The Aquarii

[Bruce Michael]

Dear Friends,
There seems to be a confusion amongst some regarding the Communion of the Manichaeans. That the Manichaeans practised the Water Communion is quite clear, like clear pure water.

Firstly, water (apart from the deleterious elements that have become blended with it) was regarded by Mani as one of the Divine Elements. This as with Light, was not just a symbolical designation but in actuality- Water
being the Divine Feminine and the manifestation of the Heavenly Ego. (Some of you know that I have suggested distilled water or at least good
rainwater. )

The Water Communion was also part of Mithraism.

Ablutions to, in connection with prayers and ritual was important to Mani for the same reason as outlined above. His family, it is said, were members
of a religion that involved sacred ablutions as well. Before Communion it is
good to wash the feet for instance- being conscious of the deepness of the cleansing process.

Some more notes from a web page:

"The Encratites, who opposed the use of all intoxicating drinks,
consistently communed with water. In the fourth century the users-of water in the Communion were called "Aquarii" or "Hydroparastatae" and, under the Code of Theodosius, were liable to death for their practise."

So, this Water Communion was subject to the death penalty!

"Others known as having substituted water for wine are: Tatian, a
pupil of Justin Martyr; Galatia, the confessor of Alcibiades of Lyons; Pionius, the Catholic martyr of Smyrna; the Marcionites; the Ebionites; the Montanists; and the Therapeutae of Philo."

Yes a Catholic Saint as well!

-Br.Bruce

 

[Bruce Michael]

The Mass itself is pre-Christian and elements of the Persian and Egyptian Mysteries, went to make up the original Catholic Mass.

At the behest of some Lutheran priests, Dr. Steiner was able to beg down the archetype of a 10th century Roman Catholic Mass. This became the Act of Consecration of Man which is used in the Christian Community Churches.

Interestingly, Luther stands in opposition to Dr. Faustus as Augustine did to Faustus the Manichean.

Undoubtedly there is a connection to the Mithraic Mysteries, and Paul must have either been initiated in them or at least had a good working knowledge.

Drinking blood (Lord's supper) was a disgusting idea to Jews but acceptable
to the Mithraites (who used bread and water.) Tarsus was a centre of the Mithraic Mysteries. Mithra is the Archangel Michael.

I'm sure there is a very deep esoteric school amongst the Parsis- but who has penetrated it to tell the tale?

I would love to know more about the Mandean water ritual.

Parsi fire/masculine, Mandean water/feminine.

Why we should consider water for our Communion?:

"It is the nature of the water to contain that which we imbue in it - when
words/thoughts become uttered within a vicinity the water is impregnated
thus.

There used to be tales of those certain ponds and fonts in which the future might become pictorially revealed, that the water contained the pictorial visions is indeed a quality which may in part be explained. The pictures were brought before those privy to view, put there by beings (angelic or faerie) by way of communicating with the child or the man."
-From the Elder Brothers

Modern researchers have been finding more about this:
"Masaru Emoto, a creative and visionary Japanese researcher, has published an important book, "The Message from Water,
Wellness Goods

"From Mr. Emoto's work we are provided with factual evidence, that human vibrational energy, thoughts, words, ideas and music, affect the molecular structure of water,"

For those who wish to know more of Anthroposophic Christology, I suggest the following:

Emil Bock's "The Three Years" is good.

There are lectures on all the gospels by Steiner. I started with the Gospel of St. Luke, which is the more Buddhistic Gospel. It really cleared up a lot
of mysteries for me- especially in relation to Zarathustra's role.

I have never had such a great experience in a study group as when we read the seventh lecture of this series. There were only three of us and we later compared notes and found we all felt the same. I later heard the Steiner said Christ Himself could present Himself when that lecture was studied!
Matthew however, is the Gospel which comes from the Persian, Zoroastrian
side, in greater detail.


Br.Bruce