Nostradamus
Note: This is only a partial extract from the noted source above.
- Rudolf Steiner discussed the Future Oriphiel Age (approx. taking place between 2235 and 2589) in not to be misunderstood terms as a terrible phase of cleansing for mankind. This topic page also contains quotes with prophecies by Beinsa Douno.
- Furthermore, we know that
- the sixth 'russian' cultural age (approx 3570-5070) is the age in which part of humanity will reach the maturity required for the 'epoch sample' that will be the seed material for the next epoch, and
- just looking at the table of cultural ages in the current Post-atlantean epoch, it is clear that great cultures rise and fall, eg the ancient Indian, Persian, Egypto-Chaldean, Greco-Latin .. and that this process of rise and fall is characterized with great clashes between the cultures
- the end of this epoch is around the seventh millennium with the 'war of all against all'
To my knowledge no one has ever linked the Nostradamus prophecies to the above. The prophecies contain phases with major clashes, terrible wars and catastrophes that correlate to some predictions made by Beinsa Douno and Rudolf Steiner. An example follows below:
2.1 - War between the West and Asia and World catastrophe
Besides the conflicts around Arabic invasions into Europe, Nostradamus experts also read into the verses the prediction of a major conflict between the Western (Anglo-american) forces and China.
The verse below are taken from Centurio.
Nostradamus quatrain 1.87
Earthshaking fire from the center of the earth [volcano?]
will cause tremors around the New City. [earthquake]
Two great rocks will war for a long time, [forces, East & West?]
then Arethusa will redden a new river. [Arethusa was a nymph who fled from the river-god Alpheios and became a sacred spring on Ortygia island near Sicily.]
The above can't be definitively determined to align with our subject matter, but consider the following:
Excerpts about conflict between east and west
1915-02-13-GA174B
This is the key lecture that describes this extensively. It covers the different missions of the coloured and white races, and the future great war between both.
The below is only a short extract, for full lecture extract see: Sixth cultural age#1915-02-13-GA174B (and a short extract on Current fifth cultural age#1915-02-13-GA174B).
Paraphrased:
In great wars we see different people facing each other with hatred, and we can ponder over who is right or more entitled than the other, as in a court case question on guilt .. however such considerations in a purely human frame of matters that are spiritual, deny the spiritual realities underneath. Tendencies of necessity ripple through, causing wars on the physical plane .. and these causes cannot be judged in human terms of the physical world.
The different cultural ages were described, not in a purely schematic way, but with characteristics that are not absolute: in certain areas they occur, in other not (or quite the contrary, developments are held back). Such differentiation is striking if one looks at the world at large. Thus also the contrast between the asiatic people versus the western european-american people. These contrasts will have to clash to connect and resolve the differences in one way or another.
It is then described that the sixth cultural age cannot just be an advancement over the fifth, but has to be considered as part of ascending ànd descending evolutionary tendencies, as a seed for the future [and so not just more and better of the same, as in the fifth cultural age]
Then is described how the core mission of the fifth epoch consists of bringing the spiritual into the flesh, into the physical (as related to the MoG), and how the white skin colour is related to the fact how the spirit is working in the skin when (it wants to, or is in the process of) descending into the physical plane/world. The mission of the sixth cultural age is described, and also how the eastern yellow races strive to keep the spirit and the physical apart.
Then comes the phrase
All this however has to lead to the fact that a great war will have to take place between the white and coloured humanity in the transition between the fifth and sixth cultural ages, and this in the most manifold ways.
and then goes on to describe that all that precedes this will be world history of necessity, until this is to happen because it has to happen.
... we stand before something colossal, that we can see unfolding as a necessity* in the future.
The above is elaborated over many pages, stressing
.. please try to contemplate this in a totally objective way without any prejudices about differences between the various streams in humanity ...
Note: the transition between fifth and sixth cultural age is timed approx. around the year 3500-3600.
However already before the Future Oriphiel age takes places around the period 2200-2600 AD.
Outwardly, humanity is facing difficult struggles today.
And in the face of these difficult struggles, which are only just beginning ... and which reduce the old impulses of Earth's development to absurdity, there are no political, economic, or spiritual remedies that can be taken from the pharmacy of old historical development.
The ferments that initially brought Europe to the brink of ruin put Europe at the beginning of its abyss, which will bring Asia and America into conflict with each other, which will prepare the way for a struggle across the whole earth.
