The Maid of Orleans, Joan of Arc, was born on 6 January - the Epiphany of 1412 – A sublime individuality that came to be embodied in the small village of Domremy, where a Druidic legend foretold the coming of a maiden, a virgin, chosen by the fairies. What is the mission of The Maid of Orleans? Jehanne or Joan is the feminine form of Joannes or John, which is, in the case of John the Baptist & St. John the Divine, a title of initiation that brings in the ‘Spirit Self - a purification of the astral body – so right there we have a mighty clue. Rudolf Steiner describes the miracle of her birth, how she went thru a sort of pre-earthy initiation during the potent time of the 13 Holy Nights, incarnating on Epiphany, the day the Cosmic Christ entered into the vessel of Jesus of Nazareth at the Baptism by John in the Jordan. The powers working thru her directed her to battle against the inflammatory Luciferic forces of deception prevailing in humanity at that special time, right before the beginning of the Consciousness Soul Age. Her mission was to stop the unholy alliances of the elite who ruled Europe, vying to prevent this shift in human consciousness.
Joan became the heaven-sent emissary of Spiritual guides who sustained her: The great Archangel Michael, holding the Countenance of Christ, who now rules as our ‘Time Spirit’ - guiding our current age where selfless Freedom – & a cosmopolitan inclusiveness are the Divine goal. St. Catherine & St. Margaret were also at her side thru all the overwhelming challenges she stood up to.
Joan of Arc is a rolemodel for active courage & practical inspiration - Speaking the famous line: ‘I was born for this’ - showing us that we too can become catalysts for the holy good to come into human evolution. Our everyday deeds may be small, but together, we can employ the much needed Faith, Love & Hope - that works to change the course of history. The Maid reminds us that we were also ‘born for this’ - we chose to be here now - for a reason. On this Epiphany - the anniversary of her birth day - we can also point to her equally auspicious death. Yes it was gruesome - she endured so much, not unlike like the sacrifice of The Cosmic Being of Love at the ‘Turning Point of Time’ - or the mission of Casper Hauser. In her case, it occurred because all the selfish Luciferic forces of her enemies joined together in jealousy to bring about her crucifixion by fire. At her witch trial she prophetically said that within 7 years after of her death: “the English would meet with a much greater reversal of fortune than any they had known before”. Spiritual Science tells us that the soul of Joan of Arc continued working across the Threshold to shape these events after her death. What the spiritual powers want to bring about, will occur, whatever the external conditions may be. The Maid’s adversaries were able to bring about her death, but they were not able to prevent her mission. The power behind the will of the Maid of Orleans, the forces of Michael, are working still against the immoral Luciferic forces that rage in the world.
And, of course, dear friends, we are also having to deal with hostile forces in our time, but now-a-days these are predominantly Ahrimanic forces, not inflaming, but hardening, materialistic forces, that came up with the industrial age. These artifical intelligances are in evidence everywhere, especially if we turn our attention not only to the electric or mechanical element, but also thru-out cyber space; which can be a distractive shrouding for the reappearance of Christ in the etheric realm, if we are not awake & consciously consecrating this medium in the name of Christ. Spiritual science tells us if we remain unconscious of these forces working into our sense impressions, the elemental beings, the spirit behind nature, become enslaved by Ahriman – If we don’t meet the spirit behind every sense impression – we are offering an abode to the dragon that seeks to stupefy us. These sclerotic forces influence our entire earthly life, creating the dire events happening now all over the globe.
And so as we remember the deeds of Joan of Arc on this her Epiphany Birthday, we are also reminded of our current task, to name & tame the modern beasts, to take our will forces in hand – to be spiritual warriors for peace, & the light of truth. ~hag
Last night after our Festival on the eve of Epiphany we ‘Chalked the Door’ The letters have two meanings: 1st they represent the initials of the 3 Magi — Caspar, Melchior, & Balthazar — & we say: “Caspar, Melchior, Balthasar - Protect our home from the perils of fire & water’ The letters are also an abbreviate of the Latin phrase, ‘Christus mansionem benedicat’: “May Christ bless the house.” The “+” signs represent the Holy Cross. Besides the Earth changing revelation of the Manifestion of god on earth thru the Baptism, Epiphany is the Feast of the Adoration of the Magi who were able to read the starry script - following the Star of Bethlehem - foretold by the ancient prophets - where they paid homage to their reborn teacher Zarathustra in the Jesus of the Matthew Gospel - presenting him with Gold, Frankincense & Myrrh. Melchior, the European, brings Gold, symbol of the Sun, representing the kingship of Christ as a ‘Solar King’. Balthasar the Indian Brahman, offers Frankincense, for worship & meditative invocational purposes, representing seership, which symbolizes Christ’s Priestly role. & Casper the Moor, from Etheopia, brings the gift of Myrrh, a purifying substance used in healing, & burial, which points to the crucifixion & Resurrection. The 3 Magi represent the evolution of humanity, & the inclusiveness of The Christ Impulse which is for all of humankind.
