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It is a practice among those of us
who belong to certain groups to retire to the inner spheres at two festivals
which long pre-date your Christian counterparts, Christmas and Easter. These,
as you know, have their origin in the celebrations in ancient times of the
passage of the sun as it appeared to those who saw in its appearance, its
lengthening and shortening, the symbols of divine activity.
When the sun attained
its full glory it was regarded as the period of resurrection, when nature sang
its paean of praise and displayed its profound beauty for all to see. That
which had been sown was reaped in its splendour of growth.
Part
sun played
Correspondingly there was the
winter solstice when, after the high noon of summer, there came the drooping as
nature prepared and husbanded itself, fertilising and making ready all growth
which had to appear when the cycle had achieved completion.
So at Christmas you had
the birth of the
sun, the end of the long cycle when there arose the first
sign that new life was being born into your earthly world. Those times had a
significance to us because then we received the greatest communion from the
Great Spirit. You do
not yet understand very much about the influence
of the
sun.
Seen
as symbol
At these times, we held for many
days what you call séances. We received at those festivals much inspiration.
So, when it comes again to the time which all of us regarded as the most
important in our lives, we gather together and celebrate with those who are our
own. This started with the influence of the sun, but that was only a symbol.
There is an influence
from all life to other life, from all matter to other matter, and from all
planets to other planets. This time is chosen because all of us are associated
with races whose religions were founded upon the laws of nature.
To us, the festival of
the birth of the sun was the greatest of all because it represented the
beginning of a new era. It is the end of the cycle, and a new one begins.
Because these festivals were held
in the world of matter, they are celebrated in the world of spirit. A spiritual
meaning has now come out of them. Instead of celebrating the dawn of the new
life, we now use it to withdraw from the world of matter to get new power of
the spirit so that we can bring new light to your world. And because those of
us who are associated in this task belong to more ancient races than your
Western civilisation, we utilise these festivals as opportunities for
withdrawing to the inner spheres where we belong.
We take counsel, we
share experiences, we learn how far we have succeeded or failed. New plans are
discussed. We meet those who sent us on our mission. Among them is the great
figure of the Nazarene, who is still imbued with the task of teaching humanity
the age-old truth enshrined in all that we seek to do, that love is the
fulfilling of the law.
I wish that you could
see and hear the Nazarene and feel that great love as he encourages us in our
missions, as he expresses his knowledge of all that has been done and urges us
to go forward with new strength, new hope, new vision and new purpose.
He is not the Nazarene
of the churches, exalted into a deified state, but a great
spirit who strives
still to serve through many instruments.
For a short time I am in
the spheres where I now belong, to feel once again that vitalising power of the
spirit, so invigorating in its strength, so beautiful in its fullness, making
you realise what life is when you are able to experience it in the higher
realms of the spirit.
I speak with all humility and with no pride at all.
How can I describe spiritual
exaltation in words? How can I describe the joy of meeting beings who radiate
the great light of the Great Spirit, who are full of wisdom and understanding,
mercy and tenderness, who know all before you convey it, who are aware of your
innermost thoughts, who see the workings of your mind, who know of your
successes and failures? The great message of love, which has characterised all
religions, and which was epitomised in the teaching of the Nazarene, is still
the one we proclaim in the name of the Great Spirit who is the lord of all
life, the infinite creator.
Thus, returned to our
true spiritual state, we experience some of the lustre, joy, radiance, beauty,
richness, nobility and grandeur which are our natural environment. We bathe in
it, rejoice in it and capture the glories that were our normal expression. That
is our celebration.
Then, counselled,
enthused, refreshed, invigorated, recharged and revived, we return to your
cold, grey, dank, clammy, dark world to continue the task of piercing its fogs
and mists, striving to shine through with the light of truth which can guide
and point the way for many weary travellers.
Some of the spirit of
love is expressed in your world at this Christmas time. It takes the form of
geniality and generosity, the desire to give. It is to be seen in the
remembering of old friends, the cementing of old ties, the bringing together of
those who have parted and the resolution to forget old enmities.
Needless
sacrifice of dumb creatures
Alas that it should be preceded by
the great holocaust and bloodshed, when so many needless sacrifices are made of
some of the Great Spirit's dumb creatures. What a pity that the birthday of the
‘Prince of Peace' is commemorated by such a dreadful slaughter; the blood of
innocent creatures has to flow in order to commemorate peace. This is the
crucifixion of your world, celebrating peace by making war on innocent
creatures.
One day, love,
compassion, mercy and responsibility will guide man who has dominion over the
lesser creation which look to him for help. When these qualities are expressed
in human life, bloodshed, cruelty and needless horrible experiments which are
wreaked on these innocent creatures will cease. The wolf will lie down with the
lamb because there will be peace on earth.
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