THE PATH TO SIRIUS - BAM
An attempt to penetrate the visual and verbal symbolism of the Path to Sirius to understand/intuit the Principle of ‘Freedom’:
PATH IV. THE PATH TO SIRIUS
Attributes.......cosmic rapture and rhythmic bliss.
Source...........Sirius via the Sun which veils a zodiacal sign.
Hierarchy.......veiled by the numbers 14 and 17.
Method..........duplex rotary motion and rhythmic dancing upon the square.
symbol............two wheels of electric fire, revolving around an orange Cross, with an emerald at the centre.
quality.............unrevealed. (TCF, pp.1260-1)
All is symbol and these symbols must be mastered. (TCF, p.1231)
Love:
The energies coming from Sirius “are related to the love-wisdom aspect or to the attractive power of the solar Logos, to the soul of that Great Being.” (EA, p.416) The Path of alignment to Sirius is through the “Master’s Heart”:
The disciple's heart centre.
The heart centre in the head.
The egoic lotus.
The Master at the centre of His ashram.
The Christ, the heart centre of the Hierarchy.
The life of the Monad.
The Lord of Life Himself, the heart centre of Shamballa.
Venus
Jupiter
The solar Logos / Sun
Sirius. (DINAI, pp.767-8)
In this is the solar system of the 2nd Ray, “the centre in the cosmic body of the ONE ABOUT WHOM NOUGHT MAY BE SAID of which our solar Logos is the embodied force is the heart centre.” (TCF, p.512) The energies from Sirius pass through “the Heart of the Sun.” (RAI, p.96)
“The words "the heart of the Sun" must be understood to mean more than a locality situated in the interior recesses of the solar body, and have reference to the nature of the solar sphere. This solar sphere is closely similar to the atom pictured in the book by Babbitt and later in Occult Chemistry by Mrs. Besant. The Sun is heart-shaped, and (seen from cosmic angles) has a depression at what we might call its north pole. This is formed by the impact of logoic energy upon solar substance.
This energy which impinges upon the solar sphere, and is thence distributed to all parts of the entire system, emanates from three cosmic centres and, therefore, is triple during this particular cycle.
a. From the sevenfold great Bear.
b. From the Sun Sirius.
c. From the Pleiades.
...The streams of energy which pour forth through the medium of the Sun from the egoic lotus and which are in reality "logoic Soul energy" attract to them that which is akin to them in vibration... The main stream of energy enters at the top depression in the solar sphere and passes through the entire ring-pass-not, bisecting it into two halves.” (TCF, p.1182-3)
The “Method” of the Path to Sirius is described as “duplex” rotary motion because the heart is two chambered. “Duplex” means “twofold; double” (www.dictionary.com ). It is two things both separated from and connected to each other. “Duplex” could also refer to the rotary motion of the stars Sirius A & B around a central point.
Rotary motion:
The Third Ray of Active Intelligence “is the cause of rotary motion, and therefore of the spheroidal form of all that exists.” (TCF, p.40) This is the Ray of Matter; Brahma. It is Fire by Friction:
Active Intelligence/Matter Rotary Fire by Friction Law of Economy
Love-Wisdom/soul Spiral cyclic Solar Fire Law of Attraction
Will-Power Forward progession Electric Fire Law of Synthesis
(TCF, p.42)
The goal of rotary motion is “by the revolution of matter, to increase activity and thereby make the material more pliable” (TCF, p.143); to increase its vibration.
“The Matter is of our solar system is ‘intelligent’ because it is the product of the first solar system, in which Intelligence was the point of achievement.” (TCF, p.174.)
Karma:
Karma works out through Matter. Sirius is the source of karma for our solar system: “The Lipika Lords of our system, the systemic Lords of Karma, are under the rule of a greater corresponding Lord on Sirius.” (TCF, p.570)
“The stream of logoic soul energy that enters the heart of the Sun from the Great Bear, Sirius and the Pleiades “enters that group of active lives whom we call the "Lords of Karma." They preside over the attractive forces, and distribute them justly. They enter, pass to the centre of the sphere and there (if I may so express it) locate, and set up the "Holy Temple of Divine Justice," sending out to the four quarters of the circle the four Maharajahs, their representatives. So is the equal armed Cross formed—and all the wheels of energy set in motion. This is conditioned by the karmic seeds of an earlier system...” (TCF, p.1183)
Perhaps this “equal armed Cross” of the heart of the Sun relates to the “orange Cross” that makes up part of the symbol of the Path to Sirius. The Cross of the Sirian Path “is pictured in orange fire”. (TCF, p.1260)
Saturn embodies the Law of Karma from Sirius within our solar system. The Third Ray of Saturn is green in colour. So the emerald at the centre of the orange cross likely symbolises Saturn. The emerald is like the jewel in the egoic lotus: The point at the centre that focuses higher energy.
