Holy Night 4 – 2018

December 27-28 – Aries

Consciously purify the astral body: antipathy and sympathy are converted into universal love. Passions and desires keep silent.

The power of Christ penetrates with his light and his strength what is Luciferic in us.

Mystery: The work on ourselves serves the best interests of the whole. The Archangel Uriel holds up a mirror in which we see ourselves as we are.
Rudolf Steiner’s indications for the Holy Nights given to Herbert Hahn

Translation from German by Laura Zanutto 2015 adjusted by Mark Willan 2016

4. Heilige Nacht

27./28. – Widder

Bewusst den Astralkörper reinigen: Antipathie und Sympathie wird in All-Liebe umgewandelt. Leidenschaften und Begierden schweigen. Die Christuskraft durchleuchtet und durchkraftet in uns, was luziferisch ist.

Mysterium: Die Arbeit an uns selbst dient dem Wohl des Ganzen. Der Erzengel Uriel hält uns den Spiegel vor, in dem wir sehen, wie wir sind. ~Rudolf Steiner

Fourth Contemplation: Kristina Kaine

Why it is recommended that we “work on ourselves” and what are the choices? This world we live in is full of advice about how to become better citizens. Examined closely, we see that this advice is underpinned by ego. Ego is a personal position placing itself before others.

Then, there is another expression of ego that can distract us from our real task. We see this egotistical expression in the hero who wants to solve challenges for the rest of us. When someone steps up and proclaims their ability to get something done for us we are inclined to sit back while they get on with the task. We think we have helped by getting out of the way, giving us a sense of having made a contribution.

Let’s take a closer look at the words, “The work on ourselves serves the best interests of the whole.” The only work to be done by every human being who incarnates on this earth is to awaken their soul and connect with their I Am. How to awaken our soul is the pivotal question. We do it by becoming aware in every second of life how antipathy and sympathy invade our soul. What we like and dislike form the better part of our soul’s activity. Sure, this is necessary in some situations, but our lack of awareness of this activity hinders our connection with our Higher Self.

We have reached the stage of needing to consciously override our likes and dislikes, especially where other people are concerned. We can only do this through love, the kind of love that is beyond personal preferences. The Greek word for this kind of love is ‘agape’. It enables us to step over our preferences and come together as free and creative individuals who work together “in the best interests of the whole.”

Our task is to improve self, not only for self, but for everyone. Do we dare to look into the mirror held up by Archangel Uriel and see, not our failures, but the ways in which we can contribute – as he does – to evolution. We will need to be brave because we will see how evolution is held back by many self-interested beings, those who stay in the past lead by Lucifer, and those who want the future now lead by Ahriman. We can assure ourselves that our personal effort to overcome our sleeping soul means that we will create the future that enables every human being to reach their potential.

Incarnation by David Newbatt