THE MANY LIGHTS: thinking through the future

EXAMINING THE SUBSTRUCTURE OF OUR NEW AGE

We, humanity, or planet Earth, experience a new 'new age' in astronomical terms every two thousand or twenty-five hundred years, more or less.  Each new 'age' is essentially a progressed dispensation in terms of human potential, more abstract understanding, and more meaningful service.  

According to the ageless wisdom teachings, Time is described as a wheel of (usually) twelve astrological signs, a wheel which revolves in upon itself producing both a forward and a reverse progression.   The ongoing change of astronomical locations may be considered not so much in terms of destiny but in terms of our interpretive environment.  In a sense, each astrological age conveys a distinct path of least resistance in terms of growth.  The better the understanding of each new opportunity, the greater the gain in terms of human awareness.  Each sign offers an experiential emphasis on some aspect of our all too human nature. 

We have completed sufficiently the long transition from the frightfully difficult (although interesting) influences of Pisces where strong individuals made their mark on history--into the unknown (equally interesting) influence of Aquarius where we will see strong groups and unusual alliances direct the course of human history.  With few exceptions, already our news is filled with the doings of various groups, more than individuals.  

As these various cyclic psychological influences and opportunities are clarified, it will be seen that at the early stage of each of these vast cycles of human experience (such as today), creative contributions (in terms of conceptual knowledge, inventions, discoveries, etc.) will alter the workings out of civilization over the next two thousand years. To clarify the changing influences which surround us, it is useful to contemplate the distinctions and influences at play between our immediate two century past and our immediate future.  Although we all live and work in both worlds--in the present--we may align ourselves with either culture. 

Regardless of our orientation to past or future, we should remember that our essential service to our planet and to our solar system is not so much what we do but what we are.

PLANETARY TRANSITION--FACING ENLIGHTENMENT

The turn of each century sees a brief transition period when many people are increasingly optimistic about the future, and others fear the end of the world. This is indicative of their astrological or psychological orientation.  A hundred years ago, people were convinced the 20th century would see the end of war, disease and poverty. Oh, sure… And now, at the concurrent end of both the hundred years of this century and the two thousand some years of the astrological age of Pisces, many think surely the 21st century will see the end of war, disease and poverty. Ah, well…

When contemplating any in-depth vision of the future, synthesis is the name of the game--and generalization is a forgivable offense. Accurate perception of the future is far more than noting whether the glass appears half-full or half-empty because our entire understanding is based on life as we see it. We could extrapolate with equal validity:

With equal validity that is, except for the subtle reality of currently changing astrological circumstances. ‘May you live in interesting times’ is said to be an old Chinese curse. Times of transition, enriched by crises, conflict and uncertainty, are awkward, dangerous and inevitably interesting. Many of us today live in such an interesting time called ‘modern life’. Many others throughout the world still live in the past.

The world is filled by people whose perception reflects varying degrees of understanding about how life actually works. At this particular time of transition, two major perspectives are in conflict, although others are still present. One has governed progress for the past 2,000 years, the other will hold sway for the next 2,000. What is called by some the Piscean or personal perspective (seeing things as they are) is passing out of prominence, and the more intuitive Aquarian or group perspective (seeing things as they could be) is coming into influence. Prior to the Piscean era, a similar change shifted human attention from the earlier attitudes of the age of Aries (an era of 'beginnings'), and before that the age of Taurus (an era of great mental stimulation).  People, around the world, representing each of these points of view today simultaneously work hard for what they perceive as ‘a better future’. This produces inherent disagreement, of course, and conflict.  And yet all that conflict stimulates the sensitivity of humanity to all its relationships.  And within each equally perceivable interpenetrating reality, intelligence runs the full gamut.

To better understand this transition in consciousness we can examine in detail the fresh influences at play in the astrological substructure of our solar system at this interesting period of changing perspective. Prior knowledge of astrology isn’t important. We’re talking abstraction!

*(Energies of all three crosses are omnipresent and abstractly accessible to those with the sensitivity to respond. Note that the Cardinal Cross is synthetic and inherently includes the two lower crosses).

*(Energies of all three suns are omnipresent and abstractly accessible to those with the sensitivity to respond. The Central Spiritual Sun is synthetic and inherently includes the two lower suns).

