Episode Three, Season Ten of the Thoth-Hermes podcast explores facets of Higher Worlds and the Anthroposophical traditiom. Today, Rudolf meets with Thomas Mayer, Anthroposophical teacher, author and direct democracy activist. In Thomas’s words, “you will meet the people you want to meet” which is an ongoing theme in this conversation.

Thomas “met” Rudolf Steiner at the age of 15, reading “How to Know Higher Worlds”; 44 years later, he is an Anthroposophical meditation teacher, with his partner Agnes Hardorp. Thomas recently published “Answering the Call of the Elementals” which is intended as a lively workbook to intentionally strengthen a practitioner’s connection to those Beings.

In their discussion, Thomas and Rudolf explore the path of supersensible perceptual development. Steiner’s work incorporated and influenced many aspects of esotericism; its wide-ranging impact is felt in the breadth of the interview. Topics range from the theme of the “I”/”Ich”, to organic architecture, to the Akashic records, to shadow work and the neutralization of the binary. The term “geisteswissenschaft” (“Spiritual Science”) is referenced and defined. Thomas describes the range of viewpoint diversity even within the Goetheanum as an institution, finding both more “intellectual” (scholarly, academic) thinkers and “spiritual” experiential artists. Solitary and group egregore work are weighed, with acknowledgement of their necessary coincidence. Rudolf and Thomas both note the bolster of healthy counterbalance that individual and cooperative esoteric work can provide.

Thomas recommends several foundational Steiner texts for listeners, including “The Theosophy of the Rosicrucians”. Rudolf notes that many Steiner writings are available in English, at no cost, online. Thomas enters more specifically into the ideas of the Aether plane and defines the concept of the “Elementals”. Thomas carefully notes the Anthroposophical belief that supersensible perception is available to all humans, but must be actively and personally developed. He reminds us that this is also In the context of mutual interest: that the Elementals seek human interaction as much (or more) as we seek them.

This is the cover of the book we also mention in the podcast, Thomas Mayer’s book on elementals, available in English from Inner Traditions (see link below)