Four Mystery Plays
GA 14
The Soul's Awakening
Scene 6
A similar scene
The same characters are still in their places. The lighting is full of warm shades, but not too bright. Toward the right of stage the sylphs keep swaying to and fro (see description in middle of Scene 2). In front Philia, Astrid, and Luna.
Capesius' Soul: (Standing on the left of stage near the middle.)
The picture, that in sunshine's hour I saw,
Beamed grace and worked with gentle kindliness;
E'en now within my being it holds sway,
When other wisdom-light illuminates
This spirit-realm with many-coloured rays,
Yet now the picture's influence doth grow.
It bids me draw therefrom, for future times
On earth, that which the soul who stands revealed
Within the picture and hath mighty weight
In mine own sphere, once gave to my sense-life;
Yet doth no powerful current of desire
Direct me to this soul.
Romanus' Soul:
(A figure showing all the upper part of the body down to the hips; it has mighty red wings which extend round its head in such a way as to change into a red aura, running into blue on the outer edge; it stands on the left of Capesius' soul, whilst close are the souls of Bellicosus and Torquatus further still to the left of stage, facing audience.)
Wake in thyself
The picture of the Jew who heard naught else
But hate and ridicule on every side,
Yet truly served the mystic brotherhood
Of which thou wast a member once on earth.
Capesius' Soul:
Thought-pictures now begin to dawn in me,
And seek to seize me in their powerful grasp.
See Simon's image rise from my soul-waves—
And see, another joins him—some soul-shape—
A penitent;—would I might keep him far!
(Referring to Balde, or Joseph Keane in the previous play.)
Romanus' Soul:
That which he here must do can but be done
In cosmic sunshine-time; in solitude
And robed in darkness he must wend his way
Whilst Saturn doth light up this spirit-realm.
Capesius' Soul:
How doth this penitent bewilder me!
His soul's irradiations burn and bore
Their way into mine own Soul's inmost core—
So work these souls who have attained the power
To see the inmost depths of other souls.
Felix Balde's Soul:
(From the extreme right of stage with hollow veiled voice.)
‘Dear Keane, thou hast been ever true to me’—
Capesius' Soul:
Myself—my very words—from out his mouth
Re-echoed—ringing out—in spirit-realms!
Here is a soul that I must try to meet.
It knows me well,—through it I'll find myself.
(Capesius' soul disappears; the Other Philia comes into view on the right of stage with Theodora's soul; behind her Dame Balde's soul.)
Romanus' Soul:
Two souls do there draw nigh the penitent;
The spirit whom through love souls ever choose
To be their leader goes ahead of them.
The light of meekness pours from one of them
And flows into the other, who appears
To us as penitent. The picture glows
With beauty's light, which here as wisdom lives.
Torquatus' Soul:
(Figure visible as far as the breast, blue aura, green wings.)
Only desire's reflection dost thou see
Which I allow to shine from my soul's sheath
Into thy sphere in loyal spirit-troth.
Fate's primal forces have appointed me
To be the means to give thee meekness here.
Thus souls in spirit do serve other souls.
Thy cold hard reason never could attain
Life's gift of sympathy without mine aid.
Bellicosus' Soul:
(Figure visible like that of Torquatus' soul, but with blue-violet aura and blue-green wings.)
Make strong thy spirit-ear to understand
What says the soul who rays out meekness' light.
'Neath Saturn's beam souls can be brought to show
This gleam of noble spirit-blessedness.
Theodora's Soul:
(Angelic figure white with yellow wings and blue yellow aura.)
My loyal spirit-comrade, pour on him
In softening glow the love that permeates
Thine own soul-sheath, for it will soothe for him
The all-consuming fire of solitude—
And do thou unto him direct thought-rays
From yonder shadow-souls who at this time
Do gather forces in the spirit-worlds,
That their soul-bodies may thus gleam with life,
That so their gleaming, glowing life may serve
To strengthen in forthcoming lives on earth
The sense of growth as progress in men's souls.
Dame Balde's Soul: (To Felix.)
Feel me, thou spirit garbed as penitent.
O thou sun-soul, receive the power of stars.
Until thy spirit-sheath doth free itself
From Lucifer's dominion; I shall be
Beside thee in thy solitude to bring
Thee powers, which I shall roam o'er cosmic space
From star to star to gather up for thee.
Theodora's Soul:
Past thoughts of earth arise in glowing light
On yonder shore of souls. A human form:—
I saw it when on earth; it follows here;
What once I heard is now re-echoed here;
(Lucifer appears with the soul of Johannes, who has the appearance of an angel. His robes rose-coloured with lilac rose-coloured wings. No feet.)
‘From source divine hath sprung the human soul;
It can in death dive down to nature's depths;
In time it will set spirit free from death.’
