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An Outline of Occult Science
Given his energetic involvement in practical initiatives and extensive lecturing, Rudolf Steiner had very little time to write. Of the books he found time to write, four titles are considered indispensable introductions to his teaching as a whole: How to Know Higher Worlds; An Outline of Esoteric Science; Intuitive Thinking As a Spiritual Path; and Theosophy. With the exception of his Anthroposophical Leading Thoughts and his Autobiography, Steiner's important writings belong largely to his earliest work.
The anthroposophy of Rudolf Steiner is not a theoretical system but the results of research based on direct observation. Because his research was so vast and conducted over such a long period of time, no single book can be said to contain the whole of his spiritual teaching. However, of all his books, this one perhaps comes closest. Steiner even referred to it as "an epitome of anthroposophical spiritual science." In a systematic way, he lays out fundamental facts concerning the nature and constitution of the human being and, in chronological order, the history of the universe and humankind.
Whereas the findings of natural science are derived from observations made through the senses, the findings of spiritual science are "occult," inasmuch as they arise from direct observation of realities hidden to ordinary human perception. Nevertheless, these elements of humanity and the universe form the foundation of the sensory world. A substantial part of this important work describes the basic training needed to make such spiritual observations.
Although Occult Science is not all-inclusive, it is indispensable to any serious student who wishes to master Steiner's extraordinary philosophy and methods of inner development.
184 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1910
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About the author
Rudolf Steiner
4,266 books1,070 followersAuthor also wrote under the name Rudolph Steiner.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner was an Austrian occultist, social reformer, architect, esotericist, and claimed clairvoyant. Steiner gained initial recognition at the end of the nineteenth century as a literary critic and published works including The Philosophy of Freedom. At the beginning of the twentieth century he founded an esoteric spiritual movement, anthroposophy, with roots in German idealist philosophy and theosophy. His teachings are influenced by Christian Gnosticism or neognosticism. Many of his ideas are pseudoscientific. He was also prone to pseudohistory.
In the first, more philosophically oriented phase of this movement, Steiner attempted to find a synthesis between science and spirituality. His philosophical work of these years, which he termed "spiritual science", sought to apply what he saw as the clarity of thinking characteristic of Western philosophy to spiritual questions, differentiating this approach from what he considered to be vaguer approaches to mysticism. In a second phase, beginning around 1907, he began working collaboratively in a variety of artistic media, including drama, dance and architecture, culminating in the building of the Goetheanum, a cultural centre to house all the arts. In the third phase of his work, beginning after World War I, Steiner worked on various ostensibly applied projects, including Waldorf education, biodynamic agriculture, and anthroposophical medicine.
Steiner advocated a form of ethical individualism, to which he later brought a more explicitly spiritual approach. He based his epistemology on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's world view in which "thinking…is no more and no less an organ of perception than the eye or ear. Just as the eye perceives colours and the ear sounds, so thinking perceives ideas." A consistent thread that runs through his work is the goal of demonstrating that there are no limits to human knowledge.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner was an Austrian occultist, social reformer, architect, esotericist, and claimed clairvoyant. Steiner gained initial recognition at the end of the nineteenth century as a literary critic and published works including The Philosophy of Freedom. At the beginning of the twentieth century he founded an esoteric spiritual movement, anthroposophy, with roots in German idealist philosophy and theosophy. His teachings are influenced by Christian Gnosticism or neognosticism. Many of his ideas are pseudoscientific. He was also prone to pseudohistory.
In the first, more philosophically oriented phase of this movement, Steiner attempted to find a synthesis between science and spirituality. His philosophical work of these years, which he termed "spiritual science", sought to apply what he saw as the clarity of thinking characteristic of Western philosophy to spiritual questions, differentiating this approach from what he considered to be vaguer approaches to mysticism. In a second phase, beginning around 1907, he began working collaboratively in a variety of artistic media, including drama, dance and architecture, culminating in the building of the Goetheanum, a cultural centre to house all the arts. In the third phase of his work, beginning after World War I, Steiner worked on various ostensibly applied projects, including Waldorf education, biodynamic agriculture, and anthroposophical medicine.
