Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume I

Second Edition

The Rosicrucian Fellowship
Mt. Ecclesia
Oceanside, Califronia, U.S.A.

Foreword

   So much favorable comment has come to us concerning the astrological articles by Elman Bacher which appeared in our Rays from the Rose Cross during past years that we feel sure this volume will be cordially welcomed by all students of spiritual astrology.

   Mr. Bacher's profound knowledge of and devotion to the stellar science, along with an uncanny understanding of human nature, made it possible for him to present material which undoubtedly places him among the best of modern esoteric astrologers. As the truth and value of astrology become more and more generally accepted, his presentations will serve increasingly to help people know themselves and fulfill their highest destiny.

   Before his passing in 1951, Mr. Bacher expressed a keen desire to have us publish his articles in book form, and although we deeply regret that he is not here to see the culmination of his desire, we are happy in knowing that his wish is now being fulfilled.

Introduction

   To the Rosicrucian student astrology is a phase of religion, basically a spiritual science. More than any other study it reveals man to himself. No other science is so sublime, so profound, and so all- embracing. It portrays the relation between God, the macrocosm, and man, the microcosm, showing them to be fundamentally one.

   Occult science, investigating the subtler forces that impinge upon man, the Spirit, and his vehicles, has charted their effects with no less definiteness than has academic science the reactions of sea and soil, plant and animal to the solar and lunar rays.

   With this knowledge we may determine the astrological pattern of each individual and know the relative strength and weakness of the various forces operating in each life. To the degree that we are in possession of such knowledge we can begin systematic, scientific character building--and character is destiny! We note times and seasons cosmically advantageous to unfolding undeveloped qualities, correcting faulty traits, and eliminating destructive propensities.

   The divine science of astrology reveals the hidden causes at work in our lives. It counsels the adult in regard to vocation, the parent in the guidance of children, the teacher in management of pupils, the physician in diagnosing diseases, thus lending aid to each and all in whatever position they may find themselves.

   No other subject within the range of human knowledge appears to hold for this day and age the possibilities open to astrologers for helping people to their own dignity as gods-in-the-making, to a greater grasp of universal law, and to a realization that we are eternally secure within the caressing fold of Infinite and Boundless Being.

Chapter 1
The Accuracy of Astrology

   Millions of words, both printed and verbal, have been used in argument as to whether or not astrology is "accurate" and "scientific." The anti-astrology group (the non-students, the uninformed, the exoterically religious and mentally unadventurous) hold forth with arguments that serve, in the long run, only as disparaging reflections on the personal abilities of those who "read horoscopes." They argue that, if astrology is scientifically accurate, it should be proved so by the perfect agreement of all astrologers on any given point of the subject. All such argument is spurious and a waste of time since it does not pertain to the basic essence of the subject at all.

   (A brief pause to inquire of these "antis" if all Christians agree as to the meaning of their Teacher's message; all musicians as to the "correct" interpretation of a Brahms symphony; all doctors as to the "right" treatment of infantile paralysis; all parents as to the "perfect" way of raising children.)

   Every protagonist of astrology varies in ability to interpret a horoscope from every other astrologer. Each differs from his colleagues in "approach," in ability to comprehend symbology, in exactitude of mathematical calculation, in ability to sense the dynamic essence of the horoscope, in ability to understand the psychological problems represented and their potentials for solution. This is the "human variant."

   Astrology is an exact science because: Every factor in a correctly calculated horoscope is a symbolic representation of an exact and impartial effect of a specific cause. It represents the cosmic and immutable law of cause and effect operating in the conditions and experiences of a human being on his progress of many incarnations.

   Nothing in a correctly calculated horoscope is there by chance, accident, heredity, or whim of blind fate. Every planetary position and aspect is one factor of the subject's soul body, one phase of his consciousness, one milestone on his spiritual path.

   To the degree that the astrologer identifies his horoscopical findings with the law of "as ye sow, so shall ye reap" will he be able to synthesize correctly the chart in its entirety, will he be able to reduce past causes of present conditions, will he be able to determine the potential solutions of difficulties.

Chapter II
Astro-Dynamics

   The term astro-dynamics is used to indicate the study of a horoscope from the standpoint of the planetary influences being diminished or intensified by the native's reactions to his experiences during a given incarnation. The cyclic functions of life forces create a periodic emphasis on each planetary influence and aspect and to the degree that each emphasis is utilized constructively is the alchemical transmutation made. To the degree that the negatives are expressed will the positives be depleted and made less effectual for growth. This is easily understood when we consider that no human being is ever "cut off" from any part of his horoscope. There is no such thing as a "stoppage" of planetary influence. Even the inhibitive and restrictive ray of a heavily afflicted Saturn is still "expressing" in the consciousness of the person who is expiating such a form of karma.

   A practical application of astro-dynamics may be stated thus: any person who consults an astropsychologist does so because he is "in trouble." He is in trouble because he has been "living with his negatives." Without a dynamic approach to interpretation, the reader can easily fall into confusion if he interprets the trines and sextiles of his client's chart as "statically good." A trine or sextile is "good" only if it is put into concrete expression as a counteractive to that which is destructive or retrogressive in the person's nature. Poverty, sickness, unfulfilled or distorted love-impulses, fears, and the like are evidences that the client has not applied the urge to fulfill the promises of his sextiles or the benefits of his trines, but has expressed his energies in terms of his squares and oppositions, thus depleting his possibilities for good as life goes on. A continual expression of negatives will result in depletion of the regenerative urges and a tighter bondage to the Wheel of Life is created.