The only thing that can counteract this reduction of human development to absurdity is that which leads human beings on the path to the spiritual: the Micha-el path, which finds its continuation in the Christ path
version from rsarchive
Externally, mankind approaches today serious battles. In regard to these serious battles which are only at their beginning – I have often mentioned it here – and which will lead the old impulses of Earth evolution ad absurdum, there are no political, economical, or spiritual remedies to be taken from the pharmacy of past historical evolution.
For from these past times come the elements of fermentation which first, have brought Europe to the brink of the abyss, which will array Asia and America against each other, and which are preparing a battle over the whole earth.
This leading ad absurdum of human evolution can be counteracted alone by that which leads men on the path toward the spiritual: the Micha-el path which finds its continuation in the Christ Path.
*Regarding the idea of 'necessity' as it is spoken of here, what comes to (my, -Anthony) mind is the child who, due to a stubborn persistence of placing himself in danger e.g. clamboring up on top of a lit stovetop won't truly learn of the foolishness of his actions until such time as he is burned. In like manner, there is a necessity for the circumstances within the stages of human development to become worse before they get better. This view of necessity is directly tied to Man's (divinely ordained) freedom to choose between good & evil. Man must be allowed to bring himself to the brink of the abyss and allowed to suffer the consequences if he refuses to pursue his spiritual roots.
1920-10-30-GA200
The whole GA200 is interesting for context on the future "great spiritual battle between the East and the West" (and the denial of Christ and the spiritual – in both polar opposites, in different ways).
Just two short extracts are given here below, but the buildup is using materials from earlier lectures (eg the sketch of East, West and center streams in 1920-10-23-GA200)
And though it is perhaps only a symbol, there nevertheless stands before the soul of individual people the following: a decadent clinging to revelation in the East, the nullity (insignificance) of the (European) Centre and the rationality of the West, still bogged down in economics. And yet they talk as if of a future perspective – as though the Centre were simply not there – of the great conflict that lies ahead between Japan and America. People, of course, picture this purely physically. This also signifies something of immense profundity. And when the decadent element existing in the East and that which is as yet unborn in the West clash together through ignoring the Centre – then the sense of which came to expression in the Centre is submerged in that chaos that arises through the crushing from East to West.
Contemplation of the 'I' vanished with the idealistic philosophy of Central Europe. It has ceased to exist since the middle of the nineteenth century. And what people tried to create as political structure out of the upheavals – that, too, lies on the ground today. Impossible political structures spring up like that of Czechoslovakia which, quite certainly, in the long run cannot live and cannot die. These impossible structures can only spring up through the fact that peace is made by the people of the West who have no idea what the conditions for life are in the Centre. In Zurich people listen to someone or other who comes from Paris and holds forth to them brilliantly, as one says, on the unity of the Slovak and the Czech elements. The listeners are astounded at what such a professor makes known about the predestination of Czechoslovakia, because they have no idea of the conditions for life in the East and because they do not know that what is brought into being there is only the squeezing element, the crushing together of East and West. People still cover their eyes so as not to see what the external symptoms are saying.
1920-10-31-GA200
From the way in which I had to speak yesterday it will be clear to you that, for many who would rather go through the coming times in a comfortable sleep, with a sleeping soul, there is a very disagreeable awakening in store. I do not say – I mentioned this yesterday already – that the prophecies of those who see the most central matter of the near future as lying in such external things as the differences between Japan and America must be absolutely correct.
But what must be regarded as imminent is what I characterized for you in a few brush-strokes as the great spiritual battle between East and West, in which the true culture of Middle Europe, as we have come to know it in recent weeks, will be wedged.
1921-01-02-GA338
also here: Wars#1921-01-02-GA338
The ... World War which will be fought between Asia and America – along with what is between them – is absolutely necessary to happen and the reasons for this will be economic. You must be hearing the calls of the lower classes for a world revolution, the only way to obscure and hide this idea of a world revolution would be to ignite the catastrophe of another World War. It just has no alternative.
