The Paradigm-Etheric Connection
‘The American Dream’ is the phrase, the ideal we all grew up to know, in not only the United States but in other countries as well. The ideal was that if one worked hard and applied themselves a person of any religion, any race, and from any country of origin could create a society where material living standards would continually grow. Each succeeding generation would benefit from this continuous growth which would make living conditions easier and more comfortable. In the long run we would have labor saving technology which would reduce the work needed to fulfill the ‘American Dream’. For many reasons this ideal is becoming harder and harder to achieve, however, do we have to change the phrase or change the definition of the American Dream?
Until recently we all believed that an increase in the material standard of living from generation to generation was possible and I say believe because it was exactly that, a belief, or in some respect, a myth. This myth served US citizens well for many years and our country was admired worldwide. In spite of all of our negatives, the US citizens, which are made up of many religions, nationalities, and races, became the envy of the world. Most of us believed in this myth and we worked together to create such a country and this collective belief helped to create a successful society. Through globalization some of these ideals have permeated the whole planet bringing a worldwide material success in the last few decades. The direction of most countries, or even the planet, is guided by the existing paradigm. The major paradigm’s structure is situated on a base of logical points or ideas that support the ever-growing-in-complexity structure. Since the basic principles are derived from logic, the structure is molded to fit the logical base. If the paradigm is on a strong foundation each addition to the structure seems to fit with little change to accommodate the base. However in the later stages of the paradigm, when certain conditions do change, the added structural pieces do not fit as easily and require an increasing amount of molding to become part of the paradigm. When trying to harmonize additional structural parts becomes overwhelming, the paradigm is near the end of its life and it is time to examine the basic points that are the foundation of the existing paradigm.
Until recently we all believed that an increase in the material standard of living from generation to generation was possible and I say believe because it was exactly that, a belief, or in some respect, a myth. This myth served US citizens well for many years and our country was admired worldwide. In spite of all of our negatives, the US citizens, which are made up of many religions, nationalities, and races, became the envy of the world. Most of us believed in this myth and we worked together to create such a country and this collective belief helped to create a successful society. Through globalization some of these ideals have permeated the whole planet bringing a worldwide material success in the last few decades. The direction of most countries, or even the planet, is guided by the existing paradigm. The major paradigm’s structure is situated on a base of logical points or ideas that support the ever-growing-in-complexity structure. Since the basic principles are derived from logic, the structure is molded to fit the logical base. If the paradigm is on a strong foundation each addition to the structure seems to fit with little change to accommodate the base. However in the later stages of the paradigm, when certain conditions do change, the added structural pieces do not fit as easily and require an increasing amount of molding to become part of the paradigm. When trying to harmonize additional structural parts becomes overwhelming, the paradigm is near the end of its life and it is time to examine the basic points that are the foundation of the existing paradigm.
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When a paradigm is in the beginning stages it seems to flow along like water
This website explores a paradigm situated on a foundation of a different logical base. The points or legs that make up this logical base were developed by many scientists, economists, mathematicians and sociologist, people such as Thomas Malthus, David Ricardo, Dennis Meadows, Donella Meadows, Paul Erlich, Henry David Thoreau and others. As with most paradigms the logical foundation is fairly simple while the structure growing out from the base becomes increasingly complex. The philosophical paradigm is made of five points: 1) the paradigm itself (recognizing that there is a paradigm and its limitations), 2) environmental throughput (the efficiency that our industrialized society can move resources through the system--when throughput is reduced the amount of resources flowing through the system is reduced), 3) law of diminishing returns, 4) exponential growth, and 5) Jevon's paradox. The expectation of what an increase in the standard of living and what the ‘American Dream’ would be, would be completely altered if these points made up the foundation of our collective paradigm. Our human needs for more material goods to satisfy our increasing material standard of living is stretching the planet’s ability to stay healthy. In other words, the conditions have changed and the existing paradigm has come to an end. The present conditions indicate that humanity has to reduce the material needs of the upper classes while limiting the increase of material needs of the poor while at the same time increasing the collective ‘non material standard of living’. The idea of non-material standard of living has to do with lowering the level of throughput and is presented throughout the website with a few examples. This is where the term ‘myth’ comes into play. The past non-working paradigm becomes a myth, a societal structure people may have strongly believed in days gone by. Parts of the myths may have a solid logical foundation and may be incorporated into the subsequent paradigm, while other parts are discarded.
