In the Celtic traditions—now handed down as Wicca and Neo-Paganism—life is celebrated in the cycles of the great trinity: Earth, Sun, and Moon. For virtually all indigenous (earth-based) cultures,
So, at the midpoint between winter solstice and spring equinox (Imbolc, which we celebrate as Groundhog’s day), a young woman (often a pregnant, unmarried one) is dressed in white and wears candles on her head and is called Bride (pronounced breed). New lambs are born at that time, as are many babies, and the word imbolc means “in milk.”
And at the first day of spring, when the moon is full and the sun has passed its midpoint in the heavens, this same young woman is honored as Oestre (pronouced ester), and she comes into town wearing a sky blue gown, with fresh flowers and herbs, and with rabbits or hares around her, carrying beautifully colored birds’ eggs for people to feast on...and we continue to honor her holy day as Easter.
The old, closed in life of winter is over, and the sun has warmed the earth and restored the waters so that all might live freely, again.
- Earth is a mother, nurturing and sustaining all life
- Sun is a father, a source of power, energizing life
- Moon is a maiden, dancing in the sky, shifting and changine with a young woman’s cycles And holy days are defined, in those traditions, by the relationship between these three.
So, at the midpoint between winter solstice and spring equinox (Imbolc, which we celebrate as Groundhog’s day), a young woman (often a pregnant, unmarried one) is dressed in white and wears candles on her head and is called Bride (pronounced breed). New lambs are born at that time, as are many babies, and the word imbolc means “in milk.”
And at the first day of spring, when the moon is full and the sun has passed its midpoint in the heavens, this same young woman is honored as Oestre (pronouced ester), and she comes into town wearing a sky blue gown, with fresh flowers and herbs, and with rabbits or hares around her, carrying beautifully colored birds’ eggs for people to feast on...and we continue to honor her holy day as Easter.
The old, closed in life of winter is over, and the sun has warmed the earth and restored the waters so that all might live freely, again.
There is a masculine aspect to this season, as well. This the time to choose which of the young rams that were born in February will be allowed to grow into maturity, and to sacrifice the others for the good of the herd—and the feasts of the people! The Paschal (referring to sheep) feast, which the Jews honor today as Passover, is a continuation of this ancient tradition.
And, among the earth-centered cultures, the mother can nourish only when the father seeds her, as the father Sun/Sky was understood to nourish the Mother Earth. So, in the cycle of the years, a young man is chosen to live the life of the Sun—to replenish and restore the people’s harmony with, Earth.
Throughout human history and pre-history, from Egypt to Scotland and into India, we find accounts of this man.
Then, one day, in High Summer, at the Feast of the High King (our August 1), his time comes. He is anointed and named the King of Kings. And for the next 7 years, he has all power—anything he asks is granted, and all that he declares is truth.
While many references exist to such kings (our most famous is King Arthur), and we can look at the timetables of history to see who many of them are, there is only one whose full story is well known today: the man we call Jesus, who was known to his people as Yshua ben Yusph.
He was one of a long line of men who were born to reunite the people with their true heritage, going back over 3000 years, and he knew it and followed the traditions.
And, among the earth-centered cultures, the mother can nourish only when the father seeds her, as the father Sun/Sky was understood to nourish the Mother Earth. So, in the cycle of the years, a young man is chosen to live the life of the Sun—to replenish and restore the people’s harmony with, Earth.
Throughout human history and pre-history, from Egypt to Scotland and into India, we find accounts of this man.
- He must be born with the lambs, to the woman selected as Bride (a virgin, the strong, independent woman who has been chosen for this task).
- His birth is planned and foretold by the wisemen of all the nations,
- and he is to be trained by them in power and authority.
- This Sun of man, this Prince of peace, is taught to discipline his body and mind so that normal life issues no longer affect him.
- He learns that power is of the mind and soul, rather than the body.
- He goes on a long vision quest, and he experiences all the temptations that come with a long fast in the wilderness—as do the Native Americans even today, and as did Gautama Siddhartha when he studied with the gurus, wandered with the ascetics, and then sat under the Boddhi tree and faced his demons.
Then, one day, in High Summer, at the Feast of the High King (our August 1), his time comes. He is anointed and named the King of Kings. And for the next 7 years, he has all power—anything he asks is granted, and all that he declares is truth.
- He travels over the land, bringing harmony and peace to the people, healing their hurts and reconnecting them with the Earth.
