ESOTERIC ASTROLOGY

ESOTERIC SAGITTARIUS 2008

Labor of Hercules
Killing the Stymphalian Birds

Swarms of iron razor birds in swampland must be flushed; killing, trapping don’t work; crashing cymbals at twilight works; 3 deadly birds – cruel speech, self-referential speech, casting pearls before swine...

Motto: I see the goal. I reach that goal and then I see another.
(Sagittarius, the disciple becomes the Saviour in Pisces)

Sagittarius and the Creative Hierarchies

Scorpio/Sagittarius and the Path — Here we will examine how the Tests of Scorpio culminate in the Vision and Direction of the Sagittarian Disciple and Soul. The arrow of Aspiration returns as the Arrow of Intuition in Sagittarius. Authentic and creative body, speech, and mind are actualized in Sagittarius. Aims, Goals, Direction, Plan, Purpose, and Goalfitness are to be found here. The ‘glorification’ of the Path itself takes place on Earth in the sign Sagittarius.

This paper discusses Sagittarius in the context of the human constitutional trinity of planetary manasaputra, solar agnishvatta pitri, and cosmic manasadeva — shooting its shafts of light from VIth to Vth to IVth Creative Hierarchies.

The VIth CH Lunar Lords are sometimes called by the name “Sons of Necessity” but are given the quality names of “Lords of Sacrifice and Will,” “Lords of Ceaseless and Persevering Devotion,” and “Lords of Knowledge.” In this passage (EA 188) the solar Agnishvattas are denominated “Divine Manasaputras” as reflecting the Ist (6th) CH and IInd (5th) CH [Creative Hierarchy] “Sons of Necessity” on the first and second systemic, or logoic and monadic planes, keeping in mind that this Ist CH is attempting to express the mental vibration and the IInd CH the astral/psychic vibration of the Logos while in physical incarnation. The Five Liberated Hierarchies are the sumtotal of manas in this second aspect solar (physical) system. The condition the first five subplanes of the cosmic astral plane, in other words one subplane above what corresponds to the human mental unit.

Sagittarius associated with the Mars VIth CH rules the lunar lords, essentially the manasaputra (son of mind) aspect supervised by the Venus Vth CH solar angels or agnishvatta pitris, both subordinate to the Mercury IVth CH of Initiates —humanity’s true nature— associated with the cosmic manasadevas and what theosophy points to as “sixth rounders” or “inner round” influences. Mercury conditioning the IVth CH is meant to act as intermediary among the 7 Kingdoms on Earth and particularly the Saturn IIId CH Triads who cannot cross the solar ring-pass-not from the logoic etheric body into the logoic physical body. This argues for the close relationship between Mercury, Venus and Mars to the Three Buddhas of Activity as they work with Saturn’s three rings associated with the previous solar system (bringing in the relation to the Pleiades once again).

The esoteric key to Mars lunar lords in Earth evolution is that they are a group of pitris from earlier cycles who were transferred to Venus as its 6th (deva) hierarchy [EA.686] influenced so tremendously by individualization on Earth. Hence the remark that Venus is the (temporary) “home” of Ray Six. Mars was called Kartikkeya (“nursed by the Pleiades”) and has a direction relation to the previous solar system and the Pleiades, which now conduct electrical energy from Draco to the cosmic buddhic plane. They are the source of manasic development for the seven Heavenly Men as Venus is to earth humanity. On cosmic solar levels they have a parallel function with the seven solar systems —the Sirian System of seven suns— and as the star Sirius relates to the introduction of individual mind to the solar Logos through personifying as the Son their [Pleiades] ‘marriage’ or relation to the seven Rishi representatives of the Great Bear.

The Pleiades in their relation to the 7 Rishi representatives on the cosmic buddhic plane (the cosmic monadic plane being the Rishis’ Own plane) provide the ‘ancestral’ material of 7 Types from the previous solar system. They represent the 7 Types of developed substance which embody the 7 Creative Hierarchies and which those CHs ensoul. The seven Types of substance are related to their progeny Mars, ruling the VIth CH. The 7 Types of egos are not the 7 Ray Groups or Ashrams related to the Vth CH. As humans we are VIth CH lunar lords or Personalities only if we identify ourselves as such. This may indeed be where we have started from and feel enmeshed in. However, we are essentially Vth CH solar angels as we identify ourselves as souls with the Plan on Earth of our 2nd Ray solar and planetary Logoi. We are IVth CH initiates as we identify with our triadic and monadic natures. We are thrown into Avitchi if we reject the IIIrd CH of Triads or Triangles. Identity and identification has to do with conscious alignment which conditions the cosmic/solar substance aspect with which we clothe our permanent atoms, whether our ‘atomic polarization’ is Three-World or Triadic, or above. While the substance aspect of electrical energy from the Pleiades is associated with the person of Brahma —“the Pleiades are the feminine opposite of Brahma”— the permanent atoms are “the feminine aspect of the second person,” or Vishnu, the solar Soul. This does much to explain the relation of Rays Two and Three and their relation to spiral-cyclic motion governed by the egoic principle. Our Identity depends on the principle of identification.