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As conditions change the flow starts to be restricted
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The flow comes to a halt
Although much of the website is based on mathematics and science there are a few articles with an Anthroposophical background. I started studying Anthroposophy over 20 years ago and it has held my interest, not always because I agreed with the philosophy, but that Anthroposophy had many points that I found hard to imagine. As the years went by and the pieces fell into place I began to develop a whole picture and to fit Anthroposophy into the mathematical-scientific picture I already held. One of the tenants of Anthroposophy is that humanity’s task on Earth is to strive towards ‘true human freedom’. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s quote, “None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free" can spark the interest to journey down the road to find ‘true human freedom’.
I began to wonder what ‘true human freedom’ is. According to Steiner’s philosophy we are spiritual beings and are here on Earth to fulfill the monumental task of successfully experiencing the physical material world. The human being is made up of the 1) physical, 2) etheric, or habit body, which is responsible for the life forces, 3) astral body, which has to do with the feeling realm, and the 4) ‘Ego’ or ‘I’, considered the director of the physical, etheric and the astral bodies. It is when these parts work together in harmony that a healthy balance is achieved. This balancing is nearly impossible to achieve and can be likened more to a striving.
In Waldorf early education a teacher is concerned with the development of the etheric forces in the young child. The repetition of daily chores helps to form a strong habit body (etheric) which is supported by the will forces that are needed to do life’s tasks in later years. Without strong etheric forces it is much harder to buckle down to accomplish academic or physical work. In the middle grades the teacher turns her attention to the developing the student's astral forces which can insure that good moral compassionate decisions are made in the future. In the High School the focus is moved to the ‘Ego’ or ‘I’ so the young adult can meet the challenge of balancing the physical, etheric and astral.
At this point I find the Anthroposophical story to get interesting. Global challenges seem to be mounting daily, and as spiritual beings are we successfully experiencing the physical material world? In other words, is the logical basis for our existing paradigm applicable to today’s needs? If the answer is yes we are successful, then there is no need to go further, however, if there is concern then taking a closer look at these forces could be helpful. Going forward it is beneficial to have developed strength in the physical, etheric, astral and ‘Ego’ forces. It is the will that pushes us along this path. Years ago I was staying at a friend’s house when her son came in and said he was bored and she replied, “I am so happy to hear that, I now know you will find something interesting to do so go back outside”. That was the end of the conversation and the boy had to engage his will and find his own entertainment rather than the parent finding something for him to do. When a young child is using an electronic device their imagination is stunted, as well as a sapping of the will. When a balance is formed it is hard to tell which force is at work. For example, a strong ‘Ego’ can direct eating habits (etheric or habit body) affecting the physical and how one feels about themselves (astral). Although all the forces are working together I want to direct the attention especially to the etheric, or habit body, which is mostly developed in early childhood. This happens not only with the help of the child’s teachers, but also with in the child’s family life, neighborhood, and culture itself. We are taught how to live in society, what to do and what not to do. We all live in society without really thinking about it and this becomes a habit. The older a person is the more our habits are ingrained and become enslaved. The collective etheric force is established and to change this collective habit it takes a great collective will force to engage the collective ‘Ego’ to make such a change. To make any change a person has to believe in the reason for making the change, hence in a whole society the population has to work to change essential beliefs.
I began to wonder what ‘true human freedom’ is. According to Steiner’s philosophy we are spiritual beings and are here on Earth to fulfill the monumental task of successfully experiencing the physical material world. The human being is made up of the 1) physical, 2) etheric, or habit body, which is responsible for the life forces, 3) astral body, which has to do with the feeling realm, and the 4) ‘Ego’ or ‘I’, considered the director of the physical, etheric and the astral bodies. It is when these parts work together in harmony that a healthy balance is achieved. This balancing is nearly impossible to achieve and can be likened more to a striving.