There are well-meaning writings today, emanating from the pens of English and American authors who profess the greatest sympathy with their follow-creatures in Middle Europe and with their material needs. Such sympathy is all right in its way but Middle Europe (which often includes Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland) must be very wide-awake to what really lies at the bottom of it. For when we consider the conditions of outer life and realise that Middle Europe today stands more than ever in the key position between the East and the West (and by the West I mean those regions where Anglo-American culture predominates) it seems that Middle Europe is threatened with utter ruin, so far as her spiritual life is concerned. Please do not misunderstand me. It is quite possible to be full of sympathetic understanding of the material crisis – indeed that is not at all difficult in these days of dire distress – but to understand the spiritual crisis is quite another matter. And it is the spiritual crisis of Middle Europe that is the crux of it all today. Leaving aside what is said out of prejudice, what you yourselves might say out of prejudice, let us try for once to realise what lies in the womb of current events in respect of the spiritual destiny of Middle Europe. Is not everything tending in the direction of the utter extermination of the spirituality which belongs essentially to Middle Europe? When one faces this fact fairly and squarely, one is surely conscious of an impulse to do one's very utmost to enable the true spirituality of Middle Europe to live and prosper.
If impulses for strong and effective action are lacking, then the East and the West will come together above the head of Middle Europe – come together, to begin with probably in terrible enmity, but finally in an impulse which truly cannot be for the well-being of Middle Europe. This impulse will then grow into a world culture, a world-civilisation.
...
These are the two extremes which may well unite, in spite of an apparently bitter opposition caused by outer circumstances and inner contrast. And it is because of the existence of these two streams of influence that the spiritual life of Middle Europe has fallen upon such evil days. Trivial though these words may sound, they express a truly tragic state of things to which we must be fully alive. To put it rather drastically, one would say that Middle Europe ought to represent the higher synthesis, the harmony of these two extremes at a higher level. And it is only this harmony that will promote progress in the human race. Streams of spiritual life have come to the surface in Middle Europe from deep foundations, in spite of the fact that they were overpowered, to begin with, by an intellectualism which manifested itself in German idealistic philosophy. The philosophy of Fichte, Hegel, and finally, Schelling, represented the apotheosis of a stream of spiritual life which could have led on into true Spiritual Science, but the time was not ripe for it.
Nowadays it really seems as if all the world had conspired to nip this impulse in the bud. Let me put it in this way: From the East and from the West, Lucifer and Ahriman swore to each other to make this synthesis impossible of realisation.
For just think of it: here, in this central region of the Earth there have been men who although they were in many ways brought to a standstill by the conditions of the times, strove none the less for pure spirituality, and at the same time for a true knowledge and understanding of Nature. In Goethe, for instance, there is a wonderful alternation between his perpetual desire for a spiritual conception of the world and his eagerness to observe the outer phenomena of Nature.
Let there be no mistake about it – so long as the dealings of Europeans and Americans with Asia are confined to purely economic and industrial interests, so long will there be distrust in the hearts of Asiatics. People may talk as much as they like about disarmament, about the desirability of ending wars. ...A great war will break out between the East and the West, in spite of all disarmament conferences, if the people of Asia cannot perceive something that flows over to them from the Spirit of the West.
Western spirituality can spread over to Asia and if it does, Asia will be able to trust it, because with their own inherent, though somewhat decadent spirituality, the Asiatic peoples will be able to understand what it means. The peace of the world depends upon this, not upon the conversations and discussions now going on among the leaders of outer civilisation. ...
...
Everything depends upon insight into the Spirit that is lying hidden in European and American culture – the Spirit from which men flee, which for the sake of ease they would fain avoid, but which alone can set the feet of humanity on the path of ascent.
People like to put their heads in the sand, saying that things will improve of themselves. No, they will not. The hour of a great decision has struck. Either men will resolve to bring forth the spirituality of which I have spoken, or the decline of the West is inevitable. Hopes and fatalistic longings for things to right themselves are of no avail.
Once and forever, man has passed into the epoch when he must manipulate his powers out of his own freewill. In other words: it is for men themselves to decide for or against spirituality. If the decision is positive, progress will be possible; if not, the doom of the West is sealed and in the wake of dire catastrophes the further evolution of humanity will take a course undreamed of today. Those who would strive for true insight into these matters should not, nay dare not, neglect the study of the life of soul in mankind at large, and in the different peoples, especially of East and West.
1922-01-03-GA303
In context of the urge to establish Waldorf schooling, because it is sketched how it will come under attack soon given the speed of developments.
A wave is spreading over the world, which is definitely headed towards the coercive state [editor: state power by force]. And it is actually the case that Western civilization exposes itself to the danger of being simply overwhelmed by a kind of Asian culture that then has something spiritual about it.
People don't want to see that, but it will happen.
