Sagittarius November 22 – December 21

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

“Over there the wide ocean and the sky with many galaxies

All manifests from the basis of consciousness.

Since beginningless time I have always been free.

Birth and death are only a door through which we go in and out”.

"Given to the Dying"   Thich Nat Hahn

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2011 December  Dates:

Advent - The new liturgical year begins in the Catholic Church.
St Nicholas Day, Patron saint of children

Bodhi Day, Buddhist, Buddha experiencing enlightenment.

Santa Lucia Day, (Sweden) Festival of light

Beginning of Saturnalia, Roman winter solstice festival

Chanukah (Lasts 8 days) Festival of Lights

Winter Solstice or Yule. Marks the birth of the Son/Sun.

Pancha Ganapati: Five-day festival in honor of Lord Ganesha

Yalda: Iranian celebraton of Mithra, the sun god,  born  to a virgin mother.

Chrstmas Day , Christian, Birth ot Christ the Son/Sun

12 Days of Christmas start. December 25 – January 6

St John’s Day, Christian celebration of the solstice. (See June)

New Year's Eve

Native American: The Full Cold Moon; nights are at their longest and darkest. Also, the heaviest snows fall this month. Hunting becomes very difficult; to some tribes this was the Full Hunger Moon. Adversity is not your enemy it challenges you to know yourself better.

Wiccan Moon: Long Night Moon the Moon is above the horizon a long time. The midwinter full Moon takes a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite to the low Sun. Once again a wonderful moon for turning your attention to home,

especially ritual space.

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 Sagittarius Attributes:

Duality:  Masculine

Element:  Fire

Position: Mutable

Symbol: The Archer

Planet: Jupiter

         

Flower: Holly, narcissus      

Gemstone: Moonstone   

Anatomy: Liver, hips and thighs

Best Foods: Silica, in the skin of fruits and vegetables, 

        raw salads, green peppers, figs, pears,  apples, potatoes, oats   

                            

Avoid: The illusion of freedom is that you can do exactly what you want to do

without any consideration for others, loneliness    is the consequence.

Colors: Dark blue, purple    

Action needed: The goals you are striving for should be based on intuition, idealism and higher visions.

Motto:                  “I See"

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 Vedic:

Sagittarius is the centaur, the half human, half horse who shoots an arrow into the unknown mystery. This sign is the bridge between the divine and the human, the twilight zone of the celestial and terrestrial regions. During the process of creation, the Prajapati, Mighty Intelligence, are those who carry out the plan of God, to pour those forces which transform matter into Spirit.

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Character:

Under the sign of Sagittarius, you will learn one-pointedness -- the ability to follow
your vision and develop your intuition. The secret behind all success is to be one-pointed, focused, that is to say, to speed directly towards the goal for which you are aiming.

If the influences from Sagittarius are pronounced in your horoscope, you will feel driven to strive and aim for newer and higher visions. These visions can be located anywhere on a scale from purely carnal desires, to selfish desires, to spiritual purposes. But the key phrase for you is: Find a goal worth aiming for and strive towards it. It is better to have selfish goals (ones that lead you into difficulties from which you can learn something) than to be passive and have no goals at all.

Sagittarius always loves freedom. The higher aspect of freedom is when you dissolve all barriers or hindrances so that the world no longer consists of “we” and “them”. The lower aspect of freedom is the illusion that you can do exactly what you want to do without any consideration for others. Loneliness is the price you have to pay for this latter road. When people feel imprisoned, in their physical body because of some illness or by some other means, it is because they have to learn the difficult lesson of freedom, to rise above the outer self and find their identity in the higher and true self.

The constant longing for and drive towards new goals makes Sagittarius a keen traveler. This traveling can be physical, but can also find expression in the world of thought and imagination.  Follow the vision you deeply, intuitively feel to be right.

