THE SPIRITUAL ASPIRANT AND SYMBOLISM

By Dr. Matthew Kyei, 2012 Easter School, Koforidua Ghana

INTRODUCTION:

The Gods met to hide man’s divinity. One suggested it should be carried to the other side of the earth but it was pointed out that man is a greater wanderer.

Another proposed it should be dropped into the depth of the sea but the same fear was expressed that man was curious.

Finally after a space of silence the oldest and wisest of the gods said “Hide it in man himself as that is the last place he will ever think to look for it” it was agreed and hidden in man. Since then man has sought for divinity everywhere BUT within himself. Man is the greatest symbol himself. Decipher ciphers (Secret writings) and be wise.

SYMBOLISM

The art of using a thing to represent something else. Mystic Christianity is a symbolic philosophy. Symbols had been used in Military and Diplomatic circles. Sacred science must be couched in sacred language hence the use of symbols so as to (1) conceal the sacred truths from the uninitiated and (2) conceal them to avoid persecutions due to religious intolerance.

FORMS OF SYMBOLS

· LITERAL SYMBOLS: The use of letters to hide the intended meaning.

· PICTORIAL SYMBOLS: Any picture or drawing with other than its obvious meaning e.g. Alchemical and Architectural designs.

· ACROAMATIC SYMBOLS: The use of parables and allegories. It is the most subtle of all symbols. They are pictorial symbols drawn in words.

The parables and allegories are subject to several interpretations. Bible students are satisfied with the moral interpretation but each parable and allegory is capable of seven (7) interpretations, of which the 7^th is the highest- all others are fragmentary. The initiated few understand the true nature of this alphabet but the uninitiated MANY worship the letters of it as gods e.g. The parables of the Prodigal Son and the Sower.

· THE NUMERICAL SYMBOLS: The use of numbers to hide the intended meaning e.g. the letters of the alphabet are exchanged for numbers e.g. 144000 to be saved in the Revelation.

· MUSICAL SYMBOLS: The use of musical notes for the letters of the alphabet

· ARBITRARY SYMBOLS: The exchange of the letters of the alphabet for hieroglyphic figures e.g. Angelic writing found in the Kabalistic and Magic writings called Malachim.

· THE CODE SYMBOLS: The most modern of secret writings e.g. The Morse Code which uses dots, dashes, colons etc

· MISCELLANEOUS SYMBOLS: All the professions have their secret writings e.g. Medicine, computer studies etc.

THE SPIRITUAL ASPIRANT

An individual who realises that man is but a spirit from God and tries to live a spiritual, moral and Christian life which would lead him/her back to God.

CONCLUSION

In Matthew 24:15 we read; “Who so readeth, let him understand”. Every aspirant should be reasonably well acquainted with the underlying principles of symbolism. They would help him in his researches and develop the acuteness of the mental faculties. Discrimination and observation are indispensable to the seeker after knowledge and no study is equal to symbolism as a means of stimulating these powers.

MAY THE ROSES BLOOM UPON YOUR CROSS.

ADDENDUM

SYMBOLS: Material things taken to represent immaterial or abstract thing as an idea or quality.

EMBLEM: PERSONIFICATION OF ASPIRATION

INTERLOCKING ASPECTS

By F.M. Kokoroko, 2012 Easter School, Koforidua Ghana

In the western wisdom Bible course, it is stated that “Among the chief articles in the East room of the Temple is the Table of shewbread. Upon this table there were two piles of shewbread each containing six loaves. And upon the top each pile there was a little heap of frankincense. The aspirant who came to the temple door poor, naked and blind by tears of contrition has since been brought to the light of the seven branched candle stick obtaining a certain amount of cosmic knowledge and this he is required to use in the service of his fellow man. The table of shewbread represents this in symbol. These God given grains of wheat in the twelve loaves represent opportunities for soul growth given by God which come to all through the twelve departments of life represented by the twelve houses of the horoscope under the dominion of the twelve divine hierarchies known through the signs of the Zodiac. It is the task of the mystic mason to embrace these opportunities to cultivate them, to make them into that “living bread” which nurtures and nourishes the soul.

The Occult Anatomy of the Bible also states that there are seven cervical vertebrae which correlate to the seven planets: the first to Saturn; the second to Jupiter; the third to Mars the fourth to the Sun; the fifth to Venus; the sixth to Mercury; the seventh to the Moon, that the twelve dorsal vertebrae in the thorax, attached to the ribs correlate to the twelve Zodiacal signs; that the lumbar vertebrae in the middle of the body correlate to the four elements; Fire, Earth, Air, and Water.

And that the five remaining vertebrae which fuse into the coccyx signify the serpent path whereby, through regeneration, we may attain the wisdom of the gods.

From these, we can therefore conclusively say our horoscopes are within us.

Permit me now to present to you the Horoscope of the Interlocking Aspects. It is the horoscope of a male, born in December 29, 1900 12:45 am.

SIGNS ON THE ANGLES

The signs on the four angles are Libra, Cancer, Aries and Capricorn. Cardinal signs on the angles indicate work on both the vital and dense bodies. Venus is the ruler of this horoscope .Venus rules Libra, and Virgo. When Venus rules Virgo she deals much with forms but when she rules Libra feeling is dealt with.

PATHOLOGICAL ASPECTS

· The energetic and eruptive Mars is in the eleventh house of friends under the influence of Virgo and trine to the expansive and constructive Sun in Capricorn. This configuration gives the native superabundance of vital energy which assures him of the most radiant health all through life. But the sun is square the receptive and collective Moon. This affects the health, rendering the body liable to colds and making recuperation slow in time of sickness.

