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The Christ Festival

by Ann Frazier West on 12/17/11

The Festival of Jesus' birth was celebrated for the first time in Rome in the year A.D. 354. Before then this Festival was not celebrated between the 24th and 25th of December. The day of supreme commemoration was January 6th. The Epiphany was celebrated as a kind of Birth Festival of the Christ during the first three centuries of our era. It was the Festival which was meant to revive in human souls the remembrance of the descent of the Christ Spirit into the body of Jesus of Nazareth at the baptism by John in Jordan. During the first centuries of Christendom, an inkling still survived of the mystery that is of all mysteries the most difficult for humankind to grasp - the descent of the Christ Being into the body of Jesus of Nazareth. It was this - the birth of Christ - that was celebrated as a Mystery in the early Christian centuries - and not the birth of the baby Jesus.

Insight into this deep Mystery faded away as time went by. The time came when humanity could no longer comprehend that the Being called Christ had been present in a physical human body for only three years. It will be eventuallly realized that what was accomplished for the whole of Earth-evolution during those three years in the physical body is one of the very deepest and most difficult Mysteries to understand. With the development of the materialistic age after the fourth century, the powers of the human soul were not strong enough to grasp the depth of this Mystery which will eventually be understood as our consciousness evolves. As the outer power of Christianity increased, understanding of the Christ Mystery decreased, and the Festival of January 6th ceased to have any essential meaning. The birth of Christ was placed thirteen days earlier, coincidental with the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. There is of course debate about that date for the Nativity, too. In choosing the date for the Christ-Mass, the course of the Sun likely had some influence - a time of Winter Solstice. The shortest and darkest day of the year is followed by the "victory of Sun over darkness."

The Christmas Festival is the Festival of the Holy Night, celebrated in the Mysteries by those who were ready for the awakening of the Higher Self within - those who have brought the Christ to birth within them. In the Greater Mysteries one could see the forces working through all existence - the surrounding world filled with spirit - with Spiritual Beings, radiant with light and color.

Ancient texts are multi-leveled in their meaning. There may be recorded history as well as allegory to give the hidden meaning in symbolic language to those who are ready for a deeper interpretation of events meant to reveal to us possible events of our past and of our future. Such is the case with the Nativity story.

Symbols

The manger in Bethlehem * (1), the child lying in a manger among animals who stand around the blessed Mother:

This is a heavenly symbol of the primal origin of humanity. Our feelings are carried back to the earthly origin of the human being, to the Tree of Paradise, and with this Tree there is associated the crib - the manger. And so it was out of a deep instinct that the Tree of Paradise came to be associated as a symbol with the Christmas Festival. However, the Christmas tree is not an ancient custom, but a relatively recent European custom of perhaps 200 years or so. The lighted Christmas tree is a symbol of the Tree of Paradise representing the material nature. The Spiritual Nature is represented by the Tree of Knowlege and the Tree of Life.

The Mass at midnight celebrated by the early Christians in the depth of caves was in remembrance of the festival of the sun. In this Mass an ocean of light streamed forth at midnight out of the darkness as a remembrance of the rising of the Spiritual Sun in the Mysteries: hence the birth of Christ Jesus in the cave.

Associated with the Nativity is the legend of the Magi - the three Wise Men, the three Priest-Sages, or the three Kings:

The three Wise Men bring gifts to the Child: gold, a symbol of the outer, wisdom-filled man: myrrh, a symbol of the victory of life over death; and frankincense, a symbol of the cosmic ether in which the Spirit lives.

Information regarding the Magi from the East was kept secret until the 15th century. Who are they? They represent the Initiates * (2) of the three preceding races or epochs of culture, the Initiates of mankind up to the time of the coming of the Christ - the Bringer of the Love that is free of egoism. Their skins are three different colors: White (European); Yellow (Indian); Black (African). A connection with the Root Races * (3) of different epochs is indicated: Remaining survivors of the Lemurian race are black; those of the Atlantiean race are yellow; and the representatives of the 5th Root Race (our present epoch), the Post-Atlantean or Aryan race, are white.

