We turn now with the Easter Sun to the accounts of The Resurrection, which are at the heart of the unique importance of Mary Magdelene, highlighting her role as death doula & Priestess of the Cosmic Sun. And after the Resurrection, the reason Thomas Aquinas named her “Apostle to the Apostles.” Many times in art, she is depicted holding a human skull & sitting in contemplation by the tomb. Each of the Gospels has a different account.
In Matthew, during Christ’s Harrowing of Hell, we hear of Mary Magdalene & ‘the other Mary’ sitting opposite the new tomb that Joseph of Arimathea had cut into the rock. I love this image of these intrepid women sitting on the raw rock among the earth elementals - the Magdala holding sacred space, like she did for her brother Lazarus in his initiation in the underworld - this time it is for The Christ - & this time she has back up – the other Mary – This phrase ‘the other Mary’ reminds me of Steiner’s Mystery Dramas – with ‘the other Maria’, a character of powerful mystery.
They return after the Sabbath to anoint the body of Jesus. An angel in radiant white comes, which creates an earthquake, causing the stone to roll away, & tells them to go tell the other disciples that the Risen One will encounter them on their way to Galilee. As they go, they see JC on the road & embrace his feet. Here too the Christ instructs them to go “Tell My Brothers”.
The Gospel according to Mark has two different endings.
Here we have the 3 Marys, who as Myrrhophores, trained in the Temple of Isis, were guardians of the sacred feminine mysteries & held deep knowledge of the cycles of life, death, & rebirth. They were part of a group of woman, those who were taking care of life on the road during the 3 years of Christ's ministry; these women didn’t run away & hide, when things got tough, they continue to follow.
In the first ending, The 3 Mary’s arrive at the tomb to anoint the body. Again an Angel “dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side” tells them Jesus has risen; & the Angel tasks them to go tell the apostles & Peter. The detail of the men or angel beings in shining white garments that we meet at the tomb thru the various Gospels is a powerful esoteric topic that needs its own seminar, but I believe them to be manifestations of the Nathan Jesus at his head, & the Zarathustra Jesus at his feet.
Mark 16:9-14 9 ‘When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it…’
Luke’s account mentions the women who come to the tomb for the burial preparation as Mary of Magdala, Joanna, & Mary the mother of James – We see the Two Angels gleaming like lightning tell them that Jesus has risen. They, as well as other women, go & tell the apostles. That’s an interesting difference - & yet what stays the same is that the men don’t believe them.
John’s account is very intimate. 1st we see what is so powerfully depicted in the Isenheim Altarpiece: Mary Magdalene on her knees, closest to the cross, her veiled eyes open, her hair undone, her hands in a mudra of agony - Behind her, Mother Mary, the Virgin Sophia, supported by the ‘disciple whom Jesus loved’ who is told to take ‘her into his home’. Steiner describes how they go to Ephesus & that she is the inspiration that inspires him write the book of Revelation.
Then later in the Gospel of John we hear how The Magdala goes to get Peter & Lazurus John, the ‘disciple whom Jesus loved’ - they see the empty tomb & leave –The Magdala stays, contemplating & weeping. She enters the tomb & sees Two Angels in white - one is at the foot - & one is at the head – could this relate to the two anointings - &/or the 2 Jesus children? They ask her why she is crying.
Then she sees someone who appears to her as the gardener, who asks her the same question. The 2 become one. Why are you crying? It makes me think of how when we are overcome with emotion we can’t see clearly. I think of that quote from ‘Light on the Path’ “Before the eyes can see, they must be incapable of tears.” But when the Risen Christ speaks her name, the power of his Word, snaps her out of her grief – it ‘turns her’ so she can see – The Magdala comes to herself, she turns, & realizes who it is (notice how we have the word turns twice) – she sees him, & she reaches out to embrace him, but he says “do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.”
The imagination that comes to me here, is like a butterfly that has just come out of the chrysalis, all wet & folded up, you can’t touch it yet, the wings have to dry. Or in terms of Spiritual Science - the ‘Resurrection body’ is still coming in, the etheric sheath has not quite congealed.
Then right away, the Risen Christ puts the Magdala to work, telling her to go to the other disciples & announce what she has seen.
The women - The women who sustained & supported Christ’s mission remained faithful even during the most dangerous time of the arrest & execution. They not only followed him up the hill of the skull, they stood by the cross, & accompanied JC to his burial.
Mary Magdalene, She who anoints the anointed One, in particular, never fell into a diminished consciousness after the casting out of the 7 Demons; she was faithful. She stays awake to experience the events of Golgotha, & was the 1st to see the Risen Christ. ~hag
Easter Sunday 20 April 2025 - “Speaking with the Stars” : Swan Comet on the tip of the wing of Pegasus – symbol of purified human thinking – coming from the forces of the highest Angelic realms of the Seraphim & Cherubim, to collect all the unstable astral forces like a great Cosmic scavenger, pulling all the retrograde residue away. This X factor comet was actually discovered during the recent solar eclipse in alignment with Saturn in Pisces, the day before the 100-year anniversary of Rudolf Steiner’s Death – Counter balancing the karmic release of the eclipse.
The Soul Calendar, translated (with added titles) by Roy Sadler EASTER - In Unison With Light - v1 When streaming from the cosmic spheres The sun to human sense is speaking And joy from depths of soul Is with the light as one in seeing, Then drawn from sheath of self Thoughts rise to far horizons And dimly bind The human being to the spirit's presence.
21-27 - Anthroposophical PsychoSophy Retreat at Camphill Kimberton where my New Mystery Drama: Soul Excursion - makes its premier as a Readers Theatre - Thursday 24 April 2025 in Rose Hall starting at 7pm with original Harp music by Jessica Schaeffer.
30 April - 1 May - Beltaine Song-Circle (email for dets)
3 May - UNION w/ ~hag at the Bridget Center This indoor and outdoor celebration offers the opportunity to learn about how ancient traditions honored this season of greening, bird song, plantings, birth and fertility, and how our old and new traditions and actions can align and contribute to the healing and abundance of the natural world. Learn from storyteller-wisdom keeper-interdenominational minister Hazel Archer Ginsberg about the Celtic tradition of Bealtaine and how other ancient cultures revered these seasonal markers in the Cycle of the Seasons. We will offer gratitude and blessings to the land, soil, plants, and all those that care for and steward the earth and its animals by making and applying biodynamic farm preparations to enliven and restore the soil. We will learn about Bridget’s Gardens, its permaculture design plans and participate in planting perennial native wildflowers, black currants, red osierdogwoods, willows, and elderberries. Come plant with us and take some home too! Clark Stamm (Acting Director of Bridget Center, Permaculturist, and Artist), and Angela Curtes (Grounded LLC and fellow Bridget Center Mission Circle member) will facilitate these activities.
The Alchemical Wedding w/ Mysteria Mystica Americana & Friends5 May 2025 at 7 pm CDT on ZoomEnjoy our many free on-line Seasonal offerings HERE
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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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Sunday, 20 April 2025
The Women at the Tomb
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