Orange is the colour of the 5th Ray, of Venus. Orange and green, the 5th and 3rd Rays, were the colours of the first solar system: “...remember that this fifth ray (just as the fifth plane and the fifth principle) is closely allied to the cosmic ray of the intelligence, or to that activity aspect that found its great expression in the first solar system. The synthetic ray of that time was the green ray, and it found one of its closest alliances in the ray of orange, or mind or intelligence demonstrating through form.” (LOM, p.216)
Rhythm:
The “Method” of the Path to Sirius is described as “rhythmic dancing upon the square”.
“Every rotating sphere of matter is characterised by the three qualities, of inertia, mobility and rhythm.” (TCF, p.157) Rhythm is Sattva, the highest quality of Matter. As the dense physical is not a principle, these are the three qualities of etheric matter or prana. (EOH, p.60) Sattva is the Monadic aspect:
Sattva Energy of Spirit Monad Father rhythm or harmonious vibration
Rajas Energy of Soul Ego Son mobility or activity
Tamas Energy of Matter Personality Holy Ghost inertia. (LOS, p.32)
Rhythm is alignment with Will or spiritual Purpose: “Superhuman lives express sattva, the guna of rhythm and of harmonious response to divine urge, of perfect display of coordinated cooperation with the purpose of manifestation.” (RAI, p.4)
The sensing of the qualities of Matter “produces experience and eventual liberation”. (LOS, pp.154) “The sixth sense [the mind] becomes increasingly dominant and is eventually controlled by the true man who passes then into the sattvic state where he is harmonised in himself and consequently with all around him.” (LOS, pp.155-6)
Manas:
Karma works through manas; “thus is liberation achieved”. (TCF, p.400.)
“The sun "Sirius" is the source of logoic manas in the same sense as the Pleiades are connected with the evolution of manas in the seven Heavenly Men, and Venus was responsible for the coming in of mind in the Earth chain.” (TCF, p.347) The 5th Ray Lord is known as “The Brother from Sirius”. (EPI, p.77)
Venus is the planet of both Love and Mind because it synthesises the pairs of opposites on all planes. So Venus is the middle principle, the soul or consciousness principle between Spirit and Matter. It establishes right relationship. The five-pointed star is the symbol of Venus. The six-pointed star (King Solomon’s seal) symbolises humanity because the 4th Creative Hierarchy (the human) represents the intersection of the involutionary and evolutionary arcs. From the inverted triangle stream the Seven (unliberated) Creative Hierarchies, and from the upright triangle stream the Seven Rays; “blending themselves with Reality on the horizon line between shadow and substance.” (Manly Palmer Hall, opp. p.LXXXI.) Our goal is the transformation of the lower nature; the redemption of Matter to Spirit through the vehicle of the human soul; the transmutation of the 6-pointed star into the 5-pointed star through Manas, the 5th principle.
The five-pointed star is also a symbol of Sirius: “Digit "5", and its geometrical body, the Pentagram are the supreme symbol of the Sirian Logos, the expression of the Cosmic Soul of the OAWNMBS.” (SDP)
Zodiacal sign of Path to Sirius:
The “Source” of the Path to Sirius is “via the Sun which veils a zodiacal sign”. The zodiacal sign is Leo, of which the Sun is the exoteric, esoteric and hierarchical ruler (veiling other planets). “August, which is ruled by Leo, is the month of the Dog-star, or of Sirius, which thus brings Sirius into close relation to Leo. Leo, in the cosmic sense (and apart from our solar system altogether) is ruled by Sirius.” (EA, p.299) The energies of Sirius come through the ‘heart’ of Leo: “The influences of Sirius, three in number [Love, Manas and Karma], are focussed in Regulus, which is, as you know, a star of the first magnitude and which is frequently called "the heart of the Lion."” (EA, p.300)
In the sign Leo ‘heart’ and ‘mind’, the ‘2’ and the ‘5’ are synthesised. For “that which is the fifth in order is destined to be the instrument, the vehicle or the implementary factor for the second. The Universal Mind, as it works through all the planes of our conscious planetary life, is the creative agent and the form-building factor which makes the revelation of love possible.” (RAI, p.593.) The cave of the Nemean Lion is the cave of the heart; and the 5th Ray comes through Leo. Sirius is the “bright sun where shines the light of love” (EA, p.433) as well as the source of logoic Manas. (TCF, p.347) The Path to Sirius through Venus and Jupiter also expresses the “5” and the “2”.
