Spiritual Significance of the Lenten Season;
From the words of Corinne Heline; The Mystery of the Christos
Just as Advent is the time of preparation for the Christmas Mysteries, Lenten season is the time of preparation for the Easter Mysteries. This is the when we do the soul work to prepare us to receive the inflow of energy of this holy time.
To early students of the Christian Mysteries, the Lent season was not just a forty day period of selective fasting and prayer as it is today. It was a specific time when there was a deep searching of the heart and soul. A candid look was taken of the past year in the life of each one and the meaning and essence of this time period was studied and prayed upon.
There are three degrees which prepare a person to enter into the Easter Mysteries, just as there were three degrees to enter into the Christmas Mysteries. But the Christmas mysteries were beautiful and tender, the work centered in the love of the heart. This is the water element, and the energy is considered feminine.
In the three degrees of the Easter Mysteries the work is difficult and the self-discipline strenuous. It calls for the development and expression of a firm and concentrated will. The energy is masculine and the nature is of the fire element.
At this time one would dedicate the powers of his will and commit all his strength to accomplish the work he has planned for this time period. One should of course pursue a personal, physical practice like some degree of fasting, ie: eliminating caffeine: that is a constant reminder during their daily life of what is going on mentally and spiritually.
And on a spiritual level, much time should be spent alone. Use this to evaluate yourself and your life in a clear and honest way. If you are ill, in your heart you know why. If you are poor or doing without, you also know how to correct this. Take a good look at yourself and be honest. Remember this is a private thing; you do not have to ‘fess up’ to anyone but yourself. In fact and in truth, one must learn what it means to ‘walk alone.’
‘The Esoteric purpose of the Easter mysteries is to allow one to enter into a state of conscious awareness and enable him to gain freedom from the physical body, not only during hours of sleep and between earth lives, but at whatsoever time he may choose, so he may become a conscious Invisible Helper at any or all times as may be required, either on this plane or in the realms of the spirit.’
The steps to attain his level have naturally always been very difficult and require much hard work. Such gifts of the spirit are not handed to us lightly. We are taught that the tests encountered by each person are in accordance with his spiritual status. The farther one advances upon the Path, the more subtle and penetrating are its trials. But none could compare in severity with those experienced by Christ Jesus, for no one possesses His spiritual strength and power.
We also know that few if any ever walk a straight and narrow path perfectly. We often stumble and flounder and get side tracked as human do. What we as initiates must do is just to keep forging ahead and do our best. When we fall, pick ourselves up and continue on our journey.
The End will be Better than the Beginning.
Lela
