Who is Michael?

Archangel Michael is an exalted, spiritual being whose presence has been widespread throughout ancient cultures. For example, he was referred to by the ancient Hebrews, as well as by the Asian initiates, as the “Face of God” and then later as the countenance of the Christ.

What about the Dragon?

Dragons appear in a number of cultures around the world.

It is important though to realize that

the "Dragon-form" that Michael does battle with

is an ancient adversarial spiritual being

that is CLOAKED

in an invisible dragon-form.

It is NOT a regular dragon.

What about the Battle?

The universal battle identified as "Michael and the Dragon" began in pre-Earthly times when the Adversary (the Dragon-being) went against Divine Will and "wanted to have an 'own will' in a time when he should have been still living in the higher Will. Thus did he set himself in opposition to the higher Will."

This is what Archangel Michael had to encounter

and stand in opposition to for the sake of All.

This adversarial Event took place well before the planet Earth came into physical existence. The evolution of our world has occurred in a number of developmental phases. At the "time" of this event, there were not many forms available that this adversarial being could be compelled into ...

the primordial "dragon-form" was how Michael chose to address the situation.

“Michael undertook to compel the opposing being (the Adversary) to assume the form which was alone possible for an independent will at that stage of the world's development, to assume that is, animal form, the form of the ‘Dragon'…”

"The world we know has proceeded from out of the world

in which this event took place."

What about the Michaelmas Festival play?

The seasonal Michaelmas Festival is a time for all ages to witness the achievement of Archangel Michael with his meteoric sword, actively subduing this ancient, super-sensible Dragon-being, the Adversary during the Michaelmas play.

This is a living enactment of this archetypal battle to subdue the adversarial force that continues in our human world today. The drama offers a source of inspiration of courage, determination and hope.

A number of plays and films have been adapted in an attempt to “be nice” and “redeem” the adversarial dragon that Michael battles. That is actually a spiritual disservice to children’s and adults’ archetypal consciousness. For children and adults witnessing the Michaelmas festival play - when it is performed in a genuine manner – the drama is able to offer access to the actual dynamic story that is occurring in our midst today.

The experience reveals the presence of Archangel Michael and his meteoric sword subduing the Dragon-Adversary. This seasonal enactment is then an awakening to a sense of active participation in this spiritual battle.

The Ongoing Cosmic Story… As Above, So Below

This spiritual battle will take many turns ... it is important to realize that this “Dragon-being whom Michael fights” is not always going to be in dragon-form. It is “destined one day in a later age to assume human form.”

As with this ancient drama, the Michaelmas performance offers the community an opportunity to keep Michael in their hearts and deeply remember together and participate in this archetypal, uplifting, ongoing drama of the Cosmic Story.

If human beings could determine

in a dignified worthy way

to establish a Michael Festival

during the last days of September,

this would be a most significant deed.

But the courage would have to be found amongst them

not merely to discuss external social reforms, etc.,

but to do something

that connects the Earth with the Heavens,

that reconnects physical

with spiritual conditions."

Quotes from Rudolf Steiner https://rsarchive.org/tLectures/Michaelmas/MicMas_index.html