Annunciation (meaning & symbolism); Three Spring Festivals; the Soul; Preparation. Sun in Aries (new thoughts) trine Saturn (the Teacher’s teachings) today – Saturn in Sag – in our college learning together.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015 – Mercury’s Day – information gathered/dispersed, pondered upon, integrated. Mercury is the Soul ruler of Aries, the voice of the Intuition. Today is a day of information, of Ray 4 – harmony achieved through conflict & chaos. We observe this, as we stand within the Cross of Intention, working both vertically & horizontally…
It is important (in our Lenten preparation for the Resurrection/Aries Festival) to begin to understand the Purpose of the Three Spring Festivals…
& the Three Spiritual Forces coming forth at these solar festivals – our understanding allows us to work with the Forces, absorbing & then radiating them out into the world of humanity in need. This is our Service Work. The Three Spring Festivals set the template, the Plan for the other nine solar & new moon festivals.
Annunciation – Announcement of new life gestating, birthed as the New Light at Winter Solstice – metaphors, symbols, etc.
Symbolism – the Soul (new life & life & direction) awaiting recognition by the personality (physical body, emotions, lower mind).
The Annunciation of Angel Gabriel to Mary that she would bear a holy child (the Son – Ray 2, new consciousness) was/is announcement to Mary/humanity the fact of the Soul awaiting recognition by the personality (when the personality is strong & prepared enough through experiences on the Mutable Cross – the Cross of experiences in/of form & matter – to receive the Light & Direction of the Soul).
Today is the Feast Day of the Annunciation of Mary.
When the Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary (reminded her of her contract prior to her physical life birth) that it was the time for her gestation/pregnancy, which would bring forth the new life (Jesus, a Master who would be overshadowed at age 30 by the Christ, the Avatar & Archangel from Sirius), at winter solstice. Gabriel told Mary to name her son Yeshua (Jesus), meaning, “YHWH is salvation”.
Many Christians observe the Feast of the Annunciation on 25 March, nine full months before Christmas (Winter Solstice, the new light of the world appears), ceremonial birthday of Jesus. The date of the Annunciation also marks the New Year in many places. In England it is called Lady Day. Both the Roman and Orthodox Catholic Churches state the Annunciation took place at Nazareth. The Annunciation has been inspiration in Christian & Marian art in the Catholic Church, particularly during the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
Symbolism
The Annunciation symbolizes for all of humanity the fact of the Soul (Son, Holy Child), as it awaits recognition by the personality. The Soul is the intermediary between Matter (Mother) & Spirit (Father). The holy child (Jesus, later the Christ) is the result of the marriage between Matter & Spirit. Our personality resides wholly in matter. It needs upliftment to the Light of the Soul to be able to recognize the Spirit (the Father) within. We, as Spirits, reside in Matter/the Mother. The Soul/the Son/Holy Child is our consciousness of this reality. The tension & the marriage between Spirit & Matter allows for the Soul (holy child within us) to come forth. This is the symbolism of the Annunciation – a holy revelation/feast. So now we know.
In the Bible, the Annunciation is narrated in Luke 1:26-38:
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
38: And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Luke 1:32, 35 reads:
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High … The power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. (from Risa – Son/Holy Child = Ray2 Love/Wisdom = consciousness coming forth from marriage of Father & Mother creating the Soul, code word for “son.”)
Dead Sea Scrolls manuscript 4Q246 reads:
“…. He shall be great upon the earth. O king, all people shall make peace, and all shall serve him. He shall be called the son of the Great God, and by his name shall he be hailed as the Son of God, and they shall call him Son of the Most High.” (Dead Sea scrolls manuscript Q4Q246)
In Eastern Christianity Mary is referred to as Theotokos (Θεοτόκος =”God-bearer”). The traditional Troparion (hymn for the day) of the Annunciation which goes back to Saint Athanasius of Alexandria is:
“Today is the beginning of our salvation,
And the revelation of the eternal mystery!
The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin
As Gabriel announces the coming of Grace.
Together with him let us cry to the Theotokos:
“Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!”
The Annunciation is described in the Qur’an, in Sura (sutra/thread of a hymn) 003:045 (Al-i-Imran – The Family of Imran) verses 45-51 (Yusuf Ali translation):
45 Behold! the Angels said: “O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah;”
And Sura Template: Cite Qur’an (Maryam – Mary) verses 16-26 also refers to it. Muslim tradition holds that the Annunciation took place during the month of Ramadan. In the Qur’an “behold an angel of the Lord has spoken. ” Mary will bear the true Son of God” “He will be called Jesus Christ.” “His domain is over the entire Earth. Joy to you, behold His Holy name.”
We place these teachings in our hearts, in the heart of our Group Work. From our Spiritual Astrological Theology classes within our College Ashram.
The Astrology of the Annunciation
The Annunciation occurs in Aries.
The Soul ruler of Aries is Mercury.
Mary is the Virgin, Virgo. The ruler of Virgo is Mercury (Jupiter is the spiritual ruler).
Aries Keynote on the Soul level –
“I come forth & from the plane of mind (intuition) I rule (offer information),” says Mercury, Ray 4 – seeking/showing forth the path to harmony through what seems to be conflicting chaos.
From the “chaos” comes forth the new Life. Aries is Ray 1 & 7 – Ray 1 is the Will of the Father. When anchored on Earth, Ray 1 becomes Ray 7 – the Will of the Father to anchor the Plan on Earth – Ray 7 – thus the new life, new rhythms come forth in form & matter (through the Mother Principles). Jupiter is the result – greater Love/Wisdom (Ray 2). We think on these things. The intuition understands.
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Tasks of the NGWS & the Three upcoming Spring Festivals
Preparation Through Knowledge –
The Three Spring Festival & their Three Forces =
Restoration, Enlightenment & Reconstruction coming into the Earth. During Aries, Taurus & Gemini.
Helping us build/create the New Materialism (Communities of Sharing). They help us create Constructive Living, the Art of Living for all of humanity.
The NGWS stand between these Forces & humanity. Our task is to gather these forces into our groups & radiate them to humanity at the three festivals.
They (Forces & Spirit of Resurrection) also, as they unfold during the Three Spring Festivals (Aries, Taurus, Gemini), bring forth the new world, new Era Community, new culture & civilization, for humanity. The NGWS is to participate fully in these three festivals & help the Forces reorient humanity, uplift humanity, re-educate humanity, help humanity re-identify as the Group of World Servers.
In Aries, the Forces of Restoration & the Spirit of Resurrection are anchored on Earth. We stand with them in preparation.
Tomorrow I will post the information given to students from the Tibetan on the Three Spring Festivals. Let us be prepared to take notes, understand deeply the process of what is coming forth. Let us participate in preparing together. As we gather knowledge, let it turn into the Wisdom needed to be part of the NGWS. Love, Risa
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Working with the NGWS (esoteric inner group) at the UN – (last night in the TV show “Forever”, the theme of the show was the ancient slave trade, the ships carrying the slaves from Africa to the east coast of America).
March 25
International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
2015 Theme: Women and Slavery
Recognizing how little is known about the 400-year-long transatlantic slave trade and its lasting consequences, March 25 has been designated as an annual day of remembrance of the trade and its victims. The intention is to raise awareness among future generations of the causes, consequences and lessons of the transatlantic slave trade and to communicate the dangers of racism and prejudice.
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Art Homework –
Creating a painting of the Annunciation for our Ashram Gallery (here on our FB pages). Note – we are not a camera – all artworks are creative efforts, all art is good. Risa
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