which they
were still incapable of doing during the Sun incarnation. But evolution
did not remain at this stage. Something occurred which was of the deepest
significance for all future evolution. Certain beings adapted to the
Moon-body, take possession of the element of will (the heritage of the
Thrones) which was at their disposal, and by its means develop a life of
their own, which takes shape independently of the Sun-life. Alongside of
those Moon experiences which are entirely under the influence of the Sun,
there arise independent Moon experiences, and, at the same time, states of
rebellion or mutiny against the Sun-beings. And the various kingdoms which
had arisen on the Sun and Moon, first and foremost of which was the
kingdom of man's ancestors, are drawn into these conditions. In this way
the Moon-body contains within it, spiritually and materially, two kinds of
life: one that is in inner union with the Sun-life, and another which has
"fallen away" from it and goes its own way independently. This division
into a twofold life appears in all subsequent events of the Moon
incarnation.

What presents itself to clairvoyant consciousness in this period of
evolution may be realized from the following pictures. The whole basic
mass of the Moon is formed of a semi-animated substance which at one time
moves sluggishly, at another quickly. This is not yet a mineral mass like
the rocks and constituents of the earth upon which present day humanity
walks. We might call it a kingdom of plant-minerals, only we have to
imagine that the main body of the Moon consists wholly of this
plant-mineral substance, as the earth today consists of rock, soil and
other substances. Just as now we have towering masses of rock, so there
were then harder portions embedded in the Moon's bulk; these may be
compared with hard wooden structures or formations of horn; and as plants
now arise out of mineral soil, so the surface of the Moon was covered and
penetrated by the second kingdom, consisting of a kind of plant-animal.
Their substance was softer than the general mass of the Moon, and more
mobile. This kingdom extended over the other, like a viscous sea.

Man himself at that time may be called animal-man. He had in his nature
the component parts of the other two kingdoms; but his being was
thoroughly interpenetrated by an etheric and an astral body, upon which
the forces of higher beings worked, issuing from the severed Sun. His form
was thus