Epiphany: The Manifestation of the Gifts

In the current dating and historical referencing of Christianity, January 6th is known as "Epiphany". 

Epiphany is the holy day for recognizing the manifestation of God through the journey of the Three Wise Men or Three Kings, the magii.

The story of the "Three Wise Men" was originally translated from the ancient form of the magicians who could read and follow the stars. This stemmed originated from the Zorastias of Persia in the general area of the Middle East. As priests they were considered magicians or chemists (early alchemists). In other words the three magii, kings or wise men were ancient astronomers!

These wise men who could read and follow the stars came bearing their sacred gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, as they followed the light of the "Star of Bethlehem", to their revelation and understandings of the Holy and Blessed Birth of a great inner light of the Christ Child called Jesua (Joshua) or Jesus.

The journey towards the light, the magic of that revelation, and the power of the gift itself, are all seen as their own Epiphany or manifestation of the Divine and the gifts of the Godhead of that Divine, the Universal all knowing, all seeing, all being presence of the "I am".

Today, in secular terminology, an epiphany is a sudden realization or comprehension of the essence or meaning of something. It is used in either a philosophical or literal sense to signify receiving new information or having an experience that illuminates a deeper understanding.

To 'have an epiphany' is to have a 'wow' or 'aha' moment. Suddenly, every thing is crystal clear, seen, understood or recognized. I long for aha moments. But I am grateful for any gifts of the sacred, in any manifestation, that I receive.

As some of my holy or holiday gifts over the years, I still treasure these simple but highly valued and sacred resins. I'd always secretly wanted both frankincense and myrrh and was delighted to receive them one Christmas long ago from my older  daughter who shares and understands my deep love of the mystical. 

I placed my gifts within an abalone shell (my own gift from the sea) and now have gold (gold pyrite shown here) frankincense‐‐which is the pale yellow resin and myrhh‐‐the golden amber resin. These are the three gifts of the magii as they came bearing their gifts.

I was also given the gifts of a resin known as dragonsblood (dark red chunks) from the Canary Islands and Morocco, and copal (white chunks) a plant resin sacred to the Mayans. All highly treasured throughout time among many cultures and belief systems.

Then there are the more unusual selection of salts: Red Alea Salt, Cyprus Flake Salt, and Black Lava Salt as well as a dainty salt spoon for serving them, a little mortar and pestle, and another smaller jar of frankincense of myrrh.

Seen as a miracle in themselves, all salts, precious minerals, and resins are really quite magical even mysterious.  Mystical sap emanating from sacred plants and trees, which magically hardened with contact with the air and emit exotic fumes when burned as incense.  How amazing that must have been to the ancients and how treasures they remain today.

And of course many of you will recognize dried sage, a gift to many peoples for both burning and purification and of course, for a seasoning herb in cooking.

All of these precious gifts from days long ago, carefully mined, collected, and saved and used as currency or as gifts to those most worthy. Now often unknown or simply not recognized by many but treasures they remain in my own  heart forever.

Celebrate Epiphany, the giving of the gifts. Light a candle in a window, give gifts of your own to loved ones and truly celebrate the beautiful dawning of a new light into this world.

Michele Bilyeu 

Creates With Heart and Hands 

sharing an imaginative, magical, and healing journey from Alaska to Oregon and back again.

Creating, designing, sewing, quilting, and wildcrafting,

 "from my heart and with my hands".

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