karma of those who have gone with him.”
We must bring order into our karma!
“What is it in the last resort that unites the Members of the Anthroposophical Society? It is that they are to bring order again into their karma. This unites them.”
He brings an example of the different working of the two groups of angels. An individual may have certain periods of lowered consciousness, when they are susceptible to outer influence. In these instances, a Michaelic angel leaves the human free from influence. However, a “fallen” angel that has become more earthly and Ahrimanic, will then dive more deeply into the human being. “An Ahrimanic Angeloi-intelligence takes up abode in him.” This is one way, for example, in which Ahriman becomes an author, by working through these earthly angels’ interweaving with human beings.
So, how do we bring order into our karma?
What does it mean to relate to another human who has a “fallen” angel? How does that impact our relationship, and what we can achieve with them?
I have seen it said (for example in a recent Adriana Koulais post), that it is the human beings that have dragged down the angels, as a kind of necessity, as a result of the increasing materialism on earth. If humans have no nutritious (moral, spiritual) thoughts, feelings, and deeds for the angels to carry up to the hierarchies, they are forced to remain below with man’s increasingly hardened physical and etheric bodies.
Then the question… Michael guards that which is eternal, of duration, in the cosmos. He must caretake this so that the cosmos will again be able to find harmony. However, in order to do this, he must work through human beings on earth, where the power now lies. We are tasked, as anthroposophists, to create a living presence of the Cosmic Intelligence here on earth. What, exactly, does this mean? I take heart that in one respect, that this means that even merely in the act of understanding the cosmic inter-relationships with our human intelligence, we are making steps in that direction. As some of you have mentioned, we carry some responsibility also for sharing and spreading this wisdom amongst mankind, and must strive to find the appropriate avenues to do so.
Steiner warns us repeatedly about Ahriman and his dangers. He tells us as an antidote (to allowing Ahriman to work through us), that we must assert our individuality ever the stronger. This seems so paradoxical. Especially as a writer, for example, we must not let thoughts express themselves through us mechanically, but we should imbue them with our own style, our own personality, to protect them from Ahrimanic influence.
He also speaks in these lectures of how many anthroposophists are like a bee with a stinger, but are afraid to use it for fear of somehow allowing Ahrimanic influence. He says we must act, we must not hesitate and be afraid, but we should strive to unfold our inner initiatives without fear regarding outer materialism and Ahrimanic attacks.
Such a challenge is placed before us!
Do we have the courage to really put ourselves out there and speak for the Spirit in human life? Can we embody spiritual realities in our everyday life?
I welcome discussion and further questions around these issues. These are questions I live with strongly.
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