· Mars is trine Saturn making the native more energetic capable of intenseand sustained action. This also provides dominant forcefulness in his dealings.

· The Moon is trine to Venus. This configuration indicates love of pleasure, music and art, and makes him very attractive to the opposite sex. But Venus is square to Mass. This will give the tendency for liability to gross excesses in the gratification of the passions which will sap his vitality.

· Uranus is also trine to the Moon; giving him peculiar fascination for the opposite sex and this could lead him to clandestine love affairs. On the other, Uranus square to Mars portends a violent temper of the worst; cold and dry, without a spark of true love.

· Mercury opposition to Neptune gives a chaotic mind, liable to lack of memory; liable to fraud, deception and slander, also to commit suicide.

· Jupiter opposition to Neptune indicates lack of control of the emotion. The person is sensitive to the low psychic inferences.

PHYSIOLOGICAL ASPECTS

· Mars rules iron in blood, red coloring matter in blood, muscular movement, nerves, genitals and left cerebral hemisphere, is in Virgo, the sign which rules large and small intestines, abdominal region, lower lobe of liver, and peristalsis of the bowels. Mars squares Venus which rules venous circulation. Mars afflicted in Virgo gives a tendency to typhoid, inflammation of the bowels, peritonitis, worms and appendicitis. Venus also afflicted in Sagittarius gives a tendency to kindred diseases in the hips, and by reflex action in Gemini, bronchial and pulmonary afflictions.

Uranus ruling gases and ethers is in the sign Sagittarius which rules the sacral plexus. When Uranus is square Mars, muscular rheumatism is the result.

· Moon is square Saturn. The moon rules the digestive organs, also lymph and chyle. When Saturn afflicts the moon, metabolism is obstructed; lymph, chyle and synovial fluid are not produced in sufficient quantity to keep the body prompt. Saturn on the other hand is averse to activity. He clogs the system and hardens the arteries. He rules bones, joints and ligaments. If afflicted he produces articular rheumatism.

· The genial, expansive energy of the Sun which enters through the spleen intensifies the activities of the vital body. When afflicted in Capricorn gives a tendency to rheumatism, skin diseases, and digestive troubles.

· Mercury rules nerves, bronchial tubes, pulmonary circulation, right cerebral hemisphere, cerebro-spinal system, sensory nerves and vital fluid in nerves. When afflicted in Sagittarius it gives a tendency to pain in the hips and thighs. By reflex action in Gemini, cough, asthma and pleurisy or consumption.

· Jupiter rules the liver, suprarenal, arterial circulation; fibrin of blood and disposition of fats .when afflicted in Sagittarius gives a tendency to rheumatism and gout; by reflex action in Gemini, pulmonary apoplexy and corrupt blood.

PROGRESSED LUNAR DIRECTIONS

The progressed moon or lunation brings matters to a focus and marks the month when the occurrence will take place.

· The moon progressed opposition radical Sun. This aspect indicates a time of trouble and loss. He will experience trouble with the opposite sex particularly the marriage partner, if he is in the state of matrimony. The health will suffer.

· The moon progressed opposition or squares the radical Mercury: The mind will be much disturbed and he should neither travel nor make changes. Must be very careful of his expressions in correspondence.

· The Moon progressed square radical Saturn: this aspect marks a very evil time, particularly with respect to health and the conditions at home. It will produce a disturbed frame of mind.

· The moon progressed square radical Jupiter: These will be a tendency to excesses which will cause disease by making the blood impure

· The moon progressed conjunction radical Mass: This indicates violent quarrels in the home, also a tendency to over-indulgence of the lower passional nature which only bring trouble in its train.

· The moon progressed square radical Uranus marks a very critical period. There is a liability to the formation of a clandestine relationship which will bring sorrow and trouble.

· The moon progressed square Neptune will mark a period of weird and uncanny experiences, when he will come under the spell of hypnotism, or mediumship or have vision or begin to hear voices.

· The moon progressed square radical Venus: This marks a period of considerable trouble and disappointment. A courtship may be broken off or a marriage dissolved by separation.

THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

By Mr. D. Anoma-Bempong, 2012 Easter School, Koforidua Ghana

PARENTAGE: FATHER – JOACHIM, MOTHER – HANNA (Anna) were all initiates of the Essenian mysteries. Anna’s mother was Faustina, daughter of noble parents who were Levites, belonging to the priesthood. She was of the house of Israel who beheld a dream-vision the glorious fulfilment of her line. “The 7^th daughter of my daughter, Hanna, the wife of Joachim, shall bring forth the Blessed ‘Moon’”.

DATE OF BIRTH: From calculations, Mary was born in 10.BC

THE ANNUNCIATION OF MARY: Joachim retired into the desert to prepare himself for the advent of Mary and there he spent his time in fasting and prayer. Hanna also sought the solitude of the beautiful gardens surrounding their home, where she passed the hours in prayer and meditation. It was while she was thus employed, arrayed in her “golden wedding garment” or in other words, attuned to initiate consciousness that the angel Gabriel appeared to her and said:

“Peace be unto thee, O woman. Fear not, for thou hast found mercy with the Lord, and behold thou shalt conceive and bring forth a daughter, and thou shall call her name Mary; from her shall spring the Light of Creation and Him for whom the worlds wait”.

To Joachim also, the angel of the Annunciation appeared at his retreat in the desert, saying, “Rise up, O son of David, and go to thy house….. the Lord has been gracious unto thy wife Hanna.”

