The Story of the Essenes - Mary and Joseph

abracad, May 22, 2012 · Categories: edgar cayce, externally authored, jesus

by Doug Simpson

This is the fourth article in a series of articles on the Essenes. If you have not read The Story of the Essenes - The Beginning, The Story of the Essenes - Jesus' Teacher, and The Story of the Essenes - Twelve Maidens, I respectfully suggest that you stop reading this article and locate and read the first three articles. It is not crucial that you do this, but knowledge of the first three articles may be of assistance to you in understanding the background for this fourth article. If you cannot locate the first three articles on the website where you currently are, you will find them on my website at http://dousimp.mnsi.net/.

We concluded our previous Essene article with a brief look at six of the twelve Essene maidens whose reincarnated soul entities had obtained readings from the legendary American mystic, Edgar Cayce. These six maidens plus five others who did not appear in the Edgar Cayce readings, leave us with the Virgin Mary, who was selected by the Angel to become the Mother of the long-awaited Savior. Here is the story of Mary and Joseph, as recorded in the Edgar Cayce readings, up to just preceding the birth of Jesus.

"11. (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." [DS: Reading 254-109] "13. (Q) Is the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church that Mary was without original sin from the moment of her conception in the womb of Ann, correct? (A) It would be correct in ANY case. Correct more in this. For, as for the material teachings of that just referred to, you see: In the beginning [DS: before Adam and Eve] Mary was the twin-soul of the Master in the entrance into the earth! 14. (Q) Was Ann prepared for her part in the drama as mother of Mary? (A) Only as in the general, not as specific as Mary after Mary being pointed out. See, there was no belief [DS: on the part of many of her fellow Essenes] in the fact that Ann proclaimed that the child was without father. It's like many proclaiming today that the Master was immaculately conceived; they say "Impossible!" They say that it isn't in compliance with the natural law. It IS a natural law, as has been indicated by the projection of mind [DS: souls] into matter [DS: human bodies] and thus making of itself a separation to become encased in same - as man did. Then, that there has been an encasement was a beginning. Then there must be an end when this must be or may be broken; and this began at that particular period. Not the only - this particular period with Ann and then the Master AS the son; but the ONLY begotten of the Father in the flesh AS a son OF an immaculately conceived daughter! 15. (Q) Neither Mary nor Jesus, then, had a human father? (A) Neither Mary nor Jesus had a human father. They were one SOUL so far as the earth is concerned; because [else] she would not be incarnated in flesh, you see.

"16. (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 [DS: maidens] were chosen - each as a representative of the twelve in the various phases that had been or that had made up Israel - or man. 17. (Q) How old was Mary at the time she was chosen? [DS: This actually refers to Mary's age when Anna dedicated her to the service of the Essenes.] (A) Four; and, as ye would call, between twelve and thirteen when designated as the one chosen by the angel on the stair." [5749-8] "29. (Q) How long was the preparation in progress before Mary was chosen? (A) Three years [DS: after the twelve maidens were selected.] 30. (Q) In what manner was she chosen? (A) As they walked up the steps! 31. (Q) Was there any appearance of the angel Gabriel in the home? (A) In the temple when she was chosen, ... " [5749-7]

With the Immaculate Conception of Anna or Ann culminating in the birth of Mary, it appears that Mary was always intended to be the Mother of the Savior. So, why did they need to go through the process of selecting and grooming, for almost a decade, twelve maidens when Mary was the result of an Immaculate Conception specifically for the purpose of becoming the Mother of Jesus? The Heavenly Sources had advised the Essenes to select the twelve maidens, so we might suspect that God was attempting to cover all of His bases, in case that Mary, for some reason, turned out not to be the most appropriate Mother. Remember Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden? Things did not work out there according to God's original plan. After God gave man free will, God apparently left man primarily alone to make his own decisions and mistakes. If Anna had not dedicated Mary to the service of the Essenes as planned, or Mary made Her own choice to drop out of the strict regimen that the twelve maidens were put through, would God likely have Immaculately Conceived Her anyway, or might He have opted for one of the other maidens instead? Interesting question!

