Esoteric Astrology Read online

  ESOTERIC ASTROLOGY

  Volume III

  A TREATISE ON THE SEVEN RAYS

  by

  ALICE A. BAILEY

  Index Edition

  Published by the Lucis Publishing Companies

  The first and only publisher of the

  24 books of Alice A. Bailey

  www.lucistrust.org/books

  COPYRIGHT © 1951 BY LUCIS TRUST

  COPYRIGHT © RENEWED 1979 BY LUCIS TRUST

  First Printing, 1951

  Eighth Printing, 1971 (First Paperback Edition)

  Eighteenth Printing, 2016 (Hardcover)

  Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 62006365

  Ebook: First edition 2012. This 2018. ISBN No. 978 085330 420 3

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  The publication of this book is financed by the Tibetan Book Fund which is established for the perpetuation of the teachings of the Tibetan and Alice A. Bailey.

  This Fund is controlled by the Lucis Trust, a tax-exempt, religious, educational corporation.

  The Lucis Publishing Companies are non-profit organisations owned by the Lucis Trust. No royalties are paid on this book.

  The book has been translated into Croatian, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish and Swedish. Translation into other languages is proceeding.

  LUCIS PUBLISHING COMPANY

  866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 482, New York, NY 10017

  LUCIS PRESS LIMITED

  Suite 54, 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EF

  BOOKS BY ALICE A. BAILEY

  Initiation, Human and Solar

  Letters on Occult Meditation

  The Consciousness of the Atom

  A Treatise on Cosmic Fire

  The Light of the Soul

  The Soul and its Mechanism

  From Intellect to Intuition

  A Treatise on White Magic

  From Bethlehem to Calvary

  Discipleship in the New Age–Vol. I

  Discipleship in the New Age–Vol. II

  Problems of Humanity

  The Reappearance of the Christ

  The Destiny of the Nations

  Glamour: A World Problem

  Telepathy and the Etheric Vehicle

  The Unfinished Autobiography

  Education in the New Age

  The Externalisation of the Hierarchy

  A Treatise on the Seven Rays:

  Vol. I–Esoteric Psychology

  Vol. II–Esoteric Psychology

  Vol. III–Esoteric Astrology

  Vol. IV–Esoteric Healing

  Vol. V–The Rays and the Initiations

  Contents

  Cover

  EXTRACT FROM A STATEMENT BY THE TIBETAN

  THE GREAT INVOCATION

  CHAPTER I - The Zodiac and the Rays

  1. Three Basic Statements.

  2. The Creative Hierarchies.

  3. The Great Wheel and Spiritual Unfoldment.

  CHAPTER II - The Nature of Esoteric Astrology

  INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

  1. Centres and Triangles of Force

  2. The Crosses and the Signs

  3. Spiritual Effects of the Zodiacal Constellations.

  ARIES, THE RAM

  PISCES, THE FISHES

  AQUARIUS, THE WATER CARRIER

  CAPRICORN, THE GOAT

  SAGITTARIUS, THE ARCHER

  SCORPIO, THE SCORPION

  LIBRA, THE BALANCE

  VIRGO, THE VIRGIN

  LEO, THE LION

  CANCER, THE CRAB

  GEMINI, THE TWINS

  TAURUS, THE BULL

  CHAPTER III - The Science of Triangles

  INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

  1. Triangles of Energy—Constellations.

  2. Triangles of Force—Planets.

  3. The Triangles and the Centres.

  4. Conclusions.

  CHAPTER IV - The Sacred and Non-Sacred Planets

  1. The Centres, the Rays and the Signs.

  2. The Races, the Rays and the Signs.

  3. Planetary and Systemic Centres.

  CHAPTER V - Three Major Constellations and the Zodiac

  1. Leo, Capricorn and Pisces.

  2. Three major planetary influences today.

  CHAPTER VI - The Three Crosses

  1. The Cross of the Hidden Christ.

  2. The Cross of the Crucified Christ.

  3. The Cross of the Risen Christ.

  CHAPTER VII - The Rays, Constellations and Planets

  1. The Nature of the Will––Underlying Cosmic Purpose.

  2. Various Aspects of the Will

  3. The Keynotes of the Seven Rays and the Will Aspect.

  4. Cosmic Energies and Transformation.

  APPENDIX - Suggestions for Students

  ARCANE SCHOOL TRAINING

  INDEX

  EXTRACT FROM A STATEMENT BY THE TIBETAN

  Suffice it to say, that I am a Tibetan disciple of a certain degree, and this tells you but little, for all are disciples from the humblest aspirant up to, and beyond, the Christ Himself. I live in a physical body like other men, on the borders of Tibet, and at times (from the exoteric standpoint) preside over a large group of Tibetan lamas, when my other duties permit. It is this fact that has caused it to be reported that I am an abbot of this particular lamasery. Those associated with me in the work of the Hierarchy (and all true disciples are associated in this work) know me by still another name and office. A.A.B. knows who I am and recognises me by two of my names.