When Joachim returned to the city, he found Hanna waiting for him beside the Golden Gate – a mystical reference to the exultation of the soul in which they dwelt during this sacred interval of preparation. Together, Joachim and Anna gave fervent thanks for the long-desired answer to their prayer and in deep reverence and humility they dedicated the expected child to Temple Service. Filled with holy ecstasy, a cloud of heavenly light enfolded them until they too became luminous with a rare shining. Never before had two human beings attained unto such superphysical state. They were encircled with multitudes of angels singing and rejoicing. Thus, the child Mary was born.

The influence of the holy child permeated all her mother’s aura. Whenever Hanna entered, she was preceded by a great light. Strange fires fell from her fingers, and when she came into a room where any lay ill or where strife reigned, the sick person arose healed, and disputations were forgotten in a pervading harmony.

THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED MARY

It was in the early days of September (10 BC) that the happy prospective mother, the Holy Anna was informed interiorly that the great Spirit to take the embodiment through her was drawing near the confines of the earth. These dedicated parents spent their time in prayer and exulted meditation, sustaining the physical body with light repasts of bread, fruit and water.

Upon the birth night, as the mother knelt in prayer before her shrine, a light radiant and supernatural, enveloped her and filled the furthest recesses of the room with its splendor for she was then holding against her heart the blessed form of the child. Angels chorused in triumph and proclaimed that the chosen one should bear the name Mary.

Rejoicings that characterized the birth of infant Mary cannot be over emphasized. Angelic hosts, with vast radiations of light streamed from wing-shaped auras, and heard their triumphant chant of the new day which was dawning with the birth of Mary, “The Angels of heaven and earth salute thee for the new life which you bring forth!”

Mary was dedicated to serve in the Temple by her Father Joachim. Meanwhile, she was prepared for her Temple service at home. “And Hanna said unto her husband Joachim: “Build thou a chamber for Mary our daughter, so that she may abide therein until she has grown somewhat, and we can carry her up to Jerusalem where she may dwell before the Lord, even as we have promised Him.”.

Then Joachim built for his daughter a beautiful sanctuary chamber, decorated with rare and real fabrics and containing an imposing shrine. Here she lived during her tender years in a heaven-world atmosphere, surrounded by peace and beauty and companioned by Angels. She was taught by her Initiate Parents, who understood from their own Angelic Teachers the high destiny awaiting their daughter.

At three (3), Mary’s parents chose seven maidens, neophytes in the holy Mysteries, to accompany the virgin to Jerusalem, where she was presented at the Temple and received with praise and thanksgiving and the High-Priest made prophecy, “the Lord God of Israel shall bless thy name Mary, for in thee He hath revealed the redemption of the people.”

We perceive in the angelic salutation not alone a reference to the coming of Mary’s sainted Son but a reference to the Doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, where by the entire human race will one day learn to build pure and sinless bodies for its incarnation and thus win eventual emancipation from the shackles of disease and death.

Like all master souls who come consciously into incarnation for a specific purpose, Mary was in complete possession of all her faculties from birth. With the beginnings of her earth life she recognized the angelic messengers who surrounded her and from whom she received guidance and instruction from earliest infancy. Mary bore the soul signature of love and compassion. In self obedience, humility, selfless service and eagerness to ameliorate the suffering and sorrow that she found in the world about her, she was preparing the way of the coming one. When Anna was taken to the Temple in Jerusalem for the feast of Purification, she was again inspired to dedicate her daughter to the Temple Service, and it was here that she pledged to return with Mary, to make her full and complete consecration to the Lord at the expiration of a period of three years.

THE DEDICATION OF MARY TO THE TEMPLE

Prior to leaving the home of her parents in Nazareth, several Temple priests had come to examine her as to her worthiness for Temple residence. They were greatly surprised and almost overawed by the young girl’s wisdom together with her extreme humility and sweetness of manner. Similarly, when she entered the Temple everyone was unanimous in acclaiming her a wise and gifted child.

Mary was constant in prayer and grew in grace and understanding of God, the All-Good. The priests looked upon her with veneration and cast lots to discover which of them was worthy to become her Teacher in the deeper mysteries of the Law. The lot fell on Zadok, and said: “Behold, the Lord has prepared for you a daughter, that is to say, Mary; guard ye her diligently and teach her to go in and to come forth from the Temple of the Lord.”

St. Jerome gives the following index as to Mary’s character and her daily Temple routine:

From the morning of the third hour (6-9) she gave herself to prayer, from the third to the ninth hour (9-3) to external work, from the ninth to the twelfth (3-6) she again prayed. She was always at the holy vigils, the most learned in the wisdom of God’s law, the most lovely in humility; the most skilful in the Psalms of David, the most marvelous in charity, the purest of the pure and most outstanding in every virtue. She was steady and persevering and each day she spent better than the last. No one ever saw or heard her angry. Every word that she said was so full of grace that it was clear that God was speaking in her …… She praised God without ceasing and when one greeted she replied. “Thanks be to God””Deo Gratias.”

The esotericist understands that Mary’s Temple service was a time of probationary discipline in preparation for the high Initiations to follow, the highest ever to be given upon this earth to an ego clothed in a feminine body. This required a long and difficult process of sensitization even for one possessing such great spiritual attainment as did Mary. The divine Lady refers to this arduous discipline in her revelation to St. Elizabeth of Schonau in the following words:

“My daughter, you think I had all these graces without trouble, but it is not so. I assure you that I received from God no grace, no gift, no virtue without great labor, continual prayer, ardent desire, profound devotion, many tears and much affliction.”

