Invitation to (Re)search during these exceptional times from the Youth Section of the Goetheanum What is the world like now and what will the world be like after the current pandemic? Can each of us in this unique time, set impulses that could bear fruits in the near future? Dear friends of the Youth Section worldwide, The current events taking place in the world call us to question the status quo of our lives and our society. It is now clearer than ever how interconnected the world’s processes are, how dependent we are on one another, and what effects and consequences an epidemic has on our lives in various aspects. We are seeing in individual and societal responses to this situation both light and shadow: from a lack of trust and fear, to genuine acts of solidarity and commitment for others. In these, we can experience how our actions are changing and creating reality, how possibilities for action take endless different shapes. Here with we invite you to start a process of envisioning the future you wish for and finding actions in order to shape it! Our invitation is for you to engage in the process of asking yourself these questions and then share your experiences with us. Your responses will contribute to the ongoing research process, which will result in a new publication at the end of this year. We suggest the following questions, which ideally can be posed every day or on a regular basis: 1. Take a moment to review the past few months: can you describe what has taken place around you? how has life been affected or transformed by the present events taking place around the world? If you want, you can choose one aspect that has changed or been transformed and describe it in detail. 2. Now take another moment to look within yourself: can you find a gift or a present, that you would like to give to the world today? Something that planet, people and all beings could benefit from? What would this gift be? 3. Imagine that this gift is immediately active everywhere as if by magic: what changes or transformations do you see taking place in the world? 4. Coming back to the present moment: what would you actually have to do today to make the changes you envision a reality? TIP: If you get stuck in the process of reflection, try inviting a friend or family member to help you by asking you the questions. You could also interview them and note the differences and similarities in your answers! These questions are a guidance for you to enter a process of inner dialogue and reflection. We invite you to let your mind and heart wander through the images, thoughts and ideas that come up during exercise. Explore, become your own (Re)searcher…! On the 3rd of June from 17:00 – 18:30 Swiss time we would like to meet with those who want to follow-up on this invitation and exchange reflections on the impact of living with these questions. You are very welcome to invite friends to this proposed experiment! Please let us know by May 15th if you will be part of it. We are very much looking forward to hearing from you! For questions please mail ioana@youthsection.org |
5 May 2020 – “Speaking with the Stars”: This evening, draw a line from the almost full Moon thru Spica to her lower left. Continue the line on at least twice as far, & you’re more or less at Corvus, the springtime Crow. Its four brightest stars have always been described in astronomy guides as “sail-shaped.”
TONIGHT is the Eve of the Full BUDDHA Moon – Sun in Taurus, Moon in Scorpio
The Buddha (whose name means: *The Awakened One* or *One who Knows*) is regarded as the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He was born in 563 BC.
Traditionally, Buddha’s Birth/death day is known as Wesak or Visakah Puja (Buddhas Day).
Wesak, the major Buddhist festival of the year, celebrates the birth, enlightenment & death of the Buddha on one and the same day, when the Sun is in Taurus, & the Moon is in Scorpio.
This ‘Buddha Moon’ is a mystically auspicious time – it is considered to be the greatest moment of spiritual contact for the entire year. Great polarities are said to be synthesized & consequently united at this festival. Hope is revived in the world, & great seeds of beauty, truth, & goodness are planted within us — qualities needed for the unity of humankind.
Ancient Wisdom asserts that there will be a new coming of the World Avatar & those beings who assist them. But the reality set forth & embedded within this festival, is that WE, as a living unit called humanity, are to be that World Avatar, when we can live as “Christ in me”…
The Wesak Festival provides us each year with a reception of the tools of love & wisdom, to fulfill this ancient prophecy. What all the higher beings have done, we can do also, taking up our responsibility as the 10th hierarchy to radiate the Christ Impulse out to all the kingdoms of Earth -becoming like little suns – emanating rays from the very core of our “I”, through the vehicle of our bodies, from our purified hearts, & specifically from our forehead, where our third eye is located. This is the Bulls Eye of Taurus – the Sun of May – & the mystery of the transformative Scorpio Moon.