The Four:
The Path to Sirius is the Fourth Cosmic Path, so the number ‘4’ has many correspondences: The human kingdom is the 4th Creative Hierarchy: “The reason also why the majority of the sons of men follow this Path lies in the fact of its numerical position. These units of the fourth kingdom, the bulk of the fourth Creative Hierarchy on this fourth globe of the fourth scheme in a solar system of the fourth order are innately compelled to seek this fourth WAY in order to perfect themselves.” (TCF, p.1259)
The Path to Sirius is focused on the buddhic plane, which is the 4th Cosmic Physical plane. Mercury, planet of the 4th Ray, is ‘Buddhi’, intuition. As hierarchical ruler of Scorpio, Mercury governs the 4th Creative Hierarchy, Humanity. “Sirius was called the `Dog Star.' It was the star of Mercury, or Buddha, called the `Great Instructor of mankind.'” (S.D. II. 391/TCF, p.659) Likewise Scorpio, the sign of the Disciple, has a close relationship to Sirius. (EA, p.194): “Scorpio is under the influence or inflowing energy of Sirius. This is the great star of initiation because our Hierarchy (an expression of the second aspect of divinity) is under the supervision or spiritual magnetic control of the Hierarchy of Sirius.” (EA, p.197)
“In both the cosmic and solar physical planes, the plane of buddhi is ever the plane of at-one-ment, or the meeting ground of diversities, and of their blending—not into a fundamental unity—but into group unity.” (TCF, p.328) The Law of Magnetic Control is the law of the Buddhic plane, governing the Spiritual Triad. It controls the Ego in the causal body on the Mental Plane. The Law of Magnetic Control governs the manifestation of Spirit into Matter through the permanent atoms of the causal body which store the essence of the qualities of the subtle bodies (physical/etheric, astral and mental).
Cosmic Rapture and Buddhi:
One of the “Attributes” of the Path to Sirius is “cosmic rapture”. Rapture is buddhic enlightenment. The last step on the Noble Eightfold Path of the Buddha is “Right Rapture”. The message of the Buddha is about detachment from Matter in order to attain Liberation: “Cease to identify yourselves with material things; gain a proper sense of the spiritual values; cease regarding possessions and earthly existence as of major importance; follow the Noble Eight-fold Path which is the path of right relations...” (EOH, p.463)
The Antahkarana:
The Path to Sirius is about building the antahkarana:
“This path is of all the Paths the most veiled in the clouds of mystery. ... Curiously enough it will be through a comprehension of the human antaskarana, or the path which links higher and lower mind and which is constructed by the Thinker during the process of evolution, that light on this abstruse matter will come.” (TCF, p.1258)
The antahkarana ‘is’ the Path to Sirius, linking the lower Quarternary with the Spiritual Triad (Manas – Buddhi – Atma) and the Monad on all levels of the microcosm and the macrocosm.
Venus and Mercury are the two planets primarily involved in the building of the antahkarana. Hence Gemini “forms a point of entrance for cosmic energy from Sirius”, as Mercury rules this sign exoterically and Venus is the esoteric ruler. (EA, p.349) The connection is made between these planets and our Earth which rules Gemini hierarchically. A “magnetic field” was established between Earth, Venus and Mercury allowing the intervention of the Great Lodge on Sirius when the spark of Mind was given to humanity in Lemuria. (EA, p.355.)
Venus is the higher self of the Earth. Our Planetary Logos came from the Venus chain of the Earth scheme. (TCF, p.387) Venus governs right relationship to bring about the synthesis of all opposites.