The Other Philia:
This sounding living picture-being brings
The force of noble brother-love to us
Which thou didst faithfully display on earth.
I'll change it into soul-power for thy use.
The shadow beings' glimm'ring light receives
The word which I direct into thy soul,
And they in earth life will arouse in thee
The thoughts they brood on through eternity.
And thou, the penitent of spirit-realms,
Direct thy soul-steps onward to the stars;
There nature-spirits long to use thy work
Wherefrom they will beam fantasy to souls
And so will fashion wings for life on earth.
Dame Balde's Soul:
I follow thee, dear sister of my soul,
My Philia, who dost weave love from star
To star and from one spirit to the next.
I follow thee aloft to starry worlds,
I take thy words to many cosmic spheres,
And thus by spirit-work build up myself
For mine own future wanderings on earth.
(Felix Balde's soul disappears slowly, led by Dame Balde's soul; Theodora stands motion-less looking at Johannes' soul, then she also disappears, as does Lucifer with the soul of Johannes.)
Romanus' Soul:
That which we just have witnessed in this place,
How love's word works with the creative word
In closest union, doth arouse in us
Germs we shall need in future lives on earth.
(The souls of Romanus, Torquatus, and Bellicosus disappear—Benedictus' soul and Maria's soul appear by the side of the Guardian of the Threshold, who now enters.)
The Guardian:
Behold the cosmic midnight of yourselves!
I hold you 'neath the spell of ripened light
Which pours on you from Saturn, till your sheaths,
More strongly waking through this same light's power
Become self-luminous, with living hues.
Maria's Soul:
Doth cosmic midnight come when souls awake?
It was the moon-time, when the sun declared
The earnest word of Fate, that human souls,
Who see their cosmic midnight hour awake,
See lightnings, which with instantaneous flash
Light up the things that are to be, but pass
Again so quickly that the spirit-sight
Dies at the very moment of its birth—
And dying forms a seal of destiny
For ever stamped upon the souls who saw.
Such souls hear too the words of thunder clear
Which dully roll through cosmic fundaments
And threaten soul-illusion as they roll.
(Lucifer reappears with the soul of Johannes.)
Benedictus' Soul:
From ever empty fields of ice fate's cry
Both reach to us from our dear mystic friend.
When we the cosmic midnight can perceive,
We reach the spirit-circle of the soul.
Maria's Soul:
The flames draw nigh, they draw nigh with my thought
There from my distant cosmic shore of souls;
A fierce strife doth draw nigh;—'tis mine own thought
Which battles with the thoughts of Lucifer;—
Mine own thought battles in another's soul,—
The hot light issues—out of gloomy cold—
Like lightning flashes. Is this hot soul-light—
This soul-light—in the cosmic fields of ice?
Lucifer:
The light thou seest—'tis my hot cosmic light—
See too the lightning flashes of thy thought
Strike from the bounds of Lucifer's domain.
I bring within the focus of thy gaze
The soul so long and closely bound to thee
When thou dost feel thy cosmic midnight hour.
Henceforth thy search must find another way
To come into communion with this soul.
O soul, who to this place hast followed me,
Display and use the forces of the light Which
Saturn on her cosmic midnight pours.
Johannes' Soul:
I can feel souls, but have not yet the power
To make their light grow visible in me.
However close they are they generate
Thoughts which but serve to light me from afar.
How can I raise them to mine inner sight?
Philia:
Thou wilt see them if thou dost swiftly grasp
What they illumine in the cosmic light;
Shouldst thou behold, use well that moment's space;
Light such as this is quickly gone again.
Johannes' Soul:
What yonder guide's soul to his pupil speaks,—
That pupil's soul so near and dear to me,—
Shall now illuminate my soul's domain.
Benedictus' Soul:
Bring forth within this spirit-midnight hour
The will that thou desir'st to feel again
When earthly forces once more clothe thy form.
Thy words shall prove a light to thy friend's soul.
Maria's Soul:
Let then my words grow strong in cosmic light,
Which at this cosmic midnight I confide
Unto the soul brought me by Lucifer.
Whatever in mine inmost soul is dear
I will behold it and, beholding, speak,
That it may form itself into a tone,
To which this soul shall answer when on earth,
And, loving it, shall live as it commands.
What now do I see in mine inmost soul?
A lofty counsel in flame-letters writ;
My love for that dear guiding-soul flames out,
Who in mine earth—as in my spirit-life
Hath led me on through each successive age;
Who ever found me when mine instant prayer
Sought help in danger, even when it dwelt
On spirit-heights itself; in dazzling light
This love appears to me; sound out from me,
Thou word of love, unto this other soul.
What flames are those this word of love doth wake?
They glow so gently, yet their gentle light
Pours forth a sense of lofty dignity;
By wisdom's lightnings, whence a blessing flows,
The cosmic ether is lit up around—
And bliss comes pouring with attendant joy
O'er all the compass of my soul's domain.
