What are
the Spring Holy Days and why do we observe them each year?:
Passover is a
time to remember and commemorate the Exodus from Egypt and to focus on using
this positive annual window to raise consciousness.
In the same way that Paul stated that the account of Abraham was an
allegory (see Gal 4:21-27), so too was the historical account of the Passover
-- i.e., the slaughter of the first-born Egyptian sons, the escape from Egypt,
the parting of the Red Sea, and the journey through the wilderness for 40
years, was all an allegorical portrayal of important Laws that must be
fulfilled within one's own self as the disciples seeks to enter the Kingdom --
which is portrayed as the Promised Land in the Torah. The Law of
Moses could only take the Children of Israel to a certain point in their
journey, in the allegorical portrayal while Moses was able to lead them through
the wilderness, it was Joshua (Yeshua/Jesus) who had to lead them across the
Jordan and into the Promised Land. And when the spiritual meaning
of the allegory is understood, this reality remains true even in our present day.
Which means that the opening of the mind of the disciples -- as well as the
personal and spiritual meaning of the scriptures where it is written: "Then opened He their understanding, that they might
understand the scriptures" (Luke 24:45) -- possesses an entirely
different meaning than what is generally realized by the modern faith-based
congregation of believers.
Yeshua/Jesus was crucified on the Passover, because
from the perspective of the Final Birth, the Passover
is representative of the most important Laws that a soul can embrace, utilize,
and ultimately harness to bring about the Fulfillment of the Royal Law of
Creator-God. Wise men have always utilized the Natural Forces of the
earth and universe to their advantage -- and in the same way that a strong wind
can carry a ship from one continent to another, a wise man who possesses the
knowledge of the Forces and Laws of the earth can then harness those Laws to
bring about both a Higher Manifestation of Consciousness and Reality within him
-- which then enables a disciple of TheWay to bring about the next stage of
birth. When rightly understood, the scriptures are in fact a
text book on the Forces and Laws of Mind and Being that has the power to open
the seekers mind to a higher reality that few men are even aware of -- and
ultimately enable the seeker/disciple to achieve Oneness with God.
As you read about Passover and the Exodus from Egypt and ponder other
spring traditions like Easter, perhaps it would be useful to think about:
How does that apply to me personally?
What can I do to take advantage of the special time?
Spring Holy Days -
Passover
Passover starts at
sundown, before the first full moon, after the Vernal Equinox (length of the
daylight equals the length of the darkness). The Passover moon is the strongest
of the year. On occasion there is a super-moon, when the moon is the closest to
earth. If you are sensitive to energy then you may even feel your body vibrate
as you draw energy from the Moon. For those who can feel the lunar energy, on the
night of the Passover the power of the moon exceeds that of the sun -- i.e., it
is a time of absolute feminine fullness. The
objective of seekers is to use this heightened energy as a catalyst to raise
consciousness and penetrate to greater depths of mind within yourself.
This strong Passover Full Moon in conjunction with the sun rising into
the northern hemisphere, moves the Laws within your body which provides you a
greater opportunity for soul-birth -- or drawing nearer to the
soul-self. In the Hebrew calendar there are two New Years -- i.e.,
the New Year in the fall is the time of physical birth -- and many of the
original scriptures had Yeshua's birth on that day. Passover is the time
of soul and spiritual birth -- and it denotes the spiritual transcending of the
physical.
As a family, we use the unleavened bread -- lots of fruit and natural
foods -- non-processed cheeses -- kosher grape juice and a little
wine. The objective is to maintain a heightened level of
consciousness -- channeling the higher energy level within you -- which you can
use to increase your conscious awareness.
During the Passover and Easter there are great numbers of Christians and
Jews doing their ritualized prayers in an external manner -- and they are
actually giving off energy which is drawn into a cosmic heightened
state. Often, women can feel this energy which is very lunar, and
they can not only channel it within themselves, but they can pass it on into
their husbands.
Passover is one of those cosmic intervals where you can channel some of
the energy that is lost into nature by the vast majority of people who dwell in
an unconscious stupor, and direct it inward in order to assist you in breaking
down your own inner limitations -- seeking greater depth within
yourself. Of course, it helps to be prepared by living a holistic
lifestyle and building upon the proper mindset -- feeding the mind with
the proper thought-impressions -- and thus, a prepared mind and body, is able
to utilize this cosmic interval in the endeavor to find greater depth
within one's self. And if you are aware of not only the multitude within
yourself -- but also of your higher soul-self -- you can utilize this power
created by the cosmic interval to achieve greater birth within you.
This is why from a biblical perspective, physical birth is at the biblical New
Year -- while the cycle of spiritual birth is at the Passover.
Since
soul-birth is achieved through incremental levels climbing up Jacob's Ladder,
each Passover should be a time of achieving new and greater heights.The deeper
meaning and significance of this Holy Day is between you and your Soul-self.
