Who are the Lords of Karma?
In Anthroposophical thought, the Lords of Karma are beings are part of the higher spiritual hierarchies; Archangels, Principalities, and even higher ranks, their primary role is to maintain the balance of the universe by ensuring that every action a human takes eventually finds its resolution.
When a person dies and enters the spiritual world, the Lords of Karma help that soul look back at what they have accomplished and, more importantly, what they have left unfinished. Their presence ensures that the "I," or the eternal human spirit, remains on a path of constant evolution toward greater wisdom and love.
The Meeting: When the Soul Faces Its Truth
The encounter with the Lords of Karma does not happen immediately after we take our last breath. In the wider Anthroposophical view of death, the soul first undergoes a "panoramic review" of its life for about three days. It then enters a phase called Kamaloka, where it experiences the effects of its actions from the perspective of others. If you caused someone pain, you feel that pain as your own.
Once the soul is purified of its immediate earthly desires, it ascends further into the spiritual heights, reaching what Steiner calls the Midnight Hour of Existence. This is the most profound point of the journey between death and rebirth. It is here, in the presence of the Lords of Karma and the "Greater Guardian of the Threshold," that the soul is most awake. In this sublime state, the soul sees its past clearly and develops a powerful, holy "longing" to make amends for its mistakes. It is during this meeting that the blueprint for the next life is drawn.
Crafting the New Life: Why and How
The Lords of Karma work with the soul to translate past moral failings into future physical and circumstantial realities. This process is incredibly detailed and covers several key areas;
The Choice of Parents and Heredity
Perhaps the most startling concept for beginners is that we "choose" our parents. This choice is guided by the Lords of Karma based on karmic "magnetism". The soul needs a specific physical instrument, a certain nervous system, a specific bloodline, or a certain genetic predisposition, to carry out its work. You are drawn to your parents because their biological "stream" provides the exact resistance or support your spirit needs to grow.
Time, Nation, and Culture
The Lords of Karma ensure that the soul incarnates into a time period and a culture that align with its developmental needs. For example, a soul that was overly intellectual in a previous life might be placed in a culture that emphasizes heart-centered devotion or manual labor. This ensures that the human spirit experiences the full spectrum of earthly existence, balancing its "I" through different cultural lenses.
It is important to note also that the idea that humans "ascend up the races" is not in the conception of what Steiner said about death, this idea comes from misenterpretation and sensationalisation, not fact. The idea of incarnating "up" the races also implies that one race is higher or lower than another, which is not the case and completely the opposite of what Steiner taught.
Weaknesses and Temperament
Our "flaws", whether they are physical ailments, difficult temperaments, or psychological challenges, are often consciously chosen "medicines." The Lords of Karma help the soul weave these challenges into its new etheric and astral bodies. A person struggling with a difficult "Choleric" temperament may have requested that intensity to overcome a previous life of passivity. Even a physical illness is seen as the spirit "working through" a moral error from the past, transforming it into a capacity for the future.
The Vision Before Birth
Just before the soul descends back to Earth to begin its new life, the Lords of Karma grant it a "vivid preview." For a brief moment, the soul sees the life it is about to enter. It sees the major trials, the parents it has chosen, and the potential for growth.
Even if the coming life looks difficult, the soul, imbued with the wisdom of the spiritual world, joyfully accepts the plan. It recognizes that the hardships are the only way to "polish" the spirit. This is why, according to Anthroposophy, there is a deep, subconscious part of every human that is actually "in agreement" with their destiny, even when the conscious mind struggles to understand why life is so hard.
Ultimately, the Lords of Karma are beings of profound love. Their work ensures that nothing is ever lost and that every human being is given exactly what they need to eventually reach their highest spiritual potential. They are the silent directors of the great drama of human evolution, turning the "lead" of our past mistakes into the "gold" of future wisdom.
Further Reading
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