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3. Spiritual Effects of the Zodiacal Constellations. - Part 11

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Sign

Undeveloped Man

Advanced Man

Disciple Initiate

 1. Aries ……….

Blind, undirected experience.

Directed Personality effort.

Recognition and work with the Plan.

 

Instinctual reaction.

Desire.

Will.

 

Keynote: Aries turns towards Capricorn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 2. Taurus ………

Selfish desire.

Aspiration.

Illumined living.

 

The Light of Earth.

The Light of Love.

The Light of Life.

 

Keynote: Taurus rushes blindly until Sagittarius directs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 3. Gemini ………

Mutation of relation.

Orientation of

Right relation.

 

"I serve myself."

"I serve my brother."

"I serve the One."

 

Keynote: Gemini moves towards Libra.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 4. Cancer ………

The blind unit is lost.

The unit awakens to that which is around.

The Whole is seen as one.

.

The Mass

The House.

Humanity.

 

Keynote: Cancer visions life in Leo

 

 

 

.

 

 

 5. Leo ………….

The Lower Self.

The Higher Self.

The One Self.

 

The hidden point.

The revealing point.

The relinquished point.

 

Keynote: Leo seeks release in Scorpio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 6. Virgo ………..

The germinating energy.

The creative force.

The Christ activity.

 

The Mother.

The Protector.

The Light.

 

Keynote: Virgo hides the light which irradiates the world in Aquarius.

 

 

 

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Sign

Undeveloped Man

Advanced Man

Disciple Initiate

 7. Libra ………..

Unbalanced fiery passion.

The weighing of the opposites

Balance attained. Divine love.

 

Human love.

Devotion and aspiration.

Understanding.

 

Keynote: Libra relates the two in Gemini.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 8. Scorpio …….

Unity of selfishness.

Conflict with duality.

Higher unity.

 

The Monster.

The Fighter.

The Disciple.

 

Keynote: Scorpio stages the release of Leo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 9. Sagittarius …

Self-centredness.

One-pointedness.

The Director of men.

 

Experimental approach.

Directed approach.

The controller of the Gate.

 

Keynote: Sagittarius, the disciple becomes the Saviour in Pisces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. Capricorn …

The earthbound soul.

The one who crosses the water.

The Conqueror of death.

 

 

 Fluid.

Initiated.

 

Keynote: Capricorn consummates the work of Scorpio

 

 

 

 

 

 

11. Aquarius

All things to all men.

Dedication to the soul.

The Server of all men.

 

The burden of the self.

The burden of humanity.

The burden of the world.

 

Keynote: Aquarius releases Virgo from her load.

 

 

 

 

 

 

12. Pisces

Responsiveness to environment.

Sensitivity to soul.

Spiritual responsibility.

 

The medium.

The Mediator.

The Saviour.

 

 Keynote: Pisces takes from all the signs.

 

 

 

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You will note that these relationships between the signs are not those of the opposites but intermediate signs and, therefore, marking the intermediate period of relationship and not consummation as is the case when such opposites as Leo and Aquarius or Cancer and Capricorn are considered. These relationships, it will be found, create quite definite geometrical forms just as the crosses, formed between the opposites create the three crosses of the heavens. I commend this to your consideration. The above tabulation gives you a new and inner relation of the signs to each other and one which only becomes definitely active and effective after initiation. It is consequently of small use to the average reader at this time, though it opens up, nevertheless, new astrological contacts and influences most of which are established through the ray influences and which require a grasp of individual evolutionary status for correct interpretation. It is essential, for their right understanding that the astrologer knows whether the subject is relatively unevolved, whether he is an advanced man or whether he is upon one or other stages of the Path. There is so much to be reckoned with in the new esoteric astrology—prediction, interpretation from the standpoint of both the personality and the soul, character indications, as well as a close study of the Law of Rebirth as it can be arrived at through an understanding of the influences of Cancer. One thing which will later emerge, but which is at present impossible of elucidation, is the fact that the twelve Creative Hierarchies are all connected with one or other of the twelve signs of the zodiac and these all definitely affect the human family and the unit in that family also. A close study of the relations indicated in this new tabulation and a study also of the Hierarchies and the signs will cause a drastic revolution in modern astrology and one of most basic importance. More [335] than this I cannot here indicate and more will not be possible until the present astrologers have done some concentrated work along the lines here designated.