  I am a brother of yours, who has travelled a little longer upon the Path than has the average student, and has therefore incurred greater responsibilities. I am one who has wrestled and fought his way into a greater measure of light than has the aspirant who will read this article, and I must therefore act as a transmitter of the light, no matter what the cost. I am not an old man, as age counts among the teachers, yet I am not young or inexperienced. My work is to teach and spread the knowledge of the Ageless Wisdom wherever I can find a response, and I have been doing this for many years. I seek also to help the Master M. and the Master K.H. whenever opportunity offers, for I have been long connected with Them and with Their work. In all the above, I have told you much; yet at the same time I have told you nothing which would lead you to offer me that blind obedience and the foolish devotion which the emotional aspirant offers to the Guru and Master Whom he is as yet unable to contact. Nor will he make that desired contact until he has transmuted emotional devotion into unselfish service to humanity-not to the Master.

  The books that I have written are sent out with no claim for their acceptance. They may, or may not, be correct, true and useful. It is for you to ascertain their truth by right practice and by the exercise of the intuition. Neither I nor A.A.B. is the least interested in having them acclaimed as inspired writings, or in having anyone speak of them (with bated breath) as being the work of one of the Masters. If they present truth in such a way that it follows sequentially upon that already offered in the world teachings, if the information given raises the aspiration and the will-to-serve from the plane of the emotions to that of the mind (the plane whereon the Masters can be found) then they will have served their purpose. If the teaching conveyed calls forth a response from the illumined mind of the worker in the world, and brings a flashing forth of his intuition, then let that teaching be accepted. But not otherwise. If the statements meet with eventual corroboration, or are deemed true under the test of the Law of Correspon
dences, then that is well and good. But should this not be so, let not the student accept what is said.

  August 1934

  THE GREAT INVOCATION

  From the point of Light within the Mind of God

  Let light stream forth into the minds of men.

  Let Light descend on Earth.

  From the point of Love within the Heart of God

  Let love stream forth into the hearts of men.

  May Christ return to Earth.

  From the centre where the Will of God is known

  Let purpose guide the little wills of men—

  The purpose which the Masters know and serve.

  From the centre which we call the race of men

  Let the Plan of Love and Light work out.

  And may it seal the door where evil dwells.

  Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth.

  “The above Invocation or Prayer does not belong to any person or group but to all Humanity. The beauty and the strength of this Invocation lies in its simplicity, and in its expression of certain central truths which all men, innately and normally, accept—the truth of the existence of a basic Intelligence to Whom we vaguely give the name of God; the truth that behind all outer seeming, the motivating power of the universe is Love; the truth that a great Individuality came to earth, called by Christians, the Christ, and embodied that love so that we could understand; the truth that both love and intelligence are effects of what is called the Will of God; and finally the self-evident truth that only through humanity itself can the Divine Plan work out.”

  ALICE A. BAILEY

  CHAPTER I - The Zodiac and the Rays

  [3] What I have to say first on this subject is entirely of a preliminary nature. I seek to lay the ground for a somewhat new approach—a far more esoteric approach—to the science of astrology. Certain things I may say will probably be regarded by the academic and uninspired astrologer as revolutionary, or as erroneous, as improbable or unprovable. As yet, however, astrology has not really proved itself to the world of thought and science, in spite of many definitely demonstrable successes. I would ask all of you, therefore, who read and study this section of A Treatise on the Seven Rays to bear in mind the above comments and to preserve a willingness to consider hypotheses and to make an effort to weigh a theory or suggestion and to test out conclusions over the course of a few years. If you can do this, there may come to you an awakening of the intuition which will translate modern astrology into something of real moment and significance to the world. It is intuitional astrology which must eventually supersede what is today called astrology, thus bringing about a return to the knowledge of that ancient science which related the constellations and our solar system, drew attention to the nature of the zodiac and informed humanity as to the basic inter-relations [4] which govern and control the phenomenal and subjective worlds.

