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II. THE NATURE OF THIS MOTION

As we well know, the nature of the motion on the plane of matter is rotary.  Each atom of matter rotates on its own axis, and each larger atom, from the purely physical standpoint, likewise does the same; a cosmic atom, a solar system, a planetary atom, and a human atom, man, can be seen equally rotating at differing degrees of velocity upon their own axis or around their own pole.  When we arrive at the plane of mind, and have to consider the activity of the second aspect of divinity, that which builds and holds the forms in coherent form, and which is the basis of the phenomenon we call time (literally, the awareness of the form), a different type of force or motion becomes apparent.  This type of energy in no way negates or renders useless the atomic rotary type, but involves it, and yet at the same time it brings the atoms of all degrees under the influence of its own activity, so that in every form which is in manifestation, the two types are manifested.  I would here remind the student that we are primarily considering the force of the second aspect as it concerns the human and superhuman kingdoms, or as the Manasaputras and their various groups are concerned.  On the involutionary arc, the Vishnu force is likewise felt, but until the nature of the group soul is more apprehended, and the quality of the Life who informs each of the subhuman kingdoms of nature is known with greater accuracy, it will profit us more to deal with force as it affects the human being, the planet on which he may be found, and the system in which that planet is playing its part.

The activity of the second aspect has been called spiral-cyclic, which in itself involves the concept of duality.  This activity is the cause of all cyclic evolution, and has been called in the occult phraseology "the activity of Brahma's year." It is that which brings about the [1033] periodical appearing and disappearing of all existences, great or small.  It is intimately linked with the will aspect of Divinity, and with the Lipika Lords of the highest degree and its origin is, therefore, difficult for us to comprehend.  Perhaps all that can be said about it is that it is largely due to certain impulses which (as far as our solar system is concerned) can be traced to the sun Sirius.  These impulses find their analogy in the impulses emanating in cyclic fashion from the causal body of man, which impulses bring about his appearance upon the plane of maya for a temporary period.  A hint may here be given to the earnest student; in the threefold Ego (the lives who form the central bud, the lives of the petals, and the triple group of lives who form the three permanent atoms) is seen a correspondence to the three groups of Lipika Lords who are the karmic cause of solar manifestation, and who control its periodic manifestation.  These three groups are related to Their guiding Intelligences on Sirius.

The Law of Periodicity is the effect produced by the amalgamation of these two types of force with a third.  The two types of force or energy are the activity of the first Aspect, the logoic will or purpose, and the energy of the second aspect.  This purpose is hidden in foreknowledge of the Logos and is completely hidden even from the Adept of the fifth Initiation.  The Adept has achieved a comprehension of the purpose of the Son, and for Him there remains the problem to recognise the purpose of the Father.  The one is the impulse behind the forward movement of all life, and the other the impulse behind its cyclic activity, and this is called spiral-cyclic.  When this blended dual force is brought in touch with the rotary activity of matter itself, we have the triple activity of the Ego, for instance, which is rotary-spiral-cyclic, and that which results in the stimulation of the self-contained atom, in the periodical emergence of form, and in the [1034] steady, though slow, progress towards a goal.  We might, for the sake of clarity, differentiate the effects thus:

1. Rotary activity....The internal activity of every atom viewed as a unity, the activity of Brahma or the Holy Spirit, perfected in the first solar system.  It is unified individual consciousness..."I am."

2. Cyclic activity....The activity of all forms, viewing them from the aspect of consciousness, and of time.  It is unified group consciousness..."I am That," the activity of Vishnu in process of being perfected in this the second solar system.

3. Spiral activity....The influence which impresses all forms, which emanates from their greater centre, and which merges itself a little, a very little, with the two other modes of motion, being practically lost sight of in the stronger vibration.  It is the activity which will be perfected in the third solar system, and is the Shiva form of motion, and the unified consciousness of all groups.  It is the consciousness which proclaims "I am That I am."

One of the primary things the occult student should remember when considering the nature of spiral-cyclic activity, is that it has two effects.

First, it is an attractive force, gathering the rotating atoms of matter into definite types and forms, and holding them there as long as necessity demands.

Secondly, it is itself gradually dominated by another and higher vibration, and through its spiralling progress through matter it sweeps those forms systematically nearer and nearer to another and stronger point of energy.

These effects are to be seen clearly demonstrated in man's evolution in the approach he makes uniformly through the cycles to the centre of the spiral-cyclic energy, [1035] and subsequently to the still more impressive point, that of his "Father in Heaven."  The Angel first attracts animal man; cyclically He actuates the material sheaths, thus giving them coherence, and ever swings them into closer relation to himself.  Later, as the momentum is increased, the man is swung more definitely into relation with the monadic aspect, until that higher rhythm is imposed upon him.  This is equally true of a planetary Logos, and of a solar Logos.

The spiral-cyclic force demonstrates, as might be expected, in seven ways; of these, the three major methods of demonstration are symbolised in the Rod of Initiation of Sanat Kumara.  The Rod most frequently recognised by men is that of the Hierophant, the Bodhisattva, which consists of the straight central serpent with the two others entwined around it, thus picturing, among other things:

a. The three outpourings,

b. The three worlds,

c. The spinal column and its channels,

or those main factors with which the initiate concerns himself.  He has to understand somewhat the nature of matter and what is occultly involved in that expression, his own triple constitution, the three worlds in which he has to play his part, and the instrument which he has to use.  This rod of the Bodhisattva is surmounted by a diamond which is not as great a diamond as the "Flaming Diamond" of the first Kumara, but is of rare beauty.  At the time of initiation when the electrical forces are tapped, this diamond revolves on its axis, picturing the rotary nature of atomic matter.