Simple as it sounds when stated, the most fundamental point for astrologers to grasp today is the need for them to know—prior to interpretation—where, upon the path of evolution, the subject under consideration stands. One other hint I will give. It will be from a study of those people who are born in the Cardinal Signs that the clearest information will emerge in this connection. It might be useful to point out here that:

1. Through a study of the Cardinal Cross—Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn—the astrologer can arrive at a clearer understanding:

a. Of ordinary, individual, human beings.

b. Of group beginnings.

c. Of the significance of the first initiation.

2. Through a study of the Fixed Cross—Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius—he will arrive at a right interpretation of the lives:

a. Of initiates.

b. Of group absorption into synthesis.

c. Of the significance of the third initiation.

3. Through a study of the Mutable Cross—Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces—he can arrive at the significance:

a. Of disciples.

b. Of group activity.

c. Of the second initiation.

The above indications may not conform to the ideas generally held, and appear to reverse also some of the points [336] which I have earlier made, but a careful study of the suggested implications may make the point clearer. Every Cross has its exoteric significance and with this all astrologers are somewhat familiar; it has also its esoteric meaning and import and this is as yet an untried field of investigation; and it has its spiritual importance, and this of course is only revealed at the major initiations. It should be remembered that these are the threefold differentiations of the One Life and that Capricorn, for instance, marks not only the point of the deepest concretion and therefore of death but also the point of highest initiation and of entrance into the life aspect of deity.

I cannot too strongly reiterate the constant necessity for you to think in terms of energies and forces, of lines of force, and energy relationships; astrologers must also think more in terms of qualities and of characteristics, as is the trend of the more advanced astrology today. The whole story of astrology is, in reality, one of magnetic and magical interplay for the production or externalisation of the inner reality; it is the story of the response of form—vast as in a solar system, microcosmic as in a human being, and minute as in an atom or a cell—to the urge or pull of foci of energy and of streams of force. These two are not identical, but must be taken into the calculations of the investigating astrologer and his interpretations.

It is the focussed energy of Cancer which makes it a major magnetic or attractive focal point leading to the processes of incarnation. Through the door of Cancer streams the "magnetic magical light which guides the soul into the dark place of experience." Similarly, it is the magical pull of Capricornian energy which upon the returning wheel (in contradistinction to the wheel of rebirth or the outgoing wheel) of expression and of discipleship draws the [337] soul steadily away from form life and experience and constitutes that "radiant light which leads the soul in safety to the mountain top." In the recognition of this comes elucidation of the fact that in time and space the controlling factor and determining condition is the sensitivity of the incarnated soul to form life, leading to incarnation through the door of Cancer, or to soul life, leading to initiation through the door of Capricorn. It is also in the relation of these two signs to each other that you get one of the clearest pictures of the interplay between the pairs of opposites as they exist in the zodiac, and it might profit us here for a minute to study the two types of consummation which this interplay between opposite signs brings about. I will endeavour to put these for you in tabular and suggestive form for your later consideration and study. The consummation on both the form side and the soul side might be expressed as follows, bearing ever in mind the limitations of language:

ON THE WHEEL TURNING CLOCKWISE

(Aries to Taurus, via Pisces)

For ordinary humanity.

1. Aries-Libra.—Unstable embryonic beginnings leading to the balancing of the lower psychic nature and its expression through form. Embryonic desire for expression consummates in the passion of satisfaction. Lower love controls.

2. Taurus-Scorpio.—Powerful focussed lower desire leads to death and defeat. The triumph of the lower nature which eventuates in the awakening to satiety and death. The man is the prisoner of desire and at the moment of consummation knows his prison.