Mercury, planet of the 4th Ray of Harmony through Conflict is “the ‘divine Intermediary, carries messages between the poles with speed and light.’” (EA, p.353.) Mercury is the communicator; the ‘messenger of the gods’.
Venus rules the Fifth Creative Hierarchy the Human Personality, and Mercury rules the Fourth Creative Hierarchy, Humanity as solar angels, the Initiates. Together Mercury (Hermes) and Venus (Aphrodite) form the Divine hermaphrodite upon the Buddhic plane; the eventual goal of human evolution. (TCF, p.328)
The systemic antahkarana: “Forget not that relating our planet to the planet Venus is a planetary antahkarana, passing from thence to the Heart of the Sun and later to the cosmic mental plane.” (TCF, p.406) The Heart of the Sun is a causal body of the Solar Logos on the Cosmic Mental plane.
The cosmic antahkarana extends from the heart of the Sun to Sirius and on to Alcyone in the Pleiades (the Central Spiritual Sun), and then on to the seven stars of the Great Bear on the Cosmic Buddhic plane. (TCF, p.344) The star Alcyone in the Pleiades, “was potently active during the previous solar system wherein the Third Person of the Trinity was peculiarly omnipotent and active... The energies coming from Alcyone impregnated the substance of the universe with the quality of mind.” (EA, p.200.) So the Pleiades are “the feminine opposite of Brahma.” (TCF, p.156.) “The Pleiades (Alcyone, especially), are thus considered, even in astronomy, as the central point around which our Universe of fixed stars revolves, the focus from which, and into which the divine breath, MOTION, works incessantly during the Manvantara.” (SD, II, 2, XXII.) The Great Bear is the Shiva aspect, the Divine Will which is the goal of expression in the next solar system.
Heart and Ajna:
Our solar system is the heart centre of OAWNMBS, and Sirius is the ajna centre:
The five-pointed star above the "brow" - (ajna center) of the Sirian Initiator SK, as a symbol, says it all and speaks volumes anent the relationships between the Ajna center and the Sacred five or Pentagram and Sirius.” (SDP)
The ajna centre in the microcosm is the centre of personality force and integration. (DINAI, p.495) The third eye is the esoteric correspondence to the ajna centre:
“This eye of the soul can and does transmit energy to the ajna centre and is itself the agent (before the fourth initiation) of the energy of the Spiritual Triad. This esoteric relationship is only set up when the soul is dominating its instrument, the personality...” (EH, p.571) The right eye is “the eye of buddhi, of wisdom and of vision” and the left eye is “the eye of mind [Manas], of the commonsense and of sight.” (EA, p.430) So the third eye is related to Atma:
“The Third Eye the head centre Will. Atma.
The eye of the Father, the Monad. SHAMBALLA.
The first aspect of will or power and purpose.” (EH, p.148)
“The Monad is to the planetary Logos what the third eye is to man.” (DINAII, p.397) So the connection between the third eye and the ajna centre creates a direct link between the Monad and the lower quadruplicity (the personality in the microcosm).
The relationship also applies between our Solar Logos and Sirius: “This great Sun [Sirius] which is to our solar Logos what the Monad is to the spiritual man, has a peculiar part to play where our Earth is concerned.” (RAI, p.414) Sirius is to our Sun what the Monad is to the disciple.
The raising of the energies of the Heart to the Ajna centre is the 4th Initiation, the Crucifixion or Renunciation, when the causal body burns up and consciousness becomes Monadic.
The “Method” of the Path to Sirius is described as “rhythmic dancing upon the square”.
The square refers to the quadruplicity; but also the alignment of the personality to the rhythm (Sattva) of the Monad.
Bliss:
The other “Attribute” of the Path to Sirius is “rhythmic bliss”. This is the rhythm (Sattva) of the Monad:
“...happiness is the result of achieved personality desire; joy is the expression of the soul's surety, whilst bliss is the consummation which the monad bestows upon the initiate.” (DINAI, p.181)
“Bliss is the nature of the spiritual Being and is, in its turn and in due time, imposed upon the rhythm of the soul. It is the gift of synthesis.” (DINAI, p.558)
The state of bliss takes the place of sacrifice and suffering as changes occur in the egoic lotus in the process of spiritual evolution: “There is that which transmutes knowledge into wisdom within a flash of time; there is that which changes sensitivity into love within an area of space; there is that which alters sacrifice into bliss where neither time nor space exists.” (DINAII, pp.249-50)
For Christ at the Crucifixion: “That climax of suffering, for the man who could endure unto the end, was his entrance to "paradise"—a name connoting bliss. ...bliss, which is of the nature of God Himself, is an expression of divinity and of the spirit.” (BTC, p.217) The Crucifixion is the 4th Initiation, which is “the utter sacrifice of all forever.” (TCF, p.824) The last Sacrifice petal is opened and the egoic lotus burns up. The disciple is freed from the Cross of Matter.
