Philippus Ulstadius, detail from “Coelum philosophorum, seu De secretis naturae liber / Philippo Ulstadio Patricio nierebergensi authore,” Argentorati : Arte et impensa Joannis Grienynger, 1528. Ulstadius called for a balneum Mariae, or bain Marie;, named after Maria Prophetissa, the ancient alchemist. The image displays a jacket of cool water surrounding an alembic (condenser). From the physical to the metaphysical, the rising of consciousness to a higher state, enlightenment, the alchemical goal.
Our Advent begins with our seeking to uncover, discover, and unite with something which seems close, and yet, remains just beyond our sight. While physical journeys often start by purchasing guide books which help us plan the road ahead, our Advent journey, our spiritual adventure along the Via Mystica, the inner domain, begins not by seeking that which is outside ourselves, but rather by quieting the noisy exterior environment to find the light inside. We can imagine ourselves standing before a glorious sunrise, the advent of light…
Ignatius Piedilato, “Sunrise.” Original photograph. Light sending its rays to shimmer across the waters of consciousness, the promise of what is to come. Advent- anticipation, hope.
The first Sunday of Advent positions us in the inner sanctuary, our sacred space where alone, we light the first candle upon the sacred wreathe which sits on the offering altar. There are four candles on the wreathe- three purple and one pink. Four candles- the number playing a prominent role in alchemy. This hints at the Advent journey, which while appearing to be confined on the calendar to one month, in reality, is the journey of life- the road to uncovering the fullness of our incarnational reason for being. It is our life task, walking the long path leading us from birth to old age, ultimately achieving the Eternal. And, it appears to follow the path of light achieved by the four advent candles…..beginning with the small ray of light cast by a single flame, ultimately exploding with the brilliant radiance of all four candles glowing.
Four. The number plays an important role in alchemy. The famous axiom of Maria Prophetissa coming to mind, hinting at the meaning of advent, and of our incarnational journey: “One becomes two, two becomes three, and out of the third comes the one as the fourth.” Carl G. Jung, “Psychology and Alchemy,” CW 12. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1953.
As an axiom, we understand that it is a statement taken to be true, to be self-evident, established without the need of proof. Math is full of axioms. We can see how they are easily understood: “Things which are equal to the same thing are also equal to one another, and, the whole is greater than any of its parts.” The axiom of Maria Prophetissa, while self-evident, is not so easily grasped. We must delve beneath the words to arrive at its meaning.
I take it as a roadmap to understanding my life. Like the first candle upon the Advent Wreath, I begin at the beginning, born of hope. The announcement of my birth read like a message from me, the small newborn : “Though I was expected and my coming anticipated, my arrival was a miracle…” From the twinkling of my origin, a tiny spark of light gathering in the womb of my mother who dreamed of my arrival nine months before my birth, my in-utero journey was one of hope, hope that the cells gather and grow into tissues, organs, and systems, which in the end give birth to the organism, the newborn child. We all begin as babes, born into the world, continuing to move along with hope, growing slowly aware of the transition from unknowing to recognition, from studying our hands and fingers, gazing at our face in a mirror, to slowly becoming aware of the world around us. From oneness we move from our tiny family circle to embrace the ever- expanding world around us. The second candle is thus lighted. We are in this “two” stage for most of our lives. From our interaction with the world, our “two “ experience, we move into our “three” phase, the phase of creation. We give of ourselves to create, to mold something which is the union of our spirit connecting and merging with the Other, that which we discover beyond ourselves. It is our sacred union, producing the child of our creation. All this may seem easy to comprehend, a natural progress taking years, literally the years of a lifetime.
Yet the lighting of the fourth candle is more difficult to comprehend as is the fourth stage in the Axiom of Maria Prophetissa. Once we enter the “two” stage, our waking consciousness is our companion in navigating and communicating with the waking world, with the physical environment and all that is in it. Our consciousness is limited, stuck within the clay of being, what I see as consciousness only half- aware. The “three which becomes the one which is the fourth,” I believe refers to the elevation of consciousness, our ability to clear our eyes that we rise beyond limited vision to see further. We can do this by diving within to communicate with our inner voice, our Soror Mystica. Thus, we gain access to the Unconscious, increasing our awareness, shifting what was hidden in the depths to rise to the surface of our perception. Like sparkling bubbles in a glass of champagne, what was once blocked by a cork upon a sealed bottle, the spray of effervescence becomes a splendid shower when released from the depths.
While I may see the axiom as representing our life’s work, the identity of Maria Prophetissa is more of a mystery. Sometimes seen as the Hebrew prophetess, sister of Moses, unlike the nature of the axiom, her identity is not ”self evident.” I look at her name, Maria, and I immediately think of the ancient Egyptian name Mry, meaning “Beloved.” I think of the Hidden One, Beloved beyond all names and form, giving birth to all that is. I ponder Advent and the Solstice, feast of light upon which the Christian birth of the child of light is born of Mary. I cannot help seeing the connection, the silver thread running through the stories, the hidden message that lies deep within the telling. Such is empowering, so meaningful, with the constancy of the message sown into the many stories that connect with one another like an exquisite patchwork quilt.
