142 ~9 The Secret Lij of Nature
so1ids.T~ build up the etheric bodies of all the species planned by the
creator-powers-the hierarchies-a huge amount of etheric sub-
stances was evidently required, along with a very large number of ele-
mental beings ready to sacrifice themselves, ready to be sent down to
earth to be imprisoned in fire, air, water, and earth.
Thus nature spirits, or "very useful elemental beings," descendants
of the Third Angelic Hierarchy, become, under the control of devas,
master-builders in the kingdoms of nature, metamorphosing their en-
tire beings into all kinds of earthly forms, enchanted into objects and
creatures until the physiological process in an organism is completed
and the creature or object either perishes or dissolves, liberating the el-
emental.
As the various nature kingdoms became physically manifest on
earth, more and more elemental beings were clearly needed to build up
the etheric bodies of all the species planned by the creator powers,
forms that could not otherwise exist. All earthly creatures and inani-
mate beings are conditioned, says Steiner, by the sacrifice of elemental
beings, which have to continually enchant and disenchant themselves
in order to produce the countless materializations and dematerializa-
tions without which no earthly phenomena could be: no living crea-
ture could arise, maintain itself, or perish.
Furthermore, says Steiner, as endless etheric bodies have to be filled
with "physical sense-perceptible substantiality," through countless rapidly
successive enchantments and disenchantments, a great many more wd-
ing elemental beings are needed.
To explain the devoted sacrifice of elemental beings, continually
going into or coming out of enchantment, Steiner says that they, too, like
all spiritual beings, are bent on evolving so that they may return to their
spiritual home and be reabsorbed by their creator hierarchies. To
achieve this, they try to please the hierarchies "bringing them knowl-
edge of the earth."
Gods, says Steiner-meaning members of the hierarchies-are as
dependent on the world as the world is dependent on them.
Seen through spiritual insight, salamanders strive toward a higher
development through countless enchantments and disenchantments;