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Myths and Legends:

The sign of Sagittarius consists of what the ancient Greeks called a centaur--a composite creature, the lower half of the body was in the form of a horse, while the upper half was human. The centaur is generally shown with a bow and arrow in his hands, aiming a shaft far off into the stars. Hence Sagittarius stands for two distinct principles: first, it represents the spiritual evolution of man, for the human form is rising from the body of the beast; secondly, it is the symbol of aspiration and ambition, for as the centaur he aims his arrow high to the stars,  showing that every human creature can aim for a higher mark than he can reach. 

This flight to the heights shows us Sagittarius controlling his horse, his animal instincts, while the man stands still and arms his bow, and aims the arrow of aspiration to the highest ever-receding goal. Through this effort of man's pure will, the arrow flies up and reaches the purity of the heights, taking, as it were, the archer with it in a dazzling flight to the regions we so seldom can reach, but always yearn for.

The original energy of the Universe is now touched by this “arrow of perfection”, as it travels ever higher towards the plan where all is transformed into light. This is the time to study the Gayatri, or Vedic chant of love and light.

(If we can locate the Teapot, star pattern in the constellation of Sagittarius, we can find nearby a spot that marks the very center of our Milky Way galaxy. Perhaps this is the target he is aiming for).

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Queen of the North

Queen of the Cosmic Ether, in the North, is giving us Her powers “to rectify all mistakes”

What a wonderful  opportunity for our earth and for all who live on her to set things straight, to finish what we started at the beginning of this year and to get ready for new adventures awaiting us and to hear what will be our new work!

Just before Christmas, "stars are raining from heaven". What will they bring as extra systemic energies into our fields of consciousness? New openings, new ideas for understanding, cooperation and peace?

Now in December, under the influence of the North, Queen of the Cosmic Ether, who gives us Her powers “to rectify all mistakes”. She is known as the Queen of Earth as well as of the ether and makes it possible for Terra- earth – to rise towards the higher level of ether where she will find her true destination and place in the Solar system and the Universe.

Thus ends the four months dedicated to the silent watchers, the elemental queens of our universe. With December we close these 4 months dedicated to the 4 great Priestesses of the directions, and sacred mystery flame. A period which has tried to give us balance and help us and the earth to put ourselves in the middle of the four directions to be guided by their rectifying powers. A wonderful way to “place” ourselves and find our right spot: the right person, the right place, realizing that where we are is where we should be to do our work, whatever may be asked of us.

In this month We also go through the period of Advent. May this period of interiorization under the protection of the Mother’s “Deep Wisdom”, grant us to enter within ourselves to find there  the source of Life and Light, which will be born again in the world on the 25th of December. The together we can rejoice and celebrate the return of the Light in the darkness.

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Advent 

Advent, ad (to), vent (come). The coming of the new light at winter solstice which the Holy Child's birth symbolizes. Each year, as we participate in this rhythm of light within the darkness, we step onto a higher level of the spiral.

We prepare for the new rhythm, new light, lighting our Advent wreath candles, three violet & one pink, one candle each night till midnight Christmas morning. The new liturgical year begins in the Catholic Church.

Advent is one of the few Christian festivals that can be observed in the home as well as at church. In the home an Advent wreath is often placed on the dining table and the candles lighted at meals, with Scripture readings preceding the lighting of the candles, especially on Sunday. A new candle is lighted each Sunday during the four weeks, and then the same candles are lighted each meal during the week.

In the four weeks of Advent the third Sunday came to be a time of rejoicing that the fasting was almost over (in some traditions it is called Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin word for "rejoice"). The shift from the purple of the Season to pink or rose for the third Sunday Advent candles reflected this lessening emphasis on penitence as attention turned more to celebration of the season.

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Saint Nicholas

Catholics consider Saint Nicholas as the patron saint of children. The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara. At that time, the area was Greek but now can be found on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents raised him to be a devout Christian. They died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still very young. Obeying Jesus' edict to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his entire inheritance to assist the suffering and the sick. He dedicated his life to the church and serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas then became known throughout the land for his generosity to the those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas was exiled and imprisoned. After his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. He died December 6, AD 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church.