On an esoteric level, gold, the gift of the European (Melchoir) is a symbol of wisdom, of intelligence which comes to its greater expression in the 5th Root Race. The offering of the Initiate representing the 4th Root Race (Balthasar) is frankincense. Union with the Godhead is symbolized by this offering. It is a universal symbol for the Intuition - the feeling nature that must be sublimated so it can be fertilized by God - by the Supreme Being. Myrrh is the gift offered by the Initiate of the 3rd Root Race, Lemurian (Caspar). It is the symbol of sacrifice of death, the sacrifice of the earthly in order that the Higher may come to life.

The Star of Bethlehem:

The Star of Bethlehem has had many interpretations over time, but in esoteric philosophy it is the Soul as seen by the spiritual eye. The Christ Soul shines as an auric Star, and it is by this Star that the Initiates of the three Root Races are led to the Christ Jesus in Bethlehem. The Light that shines before the Magi is the soul of Christ Himself. As humankind more fully awakens in consciousness, the Soul of the Christ is born in the cave (the body) of mankind. (For more information on the Star in the East, visit: http://annsbridgestotheafterlife.blogspot.com/ )

"Were Christ born a thousand times in Bethlehem and not in thee, thou art lost eternally." . . . Anglelus Silesius

Defined:

*(1) Bethlehem: The town of Bethlehem did not exist when Jesus was born. It is symbolic, and literally translated means "Tower of Fire" - the Sacred Fire of spirit. (Samael Aun Weor - Gnosis)

*(2) Initiate: Initiation is an actual change of focus of the mental vision. The development which leads up to it is perhaps imperceptible, but there suddenly arrives a moment when the aspirant has tuned up his whole being to the point where it can take on a higher vibrating rhythm (or frequency). Life then is different from this moment, and a person can never go back to his/her former life in a lower frequency. He/she is an Initiate and has been Divinely stimulated. (Vera Stanley Alder: The Initiation of the World)

*(3) Root Race: There are seven great Root Races divided into 7 sub-races which appear on Earth successively. The length of their duration overlaps so that remnants of some of them remain in existence for very long periods of time. These great sub-races have each had their teacher or Prophet who brought Wisdom to them, guided and taught them, and whose work was carried forward by his disciples and followers. (Vera Stanley Alder: The Initiation of the World)

Steiner, Rudolf, Christmas: The Festivals and their Meaning. Letchworth, Herfordshire: The Garden Press, Ltd., 1955.

Yogananda, Paramahansa, The Second Coming of Christ, Vol. I, II. Los Angeles: Self-Realization Fellowship, 2004.

Alder, Vera Stanley, The Initiation of the World. New York: Samuel Weiser, Inc., 1972.

A Blessed Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, and Kwanzaa to All!

Comments (6)

1. CharlieP said on 12/18/11 - 09:42AM

Ann - Thanks so much for your research and resulting enlightenment. I never learned about these things in Sunday school! Your lesson reveals so much more than most of us ever knew. Christmas now takes on so much more meaning.

2. Charlie Coon said on 12/18/11 - 05:47PM

Ann, I like your portrayal of the Christ Spirit. For me, it helps to understand that this Spirit is also incarnated in each of us, in historical periods (the 60's, for example), in the sciences, and in all of the creation. Certainly the Christ mystery applies to Jesus, but not only to Jesus. Your mention of the movement of the Christ Festival to coincide with the birth of Jesus, may be a step away from the deeper understanding of the Mystery. Is that your point? The various Trees, for me, express the nature of our reality. I assume that the Tree of Paradise is synonymous with the Garden of Eden, and that the unity of the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge is symbolized by the Tree of Paradise. The Tree of Knowledge might also be named the Tree of Duality, and so what we have here is duality within singularity, which is the real meaning of monotheism and characterizes the God of Israel. I like your connection of the Festival of the Holy Night to the awakening of the Higher Self. Most important! As without, so within.... Have a Blessed Christmas, and Safe Travels, Charlie