Steiner advocated a form of ethical individualism, to which he later brought a more explicitly spiritual approach. He based his epistemology on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's world view in which "thinking…is no more and no less an organ of perception than the eye or ear. Just as the eye perceives colours and the ear sounds, so thinking perceives ideas." A consistent thread that runs through his work is the goal of demonstrating that there are no limits to human knowledge.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 24, 2017
3.5 stars
the first 2/3 of this book is so heavy, dry and wordy that it is a slog. the last third is written a little more accessible and readable. interesting read but not light pr quick
the first 2/3 of this book is so heavy, dry and wordy that it is a slog. the last third is written a little more accessible and readable. interesting read but not light pr quick
December 17, 2023
Really difficult to settle on how many stars to give this. For the importance, significance, and originality of the material he presents, it should be a solid 5 stars; but friendly as I am to spacey, way-out-there, New Age material, I found this to be a lot to swallow--particularly the long chapter about the spiritual evolutionary history of humanity and planet Earth. According to Steiner, the material is derived from his own direct inspection of the spiritual history itself, the so-called akashic records. I have no trouble in believing this, but part of me wonders why "the heavens" is limited to the visible planets of our own solar system, and whether the appearance of Jesus Christ was actually the central event in the salvation history of humanity as a whole. I wonder: would an Asian Buddhist (say), following the same spiritual exercises Steiner describes, end up "seeing" the same things? And, if not, what would they be? And what would the difference in spiritual vision imply about the underlying reality?
I'll leave these questions open in my mind. But I find Rudolf Steiner to be a fascinating and inspiring figure, one who fearlessly stands against the prevailing materialism and "scientism" of our modern technological era. There is much more to the human enterprise than bodies made of atoms seeking to acquire goods made of other atoms. We are spiritual beings with a spiritual purpose, and Steiner's whole oeuvre is devoted to investigating and explaining exactly what those things mean. This book is probably his major work, and is well worth reading by anyone who is interested in understanding the "supersensible reality" in which we all truly live.
I'll leave these questions open in my mind. But I find Rudolf Steiner to be a fascinating and inspiring figure, one who fearlessly stands against the prevailing materialism and "scientism" of our modern technological era. There is much more to the human enterprise than bodies made of atoms seeking to acquire goods made of other atoms. We are spiritual beings with a spiritual purpose, and Steiner's whole oeuvre is devoted to investigating and explaining exactly what those things mean. This book is probably his major work, and is well worth reading by anyone who is interested in understanding the "supersensible reality" in which we all truly live.
May 27, 2015
"The way to knowledge of the supersensible worlds, which is described here, is one that every human being can follow, no matter what the situation in which he may find himself within the present-day conditions of life. When describing such a path we must consider that the goal of knowledge and truth is the same in all ages of Earth evolution, but that starting points of man have been different in different ages."
May 16, 2020
This is truly a life changing book, not once, but every time you read it.
March 29, 2015
Steiner is fascinating [he was the founder of Waldorf Schools] but his prose is very dense.
September 14, 2018
Utter nonsense. Unreadable drivel.
August 16, 2020
This is probably the driest, dullest thing I've ever read that would still be cool as fuck to trip balls to
June 1, 2022
A curious mixture of incredibly profound insight and rambling hokum. A frustrating but, at times, fascinating book.
September 27, 2016
This probably the best book by Steiner which delves into his esoteric philosophy. Though with any book Steiner wrote, it is a very tough read and takes quite a while to get into it. His writing style is an old style that most may not follow the flow of, but it is good if you can persevere. If you are looking for a book which gets into Theosophy and other occult topics outside of Blavatsky, then this may be for you. I enjoyed this book but I would find it a bit too much to read it a second time. In saying that, I learned a lot from Steiner in this book.
August 16, 2025
THE NEXT PHASE OF STEINER'S PHILOSOPHY AFTER "THEOSOPHY"
Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner (1861-1925) was an Austrian religious philosopher and esotericist, who was once a leader in the German section of the Theosophical Society, but broke with them after refusing to acknowledge Jiddu Krishnamurti as the coming "World Teacher." Steiner then founded the Anthroposophical Society, and began an influential system of schools ("Waldorf Schools") based on his educational ideas. He wrote many other books, such as 'Theosophy,' 'Knowledge of the Higher Worlds and its Attainment: An Esoteric Spiritualism Initiation,' etc. [NOTE: page numbers below refer to the 395-page 1972 paperback edition.]
