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existence。
In this enjoyment； then； that orient 〃Light〃 of the world is discovered for what it really is：
Enjoyment is the Mystery of its being。 For mysticism is not concealment of a secret； or ignorance；
it consists in the self knowing itself to be one with absolute Being； and in this latter； therefore；
becoming revealed。 Only the self is revealed to itself ； or what is manifest is so merely in the
immediate certainty of itself。 But it is just in such certainty that simple absolute Being has been
placed by the cult。 As a thing that can be used； it has not only existence which is seen； felt； smelt；
tasted； it is also object of desire； and； by actually being enjoyed； it becomes one with the self； and
thereby disclosed completely to this self； and made manifest。
When we say of anything； 〃it is manifest to reason； to the heart〃； it is in point of fact still secret； for
it still lacks the actual certainty of immediate existence； both the certainty regarding what is
objective； and the certainty of enjoyment； a certainty which in religion； however； is not only
immediate and unreflecting； but at the same time purely cognitive certainty of self。
What has thus been； through the cult； revealed to self…conscious spirit within itself； is simple
absolute Being； and this has been revealed partly as the process of passing out of its dark night of
concealment up to the level of consciousness； to be there its silently nurturing substance； partly；
however； as the process of losing itself again in nether darkness； in the self； and of waiting above
merely with the silent yearning of motherhood。 The more conspicuous moving impulse； however； is
the variously named 〃Light〃 of the Rising Sun and its tumult of heaving life； which； having likewise
desisted from its abstract state of being； has first embodied itself in objective existence in the fruits
of the earth；（2） and then； surrendering itself to self…consciousness；（3） attained there to its proper
realization； and now it curvets and careers about in the guise of a crowd of excited； fervid women；
the unrestrained revel of nature in self…conscious form。（4）
Still； however； it is only Absolute Spirit in the sense of this simple abstract Being； not as spirit per
se； that is discovered to consciousness： i。e。 it is merely immediate spirit； the spirit of nature。 Its
self…conscious life is therefore merely the mystery of the Bread and the Wine； of Ceres and
Bacchus； not of the other； the strictly higher； gods ＇of Olympus＇； whose individuality includes； as
an essential moment； self…consciousness as such。 Spirit has not yet qua self…conscious spirit
offered itself up to it； and the mystery of bread and wine is not yet the mystery of flesh and blood。
This unstable divine revel must come to rest as an object； and the enthusiasm； which did not reach
consciousness； must produce a work which confronts it as the statue stands over against the
enthusiasm of the artist in the previous case； — a work indeed that is equally complete and
finished； yet not as an inherently lifeless but as a living self。 Such a cult is the Festival which man
makes in his own honour； though not yet imparting to a cult of that kind the significance of the
Absolute Being； for it is the ultimate Being that is first revealed to him； not yet Spirit — not such a
Being as essentially takes on human form。 But this cult provides the basis for this revelation； and
lays out its moments individually and separately。 Thus we here get the abstract moment of the
living embodiment of ultimate Being； just as formerly we had the unity of both in the state of
unconstrained emotional fervency。 In the place of the statue man thus puts himself as the figure
elaborated and moulded for perfectly free movement； just as the statue is the perfectly free state of
quiescence。 If every individual knows how to play the part at least of a torchbearer； one of them
comes prominently forward who is the very embodiment of the movement； the smooth
elaboration； the fluent energy and force of all the members。 He is a lively and living work of art；
which matches strength with its beauty； and to him is given； as a reward for his force and energy；
the adornment； with which the statue was honoured ＇in the former type of religion＇； and the honour
of being； amongst his own nation；； instead of a god in stone； the highest bodily representation of
what the essential Being of the nation is。
In both the representations； which have just come before us； there is present the unity of
self…consciousness and spiritual Being； but they still lack their due balance and equilibrium。 In the
case of the bacchic（5） revelling enthusiasm the self is beside itself； in bodily beauty of form it is
spiritual Being that is outside itself。 The dim obscurity of consciousness in the one case and its wild
stammering utterance； must be taken up into the transparent existence of the latter； and the clear
but spiritless form of the latter； into the emotional inwardness of the former。 The perfect element in
which the inwardness is as external as the externality is inward； is once again Language。 But it is
neither the language of the oracle； entirely contingent in its content and altogether individual in
character； nor is it the emotional hymn sung in praise of a merely individual god； nor is it the
meaningless stammer of delirious bacchantic revelry。 It has attained to its clear and universal
content and meaning。 Its content is clear； for the artificer has passed out of the previous state of
entirely substantial enthusiasm； and worked himself into a definite shape； which is his own proper
existence； permeated through all its movements by self…conscious soul； and is that of his
contemporaries。 Its content is universal； for in this festival； which is to the honour of man； there
vanishes the onesidedness peculiar to figures represented in statues； which merely contain a
national spirit； a determinate character of the godhead。 The finely built warrior is indeed the honour
and glory of his particular nation； but he is a physical or corporeal individuality in which are sunk
out of sight the expanse and the seriousness of meaning； and the inner character of the spirit which
underlies the particular mode of life； the peculiar petitions； the needs and the customs of his nation。
In relinquishing all this for complete corporeal embodiment； spirit has laid aside the particular
impressions； the special tones and chords of that nature which it； as the actual spirit of the nation；
includes。 Its nation； therefore； is no longer conscious in this spirit of its special particular character；
but rather of having laid this aside； and of the universality of its human existence。
1。 The 〃Light〃 of the world。
2。 As found in the mysteries of Demeter。
3。 As found in the mysteries of Bacchus and Dionysus。
4。 The Maenads； cp。 Euripides； Bacchae。
5。 As distinct from the worship of Apollo。
c
The Spiritual Work of Art
THE national spirits； which become conscious of their being in the shape of some particular
animal； coalesce into one single spirit。（1） Thus it is that the separate artistically beautiful national
spirits combine to form a Pantheon； the element and habitation of which is Language。 Pure intuition
of self in the sense of universal human nature takes； when the national spirit is actualized； this form：
the national spirit combines with the others （which with it constitute； through nature and natural
conditions； one people）； in a common undertaking； and for this task builds up a collective nation；
and； with that； a collective heaven。 This universality； to which spirit attains in its existence； is；
nevertheless； merely this first universality； which； to begin with； starts from the individuality of
ethical life； has not yet overcome its immediacy； has not yet built up a single state out of these
separate national elements。 The ethical life of an actual national spirit rests partly on the immediate
confiding trust of the individuals in the whole of their nation； partly in the direct share which all； in
spite of differences of class； take in the decisions and acts of its government。 In the union； not in
the first instance to secure a permanent order but merely for a common act； that freedom of
participation on the part of each and all is for the nonce set aside。 This first community of life is；
therefore； an assemblage of individualities rather than the dominion and control of abstract thought；
which would rob the individuals of their self…conscious share in the will and act of the whole。
The assembly of national spirits constitutes a circle of forms and shapes； which now embraces the
whole of nature； as well as the whole ethical world。 They too are under the supreme command
rather than the supreme dominion of the One。 By themselves； they are the universal substances
embodying what the self…conscious essential reality inherently is and does。 This； however；
constitutes the moving force； and； in the first instance； at least the centre； with which those
universal entities are concerned； and which； to begin with； seems to unite in a merely accidental
way all that they