Our solar system has ‘progressed’ into new psychological territory, and the anticipated effect is enhanced understanding of and interest in all life in, on, and around Earth. This change, already observable, is no longer a matter of faith. We already are in what was once ‘the future’ and there is no turning back. All the rules are different. All the givens have changed. So...let’s explore.

The abstract influence of the Cosmic Cross is transferred in the same way that a tuning fork carries sound.  Like a tuning fork, any point of stimulation within the timeless greater Life "within Whom we live and move and have our Being" produces a subtle transference of focused sensitivity—by reverberation via the synthetic Cardinal Cross.  This produces sensitivity to shifting cosmic purpose in solar systems, planets, peoples and atoms: all particles of light, regardless of relative size or density, whether observable or theoretical. DNA molecules, quarks, planets and stars all inherently respond to this theoretical energy stimulation. All life within what traditionally is called the universal Heavenly Man constantly shifts gears in response to more inclusive purpose.

Fundamentalists of any movement or religion who rally (with good intent) around the rights of the form, do so today to the detriment of the rights of the soul. Such unconscious worship or elevation of form is ‘the problem of Mammon’ or materialism. This inability to see beyond the logic of superficial meaning or appearance with no grasp of its significance may in time be healed on an individual basis (rebirth?) but, as a group, fundamentalists are with us for the ages.

For centuries, for example, humanity (regardless of religion, science, or political orientation) was exhorted to follow the example of the Savior—some savior, any savior in any field. Early in our previous transition from the age of Aries into the Piscean era, a physical depiction appropriate for the world of appearances was enacted or created for the aspirant, humanity, depicting the basic stages of the path of discipleship.  This was to clarify direction for the further development of human consciousness as to its higher nature. This resulted, we are told, in the physical crucifixion of the Man Jesus and his subsequent resurrection as consciousness, as the Christ, the first of our time to achieve the abstract (shamballic) awareness of the One. Various interpretations of this event—in the predictable style of Pisces/Virgo—evolved more or less into the Christianity we know today.

In our necessarily dualistic world, two thousand years of emphasis on birth resulted, inevitably, in 2,000 years of equal emphasis on death. Many (Christian, or not), seeing pitiful images of a bloodied human form nailed to a cross in varying degrees of suffering, turn away, irritated by this fundamentalist or personality depiction of crucifixion with no glimpse of deeper meaning of either cross or the significance of 'resurrection'.

Each age carries forward own unique fundamental remnants— representatives of the Mutable consciousness of previous ages carried forward into the next civilization. The Jewish orthodoxy, according to the Alice A. Bailey teachings, represents the mindset of religious fundamentalists of the age of Aries who maintained the highest ideals and concepts from the age of Aries into first age of Pisces and now the age of Aquarius.

Fundamentalists from every religion and nation coexist at the present time. Fundamental Hindus, Moslems, Buddhists, Christians, Shintos and so on—represent literal interpretations of what were once the revelatory teachings of their day.

Agnostic intellectualism (identification with the logical, fact-oriented lower mind), is a distant hint of  fundamentalist thinking popular in the age of Taurus, a previous age of Mind, generally assimilated now except, perhaps, among the French. The impulse for ancestor worship of fundamental Shintoism is even older.  Today, fundamentalist of every persuasion with their outmoded Piscean ideals join fundamentalists from all other ages in moving ever so slowly forward on the Path while clinging to the values and notions of bygone eras.

THE NATURE OF THE CROSS

Technically, crucifixion or, as I prefer, ‘cross-i-fication’, means consciousness divided into four aspects, or inclusive of four 'planes' or levels of awareness: manasic-buddhic-logoic-monadic, or its reflection, physical/etheric-astral-mental-soul.  The use of these symbolic 'levels' is necessary due to the sequential nature of our physical brain perception, nothing more.

"If the symbolism of the Cross is traced far back, it will be found that it antedates Christianity by thousands of years, and that finally, the four arms of the cross will be seen to drop away, leaving only the picture of the living Heavenly Man, with His arms outspread in space. North, south, east and west stands the cosmic Christ upon what is called ‘the Fixed Cross of the heavens’." (Divine consciousness extended to the four corners of manifestation, perceived in three major phases—of this the cross is the ancient and beloved symbol, the eternal promise of release, resurrection, life, and return to wholeness).