The supreme purpose of initiatory discipline and Temple training can never be expressed more beautifully and completely than in the Lady’s further words to St. Elizabeth which are as follows:

The Lord did with me what a musician does with his harp. The musician sets and tunes all the strings so that they give forth a sweet and harmonious melody, and then he sings while playing on it. Thus God brought into harmony with His will my soul and heart and mind and all the senses and actions of my body….

Once when I was thinking that I never wanted to be deprived of God’s grace, I arose and went to read in the scriptures, desiring something to console my soul. When I opened the book, the first thing was this passage of Isaiah, “Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son”. As I understood from this that the Son of God was going to choose a virgin to be His Mother, I immediately resolved in my Heart, out of reverence for that virgin to remain a virgin myself and to offer myself to her as a handmaid and always to serve her and never to leave her, even if I had to travel all over the world with her.

Little Mary was therefore subjected to severe tests of her entire life in the endeavor to break her poise, clam and unbroken contact with the Divine Light within. One of the most bitter forms of persecution as that of her girl Temple companions who incited by Mary’s rare virtues were moved to extremes of envy and jealousy. They tried by all means of falsification to love her dismissed in disgrace from the Temple. And to try her inner strength even further, it was in these crucial times that her Angels would hide their faces and would find herself all alone in her extremity. Although she sorrowed grievously, her pain and her prayer were for those who erred and not for herself. Never once was trial severe enough to break her faith or overshadowed her trust. Both of her parents passed in death during this time, and Mary was permitted to see them in spirit and bless their translations.

When the holy maid had been proved immune to all evil, her mystical experiences increased, her spiritual faculties were enlarged, and in the tender ministry of her guiding angles she was prepared for the next soul adventure.

THE BETROTHAL AND MARRIAGE OF MARY AND JOSEPH

She saw in your soul’s garden

The virgin lilies stand.

And knew God made you worthy

To touch her virgin hand

When Mary completed her Temple training the High Priest sought guidance in the Sanctuary. He entered the “Sanctum Sanctorum” – Holy of Holies, and made supplication concerning Mary. “What shall we do to her?” The reply came that all the men of the house of David connected with the Temple service be assembled and that Mary be given to the man to whom a certain sign should be shown.

The ancient legend tells us, “It came to pass when they were gathered together, Joseph was found with them, and as they were waiting, behold, a snow white dove went forth from the Sanctuary and alighted upon the top of Joseph’s staff (which had sprung into blossom) and then flew upon his head, after which it went back and entered into the Temple and into the Sanctuary. Then all the people cried out saying. GOD IS RIGHTEOUS IN ALL HIS WAYS, FOR THERE IS NO MAN HERE WHO IS SO CLOSELY AKIN TO MARY AS JOSEPH, AND IT IS MEET THAT SHE SHOULD BELONG TO HIM. And then we find the significant comment. “Now they did not know the Mystery which was hidden in the water”.

Mary and Joseph were Essenes – who were of two groups, those who were married to procreate and those who were virgins. The two, that is, Mary and Joseph belonged to the former. Early legend states that Joseph was a man in the prime of life and not an old man as generally described. The great age conferred upon him is purely symbolical, having to do with his high wisdom rather than with the number of years.

At the age of about 12 or 13 Joseph dedicated himself wholly to a life of chastity, holiness and prayer. At 20, he went to live alone in a small house in Tiberias beside the Lake of Galilee and became a carpenter’s assistant. He increased in both piety and wisdom and gave himself increasingly day by day unto prayer and ecstatic visions and angelic communications. When in these visions, instructions were given to him to proceed to the Temple in Jerusalem; he obeyed the command without question. Joseph was at this time 33 years of age, prepossessing in man, handsome in appearance and radiant with that light which an illumined spirit can give.

St. Francis Xavier’s description of Mary has it that. “Mary was of moderate height and light complexion. Her eyes were large verging towards blue, her hair auburn, her hands and fingers long and beautiful, her figure symmetrical in every part. Her language was particularly pleasing, her aspect modest and benign. So much glory and majesty appeared in her person that when the wicked viewed her countenance they reflected and withdrew and were made different persons. All loved and praised and thought much of her for the excellence and sweetness of her manner and for her humility. Largely her conversation in public and private was such as for goodness and dignity became the Messiah’s mother.”

THE MYSTERIES OF MARY AND JOSEPH

THE SEVEN SORROWS AND SEVEN JOYS

Both Mary and Joseph, the type patterns of feminine and masculine attainment respectively, passed through certain experiences which were tabulated by the early Christians as the Path of the Seven Sorrows and Seven joys.

The sorrows are the type-representation of the daily problems of human life, the joys the type representation of the essence, or extract, of those problems in terms of usable power, for each sorrow has a counterpart in a Joy.

The seven sorrows of Joseph were:

· Leaving Mary;

· No place for the Nativity but the manger;

· Sufferings of the Holy Child in Circumcision;

· Simeon’s prophecy of sorrow for his beloved Mary;

· The flight into Egypt;

· Fear of Herod’s son on the return to Nazareth;

· Loss of the boy Jesus in Jerusalem

The seven Joys of Mary were:

· Angelic Salutation of the Incarnation;

· Adoration of the Shepherds;

· The naming of Jesus;

· Adoration of the Wise Men;

· Simeon’s pronouncement of the coming salvation through Christ Jesus;

· The angelic summons to return from Egypt;

· Finding Jesus in the Temple at Jerusalem.