And so it is, dear friends, that we have made the journey thru the 12 days of Christmas - the 13 Holy Nights. May this New Year Bring us ever closer to our highest destiny.
Think of us today as we stir & spray the 3 Kings Prep on the periphery of the Zinniker Farm, to honor & protect the elementals. Help Take Zinniker Farm into the Future ~hag
Here is a Recording of the Holy Nights journey of the Epic of Gilgamesh from a lifetime ago
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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Tuesday, 6 January 2026
The Epiphany of Joan of Arc
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Monday, 5 January 2026
The Feast of La Befana
The Eve of Epiphany 2026 - the last of the Holy Nights The Christmas Witch, La Befana, is celebrated tonight on the Eve of Epiphany – The lore of the Wise Healer Woman who hosted the 3 Magi began a many years ago & remains to this day a tradition upheld by many folks with an Italian heritage. (my father’s people are from Montefegatesi, the highest of the Bagni di Lucca villages in Tuscany) Her Feast is also practiced in many Waldorf schools.
The Legend: This story takes place at the time of the birth of the Matthew Jesus. La Befana is a respected Crone who lives in a hut in the hills of Italy. Befana spends her days keeping the hearth fires burning - making her herb potions, baking, sweeping, & studying her old books, when she’s not needed as a healer. One year, Befana is drawn by a bright light in the sky, she watches it every night while saying her bedtime prayers. One day, as she forsaw in a dream, a glorious caravan led by Three Kings stopped at her hut. La Befana fed them, & they talked together sharing their wisdom long into the night. They invited her to join them in following the Star to the New born King in Bethlehem. But just then, a worried mother brought her sick child to La Befana, so she told the Wise Men to go on ahead without her, & she would catch up later. After the caravan disappeared over the hills, she remembered the box of old toys that she had collected over the years, many that were tossed out because they were broken. She had fixed & re-painted them, handing them out to every child who needed one, because she loved seeing them smile. So, after making sure all was well in the village. she placed some baked goods, & gifts for the Christ-child in a sack, took her broom to help the new mother clean, & raced out after the caravan in search of the Baby Jesus. And just as she was starting to get very tired, angels appeared from the magic star in the Heavens, to give flight to La Befana on her broom – it was a night of miracles after all! But La Befana was soon sidetracked by all the people who needed her healing along the way. And she came to see that it was her part to go where she was needed.
La Befana still works her magic, even today, after all these centuries. And so, every year on the eve of the Epiphany, whenever La Befana comes to a house where there is a child who believes, she drops in leaving her good will along the way - For La Befana has come to realize over the years, that the Christ Child is found in all children. Ever since then the old wise woman has become well celebrated. In fact, Befana’s name comes from the ancient Greek word epi-Fanos which means: Shining forth, a striking appearance, a vision of The Divine - The Manifestation of God - which fits because The Feast of the Epiphany, on January 6th, celebrates the moment when The Cosmic Being of Christ enters into the sheaths of Jesus of Nazareth at the Baptism. This celebration, before the time of the Magi’s visit, & the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, often included healing purification rites, & benedictions with water. So now, on the eve, the tradition is to set water out by the fireplace for La Befana so she can bless it, giving it sacred properties that can bring healing, & ward off evil spirits. The Feast of La Bafana is one of the most popular Italian feasts, especially in the backcountry or in the hills. In our family after emptying the Christmas stocking of all the goodies, we place it next to a tall glass of water, & all the outgrown toys we want to give away, so La Bafana can pass them on to others.
Blessings Dear Ones, on this last Holy Night. ~hag
Our 20+C+M+B+26 Holy Night Community Offering“Solvitur Ambulando = It is solved by walking”Epiphany Eve Monday 5 January 2026 from 7-8:30 PMat the new home of Hazel Archer & Chuck Ginsberg We will begin with some Leading Thoughts We can Sing Together. I have music for ‘We Three Kings’, ‘Over the Hill and Over the Dale’, & the words to ‘Though my Soul’. Then we will walk the indoor Labyrinth for our the Moving Meditation. The labyrinth is an ancient symbol that relates to wholeness. Combining the imagery of the circle & the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path, it represents a journey to our own center & back out again into the world; much like the seed from Winter to Spring. Labyrinths have long been used as meditation & prayer tools. It is an archetype with which we can have a direct experience of sacred geometry. Walking the labyrinth is a potent practice of Self-Integration, awakening the Divine knowledge encoded within our DNA, fortifying our vital forces for the New Year. Petra will play her Sounding Bowl by Tobias Kaye. Please bring your instrument if you would like to contribute some musical accompaniment. Bring warm socks, or slippers. RSVP Hazel@CogRite.com ~hag
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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Who is like god?
Mi-cha-el is not just a name, it is a verb – a deed ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ...
