The Goetheanum Windows

Introduction

The 9 stained glass windows in the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland were created based on the sketches of Assia (Assja) Turgenieff (1890-1966), Anna May, and other artists who were guided directly by Dr. Rudolf Steiner. The purpose of the windows is to provide a student of the mysteries with a visual portrayal of the journey, challenges, and stages of change of the human being from the spiritual worlds through birth, life, and death. 

The windows portray the relationships between the world, the cosmos, the divine, and the human being. They reflect the various processes, influences, phases of human life which manifest in the activity of the human soul and the world. The following images sketches and artwork were completed for the 1st Goetheanum which was burned down by Arson in 1922. They were faithfully recreated by Assja Turgenieff for the 2nd Goetheanum which stands today.

Each image and line within the windows reflects something meaningful and are open to interpretation. There are not many studies or guides published on the esoteric meaning of the windows and opinions vary based on the experience and perspectives of various researchers. Thus, one should pay attention to each aspect and allow Dr. Steiner's works and insights, through his lectures and works, to guide us. 

It appears that most of the images on the internet of the windows are of poor resolution. Thus, I made efforts to enhance the pictures the best that I could without making any edits or changes (sharpness, contrast and brightness). Many nuances appear when the color and contrast is optimized. 

The windows are triptychs (or 3 panels). The sketches were rearranged into a vertical form in the 2nd Goetheanum. Each aspect has a starting point (left pane), a turning point as a result of a decision or the next step in a process (right pane), and a culmination point (center pane). 

With further research, and as one moves through life and studies, each new look at the windows will reveal something new and different. Within the windows are the various aspects of birth, life, death, and rebirth, the journey from the lower to the higher self, the role of the Christ, the opposing powers, and the spiritual hierarchies. They include aspects on the threefold nature of the human being in willing, thinking, and feeling as well as the colors associated with inner, spiritual states of expression of the human soul.

Note

The intent of the windows was to allow a seeker to explore them in light of Dr. Steiner's works.  Dr. Steiner tried to oversee these windows during his lifetime, but was only able to do so to a limited extent. Thus, not all details are explored here.  The high-level summaries here are the Admin/Author's based on experience, intuition, and studies. Thus, statements here may differ from other's opinions.

Bibiliography

*The translations of texts found in German were translated through Google Translator.

(1) Out of Print: "Die Goetheanum-Fenster-Motive. ("The Goetheanum Window Motifs") by Turgenieff, Assja, Published by Dornach: Philosophisch-Anthroposophischer Verlag, 1935.  -Admin: This rare book provides key insights based on first-hand knowledge of the artist who received direction from Dr. Steiner directly and worked on the windows as they were created. Refer to the "Free Works" Section to download a free PDF copy in German of this rare book. https://www.steinerverlag.com/de/rudolf-steiner-gesamtausgabe/das-kuenstlerische-werk/die-goetheanum-fenster  *The translations of texts found in German were translated through Google Translator.

(2) Out of Print/Rare: "Die Goetheanum-Fenster: Sprache des Lichtes. Entwürfe und Studien. Textband. Bildband", German Edition, 1996 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/3727436018/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1  -Admin: This is a color illustrated two-volume book in German that provides a variety of pictures and commentary.

(3) In Print: "The Meaning of the Goetheanum Windows: Rudolf Steiner's story of the Spiritual Quest carved into nine stained glass windows" by Adrian Anderson: https://www.amazon.com/Meaning-Goetheanum-Windows-Steiners-Spiritual/dp/0994160240/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1CNC801819H3&keywords=goetheanum+windows&qid=1643390545&s=books&sprefix=goetheanum+windows%2Cstripbooks%2C218&sr=1-1 -Admin: A genuine and exhaustive study on the esoteric aspects of the windows in English.

(4) In Print: "Goetheanum Glass Windows" by Albert Schmelzer, Published 2013, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/3723514820/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1  -Admin: This is formatted like a visitor's pamphlet with high level remarks and directional observations.

(5) Out of Print/Rare: "The Goetheanum Glass-Windows" by Georg Hartmann. https://www.amazon.com/The-Goetheanum-Glass-Windows/dp/3723502369/ref=sr_1_2?crid=U4KUQNEYSKTZ&keywords=goetheanum+windows&qid=1643442986&s=books&sprefix=goetheanum+window%2Cstripbooks%2C191&sr=1-2  -Admin: Not read.

(6) Out of Print: "The Imagery of the Goetheanum Windows", The Windows Portrayed in Poetic Form by Wilhelm Rath: https://www.amazon.com/Imagery-Goetheanum-Glass-Windows-Interpretation/dp/0854403000

The Threefold Nature of the Human Being

Thinking: Associated with the brain, the head, and the eagle.

Feeling: Associated with the heart and lungs, the blood, and the lion.

Willing: Associated with the limbs, digestion (arms, legs), and the bull.

7 Aspects of the Human Being

These were discussed by Rudolf Steiner in Occult Science, An Outline. They include the Physical, Etheric, Astral, Ego or I, and the 3 aspects of the soul which consists of purified and unpurified aspects. The purified aspects are the the "spirit-self" (transformed Astral body), "life-spirit" (transformed Etheric Body), and "spirit-man" or Atma (transformed physical body permeated by the higher "I" or ego). Dr. Steiner also mentioned a "causal body" in the lecture series At the Gates of Spiritual Science.

On Color

Colors  have both an external, or natural aspect and internal aspect that is of a spiritual nature. These colors are revealed in the auras of all living things which reflect the true thoughts, feelings, ideas, emotions, and deeds of a living being. The aura is only perceptible to a spiritual eye and varies in size according to the individual including moods, deeds, and intentions. It extends approximately "twice as long" and "four times wide" (1) the size of the human being and is egg shaped.

(1) "The color effects perceptible to the spirit eye that ray out around the physical man observed in his activity, and that envelop him like a somewhat egg-shaped cloud, are the human aura. The size of this aura varies in different people, but we may say that the entire man appears on the average twice as long and four times as wide as the physical man. 