Mary signifies here as elsewhere the redeemed feminine, the Love Power of the Soul which is raised from bondage in matter to Liberation in Spirit. Ordinarily, this redemption is accomplished through sorrow, for it is unfortunately true that mankind elects to achieve salvation the difficult way. Like Christ Jesus, Mary represents the subjective side of life, the perfect consummation of the work within, which awaits the realization of every individual of every race on earth. This process is outlined in the Seven Sorrows of Mary which are:

· The prophecy of Simeon:

· The Flight into Egypt;

· The three days’ loss at Jerusalem of the boy Jesus;

· Meeting Jesus with the cross

· The scourging at the Pillar

· The Crucifixion

· The Holy Burial

The cross of discipleship gives way to the joys of the Initiate. These are evidenced in the Seven Joys of Mary:

· The Annunciation;

· The Nativity;

· The Purification;

· Finding Jesus in the Temple after three days’ loss;

· The Resurrection;

· Descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost;

· The Assumption

Since each ego in its cyclic evolution incarnates in both male and female bodies, it partakes of a blend of these experiences which constitute, as it were, the major and minor chords of the symphony of life.

The 14 steps above outlined one fundamental to the seven primary initiatory degrees. The seven degrees include all that each ego learns in earthly incarnations. For this reason Initiation must always be distinctly an individual process. No two Initiates have an identical experience; one Initiation is never wholly like another. From its earliest beginnings, life is a preparation for Initiation; life itself is the greatest Teacher of all, and evolution culminates in Initiation.

Hence, each of the Seven-Type Sorrows and Seven-Type Joys is part of the life experience of every neophyte and, in some degree, these same Sorrows and Joys are known to the personal history of every living man and woman. Later, the essence of these experiences is built into the consciousness as spiritual awareness, producing certain occult rhythms within the body which eventuate in definite initiatory or superhuman powers.

THE MYSTERY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

The most profound mystery connected with human evolution is that of the Immaculate Conception. Its truth has been veiled purposely from the mass mind, which is utterly incapable of comprehending it. The Rite of the Immaculate Conception has always been a part of the Mysteries, but as the ever-deepening materialism of the race has closed, one by one, the doors of the Mystery Schools, so also has the term Immaculate Conception come to bear no special significance.

As a preparatory exercise in the study of this lesson, the student is recommended upon the Annunciation,-Luke 1:26-38. It will do much to open his understanding to the spiritual significance of what follows:

The Immaculate Conception represents the highest achievement of womanhood. It signifies an attainment so wondrously, mysterious and sacredly beautiful that mere words are inadequate to reveal its true meaning. We can know it fully in the deep silence of the soul.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, symbolizes the Eternal Feminine, the love principle. Eve the Universal Mother in whom this principle fell, becomes Mary the mother of the immaculately conceived, when this fallen love principle is uplifted and redeemed.

Mary was an earthly woman, but behold, I tell you a mystery.” She had so purified her nature that the child she conceived, and to whom she gave birth was of such purity and perfection that He was to become a vehicle for the Christ.

The life and works of Mary, Joseph and Jesus are prophetic of the New Age, when every ego shall be well-born, wooed in love by parents who are pure and chaste. Only then will a race of new beings, united in fellowship and brotherly kindness, unfold wings of immortality and make manifest a world wherein will abide peace, joy, health and plenty. It will truly show forth “Holiness unto the Lord.”

The Blessed Virgin Mary is the highest Initiate who ever came to earth wearing a feminine body. There is a two-fold reason for this. She came as a perfect type-pattern for the perfecting of all womankind. She also came to give to man one of heaven’s highest gifts, namely the Holy Mystery of the Immaculate Conception.

The early alchemists gave out a profound truth when they declared that the Living Stone (New Age Body) was to be formed of the union of the Sun and the Moon. It is within the two crown jewels which adorn the head (the pineal and pituitary glands) that this divine work is primarily consummated. A veritable germ of light, a sun-seed, forms in the pineal gland of every human being. It is a part of his Christed heritage. However, this seed of light remains dormant- lies fallow- until one is wise enough to know how to use it. As the aspirant becomes sufficiently dedicated and spiritualized, each year immediately after the Summer Solstice, this Sun-seed begins an annual circuit through the body, simulating the path of the Sun in its course through the heavens. (The currents of life in man and nature are always in accord unless man himself disturbs that harmony). By the Autumn Equinox, the Sun-seed reaches the heart centre, and at Winter Solstice, as the Sun arrives at its southern most declination, it touches the solar plexus. It is for this reason that in the ancient Mysteries the solar plexus centre was termed the Manger of the human body temple. Following the ascent of the sun, the light-germ again touches the heart centre at the time of the Spring Equinox, and at the Summer Solstice it is lifted to its home in the pineal gland as the sun attains its northern most position once more.

During this annual circuit of the Sun-seed, the body is electrified with new life, new radiance and the powers that make for eternal youth; hence those who walk the path of first-hand knowledge are always filled with a rare shining light. They have become one with the glory of that inner light which never lay on land or sea.

Meanwhile, concomitant to the Sun cycle, each month at the New Moon there forms in the pituitary body a lunar germ. This Moon-seed follows the path of the moon. By the time of the Full Moon it has reached the centre of generation. The Full Moon therefore marks the crucial time of the month. In the body of a person living the ordinary life of the world the lunar germ is dissipated and its life powers lost. In the consecrated aspirant, however, the lunar germ is conserved and lifted again to its home in the pituitary body at the time of the New Moon, where its forces are fused with those of the newly formed lunar germ. Now, at the Summer Solstice, for one treading the path of holiness, a true Christ-mass is celebrated in the purified body-temple, for it is then that the twelve lunar germs conserved through the year are united with the solar germ. Their fusing place is the third ventricle, which is the bridge between the pineal and the pituitary glands.

