Subject: Holy Nights Events! (note registration deadlines)

Becoming the light in darkness . . .
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First published on December 20, 2020
Feathers

The idiom "birds of a feather flock together" appears in literature at least as far back as 1545 AD, but as a proverb and metaphor it likely goes back much farther in history.  Using "feathers" as the name for our newsletter highlighting events sponsored by other organizations seems fitting.  It reminds us that there are other "flocks" worth getting to know, building relationships with, and learning from.
Two Lovely Artistic Offerings & Much, Much More. . .







Mary Stewart Adams

Holy Nights 2020-21

Each year since 1996 I have hosted a Holy Nights gathering and activity, to engage in the mystery of the Earth in its free and conscious relationship with the universe of stars that surrounds it.  This year, my program was presented entirely online, several weeks ahead of the Holy Nights themselves, with a particular emphasis on the role of the Divine Feminine in awakening this star knowledge.

Registration includes the event video recording, guidance for contemplating the human biography in relation to the stars throughout the cycle of the year, as well as downloadable and print-ready materials for the journey across the threshold of the new year.  

Star maps, companion stories from different cultural traditions, and artistic activity rooted in the rainbow of colors as they are articulated through the zodiac, are all part of registration materials.

Video replay available!
For details and to register:

Kristena West

Dream Song of Olaf Åsteson,
A Nordic Initiation Story:
12-Day Painting & Dream Workshop Through the 12 Holy Nights

The Dream Song of Olaf Åsteson is an ancient Norwegian Folk Song that Rudolf Steiner calls a "gem of wisdom".  Olaf "falls asleep" on Christmas Eve and does not awaken until January 6th, Epiphany.  Olaf experiences secrets of the human being and cosmos, giving us poetic "spiritual" pictures of his initiation journey.

Together each Holy Night, a part of the dream-song is revealed, along with dream techniques, virtues to ponder, and a journey through the zodiac.  Each day we will make a small piece of art, and by keeping a dream journal we enter into a living contemplative practice, traversing the universe.

Each of the 12 Holy Nights are "outside" of time, and foreshadow the next 12 months of the year.  Each night's dreams may offer "glimpses" of the coming year, like pulling a rune for each month!

A Rose By Any Other Name
~ A Holy Nights Seed ~

Hosted by the ASA Sophia Group and Friends
We are approaching a new season where we enkindle an inner light that shines into the darkness of winter, where meaning for the year ahead can be cultivated, and reflection on the year past can bring new insights.

Last year many of you joined us each night to bring beauty and connection into the holiday season.  This year you are invited to join us again for a time of contemplation and community during the ASA Online Holy Nights.

Each 30 minute gathering will open with a meditative time with the new zodiac image and the virtue of the day, plus an artistic/writing prompt.  Then a short offering will be shared about this special time of year as related to the Divine Feminine.

When:  12:00 - 12:30pm Eastern / 9:00 - 9:30am Pacific on December 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and January 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (Note: No meeting on December 31).

Registration Deadline: Monday, December 21

Video Replay:  If you cannot join us live, each gathering will be recorded and posted on our Holy Nights page.

Cost:  Your donations help us create events like this one!  This event is free with suggested donations of $25, $50, $100.


Schedule of presenters:
12/24 Angela Foster
12/25 Laura Scappaticci
12/26 Joyce Reilly
12/27 Hazel Archer-Ginsberg
12/28 Jordan Walker and Stefan Ambrose
12/29 Ultra-Violet Archer-Ginsberg
12/30 Deb Abrahams-Dematte

12/31 No Meeting (Hidden Holy Night)
1/1 Lelan Harris
1/2 Tess Parker
1/3 Claudia Knudson
1/4 Jolie Luba
1/5 Timothy Kennedy

The Christ-Impulse in the Epoch of Ahriman:
The Need of Our Time

Presented by Peter Selg
Peter Selg, MD, Professor of Medicine, is currently one of the three leaders of the General Anthroposophical Section at the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland.

Date:        Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Time:        1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Central  (UTC -6)
Online:     Zoom meeting
Contact:   Andrei Onegin at aonegin@rschicago.org
Cost:        $15.00






The Green Snake and the Beautiful Lily

A Reading of Goethe's Fairy Tale

Hosted by Anthroposophy Atlanta

Summary:
The tale begins with two will-o'-the-wisps who wake a ferryman and ask to be taken across a river.  The ferryman does so, and for payment they shake gold from themselves into the boat.  This alarms the ferryman, for if the gold had gone into the river, it would overflow.  He demands as payment: three artichokes, three cabbages, and three onions, and the will-o'-the-wisps may depart only after promising to bring him such.  The ferryman takes the gold up to a high place and deposits it into a rocky cleft, where it is discovered by a green snake who eats the gold, and finds itself luminous. . . .