Of thee, Duration, would I crave a boon;
Pour out thyself into this blessedness,
And let my guide and let that other soul
Now dwell therein with me in peacefulness.
The Guardian:
Now let the lightnings vanish into naught
Whose sharp flash brings to view necessities
When souls awake and feel the Cosmic North.
Let thunder also lose its roar, which rolls
In warning at the cosmic midnight hour.
Astrid, to thee I give a strict command:
Keep close watch o'er this thunder-storm of souls
Till in the course of time the soul awakes
To find its cosmic midnight once again;
Then shall it see itself in other guise,
E'en in a picture of an olden time,
And know how strength for lofty spirit-flight
E'en from disaster may the soul's wings gain.
A soul may never wish itself to fall;
Yet, when it falls it must a lesson learn.
Astrid:
The lightning's power and thunder's will I guard
And keep them safe within the cosmic life,
Till Saturn turns toward the soul once more.
Maria:
I feel the blessedness of stars endure;
And in the stream of time I enter it.
I'll live and work within its kindly sway
With this soul-being long since knit to mine.
Luna:
I will protect thy work in spirit here,
That thou mayst reap the fruits in life on earth.
Johannes' Soul:
Within my soul's domain—I see this star!
It pours forth kindness—beams forth blessedness—
In cosmic ether floating—this soul star—
But there-in you faint light—another star
Its note is faint,—yet will I list thereto.
(With the last words appears the spirit of Johannes' youth. Figure like an angel's; silvery sheen.)
The Spirit of Johannes' Youth:
I feed with life the being of thy wish,
My breath will pour into thy youthful aims
Enlightening strength, when worlds are tempting thee
Within which I can guide thee joyfully.
If thou shouldst lose me in thyself, I must
Then offer up myself as sacrifice,
A being reft of being, to the shades.
O blossom of my being,—leave me not.
Lucifer:
He never will forsake thee—I behold
Deep in his nature longings after light
Which do not follow up the other soul.
And when the radiance, which is borne of them,
Takes root and grows deep down within his soul,
It must bear fruit; nor will he be content
To throw this fruit away in yonder realm
Where love, divorced from beauty, reigns alone.
Sechstes Bild.
,em>Geistgebiet in der gleichen Art wie im vorigen Bilde. Die Beleuchtung warm und nuanciert, doch nicht zu hell. Links stehen die Sylphen. Vorne Philia, Astrid, Luna.
Capesius’ Seele (steht rechts gegen die Mitte zu):
Das Bild, das sich zur Sonnenzeit mir zeigte,
das Gnade strahlte, Güte milde wirkte, ‒
es waltet mir im Wesen auch noch jetzt,
da andres Weisheitslicht dies Geistgebiet
mit vieler Farben Strahlung übergießt.
Doch kraftet aus dem Bilde jetzt noch mehr;
es will, daß ich für künft’ge Erdenzeiten
aus ihm mir ziehe, was im Sinnensein
die Seele einst mir gab, die sich im Bilde
bedeutsam meiner Sphäre offenbart.
Doch führt mich wirksam kein Gefühlestrom
zu dieser Seele hin.
Romanus’ Seele (in einer Gestalt, so daß der ganze Oberkörper bis zu den Hüften zu sehen ist, mächtige rote Flügel, die sich so fortsetzen, daß sie um den Kopf zu einer roten, in das Blaue nach außen verlaufenden Aura sich umbilden; steht in der Nähe von Capesius’ Seele; Bellicosus’ und Torquatus’ Seelen sind in der Nähe):
In dir errege
des Juden Bild, der Hass und Spott nur stets
von allen Seiten hörte; der jedoch
dem Mystenbunde treue Dienste tat,
zu dem du einst auf Erden dich gefunden.
Capesius’ Seele:
Es dämmern jetzt Gedankenbilder auf,
die mich mit starker Kraft erfassen wollen.
Es taucht mir Simons Bild aus Seelenfluten. ‒ ‒
Doch tritt zu ihm noch andres ‒ Seelensein.
Ein Büßer, ‒ könnt’ ich den mir ferne halten.
Romanus’ Seele:
Er kann hier nur zur Weltensonnenzeit
sein Werk verrichten; einsam wandelt er,
von Finsternis umzogen, wenn Saturn
Erleuchter dieses Geistesreiches ist.
Capesius’ Seele:
O, wie mich dieser Büßer jetzt beirrt. ‒
Es bohren seine Seelenstrahlen brennend
in meine eigne Seelenhülle sich. ‒ ‒
So wirken Seelen, welche andren Seelen
in tiefste Wesensgründe schauen können.
