Greetings friends, Today on the Winter Solstice we are going to ponder the Great Conjunction – Jupiter meets Saturn, Zeus meets Chronos – 2 opposite energies – modeling for us how to listen to each other from completely different points of view – expansion & contraction.

The dance between Jupiter: Cosmic Wisdom – & Saturn: Cosmic Memory, started right when we were entering 2020, a year calling for us to see with perfect 2020 vision. Well if things still seem quite blurry, perhaps the vison will come with hindsight; And I believe this Great Conjunction may be just the thing to open our eyes.

It was actually early in January, around the time of Epiphany that this dance between Time & Space began, at the start of what was 1^st called the Corona virus. And as we have all no doubt heard, the Great Conjunction culminates today during the shortest day, around noon Central time – adding to the energy of this longest night of the Winter solstice; which brings us to the completion of the great in-breath of the Earth, a sacred pause, when the Sun stands still before the rebirth of the light.

We can witness this Solstice Conjunction in the southwestern sky about a half hour after sunset. But don’t worry if it’s cloudy or you can’t see it, because we have lots of time to watch their slow dance as they drift apart again moving with the outbreath in their continued progression thru the Holy Nights & into the New Year 2021.

For some reason most folks have not been talking about Mars & Pluto, who have also been part of this cosmic conversation, (which was revealed to me by Astrosopher Jonathan Hilton of the Astrosophy Center). The Tropical zodiac likes to keep things in 12 even brackets, but in working with the Sidereal zodiac, which shows the stars as they actually are in the heavens, we can see that these outer planets are all now crossing from the stars of the Archer, which gives us the imagination of the centaur – half human, half animal; into the stars of Capricorn, the sign of the sea-goat climbing the mountain of initiation.

It’s interesting to include Pluto, the god of the Underworld, in this picture, the in again out again planetary sphere, related to the nuclear age & our modern consciousness, because it wasn’t ‘discovered’ until 1930, an interesting year in itself. Pluto is called the great revealer, often connected to the dark night of the soul.

Mars, the god of war, is in a square to Pluto, which brings in an element of tension. A square alignment can herald an intense, perhaps violent energy. Their union can represent a powerful tyrant, or the idea of ‘the ends justifying the means’. Or on the positive side, it can be viewed as that mysterious force that propels us to push ourselves beyond the limit, like a runner getting that extra oomph nearing the finish line – This intensity can be an instigator to connect us with our ever evolving highest potential.

These outer planets often serve to bring us to what Spiritual Scientist Rudolf Steiner calls, “stumbling events” which we can use to motivate ourselves toward a revolution of consciousness, a challenge to grow our higher faculties which are now in seed form.

Saturn with its slow moving 30 year cycle has been called Father Time. And Jupiter, with its cycle of 12 years, which we see out-pictured in the 12 constellations, represents space. They are the 2 great keepers of the cosmos, connected with our past & future development.

Saturn is our cosmic memory, preserving the past, ensuring that the divine evolutionary plan for humanity is maintained & remembered – Intimately connected with personal as well as world karma, implementing the karmic consequences & adjustments needed to maintain our plan. So Saturn often appears as a harsh father or judge, reminding us of that Primal Will.

Jupiter, on the other hand, is the visionary idealist looking to the future of humanity. Rudolf Steiner calls Jupiter the “thought king”, holding the wisdom of our unfolding, in spiritually creative thinking & activity, which is the plan of our future becoming.

These 2 gate keepers of our universe, carry the divine plan of The Trinity & the Sophia – the architects of human evolution. Their conjunction can be seen as a kind of ‘cosmic conference’. And we, the whole of humanity, are being called to attend this confab. You can say we are being tested. Where do we stand in relation to time & space? Are we stepping up to our responsibility as creative partners in our own evolution? How are we manifesting the cosmic plan?

The Star Wisdom of Astrosophy seeks to connect what was written in the stars during the life of Christ on earth, with the recapitulation of these starry signatures in our time now, to reveal clues which are meant to be unveiled thru our participation. So if we follow these great conjunctions back thru time, it unfolds in a pattern, occurring every 20 years, weaving in the heavens around us in what has been called the ‘Golden Star’ or Golden Triangle, a symbol used in many esoteric schools. 