"These three crosses are simply symbols of experience in relation to the individual disciple:

1. The Mutable Cross governs the three worlds and the astral plane in particular. On this cross the average man is ‘crucified’ until he achieves the needed experience and consciously reorients himself to another phase of unfoldment.

2. The Fixed Cross governs the five worlds of human development and conditions the experiences of all disciples. Through the discipline and the experiences thus gained while on this cross, the disciple passes from one renunciation to another until complete freedom and liberation has been achieved.

3. The Cardinal Cross governs the Master as he passes through the remaining five initiations....

It should be remembered that the distinctive nature of the man upon the Mutable Cross is that of self-consciousness; that the disciple upon the Fixed Cross is rapidly becoming group conscious, when the experiences undergone have been rightly assimilated; and that the Master on the Cardinal Cross is distinguished by a universal consciousness...."

ABUNDANT LIFE ON THE FIXED CROSS

As we move on to contrast response to the Fixed Cross, note the relative positions of the basic Cardinal Cross and its reflections:

The Cardinal Cross:
(Aries-Libra/Cancer-Capricorn)
Note:  The CARDINAL CROSS synthetically INCLUDES both Fixed and Mutable Crosses

THE FIXED CROSS:
(Taurus-Scorpio/Leo-Aquarius)
Aquarius-Leo is an arm of the Fixed Cross

THE MUTABLE CROSS:
(Gemini-Sagittarius/Virgo-Pisces)
Pisces-Virgo is an arm of the Mutable Cross

The mutable experience from which humanity as a whole is now emerging "tends to promote spiritual awakening or sensitive response to divinity through the stimulated intellectualism arising from a deeply religious experience." The fixed experience into which humanity is moving produces more thought and less action than, for instance, the cardinal experience with its overwhelming impetus to institute change.

From the conservative Fixed Cross of Meaning, it is clear that any soul horoscope inherently contains the full spectrum of influences available in this solar system, the entire astrological map of consciousness. In reality there is only One Soul.  The zodiac (like the soul) is omnipresent, but because (for purposes of enriched awareness) we accept the arbitrary limitations of Time and Place, we perceive things in unfolding phases of sequential awareness. As personalities, these influences change in emphasis—from person to person, lifetime to lifetime, or age to age—as we conceptually move forward.

"Eventually the time comes when the nature of the Fixed Cross begins to dawn upon the consciousness of the man and the influence of Aquarius...begins to balance that of Leo. Then there comes the gradual shift of the focus of attention away from the ‘one who stands alone’ to the environing group, and an equally important shift away from selfish interests to group requirements. This gives concisely the objective which is attained by the man upon the Fixed Cross; the effect of that cross is to bring light and liberation....

"The Fixed Cross is the cross of light. And playing through this cross all the time, and emanating from Leo, are the ‘fires of God’—cosmic, solar and planetary—producing purification, the intensification of the light and eventual revelation to the purified man who stands in the light."
 

As it does for individuals, sensitivity to the Fixed Cross will bring long periods of relative peace while humanity settles into the rhythm of a new conservatism. And for some this will be intolerable. Our current stage can be seen as a fresh start, because the old laws, values and habits are inadequate.

As a new system of relationships and rules is recognized, developed, and accepted as more appropriate to our circumstances, this will not necessarily imply radical change in the form of things as they are today. Such changes in consciousness, political, religious and social culture, however, can begin another cycle of growth, maturity, use, and the usual discordant discard of cherished notions among both individuals and nations.  And these can alter both perspective and relationships.

To further clarify the distinctions of the so-called Aquarian influence into which we are moving (from those we are leaving), I offer the following:

And yet these two symbols--Mother and Child and Christ the Savior--provide but a single story, now virtually inseparable. During the next 2,000 years, the same should be true of the group-conscious Server of Aquarius and the self-conscious Server of Leo.

In America, for instance, two conflicted political issues revolve around Mother and Child themes: single-parent homes (mothers with children as the new poverty class), and fertility issues (abortion rights, birth rights, genetic rights, etc.).

