The Time Is at Hand!: The Rosicrucian Nature of Goethe's Fairy Tale of the Green Snake and the Beautiful Lily and the Mystery Dramas of Rudolf Steiner

In 1795 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe produced his tale of tales--The fairytale of "The Green Snake and the Beautiful Lily," an extraordinary masterwork that is unique among Goethe's works. An initiatory fable of transformation, the tale arose out of the Rosicrucian, alchemical impulses that play an important role in Faust and Goethe's other writings. Among those influenced by it was Rudolf Steiner, whose mystery dramas employ similar themes.

The authors begin by placing the fairytale against the background of Goethe's life and cultural setting. They then discuss its importance in the development of Steiner's spiritual science. Finally, they describe its visual language, profound mystical insights, and relevance for us today.

The book includes Carlyle's classic translation of the tale and illustrations, plus Steiner's essay on its inner meaning. The authors offer a positive look at the possibilities of the twenty-first century. They view Goethe's fairytale as fully relevant to our time, just as it was when Goethe first wrote it.

Paul Marshall Allen (1913-1998) was an authority on the life and work of Rudolf Steiner and, as the "first American-born anthroposophic lecturer," was a leading pioneer of Rudolf Steiner's spiritual science across North America. He edited and wrote introductions for numerous books on Anthroposophy and spiritual wisdom, including his classic work, A Christian Rosenkreutz Anthology (1968), and wrote Vladimir Soloviev: Russian Mystic (1968). With his wife Joan deRis Allen, Paul coauthored Francis of Assisi's Canticle of the Creatures (1996); Fingal's Cave, the Poems of Ossian, and Celtic Christianity (1999); and The Time Is at Hand! (1995).

Joan deRis Allen was born January 20, 1931. She graduated from Columbia University School of Architecture in 1956 and practiced as an independent architect in the United States until 1968. At that time, together with her husband Paul Marshall Allen and two young children, she emigrated to England. In 1970, she founded Camphill Architects at Botton Village, Yorkshire, with Gabor Talló. Over the years her architectural work has taken her to Ireland, Scotland, and Norway. Joan now lives and works in Kimberton Hills, Pennsylvania. In 1970, she published Living Buildings, Halls and Chapels of the Camphill Movement for the fiftieth anniversary of the Camphill Move¬ment. She is author with Paul Marshall Allen of The Time Is at Hand!; Francis of Assisi, Canticle of the Creatures; and Fingal's Cave, the Poems of Ossian and Celtic Christianity.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) is a giant of German and world literature. Indeed, he coined the term Weltliteratur and spoke Greek, Latin, French, English, and Italian. In addition to its profound quality, the volume of work during his eighty-two-year lifetime is impressive. Among other works, Goethe wrote a worldwide, bestselling novel, The Sorrows of Young Werther (Die Leiden des Jungen Werthers, 1774), volumes of poetry, and several dramas, including his masterwork Faust-- a massive two-volume work that was not entirely finished by the time of the poet's death. Goethe also engaged in painting and science, from which came his Theory of Color ("Farbenlehre") among other scientific works--a collected edition that Rudolf Steiner edited and introduced as a young man (see Nature's Open Secret). Indeed, Goethe's body of scientific and philosophical works was one of the most important influences in the development of Rudolf Steiner's early work and for Anthroposophy as a whole.

Rudolf Steiner (b. Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner, 1861-1925) was born in the small village of Kraljevec, Austro-Hungarian Empire (now in Croatia), where he grew up. As a young man, he lived in Weimar and Berlin, where he became a well-published scientific, literary, and philosophical scholar, known especially for his work with Goethe's scientific writings. Steiner termed his spiritual philosophy anthroposophy, meaning "wisdom of the human being." As an exceptionally developed seer, he based his work on direct knowledge and perception of spiritual dimensions. He initiated a modern, universal "spiritual science" that is accessible to anyone willing to exercise clear and unbiased thinking. From his spiritual investigations, Steiner provided suggestions for the renewal of numerous activities, including education (general and for special needs), agriculture, medicine, economics, architecture, science, philosophy, Christianity, and the arts. There are currently thousands of schools, clinics, farms, and initiatives in other fields that involve practical work based on the principles Steiner developed. His many published works feature his research into the spiritual nature of human beings, the evolution of the world and humanity, and methods for personal development. He wrote some thirty books and delivered more than six thousand lectures throughout much of Europe. In 1924, Steiner founded the General Anthroposophical Society, which today has branches around the world.

Gisela Schlegel (1949-2009) was born during the time of year when Rudolf Steiner oversaw the Christmas Foundation Meeting in Dornach, a fact was a guide throughout her life. She served for many years as a nurse at Camphill villages and worked with Karl König and the nurses group to establish the Camphil Nurses Training. She was also a "matron" of Murtle House at Bieldside, Aberdeen, Scotland, guiding young people on the responsibilities of Camphill life. She crossed the threshold on Advent Sunday, 2009.