What Shall We Do About Ahriman?

Modern social sciences rarely address whether ultimate reality is founded in “things” or in “beings.” Religions, spirituality, and one wing of today’s ecological thinkers take for granted that humans, animals, and plants are not the only “beings” in the cosmos. Hard sciences and rationalists disagree, and seem uncomfortable sometimes even with the beingness of humans. So anthroposophy is challenging in its aim to be both genuinely scientific and at the same time fundamentally concerned with beings not perceptible to physical senses. Three “principles” who are experienced as “principals” are known by historically familiar names of Lucifer, Christ, and Ahriman. The first two entered fully into a human life experience in the past; the third is preparing for such an incarnation in our times, Rudolf Steiner reported. Lucifer provided access to freedom, supports idealism, and tempts us to abandon the earth. Christ provides the power to become a real individual, balancing other powers and serving the needs of the earth. Ahriman brings abstracting intelligence and technical power, and is presently seeking to dominate human beings with an ideal of mechanization. What do we do about that? — Editor

by Meg Gorman

Meg Gorman presented this work to fellow members of the Section for the Social Sciences in Spring Valley in August 2009 and subsequently brought it to the Goetheanum. It was translated and published in the News from the Goetheanum.

Rudolf Steiner tells us “...there is only one book of wisdom.” The challenge of our time is to determine whether or not this wisdom is in the hands of Ahriman or the Christ. Dr. Steiner then says, “It cannot come into the hands of Christ unless people fight for it.” [The Influences of Lucifer and Ahriman 65-66]

How shall we do this? How can the goals of human evolution be realized in the middle of the Ahrimanic forces pouring into our times. What can we, mere individuals, do to impede Ahriman and better serve Michael and the Christ? Dr. Steiner tells us that there is much we can do. “People must learn from spiritual science to find the key to life and so to be able to recognize and learn to control the currents leading towards the incarnation of Ahriman.” [The Incarnation of Ahriman 69]

Ahriman and Lucifer are alive and well in each of us, in the anthroposophical movement, and in the world. The more we do our work well, the more we may find ourselves attacked by negative forces. When Jesus of Nazareth received the Christ into his being at the baptism of John, he is first recognized by Lucifer and Ahriman in the temptations in the desert. Where the Christ is active, these forces will show up to undo our work. Thus, we are all fair game. The task is to stay awake and identify these influences, especially in ourselves. As my colleague, Denis Klocek says, once we can see these forces working in us, we need to tell them, “Thank you for sharing, please sit down.”

The bad news, in one sense, is that Ahriman is coming, and there is nothing we can do about it. In addition, collective humanity is helping his incarnation and that of his henchmen. This is not new information for anthroposophists. On the other hand, there is good news: through human activity, it is possible to help Ahriman serve humanity. We do not have to endure him only; we can work to make Ahriman a helper of human beings. Aside from the obvious reality of materialism in our time, Rudolf Steiner gives us many other hints on how we are preparing for Ahriman‘s activities. It is important to be conscious of these in ourselves and in our work.

First comes the BAD NEWS.

At the risk of being superficial and overly organized, I list below some of the ways in which we make Ahriman‘s job easy. When deeply considered, each of these can also become a tool for discernment in living the “examined life.” The following, in no particular order, are helping Ahriman‘s incarnation:

Disregarding weightiest truths. Ignoring or discounting our spiritual selves and our destinies in the world and in human evolution create the greatest bridge for Ahriman.

Denying or ignoring the spiritual nature of the human being. The idea that we are only our biology permeates much of the world today. As higher animals, some say we bear no spiritual responsibility for one another. Ahriman delights in this.

Seeing the world as a “great mechanism” only and maintaining this scientific superstition. This makes science into a new religion and creates “scientific superstition as a prevailing dogma.” When we think mechanistically, we create disharmony in our waking and sleeping. We see this today in the enormous rise in sleep disorders, especially among our teenagers. [The Incarnation of Ahriman 20]

Getting caught up in fears like anthrax, swine flu, and global warming without understanding the science behind them is a great help to Ahriman. Believing that science will save us from ourselves is equally helpful to him.

