Celebrations and service in the spiritual year

The great spiritual festivals of the year are part of the natural rhythm and cyclic flow of light and energy on Earth. Many have been celebrated for millenia through different religious traditions, e.g., Easter in the Christian tradition, Wesak in Buddhism.

In this new age these and other festivals will be understood as important times in the greater cycle of light on Earth that crosses the bounds of all philosophies and religions, and belong to all humankind.

We live in many rhythms and cycles. This is expressed beautifully by Corinne Heline:

• The physical body and its needs are geared to the rhythm of days.
• The soul body replenishes its forces in harmony with the seasonal rhythm of the year.
• The Spirit, or ego, nourishes its being in accordance with the rhythmic sweep of the reincarnational cycles.

From Star Gates, 1993, p. v
New Age Bible & Philosophy Center, California

Every day we have the rhythm of the rising and setting sun that nourishes all our physical life on Earth. Every year we have the rise and descent of the cosmic sun that nourishes the life of soul and spirit - our inner life. The cosmic sun is the cosmic Christ or Bodhisattva, a radiant sun being bringing the light of soul to all worlds.

Each year this living light flows in and out of the Earth. The descent commences at the June solstice, and reaches it's deepest point within the Earth in December. At that point it commences its ascent, and moves up through the Earth bringing renewal and new beginning.

Throughout this inbreath and outbreath of cosmic light, there are four major periods of work which correspond to the seasons of the year. For each season, one of the great Archangels guards the star gate through which the energy descends: Michael from September to December, Gabriel from December to March, Raphael from March to June, and Uriel from June to September. Each period has its qualities and focus.

As this living light descends, it enters into the physical body of the Earth in September, around the vernal equinox. We celebrate this with all the angelic kingdom during the angel  days - one day for each of the seven rays from 23-29 September, culminating with the first ray and Archangel Michael's day on the 29th of September.

The descent of this energy deep into the Earth from September through to December creates a time of reflection, a time to look within and review our life and purpose, to clear away that which we no longer need. It is a time of preparation, to become ready for the renewed birth of light in the heart so we can move forward with new vitality and understanding into the coming year.

The Christmas Festival celebrates the culmination of this period. It is the new dawn of the soul light each year; renewing, shining light on the day to come. It is also known as the birth of soul, or Christ, in the heart. Jesus exemplified this living light of the Christ, and this true spiritual essence of Christmas has become widely known over the last two thousand years through the Christian tradition. In this festival we celebrate our own awakening heart, and enter into the heart of that great teacher the Christ.

New Year's eve is also a major esoteric festival of light, completing this three month period of review and preparation for the coming year, and giving the energy and inspiration for the year to come. This festival coincides with one of the bi-annual meetings of the Board of Karma, who make the karmic adjustments for the Earth and all beings.

Then, on the ascending path, this rising light is especially felt around the March equinox when it is released from the physical level of Earth, creating a great burst of light on the etheric level that brings resurrection and ascension to nature and all beings. Although not always coinciding with the March equinox, the festivals that very strongly bring this light to us are those held over Easter - the full moon festival, and the celebrations on Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.

Easter is also the beginning of another major cycle of work of the spiritual Hierarchy. This cycle commences with the Easter full moon and continues for two months through the next two full moons. It is an important time of spiritual growth and service for all, and also demonstrates how closely the two great brothers Buddha and Christ work together for humanity and the Earth.

The full moon of Easter brings the energy of upliftment and restoration, and has the energy of the ascending cosmic Christ. The next full moon is that of Wesak, the festival of Buddha that brings the energy of enlightenment, the vision of the plan. The Buddha descends from the higher spheres and comes very close to humanity at this festival, providing a bridge and link for the call from humanity to reach the great Masters in Shamballa, and for the response to enter into the Earth.

The third full moon festival is Asala, the festival of the Christ, also known as the festival of goodwill. This festival brings the energy of reconstruction. It gives the energy to act, to create that which the upliftment and vision given in the first two festivals has made possible.

Many of these festivals have been brought into the awareness of humanity through the lives of the great Avatars, Buddha and Jesus. In this new age humankind will come to understand and know how these Masters, and other great masters, work so closely together for the good of all.

We actively celebrate all these festivals throughout the year, and invite you to join with us to contribute to the greater work of the Hierarchy for the unfoldment of peace, tolerance and understanding within humanity, and sustainable and harmonious living upon the Earth.

 References:
The Externalisation of the Hierarchy, Alice Bailey, 1989, Lucis Publishing Company, New York
Star Gates, Corrine Heline, 1993, New Age Bible & Philosophy Center, California

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