Savior themes involve hoping for someone to come to financially, politically, morally, or even romantically, take care of us. More than one girl has married her savior.

Savior themes can be noted in political issues as diverse as welfare, housing, food, health care and education for growing numbers who have none. When the Tibetan spoke of increasing amounts of free time (which he hoped would be wisely utilized), who could guess that unemployment, homelessness, incarceration and ill-health would initially provide so much of such freedom.

In the past, our hope lay in a savior, but the hope of the future lies in servers. In this significant shift in consciousness, both men and women will find a more reasonable place in society. With the gradual recognition of hierarchical responsibility, we will see growing acceptance of solar solutions to global problems, as struggle in the human arena continues between the wise, the unwise, and the not-yet-wise.

LET THE SUN SHINE IN

Exploring Aquarian influence, we find the (polar opposite) Leo door open wide with ‘the Sun’ streaming through in full glory. The ancients didn’t look upon the physical sun as the source of light and heat, but considered the sun as merely the vehicle or vessel for these. They saw our sun as the medium through which Light passes into our solar system, a focal point for the refraction of light.

The parent sun, or Father of humanity, was thought to be the Central Spiritual Sun, the SUN behind the sun. The physical sun was only the symbol in appearance, a dim reflector of the mind and heart of God. It was said if one could learn to BE the sun, one would SEE the Sun (technique of Identification). Not surprising, D.K. says "all Paths lead the initiate eventually to the Central Spiritual Sun."

Ushering in each new age, according to one old astrological source we may expect a rare, brief, solar alignment among the three aspects of the Sun:

Recognizing the concept of the Central Spiritual Sun as a focal point rather than a place (as when D.K. refers to "the Monad in its high place of waiting in Shamballa"), we are reminded that "the Council Chamber at Shamballa, provides a goal for the members of the Hierarchy, but not an abiding place." While Shamballa is "the major receptive agent upon the planet from the angle of solar inflow, and the main distributing point of planetary energy", we might assume that the Central Spiritual Sun plays that same role on a higher turn of the spiral, conveying the greater sense of Purpose to Shamballa.

It can’t be coincidence that such a profound esoteric alignment occurred with the upcoming direct inflow of in the year 2000. That deeper sense of Purpose conveyed by this abstract influence is the "synthesis of understanding where our Earth is concerned." The permeation of human awareness by solar force during the four years following the inflow is a stepping down by humanity itself in a manner analogous to years corresponding to the three spiritual Festivals of Aries, Taurus, and Gemini, finally to sink in on a mass scale in the fourth or Cancer year.

When planetary events--both negative and positive--impinge on human consciousness, the effects tend to reverberate both forward and backward in time (affecting the future), a phenomenon demonstrable in physics with a rubber-band. Those sensitive to higher energies always respond some years before the event, in part to help humanity prepare. The effect on our consciousness always is to enhance comprehension about the nature of planetary life.

Although we can discern a somewhat less radical (but always controversial) evolving culture based on global awareness, a nurturing attitude towards planetary life, and empathetic responsibility towards others, it remains a minority effort. In spite of this, such an attitude stimulates the inner life, so perhaps we can expect intensified interest in ageless Wisdom in the near future.

This inaugurating energy concerns "the Life of the cosmic principle of Love." The monadic or abstract principle, symbolized by the Central Spiritual Sun, is eternally accessible to all, although emphasis for this upcoming era will continue to focus on the soul or consciousness principle, the Heart of the sun: the Hierarchy, or hierarchical awareness, the solar Christ or inclusive intelligence.

AIR (Libra/AQUARIUS/Gemini):

AIR:  Aquarius, the Life-giver, is now interpreter for the three air signs, a role previously played by Gemini, with emphasis on duality. Both solar air and solar fire will continue to reveal those environmental crises which are productive of solutions. Simple changes in perception change human attitudes so that even our air has become wildly controversial—both within and, inevitably, beyond our planetary sphere.

"From the standpoint of our theme (the evolution of consciousness) it must never be forgotten that the aim is to bring the solar Angel, the Son of Mind...into the seat of power. This task is pre-eminently entrusted to the three great Lives Who function through Gemini/Libra/Aquarius." "The air is full of symbology, for it is a synthesis, and that which bridges the higher and the lower strata of manifestation."