Felix Baldes Seele (mit dumpfer, wie umflorter Stimme):
»Mein lieber Kühne, Ihr erwieset Euch
Stets treu ... «
Capesius’ Seele:
Ich selbst, ‒ mein eignes Wort, ‒ von ihm, ‒ ‒
als Widerhall ‒ im Geistgebiet ‒ ertönend!!
Ich werde diese Seele suchen müssen.
Sie kennt mich gut, ‒ durch sie muß ich mich finden.
(Capesius’ Seele verschwindet, von links erscheinen die »andre Philia« mit Theodoras Seele, hinter ihr Frau Baldes Seele.)
Romanus’ Seele:
Zwei Seelen nähern sich dem Büßer dort,
Der Geist, den sich die Seelen durch die Liebe
Zum Führer stets erwerben, schreitet vor.
Der Sanftmut Licht entströmt der Einen Seele;
Es fliesst zur andern hin, die selbst sich uns
Als Büßerin erbildet. Das Bild erstrahlet
Der Schönheit Glanz, der hier als Weisheit lebt.
Torquatus’ Seele (Gestalt bis zur Brust zu sehen, blaue Aura, grüne Flügel):
Du schaust der Sehnsucht Widerschein, die ich
aus meinen Seelenhüllen ‒ deiner Sphäre
im treuen Geistesbunde strahlen lasse.
Des Schicksals Urgewalten haben mich
zum Wirker deiner Milde dir gegeben.
So dienen geistig Seelen andern Seelen.
Allein erwürbest du zum harten Sinn
des Mitgefühles Lebensgabe nie.
Bellicosus’ Seele (Gestalt, wie Torquatus’ Seele, doch blauviolett Aura, blaugrüne Flügel):
Erkraftet Euch zum Geistgehör; ‒ es spricht
die Seele, die im Licht der Sanftmut strahlt.
Am Glanz Saturns entlockt sich hier den Seelen
dies Scheinen holder Geistesseligkeit.
Theodoras Seele (engelartige Gestalt, weiß mit gelben Flügeln und blaugelber Aura):
Du meine treue Geistgefährtin, ströme
die Liebe deiner Seelenhülle ihm
in sanftem Glanze zu; sie mildert ihm
der Einsamkeit verzehrend Feuerkraft ‒ ‒.
Und lenke ihm Gedankenstrahlen her
Von jenen Schattenseelen dort, die jetzt
in Geisteswelten sich die Kräfte sammeln,
daß ihre Seelenleiber lebend glimmern
und so aus ihrem Glimmerglanzesschaffen
den Menschenseelen Wachstums-Werdesinn
im Erdenleben sich erkraften möge.
Frau Baldes Seele:
Du Geist im Schein des Büßers, fühle mich;
empfange Sternenkraft, du Sonnenseele. ‒
Bis deine Geisteshülle sich entringt
dem Banne Lucifers, ‒ geleit’ ich dich
durch deine Einsamkeit und trage dir
die Kräfte zu, die ich von Stern zu Stern
im Weltall wandelnd für dich sammeln will.
Theodoras Seele:
Vergangnes Erdendenken regt sich glimmend
am Seelenufer dort ... Ein menschlich Bild ...
so sah ich’s erdenhaft; es folgt hieher;
es widerhallet einst Gehörtes hier:
»Aus Gottessein erstand die Menschenseele;
sie kann in Wesensgründe sterbend tauchen;
sie wird dem Tod dereinst den Geist entbinden.«
(Während der letzten Sätze erscheinen Lucifer und Thomasius’ Seele.)
Die andre Philia:
Dies tönend Wesensbild, es trägt hieher
aus edler Bruderliebe Wirkenskraft,
die du auf Erden treu entfaltet hast.
Ich will es dir in Seelenkraft verwandeln.
Der Schattenwesen Glimmerlicht empfängt
das Wort, das ich in deine Seele lenke.
Sie werden dir im Erdensein erregen,
was sie in Ewigkeiten sinnen dürfen. ‒
Und du, des Geisterlandes Büßerin:
die Seelenschritte lenk’ zu Sternen hin;
Dämonen sehnen sich nach deinem Werk,
aus dem sie Phantasie in Seelen strahlen
und so dem Erdenleben Flügel schaffen.
Frau Baldes Seele:
Ich folge dir, du meine Seelenschwester,
du meine Philia, die Liebe schafft,
von Stern zu Stern, von einem Geist zum andern.
Ich folge dir zu Sternenwelten hin,
ich trag’ dein Wort zu manchen Weltensphären.
Im Geisteswirken mich auch selber bildend
für meine künft’ge Erdenwanderschaft.
(Felix Baldes Seele, geführt von Frau Baldes Seele, verschwindet langsam, Theodora bleibt starr eine Weile stehen, sieht Johannes’ Seele an, dann verschwindet auch sie, ebenso Thomasius’ Seele mit Lucifer.)