Santa Claus is said to bring gifts to the homes of good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24. According to a tradition which can be traced to the 1820s, Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, with a large number of magical elves, and nine (originally eight) flying reindeer.

Since some elements of the Sinterklaas (Dutch) celebration are unrelated to Christianity, there are theories speculating on the pagan origins of various customs of the holiday .

·         Sinterklaas rides the roof tops with his white horse ('Amerigo' or in Flanders 'Slecht Weer Vandaag'); Odin rides the sky with his gray horse Sleipnir.

• Sinterklaas and Odin are both depicted with a long beard.

• Sinterklaas carries a staff and has mischievous helpers; Odin has a spear and black ravens as his attributes.

• The tradition of children placing their boots filled with carrots, straw or sugar near the chimney for the White horse of Sinterklaas goes back to pre-Christian North Western Europe, where children would place their filled boots near the chimney for Odin's flying horse, Sleipnir, to eat.

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Bodhi Day

Traditionally, Bodhi Day commemorates the day that, as the morning star rose in the sky in the early morning, on the third watch of the night, the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni or Siddhartha Gotama, experienced Samhadi, Nirvana or true enlightenment, by finding the roots of suffering after sitting and meditating under a pipul tree. When Siddhartha was enlighted, he became a Buddha or "Awakened One".

Traditions vary on what happened. The Buddha himself describes his Enlightenment in three stages:

1. During the first watch of the night, the Buddha discovered all of his past lives in the cycle of rebirth, realizing that he had been born and reborn countless times before.
2. During the second watch, the Buddha discovered the Law of Karma, and the importance of living by the Eightfold Path.
3. During the third watch, the Buddha discovered the Four Noble Truths, finally reaching Nirvana.

Bodhi Day is not as popularly celebrated as Wesak Day, both celebrating the Birth of the Buddha, or Nirvana Day, celebrating the passing of the Buddha; however, it is still observed in many mainstream Mahayana traditions including the traditional Zen and Pureland Buddhist schools of China, Korea and Japan.

Services and traditions vary amongst Buddhist sects, but all commemorate the Buddha's achievement of Nirvana. Individuals may choose to commemorate the event through additional meditation, study of the Dharma, chanting of Buddhist texts (sutras), or performing kind acts towards other beings. Some Buddhists celebrate with a traditional meal of tea, cake, and readings.

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Saint Lucia

"When a martyr lives and dies in Sicily, has a world-famous song written about her which is still sung 1500 years after her death [Santa Lucia], has her name included in the Canon of the Roman Mass, is listed in the oldest Christian Sacramentaries, has two churches dedicated to her in pagan England before the 8th century, is the most popular saint in Sweden and Norway, had her biography written by a member of the Saxon royal family, and a poem about her by John Donne, and whose feast day was originally the date of the winter solstice, she has to have been some remarkable lady!..And such a person is Saint Lucy – the ever-popular Santa Lucia."

In those few words, Fr. John Julian, OJN, captures the popularity of St. Lucy of Sicily, Virgin and Martyr (d. c. 304) The details of St. Lucy's life are quite obscure and, understandably, many legends and traditions have arisen to fill the gaps. St. Lucy was martyred at Syracuse, Sicily, in the reign of Diocletian. One can argue the details that have been reported surrounding the event, but the important thing is that St. Lucy is one of the most important saints in the Church's history, and had a following in Rome in the early 500's as one of the most beloved of all the virgin martyrs. She is remembered for her purity of life and the gentleness of her spirit. Her name, Lucy or Lucia  means  light, occasioned her being looked upon as the patron of people with eye trouble. She's often depicted, especially in medieval art, holding her eyes on a dish. This was probably a cultic transfer of the representation of a pagan goddess, Lucina, shown with a tray holding two tiny cakes, looking very much like eyes.

