The Passover of the Hebrews and the Resurrection of the Christ are of like significance. They are both events of liberation. What the Passover is to the Old Dispensation, the Resurrection is to the New.
These events being of like import, they occurred under similar stellar influences. They are festivals of the Spring Equinox, when the Sun enters Aries and imparts a fresh impulse to all life. The Cosmos is then vibrant with a new release of energy to which man and nature respond.
What the Spring Equinox is to nature, so is it to the spiritual life of humanity. Thus, it is not by accident or by arbitrary decrees of ecclesiastical councils that special religious observances are held at this time. It is in obedience to the inward and outward motions of life itself. Christians celebrate the glories of Eastertide; Jews commemorate the Passover; Buddhists observe the Wesak Festival which, while a little later in the season, is none the less keyed to the fresh annual outpouring that comes with the Sun's ingress into Aries.
The Vernal Equinox is also a festival time on inner planes, when hosts of celestial Beings join in the triumphant song of resurrected life. Mystery Schools observe it with sacred and solemn rites. Hierophants and disciples foregather; "qualified and worthy" neophytes are admitted into a greater degree of knowledge concerning the mysteries of life and being.
The entire Book of Exodus centers in the Passover. It deals with the passage of the Sun from watery Pisces to fiery Aries. There is a blending of the two principles that produces an ecstasy of life which floods the Earth and which we know as springtide. In man a similar interaction of the Fire and Water principles occurs, fiery desires blending with watery emotions. When this alchemical process has advanced to a certain point, a new status in spiritual development is attained and the progressed soul is hailed as "new born."
Because of the cosmic powers operative when the Sun is focusing the activating rays of Aries on humanity, it is the time when events of great moment may logically be initiated. Biblical history records many such. In the month of Nisan (April), on the fifteenth day thereof, the Israelites left Egypt — the most important date in the Old Dispensation calendar. It was also the date of Joseph's release from prison. Other events occurring at this time include the encampment of Sermacherib's army before Jerusalem, where it was slain by the Lord; the deliverance of Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego from the fiery furnace and Daniel's release unharmed from the lion's den. These events all point to the new fires that envelop and energize the Earth under the rays of Aries and its fiery planetary ruler, Mars.
The significance of nature's springtime in relation to human consciousness is brought out in the Lord's announcement to Moses and Aaron that "This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you." (Exodus 12:2)
A new light dawned for them; they were exalted to a higher state of knowing; they were raised to greater powers of performance. In other words, they were initiated into more of the divine plan for man and definitely commissioned to carry it forward among those worthy and sufficiently comprehending. Such were the Israelites, the pioneers; the Elect, the Chosen.
Initiation is a difficult attainment. It must be earned. No one can bestow it upon another, nor can money procure it. It is the result of right living, of moral character, of helpful service. One's selfish, animalistic nature must be sacrificed before his higher nature can come to fruition. Moses, the Initiate, teaches this to his people as the first essential to accomplishing the passover. ". . they shall take to them every man a lamb," and kill it. "And they shall eat the flesh... roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it." (Exodus 12:3,8) The neophyte on the Path well realizes that the animal which must be slain, fired and devoured symbolizes the bestial qualities in his own nature. The ceremony merely visualizes an inner process.
The sacrifice required was not pleasing; the bread was not leavened and the herbs bitter. One reason for prescribing unleavened bread is that its atomic constituency is of a higher vibratory value than leavened bread. Fermentation is caused by a foreign agency of a decomposing nature.
— Corinne Heline
