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1. The Centres, the Rays and the Signs.

We come now to a consideration—brief and inadequate but I hope suggestive—of the centres as they are related to [512] the planets, viewing these planets as expressions of and transmitters of ray influences. You will realise that I am only dealing with the interplay between the planets and the centres where man is concerned and only in a broad and general sense because that interplay is dependent upon—

1. The point of evolution.

2. Whether the focus of the life is

a. Below the diaphragm.

b. Above the diaphragm.

c. In process of transference from the lower to the higher.

3. The rays of the personality and the soul.

4. The condition of the centres and whether they are awakened, awakening or as yet undisturbed.

Only these generalisations are possible, owing to the vastness of the subject and the immensity of detail in the world of effects. Another complication lies in the fact that though there are seven major centres, there are twelve planets which—in time and space—condition the centres. It is the centres of initiates which are ruled only by the seven sacred planets; among average men, some of the sacred planets dominate and some of the non-sacred. In undeveloped man, the five non-sacred planets control, with the head and the heart centres under the rule of two sacred planets, which planets being determined by the rays of the soul and of the personality. As the ray type does not emerge until there is some measure of advanced development, it will be obvious to you that the theme is thereby complicated still further; that dogmatic assertions are [513] not possible until such time as the astrologer is sure of the two major rays of the subject.

Certain basic assertions can nevertheless be made:

1. All the centres are governed by one or other of the rays.

2. The rays use the planets as transmitting agencies and we know which rays—in this world cycle—are related to the different planets. As given earlier, they are as follows:

 

Sacred Planets

Non-Sacred Planets

1. Vulcan. . . . . .

1st ray                         

1. Mars. . . . . . . . . .

6th ray

2. Mercury. . . . . 

4th ray

2. The Earth. . . . . .

3rd ray

3. Venus. . . . . . 

5th ray

3. Pluto. . . . . . . . . .

1st ray

4. Jupiter. . . . . . 

2nd ray

4. The Moon. . . . . .

4th ray

5. Saturn. . . . . .

3rd ray

  (veiling a hidden planet)

6. Neptune. . . . .

6th ray

5. The Sun. . . . . . . 

2nd ray

7. Uranus. . . . . .

7th ray

 

 

 

3. Ordinary humanity is ruled by the exoteric planets; advanced humanity, disciples and initiates by the esoteric planets.

4. The Sun sign—with the exoteric planetary rulers—rules the personality, indicates inheritance and equipment and is a summation of that which has been, thus providing the background.

5. The rising sign, with the esoteric planetary rulers, indicates soul purpose and points the way to the future, offering opportunity.

6. The horoscope, built around the Sun sign, is adequate for ordinary humanity. The exoteric planets rule and the man lives within the limitations of the twelve houses.

7. The horoscope built up around the rising sign, with the esoteric planets ruling, will convey the destiny of the [514] disciple. As I told you, the disciple will later be responding to the influences of the twelve arms of the three Crosses as they pour their influences through the esoteric planetary rulers via the twelve houses.

8. The Sun sign, governed by the ruling esoteric planets and the rising sign governed also by the esoteric planets, can both be used in casting the horoscope of the initiate; when superimposed upon each other, the outer life of the initiate in the three worlds and the inner life of subjective realisation will appear. This mode of super-imposition will be a feature of the new astrology.

9. When the Sun sign, with the exoteric rulers, is worked out in a chart, the rising sign with the esoteric rulers is also worked out and the two are superimposed upon each other, the problem of the disciple in any one incarnation will appear.

If these statements are added to the three I earlier gave you, you will have twelve suggestions as to the lines along which new astrological investigation can run, providing proof of the accuracy of astrological deduction and the guarantee of the truth of what I tell you.

It is just as impossible to determine which of the planetary influences are conditioning the centres in the fourth kingdom in nature or in the Earth (viewing it as the vehicle of the planetary Logos) as it is in man, the individual, unless the point in evolution is known and it can be determined upon which stage of the Path of Return the Dweller in the form—macrocosmic and microcosmic—is standing. The whole subject is constantly shifting and changing, just as the individual human being is constantly changing his focus or is to be found working first in one area [515] of his "body of force" (the three substantial bodies) and then in another.

Each changing personality sees a different ray force enter and each ray governs or transmits its forces through one or other of the seven centres; the Sun sign in each incarnation will be different, leading necessarily to a different rising sign and therefore to a complete new set of planetary influences. Thus the centres in the vital body come under varying pressures and stimulation. In one life, the stimulation applied may tend to vivify the solar plexus or to drive its energies upward into its higher point of transference, the heart centre. In another, it may be seen to be focussed in the throat centre, and by indirect activity affecting the sacral centre and—under the major Law of Attraction—producing a raising of the force to the higher creative focus.

