A Brief Overview of Rudolf Steiner

I've written about Esoteric Christianity before, and well have been informed by one of my readers that I missed Rudolf Steiner who wrote the book on it, and so here is my brief overview of Rudolf Steiner. 

Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925), was an Austrian philosopher, esotericist, and the founder of Anthroposophy, which can be viewed as a Christianity for modern times. At the heart of Steiner’s writings is his unique articulation of Esoteric Christianity, a visionary approach that covers Gnosticism, Rosicrucianism, and the Hermetic philosophy. ​His seminal works such as Christianity as Mystical Fact, Theosophy, and Esoteric Christianity articulate a vibrant spiritual cosmology in which the incarnation of Christ is the central turning point of both cosmic and human evolution.
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Steiner’s Vision of Esoteric Christianity is not a departure from traditional Christian faith but a return to its mystical roots. He believed that Christ’s incarnation brought about a new evolutionary impulse in human consciousness—one that could be directly experienced by spiritually awakened individuals. 

The cornerstone of Steiner’s Esoteric Christianity is the Christ Impulse. This is not merely a theological abstraction but a living, spiritual force that entered the fabric of human evolution through the incarnation of Christ at the turning point of time—an event he placed in cosmic perspective. According to Steiner, the Christ being descended from the spiritual Sun realm into the body of Jesus of Nazareth, thereby embedding a divine impulse into Earth’s spiritual life.  

Steiner referred to Christ’s death and resurrection as a pivotal event not just in religious history but in the metaphysical evolution of the Earth itself. Unlike traditional atonement theology, Steiner viewed this mystery as the moment when Christ, through His sacrifice, united His being with the etheric body of the Earth. This union allows every human soul the potential to overcome death inwardly and spiritually regenerate.

​All of what I've just written is fine, but where I think Steiner is spot on, is how he breaks with with mainstream Christianity and argues that the human soul evolved through multiple lifetimes.

Yes, reincarnation. 

Furthermore, Steiner writes about Christianity like, well, for lack of a better term: Buddhism. His path to spiritual knowledge emphasized meditation, concentration, and moral purification. 

He also wrote about Christian mysticism, alchemy, and Hermetic wisdom and taught that through such initiations, the soul begins to align consciously with the Christ Impulse and take part in humanity’s collective spiritual ascent. 

Yes, he was a fan of Madame Blavatsky's "Isis Unveiled."

​Finally, Rudolf Steiner’s Esoteric Christianity offers an alternative to secular Christianity for those afraid of being labeled a non-believer in a Christian society where it pays to be a Christian. Having said that, I believe it is a great visit on the path of enlightenment, wherever that takes you.

~~ Eso Terry  

Elvis was a Closet Esoterist

As a kid I wanted to be like Elvis.  I'll admit it.  I listened to the records of Elvis my folks had, learned guitar, and even became a Christian to sing gospel songs like Elvis.  Of course, as with my spiritual journey I've written about that took me from a Christian, to Atheist, Pagan, and finally, Buddhist from Zen to Nichiren where I finally found the answers I was looking for, I outgrew Elvis with the Beatles. 

As I grew I viewed Elvis as a materialist lost in the Christian myth.  I turned away from him and elevated my Rock and Roll tastes to the esoteric sounds of Led Zepplin, and thought Elvis was part of the exoteric problem.  Of course, now, after the book The Occult Elvis,  I see I was wrong for it has come out that Elvis was a closet Esoterist. 

As Miguel Conner explores in his book The Occult Elvis: The Mystical and Magical Life of The King, Presley had a deep interest in spiritual matters from the time he was young, and it did not take long for him to look beyond the tight confines of traditional Christianity.  His roots were in Pentecostalism, an evangelical Protestant movement centered on speaking in tongues.  Yes, those Christians that even other Christians think are weird. 

Elvis may not have spoken in tongues, but as Conner's book explains, "To deepen this direct connection, Presley turned to non-Christian texts like Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, which he read while stationed with the Army in Germany shortly after his beloved mother’s death in 1958. Though he had been only a fair student, he was a voracious reader, next turning to the essential texts of Theosophy—he loved H.P. Blavatsky’s Voice of the Silence so much that during his later career, he occasionally read from it on stage to a bemused crowd—and the very challenging works of Alice Bailey."