The third ventricle thus becomes the marriage bed on which the Holy Child (union of the solar and lunar seeds) is conceived and born. It is also called a “manger”, the pineal and pituitary glands being the holy parents participating in the alchemical union.

Such is briefly an outline of the fundamental occult process which underlies the Rite of the Immaculate Conception.

TRANSLATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN

Mary’s translation (death) took place in cosmic splendor. “The heavens were shaken, the doors of the firmament were open wide, the earth reeled, and the host of Heaven went forth glorifying the King. Thousands of spiritual beings took their positions like pillars round about the upper chamber, and there came down from above an ark of flame and fire which overshadowed the “Blessed Woman.”

Mary then beheld a light so glorious to defy description and heard a voice which said, “Thy Soul shall rest in the kingdom of the heavens, a habitation that is filled with grace and where there is joy and gladness.”

Now the Angels began their chant, the Light shown upon the face of Mary, she lifted her hands in blessing upon the disciples, and straight away her soul was separated from her body; after which “a great light filled the place and there came forth a beautiful fragrance and a voice from Heaven saying, “Blessed art thou, O blessed queen of women”. Then “there was a great quietness and the odour of sweet scents breathed from the Upper Chamber in which Mary was lying.” Her final words were identical with those of Christ as this glorious Spirit was freed from the cross of matter, “Father, into Thy hands I commit my spirit.

The disciples wrapped the body in a “mantle of light,” so the ancient legend relaxes and “they fastened the sides thereof with that which resembled lightening. Above them all, and about the bier of Mary, was spread a white canopy of light. Thousands of Angels surrounded her there, singing hallelujahs.

When the body was taken from the chamber, borne by the disciples, it was attended by multitudes who had come from Jerusalem to pay homage to the Blessed Mary. John the beloved, walked before the bier carrying a palm branch which glittered with a light supernatural, and all who touched it were healed of diverse ills.

There was a new cave on the side of Mount Olives in which no dead had been interred. In this cave they laid the body of Mary. For 3 days and nights multitudes of Angels hovered over the cave singing joyously and a bright light shone around it which was visible from a great distance. Many sick persons on coming near the holy place were made well and whole.

On the fourth day, the disciples entered the tomb, but the body of the blessed virgin was no longer visible. In its place was a fragrant and luminous mass of roses and lilies which, says the legend, had sprung up through the tomb and all about the entrance-symbolic of the complete and entire transmutation of matter into spirit.

The mystic Ceremonial Death through which she passed was the “Initiation of Earth”.

We are told that “the Blessed Mary was fourteen at the time of Annunciation. She was with Christ Jesus for thirty and three years. She lived for five years after the Crucifixion which by calculations, she was fifty-two.

Mary the Roses Bloom Upon Your Cross.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

· Divine Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary – JMT Company, Necedah Wis 54646, February, 1973

· St. Anthony’s Treasury – Anthonian Press Temple. St. Dublin April, 1941

· The Life and Mission of the Blessed Virgin- Corine Heline, new Age Bible & Philosophy Centre, 1139 Lincon Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90403, 1986.

WANTED FOR IMMEDIATE EMPLOYMENT: CONSCIOUS INVISIBLE HELPERS

By Michael Mensah, 2012 Easter School, Koforidua Ghana

Our clients are the Elder Brothers of the Rose Cross working for the speedy evolution of humanity. In line with the foregoing background and especially with the current state of affairs in the world our clients have asked us to advertise for eligible candidates to apply for the position of Conscious Invisible Helpers to support their work under the caption: "Then saith he unto his disciples, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few’’. There are no limits to the number wishing to apply

Background

In LETTER TO STUDENTS No. 47, OCTOBER 1914 Max Heindel writes:

‘Another month has gone by and still the European war is raging in all its intensity. Thousands and thousands have passed over the border into the invisible realm, and the distress there as well as here is unprecedented in the history of the world. As you have learned from our literature, the desire world is the world of illusion and delusion; and those poor people who have so suddenly been transferred to that realm with frightful wounds upon their physical bodies also imagine (as very frequently in the case with persons who have met accidents) that the lesions of the physical body are still with them, and they suffer acutely there from these fancied injuries as they would here. That is of course entirely needless. Many of them are going about there with dreadful wounds upon their bodies, particularly those who have wounds caused by bursting shells and by bayonets. It is of course an easy matter for the Invisible Helpers to show any one of these people that his or her injuries are only fancied, yet when there are so many thousands the task is gigantic, and our Invisible Helpers are having a time of unprecedented activity against overwhelming odds. It is not so much however the anguish that results from such fancied bodily lesions which make the work difficult. The mental anguish--the concern for those who have been left behind, the fear of fathers concerning their little ones, and the sorrow of the mothers who have been left behind to bring up a family of young children--is the most fearful handicap to a settlement of this dreadful state of affairs that the Invisible Helpers have to meet, and this is the point on which I would like to ask your earnest cooperation’.

Indeed this was during the First World War and subsequent to that, the Second World War and so many other wars in the sixties, seventies, eighties..... and even to date. Nearly a 100 years toady when Max Heindel wrote that letter, the world has gone and is still going through, with reckless abandon and increased intensity unparalled in any time of the world’s history, the worst forms of killing, mass destruction, ignorance, squalor, deprivation, wickedness, hunger, disease, greed, lust and a host of other negative happenings. At present so many deplorable casualties are occurring daily and hourly, and people are being hurled into the next world in hideously maimed and disfigured conditions. Many more are suffering all manner of atrocities leading to pain, sorrow and anguish.

