This collection of lectures contains Steiner's strongest statements on the issues of human relationships in a spiritual community such as the Anthroposophical Society. Occasioned by an unfortunate "scandal" involving people influenced by psychoanalysis, these lectures present Steiner's comprehensive assessment of Freud's work and of psycho­analysis as a whole.

The human being’s life alternates between the great outer macrocosm and the hidden inner microcosm. Steiner discusses the different paths of development that lead to crossing these two thresholds and the transformation of different soul-forces into spiritual organs of perception.

In Transforming the Soul - Volume 1, Rudolf Steiner describes various soul tendencies and predispositions which must be transformed in order to arrive at a healthy, mature and reliable understanding of oneself and of the spiritual realms which give rise to the world we live in.

In Transforming the Soul Volume 2, Rudolf Steiner speaks about the nature of the human soul and shows how it can be metamorphosed and raised to a higher consciousness, offering practical exercises to assist the aspirant's progress.

Previously titled: True and False Paths in Spiritual Investigation

In these lectures, Rudolf Steiner deals with the fundamental aspects of human consciousness and methods of examination of the spiritual realms. He points out how these have changed in the course of human evolutionary history, and the importance of utilizing the spiritual forces which are consistent with our own time, which is characterized by the development of the Consciousness Soul since the early 15th century, and the solar forces of Michael since the late 19th century. The dangers of using atavistic practices in order to experience psychic/spiritual phenomena are stressed.