3. Charlie Coon said on 12/18/11 - 05:59PM

Ann, Nice piece! I like your special consideration of the Christ Mystery. I see this Mystery as being larger than Jesus of Nazareth, although Jesus has an important part of it. Moving the Festival to coincide with his birth may have hindered a deeper and broader understanding of the Christ or Messiah...? The unity of the Trees of Life and Knowledge (Tree of Duality..), for me, point to the most complete understanding of monotheism. Have a Blessed Christmas, and Safe Travels! Charlie

4. Ann said on 1/2/12 - 08:57AM

Charlie P. I didn't learn this in S.S. either. It's been fun to discover the secrets of the language in which our stories of long ago were told. Actually, I believe there are more levels for interpretation than we ever realized, and we tap into the level that works for us at any given time.

5. Ann said on 1/2/12 - 12:15PM

Thanks for your good wishes, Charlie C. My Christmas was indeed blessed, and my travels safe and wonderful! My daughter Wendi and I had a lovely Christmas in London with a short jaunt to Paris. If I'm understanding, "Your mention of the movement of the Christ Festival to coincide with the birth of Jesus, may be a step away from the deeper understanding of the Mystery," I'll offer this response. Steiner tells us that the date of December 24th/25th was chosen as the date of the Nativity because a great truth had been lost. He also tells us that unknown to the men responsible for naming this date, there was a "subconscious wisdom with which the festival of Christmas Day was instituted." The 24th of December is the day dedicated to Adam and Eve, the following day being the Festival of the Nativity - the birth of Jesus of Nazareth was linked with the thought of man's origin in earth-evolution, his origin in Adam and Eve (another good topic for discussion at some point). Forces working in hidden depths of the soul caused the picture to be presented of (hu)mankind as a being of soul-and-spirit before physical embodiment, at the starting-point of evolution as a physical being. The human being in his spiritual state at the very beginning of earth-evolution, born in the Jesus Child - this was presented to mankind by a Divine wisdom in the festival of Jesus's birth. The Tibetan Master of A. A. Bailey's work states, " We saw how in the Birth at Bethlehem the date was fixed astronomically nearly four centuries after Christ was born. The combination of Virgo with the Star in the East (Sirius), and the Three Kings (symbolized by Orion's belt) was the determining factor. The Virgin (Virgo) was seen in the east, with the line of the horizon passing through her center, and this is one of the factors determining the doctrine of the Virgin birth. In the life of Christ there are episodes which represent great points of attainment, all climaxing cycles and initiating new ones. For example, the first initiation is symbolized by the Birth in Bethlehem - the immortal soul in humankind which manifests upon the earth as the "infant Christ" and appears in man. That which has been slowly gestating in mankind comes at last to birth, and the Christ, or soul, is born consciously. The first of the five initiations taken on the Earth plane is now possible. The second initiation is symbolized by the Baptism; the third by the Transfiguration on a High Mountain: the fourth by The Crucifixion; and the fifth, The Resurrection and Ascension. The initiations above the fifth are usually taken in higher dimensions beyond the Earth experience. Could the importance we place on the Christmas festival at this time in evolution indicate a call to mass humanity for the conscious birth of the Christ or soul within? These explanations of course raise further questions surrounding the Christmas Mysteries, and I invite all to share your own beliefs and perspectives. There seem to be many levels of interpretation, and perhaps we are drawn to one or more that seems to fit our own consciousness at the time. The "Initiations" might be a fitting topic for discussion in the near future. Regarding the Christmas Tree: The lighted Christmas tree is a symbol of the Tree of Paradise, according to Rudolf Steiner. There is a legend which gives expression to the true meaning of the Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life. Seth stands before the Gate of Paradise, craving entry. The Cherubim guarding the entrance with a fiery sword allow him to pass. This is a sign of Initiation. In Paradise, Seth finds the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge firmly intertwined. The Archangel Michael who stands in the presence of God allows him to take three grains of seed from this intertwined Tree. The Tree stands there as a prophetic indication of the future of mankind. When the whole of mankind has attained Initiation and found knowledge, then only the Tree of Life will remain, there will be no more death. But in the meantime only he who is an Initiate may take from this Tree the three grains of seed - the three seeds which symbolize the three higher members of man's being. When Adam died, Seth placed these three grains of seed in his mouth and out of them grew a flaming bush. From the wood cut from this bush, new sprouts, new leaves burst ever and again. But within the flaming ring around the bush there was written: "I am He who was, who is, who is to be" - in other words, that which passes through all incarnations, the power of ever-evolving man who descends out of the light into the darkness and out of the darkness ascends into the light. The Tree of Paradise and the wood of the Cross are connected in a most wonderful way. Even though the Cross is always an Easter symbol, it deepens our conception of the Christmas Mystery, too. We feel how in this night of Christ's Nativity, new, upwelling life streams towards us. (Steiner)