In Scandinavian countries, particularly Sweden, there has long been a festival celebration of light, both ecclesiastically and domestically. In the domestic Lucia-fest, a young girl in the family dresses in pure white and a red sash, and wears a crown of lighted candles on her head with a wreath of lingonberry greens, a sign that light is returning on this day. She then, preceded and followed in procession by her brothers, "star boys", serves her parents a tray of coffee and saffron yeast buns, called Lussikattor  meaning Lucy's cats. This latter is connected to the legend of the Norse mother-goddess, Freya, from which we get our word "Friday". Freya was said to drive an amber chariot of the sun through the skies, drawn by a pair of giant grey forest-cats.

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Saturnalia

An ancient Roman winter solstice festival held in honor of Saturn or Cronus, father of time, the youngest of the Titans, son of Uranus and Gaia. Most relevantly, Saturn is the father of Rome's primary god, Jupiter.

Saturnalia, a Roman winter festival observed at the end of December, was celebrated throughout antiquity by numerous festivals which included celebrations of foolery and trickery.

The roman celebration involved dancing, drinking, and general merrymaking. People exchanged gifts, slaves were allowed to pretend that they ruled their masters, and a mock king, the Saturnalicius princeps (or Lord of Misrule), reigned for the day. By the fourth century AD the Saturnalia had transformed into a January 1 New Year's Day celebration, and many of its traditions were incorporated into the observance of Christmas. Even the Zen monasteries of Japan have a topsy-turvey day like this once a year.

To grasp the significance of the holiday, it is important to realize that the status of "slave" in the ancient Empire was very different from the status accorded to slaves later in Europe and the Americas. Household slaves did not have legal rights per se, but were accorded an individual distinction that was later not to be afforded them. Slaves were considered indispensable members of any household and a wealthy Roman woman (for example) would spend many hours a week intimately concerned with their welfare and difficulties.

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Chanukah 

The Mishna and Talmud describe a pagan festival called Saturna which occurs 8 days before the winter solstice. It is followed 8 days after the solstice with a festival called Kalenda. The Talmud ascribes the origins of this festival to Adam, who saw that the days were getting shorter and thought it was punishment for his sin. He was afraid that the world was returning to the chaos and emptiness that existed before creation. He sat and fasted for eight days. Once he saw that the days were getting longer again he realized that this was the natural cycle of the world, so Chanukah or the eight days of the festival of lights came to be. The Talmud states that this festival was later turned into a pagan festival.

Chanukah is probably one of the best known Jewish holidays, not because of any great religious significance, but because of its proximity to Christmas. Many non-Jews (and even many assimilated Jews!) think of this holiday as the Jewish Christmas, adopting many of the Christmas customs, such as elaborate gift-giving and decoration. It is bitterly ironic that this holiday, which has its roots in a revolution against assimilation and suppression of Jewish religion, has become the most assimilated, secular holiday on our calendar.

More than a century later, a successor of Alexander, Antiochus IV was in control of the region. He began to oppress the Jews severely, placing a Hellenistic priest in the Temple, massacring Jews, prohibiting the practice of the Jewish religion, and desecrating the Temple by requiring the sacrifice of pigs (a non-kosher animal) on the altar. Two groups opposed Antiochus: a group led by Mattathias the Hasmonean and his son Judah Maccabee, and a group known as the Chasidim. They joined forces in a revolt against both the assimilation of the Hellenistic Jews and oppression by the Selucid Greek government. The revolution succeeded and the Temple was rededicated.

According to tradition as recorded in the Talmud, at the time of the rededication, there was very little oil left that had not been defiled by the Greeks. Oil was needed for the menorah (candelabrum) in the Temple, which was supposed to burn throughout the night every night. There was only enough oil to burn for one day, yet miraculously, it burned for eight days. An eight day festival was declared to commemorate this miracle. Note that the holiday commemorates the miracle of the oil, not the military victory: Jews do not glorify war.

The only religious observance related to the holiday is the lighting of candles. The candles are arranged in a candelabrum called a Hanukia. Many people refer to the Hanukia incorrectly as a menorah. The name menorah is used only to describe the seven-branched candelabrum that was housed in the Jewish Temple. The Hanukiah holds nine candles: one for each night, plus a shamash (servant) at a different height.

