532. Susan Raven

Nature Spirits, Elementals, and Nature Intelligence

Summary: This conversation explores the subtle beings and intelligences that, according to the guest, participate in the life of nature and the shaping of the world. It also looks at how human beings can develop a more receptive, co-creative relationship with the land, plants, and elemental realms.

Questions This Interview Explores

• How can we begin to perceive the spirit of a place and relate to it consciously?
• What are nature spirits, elementals, and the genius loci, and how do they participate in the life of the Earth?
• How might human behavior affect land, weather, and ecological healing on subtle as well as physical levels?
• What practices help develop a more receptive, collaborative relationship with nature?
• Can plants, rituals, and inner work open access to practical guidance from the natural world?

Susan Raven is a long-time student of Anthroposophy and an experienced workshop facilitator. She has worked with the methods and exercises prescribed by Rudolf Steiner for seeing into the supersensible realms and has also trained with Dorian Schmidt, director of the Biodynamic Research Institute. Susan is author of the book “Nature Spirits: The Remembrance“, featured in the Cygnus magazine, Nexus, Star & Furrow, and Caduceus.

Susan is also a singer-songwriter and has produced two CDs entitled “Glittering Cities” and “Ravensong” which are regularly played on local and regional radio stations including the BBC.

Website: susanraven.com

Book Susan mentioned near the end of the interview: Universe of the Human Body: With Gaia Touch Body Exercises

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Transcript, summary, and key takeaways from this interview

Interview recorded January 11, 2020

YouTube Video Chapters:

• 00:00:00 – Introduction to Susan Raven and her work
• 00:04:13 – Connecting with the Super Sensible Realm
• 00:09:28 – The Sanskrit Tradition and Invisible Forces
• 00:14:34 – Hierarchies of Larger and More Powerful Beings
• 00:20:36 – Collective Consciousness and Beings
• 00:25:58 – A Co-Creative Relationship with Nature
• 00:31:49 – Communicating with Nature Spirits and Elementals
• 00:37:55 – Neutralizing Knowledge and Overseeing Elementals
• 00:44:14 – The Emergence of a New Species of Human
• 00:50:18 – The Splitting of Humanity and Higher Consciousness
• 00:56:11 – Six Steps to Self-Development
• 01:01:32 – Working with the Genius Loci
• 01:06:50 – Overwhelming and Frozen
• 01:12:41 – The Role of Nature Spirits and Human Behavior in Land Rehabilitation
• 01:19:50 – Trees Sacrificing Themselves for Humanity
• 01:25:31 – The Substance of Gnomes and Elemental Forms
• 01:30:29 – The Substance of the Undines and Dreaming
• 01:35:37 – The Substance of Beings and the Circle of Life
• 01:41:10 – Accessing Solutions and Ideas from Nature
• 01:47:34 – The Wisdom of Plants and Teacher Plants
• 01:52:31 – A Chivalrous Participation in the Life of Plants
• 01:58:00 – The Power of Rituals and New Rituals for the Elementals
• 02:03:23 – The Ancient Land of Pure Wisdom
• 02:08:09 – The Arrogance of Human Intelligence
• 02:10:25 – Music
• 02:11:33 – Music
• 02:12:41 – Musical Interlude
• 02:13:49 – Music
• 02:14:57 – Musical Interlude
• 02:16:05 – Music
• 02:17:13 – Background Music