Dear Friends,
Courage, friends—it’s Michaelmas week! Rudolf Steiner described the meaning of this time of year as the moment when the out-breathed forces begin their return movement:
[The] Earth begins once more to inhale. The soul of the Earth, which was poured out into the cosmos, now draws back into the interior of the Earth again. Human souls perceive this in-breathing of the Earth-soul element—either in their subconscious or in their clairvoyant impressions—as processes of their own souls. Those men who were inspired by initiation knowledge of these things could say to themselves at the end of September: “What the cosmos has given us and what has united itself with our soul-force through the Christ Impulse—this we now allow to flow back into the earthly realm. . .” [CW 223, 31/Mar/1923, Dornach]
Regardless of any familiarity with Steiner’s work, the seasonal ‘inhalation’ described above is felt within the human soul as a time of withdrawal—our final approach toward winter’s stillness, when we’ll walk in silence within the labyrinth of our own souls. Might those who have taken Christ into their hearts detect a light at the labyrinth’s center?
On Monday (Michaelmas), as the Sun reaches 12° Virgo, the First Quarter Moon will shine from the center of Sagittarius. Today the Sun recalls its zodiacal degree at the healing of a possessed woman named Mara, a beauty of middle age whose head and hair were wound in a thin veil that was woven with pearls. Her eyes red from weeping, Mara begged the Pharisees to let her be near Jesus, so as to be healed—but they sent her away. From Anne Catherine:
“Woman, go home! What do you want here? The prophet will not speak to you. How can he forgive you your sins?” [Visions, vol. 2, p. 42]
Mara threw herself to the ground and cried,
“Ah, then I am lost! Now they lay hold of me! They are tearing me to pieces! See, there they are!”—and she named five devils who were raging against her, one of her husband, the other four of her paramours. [Ibid.]
Jesus observed this but did not interfere, for (as Anne Catherine said), “her hour had not yet come.” Later, when Jesus went to her, he found her on all fours, like a dog awaiting the whip.
Jesus, approaching his head to hers, said: “Look at me!” and she obeyed. He breathed upon her, and a black vapor went out of her on all sides, and she fell unconscious before him. . . . [He] laid his hand on her head and said: “Thy sins are forgiven thee!” She wept vehemently and sat up. And now her three children entered the room. . . . He blessed them, led them one by one to their mother, in order of age, and put their little hands into hers. It seemed to me that, by his action, Jesus removed from the children the disgrace, and thus legitimized them, for they were the fruits of adulterous unions. [Ibid., p. 43]
Ah!—the immeasurable blessings of forgiveness and mercy!
Mercury (27½° Virgo) will square Jupiter (27½° Gemini) on Wednesday, October 1st. Ave Maria! Not only is Mercury very near the brightest star (Spica) in the constellation of the Virgin, but, before a new day is upon us, our swift cosmic courier will reach its degree at the birth of the Blessed Virgin.
On Friday, Mercury enters Libra: In existing, embrace existence. This planetary placement brings the quality of scope to our thinking, whereby we might envision a peaceful resolution to every conflict, howsoever grave. This social (and sometimes political) gift was exemplified by Mohandas Gandhi, born with Mercury, Venus, Mars, and the Ascendant—all within a fifteen-degree arc of Libra.
Today, as the Sun reaches 15½° Virgo—just half a degree from its zodiacal placement at the birth of the Solomon Mary (as well as that of Gandhi)—it thereby leads us to a remarkable passage within the collected visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich. The Sun was at this degree during the events of 9/Sep/32, when Jesus and three shepherd youths approached a tent city of ‘star-worshippers’. It was the night after the Full Moon. From Anne Catherine:
The day was on its decline when he arrived at a beautiful well in a hollow. It was surrounded by a low embankment, and near it was a drinking ladle. The Lord drank, and then sat down by the well. The youths washed his feet and he, in turn, rendered them the same service. All was done with childlike simplicity, and the sight was extremely touching. The plain was covered with meadows and palm trees—and at a considerable distance apart, there were groups of tents. A tower, or terraced pyramid of pretty good size, still not higher than an ordinary church, arose in the center of the district. Here and there, some people made their appearance—and from a distance, they gazed at Jesus, surprised and in awe. [Visions, vol. 2, p. 495]
May we gaze upon the stars and discover our soul’s true home!
~ Julie H.