   In musical parlance, the term "modulation" is used to indicate a chord or passage which serves as a bridge from one section to another in a different key or tonality. This term may also be used, in the astro-dynamic terminology, to describe the purposes of the sextile and opposition aspects. These aspects, in a given chart, may be considered the "points of transmutation" when the two planets of an opposition receive the trine and sextile from a third planet, and when one planet of a sextile is squared by a third planet. In either of these cases, the planet making the good aspect to the affliction represents the agency by which the person finds his "redemption from evil." Thus, through the exercise of that planetary energy transmutation is made and the power of the square and opposition to express discord is diminished and neutralized.

   The aspects described above represent the "easiest" form of alchemy. However, others must be considered: In all probability, the transmutation of an unrelieved square is more difficult than any other experience in life. This term indicates two planets in square aspect to each other with no trines or sextiles to other planets. Superficially it represents an aspect of "heavy karma," indicative of a serious problem through which the native must learn a much needed lesson. Since each of the two planets concerned will be activated from time to time by favorable aspects of lunations and progressed Moon, etc., there is a certain amount of "assistance" assured. But, because such an aspect indicates the possibility of great sorrow or difficulty, the native must be instructed as to the basic, positive qualities of both planets. When the aspect is activated recognizably, the native must do his utmost to express, to some degree at least, the positive expression of the two planets, or at least the one that is most directly being expressed. Since the two planets of the square are continually "hand-in-hand" they are constantly affecting each other--the negatives of one intensify the negatives of the other, and the resultant evil breeds more evil in the future. However if, by spiritual discipline and/or corrective psychology the native allows only a constructive vibration of each planet to be expressed, then the good of each stimulates the other, transmutation is made and, in time, destiny is transcended.

   Much the same approach can be made to the unrelieved opposition, with the exception that the function of fusing the two at once would apply more practically and more possibly than in the case of the square. There is such an element of "seesaw" about the opposition aspect that if one planet is emphasized at the expense of the other, a condition of lopsidedness could result--hardly a manifestation of harmony or balance! In other words, the alchemical transmutation demanded by this type of aspect is "expressing the affairs of each in terms of the other" or "in cooperation with the other."

   The most important thing for the astro-psychologist to bear in mind with reference to adult clients is that, in most cases, negative aspects have been expressed and experienced for many years of life, and that many people are not really aware of the best good that they are capable of expressing and realizing. Humanity becomes so accustomed to its troubles, fears, bad habits, frustrations, and sordidness that the majority become reconciled to the attitude, "That's the way I am and I can't do anything about it." All of which is very foolish and wrong. There is a solution to be found for every human problem, in so far as a "problem" is only the result of some form of misdirected energy. But, with the horoscope as the way-shower, the agencies of solution can be found in all of the benefic aspects of the chart.

   The dynamic approach to astrological interpretation finds its master-work as a guide for children. The newly incarnated Ego, boy or girl, comes to parents who have undertaken the sacred responsibility of guidance. They may have preconceived ideas of what they would like their child to be, but if they wish to be real parents, they will guide that child along the lines that are best for him. Such guidance includes much more than vocational guidance, important as that is. It means that they themselves must act as neutralizing agencies for the negatives indicated in the child's chart. No woman whose child has Mars afflicting Moon should allow herself to indulge in "temper" in the child's presence. Why? Because every time she does, she emphasizes that discordant vibration in the child's subconscious, his instinctive irritability becomes intensified, and a "picture of cruelty" is etched more deeply into the child's vibration-pattern. However, because a little child reacts to everything that goes on around it, every manifestation of calmness, poise, kindness and consideration neutralizes, to a small degree, the harsh impulse of Mars square Moon and makes it possible for the child to deal with those impulses much more easily as he grows up. In other words, the mother, in right conduct, emphasizes something that is harmonious and constructive in the child. She then represents something that is good, not evil, in its chart--and in its life.

   This material is presented for the consideration of advanced students and astrological practitioners. It correlates the dynamic factors of alchemical transmutation with the mathematical calculation and tabulation of progressed aspects.

   The title derives from the approach that at no time does a horoscope "stop functioning." Nature, they tell us, abhors a vacuum; there is no such thing as "nothing" in manifestation. Correspondingly, there is no such thing as "nothing," "emptiness," or "cessation of activity" in a horoscope. There are, to be sure, periods of apparent quiescence, routine activity, and a general smoothness or monotony of function. These, however, in their own good time, build to peaks of climax, intense experience, drastic change fulfillments, and/or seeming descents.

   It is the purpose of the astro-dynamic approach to study the progressed aspects, or cycles, from the standpoint of their representing a stimulation of not just one planet at a time, but of an entire "area" of the horoscope.

   The nature of planetary vibration allows a "field of extension" which we call the "orb." This extension of either side of a planet's exact position allows it to "reach out and take hands" with the other planets that it aspects. Thus, the "life" of the horoscope is activated.

