@ 3ffac3a6:2d656657

Recently, I found an old **Sapphire Block Erupter USB** at home that I used for Bitcoin mining back in 2013. Out of curiosity and nostalgia, I decided to try getting it to work again. I spent an entire afternoon configuring the device and, after much trial and error, discovered that I needed an older version of **CGMiner** to make it work. The **Sapphire Block Erupter USB** was one of the first ASIC devices designed for Bitcoin mining. Although obsolete for competitive mining, it can still be used for learning, nostalgia, or experimentation. In this post, I’ll show you how to run a **Block Erupter USB** on Linux today. ## 1. Prerequisites Before you start, make sure you have: - A **Sapphire Block Erupter USB** - A powered USB hub (optional but recommended) - A computer running **Linux** (Ubuntu, Debian, or another compatible distribution) - A mining pool account (e.g., Slush Pool, KanoPool, etc.) ## 2. Installing Dependencies Before running the miner, install some dependencies: ```bash sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y git build-essential autoconf automake libtool pkg-config libusb-1.0-0-dev ``` ## 3. Determining the Compatible Version of CGMiner To find the correct **CGMiner** version that still supports Block Erupter USB, I performed a **binary search** across different versions, testing each one until I found the last one that properly recognized the device. The result was that **version 3.4.3** is the most recent one that still supports Block Erupters. However, different versions of these devices may require different CGMiner versions. ## 4. Downloading and Compiling CGMiner **CGMiner** is one of the software options compatible with Block Erupters. You can download the correct version from two trusted sources: - From the official repository: [CGMiner v3.4.3 on GitHub](https://github.com/ckolivas/cgminer/archive/refs/tags/v3.4.3.tar.gz) - Alternatively, from this mirror: [CGMiner v3.4.3 on Haven](https://haven.girino.org/3b44da12e5f24f603eeeefdaa2c573bd566c5c50c9d62946f198e611cd55876b.tgz) To ensure file integrity, verify the **SHA-256 hash**: ``` 3b44da12e5f24f603eeeefdaa2c573bd566c5c50c9d62946f198e611cd55876b ``` Now, download and extract it: ```bash wget https://github.com/ckolivas/cgminer/archive/refs/tags/v3.4.3.tar.gz # Or, alternatively: wget https://haven.girino.org/3b44da12e5f24f603eeeefdaa2c573bd566c5c50c9d62946f198e611cd55876b.tgz sha256sum v3.4.3.tar.gz # Confirm that the hash matches # Extract the file tar -xvf v3.4.3.tar.gz cd cgminer-3.4.3 # Compile CGMiner ./autogen.sh --enable-icarus make -j$(nproc) # Install on the system (optional) sudo make install ``` ## 5. Connecting the Block Erupter USB Plug the device into a USB port and check if it is recognized: ```bash dmesg | grep USB lsusb ``` You should see something like: ``` Bus 003 Device 004: ID 10c4:ea60 Cygnal Integrated Products, Inc. CP2102 USB to UART Bridge Controller ``` If needed, adjust the USB device permissions: ```bash sudo chmod 666 /dev/ttyUSB0 ``` ## 6. Configuring and Running CGMiner Now, run **CGMiner**, pointing it to your mining pool: ```bash ./cgminer -o stratum+tcp://your.pool.com:3333 -u yourUsername -p yourPassword ``` If the miner detects the Block Erupter correctly, you should see something like: ``` [2025-03-08 22:26:45] Started cgminer 3.4.3 [2025-03-08 22:26:45] No devices detected! [2025-03-08 22:26:45] Waiting for USB hotplug devices or press q to quit [2025-03-08 22:26:45] Probing for an alive pool [2025-03-08 22:26:46] Pool 0 difficulty changed to 65536 [2025-03-08 22:26:46] Network diff set to 111T [2025-03-08 22:26:46] Stratum from pool 0 detected new block [2025-03-08 22:27:02] Hotplug: Icarus added AMU 0 ``` ## Conclusion Although no longer viable for real mining, the **Sapphire Block Erupter USB** is still great for learning about ASICs, testing mining pools, and understanding Bitcoin mining. If you enjoy working with old hardware and have one lying around, it’s worth experimenting with! If you have any questions or want to share your experience, leave a comment below!