The Nirmanakayas are “those perfected beings who renounce Nirvana (the highest state of spiritual bliss) and choose a life of self-sacrifice, becoming members of that invisible host which ever protects humanity within karmic limits.” (IHS, p.222) They exist on the Atmic plane, free of the three worlds: “"Nirmanakaya" is a name made up of two words which signify "having no body"... It is a state of consciousness.” (TCF, p.779ft.)
“Complete freedom from matter causes bliss or pleasure—the joy of realisation. Evil causes pain, for just in so far as the Inner Ruler is limited by his body of manifestation just so far does he suffer.” (LOS, p.147)
“As a result of contentment bliss is achieved. ...all pain, displeasure and unhappiness are based upon rebellion, and that, from the point of view of the occultist, rebellion but stirs up increased trouble, and resistance only serves to feed the evil, whatever it may be.” (LOS, p.207)
“The Law of Sacrifice, therefore, can never be eliminated in our Earth scheme, as far as the human and subhuman reactions to sorrow and pain are concerned... Bliss and Sacrifice are synonymous terms as far as our solar Logos is concerned, and also for the majority of the planetary Logoi. ...A touch of this freedom from the limitations of pain and sorrow can be found among the more advanced sons of men on Earth, who know the ecstasy of the mystic, the exaltation of the initiate, and the exquisite agony of sacrifice or of any feeling which is carried forward to the point of sublimation. When this point has been reached, the mechanism of suffering and the ability to register sensuous perception is transcended, and momentarily the man escapes on to the plane of unity. Here there is no pain, no sorrow, no rebellion and no suffering.” (EPII, pp.102-3)
“Students...need to rid themselves of the usual idea of sacrifice as a process of giving-up, or renunciation of all that makes life worth living. Sacrifice is, technically speaking, the achievement of a state of bliss and of ecstasy because it is the realisation of another divine aspect, hidden hitherto by both the soul and the personality. It is understanding and recognition of the will-to-good which made creation possible and inevitable, and which was the true cause of manifestation. Ponder on this, for it is very different in its significance to the usual concepts anent sacrifice.” (RAI, p.492)
Suffering is resistance to Spirit. Bliss is freedom from Matter. Sacrifice/bliss is the willing incarnation into Matter because it is divine.
Electric fire:
The symbol for the Path to Sirius includes “two wheels of electric fire”, described as “a duality of interlocked wheels revolving at a great pace in opposite directions, and producing a unified whole.” (TCF, p.1260) This symbol expresses the duality of our solar system, which has its energetic cause in the star Sirius:
“Dynamic electric energy entered into our planetary sphere from extra-planetary sources and from a point of definite focus upon the cosmic mental plane; this energy was paralleled by a secondary energy from the sun Sirius, thus accounting for the dualism of manifestation.” (TEV, p.131)
Electric fire is Spirit; “the highest aspect of divinity”. (LOS, p.350) Electric fire manifests as synthesis. (TCF, p.607) It is the Will aspect, the fire of Shamballa. (RAI, p.91) It comes into the Cosmic Physical plane from the highest plane of Adi (ruled by Leo). (TCF, p.947) However in this 2nd Ray solar system, Will is expressed through Love: Electric fire expresses through the Buddhic plane:
The Creative Hierarchies are an expression of the love nature of the Solar Logos, “and it is for this reason that buddhi is found at the heart of the tiniest atom, or what we call in this system, electric fire. For the positive central life of every form is but an expression of cosmic buddhi, and the downpouring of a love which has its source in the Heart of the Solar Logos; this is itself an emanating principle from the ONE ABOVE OUR LOGOS, HE OF WHOM NAUGHT MAY BE SAID.” (TCF, p.1225-6)
The Life thread (Sutratma) is anchored in the heart. So electric fire comes through the Love aspect: “The Secret of the Fire lieth hid in the second letter of the Sacred Word. The mystery of life is concealed within the heart.” (TCF, p.11 Stanza of Dzyan)
