ttle withdraw their activity from the Moon. A time begins for
them which, viewed from without, appears to be their resting period,
whereas in reality an intense, independent activity still continues on the
Moon itself. Thus the active period of one kind of being repeatedly
extends into the resting time of another. If we take account of such
things we may speak of a rhythmic ascent and descent of forces in cycles.
Indeed, similar divisions are to be recognized even within the seven Moon
cycles mentioned. We may then call the whole Moon evolution one great
cycle, and the seven divisions, or rounds, within it, "small" cycles; and
again, the separate parts of these, "smaller" cycles. This systematic
arrangement into seven times seven divisions is also noticeable in the Sun
evolution and can be indicated during the Saturn period. Yet we must bear
in mind that the boundaries between the divisions are somewhat obliterated
even in the Sun, and still more so in Saturn. These boundaries become more
and more defined the nearer evolution advances to the Earth period.

-------------------------------------

At the close of the Moon evolution, which has been sketched in the
foregoing pages, all the beings and forces connected with it enter upon a
more spiritual form of existence. This is on quite a different plane from
that of the Moon period, and also from that of the Earth evolution which
follows. A being possessed of faculties so highly developed as to enable
him to perceive all the details of the Moon and Earth evolutions need not
necessarily be able to see what happens during the interval between the
two periods. For one possessing such vision, beings and forces would, at
the end of the Moon period, disappear, as it were, into nothingness; and
after an interval they would issue forth again from the dusky twilight of
the cosmic depths. Only a being endowed with considerably higher faculties
would be capable of following up the spiritual events which take place
during this interval.

When this interval is over, the beings who took part in the evolutionary
processes on Saturn, Sun, and Moon reappear endowed with new faculties.
Beings of a higher order than man have, by their former achievements, won
the power of bringing man's evolution forward to a point at which he would
be able to unfold in himself, during the Earth period, a form of
consciousness which stands a step higher than the picture-consciousness he
ha