Greetings on this April Fool’s day 2025!!! This morning in the Heartland frost crystals coat the tender sproutings – No worries – We are hardy here – Jack Frost’s rime only makes us stronger. On this topsy-turvy day I like to share a little meditation which I call: Ostara & the April Fool. (Listen to the story on ‘I Think Speech’ ) Strap on your imagination & come with me if you dare…
Picture yourself walking in a dark forest. The sky is overcast, and the woods are gloomy, although occasionally, a feeble ray of sunlight makes its way through the clouds and the trees. The branches of the trees are bare, although the tips are just beginning to bud. Old leaves from last autumn scurry about your feet as an occasional gust of wind blows them about. The ground is, for the most part bare, with occasional patches of snow in the shade. Yet, hints of new green life make their way up through the snow and dead leaves.
As you walk, you notice a grove of beautiful white birches, the pale glint of their trunks and branches a pleasant contrast in the otherwise dark woods. You walk towards the birch grove and then deep into it.
When you are surrounded by the birches, you notice a large tree that looks as if it has been struck by lightning. It’s upper trunk has been split in two, the inner wood has been exposed to the air, dead leaves have blown their way into the nooks of the tree, in every way this tree looks as dead as it can be.
Suddenly you hear a whimsical whistle from behind the fallen lightning struck branches…& out pops “THE FOOL” in his colorful patch-work coat, holding his knapsack up on a stick, a white rose in his hand, with a wolf cub snapping at his heels…“OH DON’T MIND THE WOLF FAWNING ABOUT, HE KEEPS ME HONEST…I SEE YOU WERE LAMENTING ABOUT THE TREE…DO YOU REALLY THINK IT’S DEAD (He laughs) REMEMBER EVERY ENDING IS BUT A NEW BEGINNING…IT’S ABOUT TRUST…BELIEF IN THE ULTIMATE GOODNESS OF CREATION, THAT LIFE HAS A POINT…THAT DEATH IS TRANSFORMATION…THAT SUFFERING CAN BE STOPPED, WHEN WE BEGIN LIVING THE IDEALS…IN THE HOPE OF A BRIGHT ETERNAL NOW…yes, yes I KNOW, AT FIRST GLANCE THINGS SEEM DARK, & YES, IF YOU LOOK AT THE EVIL OF GREED & WAR IN THE WORLD, AT THE LOSS OF YOUNG LIVES, THE FAILURE OF PRINCIPLE…BELIEVING IN PEACE, HAVING HOPE & TRUSTING, CAN LOOK PRETTY (clears his throat) FOOLISH…BUT BELIEVE ANYWAY!!! THAT’S MY MOTTO… SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO RISK, TO JUMP INTO THE ABYSS OF BELIEF, TO GO AGAINST EVERYTHING SOCIETY SAYS IS SENSELESS…IT MEANS TRUSTING THE HIGHER GOOD…THE INNER FORCES… WHICH ARE AT THE HEART OF GREAT EVOLUTIONARY ENDEAVORS…RISK LOOKING LIKE A FOOL …LIVE IN THE MOMENT, OF HOPE FULFILLED…BE PEACE & PEACE WILL PREVAIL…Hmm WHAT’S THAT OVER THERE…(laughs,) MADE YOU LOOK And with that “THE FOOL” is gone…make sure your shoe laces aren’t tied together as you walk closer to the tree.
You are surprised to see a bright light outlining the figure of a woman. She is clad all in brilliant yellows & greens, and the color of new crocuses. She holds a covered basket. Her gaze is steady, her eyes make you think of clear streams running in the middle of old forests, her skin reminds you of the first fair flower of spring, and her hair is long and unbound is fragrant. At her feet sits a small brown rabbit nuzzling the hem of her skirt…
She gestures, indicating that you should come forward. You walk towards her… She points at her basket, and lifts the cloth. Inside, you see an astounding array of pastel eggs, all colors, all patterns. You can think of nothing better than to pick one of these beautiful eggs, and have it for your very own…Your hand reaches out, and she shakes her head…You realize that while she wants you to have an egg, she wants you to pick it sight unseen. So, you close your eyes, reach out your hand, and reach into the basket. Eyes still closed, you draw your hand back, holding an egg. Open your eyes, and look upon your egg. What does it look like? Think to yourself what the decoration on the egg might mean, and why Ostara, The Goddess of Dawn, the Lady of Resurrection wants you to have this particular gift for the Spring season… After you have looked at your egg, when you raise your head to thank the Goddess – she is gone. You look about for her in vain. You wonder if it has all been a dream & yet the reality of your heart tells you otherwise, and you know you have received the blessing of the Green Goddess…
As your attention moves from yourself to the forest, you realize that the trees now have tiny, but beautifully formed green leaves at the end of their branches. And you notice that the birch tree struck by lightning, the one that looked dead, now has green shoots rising from its split trunk. As you make your way out of the birch grove, it seems that the clouds have lightened, and even as you think this, the sun comes out. Small, barely formed flowers lightly scent the forest floor, birds are singing, and the rich smell of moist earth uplifts you.