The Rod of Sanat Kumara is far more intricate, and instead of the central Rod, or Serpent, standing on the tip of its tail, all the three serpents are interwoven in a spiral fashion, and the Flaming Diamond which surmounts [1036] it is of such radiance that the effect is produced of a spheroidal aura, cast around the interlaced serpents, typifying the form-building nature of the Vishnu activity.

According to the initiation taken, a reflection will be seen from a part of the interlaced serpents, and the illusion will be created that the diamond is cycling up and down between the summit, and the irradiated portion.

At the same time, each serpent revolves upon itself, and likewise cycles around its neighbor, producing an effect of extraordinary brilliance and beauty, and typifying rotary-spiral-cyclic force.

The seven types of spiral-cyclic energy are suggestive of the nature of the planetary Logoi which they represent, and produce, therefore, the distinctions which exist between men; they are accountable for the nature of cycles, and this is a point oft overlooked.  Students discuss the periods of the emergence of the Rays, setting arbitrary dates, such as 2500 years, for the manifestation of any particular ray.  One ray does pass through its cycle in that length of time, but only one, the others being either longer or shorter.  The difference has a great effect upon the egoic cycles, and is responsible for the length of time between incarnations.  Some Egos cycle through their incarnations and their pralayas very rapidly; others spend untold aeons, and hence it is impossible to say that there are even "averages" connected with the appearance of Egos on the astral plane, for instance.  This fact has bearing upon the statement of H. P. B. anent the Lodge effort each one hundred years.  Under the particular type of cyclic force emanating from the Lodge, the high water mark of its activity is to be found once in every seven cycles.  All that originates on that Ray is controlled by spiral-cyclic efforts based upon the number 10 and its multiples, and finding its highest cyclic vibration, as it happens, during the last [1037] quarter of each century.  What our more modern students are apt to forget in this connection is that this activity is but the demonstration of one type of force out of seven possible and that it concerns primarily that group of adepts who are on that particular line of energy, and will necessarily affect greatly all disciples and people on a similar line.  At the same time, the work it initiates is endorsed by the Lodge as a whole, for it is part of the force emanation of the planetary Logos.  It is naturally of great importance owing to the fact that this ray-energy is that of one of the three major Rays; but it will be, in the equilibrising process, balanced by analogous cyclic emanatory activity from the two other major Rays.

It might be added here that when this is recognised it will become apparent that the revolutionising scientific discoveries which can be traced down the centuries, such as the formulation of the Law of Gravitation, the circulation of the blood, the ascertainment of the nature of steam, the discovery by man of that form of electrical phenomena which he has harnessed, and the more recent discovery of radium, are in their own department (that of the Mahachohan), analogous to the effort made during the last quarter of each century to stimulate the evolution of men through a further revelation of some part of the Secret Doctrine.  Newton, Copernicus, Galileo, Harvey, and the Curies are, on their own line of force, lightbringers of equal rank with H. P. B.  All revolutionised the thought of their time; all gave a great impulse to the ability of man to interpret the laws of nature, and to understand the cosmic process, and only those of circumscribed vision will fail to recognise the unity of the many force impulses emanating from the one Lodge.

These cycles will not coincide, for they are not all similar to the one hundred year spiral.  Some idea as to the Mahachohan's cycle of emanatory impulses may be [1038] gathered by considering the dates of the foremost scientific discoveries since Plato's time; the cycles of the second ray may also be averaged by a summary of the appearances of the great Teachers down the ages.

The force emanations from the Manu, or those of the first Ray, are easily traced when the races are considered, and this has been done in the recognition of the races and subraces.  What is oft overlooked is that each of these rays of energy demonstrates constructively, through the form-building agencies, and destructively through the ability of the force to destroy prior to building.  Thus the cycles can be viewed from two angles.

It is at this point that students in one branch of our theosophical movement must recognise the fact that just as H. P. B. came forth on a cyclic tide of energy to destroy the limiting forms to be found in the world of science and religion, so his work must fit in with other force emanations, such as the constructive work of the second ray in conjunction with the energy of the seventh at this time.

When students learn to blend the one hundred year cycles of the first type of energy with the equally powerful impulses from the second Ray and the third, we shall then have a cessation of many controversies.  No great impulse will come from the Lodge along the line of the first Ray of Will or Power till the close of a century.  One such impulse along another line of force came when the discovery of the nature of the atom was arrived at through the study of electricity, and of radioactive substances, and an impulse from the second aspect is imminent.  It is not safe for students with limited vision to dogmatise anent this question of cycles.  Apart from the cyclic impulses continuously going forth, overlapping and superseding, and intermingling with each other, there are many which we might call lesser impulses (and the cycle of one hundred years to which H. P. B. refers [1039] is but one of the lesser impulses.  There is a one thousand year cycle of greater moment).  There are vaster cycles, of 2500 years, of 7,000 years, of 9,000 years, of 15,000 years, and many others which only advanced initiates know of or can follow; these can break in upon any of the lesser impulses, and can be seen appearing, unexpectedly, as far as average man's knowledge is concerned, and yet they are but the returning impulses set in cyclic motion perhaps thousands of years ago.

H. P. B. is right in his affirmation as far as the impulse of the first ray is concerned; but his followers are not right, in so far as they overlook and negate the six other types of impulses, of equal or of more importance, which may emanate cyclically from the Lodge, and which will meet with response from those who vibrate to that particular type of energy.