6. Ann said on 1/2/12 - 01:29PM

Charlie C. . . . Thanks for your good wishes. My Christmas was indeed blessed, and my travels safe and wonderful! My daughter Wendi and I had a lovely Christmas in London with a short jaunt to Paris. If I'm understanding, "Your mention of the movement of the Christ Festival to coincide with the birth of Jesus, may be a step away from the deeper understanding of the Mystery," I'll offer this response: I believe you're onto something here, Charlie. Steiner tells us that the date of December 24th/25th was chosen as the date of the Nativity because a great truth had been lost. He also tells us that unknown to the men responsible for naming this date, there was a "subconscious wisdom with which the festival of Christmas Day was instituted." The 24th of December is the day dedicated to Adam and Eve, the following day being the Festival of the Nativity - the birth of Jesus of Nazareth was linked with the thought of man's origin in earth-evolution, his origin in Adam and Eve (another good topic for discussion at some point). Forces working in hidden depths of the soul caused the picture to be presented of (hu)mankind as a being of soul-and-spirit before physical embodiment, at the starting-point of evolution as a physical being. The human being in his spiritual state at the very beginning of earth-evolution, born in the Jesus Child - this was presented to mankind by a Divine wisdom in the festival of Jesus's birth. The Tibetan Master of A. A. Bailey's work states, "We saw how in the Birth at Bethlehem the date was fixed astronomically nearly four centuries after Christ was born. The combination of Virgo with the Star in the East (Sirius), and the Three Kings (symbolized by Orion's belt) was the determining factor. The Virgin (Virgo) was seen in the east, with the line of the horizon passing through her center, and this is one of the factors determining the doctrine of the Virgin birth. In the life of Christ Jesus there are episodes which represent great points of attainment, all climaxing cycles and initiating new ones. For example, the first initiation (the cave experience)is symbolized by the Birth in Bethlehem - the immortal soul in humankind which manifests upon the earth as the "infant Christ" and appears in man/woman. That which has been slowly gestating in humankind comes at last to birth, and the Christ, or soul, is born consciously. The first of the five initiations taken on the Earth plane is now possible. The second inititation (the stream initiation) is symbolized by the Baptism (purification); the third by the Transfiguration on a High Mountain (the divine is revealed in us); the fourth by the Crucifixion; and the fifth, The Resurrection and Ascension. The initiations above the fifth are usually taken in higher dimensions beyond the Earth experience. Could the importance we place on the Christmas Festival at this time in evolution indicate a call to mass humanity for the conscious birth of the Christ or soul within? These explanations of course raise further questions surrounding the Christmas Mysteries, and I invite all to share your own beliefs and perspectives. You've raised some important questions and offered much depth in your statements about this topic, Charlie C. There seem to be many levels of interpretations, and perhaps we are drawn to one or more that seems to fit our own consciousness at any given time. The "Initiations" might be a fitting topic for discussion in the near future. Regarding the Christmas Tree: The lighted Christmas tree is a symbol of the Tree of Paradise, according to Rudolf Steiner. He says there is a legend which gives expression to the true meaning of the Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life. Seth stands before the Gate of Paradise, craving entry. The Cherubim guarding the entrance with a fiery sword allow him to pass. This is a sign of Initiation. In Paradise, Seth finds the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge firmnly intertwined. The Archangel Michael who stands in the presence of God allows him to take three grains of seed from this intertwined Tree. The Tree stands there as a prophetic indication of the future of mankind. When the whole of mankind has attained initiation and found knowledge, then only the Tree of Life will remain, there will be no more death. But in the meantime only he who is an Initiate may take from this Tree the ghree grains of seed - the three seeds which symbolize the three higher members of man's being. When Adam died, Seth placed these three grains of seed in his mouth and out of them grew a flaming bush. From the wood cut from this bush, new sprouts, new leaves burst ever and again. But within the flaming ring around the bush there was written: "I am He who was, who is, who is to be" - in other words, that which passes through all incarnations, the power of ever-evolving man who descends out of the light into the darkness and out of the darkness ascends into the light. The Tree of Paradise and the wood of the Cross are connected in a most wonderful way. Even though the Cross is always an Easter symbol, it deepens our conception of the Christmas Mystery, too. We feel how in this night of Christ's Nativity, new, upwelling life streams towards us. (Steiner)