@ 3ffac3a6:2d656657

# Como Rodar um Sapphire Block Erupter USB para Mineração no Linux em 2025 Recentemente, encontrei um **Sapphire Block Erupter USB** velho aqui em casa que eu usava para minerar Bitcoin em 2013. Por curiosidade e nostalgia, resolvi tentar colocá-lo para funcionar novamente. Passei uma tarde inteira tentando configurar o dispositivo e, depois de muita tentativa e erro, descobri que precisava de uma versão mais antiga do **CGMiner** para fazê-lo funcionar. Os **Sapphire Block Erupter USB** foram um dos primeiros dispositivos ASIC voltados para mineração de Bitcoin. Embora estejam obsoletos para mineração competitiva, eles ainda podem ser usados para aprendizado, nostalgia ou experimentação. Neste post, vou te mostrar como rodar um **Block Erupter USB** no Linux atualmente. ## 1. Pré-requisitos Antes de começar, certifique-se de que você tem: - Um **Sapphire Block Erupter USB** - Um hub USB alimentado (opcional, mas recomendado) - Um computador rodando **Linux** (Ubuntu, Debian, Arch ou outra distribuição compatível) - Um pool de mineração configurado (ex: Slush Pool, KanoPool, etc.) ## 2. Instalando as Dependências Antes de rodar o minerador, instale algumas dependências: ```bash sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y git build-essential autoconf automake libtool pkg-config libusb-1.0-0-dev ``` ## 3. Determinando a Versão Compatível do CGMiner Para encontrar a versão correta do **CGMiner** que ainda suporta os Block Erupter USB, realizei uma **busca binária** entre diferentes versões, testando cada uma até encontrar a última que reconhecia corretamente o dispositivo. O resultado foi que a versão **3.4.3** é a mais recente que ainda suporta os Block Erupters. No entanto, outras versões desses dispositivos podem requerer versões diferentes do CGMiner. ## 4. Baixando e Compilando o CGMiner O **CGMiner** é um dos softwares compatíveis com os Block Erupters. Você pode baixar a versão correta de duas fontes confiáveis: - Do repositório oficial: [CGMiner v3.4.3 no GitHub](https://github.com/ckolivas/cgminer/archive/refs/tags/v3.4.3.tar.gz) - Alternativamente, deste espelho: [CGMiner v3.4.3 no Haven](https://haven.girino.org/3b44da12e5f24f603eeeefdaa2c573bd566c5c50c9d62946f198e611cd55876b.tgz) Para garantir a integridade do arquivo, você pode verificar o **hash SHA-256**: ``` 3b44da12e5f24f603eeeefdaa2c573bd566c5c50c9d62946f198e611cd55876b ``` Agora, faça o download e extraia: ```bash wget https://github.com/ckolivas/cgminer/archive/refs/tags/v3.4.3.tar.gz # Ou, alternativamente: wget https://haven.girino.org/3b44da12e5f24f603eeeefdaa2c573bd566c5c50c9d62946f198e611cd55876b.tgz sha256sum v3.4.3.tar.gz # Confirme que o hash bate # Extraia o arquivo tar -xvf v3.4.3.tar.gz cd cgminer-3.4.3 # Compile o CGMiner ./autogen.sh --enable-icarus make -j$(nproc) # Instale no sistema (opcional) sudo make install ``` ## 4. Conectando o Block Erupter USB Plugue o dispositivo na porta USB e verifique se ele foi reconhecido: ```bash dmesg | grep USB lsusb ``` Você deve ver algo como: ``` Bus 003 Device 004: ID 10c4:ea60 Cygnal Integrated Products, Inc. CP2102 USB to UART Bridge Controller ``` Se necessário, ajuste as permissões para o dispositivo USB: ```bash sudo chmod 666 /dev/ttyUSB0 ``` ## 5. Configurando e Rodando o CGMiner Agora, execute o **CGMiner** apontando para seu pool de mineração: ```bash ./cgminer -o stratum+tcp://seu.pool.com:3333 -u seuUsuario -p suaSenha ``` Se o minerador detectar corretamente o Block Erupter, você verá algo como: ``` [2025-03-08 22:26:45] Started cgminer 3.4.3 [2025-03-08 22:26:45] No devices detected! [2025-03-08 22:26:45] Waiting for USB hotplug devices or press q to quit [2025-03-08 22:26:45] Probing for an alive pool [2025-03-08 22:26:46] Pool 0 difficulty changed to 65536 [2025-03-08 22:26:46] Network diff set to 111T [2025-03-08 22:26:46] Stratum from pool 0 detected new block [2025-03-08 22:27:02] Hotplug: Icarus added AMU 0 ``` ## Conclusão Apesar de não serem mais viáveis para mineração real, os **Sapphire Block Erupter USB** ainda são ótimos para aprender sobre ASICs, testar pools e entender mais sobre a mineração de Bitcoin. Se você gosta de hardware antigo e tem um desses guardado, vale a pena experimentar! Se tiver dúvidas ou quiser compartilhar sua experiência, comente abaixo!

@ ffbcb706:b0574044

I recently switched from stock Android on my Pixel 8 Pro to GrapheneOS and transitioned from Authy to Aegis to move away from Big Tech and embrace open-source and privacy-focused alternatives. While Aegis offers local encrypted backups, I noticed it lacked external automatic sync, and I wanted to be sure that I could still access my 2FA tokens even if I lost my phone, without having to remember to back up Aegis externally every time I added a new 2FA entry. Additionally, because many commands need to be run in Termux, I found it useful to use Scrcpy to control my Android device from my Ubuntu desktop. Scrcpy requires ADB and allows easy copy-paste functionality between Ubuntu and Android. I used ALT + V in Ubuntu scrcpy and then long-pressed the screen on my Pixel and selected 'Paste' to copy text easily. This is an optional but highly useful method for managing terminal commands efficiently. This guide will walk you through setting up rclone and Termux:Boot to enable seamless Aegis backup automation on GrapheneOS. While I use GrapheneOS, this setup should work on most modern Android versions. ## Prerequisites Before starting, make sure you have: - **GrapheneOS installed** on your Google Pixel Android device (Pixel 8 Pro in my case). - **Aegis Authenticator** installed with automatic backup enabled. - **Proton Drive account** ready. - **Obtainium installed** or an alternative such as F-droid to manage Termux updates securely. - **Termux & Termux:Boot installed via Obtainium**: - Termux: [https://github.com/termux/termux-app/releases](https://github.com/termux/termux-app/releases) - Termux:Boot: [https://github.com/termux/termux-boot/releases](https://github.com/termux/termux-boot/releases) - **Scrcpy