With the popularity of the Christmas Eve talk at Unity of Sedona, we’re passing along this article on that topic–which focuses on co-creating what we will experience for the twelve months of this coming year by remaining in alignment with Spirit for the next twelve days.
Let’s begin by reviewing the fact that, as we approached the end of the year, we were asked (via the symbolism of the sequence of the Holidays) to honor, during Halloween, the people and things that have died or passed away, followed by giving thanks, during Thanksgiving, for all we gained in our lives and from the past year.
Once we’ve properly brought the best closure to the past, it’s time to prepare ourselves to birth our Inner Christ and to receive some new gifts from God that we can use as we move into a new year. The Christmas Holy-Day/Holiday is obviously followed by New Year’s, which is perfect, considering we’ve just thoroughly bid farewell to the past and given birth to a new self. We now can expect to see a new life, mirrored to us through the coming new year.
Shortly into the new year, the final Holy-Day of the season is that of Epiphany (which means “insight”)–lasting from January 6th (the day after the Twelfth Day of Christmas) to January 13th (eight days later). The Holiday of Epiphany commemorates the major insight or “Divine Revelation” experienced by the “Three (pagan) Wise Men” or “Magi” who were able to foretell (through the use of astrology) the birth of the Christ Child.
The Holiday of Epiphany is unique in that it is traditionally referred to as an “Octave Holiday” or the “Octave of Epiphany.” An Octave Holiday is generally a Holiday that follows another Holiday specifically for the purpose of raising the vibrations of the earlier one to a whole new level–the way a musical octave takes the previous musical note to a whole new level/octave. This means that the Holiday of Epiphany is meant to take the vibrations of Christmas to an entirely new level.
In general, during the Fall and Winter seasons, life seems to fall into a slumber and mankind’s outer perception turns inward, away from the physical world–although most people are unaware of such spiritual subtleties. At this time, the soul is organically compelled to feel, navigate, and experience its own depths. To do otherwise, is to not be aligned with nature–which is one of the reasons for seasonal related illnesses–such as colds.
The oft-forgotten symbols of Christmas, such as the Christmas tree, are/were meant to remind us of the depth of this wonderful Holiday. The tree reminds us that life goes on–even during our darkest times. Also, the tree symbolizes us, as we are the Kabbalistic “tree of life.” The trunk represents our spine and the branches represents our nerves, as they grow off and away from the spine. The Christmas lights and the electrical current running through them symbolize our energy-systems and meridians as they follow the route of our nerves/branches. And the gifts under the tree symbolize the gifts of God that should be a part of our foundation. And the Christmas present that people so often long for is really meant to be the Christmas Presence of God, which should be of foremost importance on this sacred day.
Just as important as Christmas Day, however, are the “Twelve Holy Days & Nights of Christmas,” which begin on Christmas Day on December 25th and last through January 5th. On these Twelve Holy Days/Nights, we are given a chance (unsurpassed by any other days of the year) to step up and create a new life. It’s part of the magic of birthing a new self, combined with the timing of starting a new year. But the twelve Holy Days/Nights also have their own sort of magic or power. You see . . . Christian Mystics know how to combine the Holidays with cosmic or planetary symbolism and alignments to further attune themselves with zodiacal forces released upon the earth and into the consciousness of mankind. Mystics (past and present) know that each of the Twelve Holy Days/Nights of Christmas relate to one of the twelve Apostles and are under the direct influence of one of the twelve zodiacal Hierarchies–each projecting its cosmic ray through our planet and into our twelve energy centers.
The magic of this time-period dates back to a time, long before Christ. The ancient Ptolemaic calendar is based on a 365½ day orbit of the Sun. However, some early cultures followed the Moon phases as their yearly calendar. But the Moon calendar does not fit into the solar year. Instead, a lunar year is made up of twelve full-moon cycles, which are 354 days. This is twelve days shorter than our solar year–which is then a difference of twelve days between the two calendars.