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3. Gemini-Sagittarius.—Fluid interplay and instability leads to personality focus and determination. The man is one-pointedly devoted to personality achievement. The threefold lower nature, synthesised and directed controls all activity.

4. Cancer-Capricorn.—The urge to incarnate leads to the densest incarnation and immersion in form. The pull of form life and the processes of concretisation control. The man arrives after many incarnations at a point of crystallisation.

5. Leo-Aquarius.—The individual seeks full expression and arrives finally at the point where he uses his environment for purely individual ends. He dominates his fellowmen for entirely personality objectives. The isolated individual becomes the group ruler or dictator.

6. Virgo-Pisces.—Virgin matter attracts the soul and the divine Mother becomes more important than the son. The life of the soul is hidden.

ON THE WHEEL TURNING ANTI-CLOCKWISE

(Aries to Pisces, via Taurus)

The Disciple and Initiate.

1. Libra-Aries.—The achieved equilibrium, at the point of rest, provides the mental impetus for soul control. Passion is transmuted into love and the initial desire of Aries becomes the full expression of love-wisdom. Desire to manifest becomes the aspiration to be.

2. Scorpio-Taurus.—The final victory of soul over form. Death and darkness demonstrate as life and light as the result of this energy relationship. The dark night of the soul becomes radiant sun.

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3. Sagittarius-Gemini.—The result of this related pair of opposites is that there is one-pointed soul effort, spiritually directed activity and a demonstrated readiness for initiation. There is the waning of the power of form and the waxing of the life of the soul.

4. Capricorn-Cancer.—The initiate now chooses to incarnate and passes freely and at will through both doors. The pull of matter is superseded by the free choice of the soul. Form life becomes a conscious method of expression for service.

5. Aquarius-Leo.—Personality interests as an expression of the individual are submerged in the good of the whole. Selfish individual man becomes the world server. Heights of noted service are then reached in both signs.

6. Pisces-Virgo.—The form reveals and releases the indwelling soul. The Saviour of the world appears and nurtures the hidden souls in Virgo.

You will, therefore, note that when the pull of the energies pouring into and through the signs of the zodiac is in the direction of form expression that the result of the interplay between the opposite signs leads to some aspect of definite personality manifestation, this being largely determined by the ray of the personality. When the life tendency is being withdrawn from form and the soul is in process of revelation then there is soul or egoic emphasis, and this again is determined, as to quality, by the nature of the egoic ray. Here again will appear the necessity for a knowledge of the point in evolution of the individual whose horoscope is under consideration. I would indicate at this point that in studying any of the signs it will be wise to study at the same time its opposite or consummating sign. Much that I could, for instance, say in connection with the sign, Cancer, has already [340] been said in connection with its opposite, Capricorn, and the same will be true of all the signs which we are now going to study.

It will now be clear to you why the Moon and Neptune, transmitting the energies of the psychic nature and of form, plus the tendency to achieve through the medium of conflict, rule Cancer so potently, both directly and indirectly. They control the form and the lower psychic nature and produce the battle ground (later to be transmuted into the burning ground) whereon these two "face in the final conflict" their higher correspondence, the soul and spirit, for matter is spirit at its lowest point and spirit is matter at its highest. In these words you have the true clue to the Cancer-Capricorn relationship. When to these potent influences is added the force of the seventh ray (producing a synthesis of expression upon the physical plane) and of the third ray (producing intense activity in matter) you will note how in this sign all the energies concerned tend to bring about the incarnation of the soul in the three worlds of experience and human expression. The power of Venus in this sign tends to make the mind the servant of the personality and this is aided by the forces of the third Ray of Active Intelligence. Thus the stage is set for the appearance of the soul in form. You would find it an interesting study to compare the effects of these ray potencies as they find expression in Cancer upon:

1. The unevolved man as he demonstrates form control.

2. The evolved man, initiate and Saviour as he demonstrates soul control. The forces which controlled the soul whilst dominated by form become the instruments of world service.