installed** (optional, for easier command handling): - Install on Ubuntu: `sudo apt install scrcpy` - Ensure **ADB is enabled** on your Android device. ## Step 1: Install Required Packages and Set Up the Backup Folder Open Termux and install the required tools: ```sh pkg update && pkg upgrade -y pkg install rclone inotify-tools termux-api ``` Grant **storage permissions** to Termux: ```sh termux-setup-storage ``` Create the **ProtonSync** directory where all files to be backed up will be stored, including Aegis backups: ```sh mkdir -p /storage/emulated/0/ProtonSync/Aegis/ ``` Ensure the directory exists: ```sh ls /storage/emulated/0/ProtonSync/Aegis/ ``` If this returns an empty result (instead of an error), you are ready to proceed. ## Step 2: Configure rclone for Proton Drive Since August 2024, Proton Drive has been available as a dedicated backend in rclone ([official documentation](https://rclone.org/protondrive/)). However, this integration is still evolving, as it relies on a **proton-api-bridge** that is under active development. Run: ```sh rclone config ``` Follow the prompts: 1. Choose **"n"** for a new remote. 2. Name it: `protondrive` 3. Select **Proton Drive** from the list. 4. Enter your **Proton username and password**. 5. If 2FA is enabled, enter the current code from your authenticator app. 6. Confirm and save the remote configuration. Test the setup by listing files: ```sh rclone lsd protondrive: ``` If you see your Proton Drive folders, the connection works. ## Step 3: Automate Sync with inotify-tools We will set up a script to **monitor new Aegis backup files** and sync them instantly. 1. Manually trigger a backup in Aegis first, to ensure a file is created. You can do this in Aegis → Settings → Backups → Trigger backup. 2. Create the sync script directly in the Termux:Boot directory: ```sh mkdir -p ~/.termux/boot/ nano ~/.termux/boot/watch_protonsync.sh ``` 3. Add this content: ```sh #!/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/bin/bash inotifywait -m -r -e close_write,moved_to,create /storage/emulated/0/ProtonSync/Aegis/ --format '%w%f' | while read file do rclone sync /storage/emulated/0/ProtonSync/Aegis/ protondrive:/ProtonSync/Aegis/ -P done ``` 4. Save and exit (`CTRL + X`, `Y`, `ENTER`). 5. Make it executable: ```sh chmod +x ~/.termux/boot/watch_protonsync.sh ``` Run it manually to test: ```sh bash ~/.termux/boot/watch_protonsync.sh & ``` Now, whenever Aegis creates a new backup file, it will automatically sync to Proton Drive. ## Step 4: Test Auto-Start with Termux:Boot 1. Reboot your phone. 2. Open Aegis and manually trigger a backup (`Settings → Backups → Trigger backup`). 3. Check Proton Drive under `/ProtonSync/Aegis/` to confirm that the new backup appears. If the file is there, the automation works! 🎉 I would advice to keep an eye regularly at the Proton Drive to check if the automation is still working.

@ 2cb8ae56:84d30cba

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@ 15125b37:e89877f5

## The story of Bitcoin from genesis to exodus ##### Welcome to "Becoming One with Bitcoin," a new series inviting you to delve deep into the captivating story of Bitcoin. From its origins in the Cypherpunk movement, the technology that set the stage, to its present and future potential—this journey will unravel Bitcoin’s past, present, and future. Follow closely to explore how this revolutionary digital currency came to be and why it continues to shape the world. --- # The History of Bitcoin, Part 1: From Cypherpunks to the Genesis Block ## The Story of Bitcoin: The Road to the Genesis Block ##### The creation of Bitcoin in 2009 was not an isolated event but the result of decades of innovation, idealism, and frustration. Bitcoin’s emergence during the depths of the Great Recession and the financial collapse that triggered it was no coincidence. Many of the technologies and philosophies that formed the backbone of Bitcoin had been developed by visionaries and cryptography enthusiasts, but it was the perfect storm of economic turmoil that set the stage for Bitcoin’s release. Let’s explore the journey that led to Bitcoin’s genesis block, from the early work of the Cypherpunks to the breakdown of trust in traditional financial institutions. #### The Cypherpunks and the Push for Privacy Bitcoin’s roots extend back to the Cypherpunk movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Cypherpunks, such as David Chaum, Eric Hughes, Tim May, and others, were privacy advocates concerned with government and corporate power over personal information. The Cypherpunks believed cryptography could protect privacy and enable individual freedom in an increasingly digital world. They championed the idea that technology—specifically cryptographic code—could ensure privacy, autonomy, and even freedom from centralized control. [Tim May’s Crypto Anarchist Manifesto](https://groups.csail.mit.edu/mac/classes/6.805/articles/crypto/cypherpunks/may-crypto-manifesto.html) (1992) laid out a vision for an unregulated digital space where individuals could interact freely, a powerful idea that became a driving force for the movement. #### Digital Currency Projects Before Bitcoin From the 1990s to the early 2000s, Cypherpunks and computer scientists tried to build digital currencies that could offer users privacy and independence, but most of these projects faced major technical or regulatory challenges. Here are some of the key projects that paved the way for Bitcoin: 1. [David Chaum’s DigiCash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DigiCash) – David Chaum, a cryptographer and Cypherpunk, launched DigiCash in the late 1980s. This private, digital currency used Chaum’s cryptographic protocol to allow users to make secure, untraceable transactions. However, DigiCash was centralized, depending on trust in Chaum’s company, which eventually went bankrupt. 