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3. The Triangles and the Centres. - Part 1

It is necessary to remember that all influences which impinge upon the individual or upon humanity as a whole pass through or are transmitted by one or other of the planetary centres. I have said little about these centres save to refer to the major three centres which we call Shamballa, Hierarchy and Humanity. We recognise them as:

 

  I. Shamballa. . .

Power. Purpose. . . . .

Planetary head centre. . . . 

Directing Will

 II. Hierarchy. . . .

Love. Wisdom. . . . . .

Planetary heart centre. . . . 

Directed Love

III. Humanity. . . . 

Intelligence. . . . . . . . 

Planetary ajna centre. . . . .

Directed Mind

 

Four other centres remain to be considered: the planetary throat centre, solar plexus, sacral centre and the centre at the base of the spine.

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In the planetary logoic life—as is the case also with individual man, the microcosm of the Macrocosm—certain centres are more awakened than others and vibrate in unison with systemic impulse more fully than others. In the case of the planetary Logos of our little sphere, the head centre, the ajna centre, the heart and solar plexus centres and the throat centre are the five focal points of energy which are the most alive and vibrant. The sacral centre is slowly dropping below the threshold of the logoic consciousness whilst the centre at the base of the spine is practically entirely quiescent, except in connection with its pranic effects upon the form life, engendering the will to live, the urge to survival and the vitalisation of forms. These facts will give you an idea of our planetary status in the great family of the central sun and indicate why our planet is not a sacred planet. No planet is a sacred planet unless the centre at the base of the spine (speaking symbolically) is aroused and the great fusion of energies resulting therefrom has been effected. I refer to this particular world cycle and period and to the state of affairs in this the fifth or Aryan root-race. Students of my books and of The Secret Doctrine must remember that any contradictions which may appear are only contradictions in Time and that when this time factor is properly understood and the student knows to what specific cycle the information should be applied, these apparent inexactitudes will disappear.

What is true of humanity, for instance, during the third root-race, may not be true in the fifth root-race. Therefore, all that can be done is to study and relate, to reflect and to apply the Law of Analogy, knowing that when the expanded and more inclusive consciousness of the trained initiate takes the place of the present human awareness, [454] then these debated points will be clarified; they will assume a true consistency and the contradictions will disappear.

The planetary centre which corresponds to the one at the base of the spine in the human being will not be awakened until the seventh root-race and that only when right relationship is established between the planetary sacral centre (which is related to the third kingdom in nature, the animal kingdom) and the planetary throat centre, functioning properly and in unison.

In the first volume of this treatise, certain hints were given anent the planetary centres and the rays of energy pouring through them. To these I would like here to refer because they are related to the Science of the Triangles. You should note that the three lower kingdoms in nature constitute in themselves a triangle of force and are essentially a reflection of a particular planetary triangle. It might be of service if I here briefly tabulated again for you certain of these major inferences—for they are little more than inferences at this time. One point is of real interest here. I have stated that Humanity is the correspondence in the planetary Life to the ajna centre in individual man. Earlier I told you that the fifth Ray of Concrete Knowledge is related to the ajna centre and, therefore, in this present world cycle, you have:

Humanity . . . planetary ajna centre . . . 5th Ray of Knowledge . . . 5th root-race.

Therefore five centres in man are rapidly awakening. These relationships prove each other but only when seen in relation to the greater cycle. Humanity was at one time the correspondence to the planetary solar plexus and some day will shift the focus of its receptivity to the planetary heart centre; when this takes place, the Hierarchy will [455] shift its focus of receptivity into the sphere of influence of Shamballa. Of this shift, the presence of the twelve-petalled lotus in the highest head centre (the relating point between the heart centre and the soul on its own plane) is the guarantee. The following relations must consequently be borne in mind:

I. Head centre . . . Shamballa . . . 1st ray . . . 1st & 7th races . . . Will; the goal.

Energy of Life. Synthesis.