Romanus’ Seele:
Daß wir an diesem Geistesorte jetzt
das Wort der Liebe mit dem Wort des Schaffens
zum Bund sich einen sahen, dies erkraftet
in unserm Wesen Keime, deren wir
im spätern Erdensein bedürftig werden.
(Romanus’, Torquatus’, Bellicosus’ Seelen verschwinden ‒ es erscheinen Benedictus’ Seele und Marias Seele an der Seite des Hüters der Schwelle.)
Der Hüter:
Erkennet eure Weltenmitternacht!
Ich halte euch im Bann gereiften Lichts,
das jetzt Saturn euch strahlt, bis eure Hüllen
in stärkrem Wachen, durch des Lichtes Macht
euch selbst erleuchtend, ihre Farben leben.
Marias Seele:
Die Weltenmitternacht im Seelenwachen? ‒ ‒
Es war zur Mondeszeit, da sprach die Sonne
das ernste Schicksalswort: Die Menschenseelen,
die Weltenmitternacht im Wachen leben,
sie schauen Blitze, die im schnellsten Zucken
Notwendigkeiten blendend überleuchten,
daß Geistesblicke im Erkennen sterben, ‒ ‒
und sterbend sich zu Schicksalszeichen formen,
die ewig wirksam sich in Seelen prägen.
Es hören solche Seelen Donnerworte,
die in den Weltengründen dumpf verrollen
und rollend jeden Seelenwahn bedrohen.
(Lucifer und Thomasius’ Seele erscheinen wieder.)
Benedictus’ Seele:
Es dringt aus ewig leeren Eisgefilden
des Mystenfreundes Schicksalsruf zu uns.
Wenn wir die Weltenmitternacht erkennen,
erreichen wir der Seele Geisteskreis.
Marias Seele:
Die Flammen nahn, ‒ sie nahn mit meinem Denken ‒
von meinem Welten-Seelen-Ufer dort;
es naht ein heisser Kampf; ‒ mein eignes Denken, ‒
es kämpft mit Lucifers Gedanken;
in andrer Seele kämpft mein eignes Denken ‒ ‒
es zieht das heisse Licht ‒ aus finstrer Kälte, ‒
wie Blitze flammt ‒ das heisse Seelenlicht, ‒ ‒
das Seelenlicht ‒ im Welten-Eis-Gefilde ‒.
Lucifer:
Erkenn’ das Licht, ‒ mein heisses Weltenlicht, ‒
und schau die Blitze, die dir eignes Denken ‒
aus Lucifers Gewaltenkreisen schlägt.
Die Seele, der du langverbunden warst,
ich bring’ sie dir in deinen Blickekreis,
da du die Weltenmitternacht erlebst.
Du mußt des Suchens Richtung künftig ändern,
wenn du dich dieser Seele nahen willst.
Du Seele, die du mir hieher gefolgt,
gebrauch’ die Lichteskräfte, die Saturn
in ihre Weltenmitternacht erstrahlt. ‒ ‒
Johannes’ Seele (engelartige Gestalt, rosarot, fußlos mit blauroten Flügeln):
Ich fühle Seelen, doch noch brauch’ ich Kraft,
ihr Licht in mir zur Wesenheit zu stärken.
Sind sie mir auch ganz nah, so zeugen sie
doch Denken, das mir nur im Fernen leuchtet.
Wie heb’ ich sie zu meiner Geistesschau?
Philia:
Du wirst sie schauen, wenn du schnell ergreifst,
was sie im Weltenlichte selbst erleuchten;
doch wenn du schaust, so nütz’ den Augenblick;
es schwindet dieses Leuchten bald dahin.
Johannes’ Seele:
Was jenes Führers Seele spricht zum Schüler,
zur mir so nahen, lieben Schülerseele,
soll mir beleuchten meinen Seelenkreis.
Benedictus’ Seele (zu Marias Seele):
In dieser Geistesmitternacht erzeug
den Willen, den du wieder fühlen willst,
wenn deiner Form die Erdenkraft ersteht.
Dein Wort, es wird der Freundesseele leuchten.
Marias Seele:
So sei im Weltenlicht das Wort erkraftet,
das ich zur Weltenmitternacht vertrau’
der Seele, die mir Lucifer gebracht.
Was mir in Seelentiefen teuer ist,
ich will es schauen, will es schauend sprechen,
daß dieser Seele sich’s zum Tone bilde,
den sie im Erdensein in ihrem Wesen
erfühlen und ihn liebend leben mag.
Was schaue ich in Seelentiefen jetzt?
Es leuchtet mir erhab’ne Flammenschrift.