"That the Avatar [of Synthesis] will come is a predictable certainty. That His forerunner will be the Christ is equally sure....Advanced units of the human family will recognize him because he has always been with us....We are told in the Bible that Christ will come in the air, and that he will bring the ‘healing of the nations’."

FIRE (Aries/LEO/Sagittarius):

FIRE:  Leo, with its solar emphasis, is now interpreter for the fire signs, where in the past this was the role of Sagittarius, ‘who rides towards the Light’.

"From Aries comes cosmic fire;

from Leo comes solar fire;

from Sagittarius comes planetary fire;

and each of these fires ‘clears the way by burning’ for the expression of the three divine aspects: spirit (Aries), soul (Leo) and body (Sagittarius). Such is the scientific basis for the Yoga of Fire."

"Fire is the symbol and the quality of the mental plane. Fire is an aspect of the divine nature. Fire [is] an outstanding aspect of war....but fiery goodwill and the conscious focused use of the Shamballa force can counter fire by fire and this must be done."

Solar fire includes, among other things, radio waves, infrared waves, ultraviolet, soft and hard X-rays, and so on. Sophisticated technologies associated with laser, microwaves, and the elusive cheap fusion process also come to mind. Using satellites and/or fiber optics, microwave technology gives us the global computer network. Imagine what a global database will do. Centralized technology will allow us, when nations wish it,

Located in the intriguing spectrum between light and electricity, a rapidly expanding, truly astonishing microwave technology may be part of that "second aspect of electricity [to] be released in fuller measure during the Aquarian age, through the agency of the seventh ray." Years ago, the Tibetan hinted that this "second aspect of light is on the point of revelation, through the right understanding of electrical phenomena. Here lies the clue to the new age, the age of light, of illumination and of revelation."

WATER (Cancer/SCORPIO/Pisces):

WATER:  Humanity will now be related with the water signs, not by Pisces, the Purifier, but through Scorpio, the Liberator. Scorpio, the ‘serpent of illusion’, is usually is symbolized as a bird in Aquarius, but both serpents and birds symbolize aspects of wisdom. And remember, it takes wisdom to clarify the astral nature of old dreams.

"The three water signs give us a brief and symbolic history of man’s growth and true personality development. It is a picture of the law of cause and effect." 

The Piscean triumph of the water signs, for example, is symbolically ‘walking on water’, signifying transmutation from an ‘emotional’ to a ‘sentient’ astral nature, and stabilization on the mental plane. The symbol of triumph which emerged during ages when Cancer related or interpreted the water signs reflects a Neptunian influence, for Neptune is even more influential in Cancer than the sun is in Leo. This is symbolized by Neptune, whose trident symbolizes the holy trinity, emerging to represent the Christ principle.

EARTH (Capricorn/TAURUS/Virgo):

EARTH:  The earthly triangle is today dynamically illuminated by Taurus, rather than the fecundity of Virgo. Through a triplicity of earthy expression, "spirit plunges to its deepest point of manifestation in order to redeem." For two thousand years, Virgo emphasized the birth of the planetary Christ, but, we are told, Taurus conveys the vision of the next phase of unfoldment, the solar Christ.

Perhaps the most significant hint about the subtle nature of these interpenetrating symbolic elements is in the following progressive tabulation, newly related here through JUPITER, conveyor of expansion and a participating ruler of Virgo, Pisces, Sagittarius and Aquarius:

"In the long processes of time, four great expressions of divine life, four forms of God immanent in nature, have appeared upon our planet. We call them the four kingdoms of nature. They constitute, symbolically, the planetary reflection of the four arms of the zodiacal cross upon which the cosmic Christ can be seen crucified...[as] the four kingdoms of nature...portraying the spirit of God stretched upon a cross of material form, in order eventually to make possible the appearance of the kingdom of God on Earth. This connotes the spiritualization of matter and form, the assumption of matter into heaven, and the release of God from the cosmic crucifixion....

"But the important point is...the subsequent Resurrection, symbolizing...the formation and the precipitation upon Earth of a new kingdom in which men and all forms would be free from death—a kingdom of which the Man released from the cross should be the symbol."