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« Hidden Knowledge | Main | 2012 - A Year of... »

1.	CharlieP said on 12/18/11 - 09:42AM
	Ann - Thanks so much for your research and resulting enlightenment. I never learned about these things in Sunday school! Your lesson reveals so much more than most of us ever knew. Christmas now takes on so much more meaning.
2.	Charlie Coon said on 12/18/11 - 05:47PM
	Ann, I like your portrayal of the Christ Spirit. For me, it helps to understand that this Spirit is also incarnated in each of us, in historical periods (the 60's, for example), in the sciences, and in all of the creation. Certainly the Christ mystery applies to Jesus, but not only to Jesus. Your mention of the movement of the Christ Festival to coincide with the birth of Jesus, may be a step away from the deeper understanding of the Mystery. Is that your point? The various Trees, for me, express the nature of our reality. I assume that the Tree of Paradise is synonymous with the Garden of Eden, and that the unity of the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge is symbolized by the Tree of Paradise. The Tree of Knowledge might also be named the Tree of Duality, and so what we have here is duality within singularity, which is the real meaning of monotheism and characterizes the God of Israel. I like your connection of the Festival of the Holy Night to the awakening of the Higher Self. Most important! As without, so within.... Have a Blessed Christmas, and Safe Travels, Charlie
3.	Charlie Coon said on 12/18/11 - 05:59PM
	Ann, Nice piece! I like your special consideration of the Christ Mystery. I see this Mystery as being larger than Jesus of Nazareth, although Jesus has an important part of it. Moving the Festival to coincide with his birth may have hindered a deeper and broader understanding of the Christ or Messiah...? The unity of the Trees of Life and Knowledge (Tree of Duality..), for me, point to the most complete understanding of monotheism. Have a Blessed Christmas, and Safe Travels! Charlie
4.	Ann said on 1/2/12 - 08:57AM
	Charlie P. I didn't learn this in S.S. either. It's been fun to discover the secrets of the language in which our stories of long ago were told. Actually, I believe there are more levels for interpretation than we ever realized, and we tap into the level that works for us at any given time.
5.	Ann said on 1/2/12 - 12:15PM
	Thanks for your good wishes, Charlie C. My Christmas was indeed blessed, and my travels safe and wonderful! My daughter Wendi and I had a lovely Christmas in London with a short jaunt to Paris. If I'm understanding, "Your mention of the movement of the Christ Festival to coincide with the birth of Jesus, may be a step away from the deeper understanding of the Mystery," I'll offer this response. Steiner tells us that the date of December 24th/25th was chosen as the date of the Nativity because a great truth had been lost. He also tells us that unknown to the men responsible for naming this date, there was a "subconscious wisdom with which the festival of Christmas Day was instituted." The 24th of December is the day dedicated to Adam and Eve, the following day being the Festival of the Nativity - the birth of Jesus of Nazareth was linked with the thought of man's origin in earth-evolution, his origin in Adam and Eve (another good topic for discussion at some point). Forces working in hidden depths of the soul caused the picture to be presented of (hu)mankind as a being of soul-and-spirit before physical embodiment, at the starting-point of evolution as a physical being. The human being in his spiritual state at the very beginning of earth-evolution, born in the Jesus Child - this was presented to mankind by a Divine wisdom in the festival of Jesus's birth. The Tibetan Master of A. A. Bailey's work states, " We saw how in the Birth at Bethlehem the date was fixed astronomically nearly four centuries after Christ was born. The combination of Virgo with the Star in the East (Sirius), and the Three Kings (symbolized by Orion's belt) was the determining factor. The Virgin (Virgo) was seen in the east, with the line of the horizon passing through her center, and this is one of the factors