According to Peter Orvetti of the Theosopical Society review on Esoteric Elvis: "...there was one special reason why Elvis was so taken with Blavatsky: she strongly resembled Elvis’s late mother. On seeing a famous portrait of Blavatsky, Elvis remarked, 'Look at the eyes . . . The shape of the face, the cheekbones. I’ve never seen anything like it.'"

Madame Blavatsky

“For Elvis, the Bible was sacred, the blueprint of creation in allegorical and metaphoric form,” said Larry Geller, the hairdresser who, according to Conner, became “Elvis’s Guru.” “But his interest went beyond the orthodox, extending into Gnostic and esoteric literature” Geller added.

Presley met Geller in 1964, and they got to talking about spiritual stuff during a lengthy salon session. Geller was a self-taught student of the occult, and in him, Presley had finally found someone he could discuss these questions with. He gave Elvis books to read and got him into meditation, and with the exception of a brief falling out after Presley’s controlling manager, Colonel Tom Parker, convinced Elvis that Geller was a bad influence, he would remain Presley’s friend and guide until the latter’s death.

So there you have it boys and girls, Elvis was a closet Esoterist, but then, we already knew that, didn't we(?)

Elvis with his mom, not Madame Blavatsky, or was it?....

 

~~ Eso Terry  

Collective Consciousness

 

Collective consciousness, a concept primarily introduced by French sociologist Émile Durkheim, refers to the shared beliefs, ideas, moral attitudes, and sentiments that are common to the average members of a society or social group. It operates as a unifying force, shaping individuals’ behaviors, interactions, and perceptions within a community, thereby fostering social cohesion and solidarity. Though it exists in the minds of individuals, Durkheim viewed it as a distinct and discernible entity that stands apart from individual consciousness, exerting a compelling influence on social behavior and is passed down through generations.

That's the definition, now here's the Esoteric Truth: Collective Consciousness is the Ego in us looking for an orgy. 

~~ Eso Terry  

"Yes, boy's and girl's, we are all in this together!"

Kant Starts Here

Here is a brief overview of Immanuel Kant, warning, this is some deep shit.

Immanuel Kant, German Philosopher (1724-1804) and Professor of Philosophy at the University of Koneisberg, was a key figure in the period referred to as the German Enlightenment. In addition to his philosophical treatises, Kant wrote extensively on the theory of the heavens, origins of the planetary systems, effects of the tides upon the earth's rotation, causes of earthquakes, volcanoes on the moon, and other subjects. His treatise on eternal peace formed the basis for the United Nations Charter. Although he was raised Lutheran, he rejected conventional doctrine early in life and regarded independent spiritual integrity as the highest form of morality. In contrast to his brilliant intellect and Prussian rigidity, Kant confessed to moments of passive contemplation and listened to the music of the spheres on numerous occasions.  

Kant suggested that humans have two basic ways of knowing, a priori and a posteriori. These two kinds of knowledge are key to the development of human consciousness, instrumental in the pursuit of a moral and constructive state of being—which Kant calls "Pure Reason." Kant's "Noumenal Principle," what we might call the unknowable, is that which is beyond experience but somehow involved in it—something like Madame Blavatsky's "unutterable" or Thoreau's "impersonal spectator." According to Kant, a priori knowledge emerges from this Noumenal Principle, this "unknowable." It is, in effect, a representative of the Noumenal Principle deep within the human consciousness. And it recognizes a "voice from afar," independent of human experience as we know it. It precedes human experience and serves as a sort of judge and jury (conscience). This is also what Carl Jung would latter call "The Collective Consciousness." 

For Kant, it is possible for human beings to remain largely unaware of the a priori knowledge available to them. Manifestation of a priori knowledge is dependent in part upon Time, or the readiness (precision) to manifest, and Space, or the direction of its influence. It is also dependent upon moral development. People who adhere to certain moral principles allow a priori knowledge to unfold into consciousness and become available for use—much as etheric energies blend, by way of chakras, into electromagnetic states the body can use. 

There are four "moral principles," and they are:

1. Transcendental Aesthetic: The concept of innate goodness, metaphysical transcendence motivates the use of a priori knowledge and also becomes the modus operandi for its use.

2. Synthetic Judgment: a deductive process by which one can move the a priori toward its objective. this is the moment of enlightenment. Kant declares that a sense of "revelation" furthers synthetic judgment and opens the way to wisdom. 

