The Black Hole God
The history of human culture
tells us that whatever symbol we place in the centre
of our collective imagination reflects itself through all levels of
civilization-our religious, political, social, educational and economic
structures. Naturally enough, the cosmos has been a primary source of our
'heaven symbols' and we can trace the development of human consciousness by
paying attention to which of the 'heavenly bodies' captures our attention and centralises our society. When the moon is dominant in our
psyche we have the emotional and psychic life ruling with its emphasis on the
physical and astral body. When the planets are the dominant focus we have the
pantheistic traditions and pay attention to the different qualities of the personality.
Earth or Gaia-centered consciousness could be said to
be culminating on the planet currently as the mass consciousness of humanity is
integrating as a 'personality'. The vision of Earth from space was a powerful
unifying symbol.
The sun is the centre of many of the monotheistic traditions and
represents the dominant central symbol for advanced humanity over the last
several thousand years of evolution. It is the symbol of the soul, the Christ
life, and is the central motif for the Piscean Age. The sun is the source of
light and love, the epitome of the saviour and of
self-consciousness. It is Leo, and allows man to say 'I am' firstly as a
personality and then as a soul.
There are two relatively
recent events that are bringing a new centralising symbol
to the imagination of humanity. The first is the journey out of the solar
system by the Voyager spacecraft. www.nasa.gov/.../ voyager_heliosphere.html
The twin Voyager 1 and 2
spacecraft are currently passing through the heliosphere
and symbolise the extension of human consciousness
beyond the ring-pass-not of the sun in the same way that the launch of the
Sputnik in 1957 symbolised the release of human consciousness
from the planet. The second event is the postulation of 'black holes' and the
discovery that a black hole forms the central hub of our Milky Way galaxy and
indeed, in all probability, of all galaxies.
At the start of the Aquarian
Age we have a new symbol which is in many ways the opposite of the Leonian Sun. The Sun is a source of light, of
consciousness, of order. The black hole is darkness, the unknowable, chaos. It
is the contention of this paper that the symbol of the black hole coming into
the human psyche is the outer equivalence of the monad or spirit aspect, just
as the sun relates to the soul. In the Aquarian Age the main spiritual task is
not the relating of soul and personality but of monad and personality via the
soul. The three major symbols of Earth, the sun and the black hole can be
meaningfully equated to these three levels of 'self,' each at the centre of its respective orbiting attendants:
The following chart and image
lists the relationships I am proposing between the physical plane and the
physical manifestation of members of the cosmic family-planets, suns and black
holes:
First ether logoic universal
akasha
Second ether monadic black
hole
Third ether atmic sun (third order) supernova-b/hole
Fourth ether buddhic sun
(fourth order)
Gaseous mental planet-Venus eg sun (fifth order)
Liquid astral planet-Earth
eg
Physical physical planet-Mars
eg
We know our sun is manifesting
on the fourth ether and that science is gradually penetrating into what lies
behind light. I suggest that a black hole is a manifestation of second etheric
matter generated out of the first ether akashic sea of black hole / white hole energetic substrata.
A planetary logos
eventually becomes a solar logos. A solar logos
eventually becomes a cosmic logos (with intervening levels of constellational
logoi). We see this reflected in the physical plane. If Jupiter was larger it
would have become a sun. If a star is of great enough mass it will end its life
as a black hole.
While these
are correspondences relating to the physical plane they naturally reflect the
realities of the cosmic physical plane.
The higher antahkarana represents the relationship between soul and monad,
Hierarchy and Shamballa. The number of Shamballa is 24, revealing the link
between the second or monadic plane and the fourth or buddhic.
Formula V given in Discipleship
in the New Age II "THE SUN.BLACK.
ANTAHKARANA"
is the formula linked to revelation of the Will and to Shamballa.1 When the
higher antahkarana is constructed we have the potential to circulate energy
between the triangle of monad, soul and personality in a way that reveals a
fourth energy or 'saving force'.
