ASTROLOGY IN THE SECRET DOCTRINE

(Third Edition)

1. Mythology relates to astronomical, theogonical and human struggles; to the adjustment of orbs and the supremacy of nations and tribes. The "struggle for existence" and the "survival of the fittest" reigned supreme from the moment that Kosmos manifested into being.... Hence:

a. The incessant fights of the Gods in all the Old Scriptures.

b. The war in Heaven of the ancient mythologies. (S.D. I. 223 [1st ed: 201-2].)

2. Behind this veil ... of astrological symbols, there were the occult mysteries of anthropography and the primeval genesis of man. (S.D. I. 250 [1st ed: 229].)

3. Astrology existed before astronomy. (S.D. III. 325.)

4. Astrolatry or the adoration of the Heavenly Host is the natural result of only half-revealed astrology.... Hence, divine Astrology for the Initiates; superstitious astrolatry for the profane. (S.D. III. 337.)

5. Primitive astrology is as far above modern astrology as the Guides (the planets and the Zodiacal signs) are above the lamp posts. (S.D. III. 341.)

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6. Astrology has left its eternal imprint upon the world. (S.D. III. 342.)

7. Astrology is built upon the mystic and intimate connection between the heavenly bodies and mankind and is one of the great secrets of Initiation and the occult mysteries. (S.D. II. 525 note [1st ed: 500 note].)

8. Stars and constellations have an occult and mysterious influence on, and connection with, individuals. And if with the latter, why not with nations, races and mankind as a whole? This again is a claim made on the authority of the Zodiacal records. (S.D. I. 709 [1st ed: 647].)

a. There are records preserved through the Zodiac for incalculable ages. (S.D. I. 709 [1st ed: 647].)

b. Astronomy, astrology and so on are all on the physical and not on the spiritual plane. (S.D. II. 667 note [1st ed: 631 note].)

c. Those philosophers alone who studied astrology ... knew that the last word of those sciences was to be sought in and expected from the occult forces emanating from the constellations. (S.D. III. 214.)

9. "... In the presence of the Eternal conformity of the divisions of the Zodiac and of the names of the Planets applied in the same order everywhere and always and in the presence of the impossibility of attributing it all to chance and coincidence ... a very great antiquity indeed must be allowed for the Zodiac." (S.D. I. 711 [1st ed: 648-649].)

10. High ceremonial astrology ... depends upon the knowledge of the Initiate of those immaterial Forces and spiritual Entities that affect matter and guide it. (S.D. III. 337.)

11. "... our Earth was created or fashioned by terrestrial [637] spirits, the Regents (the Spirits of the seven planets. A.A.B.) being simply the supervisors. This is the first germ of that which grew later into the Tree of Astrology and Astrolatry." (S.D. II. 26 [1st ed: 22-23].)

12. "There are seven chief groups of such Dhyan Chohans. They are the primeval seven Rays.... Hence there are seven chief planets, the spheres of the indwelling seven Spirits, under each of which is born one of the human groups." (S.D. I. 626 [1st ed: 573 + note].)

13. "There are only seven planets specially connected with the Earth and twelve houses, but the possible combination of their aspects are countless. As each planet can stand to each of the others in twelve different aspects their combinations must be almost infinite." (S.D. I. 626 [1st ed: 573 note].)

14. That which is the surviving Entity in us is partly the direct emanation from and partly those celestial entities themselves. (S.D. I. 251 [1st ed: 230].)

15. The descent and reascent of the monad or soul cannot be disconnected from Zodiacal signs.... (S.D. I. 730 [1st ed: 668].)

16. The following five statements are basic—

1. Each of the Primordial Seven, the first seven rays, forming the manifesting logos, is again sevenfold.

2. As the seven colours of the solar spectrum correspond to the seven rays or Hierarchies so each of these is sub-divided into seven.

3. Each of these Hierarchies furnishes the essence (the soul) and is the builder of one of the seven kingdoms in nature—the three elemental kingdoms, the mineral, vegetable, animal and kingdom of spiritual man.

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4. Each Hierarchy furnishes the aura of one of the seven principles in man with its specific colour.

5. Each of these Hierarchies is the ruler of one of the sacred planets.

Thus astrology came into existence and has a strictly scientific basis. (S.D. III. 482.)

17. All the great astrologers have admitted that man could react against the stars. (S.D. III.  339.)

18. This system (or cycles) cannot be comprehended if the spiritual action of these periods—pre-ordained so to say by karmic law—is separated from their physical course. The calculations of the best astrologers would fail, or at any rate remain imperfect, unless this dual action is thoroughly taken into consideration and mastered upon these lines. This mastery can be achieved only through initiation. (S.D. I. 703 [1st ed: 642].)

19. Modern astrologers do not give the correspondences of the days and planets and colours correctly.

20. There is white and black astrology ... the good or bad results obtained do not depend upon the principles which are the same in both kinds, but upon the astrologer himself. (S.D. III. 339.)

NOTE: S.D. I, Section XVI and S.D. III, Section XXXVIII deal with the Zodiac, with Biblical references to the Zodiac and with astrology and the mysteries of Initiation.