Theosophy and Petition by Bridgette Siepker

​Module 1 of 2022 (5 to 7 August 2022)  
Theosophy and Petition

– a review by Bridgette Siepker

“As human beings we call the highest thing that we can look up to “the Divine” and we must imagine that our highest aim and calling have something to do with this divine element.” 

This quote from the introduction to Theosophy set the mood for the introduction to the weekend which Michaël gave on Friday evening. It captures the work of the weekend and it describes what we spent most of our time thinking about - just how closely we really are connected and reflect aspects of the divine. 

We were reminded that the word ‘Theosophy’ means ‘Divine Wisdom’ or ‘Wisdom of God'. If we are made in the image of God then we must surely reflect this divine wisdom of God We are therefore an image of this divine wisdom, we are Theosophy ourselves! This was a wonderful thought for many of us to contemplate. 

Michaël shared how, through the ages of time, people felt the human being to be made of three different bodies. From the ‘wise ones’ who were the authors of the Vedas to the Ancient Greek philosophers, and St Paul, the human being was said to consist of bodies veiled in sheaths all reflecting aspects of the human being who was and who was still becoming. Physical body, Subtle body, Seed Body spoken about in the Vedas or Soma, Psyche, and Essential Divine explained by the Ancient Greeks or Body, Soul and Spirit to which St Paul refers in his letter to the Thessalonians are ancient ideas that Steiner brought to life for our times in his book Theosophy. We used his seven-fold picture of the human being and sometimes his nine-fold picture and sometimes his four-fold picture, but they were always related to the ancient three-fold pictures.  

The evening ended with a Close of Day Service.


Saturday began with the Act of Consecration of Man which was followed by 4 sessions of work throughout the day. In each of the sessions we began using the framework of Steiner’s seven-fold human being. Physical Body, Life Body, Astral Body, ‘I’-Organisation, Spirit Self, Life Spirit and Spirit Human. In order to understand what is meant by these various bodies of the human being Michael presented a complementary seven-fold picture in each session. These complimentary pictures revealed different aspects of each of the bodies and led us into a deeper understanding and appreciation of the pictures that Steiner creates. It was important to begin with a general explanation of each of the seven bodies of the human being. It was wonderful to be shown how, when transformed, each of the lower bodies gives rise to the higher bodies. Astral body gives rise to the Spirt Self, Life Body transformed gives rise to Life Spirit and the Physical Body transformed gives rise eventually to the Spirit Human Being. All of this is made possible by the working of the I-organisation - a gift of the Christ. It permeates each of these bodies and weaves its transformative forces. 

Our first session concluded with a picture of the seven metaphysical trees identified by Steiner. Two of these trees we know well: The Tree of Knowledge and the Tree Life. These two trees correspond to the I-organisation in human beings and the Spirt Self respectively.  Although no in-depth description of each of the trees was given the simplicity of their names helped inform our understating of each of the bodies of the human being. 

The second session of the day began with the revealing of the seven names of Solomon as can be found in the Old Testament in the book of Wisdom. Solomon is a representative of the Human being in all its fullness at that time in history. The names he was called by all mean something and create a picture of the whole human being. It is not surprising to know that each of the seven names corresponds to one of the seven bodies of the human being in Steiner’s picture. 

These names and concepts were further explored in a very powerful clay exercise in which the whole group participated. 

In our third session we were able, through discussion and careful questioning by Reingard, to reflect on the clay exercise and find connections between the action of the clay work and the different bodies of the human being. During this discussion Michaël also spoke of the seven descriptions of qualities or characteristics of God as can be found in the Book of Revelation. By exploring their original meanings from the Greek, Michael was able to form a phrase of description that further served to illuminate the essence of each of the bodies of the Human being. 

In our final session of the day Michaël introduced the idea of Petition. It was explained that to petition is to lay claim to something that belongs to you, to take ownership of what is yours. 

In the light of all that we had received during the day in the descriptions and pictures of the Human being in the light of Theosophy and the thought that we are Theosophy, participants were encouraged to create their own petition, claiming and owning what we had discovered belonged to us all along. 

It was a very special time when we got to hear each other’s beautiful prayers of petition. 

We day ended with a Close of Day Service.

My Petition - Unfolding Theosophy

I am the Wisdom of God
In all her veils that long to embody “I”.
I hold might in my Physical existence,
Abundance feeds the life within, 
Karma that is my treasure
Is transformed on the plate of consecration
By sacrifice freely given
In the hope and faith,
That in the future,
Transformation may lead to peace,
Abundance of grace will be apparent
And I may become Gods consecrated beloved  

Sunday morning saw the participants gather together for a guided meditation before the Act of Consecration of Man. In a talk by Michaël after the Act of Consecration of Man we were able to further explore the topic of Petition in the light of all that had been discovered the day before. For those who were not able to attend Saturday, the talk on Sunday was also able to be heard and appreciated in its own right. 

Some of the points that Michaël brought for consideration that stood out for me include the fact that if we consider ourselves a reflection of the divine wisdom and in fact believe we as human beings are divine wisdom our attitude to prayer could be very different. We might mature in how we reconnect with God each day. We may not necessarily want to ask him for the things we think we need as a child might beg their parents for something they want. Instead, we might pray out of the knowledge of who we really are and who God is in relation to this creation that we call “I”.  I may truly learn to petition and to lay claim to what I can do, what I know to be my responsibilities and then to have faith that should I need anything else as I actively go about my daily tasks it will be given to me out of love and grace and I will learn to recognise the daily miracles that happen to me. Instead of asking for so much I might be more mindful of all that I have already and continue to receive. Instead of constantly seeking I may start to recognise what I already have been given. I will realise that when I knock the door is always opened. 

Many thanks to Michaël and Reingard for all the thought and care that went into presenting this weekend. 

It is also worth mentioning all the delicious food that was served and the wonderful connections that were made between participants. Thank you for these unexpected blessings.