Holy Night 1 applied to January 2021

December 24-25 – Capricorn

Christmas Eve, when Christ is born in the soul. The soul asks: Can I, with all my weaknesses, deficiencies and passions, be heard?

Symbol: The stable of Bethlehem, where the Light of the World is born in humility and poverty. The Voice of Silence penetrates the soul and teaches to joyfully affirm the good in us and in others.

Capricorn. The Divine Spirit is born in Matter. Spirit and Matter, the Alpha and Omega touch and life comes into being.

Mystery: The seeking soul in the darkness of a pathless forest.

Rudolf Steiner’s indications for the Holy Nights given to Herbert Hahn
Translation from German by Laura Zanutto 2015 adjusted by Mark Willan

Heilige Nacht in Bezug auf Januar

24./25. Dezember – Steinbock

Der Heilige Abend, an dem Christus der Seele geboren wird. Und die Seele fragt: kann ich mit all meinen Schwächen und Mängeln und Leidenschaften erhört werden? Symbol: Der Stall von Bethlehem, in dessen Niedrigkeit und Armut wurde das Licht der Welt hineingeboren. Die Stimme der Stille dringt zur Seele und lehrt sie, das Gute in uns und den Anderen freudig zu bejahen. Steinbock. Göttlicher Geist wird im Stoff geboren. Geist und Stoff, das A und O berühren sich und es entsteht Leben.

Mysterium: die suchende Seele im Dunkel eines weglosen Waldes.

First Contemplation: by Kristina Kaine

“Christmas Eve, when Christ is born in the soul. The soul asks: Can I, with all my weaknesses, deficiencies and passions, be heard?”

Let us hold this question in our hearts as we begin the journey through the Holy Nights: “Can I be heard?”

We have lived through a year of silence as the COVID-19 pandemic shut so much down; fewer planes, trains and buses, closed cafes and a lot less road traffic as people worked from home. This silence gave us the opportunity to hear and be heard.

If we are to be heard, what will others hear? We live in a world where we are prone to complain, to criticize. If we knew what a negative affect this has on all aspects of this earthly life we would never complain. We would understand that Christ is born in every soul and our lives give us the opportunity to give him life as we “joyfully affirm the good in us and in others.”

As we walk through these very Holy Nights let us find ways to understand that we each need to be heard. When we experience the presence of Christ within us, he will inspire us to speak words of truth that are needed in situations. Trusting this, we will be heard because our voice will carry the tone of understanding that we all long for. In this way, the challenges of earthly life will give birth to Christ in our soul. 2020

The Nativity by Lorenzo Monaco 1406-10