Early Years 1902-1912

1899/1900 Turn of the century in Berlin. Rudolf Steiner works as an author, lecturer and editor in various circles. He is looking for society structures and forms of collaboration that correspond to the spirit of the new century. The increasingly pressing “social question” cannot be resolved by conventions. It calls for spiritual individualism. Rudolf Steiner had formulated the basic idea for this in his Philosophy of Freedom, which appeared in 1894.

1900/01 Rudolf Steiner gives a memorial lecture in the Theosophical Library on the occasion of Friedrich Nietzsche’s death. After a further lecture on Goethe, he is invited to give an entire lecture cycle on “Mysticism at the Dawn of the Modern Age” in winter 1900/01. In winter 1901/1902 he speaks there on “Christianity as a Mystical Fact.” Both lecture cycles are published as books.

1902 The newly forming German Section of the Theosophical Society is seeking a General Secretary. Rudolf Steiner is chosen. He agrees to accept the post under the condition that he can act on the basis of his own research and that Marie von Sivers (later his wife) works with him. Among the 120 or so participants Rudolf Steiner finds people interested in his aim of shaping culture and society through developing the spiritual individuality in human beings.

1902-1912 Rudolf Steiner and Marie von Sivers develop the Theosophical Society in the German-speaking region. Rudolf Steiner also begins lively lecture activity on a wide range of topics around Europe.

1907 Rudolf Steiner organizes an international theosophical conference in Munich. He employs artistic elements that give an intimation of the Goetheanum he will build later.

1908 Marie von Sivers founds a publishing company (first called Philosophisch-Theosophische Verlag and from 1913 Philosophisch-Anthroposophischer Verlag). She publishes fundamental works on anthroposophy, such as:

1904 Theosophy. An introduction to supersensible world knowledge and the purpose of humanity

1909 An Outline of Esoteric Science

1911 Spiritual Guidance of the Individual and Humanity