In 1912, in his very first eurythmy lessons, Rudolf Steiner describes the consonants as a reaction to external influence in contrast to the vowels that weave within and reveal this inner being.

B (Virgo, Mercury)

Rudolf Steiner picked up a very large pencil, a carpenter's pencil. Then he moved this staff so that it pointed at his chest, almost touching it. "Learn to experience B as having something in your hand that has an effect on the body."

A few days later he showed me a picture of a corybante dance in a “Breviary of the Art of Dance” and said: “You see, these two warriors make a B-movement with their shields, because each refers to the other's aggressiveness."

P (Virgo, Mercury)

He also showed P. Sitting he reached down with both hands and, like a cloak of stars, drew an abundance of colour and light around him. It was an inimitable movement, full of dignity and greatness.

H (Gemini, Mercury)

If you are really harassed and attacked, then you should defend yourself with an energetic repulsive movement. With an H-movement.

"And if something completely Luciferic comes along, you can do it like that!" And smiling happily, he kicked his left leg quite forcefully, apparently for some imagined goal!

Lory Maier Smits from her lessons with Rudolf Steiner, September 1912, GA 277a

Image: Corybante dance. The warriors depicted on the Neoattic relief perform a weapon dance. This dance consisted of beating the next warrior's shield rhythmically with the sword. The work dates from the first half of the 1st century BC. BC and is a copy of an older, Athenian relief.