The moment of death in reverse

 

Rudolf Steiner:  "For the seer, the most significant moment between death and a new birth is when the human being concerned ceases to concern himself only with his last life and begins to direct his attention to what is in process of coming into existence. The shattering impression received by the seer when, as he follows a soul between death and the new birth, this soul begins to be concerned with what is coming into being — this shattering impression is due to the fact that the soul itself at this moment experiences a severe shock. The only experience comparable with it is the coming of death in physical existence, when the human being passes over from life into being. In the other case — although it is impossible to describe it quite exactly — the transition is from something connected with a life that ended in death to experience of the process of ‘becoming,’ of resurrection. The soul encounters that which bears a new life germinally within it. This is the moment of death in reverse. That is why it is so immensely significant."

Source: February 11, 1913. GA 141