- All who see him know that he is the Master, the King, the Anointed One
- and that his presence brings health to the people, fertility to the soil, and abundant fish and game.
While many references exist to such kings (our most famous is King Arthur), and we can look at the timetables of history to see who many of them are, there is only one whose full story is well known today: the man we call Jesus, who was known to his people as Yshua ben Yusph.
- He was born at the time of the birth of the lambs in a predicted location, and the shepherds brought lambs to his family.
- His birth was foretold and wise men came from other nations to attend him.
- He was taken to Egypt to be trained, and there’s evidence that he traveled to Ireland, Spain, India, and Tibet as a young man.
- He was anointed at High Summer in the River Jordan by a prophet, John the Baptist, and again at the wedding feast at Bethany by a Miriam, a wisewoman, whom we know as Mary the Magdalene.
He was one of a long line of men who were born to reunite the people with their true heritage, going back over 3000 years, and he knew it and followed the traditions.
- He selected his circle of 12 (what Wiccans call a coven).
- And he selected his Bride, his Miriam (who we know as Mary Magdalene).
- He traveled over his native land, spreading the word—and experience—of peace and harmony.
But Yshua ben Yusph was different. He didn’t just use these 12 to do his bidding, but taught them to do what he did. And when he went around his native land, Judea, he not only taught the ritual truths, but more. He taught that all people had the same power, if they learned how to tap it and use it.
Looking over the historical records, we can see that the anointed King of Kings, the all-powerful Sun King, typically reigned 7 to 9 years. And in those records, we can see that, at the end of that period – one full pattern of the planet Venus in the sky – traditionally, his chief lieutenant, his “right-hand man” had the sacred duty of killing him. Always at the full moon—after the spring or fall equinox. Usually, they would go hunting and there would be an “accident.” Then the King’s body would be carried home, dripping his blood across the land, and so nourishing it. “The King is dead! Long live the King” would be shouted along the way. The Lamb of God would be sacrificed so that all might live, and harmony (heaven) might be restored on Earth.
The Master we call Jesus knew this and planned for it. And so, on the night of the full moon following the spring equinox, after the Paschal feast, he waited in the garden for his closest disciple, Judas Iscariot, to return and do his duty.
And here, again, we have a difference. Rather than coming with a sword, his lieutenant, Judas “betrayed him with a kiss.” And the Temple guard took him away for a trial in the Temple.
Perhaps Jesus knew there would be a difference. Perhaps he realized that this was the end, not only of a 7year cycle, but a 2000 year era, and that his sacrifice would be different.
Jesus, after all, stood for a way of life that was contrary to the urban hierarchical structure of the Roman Empire, of Jerusalem, the temple, and the Pharisees’ priesthood.
He stood for everything they were trying to get away from, yet he did so within both Law and tradition. So the priests could do nothing to him. So he was sent to Pilate, who recognized him for what he was, and did what he could...even labeling the cross with his transgression... Iesu Nasorean Rex Iudeae. And, in spite of all, he went through a very public execution.
It was a highly charged time; short as it was for the usually drawn-out process of crucifixion. Thunder clouds gathered as the King of kings was shorn of his dignity and hung; The sky darkened with an approaching eclipse as the guard broke tradition and let Jesus drink of the bitter herb.
And then he did something no others have done—rather than simply forgiving his trusted lieutenant for doing his duty, he forgave all who were involved with his death, for “they know not what they do.” He didn’t want them to carry the “karma” of killing, to have to “reap what they sowed”
Looking over the historical records, we can see that the anointed King of Kings, the all-powerful Sun King, typically reigned 7 to 9 years. And in those records, we can see that, at the end of that period – one full pattern of the planet Venus in the sky – traditionally, his chief lieutenant, his “right-hand man” had the sacred duty of killing him. Always at the full moon—after the spring or fall equinox. Usually, they would go hunting and there would be an “accident.” Then the King’s body would be carried home, dripping his blood across the land, and so nourishing it. “The King is dead! Long live the King” would be shouted along the way. The Lamb of God would be sacrificed so that all might live, and harmony (heaven) might be restored on Earth.
The Master we call Jesus knew this and planned for it. And so, on the night of the full moon following the spring equinox, after the Paschal feast, he waited in the garden for his closest disciple, Judas Iscariot, to return and do his duty.
And here, again, we have a difference. Rather than coming with a sword, his lieutenant, Judas “betrayed him with a kiss.” And the Temple guard took him away for a trial in the Temple.