Die Liebe zu der Führerseele flammt,
die mich im Erdensein, die mich im Geist
durch langer Zeiten Folge hat geleitet;
die mich stets fand, wenn meines Betens Inbrunst
in Erdgefahr sie sucht’, auch wenn sie selbst
in Geisteshöhen weilte; leuchtend hell
erscheint mir diese Liebe, töne mir
du Wort der Liebe hin zur andern Seele. ‒ ‒
‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒
Doch welche Flammen weckt das Wort der Liebe?
Sie leuchten milde; und die Milde strahlet
erhab’nen Ernst; es zucken gnadevoll
der Weisheit Blitze durch den Weltenäther ‒ ‒
und Seligkeit ergiesst sich freudewebend
durch alle Weiten meines Seelenkreises.
O Zeitendauer, ich erflehe mir:
ergiesse dich in diese Seligkeit,
und lass’ den Führer, lass’ die andre Seele
mit mir in dir jetzt friedevoll verweilen.
Der Hüter:
So mögen Blitze jetzt in nichts zerrinnen,
die grell Notwendigkeiten überleuchten,
wenn Seelen wach erleben Welten-Norden.
Es soll der Donner seinen Schall verlieren,
der mahnend rollt zur Weltenmitternacht. ‒
Dir, Astrid, sei ein ernst Gebot erteilt:
Bewahre dieses Seelen-Ungewitter,
bis ihre nächste Weltenmitternacht
im Strom der Zeit die Seele wachend findet.
Sie soll dann anders vor sich selber stehn, ‒ ‒
in ältrer Zeiten Bild ihr Selbst erschauen,
Erkennen, wie zum Geisteshöhenflug
die Schwingen auch im Seelensturz erstarken.
Es darf die Seele niemals stürzen wollen;
doch muß sie Weisheit aus dem Sturze holen.
Astrid:
Ich will die Blitz- und Donnerkraft bewahren,
daß sie im Weltensein erhalten bleiben,
bis sich Saturn der Seele wieder neigt.
Marias Seele:
Verweilend fühl’ ich Sternenseligkeit,
betreten darf ich sie im Strom der Zeit.
Ich will im Gnadewalten schaffend leben
mit diesem langverbundnen Seelenwesen.
Luna:
Ich hüte dir dein Schaffen hier im Geiste,
daß dir im Erdensein die Früchte reifen.
Johannes’ Seele:
In meinem Seelenkreise ‒ dieser Stern!
Er leuchtet Seligkeiten, ‒ strahlet Gnade ‒,
ein Seelenstern ‒ im Weltenäther ‒ schwebend; ‒
‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒
doch dort, ‒ im matten Licht, ‒ ein andrer Stern,
er tönt mir leise; doch ich will ihn hören.
(Bei den letzten Worten erscheint der Geist von Johannes’ Jugend. Engelartig, silberlicht.)
Der Geist von Johannes’ Jugend:
Ich nähre deiner Wünsche Sein mit Leben;
mein Atem wird in deinen Jugendzielen
erleuchtend kraften, wenn dich Welten locken,
in welche ich dich freudig führen kann.
Verlierst du mich in dir, muß ich den Schatten
mit wesenlosem Sein mich lebend opfern.
Du Blüte meines Seins, ‒ verlaß mich nicht!
Lucifer:
Er wird dich nicht verlassen, ‒ ich erschaue
in seines Wesens Tiefen Lichtbegierden,
die nicht der andern Seele Spuren folgen. ‒
Wenn diese mit dem Glanz, den sie erzeugen,
im Seelen-Grunde sich zum Sein erkraften,
wird er die Früchte, die sie zeugen müssen,
in jenem Reiche nicht vergeuden wollen,
wo Liebe ohne Schönheit herrschen will.
(Langsam Vorhang.)
Scene Six
Spiritual realm similar to that in the previous image. The lighting is warm and nuanced, but not too bright. The sylphs stand on the left. Philia, Astrid, and Luna are in the foreground.
Capesius' soul (standing on the right towards the center):
The image that appeared to me at sunset,
radiating grace and gentle kindness, ‒
it still reigns in my being,
as other light of wisdom showers this realm of spirit
with rays of many colors.
But now even more power emanates from the image;
it wants me to draw from it for future earthly times
what in my senses
the soul once gave me, which reveals itself meaningfully in the image
of my sphere.
But no stream of feeling effectively leads me
to this soul.
Romanus' soul (in a form such that the entire upper body up to the hips can be seen, powerful red wings that continue in such a way that they transform around the head into a red aura extending outward into the blue; stands near Capesius' soul; Bellicosus' and Torquatus' souls are nearby):
In you, evoke
the image of the Jew who always heard only hatred and mockery
from all sides; but who nevertheless
faithfully served the Mystic Brotherhood,
to which you once belonged on earth.
Capesius' soul:
Now images of thoughts are dawning,
which want to seize me with great force.
The image of Simon emerges from the floods of my soul. ‒ ‒
But something else joins him—a soul being.
