Welcome to Barbarah’s Blog and the continuation of the Nativity story as told by the Apostle Luke.

In the last blog we read and did Imagery that brought us through Advent.  This includes The Annunciation to Mary of the Birth of Jesus; Mary’s Visit to her cousin Elizabeth, who became the mother of John the Baptist; and the Birth of Jesus.   I hope your Imagery brought these events alive with you as a participant in their wonder and glory.

We continue the Nativity story with the magical Visitation Of The Angel to the Shepherds; and The Visit of the Three Kings (Wise Men) according to the Apostle Matthew (it seems that the Apostle Luke didn’t narrate this event).

If you haven’t done the Nativity Narrative With  Imagery in the last blog, I suggest you begin there.  You’ll find a process for doing this Imaginal Nativity Ritual after the Imagery Exercise on The Birth of Jesus.

NATIVITY NARRATIVE

The Shepherds Watch Their Flock by the Apostle Luke

“And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were filled with fear.  And the angel said to them, ‘Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.’

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased.”

IMAGERY INSTRUCTION

Close your eyes and breathe out three times. See, feel, sense and know the Shepherds hearing the news of the birth of Jesus from the angel.

Keep your eyes closed and breathe out one time. See, feel, sense, hear and know how the heavenly hosts are singing.  Take this into your heart.

Breathe out one time and open your eyes.

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NATIVITY NARRATIVE

The Shepherds Watch Their Flock Continues

“When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’  And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  And when they saw it they made known the saying, which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.  But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”

IMAGERY INSTRUCTION

Close your eyes and breathe out three times. See, feel sense and know how the shepherds arrive in Bethlehem. Experience with them the scene of Mary, Joseph and the baby laying in the manger.

Keep your eyes closed and breathe out one time. Feel, sense and experience Mary hearing from the Shepherds all that was being said of the infant being a Savior who is Christ the Lord.  Experience this as a new mother.

Open your eyes and breathe out one time.  Resume your natural breathing.

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NATIVITY NARRATIVE

The Visit of the Magi From the Apostle Matthew

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem,,,in the days of Herod the king, behold Wise Men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?  For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.”  ‘When Herod heard this, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where (Jesus) the Christ was to be born.  They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet.  ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people…”

IMAGERY INSTRUCTION

Close your eyes and breathe out three times. See, feel, sense, know and live as the Wise Men following the star shining in the East.

Open your eyes and breathe out one time.  Resume breathing naturally.

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The Visit of the Magi Continues

“Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.’  When they had heard the king they went their way, and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; …and they saw the child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshiped him.

“Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

IMAGERY INSTRUCTION

Close your eyes and breathe out three times. See, feel, sense and know how the Wise Men followed the star until they arrived at the place of Joseph, Mary and the infant.

Keep your eyes closed and breathe out one time. See, feel, sense and experience their feelings at being in the presence of Mary and the infant.

Breathe out one time. See, feel, sense and experience Mary opening one of the gifts. Silently state the name of that one gift.

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Have a joyful and blessed Christmas.  Barbarah

P.S.  Here’s a special gift from your Imagery. Each of you selected one gift from the Wise Men, gold, frankincense or myrrh.  Here’s the meaning of the gift you chose: gold represents transmutation; frankincense represents a biblical past life; and myrrh defines spiritual insights and wisdom.  Use your gift well.

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