As you do in the physical, you do in the mind.
Passover Preparation and Celebration:
There
is a focus on creating movement for the upcoming
Holy Day, especially for the children. So, on the day of the feast...we want
the children to be excited with anticipation. In turn, they help in the
preparation, the cleaning, the cooking, the shopping, and talking about the
Biblical story behind the Day.
Ritual
and tradition are important for children, and for families; that is something
to consider for any celebrations. Rituals done for the sake of ritual can bring
awareness. Rituals done with awareness can help us
move the mind forward and develop consciousness.
When a large group of seekers are all in accord, as when all Jews celebrate the Passover at the prescribed instance of Cosmic Balance, the physical actually supercharges the soul and spiritual. Likewise, when the sun crosses over the equator, and the moon is full and reflects its Power, it can be likened to a Cosmic Sustained Elevated Energy Flow that the body of praying and Spiritual people can move upon and within in their endeavor to manifest the Kingdom in their body-vessel and their lives. And a person of Wisdom becomes highly cognizant of these cycles that are presented both in the Bible and throughout life itself. Thus, the Passover was instituted first in the scriptures, and they by Yeshua, because it is a time when the solar-male energy has returned to fullness as it crosses over the equator, and the lunar-feminine energy is full in a cycle of cosmic ovulation. And since the lunar cycles affect the waters of the earth -- and our physical bodies are 90% water -- and women's own ovulation cycles are influenced by the moon -- these cycles can greatly enhance our efforts to bring about what Yeshua portrayed as the necessary subsequent stages of birth.
Preparation: Starts as
soon as possible!
In preparation we
cook special foods, clean everything in sight...making sure we clean all the
corners in our home, we give clothes to those in need, and most importantly, we
remove leavened food from the cupboards and replace it with matzo and matzo
meal. The children have voted shopping the most important and the most fun
preparing for a feast...fruit and plenty of candy are theirs to enjoy this
week. Watching "The Prince of Egypt" on DVD during the week prior to
Passover is a popular enjoyment for the children.
Preparing
your body and mind to be good ground for this special spiritual time can start
as early as you are ready and may include things such as:
- Read
about the Exodus and Passover and Stages of Birth
- Cleanse
your body … Fasting, Fresh Air, Pure Water, Conscious Breathing
- Clear
your home of excess… declutter and pass those things to others who can use them
- Finish
unfinished projects or cancel them
- Spend
time in nature …. walk among the trees and animals, hear the sounds of nature,
gaze upon water and see your own reflection there, feel the sunlight on
your face, cooled by the breeze, plant a new perennial in your yard
and watch it grow and change through the seasons
- Remove
the leaven from your home and your heart
- Sage your home
- Silence
your brain and check in with your heart ( ie: pray, meditate, ponder, sing)
- Plan
a wonderful feast for the start of Passover.. which is at the First Sundown of
the First Full Moon following the Spring Equinox
- Involve
all members of the family and friends in getting ready
Celebration: Passover starts at
Sundown on April 3rd, 2015
That first night of Passover (Sunset on the
first Full Moon after the Spring Equinox), we are all excited and someone tells
the story of Exodus from Egypt. The children also like to help and they
interact with the story telling. They get wide-eyed when told about the Angel
of Death passing over "Israel" (meaning seeker) in Egypt and killing
the first-born sons.
The favorite part is
when we go through the plagues. After each plague Pharaoh is going to let the
slaves go. And then we ask them, "But what happens?" In unison they
reply, "God hardened Pharaoh's heart and he wouldn't let them go."
One of the children then says, "He wouldn't release the slaves, so God
sent another plague."
While this story is
being told we are enjoying many different foods and enjoy our time with family
and friends… enjoying the positive cycle that Passover ushers in each year.
Contemplation and Remembrance: 7 Days
Then for seven days we eat matzo and food that is unleavened.
Why?
In Exodus, the Jews had to leave by night
so quickly that the bread did not have time to rise, so it was unleavened bread
during the escape from Egypt. Additionally in general, the biblical references
to leaven imply sin and disobedience. While the opposite is unleavened bread,
the manna from heaven.
Exodus 12:33-34, Leviticus
23:4-8, 1 Corinthians 5:6-8
Also
during this time, we focus on raising our consciousness.
Spend quality time with family and friends. Spend quality time with yourself! Take
time to think about these things during this special
cosmic window of balance and union, Passover:
- What do the slaves and Egypt represent
in my life?
- What are the plagues I
battle? Why?
- Where is my Moses
personality? Where is my Pharaoh personality?
- Why were the first born sons
killed?
- Why only unleavened bread
during Passover and what does leaven represent in me?
- Why
do we even keep the Holy Days?
- What
pattern are they trying to teach?
- Why
was Passover designated as the timing for Jesus’ Last Supper, Crucifixion and
Resurrection?
Blessings on your Passover......
May
you exodus from Egypt and be
on your way to the Promised Land.
