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I have been asked by several people
this year to write a brief interpretation of the meaning of the spring
equinox and the Wesak Festival. And though my work has strongly
returned to the teachings and work of Kabbalistic Healing, this time
of year remains of profound significance regardless of one's spiritual
path of choice.
Wesak is traditionally celebrated at the Taurus Full Moon each year
(this year it falls on April 26, but usually falls in May). The
ancient ritual comes form the Masters of the Himalayan Mountains and
was popularized by Alice Bailey. Since Bailey was a Christian mystic
who wove eastern traditions into her work, and since I am a Kabbalist
with training in Sufism, we have the opportunity here to understand
this cycle from a universal level.
The Wesak Festival is known to be the three month period between the
Aries Full Moon (which coincides with Passover each year) and the
Gemini Full Moon (this year on May 25) with the Taurus Full Moon being
the high point. The sages teach that the prophets and Ascended Ones
are closest to the planet at this time and that the Great Plan for
humanity for the following year is set forth. Opportunity abounds for
personal petitions of the soul as well as group and planetary healing
and change.
There is no coincidence that the Jewish Passover, the Christian
holiday of Easter, the Wesak Festival and the Spring Equinox all
coincide at the same time with basically similar themes: freedom,
renewal, life energy, birth of the new, the Great Plan and immediacy
of help from the higher realms. Even in the Aztec Temples of Mexico,
the architecture of Chitzenitza was designed around the single day of
the Spring Equinox, when at sunrise on only that day, the shadow of
the serpent (their symbol of life force/chi/kundalini/shefa of other
traditions) is seen moving up the side of the temple walls. The
metaphor of renewed life force pouring into the earth is palpable
here. The symbolic meanings of the resurrection of Easter, the freedom
from persecution of Passover, the rights of renewal of Spring, all
carry with them the energy of a new start after the darkness of
winter.
What the sages advise is that we use this time as an opportunity for
spring cleaning. The possibilities are endless but the following are a
few suggestions:
* Write a petition or prayer to the Divine One and put it in a
meaningful place to be left alone until the same time next year.
* Use one of these dates to begin a new health practice, such as a
daily workout, yoga, or the martial arts.
* Gather a group of friends for a potluck meditation and conduct a
group prayer for planetary healing
* Organize a social service event with like-minded friends. Serve soup
to the homeless or visit a local elderly community. Here in New York
you could participate in our Ground Zero campaign where we bring
monthly articles of need to ground zero workers (yes, they still need
help!)
* Give a personal donation of 10% of your week's income to an
organization that is close to your heart and put it in the name of
someone you love
* Use Wesak as a time to renew old friendships, heal a family wound,
or make amends to someone who has been alienated. So what if it wasn't
your fault. Too many people have gone to the grave without
reconciliation with a loved one, all because they valued being right
over being loved.
* Give yourself this time to learn more about a particular tradition
or spiritual practice you have been wanting to study. Choose one and
stay with it for a while. The energy for starting something new is
very present right now. Let it take you someplace you have never gone.
Many blessings upon your hearts during this time of new creations.
Next Teaching
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