A penitent—if only I could keep him away from me.
Romanus' soul:
He can only do his work here at the time of the world sun; he walks alone,
surrounded by darkness, when Saturn
is the illuminator of this spiritual realm.
is the illuminator of this spiritual realm.
Capesius' soul:
Oh, how this penitent now confuses me. ‒
His soul's rays burn
into my own soul's shell. ‒ ‒
This is how souls work, which can see into the deepest essence of other souls.
Felix Balde's soul (with a muffled, as if veiled voice):
“My dear Kühne, you have always proven yourself
faithful...”
Capesius' soul:
I myself, ‒ my own word, ‒ from him, ‒ ‒
as an echo ‒ resounding in the realm of the spirit!!
I will have to seek out this soul.
She knows me well, ‒ through her I must find myself.
(Capesius' soul disappears, from the left appear the “andre Philia” with Theodora's soul, behind her Mrs. Balde's soul.)
Romanus' soul:
Two souls approach the penitent there,
The spirit that souls always acquire through love
For the guide strides forward.
Gentleness flows from the light of one soul;
It flows toward the other, who presents herself to us
as a penitent. The image shines with
the splendor of beauty, which lives here as wisdom.
Torquatus' soul (figure visible up to the chest, blue aura, green wings):
You see the reflection of the longing that I
let shine from my soul's shell—your sphere
in faithful spiritual union.
The primal forces of fate have given me
to you as the agent of your mercy.
Thus souls spiritually serve other souls.
Alone you would never attain the harsh meaning
of the gift of life through compassion.
Bellicosus' soul (form like Torquatus' soul, but blue-violet aura, blue-green wings):
Strengthen yourself to hear the spirit; ‒ it speaks
the soul that shines in the light of gentleness.
In the glow of Saturn, the souls here elicit
this shining of sweet spiritual bliss.
Theodora's soul (angelic form, white with yellow wings and a blue-yellow aura):
You, my faithful spiritual companion, pour
the love of your soul shell into him
in gentle radiance; it softens for him
the consuming fire of loneliness ‒ ‒.
And direct rays of thought to him
from those shadow souls there, who now
gather strength in spiritual worlds,
that their soul bodies may glimmer with life
and thus, from their glimmering radiance, create
a sense of growth and becoming for human souls
in earthly life.
Mrs. Balde's soul:
You spirit in the light of the penitent, feel me;
receive star power, you sun soul. ‒
Until your spiritual shell breaks free
from Lucifer's spell, ‒ I will guide you
through your loneliness and bring you
the powers that I have gathered for you
in the universe for you.
Theodora's soul:
Past earthly thoughts stir, smoldering,
on the shore of the soul there... A human image...
That is how I saw it on earth; it follows here;
it echoes what was once heard here:
“From Godhood arose the human soul;
it can dive into the essence of being when dying;
it will one day release the spirit from death.”
(During the last sentences, Lucifer and Thomasius' soul appear.)
The other Philia:
This resounding image of being carries here
the power of action from noble brotherly love,
which you have faithfully unfolded on earth.
I will transform it into soul power for you.
The shadow being's glimmer of light receives
the word that I direct into your soul.
They will excite in you in your earthly existence
what they may contemplate in eternities. ‒
And you, penitent of the spirit realm:
direct the steps of the soul toward the stars;
Demons long for your work,
from which they radiate imagination into souls
and thus create wings for earthly life.
Frau Balde's soul:
I follow you, my soul sister,
my Philia, who creates love,
from star to star, from one spirit to another.
I follow you to starry worlds,
I carry your word to many spheres of the world.
In the workings of the spirit, I also form myself
for my future earthly journey.
(Felix Balde's soul, guided by Mrs. Balde's soul, slowly disappears. Theodora stands still for a while, looks at Johannes' soul, then she also disappears, as does Thomasius' soul with Lucifer.)
Romanus' soul:
That we now, in this spiritual place,
have seen the word of love and the word of creation
unite in a covenant, this strengthens
in our being the seeds that we
will need in our later earthly existence.
(The souls of Romanus, Torquatus, and Bellicosus disappear—the souls of Benedictus and Mary appear at the side of the Guardian of the Threshold.)
The Guardian:
Recognize your world midnight!
I hold you in the spell of matured light,
which Saturn now shines upon you, until your shells
in stronger waking, through the power of light
illuminating yourselves, live their colors.
Mary's soul:
The midnight of the world in the awakening of the soul? ‒ ‒
It was at the time of the moon when the sun spoke
the solemn word of destiny: The souls of men,
who live the midnight of the world in awakening,
they see flashes of lightning that in the swiftest twitch
dazzlingly illuminate necessities,
that spiritual insights die in recognition, ‒ ‒
and dying, form themselves into signs of fate,
which are eternally imprinted on souls.