Our present systemic logoic or atomic plane is ruled by the 6th Shakti. When these Mars lunar lords became involved in the constitution of Earth humanity, they became the lowest aspect of the human trinity of planetary manasaputras, solar agnishvatta pitris, and cosmic manasadevas. The presence of human and deva lives on a planet are the criteria for whether that planet is alive, or dead like the moon. Humanity and the Individualization process are the means of physical manifestation of the “lesser Heavenly Man,” which can only take place when the heart center (Venus) has reached a certain level of vivification. This is the meaning of Brotherhood in relation to the Heavenly Man.

Brotherhood is an expression of the relation which the planetary Logos (on the cosmic mental plane) bears to His Personality as it expresses itself through the planet with all its forms of life, upon the cosmic physical plane; this relationship is focussed through Sanat Kumara Who is the individualised Mind of that great Life. (RI 277, cf. LOM 143, CF 288)

The manasaputras eventually become devaputras or Sons of God through Venus and Mercury ruling the dual soul and the triadic monad respectively in this 2nd solar system. Venus and Mercury are thus closely related to the “heart of the sun” or the solar Soul aspect, the Vishnu aspect, and the logoic second person aspect when in systemic incarnation.

Taurus, the Pleiades and Alcyone are often cited as the stars around which our universe revolves. This is true, but they revolve BELOW our Sirian and Ursa Major Systems. They represent one of the lower centers in the Cosmic Logos transmitting a higher correspondence to kundalini energy from the basic center, Draco. Take a look at Chart 1, The Seven Cluster System ‘in Motion’ at www.sevensuns.us. It should be clear with an elementary-school level grasp of astronomy that the proper motion of c.5-15A [approaching] for Draco, c.5-10A for Ursa Major and 0-5A for the Sirian System stars in relation to the 5R [receding] proper motion for the Pleiades indicates that the Ursa Major seven head centers with their convergence point in Capricorn indicate a spiral-forward vertical axis which places the Pleiades in a lower position, probably related to the heart center, but definitely moving in the opposite direction toward the Scorpio-Centaurus convergence point with the other 4 cluster systems (constellations) or Cosmic LOGOIC systemic (‘physical’) centers of the UNKNOWN LOGOS. These seven clusters are between the Orion Association of giant white stars (the future) and the Scorpio-Centaurus Association of red giants (the past). In Chart 1, the central three constellations or systemic aspect of the 7 Cosmic Logoi are our Three Great or Intimate Constellations of Ursa Major, the Sirian System, and the Pleiades, all three directly related to the solar Logoic Triad. (1058) The other four moving clusters or Cosmic Logoic systems are placed two on either side.

The Pleiades are deeply associated with Saturn and Ray Three, particularly on systemic levels, because of inheritance of substance (or Skandhas) from the previous solar system. Uranus and Earth represent the major achievements of Ray Three inherited from the past —“they are directly the product of this third ray activity”— from the influence of Alcyone in the previous solar system.

The Pleiades are the mothers of the seven aspects of form life, or the seven Types which nurture the infant Christ. They are not the Christ nature but the nurturers of that Sirian Son aspect through the 3 to 5 Worlds of Form. They are not the Seven Ray aspects associated with the seven Sirian System suns, or the Seven Paths associated with Ursa Major and the cosmic Logoi of the seven constellations. Saying that humanity is one of the seven Types is speaking of the past, not the goal. It speaks to the manasaputra nature anchored through inheritance to the mental unit, not the mental permanent atom. It is associated with the Ray Three inheritance of the Earth personality aspect and with the VIth CH human-animal personalities associated with Mars and Ray Six. It is not something to identify oneself with as a solar angel or manasadeva. These influences test our human Love aspect. The Pleiades are not the goal of Humanity associated with the Lodge on Sirius, with the higher aspect of the soul (as the planetary Logoic Ray Two soul), nor with the triad or monad associated with the relationship of the Sirian System and Ursa Major cosmic LOGOIC head centers. The Pleiades may be the goal of the Heavenly Men in their Own evolution of manas and in Their own relation to the cosmic heart center. They are implicated in the transformation of a non-sacred planet into a sacred planet — but from our perspective through the evolution of the host of unevolved VIth CH units which make up part of the human constitution, that part which is to be subjugated.

Uranus rules the VIIth CH or spark of buddhi at the center of all atoms in manifestation. Ray Three Earth and its humanity, primarily expressing as Mars conditioned VIth CH Personalities, is the 2nd CH counting up. Uranus is involved in the special relation Earth bears to the sola constitution, which is reflected in the deep karmic relation of the Kumara of Will and the Lord of Sirius. (RI 414)

Our Sun is said to be the 2nd solar system, but also the 5th (IIIrd CH) from certain perspectives, since there were 3 earlier systemic expressions.

