Understanding these Testing Times
Autumn 2016
Dear co-worker,
It’s clear that humanity is passing through a testing period in the transition towards a new era. While energies are impacting upon human consciousness from a multitude of sources as we move into the Aquarian age, they are still only dimly perceived and initially causing feelings of unease and disorientation. This is termed a “crisis of spatial extension” in esoteric teachings – a transformation in the way time and space are registered in the subconscious as a result of increased spiritual influences. Although the disturbance is hard to bear, this crisis is establishing the foundations of a new, more vital reality.
In Alice Bailey’s The Rays and the Initiations, we read: “the widespread reaction to ideals (in spite of all the efforts of the evil and reactionary forces), and the seething turmoil reaching throughout all levels of human consciousness, plus the inspiration of disaster and suffering, are blasting open hitherto sealed areas in human minds, letting in illumination, sweeping away the bad old conditions… These expansions in human understanding will, in the next one hundred and fifty years, completely alter the manner of human thinking... All is planned and ordered; the right energies and forces will be available, for the Hierarchy works ever under the Law of Cycles and of Cyclic Compensation. The Masters know exactly that which must be done by right timing and by what has been called ‘the crisis of spatial extension’. They call this the interchangeableness of time and space…which is already being dimly sensed”. (pp. 237-8)
Since the time of writing, some sixty years ago, the crisis of spatial extension has grown in scale. The many ideas and ideals that are now being expressed by the group of world servers are of such a high vibration that they are helping to thin the planetary veils dividing the inner and outer realms of being. This results in the sense of time speeding up. Consequently, we have the quickened pace of modern living – the hectic, disorderly lives experienced by so many today. We live in an age of ‘paradigms and narratives’ that quickly change in response to the constant fluctuations of human consciousness. And in scientific thinking, we have the illusory perception of a rapidly expanding universe, with distant galaxies receding faster than the speed of light!
The crisis of spatial extension is evidenced in other ways too, indicating that the Christ consciousness is emerging within humanity and within the planet’s force-substance, the Mother aspect. Even in the distress of the birth process and despite all the pain and suffering in the world, this emerging spirituality is the cause for optimism and expectancy. As the planetary veils steadily dissolve, it becomes possible for the spiritually minded to sense more clearly the approaching Christ and the Spiritual Hierarchy at work behind the scenes of world affairs. This may even contribute to the current prevalence of conspiracy theories. Something mysterious is vaguely sensed on the other side of the veils and, because its nature is unclear, it is interpreted negatively.
With all of this in mind, understanding what is happening in world affairs is a great challenge in these tumultuous times. The views relayed by much of the media are not always helpful – a higher point of view is required, one that is freed from national, cultural and ideological bias. Ever finer levels of dispassion, discrimination and detachment are needed by all who serve humanity and who long for evidence that the Plan of love and light is externalizing. We can become so focused on outer effects and events that hope and despair distort our insight. The spirit lifts with signs of growing synthesis only to be dashed again by the separatism that is still expressed. The stroboscopic effect of alternating forces of light and dark can leave the server of humanity in a state of confusion as to where the world stands in relation to the Divine Plan – what the Hierarchy is thinking and planning at this time – whether humanity is moving towards spiritual triumph or defeat.
To understand the great transition that is occurring, the intellect is not sufficient for, as spiritual traditions have long taught, it succumbs to illusion. It is to the intuition that we must turn, and for this reason we have chosen the theme, From Intellect to Intuition for the World Goodwill seminars in each of the three centres this year on Saturday, 29th October. We hope that as many co-workers as possible will join us on the day, to work as one, unified group mind, to intuit the light and love that can assist humanity’s passage to the shining future that lies ahead.
In the light of group service,
Headquarters Group
Lucis Trust