  1. Three Basic Statements.

  The statement is frequently made that astrology is an exact science but that is far from correct in spite of the many mathematical computations. Astrology is based, curiously enough, upon illusion for, as well you know, the zodiac is naught but the imaginary path of the sun through the heavens, and this as it appears from the standpoint of our totally insignificant planet. The sun is not, as stated, in any sign of the zodiac. It simply appears to be so as it passes between our little sphere, the Earth, and the constellations at any particular time or season.

  In ancient days it was believed that the earth was the centre of the solar system and that around it revolved the sun and all the other planets. This was the exoteric knowledge and position, though not the esoteric understanding. Later, when further discoveries brought more light to the human mind, our planet was decentralised and the truth was more clearly seen, though much remains as yet to be discovered and may even be of as revolutionary a nature. From certain astrological angles, a similar process of decentralisation must take place and the solar system must no longer be regarded as a point around which the zodiac revolves or through which the sun passes in its great cycle of approximately 25,000 years. Astrologers with insight may deny that this is the commonly accepted attitude. Yet—for purposes of clarity and in connection with the general public—the inference is permitted and accepted by the ignorant. Upon this theory anent the zodiac rests very largely what we call the Great Illusion, and I would have [5] you bear this in mind as you study with me the newer approaches of this greatest and oldest of all the sciences. Astrology is a science which must be restored to its original beauty and truth before the world can gain a truer perspective and a more just and accurate appreciation of the divine Plan, as it is expressed at this time through the Wisdom of the Ages.

  The second statement which I would make is that astrology is essentially the purest presentation of occult truth in the world at this time, because it is the science which deals with those conditioning and governing energies and forces which play through and upon the whole field of space and all that is found within that field. When this fact is grasped and the sources of those energies are better comprehended and the nature of the field of space is correctly understood, we shall then see a far wider and at the same time a more closely related horizon; the relationships between individual, planetary, systemic and cosmic entities will be grasped, and we shall then begin to live scientifically. It is this scientific living which it is the immediate purpose of astrology to bring about.

  At present, the position of the average believer in astrology is that he is an individual of importance (at least to himself), that he is living on that important planet, the Earth (important to humanity), and that, through astrology, he can discover his destiny and know what he ought to do. In making this comment, I do not refer to those few astrologers who possess real esoteric knowledge. They are few in number indeed, and only a handful of them are to be found practising at this time. The modern investigator likes to believe that on him impinge and through him flow all those energies which come from the sign in which the sun “finds” itself at the time of his birth. He regards himself [6] also as responsive to the forces of the various planets as they govern the houses in his horoscope and he believes that his life trends and circumstances are thus determined. This makes him feel himself to be a factor of isolated importance. Modern interpretations fail to emphasise the importance of the rising sign (the ascendant) and this has been due to the fact that few have been as yet ready to function as souls; small allowance has been made for the energies which play upon our planet all the time from other constellations or from the many “hidden” planets. Of these, the Ageless Wisdom claims that there are around seventy in our solar system.

  I desire to give you a truer and more accurate picture. This has now become possible because group awareness, group relations and group integrity are coming to the fore in the human consciousness. As this takes place, the personality which is individual, separative and self-centred will recede increasingly into the background, and the soul, non-separative, group conscious and inclusive, will come more and more to the fore. Interest, therefore, in the individual horoscope will gradually die out, and increasingly the planetary, the systemic and the universal picture will stand out in the awareness of the individual; he will then regard himself only as an integral part of a far more important whole and his world group will interest him far more than himself, as an individual.

  I shall not, therefore, deal with the subject of esoteric astrology from the standpoint of the horoscope at all. Universal relationships, the interplay of energies, the nature of what lies behind the Great Illusion, the deluding “Appearances of things as they are,” and the destiny of our planet, of the kingdoms in nature and of humanity as a whole—these will constitute the major part of our theme.

  [7] It is immaterial to me whether modern astrologers accept or reject these presented ideas. I will endeavour to give you certain facts as the Hierarchy recognises them; I will indicate, if I can, the subjective realities of which the outer illusion is but the phenomena
l appearance, conditioned by men’s thoughts throughout the ages; I will emphasise the fact of the livingness of the Sources from which all the energies and forces which play upon our planet flow and emanate; I will endeavour, above all else, to demonstrate to you that all-pervading unity and that underlying synthesis which is the basis of all religions and of all the many transmitted forces; I will seek to remove you, as individuals, from out of the centre of your own stage and consciousness and—without depriving you of individuality and of self-identity—yet show you how you are part of a greater whole of which you can become consciously aware when you can function as souls, but of which you are today unconscious, or at least only registering and sensing the inner reality in which you live and move and have your being.