Retreat attendees watched the opera Das Rhinegold by Richard Wagner. This lecture explains why, while also explaining many important aspects of spiritual practice. This is a lecture from the free online course Ring of the Nibelungen Explained Course Description: Discover the meaning of the esoteric mysteries and spiritual symbols hidden in The Ring of the Nibelungen, the famous set of operas by Richard Wagner, based on the Nordic mythology. “It is evident by all means and with complete meridian clarity that Wagner was a great Initiate [of the secret knowledge], an insightful esotericist, an authentic Illuminated One… [...] It seems that he had scrutinized very ancient religious scriptures…” - Samael Aun Weor, Parsifal Unveiled We strongly recommend that you watch the entire Ring cycle before you study this course, and do your best to see one that is authentic to Wagner's directions. There are regular performances all around the world, and seeing these operas live is a special experience to have in life. If this is not possible for you, there are numerous recordings available on DVD that you can purchase or rent, or even borrow from a local library.