Glimpses of the Left..

The curved branches represent two horns of the Beast. They are also
symbolic of two "chief servants" of Sorath - Lucifer and Ahriman, the force
of light and the essence of darkness, wisdom and strength. In Steiner's
view, Sorath stands behind Lucifer and Ahriman and inspires their actions.
Steiner claimed that they both had or would have the period in history ·
when their manifestation would reach its climax. According to this view,
Lucifer had already ruled the earth - in the third millennium BCE when he
incarnated in China. Ahriman is yet about to be incarnated, which should
happen in the West at the end of the second millennium CE. Following this
idea, we might assume that his incarnation in flesh has already occurred,
and the period from 2000 CE onwards will be dominated by Ahrimanic
emanations. Lucifer's incarnation marked the so-called period of man's
incarnation into physical existence, Ahriman's - the time of excarnation out
of physical existence. Ahriman has been trying to prevent this spiritual ·
ex carnation of human being. In relation to Lucifer, he might be called the
spirit of contraction, while the "Light-Bearer" represents the principle of
spiritual expansion. Sorath is behind these principles. He does not
incarnate but remains hidden and unknown like a shadow. Steiner often
refers to him as the Shadow of Christ, and emphasizes that the primary aim
of Sorath is to destroy what Christ has done for mankind. Thus, the focus ·
of his activity is on the lower instincts of man and the ego, where lies the
greatest potential of Sorathic principle, this "thorn in the flesh: "
"For this War of All against All is the result of the 'kink' left behind in the physical
body as the remains of Sorath's activity, the 'thorn' that can really lead to an
incitement of the body-bound instinctive forces of egoism, which are so powerful
because they are rooted undetected in the unconscious will of man. "38
This tum towards instincts, urges and impulses prepares the ground for
Ahrirnanic influence. Moreover, as Sorath's activity focuses on materialism,
his other major tool is the god of money, Mammon. The period of Ahriman
is also the time of Mammon's rule over the world. Everything is
purchasable and money is put above mankind - it is more important than
the human being. Humanity is trapped in a pursuit of an empty illusion. In
Steiner's view, this is characteristic of Sorath's activity - the focus on earth
and matter.
38 Peter Tradowsky: Christ and Antichrist - Understanding The Events At The End O/ The Century
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