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Winter Solstice 

The seasons of the year are caused by the tilt of the earth’s axis. Because the earth is rotating like a top, the North Pole is fixed and points in a single direction continuously - towards a point near the North Star. So during half the year, the southern hemisphere is more exposed to the sun than is the northern hemisphere. During the rest of the year, the reverse is true. For a full explanation of the phenomenon of the Solstice see June, Summer Solstice.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs either December 21, when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Capricorn; the summer solstice occurs June 21, when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Cancer. In the Southern Hemisphere, the winter and summer solstices are reversed.

The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. The sun appears at its lowest point in the sky, and its noontime elevation appears to be the same for several days before and after the solstice and so the origin of the word solstice, which comes from Latin solstitium, from sol, "sun" and -stitium, meaning the standing still. The South Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will have reached its northernmost position in the sky and will be directly over the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.44 degrees south latitude. Following the winter solstice, the days begin to grow longer and the nights shorter. 

Yule was an important event in the lives of our ancestors as they never took for granted that the sun would return to its path towards Spring. To help this ”birth of the light”, there are many celebrations involving fires and light in all the religions around the globe,  like the Celtic Yule log, the Jewish Chanukah, the Roman fires of Saturnalia and more.

Invocation of the Light: "Let there be light.”

The Goddess of Light,  The Queen of Light and The Goddess of Purity form a trinity of three cosmic beings who have a one-pointed goal : to focus the intense light of Christ consciousness. They can be invoked daily, and their light is especially amplified at winter solstice.

“You can call to the Goddess of Light, the Queen of Light and the Goddess of Purity to help you pass your tests using the mantra,
 "Let there be light.” The Masters and Their Retreats

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Pancha Ganapati

This is a five-day Hindu festival in honor of the elephant headed god, Lord Ganesha, Patron of Arts and Guardian of Culture. December 21–25.

During each of the five days of Pancha Ganapati, a special sadhana, spiritual discipline, is performed by the entire family. Because of the festival’s importance as a new beginning and mending of all past mistakes, a shrine is created in the main living room of the home and decorated in the spirit of this festive occasion. At the center is placed a large wooden or bronze five-faced statue of Lord Pancha Ganapati. If this is not available, any large picture or statue of Lord Ganesha will do. 

Lord Ganesha is often depicted as coming from the forest; therefore, pine boughs (or banana leaves) may be used. Flashing lights, tinsel and colorful hanging ornaments may also be added. Each morning the children dress or decorate Ganesha anew in a different color: golden yellow on December 21, then royal blue, ruby red, emerald green and finally brilliant orange. These are the colors of His five powers, or shaktis.

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Yalda:

This is the Iranian festival celebrating the victory of light, Mithra, the sun god,  born at  dawn on the 22nd of December to a virgin mother, after the longest night of the year.  Herodotus, a famous Greek historian, reports that this was the most important holiday of the year for contemporary Persians. It is celebrated by star gazziing and eating red fruits.
 

Shab-e Yalda  is a night spent with family and friends when they come together to eat, drink and read poetry throughout the night. Pomegranates are particularly prominent during the celebrations and the redness of the fruits is a reminder of the crimson tones of dawn and the splendor of life.

For Iranians, Shab-e Yalda is the coldest and darkest night and in Persian poetry has come to be symbolic of loneliness and separation from loved ones. However, it is not a time of sorrow, but a time of hope and of new beginnings as representative of the rising sun following Shab-e Yalda.

In Zoroastrian and ancient Iranian traditions, the winter solstice r was an auspicious day, and included customs intended to protect people from misfortune. Herodotus reports that this was the most important holiday of the year for his contemporary Persians. It is celebrated by stargazziing and eating red fruits.

Foods common to Yalda celebration include watermelon, pomegranate, nuts, and dried fruit. These items and more are commonly placed on the korsi, a traditional piece of furniture similar to a very short table, covered by a wool or wool-filled blanket. People sit around the Korsi and put their legs under the blanket. Inside the korsi, heat is generated by means of coal, electricity or gas heaters. 