determining the doctrine of the Virgin birth. In the life of Christ there are episodes which represent great points of attainment, all climaxing cycles and initiating new ones. For example, the first initiation is symbolized by the Birth in Bethlehem - the immortal soul in humankind which manifests upon the earth as the "infant Christ" and appears in man. That which has been slowly gestating in mankind comes at last to birth, and the Christ, or soul, is born consciously. The first of the five initiations taken on the Earth plane is now possible. The second initiation is symbolized by the Baptism; the third by the Transfiguration on a High Mountain: the fourth by The Crucifixion; and the fifth, The Resurrection and Ascension. The initiations above the fifth are usually taken in higher dimensions beyond the Earth experience. Could the importance we place on the Christmas festival at this time in evolution indicate a call to mass humanity for the conscious birth of the Christ or soul within? These explanations of course raise further questions surrounding the Christmas Mysteries, and I invite all to share your own beliefs and perspectives. There seem to be many levels of interpretation, and perhaps we are drawn to one or more that seems to fit our own consciousness at the time. The "Initiations" might be a fitting topic for discussion in the near future. Regarding the Christmas Tree: The lighted Christmas tree is a symbol of the Tree of Paradise, according to Rudolf Steiner. There is a legend which gives expression to the true meaning of the Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life. Seth stands before the Gate of Paradise, craving entry. The Cherubim guarding the entrance with a fiery sword allow him to pass. This is a sign of Initiation. In Paradise, Seth finds the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge firmly intertwined. The Archangel Michael who stands in the presence of God allows him to take three grains of seed from this intertwined Tree. The Tree stands there as a prophetic indication of the future of mankind. When the whole of mankind has attained Initiation and found knowledge, then only the Tree of Life will remain, there will be no more death. But in the meantime only he who is an Initiate may take from this Tree the three grains of seed - the three seeds which symbolize the three higher members of man's being. When Adam died, Seth placed these three grains of seed in his mouth and out of them grew a flaming bush. From the wood cut from this bush, new sprouts, new leaves burst ever and again. But within the flaming ring around the bush there was written: "I am He who was, who is, who is to be" - in other words, that which passes through all incarnations, the power of ever-evolving man who descends out of the light into the darkness and out of the darkness ascends into the light. The Tree of Paradise and the wood of the Cross are connected in a most wonderful way. Even though the Cross is always an Easter symbol, it deepens our conception of the Christmas Mystery, too. We feel how in this night of Christ's Nativity, new, upwelling life streams towards us. (Steiner)
6.	Ann said on 1/2/12 - 01:29PM
	Charlie C. . . . Thanks for your good wishes. My Christmas was indeed blessed, and my travels safe and wonderful! My daughter Wendi and I had a lovely Christmas in London with a short jaunt to Paris. If I'm understanding, "Your mention of the movement of the Christ Festival to coincide with the birth of Jesus, may be a step away from the deeper understanding of the Mystery," I'll offer this response: I believe you're onto something here, Charlie. Steiner tells us that the date of December 24th/25th was chosen as the date of the Nativity because a great truth had been lost. He also tells us that unknown to the men responsible for naming this date, there was a "subconscious wisdom with which the festival of Christmas Day was instituted." The 24th of December is the day dedicated to Adam and Eve, the following day being the Festival of the Nativity - the birth of Jesus of Nazareth was linked with the thought of man's origin in earth-evolution, his origin in Adam and Eve (another good topic for discussion at some