‘The Light of Martinism’

     
The Traditional Martinist Order’s heptad in New York City will begin classes in January, starting a new two-year term of instruction in the Light of Martinism.

Louis Claude de Saint-Martin

What is Martinism? Well, ah, that’s a big question, but in this context, forget anything you have read on this website or elsewhere about Willermoz, Elu Cohens, CBCS, Ambelain, and other facts and figures. They are not misleading facts and figures, but they can confuse what is at hand here which, I believe, is Louis Claude de Saint-Martin and his teachings of how man can exist in harmony with deity, nature, and his fellow man. As I understand it, the Traditional Martinist Order adheres to what Saint-Martin himself intended: The work of meditation and spiritual alchemy toward Reintegration. There are no titles, jewels, or secret orders to covet; the reward is in mastering (read: living) the work itself.

Read more about it here.

I am not a member, but I am considering signing up, depending on what the meeting schedule looks like. I’m told it will be posted soon, and I’ll share it here when it becomes available. The New York City Heptad (a body of seven people), meets on Sixth Avenue in Chelsea.

Membership here. (The rest of the site is scheduled to launch on December 21.)
     

‘Anthroposophy: In the Midst of Life’

     
A new lecture series keeping current the teachings of Rudolf Steiner will begin in just over a week at the Anthroposophical Society of New York City.

From the publicity:

Eugene Schwartz

Rudolf Steiner spoke frequently about the importance of understanding the role of death and the dead, but the subject remains unpopular among American anthroposophists. Eugene Schwartz explores Steiner’s often surprising and sometimes counter-intuitive indications about the nature of life after death, and suggests how much help they may provide as we face the challenges of modern life.

In the Midst of Life:

Understanding Death in Our Time

A lecture by Eugene Schwartz

Saturday, December 7 at 7 p.m.

Anthroposophical Society of New York City

138 West 15th Street

Manhattan

Lecture 1: Man Becomes Cosmos

We begin with an overview of times and places when Rudolf Steiner spoke about death and its aftermath. We then explore the “first half” of our experience of life after death, in which the human microcosm expands into the heavenly macrocosm and reckons with the karmic consequences of the life just lived. Eugene will draw on hundreds of Rudolf Steiner’s lectures to present a comprehensive panorama of this transformative stage of existence.

Eugene Schwartz has been a Waldorf school teacher, an educator of teachers, and an educational consultant for 33 years. He has given nearly 2000 lectures on Waldorf education and anthroposophy. His articles, podcasts, and videos are here.

Future dates: January 11, April 5, and May 17, 2014. Admission: $20 for the public, and $15 for Society members.
     

‘Mystical Chord on the Solstice’

     

From the Rosicrucian Order:

Join us in celebrating the Winter Solstice with a Mystical Music Celebration with pianist, and long time Rosicrucian, Henry Butler.

December 20, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Rosicrucian Cultural Center of New York City
2303 Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard 
(near 135th Street)
Manhattan

Henry Butler

Through dialogue, vowel sound intonations, and a piano performance, Henry will deepen our understanding of what spiritually inclined musicians call the Mystical Chord. Considered the premier exponent of the great New Orleans jazz and blues piano tradition, Butler is a ten-time Pinetop Perkins (formerly W. C. Handy) Best Blues Instrumentalist Award nominee. A rich amalgam of jazz, Caribbean, classical, pop, blues, and R&B, his music is as excitingly eclectic as that of his New Orleans birthplace.
     

‘Builders of the Adytum’s Christmas Ritual’

     
Just forwarding an announcement from BOTA:

Courtesy BOTA

Builders of the Adytum members, their guests, and the general public are invited to participate in the Rev. Ann Davies’ beautiful and inspiring Christmas Ritual. Help us rejoice in the light and promise of this holy season!

Saturday, December 7
2 p.m.
71 West 23rd Street
12th Floor
Manhattan

For information about the Christmas ritual, contact Regional Coordinator Dottie at:
dottielvx (at) optonline.net

BOTA
is an international non-profit teaching and training order for those interested in the Western Mysteries such as Qabalah, Sacred Tarot, Spiritual Alchemy and Esoteric Astrology.
Visit the BOTA website and its Northeast Regional page here.
     

‘Winter Solstice at the Rosicrucian Cultural Center’

     
“At Christmas I no more desire a rose than wish a snow in May’s new-fangled mirth; but like of each thing that in season grows.”

Biron in Love’s Labour’s Lost

Shakespeare’s Biron is talking about the divine’s order of nature, as if echoing Ecclesiastes 3, but December brings a season rich in symbolism that demands an openness to unorthodox understandings. If you never before have observed a winter solstice, try to make time to visit the Rosicrucian Cultural Center for this ceremony and the programs to follow, and indulge a desire for a mystic rose at Christmastime.

From the publicity:

Join us in celebrating the Winter Solstice with the Festival of Light Ceremony: A sacred ritual whose origin dates back to antiquity; a special mystical musical presentation by professional pianist Henry Butler; and the Imperator’s Universal Attunement Exercise.

Saturday, December 21

Noon - Festival of Light Ceremony

1 p.m. - Spiritual Significance

of the Winter Equinox

3 p.m. - Imperator’s Universal

Attunement Exercise

Rosicrucian Cultural Center of New York City

2303 Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard

Manhattan

As Number 6 used to say, “Be seeing you.”