Holy Night 3

December 26-27 – Pisces

The three nights of the white lily.

The soul recognizes that it is unable to hold above, that it is drawn down again, because there is so much earthly weight in it.

The soul begins consciously to purify the earthly body as it looks at every meal as “Holy Viaticum (communion)”: “I am the bread”

“We come from the bread, we live out of bread along the way of formation and return to the bread.”

Mystery: Never forget the goal of goals in the long walks in the earthly realm.

Rudolf Steiner’s indications to Herbert Hahn

Google translation from German adjusted by Laura Zanutto and Kristina Kaine 2015

3. Heilige Nacht

26./27. Die drei Nächte der weissen Lilie. – Fische

Die Seele erkennt, dass sie sich nicht oben zu halten vermag, dass sie wieder hinunter gezogen wird, weil noch soviel Erdenhaftes in ihr ist. Die Seele schickt sich bewusst an, den irdischen Körper zu reinigen, indem sie jede Speise gleichsam als “Heilige Wegzehrung” ansieht:

“Ich bin das Brot ..”

“Wir kommen aus dem Brot, leben auf dem Entwickungweg aus dem Brot und kehren zurück in das Brot.”

Mysterium: Nie das Ziel der Ziele vergessen bei den weiten Wanderungen im Erdriech. Rudolf Steiner

Third Contemplation: by Kristina Kaine

The goal of goals is to attain our true humanity. This means that to be truly human is a work in progress. We can meet this idea with some relief whenever we are aware of our shortcomings. We see that shortcomings don’t actually matter as we accept that it’s okay to be less than perfect. It is not about being perfect that counts, it is the work we do in perfecting ourselves that has real value. To become aware of ourselves in all our states of imperfection means that we wake up to who we really are. Each of us is unique, each of us is at our own stage in the long walk in the earthly realm, and we should embrace that.

In our self-awareness we notice that something in us draws us away from the earth because in such a heightened state we no longer need to see our earthly difficulties. Yet in this heightened state we cannot begin to experience what makes us truly human. Only when we interact with each other do we see what makes us human, and this is one meaning of “I Am the bread”. The I Am is the bread that is part of life. It isn’t even our own I Am that we see, it is the other person’s I Am – only then do we know what to look for in ourselves.

Then we realise that it is entirely up to us to attain our true humanity. We do this in the world, with our family and friends, and in our community, through gradual transformation. We don’t need to set ourselves aside, or be part of a group or sect, or even lead a solitary life. We need to live in the world, work on our own spiritualisation and give everyone else the freedom to work on theirs. It is not our place to judge the progress of others, in fact, we may not even be able to judge our own progress. All we can do is be the best we can be, and in this way inspire those who walk beside us to be the best they can be.

To attain our true humanity means that we connect with our I Am. When we do this with some success it brings a raised awareness to our soul, freeing it from its habits. In this state of awareness we awaken to the presence of the archetype of the I Am, which is Christ.

“The true name of Christ is ‘I Am’; who does not know or does not understand this and calls Him by another name does not know anything about Him. ‘I Am’ is His only name.” Rudolf Steiner 27 May 1909

If you would like a copy of the past five years meditations they are available in ebook and paperback form now.

Image: Annunciation LUC-OLIVIER MERSON