Bees and the Ancient Mysteries

by Iwer Thor Lorenzen, Heidi Herrmann (Foreword by), Paul King (Introduction), Paul King (Translator)

Overview

In an extraordinary exposition, Lorenzen - an expert beekeeper and student of contemporary spiritual science - describes the 'Logos mysteries', based at the ancient temple of Artemis in Ephesus, where priestesses were known as 'Melissas' ('honeybees') and the sacrificial priests were called 'Essenes' (or 'bee-kings'). These cultic mysteries, he says, bore remarkable parallels to the workings of a bee colony - specifically in the relationship between the queen and worker bees to the spiritual 'group-soul' of the bees. Lorenzen commences his unique study with a discussion of flowers and insects, exploring their common origins. He then describes the beginnings of the honeybee, its connection with the fig wasp, and the subsequent controlled transformation of the latter that took place in pre-historic mystery-centres. Breeding the honeybee from the fig wasp - a sacred deed performed at consecrated sanctuaries - was part of the 'Fig-tree mysteries'. The initiates behind this task developed the ability to commune with the bees' group-soul and to work consciously on the mutual development of the hive and humanity. This concise but rich work features an illuminating foreword by Heidi Herrmann of the Natural Beekeeping Trust as well as a lucid introduction by translator Paul King that explains the anthroposophical concepts employed by Lorenzen in his text.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781912230198
Publisher:	Temple Lodge Publishing
Publication date:	10/01/2018
Pages:	76
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.20(d)

About the Author

Iwer Thor Lorenzen (1895-1976) was born in Harrislee Flensburg, Germany, and began his career as a teacher in 1914. While serving in World War I, he became acquainted with Anthroposophy (founded by Rudolf Steiner) through a fellow soldier. Following the war, Lorenzen returned to teaching, later moving into special education. He established a school in 1949 near Hamburg, where he remained until his retirement. Having worked as a volunteer in the Zoological State Institute in Hamburg from 1935 onward, Lorenzen was also a biologist revered, especially among biodynamic farmers, for his love and knowledge of beekeeping. He published his key work on beekeeping in 1938, followed by another nine books, as well as numerous articles on the insect and animal worlds, metamorphosis, and evolution.

Heidi Herrmann is co-founder (in 2009) and trustee of the Natural Beekeeping Trust, working in the hope of inspiring others to inquire more deeply into the nature of bees.

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

Introduction 1

Bees and the Ancient Mysteries

1 Flowers and Insects 13

2 The Origin of the Honeybee 22

3 Fig-tree Mysteries 32

4 Bee Realm and Logos Mysteries 42

Notes 55

Further Reading 58