As you well know theoretically, the Science of Occultism is the Science of Energies and of the forces upon which they make their impact; this, when concerning man, the individual, and the centres within the human vehicle (major and minor) leads to the Science of Laya Yoga or of the force centres. These again, according to astrological deduction, come under the influence of certain planetary rulers. These relate them in turn to certain great Triangles of Force, formed of three major conditioning constellations. Therefore, the emphasis laid upon the Science of Triangles and its including Science of Esoteric Astrology; this must inevitably take shape in terms of energy, received, transferred and used, and throw light upon the abstruse factors which condition the centres and thus make man what he is at any one time. It is a statement of fact that the world of the occultist is the world of energy, of forces, of their origin, their point of impact and the methods of their assimilation [516] and transference or elimination. Unless, however, there is some scientific method of comprehension, some mode of adapting the life to these factors and some process of experimentation in order to prove the fact, the statement remains relatively useless to the intelligent human being; it remains in the form of an hypothesis, to be proved or disproved. The man who is attempting to master his lower nature and has the goal of expressing his innate divinity requires a golden thread whereby he can find his way out of the caverns of bewilderment and the areas of speculation and enquiry. This process of investigation, deduction and proof, the Science of Esoteric Astrology and its subsidiary sciences will eventually provide. The foundation is already laid. What I here give can provide another step forward and further light. It might here be stated that until the antahkarana (the bridge of light between the higher and the lower minds, between the Spiritual Triad and the three-fold personality) is being definitely constructed, these sciences will remain obscure to the average intellect. Once, however, the intuition can come into action, via the antahkarana, light will gradually begin to pour in. The world must begin to accept and give weight to the conclusions of its intuitives; they have ever taken the first needed steps in the unfoldment of the human consciousness. It is the complexity of detail which primarily is responsible for the confusion. The intuition (as the philosopher understands it) is the ability to arrive at knowledge through the activity of some innate sense, apart from the reasoning or logical processes. It comes into activity when the resources of the lower mind have been used, explored and exhausted. Then, and then only, the true intuition begins to function. It is the sense of synthesis, the ability to think in wholes, and to touch the world of causes. When this becomes possible, the [517] investigating astrologer will find that the complexities of the problem will disappear and the details fall into obvious position and in such a manner that the sum total will appear in a blinding light of surety. At present students cannot see the wood for the trees, as the proverb says, and that proverb is right. These sciences are mutually interpreting.

During the life cycle of humanity through which we are now passing, in the relation between the centres and the rays and, therefore, between the centres and the planets, it will be found that the centres are governed by the following rays:

 

AVERAGE MAN—EXOTERIC PLANETS

 

 

 

1. Head Centre. . . . . . . . . . . . .

first ray. . . . . . 

Pluto

2. Ajna Centre. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

fifth ray. . . . . . 

Venus

3. Throat Centre. . . . . . . . . . . .

third ray. . . . . 

Earth

4. Heart Centre. . . . . . . . . . . . .

second ray. . .

Sun

5. Solar plexus Centre. . . . . . .

sixth ray. . . . . 

Mars

6. Sacral Centre. . . . . . . . . . . .

seventh ray. . .

Uranus

7. Base of Spine. . . . . . . . . . . . 

first ray. . . . . . .

Pluto

 

DISCIPLES. INITIATES—ESOTERIC PLANETS

 

 

 

1. Head Centre. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

first ray. . . . . . 

Vulcan

2. Ajna Centre. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

fifth ray. . . . . .

Venus

3. Throat Centre. . . . . . . . . . . . 

third ray. . . . . .

Saturn

4. Heart Centre. . . . . . . . . . . . .

second ray. . .

Jupiter

5. Solar plexus Centre. . . . . . . .

sixth ray. . . . .

Neptune

6. Sacral Centre. . . . . . . . . . . .

seventh ray. . .

Uranus

7. Base of Spine. . . . . . . . . . . .

first ray. . . . . .

Pluto

 

To these rays must be added (in both groups of human beings) the fourth ray which governs humanity itself as a centre in the body of the planetary Logos, thus bringing all the ray influences into a sevenfold stream of energy, playing upon the lower self in the three worlds or upon those who are entering into or are a part of the fifth kingdom in nature. Intensifying the problem for humanity as a whole is the problem of the individual within that whole. To the influences to which he is subjected as an individual through his [518] past and his own peculiar horoscope and to those in which he shares as a part of the fourth kingdom in nature must be added the effects of his two major rays (personal and egoic). These indicate his type of mechanism and his soul quality. It must not be forgotten either that his seven centres are in close relation to the planetary centres and that he is conditioned not only by the centres in his own nature and their rays but also by the centres found within the human kingdom and also by the planetary centres. With these we will now proceed to deal.