Cayce on Mary, the Mother of Jesus & Essene Preparation

Reading 254-1, May 1941

(Q) Please describe the associate membership of the women in the Essene brotherhood, telling what privileges and restrictions they had, how they joined the Order, and what their life and work was.

(A) This was the beginning of the period where women were considered as equals with the men in their activities, in their abilities to formulate, to live, to be, channels. They joined by dedication - usually by their parents.

It was a free will thing all the way thorough, but they were restricted only in the matter of certain foods and certain associations in various periods - which referred to the sex, as well as to the food or drink.

(Q) How did Mary and Joseph first come in contact with the Essenes and what was their preparation for the coming of Jesus?

(A) As indicated, by being dedicated by their parents.

(Q) Please describe the process of selection and training of those set aside as holy women such as Mary, Editha [587], and others as a possible mother for the Christ. How were they chosen, were they mated, and what was their life and work while they waited in the Temple?

(A) They were first dedicated and then there was the choice of the individual through the growths, as to whether they would be merely channels for general services. For, these were chosen for special services at various times; as were the twelve chosen at the time, which may be used as an illustration. Remember, these came down from the periods when the school had begun, you see. When there were the activities in which there were to be the cleansings through which bodies were to become channels for the new race, or the new preparation, these then were restricted - of course - as to certain associations, developments in associations, activities and the like. We are speaking here of the twelve women, you see - and all of the women from the very beginning who were dedicated as channels for the new race, see?

(Q) Please describe the Essene wedding, in temple, of Mary and Joseph, giving the form of ceremony and customs at that time.

(A) This followed very closely the form outlined in Ruth. It was not in any way a supplanting but a cherishing of the sincerity of purpose in the activities of individuals.

When there was to be the association, or the wedding of Joseph and Mary, - Mary having been chosen as the channel by the activities indicated upon the stair, by the hovering of the angel, the enunciation to Anna and to Judy [1472] and to the rest of those in charge of the preparations at that time, - then there was to be sought out the nearer of kin, though NOT kin in the blood relationships. Thus the lot fell upon Joseph, though he was a much older man compared to the age ordinarily attributed to Mary in the period. Thus there followed the regular ritual in the temple. For, remember, the Jews were not refrained from following their rituals. Those of the other groups, as the Egyptians or the Parthians, were not refrained from following the customs to which they had been trained; which were not carried on in the Jewish temple but rather in the general meeting place of the Essenes as a body-organization.

Reading 5749-8, June 1937

(Q) How were the maidens selected and by whom?

(A) By all of those who chose to give those that were perfect in body and in mind for the service; and as Ann - or Anna - gave the same, and in the presentation could not be refused because of the perfectness of body, though many questioned and produced a division because she proclaimed it had been conceived without knowing a man. Thus came the division, yet the others were chosen - each as a representative of the twelve in the various phases that had been or that had made up Israel - or man.

(Q) How old was Mary at the time she was chosen?

(A) Four; and, as ye would call, between twelve and thirteen when designated as the one chosen by the angel on the stair.

(Q) Describe the training and preparation of the group of maidens.

(A) Trained as to physical exercise first, trained as to mental exercises as related to chastity, purity, love, patience, endurance. All of these by what would be termed by many in the present as persecutions, but as tests for physical and mental strength; and this under the supervision of those that cared for the nourishments by the protection in the food values. These were the manners and the way they were trained, directed, protected.

(Q) Were they put on special diet?

(A) No wine, no fermented drink ever given. Special foods, yes. These were kept balanced according to that which had been first set by Aran [Aaron? See Leviticus 10:9 and 11:1—47] and Ra Ta.

Israel

Home