The most varied shades of color flood the aura. This color flooding is a true picture of the inner human life. As this changes, so do the shades of color change. Certain permanent qualities such as talents, habits and traits of character, however, express themselves also in permanent fundamental color shades."-Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Books/GA009/English/AP1971/GA009_c03_6.html 

(2) "We have to compare the auras of various soul-experiences with each other in order to learn to understand the meaning of the color shades. To begin with, take soul-experiences shot through with strongly marked emotions. They may be divided into two kinds — those in which the soul is impelled to these emotions chiefly by the animal nature, and those in which these passions take a more subtle form, in which they are, so to speak, strongly influenced by reflection. In the first kind of experiences brown and reddish-yellow streams of color surge through the aura in definite locations. In persons with more subtle passions there appear in the same locations brighter reddish-yellow and green shades." -Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Books/GA009/English/AP1971/GA009_c03_6.html 

Purple/Violet: an astral color that appears in one's aura that reflects piety, devotion, and one who immerses themselves in selfless prayer. This color is also associated with the crown chakra.

(3) "...blue is the sign of a capacity for selfless sacrifice for all beings. If  this capacity for sacrifice rises to the height of strong willing,  devoting itself to the active service of the world, the blue brightens to light violet." -Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Books/GA009/English/AP1971/GA009_c03_6.html 

(4) "A spiritual life combined with noble devotion and capacity for sacrifice shows rose-pink or light violet colors." -Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Books/GA009/English/AP1971/GA009_c03_6.html

Red & Rose Red: An astral color that has two polarities; the first reflects a person who is selfless and acts as a service to others and the world and its opposite; anger and a sensual disposition. 

(5) "Rose-red indicates a benevolent, affectionate nature."-Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Search.php?q=green&type=keywords

(6) "A violent anger that breaks out suddenly creates red streams..." -Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Books/GA009/English/AP1971/GA009_c03_6.html

(7) "Thoughts that spring from the sensual life course through the soul world in shades of red.  A thought that springs from devoted and unselfish love rays out in glorious rose red. " -Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Books/GA009/English/AP1971/GA009_c03_6.html

Green: An astral color that reflects the earth and the sphere of activity connected to the physical world. It also indicates balance and the seeking of balance while one is connected to the earth and the spiritual worlds. 

(8) "In green, man seeks to strengthen the balance between his personality to the opposites he recognizes beyond the limits of consciousness." -Assja Turgenieff, The Goetheanum Window Motifs (Translated from German).

(9) "One can notice that as intelligence increases the green shades become more frequent.  Persons who are very intelligent, but who  give themselves over entirely to satisfying their animal impulses, show much green in their aura, but this green will always have an admixture more or less of brown or brownish-red."  -Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/ReinImmort/19180425p01.html

(10) "...green expresses understanding of life and the world. Children who learn easily have much green in this part of the aura." -Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/ReinImmort/19180425p01.html

(11) "Green expresses love towards all beings;" -Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Search.php?q=green&type=keywords 

(12) "...feelings of injured dignity that expend themselves in a sudden welling up can be seen appearing in dark green clouds." -Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Books/GA009/English/AP1971/GA009_c03_6.html 

Blue: An astral color that reflects one who is yearning for the spirit and a quest to overcome one's egotism through piety, devotion, and prayer.

(13) "...blue is the sign of piety."  -Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/ReinImmort/19180425p01.html

(14) "...blue is the sign of a capacity for selfless sacrifice for all beings. If  this capacity for sacrifice rises to the height of strong willing,  devoting itself to the active service of the world, the blue brightens to light violet." -Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Books/GA009/English/AP1971/GA009_c03_6.html 

(15) "Shades of blue appear in soul-moods full of devotion. The more a man places his self in the service of a cause, the more pronounced become the blue shades." -Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Books/GA009/English/AP1971/GA009_c03_6.html 

(16) "Shades of blue appear in soul-moods full of devotion. The more a man places his self in the service of a cause, the more pronounced become the blue shades. In this class also one finds two quite different kinds of people. There are natures who are not in the habit of exerting their power of thought — passive souls who, as it were, have nothing to throw into the streams of events in the world but their good nature. 

Their aura glimmers with beautiful blue. This is also the appearance of many religious and devotional natures. Compassionate souls and those who find pleasure in giving themselves up to a life of benevolence have a similar aura. If such people are intelligent in addition, green and blue currents alternate, or the blue itself perhaps takes on a greenish shade. It is the peculiarity of the active souls in contrast to the passive, that their blue saturates itself from within with bright shades of color." -Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Books/GA009/English/AP1971/GA009_c03_6.html 

Pink: An astral color that appears out of unselfish, spiritual love.

(17) "A spiritual life combined with noble devotion and capacity for sacrifice shows rose-pink or light violet colors." -Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Books/GA009/English/AP1971/GA009_c03_6.html 

Yellow:  

(18) "The fundamental colors of the third aura are yellow, green and blue. Bright yellow appears here if the thinking is filled with lofty, comprehensive ideas that grasp the details as part of the whole of the  divine world order. If the thinking is intuitive and also completely purified of all sensuous visualizations, the yellow has a golden brilliance. " -Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/ReinImmort/19180425p01.html

(19) "A thought by which the thinker rises to higher knowledge appears in beautiful light yellow." -Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Books/GA009/English/AP1971/GA009_c03_6.html 

(20)  "Inquisitiveness also announces its presence through red-yellow flecks. A bright yellow mirrors clear thinking and intelligence; green expresses understanding of life and the world. Children who learn easily have much green in this part of the aura. A green-yellow in the second aura seems to betoken a good memory."  -Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/ReinImmort/19180425p01.html 

Brown/Muddy Brown: 

A muddy brown color represents lower sensual or primal impulses, and egotism, that permeates the human being's thoughts and feelings.Any hint of a muddy brown color that can be seen in red, blue, green, or yellow tints of a person's aura represents a lower quality of soul.

