Holy Child
Today is marked by some Filianis as the Conception of the Daughter.
I struggled massively with last year's version, so it was a relief that this one came together much easier. This photo is so magical!!
This is a direct translation from the Catholic calendar, where today is considered the (Immaculate) Conception of Mary. "Immaculate" here means that Mary was conceived without original sin so she could be the mother of God.
The Conception of the Daughter is a later addition to the Filianic calendar, seen only in Aristasian and later sources, which is why not many in the Filianic community observe this day. Those who do mark this day see today as the proper start to the Nativity season, which may work best for those who do not actively participate in Advent which began ten days ago. It is considered the final Mother festival of the Mother-half of the year, but also as a Mother-Daughter festival ahead of the official start of the Daughter-half at Filiadi (Nativity).
I personally do not mark this day as I feel it clashes with how Advent builds toward Nativity. It sits uneasily across the otherwise clean divide between the Mother-half and the Daughter-half divisions to the year, where this is a Mother-Daughter festival celebrated before the Daughter has truly arrived, and brings the conception to an odd point within Advent. I find it is too directly a copy from the Catholic calendar. There is, of course, no historical basis for the dates given as the conception and birth of Mary: various dates were celebrated for the birth of Mary in the early church, and was only solidified as September 8 when the Feast of the Conception on December 8 became an official feast for the entire church. While I appreciate the efforts of early Filianis and Madrians to honor all Marian feasts, the Conception might be better placed at another time in the winter season -- such as on the winter solstice -- if marked at all.
This verse comes from the Holy Mythos, where the children of the earth had come to lay their gifts before the Janya who guarded the way to the Cave. This verse directly after the offering of the first gift:
"And the three great princesses of the earth came forward: First the greatest of them, who ruled more land than either of the others and also possessed more treasure. And her crown was of pure gold; and as she took it from her head, the light of the star fell upon it, and it shone with a glister more lovely than any earthly jewel. And she laid it at the feet of the Janya.
And the Janya said: It is good that you bring your crown, for you are a great princess, but the Holy Child shall be Princess of all the world."
The second and third of the great princesses then offer their crowns: one of silver, offered by the wisest of the princesses; and one of crystal, offered by a princess who is also a priestess. To these offerings, the Janya states that "the Holy Child is the Daughter of Wisdom Herself" (v27) and "the Holy Child shall be Priestess of all the world, and shall serve Her children even to the last and greatest service" (v30). This shows the usual view in Filianic sources that compared to the traditional valuable metals, gold and silver, crystal is the most important. The poorest princess is yet the most spiritually rich; though "the greatest of them" the princess with the gold crown approaches first, the light from the star shines to its greatest beauty on the crown of glittering crystal that makes all present "draw their breath at the sight of its beauty" (v28).
As always, these chapters of the Mythos are the most beautiful! They draw you right in to the Divine Drama and the magic of the season as the Daughter is born.
~*~
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