(In Person Only) Mefistofele (Act III)
Details
A lecture on the ordeals, antidotes, and methods for overcoming suffering in the alchemical work (within Mefistofele). Beginners welcome!
Lecture Topic: The Fool, Lust, Insanity, and Pain of the Ninth Sphere in Mefistofele (Act III)
Margherita (the trapped and conditioned feminine consciousness), has lost her reason due to Faust’s abandonment and the death of her (divine) mother, since the sleeping potion had deleterious effects. Driven to insanity, the distressed Margherita, having born Faust’s child, drowns it in a pond to spite her absent lover. Faust is driven by remorse to seek her in the bowels of a prison with the help of Mefistofele, who provides the key to the initiatic mysteries and the means to unlock wisdom from the well of the world, the bottomless pit or abyss where knowledge must be found, discerned, and consciously integrated. Such a descent into the lower worlds is a common trope within mythological narratives, whereby the warrior (human) soul (Tiphereth) must face the terrors of hell and redeem the fallen consciousness (Sophia) from perdition. Such allegories reflect what Samael Aun Weor called the Ninth Sphere, the transformed and divinely-inspired sexuality between husband and wife who conquer desire and practice alchemy, chastity, or sexual transmutation. However, such a path is fraught with pain and hardship, since lust is difficult to extirpate, and “Bitterness”—(which defines many marriages)—“lies in the (alchemical) cup of even the best love: thus it arouses longing for the Superman; thus it arouses your thirst, creator (alchemist)” (Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra). Learn how to transmute the pain of the Ninth Sphere through a study of the 21st Arcanum of the Tarot, known as the Fool in conventional decks, whereby Margherita, the Essence trapped in our defects or ego, can be liberated towards the higher worlds of the initiatic path.
Light refreshments and snacks will be served before and during the viewing of Act III. Afterward we will have a short break and reconvene for the lecture.
Listen to the previous Mefistofele lectures in this course:
If you have not already, we recommend you listen to or study the following lectures, since it provides much background knowledge that will deepen your understanding of this opera:
Location and Directions
828 Davis St, Suite 5 (Lower Level)
Evanston, IL 60201
There is paid parking across the street in the Sherman Plaza Parking Garage with cheap hourly rates ($6 for 3 to 5 hours).
The 201 and 213 Buses stop across the street at Davis St. and Benson Ave. You can also take the 93, 201, 208, 213, or 250 Bus to Davis and Maple, walking a block East on Davis until reaching our location across from Benson Ave.
The Davis Purple Line stop is half a block away. When arriving, go South on Benson Ave straight ahead to our location on Davis St.
There is also the Davis St. / Evanston Metra Station, whereby you can walk South on Maple and East on Davis.
When you arrive, enter through the front. Go down to the lower level via the stairs to the left or the elevator to the right. We are located in Suite 5.
Please RSVP if you plan to attend. We look forward to seeing you!
(In Person Only) Mefistofele (Act III)