Esoteric Astrology

by Alice A Bailey

  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: [474]

  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.

  3. The cycle of initiation from the preparatory stage of accepted disciple to that of the Master and the still higher grades. These seven crises are each re-enacted during the process of self-initiation into the world of meaning and of reality. They constitute the keynote or the motif of each of the seven initiations. Each of these seven initiations permits entry into the state of divine consciousness on each of the seven planes of divine experience and expression.

  The influences of these seven constellations is symbolised by three triangles and a final synthesis or focal point. Esoterically, these triangles are usually depicted as superimposed but for the sake of clarity we separate them.

  [475] We have here three triangles but, at the same time, only seven influences for the effects of the conditioning forces of the two triangles predominantly active in the first two cycles are fused and blended in the third. These blended influences (with the aid of the remaining five constellations, Sagittarius, Libra, Taurus, Pisces and Aquarius) enable the disciple to escape out of the human kingdom into the kingdom of souls. We have therefore:

  1. Seven constellations

  Cancer, Aries, Gemini, Scorpio, Capricorn, Virgo, Leo, which bring the man from the stage of individualisation to the Path of Discipleship.

  2. Eight constellations (which include three out of the seven) which bring the disciple from the stage of selfhood to that of the self-initiated and perfected soul.

  It is not my intention to analyse these crises. These, the student who is in earnest and who is observant can work out for himself.

  I would also point out that I have (again necessarily) only depicted the three triangles in a certain order with the lower points expressing the energy of certain constellations. In this form they depict the final outcome and the final results of a particular group of three crises. It must be remembered that only through much repetition and frequent focussed effort are these results attained. A crisis is brought about by a certain habit of mind, developed in the vehicle; it is surmounted in time only by a certain habit and rhythm of the spiritual content of the man’s nature. It is the establishing of a certain objective rhythm which produces a crisis; it is the emergence of a particular subjective rhythm which enables a man to surmount the crisis and to capitalise on the opportunity. Please bear this in mind.

  [476] These seven crises can also be related to the seven centres in the vital or etheric body, and advanced students will later find that there is a close cyclic interrelation between:

  1. The seven planes of divine expression.

  2. The seven states of resultant consciousness.

  3. The seven crises, leading to the expansion of consciousness.

  4. The seven initiations, climaxing these expansions.

  5. The seven centres wherein these results are realised.

  Let me remind students that all the twelve constellations bring about man’s evolutionary development and eventual release from the Great Wheel of living existence. Seven of these are, however, primarily useful in bringing about the seven crises of the soul whilst five of them are instrumental upon the final stages of the Way in enabling the disciple or initiate to utilise the experience gained and the values grasped in effecting entrance into the fifth kingdom in nature. You have, therefore, the 12 + 7 + 5, making 24 in all and in these are to be found the “24 episodes which mark the Cross of Life.” From the standpoint of Christian symbolism (even though the interpretation is as yet inadequate) these seven crises correspond to the seven stations of the Cross which mark the way of an advancing world Saviour.

  In connection with the five constellations which are peculiarly active in the life of the advanced disciple and initiate, the influences fall into two triangles of force, because Leo—focussing the energy of the seven constellations—is included, thus linking the self-conscious aspect with the spirit: [477]

  Shirk not these crises, hard and difficult though they may appear to be. Difficult they are. Forget not that the habit of confronting crises is a long-established one within the consciousness of humanity. Man has the “habit of crisis,” if I may so call it. They are only the points of examination as to strength, purpose, purity and motive and the intent of the soul. They evoke confidence when surmounted and produce greatly expanded vision. They foster compassion and understanding, for the pain and inner conflict they have engendered is never forgotten, for they draw upon the resources of the heart. They release the light of wisdom within the field of knowledge and the world is thereby enriched.

  4. Conclusions.

  We have reached a point in our consideration of the Science of Triangles wherein we can pause for a minute to consider our next approach to this subject and choose the theme by means of which we can throw more light upon it. It should by now be obvious to you that this Science of Triangles concerns the beneficence of Deity and that, through the intricate combinations of cosmic, systemic and planetary triangles, the purposes of God are working out. Those purposes are motivated by love. It is through these relationships that love expresses itself, brings about the needed changes for that expression, and human consciousness is brought into the required state of inclusiveness.

