Pisces Full Moon – 24.02.05
In closing this series of instructions I would like to bring your attention to the keynote of sacrifice. Sacrifice rules the transition of identity from one level to another. It is sacrifice that allowed the solar angels to descend and dedicate themselves to human salvage. It is also sacrifice that allows the release of a lower identification for a higher one. Sacrifice is thus associated with the vertical dimension of existence.
The returning nirvanas, the five kumaras, makara, - these are all names for that five fold entity that is our essential selves, descending from the cosmic astral plane and informing the cosmic physical. This sentiency is both a vehicle for more subtle cosmic energies as well as the driver of the dense physical via the cosmic ethers. This cosmic astral energy is five fold in essence, being developed in the last system and threefold in expression. – that expression in the case of humanity is via the monad, soul and personality. When these three energies are balanced then that which expresses through them is revealed and the
Revelation allows that which is hidden at the core to be revealed. The soul lies at the core of the personality, the monad lies at the core of the soul. Revelation of a greater principle to the indwelling entity sets up the possibility of sacrifice. The identification with the lower must first be sacrificed or given up allowing for the identity to shift to the higher. Then the ‘enjoyment’ of the higher sphere can be temporarily sacrificed in time and space in order to become a messenger or embassador of the higher within the lower. Sacrifice thus creates a bridge between levels of identity and it is the creation of this living antahkarana that allows for the free flow of energy and identity between planes.
Within the cosmic physical plane the twin spans of the antahkarana concern the bridge between personality/soul and soul/monad. As you know the centres associated with that bridge are the NGWS and the Nirmanakayas. The planetary energies most associated with this bridge are venus and mercury. Mercury provides through revelation of the heights, the opportunity to transfer identity and sacrifice the lower for the higher. Venus provides, through sentient response to the needs of the whole, the opportunity to act as a distributor of the higher within the lower.
Mercury sets us free. Venus encourages us to willingly circumscribe that freedom out of love. Some idea of the role of Sanat Kumara, the Great Sacrifice, in the fourth or earth scheme may be gained by contemplating this duality.
The keynote of Pisces – “I leave the Father’s house and turning back I save” is most closely allied to the functioning of Venus in the dual work of the antahkarana which is why Venus is exalted in Pisces and Mercury ‘falls’.
Esoterically, the reason that Venus is exalted in Pisces is connected with the relation of Pisces to the sign Gemini, of which Venus is the esoteric ruler, and also in relation to the fact that Venus is the Earth's alter ego and is closely related to the human kingdom. This subject is too vast and complicated to be elaborated here, but the point should be remembered. The Fishes in Pisces are bound together, as we have seen, and this is a symbol of the captivity of the soul in form, prior to the experience upon the Fixed Cross. The Twins in Gemini are symbols of the same basic duality, but the experience of the many changing incarnations has done its work, and the Band (uniting the two fishes) is in process of dissolution, for part of the work of Pluto is to "cut the thread which binds the two opposing lives together." It is the task of Venus to "reunite the severed lives but with no binding thread." Therefore, Venus is exalted in Pisces and at the end of the greater cycle, the Sons of God who are the Sons of Mind are raised up into glory through experience and crucifixion because they have learned to love and truly reason. EA 130
Therefore, when we find that the power of Mercury is lessened in Pisces and that it finally "falls" in that sign, what is the esoteric and spiritual meaning? Simply, that after the stage of initiation in Capricorn, as the result of the reversal of the wheel and the consequent experiences, and after the triumph of Scorpio, the power of the mind lessens steadily till finally (like other aspects of form life in the three worlds) it comes to an end and its meaning and illuminating aspects between soul and physical brain are no longer required. The man, coming definitely into full soul consciousness, requires now no mediator but deals directly himself with his emanating source. Mercury is then met with again under another name, this time as the Sun, mediating between the higher aspects—soul and spirit—for Mercury and the Sun are One. Through Mercury, the mind is illumined and relation is established between personality and the soul. As Mercury, the Sun—the mediator—shifts to a still higher plane and is no longer mediator between two different stages in consciousness but between life and consciousness itself; this is a very different matter and effects the higher understanding. This will necessarily be incomprehensible to you at present for it is not a mediatorship between differences but a fusion of what is already related. Are you any the wiser for that statement?
EA 132
A couple of points can here be clarified. Venus is the Hierarchical ruler of Capricorn and stands for the full embodiment of the soul in form at the third degree. The free dedication of the soul to embodiment cannot take place as long as there are karmic threads tying it to the three worlds. Saturn must be superceded, karma must end before the willing sacrifice of the higher to the lower can take place using the second or love aspect as the basis of relationship instead of the third aspect. The soul cannot fully be present unless it is free to not be present.
Similarly, Mercury is the Hierarchical ruler of Scorpio and stands for the liberation of the soul. This freedom cannot occur until the desire for freedom from existence in the three worlds is outgrown. Mars must be superceded, desire must end before liberation from the wheel of rebirth can take place and the identity shift from the third to second aspect.