He explained in the Preface to the 16th-20th editions, "Originally, it was my plan to add [this book's] essential content as final chapters to my book 'Theosophy'... This proved to be impossible... [as] the subject matter of Occult Science did not yet live in me in its final form... I perceived details, but not the complete picture. I, therefore, decided to publish 'Theosophy' with the content I had seen as the nature of the life of individual man, and then to carry through Occult Science ... without undue haste." (Pg. ix-x)
He adds, "What is spiritually perceived is fully comprehensible to the unprejudiced, unperceiving consciousness if the seer gives his perceptions thought form... the comprehension of the spirit world ... bears the stamp of thought employed in natural science." (Pg. xi-xii) He asserts, "Occult Science is the antithesis of Natural Science." (Pg. xiv) He contends, "the knowledge considered scientific today cannot penetrate into the spirit world, and these reasons are in a certain sense irrefutable." (Pg. xx)
He observes, "The following objection is often heard in regard to the statements of occult science: 'These latter do not offer proof; they merely assert this or that and say that occult science ascertains this.' The following exposition will be misjudged if it is thought that any part of it has been presented in this sense. Our endeavor here is to allow the capacity of soul unfolded through a knowledge of nature to evolve further, as far as its own nature will allow, and then to call attention to the fact that in such development the soul encounters supersensible facts." (Pg. 9)
Later, he adds, "for supersensible perception itself there is no need of verification of its results through such experiences. It does not desire to PROVE anything by these references, but to elucidate its findings." (Pg. 63)
He argues, "Prior to the separation of the moon from the Earth... there were among the descendants of the abandoned germinal human beings left behind on earth, in which the human souls, returning from the body-free state of existence, could no longer incarnate... Certain human souls, therefore, found it no longer possible under such circumstances to return to the Earth... Another part... was only able to receive souls of an order lower than the human being... There were souls who had been unable... when the Sun separated from the Earth, to find a place in the latter... they were removed to a planet that... had been severed from the common universal substance... from which the sun had also detached itself. This planet is the one whose physical expression is known to modern science as Jupiter... The souls described evolved further on Jupiter... and later on... still another dwelling place had to be fashioned ... For these a place on Mars was provided for their further evolution." (Pg. 197-199)
Later, he adds, "In the case of the inferior kinds of human beings... the consequence was a tremendous terrestrial catastrophe... Only the smallest part who had remained partly untouched by error was able to escape to a district of the earth that had remained until then protected from corrupting human influence... The earth region... situated between modern Europe, Africa, and America, is called 'Atlantis' by spiritual science." (Pg. 216)
He suggests, "At the moment in the life of Christ Jesus, when His astral body contained everything that the Luciferic impulse can conceal, He assumed His mission as teacher of mankind... At the moment when the event of Golgotha was accomplished, the other aptitude was injected into mankind by which it is possible to turn the influence of Ahriman to good... The event of Palestine is not only the center of the physical evolution of mankind, but it is also the center of the other worlds to which the human being belongs... Since the Christ event, human beings who elevate themselves... are able to carry with them into the spiritual world what they have acquired in the sense world." (Pg. 248-249)
He states, "in true spiritual training... the sources of delusion are stopped up... in preparing himself, the true spiritual science student will acquire sufficient knowledge about what may cause delusion and autosuggestion, and thus be in a position to protect himself from them." (Pg. 336)
He further asserts, "Whoever believes that human freedom is not compatible with foreknowledge and predestination of the future ... should consider that free human action in the future depends just as little upon the character the predestined things will have as this freedom depends upon his resolve to live in a house a year hence, the plan of which he determines today. He will be as free as it is possible for him to be according to his inner nature... he will be as free upon Jupiter and Venus as his inner life permits..." (Pg. 363)
This book is "must reading" for anyone studying Steiner's philosophy and ideas.
Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner (1861-1925) was an Austrian religious philosopher and esotericist, who was once a leader in the German section of the Theosophical Society, but broke with them after refusing to acknowledge Jiddu Krishnamurti as the coming "World Teacher." Steiner then founded the Anthroposophical Society, and began an influential system of schools ("Waldorf Schools") based on his educational ideas. He wrote many other books, such as 'Theosophy,' 'Knowledge of the Higher Worlds and its Attainment: An Esoteric Spiritualism Initiation,' etc. [NOTE: page numbers below refer to the 395-page 1972 paperback edition.]
