Easter / Passover reflections

[Kodemaster]

What does Easter mean to you, if you celebrate -- or Passover?
For me, it's a day of renewal, rebirth, as I continue to seek out Peace around me and pass it forward.

A short video essay:

A peaceful video in nature:

[Adrian]

The name "Easter" is derived from the ancient Celtic tradition of Ostara, which most likely would have been celebrated in Wales as as well. Ostara took place around the Vernal Equinox, around 21 March on the Gregorian calendar, to celebrate a new cycle of birth, life and renewal, still symbolised today with eggs, rabbits etc. The Vernal Equinox is also when day and night are of equal duration. 

Later, religion moved Easter to April for its own purposes.

[tides2dust]

Aww... That is wonderful Jen.

Thank you for asking me, the readers, this question. This is the first year I read the UB with such an interest- it was a fun little side adventure for me. I started on Palm Friday and lined myself up to read Jesus entering Jerusalem all the way up to his resurrection and his bestowal the Spirit of Truth. I learned incredible things about human history, human psychology and ideas about Jesus' teachings I would have otherwise never known.

I was super excited to find out Jesus came as a way to elevate humanities personal relationship with Eternal reality. That he did not care for tradition, dogma or ritual. This really spoke to me, and spoke to something I had believed in and had been discovering this entire time- even using the very same words Jesus used as it pertains to his gift to us- not knowing this until having read it in the UB. Those words are, "The Living Spirit."

I have an entire thread on a separate forum archiving my miracles and spiritual phenomenon called, "Discovering Answers; The Living Spirit."

I cried while reading stories of Jesus this year, it was beautiful. But you asked why I celebrate- I celebrate not to focus on the resurrection which I believe in, but on the Divine Partnership between Creation and Creator. Jesus did not want us to turn his teachings into the religion of Jesus, though that is what it had become almost immediately after his resurrection. Still, it was a step towards an ideal and indication of progress in the souls journey towards "Paradise Realities."

Jesus wanted us all to know we were more than our bodies and sons and daughters of an Eternal God. His gift for me, has less to do with some atonement for sin than it does to do with the realization of the Living Spirit. And Jesus taught that this realization would progress in every person in the manner most unique to them- and a mark of their progress would be realized by understanding the fruits of the Spirit.

In every moment is an opportunity for Divine Communion. The realization of our eternal nature and relationship with a Living and Loving Intelligence. Jesus called this Intelligence Father, and many creatures in the universe call this Intelligence Source. He wanted to wake everyone up to their relationship with Source, as eternally present. 

That is my personal belief, and that is what I celebrate. The Divine Communion with the Beloved. This communion is not some stagnant or medieval belief but it is transcendental in nature and is meant to elevate us in all ways. Our personalities are meant to filter experience in a manner most unique, not clinging to any one particular path. It is spontaneous, dynamic and always rooted in Love. A great Yogi described this union as, "Ever-new Bliss"
It's not easy to think about, but when you are aware of your partnership with God... The Present feels Ever-new.

Reading about Jesus and reading it as described by the many celestial authors from the UB was very nourishing for me this year.

Fun fact... Did you guys know Odin also hung himself from a tree? The tree of life, and was stabbed by a spear- in order to obtain knowledge and share that knowledge with the world?

It is a striking similarity to the Christian story of Jesus, and this occurred centuries before Jesus walked the Earth.

Some would argue that the story was stolen from Norse mythology... But I do not argue or even find these two stories at odds ends. To me, it hints to an even greater reality not bound by time, reason or logic. I think there are Eternal Truths, and Spirit Realities that we can not fully discern while we are so attached to the human condition.

I believe both the story of Odin and the story of Christ are true. I know Christians who won't celebrate Easter because it is pagan. I do not dare to correct their belief by speaking to their intellect, instead I wish to nourish Love in Brother/Sisterhood- realizing God is within every unique form and to make known that we are heirs of an Eternal reality. 

It is a practice, it is the essence of Religion- Living from the Heart. It only brings good things... That is my experience and my reason for celebration.

[Kodemaster]

I love your beautiful replies!