3. Intuition: this is spiritual awareness and the understanding of one's own powers.

4. Descending Will: This can be defined as "action," by which one makes use of Time and Space to develop the will to enter the exalted state of Pure Reason. 

For Kant, a posteriori knowledge, or knowledge gained by experience, is a product of the Phenomenal Principle. It is exoteric, shadowed by the world of sense perception, and regulated to a large extent by the basic instincts of Experience and Assimilation. These two represent the physical exposure to the elemental realities of the corporeal world and an intellectual growth of the world as it is -- I told you this shit is heavy. 

Finally, the pragmatic value of Kant's philosophy lies in its exploration of the relationship between Thought, a well-adjusted thinking process and attitude, and Action, rational behavior under all circumstances. Immanuel Kant might leave the esoteric mind somewhat unfulfilled, but we must realize the reactionary atmosphere at the time and place in which he made his ideas known. These ideas made a profound and expansive impact upon the somewhat crystallized boundaries of academic philosophy which resulted in the popular adage, "If you do not know Kant, you do not know Philosophy." Western philosophy and theology have been forced to acknowledge the basic fact of our incarnation and the sources of wisdom that lie therein.

Esoteric Christianity 101

Esoteric Christianity. Yes, a very emotional topic, and so let me start by saying that this is not a knock on anyone's faith, this is a definition of the words Esoteric Christianity and nothing more. I know a lot of great Christians who consider themselves Pilgrims on the Road, and there is nothing more honorable in life. We are all on our own spiritual journeys, and peace be with you on yours. 

~~ Eso Terry 

Esoteric means requiring special knowledge to understand; designed for only a select few. Esoteric Christianity, then, is a version of “Christianity” that can only be understood or practiced by those who have been properly initiated in secret knowledge. It is also knowledge that shouldn't be esoteric, but due to the world we live in has to be for the safety of its adepts. 

Esoteric Christianity teaches that Christianity is a mystery religion and those with eyes to see, do see.  

Now, before you run away because you just realized you are in the deep end of the spiritual swimming pool, let me tell you why there is an Esoteric Christianity, and I can do this in two words: Organized Religion, which began with the Christian persecution in Carthage, a major center in Roman North Africa, where the people were forced to denounce their Christian beliefs for the Roman emperor; this persecution continued on with the Christians who were labeled Heretics around 380 AD under Theodosius I who used the Roman church to enforce his, male-dominated, Christian orthodoxy through excommunication, confiscation of property, imprisonment, execution, etc.. Simply stated: anyone who had a different understanding of his teachings would at the very least lose their hands to write with, eyes to see with, and tongue to speak with in a gruesome public torture worse than any modern-day "slicer" film. Is it any wonder that many of the Christian monks swore an oath to silence in the days of the early Christian church?

Esoteric Christianity, is a form of the exoteric christian faith many early Christians had before those in power forced them into hiding. There are also those who kept the message in secret because they felt the people weren't ready for it. These adepts were the historical masters such as Pythagoras and Plato, (before Christ), and Meister Eckhart and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J. (after Christ). 

So Esoteric Christianity is not written in one book, although, we can narrow it down as a teaching that has more in common with Gnosticism, Theosophy, and Rosicrucianism than the genuine biblical Christianity. The common themes shared by these religions are that we are gods ourself, or as Jesus said, “... You are gods, And all of you are sons of the Most High” (Psalm 82:6). 

Then, they also believe in reincarnation or as Jesus said: "Born Again" (John 3:3): Jesus told Nicodemus that one must be "born again,"and John the Baptist and Elijah (Matthew 11:13-14, 17:10-13): John the Baptist was "Elijah who was to come..."  

Another theme you'll find in the Esoteric Christian teachings is that men and woman are equal, and both capable of leading a church. This is most notable in the teachings of the Tertullian, who was a lay theologian in Carthage church where woman were priest; conversely, they meditated, and believed in reincarnation too, yes, very Buddhist like indeed.  

I said there wasn't a book on Esoteric Christianity, but there is one for those who want to know more, and you can find it free everywhere.  It is  'Esoteric Christianity' by Annie Besant.

~~ Eso Terry

Colorless World and the Rainbow - a children's video.

 An esoteric Rainbow message for those with eyes to see, to see. 