Seven centres awakened and functioning.

In first root-race alive and faintly vibrating.

In seventh root-race fully awakened.

II. Heart centre . . . Hierarchy . . . 2nd ray . . . 6th root-race . . . Love; the goal.

Energy of Identification. Achievement of fusion.

Six centres functioning.

The focal point of the egoic consciousness of divinity.

The fifth kingdom. The Kingdom of God.

III. Ajna centre . . . Humanity . . . 5th ray . . . 5th root-race . . . Intuition; the goal.

The energy of Initiation. Development of inclusiveness.

Five centres rapidly awakening.

The focal point of personality.

The human kingdom, the fourth kingdom in nature.

IV. Throat centre . . . Animal . . . 3rd ray . . . 3rd root-race . . . Intellect; the goal.

The energy of Illumination. Creating in the light.

Four centres functioning.

Focal point of the instinctual consciousness.

The third kingdom in nature.

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V. Solar plexus . . . Vegetable . . . 6th ray . . . 4th root-race . . . Instinct; the goal.

The energy of Aspiration. Unfoldment of sensitivity.

Three centres functioning.

Focal point of psychic response.

The second kingdom in nature.

VI. Sacral centre . . . Deva evolution . . . 7th ray . . . 2nd root-race . . . Responsiveness; the goal.

The energy of Magnetism. Power to build.

Two centres functioning; heart and sacral centres.

Focal point of vibratory response to the "eye of God."

VII. Base of spine . . . Mineral . . . 4th ray . . . 7th root-race . . . Synthesis; the goal.

The energy of foundational Synthesis. Completion.

All centres functioning as one.

Focal point of evolution.

The first kingdom in nature.

This tabulation may serve to make a little clearer the present general plan or blueprint of the evolutionary development of consciousness. Other developments are proceeding simultaneously, such as the responsive unfoldment of the form aspect and the evolution of the deva, or angel, line which parallels the human and to which I referred in A Treatise on Cosmic Fire. A third great scheme of evolution is proceeding and that can only be referred to as the unfoldment of divine purpose on its own plane; of this humanity has, as yet, no faintest conception because its consciousness is still held within the limitations of its own kingdom in nature; the Hierarchy is attempting to become responsive to this form of energy.

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There is another point of interest to which I wish to refer and it is one which is little realised by the average occult student. I refer to the outlets of planetary energy through the means of which great and general effects are produced in the external, planetary life. In this fifth root-race, there are only five such outlets as far as effects on humanity are concerned; man's responsiveness to them, is demonstrated by the fact of their relative importance in conditioning world events and world affairs. Wherever one of these outlets for spiritual force is found, there will also be found a city of spiritual importance in the same location. These five points are:

1. London.—For the British Empire.

2. New York.—For the Western Hemisphere.

3. Geneva.—For all of Europe, including the U.S.S.R.

4. Tokyo.—For the far East.

5. Darjeeling.—For all of central Asia and India.

Later, two more points or outlets for energy will be added to these but the time is not yet. Through these five places and areas in their neighbourhood, the energy of five rays pours forth, conditioning the world of men, leading to effects of planetary significance and determining the trend of events. A study of history and of current affairs will produce some understanding of their importance in connection with four of them. The effect of the force flowing through the Darjeeling centre is not so immediately apparent but it is of major importance as a distributing agency for the Hierarchy and particularly for those Members of the Hierarchy who are dealing with and influencing current human affairs in this time of momentous crisis.

These five points of conditioning energy produce two triangles of force in their interrelation:

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1. London—New York—Darjeeling.

2. Tokyo—New York—Geneva.

Geneva and Darjeeling are two centres through which pure spiritual energy can be directed with more facility than through the other three and they, therefore, constitute the higher points of their respective triangles. They are more subjective in their influence than are London, New York or Tokyo. Together, they form five centres of 'impelling' energy today.

