Following the Christmas Star Inward

In ‘The Thorns of Knowledge' and ‘The Truth That Frees Us,' I explored how stories like Adam and Eve or Christ's life reveal our inner struggles with worth and truth. What if the Christmas story is also a map for this journey—from fear to grace? Herod, Christ, the Star, and the Wise Men aren't just figures; they're archetypes of our soul's path, resonating no matter what we believe.

Others have drawn similar connections between the Nativity and the inner life, seeing Herod as the ego, the Magi as inner seekers, and Christ as the birth of divine truth within us, and potentially drawing analogies between all the other players in that story and some aspect of our inner selves. In this post, I want to focus on the core players within that inner story. Rather than unpack every archetype, my aim is to trace the essential movement of the soul as it navigates fear, follows light, and ultimately makes room for truth.

Herod: The Ego's Fear of Losing Worth

King Herod represents the ego's core fear: that our worth is conditional and must be proven through superiority. This belief breeds anxiety, because superiority always feels threatened—others must be suppressed to maintain the illusion of being “better.” Herod's slaughter of the innocents is the ego's reflex to destroy anything (ideas, voices, truths) that challenge its fragile identity.

But his fear reveals a deeper truth: he believes he must matter. And he's right—we all must. But not through comparison. The fear exists because he is protecting the wrong idea of what makes him valuable. This belief breeds an inner hell—where we always wonder about our worth and seek to find ways to prove it.

Christ: The Truth That You Matter—and They Matter

In a manger, the Christ child brings a radical truth: you matter, and they matter. This is not something we earn, prove, or achieve—it's something we are born knowing. As Moroni teaches:

“The Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge… every thing which inviteth to do good… is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ” (Moroni 7:16–18).

This “Spirit of Christ” is our built-in compass, affirming everyone's divine worth. When we honor it, we feel peace. When we violate it, we feel dissonance. Sin is betraying this truth by treating anyone as less—reducing them to objects, often to bolster our own worth.

Christ's virgin birth reflects a truth untouched by comparison. Our worth—yours and theirs—doesn't come from wealth, status, or piety. It's innate, pure, and divine, needing no external measure.

Christ, born in humility, embodies the inversion of the ego's values. Not power, but presence. Not comparison, but connection. The Christ child doesn't conquer through power but through curiosity. Because we matter, He's curious about who we are and want to be. This judgement-free curiosity frees us to stop judging ourselves and embrace the same openness. By seeing our actions with pure curiosity, we transform and conquer our inner struggles.

The Star: A Silent Witness to Truth

The Star shines quietly, not pressuring but pointing to truth. It doesn't argue with Herod; it simply lights the way. It's our inner awareness that a better path—peace, not pride—exists.

The Wise Men: The Parts of Us That Seek

The wise men are our inner seekers, tired of anxiety, weary of competition, and quietly wondering, Could there be another way? They see the star and, trusting that it points to something greater, set out in pursuit.

Their presence at Herod's court sparks his fear, as shared worth threatens the ego's identity. It fears not just losing status but losing the self built on comparison.

The wise men leave Herod and choose to follow the star to the truth they have been waiting for. They carry gifts—attention, reverence, and hope—which they offer not to power, but to vulnerability, to a truth born in weakness. In doing so, they make room for the idea that we all matter to ripen until we can no longer deny it. In doing so, we finally leave behind our hell of worrying about worth.

A Christmas Invitation

Each Christmas—and every day between—honor Christ's birth by making space for His truth: you matter, and they matter. Let your Herod rest. Let your Wise Men follow the Star. Believe again—not in rising above others, but in being with them, curious and connected.

Who have you struggled to connect with? And how can deep curiosity help you connect?

(NOTE: The ideas in this post are all mine, but I did leverage AI to help structure and refine it)

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