Berlin, 30 Dezembro, 1904
(...)
I want to speak to-day about a Festival to which in modern
times less importance is attached than to the Christmas Festival
itself, namely, the Festival of the Three Kings, of the Magi who came
from the East to greet the newly born Jesus. This Festival of the
Epiphany (celebrated on the 6th of January) will assume greater and
greater significance when its symbolism is understood.
It will be obvious to you that very profound symbolism is
contained in the Festival of the Three Magi from the East. Until the
15th century, this symbolism was kept very secret and no
definite indications were available. But since that century some
light has been thrown on the Festival of the Magi by exoteric
presentations.
One of the Three Kings — Caspar — is
portrayed as a Moor, an inhabitant of Africa; one as a white
man, a European — Melchior; and one —Balthasar — as
an Asiatic; the colour of his skin is that of an inhabitant
of India. They bring Myrrh, Gold and Frankincense
as offerings to the Child Jesus in Bethlehem.
These three offerings are full of meaning and in keeping with the
whole symbolism of the Festival celebrated on the 6th of
January.
Exoterically, the date itself throws some light;
esoterically, the Festival is pregnant with meaning. The 6th of
January is the same date as that on which, in ancient Egypt, the
Festival of Osiris was celebrated, the Festival of the re-finding of
Osiris. As you know, Osiris was overcome by his enemy Typhon: Isis
seeks and eventually finds him. This re-finding of Osiris, the Son of
God, is represented in the Festival of the 6th of January. The
Festival of the Three Kings is the same Festival, but in its
Christian form. This Festival was also celebrated among the
Assyrians, the Armenians and the Phoenicians. Everywhere it is a
Festival connected with a kind of universal baptism — a rebirth
from out of the water.
(...)
Who are the Magi? They represent the Initiates of the three preceding
races or epochs of culture, the Initiates of mankind up to the time
of the coming of Christ, the Bringer of the Love that is free of
egoism — the resurrected Osiris. The Initiates — and so too the
Three Magi — were endowed with Manas. They bring gold, frankincense
and myrrh as their offerings. And why are their skins of three
colours: white, yellow and black? One is European — his
skin is white; one is Indian — his skin is yellow; one is African —
his skin is black. This indicates the connection with the so-called
Root Races. The remaining survivors of the Lemurian race are black;
those of the Atlantean race are yellow; and the representatives of
the Fifth Root Race, the Post-Atlantean or Aryan race, are white.
Thus
the Three Kings or Magi are representatives of the Lemurians, the
Atlanteans and the Aryans. They bring the three offerings. The
European (Melchior) brings gold, the symbol of wisdom, of
intelligence which comes to expression paramountly in the Fifth Root
Race. The offering of the Initiate representing the Fourth Root Race
(Balthasar) is frankincense, connected with what was intrinsically
characteristic of the Atlanteans. They were united more directly with
the Godhead, a union which took effect as a suggestive influence, a
kind of universal hypnosis. This union with the Godhead is betokened
by the offering. Feeling must be sublimated in order that God may
fertilise it. This is expressed symbolically by the frankincense,
which is the universal symbol for an offering that has something to
do with Intuition.
In the
language of esotericism, myrrh is the symbol of dying, of death. (...) Myrrh is the symbol of the dying of the lower life and the
resurrection of the higher life. It is offered by the Initiate
representing the Third Root Race (Lemurian). A deep meaning lies in
this. Jesus of Nazareth is a very highly developed individuality. In
the thirtieth year of his life he gives up his own life to the
descending Christ, the descending Logos. All this the Magi foresaw.
The great sacrifice made by Jesus of Nazareth is that he gave up his
‘ I ’ to make way for the Second Logos.
(...)Myrrh is the
symbol of sacrifice, of death, the sacrifice of the earthly in order
that the Higher may come to life. In the middle of the Lemurian
epoch, Osiris came to his grave; Manas drew into human beings. Men
were educated under the guidance of the Initiates until the principle
of Love (Budhi) could shine forth in Christ Jesus. Budhi is the
heavenly Love. The lower, sexual principle is ennobled through the
Christ Love. Kama is purified in the fire of the Divine Love.
Melchior
is the representative of the principle of wisdom, of intelligence —
the task of the Fifth Root Race. This is symbolised by his offering —
gold.
The
principle of sacramental offering is represented by the frankincense.
This offering symbolises the principle that was dominant in the
Fourth Root Race, the Atlantean. The task of Christianity is
fulfilled in the Sixth Root Race, when material existence will be
fraught with sacramentalism and sacramental deeds. Sacraments have
very largely lost their meaning today; the feeling of their
significance has disappeared. But this feeling will be kindled to
life again when the higher man is born. It is this that is symbolised
by the frankincense.
(...) By
what are the Three Holy Kings guided, and whither are they led? They
are guided by a Star to a grotto, a cave in Bethlehem. This is
something that can be understood only by one who has knowledge of the
so-called lower, or astral mysteries. To be led by a Star means
nothing else than to see the soul itself as a Star. But when is the
soul seen as a Star? When a man can behold the soul as a radiant
aura. But what kind of aura is so radiant that it can be a guide?
There is the aura that glimmers with only a feeble light; such an
aura cannot guide. There is a higher aura, that of the intelligence,
which has, it is true, a flowing, up-surging light, but is not yet
able to guide. But the bright aura, aglow with Budhi, is in very
truth a Star, is a radiant guide. In Christ, the Star of Budhi lights
up — the Star which accompanies the evolution of mankind.
The Light that shines before the Magi is the soul of Christ Himself.
The Second Logos Himself shines before the Magi and over the cave in
Bethlehem.
The
grotto or cave is the body wherein dwells the soul. The seer beholds
the body from within. In astral vision, everything is reversed —
for example, 365 instead of 563. The human body is seen as a cave, a
hollow. In the body of Jesus shines the Christ Star, the soul of
Christ. This must be conceived as a reality, taking place in the
astral world. It is an enactment of the Lesser Mysteries. There, in
very truth, the Christ Soul shines as an auric Star, and it is by
this Star that the Initiates of the three Root Races are led to Jesus
in Bethlehem.
The
Festival of the Three Kings is celebrated every year on the 6th of
January, and its significance will steadily increase. Men will
understand more and more what a Magi is, and what the great Magi, the
Masters, are. And then understanding of Christianity will lead to
understanding of spiritual science.
Fonte
