At this time, Filianists celebrate the Feast of Light; called Luciad by Orthodox tradition and celebrated on the 2nd of February while the Janite tradition celebrates Lucidi on the 1st. As an independent Sophian, with more Janite leanings but with respect to Chapel Orthodox, I recognise both days as holy and worth meditating on Our Lady, the Holy Daughter, as she reaches maturity.
This holiday marks the point in scripture (Chapter 5 of the Mythos of the Divine Maid) where the Holy Daughter is no longer a babe at Her Mother’s side, coinciding with the final act of Winter. Now She has reached maidenhood and has been called to begin her mission to spread the light of the Mother into every place of the world which has become separated due to kear (the internal chasm which keeps us from looking upon the Heavenly Mother).
When the holy child had grown to the full stature of maidenhood, the Mother of All Things took Her to a high place upon the earth, saying, “To You I give the governance of all these things. You shall command the movements of the waters, and the wind shall be Your servant. The seasons of the earth You shall control, and all the times and seasons in the lives of My creatures. Every soul on earth and in the heavens shall be given into Your care, and the highest stars of the sky shall know You as their sovereign. For all these things must be put from Me; for they can no longer look upon My brightness.”
And the Maid ruled over all the world, making the earth grow fruitful and attending to the prayers of Her creatures, and oftentimes making prayers of Her own that they might come closer to the Mother. And divine light shone once more upon the earth, and the Maid was a friend to every creature, and all who turned to Her were filled with life, and with the peace that comes of wholeness.
~ The Clear Recital (Mythos 2:5:1-8)
In Gnostic literature, this can be compared to Zoe leaving the side of her mother Sophia and descending into the form of Eve, in order to share her light with the blind Adam and eventually unto all the world. This is not the first or last parallel goddess-figure who is honoured at this time, at the dawn of Spring, for being the spark which revives the Earth from the cold. Our Wiccan friends might celebrate the goddess Brigid at Imbolc while Christians honour the purification of the Virgin Mary at Candlemas. The Holy Daughter, the Divine Maiden, takes many forms in peoples hearts.
As a Sophian and a Filianist, I seek to embody the Daughter’s vow by sharing Her light - and in doing so, the Mother’s light - upon all the world, wherever I go. I do this, not by proselytising or showing off, but by trying to set an example by simply embodying the holy virtues of the Seven Aeons (Janati), these being; Benevolence, Modesty, Love, Courage, Harmony, Wisdom and Patience. This isn’t always easy. Patience and Courage, sometimes Love (Compassion), are probably those I struggle with the most. But just as the Daughter is still growing and just beginning in Her journey, so it is important to keep in mind that struggling to understand and balance these virtues and be a bearer of Her Light is part of our own personal trial. In the Filianic Wheel of the Year, Spring does not come immediately after Winter, for the trial of Moura - Our Lady’s descent into hell - must be endured before the world is fully renewed.
It need also not be a mission that we take up alone. We can each be a Light Bearer to others and try to see the Light from those around us. I’m so grateful to my sisters and brothers in the Ekklesia family, whether Filianist or otherwise, who have helped me understand scripture and Our Lady through various interpretations and understandings.
May She illuminate and guide you well in the year to come and may you always walk blessed at Her side.