Perhaps Jesus knew there would be a difference. Perhaps he realized that this was the end, not only of a 7year cycle, but a 2000 year era, and that his sacrifice would be different.
Jesus, after all, stood for a way of life that was contrary to the urban hierarchical structure of the Roman Empire, of Jerusalem, the temple, and the Pharisees’ priesthood.
He stood for everything they were trying to get away from, yet he did so within both Law and tradition. So the priests could do nothing to him. So he was sent to Pilate, who recognized him for what he was, and did what he could...even labeling the cross with his transgression... Iesu Nasorean Rex Iudeae. And, in spite of all, he went through a very public execution.
It was a highly charged time; short as it was for the usually drawn-out process of crucifixion. Thunder clouds gathered as the King of kings was shorn of his dignity and hung; The sky darkened with an approaching eclipse as the guard broke tradition and let Jesus drink of the bitter herb.
And then he did something no others have done—rather than simply forgiving his trusted lieutenant for doing his duty, he forgave all who were involved with his death, for “they know not what they do.” He didn’t want them to carry the “karma” of killing, to have to “reap what they sowed”
Then, in that state of Union with the Divine, he “gave up his spirit” and let the body die – at the full eclipse – and the earth shook so that the curtain hiding the Holy of Holies was torn from the top down…
And in that forgiveness, letting go of his life, he empowered himself to transcend from the material plane. He empowered his resurrection.
We know from many sources that the divine son of the Sun had to experience days in a tomb and rising from it as part of his training.
The pharaohs went through it; they were sealed in a pyramid without air or light for 3 days. And Deepak Chopra tells how he and his fellow medical students buried one of the holy men in India, the Sadhus, in a box in the school yard for 5 days, and then raised him up and he walked away. So rising from entombment is not impossible...
And the Shroud of Turin continues to baffle engineers and archeologists...
Jesus was neither the first nor the last King of Kings. But, thanks to Paul and the gospel writers, we know his story.
Jean Houston’s Godseed is the process of living that story, as a means of personal empowerment, and she says that its strength is that while we’ve heard similar stories before, they were of far-off figures, and this is the story of a person who lived among us.
And that person, whose life and words were recorded as he walked among the people, said that we could do likewise.
Which is the essential understanding of New Thought.
Now we have completed the Eon, or zodiacal Age, which Jesus began. The Piscean age, symbolized by 2 fish, is over. The Aquarian age, the symbol for which is people carrying their water bottles, has begun. The tribulations he experienced were the hallmark of that age. The harmony he taught, the “heaven at hand” that he encouraged people to experience, is the hallmark of the next 2000 years.
So let’s use this knowledge and go forth in power. Let’s use this power that he demonstrated that we have, and restore, once more, harmony among the people, and with the Earth.
And, as we sing in the Peace song, “let it begin with me”, let it begin with each of us, as we accept the truth of our being and live it.
And in that forgiveness, letting go of his life, he empowered himself to transcend from the material plane. He empowered his resurrection.
We know from many sources that the divine son of the Sun had to experience days in a tomb and rising from it as part of his training.
The pharaohs went through it; they were sealed in a pyramid without air or light for 3 days. And Deepak Chopra tells how he and his fellow medical students buried one of the holy men in India, the Sadhus, in a box in the school yard for 5 days, and then raised him up and he walked away. So rising from entombment is not impossible...
And the Shroud of Turin continues to baffle engineers and archeologists...
Jesus was neither the first nor the last King of Kings. But, thanks to Paul and the gospel writers, we know his story.
Jean Houston’s Godseed is the process of living that story, as a means of personal empowerment, and she says that its strength is that while we’ve heard similar stories before, they were of far-off figures, and this is the story of a person who lived among us.
And that person, whose life and words were recorded as he walked among the people, said that we could do likewise.
Which is the essential understanding of New Thought.
Now we have completed the Eon, or zodiacal Age, which Jesus began. The Piscean age, symbolized by 2 fish, is over. The Aquarian age, the symbol for which is people carrying their water bottles, has begun. The tribulations he experienced were the hallmark of that age. The harmony he taught, the “heaven at hand” that he encouraged people to experience, is the hallmark of the next 2000 years.
So let’s use this knowledge and go forth in power. Let’s use this power that he demonstrated that we have, and restore, once more, harmony among the people, and with the Earth.
And, as we sing in the Peace song, “let it begin with me”, let it begin with each of us, as we accept the truth of our being and live it.
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