   Ordinarily, in the preparation of an astro-analysis we list the progressed aspects in order for the current year or two for the purpose of determining the principal sources of experience in the person's life at the present time. In astro-dynamics we do the same, except that we list the progressed aspects by "groups" or "areas." It is this approach which most clearly indicates the possibilities for alchemical processes. We contrast the positives and the negatives that are being stimulated simultaneously or in sequence and thereby determine which factors are available for regeneration of emotion and redirection of reactions.

   Whatever extra mathematical calculations may be involved for this kind of "treatment" is more than compensated for in the vivid and vitalized presentation of the progressed aspects concerned. The whole horoscope takes on added "dimension"--from a picture on a flat piece of paper it becomes a galvanic representation of a living thing. Attention!

   A man requests your assistance concerning a marital problem. You calculate both his and his wife's charts, tabulate the aspects pertaining to each and pay particular attention to the mutual conjunctions. These mutual conjunctions form the basis for your problem-analysis.

   In his chart you find Pisces on the Ascendant; Mercury, ruler of the seventh, is in 9 Aquarius, in the eleventh house. Mars is in 12 Scorpio, eighth house, square Mercury. You find one mutual conjunction uniting the two charts. Her Mars is in 10 Aquarius--conjunct his Mercury--square Moon in Taurus, which is opposition his Mars in Scorpio. The conjunction of her Mars to his seventh house ruler is the key to a difficult marital situation, characterized by the vibration of unregenerate Mars. His alchemical agency is his unafflicted Venus sextile to Mercury. (Get the picture by putting these positions on a blank chart.)

   In tabulating his current progressions, you find that from the previous Adjusted Calculation Date to the next Adjusted Calculation Date the Moon travels 13 degrees 38 minutes. By division of twelve the monthly travel of the progressed Moon is shown to be one degree and eight minutes. The ACD is the fifteenth of the month. There are thirty-four minutes of Moon- travel each half month.

   Tabulating the monthly positions of the progressed Moon for this year-period--from the fifteenth of each month--reveals that during the last two weeks of March, 1947, the progressed Moon makes the exact conjunction of his Mercury. In early June it makes the exact square of his Mars. In early August it makes the exact sextile of his Venus. (On the outside of your practice chart indicate these Moon positions. Tabulate these aspects and dates, at the bottom of the page. Bracket them so as to impress your mind with the fact that you are dealing with a "field of stimulation.")

   The Mercury-Mars square shows that from late March to early June the marital problem is going to be stimulated in a very decided way. (Since you are, in this hypothetical case, dealing only with the man, it is not particularly necessary to concentrate further on the wife's chart. It is his reactions that you are concerned with. Whatever the wife may do during those months will tie in with his aspect.) However, with the conjunction to Mercury, the sextile to Venus begins to vibrate simultaneously with the square to Mars, because Venus is in orb of sextile in the native chart. Therefore, Venus is the alchemical agency for this man to use during this period of a little over four months. He must counteract the Mars vibration (which in Scorpio is very strong) with the principle of the Venus vibration It is his panacea at this time. Using it persistently during this troublesome time will result in great soul growth and as his marital experience progresses he will be much better able to direct his part constructively.

   A short elaboration on the above: Suppose that both the man and his wife consult you jointly. Both are eager to learn more clearly how to harmonize their marriage experience. You then combine the factors of both charts and find that she has Saturn unafflicted in Gemini trine to her Aquarius Mars and sextile to his unafflicted Venus. In this case, tabulate her progressed aspects--by "area" for the same months. Each person provides a negative stimulation of Mars for the other. But each one has an alchemical agency to work with. In mutual understanding that each must use a certain constructive vibration to neutralize and harmonize discord they then can face the coming period with greater assurance of mutual help and consequently greater marital happiness. She must counteract a violent disposition (Mars square Moon) with the patience and poise of Saturn in Gemini He must transmute the tendency to mental discord through ever deepening affection and outpouring of love. Each has his own pattern to deal with, but, since they are, together, a partnership, mutuality of growth and alchemy can be achieved.

   The above is a very simple, direct illustration of this approach. However, the procedure is the same for any complexity of progressed aspects. The principles of alchemy and transmutation demand that we look for the solution of the problem, but if we consider each progressed aspect as "a thing in itself" the solutions may not be so evident. Tie up the areas in your tabulations and causes. Effects and solutions will be so much more "livingly" manifested.

Introduction

   To the Rosicrucian student astrology is a phase of religion, basically a spiritual science. More than any other study it reveals man to himself. No other science is so sublime, so profound, and so all- embracing. It portrays the relation between God, the macrocosm, and man, the microcosm, showing them to be fundamentally one.

   Occult science, investigating the subtler forces that impinge upon man, the Spirit, and his vehicles, has charted their effects with no less definiteness than has academic science the reactions of sea and soil, plant and animal to the solar and lunar rays.

   With this knowledge we may determine the astrological pattern of each individual and know the relative strength and weakness of the various forces operating in each life. To the degree that we are in possession of such knowledge we can begin systematic, scientific character building--and character is destiny! We note times and seasons cosmically advantageous to unfolding undeveloped qualities, correcting faulty traits, and eliminating destructive propensities.

