As we work to create a chalice to hold the healing fires of the Holy Spirit that pour in on Whit-Sunday, gifting us with the will to meet our highest destiny - During this time of waiting - we can also foster a cosmopolitan relationship with the ancient Jewish festival, ‘Shavuot’ – the ‘Feast of Weeks’, the ‘Feast of The First Fruits’, the ‘Feast of the Giving of the Law’ - a Spring Festival that celebrates the grain harvest, & the ripening of the early fruits; as well as the anniversary of the giving of the Torah, marking the conclusion of the ritual of ‘Counting of the Omer’ after Passover. This counting expresses an anticipation not only of the first fruits on the agricultural side, but also the desire for the giving of the Torah, which it also celebrates. On Passover, the Judeans were freed from their enslavement to Pharaoh; on Shavuot, they were given the Torah. I think it’s especially important to tune into this Festival now - with all the struggles going on in, & around Israel - as we prepare for Pentecost, the 3rd & final chapter of Easter-Tide. The 3-day Festival of Shavuot starts at sunset on Friday 22 May - ending at sundown on Memorial Day 25 May 2026
And so it is that on this occasion I would like to summerize the tale of Ruth & Naomi – The story of a Jewish woman, & an Arab woman, who shared a deep karmic connection, giving us a message of unity we need so much today. Their story is mixed in with Shavuot, & anticipates the Christian mysteries of the coming in of the Holy Spirit at Whitsun.
We can Remember that this is also the time that Moses meets the ‘I AM” of Christ in the burning bush! Another precurser to the tongues of fire on Pentecost.
According to tradition, folks overslept the day that Moses came down from fiery Mount Sinai, & of course there’s that whole thing about worshiping the golden calf right - So to atone, many folks hold an all-night vigil on the eve of Shavuot. They light candles, decorate with flowers, eat dairy food, study Torah, & read the Book of Ruth- an integral part of the Jewish & Christian liturgical year. Sections of Ruth are also used in the Protestant Wedding ceremony.
A number of biblical scholars have speculated that the Book of Ruth may have been written by a woman – its story is not only expressed entirely from a woman’s point of view, the name “Ruth” literally means, “woman friend.” And the grammar of the original Hebrew shows an unusual content of gender equality. There is also a hidden teaching in Ruth, a kind of Women’s Mystery that we can contemplate, & also an allegory for a karmic, or Spiritual Union. Here’s a synopsis: The widow Naomi & her 2 sons leave Israel because of a famine, traveling thru foreign lands. They settle in Moab, which is an Arab country on the East Bank of the Jordan River, bordered by Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria & Palestine. The sons marry Ruth & Orpah, 2 Arab women from that place. During this time in exile, the 2 sons die, & the 3 woman become very close.
The tender friendship was especially strong between Ruth & Naomi, so unusual with a mother & daughter-in-law; which has been celebrated in poetry, prose & in art, the world round. After a time, Naomi gets word that Jerusalem is fertile again, & with her 2 sons gone, she desires to go back to her homeland, telling her 2 daughters-in-law that they should go back to their families, since life with her would be one of poverty, in a strange land, & she didn’t want them to have to sacrifice all the pleasures of their young lives for her. Already sad & lonely with the loss of their husbands, the thought of parting with Naomi really intensifies their grief. United in common sorrow, the 3 women stand at a crossroads. Naomi’s words made a deep impression on Orpah; & at last she decides to take her advice –
But not Ruth, who feels a special destiny with Naomi. So the 2 women journey on together, & make a home in Bethlehem, where Naomi’s family owned a small house, with a spring on the outskirts of town, but little else.
Ruth wanting to earn her keep, heard that laborers were needed in the fields. And Naomi remembered that she had a kinsman, Boaz, (whose name means strength) - a man of great wealth, as well as wisdom. And so it was that Ruth becomes employed in the fields of Boaz, where she works hard providing a blessing to her mother Ruth. Boaz takes note of the integrity of the woman from Moab. At harvest time he needs many extra hands, & so he often goes among the reapers to see how the work is going forward. He hears such good accounts of Ruth’s industry, dignity & discretion that he orders his men to leave plenty for her to glean & to carry home in the evening. This she often sells on the way, in order to buy something that Naomi needs.
The 2 woman enjoy their evenings together. Naomi has her spinning-wheel & loom; she also works in the garden raising vegetables, herbs & chickens. They often talk over their day’s labor as they enjoy their simple supper of herb tea, bread & watercress.
One night Naomi is told by the ‘Spirit of Prophecy’ in a dream, that from Ruth would descend 6 of the most righteous men of the age - most notably the prophet Daniel - & King David, connected to what Spiritual Science calls ‘the Luke Jesus’.
Boaz prizes Ruth for her virtues, & her great moral qualities of head & heart - & so in due time they are married, even though Ruth is not Jewish. Ruth bears a son whose name was Obed, which means: ‘One who Serves’. Obed became the father of Jesse, the root from which sprung the Virgin Mary. And Obed, Ruth’s son, was also the father of King David. And so that is how this ‘Old Testament’ story ends - but we know this is just the beginning…of ‘The Greatest Story Ever Told’… ~hag
Shavuot always comes around the same time as the Festival of Penetcost. You can watch a free video called ~Vitae Sophia~ which includes the compelling story of Ruth & Naomi along with other tradtions HERE
or Listen on the ‘I Think Speech’ Podcast.
The 2nd – Full ‘Blue’ Moon of May is also the ‘BUDDHA Moon’ – a very specific sidereal cosmic alignment = the Sun in Taurus, & the Moon in Scorpio – which occurred not only when the Buddha was born - it is the same alignment as when he achieved enlightenment - & also of his Death-Day - Celebrated the World over as The Festival of ‘Wesak’ – Visakah Puja (Buddhas Day). Come gather at the ‘Spirit Lodge’ in Elkhorn WI. Sunday 31 May 2026 3 pm - Harmonizer prep-stir 4 pm – Spray the gift for the Elenentals on the land 5 pm – Community Potluck – Pleas bring food & drink to share 6 pm - Bonfire - Leading Thoughts on Wesak & an honoring of the Unborn RSVP hazel@CogRite.com
Our Spring Biodynamic Work Day at Zinniker Farm will be June 6, 2026 Activities include taking out several preparations that have been buried in the fall, stir 500 and mix and apply tree paste. We will begin at 10am. A light lunch is provided, but please bring a dish for the evening potluck and bonfire. Come for the morning, come for the afternoon, or come for the whole day. We hoe to see you there. ~Petra Zinniker Zinniker Farm - N7399 Bowers Rd. Elkhorn, WI 53121
To honor & foster the Christian Community of Southeast Wisconsin, we gather for ‘Devotional Services’ in-between Priest Visits. All are welcome to join 7 June 2026 Please arrive by 10:15 am so that we can be ready to begin promptly at 10:30 am– when the Consecration of the Human Being is being celebrated all over the country Potluck social time after At the ‘Spirit Lodge’ in Elkhorn WI. RSVP Hazel@CogRite.com
Building the Watch Tower –Project Thought-Seed (Egregore 10:10)with ~Hazel Archer-GinsbergFor the Minneapolis Theosophical SocietyMonday 8 June 2026 7 – 9pm Central TimeWe must become Spiritual Warriors, & endeavor to take up the practice of building up an ‘Egregore’ = collective positive imaginations - ‘Thought-Forms’ of Good Will - as a “key-call” to the Spiritual Powers aligned with love & light, to enlist their aid - as a counterforce to the adversarial powers that seek to rule our worlds. For zoom link contact Hope Scoles
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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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