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Among the many miraculous events which accompany the Nativity in holy legend, none is more beautiful than the appearance of the four mighty Archangels — Michael, Raphael, Gabriel and Uriel. These majestic Beings stood like a mighty guard of honor around the manger during the hours of that first Holy Night, pouring their bles sings out upon the sacred Child and disseminating great currents of light throughout the earth globe.
The descent of the four Archangels on that Holy Night was not, however, their only appearance in human evolution. Sacred legend is full of their exploits, and while these must be interpreted allegorically in many cases, yet a true scientific pattern, consonant with what is known of the spiritual history of mankind, emerges to the view.
The four Sacred Seasons are under the guardianship of these four majestic Beings, who direct the work of Angels and men as well as nature's varying processes throughout the year. Although each of the four Festivals is of only four days' duration, its tre mendous impulse continues to manifest throughout the entire season of three months. It is man's priceless privilege to attune himself with these soul processes of nature; hence the Masonic axiom: "Brother, study nature, for it bears the stamp of Divinity."
These Sacred Seasons, or Festivals, were already pivotal points of great spiritual power in the pre-Christian Mysteries. The coming of the Lord Christ was to invest them with added power and glory, and so it was proclaimed by the four great Messengers on the First Holy Night.
It was the Archangel Michael who, in all his sublime beauty and majesty, bent above the blessed Christ as He knelt in Gethsemane taking to Himself the miasmic streams of kate and despair and transmuting them into the pure currents of love and healing which He poured fort.Ii afresh upon the world. Michael and his ministering Angels were assisting Him in this work.
The early Christian saints well understood the importance of the work done by the guardian Archangels, and in the early cen turies numerous shrines were erected in their honor. St. Michael. in particular, received universal homage as Chief of the Archangels. Always the work of thi.s mighty Archangel has been for purity and transmutation; hence it is significant that one of his best loved shrines is located at the birth place of King Arthur, the guardian of the Grail in England. In King Arthur's Temple the Grail Knights were taught to perpetuate the Mysteries of the Sacred Cup, Mysteries in which the Master gave to His Disciples the most profound teach ings pertaining to transmutation. Those who came to worship in the sacred areas were often inspired by the glorious vision of the Archangel himself, and many were the miracles of healing and re generation manifested there.
As the Aquarian Age approaches, the powerful radiations of the four guardian Archangels make themselves felt ever more strongly; Michael's shrines, above all, being highly charged with cosmic force as his presence manifests itself anew in modern times.
The earnest Disciple will devote much time during the autumn season to meditation upon Michael and his work. Special attention should be given to Guido Reni's masterpiece Michael and the Dragon, in which the artist shows the bright Archangel standing triumphant over the prostrate form of the dark dragon. To the Neophyte the dragon represents his own lower soul nature - the untransmuted elements of the animal soul which retard spiritual growth in the human being. Michael endeavors to aid man in the Great Over coming; to the Neophyte he teaches the lesson of Purification — which is followed by the early stages of Transmutation for the Disciple.
The symbolic image: of Michael as the dragon slayer possesses a planetary as well as a personal significance; for the collective evil of the race creates perennially a miasmic cloud over the earth which, under certain conditions, may suggest the form of a dragon or serpent. Each year at the Autumn Equinox Michael enters into con flict with this dragon-cloud, and each year he vanquishes it anew, "slaying" the evil phantasm so that the fresh inflow of the Christ's magnetic healing currents can course freely through our planet. This celestial event gives rise to the symbol so familiar to us, and which speaks clearly to the soul in the high moments of meditation.
Michael is foremost among the mighty Archangels who guide the evolution of earth and its humanity. It was during the Third Great Creative Day (the Moon Period) that he led the angelic Hosts as they drove Lucifer and his rebellious Angels from Jehovah's realms. This work accomplished, in the Fourth Creative Day (the present Earth Period) he assumed the added responsibility of helping man redeem himself from Luciferic domination. As previously noted, the Neophyte's preparatory discipline at the Autumn Equinox is purification of the lower nature or animal soul. Since this must be done by all men, Michael is still engaged in his redemptive work and he will continue his struggle with the dragon until the whole human race has been purified of the Luciferic impulse.
Following Renunciation, and paralleling the processes of Purification and Transmutation, the work of the Disciple at the Autumn Equinox is the illumination of the intellect, called "Christing the mind". As Paul said, "Be ye transformed by the renewing (illuming) of your mind." This is the most important single task facing man kind today. It is Michael's most significant contribution and the final work of his Season. It correlates with Sagittarius.
To the advanced Disciple, he who has gone far on the Path, Michael teaches the spiritual technique of amalgamating with the light-substance of the mind that essence which is gleaned from puri fication of the desire nature. When the Disciple has accomplished this blending even to a small degree he begins to understand some thing of the meaning of Christ's statement that "the pure in heart shall see God"; for he is then on the very threshold of Initiation.