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As these results are studied, you will eventually arrive at an insight into the relationships we touched upon earlier when we discussed the rulers of this sign—exoteric and esoteric—which brought the Cancer subject into contact with Virgo, Aquarius and Scorpio. From one point of view, you have the imprisonment of the soul and the glorification of the personality demonstrated, ending with death in Scorpio; in the other you have the revelation of the Christ within the form, the revelation of the serving individual and the revelation of the final victory over death. When to the above recognitions you add the place which the planets hold in this sign, you have a most remarkable and at the same time rather abstruse situation indicated and—because this is the final cross of initiation—one which will only become really clear when the final stages of the path are trodden. Therefore, only a few hints are possible. Two planets are exalted in this sign, Jupiter and Neptune. As this is the sign of rebirth, these two planets indicate the successful development and eventual use of the form aspect and the development of psychic sensitivity both in the higher and the lower senses.

These are important developments for the soul who has chosen to incarnate. The building of adequate forms and the use and control of form are essential if there is to be wise and right cooperation with the Plan of God. Jupiter guarantees this in Cancer from the very initial stage of birth. Love as relationship to divinity and wisdom as relationship to form lie behind the soul's intent. In space and time, for long aeons, form controls and hides the soul. This is equally true in regard to the fluid psychic nature. These (the form aspect and the psychic nature) reach an eventual concrete perfection in Capricorn to become again in Cancer the perfect [342] instrument of service which the initiate wields as he seeks to render mass service instead of being involved and lost in the mass. The power of Saturn in this sign furthers the ends and purposes of the governing energies or rays of harmony through conflicts (the Moon and Mercury) and of Neptune, for in this sign Saturn is in the home of its detriment and thus produces those difficult conditions and situations which will lead to the needed struggle. This makes Cancer a place of symbolic imprisonment and emphasises the pains and penalties of wrong orientation. It is the conflict of the soul with its environment—consciously or unconsciously carried on—which leads to the penalties of incarnation and which provides those conditions of suffering which the soul has willingly undertaken when—with open eyes and clear vision—the soul chose the path of earth life with all its consequent sacrifices and pains, in order to salvage the lives with which it had an affinity.

Curiously it is Sepharial who places the rulers of the decanates more accurately than does Leo. Usually this is reversed and Leo is the more correct of the two astrologers. Sepharial gives us Venus, Mercury and the Moon whereas Leo apportions the Moon, Mars and Jupiter to these decanates. The mind, the uses of conflict and form life are the contributing factors, leading the soul along the way of incarnation. The instrument of release is, in the last analysis, the right use and control of the organ of illumination which is the mind. Hence the necessary emphasis ever laid upon meditation when the aspirant awakens to spiritual opportunity. The strength which comes through conflict and constant struggle builds up steadily that reserve of strength and power which enables the aspirant to take the final tests of discipleship in Scorpio and to brave in Capricorn the [343] trials of initiation and the breaking of all the bonds which the processes of incarnation have forged.

In the Words given for this sign, the Word of the soul indicates the objective of the Cancer experience and the purpose for which incarnation has been taken: "I build a lighted house and therein dwell." The temporary method of the personality is also clearly given when we are told that the Word proclaimed by the soul as it takes incarnation is "Let isolation be the rule and yet—the crowd exists."

This sign can carry deep meaning to all. You are in process of incarnation; you are following your chosen way. Is the house you are building yet lit? Is it a lighted house, or is it a dark prison? If it is a lighted house, you will attract to its light and warmth all who are around you and the magnetic pull of your soul, whose nature is light and love, will save many. If you are still an isolated soul, you will have to pass through the horrors of a more complete isolation and loneliness, treading alone the dark way of the soul. Yet this isolation, this loneliness and this separation in the dark night are all part of the Great Illusion. It is, however, an illusion into which the whole of humanity is now precipitated in preparation for unity, freedom and release. Some are lost in the illusion and know not what is reality and truth. Others walk free in the world of illusion for the purposes of saving and lifting their brothers, and if you cannot do this, you will have to learn so to walk.