point). Forces working in hidden depths of the soul caused the picture to be presented of (hu)mankind as a being of soul-and-spirit before physical embodiment, at the starting-point of evolution as a physical being. The human being in his spiritual state at the very beginning of earth-evolution, born in the Jesus Child - this was presented to mankind by a Divine wisdom in the festival of Jesus's birth. The Tibetan Master of A. A. Bailey's work states, "We saw how in the Birth at Bethlehem the date was fixed astronomically nearly four centuries after Christ was born. The combination of Virgo with the Star in the East (Sirius), and the Three Kings (symbolized by Orion's belt) was the determining factor. The Virgin (Virgo) was seen in the east, with the line of the horizon passing through her center, and this is one of the factors determining the doctrine of the Virgin birth. In the life of Christ Jesus there are episodes which represent great points of attainment, all climaxing cycles and initiating new ones. For example, the first initiation (the cave experience)is symbolized by the Birth in Bethlehem - the immortal soul in humankind which manifests upon the earth as the "infant Christ" and appears in man/woman. That which has been slowly gestating in humankind comes at last to birth, and the Christ, or soul, is born consciously. The first of the five initiations taken on the Earth plane is now possible. The second inititation (the stream initiation) is symbolized by the Baptism (purification); the third by the Transfiguration on a High Mountain (the divine is revealed in us); the fourth by the Crucifixion; and the fifth, The Resurrection and Ascension. The initiations above the fifth are usually taken in higher dimensions beyond the Earth experience. Could the importance we place on the Christmas Festival at this time in evolution indicate a call to mass humanity for the conscious birth of the Christ or soul within? These explanations of course raise further questions surrounding the Christmas Mysteries, and I invite all to share your own beliefs and perspectives. You've raised some important questions and offered much depth in your statements about this topic, Charlie C. There seem to be many levels of interpretations, and perhaps we are drawn to one or more that seems to fit our own consciousness at any given time. The "Initiations" might be a fitting topic for discussion in the near future. Regarding the Christmas Tree: The lighted Christmas tree is a symbol of the Tree of Paradise, according to Rudolf Steiner. He says there is a legend which gives expression to the true meaning of the Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life. Seth stands before the Gate of Paradise, craving entry. The Cherubim guarding the entrance with a fiery sword allow him to pass. This is a sign of Initiation. In Paradise, Seth finds the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge firmnly intertwined. The Archangel Michael who stands in the presence of God allows him to take three grains of seed from this intertwined Tree. The Tree stands there as a prophetic indication of the future of mankind. When the whole of mankind has attained initiation and found knowledge, then only the Tree of Life will remain, there will be no more death. But in the meantime only he who is an Initiate may take from this Tree the ghree grains of seed - the three seeds which symbolize the three higher members of man's being. When Adam died, Seth placed these three grains of seed in his mouth and out of them grew a flaming bush. From the wood cut from this bush, new sprouts, new leaves burst ever and again. But within the flaming ring around the bush there was written: "I am He who was, who is, who is to be" - in other words, that which passes through all incarnations, the power of ever-evolving man who descends out of the light into the darkness and out of the darkness ascends into the light. The Tree of Paradise and the wood of the Cross are connected in a most wonderful way. Even though the Cross is always an Easter symbol, it deepens our conception of the Christmas Mystery, too. We feel how in this night of Christ's Nativity, new, upwelling life streams towards us. (Steiner)