He explained in the Preface to the 16th-20th editions, "Originally, it was my plan to add [this book's] essential content as final chapters to my book 'Theosophy'... This proved to be impossible... [as] the subject matter of Occult Science did not yet live in me in its final form... I perceived details, but not the complete picture. I, therefore, decided to publish 'Theosophy' with the content I had seen as the nature of the life of individual man, and then to carry through Occult Science ... without undue haste." (Pg. ix-x)
He adds, "What is spiritually perceived is fully comprehensible to the unprejudiced, unperceiving consciousness if the seer gives his perceptions thought form... the comprehension of the spirit world ... bears the stamp of thought employed in natural science." (Pg. xi-xii) He asserts, "Occult Science is the antithesis of Natural Science." (Pg. xiv) He contends, "the knowledge considered scientific today cannot penetrate into the spirit world, and these reasons are in a certain sense irrefutable." (Pg. xx)
He observes, "The following objection is often heard in regard to the statements of occult science: 'These latter do not offer proof; they merely assert this or that and say that occult science ascertains this.' The following exposition will be misjudged if it is thought that any part of it has been presented in this sense. Our endeavor here is to allow the capacity of soul unfolded through a knowledge of nature to evolve further, as far as its own nature will allow, and then to call attention to the fact that in such development the soul encounters supersensible facts." (Pg. 9)
Later, he adds, "for supersensible perception itself there is no need of verification of its results through such experiences. It does not desire to PROVE anything by these references, but to elucidate its findings." (Pg. 63)
He argues, "Prior to the separation of the moon from the Earth... there were among the descendants of the abandoned germinal human beings left behind on earth, in which the human souls, returning from the body-free state of existence, could no longer incarnate... Certain human souls, therefore, found it no longer possible under such circumstances to return to the Earth... Another part... was only able to receive souls of an order lower than the human being... There were souls who had been unable... when the Sun separated from the Earth, to find a place in the latter... they were removed to a planet that... had been severed from the common universal substance... from which the sun had also detached itself. This planet is the one whose physical expression is known to modern science as Jupiter... The souls described evolved further on Jupiter... and later on... still another dwelling place had to be fashioned ... For these a place on Mars was provided for their further evolution." (Pg. 197-199)
Later, he adds, "In the case of the inferior kinds of human beings... the consequence was a tremendous terrestrial catastrophe... Only the smallest part who had remained partly untouched by error was able to escape to a district of the earth that had remained until then protected from corrupting human influence... The earth region... situated between modern Europe, Africa, and America, is called 'Atlantis' by spiritual science." (Pg. 216)
He suggests, "At the moment in the life of Christ Jesus, when His astral body contained everything that the Luciferic impulse can conceal, He assumed His mission as teacher of mankind... At the moment when the event of Golgotha was accomplished, the other aptitude was injected into mankind by which it is possible to turn the influence of Ahriman to good... The event of Palestine is not only the center of the physical evolution of mankind, but it is also the center of the other worlds to which the human being belongs... Since the Christ event, human beings who elevate themselves... are able to carry with them into the spiritual world what they have acquired in the sense world." (Pg. 248-249)
He states, "in true spiritual training... the sources of delusion are stopped up... in preparing himself, the true spiritual science student will acquire sufficient knowledge about what may cause delusion and autosuggestion, and thus be in a position to protect himself from them." (Pg. 336)
He further asserts, "Whoever believes that human freedom is not compatible with foreknowledge and predestination of the future ... should consider that free human action in the future depends just as little upon the character the predestined things will have as this freedom depends upon his resolve to live in a house a year hence, the plan of which he determines today. He will be as free as it is possible for him to be according to his inner nature... he will be as free upon Jupiter and Venus as his inner life permits..." (Pg. 363)
This book is "must reading" for anyone studying Steiner's philosophy and ideas.
November 26, 2024
There are books that don't open but detonate. A psychic implosion, a black star ripping the you-niverse into shreds of astral viscera. Research Lab "yrinth" of cosmic não-sei|||zures where epochs collapse____ spiRIOTs, and reality slithers into a liquefied sC.R.E.A.M$$$. Scaling an obsidian pyramid into a maelstROM emulator.
I closed the book and gazed into the Katydid-infested night of Chitengo, half-expecting to see some radiant Being of the Zodiac descending to grant me mr. Steiner’s enlightenment—or to drag me into the ziggurat geyser. Alas, no such fate befell me, and I remain here, chained to this mortal coil, haunted by the pyroxene geodes of that dread tome.
I closed the book and gazed into the Katydid-infested night of Chitengo, half-expecting to see some radiant Being of the Zodiac descending to grant me mr. Steiner’s enlightenment—or to drag me into the ziggurat geyser. Alas, no such fate befell me, and I remain here, chained to this mortal coil, haunted by the pyroxene geodes of that dread tome.
February 18, 2018
As with most literature on this topic, Steiner’s deceptively entitled book is a mixed bag, with some valuable insights for readers. Less an outline, it is more an apologist piece to rationalists with some evangelism thrown in. The chapter on the disciplines of study and the training is very valuable, and Steiner has clearly worked hard and received the training. I will read that chapter again, and took lots of notes from it. As always, keep your bullshit filters up and active, keep an open mind, but not so open that your brain falls out.