(21) "A personal conceit that is entirely rooted in low inclinations, thus representing the lowest stage of egotism, shows itself in tones of muddy yellow to brown." -Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/ReinImmort/19180425p01.html

Quotes on Color from Dr. Rudolf Steiner

(22) "...the faculty of cognition; and feelings are for the soul what food is for the body. If we give the body stones in place of bread, its activity  will cease. It is the same with the soul. Veneration, homage, devotion  are like nutriment making it healthy and strong, especially strong for the activity of cognition. Disrespect, antipathy, underestimation of  what deserves recognition, all exert a paralyzing and withering effect  on this faculty of cognition. 

For the spiritually experienced this fact is visible in the aura. A soul which harbors feelings of reverence and  devotion produces a change in its aura. Certain spiritual colorings, as they may be called, yellow-red and brown-red  in tone, vanish and are replaced by blue-red tints. Thereby the  cognitional faculty is ripened; it receives intelligence of facts in its  environment of which it had hitherto no idea.   

Reverence awakens in the soul a sympathetic power through which we  attract qualities in the beings around us, which would otherwise remain concealed." -Rudolf Steiner, Knowledge of Higher Worlds and its Attainment, GA 10, Lecture I. How is Knowledge Of The Higher Worlds Attained?

(23) "In persons with more subtle passions there appear in the same locations brighter reddish-yellow and green shades. One can notice that as intelligence increases the green shades become more frequent. Persons who are very intelligent, but who  give themselves over entirely to satisfying their animal impulses, show much green in their aura, but this green will always have an admixture more or less of brown or brownish-red."  -Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/ReinImmort/19180425p01.html

(24)"Where the desires are passionately bent on some goal beyond the reach of the capacities already acquired, brownish-green and yellowish-green auric colors appear. Certain modern modes of life actually breed this kind of aura. A personal conceit that is entirely rooted in low  inclinations, thus representing the lowest stage of egotism, shows itself in tones of muddy yellow to brown." -Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/ReinImmort/19180425p01.html

(25) " Inquisitiveness also announces its presence through red-yellow flecks. A bright yellow mirrors clear thinking and intelligence; green expresses understanding of life and the world. Children who learn easily have much green in this part of the aura. A green yellow in the second aura seems to betoken a good memory. Rose-red indicates a benevolent, affectionate nature; blue is the sign of piety."  -Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/ReinImmort/19180425p01.html

(26) "If we observe a man under the influence of an attack of fear, we see this, for instance, in his aura from top to bottom as undulating stripes of blue color suffused with a bluish-red shimmer. When we observe a person who expects some particular event with anxiety, we can see red-blue stripes like rays constantly streaming through his aura from within outwards." -Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Books/GA009/English/AP1971/GA009_c03_6.html 

On the Planets

There are 7 planets in the spiritual solar system associated with the influences and planes of transformation of the human being. These spheres are the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. All planetary spheres possess a unique influence and interest. These spheres correlate to planes or "cities" inhabited by spiritual beings of a particular character. All souls pass through these spheres between the process of death and rebirth.

The sun-sphere is the highest plane, in spiritual terms. It is the location of the "throne of Christ" (refer to Dr. Steiner's lecture series "Between Death and Rebirth). Each planetary sphere of activity - for which the names of constitutions of the planets in our solar system are reflections - have a polarity of good and evil; a constructive and destructive influence. It is up to the human being to find balance and to understand these influences that perpetually flow throughout the universe.

The moon and the sun are visible in the Goetheanum Windows as opposing influences so one may see the moon portrayed as waxing (the moon's shadow is decreasing as the Moon approaches a Full Moon) or waning (the moon's shadow is increasing as the moon darkens). This implies that moon forces are prominent at certain times of the month, year, and by way of celestial events such as eclipses.  Forces can be amplified, blended, or diminished by planetary alignments.

On Christ, Ahriman, and Lucifer

The Christ (Christ-Jesus):  The Sun-Sphere, redemption, freedom, center, redemption, compassion, knowledge, light, wisdom, universal spiritual love, brotherhood, and individuality. "The Representative of Humanity."  He who leads humanity perpetually through an all-embracing one time event at the Mystery of Golgotha  for the redemption of the world.

Ahriman: Ahriman is the leader of a vast group of beings that Dr. Steiner referred to as the "Spirits of Darkness." He is a member of the third angelic triad of the Archai. He is of the highest intellectual development and materialism who leads human beings away from the spiritual aspects of life and the cosmos into division, greed, war, and a view of the universe as purely materialistic processes. 

Ahriman's field of activity are in the lower aspects of the Earth (or the "subsensible"). He lingers in the physical inspiring people into error. He wants for humanity a purely intellectual thought process devoid of the spirit that is enabled by the crude instincts within the human being. He seeks to rob humanity of a genuine vision of the spiritual worlds and thus cut us off from it. He seeks to make us dependent upon the physical world, the 5 physical senses, and outer observation alone.

Lucifer: Lucifer is portrayed in Anthroposophy as a being of light who stands far above the earth. He looks down upon Ahriman. The two, however, work in conjunction with one another when it is necessary. 

Lucifer is a higher being of false-pride. He inspires illusory aspects associated with "higher" or "lofty" notions of arrogance. He seeks to pull the human being away from a true vision of the spirit, and our rightful connection to the physical world which is humanity's necessary field of activity, and into a state of imbalance by way of the passions, egotism, vanity, and dreamy illusions. 

Theme of the Windows

"World views cannot be decoded by one aspect. They speak a new language in silence, but that language falls silent when interpretations are brought to them. Try to approach these images from a different angle with the help of Rudolf Steiner's spirit words. If one brings them into line with the initiation scene in the Egyptian temple from the 4th Mystery Drama, then one finds a language in the instruction of neophytes which can be signposts for viewing the windows.

It's not about providing individual pictures with individual quotes. The path to purification of consciousness stands once again as a whole between the contradictions of the elements, their formative and destructive powers, which give man the basis of his earthly experience, from earthly experience through light and sound to earthly experience, to the perception of the world word. In the images of the past in the drama, the way of initiation is given in this scene but it is in accordance with the knowledge given to our time in the color and form of the window motifs. 