This Golden star slowly rotates forward in the zodiac by 10 degrees every 60 years. So the conjunction returns to the same point to begin the cycle again, a bit further along. So basically these points of the triangle can be traced back in time to reveal historic events related to humanity’s spiritual evolution. 

Astrosopher Willi Sucher has followed this Golden Star back to the Great Conjunction of 6 BC – the so-called Star of Bethlehem, followed by the Magi; their starry guide for knowing the time & place of the reincarnation of their great Teacher  Zarathustra. So this corner of the zodiac, this point of the triangle, carries what we can call a “Great Annunciation” theme; announcing to those that have ears to hear that the return of a great soul is at hand.

This, dear friends, is the same corner of the golden star which corresponds to the Great Conjunction of 2020. What is calling us?  What are we supposed to listen for, to hear & pay attention to? Is a powerful spirit being born among us? What new revelations are being revealed? What new annunciations are awaiting our response?

It’s also interesting to think about the 2^nd  corner of the Golden triangle, which exemplifies the Great Conjunction of 14 AD, which Willi Sucher connects to the event called ‘The Finding in the Temple’, or the ‘Disputation’ recorded in Luke chapter 2, described by Rudolf Steiner as the prototype for the merging of the 2 streams: the shepherd stream from the Luke gospel, with the King or Magi stream, described in the Matthew gospel.

Looking ahead in history we can examine this corner of the Great Conjunction in the 12^th century with the working of Thomas Aquinas & the birth of Dante. Where were you in March 1226? With Kenghis Khan destroying civilizations? Or on a Crusade with the Knights Templar? Or, consigned perhaps to the huddled masses in the muddy darkness, while the Master lived high on the hog? It sounds all too familiar eh.

The 3^rd corner corresponds to the Great Conjunction of 34 AD, which Willi Sucher associates with the conversion of Paul on the road to Damascus, which was according to Rudolf Steiner, the first experience of the new clairvoyance – a foreshadowing of what is available to all of humanity now, an ability to perceive into the periphery just outside of the physical where the being of love can be experienced, especially in times of greatest need.

So this 3^rd corner carries the theme of “World Damascus”; which BTW we saw recapitulated when the last Great conjunction occurred 20 years ago in the year 2000…a prelude to 911?

And so we could call today’s Great Conjunction the “World Annunciation”-  our current global situation shows us that it is a small world after all, & we are all connected. So we have to ask: What is wanting to be announced? Is this global Corona crisis testing us to consciously connect with what we in Anthroposophy call the etheric Christ, that realm which holds the essential formative forces just outside of physical reality, which, when tapped into, will give us the ability to co-create our world. Can we stand together in this light, that the earth may become a sacred planet, a star among stars? Can we weave Time & Space together into the crown of a new Sun?

A lot to think about in what is guiding us from this Golden Christmas star.  Maybe it’s a herald for the Renaissance to show up? Maybe the Revolution? Maybe a life-giving Vision for a World we can actually sustain..?

Dear friends, this conjunction is another flare from the heavens calling us to recognize that the stars await our free will, stirring us to move our human consciousness into activity, to become co-creators with the gods of the starry worlds. These helpful spiritual beings await our becoming. They are calling us, to form an earthly choir with them, to announce the true meaning of the earth – to do our part to spiritualize our thinking, feeling & willing, to truly see 2020, not thru a glass darkly, but as the perfect 2020 vision of Love’s World Annunciation waiting to born thru our active will. 

And friends, it’s going to take more that some safe symbolic act to mark our participation. We must become spiritual warriors.

In the economic realm what would it be like to think of money as a generous spiritual being opening us to the new mysteries of true sister & brotherhood? This then fosters equality, which can bring morality to the rights realm, & a new form to our political reality. And thru Choice, in Education, Choice in Medical Care, Choice in Spirituality & Religion, then we can achieve true freedom.

We must not stand idly by. We can start now, by building up positive imaginations on the inner planes as a counterforce to the adversarial forces working in the world, like we do with our 10:10 Thought-Seed. And when we stand up & speak truth to power, we create an energy field for change.

We must plant seed ideas that inspire Hope, Faith & Charity, in the group mind of humanity, to co-create our highest intentions for the evolution of our consciousness. What is sown in our heart-thinking, will grow & bear seed in the world. Let’s not let this opportunity to implement our perfect vision pass us by like a thief in the night. Let’s open our eyes to the wonders of the night, & give birth to a new day.