It may interest you also to know the governing rays and astrological signs of these five places, so far as they can be given at this time and during this present cycle. Forget not that the personality rays change from period to period in connection with countries and cities just as they do with individuals:

 

RAYS

City

Soul

Personality

Sign

1. London. . . . .

5th. . . . .

7th. . . . . . . . . 

Gemini.

2. New York. . . .

2th. . . . .

3rd. . . . . . . . .

Cancer.

3. Tokyo. . . . . . . 

6th. . . . .

4th. . . . . . . . . 

Cancer.

4. Geneva. . . . . .

1st. . . . .

2nd. . . . . . . . 

Leo.

5. Darjeeling. . . . 

2nd. . . . .

5th. . . . . . . . .

Scorpio.

 

If students will study this information in connection with that given elsewhere in connection with other nations and cities, the inter-relations now emerging in world affairs will be seen as the result of the play of these forces and energies and, therefore, unavoidable. The use of the energy may be along wrong lines, producing separation and trouble, or along right lines, leading to eventual harmony and understanding, but the energy is there and must make its effects in any case. As in the individual life, the results of the play of the life of the soul upon the form aspect, one or other of the rays will dominate and control. If the person or nation [459] [459] is spiritually oriented, the result of the energy impact will be good and will lead toward the working out of the divine plan and thus be wholly constructive. Where personality force dominates, the effects will be destructive and hindering to the emergence of divine purpose. Nevertheless, even destructive force can and does finally work towards good, for the trend of the evolutionary force is unalterable. It can be slowed down or speeded up according to the purpose, aspiration and orientation of the entity (human or national); it can express soul purpose or personality selfishness, but the urge towards betterment will inevitably triumph.

In the study of this Science of Triangles, the student must bear in mind that there is always one point of the triangle which—in a particular crisis or "event in consciousness"—is the emanating, dynamic, conditioning energy. During the cycle (great or small, major or minor) in which it thus controls, the other two points express receptivity and are regarded esoterically as embodying forces. Every triangle is, therefore, the expression of one fundamental energy and of two secondary forces. This is a basic statement of importance and the formulation of a law under which all the triplicities of energy function in time and space. You have consequently:

1. An emanating energy centre.

Dynamic expression of cyclic purpose.

Positive qualified out-going ray energy.

Planetary, systemic, zodiacal and cosmic energy.

The basis of hylozoistic (living) expression.

2. A receptive force centre.

An evocative expression of the initial impelling energy.

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A synthesis of two forces, the emanating and the receptive.

A qualified, conditioning secondary energy.

Motivating, blended energy, neither positive nor negative.

3. A responsive point of negative energy.

A major centre, completing the grounding of the emanating energy.

Responsive mainly to the second point of the triangle.

Source of a violent interplay between the two points of the base line.

This distributing centre can be a solar system, regarded as a cosmic centre, a planet, which is a systemic centre, one of the planetary centres, above referred to, a nation or an individual or one of the centres in the human etheric body.

A close study of these energy streams will demonstrate two major movements:

I. A downflow of energy from an emanating centre. This leads to

1. Its merging with the energy of a centre of reception and its consequent qualification.

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2. Its transmission to and its evocative effect upon a second point or focal point of reception.

Note: This leaves one side of the triangle as yet uncompleted.

3. The three types of energy (or rather one energy and two forces) proceed then with the following activities:

a. Evocative energising of a secondary triangle.

b. Pouring down one side of this reflected triangle into the evoked expression on the physical plane.

c. Producing manifestation, quality and activity.

d. Forming a reservoir of descending and balancing energies.

Some light on this most abstruse subject can be gained if the student will attempt to realise that the above diagram and subsequent statement describes his own involutionary and evolutionary history. It depicts the interplay of his monadic life, soul energy and personality force, as these three focus on the physical plane, producing manifestation and appearance.