As the warning voice of conscience from the depths of divine existence speaks the words of self-knowledge to the neophyte at the entrance of the Temple of the Threshold Guardians: "You, semblance of appearance, learn to know yourself (red  windows)."

From the weight of these words, the guided student begins his way from appearance to being through contradiction, through language, which forms him in the contradiction of the elements (green windows)." -Assja Tugenieff, "The Goetheanum Window Motifs" P.39. Translated through Google translator. 

Green Window, North (Top Image)

Left: "The Will is Being Born": The lower forces connected to the earth, which are active through beings of the spirit and forces of a spiritual nature, are represented in the right and left panel by three winged sprites moving within the earth. These winged beings - who are most likely Ahrimanic beings - are supersensibly connected to the lower aspects of the world. Thus, they are portrayed as being active within the physical aspect of the earth and not above it.

Ahrimanic beings actively influence a human being's will. They try to draw humanity into an attachment to the earth and all things physical. The rays in the left pane seem to connect a person to these sprites who is drawing equal forces from both spheres. These forces could be a bridge of moon forces that enables these beings to be active.

Each sphere in the cosmos contains a productive and corruptive influence. The moon has both harmful and necessary aspects on the human being. On the journey of the spirit, a seeker must find balance between the two polarities and understand the hidden aspects of the will. 

When compared to the right pane, it appears that the moon influences in the left pane are weakened because of the balanced relationship between the human being and the moon forces. In the left pane, we see sun or light forces of a divine nature raying into the sprites from which they flee into the earth. The moon influences must be brought into balance.

The 5 stars typically could represent 5 active planetary influences. However, the 5 stars may represent the balanced etheric body which is frequently portrayed as a 5 pointed star. The etheric body (the "vital" or "Energy" body) carries special significance for the human being. The astral or feeling body is portrayed as a 6-pointed star in esoteric studies which is also present in the right pane. 

Right: "The Will is Born":  It appears the human being has mastered the counterproductive moon forces (at right) and is now reaching out actively to the 5-pointed productive, or healthy, moon influences on the left in a constructive way. The influences on the right are harmful moon forces that drive instinctual and lower influences. The person is now striving only for the harmonizing and transformative influences that are necessary for spiritual balance. 

Transformation, purification, and the light are always presented as sun forces in esoteric studies thus this aspect is misinterpreted to be one moving away from the moon and to the sun (subconscious aspects to conscious aspects). But this is not  the case here.  This is misinterpreted sometimes due to the nature of the artwork. I see that this bright image is intended to represent constructive moon forces based on Steiner's comment below. By doing so, the human being has cast down the three little devilish beings (Ahrimanic beings) who are connected to the impulses of the earth and now have no pathway to the conscious seeker.

Center: "The World Obtains the Will":   There is debate amongst various sources as to what this truly means, but to the Admin/Author it represents the human being who has mastered the etheric energies that manifest as dual aspects, both good and evil, that are connected to the 7 planets as both positive and negative aspects. 

However, this being is connected to the earth and appears to arise out of the earth. This portrayal is connected to Ahriman. The earth and the cosmos that are interwoven with one's karma and are regulated by the beings and structure of the solar system which are portrayed as 7 planets including Saturn (note the rings). 

According  to Turgenieff, Steiner stated about the snake-figure and the theme of the moon in the Green Windows: 

"This is a great gentleman, he must have  dignity and grandeur. These shapes behind man are two aspects of the  moon. One glittering, the other flaming.  One strengthens the memory,  the other acts on instincts." He referred to these two aspects as "Minds  of Gravity." -The Goetheanum Window Motif Translated from German, 1935  

This tell us that the Moon has both destruction and constructive  aspects. Thus, the image implies an individual turning away from  unhealthy moon forces (right panel) and, due to the right application of  one's will power, makes a decision to move only to constructive ones.   

Some, it seems incorrectly, contend that the snake-figure is Ahriman who is connected to the earth and all things deadened and three-dimensional devoid of spirit, thus standing in opposition. Ahriman is not a linear being. It works through the seven planetary influences that manifest in humanity. However, typically Ahriman is always presented in conjunction with Lucifer as the twin opposing influences to humanity's development and Lucifer is not shown here. The green color attaches this image to the earth and the earthy subterranean element is present which is under the moon influences, so it makes sense that Lucifer is not present. 

Thus, this being, only vaguely resembles Ahriman. There is a deeper mystery being portrayed here. Thus, this being could also represent the Guardian of the Threshold (of the Macrocosm). Dr. Adrian Anderson contents that this image could be a that Mithraic Deity known as a Chnoubis who is portrayed as a distinguished lion figure with a snake wrapped around him and sometimes the 7 rays of the sun. 

The Guardian seeks to expose the lower aspects of the seeker and enable purification as a necessary part of the path of spiritual initiation. Within the body of the serpent creature, there are seven planets implying that each planet has a unique positive and negative aspect with both constructive and destructive influences. One cannot destroy the Guardian, but only use his insights and powers to identify, purify, and transform the negative aspects. However, the human being on the left of the center panel appears to be controlling and managing the being through a form of etheric energy, as it were, and the Guardian of the Threshold does not fall under the control of the seeker on the path. 

It could be the seeker has become fully charged through self-purification and the Guardian stands beside him as a portray of the gate that one must pass through as one proceeds down the path of self-initiation.  The seeker has their hands raised projecting power controlling the lower influences, or drawing power from the Guardian of the Threshold who reflects the dimensions of the 7 planets that influence the earth. The guardian either grants the seeker access to the macrocosm or it thrusts him back. 

These themes are missing from the panel. Others speculate that the snake-being figure represents the etheric double, or shadow-side, of the human being that must be overcome on the path of the initiate (the Doppelganger). 

Green Window, South (Lower Image):

Left: "And the Love of Humanity Arises": From above, and not below. The human being, or aspirant (neophyte) is walking with his arms raised while his higher-self looks downward with his eyes closed surrounded by 12 copies of himself portrayed here as 12 identical faces. These are actually intended to be a portrayal of the 12 dimensions of a one's total individuality, or entelechy, as an eternal higher "I", or ego. Dr. Steiner revealed that the ego, or "I", has 12 aspects corresponding to the 12 signs of the zodiac expressing itself uniquely over time. 