   The divine science of astrology reveals the hidden causes at work in our lives. It counsels the adult in regard to vocation, the parent in the guidance of children, the teacher in management of pupils, the physician in diagnosing diseases, thus lending aid to each and all in whatever position they may find themselves.

   No other subject within the range of human knowledge appears to hold for this day and age the possibilities open to astrologers for helping people to their own dignity as gods-in-the-making, to a greater grasp of universal law, and to a realization that we are eternally secure within the caressing fold of Infinite and Boundless Being.

Chapter 1
The Accuracy of Astrology

   Millions of words, both printed and verbal, have been used in argument as to whether or not astrology is "accurate" and "scientific." The anti-astrology group (the non-students, the uninformed, the exoterically religious and mentally unadventurous) hold forth with arguments that serve, in the long run, only as disparaging reflections on the personal abilities of those who "read horoscopes." They argue that, if astrology is scientifically accurate, it should be proved so by the perfect agreement of all astrologers on any given point of the subject. All such argument is spurious and a waste of time since it does not pertain to the basic essence of the subject at all.

   (A brief pause to inquire of these "antis" if all Christians agree as to the meaning of their Teacher's message; all musicians as to the "correct" interpretation of a Brahms symphony; all doctors as to the "right" treatment of infantile paralysis; all parents as to the "perfect" way of raising children.)

   Every protagonist of astrology varies in ability to interpret a horoscope from every other astrologer. Each differs from his colleagues in "approach," in ability to comprehend symbology, in exactitude of mathematical calculation, in ability to sense the dynamic essence of the horoscope, in ability to understand the psychological problems represented and their potentials for solution. This is the "human variant."

   Astrology is an exact science because: Every factor in a correctly calculated horoscope is a symbolic representation of an exact and impartial effect of a specific cause. It represents the cosmic and immutable law of cause and effect operating in the conditions and experiences of a human being on his progress of many incarnations.

   Nothing in a correctly calculated horoscope is there by chance, accident, heredity, or whim of blind fate. Every planetary position and aspect is one factor of the subject's soul body, one phase of his consciousness, one milestone on his spiritual path.

   To the degree that the astrologer identifies his horoscopical findings with the law of "as ye sow, so shall ye reap" will he be able to synthesize correctly the chart in its entirety, will he be able to reduce past causes of present conditions, will he be able to determine the potential solutions of difficulties.

Chapter II
Astro-Dynamics

   The term astro-dynamics is used to indicate the study of a horoscope from the standpoint of the planetary influences being diminished or intensified by the native's reactions to his experiences during a given incarnation. The cyclic functions of life forces create a periodic emphasis on each planetary influence and aspect and to the degree that each emphasis is utilized constructively is the alchemical transmutation made. To the degree that the negatives are expressed will the positives be depleted and made less effectual for growth. This is easily understood when we consider that no human being is ever "cut off" from any part of his horoscope. There is no such thing as a "stoppage" of planetary influence. Even the inhibitive and restrictive ray of a heavily afflicted Saturn is still "expressing" in the consciousness of the person who is expiating such a form of karma.

   A practical application of astro-dynamics may be stated thus: any person who consults an astropsychologist does so because he is "in trouble." He is in trouble because he has been "living with his negatives." Without a dynamic approach to interpretation, the reader can easily fall into confusion if he interprets the trines and sextiles of his client's chart as "statically good." A trine or sextile is "good" only if it is put into concrete expression as a counteractive to that which is destructive or retrogressive in the person's nature. Poverty, sickness, unfulfilled or distorted love-impulses, fears, and the like are evidences that the client has not applied the urge to fulfill the promises of his sextiles or the benefits of his trines, but has expressed his energies in terms of his squares and oppositions, thus depleting his possibilities for good as life goes on. A continual expression of negatives will result in depletion of the regenerative urges and a tighter bondage to the Wheel of Life is created.

   In musical parlance, the term "modulation" is used to indicate a chord or passage which serves as a bridge from one section to another in a different key or tonality. This term may also be used, in the astro-dynamic terminology, to describe the purposes of the sextile and opposition aspects. These aspects, in a given chart, may be considered the "points of transmutation" when the two planets of an opposition receive the trine and sextile from a third planet, and when one planet of a sextile is squared by a third planet. In either of these cases, the planet making the good aspect to the affliction represents the agency by which the person finds his "redemption from evil." Thus, through the exercise of that planetary energy transmutation is made and the power of the square and opposition to express discord is diminished and neutralized.

   The aspects described above represent the "easiest" form of alchemy. However, others must be considered: In all probability, the transmutation of an unrelieved square is more difficult than any other experience in life. This term indicates two planets in square aspect to each other with no trines or sextiles to other planets. Superficially it represents an aspect of "heavy karma," indicative of a serious problem through which the native must learn a much needed lesson. Since each of the two planets concerned will be activated from time to time by favorable aspects of lunations and progressed Moon, etc., there is a certain amount of "assistance" assured. But, because such an aspect indicates the possibility of great sorrow or difficulty, the native must be instructed as to the basic, positive qualities of both planets. When the aspect is activated recognizably, the native must do his utmost to express, to some degree at least, the positive expression of the two planets, or at least the one that is most directly being expressed. Since the two planets of the square are continually "hand-in-hand" they are constantly affecting each other--the negatives of one intensify the negatives of the other, and the resultant evil breeds more evil in the future. However if, by spiritual discipline and/or corrective psychology the native allows only a constructive vibration of each planet to be expressed, then the good of each stimulates the other, transmutation is made and, in time, destiny is transcended.