  [478] It is through the squares or the quaternial relation that the form aspect is brought into relation and adequacy to the will of Deity, expressing itself through the gradually unfolding consciousness aspect. I am explaining this situation in these simple words because it must be apparent to you that only as the soul illumines the mind can the significance of the teaching be grasped. It is only when the stage of initiation is reached that the true meaning will emerge. In the meantime, I have sought to awaken in your minds a reaction to the abstract truth lying behind the two following statements:

  1. The Science of Triangles is related to the total expression of the divine triplicity of manifestation: will, love and intelligence or life, consciousness and form. Until, therefore, the disciple can express in himself the integrated resemblance to these three aspects, he will not be able to grasp the meaning of this subjective astrological science.
r />   2. On our planet, the Science of Triangles is related to the three major aspects, as they express themselves through Shamballa, the Hierarchy and Humanity. Again, therefore, we come up against the need for the approach of the integrated human being to this science because only the man who is responsive to these three focal points of energy can understand the interplay. Only, in fact, can the man apprehend the underlying truth whose two head centres and his heart centre form a triangle of flowing energies.

  In this connection, I would remind you of what I said earlier in the treatise that the Science of Triangles is related to spirit and synthesis. I would remind you also that what I have written in this astrological section of the Treatise on [479] the Seven Rays is intended for the instruction of disciples at the close of this century and during the post-war period. Again I would also point out that I stated earlier that this science must always be approached from the angle of the three basic energies: i.e., those coming from the Great Bear, from the Pleiades and from Sirius; because (conditioned by time and space) these three types of energy pour through the three major centres, Shamballa, the Hierarchy and Humanity.

  My problem has been to choose which of the myriad interlocking triangular relationships I would take up with you and thus present this science in such a manner that it would prove of real interest. The inner web of light which is called the etheric body of the planet is essentially a web of triangles and when the evolutionary process is completed, it will have been organised. At present a pattern of squares is the major construction of the web but this is slowly changing as the divine plan works out. The etheric webs of the sacred planets are largely triangles whilst that of the Sun is that of interlaced circles. The effort on Earth today (as seen by the planetary Logos) is to bring about a transformation of the web of the planet and thus slowly change the existing squares into triangles. This is done by the creation of division, by the application of the Law of Separation, but also by the recognition, in consciousness, of duality, the application of directed motion and the appearance of two triangles in the place of one square. When this has taken place, the perceiving consciousness recognises identity and the rule of the square is ended. These words were once spoken to me by an ancient seer who bisected the square esoterically, thus forming two triangles and united them in a fresh manifestation to form a Star of Life. Ponder on this.

  [480] It is for this reason that the astrologers of the future will emphasise the relation and the interrelation of triangles. The new astrologer will, as I have hinted before, lay the emphasis upon:

  1. The Science of Triangles, as the result of the growth of the initiate understanding.

  2. The rising sign, as it indicates the way of the soul.

  3. The place of the three Crosses (the Cardinal Cross, the Fixed Cross and the Mutable Cross) in the life of the soul. This will eventually supersede the houses in the horoscope and the 12 arms of the three crosses will take the place of the 12 houses when casting the horoscope of the soul.

  I would reiterate again the fact that the new astrology will be occupied with the charting of the life of the soul. The 12 constellations, as they play their part in the life of the disciple through the medium of their distributing agents, the ruling esoteric planets, will gradually transform the exoteric form of the chart of the individual. This will be due to the focussing of the various energies in man, consciously and through intent, and will not concern his negative reaction to the conditioning energies.

  I would like here to call your attention to an interesting point which has a definite bearing upon the power of the individual to grasp the new astrology and to comprehend the Science of Triangles. The astrological symbols for Virgo and Scorpio are triple in nature—the only two which are. When the disciple grasps the meaning behind this triplicity, he will be ready to grasp the significance of this abstruse science and to work with the new astrology. Virgo and Scorpio are two signs connected with the growth of the [481] Christ consciousness; they mark critical points in the soul’s experience—points of integration wherein the soul is consciously at-one-ing itself with the form and at the same time with spirit. I said the soul’s experience, not the experience of the man upon the physical plane. When the experience undergone in Virgo is consummated in Pisces and the tests of Scorpio have led to illumination in Taurus, then the effect of these four energies (Virgo, Pisces, Scorpio, Taurus) will be to make man the true triangle, expressing the three divine aspects or energies as they come from the three major conditioning constellations: the Great Bear, the Pleiades and Sirius.