GEMINI, THE TWINS

In the consideration of the remaining signs there will be relatively less to say than before, because I have already pointed out many facts and points when dealing with their polar opposites. Much, therefore, that can be said about [344] the sign Gemini has been dealt with under Sagittarius; Virgo and Pisces have also been considered in relation to this sign, because all these four signs form together the Mutable Cross. A certain amount of repetition is necessary and often helpful; it serves to clarify and reinforce when one is teaching, but I would like now to be more general and—in dealing with these three signs which indicate the subjective realities which incite the form-taking in Cancer—to consider pre-disposing causes more than detailed and more easily ascertained facts.

In this world cycle, Gemini, Taurus and Aries are three subjective energies or the three conditioning signs which lie behind manifestation. They lie behind the form-taking experience in Cancer and they also lie behind manifestation in Pisces. Pisces is the sign with which the modern world (and by that I refer to an immense long period of time) is primarily concerned, for Pisces is the starting point on the clockwise wheel at this time for the greater zodiacal round of approximately 25,000 years—the date of which beginning is not yet revealed to the modern astrologer or subject to revelation through his science. As we study Gemini and Taurus (Aries we have already considered) let us bear in mind their cause-initiating nature and the fact that they have a more specifically psychic effect and subjective influence than their strictly phenomenal and physical effects would lead one to imagine.

You will find, I think, that it is these hints and suggestions which are of the most importance in launching and in utilising the new esoteric astrology. Students would do well to isolate first of all the broad general statements anent the zodiacal signs and influence before they take up the intensive study of the detailed and new informative suggestions which I may have given. A grasp of the universals, [345] prior to a study of the particulars, is ever a wise occult procedure.

In each of the Crosses of the Heavens there is one sign and influence which, in any world cycle, dominates the other three. Such dominating effects necessarily change when a world cycle changes, but for the present cycle, Gemini determines the paramount influence within the fourfold influence of the Mutable Cross. The main objective of these four energies is to produce that constant flux and periodic change in time and space which will provide a field of adequate experience for the unfoldment of the Christ life and consciousness. This is the case cosmically speaking, and also from the standpoint of a solar system, of a planet and of a human being. The field of development for the lower three kingdoms is dependent upon the status and energy-distributing power of humanity as a whole. We might, therefore, recognise the following facts anent the Mutable Cross:

Gemini.—This is the force which produces the changes needed for the evolution of the Christ consciousness at any particular point in time and space. It is always compatible to the requirement.

Virgo.—This is the nurturing force of substance itself, subject to the nine cyclic changes of the cosmic gestation period; it fosters and protects the embryonic Christ life, preparing for manifestation or a divine incarnation.

Sagittarius.—Is the energetic activity of the life force, demonstrating at the sixth month, when—esoterically speaking—the three aspects of the form nature and the three aspects of the soul are integrated and functioning. It is this integration which sometimes makes the sixth month of physical human gestation so critical.

Pisces.—This is the life expression and active appearance [346] of the Christ consciousness in form; it is also the energetic appearance (symbolically speaking) of a world saviour.

This Mutable Cross is, therefore, peculiarly a Christian symbol and significantly connected with the Christ life and with the unfoldment of a world saviour and is particularly potent during the anti-clockwise turning of the Great Wheel. This fact will emerge more clearly when astrologers are able to determine accurately the point of development and the spiritual status of the subject whose horoscope is under consideration. The formless nature of the influences of Gemini is strikingly borne out if the significance of Masonry is studied. This world-wide institution was—as I have earlier told you—organised under the influence and impulse of this sign and is governed by it in a most unusual manner. The format or exoteric symbolism of Masonry has frequently been changed during the millenia of years through which it has been active. Its present Jewish colouring is relatively modern and not necessarily enduring, but its significance and its history of unfoldment are the history of the indwelling Christ consciousness and of that inner light, and this must unalterably be continued. That which has entered through the two pillars of Hercules, the disciples (Jachin and Boaz), and through the sign Gemini, has entered to stay.