initiation paragraph 16 and 17.

Submitted by jennyren on Mon, 06/02/2008 - 12:57pm.

 

            

                             Paragraph 15 ended with the advice that we must be disciplined in our approach and not subject to our own arbitrariness.That is what motivated me to make a set day, in this case a monday evening when I will make a new journal entry for this study group.

               As it happens, it was quite an endeavour as I worked over the weekend and then by chance or most probably destiny, my path crossed yesterday with a highly evolved, fervent anthroposophist, much discussion was had around a well set table and the theme was ; when does anthroposophy cease to become spiritual science and what role does the christian community play in the life of an anthroposophist? quite intense discussion followed with two other senior anthroposophists, included, so I got a real mental workout, from which I am still recovering.

               But to get back to chapter 16 and 17.

         At this stage of initiation a sound power of judgement is ssential.

                                      Truth alone should be the guiding principle on this path.

                                                       We have to let go of our pre conceived ideas.

If our minds are filled with fantasy and superstition we cannot move forward.

                                 we are about to gain the most precious gift; knowledge of the higher worlds.

                                                            We are about to loose all doubts concerning the higher worlds.

                                                                                                    Inscribed over the door leading to the second trial are the words; "all prejudices must fall from you"

                                                                                                It seems to indicate that imagination is positive but fantasy not; any feedback on this?

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Fantasy or Imagination?

Submitted by John Ralph on Sun, 06/08/2008 - 8:03am.

 

 

Hi jennyren, a good question!
 
What does Steiner mean with these words that are ambiguously translated imagination and fantasy? I’ll slowly and carefully stick my neck out here... with two images.
 
Fantasy – I construct my pet ideas into a working model. I wind it up, put it on the floor and watch what follows. My model races around my living room floor until its clockwork spring gives up. My prejudices and beliefs (superstitions) are extrapolated into marvellous and fantastical ideas. Actually they are only the old ideas in a new – to me – guise... I am making it up in my cosy living room. It is my own construction in the air-conditioned locality of my own front room.
 
Imagination – going to the window of my mental house I look out. A bird flies around singing and makes some mess on the glass, so I open up the window.  Bird flies in, knocks over a reading lamp and flies away again. Now what did that bird teach me? It taught me that it has more enlivening lightness than the lamp and that it lives independently from my lock-up beliefs... Imagination is perception rather than make-up. 
 

Does what I have written here have more of fantasy or imagination about it?