   Much the same approach can be made to the unrelieved opposition, with the exception that the function of fusing the two at once would apply more practically and more possibly than in the case of the square. There is such an element of "seesaw" about the opposition aspect that if one planet is emphasized at the expense of the other, a condition of lopsidedness could result--hardly a manifestation of harmony or balance! In other words, the alchemical transmutation demanded by this type of aspect is "expressing the affairs of each in terms of the other" or "in cooperation with the other."

   The most important thing for the astro-psychologist to bear in mind with reference to adult clients is that, in most cases, negative aspects have been expressed and experienced for many years of life, and that many people are not really aware of the best good that they are capable of expressing and realizing. Humanity becomes so accustomed to its troubles, fears, bad habits, frustrations, and sordidness that the majority become reconciled to the attitude, "That's the way I am and I can't do anything about it." All of which is very foolish and wrong. There is a solution to be found for every human problem, in so far as a "problem" is only the result of some form of misdirected energy. But, with the horoscope as the way-shower, the agencies of solution can be found in all of the benefic aspects of the chart.

   The dynamic approach to astrological interpretation finds its master-work as a guide for children. The newly incarnated Ego, boy or girl, comes to parents who have undertaken the sacred responsibility of guidance. They may have preconceived ideas of what they would like their child to be, but if they wish to be real parents, they will guide that child along the lines that are best for him. Such guidance includes much more than vocational guidance, important as that is. It means that they themselves must act as neutralizing agencies for the negatives indicated in the child's chart. No woman whose child has Mars afflicting Moon should allow herself to indulge in "temper" in the child's presence. Why? Because every time she does, she emphasizes that discordant vibration in the child's subconscious, his instinctive irritability becomes intensified, and a "picture of cruelty" is etched more deeply into the child's vibration-pattern. However, because a little child reacts to everything that goes on around it, every manifestation of calmness, poise, kindness and consideration neutralizes, to a small degree, the harsh impulse of Mars square Moon and makes it possible for the child to deal with those impulses much more easily as he grows up. In other words, the mother, in right conduct, emphasizes something that is harmonious and constructive in the child. She then represents something that is good, not evil, in its chart--and in its life.

   This material is presented for the consideration of advanced students and astrological practitioners. It correlates the dynamic factors of alchemical transmutation with the mathematical calculation and tabulation of progressed aspects.

   The title derives from the approach that at no time does a horoscope "stop functioning." Nature, they tell us, abhors a vacuum; there is no such thing as "nothing" in manifestation. Correspondingly, there is no such thing as "nothing," "emptiness," or "cessation of activity" in a horoscope. There are, to be sure, periods of apparent quiescence, routine activity, and a general smoothness or monotony of function. These, however, in their own good time, build to peaks of climax, intense experience, drastic change fulfillments, and/or seeming descents.

   It is the purpose of the astro-dynamic approach to study the progressed aspects, or cycles, from the standpoint of their representing a stimulation of not just one planet at a time, but of an entire "area" of the horoscope.

   The nature of planetary vibration allows a "field of extension" which we call the "orb." This extension of either side of a planet's exact position allows it to "reach out and take hands" with the other planets that it aspects. Thus, the "life" of the horoscope is activated.

   Ordinarily, in the preparation of an astro-analysis we list the progressed aspects in order for the current year or two for the purpose of determining the principal sources of experience in the person's life at the present time. In astro-dynamics we do the same, except that we list the progressed aspects by "groups" or "areas." It is this approach which most clearly indicates the possibilities for alchemical processes. We contrast the positives and the negatives that are being stimulated simultaneously or in sequence and thereby determine which factors are available for regeneration of emotion and redirection of reactions.

   Whatever extra mathematical calculations may be involved for this kind of "treatment" is more than compensated for in the vivid and vitalized presentation of the progressed aspects concerned. The whole horoscope takes on added "dimension"--from a picture on a flat piece of paper it becomes a galvanic representation of a living thing. Attention!

   A man requests your assistance concerning a marital problem. You calculate both his and his wife's charts, tabulate the aspects pertaining to each and pay particular attention to the mutual conjunctions. These mutual conjunctions form the basis for your problem-analysis.

   In his chart you find Pisces on the Ascendant; Mercury, ruler of the seventh, is in 9 Aquarius, in the eleventh house. Mars is in 12 Scorpio, eighth house, square Mercury. You find one mutual conjunction uniting the two charts. Her Mars is in 10 Aquarius--conjunct his Mercury--square Moon in Taurus, which is opposition his Mars in Scorpio. The conjunction of her Mars to his seventh house ruler is the key to a difficult marital situation, characterized by the vibration of unregenerate Mars. His alchemical agency is his unafflicted Venus sextile to Mercury. (Get the picture by putting these positions on a blank chart.)