"25. (Q) Give a detailed description for literary purposes, of the choosing of Mary on the temple steps. (A) The temple steps - or those that led to the altar, these were called the temple steps. These were those upon which the sun shone as it arose of a morning when there were the first periods of the chosen maidens going to the altar for prayer; as well as for the burning of the incense. On this day, as they mounted the steps all were bathed in the morning sun; which not only made a beautiful picture but clothed all as in purple and gold. As Mary reached the top step, then, then there were the thunder and lightning, and the angel led the way, taking the child by the hand before the altar. This was the manner of choice, this was the showing of the way; for she led the others on THIS particular day. 26. (Q) Was this the orthodox Jewish temple or the Essene temple? (A) The Essenes, to be sure. Because of the adherence to those visions as proclaimed by Zacharias in the orthodox temple, he (Zacharias) was slain even with his hands upon the horns of the altar. Hence these as were being here protected were in Carmel, while Zacharias was in the temple of Jerusalem." [5749-8]

"6. (Q) Please explain the virgin birth of Jesus, the Christ. (A) In that there had been the manifestation in the earth [DS: Mary] of that which completed the cycle for the necessary manifestation in the earth of the holy influence [DS: the coming of Jesus] necessary for the sustaining of a backsliding world, there was then that choosing of the influence through which there became manifest (in and through those channels that comply with the laws of spiritual forces) that which brought into being the conception, that made for the living influence of the Spirit through the body that became the child Jesus; and through the manifesting of the spirit of the oneness of the Father became a manifestation of the Christ Spirit in material surroundings." [5749-3]

"34. (Q) Were Mary and Joseph known to each other socially before the choosing for them to be man and wife? (A) As would be chosen in a lodge, not as ye would term of visitations; neither as only chosen by the sect or the families. In those periods most of the Jewish families, the arrangements were made by the parents of the contracting parties, you see; while in this - these were not as contracting parties from their families. For Ann and her daughter were questioned as to belonging to any, you see! Then it was not a choice altogether as that they were appointed by the leaders of the sect [DS: the Essenes] or of the group or of the lodge or of the church; for this is the church that is called the Catholic now - and is the closest. These were kept then in that way of choice between them, and choice as pointed out by the divine forces. 20. (Q) In what manner was Joseph informed of his part in the birth of Jesus? (A) First by Mathias or Judah. Then as this did not coincide with his own feelings, first in a dream and then the direct voice. And whenever the voice, this always is accompanied with odors as well as lights; and oft the description of the lights is the vision, see?" [5749-8]

"14. (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 [DS: the good Essene, Joseph], 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 [DS: Essenes] 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." [254-109]

"29. (Q) Where was the wedding performed? of Mary and Joseph? (A) In the temple there at Carmel. 33. (Q) Who were the parents of Joseph? (A) That as recorded by Matthew, as is given, you see; one side recorded by Matthew, the other by Luke - these on various sides but of the house of David, as was also Mary of the house of David. 21. (Q) Why was he disturbed when Mary became with child while yet a virgin? (A) Owing to his natural surroundings and because of his advanced age to that of the virgin when she was given; or as would be termed in the present, because of what people say. Yet when assured, you see, that this was the divine, not only by his brethren but by the voice and by those experiences, he knew. For you see there was from the time of the first promise, while she was still yet in training from the choice, there was a period of some three to four years; yet when he went to claim her as the bride, at the period of - or between sixteen and seventeen, she was found with child. 22. (Q) How old was Joseph at the time of the marriage? (A) Thirty-six. 23. (Q) How old was Mary at the time of the marriage? (A) Sixteen. 30. (Q) Where did the couple live during the pregnancy? (A) Mary spent the most of the time in the hills of Judea, portion of the time with Joseph in Nazareth. From there they went to Bethlehem to be taxed, or to register - as ye would term." [5749-8]

I have deliberately held my comments here to a minimum, and allowed the Heavenly Powers through their chosen channel, Edgar Cayce, to describe for you the details leading up to the long-awaited birth of the Savior.

Doug Simpson is a retired high school teacher who has turned his talents to writing. His first novel, a spiritual mystery titled Soul Awakening, was published in the United States in October of 2011, by Book Locker. Check it out at http://booklocker.com/books/5754.html. It is available in print and eBook format through most book stores around the world. His magazine and website articles have been published in 2010 to 2012 in Australia, Canada, France, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. His articles can be accessed through his website is at http://dousimp.mnsi.net.

The Story of the Essenes - Mary and Joseph

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