Rudolf Steiner Verses

52 Weeks of Steiner – Week 5

52 Weeks of Steiner – Week 5 (This is part of a weekly serial started on Michaelmas 2023. To see the other entries, please see the post linked HERE and scroll down to the bottom for individual links)

This week, while looking for an envelope, I came across this verse typed on a small rectangle of paper:

We are not granted a rest on any step;
The active man must live and strive
From life to life;
As plants renew themselves
From spring to spring,
So man must rise
Through error to Truth,
From fetters into Freedom,
Through sickness and through death
To Beauty, Health and Life
~ Rudolf Steiner

And after reading that verse, this one automatically popped into my head:

Into my will, let there pour strength.
Into my feeling, let there flow warmth.
Into my thinking, let there shine light.
That I may nurture this child
with enlightened purpose,
Caring with hearts love,
And bringing wisdom into all things.

Life is a series of lessons. Some are easy and straight forward, some are not. But when you are open to lessons, you grow. Through error to Truth, from fetters into Freedom.

These verses got me thinking…

Do we give our children enough space to grow from their life lessons?

Do we give ourselves enough space to grow from life’s lessons?

And are we worthy of imitation through life’s ups and downs?

What really speaks to me in the first verse is As plants renew themselves from spring to spring, so man must rise

So man must rise.

In my heart, I hear this “mashup” of the two verses.

We are not granted a rest on any step;
Into my will, let there pour strength.
The active man must live and strive from life to life;
Into my feeling, let there flow warmth.
As plants renew themselves from spring to spring, so man must rise
Into my thinking, let there shine light
Through error to Truth,
That I may nurture this child
From fetters into Freedom,
with enlightened purpose,
Through sickness and through death
Caring with hearts love,
To Beauty, Health and Life
And bringing wisdom into all things

Sometimes, just carrying a verse or phrase on my heart can help me pause, strive and be more conscious of my behaviour and what I add to the world. More conscious of being worthy of imitation for my children. Even though they are teenagers, they still look to me for an example of living life in this world. I must rise to this responsibility.

My aim as I live this life is to walk through life’s ups and downs with integrity and truthfulness, and I can honestly say the older I become, the easier it gets. There is a clarity that forms as you age that makes the many paths through trials and tribulations easier to see. Not necessarily easier to choose, but at least I can see the ways through! With my own inner wisdom, and community by my side for advice and support, I feel able choose my path and grow. And aren’t we all here to grow and change and develop?

We are not granted rest on any step. We are not meant to aim for perfection, but to strive to do our best.

Grow. And nurture growth.

I hope these verses stirred something within you as they have within me. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!

Until next time,
Marina