The Middle East conflicts have never ceased since the mid sixties; the Iraq-Iran war, the American-led attack on the Taliban in Afghanistan, the Sadaam Hussein inspired Gulf War, the Falklands, Chechnia and many other wars in the world including those in Africa—Angola, Mozambique, Somalia, Congo, Ruanda, Burundi, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Libya……etc. Have we forgotten so soon the Apartheid System in South Africa, the white domination of the blacks in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe the dictatorial leaderships in the world which advertised man’s cruelty to man in the most savage and inhumane manner. Of very recent times the Arab Spring, political conflicts in Cote D’Ivoire, the ongoing Syrian massacre of defenseless people as well as the continuous and unabated suicide killings and bombings in several parts of the Arab world, massive killings by drug gangs in Latin America; Guatemala, Bolivia, Mexico and other drug related situations etc. What about the natural disasters: the Tsunamis of Indonesia and Japan, massive floods across the globe, the tornadoes and cyclones, earth movements in the form of mud and landslides, climate change leading heavy rainfall, famine and massive deaths out of hunger, murder, suicides etc… the countless and massive withdrawals of human beings from the earth (the list is endless).

These are of great concern to our clients. As Max Heindel made the call in that letter 1914, a lot of help is needed today even on a higher scale to support those poor people who have so suddenly been transferred to that realm with frightful wounds upon their physical bodies as well as assuage the suffering and provide both material and spiritual support to a large number of human beings both alive and dead. The reality today is as good and relevant as at the time Max Heindel wrote that letter. Though there are so many thousands, the task is still very gigantic, and our client’s current band of Invisible Helpers are having a time of unprecedented activity against overwhelming odds.

Given the facts and figures that there are over 7billion Virgin spirits inhabiting physical bodies today on earth all of whom are either making or marring their own spiritual progress (regeneration or degeneration) the ultimate as we have been taught is to attain through evolution, perfection, liberation or salvation. Therefore the need to quicken the pace of the process cannot be under-emphasized. The practice of the basic principles of Love leading to the attainment of Universal Brotherhood which is the basis of all spiritual teachings will ultimately be achieved through pain and suffering. But this opens the avenue or the door for those striving upon the path to early perfection to avail themselves of the opportunity to serve in the great vineyard of the Christ in supporting selflessly fellow humans as well as those below the human life wave as we all journey on the path of evolution towards perfection.

Who are Invisible Helpers?

Invisible Helpers belong to many life waves. These useful beings range all the way from God, the Supreme Being, and the High Beings who dwell on the various cosmic planes. For our purpose we will limit them to Invisible Helpers who belong to the human life wave. We can divide them roughly into two classes, the Conscious Helpers and the Unconscious Helpers. The Conscious Helpers are human beings who have reached the point where they can leave their bodies at will and can go out in their soul bodies, and work as helpers in full possession of all their faculties. They can return to their bodies and remember just where they have been, and what they did and said. They can retain what they have learned and can bring their experiences to their mind whenever they wish. They have been taught how to work with the living and the dead, how the spiritual laws operate, and how to heal the sick.   

The Unconscious Helpers are people who go out at night helping others during sleep. They do what they can to help but they do not remember what they have done. Such a Helper is not able to send messages down his slender, glistening silver cord to the physical brain and have it record them. For this reason he cannot remember where he has been and what he did. It takes a long course of training and much effort for such a Helper to become conscious on the inner planes; but it can be done and many persons have advanced to this point. The call for application is limited only to the CONSCIOUS INVISIBLE HELPERS.

Eligibility

Applicants must possess all the following qualifications and work experience

· Must have a firm belief and unshakable faith in God

· Ability to remember all that they do in out of the body because their consciousness is unbroken.

· Be a person who makes the "Sermon on the Mount or the "Ten Commandments" a part of himself.

· Be a person who has the laws of God written in his heart regardless of what his race, creed, colour, or religion is.

· Must have one-pointedness of mind. Must believe that one can do the things that one has set out to do along religious lines and to help humanity.

· Must be brave and fearless and believe that nothing can hurt him here or hereafter while he is out in sleep.

· Must have some knowledge of how to care for the sick and injured. The more capable and experienced they are the better, for they must think and act quickly.

· Must be brave enough to stand up for his religion against opposition. When a student definitely takes the Path he will find that his family and his friends will oppose his desires and they may try to talk him out of it.

· Must be kind and considerate at home, conscientious in all their business dealings, loyal to their friends, and ready to forgive their enemies.

· Must be a person who has meditated long before he decided to dedicate his life to the service of humanity.

· Must have studied and understood the twin laws of Rebirth and Consequences from all angles, and how best to make a better start.

· Must have all the bodies: a vital body, a desire body, a mental body, and a soul body.

· Be able to rise above the laws of our physical world and be a law unto self.

· Have knowledge, for they have to deal with many kinds of people, and they are supposed to be able to cope with every kind of situation when they are sent on assignments. They are given the means of carrying on the work that is to be done. By means of the Jupiterian Consciousness, which is somewhat like moving pictures, the Helpers are shown the people who they are to help and what they must do for them.

· Must like to work. If you take pride in your work and try to put yourself in it and do the very best you can, you will succeed in the long run. Should be one who loves his work. No lazy persons required.

· Must not neglect the ordinary duties of our lives and not expect to take on new duties and put aside obligations that have already been assumed. Must not only aim high, but must work toward the goal that he has set for himself.

· Must use justice and mercy in their daily life, for an evil man cannot do deeds of mercy at night.