2. [Hashcash by Adam Back](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashcash) – In 1997, Adam Back introduced Hashcash, a proof-of-work system aimed at reducing email spam. Hashcash required users to expend computational power to “stamp” emails, making spamming expensive but legitimate communication cheap. This concept would later become Bitcoin’s mining mechanism. 3. [B-money by Wei Dai](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/B-money) – In 1998, Wei Dai proposed B-money, an anonymous, distributed electronic cash system. Though never implemented, B-money included ideas like decentralized consensus and pseudonymous identities, concepts later foundational to Bitcoin. 4. [Bit Gold by Nick Szabo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Szabo#Bit_gold) – Nick Szabo created Bit Gold in 2005, a system where users solved cryptographic puzzles and linked each solution to the previous one, forming a “chain” of transactions. Though Bit Gold never launched, Szabo’s work significantly influenced Bitcoin’s proof-of-work blockchain. While each of these projects contributed to the understanding of cryptographic currency, they lacked the cohesion to achieve true decentralization and resilience.  [Grab a Blockstream Jade today](https://store.blockstream.com/?code=CoSatoshi821) #### The Financial Crisis and a Perfect Storm Bitcoin’s release in January 2009 came as the world was reeling from the 2008 financial crisis. Years of risky mortgage lending and poor regulatory oversight had led to the collapse of the U.S. housing bubble, which spiraled into a full-scale financial meltdown. When major financial institutions like Lehman Brothers failed, stock markets crashed, and millions of people lost their homes and jobs, the world entered what would become known as the Great Recession. In response, governments stepped in with massive bank bailouts, injecting trillions into the financial system to prevent a complete collapse. However, the bailouts sparked widespread anger as it became clear that the financial elite had been insulated from the consequences of their actions while average citizens bore the economic fallout. Many people saw the bailout as a betrayal, eroding trust in banks, corporations, and governments. The crisis was compounded by a rise in inflation as central banks printed money to stimulate the economy, reducing the purchasing power of the average person. This situation created fertile ground for an alternative financial system, one that didn’t rely on banks or governments and was resistant to inflation. Into this backdrop, Bitcoin emerged as a decentralized and limited-supply currency, a stark contrast to the inflating fiat currencies and the bailout culture of centralized finance. #### The Key Technologies Behind Bitcoin Several innovations allowed Bitcoin to succeed where previous digital currencies had failed by integrating them into a resilient, secure system: 1. [Cryptographic Hash Functions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptographic_hash_function) – Cryptographic hashes ensure Bitcoin transactions are secure, irreversible, and tamper-resistant. SHA-256, the hash function used in Bitcoin, transforms transaction data into fixed-length hashes, securing each block and linking it to the previous one in the blockchain. 2. [Proof-of-Work (PoW)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proof_of_work) – Borrowed from Adam Back’s Hashcash, proof-of-work ensures new blocks in Bitcoin’s blockchain are legitimate by requiring miners to solve complex puzzles. PoW prevents double-spending and spam attacks, making it costly for bad actors to manipulate the blockchain. 3. [Digital Signatures (ECDSA)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliptic_Curve_Digital_Signature_Algorithm) – Bitcoin relies on the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) to authenticate users and secure transactions. Public and private keys enable users to sign transactions, proving ownership without revealing private keys. 4. [P2P Network Architecture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peer-to-peer) – Bitcoin uses a decentralized peer-to-peer network to distribute the blockchain. Bitcoin nodes independently verify transactions, maintaining a censorship-resistant ledger that can’t be shut down by any single authority. #### Satoshi Nakamoto and the Genesis Block In 2008, Satoshi Nakamoto published the [Bitcoin whitepaper](https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf), introducing Bitcoin as a “peer-to-peer electronic cash system” designed to fix the flaws of traditional financial systems. Using cryptographic principles, Nakamoto created a currency that could operate without centralized control, allowing users to send and receive payments directly. On January 3, 2009, Satoshi mined Bitcoin’s first block, the genesis block, embedding a now-famous message: “[The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks.](https://mempool.space/block/000000000019d6689c085ae165831e934ff763ae46a2a6c172b3f1b60a8ce26f)” This line, referencing a headline from The Times newspaper, was a critique of the traditional financial system, reflecting Bitcoin’s intent as a resilient alternative to inflation-prone fiat currencies and bailout-dependent banks. In this moment, the genesis block symbolized a vision for financial sovereignty, with Bitcoin offering a form of money that anyone, anywhere, could use free from reliance on central banks. #### In Summary The story of Bitcoin is one of resilience, innovation, and idealism, shaped by cryptographers, computer scientists, and privacy advocates who were determined to create a decentralized, censorship-resistant currency. Its timing, born in the aftermath of the financial crisis, was pivotal. Bitcoin was not just a technological breakthrough but a statement against the status quo of centralized finance. As we trace Bitcoin’s journey from the Cypherpunk movement to the genesis block, it becomes clear that Bitcoin’s impact is not just about technology; it’s about the vision of financial freedom and privacy in an age of uncertainty and inflation.