Resurrection is the motivating power behind the idea of a new kingdom, the fifth kingdom, the externalization of the Hierarchy (keeping in mind that D.K. says "there is naught but Hierarchy"). We are told also that this coming new type of unfolding planetary service by humanity is especially effective when the seventh ray is active as our sun passes through Aquarius. This produces a unique sort of illumined mental coherence.

Fundamentalists will remain committed to fragmented religions and causes—as they always do. But as mental orientation creates a more realistic sense of responsibility, emphasis shifts subtly from Savior to Server, and many will begin to discern truth for themselves, with less need for middle men (clergy) to reveal the meaning of life.

Religion, as the recognized reflection of the one soul, will reform and become whole as work goes forward on a worldwide codification of human ethics, removed from previous dogma. We will then see the emergence of a synthetic religion, and it won’t take long.

Revelation is no longer what is revealed to us, but what we can reveal to others. And especially now, revelation is the JOY of all who seek to exemplify truth, beauty or goodness in their relationships. "The future world will be the effective expression of a fusion of the inner spiritual way of life and the outer civilized and cultural way of acting." This fusion, this healing, radiates from those who work effectively from the soul, the Heart of the world of meaning.

IT'S ALWAYS 'NOW'

Certainly it’s awkward, at first, to mentally register the future as the present, but it’s not impossible, using the AS IF technique. As the Red Queen told Alice, "I daresay you haven’t had much practice....Why sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Living the future takes practice but we’re getting the hang of it.

"We are now one people. The heritage of any race lies open to another; the best thought of the centuries is available for all; and ancient techniques and modern methods must meet and interchange. Each will have to modify its mode of presentation (Eastern and Western) and each will have to make an effort to understand the underlying spirit which has produced a peculiar phraseology and imagery, but when these concessions are made, a structure of truth will be found to emerge which will embody the spirit of the new age."

In making comparisons between the energy styles of the Mutable and Fixed Crosses, a complex and compelling picture of the direct cosmic energy flow of those ‘many lights’ available emerges.

We are well into the time period to which the Tibetan referred when he said: 

"Expansions in human understanding will, in the next 150 years, completely alter the manner of man’s thinking; they will change the techniques of religion; they will bring about comprehension and fusion. When this work has been accomplished we shall record an era of world peace which will be symbolic of the state of the human spirit. Men will then settle down to the great task which confronts all of us...bringing about a clearer light upon the astral plane, in the same way that better physical conditions will have been brought about upon the physical plane. All is planned and ordered; the right energies and forces will be available."

Energies of the Mutable Cross: Alice Bailey says the major ray of our planetary life flows into the solar system via GEMINI—whose ‘pillars’ form a ‘gateway’, energy grid or field—which "forms a point of entrance for cosmic energy from Sirius": cosmic Second Ray influence of Love-Wisdom.

Energies of the Fixed Cross: Transcending the astrological triangles of ray energy which D.K. gives, these signs, by contrast, offer up a rich mix of direct inflowing energies:

NOTE: The major Rays of Aspect are synthetic in nature and include the lesser four Rays of Attribute.

To ‘educate the masses’ means penetrating a wall of ignorance three or four generations deep. Now, however, with the internet and various communication networks, this becomes possible. Imagine television, computers and telephones as the single, interconnecting network they nearly are, dedicated to the basic nonbiased education of all peoples, 24 hours a day. World libraries available at a touch, instruction, lectures by the best minds available in the home, and on and on. Absolutely.

Service evokes soul powers, bringing about an intensification of spiritual life. We don’t always think of science as a spiritual endeavor but as James Fletcher said when he was administrator of NASA, "We are interested in science and technology as a spiritual inspiration to the improved quality of life on earth."

As we ‘cross’ into the future, let’s keep in mind that while ‘things are managed, people are led.’ We relied heavily in the past on leaders managing others but today we see growing groups of leaders capable of leading. An attitude of service and compassion heals the human mind and evokes practical leadership, enabling each of us to bring a share of brilliance to our own small portion of the world.

"There is always a new world in process of forming"—and those who know themselves to be part of this marvelous adventure are an innovative part of this exciting process.