Thus, when one looks back in time over one's prior incarnations, one sees different attributes manifesting over time and disparities appear that do not appear to be related to one another. This continues until one approaches the threshold of spiritual transformation and initiation and they no longer express themselves as 12 different unique elements; but rather 12 aspects unified in one. The seeker appears to wear cloak in the manner of a monk, thus representing priestly qualities of the soul of chastity, piety, etc. 

The purified aspects of the higher self are raying down upon him yet have not permeated him fully just yet, thus the rays fall short and yet illuminate him so he/she feels them working within himself from the higher-self, and spiritual worlds, as he walks the path. Thus, "love arises". 

The light (as knowledge and love) appears to have not yet fully permeated the seeker yet. The 12 aspects are active and not unified and show as 12 faces (which is further symbolized by the 12 sided Dodecahedron which is one of the five Platonic solids), as they are with everyone. The seeker has his arms outstretched and raised as if in a trance, or perhaps  feeling his way around.

Right: "And Love of Humanity Takes Hold of Him": The seeker is now a pillar raying upward to the higher self, and spiritual worlds, having transformed its lower aspects and opened a bridge to its higher self. The human being is now structured and transformed properly thus portrayed here as the pillar of a temple. The rays of purified higher love, and knowledge, flow downwards into the pillar as impersonal and spiritual love for humanity and the world. 

The 12 aspects in the higher self now are darkened implying that they are still exist, but are not dominant. They are flowing into one aspect, the human being, as the transformed person who encompasses all 12 aspects thus rising above the subconscious influences of the 12 signs having become fully conscious and an initiate. Thus, one's knowledge and manifestation of love is transformed into a "love of humanity" in an impersonal way. 

Center: "The Love of the World/Cosmos is Working (Comes into Being or Actively Streams)":  

"The central motif has to do with the cosmic forces, the liberating forces of the light-air element of fire longing for the spirit away from the chains of the earth..." - Assja Tugenieff, The Goetheanum Window Motifs (Translated by the Admin from German).

After reflecting upon this window, it is the Admin’s opinion that this is a portrayal of a duality that exists in the world for all human beings and seekers. The angelic influences, purified by the spiritual sun, stream down into the world perpetually through angelic beings while the forces of the fiery passions engulf a being, who could be a seeker who lives in the physical world, who cannot escape them and yet aspires to the heights through a blessed vision. 

This portrayal is a living reality and vision of the path of the seeker and the conflict that exists between the higher and lower spiritual aspects of the human being as an ongoing aspect of transformation. A higher form of spiritual love, purified of all lower aspects, flows from the spiritual worlds out of the Sun-Sphere into the physical world below as the seeker reaches for the heights. 

The Sun-Sphere, as a spiritual planetary aspect, is the plane of the Christ and the Archangel Michael. Some have suggested that the left side represents Luciferic aspects (illusory aspects of a fantasies, light, love, dreams, etc.) while the right represents Ahrimanic aspects (the human being consumed in instinctual or lower impulses). 

If this were the case, I would expect the seeker to be between them or portrayed as having mastered them, which we do not see. Some think that the being on the right is a seeker, consumed in passions, reaching out to the angelic beings of the transformed aspects for assistance, perhaps, with attaining the higher form of spiritualized love where the lower fiery passions are active and must be vanquished. The number 3 is a key aspect in the human being, thus when I see three angelic beings here in light of Dr. Steiner's teachings I am inclined towards the notion of thinking, willing, and feeling.

On the etheric world and the human being's connection to the the world of plants:

"I look at the world of plants around me. Out of the wide spaces of the ether-universe, it bears within it the forces to which my own ether-body returns. Away up yonder in the ether-spaces, is the causative principle which gives the plants their origin. There is the realm to which my ether-body goes when it has served my life. 

Thither I go, whence — from the ether-spaces — all the life of plants wells forth. Thither I go: that is, I am akin to it. In fact, I can even say: something is there, up yonder. Thither my ether-body goes. Thence comes the greening, springing, sprouting world of plants. Yet there is a difference. I give up my ether-body; the plants on the other hand receive the ether for their life and growth. 

I, after my death, give my ether-body away; give it away as a thing that is left behind. They on the other hand — the plants-receive this ether-body, as that which gives them life. They have their beginning from yonder realm whither I go with my ending. The plants' beginning joins together with the human ether-body's ending." - Rudolf Steiner, Karmic Relationships Lecture 1, Volume. https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA235/English/RSP1972/19240216p01.html

Left: "I Look at the Building" (I Observe the Temple):  Starting from a dormant state, the human being here is portrayed as lazy, or not seeking, and is subject to the processes of the world in terms of decay and the aspects that the soul that we bring with us from prior lifetimes. Above, perhaps, are the aspects of the person's past lives (in faces looking down) which have brought him/her to the current point in time. They hover about the spiritual being of the person. Below, there are three skulls which may indicate perpetual death on the path of one who does not seek and is compelled to return again and again to the physical world as driven by the winds of fate and destiny of which he/she is unaware. 

The skull is the symbol of death.  Portraying the skulls this way may be a symbol of the person who relies purely on rational and intellectual thinking which withers and deadens the human being. This may be why they are portrayed as underneath the reclining person (in the dark area representing the earth). There is a temple which has been built (which some say is a portrayal of the Goetheanum), but it remains outside and external and the seeker has not yet entered. 

The temple typically represents the being of the individual. The Temple of Solomon, as a Masonic reference, provides the esoteric foundation for perceiving a temple in the spiritual sense and each of us who are the path must build our own temples in a valid way in accordance with spiritual principles.  