The Full Buddha Moon will be exact at 5:45 am Wednesday 6 May 2020. We will see it rise over the Great Inland Sea of Chicago at 5:52 pm tonight. & it will rise tomorrow at 7:09 pm.
Haiku’s, ants & worms
Buddha-like the Moon sitting
All have the same face
On Buddha’s birthday
Spring rain beneath a Full Moon,
On Buddha’s Death-day
Enlightenment in the Lake
Another sunset
~hag
***
Rudolf Steiner’s Lectures on this day ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY |
Cinco de Mayo observed to commemorate the Mexican Army’s victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza. The victory of the smaller Mexican force against a larger French force was a boost to morale for the Mexicans.
More popularly celebrated in the United States than Mexico, the date has become associated with the celebration of Mexican-American culture. These celebrations began in California, where they have been observed annually since 1863. The day gained nationwide popularity in the 1980s thanks especially to advertising campaigns by beer & wine companies. Today, Cinco de Mayo generates beer sales on par with the Super Bowl.
553 – The Second Council of Constantinople begins –condemned the pre-existence of the soul
1260 – Kublai Khan becomes ruler of the Mongol Empire.
1494 – Christopher Columbus lands on the island of Jamaica and claims it for Spain
1818 – Birthday of Karl Marx
1821 – Deathday of Napoleon
1877 – American Indian Wars: Sitting Bull leads his band of Lakota into Canada to avoid harassment by the United States Army under Colonel Nelson Miles.
1886 – The Bay View massacre: A militia fires into a crowd of protesters in Milwaukee, killing seven.
1891 – The Music Hall in New York City (later known as Carnegie Hall) has its grand opening and first public performance, with Tchaikovsky as the guest conductor.
1925 – Scopes Trial: Serving of an arrest warrant on John T. Scopes for teaching evolution in violation of the Butler Act.
1927 – To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf is first published.
***
Anthroposophy Atlanta Lunch & Learn (FREE Zoom Call) – Crowning” with Hazel Archer-Hazel Archer Ginsberg, and Eurythmist Raven Garland – Is this ‘global pandemic’ entreating us to awaken to the etheric realm that we share in common with the earth? Perhaps the coronavirus is an admonition for us to reconnect to the sun-forces now imbued with the Etheric Christ, waiting to be recognized and employed in these current evolving conditions – an invitation for all of humanity to rise to a higher stage of initiation – a Crowning re-birth.
We are hosting a mid-day Zoom call to take up spiritual study and offer practical ways to enliven ourselves and our community. While we can’t physically be together for a lunch-time meal, we can gather virtually for a desk-top lunch and benefit from shared attention on Anthroposophy.
For our first call, we have invited our friend from Chicago, Hazel Archer Ginsberg to share some of her work. To support Hazel’s content, we are thrilled that Raven Garland will lead us in simple, yet powerful eurythmy at the end of the call. Please join us if you are able! It is free-of-charge and everyone is invited.
