ESOTERIC ASTROLOGY

CANCER 2009

Labor of Hercules
Capture of the Keryneian Doe or Hind

Capture the Doe of Moon goddess Artemis (& Sun daughter Diana); hold it close to his heart; bear it to the Altar.

Motto: I build a lighted house and therein dwell.
(Cancer visions life in Leo)

The Astral Plane viewed as a Disk
This paper takes a look at the astral plane seen as a disk, related to Cancer, Neptune, Varuna and Indra-Surya (by implication).

The Tibetan chakra systems traditionally introduce five chakras rather than seven (though other material is extant and forthcoming). To look for chakra systems in more exotic detail one must turn to the Subcontinent and the systematic Hindu traditions. I would suggest one reason AAB discourages the Subcontinent schools for westerners in favor of the Trans-Himalayan school is that such detailed systems (from the Subcontinent) are found in a social context, in a prepared atmosphere, and are performed in group or ceremonial formation – conditions generally absent in the West. And we must not play with fire…

The discs, light rays, and drops discussed in the three Higher Yoga Tantras and other systems are an altogether different matter. Via translation into English, etc., they can easily be associated and construed with the standard chakra system symbolism found in the abundant western literature, however, this would be a mistake. It is interesting to contemplate these Tibetan higher tantric teachings in association with the Techniques used in the dissipation of glamour and in Antahkarana training.

We may be IVth creative hierarchy monads, but that does not prevent us from cooperating and identifying with all the Creative Hierarchies above, particularly the IIId ruled by Saturn/Libra and the Vth Liberated Hierarchy ruled by Cancer and Neptune.

From the creative hierarchy point of view (POV), human monads are like the unindividualized group souls of animals held in relationship by higher factors, in that conscious human individualization has not been fully grasped to open up much vaster fields of relationship and spheres of influence and participation. Humanity is still grubbing for existence, whether obstructed or devoured by its predator classes. There is, however, such a thing as an individualized spirit or monad.

Taking the attitude of the astral plane and all astral factors as a disk reflecting buddhi puts one in the position of the Observer, a microcosmic reflection of the Watcher, or Endless of Days. It is the interface between microcosm and macrocosm, also associated with Venus and Mercury, and their five- and six-pointed stars. This disk must be seen as incorporating all contact with the lower astral plane through the astral chakras on one side, and as the soul’s or triad’s contact with the astral plane –as a plane– on the other, from above. Considering the esoteric Buddhist distinctions among four-fold conventional, esoteric, inner, and secret apprehension and interpretations, from the Inner point of view this disk is related to the sheathes of the individual as well as of the lesser Heavenly Man in incarnation. We are discussing the esoteric human constitution. This brings in the Yoga School and its Kosha or sheath philosophy. It also suggests the layers of different-colored radiating light sheathes visualized as surrounding Tara found in some of the Tibetan Tara sadhanas.

The Four Forms found in Esoteric Healing are a way of dynamically introducing the Kosha concept to western audiences — the forms of the Environment (physical etheric environmental plane); the Devotee (astral, kama-manasic, planetary fluidic plane); the Personality (kama-manasic, mental unit, 4th spirilla-delimited mental plane); and the Causal Body (operating from the three higher mental subplanes including the atomic). I would then add the ‘formless’ form of the Light Engineer (on buddhic or triadic planes). We are here speaking of humanity within planetary and solar constitutions, as well as of points of view, specific gravity of identification, and ‘leverage.’ All these four forms have an ‘exterior’ and ‘interior’ face or component – when seen as a disk of contact mediating higher and lower. There are alternating periods when one works with and refines these forms in an ‘upward’ direction, and also in a service direction with a ‘downward’ focus.

Some of us are born with the attitude of the Observer and must preserve vigilance and the iron will necessary to preserve and maintain this POV from the extremes of taking the illusionary and potentially delusional nature of appearances seriously, and falling victim to extremist idealisms and their congealing into kama-manasic attitudes, or tangles of emotionality and semi-formed and mangled thoughtforms. Most of us arrive at this attitude of the Observer gradually from below, but this may also be just an illusion created by lack of reflection and not taking seriously the insights and recognitions seen in our highest points of consciousness and taking energetic measures to incorporate them into daily life.

What are we observing? The desperate struggle of the imprisoned soul upon the astral plane. It is the unpleasant spectacle of the ceaseless FLOW of the human experience and expression of ignorance, incomplete recognition/apprehension, illusions, delusions, attachments to that which is beneath us and human lunacies in general — a veritable tar pit of essentially unnecessary suffering, agony, distress and reactionary wrangling based on contorted phantoms of actuality.