Right: "The Building (Temple) Becomes the Human Being":  Now, the human being is standing, upright looking up its higher self which is fully conscious. This can be seen in the portrayal of the fully blossomed lotus flower in the area of the third eye of the larger being standing above the seeker. The small faces/portraits that were above and now beneath, implying that the seeker has incorporated into his/her being fully and they propel him/her into the future instead of hovering about, like shadows, compelling perhaps dispositions and circumstances that the seeker does not understand in an unconscious state. The temple is gone now - the human being has become the temple. 

Center: "The World (Cosmos) Builds": The seeker, through active and appropriate forms of meditation, has awoken the bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds. The sun above the meditating seeker is the spiritual sun radiating out into the cosmos, thus portraying a bridge to the universe in a conscious way. It is the spiritual sun. The larger being to the right is the seeker's higher self-awakened through meditation. 

The human head beneath the seeker implies decay. In light of Dr. Steiner's works, this image may indicate that the higher self-awakened thoughts, which are purified, are resurrecting, or softening, the impacts of the withering effect of hard intellectual thoughts which cause illness and death. The seeker is holding a lyre which is the symbol of the Orphic initiates (Orphic Mysteries in Ancient Greece). 

The original lyre has 7 strings and reflects the 7-fold nature of the cosmos which aligns with 7 planets and 7 archangels each of whom bring unique influences to humanity. As the 7 cosmic influences flow into the human being, in a balanced way, one lives in balance and awareness of the cosmos. This can only be truly accomplished once the seeker builds his/her temple and pursues the path of spiritual transformation, and thus consciousness.

The theme of this window is the striving towards the realization of the Christ on the path of spiritual transformation. The German term "welt" may mean world-spirit, or cosmos, as interpreted by others (center panel). The individual portrayed here could be viewed as the seeker who learns to manage the twin powers of evil and finds balance through the Christ, or it could be a presentation of Christ-Jesus. Based on my research, I see it is a portrayal of Christ-Jesus as the balance between the two opposing and corrupted powers who are necessary to world and human evolution; Lucifer and Ahriman. 

Lucifer seeks to pull men away from the earth into the realm of fantasy, illusions, egotism, the passions, and self-interest. Ahriman represents the subsensible realms and the gravity associated with the physical aspects of the earth. Ahriman wants human beings to be attached to the earth and to rely only on the perceptions of the sense-world, the intellect, and the instinctual aspects rooted deep within the earth, and the human being, which are connected to the metabolism. 

Thus, the crucifixion represents a victory over Lucifer and Ahriman when their powers were weakened and, in time, shall be defeated by the Christ through the freedom of the world and the human being. 

Left: "He Becomes Pious (Holy or Devout)":  Here Christ (or the seeker), confronts and seems to minister to Lucifer who is the opposing force that lives beyond the earth and leads humanity into the realm of false light, illusion, the passions, and egotism. He is always presented as above, and out of balance. The waves around Lucifer's "crown", or head, match the image on the Sculpture of "The Representative of Humanity" of Lucifer by Dr. Rudolf Steiner and Edith Maryon. 

The waves indicate a being permeated by thought forces, pride, and egotism. Lucifer fell during the Moon Eon, which was the 3rd Eon in humanity's development (1st-Old Saturn, 2nd-Old Sun, 3rd-Old Moon, 4th-Earth). Thus, the moon's forces, and Lucifer's, are weakening as portrayed by the waning moon symbol. Christ, or the seeker, can be seen with his arms outstretched in compassion for this being as if He were ministering to him.

Right: "The World (Cosmos) Stirs (Moves) with Piety (Holiness)": The powers of the Christ, in the Sun-Forces, have now fully permeated the earth transforming it. During the Event on Golgotha, Dr. Steiner reveals that Christ-Jesus became one with the world. The spiritual rays of the Sun-Sphere in this image have wrapped themselves around Ahriman thus rendering him powerless who is portrayed as stuck within the earth. 

The portrait of Ahriman here is the same as portrayed in the sculpture of the Representative of Humanity. Ahriman has a peculiar appearance as does Lucifer which perfectly reflects the soul-forces that they project. Christ (or the seeker) can be seen with his arms outstretched in compassion for this being as if He were ministering to him.

Center: "His Piety (Holiness) Works Here" ("One's Piety is Effective and Works"):  The higher self, or angelic being as presented here, has found balance through Christ-Jesus. The higher self has approached the seeker who is poised with his/her arms actively outstretched into the spiritual world (the etheric world) which is portrayed by plants (leaves) which also indicates the transformation of one's lower impulses. Behind the seeker is the shadow side of one's self, which is portrayed as a dark being, that is active within one's thoughts. 

The lower or earthly thoughts perpetually hover in the background, but the seeker is now primarily influenced by the angelic being, and higher spiritual ideas, that influence/protects him/her as the neophyte has become conscious of, and purified by, the lower aspects of the spiritual-soul-being (etheric body) which manifest through unhealthy moon forces. The seeker, having purified his/her self, has turned away from the shadow side, or doppelganger, of one's lower nature that works within one's purified thoughts and feelings. 

The seeker is now actively reaching out building for the higher self, and angelic spirit, descending from the spiritual sun, or sun-sphere. The 5 stars represent 5 planets (Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus) between the Sun and the Moon thus indicating balance.

Left: "It Reveals":  This is the human being before he/she begins the path of transformation. The three beasts, or aspects, of the human being are visible working from deep within the depths of the soul.  They are alive, active, and empowered. This threefold aspect represents the mirror, or shadow, side of human thinking, feeling, and willing and must be overcome and conquered as the candidate for initiation approaches the Threshold of the Macrocosm (refer to Dr. Steiner's lectures on this topic and Esoteric Studies). 

The individual can be seen looking down towards the earth with his shoulders slumped over burdened by lower forces that he does not understand or can control. The person is walking into a valley indicating a descending movement which draws him/her closer to the beasts.

Right: "It Has Revealed": The individual has undertaken the path of transformation and cast down the lower elements back into the earth and thus they have no path towards the human being as in the left panel. The human being is active, looking up, and reaching to the spiritual sun as an active pursuit of transformation. 