“Truth did not come into the world naked, but it came in types and images. The world will not receive truth in any other way.” The Gospel of Phillip, “The Nag Hammadi Codex.”
Janet Piedilato, Eight of Cups, “Tarot of Dream and Vision,” diving into the depths, finding truth in the gold that dwells in the great sea of the unconscious, the hidden truths that lay beneath the seen.
We need to dive beneath words to find the images that open the portals where truth and meaning are hidden. I like to ponder the Axiom of Maria. Was there a wise alchemist- as yet anonymous- who gave birth to the Axiom, honoring it’s author as Maria for a specific reason other than pointing to a physical person? Could it be that this ancient wise alchemist chose the name Mary to draw us into the mystery of the ancient meaning of the name, Beloved? It would make sense, giving us a puzzle to solve, one which would point to something quite relevant in view of the axiom’s meaning. Likewise, it would shine light on the importance of delving deep beyond the surface to uncover meaning. Like the strange complex imagery in many alchemical texts, such a thought resonates with the entire secret process which was, on the surface, wrongly taken as a chemical process designed solely to transform base metals into gold. We are the base metals. We need be transformed, made into gold, enlightened.
Four candles placed upon an altar wreath for Advent. Four phases of the Axiom of Maria Prophetissa. Both refer to important journeys where we seek light, a savior to save us from darkness, from our unknowing. Advent, marching towards the Solstice, the darkest day which opens to the coming of light. It all seems so symbolic of our path, through the dark alleys of our lives towards the bright light attained in reaching enlightenment, drawing from the waters of the unconsciousness that which frees us from ignorance, saves us from a life lived in darkness. The birth of the savior, the story of Christmas, the child born of Mary is the story of light, of hope in the face of worldly challenges and disappointments. Hope is the savior, freeing us from the chains of doubt, deceit, and depression.
Daniel Stolcius, Alchemist Maria the Jewess, chymicum figuris cupro incisis adornatum, et poeticis picturis illustratum. Frankfort: L. Jennis, 1624. From the Wellcome Collection.
We can read the words of the Axiom of Maria Prophetissa. We can read the story of Christmas. If we stop at the reading, merely articulating the words that form the sentences, we fail to reach beyond the narrowness of the telling. We cannot achieve the clarity and the higher level of consciousness without going within, seeking and communicating with the Soror Mystica, the Dream Companion who speaks through dreams, altered states, waking lucid dreaming, and deep meditation. Here, too, stories are told which need work, our journeying to dig like archeologists working to uncover the hidden gold.
The first week of Advent….Hope. All around us are those who wish to drag us into the quicksand of fear. Their voices are heard around the world, suggesting worldly saviors to wipe our tears with offered boons. Yet the truth is shrouded in veils. The true savior is within, in the sanctuary of the inner Temenos, waiting to empower us. Our journey is to become aware of what is hidden, spread within and around us. Lighting the first Advent candle, each of us must be as a light to bring light into the darkness, to embrace hope in a bright tomorrow. We must become the light, become the flame that dances and chases fears.
As the year approaches its end, we gather together, pondering, planning, and HOPING to grow in wisdom that we find our way into the new. Becoming hope, we are the light. We light the first candle within as together we journey upon the path of light. Abundant blessings.
Janet Piedilato, Eight of Wands, “Tarot of Dream and Vision.” The cycle of life, the Hope of the fetus to the rising spirit of the Ascended. The sun upon the horizon, Hope, the first light of Advent.
Janet Piedilato is a dream analyst, author, teacher, shamanic guide to sacred pilgrimage, divination practice, ancestral mystery ritual, and culinary celebration. Information on Janet and her publications may be found on janetPiedilato.net.
https://dot.cards/janet_piedilato
Visiting the Spirit of Dreams Past: Tuesday, December 3 · 6 - 7:30pm EST
A lucid waking dream experience. All welcome, no experience needed beyond an open heart to welcome visionary experience.
We stand on the Bridge in the Center of All Directions,
Walking, pondering, and preparing for the Solstice…In darkness we seek the crystal light leading us to the beyond…. Using the technique like “Lectio Divina,” we “read” our dreams in a sacred manner, plummeting beneath mere words into the heart of meaning…
Purchase ticket at Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spirit-of-dreams-past-journey-towards-solstice-tickets-1093606980919?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
I'm learning from Janet to go beneath the surface in my dreams, and even my every day activities. This post reiterated that for me. And I love the images--they take us beyond surfaces. My favorite quote from above: "We cannot achieve the clarity and the higher level of consciousness without going within, seeking and communicating with the Soror Mystica, the Dream Companion who speaks through dreams, altered states, waking lucid dreaming, and deep meditation. Here, too, stories are told which need work, our journeying to dig like archeologists working to uncover the hidden gold." Thank you, Janet!