When the Creator made man He decreed that man should give a name to every living creature; but when all the names were given according to the divine decree, there was no name left for man him self. Then God called to Him the four Archangels - Michael. Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel - and sent them into the four realms of the universe to find a name for man. From four remote stars, four holy letters were brought back by the four archangelic Beings. And God commanded Michael to utter the name for man with sublime spirit-power. Then Michael, as the mouthpiece of God, pro claimed man's earthly name: ADAM.
Thus, says an ancient legend, did man receive his name, his calling and his destiny, through Michael.
At the outset of human evolution, when the germ of mind was first given which lifted the race out of animaldom, certain gifted ones were set apart to receive special training and instruction beyond that which their fellows could receive. This was the beginning of the Mystery Schools under the aegis of the Archangel Michael; and the Mysteries of all ages and peoples have continued under his guidance since that time. He is known by many names in the various Mystery Schools, and all nations reverence him. His glyph is, and always has been, the dragon slayer. He is a remote reflection of Marduk of Babylon who slew Tiamat, the dragon of chaos, and formed the cosmos out of her dismembered body; of Apollo who slew Pytho; and today he is himself reflected in the symbolic image of the Christian St. George; and it is said that one of the Brothers of the Rose Cross is "lovingly called by this name" because of the nature of the work which he does for mankind.
Michael was known to the ancient Hebrews as "the counte nance of Jehovah", and he gave inspiration to many of the greatest of the prophets and saints mentioned in the Old Testament. His office is openly ref erred to in the Book of Daniel, where he is named Prince, or spiritual governor, of the Hebrews; that is, the Race Spirit. But such is not his function in the Mysteries. All Race Spirits are Archangels, or Sun Beings, who come to earth from the Sun to work for humanity; and the Race Spirit whom the Hebrews called Michael is no exception. However, this Michael is not the great Archangel who is the Christ's plenipotentiary or special ambassador to earth and who is second in power and spiritual stature to none but the Christ Himself. Michael of the Mysteries belongs to all mankind, not to one nation or race alone.
With the incarnation of the Christ, Michael became of greater importance than ever before. We reiterate that his work is with the entire human race. Before Christ came the Mysteries were not open to the multitudes, so knowledge of Michael's power was limit ed to the "Elect"; but that is no longer true. Initiation is now open to all and Michael is the Initiate-companion of every aspirant on the Path.
The Lord Christ is the supreme Initiate of the archangelic Sun Beings. As stated earlier, Michael stands second only to the Christ Himself in power and splendor. Therefore, in the language of mystic Christianity, he is called Christ's ambassador. This radiant Being was appointed to accompany the Master through most of His three year ministry. Not only was he present to lighten the Lord's agony at Gethsemane, but it was he who heralded the glad tidings of the Resurrection and Ascension.
As the four Archangels stand guard at the four Star Gates of heaven, each one radiates his force throughout the earth during the interval of three months which comprise the Season under his gov ernance. Similarly, each in turn assumes rulership of a historic period lasting approximately three centuries, during which he is re sponsible for the welfare of the human race in particular, and for all life-waves on earth in general.
It is significant that the sixth century B.C., that Golden Age of antiquity, was under the guardianship of Michael. This was the time of Lao Tse and Confucius in China; of Buddha in India; of Zoroaster in Persia; of Pythagoras in Greece; of Ezekiel and Daniel among the Hebrew exiles in Babylon; to mention only a few.
At the present time it is again Michael who supervises celestial operations on earth. This explains why the many shrines devoted to him throughout Europe have been taking on new life of recent years. Many pilgrims visiting his shrines sense his powerful emanation, and some are caught up for a moment of bliss as they become aware of his glorious presence. All of which is preparatory to the ushering in of the New Age.
Michael's most important work is the Christing of men's minds; that is, the preparing of human thought as a seedground for the im plantation of the Christ awareness. Any individual thus illumined will think only Christed thoughts, speak only Christed words and perform only Christed deeds. This is the signature, the soul impress, of the New Age man, for inevitably, with the spiritualization of men's minds human thinking will be raised up out of materialtty, and so the materialistic science of a former day will have no place in the New Age. The age of Pisces, sign of sorrow and bloodshed called by Hebrew mystics the agonies of the Messiah, has almost run its course.
Part of Michael's mission is to spiritualize science, which was at its most materialistic stage in the late nineteenth century. Much of the darkness of our era is due to the materialism of the science which the twentieth century inherited from its immediate predecessor; but already the labors of Michael are resulting in the gradual e mergence of a science of the soul in the transition from physics to metaphysics, from chemistry to akhemistry, from psychology to para psychology.