Esoteric Beards

Beards have been a thing since COVID. I grew one then and still have it. So did many of you. Having a beard these days is really cool, the flag of a modern-day hipster, the remnants of an aging hippy. Although beards appear to be fashion, esoterically speaking, they are more, much more. Beards are part of what Carl Jung called our Collective Consciousness, and so let's look at this Collective Consciousness together. 

Bearded Venus 

Today we see beards on athletes, musicians, actors, etc. Visually, they are associated with aesthetic jews, the Sunnah beard (a beard worn in the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad), and of course the beatnik's of the 50's, hippies of the 60's, and Nirvana grunge of the 80's. These are the external, or exoteric, images we associate with a beard, but esoterically speaking beards were regarded by the ancients of the middle east as a token of wisdom and a sign of power. So much so that even some of the Great Goddesses of the early Mediterranean cultures were depicted with beards, including a number of Bearded Venuses in Greece. 

In ancient Mesopotamia the beard was a mark of virility and many worth, and was carefully shaped and tended to give it distinction. Assyrian beards were meticulously arranged in tiers of circular curls stiffened with perfumed gum. 

In Islamic countries the beard was considered the supreme badge of male dignity for the faithful. Traditionally all the prophets of old before the time of Muhammad. Speaking of Muhammad, in "The Beast Within," by Benjamin Walker, he quotes the honored profit as having said, "Do the opposite of the polytheists, and let your beard grow long." Walker also states that Muslims used to "swear by the beard of the Prophet, and consider it a great insult to have their beard pulled."

Yes, beards were a thing until Alexander the Great forbade his soldiers to grow beards because they provided a convenient handle for the enemy. After that shaving became the thing gentlemen did for centuries leaving beards for the priesthood and nobility. 

In the reign of Elizabeth I there was a tax on beards in England. In Eastern Europe and especially Russia beards remained in vogue until Peter the Great decided to reform his country in line with western Europe and put a tax on beards and personally cut off beards of anyone he came across. 

Besides being a sign of manliness the beard was often regarded as a sign of mature wisdom. It was even believed that stroking the beard assisted thought and deliberations. Hence, the gesture of stroking the beard was often satirized to signify an imminent pontifical utterance that turns out to be worthless.

It has been argued that the beard, being the attribute of a mature male, must require a considerable amount of male energy to help it grow. But when the beard is full grown, the energy normally diverted to grow it becomes available for virile purposes. The beard should therefore never be cut by anyone who wishes to preserve his manhood unimpaired. 

Of courses, being a man who has grown a beard I call bullshit on the beard being anything but facial hair.  I mean, you never saw Buddha with a beard, did you? 

Putting all I've written on beards aside, there is a very real coinkydink with beards and history that should scare us all, and that is how divided our country is today between Right and Left political beliefs.  It is a divide not seen since the Civil War (1861-1865) when the US was torn apart with bloodshed in this country we haven't seen since. Now, consider this fact as reported in Google Arts and Culture, that "The American Civil War (1861-1865) coincided with a rise in the popularity of men’s full facial hair during the mid-19th century. Contemporary photography captured men’s experimentation with an endless variety of styles, including mustaches, muttonchops, underbeards and sideburns. President Abraham Lincoln embraced the widespread trend himself when he grew his iconic beard in 1860."

Yes, brothers and sisters, all the masculine facial hair we see today, is a sign of the inevitable troubles to come if we don't come together as human race, and live together as one. 

~~ Eso Terry  

 

 

Esoteric Carl Gustav Jung

Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961) was a Swiss psychiatrist and the founder of

Yet, unknown to many, Jung’s work was profoundly intertwined with a lifelong, serious fascination with the occult and esoteric traditions.  The common image of a scientifically rigorous psychologist often clashes with the occult — a word that simply means hidden or secret. For Jung, however, these ancient, often veiled, fields were not mere superstition. They were vital expressions of the very unconscious he sought to map.

The Esoteric Roots of Analytical Psychology

Even among those who have some familiarity with C.G. Jung, many are unaware that his interest in the paranormal began early. His doctoral dissertation in 1902, On the Psychology and Pathology of So-Called Occult Phenomena, treated mediumship and séances with scientific scrutiny, seeking psychological explanations for phenomena others dismissed outright.