II. A return flow of this qualified energy to its emanating source or the highest point of the major triangle. This produces:

1. The completion of the two triangles—the Real and the unreal. The building of the antahkarana is an aspect of this completion. This concerns the final building of the later stages of the antahkarana by the initiate.

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2. The transmission of force from the reflected or secondary triangle in the three worlds of human endeavour (or in the five worlds in the case of the evolution of members of the Hierarchy) is into the same focal point on the base line of the higher triangle which received the original emanating energy.

3. There are consequently two points of major importance in the higher triangle:

a. The emanating point of positive conditioning energy.

b. The point which receives into itself both the higher energy and the lower forces. This point is called the soul aspect of the triangle and is always the registering agent of consciousness. It is, therefore, the producer of crises, because the point where several energies meet is the source of crisis in the outer life.

c. These crises are crises of initiation and this is true of men as individuals, of nations and of humanity as a whole.

d. The overshadowing triangle is the factor which produces by its flow into and out of the secondary triangle the "moments in time and the events in space which lead to those episodes in the life of the soul wherein force becomes energy and energy becomes life."

Such a momentous event or crisis is now taking place in the life of humanity today.

More along this line I may not here dictate. The subject is too vast, abstruse and complicated. I have, however, [463] indicated enough to throw some light upon this intricate science. Summarising what I have said:

1. Emanating, evocative and magnetic energies are the three types of energy, flowing from the "superior triangle."

2. Receptive, distributing and critical force are the three types of energy distributed by the "inferior or reflected triangle."

3. Two points of energy are shared by both triangles along the base line. When the work is completed, the base line is formed by two blended streams of energy, which embody the energies of both triangles.

4. One point of energy (the magnetic point) produces involution and outgoing during the process of forming the lower triangle. In a later stage it—as a blend of energies—induces return of all the energies to the emanating source.

At the same time, students must bear in mind that—owing to the Great Illusion—it may appear to them that the triangles are incomplete during the evolutionary process. The fact, however, is that in the Eternal Now all three sides of the triangles eternally exist and persist. The problem is found only in the consciousness of the subject but not in the Reality.

5. It must be noted by the student that:

a. The masses of men express down-pouring energy from the magnetic centre. Their rightful trend is at present downward into physical manifestation and experience.

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b. Aspirants and probationers express responsiveness to the pull of the evocative centre. Their urge is towards the path of return.

c. Accepted disciples and initiates express the interplay along the base line between the evocative and magnetic points.

d. Higher initiates and Masters utilise and express the energy blended in the magnetic centre. They are returning or responding to the emanating centre.

Thus the sixfold triangle—objective and subjective—is completed.

It will be of course obvious to you that it will not be possible to deal with all the various triangles of energy which are effective on our Earth, and which, incidentally, affect humanity exhaustively. Their name is legion. But certain triangular relationships can be tentatively considered and their place in the planetary or in the individual horoscope can then be later worked out. In the new astrology which will be that of the soul, the paramount consideration of the twelve houses (which are now of such importance) will be less emphasised and the consideration of the three Crosses will emerge in their place. These three Crosses make together twelve arms and it is the energy flowing through the twelve arms and their place in the soul horoscope which will assume the major importance. This I will enlarge upon when we take up the theme of the three Crosses. The twelve houses concern the personality. The four arms of the three Crosses concern the soul and it is these twelve and their appearance in the horoscope or their failure to appear which will govern the horoscope of the soul. All the four influences of the three [465] Crosses will be found present in the chart of a Master. Therefore an indication of which constellations are primarily related to the unfoldment of consciousness and to the evolution of spiritual understanding is of significant use here.

The major cosmic Triangle works primarily through six constellations at this time and—again at this time—the cosmic constellation and the two zodiacal energies focus through a particular planet, using it as a transmitting agency to the Earth. You have therefore:

[See Figure]

These six influences aid greatly in the development of self-consciousness and later of the spiritual consciousness in the man who has succeeded in reaching the point of re-orientation upon the Great Wheel. I deal not here with the personality influences, inclinations and determinations as they appear in the chart of the ordinary man. I deal with the influences and with those determining energies which pour upon the man who is on the Path of Return to the centre of his life and, therefore, with the final three stages upon the Path of evolution.