@ ba4c81e5:9f6817da

# Rudolf Steiner on the Origins and Role of Ahriman ##### A Symposium Generated by ChatGPT 4.o Deep Research ## Origins and Cosmic Emergence of Ahriman **Ahriman** (a name Steiner adopted from the Zoroastrian spirit of darkness) is described in anthroposophy as an actual spiritual being – the second great adversarial force alongside Lucifer. Steiner taught that Ahriman’s origin lies in certain exalted spiritual beings who **deviated from the normal divine evolutionary path** in the distant past. In a 1921 lecture, he said that some spirits who should have risen into the highest ranks of the spiritual hierarchies (the Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones) **“have remained behind. They have not entered these hosts, they have only become Spirits of Wisdom.”** In other words, these beings stopped short at a lower hierarchy instead of advancing as intended ([Ahrimanic beings and their influences - Anthroposophy](https://anthroposophy.eu/Ahrimanic_beings_and_their_influences#:~:text=occult%20gaze%20to%20the%20hosts,tear%20him%20away%20from%20the)). Steiner identifies these particular abnormal beings as **“the Ahrimanic Beings”**, explaining that they wish to **“begin quite a new creation on the earth”** based solely on the mineral-material realm, wiping out all influence of the cosmic past ([Ahrimanic beings and their influences - Anthroposophy](https://anthroposophy.eu/Ahrimanic_beings_and_their_influences#:~:text=Elohim%2C%20they%20do%20not%20need,gained%20directly%20on%20the%20Earth)). In essence, Ahriman represents a cluster of powerful intelligences that broke away from the normal stream of evolution and seek to **establish an alternate, purely material trajectory** for creation. Steiner also indicated that **Ahrimanic spirits come from various ranks of spiritual beings** rather than a single order. In an early lecture Q&A, he explained that **“the Ahrimanic entities are recruited from the most diverse hierarchies; for example, some remained behind on the [Old] Sun, others on the [Old] Moon… [They] recruit themselves from the Archangels up to the Powers.”** These **“Mephistophelian or Ahrimanic”** beings, he added, have an even stronger **will toward evil** than the Luciferic beings ([Questions And Answers I - Vol. 110. Spiritual Hierarchies Q & A - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA110/English/SOL2024/19090421p01.html#:~:text=,luciferic%20ones%3B%20they%20recruit%20themselves)). In Steiner’s cosmology, then, Ahriman is not a normally evolved god but a **being (or host of beings) that originated through a *departure* from the intended spiritual evolution** – a retarded or fallen hierarchy that first entered human evolution as forces of hindrance. Steiner traced the first major intervention of Ahrimanic powers to the **Atlantean epoch** (the period before the great flood in his esoteric history). He taught that **during Atlantis it was the “spirits of Ahriman or Mephistopheles” who opposed humanity’s progress**, just as Luciferic spirits had done in the earlier Lemurian epoch ([I. The Deed of Christ and the Opposing Spiritual Powers. Lucifer, Ahriman, Asuras - GA 107. The Deed of Christ and the Opposing Spiritual Powers (1954) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA107/English/AP1954/19090322p01.html#:~:text=In%20the%20Lemurian%20epoch%E2%80%94the%20first,not%20be%20confused%20with%20%E2%80%9CLucifer%E2%80%9D)). (Steiner even equated these Ahrimanic spirits with the being medieval tradition calls *Satan*, to distinguish them from Lucifer ([I. The Deed of Christ and the Opposing Spiritual Powers. Lucifer, Ahriman, Asuras - GA 107. The Deed of Christ and the Opposing Spiritual Powers (1954) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA107/English/AP1954/19090322p01.html#:~:text=that%20time%20were%20striving%20to,not%20be%20confused%20with%20%E2%80%9CLucifer%E2%80%9D)).) Thus, from humanity’s earliest chapters, Ahriman’s forces were active as **cosmic counter-currents**, arising from beings who **“remained behind”** and turned their influence toward obstructing and re-routing human development. ## Ahriman and Lucifer: Contrasting Roles in Evolution Steiner consistently emphasized that **Ahriman and Lucifer are two distinct spiritual adversaries** with opposite qualities and aims. Neither corresponds exactly to the devil of orthodox religion – instead they are **polar forces pulling humanity in different erroneous directions** (with Christ as the balancing center in Steiner’s Christian esoteric view). **Lucifer** is the tempter who draws humanity **“away from the earth”** into pride, illusion, and a premature, otherworldly spirituality. **Ahriman**, by contrast, **hardens humanity into materialism** and intellectual coldness, binding us too strongly to the earth. Steiner described their divergent goals vividly: **“The Ahrimanic beings seek to free man together with the whole of earth-existence from the cosmic past and to *conserve the earthly*. The Luciferic beings strive to thrust away the earth – thrust away from man everything earthly – and spiritualize him entirely…”** ([II. Lucifer and Ahriman - GA 184. The Cosmic Prehistoric Ages of Mankind (1974) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA184/English/UNK1965/19180921p01.html#:~:text=described,They)). In other words, Ahriman wants to cut humanity off from our spiritual origins and **fixate us in the physical realm**, effectively making the Earth an isolated, wholly material cosmos. Lucifer, on the other hand, hates the earthly realm as “evil” and tries to dissolve our ties to it, pushing us to live as if we were purely cosmic spirits. Steiner continues: **“Whereas Ahriman wants the earth to become an independent entity and man’s whole world, the Luciferic beings strive towards the opposite goal… to lift humanity into the realm where they themselves exist, the pure world of duration.”** ([II. Lucifer and Ahriman - GA 184. The Cosmic Prehistoric Ages of Mankind (1974) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA184/English/UNK1965/19180921p01.html#:~:text=what%20the%20Ahrimanic%20beings%20desire,humanity%20to%20be%20lifted%20into)) This dynamic means **Lucifer and Ahriman exert opposite influences on the human being**. Luciferic forces inspire a kind of ecstatic mysticism, egotistical enlightenment, or *false light* that ignores practical reality (for example, they “endeavour to crush down man’s free will” and make intelligence automatic ([II. Lucifer and Ahriman - GA 184. The Cosmic Prehistoric Ages of Mankind (1974) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA184/English/UNK1965/19180921p01.html#:~:text=duration,automatically%2C%20as%20among%20the%20Hierarchy))). Ahrimanic forces, in contrast, inspire **cleverness, rigid intellect, and a one-sided focus on material facts**, lacking any cosmic wisdom. Steiner said Ahriman’s cohorts **“want, on the contrary, to cultivate most specially human intellect… increasingly dependent on the whole earth-existence. They want, moreover, to develop intensively man’s individual will – precisely all that the Luciferic beings wish to repress.”