359. The symbol shows the six basic energies and their mutual relationship to each other. As we have mentioned earlier in "Livets Bog", each of these basic energies constitutes a plane of existence. These, along with the basic energies, are indicated as before by means of the seven colours of the solar spectrum. Reading the symbol from the bottom upwards we see that two of the horizontal black lines are somewhat thicker than the other lines. These define that section of the evolutionary path which constitutes a "spiral". The other horizontal lines divide this section into six smaller sections or areas. These constitute the "spiral's" six kingdoms, the aforesaid planes of existence. The lowest one (expressed by the colour red) is the "plant kingdom", while the next (coloured orange) is the "animal kingdom". After these follow the "true human kingdom", the "kingdom of wisdom", the "divine world" and the "kingdom of bliss", shown respectively in yellow, green, blue and indigo.
      By reading these areas, or planes of existence, horizontally one obtains a general view of the different combinations of basic energies on each plane. We see that all energies are present on each plane, but in varying amounts. Each energy appears in six stages: one in which it is latent, two in which it is increasing towards a culmination, two in which it is decreasing towards a latent state and one in which it is culminating.
      In the lowest but one horizontal area – the "plant kingdom" – we see that the combination of energies appears thus: the "instinct-energy" is culminating, the "gravity-energy" is in its second stage of increase while the "feeling-energy" is in its first stage of increase. After this comes the "intelligence-energy", which is in its latent stage. Next comes the "intuition-energy", which is in its last decreasing stage. And lastly there is the "memory-energy", which is in its first decreasing stage.
      So this combination of the six basic energies together makes up the mental and physical material in which "instinct" or the plant kingdom is manifesting. Through this combination of basic energies, which are the I's sources of power, a substance arises from which the I can begin to make itself physically visible; likewise, aided by the same substance it can begin to have experiences in a physical way, although as yet this form of experience exists as a condition of only being able to sense in a vague way.
      As we can see from the symbol the plant mentality contains very little "intelligence". On the other hand it does have "intuition" and "memory". That is to say, it has an "inner world". The details within this "inner world" are "memories" or "gold-copies" from the previous "spiral". It is here in this "inner world" that the plant has its proper day-consciousness. Here it lives in a state of absolute bliss. But the plant-being is subject to strong influences from the outer physical world in the form of wind and weather, heat and cold, drought and flood, violence and injury and these gradually make its faculty to "sense" a dominating factor. And with this development of sensing, a condition begins which will become day-consciousness in animals and humans. In the plant-being, however, it is still only a condition of a vague sensing; so the nature of the plant-being's proper day-consciousness is quite different from that of animals or terrestrial man. In this kind of day-consciousness the plant-being is occupying itself with memories from a previous "spiral" and therefore this state of consciousness will be very weak compared with the day-consciousness which the new "spiral" is beginning to develop within this being.
      Therefore, it cannot really be disproved that the plant has a microscopic condition of day-consciousness with spiritual faculties from a previous "spiral". As we shall see later on, the presence of this condition is absolutely essential for the plant-being's whole development towards the state of animal and Man. The present physical manifestation, form and appearance of what is now a plant would have been quite impossible without its incarnation on this former "spiral". For what is this manifestation other than a reaction between the plant's past and its present? If no "intelligence" took place in this reaction, the plant would be a random and chaotic collection of matter. But this is the exact opposite of the actual fact. The plant's outer structure and formation is constructed in an intensely logical and purposeful way, which could not possibly have come about without the presence of "intelligence". Still further proof of the plant's survival from a previous spiral is the fact that this process of intelligent construction is automatic – that is, it happens without any particular conscious or reasoned willpower – because this automatic function of consciousness, or will, can exist only as identical with "C knowledge". As "C knowledge" can only come about as a result of "B knowledge", that is, day-conscious command of the will, and this again can only be a result of "A knowledge", which constitutes mentally aware or day-conscious experiences, then the present state of the plant-being will thus be identical with irrefutable evidence that it has had a previous awake, physical day-consciousness with a command of the will resulting in its present automatic functions. (Regarding "A knowledge", "B knowledge" and "C knowledge", refer to my book "Logic", Chapter 94.)
      For the advanced investigator, then, the plant-being has a mental life which is accessible and contributes towards proving the existence of the "spiral zone" as an absolute reality.