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We might consequently state that the forces of:

1. Cancer—Capricorn—Saturn (which are an expression of Sirian energy) enable the aspirant to tread the Path of Purification, of Probation. These energies focus and qualify the energy of the Great Lodge of the Most High in that distant Sun. They pour through the Hierarchy upon the mass of men and enable the unit in that mass to "isolate himself and turn his back upon the past and find his way on to that section of the Path wherein he learns to feel."

2. Gemini—Sagittarius—Mercury (which are an expression of the Pleiades) enable the Probationary Disciple to pass on to the Path of Accepted Discipleship. He is then becoming increasingly intuitive and entirely one-pointed whilst the nature of the pairs of opposites is clearer to him. The relation of the Mother-aspect (as embodied in the Pleiades) and of the Christ-child, hidden within the form of the personality, is realised and the inner, spiritual man institutes the process of initial identification with the spiritual entity on its own plane; the little self begins to react consciously and with increasing frequency to the higher Self. The man "presses forward on that Path wherein he learns to see."

3. Aries—Libra—The Sun (which are an expression of the Great Bear) bring about that focussing of energy in the life of the disciple which makes it possible for him to function consciously and with intention upon the Path of Initiation. He enters the realm of the formless worlds because Aries, the sign of beginnings makes this possible; through the potency of Libra, he has succeeded in achieving that point of balance which makes the final escape from the pairs of opposites possible. He now [467] [467] knows, through transcended feeling and from identification with the seen Vision, the true meaning of being.

This threefold process can also be covered by the three words: Sensitivity, Illumination and Inspiration.

Another group of energies can be touched upon though any true elucidation is not possible. They concern the focussed energies of the seven solar systems of which ours is one. These energies (six in number) reach our solar system, via the constellations Taurus and Scorpio and the planet Mars.

Their peculiar nature, objective in evolution and basic purpose is only revealed to initiates above the fifth initiation. They are concerned with the problem of desire (which is to humanity a problem but not in its higher octaves) and with its transmutation into spiritual will and divine purpose. They are the originators of conflict, are closely connected with the fourth Ray of Harmony through Conflict and are, therefore, in a peculiar relation to the fourth Creative Hierarchy, the human, and to our Earth in this fourth round.

In these eight constellations are to be found the influences which are mainly concerned with the evolution of the soul—in the solar system, in the planet Earth and in man. They are the "eight potencies of the Christ"; they govern the psychic unfoldment of the life in all forms. They are of the utmost significance to the aspirant.

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Four constellations have been omitted from this list:

 

Leo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Virgo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Aquarius. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Pisces

Self-consciousness. . . . 

Christ consciousness. . . .

Group consciousness. . . .

Universal consciousness

 

They are basically concerned with the expression of consciousness on the outer external planes of expression or with the fusion of soul and form in order to demonstrate fully a state of awareness. These facts will become apparent if the four esoteric planets connected with these four constellations are considered and related:

 

The Sun. . . . . 

The Moon. . . . . 

Jupiter. . . . . . . . . . .

Pluto

The Soul. . . . .

The Form. . . . . 

Beneficent Life. . . .

Death

 

It will also be apparent to the astrologer of the future along which lines the chart of the soul must be drawn; the major triangles and the three cosmic Crosses will control his deductions as to the unfoldment of consciousness. The triangles indicate possibility; the Crosses indicate process and points of crisis.

