Of course, behind any analysis of this kind, there is the Eighth Sphere, which is the progenitor of all "stubbornly-persistent illusions". Thus, it is the existence of the Eighth Sphere that serves to be the benchmark for all advancements in learning, however subtle or complex. And, coercion is a big part of Eighth-Sphere ideology. Keeping the illusionary facade in the forefront of an apparently evolutionary system of human growth and development over aeons of time, under the guise of "abstractus intellectus".
“In truth, therefore, our Earth-the Fourth Sphere-is simply not what it appears outwardly to be. Were it really to consist of atoms, all these atoms would still be impregnated by formations belonging to the Eighth Sphere-which are perceptible only to visionary clairvoyance. These formations are present everywhere; so too is the spectre-like content of the Eighth Sphere which can therefore be perceived just as actual spectres are perceived. All earthly being and existence are involved here. Lucifer and Ahriman strive unceasingly to draw from the Earth's substance whatever they can snatch, in order to form their Eighth Sphere which then, when it is sufficiently advanced, will be detached from the Earth and go its own way in the Cosmos together with Lucifer and Ahriman. Needless to say, the Earth would then pass over to Jupiter as a mere torso. But man, as you realize, has his established place in the whole of Earth-evolution, for he is mineralized through and through. We are permeated by the mineralizing process which is itself drawn into this battle, so that morsels of this substance can be continually wrested from it. Therefore we ourselves are involved in the battle. Lucifer and Ahriman battle against the Spirits of Form, with the aim of wresting mineral substance from us everywhere.”
Of course, behind any analysis of this kind, there is the Eighth Sphere, which is the progenitor of all "stubbornly-persistent illusions". Thus, it is the existence of the Eighth Sphere that serves to be the benchmark for all advancements in learning, however subtle or complex. And, coercion is a big part of Eighth-Sphere ideology. Keeping the illusionary facade in the forefront of an apparently evolutionary system of human growth and development over aeons of time, under the guise of "abstractus intellectus".
“In truth, therefore, our Earth-the Fourth Sphere-is simply not what it appears outwardly to be. Were it really to consist of atoms, all these atoms would still be impregnated by formations belonging to the Eighth Sphere-which are perceptible only to visionary clairvoyance. These formations are present everywhere; so too is the spectre-like content of the Eighth Sphere which can therefore be perceived just as actual spectres are perceived. All earthly being and existence are involved here. Lucifer and Ahriman strive unceasingly to draw from the Earth's substance whatever they can snatch, in order to form their Eighth Sphere which then, when it is sufficiently advanced, will be detached from the Earth and go its own way in the Cosmos together with Lucifer and Ahriman. Needless to say, the Earth would then pass over to Jupiter as a mere torso. But man, as you realize, has his established place in the whole of Earth-evolution, for he is mineralized through and through. We are permeated by the mineralizing process which is itself drawn into this battle, so that morsels of this substance can be continually wrested from it. Therefore we ourselves are involved in the battle. Lucifer and Ahriman battle against the Spirits of Form, with the aim of wresting mineral substance from us everywhere.”
https://open.substack.com/pub/spiritlogic/p/steiner-on-the-eighth-sphere-964?r=2kbdzg&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
https://aa.usno.navy.mil/graphics/Moon_movie.gif