As the year grows darker - and, by analogy, life grows darker - it's natural to look in unexpected places for meaning and hope. As I mentioned before, the low angle of the sun's rays highlights corners and edges of things which normally remain hidden - for example, crystals in tiny caves and openings. By analogy, in life itself there are lines of force visible at this time to those who look. Passing on from the mineral to the plant world, you can't help but feel that nature withdraws into itself to its deepest point in order to let the inner meaning of its existence shine out: the flower which is the essence of its being. What is most concealed is most radiant. And again, by analogy, you look for the truest, deepest image of life in yourself. Then - perhaps with a little trepidation - you move on from the mineral and plant worlds to that of the animals. What does the darkest time of year mean for them? At this point we're talking about sentient creation - awareness, consciousness which tingles with life but which is not notably self-conscious or self-aware. The senses therefore lead the way. Animals in the dark and cold will look for shelter, for warmth, for nourishment and - more importantly - they will instinctively look for the guiding wisdom of the world to provide them with what they need. Our human senses and instincts then, by analogy, form a line like the animals and move towards the source of replenishment. Our consciousness does not even play a part in this - the instincts have a wisdom of their own.
The human being will finally arrive - the fourth of the kingdoms. There is no human analogy for this kingdom - it is its own analogy. The structure of life, the flower of life, the instinct of life and - finally - the Self of life. These are the four stages which are traditionally represented in the four weeks of Advent or - in pagan terms - the month leading up to the rebirth of Light at the midwinter festival, and which play themselves out as if in a great dream.
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