Seeing the world as a duality of good versus evil. The American statements concerning “the axis of evil” are an excellent example of this. Some devil is always to blame whether or not it is Osama Bin Laden or George Bush. Adam said, “Eve made me do it”; Eve said, “The devil made me do it.” It‘s always someone else‘s fault. We play a dangerous game of shaming and blaming others, of thinking in blacks and whites, of seeing the world as a duality of good and evil. To think in this way is a failure to see the complexity of our times and to take responsibility for them. It is a failure to seek the role of Christ as a balance between Lucifer and Ahriman.

Organizing our lives too much. Efficiency is not a bad thing in itself, but it needs to leave enough room for real human meeting and conversation.

Living in the superficial intellect. We often do not dig beneath the surface of things. We Google life, and think we have it. We put the world and its people into convenient boxes that rest on the surface of realities. We anthroposophists can be especially guilty in this area when we say things like: “He‘s just so phlegmatic. No one can work with someone who is so choleric. Plastic should never touch the lips of small children.”

Proving things instead of experiencing them. We are especially good at using statistics to this end. They often put truth beyond reach because figures can be divorced from the qualitative aspects of life.

Sowing conflicts between groups and getting them to attack each other. Whether in family, race, tribe, faculty meetings in a Waldorf school, or anthroposophical groups, we are all very busy in this area. This does not mean that conflict is bad, but that it’s here to challenge to new perspectives, not polarize us.

Living in dogmatic one-sidedness and endorsing national chauvinism. Any firmly held ideology can create discord. The forming of political parties creates ideology at the expense of human beings. We often think it is more important to be right than to find a way to work through issues to something larger than ourselves. “National Chauvinism, perverted patriotism in every form, is the material from which Ahriman will build exactly what he needs.” [The Incarnation of Ahriman 72]

Believing in the great Ahrimanic deception that economics drives world history and that the economist knows all. We turn to economists today for answers. Dr. Steiner actually says economists have replaced initiates in our times. He adds, “We must not imagine that the rulers of our times are anything other than economists.” [The Incarnation of Ahriman 26] We need only look to things like the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, or groups like the US Council on Foreign Relations to recognize this. Naomi Klein’s Shock Doctrine does a lovely job of revealing this reality.

Believing that public welfare depends only on providing the economic and material needs of humanity. Providing material needs is important, but this alone will not solve the problems of the world. We see this everywhere as people ask things like, “How does spiritual understanding help me to acquire stuff? How does a Waldorf education help me to get a good job?” In this regard, Rudolf Steiner states: “Europeans and their American appendages are devourers of the spirit.” [The Incarnation of Ahriman 40]

Involving ourselves in half or quarter truths. These are more harmful than total errors or outright lies. They create insecurity, fear, and confusion. They are, therefore, the marketer‘s delight. If we just drink the right beer, use the right toothpaste, and drive the right kind of car, we will be whole human beings. We accept these lies and deceive ourselves easily in small fractions.

Believing in fixed creeds of any kind. This includes blind anthroposophy. Concerning Christianity, if we see the world solely through scripture or through one gospel alone, Rudolf Steiner tells us we will be led to the “hallucination of Christ.” The rise of religious fundamentalism worldwide from Christianity to Islam is a case in point Any kind of religious fundamentalism prepares a good place for Ahriman, such as the Koran only, secular science only, denominational instruction of any kind. An excellent BBC film on this is The Power of Nightmares which documents the rise of the Christian right in America as Islamic fundamentalism rises in Muslim countries.

Fostering drowsy unawareness through tedium. We find ourselves exhausted and at a loss for energy, and then blame the state of the world and our lives. Rudolf Steiner tells us that a dry cash book can be as interesting as the Sistine Madonna if we can find the right entry point of interest. “It is we, not the world, who are at fault.” We cannot use our weariness as an excuse to become unconscious. [The Incarnation of Ahriman 58]

Falling into “pickle jars.” Pickle jars, Dr. Steiner tells us, are libraries and universities filled with theses no one will ever read. They may also be lawyer‘s dossiers, the piles of papers of proofs, and books with little real interest in human beings. I have my own piles of paper, my little pickle jars. Sometimes I think Ahriman wants to bury us under paper. Steiner gives a little quote from Ahriman to Lucifer. “It is advantageous to make use of pickle jars….To you I will leave people‘s stomachs if you will leave it to me to lull to sleep the awareness of their stomachs.” [The Incarnation of Ahriman 45-47]

Eating and drinking things of the physical and spiritual worlds unconsciously. How often are we conscious of the gifts that fill our gustatory needs? How often do we grab a sandwich on the run, eat at our desks? How often do we quote Rudolf Steiner out of context or without thinking things through? How conscious are we in our lives.