   In tabulating his current progressions, you find that from the previous Adjusted Calculation Date to the next Adjusted Calculation Date the Moon travels 13 degrees 38 minutes. By division of twelve the monthly travel of the progressed Moon is shown to be one degree and eight minutes. The ACD is the fifteenth of the month. There are thirty-four minutes of Moon- travel each half month.

   Tabulating the monthly positions of the progressed Moon for this year-period--from the fifteenth of each month--reveals that during the last two weeks of March, 1947, the progressed Moon makes the exact conjunction of his Mercury. In early June it makes the exact square of his Mars. In early August it makes the exact sextile of his Venus. (On the outside of your practice chart indicate these Moon positions. Tabulate these aspects and dates, at the bottom of the page. Bracket them so as to impress your mind with the fact that you are dealing with a "field of stimulation.")

   The Mercury-Mars square shows that from late March to early June the marital problem is going to be stimulated in a very decided way. (Since you are, in this hypothetical case, dealing only with the man, it is not particularly necessary to concentrate further on the wife's chart. It is his reactions that you are concerned with. Whatever the wife may do during those months will tie in with his aspect.) However, with the conjunction to Mercury, the sextile to Venus begins to vibrate simultaneously with the square to Mars, because Venus is in orb of sextile in the native chart. Therefore, Venus is the alchemical agency for this man to use during this period of a little over four months. He must counteract the Mars vibration (which in Scorpio is very strong) with the principle of the Venus vibration It is his panacea at this time. Using it persistently during this troublesome time will result in great soul growth and as his marital experience progresses he will be much better able to direct his part constructively.

   A short elaboration on the above: Suppose that both the man and his wife consult you jointly. Both are eager to learn more clearly how to harmonize their marriage experience. You then combine the factors of both charts and find that she has Saturn unafflicted in Gemini trine to her Aquarius Mars and sextile to his unafflicted Venus. In this case, tabulate her progressed aspects--by "area" for the same months. Each person provides a negative stimulation of Mars for the other. But each one has an alchemical agency to work with. In mutual understanding that each must use a certain constructive vibration to neutralize and harmonize discord they then can face the coming period with greater assurance of mutual help and consequently greater marital happiness. She must counteract a violent disposition (Mars square Moon) with the patience and poise of Saturn in Gemini He must transmute the tendency to mental discord through ever deepening affection and outpouring of love. Each has his own pattern to deal with, but, since they are, together, a partnership, mutuality of growth and alchemy can be achieved.

   The above is a very simple, direct illustration of this approach. However, the procedure is the same for any complexity of progressed aspects. The principles of alchemy and transmutation demand that we look for the solution of the problem, but if we consider each progressed aspect as "a thing in itself" the solutions may not be so evident. Tie up the areas in your tabulations and causes. Effects and solutions will be so much more "livingly" manifested.

Chapter 1
The Accuracy of Astrology

   Millions of words, both printed and verbal, have been used in argument as to whether or not astrology is "accurate" and "scientific." The anti-astrology group (the non-students, the uninformed, the exoterically religious and mentally unadventurous) hold forth with arguments that serve, in the long run, only as disparaging reflections on the personal abilities of those who "read horoscopes." They argue that, if astrology is scientifically accurate, it should be proved so by the perfect agreement of all astrologers on any given point of the subject. All such argument is spurious and a waste of time since it does not pertain to the basic essence of the subject at all.

   (A brief pause to inquire of these "antis" if all Christians agree as to the meaning of their Teacher's message; all musicians as to the "correct" interpretation of a Brahms symphony; all doctors as to the "right" treatment of infantile paralysis; all parents as to the "perfect" way of raising children.)

   Every protagonist of astrology varies in ability to interpret a horoscope from every other astrologer. Each differs from his colleagues in "approach," in ability to comprehend symbology, in exactitude of mathematical calculation, in ability to sense the dynamic essence of the horoscope, in ability to understand the psychological problems represented and their potentials for solution. This is the "human variant."

   Astrology is an exact science because: Every factor in a correctly calculated horoscope is a symbolic representation of an exact and impartial effect of a specific cause. It represents the cosmic and immutable law of cause and effect operating in the conditions and experiences of a human being on his progress of many incarnations.

   Nothing in a correctly calculated horoscope is there by chance, accident, heredity, or whim of blind fate. Every planetary position and aspect is one factor of the subject's soul body, one phase of his consciousness, one milestone on his spiritual path.

   To the degree that the astrologer identifies his horoscopical findings with the law of "as ye sow, so shall ye reap" will he be able to synthesize correctly the chart in its entirety, will he be able to reduce past causes of present conditions, will he be able to determine the potential solutions of difficulties.

Chapter II
Astro-Dynamics

   The term astro-dynamics is used to indicate the study of a horoscope from the standpoint of the planetary influences being diminished or intensified by the native's reactions to his experiences during a given incarnation. The cyclic functions of life forces create a periodic emphasis on each planetary influence and aspect and to the degree that each emphasis is utilized constructively is the alchemical transmutation made. To the degree that the negatives are expressed will the positives be depleted and made less effectual for growth. This is easily understood when we consider that no human being is ever "cut off" from any part of his horoscope. There is no such thing as a "stoppage" of planetary influence. Even the inhibitive and restrictive ray of a heavily afflicted Saturn is still "expressing" in the consciousness of the person who is expiating such a form of karma.