The famous occultist, Basilius Valentinus, gave twelve cypher keys correlating with the twelve zodiacal signs and depicting the path of man's evolution and \illumination. In the seventh, the Libra Key, he shows the figure of Michael bearing in·one hand the uplifted Sword of Truth and in the other a pair of scales evenly balanced. This Key indicates New Age development under the law of truth, as Michael is even now proclaiming it in every part of the world. The evenly balanced scales symbolize the perfected power of a spiritualized science and a scientific religion, both of which are re quisites to the New Age. They also typify the pioneer of the New Day who has learned to "think with his heart and love with his head", for this also is a requisite of the New Age.
Michael, the glorious Archangel, who stands beside the Star Gate of Libra with his shining Sword uplifted, issues a clarion call for the Christing of the entire human race.
The association of death with a festival will no doubt appear strange to many. because the true meaning and purpose of death has been misunderstood or forgotten in this materialistic age. Goethe. one of the wisest philosophers of all time, made the statement that "the oftener we die, the better we live." His words are of profound esoteric significance. When the full meaning and purpose of death is understood it will no longer be a spectre to dread and fear. Rather. it will reveal the outstretched hand of a loving and welcoming friend. The time will come when the word death will be eliminated from our vocabulary and transition will be used in its stead, for so called death is but a passing from the limitations of physical existence into spheres more vast and free.
In the period following release from its physical body, the spirit is busily engaged in recapitulating events of the life just brought to a close. An extract of these experiences is then incorporated into its seed atom as added soul powers. Upon the spirit's return to physical expression it brings with it an enlarged understanding, a deeper sympathy, a greater compassion, a more intense aspiration for higher and finer living. and a stronger dedication to loving and selfless service as the result of these enhanced powers. So it can be seen that Goethe voiced words of wisdom when he said, "The oftener we die. the better we live."
Life and death are inseparable, especially at the time of the Autumnal Equinox when the life forces of nature reach their lowest ebb. It was relative to the fall of the year that the poet sang of the crimson and golden tears shed by trees in sorrow over the waning of their summer beauty; yet it is at this season that the descending Christ Force touches the earth to resuscitate and unify all of nature's kingdoms by an influx of new life.
Festivals originating in the early Christian Church are filled with mystic symbolism. The first day of November is still set aside as a festival for the newly deceased, and the day is spent in prayer and blessings for those who have made the transition into a larger life. Among the ancients the great hieroglyph symbolical of Scorpio, the sign transited by the Sun in November, was a skeleton lying in an open grave. Above the figure shines the beauty of the rain bow. always an emblem of resurrection into a new life.
In his consecrational music-drama of Parsifal, Richard Wagner has revealed more profound esoteric truths than have been given out since the days when the ancient Mystery dramas were enacted. Wagner was deeply interested in the mysticism of the early Chris tian Church, and also that of the Greek Mysteries. He combined much of both in his glorious soul drama of Parsifal. In the final scene of this magnificent and impressive opera, the Grail Knights assemble in the vast Hall of Initiation to celebrate the death ( transition) festival of the holy Titurel, for long the teacher of the Knights and the guardian of the Sacred Grail. During this impressive ceremony the voice of Titurel is heard issuing from the casket as he greets the Knights - a veiled presentation of what the poet, Sir Edwin Arnold describes thus:
Many who have learned to see beyond the veil of matter bear witness to the fact that almost every liberated spirit attends its own funeral. If its presence could be seen by sorrowing friends and family, their grief would be transformed into joy and the burial rites would become a festival of rejoicing.
Neophytes of the Grecian Mysteries were taught to chant in a certain harmonic rhythm that would assist the spirit to gain freedom from its body more easily. As they were able to witness the libera tion of the spirit from its earthly abode, for them death was actually an occasion for rejoicing. Some persons who are now beginning to live in the New Age consciousness surround their loved ones with the right kind of music during the hours of their passing from the body. How much better this than the more familiar expressions of grief and shedding of tears. Transition music will be used in the death chamber more and more as time goes on. Fortunate is that soul privileged to rise from the discords and confusion of this chaotic world, and upon wings of harmony to soar into celestial spheres where he is greeted by angelic choristers. Such an one literally pass es from earth to heaven over a rainbow bridge of music.
As the ancient Greeks had their Hermes Psychepompos, Guide of Souls, to lead the dead through the underworld, so the Hebrews looked to the Archangel Michael to protect them in the hour of death and to lead them to their place in Paradise. There is an apoc ryphal story to the effect that Michael appeared to Mary to an nounce her transition; presenting her with a palm branch cut from a tree of life in Paradise.
At the Autumn Equinox the Gates of the Temple of Life on the etheric plane swing wide. This is the most auspicious time for the Disciple to consecrate himself in that passing away which Paul describes as putting off the old man and putting on the new; a death which is no death but life's renewal.
Within the Temple stands the Grail Cup with the sparkling Elixir of Life. Esdras describes this Elixir as being like water but the color of it like fire. Every aspirant who makes himself worthy may enter and drink his fill of this magic potion, while in the spaces overhead angelic voices softly give back to earth the words of the Most Blessed One which ascend from the sanctuary: "Whosoever drinketh of that water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."
— Corinne Heline
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