Softly at 1st you hear that care-free whistling coming from what seems like everywhere…as you mount the crest, you see “THE FOOL” once again…he’s playing catch with the wolf, precariously close to the edge of the precipice…he calls out to you…
“A MONK WAS OUT WALKING IN THE MOUNTAINS OF ANCIENT JAPAN…HE ENCOUNTERS A WILD TIGER…& AS HE IS FLEEING, HE SLIPS OVER A CLIFF, BUT MANAGES TO GRAB HOLD OF A GNARLED ROOT AT THE EDGE…HE LOOKS DOWN, & SEES SHARDS OF BROKEN ROCKS FAR BELOW…HE LOOKS UP & SEES THE WILD CAT, SNARLING AT HIM IN HUNGER…AS HE LOOKS AROUND, HE ALSO SEES BESIDE HIM A BUSH WITH A SINGLE BRIGHT, SUCCULENT BERRY ON IT…HE LOOKS UP…HE LOOKS DOWN…HE SMILES, & PLUCKS THE BERRY, & POPS IT INTO HIS MOUTH…HOW SWEET IT TASTES!” (He begins to whistle…letting it swell & then fade out) This is the way of the wise fool, the fool for love, who knows that a life lived in trust is sweet…Take this Zen teaching into your heart, into your mind, into your body…As you make your way out of the forest…you wonder how you could have found this growing place gloomy, it seems so alive, and pleasant to walk through…full of hope & positive forces, which you can call on to influence your choices, & as you take the leap, into the healing powers of Spring…
Blessings dear friends as we enter into April & make our way to the Easter Sunrise. ~hag PS. And this is no joke - Easter is celebrated on the 1st Sunday after the 1st Full Moon occurring on or after the Vernal Equinox. This year, the Spring Equinox was on 20 March 2025. The 1st Full Moon after the Equinox is April 12. By these calculations, the 1st Sunday after is, April 13th - Making the start of Holy Week this Sunday 6 April – Palm Sunday…!?! Are we experiencing another Easter Paradox as we did in 2019? The ‘ecclesiastical equinox’ has a fixed date of March 21. But that is not true to the reality of the Cosmic alignment. The Church has been trying to nullify the Cosmic connection & make it an easy to stamp fixed date. Please let’s be awake to explore this further…
“Children and fools speak true.” “The greatest fool may ask more than the wisest man can answer.” “Foolproof systems do not take into account the ingenuity of fools.”
1 April 2025 – “Speaking with the Stars“
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
According to Rudolf Steiner’s Original Calendar of the Soul: Today is the Feast Day of Isis, The Divine creative power of Wisdom.
Birthday of Theodora from Steiner’s Mystery Dramas
1204 – Deathday of Eleanor of Aquitaine – one of the most powerful and influential figures of the Middle Ages. Inheriting a vast estate at the age of 15 made her the most sought-after bride of her generation. She would eventually become the queen of France, the queen of England and lead a crusade to the Holy Land. She is also credited with establishing and preserving many of the courtly rituals of chivalry. ~history.com
1815 – Birthday of Bismarck – Germany became a modern, unified nation under the leadership of the “Iron Chancellor” Otto von Bismarck who effectively ruled first Prussia and then all of Germany. A master strategist, Bismarck initiated decisive wars with Denmark, Austria and France to unite 39 independent German states under Prussian leadership. Although an arch-conservative, Bismarck introduced progressive reforms—including universal male suffrage and the establishment of the first welfare state—in order to achieve his goals. He manipulated European rivalries to make Germany a world power, but in doing so laid the groundwork for both World Wars. ~history.com
1930 – Death day of Cosima Wagner – the daughter of the Hungarian composer and pianist Franz Liszt and Franco-German romantic author Marie d’Agoult. She became the second wife of the German composer Richard Wagner, and with him founded the Bayreuth Festival as a showcase for his stage works; after his death she devoted the rest of her life to the promotion of his music and philosophy. Commentators have recognized Cosima as the principal inspiration for Wagner’s later works, particularly Parsifal.
8-14 April 2025 - Temple work with Mysteria Mystica Americana - Ozarks Mystery Tour with Grand Master RC (Invitaion only)
23-27 - Anthroposophical PsychoSophy Retreat at Camphill Kimberton
1 May - Beltaine Song-Circle
3 May - The Mystic Marriage 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.
If you want to support the Biodynamic Farming done on Zinniker Farm, you are invited to become a paid subscriber, with all donations going directly to the farm
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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Tuesday, 1 April 2025
Wise Fool
![Fool's Cap Map of the World, c1580 [Unknown] : oldmaps](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_522,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F056b4afd-5876-4f07-997c-35712d531b4b_522x395.jpeg "Fool's Cap Map of the World, c1580 [Unknown] : oldmaps")
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