Accepting for a moment that
the black hole is a symbol of the monad we might ask how this symbol reveals
itself in the coming Aquarian civilization. The keynote of spirit or the
monadic aspect is 'synthesis'. Synthesis is not fusion. Fusion or unity belongs
at the level of consciousness or soul-its outer symbol is the field of light
that constitutes a galaxy. The many suns share a common 'consciousness'. This
consciousness or light does not penetrate however, into the lower levels of
matter which is in the process of becoming 'solarised'
nor does it penetrate into the higher levels of spirit-the black hole. Thus
consciousness cannot be the origin of synthesis but only a field for its
revelation. True synthesis is based on the realisation
of an 'already present' principle that lies at the core of differentiated
expression.
For example a planet such as
Earth does not need to become a sun in order to circle the black hole-it just
needs solar consciousness in order to 'realise' the
fact that it is already doing so. "Jesus saith.no
man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) That no man 'comes to
the Father' except 'through the Son' or 'sun' is true of man's consciousness.
Of course he is already related to the Father aspect because spirit is the very
source or unrevealed origin of his existence. The sutratma
or 'life thread' is already present in all men. Not all men have built the
antahkarana however, and become cognizant of this fact.
Constellations, suns, planets,
moons, comets, asteroids etc are all present within the form of a galaxy. They
are differentiated expressions of the life of that galaxy. Within human society
there is a similar differentiation. All individuals are souls (suns) but not
all are expressing their solar nature. Similarly groups and organisations
are functioning at different levels within the planetary human organism. How do
we develop an integral context for human society that encompasses all levels of
expression?
It could be said that human
consciousness on Earth is currently undergoing a transition from
personality-centered to soul-centred structures. From
the perspective of the consciousness of a disciple this creates a 'battle'
between these two forms of expression, symbolised by
the war between the Black Lodge and the White Lodge-the forces of materialism
and the forces of light. A disciple is an intimate part of this conflict
because it is being waged in the core of his own consciousness. From a higher
perspective however, once victory is achieved, the forces of light and dark are
seen as dual aspects of a single energy system. The aim of the monad is to fuse
the soul and personality at the Third Initiation so that the central Life
principle can express through both.
Unsolarised
personality-centered structures tend to marginalise
and exclude soul values and impulses, as we well know. Unin'form'ed soul-based structures can also tend to
exclude the instinctual and unconscious impulses of the lower personality. We
see the latter in the sometimes naïve and utopian expressions of individuals
and groups during this cuspal time that can exclude
or be unaware of the very real forces driving man's lower nature. The soul is
not able to fully control the lower aspects of the personality until it is
anchored in the base chakra.
Spirit or 'Life'-based
structures have therefore to include all levels of expression-superconscious, conscious and unconscious-if a true
synthesis is to be expressed in the many fields of human experience. Let's take
this analogy into some of those fields:
Politics
Personality-centered systems-survival or form-based,
assertion of 'self interest'.
Soul-centered
systems-values-based , assertion of 'group interest'
or 'common good.'
Monad-centered systems-Life-based, assertion of
synthesis.
One of the main themes in
planetary politics is the movement towards global governance and international
law. One of the main hindrances is the seemingly conflicting interests of
different sectors within the global group of nations. There is a struggle to accommodate
the different perspectives of the so-called 'developed nations' and the
'developing nations' as well as the inequalities in economic and other
resources. In addition there are fears of the loss of individual sovereignty to
a global body and the various formations of intermediate groupings based
largely on regional economics. The power of the United Nations is diminished by
its need to find a consensus between different perspectives, as well as its
lack of judicial power in international law to implement decisions. A
personality-based UN would result in world domination by the self interest of
the most powerful nations. A soul-based UN requires the sharing of a set of
common values and the spirit of goodwill by those involved. This is not yet evident,
nor is it likely to be so in the foreseeable future.