** ([II. Lucifer and Ahriman - GA 184. The Cosmic Prehistoric Ages of Mankind (1974) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA184/English/UNK1965/19180921p01.html#:~:text=The%20beings%20who%20flock%20round,many%20things%20through%20his%20own)) In Steiner’s view, the human being stands **in the middle of these two opposing currents**, tempted on one side by Lucifer’s otherworldly pride and on the other by Ahriman’s earthly cleverness and denial of spirit ([II. Lucifer and Ahriman - GA 184. The Cosmic Prehistoric Ages of Mankind (1974) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA184/English/UNK1965/19180921p01.html#:~:text=experience%20enters%20only%20in%20later,equilibrium%20between%20the%20two%20currents)). **Maintaining balance** between them is crucial. Steiner even mapped these forces to physical tendencies: the **Luciferic** tends to make forms **too light, fluid, and “evaporating”**, whereas the **Ahrimanic** tendency is to **harden and petrify forms** ([II. Lucifer and Ahriman - GA 184. The Cosmic Prehistoric Ages of Mankind (1974) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA184/English/UNK1965/19180921p01.html#:~:text=And%20such%20perception%2C%20such%20cosmic,The%20human%20head%20with)) ([II. Lucifer and Ahriman - GA 184. The Cosmic Prehistoric Ages of Mankind (1974) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA184/English/UNK1965/19180921p01.html#:~:text=comes%20from%20Ahriman%3B%20the%20tendency,He%20would%20be%20entirely)). In sum, **Lucifer represents the extreme of spiritual delusion, Ahriman the extreme of materialistic ensnarement**. Steiner’s teachings portray human evolution as a kind of tightrope walk, navigating between Lucifer’s lure of *illusory spirituality* and Ahriman’s pull into *soulless materialism*. ## Influence on Human History and Development Steiner attributed many developments in human consciousness and culture to the alternating influences of Luciferic and Ahrimanic forces. **In early epochs**, Lucifer’s influence was stronger – for example, **in the Lemurian age** Steiner said Luciferic beings “intervened” by awakening premature clairvoyant wisdom and pride in humanity ([I. The Deed of Christ and the Opposing Spiritual Powers. Lucifer, Ahriman, Asuras - GA 107. The Deed of Christ and the Opposing Spiritual Powers (1954) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA107/English/AP1954/19090322p01.html#:~:text=In%20the%20Lemurian%20epoch%E2%80%94the%20first,not%20be%20confused%20with%20%E2%80%9CLucifer%E2%80%9D)). By the **Atlantean epoch**, Ahrimanic powers rose to prominence, introducing hardened intellect and sorcery that eventually contributed to Atlantis’s downfall (Steiner often alluded to the biblical image of *“the sons of the gods”* interbreeding with human daughters in Atlantis as a sign of this Ahrimanic corruption). After the Atlantean cataclysm, as post-Atlantean civilizations unfolded, **the pendulum of influence continued to swing**. Steiner indicated that **ancient pagan cultures drew on Luciferic wisdom** – a dreamy, clairvoyant knowledge inherited from the **“Lucifer-incarnation”** (an event Steiner placed in the third millennium BC, when a high Luciferic being took human form in East Asia to inspire early spiritual knowledge) ([Lecture I - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191101p02.html#:~:text=was%20understood%20at%20first%20by,been%20the%20incarnation%20of%20Lucifer)) ([Lecture I - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191101p02.html#:~:text=evolution%20has%20also%20contained%20within,from%20which%20to%20confront%20it)). This **“primeval wisdom”** gave the ancient world profound cosmic insights but little moral impulse. By contrast, **the modern age (particularly after the 15th century)** has come increasingly under **Ahriman’s influence**, which Steiner saw in the rise of materialistic science and a society focused solely on physical progress. Steiner often pointed to **hallmarks of Ahriman’s impact** on human development. One major sign is the **dominance of a purely materialistic, intellectual worldview** since the scientific revolution. He noted the **“spread of the belief that the mechanistic, mathematical conceptions inaugurated by Galileo, Copernicus and others, explain what is happening in the cosmos”** as a quintessential Ahrimanic influence ([Lecture I - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191101p02.html#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20developments%20in,purpose%20of%20ascertaining%20the%20material)). Modern people pride themselves on reducing nature to quantitative laws and chemical processes, viewing the universe as a giant machine – and **“it would augur success for Ahriman’s temptings if men were to persist”** in this approach alone ([Lecture I - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191101p02.html#:~:text=by%20Galileo%2C%20Copernicus%20and%20others%2C,purpose%20of%20ascertaining%20the%20material)). Steiner argued that **Ahriman works to keep humanity **“obtuse”** to the spiritual dimensions of existence**, encouraging us to reject any knowledge of soul or spirit. **“Woe betide if [Copernican astronomy] is not confronted by the knowledge that the cosmos is permeated by soul and spirit,”** he warned, **for *“it is this knowledge that Ahriman… wants to withhold from men. He would like to keep them so obtuse that they can grasp only the mathematical aspect of astronomy.”*** ([Lecture I - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191101p02.html#:~:text=spirit%20and%20soul%20must%20be,He%20would%20like)) In Steiner’s analysis, the **materialistic science and skepticism of modern times** – which disdains consciousness or divinity as illusion – is **driven by Ahrimanic forces** maneuvering behind the scenes ([Lecture I - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191101p02.html#:~:text=the%20cosmos%20is%20permeated%20by,is%20sufficient%20if%20the%20economic)). Beyond science, **social and economic life** also show Ahriman’s imprint. Steiner observed, for instance, that Ahriman (working in tandem with Lucifer at times) seeks to **entrench the attitude “that for the public welfare it is sufficient if the economic and material needs of men are provided for.”