Tag: initiation
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St. John’s Day
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…
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Meditation on John’s Gospel
Esoteric writings typically were originally passed along orally. These were meant to take hold of the thought process in one’s mind. Like ‘following” a sound wave, one’s mind expands during the meditation. No longer looking out from a point, one’s mind goes through the eye of the needle, through the crossing point of the lemniscate,…
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From Ancient Mysteries to Rome, Part 1
[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…
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Learning Christianity from a Tadpole
OK, this title sounds crazy. Hang on; it will (perhaps I should say may) become clear. This morning I was reading an article in a journal from the Nature Institute called In Context. I was struck by how the author, researcher Craig Holdrege, was able to describe how genetics alone cannot lead to an understanding…
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What do we know of the ancient mysteries?
The Greek Mysteries are the most visible to historians but all cultures had their own Mystery Center(s). Well known are many the leaders of Greek Mystery Centers such as Pythagoras and Heraclitus. And well known are the mystery centers Cabeiri on the islands of Lemnos, and Eleusis in west Attica, about 12 miles from Athens. …
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The Goal of Meditation (Western Path)
I was asked a question “do Anthroposophists (spiritual scientists) believe that they are gods or even greater than gods?” I replied with the following that I will share here: I think there is much more to this question than a mere yes or no. This may sound like “what is the meaning of life?” Well,…
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Seeing at the Tomb, An Easter Mystery Revealed
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…