Our Twelve Holy Days & Nights could be referred to as these “missing” days/nights. But during this time, the moon forces are absent on the Twelve Holy Days/Nights because the 12-cycle lunar year has ended, which means the forces of the sun are unopposed. So the sun is at its physical weakest but is cosmically at its strongest. During the lunar 354 days of the year, the sun simply shines down upon the earth and upon us to give us life–in the form of light and warmth. Butduring the unimpeded Twelve Holy Days/Nights, the spiritual energy of the Sun shines, not merely on the earth’s crust nor on our skin but instead shines into the heart of the Earth and into our hearts and souls.
The cosmic rays of the Sun call to the heart of the earth (and of mankind) to arise and awaken from our spiritual (and Winter) slumber. It’s as though it’s granting us twelve wishes–each related to one of the Holy Days/Nights and to one of the 12 zodiacal signs. And since each of these Twelve Days/Nights are a microcosm of the coming twelve months, whatever we focus on for these twelve days will determine the general theme of the next twelve months. Again, whatever we give birth to during the Twelve Holy Days/Nights will live on for the next twelve months.
During these Twelve Holy Days/Nights, it’s as though instead of the rays of the planets beaming their energy out toward our planet, it’s more accurate to say thatthere are rays streaming forth from our hearts and souls toward each star, planet and constellation–“placing an order” from each as to what we choose to experience from them for the next twelve months.
PROPERLY INTEGRATING THE TWELVE HOLY NIGHTS:
If we choose to use the Twelve Holy Days & Nights of Christmas as a means of activating the highest level of initiation and awareness, then we have to move through each of the days with as much consciousness as possible. This means being consistent with our spiritual practices (prayer and meditation) and seeing to it that our internal and external environment is kept as clear and loving and balanced as possible. In other words, it means creating sacred space inside and out. Remember, these Twelve Holy Days & Nights are a microcosm of the macrocosmic twelve months that will follow. So whatever we experience in any of the Twelve Holy Days & Nights can expect to be met in a larger form in the corresponding next twelve months. And if you happen to start (or discover) this process later than on these days specified, you can still do your best to follow the guidelines and put your intention into the process, thus creating similar results.
The following is a historic and metaphysical perspective of each of the coming twelve days/months:
HOLY DAY/NIGHT 1
December 25th – Virgo: The Virgin constellation. This night commemorates the virgin birth of Jesus. This constellation is symbolized in theBOOK
of Revelation as a woman giving birth to the Sun. On this day/night, the soul must ask itself if it can be redeemed and forgiven despite all its imperfections. It must also find itself authentically humble and meek enough to be born in a stable/cave as an innocent child.
HOLY DAY/NIGHT 2
December 26th – Libra: This is St. Stephen’s Day. St. Stephen is believed by some to be the first Christian martyr who demonstrated great depths of faith and conviction. This Libran day/night is for learning to improve our ability to discern and make decisions with clarity and in alignment with our higher good.
HOLY DAY/NIGHT 3
December 27th – Scorpio: This sign is commonly represented by the eagle or phoenix. This day is also known as the Day of St. John, who wrote both theGospel of St. John and the BOOKof Revelation. And of all the Apostles, he is known to have been the mystic Apostle. The Scorpio can see the deepest mysteries, partly because of its ability to soar higher than others and see everything with a “spiritual vision,” using its bird’s eye view. The Scorpion day/night is one of soul-searching to release any and all grievances–knowing that the spiritual heights cannot be reached while still holding the weight of unhealed wounds.
HOLY DAY/NIGHT 4
December 28th – Sagittarius: This is the day when Herod is thought to have murdered the innocent newborns in the region. The Sagittarian day/night asks us to focus our arrow (mind) on the grand plan, rather than on the temporary setbacks that usually call for “sacrifice.” Of course the ultimate lesson related to sacrifice is to learn that: 1) There really is no sacrifice if we understand that we never truly lose anything of value 2) That which is of no value cannot be called a “sacrifice.”
HOLY DAY/NIGHT 5
December 29th – Capricorn: This day and sign are connected to the Prophet Nathan, who was connected to many prophecies related to the coming Christ. The ancients often referred to Capricorn as the “Gate of the Gods” because it was believed that if we were evolved enough to walk through this gate, we could achieve anything. This day/night is related to the need to cleanse ourselves and our addictions on as many levels as possible. In so doing, we might then walk into a new life.
