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Aries
Radiant Life Global Meditation
The journey as One begins anew with Aries. Our anticipation of this first of the Three Great Festivals grows, and we welcome the incoming Spiritual cycle. As we move through Aries and align in group formation, our identification is with the Divine. These united efforts bring us ever closer to our Divine Destiny. The Light of Aries ~ The Light of Life Itself ~ opens us to new beginnings, to new cycles of emerging opportunities. The Aries full moon marks the Easter Festival, the first of the Three Major Planetary Spiritual Festivals. Each year at this time Humanity aligns with the Spiritual Hierarchy, the Heart center of Sanat Kumara, and consciously participates in the meditation the Hierarchy began at the Winter Solstice. (1) In Pisces we opened to the spiritual significance the ending cycle has yielded, in order to extract its essence for our coming service. With our vehicles purified for the commencement of the new spiritual year, we are now prepared to further experiment with meditation on the symbols relating to the Cosmic Paths to the Way of Higher Evolution, recognizing that "as above, so below." We are practicing, through this dedicated service, to fully Live the Radiant Life. Together with the Hierarchy, we are united in the heart center of Deity. Our connection to this great center deepens this year through exploration of the Divine Truths of Deity. Throughout 2008, we are deepening the Radiant Life theme further by examining the Divine Truths of Deity, one each lunar cycle. These are the basic truths commonly held by all the world's revealed religions, and we may through our examination bring them more fully into widespread recognition. The Divine Truth we are focusing on during the moon cycle surrounding the Aries full moon is Progress. Throughout this month, may we deepen our pursuit of this Divine Truth, as it is further demonstrated and inevitably will be proved. As this meditation focus integrates our awareness of the zodiacal energies of the Lighted Way, we "Live the Radiant Life," our practice deepens the meditation service we have come to recognize as our biggest, most potent tool in working together to usher in the Age of Aquarius, and so as a group to create Heaven on Earth. At the time of the Aries full moon, the moon is within the constellation Virgo, associated with the Holy Grail, the cup of communion. (2) Following the new moon on March 7, as we round out the annual cycle of consummation and purification for the spring festivals, all are asked to align in preparation for the Aries Festival of the Risen One two weeks later. By tuning in and holding this energy, by being this vibration ... amid the whirling forces, onward will we move. (3) We Live the Radiant Life! Guidance in preparing for this meditation
Reading Materials
Overview of the Festival of the Risen One The resurrection of humanity into the Spiritual Kingdom is enlivened during Aries, at this full moon festival event. Divine Truths of Deity~Progress The basic truths of Deity include Progress, "... a moving forward, a rejection of some existing limitation, a repudiating of the undesirable and the evil. Always it involves the recognition of the possible, the ideal and the divine." (6) The Lighted Way The entire zodiac can be approached and understood from the angle of light. This light is the inner light, soul light, and its unfolding and increasing radiance is the manifestation of our divine nature. A study of the 12 different lights for each of the constellations of the zodiac will reveal the symbolic story of the growth of the light body, within the Soul of Humanity (the Macrocosm) and within each of us (the Microcosm), and will finally make clear the very purpose of God. Principle of Unanimity A keynote for this festival is Love, as this Aries Festival is closely associated with the Hierarchy, the spiritual kingdom embracing the second ray of Love-Wisdom. In the ongoing life of the Soul there comes a time when the unity and essential oneness underlying the dualities of physical plane life can be recognized and shared. The quality of this essential oneness has been termed "Unanimity." The Holy Grail This chalice "is the receiver and container of the life of God." (7) It is the highest meaning of the constellation Virgo, (8) and the location of the full moon every year at the time of the Aries Festival. Each year when this occurs there is an integration of the energies of the World Savior, where the sun is located in the constellation Pisces (in the sign Aries), opposite the moon. For Pisces is related to the Savior, who "frees humanity from subservience to the form." (9) This very relationship is an illustration that the path leading to light is trodden through the blending of the pairs of opposites. (10) Aries Night Sky~Moon Dances During each lunar cycle the Moon, waxing and waning, journeys through the zodiac. It partners with and enlivens the sparkling stars and glowing planets along the way. As the Moon grows in the light provided by our Sun, we too grow in the light of our Soul.
