When astral images arise, for instance, in pathological conditions, we must know how to deal with them. They often appear when people are delirious; a delirious person often sees all kinds of faces and forms rushing towards him, for the astral world becomes accessible to him in this pathological condition. Although these astral pictures seem to be rushing towards him, they are in reality streaming out of him. Progressive doctors should bear this in mind, for in future such symptoms will be more and more frequent, arising out of a concealed religious longing. The subject of a painting such, as for instance, the well known “Temptation of Saint Anthony” is based on such astral experiences.
Source: Rudolf Steiner – GA 100 – Theosophy and Rosicrucianism: IV – Kassel, 19th June 1907
Previously posted on September 26, 2019
The Temptation of Saint Anthony by Matthias Grünewald
Saint Anthony
Saint Anthony a.k.a Anthony the Great (c. 251 – 356) was a Christian monk and visionary
Who became, first an ascetic, and then rejected social life altogether by going to live in the Egyptian desert,
to fast and pray by himself, relying only on gifts of food from pilgrims and local villagers.
The great Rudolf Steiner Quotes Site 