** This means fostering societal systems that care only for physical comfort and wealth, while dismissing cultural or spiritual needs ([Lecture I - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191101p02.html#:~:text=to%20keep%20them%20so%20obtuse,Official%20science%20nowadays%20contributes%20nothing)). In modern civilization, **anything truly spiritual or idealistic tends to be met with scorn** – an attitude Steiner saw as the result of Ahrimanic inspiration making people *only* ask, *“What is the practical use? How will it help me materially?”* in the face of higher ideals ([Lecture I - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191101p02.html#:~:text=willingly%20faced%20in%20modern%20life,for%20a%20career%2C%20in%20other)). Even certain tendencies in religious life can turn Ahrimanic: Steiner gave the example that a *rigid, literalist* approach to scripture (ignoring the living spiritual truth behind it) **“promotes Ahrimanic culture”** by deadening spiritual life into mere external form ([Lecture III - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191104p02.html#:~:text=Equally%20we%20shall%20be%20convinced,truths%20enshrined%20in%20the%20Gospels)). Overall, Steiner portrayed **Ahriman’s influence on history as a double-edged sword**. On one hand, it has given humanity great gifts – **sharp intellect, technological power, mastery over material forces** – which are crucial for human freedom and progress. On the other hand, these gifts come with the temptation to deny our spiritual origin and destiny. If unbalanced by spiritual awareness, the Ahrimanic impulse can lead to **moral emptiness, environmental destruction, and a “hardened” future**. Steiner often reminded his listeners that **the challenges of modern materialism are in fact the workings of Ahriman** – a cosmic tempter pushing humanity to either awaken spiritually in response or succumb to a one-sided earthly existence. ## Ahriman’s Future Role in Human Evolution Looking ahead, Rudolf Steiner made **startling predictions about Ahriman’s direct role in the future**. He asserted that Ahriman would **incarnate in a physical human form** in the modern West, much as Lucifer had incarnated in antiquity and Christ incarnated in Jesus of Nazareth. Steiner placed this event in the relatively near future – **“before only a part of the third millennium [AD] has elapsed, there will be, in the West, an actual incarnation of Ahriman: Ahriman in the flesh.”** ([Lecture I - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191101p02.html#:~:text=evolution%20has%20also%20contained%20within,from%20which%20to%20confront%20it)) According to Steiner, this **Ahrimanic incarnation is inevitable** – an ordained encounter that humanity **“cannot escape… It will come inevitably.”** However, the crucial question is how we meet this event. *“What matters is that men shall find the right vantage-point from which to confront it,”* Steiner stressed ([Lecture I - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191101p02.html#:~:text=was%20an%20incarnation%20of%20Lucifer,from%20which%20to%20confront%20it)). In other words, Ahriman’s appearance can either lead to calamity through deception, or to growth and clarity, depending on human preparation. Steiner **urged humanity to become conscious of Ahriman’s tactics** in advance, so that we are not taken by surprise. *“A Being like Ahriman, who will incarnate in the West, prepares for this incarnation in advance,”* he taught, actively guiding trends in evolution to favor his emergence ([Lecture I - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191101p02.html#:~:text=Whenever%20preparation%20is%20being%20made,the%20preparation%20that%20is%20being)). If people **remain ignorant** of the spiritual context, Ahriman would prefer to **“slink into a humanity unaware of his coming”**, for nothing would please him more than to incarnate unrecognized ([Lecture I - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191101p02.html#:~:text=It%20would%20undoubtedly%20be%20of,must%20be%20brought%20to%20light)). Steiner warned that it would **“be of the greatest benefit to Ahriman”** if the vast majority of humans accept the Ahrimanic influence as normal and even *“progressive,”* not noticing its dangers ([Lecture I - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191101p02.html#:~:text=It%20would%20undoubtedly%20be%20of,must%20be%20brought%20to%20light)). To counter this, Steiner said, **we must learn to identify and neutralize Ahriman’s “preparatory” influences** in contemporary life ([Lecture I - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191101p02.html#:~:text=forces%20in%20evolution%20in%20such,prepare%20for%20his%20approaching%20incarnation)) ([Lecture I - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191101p02.html#:~:text=for%20the%20Ahriman,must%20be%20brought%20to%20light)). By spreading spiritual knowledge (such as the insights of Anthroposophy), humanity can **shine a light on Ahriman’s machinations** and thus rob them of their power. This preparation doesn’t avert Ahriman’s incarnation – Steiner flatly stated **“this Ahrimanic incarnation cannot be averted”** ([Lecture III - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191104p02.html#:~:text=This%20Ahrimanic%20incarnation%20cannot%20be,the%20spirit%20but%20of%20the)) – but it can ensure that when Ahriman *does* walk among us, we **“confront Ahriman face to face”** with eyes open, recognizing who he is and what he represents ([Lecture III - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191104p02.html#:~:text=This%20Ahrimanic%20incarnation%20cannot%20be,that%20matter%20is%20connected%20with)). Steiner foresaw that **Ahriman’s embodied presence** will bring immense trials and lessons. Ahriman’s future incarnation, he said, will demonstrate **“what indescribable cleverness can be developed if [people] call to their help all that earthly forces can do to enhance cleverness and ingenuity.”