Eating and drinking for cleverness. Marketing tells us that we will be smarter and cleverer if we just eat and drink certain products. Today in America we even have a brand of bottled libation called Smart Water. We now have pharmaceutical solutions, from Ritalin to Prozac, to help enhance our intelligence and deal with human issues.

Taking things in only through the heart without the head. It is easy to get lost in our silks and felted angels, or any other stuff that makes us feel good and brings us bliss. Here we are then safely asleep in the arms of Lucifer, so Ahriman can do his work.

Taking things in only through the head without the heart; living with abstractions of any kind. We in anthroposophical work can be especially guilty of this. We need the heart‘s balance. Intellectual life without warmth leads us into the world of pickle jars. [The Incarnation of Ahriman 109]

Taking things in through the heart and the head, and doing nothing with them, otherwise known as weakness of will. Speaking of and loving spiritual things, but not carrying these into the activities of everyday life creates a wonderful working space for Ahriman. Love of anthroposophy, knowledge of anthroposophy is not enough.

Quantifying qualitative Life. Testing in education, “No Child Left Behind,” statistics without qualitative considerations all fall into this category.

Allowing envy and gossip to sway our common sense. Steiner has strong things to say about envy and gossip because they undermine our collective work for the future. As he puts it, “We cannot on the one hand want to take part in the processes of the cosmos, and on the other hand make derogatory remarks about our fellow human beings in the widespread way this happens in restaurants and clubs in this bourgeois age.” [The Incarnation of Ahriman 100]

Fear-mongering and submitting to fear. The news media, marketing, our politicians, and to some degree some of our movement is interested in creating a kind of fear which para lyzes us. Forgetting the widespread suffering of the earth. Writing on Christmas, 1919, Dr. Steiner‘s words are enough clear: “We have no right to forget the widespread suffering, the wide spread sorrow of our times….It is our duty to allow all symptoms of decline in human civilization today to permeate our thoughts and penetrate right through to the Christmas Tree.” [The Incarnation of Ahriman 84]

Then there is the GOOD NEWS,

the ways in which we can help Ahriman serve humanity. These are things we can all do in our daily lives. They are not so easy, but self-development is not a path of ease.

Control thinking and avoid abstractions. The practice of spiritual science asks us to develop an inner discipline of think ing. As Dr. Steiner puts it. We must “gain control over our thinking just as we have control over our hands and legs.” [Past and Future Influences in Social Events, 3 March 1919] This also means that we need to know the difference between living thinking and abstractions.

See the world with three-fold eyes. We need to move out of duality and see how we can balance Lucifer and Ahriman with the Christ. This threefoldness is everywhere, in our bones, our education, and our beings. It is also in our interactions with one another, and it is crucial that we begin to work with Dr. Steiner‘s picture of the threefold nature of social life, the threefold social organism.

Develop inner strength. This comes with our daily review of the day, the practice of the six basic exercises, and our continued struggle on the path of self development. Dr. Steiner tells us that “Inner strength alone can enable anthroposophy to achieve its goals.” [The Incarnation of Ahriman 9]

Be conscious and interested in the world. We need to stay awake. As Dr. Steiner reminds us, one of the main tasks of humanity today is “to live towards the incarnation of Ahriman with such alert consciousness that this incarnation can serve to promote higher, spiritual development.” [Past and Future Influences in Social Events, 3 March 1919]

Know science. We need to develop an exact knowledge of science as much as we are able. We need to educate ourselves through scientific illusion to spiritual substance. We need to love the facts and know how to use them with common sense. We need to guide science and technology to serve human needs. Young people in New York are reading Rudolf Steiner in “book slams.” A group gathers, studies and discusses a text in a weekend. Those who live too far away to attend are present through Skype and can take part in the process. Thus Ahriman is foiled by his own technology.

