OCCULT SIGNIFICANCE OF BLOOD

these legends The author refers here to the myths of various ancient cultures mentioned on previous pages. not only what is termed a naïve and unsophisticated view of things, but the wondrously deep and wise expression of a primordial and true conception of the world.

Very much more may be learned by thoroughly examining the foundations of these myths and legends, than by absorbing the intellectual and experimental science of the present day. But for work of this kind the student must of course be familiar with those methods of investigation which belong to spiritual science Also known as Anthroposophy, a philosophy suggesting that the human spirit can contact spiritual worlds through disciplined mental development.. Now, all that is contained in these legends and ancient world-conceptions about the blood is wont to be of importance, since in those remote times there was a wisdom by means of which man understood the true and wide significance of blood, this "very special fluid" original: "ein ganz besonderer Saft" — a famous quotation from Goethe's Faust, where Mephistopheles demands a signature in blood. which is itself the flowing life of human beings.

We cannot to-day enter into the question as to whence came this wisdom of ancient times, although some indication of this will be given at the close of the lecture; the actual study of this subject must, however, stand over to be dealt with in future lectures. The blood itself, its import for man and the part it plays in the progress of human civilisation, will to-day occupy our attention.

We shall consider it neither from the physiological nor from the purely scientific point of