Awakening the Sword of Thought

If man is to find his way in the present age, his thinking must become courageous.  —study from Michaelmas and the Soul-Forces of Man

As the autumn winds grow, so too must our thinking. Steiner tells us that courage should be exercised by the will but it should also be exercised by thought itself. Unlike other festivals, where grace descends as a gift to humanity, Michaelmas requires us to rise up with strength as the world is confronted with dying and decay. This season is about overcoming fear and awakening the mysteries within ourselves. This means that we must avoid the temptation to let our opinions (or borrowed truths) carry us and distracting us from what is real.

Michaelmas calls us to sharpen our inner sword (the power of awakened thought). This thinking is alive and filled with light and clarity. This is not a small task—it is easier to follow familiar patterns or to accept what is already given. But to think courageously is to step beyond repeating others and into creating our own. It is to let thought become a sword and strike with its sparks of truth against the hardness of the world.

Modern man often feels uncertain when confronted with the invisible forces within himself. However, Steiner shows us that these forces stand firm with a clarity that can cut through confusion and uncertainty. When our thinking is truly awakened, it is not cold or even abstract—rather, it is a sharp sword. And this sword is not used with hatred but with light. This means our task is to let our own thought serve us through (not ego).

The images of Michael and the Dragon symbolize our own inner quest. And it is the dragon that represents the forces that drag the human being down—fear, hatred, despair, and materialistic thinking. And Michael represents the cosmic being who takes part in shaping the human destiny. He calls on humanity to awaken its consciousness, and to stand upright in courage and free thinking. Never forgetting that the dragon thrives on shallow and materialistic thought. He thrives when we become passive, empty, and faint of heart.

Today, the dragon forces are less obvious as humanity has fallen into materialistic thinking, fear of the invisible forces, and even disbelief of the spiritual forces and realities that influence us so greatly—leaving us under the sway of the forces of the dragon. The dragon himself may have already reduced our spiritual festivals to mere aesthetics and meaningless traditions. However, humanity has the courage to confront these forces directly—with the sword of clear thinking. In this sense, this festival should be taken up as a living experience (rather than following some thoughtless custom). It is a call to inner participation. Freedom can only remain fruitful when joined with courage.

And every human, no matter their spiritual path, is called to develop this courage of thought in order to meet the challenges of our time. Each person must encounter their own "dragon" through their own inner obstacles—fear, anger, confusion, and pride. To face this dragon is to recognize the invisible and spiritual forces as part of our shared reality—to see and confront these forces—rather than dismissing them and allowing them to hide.

This means that Michaelmas begins with the courage to look directly at what frightens us, to bring the invisible into the light—rather than dismiss these forces. For when we ignore or repress them, they do not vanish but they only grow stronger. But when they are seen clearly they begin to lose their grip and to see them is to disarm them. Only after seeing these invisible forces should we proceed with the sword of thought--with discernment and strength. Each thoughtful question breaks down what these forces represent. And when the sword strikes this way it is guided with the sharp clarity of our thought—but only after recognition has taken place first.

Steiner calls this the festival of humanity. For the battle with the dragon represents the awakening of our will. The battle respresents the moment we remember that courage begins with the spark within. This why Michaelmas belongs to the soul-forces of man. This season asks us to find strength when the world feels heavy and to awaken even when everything around us falls towards sleep.
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Perhaps this is the deeper meaning of Michaelmas. To awaken thought itself as a living force, so that we may meet the world with our own clarity born of inner courage, rather than settling for the security of borrowed certainty found in the material world.

Don't forget to check out my new book: What Happened on Michaelmas Day.

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Learn more about the history the Michaelmas Festival.

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Read from other blog post below.

Between the Scales of Light & Shadow

The Festival of the Inner Sun

Where Memories Grow