During summer 1924, Rudolf Steiner began his lectures on karmic relationships by tackling the question of karmic predispositions that lead people into the Anthroposophical Society and movement. Ever since, when discussing the karmic groups connected to modern spiritual science, the focus has been predominantly on two streams-- "Aristotelian" and "Platonist." However, it is far less understood that, to Rudolf Steiner, his lectures on karma in 1924 were incomplete. In the final presentation of the series, he offered clear hints on the intended direction of future elaborations.

this book presents for the first time the various karmic groups in the Anthroposophical Society and movement, as laid out in Steiner's lectures and written works. This approach takes us beyond the duality of Aristotelians and Platonists toward a fourfold picture, adding the two streams of the "Novalis-souls" and "Rosicrucians," equal to the other two.

Aristotelians and Platonists represent, foremost, the dimension of insight in Anthroposophy, whereas the Novalis-souls and Rosicrucians represent the dimension of life--the moral, social, and world-changing side of Anthroposophy. By considering all four groups, we gain a full picture of the anthroposophic "circle of mystery streams"--karmic groups that are truly capable of forming a spiritual home for everyone connected with Anthroposophy.