The individual has reached the summit and is not walking downward anymore, but upward and is sustained not by egotism or the lower aspects that work within one's thinking, willing, and feeling, but rather is inspired and filled with the spiritual light of the Sun-Sphere and higher aspects of the spirit having vanquished the lower. Thus, they are forced back and vanish...

Center: " I am Seeing (or "to Look"):  Here, "Seeing" or "Looking" refers to clairvoyant sight after all of the chakras have been opened in the spiritual organism of the human being. This image reflects the individual who has unfolded the full power of the chakras in the human-spiritual organism and has created astral "eyes" and "ears" which are developed gradually over time through meditation and self-purification. Thus, the outcome of transformation and genuine spiritual activity is expressed as a swirling movement that indicates motion and perception.  

The chakra of the third eye is visible with two wings, or petals, thus corresponding to the "two-petaled lotus flower". Saturn is visible representing cosmic memory. This image is the portrayal of the spiritual initiate who can see the history of cosmos, the human being, and the world through clairvoyant perception.  Below, angel appears to be managing a bird which is the demon of poor thinking that uses only the intellect. The angelic being, perhaps, represents the spiritual purification of thought (the eagle represents the brain and thinking in Dr. Steiner's body of knowledge).

Around the larynx are 16 petals (expressed as little waves) thus corresponding to the 16-petalled lotus flower. The Bull and the Lion are also present and are whispering, or talking, into the ears of the initiate the secrets of the universe. The two animals here are associated with the Gospel of Mark (Lion) and the Gospel of Luke (Bull). These two animals represent the transformed, and not lower, aspects of the bull which is connected to the forces of digestion and propagation (reproduction) while the Lion represents the forces of the heart (true bravery and courage versus impetuous heart forces such as anger and emotion).

Theme: "Thinking": as in spiritualized thinking and not relying simply on the dry thoughts of the intellect (regardless of how complex they may be). The window demonstrates the journey of one who finds his spiritual eye, or eyes, and applies the faculty of higher perception as portrayed in the left pane as an eye. This represents an empowered form of spiritual thinking and vision, thus one becomes a seer and a thinker and not just one or the other. 

Traditionally, clairvoyance is associated with a non-thinking ability, in perception, but through the path of the modern initiate, it is taken a step further through spiritualized thought...

Left: "And He Sees...": as one is born into the world, most of us do not use or cultivate the spiritual faculties of inner insight thus they remain in a dormant state. This leads to confusion. The moon is portrayed as above the seeker thus bringing to bear its influences upon the person who has his hand on his head expressing confusion, disorientation, and non-thinking being somewhat lost as he climbs an upward path. An angel descends from the sun-sphere, perhaps this person's guardian angel, and brings the capability of true insight. 

The Sun-Sphere is the sphere of transformation, vision, light, knowledge, and love. In Anthroposophical terms, the Sun-Sphere is the Sphere of the Christ and the Archangel Michael. The angel appears to be navigating around the moon, which may be indicate that the angel is working around the negative moon influences connected to the earth (moon forces are productive and counter-productive to spiritual growth), through the moon, that must be overcome.

Right: "And He Makes Himself See (He Builds His Sight)": The seeker has learned to use a new faculty of spiritual thinking and vision and thus gains a clear vision of the heights. This person uses an informed clairvoyance (and not a blind form of mediumship), brought to him by higher beings. The angelic beings are holding arms which represent the will, in active and correct doing and thinking in the world, and the seeker is now making his way directly into the Sun with his eyes open and determined on a clear path. He/she is no longer confused.

Center: "The Cosmos Sees Him and He Sees the Cosmos (World)":  The complicated scene is filled with esoteric truths, thus not everything can be covered here. I see a portrayal of the vision of the seer, in right thinking, which has been fully unfolded. The Sun and the Moon are situated below the activities , so one can infer that this is a vision of activities occurring beyond the physical world. 

I see that this is a scene portraying the realities and relationships of the spiritual world to the human being and the cosmos. Within it, there are three primary lower influences within the human being as portrayed in the lion (heart and feelings), the bull (instinctual aspects such as digestion and reproduction), and the eagle (brain, intellect). 

The human being below the three animals is the expression of the "I", or ego. So, there are 4 aspects that were portrayed in ancient Egypt, and Greece, as a Sphinx. The three higher aspects of the spirit can be seen to the left expressed as angelic beings and they appear to be purifying these aspects and transforming them. Thus, there are 7 aspects now corresponding to the 7 spiritual planets of the solar system.

The spiritual sun is above at the highest aspect with three smaller suns raying out forces into the universe. This may indicate the triad of the "Father", "Son", and "Holy Ghost" as portrayed in the description of the spiritual hierarchies. Refer to https://judsonarchive.com/the-hierarchies

Theme: "Wollen" or "Willing":  Dr. Steiner revealed that one of the themes of this window is the "hunter" which exists as a primal force in each human being.  It is an instinctual impulse expressed here as a man wantonly killing a bird that was bequeathed into the world by a higher spiritual being which, in anthroposophical terms, is a group-soul.  

The bird is released by a higher being, consumed in light, into the physical world. We see beneath that divine act of love that the innocent animal is killed by a human being by acting out of lowly impulses. It expresses the thrill of the hunt, that delivers death, expressed in man's primal instincts and a sacrifice to the world by creature of God.

Left "Decide" or "Making a Decision": A group soul of a beautiful bird is passing it on the another being who brings it into the physical world. Animal souls are brought into the world through a group-soul which is the archetype of each animal species on earth. These living beings, which feel as human beings do, incarnate subjecting themselves to the cruel will and urges of human beings and thus make sacrifices. 

Center: "The Outside World in Decision" or "The External World is Making a Decision":  Here, the human being is expressed in 1 of 12 aspects that are connected to the 12 houses, or signs, of the zodiac each of which brings a unique aspect to humanity over time.  Each step as the reviewer follows the path moves from left to right and is aligned with a specific house of the zodiac. Each one brings something unique in our journey and each arm posture is unique.  

