The Transformation of Evil: And the Subterranean Spheres of the Earth

by Sigismund Von Gleich

Written in the years right after World War II, this brief book offers a powerful meditation on evil and its eventual transformation. Focusing on the realm of “subnature,” or “the subterranean spheres,” von Gleich shows how the various layers of the Earth’s interior are linked directly to the mystery of evil. The author begins by summarizing the classical image of the underworld of Greek mythology. He then describes the various qualities of the Earth’s nine layers, as elucidated by Rudolf Steiner. Finally, he outlines the counter-impulses―the forces of “good”―that work in opposition to the nine currents of evil harbored within the Earth. Although written more than fifty years ago, von Gleich’s thoughts are more relevant than ever today, when humanity is surrounded by war, violence, starvation, greed, and the phenomena of increasingly obtrusive technology. In his foreword, Paul V. O’Leary places von Gleich’s work in the context of today’s world.

72 pages, Paperback

First published November 4, 2005

Reviews

[Anthony Cowan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short booklet would be of interest to readers of anthroposophy, Rudolf Steiner, Wolfgang von Goethe, Valentin Tomberg, theosophy, Manicheanism, and the occult. The most interesting part is in chapter three where von Gleich maps the countervailing forces of goodness to each of the 9 classical layers of the Earth, each representing a specific form or originating sphere for evil.
The book contains seminal ideas for further inquiry and investigation into the relationship between human beings and forces / beings we associate with good and evil.
An idea of key relevance to today is rapidly advancing technology as a phenomenon yet to be transformed into a humanizing rather than dehumanizing and fragmenting facet of modern life.
I picked up this book at the Vesica Institute in Asheville, North Carolina, which offers courses based on spiritual science and esoteric traditions from all over the world and provides a context for this kind of research.
For anyone interested in this kind of book, I would also recommend Rudolf Steiner's "The Influences of Lucifer and Ahriman," "The Michael Mystery," "The Representative of Humanity," and "Mani: His Life and Work Transforming Evil" by Richard Seddon.