Though I was reared within the Christian tradition, our particular non-denominational sect did not observe the four weeks known as Advent. The spiritual preparation began just prior to the actual holiday, so the bulk of the season seemed steeped more in the cultural and material than it did in the internal. It wasn’t until I was an adult and had been led to New Thought spirituality in general and the Unity movement in particular that Advent became a precious and vital part of my inner unfoldment. Each year I spend added time in silent meditation and heartful contemplation during these weeks, and I pray to see the Christ message as it applies directly to me. I embrace personally the symbols of the season, and lean into what they evoke within me. While I certainly affirm the celebration of the historical Jesus and the impact he had on human consciousness, I am frankly more interested in what Christ is calling me to open to at this time. Jesus and the Christ are not synonymous. Jesus was a Jew that fully embodied the Christ Presence during his incarnation here on earth. I believe he then ascended into the Realm of the Cosmic Christ, which makes him fully available to assist all who ask in making the same demonstration that he did. He does need a great big commercially based birthday bash. It is we who need to open to and allow the experience of the sweet still message of his birth into the Christ, as it applies to our own journey in consciousness.
The word Advent literally means “to come” or “coming to.” I love that because it feels so accurate. In this season of celestial Light we are called to “come to” our own indwelling Divine nature. The trance of the human condition is the amnesia of our True and Essential nature. That amnesia is the literal darkness so integral to this story. It is into the pervasive darkness of human unconsciousness that the Light of Christ comes. It is in the contrast of this Light to the predominate darkness that it is recognized. It is within the dark and hidden place of the internal womb of consciousness that Christ is being born. This is not a comfortable process anymore than actual childbirth is. There is pain. There is contraction. There is messiness and fearfulness. We like Jesus are called to remember that all of that chaos is in service of something far greater than the preferred comfort of the personality self. The pain of awakening is in service of Christ being born within us, and until we are willing to open to and to stay with this pain, we will remain ensconced and identified with the ego self story. But be assured of this; no matter how long we remain embroiled in resistance and unconsciousness Christ will indeed be born. This is not in any way to be mistaken for a Christian message. Christ is one term for the place of inherent Divinity present in all beings. We will each awaken to a Truth that is larger than any one theology. There is One Light regardless of how many fractals may display It. The history of Jesus is the destiny of us all. The Mass of Christ is all inclusive.
And so like Mary this is a time of humble and faithful waiting. You can’t make Christ be born. You cannot control the Infinite. Your demand for comfort does nothing but congest the process. You can only stay centered, open, and available to the stirring Presence that is within you. It is relentless I can assure you. Breathe. Breathe and relax into the awareness that this is your season. The contractions that you feel are in service of your own birthing process. In the bigger picture we are each called to literally birth ourselves.
Let each birth pang open you further. Surrender open. Let be. Let in the Light. The time of Christ is now. The birth of Christ is you.
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