When are
the Spring Holy Days Observed? :
Passover starts at the sundown immediately
before the first full moon of the Spring Equinox
o Passover 2015 starts at Sundown on April 3, 2015 (in the US and Canada… see notes below for calculating Holy Days in other areas/time zones)
o Sundown at the start of Passover opens with a sweet, leaven-free feast and the reading of
the biblical Exodus
o Then unleavened bread for 7 days
- Focus on activities to raise your consciousness
The Passover moon is the strongest moon
of the year
Specifically, here is the Spring Holy
Day schedule for 2015 in the Americas/Canada:
NASA Sky Calendar Dates Eastern Time
Zone US:
Mar
|
05
|
Th
|
13:05
|
Full Moon
|
|
13
|
Fr
|
13:48
|
Last Quarter
|
|
20
|
Fr
|
05:36
|
New Moon
|
|
20
|
Fr
|
05:46
|
Total Solar Eclipse
|
|
20
|
Fr
|
18:45
|
Vernal Equinox
|
|
27
|
Fr
|
03:43
|
First Quarter
|
|
|
|
|
|
Apr
|
04
|
Sa
|
08:01
|
Partial Lunar Eclipse
|
|
04
|
Sa
|
08:06
|
Full
Moon
|
Calculation Method to identify the start of Passover:
First full moon following Spring Equinox = Apr 4th,
2015…
Sundown directly before that Spring Equinox Full Moon = Sundown in Apr 3rd,
2015…
Passover 2015 starts at Sundown on April 3rd, 2015
Note: Jewish Tradition is that the day starts at sundown... so that is why we back up to the sundown on the day of the Spring Equinox Full Moon to set when Passover starts. Essentially that Sundown is the start of the Full Moon day.
Special Observation for 2015 Passover:
It is interesting that there is a Solar Eclipse on
the same day at the Spring Equinox and a Lunar Eclipse on the same day at the Passover Full Moon. This does not occur every Passover. Is there significance to this unusual event?
For time
zones outside of the Americas/Canada but in the Northern Hemisphere (ie:
Europe)… please use the websites below to confirm your correct lunar schedule.
Be careful,
some printed calendars and websites are not accurate on lunar dates. Here are a
couple of websites to use as a reference:
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SKYCAL/SKYCAL.html?cal=2015#skycal
Further References:
Scriptures:
Old Testament: Exodus
Allan’s
Easter-vs-Passover page:
TheWay Online Library Posts:
Cosmos Primer
101:
What are
the equinox and moon phases? Why are
they important for the Seasons and Holy Days?:
New Beginning (RH) = New Moon at Autumn Equinox = Negative Cycle
Passover = Full Moon at Spring
Equinox = Positive Cycle
The equinox is a point of balance in
the earth since the sun is passing over the earth’s equator, thus making day
and night equal. We have 2 earth equinox events a year, Spring and Autumn.
Think of the Autumn Equinox as menstruation in the earth
(negative cycle) and the Spring Equinox as ovulation (positive cycle).
At Passover, the significance of the Full Moon at the Spring
Equinox is that the earth is in balance, going into the positive, and the moon
phase is full, a corresponding positive. The male and female are in union.
The Spring Equinox marks the start of
the positive cycle as earth is tilted toward the sun with equal days and nights.
And the moon is also in its positive cycle at Passover when it is a full moon
thus fully reflecting the sun’s light.
While it is the sun (male) that has the life-giving
light, it is the moon (feminine) that controls the movements of the tides and
currents of the earth. While on a physical level, the third force is
the interaction that can be seen as a child born of the male/female
union, whatever is in the physical is an allegorical representation of
higher truths of the mind and spirit. And in the allegory of the
male/female interaction on a physical level of being, the male is the
constant -- always seen in the constant of the sun -- always seen in the
constant desire for sex. It is the feminine that controls
everything. The feminine always moves in cycles -- i.e.,
intuitive/reflective. These cycles are at the heart of everything!
Males generate electricity by a constant magnetic
force with a revolving armature (feminine) that produces electricity by
breaking the lines of force in the magnetized field. All of life
can be viewed in this fashion by seeing it at a slower rate of
movement. Moreover, even your breath is a interaction between the
higher mind that is in the Etheric as it cycles in and out of the body changing
the polarity from negative to positive. But it is important to
understand that while the constant (male) is necessary for everything to exist,
it is the form and the cyclic movement (feminine) that brings it
forth.
Just as there are seasons in earthly weather… there
are also seasons in terms of spirituality.The key underlying concept on the
timing for Holy Day is to observe them during the matched cosmic cycles.
This is an open window cosmically
where there is balance and momentum …so observing the proper movement at the
proper time externally (cosmic) as well as internally provides a rare spiritual
growth opportunity that only a few people take advantage of.
 |
Balance
Day / Night
Sun / Moon
Positive / Negative
Masculine / Feminine |