Pisces and Taurus are related in a similar way to Scorpio and Capricorn and indeed the four signs form with a fifth, that of Leo an interesting five pointed star. By means of this pentagram the third and fifth subplanes of the cosmic astral plane are bought into relationship with the fourth and fifth subplanes of the cosmic physical plane via the Leo hierarchy on the first subplane of the cosmic physical. More than this I cannot say but the intuition will reveal that which is relevant to the spiritual development of the reader.
Four signs have a dual rulership – Taurus, Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces. One sign has a triple rulership – Leo. They can be placed in a geometrical relationship called ‘the sun upon the square’ as follows: You will recognise this formation as having relationship to formula four. There are six synthetic triangles created in this formation, if the diagonals are included, each having the sun as their synthetic point or apex.
Vulcan, Mercury, Sun
Vulcan, Venus, Sun
Vulcan, Pluto, Sun
Mercury, Pluto, Sun
Mercury, Venus, Sun
Venus, Pluto, Sun
The seventh synthetic triangle is created out of the three aspects of the sun itself.
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There is also a relationship to the Law of the Lower Four. Vulcan /Pluto represent a duality of the life aspect just as Mercury/Venus represent a duality in the consciousness aspect. The Sun links life and consciousness through the formula “Vulcan ( Pluto ) , Mercury ( Venus ) and the SUN are One”
With regard to the astrological signs you will note that there are two water signs and two earth signs bought into relationship through the agency of fire or the sign Leo. This is symbolic of the relating and synthetic operation of cosmic astral and physical planes under the direction of the fire of mind emanating from the cosmic mental plane. This fire originates from the causal body of the Planetary Logos on the third subplane of the cosmic mental. It operates in a dual fashion on the third and fifth subplanes of the cosmic astral and this duality becomes the human being (mercury/venus or the fourth and fifth hierarchies ) on the buddhic and mental planes of the cosmic physical. The Will of the Logos is thus made known to the farthest reaches of His manifestation.
Let us return then to the relevance that these thoughts have to the series of transmissions which are concluding. The whole subject of group initiation deals with the journey through consciousness or the second aspect from the individual via the group to the universal. The first series related therefore to your individuality ‘as a group’ and the specific purpose that bought you together. In the second series your relationship as a group to other groups was the focus and in this final series the emphasis is upon the planetary life as a whole. The planetary life is itself an ‘individuality’ within a larger group and so on up until the great cosmic life that ensouls the universe. An initiation is in reality a transition of identity – the movement of the polarisation of the centre of ‘self’ from one plane to another, from one aspect to another.
At the first initiation the identity is freed from the body. At the third it is freed from the lower three subplanes ( the body of the Logos ) . At the fifth it is freed from the triad and at the seventh it is freed from the threefold entity of monad,soul,personality. Freedom is followed by willing sacrifice. So, for example the third initiation frees the identity from the three worlds but the freed identity ( now triadal ) acts as a bodhisattva in service to the three worlds during the period between the next two initiations. At the fifth initiation the identity becomes a buddha and yet continues to serve the five worlds until the seventh and so forth. At the seventh initiation there is the demonstration of synthesis upon all the planes which is why the Externalisation process is in many ways a by product of a much larger process of synthesis that involves the cosmic planes. At the ninth initiation all contact with the cosmic physical plane is repudiated.
These Mercury transmissions on group initiation have been intended to lay a framework that does the following:
Decentralise the consciousness of the group individual in a series of steps leading to identification with the planetary Life.
Accelerate the fusion of consciousness through the primary appeal to the life or first aspect
Educate this and future groups as a byproduct of carrying forward an actual piece of the Plan
Lay the emphasis upon the energy of synthesis and the transmission of light supernal that lies behind the dissemination of information.
Give more information on the workings of the higher antahkarana between consciousness and life, Hierarchy and Shamballa.
Arouse interest and inquiry in to what lies behind the synthetic functioning of the triangles Shamballa, Hierarchy, Humanity or in the individual case monad, soul, personality.
Mercury is a messenger, an intermediary, a transmitter of energy from higher spheres in to the lower with the aim of producing illumination, revelation and liberation. As with all intermediaries, like the soul itself, its function is not permanent but temporary. The soul is a vessel, a sheath of flame, in which the spark of essential divinity can pass from the heights to the depths and back again. In this system we are lifted and aided from above and then we each become, in turn, messengers and lifters for others. Indeed there is only One. This truth, as monad we experience, as soul we work out in consciousness, as personality we demonstrate in action.
On cosmic planes the kumaras are the soul principle within the Logoic personality. They are the sheaths of flaming desire that allow the life, love and activity of the Cosmos to penetrate and work out on the dense physical plane through the life, love and activity of the human monad. Essentially they are us, we are they.
At your own level of evolution my earnest wish for you is that you are lifted free of mind, that your identification in consciousness with the One Life becomes unshakeable and that in your own sphere you pour this energy of life, of light supernal, through the flaming sheath of the triad into the three worlds. Liberated to a degree yourselves, turn your gaze in service and salvage to the race. Turn your backs on light supernal and become a conduit for it. Allow ‘mercury’ to ‘fall’ and ‘venus’ to rise in your work for Hierarchy, until I call you once again, to the heights.