“The heart beats of the Logos (if it might be so inadequately expressed) are the source of all cyclic evolution, and hence the importance attached to that aspect of development called the "heart" or "love aspect," and the interest that is awakened by the study of rhythm.” (TCF, p.128)
On the cosmic level: “The centre in the cosmic body of the ONE ABOUT WHOM NOUGHT MAY BE SAID of which our solar Logos is the embodied force is the heart centre. Here we have one of the clues to the mystery of electricity.” (TCF, p.511)
Following the 2 – 4 – 6 line, electric fire is also the expression of Monadic Life: The jewel in the heart of the lotus is a point of electric fire. (EPII, p.23) So the path of Initiation is the path of Electric Fire for the human kingdom, leading toward identification with the Monad. (EA, p.57)
Kundalini:
That electric fire is at the heart of every atom means that Spirit pervades Matter. This is what makes evolution possible. The redemption of Matter to Spirit is the rising of kundalini. (EH, p.147) The meeting of the energies of the base and the crown is the 5th Initiation, the Revelation. (RAI, p.340) At the 5th Initiation the initiate becomes a Master of Wisdom and enters the Lodge on Sirius. (EA, p.299) So Sirius rules the Hierarchy.
The orange Cross that is part of the symbol of the Path to Sirius could represent the Base chakra. This Cross “is pictured in orange fire”. Likewise the base chakra is described as four petals that are “in the shape of a cross, and radiate with orange fire.” (LOM, p.77)
Solar kundalini:
“The kundalini fire in the [planetary] logoic body is at the height of its activity in stimulating His physical body—our lower three systemic planes—and the four petals of that particular centre are coming into full activity in this fourth round. ...The trouble in our planet, and likewise the hope for our planet, lies in this very fact. The etheric centre of our planetary Logos being in matter of the fourth cosmic ether (the buddhic plane) stimulates at present His lower quaternary, our three worlds of human endeavour. The direction of the force lies here, and not until the next round (when three-fifths of the human kingdom will be developing the buddhic vehicle), will the point of equilibrium for Him be reached, and the direction of the serpent fire be directed higher.” (TCF, p.649)
Cosmic kundalini:
The “buddhic force” which is transmitted from the Pleiades comes from “a constellation called the Dragon in some books, and from which has come the appellation "The Dragon of Wisdom."”. This is Draco, which is the base chakra of OAWNMBS: “The constellation of the Dragon has the same relation to the ONE greater than our Logos as the centre at the base of the spine has to a human being.” (TCF, p.1204)
Hierarchy of Path to Sirius:
The Creative Hierarchy governing the Path to Sirius is “veiled by the numbers 14 and 17”. (TCF, p.1260)
1 + 4 = 5
1 + 7 = 8
The 7th Creative Hierarchy is the 5th counting down and the 8th counting up. (EA, p.35) It is said that the Path to Sirius leads to the cosmic astral plane. (RAI, p.399) The 7th Creative Hierarchy is the lowest plane of the Cosmic Astral plane.
I. DYNAMIC ENERGY .......................................................... Electric Fire
| Cancer
1. Sirius................... | ......... Saturn..................................... Fifth Creative Hierarchy
| Capricorn (the 8th Unknown)
The Cardinal Cross
(EA, p.23)
This Hierarchy is ruled by Cancer and by the 7th Ray. Appropriate to the Sirian quality of “freedom”, it is the Hierarchy on the verge of “liberation”! (EA, p.34) Cancer is the sign of incarnation and governs the Law of Rebirth, so this is indeed ‘liberation’ from Matter. Sirius the fixed star is actually located in Cancer at 14 degrees 05’.
The hierarchical ruler of Cancer is Neptune. Neptune is known as “the Initiator” or the Christ, who “introduces the water of life into the ocean of substance and thus brings light to the world”. (EA, pp.219-20.)
“The "heart of the Sun" employs Neptune as its agent”. (TCF, p.296) The Path to Sirius is through the heart of the Sun! There is a close connection between Neptune and Venus, as Venus is the home of the 6th Ray Lord.