Around this time, Sigmund Freud’s belief of the unconscious was primarily individual and personal. Whereas Jung, argued for a spiritual and non-physical dimension to the unconscious and overall psyche.  This was one factor that eventually led to the split with Freud.  

Key Esoteric Influences

Jung’s journey into the hidden, esoteric world informed his understanding of the human mind.  Key influences include:

• Alchemy: Jung spent years studying medieval alchemical texts, interpreting the process of transforming base metal into gold not as a literal chemical process, but as a profound metaphor for individuation—the lifelong psychological process of integrating the conscious and unconscious to achieve psychological wholeness. The alchemical stages include nigredo (blackening; confession/confrontation with the shadow), albedo (whitening; elucidation/illumination), citrinitas (yellowing; education / spiritual insight), rubedo (reddening; transformation/realization of the Self)
• Gnosticism: He found in Gnosticism, ancient religious systems emphasizing direct spiritual knowledge over faith, to be a prefiguration of his own inner experiences and his confrontation with the primordial forces of the unconscious.
• The I Ching and Astrology: Jung was a serious student and practitioner of both the Chinese oracle and astrology. He explored them as systems that reveal the archetypal patterns operating in a person’s life, and his concept of synchronicity (meaningful coincidence) was first developed through his work with the I Ching.

The Red Book: A Secret Foundation

The period following his split with Freud led to a profound internal crisis, which Jung documented in his private, illuminated manuscript, The Red Book. He called this period his most difficult experiment, a voluntary confrontation with the unconscious through active imagination.  The Red Book is a testament to the esoteric core of Jung’s work, teeming with mythological figures, esoteric symbols, and revelations. 

Occultism in Analysis Today

While modern Jungian analysts may not actively practice occult arts, the legacy of Jung’s esoteric studies remains central. His work gives us a psychological framework for engaging with symbolic systems and the transformative power of hidden knowledge.

• Shadow Work: A cornerstone of Jungian therapy, it is the integration of our repressed, darker, and often creative aspects; a descent into the underworld of the psyche, mirroring the nigredo stage of alchemy and ancient initiation rituals.
• Archetypal Symbolism: Through the study of esoteric symbols (found in Tarot, Kabbalah, and mythology), one gains access to the universal language of the collective unconscious, enriching the interpretation of dreams and fantasies.

Ultimately, for Jung, the esoteric and the occult weren’t about seeking sensational secrets.  It was about acknowledging and integrating the full, messy, and mysterious reality of the human psyche. 

~~ Dr TV Boogie

 

Manifest A New Future This New Year. You Have The Power.

It is New Year's Day, and I would like to share this positive message to start your year off, because, the only thing holding us back from obtaining what we desire in life, is us. 

Jung wrote often on how the subconscious mind contains not only all the knowledge that it has gathered during the life of the individual, but that in addition it contains all the wisdom of past ages, and by drawing upon this wisdom and power we may possess any good thing of life, from health and happiness to riches and success. 

By now, we all should know and believe that the subconscious mind is the connecting link between the Creator(s) and us, between the Universal Mind and our conscious mind, and between the Mystic Law and our inner treasures. It is the means by which we can appropriate to ourselves all the good gifts, all the riches and abundance that Universal Mind has created in such profusion.

Berthelot, the great French founder of modern synthetic chemistry, once stated in a letter to a close friend that the final experiments which led to his most wonderful discoveries had never been the result of carefully followed and reasoned trains of thought, but that, on the contrary, "they came of themselves, so to speak, from the clear sky."

Sir Isaac Newton is reported to have acquired his marvelous knowledge of mathematics and physics with no conscious effort. Mozart said of his beautiful symphonies "they just came to me." Descartes had no ordinary regular education. The evidence of this Mind over Matter is everywhere, and enough is known to warrant the conclusion that when the soul is released from its objective environment it will be enabled to perceive all the laws of its being. The question is, how do we do this?  How much time do I have to spend on my knees praying to the Creator(s) god(s) to obtain this?  How many pagan rituals do I need to master to obtain this, etc..

The simple and quickest way in my experience is to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. After years of praying to a creator god, then sitting in crossed-legged meditation, and eventually four-candle Pagan rituals, I advanced to the secret to obtaining my earthly desires by simply chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and obtaining the powers of the Mystic Law as promised in the Lotus Sutra.  

So whatever that New Year's Resolution of yours is, manifest it now. 

~~ Eso Terry