This is what makes the theme and goal of Sight, Light, Illumination and Recognition so universal, valuable and significant. The Enlightenment process, socially and individually, appears spasmodic when it might be seen in actuality as Basic and Infinite.

Here we come to the Tar Pit Syndrome once more. Incarnation (Cancer) into the womb and tomb make it inevitable. It takes incredible mindfulness to live in and address the unremitting presence and demands of the human tar pit of astral, kama-manasic, and unevolved behaviors, assaults, and pollutions. Like molasses or tar, it is a flood, even though appearing in slow motion. There is always a better way that avoids the heat of fire by friction approach and applies solar radiation and magnetic fire, which often produces enough light to obviate action, intervention or argument — where reality (or actuality) and Being reveal themselves. No need to rev up those astral engines to discharge psychic energy to keep things under control, which often ends up expressing as coercion. Just get oneself into a place where inner focus and contact maintains radiation. Bliss and Joy eventually take the place of a haphazard happiness.

Watching evolving humanity writhing in a global tar pit of blood, disease and excrement, to be plain, is unpleasant — poverty, starvation, refugee flows, genocides, organ-trafficking, ghetto states, disease-ridden refugee and concentration camps, slums and corporate pollution don’t seem to be enough for the sado-masochistic tastes of self-willed predator elites. They are learning their primitive lessons through self-will and self-interest. It is easy to go into denial about ‘things as they are,’ and go into a rant about negativity and why it is not constructive to focus on or discuss things in this way. But that is thinking only of oneself and one’s own spiritual balance and development. The real situation is just a larger Cancerian version of changing diapers for a much larger infant – human society. As in Capricorn, one must put the Light at one’s back as one gazes into the phantasmagoric maze, to find ways and means to serve that Light. This is the meaning of Venus ruling Capricorn hierarchically and superceding the rule of karma per se. This is to be understood in the context of Venus in Cancer ruling the solar ‘Personality’ or Divine Manasaputra aspect, and has special relation to Humanity as a unit, the IVth Creative Hierarchy.

Modern media is making this ‘neo-realist’ view of planetary horrors increasingly plain, from the cool passive medium of TV and radio to the apparently hot and interactive internet and virtual media gravitating toward social networking. It has the dual effect and choice of enhancing illusion and enhancing Sight — the choice remains between passive virtual reality as recreation and hands-on meditative engagement. And yet both are valuable in altering conditions, circumstances and in transforming understanding into proactive consciousness. Media unfortunately also offers the choice of extending the Addiction Society indefinitely through entertainment and the tar pit of mercenary stasis demanding a self-serving propaganda.

Media will inevitably have the effect of promoting human evolution and at least civilizing norms. As esotericists we must ask if recognition of esoteric, inner, and occult worlds can become stabilized in consciousness from the bottom up. Can contemporary technology and media be seen as reflections of these inner states and world, rather than as materialist developments that foster a thin film of appealing but fragile and the almost accidental ‘possibility’ of choosing to work with these developments to improve and benefit the human consciousness and its limitations and its plight (while remaining a spectator rather than an Observer).

There is an immense difference between these two points of view that can be quite frustrating and yet they both can arrive at the same human improvement over time; a sort of parallel to Platonic and Aristotelian philosophies and approaches.

The suffering nervous system ruled by Venus is conditioned by and can also condition the Neptunian bloodstream carrying the results of the Saturn endocrine system. We are speaking here of the roots of Karma and the various chakra systems and their ability to express fully and healthily. It should be borne in mind that Venus eventually rules Saturn through the sign Capricorn.

Longevity is based on endocrine vitality, balance, and a resilient orientation toward the future. Food supplements, herbals, medicines and surgery may help, but the essential human question becomes “What individual, and particularly sociopolitical behaviors promote endocrine balance and planetary, social and psychological chakra hygiene?”

Taking the attitude of the astral plane and all astral factors as a disk reflecting buddhi puts one in the position of the Observer and is an approach that can be applied to all the sheathes of the human constitution. It also makes work on the inner planes take on a new light. The rays, energies or forces projected all pass through one’s own constitution before having an impact on the inner side of world events. This is just another way of encouraging the Golden Mean and the Golden Rule, do unto others.

May bliss and joy overwhelm all the lower sheathes and their associated illusions this Cancer Full Moon.

Inspiration: Alice A. Bailey, Esoteric Astrology, and her 24 books on esoteric studies. NY: Lucis Publishing Company – website (http://www.lucistrust.org/en/publications_store).
H.P. Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine, Centennial facsimile ed. Los Angeles. Theosophical University Press, 1988.