Conjunction junction here we are – just in time to meet our Self.

~hag

Here’s the shorter podcast version: Time Meets Space: The Great Conjunction Winter Solstice 2020

***

Monday 21 December 2020
Winter Solstice Great Conjunction of Jupiter & Saturn, 
& Biodynamic Prep-Stir
5 pm – 6:30 pm CST

at The Rudolf Steiner Branch & Elderberries Biodynamic Outpost & Cultural Hub 4249-52 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago in the ‘Schreinerei’

All are welcome to bring festive food & drink to share

We will work with BD 501 which helps facilitate the taking in of light into the earth, Sing Carols, Share food, do Eurythmy, & Hazel Archer will share a few Leading Thoughts on the Great Conjunction.

Can’t join us? Stop zooming & go outside, or Listen to the short “I Think Speech’ podcast:
Time Meets Space: The Great Conjunction Winter Solstice 2020
These 2 gate keepers of our universe, carry the divine plan of The Trinity & the Sophia, the architects of human evolution. Their conjunction can be seen as a kind of ‘cosmic conference’. And we, the whole of humanity, are being called to attend this confab.
~hag
 
For more info. contact Hazel Archer hag@rschicago.org

***

Wednesday 23 December 2020 – 7:15 pm – 8:30 pm CT

Unwrapping our Cosmic Gift: Thoughts on the Christmas Conference 1923

with the Central Regional Council. Themes inspired by Prokofieff’s book: May Human Beings Hear it! include: Turning Points of Time; Christ, Sophia and Michael; Foundation Stone Meditation.Two Turning Points in Time – The Mystery of Wisdom, and The Mystery of Will

In 1923/24, during the Christmas Conference, Rudolf Steiner presented humanity with the Foundation Stone Meditation: an amazingly rich imagination, planted in our hearts and shining brightly like a guiding star.  Steiner also gave us many other gifts during that time which we will ponder in our hearts.

Leading thoughts, verses, songs and imaginations will be woven together in this artistic offering before the Holy Nights.

Special guest Lucien Dante Lazar will provide a sprinkle of musical interludes throughout our event.

We will be joined by our old friend Dennis Dietzel in this performance.

We will go into small breakout groups to explore the theme: “How does the Foundation Stone Meditation speak to you?”

***

The Festivals Committee for the Rudolf Steiner Branch in Chicago invites you to Holy Nights December 24, 2020, through January 5, 2021 

*Please note–No meeting December 29th and 31st. See special offerings below for these dates. 

The Fifth Gospel by Rudolf Steiner – Each evening we will study together 

on Zoom from 7 pm – 8 pm CST

Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/92592034861?pwd=Mmo0eURaWDVqYVlabTdSY1ltcUFxdz09

Meeting ID: 925 9203 4861  – Passcode: Peace

On Tuesday, December 29th, 6 pm – 8:30 pm CST, 

we will join The ARC in Atlanta for a reading of Goethe’s fairy tale, The Green Snake and the Beautiful Lily 

This has a separate zoom code: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82656914578?pwd=MHN3Mmt3OEhtQlZTMlc1NHFtUm80QT09 Meeting ID: 826 5691 4578  Passcode: Goethe

***

New Year’s Eve, there will be NO zoom call

Thursday 31 December 2020-21 Our Annual Conscious NYE Gathering 6 pm-10:10 pm CT

In-Person at Elderberries Bio-dynamic Outpost & The Rudolf Steiner Branch Chicago

6 pm Potluck and artistic mask making with Lucien Dante Lazar

7:30 – 9:30 Live Music with Jutta and the High Dukes 

10:10 pm Project Thought-Seed 

The evening ends at 10:30 pm

$20 per person http://donate.rschicago.org/

For more info. contact Hazel Archer hag@rschicago.org

***

Nancy Poer

Wednesday 6 January 2021, 2 pm – 4 pm CT

Joan’s Epiphany ‘What Joan of Arc Calls for Today’

In-Person at Elderberries Bio-dynamic Outpost & The Rudolf Steiner Branch Chicago & online Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/7052931041 Meeting ID: 705 293 1041

