#planetary rays

Spiritual truth is so subtle that it is difficult to translate into material words and concepts. The frontal mind of man is inclined to confine ideas into compartments and pigeonholes, and in so doing can miss their subtle essence. The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life; this is certainly true in the study of astrology. Many clearly demonstrable facts prove its efficacy, but just as many interesting side-tracks can lure the student into a maze, in which he can wander for years without getting anywhere near the truth.

Pythagoras taught that the planetary spirits resided not in the bodies of the planets themselves but in the planetary intervals. Medieval philosophers, in their studies of the human brain, all agreed that the part which was responsive to the impress of the soul was not the physical brain cells themselves but the cavities or ventricles in the brain. Alan Leo states that the element Air, being all-pervasive, is the most subtle and therefore the most responsive to the impress of pure spirit. The alchemists believed that within the ventricles in the human brain a subtle interchange of the spiritual and physical airs takes place, an absorption of the divine breath. The human skull in the ancient teachings is often likened to the sphere of the earth or the sphere of the universe, and in symbolic language and pictures they depict the seven planetary angels or seven stars residing within the earth or within the human brain.

A number of diagrammatic drawings by mediaeval students of alchemy show the human head with three circles or centres of consciousness. The frontal centre is to be considered with the five senses and the nervous system, all under the control of the frontal mind. In the natal horoscope this frontal mind with the physical organism is shown by the Ascendant and by the balance of the elements in the chart. The four elements of Fire, Earth, Air and Water, with a fifth element, ether, more subtle than the rest, and pervading all the others, have always been considered to be linked with the five senses of man.

From the above the student will begin to realise the importance of the Ascendant and the balance of elements in the nature which allows the planetary spirits, through their rulership of the signs, to direct the pattern of the karma of the physical life. These planetary angels are believed to work through the hidden zodiac within the soul of man bearing the imprint of the whole of the past.

In a general sense the frontal mind which governs physical action and creates the personality, is under the rulership both of the Moon and Mars. The subconscious part of the brain including the cerebellum, which controls the sympathetic nervous system, comes chiefly under the rulership of Mars; but both these planets are deeply involved in the birth, death and reproduction of the physical vehicle.

Behind the frontal mind is what we may term ‘the soul mind’, or the centre of imagination and reflection. This, too, is ruled by the Moon. It is the gateway to the inner worlds to which we withdraw in sleep or meditation and which we perceive at times of great artistic or mental inspiration. When we are imprisoned in a physical body the consciousness swings between the phases of the Moon. The times when the frontal brain is extremely active can be likened to the full Moon and the times of sleep or withdrawal to the new Moon, when the earth is dark, but the Moon is in conjunction with the Sun and both soul and body are being renewed or revitalised. From ancient times the period of the new Moon has been recognised as a time of new beginnings.

The Moon has close connection with the element Water which also symbolises the soul. It is not surprising, therefore, that in meditation White Eagle teaches his pupils as a first step to withdraw from the frontal mind and to sit in imagination by a still pool on which gradually the white lotus flower opens. When, by the exercise of the will, man consciously releases himself from the frontal mind and becomes absolutely still, then the soul mind can become active. The light of heaven can be reflected in this still water, and the planetary angels can lift the soul into a consciousness of its true destiny. The whole purpose of physical incarnation is for the soul to expand in consciousness to an ever-greater awareness of God, to the point where it can express divine wisdom, power and love through physical matter.

Even deeper within the brain lies the centre which is under the command of the sun or the divine self. This is hidden so deeply that it can only be reached through the attunement of the soul vehicle to the divine self. When the outer mind and emotions are held absolutely still the soul will be able to rise as on a shaft of light, up to a golden mountain, into the sun, and to worship there. By spiritual training and discipline the soul in incarnation is enabled to make the most of the opportunities presented by the physical life, and to learn the lesson indicated by the zodiacal position of the Sun in the horoscope and the planetary aspects thereto.

The centre of solar consciousness, so deeply hidden within the brain, is closely connected with the heart, which is the true solar centre. White Eagle teaches his students that they must learn to use what he calls ‘the mind in the heart’, for it is only through this heart consciousness that the soul can become aware of the true solar ray which is the source of its being.

This is why, when patients seek spiritual healing, White Eagle encourages them to still the fretful, worrying outer mind, and become still in their soul. Then only can they begin to feel the radiance of the spirit which resides in the heart. When the clamour of the outer self is stilled, the solar self illumines the whole consciousness. Then true healing takes place; for once the lunar self is still and focused on the inner light it absorbs and reflects the radiance of the spiritual Sun, the source of life and being of that soul.

