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by Ron MacFarlane (Illustrator), Ron MacFarlane (Author)
AS FAR BACK AS 1906, in a lecture entitled "Redemption and Liberation," Austrian philosopher and esotericist Rudolf Steiner (1861‒1925) indicated that there have been seven extraordinary mysteries of life that have been secretly guarded and exclusively preserved by the Mystic Brotherhoods throughout the centuries. He also indicated that for the first time in history―beginning with the twentieth century―these especial, preeminent life-mysteries are able to be publicly revealed, elaborated, explained and clarified. In Steiner's own words: There are seven mysteries of life which up till now have never been spoken of outside the ranks of Occult Brotherhoods. Only in our age is it possible to speak of them openly. They have been called the seven "inexpressible" or "unutterable" mysteries ... These mysteries are as follows:1.The mystery of the Abyss.2.The mystery of Number (which can be studied in Pythagorean philosophy).3.The mystery of Alchemy (We can learn something of this mystery in the works of Paracelsus and Jacob Boehme.)4.The mystery of Death.5.The mystery of Evil (to which reference is made in the Apocalypse).6.The mystery of the Word, of the Logos.7.The mystery of Divine Bliss. (This mystery is the most occult.)Since Rudolf Steiner was himself a highly-advanced initiate and eminent associate of the true Rosicrucian Fraternity, he was obviously familiar with the seven "unutterable" mysteries of the Mystic Brotherhoods and their secret history. During his own lifetime, Steiner was able to reveal a great deal of previously-hidden wisdom regarding the seven life-mysteries. Unfortunately, due to his untimely death at sixty-four years of age, Rudolf Steiner was only able to briefly touch on some of these mysteries; particularly the Abyss, the Logos-Word and Divine Bliss.Since ancient, pre-recorded times―now obscured by the vast stretch of human history―there have always existed sacred centres of advanced spiritual knowledge and wisdom. These learning centres, later known in Graeco-Roman times as "Mystery Schools" (from the Greek mystai = initiates), were closely guarded and highly secretive. As evolving mankind gradually lost the instinctive clairvoyant ability to perceive the spiritual world, the ancient Mystery Schools were temporarily able to retain experiential access to the spiritual world. Unfortunately, over time, even the Mystery Schools lost direct contact with the spiritual world, and were unable to overcome the acute spiritual darkening that threatened the entire evolutionary existence of mankind. Hence the incarnation of the God-Man, Christ-Jesus, that was critically necessary to overcome the death-dealing spiritual darkness overtaking mankind; and to provide re-access to the heavenly-worlds of existence. In consequence, the need and function of the ancient pagan Mystery Schools were rendered obsolete by the life of Christ-Jesus; and replaced by Christ-centred brotherhoods such as the Knights of the Holy Grail and the Rosicrucian Fraternity.The seven great life-mysteries were not kept publicly hidden by the Mystic Brotherhoods for hundreds of years because of selfish possession, elitist privilege, or clannish ownership. Instead, it was because humanity as a whole hadn't undergone the profound spiritual preparations that were crucially necessary to intellectually access and comprehend such deeply-supernal spirit-wisdom. Thankfully at the present time, despite the widespread hindrances of atheism, secularism and materialism, the intellectual access to the spiritual world is the greatest it has ever been in human history. The profound, intellectually-comprehendible spirit-information contained in "The Seven Great Mysteries of the Mystic Brotherhoods" should be ample testament to this celebratory truth.