HOLY DAY/NIGHT 6
December 30th – Aquarius: This sign is connected with King David, who was every bit the physical king that Jesus would be–spiritually. He was a great king and well symbolizes the “Aquarian man.” The Aquarian day/night calls us to discover how to be the perfect and balanced god/goddess–a blend of Jesus and David (or Mother Mary and Magdalene). We are also called to follow only the love of God, self, and others–as well as the greater good for all–as our guide.
HOLY DAY/NIGHT 7
December 31st – Pisces: This day is literally the end of the calendar year, as well as the end of the signs of the zodiac. So this is clearly about endings and the preparation for new beginnings. Religiously speaking, this is historically the “Day of St. Sylvestrus,” an early Pope of Constantine the Great, credited forHELPING Christianity to get its start. The Piscean day/night calls us to move through the early, clumsy stages of our beliefs and into spiritual adulthood. This involves being courageous enough to speak up against that which we find to be harmful.
HOLY DAY/NIGHT 8
January 1st – Aries: This is New Year’s Day and the day of new beginnings–especially with Aries being the first sign of the zodiac. This is also the day when Jesus was baptized and circumcised, as well as the day when his name was announced. The Aries day/night calls us to prepare for new beginnings but to do so in a form that is Guided by God–rather than jumping in “head first” on our own accord.
HOLY DAY/NIGHT 9
January 2nd – Taurus: The next three nights represent the “Three Wise Men.” The Taurian constellation represents Melchior, the king who brought a gift of gold-honoring Jesus as a king. But, the Holy Night of Taurus also represents our ability to manifest gold out of thin air. Therefore, the Taurian day/night calls us to release our attachments to material things, as well as letting go of our limiting beliefs that abundance comes from material means, rather than from God. We now are to learn to trust God to supply our daily bread and an abundance of miracles.
HOLY DAY/NIGHT 10
January 3rd – Gemini: The next of the three wise men is Caspar, who brought the baby Jesus a gift of Frankincense–honoring him as a priest. But Frankincense also symbolizes duality, in that it liquefies into a molten–like resin and yet its essence rises to the heavens as smoke. The gift of Frankincense was acknowledging Jesus’ ability to make a difference in the material, while also open the doorway to the highest Heaven. The day/night of Gemini calls us to heal and release all forms of duality–particularly the dualities that most appear in our own lives–including the dualities that separate us from God, Self, and Others.
HOLY DAY/NIGHT 11
January 4th – Cancer: The last of the three wise men is Balthazar, who brought myrrh–foretelling of death/crucifixion of Jesus–as myrrh is used to anoint the dead. Myrrh is considered valuable, yet bitter. The Cancerian day/night asks us to get our priorities straight by recognizing that God (and our spiritual life) must be of primary importance–even more so than our families (as Cancerians tend to love family above all else-almost obsessively). And so we are asked to face the bitter truth that some people will not appreciate our commitment to Spirit and that “Those who do the will of God are my family.”
HOLY DAY/NIGHT 12
January 5th – Leo: This day is also known traditionally as Simeon’s Day. He is the man who, when Jesus was brought to the Temple, cried out, “All is fulfilled. Now I behold the One Who is the Bearer of the Sun.” This day symbolizes the constellation of Leo the lion and the king/queen of the universe. This day/night calls us to recognize that the “last shall be first and the first shall be last”–meaning that we are only a great king/queen as much as we are able to surrender to God as our crown or glory. Remember . . . God is our source of all good!
SUMMARY:
To align ourselves with the Twelve Holy Days and Nights of Christmas is to align ourselves with the vibrations of the highest Holiday, as well as aligning with the planetary and cosmic forces of the universe. To best accomplish this during the Twelve Holy Days/Nights, it’s wise to live these Days/Nights with as much conscious intention as possible, as well as maintaining as much internal and external equilibrium as possible. Also, it’s advisable to keep a journal to note the ups and downs so you can prepare for their manifestation in the coming twelve months and to make necessary corrections.
SOURCE: http://grailproductions.com/twelve-holy-daysnights-of-christmas/