November 11, 2024
Possibly the densest most impenetrable book I have ever read but has left me wanting to understand so much more of what Steiner has written about here.
The chapter on the metaphysical history of the planets was completely over my head, has anyone understood that? However the later chapters hinted at a pathway similar to the Tibetan Book of the Dead in terms of grasping the complexity of the human experience and consciousness.
I fully imagine you could spend a lifetime studying Rudolf Steiner and his work and barely scratch the surface of his understanding of human existence.
The chapter on the metaphysical history of the planets was completely over my head, has anyone understood that? However the later chapters hinted at a pathway similar to the Tibetan Book of the Dead in terms of grasping the complexity of the human experience and consciousness.
I fully imagine you could spend a lifetime studying Rudolf Steiner and his work and barely scratch the surface of his understanding of human existence.
October 7, 2022
Quite the plod!
But then, the topic was such.
Can't say that I enjoyed/understood every word and concept but to use Steiner's own example :
It was the way one enjoys a painting without necessarily grasping the method, strokes, mediums and myriad styles. As always, was blown away by the richness of the language, Steiner's mastery over it and the clarity of thought and matter.
Being on the path is rewarding enough and certainly enjoyed the journey!
But then, the topic was such.
Can't say that I enjoyed/understood every word and concept but to use Steiner's own example :
It was the way one enjoys a painting without necessarily grasping the method, strokes, mediums and myriad styles. As always, was blown away by the richness of the language, Steiner's mastery over it and the clarity of thought and matter.
Being on the path is rewarding enough and certainly enjoyed the journey!
August 16, 2021
Steiner makes a lot of great points, but really has some 'way out' theories. You'd better be prepared before you try reading these books by him, with an open mind and plenty of spare time to speculate.
February 13, 2019
It's been a bit but I really like Steiner's work. Will go into more detail once I have more time
November 26, 2019
Good book
I liked it. It was interesting, just a little dry at times honestly. I've read better books and worse ones.
I liked it. It was interesting, just a little dry at times honestly. I've read better books and worse ones.
October 17, 2020
There are better books on this out there
November 16, 2022
Lettura densa e pregna di significato. Illuminante e che apre la mente sotto molti aspetti.
March 22, 2025
Perfect, even the simplest explanation of how to astral project. Best book and Author ever, as all his books and lectures
January 5, 2017
As the title suggests, this is an opus of initiation to the worldview of late great Rudolf Steiner, founder of the Waldorf school and an all-around academic DIY man of sorts. The more he tries to explain and rationalise his vision of 20th century "scientific occultism", the more other-worldly and fantastic his concepts of the universe and its origins end up being. The flow of the text is fluent yet predictable, and while there are some pleasant nods to Goethe and eastern philosophies, the descriptions and examples could be more vivid and naturalistic – and Mr J. Christ could be left to a lesser value or dropped out altogether. On this same sphere of thought, Huxley prefers the metaphysical, Crowley leaves room for gibberish and splendour, and LaVey for fun and games. Based on this piece of work, I'd recommend them over Steiner. (Ok, maybe not LaVey – read Satan on War by Robert DeGrimston instead of the infamous Satanic Bible. Or, maybe both.)
February 27, 2010
The second book we read in teacher training. Cosmic, evolution of the world. Our world has been created, destroyed, held in suspension, then recreated several times. Steiner starts with the Saturnian man, following evolution throught Atlantean, Lemurian, etc. epochs. The pralayas are the in between times. Fascinating. When I saw the Matrix, it reminded me of this book. Powerful, but dense. You have to be serious to read this one, but it's one of my faves. I <3 Steiner.
July 15, 2008
An absolute essential book for everyone interested in anthroposophy, spirituality and self-growth. Things depicted in this book should be taught in schools and I'm sure they will one day. But these times are still far away.
February 12, 2009
I haven't actually finished this book. Things started to fly over my head so I decided to put it down for a time, but it was refreshing to be so challenged in the subject of reading comprhension. I will finish it, someday.
November 27, 2012
Written by the first true Initiate after the age of Science. Don't agree with his description of the planet's evolution etc., but there's a lot of real Wisdom in this one. Advanced Students will be pleasantly surprised.
April 18, 2009
ok, this was one of the coolest of Steiner! Don't let the title fool ya! Mainstream think of "occult" as being satanic. Give up the outdated, ignorant notions!
December 13, 2016
My Review
This book was amazing. I would definitely recommend it to all of my friends. In fact I would recommend it to everyone!
This book was amazing. I would definitely recommend it to all of my friends. In fact I would recommend it to everyone!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews