The Eighth Sphere: Evil and Devolution
Navigating from the fall into materialism to the ascent of human evolution
The Eighth Sphere: Evil and Devolution by Dr. Douglas J. Gabriel is rooted in Rudolf Steiner’s Anthroposophy and Spiritual Science and outlines a cosmological narrative where human and planetary evolution progresses through seven main stages: Ancient Saturn, Ancient Sun, Ancient Moon, Current Earth, Future Jupiter, Future Venus, and Future Vulcan. Each stage corresponds to different aspects of human development, such as the physical body, etheric body, astral body, ego, spirit self, life spirit, and spirit human, overseen by spiritual hierarchies like Angels and Archangels.
The Eighth Sphere, however, is depicted as a deviation from this plan, a realm of devolution and evil existing outside the normal evolutionary trajectory. It is described as a two-dimensional, sub-natural realm inhabited by fallen beings like Lucifer, Ahriman, Sorat, and the Asuras, who seek to lure humans into materialism, selfishness, and technological dependency. Specific examples from the book illustrate this:
Machine-World Concept: Dr. Gabriel writes, "The pseudo-alive kingdom of the machine-world that exists between the mineral and the plant realms wishes to feed on human thought, to steal it, and suck it into another world beyond the three-dimensional world. Theosophists call this world the Eighth Sphere which is a leftover sphere from the seven incarnations of the Earth. The Eighth Sphere is now a machine-world that exists in an ‘anti-human’ two-dimensional world."
Technology’s Role: Gabriel warns, "As the Asuras are stealing the will of the hypnotized user of the Internet, smartphone, or computer they suck the life-force of the user into a sphere of existence that is outside of the normal evolutionary seven spheres of Earth evolution. This Eighth Sphere is being established in a two-dimensional world that interpenetrates our three-dimensional world."
Effects of AI: "Machine sub-human artificial intelligence will do the following: Mechanize the human mind, replacing human thinking with machine sub-human artificial intelligence arising from the Eighth Sphere of devolution. Replace human thinking, feeling, and willing with mechanical devices based upon sub-human logic that consumes human soul forces and annihilates the human spirit. Pull humanity down into the sub-earthly, man-made forces of electricity that paralyze the human willpower and devolve human thinking and feeling into the Eighth Sphere."
Rudolf Steiner’s teachings, as explored in this book, build on Theosophical concepts but diverge in emphasizing Christian and Anthroposophical perspectives. The Eighth Sphere is a complex idea, with some sources suggesting it’s both the sphere of creator gods (Elohim) and a hell-like realm (AnthroWiki). This duality reflects the nuanced interpretations within Steiner’s lectures, such as those found in "The Mission of the Archangel Michael" (Rudolf Steiner Archive), where it’s described as interpenetrating our sphere due to the presence of Divine Creators.
The lecture below by Dr. Gabriel raises several questions that those seeking spiritual knowledge may ask:
Nature and Difference: What is the Eighth Sphere, and how does it differ from the seven main spheres of evolution (Ancient Saturn to Future Vulcan)?
Technology’s Role: How do evil forces use technology, like digital devices and AI, to draw humans into the Eighth Sphere?
Resistance Strategies: What can individuals do to resist these forces, such as developing higher consciousness through Spiritual Science and aligning with Christ’s love?
These questions are grounded in the book’s content, which emphasizes the ongoing battle between good and evil, with technology as a modern battleground. For example, the book warns of "weaponized subliminal programming" from digital devices, suggesting users are unaware of electromagnetic forces drawing them into the Eighth Sphere.
Douglas Gabriel explains this in the video below. To access the full lesson plan of The Eighth Sphere, click on: https://www.ourspirit.com/eighth-sphere
The Eighth Sphere and Beyond - by Douglas Gabriel
If you enjoyed this lecture, check out the others Dr. Gabriel has published inside this lesson plan about the Eighth Sphere:
8th Sphere = Ouroboros / Wisdom of the Serpent