Activities common to celebration of Yalda include staying up past midnight, conversation, eating, reading poems out loud, telling stories and jokes, smoking "Ghelyoon" (water pipe), and for some dancing. Prior to invention and prevalence of electricity, decorating and lighting the house and yard with candles was also part of the tradition, but few have continued this tradition. Another faded tradition is giving the present of dried fruits and nuts to family and friends in small parchments tied with ribbon (similar to "favors" currently made for wedding and baby related parties in the United States). 

During the long night, Iranians also practice bibliomancy with the poetry mystic Iranian poet, Hafez.

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Christmas Day

This is the day that Christians celebrate the birth of Christ the Son/Sun of God. The Gospel of Luke gives this account: 

4 “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and lineage of David,)
5  To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6  And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid.

10  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
12  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14  Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth and good will towards men”

A child is born in our hearts

Peace to men of Good Will!

May we, with the earth, live this period in all humility, letting go of all dross in our personality so the pure gold of our true being can be revealed and forged into the chalice, ready to receive the new energies and serve all humanity.

This period between the Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice represents one of tremendous effort and striving – those on the path of light practice the  necessary purification of the lower life, preparing it to be a fit temple in which the soul can radiate.

Winter solstice in this case, represents the stripping away of the personality, attachments and desires, until it is a colorless form. The Christmas birth represents the ‘transfiguration’ of the soul, where the initiate knows himself to be a true Son of God. This is related to the third initiation where the fortress of the ego consciousness - the Dweller of the Threshold, is obliterated by the light of the Angel of the Presence. Spirit dominates matter, the higher rules the lower, and we see the emergence of a world initiate!

How important it is to approach Christmas fresh and innocent, to be reborn with the New Light, the Light of the Returning Sun,- Son - to be covered safely within with Our Mother’s Blue Mantle of Space and cradled softy in her arms.

Symbol of the Christmas Tree

Even the Egyptians knew  the importance of evergreens. When the winter solstice arrived, they brought green date palm leaves into their homes to symbolize the triumph of life over death.

The Romans celebrated the winter solstice with a feast called Saturnalia, the god of agriculture. They decorated their houses with greens and lights and exchanged gifts.

Centuries ago in Great Britain, forest priests called Druids used evergreens during mysterious winter solstice rituals. The Druids used pine, holly and mistletoe as symbols of eternal life. Their sacred language of trees preceded even runes.

Late in the Middle Ages, Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees inside their homes or just outside their doors to symbolize their belief in the spirit of the sun being incorruptible and as an entreaty for it to return.

Our modern Christmas tree evolved from these early traditions. Six species account for about 90 percent of the US Christmas tree trade. Scotch pine ranks first, making up about 40 percent of the market, followed by Douglas fir which accounts for 35 percent. The other big sellers are noble fir, white pine, balsam fir and white spruce.

The Pine tree is an evergreen, known to the Druids as "the sweetest of woods." It was one of the seven chieftain trees of the Irish. Mix the dried needles with equal parts of juniper and cedar and burn to purify the home and ritual area. The cones and nuts can be carried as a fertility charm. A good magical cleansing and stimulating bath is made by placing pine needles in a loose-woven bag and running bath water over it. To purify and sanctify an outdoor ritual area, brush the ground with a pine branch. The Native Americans use Cedar for the same cleansing properties along with sweet grass, sage and tobacco, which are their four sacred plants.

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Twelve Days of Christmas

(See chapter on the Mediation for the Twelve Days of Christmas).

December 25 through January 6 is the season of the Birth of light. In the Eastern Orthodox churches, the Great Feast of Theophany (Epiphany) on 6 January is considered a higher-ranked feast than the Nativity (Christmas), and commemorates the Baptism of Jesus rather than the arrival of the Wise Men.