   A practical application of astro-dynamics may be stated thus: any person who consults an astropsychologist does so because he is "in trouble." He is in trouble because he has been "living with his negatives." Without a dynamic approach to interpretation, the reader can easily fall into confusion if he interprets the trines and sextiles of his client's chart as "statically good." A trine or sextile is "good" only if it is put into concrete expression as a counteractive to that which is destructive or retrogressive in the person's nature. Poverty, sickness, unfulfilled or distorted love-impulses, fears, and the like are evidences that the client has not applied the urge to fulfill the promises of his sextiles or the benefits of his trines, but has expressed his energies in terms of his squares and oppositions, thus depleting his possibilities for good as life goes on. A continual expression of negatives will result in depletion of the regenerative urges and a tighter bondage to the Wheel of Life is created.

   In musical parlance, the term "modulation" is used to indicate a chord or passage which serves as a bridge from one section to another in a different key or tonality. This term may also be used, in the astro-dynamic terminology, to describe the purposes of the sextile and opposition aspects. These aspects, in a given chart, may be considered the "points of transmutation" when the two planets of an opposition receive the trine and sextile from a third planet, and when one planet of a sextile is squared by a third planet. In either of these cases, the planet making the good aspect to the affliction represents the agency by which the person finds his "redemption from evil." Thus, through the exercise of that planetary energy transmutation is made and the power of the square and opposition to express discord is diminished and neutralized.

   The aspects described above represent the "easiest" form of alchemy. However, others must be considered: In all probability, the transmutation of an unrelieved square is more difficult than any other experience in life. This term indicates two planets in square aspect to each other with no trines or sextiles to other planets. Superficially it represents an aspect of "heavy karma," indicative of a serious problem through which the native must learn a much needed lesson. Since each of the two planets concerned will be activated from time to time by favorable aspects of lunations and progressed Moon, etc., there is a certain amount of "assistance" assured. But, because such an aspect indicates the possibility of great sorrow or difficulty, the native must be instructed as to the basic, positive qualities of both planets. When the aspect is activated recognizably, the native must do his utmost to express, to some degree at least, the positive expression of the two planets, or at least the one that is most directly being expressed. Since the two planets of the square are continually "hand-in-hand" they are constantly affecting each other--the negatives of one intensify the negatives of the other, and the resultant evil breeds more evil in the future. However if, by spiritual discipline and/or corrective psychology the native allows only a constructive vibration of each planet to be expressed, then the good of each stimulates the other, transmutation is made and, in time, destiny is transcended.

   Much the same approach can be made to the unrelieved opposition, with the exception that the function of fusing the two at once would apply more practically and more possibly than in the case of the square. There is such an element of "seesaw" about the opposition aspect that if one planet is emphasized at the expense of the other, a condition of lopsidedness could result--hardly a manifestation of harmony or balance! In other words, the alchemical transmutation demanded by this type of aspect is "expressing the affairs of each in terms of the other" or "in cooperation with the other."

   The most important thing for the astro-psychologist to bear in mind with reference to adult clients is that, in most cases, negative aspects have been expressed and experienced for many years of life, and that many people are not really aware of the best good that they are capable of expressing and realizing. Humanity becomes so accustomed to its troubles, fears, bad habits, frustrations, and sordidness that the majority become reconciled to the attitude, "That's the way I am and I can't do anything about it." All of which is very foolish and wrong. There is a solution to be found for every human problem, in so far as a "problem" is only the result of some form of misdirected energy. But, with the horoscope as the way-shower, the agencies of solution can be found in all of the benefic aspects of the chart.

   The dynamic approach to astrological interpretation finds its master-work as a guide for children. The newly incarnated Ego, boy or girl, comes to parents who have undertaken the sacred responsibility of guidance. They may have preconceived ideas of what they would like their child to be, but if they wish to be real parents, they will guide that child along the lines that are best for him. Such guidance includes much more than vocational guidance, important as that is. It means that they themselves must act as neutralizing agencies for the negatives indicated in the child's chart. No woman whose child has Mars afflicting Moon should allow herself to indulge in "temper" in the child's presence. Why? Because every time she does, she emphasizes that discordant vibration in the child's subconscious, his instinctive irritability becomes intensified, and a "picture of cruelty" is etched more deeply into the child's vibration-pattern. However, because a little child reacts to everything that goes on around it, every manifestation of calmness, poise, kindness and consideration neutralizes, to a small degree, the harsh impulse of Mars square Moon and makes it possible for the child to deal with those impulses much more easily as he grows up. In other words, the mother, in right conduct, emphasizes something that is harmonious and constructive in the child. She then represents something that is good, not evil, in its chart--and in its life.

   This material is presented for the consideration of advanced students and astrological practitioners. It correlates the dynamic factors of alchemical transmutation with the mathematical calculation and tabulation of progressed aspects.