Today on the Birthday of Joan of Arc we welcome special Guest Nancy Poer

We will also explore ‘The Destinies of Individuals and of Nations’, Lecture 5, ‘The Nature of the Christ Impulse and the Michaelic Sprit Serving It’ by Rudolf Steiner with Leading Thoughts by Hazel Archer-Ginsberg

Social Sculpture: “The Passage” with Luicen Dante Lazar,

+ An Artistic exploration, Singing & Eurythmy

http://donate.rschicago.org/

For more info. contact Hazel Archer hag@rschicago.org

Blessings of the Season
~Hazel Archer-Ginsberg
Festivals & Events Coordinator
for the Rudolf Steiner Branch
of The Anthroposophical Society,

Dear friends, here is the short version, I will do the full write up tomorrow

Time Meets Space: The Great Conjunction Winter Solstice 2020

These 2 gate keepers of our universe, carry the divine plan of The Trinity & the Sophia, the architects of human evolution. Their conjunction can be seen as a kind of ‘cosmic conference’. And we, the whole of humanity, are being called to attend this confab.

~hag

***

THE CALENDAR OF THE SOUL by Rudolf Steiner (Roy Sadler’s translation with added verse titles)

The quartet of the Christmas verse, its complement in Epiphany’s 2nd week,
its opposite in the southern hemisphere now (the Saint John’s verse),
and its mirror in the last week of Saint Johnstide.
v38,
THE SPIRIT CHILD
I feel the spirit child set free
from spell in womb of soul;
in heart’s bright radiance
from seed of holy Cosmic Word
the heaven’s fruit of hope
is growing into farthest worlds
rejoicing from my being’s ground of God
v41,
AT THE ALTAR OF THE HEART
The soul’s creative power
from depths of heart aspires
to fire the forces of the gods
to right activity in human life
and form itself in human love
and human deeds.
v12,
AT THE ALTAR OF THE SENSES
The world’s light-glancing beauty
from depths of soul compels me
to free in cosmic flight
my own life’s god-enwoven forces,
forsake myself
and trusting seek the self I am
in world-wide warmth and light.
v15,
THE SPIRIT’S GIFT
Enchanted in the glory of the world
I feel the weaving of the spirit;
it’s veiled my own being
in drowsiness of sense
to give to me the strength
that in my narrow bounds
I’m powerless to give myself.

***

Sunday 20 December 2020, 2 pm – 3pm CT
In-Person at The Rudolf Steiner Branch Chicago & online

‘Awakening to the Light in the Darkness’: A Christmas Contemplation with Rev. Craig Wiggins. 

To access the the Research click here

Lucien Dante Lazar will open & close the program with live piano music

And Mary Ruud will lead us in Group Eurythmy to cap the afternoon

Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/7052931041?pwd=ai94YmhnS1k3cWN3TFFlL3ozTDgxdz09 
Meeting ID: 705 293 1041 – Passcode: Peace

Dear friends, please consider making a donation to help support our speakers & the artists who offer their gifts to the community at large. http://donate.rschicago.org/

For more info. contact Hazel Archer hag@rschicago.org

***

Monday 21 December Winter Solstice Great Conjunction of Jupiter & Saturn,

Biodynamic Prep-Stir 5 pm – 6:30 pm CST

at Elderberries Biodynamic Outpost & Cultural Hub 4252 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago

All are welcome to bring festive food & drink to share

***

Wednesday 23 December 2020 – 7:15 pm – 8:30 pm CT

Unwrapping our Cosmic Gift: Thoughts on the Christmas Conference 1923

with the Central Regional Council. Themes inspired by Prokofieff’s book: May Human Beings Hear it! include: Turning Points of Time; Christ, Sophia and Michael; Foundation Stone Meditation.Two Turning Points in Time – The Mystery of Wisdom, and The Mystery of Will

In 1923/24, during the Christmas Conference, Rudolf Steiner presented humanity with the Foundation Stone Meditation: an amazingly rich imagination, planted in our hearts and shining brightly like a guiding star.  Steiner also gave us many other gifts during that time which we will ponder in our hearts.

Leading thoughts, verses, songs and imaginations will be woven together in this artistic offering before the Holy Nights.

Special guestLucien Dante Lazar will provide a sprinkle of musical interludes throughout our event.

We will be joined by our old friend Dennis Dietzel in this performance.

We will go into small breakout groups to explore the theme: “How does the Foundation Stone Meditation speak to you?”