Such souls hear words of thunder,
which roll dully in the depths of the world
and, rolling, threaten every delusion of the soul.
(Lucifer and Thomasius' soul reappear.)
Benedictus' soul:
From eternally empty ice fields
the mystic friend's call of fate reaches us.
When we recognize the midnight of the world,
we reach the soul's circle of spirit.
Mary's soul:
The flames are approaching, ‒ they approach with my thoughts ‒
from my world-soul shore there;
a hot battle is approaching; ‒ my own thoughts, ‒
it fights with Lucifer's thoughts;
in another soul my own thinking fights ‒ ‒
it draws the hot light ‒ from dark cold, ‒
like lightning flashes ‒ the hot soul light, ‒ ‒
the soul light ‒ in the realm of world ice ‒.
Lucifer:
Recognize the light, ‒ my hot world light, ‒
and see the flashes that your own thinking ‒
strikes from Lucifer's circles of power.
The soul to which you were long connected,
I bring it into your field of vision,
as you experience the midnight of the world.
You must change the direction of your search in the future,
if you want to approach this soul.
You soul, who have followed me here,
use the powers of light that Saturn
shines into their midnight of the world. ‒ ‒
John's soul (angelic figure, pink, footless with blue-red wings):
I feel souls, but I still need strength,
to strengthen their light within me into being.
Even though they are very close to me, they still bear witness
to thoughts that only shine for me in the distance.
How do I lift them up to my spiritual vision?
Philia:
You will see them if you quickly grasp
what illuminates them in the light of the world itself;
but when you see, make use of the moment;
this light will soon fade away.
John's soul:
What that guide's soul says to the disciple,
so close to me, dear disciple soul,
shall illuminate my soul circle.
Benedictus' soul (to Mary's soul):
In this spiritual midnight, create
the will that you want to feel again,
when the earthly power of your form arises.
Your word will shine upon the soul of your friend.
Mary's soul:
So let the word be empowered in the light of the world,
which I entrust at midnight of the world
to the soul that Lucifer brought to me.
What is dear to me in the depths of my soul,
I want to see it, want to speak it while seeing it,
so that this soul may form it into sound,
which it may feel in its being during its earthly existence
and live it lovingly.
What do I see now in the depths of my soul?
Sublime writing in flames shines upon me.
Love for the guiding soul blazes,
which has led me in earthly existence, which has led me in spirit
through long periods of time;
which always found me when the fervor of my prayers
sought it in earthly danger, even when it itself
dwelt in spiritual heights; brightly shining
appears this love to me, sound to me
the word of love to the other soul. ‒ ‒
‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒
But what flames does the word of love awaken?
They shine mildly; and the mildness radiates
sublime seriousness; flashes of wisdom twitch graciously
through the ether of the world ‒ ‒
and bliss pours joyfully
through all the expanses of my soul's circle.
O duration of time, I implore you:
pour yourself into this bliss,
and let the guide, let the other soul
now dwell peacefully with me in you.
The Guardian:
So may lightning now melt into nothingness,
which glaringly illuminates necessities,
when souls experience the world's north awake.
Let the thunder lose its sound,
which rolls admonishingly at the world's midnight. ‒
To you, Astrid, a serious command is given:
Preserve this storm of souls,
until their next world midnight
in the stream of time finds the soul awake.
It shall then stand differently before itself, ‒ ‒
behold its self in the image of older times,
recognize how, in the flight of the spirit,
the wings are strengthened even in the fall of the soul.
The soul must never want to fall;
but it must draw wisdom from the fall.
Astrid:
I want to preserve the power of lightning and thunder,
that they may remain in the world,
until Saturn inclines toward the soul again.
Maria's soul:
Lingering, I feel the bliss of the stars,
I may enter them in the stream of time.
I want to live creatively in the power of grace
with this long-connected soul being.
Luna:
I guard your work here in spirit,
that the fruits may ripen for you in earthly existence.
John's soul:
In my circle of souls—this star!
It shines with bliss, radiates grace,
a soul star floating in the ether of the world;
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
but there, — in the dim light, — another star,
it sounds softly to me; but I want to hear it.
(At the last words, the spirit of Johannes' youth appears. Angelic, silver light.)
The spirit of Johannes' youth:
I nourish your desires with life;
my breath will illuminate your youthful goals
when worlds beckon you,
into which I can joyfully lead you.
If you lose me within yourself, I must sacrifice the shadow
with my insubstantial being, living sacrifice.
You, blossom of my being, do not leave me!
Lucifer:
He will not leave you; I see
in the depths of his being a desire for light
that does not follow the traces of another soul. ‒
When these, with the radiance they produce,
strive to come into being in the depths of the soul,
he will not want to waste the fruits they must bear
in that realm
where love without beauty reigns supreme.
(Slow curtain.)