  I could fill many volumes with the indications of the various triangles as they are discovered to be related in time and space. Under the will of Deity and the unalterable energy at the heart of the manifested zodiac, they produce the changes in consciousness which make man divine at the close of the world cycle. But the theme is too vast and all I seek to do is to point the way towards a new science and towards those esoteric combinations of energies which will, when recognised, enable humanity to make more rapid progress, fuse and blend the energies of the three planetary centres and transform our Earth (through the agency of human thought, reacting to zodiacal influences) into a sacred planet. It is, therefore, the influence and combination of energies as they affect the aspirants and disciples of the world which must suffice for any increased understanding; with these I shall gradually deal and I shall also in the final part of this section give you an exegesis of the tabulation. In that tabulation is given the relation between the rays and the constellations and this is basic in its implications.

  Certain of the forces with which we are dealing govern [482] humanity in a peculiar manner and the effect of their influence is to bring about the at-one-ing of the three planetary centres.

  There are four constellations, as you know, which convey the required energies which will make humanity divine. They are Aries, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. I need not enter into an analysis of them as this was covered when we studied each of them earlier and separately. I would, however, like to point out that each of these constellations is closely connected, as a transmitter of energy, with certain stars, lying outside our zodiac altogether, thus connecting our tiny planet with certain great focal points of energy.

  Aries, the initiator of impulses (either the impulse to incarnate or the impulse to return to the originating source) is closely in touch with one of the stars in the Great Bear to which we give the name “Pointer” in common parlance. This Pointer is a “major star of direction” because through it (in this world cycle) flows the will to unify and to bring about synthesis. This is the force which brings about the fusion or integration of the personality, the at-one-ment of personality and soul, the unification of humanity or the Great Approach of the Hierarchy to Humanity. It will produce also the integration of our Earth into the body of the “sacred planets” and the consequent establishing of a triangle of force composed of the Pointer, Aries and our Earth. This triangular relationship will have a potent effect upon the solar system as well as upon the planet itself and is also one of the factors producing the shift in the Earth’s axis. Related to this triangle is a secondary one within our sun’s orbit, composed of Vulcan, Pluto and the Earth. In the Archives of the Great Lodge this is referred to symbolically as: [483]

  This is one of the most interesting and informing astrological symbols I have given you and indicates a most momentous relationship. You have here two major and three minor energies brought into close relation; this is analogous to the two major rays and the three minor rays which condition a human being in manifestation. These are the five energies which concern the informing life of our planet. They produce, in humanity, conscious evolution, direction and the founding of Shamballa upon the Earth. They are the five energies connected with the will-to-be, but from the consciousness angle and not the material expression of manifestation. Their activity and united influence in the realm of consciousness produced the appearance of another triangle: Leo, Polaris and another of the Pointers and these two
groups form an interlocking directorate, potently effective in the evolution of consciousness.

  You have, therefore, through these related triangles, the appearance of Shamballa and Humanity—the two poles of divine expression—will and activity.

  We come now to another triangle, the activity of which produces the manifestation of Hierarchy—the intermediary between Shamballa and Humanity: Scorpio, Sirius and Mars. These, in relation to our Earth, produce the four streams of energy (initiating and transmitting) which lead humanity towards discipleship and initiation.

  When the work of all these triangles has been concluded, [484] humanity (and in a mysterious sense our Earth) will be functioning in perfect rhythm and will respond to the energies pouring in from Alcyone.

  I cannot too strongly repeat that esoteric astrology is entirely concerned with the forces and energies which affect the consciousness aspect of the human being, and condition the personality life. This is the point which must be considered above all else. In other words, esoteric astrology is concerned with the soul and not with the form and, therefore, all that I have to say refers to consciousness, to its expansion, to its effect upon its vehicles, the form, and—in the last analysis (as will be later established)—with the Science of Initiation. This I have earlier pointed out, but the idea is so new and the approach so universal or cosmic, that it is not easy for those trained in modern exoteric astrology truly to comprehend the significance of this teaching. In considering the Triangles, which I have chosen to use as the theme in elucidating this immense subject, this emphasis upon the consciousness aspect must not be forgotten.