“Crowning” With Hazel Archer Ginsberg and Raven Garland
Time: May 18, 2020, 11:30 am – NOON CDT – 12:30 pm – 1 pm ET – Zoom link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/77977043476…
Meeting ID: 779 7704 3476
Password: HAZEL
***
“…Like an evening vapor after the sunset…” ~Novalis –
A free online Ascension Festival with the Central Regional Council –
Ascension Thursday – May 21, 2020 7pm – 8:15pm CDT (8pm – 9:15pm EDT) Join the Central Regional Council and special guest Raven Garland on an artistic exploration of the Mystery of Ascension. We will offer leading thoughts, intermingled with poetry and Eurythmy, to be followed by open conversation. In the clouds, between the depths of earth and heavenly heights, in the sphere of the etheric realm, we see the primal image of metamorphosis. Is this global pandemic entreating us to ‘Practice Spirit Beholding‘ to awaken to the etheric realm we all share in common with the earth? We can ‘Practice Spirit Recalling‘ to remember we received our etheric body on Old Sun. In practicing ‘Spirit-Sensing‘ we may feel perhaps the Coronavirus is an admonition for us to reconnect to the sun-forces now imbued with The Etheric Christ, waiting to be recognized and engaged in the current evolving conditions. This is an invitation for all of humanity to rise to a higher stage of initiation – a global Coronation. The fulfillment of the secret promise of the Ascension is the Second Coming. Will we choose to participate? FREE – ALL are Welcome – find below Zoom Call details. |
The Central Regional Council of the Anthroposophical Society in America invites you to join our on-line Ascension Festival. This will be a “Zoom” conference call allowing us an opportunity to see one another while conversing (or audio only if you prefer). To connect to the audio/video-conference:Option 1. Click link below if you wish to connect through your computer (a headset is recommended) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86998748216?pwd=K3JYa1ZLWis3dzEweFYvQ1VFZVVRdz09 The PASSWORD is: Ascension Option 2. Call in using your telephone. United States: +1 (346) 248 7799 or +1 (312) 626 6799 Access Code: 869-9874-8216 The PASSWORD is: Ascension Option 3. You can use a combination of Options 1 and 2 (computer and phone). If you use the phone, please turn off the audio on your computer to prevent audio feedback. For more info. contact Alberto Loya aloyavaca@peoplepc.com May Hope Spring Eternal – The CRC – Marianne Fieber, Alberto Loya, Hazel Archer-Ginsberg, David Howerton, Lisa Dalton Eurythmyst: Raven GarlandIn heavy clouds let Him ascend And so also let Him downward tread. In cooling streams let Him be sent, in flames of fire blaze His descent, In air and essence, sound and dew, To permeate our whole earth through. ~Novalis |
You know, Hazel, there is a legend from the middle ages. It concerns how the Bodhisattva, Joshaphat, met Barlaam, a Christian hermit, and was converted at that time. Steiner spoke of it in several places. So, this day means a great deal in terms of life and death. Here is the USNO review of this week as we approach Full Moon.
https://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/tours-events/sky-this-week/the-sky-this-week-2020-may-5-12-1
O tell us the story…!
I love legends…
& Thanks for the link
Yes, but this legend has some real evolutionary substance which Steiner says is still hidden from the upper worlds. Here is how it goes in brief:
“It was known that the name Josaphat, Judasaph, Budasaph, is directly connected with Bodhisattva. So here we have evidence of a remarkable connection of a Christian legend with the figure of Buddha. We know that according to the Eastern legend Buddha passed into Nirvana, having handed on the Bodhisattva’s crown to his successor, who is now a Bodhisattva and will subsequently become the Maitreya Buddha of the future. Buddha is presented to us in the legend in the figure of Josaphat; and the union of Buddhism with Christianity is wonderfully indicated by the fact that Josaphat is included among the Saints. Buddha was held to be so holy that in the legend he was converted to Christianity and from being the son of an Indian king could rightly be included among the Saints — although from another side this has been disputed.
From this you will see that it was known where the later form of Buddhism, or rather of the Buddha, was to be sought. In hidden worlds the union has meanwhile taken place between Buddhism and Christianity. Barlaam is the mysterious figure who brings Christianity to the knowledge of the Bodhisattva. Consequently if we trace the course of Buddhism as an enduring stream in the sense indicated in the legend, we can accept it only in the changed form in which it now appears. If through clairvoyant insight we understand the inspirations of the Buddha, we must speak of him as he actually exists to-day. Just as Arabism was not Judaism and the Jahve-Moon-religion did not reappear in Arabism in its original form, neither will Buddhism — to the extent to which it can enrich Western culture — appear in its old form. It will appear in an altered form, because what comes later never appears as a mere replica of the earlier.” GA 124, 13 March 1911.
So, what Steiner is saying here is that it is necessary for Buddhism to embrace Christianity at some point in time during the Maitreya incarnations of the Bodhisattva. One of the qualifying factors of this modern bodhisattva is being a teacher of the Christ Impulse working in the world, and we know how much a teacher of this kind was Rudolf Steiner.
wonderful! Yes, i have heard of St. Josaphat but didn’t know this connection to Buddha.
I was thinking that Barlaam was the name of the dark magician so i was glad to hear he had another role.
Yes, our evolution demands that the Christ impulse be a transformative force in all
thanks