The central mystery
Our everyday ego, to which I say “I”, takes part in the whole outer world, in all that is perishable. But is there a part of me that is imperishable? There slumbers within me, a new man, a second ego. In our age, people are unaware of this but they can become aware. This second ego …
A study of history can, however, bring to light something else in this connection, that is of very great significance. Into the external exoteric culture of Greece flowed much of this threefold teaching of Zarathustra, teaching of the spiritual Sun Osiris, the elemental Sun and Anaxagoras, of Zeus, the Sun-flooded ether environment of the Earth. …
[The following relies on insights from a lecture by Rudolf Steiner in London, 24 August 1922] Let’s go back to the Ancient Persian civilization when the teacher of mankind during the height of this civilization was Zarathustra (aka Zoroaster). It was a common custom for the pupils of a great and lofty teacher to continue …
What is Whitsun? Why is it Important? Whitsun is a shortened version of Whit Sunday which may derive from White Sunday or from Whit as in wit, wisdom, or both. This name is used in countries with Anglican religious heritage or connections. Whitsun is the seventh Sunday after Easter. It is another name for Pentecost …
Easter was THE important Christian festival. St. Paul said, “If Christ be not risen, then is your faith vain.” A key purpose to the Council of Nicaea was to set the date of Easter (as calendars in those days had insufficient leap years to prevent the spring equinox from sliding in March towards February). The festival of …
What is blood? What requirements were there in Jewish traditions for a blood sacrifice? What does it mean that Christ’s blood was shed? Where did this blood go? What did Joseph of Arimathea collect in the Grail? How does this affect us today? To begin this study, we’ll go to Leviticus 16 where we read …
Last blog, we looked at the meaning of the inscription INRI that Pontius Pilate wrote on a plaque and had placed on the cross above the head of Jesus. Who was this governor of Judea? To answer this, we should review an apocryphal book entitled the Acts of Pilate. Here is a letter from Pilate to …
Normally I hate to quote so much but this time it is important to set the scene as described in Matthew chapter 27: “And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate, the governor. … And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked Him, saying, “Art …
In a conversation today, the Goddess Ishtar was mentioned. Her rites, it was suggested, may be a possible forerunner to the Easter bunny and egg festival. I looked up Ishtar and found this interesting passage in Wikipedia: (keep in mind Ishtar is an immortal, Gilgamesh is a hero but a mortal). Ishtar in the Epic of …
John’s Gospel was revered by early Christian fathers and mystics alike. Not only is its structure deeply esoteric, so is each scene. Let’s examine one such scene of Chapter 20, the Easter scene. The chapter begins with Mary Magdalene coming, “on the first day of the week”, i.e. Sunday, to the tomb where the body …