A monad-centered UN would recognise that nations are at different levels of
development. It would include all nations in its General Assembly, recognising the inherent sharing of the Life principle. It
would also have a differentiated Council made up of those nations demonstrating
as souls. These nations would have increased powers in the global
decision-making process, based on their demonstration of soul principles at
work in their national expression (however those powers could not be used to
promote self interest). These nations
would also have increased responsibilities, including economic ones, to the
community of nations. This inner group would have at its core both a set of
principles (that were unanimously agreed upon as serving the whole) as well as
a living dynamic relationship with spirit. This centre
or 'Black Hole God' would not be limited by any outer idea or thoughtform, but recognised as a 'living presence', the inspiring principle
underlying the planetary life expression.
Religion
Within the religious field we
are also seeing the forces of unification at work, but the spirit of synthesis
is only beginning to be felt. There are now numerous 'umbrella' organisations which seek to relate the different traditions
with each other and attempt to find 'common ground' between their teachings.
These organisations could be equated with
'constellations'. They are bridges of light and understanding between 'suns',
or the solarised causal bodies of the great lights of
human religions. Rather than one 'sun' trying to absorb all the others, they
are beginning to recognise and respect each other's 'sunship'. The 'Cosmic Christ' is being recognised,
not as one large sun but like the light of the galaxy itself, containing within
its aura numerous solar manifestations. There is a similar growing recognition
of the distinct strengths of different pathways, and with the spread of
religious tolerance individual human beings are able to respond more freely to
the different teachings as they meet the need and particular stage of their own
soul development. The New World Religion will no doubt arise out of the
response by individuals and groups within all pathways to the synthetic core of
them all. There may be articulations of the core, but it will surely be the
livingness of God by whatever name or ideation, that draws humanity into a
united rhythmic response to that Presence which pervades all manifestation. For
true synthesis to be present it must of course include all those who do not
'believe' in a God at all, and even actively oppose such an 'idea'. It is not
therefore a case of finding a new more inclusive consciousness for religious
experience but the recognition of what lies behind and produces both consciousness
and form.
Education
When the 'sun' is the centralising principle of politics we have the phenomenon
of the 'sun-king' or beneficent ruler. In education we have the 'Christ' or
'soul principle' as the great teacher. The sun has planets,
the teacher has students or disciples. When the development of consciousness is
the goal, as it is in this system, then the most developed embodiment of
consciousness in the system is revered. When the predominant consciousness is
personality-centered, then those with some soul infusion are the teachers.
When the predominant
consciousness is becoming more soul-based, as is increasingly the case on the
planet, then it is those souls who are able to draw on the power of the monad
that are required. In the new schools it will be the linking of the monad with
the personality that will be the goal, and not so much the building of the
lower antahkarana between personality and soul.
In esoteric teaching the focus
upon Hierarchy and the Christ is being extended to a growing realisation and relationship with Shamballa and the Lord of
the World, Sanat Kumara. Once again this is not so much of a realisation in consciousness, but of that which lies behind
consciousness. The words of the ancient mantram of
the Gayatri "unveil to us the face of the true
spiritual sun hidden by a disk of golden light" may have reference to the
monad, and an outer correspondence to the discovery of the black hole.
It is the Life principle that
is present in both teacher and student that holds them both in a greater orbit
around a central synthetic principle. With the advent of more and more advanced
souls into the planetary life, many educators under great pressure, as is the
education system in general. Some students are being driven not so much by the
'will to knowledge' or even the 'will to love' but by the 'will to life' and
Life more abundant. They cause trouble within the ordered 'light filled' world
of consciousness evolution. Some classes seem more a demonstration of chaos
theory and the uncertainty principle than they do of ordered Newtonian physics.
Education is finding a new
'strange attractor' or centralising energy, that goes
beyond the
acquisition of knowledge and skills. It requires the development of the
capacity to live in not knowing-in joyful relationship to the great mystery
amid the explosion of information and knowledge that has been the hallmark of
the twentieth century. So much information is available that the value of the
intellect is being surpassed by the value of the intuition and its ability to
acquire 'at will' what the livingness of the moment requires.