Neptune is also the esoteric ruler of Leo (veiled by the Sun), which is the zodiacal sign veiling the energies of Sirius. (TCF, p.1260) In Leo Neptune opens a gateway to the intuition of the buddhic plane via the astral plane. The Illumination of Neptune is the glorification of the Christ.
Neptune’s association with ‘sacrifice’ is very appropriate to the Path to Sirius. In fact looking at the Cosmic Astral plane suggests a whole new way of interpreting the Law of Sacrifice as “Vulcan and Neptune in opposition” (TCF, p.597): Neptune rules the (Physical?)/Etheric sub-plane of the Cosmic Astral, while Vulcan (as hierarchical ruler of Taurus) rules the Mental sub-plane of the Cosmic Astral. As ruler of this 5th Liberated Hierarchy, Vulcan is “the light which liberates from death.” (EA, p.274) Here Vulcan (Ray 1) expresses the Will aspect of the Great Bear constellation. (EA, p.23) The Mental plane is always a plane of transition away from Matter, for karma works out through manas.
Jupiter, on the Path to Sirius, as hierarchical ruler of Virgo, rules the plane of the Monads. Jupiter is exalted in Cancer (which rules the lowest plane of the Cosmic Astral). In its higher aspect, the Love/Wisdom of Jupiter nurtures the construction of forms and structures on the etheric, astral and mental planes for expression of the higher self. Through the power of Love Jupiter reveals the divinity latent in all creation.
There must be a relationship between the Cancer Hierarchy (on the verge of liberation) and its polarity: Capricorn ruling the 5th Creative Hierarchy, the Human Personality on the Mental plane (of the Cosmic Physical). The ruler here is Venus! This is Makara.
Saturn, Lord of Karma, exoteric and esoteric ruler of Capricorn, must play a significant role in relation to Cancer and the Law of Rebirth, for rebirth occurs according to the laws of karma. In Cancer Saturn is in detriment, producing “those difficult conditions and situations which will lead to the needed struggle.” (EA, p.342.) Hence the Earth is a planet of pain and suffering.
Saturn is also connected with Leo, the zodiacal sign veiling Sirius. The energies of Sirius are said to come through Hierarchy rather than through Shamballa: “Sirius, so important a factor in the spiritual life of the planet, brings its energies to bear direct upon the Hierarchy, and energy from Sirius does not normally enter our planetary life via Shamballa.” (DINAII, p.520) Yet Saturn provides a link direct through Leo to Shamballa. (EA, p.435) And as hierarchical ruler of Libra, Saturn governs the Atmic plane, the highest plane of the Spiritual Triad, the plane of Will.
The 7th Creative Hierarchy on the verge of liberation is governed by the 7th Ray. Uranus, planet of the 7th Ray, is “the home of "fire electric"” (TCF, p.1154), the electric fire of the Buddhic plane. Uranus unites the highest and the lowest, bringing Spirit down into Matter. Appropriately, Uranus (as hierarchical ruler of Aries) also rules the Buddhic sub-plane of the Cosmic Astral plane, the plane of electric fire.
The “central, spiritual Sun [Alcyone] pours its influences through Uranus.” (TCF, p.296) Alcyone is the further part of the cosmic antahkarana that is the Path to Sirius. The translation upwards through the antahkarana via Sirius to Alcyone (and onward through the stars of the Great Bear) is Cosmic Makara.
Freedom:
So at the end of this enquiry, can anything be said about the divine cosmic principle expressed through Sirius “of which humanity knows as yet little”, and which can only be inaccurately translated in our terms as ‘Freedom’? (RAI, p.416)
Clearly ‘Freedom’ is liberation from Matter. It is identification with Spirit; the Spirit that is in Matter: “The principle of freedom is a leavening energy which can permeate substance in a unique manner...” (RAI, p.416) Freedom also suggests some sort of ‘immunity’: If sacrifice and bliss are synonymous, then Matter can have no ‘effect’.
A paradoxical thought: That ‘Freedom’ may mean ‘acting according to Law’. That if one’s Will is completely aligned and identified with the Laws of Spirit, resistance to Matter does not occur because all is recognised as One.
The very formulation as a group of this question about the principle of Freedom sends a very small spark at least a little way up the antahkarana. Stretching towards the answer is an affirmation of Life itself.