In Waldorf early education a teacher is concerned with the development of the etheric forces in the young child. The repetition of daily chores helps to form a strong habit body (etheric) which is supported by the will forces that are needed to do life’s tasks in later years. Without strong etheric forces it is much harder to buckle down to accomplish academic or physical work. In the middle grades the teacher turns her attention to the developing the student's astral forces which can insure that good moral compassionate decisions are made in the future. In the High School the focus is moved to the ‘Ego’ or ‘I’ so the young adult can meet the challenge of balancing the physical, etheric and astral.
At this point I find the Anthroposophical story to get interesting. Global challenges seem to be mounting daily, and as spiritual beings are we successfully experiencing the physical material world? In other words, is the logical basis for our existing paradigm applicable to today’s needs? If the answer is yes we are successful, then there is no need to go further, however, if there is concern then taking a closer look at these forces could be helpful. Going forward it is beneficial to have developed strength in the physical, etheric, astral and ‘Ego’ forces. It is the will that pushes us along this path. Years ago I was staying at a friend’s house when her son came in and said he was bored and she replied, “I am so happy to hear that, I now know you will find something interesting to do so go back outside”. That was the end of the conversation and the boy had to engage his will and find his own entertainment rather than the parent finding something for him to do. When a young child is using an electronic device their imagination is stunted, as well as a sapping of the will. When a balance is formed it is hard to tell which force is at work. For example, a strong ‘Ego’ can direct eating habits (etheric or habit body) affecting the physical and how one feels about themselves (astral). Although all the forces are working together I want to direct the attention especially to the etheric, or habit body, which is mostly developed in early childhood. This happens not only with the help of the child’s teachers, but also with in the child’s family life, neighborhood, and culture itself. We are taught how to live in society, what to do and what not to do. We all live in society without really thinking about it and this becomes a habit. The older a person is the more our habits are ingrained and become enslaved. The collective etheric force is established and to change this collective habit it takes a great collective will force to engage the collective ‘Ego’ to make such a change. To make any change a person has to believe in the reason for making the change, hence in a whole society the population has to work to change essential beliefs.
Belief in a concept can become reality as demonstrated by the placebo effect as when a patient recovers from an illness after being convinced that the sugar pill is medicine. If a habit was formed out of some logical concept it is irrelevant if the concept is real or not, it only matters if the person believes that the concept is real. Once an old habit is well established (etheric or habit body) the will forces have to be engaged to make the change. Considering how hard it is to change an individual’s habits such as poor posture, poor eating habits, smoking, etc. it is much more challenging to change major societal habits, such as a paradigm which may have been in place for hundreds of years. If we are to meet our growing global challenges the etheric body has to be acknowledged and addressed.
The Anthroposophical plot thickens when considering that the Christ impulse was the result of the preparation from the spiritual world after many incarnations of spiritual leaders throughout history. The Christ is to appear once again, but not in the physical but in the etheric at a time when humanity’s attention must be drawn to the etheric to succeed in its spiritual task. The archai (archangel) Saint Michael is the spiritual being presiding over us in this time period and he is the champion of the will forces for those of us on Earth. We have the freedom to take up the task or not, it is truly our decision. We can choose to rely on our default mode and continue our present paradigm or welcome and strive to make the changes to succeed in our task.
The Anthroposophical plot thickens when considering that the Christ impulse was the result of the preparation from the spiritual world after many incarnations of spiritual leaders throughout history. The Christ is to appear once again, but not in the physical but in the etheric at a time when humanity’s attention must be drawn to the etheric to succeed in its spiritual task. The archai (archangel) Saint Michael is the spiritual being presiding over us in this time period and he is the champion of the will forces for those of us on Earth. We have the freedom to take up the task or not, it is truly our decision. We can choose to rely on our default mode and continue our present paradigm or welcome and strive to make the changes to succeed in our task.
I recently went to a lecture and discussion on the spiritual path of the Abenaki of Vermont and their story is completely different from the Anthroposophical story, yet it resonated deeply with many of the people who attended. The Abenaki story relayed a belief that humans must care for one another and maybe this is my interpretation, but since humans can come back as a human, a plant or animal, we must take great care of the Earth and make sure we share the gifts we are given. This story insures that there is abundance for future generations. In freely overcoming our present paradigm habits and meeting present global challenges with logic and spiritual guidance we can once again establish our 'American Dream'.
It's time for a new dawn