Date: Tuesday, December 29
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM Central (UTC -6)














Joan's Epiphany:
What Joan of Arc 
Calls for Today

Nancy Poer

Live at Elderberrries in Chicago plus as an online Zoom meeting.

We will explore Rudolf Steiner's The Nature of the Christ Impulse and the Michaelic Spirit Serving It, Lecture 5: "The Destinies of Individuals and of Nations".

Hazel Archer-Ginsberg will bring leading thoughts.

Luicen Dante Lazar will present Social Sculpture: "The Passage".

This gathering will also include singing and eurythmy.

Date: January 6, 2021
Time: 2:00 - 4:00 PM Central (UTC -6)

Coming Soon: Wise Cosmos Groups!

Wise Cosmos aims to embark on a groups initiative beginning in January.  This is in response to requests we have received from people all over the world interested in:

(A) going deeper in their personal studies,
(B) enhancing the breadth of Wise Cosmos courses,
(C) making effective progress in personal development, and
(D) forming a sense of greater community in service of humanity.

Some groups will have teachers leading them, others will have facilitators, and others will create their own unique form.  Some groups will intentionally join together for a short while, while others may continue on together for longer periods of time.  All will have the support of Wise Cosmos whenever they wish or need it.

The groups will be offered at different times in order to accommodate as many time zones and personal schedules as possible.


Topical study and spiritual research groups that focus on things such as:

   ∼  Living into the Christ Impulse and Mystery of Golgotha.

   ∼  Studying every instance of Rudolf Steiner saying things along the lines of, “all of
       Anthroposophy may be discovered in… is permeated by… is founded upon…”

   ∼  Spiritual research into current issues facing humanity such as systemic racism,
       gender malleability, and economic disenfranchisement in the light of repeated earth
       lives, karma, and human evolution.

Wise Cosmos courses with an optional group component providing opportunities to enhance the depth and breadth of engagement:

   ∼  Reading the “basic books” of 
anthroposophy 
such as How To Know Higher Worlds,
       Theosophy, or Christianity as Mystical Fact, pausing every few chapters to listen
       to Brian Gray and each other sharing perspectives.

   ∼  Watching The Lord’s Prayer at the Intersections of Existence videos as part of a
       group with Lelan Harris in order to ask questions that arise as you implement the
       many transformational power practices into your daily life.

   ∼  Supplementing the weekly Guidance in Esoteric Training sessions by participating
       in a group that focuses and dives deeper into different aspects of the training.

Personal and spiritual development groups that focus on things such as:

   ∼  Establishing an artistic practice to support spiritual training.

   ∼  Discovering and implementing together each profound element of Rudolf Steiner’s
       Main Exercise and the Michaelic verses.

   ∼  Astrosophy immersion, from developing a living relationship with the beings of the
       planets and zodiac, to interpreting and working with birth charts as conversation
       with the spiritual world.

Community groups in service of humanity that focus on things such as:

   ∼  Ask – Seek – Knock: from dream work to partnering across the threshold with
       those who have died.

   ∼  Stepping into the light together: “All creation is waiting in eager expectation for
       the children of God to be revealed”.

   ∼  Entering deeper into service with Sophia and Christ: healing and renewal, clearing
       personal and world karma, preparing for Future Jupiter.

Interested in being a Wise Cosmos participant, facilitator, or teacher?
Contact Melissa@wisecosmos.org.
For more information on Wise Cosmos Educational Initiative, please visit our website where you may:
  • Register for Parzival, an online course by Brian Gray.
  • Register for The Lord's Prayer, an online course by Lelan Harris.
  • Register for Guidance in Esoteric Training, an on-going, open enrollment course.
  • Investigate new video recordings and articles.
  • Create a free account and be added to our mailing list.
  • Donate to support the production of more courses.
  • Volunteer as a typist, transcriber, or translator.
Art credits:

Feather Passage by Nico Frey on Unsplash.com

Milkweed Pod
https://storytellersnightsky.com/holy-nights-2020-21-webinar-registration

Olaf Asteson Image
https://www.medicinewomenlodge.com/dreamsong-of-olaf?mc_cid=b190364ff3&mc_eid=8a1c729c3f

Goethe's Fairy Tale by Daniel van Bemmelen
https://www.miekemosmuller.com/en/blog/goethes-fairy-tale

Joan of Arc by Ivan Onnellinen
https://www.saatchiart.com/print/Painting-Joan-of-Arc/905092/3186271/view

Wise Cosmos Groups Logo
By Terrence Ozaka, Melissa Grable, and Lelan Harris
Wise Cosmos Educational Initiative is a world-wide community that welcomes all who, in the words of Rudolf Steiner, are endeavoring to unite the spiritual element within the human being to the spiritual in the universe.

Wise Cosmos Educational Initiative is a 501(c)3 nonprofit educational corporation.
All donations by U.S. donors are tax deductible.


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