** ([Lecture III - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191104p02.html#:~:text=This%20Ahrimanic%20incarnation%20cannot%20be,the%20spirit%20but%20of%20the)) Under Ahriman’s influence, astonishing inventions and material achievements will arise – yet all oriented toward convincing humanity that **material knowledge is supreme**. Steiner even imagined that **people will learn to use material substances (e.g. foods, technologies) to enhance intellectual capacity** at the expense of spiritual insight ([Lecture III - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191104p02.html#:~:text=made%20clear%20to%20men%20what,spiritual%2C%20but%20clever%20and%20astute)). In the political and social realm, Ahriman’s presence may tempt humanity into extreme systems that **“keep men in the state of being devourers of the soul and spirit”**, entirely consumed by economic and material concerns ([Lecture I - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191101p02.html#:~:text=forces%20of%20corruption%20poured%20by,is%20sufficient%20if%20the%20economic)). The *positive* side of this stark revelation, in Steiner’s view, is that it forces humanity to consciously choose. By confronting Ahriman, humanity will *learn* just how far materialism can go, and thereby be challenged to reassert the reality of the spirit. Steiner indicated that the **proper outcome** is not to reject Ahriman’s gifts, but to **integrate them wisely**: humanity should employ Ahrimanic cleverness and technical power *without* losing spiritual balance. The future, in Steiner’s vision, thus holds a kind of high-stakes confrontation. Ahriman’s role is almost like that of a **necessary villain in the drama of evolution**, pressing human beings to awaken inner strength and freedom. Notably, Steiner also described what Ahrimanic powers *aspire* to if they had their way with Earth’s future – a dire picture of a mechanized planet. The Ahrimanic spirits, he said, **“would like to wipe out the whole past”** of evolution and carry Earth forward on an entirely new track ([Ahrimanic beings and their influences - Anthroposophy](https://anthroposophy.eu/Ahrimanic_beings_and_their_influences#:~:text=they%20would%20like%20to%20preserve,gained%20directly%20on%20the%20Earth)). Their *“ideal,”* Steiner warned, is to strip away the living kingdoms and replace them with **a purely mineral, machine world**. *“They would particularly like to destroy everything that the Earth has brought over from the Old Moon,”* he said – meaning all inherited life forms and spiritual legacy. In the Ahrimanic endgame, **“the animal world [would] disappear, the plant world [would] disappear, the physical human world [would] disappear,”** leaving only dead matter ruled by physical laws. **“Above all they would like human beings to be removed from the earth and to form a new Saturn out of machines, a new world purely of machines,”** Steiner relayed of their intentions ([Ahrimanic beings and their influences - Anthroposophy](https://anthroposophy.eu/Ahrimanic_beings_and_their_influences#:~:text=externally%20mechanistic,domain%20of%20external%20science%20i)). Such a future, entirely severed from the divine plan, is what Ahriman would pursue unchecked. Steiner shared these extreme images to make clear what is at stake: **humanity must consciously **choose** between a path of balanced spiritual development or an Ahrimanic descent into soulless technocracy.** Steiner’s teachings do **not** imply that Ahriman’s influence is wholly “evil” in a simplistic sense. Rather, Ahriman plays a role in the larger cosmic design by catalyzing human freedom. Through the very opposition and trials Ahriman presents, humans can develop discernment, strength, and the resolve to reconnect with the spirit out of our own autonomy. In the future evolution of humanity, Steiner suggested that the **Ahrimanic challenge will be pivotal**. By recognizing Ahriman’s origin and purpose, humanity can **meet his incarnation consciously** and **transform the encounter into further progress** – harnessing Ahriman’s gifts (technology, intellect, precision) while avoiding becoming his slaves. **In summary, Rudolf Steiner portrayed Ahriman as a mighty spiritual being born from a deviation in cosmic evolution, whose one-sided materialistic impulse has influenced human history from Atlantis to the present day**. Ahriman’s role, especially in our technological age, is to test humanity’s resolve to find the spirit within the flesh. As we move into the future, Steiner urged that we approach this impending Ahrimanic culmination with **open eyes and steadfast hearts**, so that what is meant as a temptation can be turned into an impetus for conscious spiritual evolution ([Lecture I - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191101p02.html#:~:text=It%20would%20undoubtedly%20be%20of,must%20be%20brought%20to%20light)) ([Lecture I - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191101p02.html#:~:text=Ahriman%27s%20incarnation%20in%20the%20flesh,prepare%20for%20his%20approaching%20incarnation)). **Sources:** Rudolf Steiner’s lectures and writings, including *“The Deed of Christ and the Opposing Spiritual Powers”* (1909) ([I. The Deed of Christ and the Opposing Spiritual Powers. Lucifer, Ahriman, Asuras - GA 107. The Deed of Christ and the Opposing Spiritual Powers (1954) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA107/English/AP1954/19090322p01.html#:~:text=In%20the%20Lemurian%20epoch%E2%80%94the%20first,not%20be%20confused%20with%20%E2%80%9CLucifer%E2%80%9D)), *“Lucifer and Ahriman”* (lectures from 1918–1919) ([II. Lucifer and Ahriman - GA 184. The Cosmic Prehistoric Ages of Mankind (1974) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA184/English/UNK1965/19180921p01.html#:~:text=described,They)) ([Lecture I - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191101p02.html#:~:text=spirit%20and%20soul%20must%20be,He%20would%20like)) ([Lecture I - GA 191. Lucifer and Ahriman (1976) - Rudolf Steiner Archive](https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/19191101p02.html#:~:text=evolution%20has%20also%20contained%20within,from%20which%20to%20confront%20it)), and *“The Cosmic New Year”* (1921) ([Ahrimanic beings and their influences - Anthroposophy](https://anthroposophy.eu/Ahrimanic_beings_and_their_influences#:~:text=occult%20gaze%20to%20the%20hosts,tear%20him%20away%20from%20the)) ([Ahrimanic beings and their influences - Anthroposophy](https://anthroposophy.eu/Ahrimanic_beings_and_their_influences#:~:text=externally%20mechanistic,domain%20of%20external%20science%20i)), among others. These provide detailed accounts of Steiner’s esoteric perspective on Ahriman’s emergence, nature, and mission in relation to Lucifer and human spiritual development. *See ChatGPT's follow-up discussion here: * nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzpwjvs8j7l6jl6j7y5wgt43ns44z63ex9u2g8k93h2h96jk0ks976qq2hgej6v49y5ejdv34rg4tn2q647dj2vfm4w8axuvx #anthroposophy #rudolfsteiner #steiner #technosophy #ahriman #christ #lucifer