This light can only come into physical manifestation through perfect polarisation of the lunar self with the solar self. When the full Moon reflects the Sun, the earth is illumined. In the same way, when the soul makes true contact with the source of its being, the body is illumined and inharmonies fall away. This is what Jesus meant when he said, I and my Father are one . . . I am the resurrection, and the life. I AM the resurrection, and the life.

The mystery writings of ancient religions often referred to the heart centre as a cave wherein dwelt the holy of holies. In some religions it is regarded as the holy city — the new Jerusalem of the Christian mysteries, the Mecca of Islam, the Benares of the Hindus. Always this city has to be approached by a pilgrimage.

The difficulties and trials the soul endures during its incarnation eventually force it to cry out for God and consciously to set forth on this journey, wonderfully described in Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. The path and the end are always the same — the climb up the rocky mountain, the process of purification, often through pain — either physical, mental or emotional, according to the element which is being mastered — and finally the admittance into the heart’s cave where the light burns and the glorious unseen Presence waits.

Because of the close link of the solar force with the physical body and the desire nature shown by the Sun’s exaltation in Aries, it was recognised in the mystery teachings that until the soul begins to yearn for light and starts the spiritual pilgrimage, the desire nature, with its headstrong wilfulness, passion and egotism crowds out the little light - the child of the Sun. The heart centre of the soul living only for itself is crowded - there is ‘no room in the inn’. Then through some bitter sorrow or denial of desire, the soul begins to yearn for God and seeks spiritual help, and in so doing becomes dimly aware of the divinity within the heart. As it learns to watch for the light that shines in darkness, to listen for this inner voice, the Word of God, gradually the soul discovers the small cave or sanctuary in the heart, from which all intruders are shut out. This is the purpose of the true meditation; and it is what humanity is reaching out for as the Aquarian Age, in which man will begin to realise his own divinity, approaches.

During any one of the sidereal Ages, two signs, not one, influence humanity. The sign through which the vernal equinox is actually passing exerts a powerful influence on the outer life of humanity, but the opposite sign, its polarity, is the one which affects the inner life most strongly. Always there is this reflection from heaven to earth, and this being so, from earth to heaven. Because Leo is the sign opposite to Aquarius and rules the heart, much more will be understood about the true function of the heart centre during the coming age. It is interesting that so much attention has centred upon heart transplants in recent years. When man is ready to understand the secret of life there will be no need for heart transplants because he will learn how to awaken the solar self to bring about his own healing. He will realise something of the secret magic of the solar consciousness.

The resurgence of interest in astrology is a necessary part of humanity’s progress towards enlightenment, for true astrology is the science of religion, the science of the soul. Understanding of the planetary forces playing on the soul and of the soul’s lesson in incarnation, can be a great help to those seeking spiritual unfoldment. The soul lesson is shown primarily by the element of the sign in which the Sun is placed at birth.

To understand why this should be, let us trace the path of the soul from death to rebirth. During earthly life the soul is imprisoned in the physical consciousness, the five senses of the body. This is related to the rising sign and the balance of elements in the birth chart. It is permeated by the lunar or soul consciousness, often referred to as the personality. During waking hours this consciousness is focused in the physical brain, but during sleep it functions in this soul world, and at death the personality or lunar self withdraws from physical matter but lives in a soul body, vitalised by the solar, the true self, on the astral and mental planes.

In due time comes the urge to withdraw into the solar or celestial world. At this stage, described by Arthur Conan Doyle as the second death, the soul releases itself from all entanglements of the astral and lower mental planes and withdraws into the sphere of the sun where the higher self can review the whole panorama of past experience. It can see the pattern and the purpose of its many lives on earth. In this heavenly stage it realises the planetary ray necessary for the next stage of the soul’s development.

As the soul incarnates under each of the planetary rays, through the signs of the zodiac, it gradually builds for itself the seven bodies or vehicles it needs to function with mastery on every plane of being.

At the moment it is ready and wills to function once more through a physical body, the ray of the solar self shines into the darkness of matter and the conception of the physical body takes place. This is the moment when the planetary spirits are in the right relationship and gather round to build the foetus, which will be born when the position of the Sun gives the planetary ray required. By an exact and unerring law the chosen parents are irresistibly drawn together at the right time also. The laws which govern this are beyond the comprehension of man’s finite mind. They are under the direction of the angels of karma.

According to the sign in which the Sun is placed, the soul is learning the lesson of the planetary ruler of that sign, the real work of the incarnation being to strengthen and develop the soul vehicle of that particular plane. All the diverse experiences of the incarnation contribute to the learning of this lesson which is indicated by the quality and element of the Sun sign at birth.