· Must be honest with himself and others.

· Able to obey the laws of the land where they live.

· Able to avoid pride of intellect, intolerance, impatience or lack of restraint.

· Should take some part in the life of the community in which they live. In order to have a better government they must do their share in promoting the best interests of the people to be governed. (Many people are following the dictates of those in places of power, not because they love them or trust them, but because they want prestige, money, or power which they expect to receive from them. There are people today who are ready to sell their souls for thirty pieces of silver just as Judas did when he betrayed his friend and Saviour. We are not looking for such people)

· "Thou shalt not steal." Have respect for the property rights of others, and keep all laws. (Then we will not need someone to watch us for we shall render obedience because we are servants of the law, and work with it, and because we want to do what is right and just. All public servants elected or chosen to serve in a public capacity should remember their religious teachings and be fair and just to all. They should choose assistants and workers for their ability to do the work honestly. Public servants should beware of intolerance to those of other races and creeds. Those who are really trying to live good lives are having difficulties. Nevertheless they should do their duty as they see it and not be influenced by the evil forces in the air).

· Not capable of coveting what belongs to others. Able to do what is right, no matter where one happens to be.

· Able to live a harmless life. Has weaned himself away from eating meat, fish, and fowl because they are our younger brothers.

· Able to use his spiritual gifts to serve his fellow men: a farmer raises food to feed others at a reasonable price; a teacher…., a doctor…. A nurse …..etc

· Is unselfish. Willing to do for other people; not that one must give away all one has, but can share what he has with others.

· Ability to recognize all men as brothers, for all are children of the same Great Being, the God of our Solar System.

· Able to live a consistent life seven days a week and willing and eager to help others not by giving them our earthly possessions, for that might only harm them, but giving off self. Able to cheer and encourage, advice and help all who come to you.

NB: Helpers of all kinds are needed. People in the humbler walks of life are just as much needed as are the highly skilled engineers, doctors, teachers, and those of all other professions. There is a place for everyone who wishes to serve.

2. Scope of Work

General: "Preach the gospel and heal the sick." Now this is exactly what the Invisible Helpers aim to do to the very best of their ability.

Some Specific Tasks are:

· Explain the Mystic teachings to people whom they have saved or helped.

· Every Invisible Helper should be like the man who lived in the house at the side of the road, who was a friend and helper of every man who came his way.

· Work on the invisible bodies of sick people, and help or heal them

· Save people from accidents in the air, or sea, or land

· Help the animals in various ways. I know of a number of cases where animals have been let out of traps.

· Control the Nature Spirits, (e.g. Salamanders) and so the guns would not work.

· Help people with bad habits such as drinking, drugs, etc stop them

· To help the living to progress within the context of their evolution.

· To go among the spirits in prison endeavouring to aid them in learning the lessons that shall make them better men and women.

· To support the dead during the period of passing into the greater beyond especially at the time they are violently withdrawn.

And many other duties and responsibilities that may be assigned on a daily basis by the Elder Brothers, and the Lay Brothers and Sisters of the Rose Cross

3. Remuneration: Highly Attractive and according to ones destiny and current status.

4. Application details and deadline:

No formal application is required. Your only way of getting the job should be inspired by meeting the eligibility criteria and waiting for your test and interview by the Teacher. If you believe you have mastered the LOVE and Wisdom Principle signified by the Christ, and indicated in the eligibility criteria, then apply now. No deadline has been fixed.

Contact the following address for any further clarification:

invisiblehelpersadvert@loveyourneighbour.org

Advertisers Hints:

This is the period in our lives as students, probationers and disciples… that our long period of learning and proficiency in the Rosicrucian Fellowship teachings are being put to the test. The conditions that prevailed when Max Heindel wrote that letter way back in 1914 have even quadrupled barely a century later. At that time how many students were receiving instructions? Today, there are more students, probationers etc. just as the world’s problems have become bigger and require many more hands on deck.

The Rosicrucian Fellowship teachings, books, pamphlets, services etc are replete with all the keys to our spiritual development and advancement. The basic reading materials are always with us and we need to constantly read and practice them if we desire to make the needed progress. These include:

· The Precepts of the Rosicrucian Student

· The Third Stanza of the Opening hymn which we sing so often: Let’s strive…….

· The Temple Service…    Let us not love in WORD, neither in TONGUE, but in DEED and in TRUTH... (for) though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not LOVE, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal; and though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not LOVE, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not LOVE, it profiteth me nothing.

· The Healing Service….. If we wish to be real helpers in the work which the Elder Brothers have started, we must make our bodies suitable instruments; we must purify them by clean living, for an unclean vessel cannot contain pure and wholesome water nor can a spotted lens give a true picture. Neither can pure and strong healing force be sent out from here unless we keep our minds and bodies clean and pure.

· The parting admonition of the Temple Service And now, my dear sisters and brothers, as we part to re-enter the material world, may we go out with a firmer resolve to express in our daily lives the high spiritual ideals we have received here, so that day by day we may become more worthy men and women, more worthy to be used as self-conscious channels for the beneficial workings of our Elder brothers in the service of humanity

Max Heindel says:

No man loves God who hates his kind;

Who tramples on his brother's heart and soul

Who seeks to shackle, cloud, or fog the mind

By fears of Hell has not perceived our goal.

To conclude I quote Amber M. Tuttle 1943

“ I have been told many times that we cannot get something for nothing. If we desire wisdom we must seek for it, work for it, and pray for it. We must patiently strive for the wisdom that we desire and then we must pass it out to others who are also seeking wisdom”.

May the Roses Bloom Upon Your Cross