      The "spiral zone" is actually a section of development which consists of two smaller divisions; in one the individual experiences the culmination of "primitiveness" and in the other, the culmination of "intellectuality". On account of this, the eternal existence of living beings constitutes a continually changing mental fluctuation between these two culminations. In the intellectual part of the spiral the living being experiences so much awake conscious command of the will and actual knowledge that, when this becomes an automatic function, it can guide the living being all the way through the "spiral's" unintellectual section without any special physical brain work.
      The conscious part of the plant-being's mentality is actually supported by the energies of "memory" and "intuition". As previously mentioned, because "memory-energy" is dominating, the plant's conscious area will be its "inner world", its memories from a previous "spiral". These appear with an abundance of "gold-copying", that is to say everything which might have been dark and unpleasant in these memories is removed or dissolved – "corroded" away – leaving behind only that which is totally perfect, good and noble, so that this "inner world" is indeed a "state of bliss", a life of complete happiness and delight. Sorrow and adversity, sickness and want, hate and bodily injuries are unknown in this, the plant-being's "inner world". Therefore, only the "energy of bliss" can emanate from this being's "inner" state. It is this energy, transmitted to physical matter, which creates the "flower".
      What is a "flower'? A "flower" is the culmination of beauty in a physical combination of matter. What could be more beautiful than a "flower'? Has not the expression to "flower" become a general description for everything which is culminating? Do we not speak of the "flower" of a nation's culture or the "blossoming" of youth? The state of the plant-being on the physical plane is of such a bright and joyful nature that the term for this has become the general expression for anything which could be described as perfect, harmonious and beautiful. When we say that something is "blossoming", we take this to mean that it is culminating in the highest and best manifestation of its particular nature.
      The great profusion of beautiful flowers in meadows and gardens with their multitudinous and varied colour combinations and delightful scents is thus "intuition" and "memory" transformed into physical appearance. The vast ocean of ideas expressed by the plants' countless forms and colours are "gold-copies" from the highest creation of a previous "spiral" transformed into visible form for a contemporary world consisting of heat and cold. The physical Earth, zone of the killing principle, is thus decorated with the realistic effects of the highest achievement from a former "spiral". The "kingdom of bliss", the "world of gold-copies", thus illuminates the zones of darkness with its divine radiance. The result of a past "spiral's" intellectuality shines throughout the sphere of murderers, wars and tyrants, actively functioning, cleansed of every imperfection and following the highest paths and laws of love which the greatest minds in that same "spiral" have been able to convert into C knowledge. The highest intellectual achievements of previous worlds shine forth around us today as living realities in automatic function. This manifestation of God's love from a previous "spiral" has become a routine form of consciousness surrounding beings at the present time. It is through vegetation that worlds which would otherwise have been barren and desolate have become an expression of God's eternal radiance. We are bathed in light from the eternal Father.
      This was the intellectual aspect of the plant. But it also has a physical aspect without which this beauty would certainly not be able to manifest on the physical plane. This physical aspect is its purely material substance. The main components of this are the two basic energies, "gravity" and "feeling", which are correspondingly the same as heat and cold. These two basic energies are the leading factors in the whole of physical creation or manifestation. Everything of this kind is simply a reaction between heat and cold. We will return to this cosmic-chemical process in more detail later.
      As the plant-being gradually outlives its state of bliss, a kind of unconscious longing arises for a contrast to this state. To a certain extent this longing is fulfilled through outer influences to which the plant-being is subject in the physical world, so the plant experiences much of this as a "sense of something pleasant". But these effects from the physical world are extremely powerful and violent and consequently they are sometimes far stronger than is compatible with a fulfilment of the plant's longing. So the plant-being experiences this intensified pressure as a "sense of something unpleasant". As the plant's faculty of intelligence is latent, it cannot analyze this aspect of its consciousness. And, as mentioned before, its experience in this area is simply a "vague sensing". This, then, brings us to the first of the great basic energies, "instinct-energy".
      Having reached this state of "sensing" the plant-being begins its entry into a new "spiral". The state of "sensing" is the commencement of physical day-consciousness which is the dominant characteristic in animals and terrestrial man. So the present, purely physical state of experience in the plant-being is only at a stage of "vague awareness". However, this condition develops vigorously. The psychic state of the plant-being, its proper awake day-consciousness, is in the "kingdom of bliss", but this condition degenerates according to the growth of its physical development and consequently the plant-being becomes an individual on quite a different plane of existence. This plane of existence is the "animal kingdom". This kingdom is shown by the second lowest whole area on the symbol.