Fire must be alive. Inactivity is unnatural for Fire. Energy generates energies. It is especially harmful to tear man away from his customary labor. Even through the lowest forms of labor man creates a manifestation of fiery energy. Deprive him of labor and he will inevitably fall prey to marasmus; in other words, he will lose the Fire of Life. One should not propagate the concept of people’s retirement from work. They do not age because of advanced years, but from the extinction of Fire. One should not think that the extinguishing of Fire exerts no harm on the surroundings. Harm occurs precisely when a space occupied by Fire suddenly becomes accessible to corruption. This decay of life is opposed to the law of Existence. On the contrary, human society should sustain Fire in all its surroundings. The fire of the Druids was a reminder of the maintenance of the Fire of Life. It is inadmissible to quench Fire in anything, not even in the smallest. Therefore, do not interfere with the festival of the spirit, even though its language be incomprehensible to you. That which is unintelligible to you today will become clear tomorrow. But Fire once extinguished cannot again find the same application. (FW I (opens in new tab), 62)
The festival of the spirit is of pan-human value; it is a treasure which has been built up. Let no one infringe upon this worthy structure. Among the impermissible invasions of karma, interference with the festival of the spirit is regarded as very grave. On the other hand, to send a smile to the festival of the spirit is the most flaming flower of the heart’s offering. (FW I (opens in new tab), 63)