A Story of Renewal
All religion is a collection of metaphors from which each
person can choose whether to take the best of who they are, or the worst of who
they are. Ancient teachers told a story of death and renewal in the deep of
winter as a reminder that spring is coming, and following every death, there is
rebirth. This story is echoed in many traditions and cultures this time of year
and it is helpful to discover what the underlying metaphors really mean.
In the Christian story, a Virgin conceives after a
visitation from an angel. The earth is a virgin because she has no physical consort.
All of matter-root word of mother- is first impregnated with spirit to gain
sentience and purpose. This is the first and original holy family. The holy
child or children are all beings.
The birth takes place among animals and poor, simple people
are the first to recognize the new saviour. The birth of new awareness is
always in the ordinary miracles of our daily lives, in the moment. The
extraordinary is found in the ordinary. The barn animals represent our
connection with all other beings. A star appears in the East. East is the place
of new beginnings. The star represents guidance towards a light filled journey.
A despot king hears of the new king who is born to take away
his empire. King Harod. The old king represents our egos which have become imbalanced
with fear, greed and primitive habits. All other babes are murdered by the
evil, old king. The past and all possible futures must be released for new
ideas, and wisdom to be gained. Once contemplation is completed, the commitment
to action in the present is essential.
She, the mother of all being, is protected by a gentle, wise
man, Joseph, who represents the stewardship of the masculine. The couple escapes
into Egypt. This represents how new
ideas are often initially met with resistance and like the baby Christ (meaning
anointed or blessed one) they must be protected and sheltered with kindness. Egypt
also represents one of the oldest and most esoteric civilizations whose
mysteries still have not been fully revealed. The holy family or trinity hide in
isolation and secrecy.
Eventually good wise Kings find the new child and honour his
presence with gifts. Eventually new awareness both within ourselves and
outwardly into our daily lives will be integrated into the existing world.
Gifts are given as signs of commitment to the new consciousness.
Remember the essence of the season- the honouring of death and
re-birth of the new. Create ways that are meaningful for you to celebrate these
universal themes by creating aspirations on three levels: personal, family or community,
and global or spiritual.
Try This!
1) This
time of year, dedicate yourself to honouring death and re-birth in your own
personal life. A ritual, recording a redemption story from your life, telling a
friend about when you overcame a small death, remember your darkest moments and
how you triumphed.
2) Dedicated
yourself to the death and re-birth of relationships in your life. The ones in
your past, the ones yet to come. Strengthen existing relationships by sending
out love and forgiveness. This can be manifested with a card, a visit, a
prayer.
3) This
season celebrate death and re-birth by honouring of our beautiful home, the
earth, with a humble acceptance of our entwined lives with all beings in the
three worlds-plant, inanimate and animal. A ritual, a reminder of
interconnection, a prayer for the development of new consciousness in the world
despite wide spread suffering and loss.
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