When Personality Merges with Soul -
The Mystical Marriage

The mystical marriage is a magical moment in the lives of both personality and soul—when the two become one. Designated within the context of the path of initiation as the third initiation—transfiguration—at this conjunction the personality that has been prepared is so changed, it has adapted to the energy of the soul and welcomes the union of soul to itself. It is most often thought of as the soul (feminine) flowing down and into the life of personality (masculine) and the physical life.

Transformation, transmutation, and transfiguration are stages of change necessary for the mystical marriage—the pledging of our refined personality to the soul—to occur. Each represents a cycle of experiences and integration that changes one from a focus on: first, the physical plans, its rules and regulations; second, the struggle to merge the astral and mental body into one; and third, the level of evolution needed for the lower vehicles of body, heart, and mind to withstand the intensity of the soul.

During this process, the ego must choose to live a more highly conscious life. This may be simply to respond to the morality of the culture in which it finds itself in a manner that encourages self-discipline, rather than allowing the desire nature to run rampant. As self-discipline and goal-fittedness are directed toward refinement and spiritual values, a process of inner transmutation begins. This is clearly reflected in counseling, therapy, self-observation, and new awareness. During this stage, a great deal of change occurs in the personality, for the consciousness that guides this life is making a number of breakthroughs.

In the biblical reference to transfiguration, Luke 9:28-34, Jesus the Christ brings his disciples to the mountaintop with him as he prays. Leaving most of the disciples to rest, he chooses a few to come closer and to watch with him. He tests them to see how much they will bear; but they go to sleep rather than remain vigilant. Thus, in the everyday life of humanity, the Christ takes some of us with him a certain distance, then allows us to rest. He takes others a bit further to see if they will watch with him. When he is not commanding their attention, they often fall asleep. We might consider that we are being “tested”—or sometimes we return to a less aware state, not even realizing a situation was a test.

At length Jesus the Christ enters a state of illumination and reveals himself in his light body. To those observing, he shows his Christed essence in its natural state of illumination. Here the Master Jesus, representing humanity wholly illumined, and the Lord Christ, teacher of angels and of humanity, stand as one, bridging the separation that had existed between the highest of the lower kingdoms and the King of the heavenly kingdom. The Solar Angel of Earth, as I like to call the Christ, shows his light.

This moment forms the foundation for the expression “fully human-fully divine”; the goal for humanity is revealed. We are each to bring together that part of our nature which has evolved through the human life, the personality with its many aspects and adventures, and the soul that dwells in the inner world putting down aspects through which it many become increasingly aware. As we observe the third initiation in the life of Jesus the Christ, we look to this event for reassurance—a marker that we too can achieve this stature.

This experience is so significant because it is the stage of evolution for which humanity yearns. We are attempting to reach a certain level of consciousness during this Earth period, and this is our goal as we become aware of the mystical Christ within our human nature. During preparation, we sensitize ourselves to the impression of our solar angel, and under its tutelage, we merge into oneness as the marriage occurs.

The term given to the subtler teachings that facilitate this process is “Esoteric Christianity.” Exoteric concepts tend to focus more on the physical aspects and practices of life; traditional denominations often emphasize customs and style, a dogma or a doctrine. Inner practices (prayer, meditation, contemplation, adoration, and others) facilitate the blending of the human-ness and the soul in its power of expression, truly living as one incarnation—wholly divine.

I have chosen to call the practices of changing our nature from ego-focus to soul-focus “the yoga of the Christ.” Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word yug and means “union”; yoke comes from the same origin. Thus we put on the yoke, or yoga, of the Christ. With these efforts one truly does strive to “take the yoke” of the Christ and burden, which is “light” (Matt. 11:29-30), praying, “May the mind that is in Christ Jesus be also within me.” Only by so doing can any of us fulfill the great goal given to us: “Ye are the light of the world.”

Teachings tell us that when the mystical marriage occurs, the light of aura is increased greatly. Eastern writings relate that Lord Buddha’s aura was three miles in diameter; I have not seen a reference to the aura of Jesus the Christ except in references to the glory body at transfiguration. How wondrous it must have been to witness the light!

We are also privileged to see in Luke’s story of the transfiguration the clearest reference in the New Testament to Jesus having a séance. “As Peter, James, and John gazed in awe upon the sublime spectacle of the transfigured Christ, they saw standing beside him Moses and Elijah, two of the highest initiates of the Old Testament days who had worked to prepare their followers for the Lord Christ’s coming. “ In this moment of the meeting of the worlds, he met with Moses and Elijah, and they acknowledged each other. This story reminds us that those holy ones who have gone before us do watch and care and that, as we lift our consciousness into higher vibrating frequencies, we can communicate with them even while we are in the physical.

Methods to bring about transformation, transmutation, and transfiguration are provided through the esoteric teachings for those interested today. It has been my pleasure over the past six years to be involved in writing a meditation and spiritual technology process for publication—a subject dear to my heart. I must say, meditation is the most important work happening today—and, I believe, the only way we of the Christian path can truly understand terms like “discipleship,” “initiation,” “building the light body,” and “ascension”—all quite popular currently.

Our challenge is to remember: yes, we live in a time when many mysteries are being revealed; but also, we know it becomes harder to complete a jigsaw when the pieces of ten puzzles are all mixed together on the table. Ecumenical people love and respect each other’s approaches to the Great God; but they must discern, for all pieces do not work together. For the mystical marriage to occur, each of us must move from digging fifty holes one foot deep to the great commitment: digging one hole fifty feet deep.

Heline, Corinne, The Mystery of the Christos (Santa Monica, CA: New Age Bible & Philosophy Center, 1961.)

Copyright ©1995 Carol E. Parrish

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