There is, as I have said, no way of handling this Science of Triangles at length or exhaustively, for it is the science of the universal geometrical blueprint underlying the phenomenal worlds and is also closely related to Karma. It concerns the first precipitation of the interaction and the effect of the duality of manifestation, of spirit-matter, as they constitute one substance. But, in its relation to esoteric astrology, it is possible to indicate certain fundamental interpretations of this relation which will enable the astrologer to work out eventually the astrology of the soul, to outline the horoscope of the ego and to draw up the new types of charts which will demonstrate soul purpose on its own plane and group relations also on the physical plane and [469] so be of aid to the intelligent, dedicated personality. Ponder on this.

There is one triad of cosmic energy that is of supreme importance upon our planet and it is the united influence of its three constellations which will eventually bring about the initiation of the planetary Logos; this will warrant any future planetary expression of His life to be termed a "sacred planet." At present our Earth is not regarded as a sacred planet. Later, when these three energies have produced adequate effect and the needed planetary changes have been produced, the term "sacred" will be deemed correct and appropriate. This statement of course means little to any student at this time. When, however, he is able factually to realise two things, the case will be different. These are:

First, that the threefold energies which lie back of the activity of the centre at Shamballa concern the planetary Logos; humanity is slowly becoming sensitive to that influence, but only in mass formation and not individually. Only theoretically can a disciple take note of this fact.

Second, these influences are playing upon that aspect of human life which we call the Monad; they will, therefore, have a steadily increasing effect upon the Path of Initiation.

These three constellations are Leo—Virgo—Pisces. They are spoken of esoterically as "the Producers of that which knows, the Informers of that which is awakened and the Constructors of the modes of fusing Wisdom. They produce a unity; They shatter that which They have produced only again to produce it in greater beauty and in wider fullness." These words are clear. This triangle is, at this [470] time, an inverted one with the Leo energies in the closest contact with our planetary life. The following triangle will show this more clearly.

These three are connected definitely and increasingly with the unfoldment of human consciousness in three main aspects.

There is the development of self-consciousness to be fostered and this is the major effect—as well you know—of the force of Leo. The influence of this constellation aids in the manifestation of individual will, individual love, and individual intelligence; it fosters the "ahamkara" or egoistic principle; it produces the emphasis upon the "I am" attitude which is so necessary a stage before the individual can merge himself as a conscious Self-respecting unit in the Whole. But behind this influence and pressing through into manifestation is the force of Virgo (the mother or custodian of the Christ-consciousness) which shatters eventually the synthesis and the lower unity already produced by the Leo energy; it stimulates the soul within the form as well as the soul within each atom in the form, because the genius and uniqueness of Virgo is that it produces the form as well as stimulates the life within that form and, therefore, nourishes and energises two lives simultaneously. It is a powerful dual energy, a potent expression of the anima mundi or the soul of the world. It was the recognition of [471] this which made the ancient astrologers merge Virgo-Leo into one sign. Then as the dualism of the human spirit (spirit-matter) became a fact in the consciousness of man, the sign was divided into two signs and the war of the pairs of opposites became a "war with purpose" and is, incidentally, reaching its climax today. This fact will be obvious to all true esotericists.

Another stream of energy is also pushing through and producing effects upon those in the human family who not only respond to the Leo force and are consequently individuals in their own consciousness but are responding also to the steadily expanding Christ-consciousness; of this they are becoming increasingly aware in their own individual experience. This is the higher aspect of the energy of Pisces; it is awareness of the group, of the whole and of the universe. It is the energy of buddhi, the higher aspect of the lower psychic nature; it is the aspect of the mediator in contradistinction to the medium. It is intuitional control instead of the intellectual overlordship of Leo and the limitations of Virgo.

These three energies are today playing potently on humanity, producing:

1. The self-consciousness of man, as he emerges out of the mass.

2. The recognition of the Christ life and nature, as the aspirant for the first initiation emerges out of the group of world individuals.

3. The awareness, universal in nature, of the initiate, as he emerges out of the ranks of the world disciples.

All this is, therefore, brought about at this time by the steady inflow of the energies of Leo-Pisces-Virgo and these lie behind the very rapid unfoldment of the three types of [472] consciousness to be found in varying degrees in humanity today.

