10 September 2016 – Astro-Weather: This evening the Moon shines over the Sagittarius Teapot, about the size of your fist at arm’s length, tipping & pouring to the right
If you look overhead as darkness falls anytime this week, your eyes will fall on the brilliant star Vega in the constellation Lyra the Harp. Vega is the brightest member of the prominent Summer Triangle asterism. The Triangle’s second-brightest star, Altair in Aquila the Eagle, lies southeast of Vega. The asterism’s dimmest member, Deneb in Cygnus the Swan, stands east-northeast of Vega.
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“The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.”~Eden Phillpotts, “A Shadow Passes,” 1918
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
720 – Death/Feast Day of Aubert of Avranches According to legend, in 708 he had a vision in which the Archangel Michael instructed him to build an oratory on the rocky tidal island at the mouth of the Couesnon. Aubert did not pay attention to this vision at first, until in exasperation Michael appeared to him again, this time driving his finger into Aubert’s skull & ordering him to complete the task again. Michael is said to have appeared to him a total of three times. After this the oratory was built.
The relic of Aubert’s skull, complete with hole where the archangel’s finger pierced it, can still be seen at the Saint-Gervais Basilica in Avranches.
1305 – Death/Feast Day of Nicholas of Tolentino, known as the Patron of Holy Souls, was an Italian saint &mystic. There are many tales & legends which relate to Nicholas. One says the devil once beat him with a stick, which was then displayed for years in his church. In another, Nicholas, a vegetarian, was served a roasted fowl, for which he made the sign of the cross, & it flew out a window. Nine passengers on a ship going down at sea once asked Nicholas’ aid, & he appeared in the sky, wearing the black Augustinian habit, radiating golden light, holding a lily in his left hand, & with his right hand, he quelled the storm. An apparition of the saint, it is said, once saved the burning palace of the Doge of Venice by throwing a piece of blessed bread on the flames. He was also reported to have resurrected over one hundred dead children, including several who had drowned together.
1509 – An earthquake known as “The Lesser Judgment Day” hits Constantinople killing over 2,000
1721 – The Treaty of Nystadt was signed ending the twenty-one year Great Northern War between Russia & Sweden. Rudolf Steiner speaks about the significance of this in GA 119 Macrocosm/Microcosm: Lecture 6: Experiences of Initiation in the Northern Mysteries
1898 – Deathday of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, the wife of Emperor Franz Joseph I, Queen of Hungary & Queen consort of Croatia and Bohemia.
While travelling in Geneva in she was stabbed to death by an Italian anarchist named Luigi Lucheni who selected her because he had missed his chance to assassinate Prince Philippe, Duke of Orléans, & wanted to kill the next member of royalty that he saw. Elisabeth was the longest serving Empress-consort of Austria, at 44 years.
1919 – Austria & the Allies sign the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye recognizing the independence of Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia & Yugoslavia
1933 – Deathday of A.W. Sellin, Anthroposopher & Fremason
1935 – Birthday of Mary Oliver, poet & author
1943 – World War II: German forces begin their occupation of Rome
2008 – The Large Hadron Collider at CERN, described as the biggest scientific experiment in history, is powered up in Geneva, Switzerland
World Suicide Prevention Day
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~I hear the words that shatter space
My tongue curls around the tone
Of crystals rising
In the oblique angle
Of the autumning sun…
There
The Archangel beckons…
~hag
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Arild Rosenkrantz
Michaelic thoughts on the eve of 9/11
Michael is, & has been, the genius & leader of humanity through all the many transformations of our consciousness. Rudolf Steiner taught us to view him as the ‘Guardian of Cosmic Intelligence’, governing the cosmic thoughts of the hierarchies, which formed the plan of the universe before the beginning of time. And in this capacity as a Sun-Being, he is the closest servant & trail blazer of The Christ, called the ‘Logos’ in the Gospel of John, which indicates the sphere of origin where the thinking & speech of God are still one.
The spirit-body of the Christ-Being is the creative primal thoughts of God, thoughts that we can call cosmic intelligence. And Michael as Guardian of Cosmic Intelligence, is the herald & helper of the Christ, Bearing the Christ Being to humanity.
Michael sees to it that on every level of evolution, the right things are always accomplished, so that, finally, this cosmic intelligence can shine forth directly from the human spirit.
The name Michael is a question, for it means ‘Who is like god’? He is in our time, the countenance of Christ, & is preparing to become the countenance for human beings.
This goal will be attained when the sunlight of divine thought finds direct entry into human souls; when humanity is no longer a shadow darkened by head-thinking alone.
We are all participants in this new Michaelic age.
Thinking & willing with you
In warmth of Soul
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Michaelmas Festival: 7pm -9pm, Friday 30 September, 2016 at The Rudolf Steiner Branch 4249 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago
Heart-Thinking: Michael Beckoning
Piano & Voice – Kristen & David Wray performing Nacht und Träume + Ganymed– By Franz Schubert
Activating Heart-Thinking– Hazel Archer Ginsberg
Copper Rod Eurythmy: ALL
Grimm’s Tale “The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs” by Laura Donkel
Harvest Songs-Singing with Elisabeth Swisher: ALL
Verse for the Michaelic Age: ALL
$10 Donation & Snacks to Share Encouraged
For more info. Contact Festivals Coordinator Hazel Archer Ginsberg Hazel@ReverseRitual.com
