The Fourth Dimension : Sacred Geometry, Alchemy, and Mathematics (Paperback)

by Rudolf Steiner (Author), David Booth (Introduction)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
“Anything dead tends to remain within the three ordinary dimensions, while anything living constantly transcends them” (Rudolf Steiner).

The point, line, plane and solid objects represent the first three dimensions, but a kind of reversal of space is involved in the ascent to a fourth dimension. Steiner leads us to the brink of this new perspective—as nearly as it can be done with words, diagrams, analogies, and examples of many kinds. In doing so, he continues his life-long project of demonstrating that our objective, everyday thinking is the lowest rung of a ladder that reaches up to literally infinite heights.

The talks in this series and the selections from the question-and-answer sessions on many mathematical topics over the years are translated into English for the first time in The Fourth Dimension. They bring us to tantalizing new horizons of awareness where Steiner hoped to lead his listeners:

“Part of the charm of the fourth dimension is that it is a geometrical concept that interests popular culture as much as it does mathematicians. In both its popular and scientific applications, the fourth dimension has had both gnostic and agnostic exponents” (from the Introduction).

Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Anthroposophic Press; illustrated edition edition (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0880104724
• ISBN-13: 978-0880104722
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #513,956 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Familiarity with Steiner is a pre-requisite, October 1, 2006

By	Nights Template - See all my reviews

I wholeheartedly recommend "The Fourth Dimension: Sacred Geometry, Alchemy, and Mathematics" to everyone familiar with the work of Rudolf Steiner. Regrettably, the previous reviewer had not studied the basic Steinerian concepts thoroughly enough to comprehend much of the rich and meaningful material in "The Fourth Dimension". First reading some of Rudolf Steiner's basic Anthroposophical books ("Knowledge of the Higher Worlds", "An Outline of Occult Science", "The Philosophy of Freedom", "Theosophy", "A Road to Self Knowledge", "Anthroposophical Leading Thoughts") will help the reader more fully understand his lectures. Keep in mind that the lectures were never intended to be published and read by the general public. Many books are available to read for free online at the Rudolf Steiner Archive (rsarchive.org).

17 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Unsatisfying, September 10, 2006

By	Inayat2012 youtube (USA) - See all my reviews

I suppose at the time this book was written, 100 years ago, that Steiners worlds seemed revelatory. But for anyone with exposure to metaphysical concepts like higher dimensions this book does not deliver.

This book was not written by Steiner but is a collection of his lectures on the subject of The Fourth Dimension. And the publishers choice of including the words sacred geometry and alchemy is somewhat misleading. Steiner is a controversial figure because much of what he talked about is hard to follow. In this book Steiner spends many lectures in which a great deal of the current lecture/chapter repeats the previous content.

In this book much of what he talks about does not agree with my own intuitive perceptions of higher realms or with what I have heard from others experiences. For instance, Steiner followed a train of thought that said that in order to go past any dimension, especially the third, that you need a kind of dimensional mirror to shortcut the limitations of the current dimension and add the next dimension. And in the case of getting past the the third dimension this lead Steiner to state that numbers in the fourth dimension (Astral realm) must be read backwards. If you see the number 782 in the Astral realm that must really be the number 287. Now keep in mind that while explaining all of his ideas about the fourth dimension Steiner never really tells you how to perceive it. There are no practices or techniques to use. Later in the book Steiner seems to either clarify or reverse himself when he says that the fourth dimension is time, something most people in metaphysics would be more likely to agree with rather than reversed numbers.

Steiner does go on to imply that animals seen outside of you in the Astral realm are really symbolic or occult representations of your internal state. This much agrees with shamanic views of power animals or spirit helpers.

The majority of the book is a series of question and answer topics. This area covers a wide range and is not organized into topics so it's a bit like a fishing expedition.

For me this was the second Stiener book I have tried to read the first being Egyptian Myths and Mysteries. While the Egyptian book had much more information or facts I was still left thinking 'so what' or 'how can that be proven' to many things Steiner claimed. I also have in my stack of books Biodynamics by Steiner and from flipping through that book it seems that will be a more meaningful book to me as I have an interest in sustainable agriculture and the spiritual forces involved.

From what I can tell thus far Steiner was greatly influenced by Goethe. So any future attempts I make into Steiner land will include either the book(s) Stiener has written about Geothe or other books by/about Goethe.

Finally, from my overall experience of Steiner, I believe he was a genuine man, sort of a prophet of his time. But as a civilzation I believe much of what he has said we have reached at least by a great deal of the metaphysical community consciously and by many of more of us unconsciously. So for most of my metaphysical peers many of the Steiner books will be difficult reading seemingly sparse of usefull information.

My final concern is that when people progress along the spiritual path there is no single version of the reality, short of the ultimate truth, that people all journey with. Though advanced souls may experience the astral plane they each do so from a unique viewpoint. So when people take Steiners views and make something like the Waldorf educational system, I take pause with some concern. I believe that there is some value in Waldorf, but like the body of Steiners works I have read thus far, I have to say that some of what I hear sounds squirrely.

So to my fellow spiritual seekers I say that I have realized that I am lookiing for spiritual nuggets to add to my understanding, not for someone to follow or model my walk on. And in the case of Steiner the nuggets in his field seems to be sparse. Be well.

P.S. If you were looking for an introduction to Sacred Geometry, the Lawlor book is at least four dimensions better.