The Christian justification for giving presents, was found in the Biblical ‘Magi’s’ act of bearing gifts to the infant Jesus, and in the concept that Christ, was a gift from God to the world, bringing in turn the gift of redemption and everlasting life. The Magi, also referred to as the (Three) Wise Men or (Three) Kings, were a group of distinguished foreign dignitaries who, after following a bright Star, visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The gifts provided to Jesus were symbolic and generally speaking, had the following meaning:

Gold is fairly obviously explained for value and prosperity, Frankincense is a perfume, and Myrrh, is an anointing oil.

The three gifts also had a spiritual meaning: gold as a symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense (an incense) as a symbol of deity or God, and myrrh (an embalming oil) as a symbol of mortality.

There are other interpretations, sometimes described more generally as; ‘Gold’ symbolizing virtue, ‘Frankincense’ symbolizing prayer, and ‘Myrrh’ symbolizing suffering. Whatever the interpretation however, these gifts contrast with the Jews’ traditional offerings of ‘sheep’ and ‘calves’, leading to the assertion that the Magi worshiped Jesus as God!

Incidentally, there has also been suggestions that Joseph and Mary used the gold to finance their travels when they fled Bethlehem, after the magi had warned them about King Herod’s plan to kill Jesus. Another story proposes that the myrrh given to them at Jesus’ birth was the very lotion used to anoint Jesus’ body after his crucifixion.

So what would be a modern equivalent of such gifts… ipads? mobile phones? the latest greatest camera? All of these are gifts that are a spin-off of the technological age. Perhaps indicative of communication, yet their use could be quite the opposite. Promoting isolation and a lack of social interaction. This would be the opposite of the teachings ascribed to Jesus and the prophets of the past seeking to promote social closeness and mutual love and respect for each other.

Well, Gold is an obvious choice and any item of jewellery could be a modern equivalent. As for frankincense, any item from a perfume shop should suffice.

Myrrh, as a symbol of mortality, is a different matter altogether, and needs some careful thought if not to be morbid. It would be fair to suggest, that a suitable alternative may well be a scarf or body covering of some sort, (i.e. as a form of shroud), as the thought of embalming fluid as a Christmas present is not attractive in the least!

So what gift to give then…? I would leave you with your own thoughts on that matter. Perhaps this question is rhetorical, but throughout history you can see that the value of the gift is NOT necessarily relevant. Jesus through his own Christmas story has taught us that it is the joy of giving that is the greatest gift of all!

Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Love and Peace from AlanC

I do not recommend others engage in such activity. I was advised throughout by my spirit guides and I was very well protected. Such ‘rescue’ work does go on though, through specialism as a consequence of development in medium circles. What you can take from this example, is the message that we all have the ability to send Love and Protection to others through prayer and it works!

Love and blessings to all from AlanC

Yin=Soul & Yang=Spirit and is the balance between development of morality and conscience of the human essence, and the guiding principles of higher spiritual awareness.

AlanC at astralunity.com

Stonehenge Salisbury. Been here today. Met a Shaman ‘caretaker’ called Siobahn and we discussed the qualities of karmic balance. Good energies were here. I saw the energies of past spirits and Druids within the stones themselves.

Siobahn was dressed in a ‘Druid’ style of clothing with a cloak, a pentacle pendant and large stick, atop which was a rams head. She asked me what energies I felt from the stick as she passed me it. Strange, but with the rams head away from me I saw a daylight scene with exceptionally coloured sky and with the rams head toward me, a night sky from the same position, beautifully clear and starlit. I felt as if I was viewing this scene from way back in time!

I will post a pic of Siobahn on the Astral Facebook when I return home…

Shaman at Stonehenge

And here she is …say Hi to Siobahn if you meet her. A nice Lady!

AlanC

In my view one cannot be ‘spiritual’ (define spiritual?) WITHOUT working at it. At first…to achieve realisation…then constantly thereafter to maintain it! Spirituality in terms of an enlightened interaction with those spirit energies around us, human or otherwise, is not possible without constantly checking oneself, as one climbs that upwards spiral in order to reach kundalini. As Kundalini is not a steady state, one must then be prepared to put in an ever increasing amount of energy thereafter in order to re-attain it. If this concept is a bit ‘high brow’, then consider unconditional love of others as a meditation, and how easy it is to revert to ‘animal’ type when something as simple as someone pulling out in a car in front of you happens! It’s a long road to travel before you get to the point of seeing everything from a different and more rounded point of view and accepting it, offering blessings and forgiveness for such actions, in order to counter even the slightest negative energy before it takes hold!!!
Love and Peace to all.

Recommendation: A GRIEF OBSERVED by C.S. LEWIS.