Conduct affairs not for material ends alone but for the free spiritual life. This is one area in which we in our movement may be impeding Ahriman well. Working actively for Anthroposophia is, for most of us, more a labor of love than a way to pad the packet.

Seek beyond the hallucination of Christ to the Christ within the self and the other. This is best done where two or three are gathered together, and we can practice finding the Christ in one another.

Radically re-evaluate all values. Nothing is quite as it seems in the consciousness-soul age. The Ten Commandments no longer apply in all circumstances. For instance, if the donkey is suffering in the ditch, we need to pull him out, no matter the day of the week and societal prohibitions. We need to look again and again at our values and how they are playing out in life – from the Waldorf curriculum to our national policies.

Refrain from envy, gossip and things that drive wedges between people. Dr. Steiner advises us as follows in this area. “We need to leave ambition to one side, but nevertheless, the most dire manifestations of it exist within the anthroposophical movement, and mutual envy is on the increase.” [The Incarnation of Ahriman 100] We have much work to do in this area.

Work against hatred, bitterness and resentment in our own souls. This is a daily task, sometimes minute-by-minute, task, and it takes rigorous self honesty, and the constant process of asking these forces to sit down and behave themselves rather than allowing them to take over our souls.

Face fear with courage. There is nothing wrong with fear as long as we can examine it with our thinking and use it to create the courage we need. Fear is useful in this regard. The crucial thing is not to allow fear to bring us into a paralysis of will.

Tell the truth. It is not always so easy to speak one‘s point of view. Instead we hold back to be nice, and then gossip later about what another has said. In the end, this is detrimental to our work. “What is required of us is to courageously stand up and tell the truth as far as we are able.” [The Incarnation of Ahriman 112-113]

Live life with enthusiasm for and interest in our times. We need to stop complaining and get busy with the work that needs to be done all around us. Then, “through our interest— which is itself luciferic—we can wrest from Ahriman what is his own.” [The Incarnation of Ahriman 57] Michael, our current Time Spirit, needs us to love his regency. When he sees our interest and enthusiasm, he will help us.

Widen the zone of individual comfort. We often think very narrowly and only in the range that gives us a sense of well-being. It is so important to be able to move beyond this range, to see through the eyes of others and to become, in the process, true global citizens.

Practice, practice, practice. Spirit remembering, sensing and envisioning are gifts from the Christmas Foundation Meeting. Practicing in them makes us instruments for the good beings of the cosmos, and weakens Ahriman.

Bear the burden of the earth with Michael and the Christ. The times are going to be hard, there is no doubt about it, and we need to see them with as much clarity as we can muster. The afflictions of the world, whether in Darfur or next door, may be there for our consciousness. May the sacrifices of the downtrodden of the earth not be in vain. When we watch the anguish of the world on the evening news, we need to hold that pain in our hearts and work towards agape love, i.e. the love that is too great for others to hurt us.

Often as I think about these things I am reminded of the Pietà. Perhaps Anthroposophia today is like the mother of Christ carrying the broken body of her Son. If we anthroposophers can learn to carry the sorrows of our world in our arms with as much equanimity as Mary Sophia, we will be able to help Ahriman serve the human being. These are the many things to consider these days, and ponder in our hearts. There is, in fact, much we can do about Ahriman.

Sources

Steiner, Rudolf. The Fall of the Spirits of Darkness. Trans. Anna Meuss. Given in Dornach 29 September to 28 October, 1917. Bristol, England: Rudolf Steiner Press, 1993.

Steiner, Rudolf. The Incarnation of Ahriman. Trans. Matthew Barton. Forest Row: Rudolf Steiner Press, 2006.

Steiner, Rudolf. The Influences of Lucifer and Ahriman. Trans. D.S. Osmond. Hudson, New York: Anthroposophic Press, 1993.

Steiner, Rudolf. Past and Future Impulses in Social Events —Lecture III & V, unpublished translation by Maria St. Goar.

GA (or CW: Complete Works) Numbers: GA 190, Lectures 3 & 5; GA 191, Lectures 2 & 3; GA 193, Lectures 3 & 4; GA 194, Lecture 1; GA 195, Lectures 6 & 7