Occult Columns- Trees & Planets

When Rudolf Steiner was faced with the task of designing columns for the first Goetheanum, which was later burned down at the end of 1922, he recognized the spiritual necessity that there should be seven columns, and chose for each one a different kind of wood. Old traditions, (Celtic and Druidic lore) which associated each tree or groups of trees with a certain planet were reawakened to a new life and significance by the eye of the seer and the hand of the artist.

Jupiter & Venus columns drawn by Arild Rosenkrantz

The earth itself advances through seven conditions of evolution, which are called by the names of the seven planets, Saturn, Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter and Venus-states ...

In the year 1907 Rudolf Steiner published the collection Occult SEALS & COLUMNS ...
The pictures, based on his sketches and instructions, have been drawn and re-drawn by a number of artists ...
The seven Seals and Columns decorated the Lecture Hall at the Congress of European Sections of the Theosophical Society, held in 1907 in Munich, where Rudolf Steiner and his pupils were responsible for the arrangements ...

The designs of the seven Columns were afterwards reproduced in fully plastic form in the great wooden pillars supporting the large dome of the first Goetheanum.

SUN

Thus speaks the high-reaching
Light-flooded ash.
The Tree of the golden sun.
"O Man, be upright and noble
Waste not yourself on the worthless
Be conscious of the pure nobility
of Man."

MOON

Thus speaks the silvery moon at
May time, through the flowering
Cherry Tree.
Whose blossoms in summer,
to fruit ripen.
"O Man, like the plant, transfer
the lower to the higher
Purify the passions, grow mature
And harvest the fruit of life."

MARS

Thus speaks the knotty oak,
The servant of iron Mars,
"O Man, take root in the depths
and reach for the heights,
Be mighty and strong
Be warrior, knight and protector."

MERCURY

Thus speaks the mercurial planet
Through the living growth of
The Elm,
And through her winged seeds
"O Man, be stir yourself,
Be active, lively and quick."

JUPITER

Thus speaks the broad-leafed maple
The tree of Jupiter, to whom tin
is sacred.
"O Man, overcome the haste and hurry within you.
Seek hours of quiet
Which bring goodness and wisdom
To birth."

VENUS

Thus speaks the coppery Venus
Through the virgin softness
of Birch,
Which is delicately rooted and
drinks in the light.
"O Man, work on your soul
In Tenderness,
Admire lovingly the beauty
of the world."

SATURN

Thus speaks leaden Saturn
Through the trees of
of shaded forests
The pines, the beeches and
cypresses,
"O man, feel the responsibility
for the need of your time
and of all mankind.
With inner devotion take hold
of the work that life puts
before you."

-Johannes Hemleben, Seven Trees & Seven Planets


Verses for the Days of the Week, Johannes Hemleben (another translation of the above)


Sunday:

Thus speaks the light-filled
High towering ash
Tree of the golden Sun.
'Oh man, be upright and noble.
Waste not thyself on what is unworthy;
Be mindful of thy human dignity.'


Monday:

Thus speaks the silvery Moon in May
Through the flowering cherry trees,
Whose blossoms open to fruit in summer:
'Oh man, transform like the plant
The lower into the upper; purify thy desires.
Ripen and gather the fruits of life.'

Tuesday:

Thus speaks the gnarled oak tree
Servant of iron Mars:
'Oh man, take root in the depths,
And reach to the heights.
Be stalwart and strong.
Be a fighter,
Knight and protector.'

Wednesday:

Thus speaks quicksilver Mercury
Through the living growth of the elm,
And their winged seeds:
'Oh man, bestir thyself,
Be alert
Lively and swift.'

Thursday:

Thus speaks the maple
With its wide spreading leaves, the tree of Jupiter
To whom tin is sacred:
'Oh man, overcome haste and hurry within thee.
Seek for hours of quiet
In which goodness and wisdom can be born.'

Friday:

Thus speaks the coppery Venus
Through the virginal white-shimmering birch
Which has shallow roots and drinks much light:
'Oh man, work on thy soul
With tenderness.
Marvel at the beauty of the world.'

Saturday:

Thus speaks the leaden Saturn through the trees of the dark forest:
Through fir, cypress and beech:
'Oh man, feel responsibility for the need of the times
And the whole of mankind.
Take up with fervour and earnestness the tasks
Which life has given thee.'


Rudolf Steiner to Ita Wegman:

I hold the Sun within me
As King he leads me to the world.
I hold the Moon within me.
She preserves my form.
I hold Mercury within me.
He holds Sun and Moon together.

I hold Venus within me.
Without her love all is naught.
She unites herself with Mars,
Who speaks my being in the Word.

That Jupiter may illumine the whole
With wisdom light.
And Saturn the mature
May ray within the colours of my being.

Sun and Moon columns drawn by Arild Rosenkrantz