Each of us will receive a message from The Ruler of the Earth Sanat Kumara. It comes during the 12 days of meditation on the impetus for the coming year: How very important it is for all disciples and aspiring disciples to prepare for the twelve seed days of Christmas, which actually have their roots in Kings week. The Ruler of the Earth, Sanat Kumara, and the Divine Spouse, the Queen Rectrix, open a new chapter for us and a new tone is given to follow for the year to come.

In England in the Middle Ages, this twelve day period was one of continuous feasting and merrymaking, which climaxed on Twelfth Night, the traditional end of the Christmas season. In Tudor England, William Shakespeare used it as the setting for one of his plays, titled Twelfth Night. Often a Lord of Misrule was chosen to lead the Christmas revels

“The Twelve Days of Christmas" is also commemorated in an ancient English Christmas carol which lists a series of increasingly grand gifts given on each of the twelve days of Christmas. Although first published in England in 1780, evidence indicates the song is French in origin. If you add up all the gifts, they amount to 365 items.

(Since 1984, the cumulative costs of the items mentioned in the song have been used as a tongue-in-cheek economic indicator. The people mentioned in the song are hired, not purchased. The total costs of all goods and services for the 2010 Christmas Price Index is $23,439. The original 1984 cost was $12,623.10).

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St John the Apostle  Day

John the Apostle, (c. 6 - c. 100) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of James. Christian tradition tells that he was the last surviving of the Twelve Apostles and that he died of natural causes — the only apostle to die naturally - "in great old age near Ephesus".

He is the author of the Gospel of John, the Epistles of John, and the Book of Revelation. The Christian celebration of the winter solstice is dedicated to Saint John the Apostle. Note that there is also a festival of St. John the Baptist in June at the Summer Solstice. He was an itinerant preacher who baptized Christ at "Bethany beyond the Jordan”. John is regarded as a prophet in Christianity, Islam, and in the Bahá'í faiths. 

The Gospel of Luke states that Jesus was conceived when Elizabeth was about six months pregnant, and when her cousin Mary came to tell her, Elizabeth's unborn child "jumped for joy" in her womb.

It is interesting to note that in Christianity, there are two churches. Peter was given the exoteric church, the church of the people, representing the body of Christ. John, was given the esoteric church, representing the head of Christ, by the words, “I wish Him (John) to remain until I come.”

Disciple John is depicted as an ascetic wearing camel hair, with a chalice or staff and scroll inscribed Ecce Agnus De (behold the lamb of God), or bearing a book or dish with a lamb on it. In Orthodox icons, he often has angel's wings. 

St. John is the patron saint of the Order of the Templars and is beloved by Freemasons. The Gospel according to John is profound and filled with deep esoteric meaning.

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Conclusion

Finally we come to the moment we have prepared for all year. It is so important that we approach Christmas fresh and innocent as a newborn child, to be reborn in the New Light, the Light of the Returning Sun - the Returning Son - to be cradled in our Mother’s soothing arms and covered safely within her Blue Mantle of Space.Let us take a moment to listen at midnight to the silence of peace as it envelopes the Earth. Wars have been known to cease in recognition of this magical moment.

The veil of the Mother is lifted for Christmas. A new light comes to us and is born in our hearts. The Cosmic forces of Aquarius start in the Point of Silence of the Holy Mountain, a mighty chord sounds forth and seven cosmic portals open to shine this new light upon us.

“The Christmas season is the period when a very great outpouring of spiritual benediction and intellectually enlightening energy or power is projected unto the world. Keep your heart and mind open and alert, be responsive to this very real outpouring, "Light of the Sanctuary" Geoffrey Hodson.

In this month we are witness to the birth of a new spark of light. During The meditation of the 12 days of Christmas, we will receive the framework for our inner work for the year to come. Listen for the silvery tones of the new impetus, the new direction and sound for the new year.

“Only the fiery cells can engender new forms. Fiery cells hold Cosmic Magnetism. They burn with the desire to sow and spread Life”. (Elisabeth Warnon: The Book of Knowledge).