Burkhardt describes this as a contribution to the spiritual cosmos: the fruits of earthly thinking, especially thoughts containing spiritual insight, truth, and love, become nourishment for spiritual beings and participate in the further development of the cosmos.
According to Axel Burkart—a life-long researcher and presenter of Steiner's work—the journey after death begins with two important transitions, before the soul enters the Moon sphere and the process of Kamaloka.
At death, the human being separates from the physical body, while the etheric body (life body), astral body (soul body), and spiritual I remain together.
The connection between the physical and etheric bodies is severed, traditionally symbolized by the silver cord.
Burkart describes this as an awakening to the spiritual world. The person may become conscious of spiritual beings, deceased relatives, and guiding entities.
Immediately after death, the human being experiences a comprehensive panorama of the earthly life just completed.
This is possible because, according to Burkart, the etheric body contains the memories of the entire incarnation.
Rather than remembering individual events one after another, the person experiences the whole life as a simultaneous, interconnected tableau.
Events from childhood, adulthood, and old age become visible in their relationships to one another. Decisions and experiences that once seemed unrelated reveal their deeper connections.
The central experience is the discovery of the meaning and coherence of one's earthly life.
Burkart emphasizes that these approximately three days are a period of profound significance, during which the deceased remains relatively close to the earthly sphere and should be allowed peace.
As the life panorama gradually fades, the etheric body begins to dissolve into the spiritual cosmos.
The memories and thoughts gathered throughout earthly existence are released into the spiritual world.
Burkart describes this as a contribution to the spiritual cosmos: the fruits of earthly thinking, especially thoughts containing spiritual insight, truth, and love, become nourishment for spiritual beings and participate in the further development of the cosmos.
The human being now relinquishes the etheric body, experiencing what Burkart calls a second little death.
What remains is the spiritual I clothed in the astral body.
The soul then enters the astral world, beginning its passage through the four levels of the Moon sphere, followed by Mercury, Venus, and Sun.
In summary, the sequence is:
A significant distinction in Burkart's description is that the life panorama reveals the meaning and connections of our earthly experiences, whereas the subsequent passage through the soul world brings us face to face with our attachments, feelings, and the consequences of our deeds for others.
The first is primarily a comprehension of the life lived; the second is a transformation of the soul through what that life has produced.
Here is the corresponding lecture and presentation (in German with English subtitles available) by Burkart:
