The Star of Bethlehem
The light above the manger represented by the star is an absolute reality
"The Star of Bethlehem"
Digital illustration generated and composed
© Editions Prosveta S.A.
(click to zoom)
'The light above the manger is represented in the Gospel story by the five-pointed star, is an absolute reality. It shines over the heads of all initiates in whom the feminine principle – their soul and heart – has conceived through the Holy Spirit and given birth to the Child Jesus.
This star is always present in the life of a true mystic, a true initiate, in the form of a pentagram of light shining over him or her. What is above is like what is below, and what is below is like what is above, so this pentagram must be twofold. In the first place, the human being is a living pentagram, and, secondly, when someone has developed the five virtues of kindness, justice, love, wisdom and truth to their fullest perfection, another pentagram on a subtler plane represents the person in the form of light.
This light, this star that shone over the stable at Bethlehem, means that every initiate in whom the living Christ is present, radiates light; a light that soothes, nourishes and comforts, a light that heals, purifies and gives life. And one day this light is seen from afar by others, and they realize that something very special is manifesting through this being, and this ‘something’ is the Christ. Then those in authority, the rich and powerful, come to pay homage, and even the most exalted religious leaders, those who imagined that they had already reached the summit, sense that there is still something lacking in them, that they have not yet reached such heights of spirituality, and they too come to learn and to bow down and offer their gifts. And this explains why the three wise men, Melchior, Balthazar and Gaspard, were also present at the birthplace of the infant Jesus. The three magi were the high priests of the religions in their respective countries, and yet they came to Bethlehem. Why? Because they sensed the presence of that light. Also, being astrologers and having seen some very exceptional planetary aspects, they had concluded that an extraordinary event was about to occur on earth.
The birth of Jesus also corresponds, therefore, to a phenomenon that occurred in the heavens two thousand years ago.
The three kings brought gold, frankincense and myrrh, and each of these gifts was symbolic. The gold symbolized the kingship of Jesus: gold is the colour of wisdom, and the brightness of wisdom shines over the heads of initiates like a crown of light. The frankincense was in acknowledgment of his priesthood: incense represents everything to do with religion, which also includes the heart, love. And myrrh is a symbol of immortality: it was used to embalm the bodies of the dead and preserve them from corruption.
The three kings, therefore, brought gifts which corresponded to the three domains of thought, emotion and the physical body.
And each of these gifts corresponds to one of the sephiroth: myrrh corresponds to Binah, which preserves; gold corresponds to Tiphareth, light, and frankincense corresponds to Chesed, the region of religion...'
"The three magi"
Digital painting generated and composed
© Editions Prosveta S.A.
(click to zoom)
"The Star of Bethlehem"
Digital illustration generated and composed
© Editions Prosveta S.A.
(click to zoom)
'The light above the manger is represented in the Gospel story by the five-pointed star, is an absolute reality. It shines over the heads of all initiates in whom the feminine principle – their soul and heart – has conceived through the Holy Spirit and given birth to the Child Jesus.
This star is always present in the life of a true mystic, a true initiate, in the form of a pentagram of light shining over him or her. What is above is like what is below, and what is below is like what is above, so this pentagram must be twofold. In the first place, the human being is a living pentagram, and, secondly, when someone has developed the five virtues of kindness, justice, love, wisdom and truth to their fullest perfection, another pentagram on a subtler plane represents the person in the form of light.
This light, this star that shone over the stable at Bethlehem, means that every initiate in whom the living Christ is present, radiates light; a light that soothes, nourishes and comforts, a light that heals, purifies and gives life. And one day this light is seen from afar by others, and they realize that something very special is manifesting through this being, and this ‘something’ is the Christ. Then those in authority, the rich and powerful, come to pay homage, and even the most exalted religious leaders, those who imagined that they had already reached the summit, sense that there is still something lacking in them, that they have not yet reached such heights of spirituality, and they too come to learn and to bow down and offer their gifts. And this explains why the three wise men, Melchior, Balthazar and Gaspard, were also present at the birthplace of the infant Jesus. The three magi were the high priests of the religions in their respective countries, and yet they came to Bethlehem. Why? Because they sensed the presence of that light. Also, being astrologers and having seen some very exceptional planetary aspects, they had concluded that an extraordinary event was about to occur on earth.
The birth of Jesus also corresponds, therefore, to a phenomenon that occurred in the heavens two thousand years ago.
The three kings brought gold, frankincense and myrrh, and each of these gifts was symbolic. The gold symbolized the kingship of Jesus: gold is the colour of wisdom, and the brightness of wisdom shines over the heads of initiates like a crown of light. The frankincense was in acknowledgment of his priesthood: incense represents everything to do with religion, which also includes the heart, love. And myrrh is a symbol of immortality: it was used to embalm the bodies of the dead and preserve them from corruption.
The three kings, therefore, brought gifts which corresponded to the three domains of thought, emotion and the physical body.
"The three magi"
Digital painting generated and composed
© Editions Prosveta S.A.
(click to zoom)
And each of these gifts corresponds to one of the sephiroth: myrrh corresponds to Binah, which preserves; gold corresponds to Tiphareth, light, and frankincense corresponds to Chesed, the region of religion...'
Text taken from the book "Christmas and Easter in the Initiatic Tradition", chap. 1 "The Feast of the Nativity".
Christmas and Easter in the Initiatic Tradition
