This week we can practice Cathartic Buoyancy - Here is the recording for: The 2nd Sunday of Advent – with its ‘Water Trial’. If wishes were fishes, we’d all be swimming
The plant kingdom embodies a mysterious presence - an animating life-force - The ancients called this unseen essence: Aether - from the Greek: Αἰθήρ = ‘the clear blue sky illuminated by Sun & Starlight’ - a transitional phase from earthly matter to a higher, non-material ‘World Aether’. In the Orphic hymns, it is described as the ‘Soul of the World’ - the primordial element of Universal life. During ancient Atlantis this power is revealed as ‘Tao’.
Aristotle called Aether the 5th Element = the Quintessence - transforming the square of the 4 elements into a pentagram.
In the Whitsun lectures Rudolf Steiner describes how the etheric realm is directly communicated thru the blue of the sky - the subtle substance that fills the atmosphere like an aura connecting Heaven & Earth. Like the blue of Mary’s cloak - The world ether surrounds the Earth. It is not air, or Spirit, or light, alone, but a-kind-of amalgamation – a supersensible threading that weaves thru existence - flowing thru Stars & souls - & stuff - a conduit between Spirit & matter - And for those willing to do the Great Work, earning the rite to read the signs - able to decipher the Spiritual deeds inscribed by the Creater Beings - which weave in the ethers - revealing themselves as ‘World Thoughts’ to our engaged soul forces of Imagination, Inspiration & Intution.
The Plant kingdom teaches us how the etheric element can take hold of matter & lift it into the light. The biggest lesson from this living world is that nothing exists for itself alone. Plants manifest this principle as a pure & practical revelation – Everything is interwoven into an ecology of mutual support – a unified totality of being.
We can contemplate Goethe’s Urpflanze - & Rudolf Steiner gives us vivid descriptions of the plant & elemental beings. We can picture the ‘group ego of the plant’ as being located in the center of the earth. And with the help of the Gnomes, the roots grow down into the darkness of gravity, in order to anchor themselves in these depths. Underground, all the plants are communicating with one another in an interlocking living cooperation. Above the earth, in its season, the plant also strives heavenwards. And with the cooperation of the elemental beings of warmth (salamanders) air (sylphs) & water (undines) they unfold their constantly evolving bodies in the light.
The forces of the etheric world work from the periphery – generating powers of levity. These draw the plant upwards towards the light of the Sun – making of them a reflection of the stars. Before our eyes, matter is enchanted into a living form. As the plant grows, from root, to stem & leaf, to flower & fruit – the life-force sprouts, grows, adapts & changes. In the flower, it unfolds in ever higher octaves of fragrance & color. Finally, the plant reaches its perfection to give unselfishly of its fruits. It becomes life-giving food, which in working with the mineral world, nourishes the animal & human kingdoms – Then it dies away. And in this death process it completely surrenders its essence to the seed – feeding future generations to come. Because we have an etheric body, we are alive – Death occurs when the etheric body withdraws & the material world reveals its true reality as death. As Goethe modeled, & Biodynamics proves, when we work with the plant kingdom, by studying & communing with them in loving attention, we can learn to perceive & understand this miracle of life, & death. When we work in this realm with dedicated intention, we are able to release the elemental beings from their material enchantment, so that they can become one with the Christic forces available in the Etheric Realm of the Earth – revealing in turn this super-sensible realm to us.
If we make it our intention, we can learn to feel & respond to our own etheric body. For me, doing eurythmy helps in my perception of these etheric forces - the élan vital pulsing in the space around & within me. With practice, we can affect our physical body thru consciously moving our etheric body - We can sculpt & heal these forces with our articulate movements.
And so, dear Advent adventurers, Go on – make a snow angel, walk on the ice, have a conversation with your house plants – give an offering to a tree! “O Tannenbaum, OTannenbaum, Wie treu sind deine Blätter! Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit, Nein, auch im Winter, wenn es schneit. O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum, Wie treu sind deine Blätter!” Yes, let us sing joyful carols into the rainbow of the ‘Tone-ether’ - to calm the waters of the World-Soul during this 2nd Week of Advent. ~hag
7 December 2025 - “Speaking with the Stars”
Dear international friends, Pleroma Travels is happy to inform you that we have officially made our upcoming trip to Ireland, scheduled for May 17–24 - 2026, accessible to all English-speaking participants. There will be a simultaneous translation service, provided by one of our collaborators who has already carried out this work on other occasions involving themes related to Anthroposophy. The trip is confirmed, & there are only 3 places that remain for those who may be interested.17–24 May 2026 (7 nights - 8 days) the total cost of the trip will range between €2,500 and €2,800. The largest variable is the accommodation we choose, so the final price will only be determined once we know the exact number of participants. INCLUDED IN THE TRIP COST - interpreter service fees (and her trip’s costs) - accommodation with breakfast (single bed in twin bed’s bedroom) - entrance tickets to the sites we will visit - car rental and necessary fuel (we will travel in small groups by car, with fixed drivers who are members of the group—if any of you would like to drive, please let us know) - tourist tax - artistic materials for any activities proposed on site - audio system for listening to the lectures through headphones while walking - the Pleroma membership card, required to participate in our trips (€130 per year). Since we are not a tour operator, membership is necessary in order to organize “association excursions.” NOT INCLUDED IN THE TRIP COST - flights - any kind of insurance (each participant may arrange their own) - lunches and dinners (which we will still try to organize as a group to make the most of the experience) Below you will find the flight times we booked for the Italian group. It is important that your arrival in Dublin takes place before our arrival, so that we can all meet in the area or at the hotel we will book, making the gathering process easier for participants coming from different countries. OUTBOUND FLIGHT (You should arrive before this time) We land at 11:55 local time in Dublin on 17 May RETURN FLIGHT (You should depart after this time) Our scheduled departure is at 19:25 local time in Dublin on 24 May Please consider that we will be at the airport about two hours earlier, and you may have checked luggage. TRIP’S POSSIBLE LOCATIONS TO VISIT Map of the Excursion exploring the scheduled sites through the lens of anthroposophical spiritual science. https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1A58aWcDri-c3sznjAL5uiMuEJ8uMgf0&usp=sharing Please contact Antonio via WhatsApp at +39 347 1585692Thank you 🌹
Zinniker Farm has harvested Biodynamic Pfeiffer Wheat - If you are interested in signing up to receive a share of the harvest - Supplies are limited - Contact the Family Farm Initiative
Here’s the link to a compendium of Free Video Presentaions
If you want to support the Spiritualization of the Earth thru the Biodynamic Farming done on Zinniker Farm, you are invited to become a paid subscriber, with all donations going directly to the farm The Cognitive Ritual is a Free Will Offering to All worlds. Please Share freely
Greetings Friend, you currently a free subscriber to Cognitive Ritual. Thank you for receiving my workings freely offered. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription. ALL donations go to support Zinniker Farm - The oldest Biodynamic Farm in America! Together we can spiritualize the Universe. XOX ~hag
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Saturday, 6 December 2025
Quintessence
Friday, 5 December 2025
Peace Despite the Headlines Fresh Manna by Pastor Tim Burt
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A Note from Tim Tim here. I'm so glad you're part of this journey. Below, you'll find today...