The stars correlate to that part of the human being that is influenced by each zodiac sign (the arms, rib cage, head, etc.). It is important to consider each sign, but the image begins in the lower left with the person standing in Pisces (two fishes) which is our current age. This scene ends with the human being in Aquarius, or water-man, implying the end of a full zodiac cycle (12 "Houses" x 2,160 years per house/sign = 24,960 years).

Right "He Has Willed": A human being sees the incarnated bird given to the world from the panel and both are observed by two angelic beings. Presumably, the higher being is the group-soul and the lower being could be the guardian angel of the person involved (or perhaps the world-soul) who carefully observes the event unfold. There is an inherent tragedy in this window for those who are sympathetic towards animals who should be viewed in a different light as living beings on a path of development who share the world with man and are intimately connected to it as opposed to simple ignorant creatures who are obligated to be abused and used by human beings for their self-interest and egotism.

Theme: The process of death and the ascension of the soul into the spiritual worlds. 

Left:  "It Had Become". The human being is dead and the soul is leaving the physical body. The person's guardian angel is assisting them into the spiritual worlds. The triangle and the star represent aspects of the human soul in the etheric and the astral body. The bull represents a necessary influence that we carry only while incarnated in digestion and reproduction, thus the bull influence here is cast off and left behind. The rays of the sun flash above the physical world, which radiate from the sun-sphere, while the darker aspect of the theme represents the earth and the physical world.

Center: "It Has Been": The process of looking back over one's life The Soul has departed its body and moved upward in a spiral as it reviews its life in reverse going back to birth. Dr. Steiner reveals that the past-life review occurs over a 3-day period immediately after death. It proceeds back, in memory, to its actual birth and the circumstances that preceded it and led it to that moment. Mourners are seen in the lower left side of the panel. 

The stars represent the starry attachment, in spiritual vision and composition, of the young soul as it enters life and continues up until the age of 7 (Dr. Steiner). The spiritual sun is at the top of the image and the Eye of God can be seen (implying that all is known and visible in the spiritual worlds) as well as the 10 commandments which implies the absolute law of karma and destiny that compels and drives each soul to a new birth. 

Through Dr. Steiner's view, the commandments are viewed esoterically as both spiritual and worldly laws, thus they are divided into 2 segments; laws 1-3 and 4-10. The Event on Golgotha and Christ-Jesus, shown by way of 3 crosses, is shown next to the cradle, which implies its intimate connection to the rebirth, or resurrection, of each individual who comes into the world through the process of resurrection, or rebirth.

Right: "It Was": Unfortunately, this window remains something of a mystery to the works available thus far on the subject. The Lion appears to be connected to the feeling forces of the cosmic worlds which, perhaps, now exist as something separate and not within the human being but operate outside of him/her. There is a pyramid present, which represents the human soul, and four ravens which are connected to the construct of spiritual initiation. 

Dr. Steiner makes a reference to several legends including the spiritual meaning of the Raven which expresses a link to the process of spiritual initiation d activity connected to the mysteries. 

"One speaks of the 'Raven' when words have something to communicate to the inner world of the Mystery Places from the world outside. Just call to mind the ravens of Elias, or the ravens of Wotan, even the ravens of the Barbarossa Saga…" Steiner, Rudolf. The Gospel of St. John, The Seven Degrees of Initiation, Lecture V, The First Sign, May 23, 1908. 

Thus, it could be that the Ravens portrayed here indicate a degree of spiritual initiation, or development, attained. There are four ravens indicating four stage of development attained at this stage of human evolution. The remaining three can only be attained by conscious effort.

Theme: This scene takes place while the soul is in the in-between life state. This portrays the process of the soul's journey to a new birth.

Left "It Will Be": The soul is in the spiritual worlds standing above the earth and yet near to it. It is overseen by two spiritual angelic guides, presumably from the sun-sphere. The angelic beings are approaching the soul which is preparing for a new birth. The triangle, pentagram, and hexagram represent the human soul, the etheric body, and the astral body. 

The person being born still retains, perhaps, the spiritual form of its prior life which is implied in the more adult portrayal of the person compared to the right panel. The orb that is directly above the soul with 4 rays appears to be a transformational membrane, or window, taking the soul through a portal transforming it into a new spiritual form as it prepares to enter the body. This orb is flanked on either side by wave motions that appear to be connected to the angelic beings thus energies are working in on the portal and into the soul as it passes through the portal. 

The wave motions are pointing upwards, implying that they are bringing something up to them...the soul.

Right "It Is": The human soul is now looking down at the earth with either angelic guide is guiding him/her. But it has transformed. The waves appear to have settled away implying that the portal of transformation has dissipated. The person now has taken on a newborn baby's physical appearance, thus it has transformed into new shape and form as it prepares to enter the earth. The angelic beings appear to be releasing the soul in just the right spot over the earth at just the right moment with great care. 

They are observing the earth and bringing the soul into the moon sphere, which is the last planet/sphere that the human soul passes through prior to being born. Dr. Steiner revealed that each human soul enters the moon sphere in the 1st one-third of the calendar year and awaits its birth there regardless of the month that it actually incarnates. 

Center "It Arises" (or "It Comes into Being" or "It Goes Forth"): This scene is another perspective on the process of descending from the spiritual worlds into rebirth. Above, the soul says goodbye to friends and relationships that is has found in the spiritual worlds who, perhaps, appear to say goodbye. The Janus figure represents the dual nature of the soul as it looks back, perhaps in yearning and anticipation as drawn by the law of destiny, as it moves forward into the next incarnation and soul-mission. 

The teardrop on the right is coming from the incarnating soul itself and into the male. This probably represents the spiritual germinal essence of the human soul, or projecting influence, which is carried primarily through the paternal line and was shaped and defined in the spiritual worlds prior to birth (based on one's karma). The mother emanates forces from her being that radiate outwards implying that she is resonating and/or connected to moon forces which are also intimately linked to the child coming to her out of the moon sphere. 

The three white bulbs on the left may indicate thinking, willing, and feeling. The plants may represent the soul's emergence out of the etheric world or a connection to the physical world as it emerges into a new birth.