The fact that although this is the second solar system from the standpoint of the egoic cycles of the Logos, or His second major egoic cycle, yet it is the fifth when viewed from another angle, that of the lesser cycles. It corresponds to the fifth period in human evolution, that in which man treads the Path. The Logos is now treading the cosmic Path. (CF 861)

Hence the 2nd solar system focuses on the Vth CH of solar angels, or the Outpouring of agnishvatta pitri ancestors during involution utilizing the barhishad pitris (VIth CH ‘lunar lords’) as vehicles of the project of human evolution. The next, or 3rd solar system will find Humanity starting out focused on the monadic plane associated with the present IVth CH, the plane from which our “lesser Heavenly Man” takes physical incarnation in the system through the egoic groups.

“Equally so in the next solar system, individualisation (if such an inadequate term may be applied to a state of consciousness inconceivable even to an initiate of the third Initiation) will not be possible until the second or sixth stage of Pleroma. Consciousness will blaze forth then on the Monadic plane, and it will be the plane of individualisation. All states of consciousness below that high level will be to the Logos what the consciousness of the three worlds is to Him now. Just as the physical body of man is not a principle, so all planes at this time below the fourth cosmic ether are not considered by the Logos to be a principle.” (CF 688)

. . . the solar Pitris will not again be called upon to sacrifice themselves until the next solar system when they will come in as planetary Rays, thus repeating upon monadic levels in the next system what they have done in this. They will then be the planetary Logoi. (CF 831)

The 2nd and 6th states of Pleroma —in this system at very least— suggest Venus and Jupiter schemes. (369) Ray Two incarnates through the three planets Uranus, Jupiter and Venus — predominantly Jupiter in this system. Through Sirius, Jupiter and Leo convey the influence of the cosmic soul energy of the solar Logos to the planetary heart center, the Hierarchy. Uranus represents the heart center in the head (and perhaps Venus the head center in the heart). “In connection with the Mutable Cross, the rays of the Sun in a threefold form (combining the lowest energies of the threefold Sun) pour into and through the man, via Jupiter. Jupiter is the agent of the second ray which the Sun expresses—cosmically and systemically.” (EA 297) The planetary ruler Jupiter is found in Sagittarius-Pisces, in Aquarius and in Virgo. Sagittarius reveals the “glorification of the Path itself,” Aquarius cultivates group consciousness, and Virgo brings the “glorification” of Mother Earth and its full expression of Ray Two as a sacred planet. Libra in its relation to the Air triangle of the Mind of God brings in the relationship with the Three Buddhas of Activity — three of the five Kumaras, sum-total of manas, and coordinators with Saturn of manasic inheritance from the previous solar system.

The solar pitris will come in as “solar lords” in the next system or in other words as IVth CH 4th and 5th degree initiates, the goal of this system. The term “lord” signifies the stage at which the life aspect stands fully ‘conscious’ and independent outside the form it incarnates or expresses through. (62) The permanent atom passes out of the control of the Deva plane Lord, has been “appropriated by one of the lives that form the centres in the body of a solar Lord,” through the direct control of the 3rd group of lipika lords who are reflections of the five Kumaras in planetary and solar constitutions. Perhaps the solar lords, triads and entities who manifest through two, three, and four permanent atoms respectively are also directly related to humanity through its higher principles, specifically the triad of atma-buddhi-manas. The Kumaras suggest the involvement of Saturn and Venus, which relate Sagittarius to Capricorn and the beginning of the solar initiations on the Cardinal Cross..

Humanity should achieve its status as IVth CH Initiates as it transfers its focus from the planetary throat and begins to participate in the life of the planetary ajna center, the center of Direction and Purpose. The IVth Creative Hierarchy on its own plane finds expression through this center. The head center relates monad and personality, the ajna the triad and formless worlds to the personality. (EH 148) This fact relates Sagittarius to Scorpio on one side, ruled on the hierarchic level by Mercury, and to Capricorn on the other, ruled on the hierarchic level by Venus, both planets representing predominant conditioning factors for the ajna center in humanity. Venus and Mercury are both intermediaries with the Heart of the Sun — solar buddhi, solar antahkarana soul aspect, and astral polarization. It is said that the initiate must pass five times with conscious purpose through the Gate of Capricorn to achieve a degree of liberation, even though the liberating initiation is said to be the fourth. It is one thing to study form and physical systems, but another to consciously register impact. Humanity is said not to become conscious of the impact or effects of the Three Major Constellations until after the 3rd initiation. (EA 30) Let us make the effort to do so as a group on the Path.

Inspiration: Alice A. Bailey, Esoteric Astrology, and her 24 books on esoteric philosophy. NY: Lucis Publishing Company – website (http://www.lucistrust.org/en/publications_store).