There are, as I pointed out earlier, seven great crises in connection with the human being upon the path of evolution; they cover the earlier, the later and the final stages of his growth. These it should be borne in mind are precipitated through the conditioning influences of seven great constellations. Let us consider them for a moment. They are:

 

THE CRISES OF THE SOUL

 

 

 

 

Crisis

Quality

Constellation

Cross

1. Crisis of Incarnation. . . . . . . .

Individualisation. . . 

Cancer. . . . . . 

Cardinal

2. Crisis of Orientation. . . . . . . .

Reversal. . . . . . . . .

Aries. . . . . . . .

Cardinal

3. Crisis of Initiation. . . . . . . . . .

Expansion. . . . . . . .

Capricorn. . . .

Cardinal

4. Crisis of Renunciation. . . . . . 

Crucifixion. . . . . . . .

Gemini. . . . . .

Mutable

5. Crisis of the Battlefield. . . . . .

Conflict. . . . . . . . . . 

Scorpio. . . . . .

Fixed

6. Crisis of the Birthplace. . . . . .

Initiation. . . . . . . . . 

Virgo. . . . . . . .

Mutable

7. Crisis of Burning ground. . . . .

Liberation. . . . . . . .

Leo. . . . . . . . .

Fixed

 

You will note that two of the constellations which we have just been considering—Leo and Virgo—are to be found in this list. Five constellations are not so intimately concerned with the mass human crises but are more definitely and specifically related to the unfoldment of the individual disciple. These are: Sagittarius, Libra, Taurus, Pisces and Aquarius. Pisces has, however, at this time a unique relation to the seven constellations which produce the great human crises; it also completes the final united effort of the Triangle: Leo, Virgo, Pisces. It has been the steady impact of Piscean force which has at long last brought humanity, the world disciple, to the very door of initiation. For over two thousand years, Piscean influence has been playing upon mankind; it has brought about the demand for world adjustment; it has developed the international spirit and has led to the formation of groups in every department [473] of human living and so laid the foundation for the future synthesis in Aquarius. The influence of this triangle finds symbolic expression in the life of the self-conscious individual who reaches self-awareness in Leo; in the culturing care of Virgo and the final self-release in Pisces.

We might here give a little time to the practical lessons to be learnt from the seven crises through which man, the individual, and humanity, the larger whole, must pass.

In considering these crises which take place in the life history of the soul from its first incarnation until its final release, it will be found that seven major constellations and their influences, pouring through the exoteric and the esoteric planets, stage the circumstances and condition the environment of the onward-moving, spiritual man. Certain lives will occur when one or other of these constellations will exert a predominant influence. They will produce that focussing of forces which—given a man's particular equipment at any point in time—will evoke from him the maximum of possible effort, thus enabling him to move forward into a more enlightened state of consciousness. You will note, that I do not say "enable him to be victorious." A man may succeed in surmounting the testing conditions and in emerging conqueror over circumstances upon the physical plane and yet be defeated. The reason for this is that unless the struggle and the emergence produce basic changes in consciousness and a greatly extended horizon, they will prove futile to accomplish their intended task.

In studying the moments of crisis, it must be remembered that they are passed through approximately three times from the standpoint of the major life cycle and are also recapitulated in a minor sense in some particular life or group of lives. The three cycles of major import in the consciousness of the reincarnating ego are:

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1. The evolutionary cycle from individualisation to liberation, from the stage of primitive man to the emergence upon the stage of world affairs of a Master of the Wisdom, a Buddha or a Christ.

2. The cycle of aspiration from the stage of intelligent integrated man to that of the accepted disciple and from the experience of intellectual expression in the three worlds to that of the probationer who is seeking trial upon the Path and is beginning to take his spiritual unfoldment consciously in hand.