Preparation for Participation in This Meditation Focus Helpful suggestions for an Aries Full Moon Ritual Consider ... What is the appropriate way to join in this meditation ... you may wish to participate in group formation on the physical plane as well as on the inner planes. Whether or not you choose to be "alone" on the physical plane, know you are uniting with many others who also are attuning to the energies available at this Global Festival, and that this group focus creates a powerful channel for the meditation to be potent and effective. If you are unable to meditate at the exact time of the full moon, choose a time within 12 hours before or after to be part of this group meditation. Prior to your meditation take the needed time to create a sacred space and spiritually align your energies. We Recognize, the Full Moon Festivals Culminate over a Five-Day Period ... Our meditation focus beginning at the new moon leads into the two "days of preparation" immediately preceding the full moon. These are to be dedicated to spiritual reflection and detachment from everyday concerns, as each prepares to become a vessel for the energies of light and love they will receive and channel. At this time we hold the attitude of dedication and service, and seek to assume that attitude of receptivity to that which our soul will impart which will make us of spiritual use. The day of the full moon itself is the "day of safeguarding," one of inner peace and silence during which we attempt to contact and consciously hold the energies for the rest of humanity. We will not formulate for ourselves what will happen, nor will we look for results or tangible effects. While one may not observe the exact moment when the moon is full, it's important to find some quiet time to reflect alone or use this opportunity to meditate with others of like mind and focus. The two succeeding days are called the "days of distribution." We now turn the attention outwards, away from ourselves, and our efforts are to pass on the spiritual energies that have been contacted. We assist these spiritual energies, transformed into goodwill, in flowing to where there is greatest need. If you wish, feel free to continue use of this meditation for the entire month of Aries. The Full Moon Cycle We Are Observing ... Following the new moon on Friday, March 7 through Saturday, April 5, 2008, the end of Aries's lunar cycle.
We offer these additional website links that may be of assistance in your Aries meditation focus: Aries Synthesis Additional links for further understanding Spring Equinox A new balance comes into play. Mythology of Easter The Aries Festival of the Risen One or Easter's roots go back to Egyptian and Greek myths, spanning centuries and millennia, through many cultures and traditions. Aries Festival Audio Programs Words with music, all dedicated to the Risen One ~ the Cosmic Christ. Aries Zodiacal Deity Symbolized by the Ram, Aries is the first sign of the zodiac and begins the cycle around the great wheel. Three outstanding urges characterize Aries: the urge to begin, the desire to create, and the urge to resurrection. A sign of commencement, the secret of Aries is the secret of beginnings, of cycles and of emerging opportunity. (11) Aries Labor of Hercules Hercules's labor in Aries was to capture the man-eating mares. This first labor starts with a partial failure, as is often the case with the inexperienced and impetuous aspirant. "The delightful part of the story of Hercules is his impulsiveness and the fact that he was not always successful. He failed sometimes and had to redo the labor until success followed on his efforts." (12) The Season of Lent This Aries full moon cycle overlaps with the time of Lent and other rituals of purification and sacrifice, rituals in honor of our ever-evolving journey, our ability see the Lighted Way, and our connection to each other and to Divinity. The Nature of the Seven Cosmic Paths "This subject is considered ... to be devoid of form and therefore incognisable to the lower concrete mind." (6) Hence it is through the practice of Living the Radiant Life that we may begin to understand the nature of Spirit, for to bring Spirit fully into our daily lives is service to the One. Cardinal Cross Aries, a point on the Cross of the Risen One ~ The Cosmic Christ, is closely connected to initiation and the revelation of a hidden secret. The Lunar Messenger, Aries Moon (PDF) Circle of Goodwill's commentary for the Aries full moon, "The Masters of Wisdom"
If you are inspired to participate in this global meditation and / or the alignment during the Aries cycle, we would be pleased to hear your meditation impressions and share them here. Email - RisenOneAriesFestival@SouledOut.org
(1) "The
work of getting ready for the opportunity [Wesak] starts for the
Hierarchy exactly at the hour when "the sun began to move northward." But
They tire not as do human beings and it is not possible for the human
aspirant to keep up so long a period of preparation, no matter how
deep their devotion." - Esoteric
Psychology II, Alice A. Bailey, p. 688; (2) The
Labours of Hercules, Alice A. Bailey, p. 120 (3) Esoteric
Astrology, Alice A. Bailey, p. 20 (4) Esoteric
Astrology, Alice A. Bailey, p. 330 (5)
This version is adapted from the original, for more (6) The
Externalisation of the Hierarchy, Alice A. Bailey, p. 290 (7) The
Light of the Soul: The Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali, Alice
A. Bailey, p. 227 (8)The
Labours of Hercules, Alice A. Bailey, p. 120 (9)
Ibid, p. 120 (10) The
Rays and the Initiations, Alice A. Bailey, p. 761 (11) The
Labours of Hercules, Alice A. Bailey, p. 33 (12)
Ibid, p. 30 (13) A
Treatise on Cosmic Fire, Alice A. Bailey, p. 1229 Meditation
focus inspired by the collected writings of Alice A. Bailey |