Joana D'Arc. Hazel Archer Ginsberg

 Hazel Archer GinsbergSpiritual Science

January is The Feast of Epiphany - In Greek: epi-phanos means: Shining forth, the manifestation of a god, a striking appearance or vision of The Divine. On Epiphany in 1412 Joan of Arc was born - Spiritual Science describes the miracle of her auspicious birth, how she went thru a sort of pre-earthy initiation during the potent time of the 13 Holy Nights, incarnating on Epiphany.

What is the true mission of The Maid of Orleans?

From the time of her enchanted childhood around the village fairy tree, & then starting at the age of 12, & for a brief 7 years till she was martyred at 19, Jehanne d’Arc was inspired into by progressive Beings of the Divine Spiritual World.

Jehanne or Joan is the feminine form of Joannes or John, which is, in the case of John the Baptist & St. John the Divine, a title of initiation – so here we have a mighty clue.

The powers working thru her directed her to battle against the inflammatory Luciferic forces of deception prevailing in humanity at that special time, right before the beginning of the Consciousness Soul Age, which according to Rudolf Steiner began with her birth.

Joan of Arc, with the aid of Michael, (& his helpers St. Catherine & St. Margaret) was able to vanquish the seductive Luciferic forces which were vying to prevent this shift in human consciousness.

This led to her sacrifical death, which was orchestrated because all the selfish Luciferic forces of her enemies joined together to bring about her crucifixion by fire. Her misadventure in a battle was brought about thru the jealousy of the very men who were appointed to work with her, & yet were countermanding her divinely inspired mission.

At her witch trial she predicted her own death, & said that within 7 years after of her death: “the English would meet with a much greater reversal of fortune than any they had known before”.

Spiritual Science tells us that the soul of Joan of Arc continued working across the Threshold to shape these events after her death. What the spiritual powers want to bring about, will occur, whatever the external conditions may be.

Many great individualities are working with us even now from across the threshold. The Maid’s adversaries were able to bring about her death, but they were not able to prevent her mission.

The power behind the will of the Maid of Orleans - the forces of Michael - are working still against the immoral Luciferic forces that rage in the world.

We are also having to deal with hostile forces in our time, but now-a-days these are predominantly Ahrimanic forces, not inflaming, but hardening, materialistic forces, that have come up with the industrial age.

But fear not dear friends, we must not try to deny or rebel against these materialistic Ahrimanic elements. We must let them strengthen us; we must develop the courage of Michael to see it as something that is necessary in our time, something that has to be present, so that we can learn to reverse it thru our heart-thinking – transforming these forces thru love.

We generate the great strength we need to offer resistance to these hardening forces by approaching the spirit not only thru the inner powers of revelation & faith, like in the case of Joan of Arc, but by concentrating our powers of understanding on what spiritual science has to give – a common sense - yet divinely inspired wisdom, filling us with light. And when we take ahold of ourselves with this attitude, we can consciously work with what Michael, the Spirit of our Age, has to give us now in our time - Meeting every trial & test with a conscious heart-thinking, motivated by the wisdom of love.

And so as we remember the deeds of Joan of Arc on this feast day of Epiphany we are also reminded of our current task, to name & tame the modern beasts, to take our will forces in hand, like many, people young & old, who have dedicated themselves to be spiritual warriors for peace, & the light of truth.