Business, Economics & Environment
With the advent of advanced
information technology and the 'etherealisation' of
money from the gold standard, through paper, to digital credit, there is a
peculiar phenomena occurring on the planet: No-one is 'in control'. Economists
are talking about a seemingly self-organising
principle around an 'empty centre'. The central banks
and the World Bank still have an influence on the global economy, but vast sums
are washing throughout the globe with little that any organisation can do in an
ultimate sense. There are still of course the outer 'assets' like property and minerals, however 'assets' are increasingly hard to define.
There is 'intellectual property' such as 'brand names'. There are sharemarkets based on future performance of
companies-futures markets based on share markets, and options markets based on
futures markets. Our perception of 'where wealth comes from' is shifting ever
higher from 'things' to ideas, and will eventually make the journey out of the
planetary 'body' altogether into the planetary etheric. The solar angel (Venus)
is the source of wealth and value. The world soul is the true source of wealth;
and when the world's money supply comes under "the jurisdiction of the
Christ"2 that wealth will be used in accordance with
Shamballic purpose. Rather than pouring our money into the 'black hole' of the
desire body it will come under the direct influence of the 'black hole' of the
monad. The physical plane is the most distant from the logoic, and the Seventh
Ray is bringing the 'highest into the lowest'. It could be said that humanity
has a relatively enlightened mind, an opening heart, but a wallet that still
requires prising open. This is why the Externalisation of the Hierarchy on to the physical plane
will not occur until humanity has learned to share its economic resources
wisely. The two processes are intimately interlinked.
The forces of globalisation and the state of the earth's environment are
forcing a crisis where even the Third Aspect is coming to realise
that there is really no such thing as separated 'self interest'. The Christ
returns with a sword and the awakening of Humanity as a third divine centre through crisis could be said to be one of the
results of the direct impact of Shamballic energy into that centre.
Human consciousness, even Hierarchical consciousness, is not enough to bring a
solution. Consciousness itself is caught between two 'darks'-the down-pouring
'dark light' from the crown chakra of Shamballa and the upwelling Plutonic
fires from our unconscious base chakra as our planetary survival is threatened.
The resulting 'galvanisation' of the world soul is a
planet-wide initiation.
Conclusion
The synthesis of humanity
cannot be achieved through consciousness alone. The soul is not enough and the
sun is not a sufficiently potent symbol on its own, to draw our global
imagination towards its destiny.
As we enter the Aquarian Age
we are opening to a new realisation and exploration
of that which holds six billion human souls in orbit around it-the
"unknown, unseen and unheard" purpose of our Planetary Logos.3 It is not up to us to come together and decide what
this purpose is, but to have it revealed to us.
The planet Earth journeyed on
its annual path around the sun and its 250 million year orbit around the black
hole at the galactic centre long before humans gazed
up at the stars. It continued to do so when we thought the Earth was flat. It
continued to do so when Copernicus was promoting his 'heresy' that the Earth
revolved around the sun; and will continue to do so when mankind is long gone
from the surface of the planet. We do not create reality with our
consciousness, but we can grow to the point that reality is able to reveal
itself to us. As with the physical realities, so with the
spiritual. Our journey is from the darkness of ignorance into the light
of knowledge; but there is a greater darkness-the darkness of the 'not-knowing'
that comes after 'knowing' and not before. The doorway to this greater darkness
is on the third subplane of the atmic plane where the ashram of the Master
Morya "adds darkness unto light so that the stars appear".4 So to conclude one might say the personality thinks
it is Something, the soul knows itself to be the Sun-thing but the monad IS
No-thing. Or in the words of the well known American philosopher W V Quine when asked his view on modern philosophy "I
really have Nothing to add".5
1.
Alice A. Bailey, Discipleship in the New Age II, Lucis
Publishing Company,
2. Alice A. Bailey, Discipleship in the New
Age II, p.231.
3.
Alice A. Bailey, The Rays and The
Initiations, Lucis Publishing Company,
4.
Alice A. Bailey, The Rays and The Initiations,
p.170.
5. W. V. Quine on philosophy
in the twentieth century, as reported by Sarah Boxer
in the New York Times of