   The title derives from the approach that at no time does a horoscope "stop functioning." Nature, they tell us, abhors a vacuum; there is no such thing as "nothing" in manifestation. Correspondingly, there is no such thing as "nothing," "emptiness," or "cessation of activity" in a horoscope. There are, to be sure, periods of apparent quiescence, routine activity, and a general smoothness or monotony of function. These, however, in their own good time, build to peaks of climax, intense experience, drastic change fulfillments, and/or seeming descents.

   It is the purpose of the astro-dynamic approach to study the progressed aspects, or cycles, from the standpoint of their representing a stimulation of not just one planet at a time, but of an entire "area" of the horoscope.

   The nature of planetary vibration allows a "field of extension" which we call the "orb." This extension of either side of a planet's exact position allows it to "reach out and take hands" with the other planets that it aspects. Thus, the "life" of the horoscope is activated.

   Ordinarily, in the preparation of an astro-analysis we list the progressed aspects in order for the current year or two for the purpose of determining the principal sources of experience in the person's life at the present time. In astro-dynamics we do the same, except that we list the progressed aspects by "groups" or "areas." It is this approach which most clearly indicates the possibilities for alchemical processes. We contrast the positives and the negatives that are being stimulated simultaneously or in sequence and thereby determine which factors are available for regeneration of emotion and redirection of reactions.

   Whatever extra mathematical calculations may be involved for this kind of "treatment" is more than compensated for in the vivid and vitalized presentation of the progressed aspects concerned. The whole horoscope takes on added "dimension"--from a picture on a flat piece of paper it becomes a galvanic representation of a living thing. Attention!

   A man requests your assistance concerning a marital problem. You calculate both his and his wife's charts, tabulate the aspects pertaining to each and pay particular attention to the mutual conjunctions. These mutual conjunctions form the basis for your problem-analysis.

   In his chart you find Pisces on the Ascendant; Mercury, ruler of the seventh, is in 9 Aquarius, in the eleventh house. Mars is in 12 Scorpio, eighth house, square Mercury. You find one mutual conjunction uniting the two charts. Her Mars is in 10 Aquarius--conjunct his Mercury--square Moon in Taurus, which is opposition his Mars in Scorpio. The conjunction of her Mars to his seventh house ruler is the key to a difficult marital situation, characterized by the vibration of unregenerate Mars. His alchemical agency is his unafflicted Venus sextile to Mercury. (Get the picture by putting these positions on a blank chart.)

   In tabulating his current progressions, you find that from the previous Adjusted Calculation Date to the next Adjusted Calculation Date the Moon travels 13 degrees 38 minutes. By division of twelve the monthly travel of the progressed Moon is shown to be one degree and eight minutes. The ACD is the fifteenth of the month. There are thirty-four minutes of Moon- travel each half month.

   Tabulating the monthly positions of the progressed Moon for this year-period--from the fifteenth of each month--reveals that during the last two weeks of March, 1947, the progressed Moon makes the exact conjunction of his Mercury. In early June it makes the exact square of his Mars. In early August it makes the exact sextile of his Venus. (On the outside of your practice chart indicate these Moon positions. Tabulate these aspects and dates, at the bottom of the page. Bracket them so as to impress your mind with the fact that you are dealing with a "field of stimulation.")

   The Mercury-Mars square shows that from late March to early June the marital problem is going to be stimulated in a very decided way. (Since you are, in this hypothetical case, dealing only with the man, it is not particularly necessary to concentrate further on the wife's chart. It is his reactions that you are concerned with. Whatever the wife may do during those months will tie in with his aspect.) However, with the conjunction to Mercury, the sextile to Venus begins to vibrate simultaneously with the square to Mars, because Venus is in orb of sextile in the native chart. Therefore, Venus is the alchemical agency for this man to use during this period of a little over four months. He must counteract the Mars vibration (which in Scorpio is very strong) with the principle of the Venus vibration It is his panacea at this time. Using it persistently during this troublesome time will result in great soul growth and as his marital experience progresses he will be much better able to direct his part constructively.

   A short elaboration on the above: Suppose that both the man and his wife consult you jointly. Both are eager to learn more clearly how to harmonize their marriage experience. You then combine the factors of both charts and find that she has Saturn unafflicted in Gemini trine to her Aquarius Mars and sextile to his unafflicted Venus. In this case, tabulate her progressed aspects--by "area" for the same months. Each person provides a negative stimulation of Mars for the other. But each one has an alchemical agency to work with. In mutual understanding that each must use a certain constructive vibration to neutralize and harmonize discord they then can face the coming period with greater assurance of mutual help and consequently greater marital happiness. She must counteract a violent disposition (Mars square Moon) with the patience and poise of Saturn in Gemini He must transmute the tendency to mental discord through ever deepening affection and outpouring of love. Each has his own pattern to deal with, but, since they are, together, a partnership, mutuality of growth and alchemy can be achieved.

   The above is a very simple, direct illustration of this approach. However, the procedure is the same for any complexity of progressed aspects. The principles of alchemy and transmutation demand that we look for the solution of the problem, but if we consider each progressed aspect as "a thing in itself" the solutions may not be so evident. Tie up the areas in your tabulations and causes. Effects and solutions will be so much more "livingly" manifested. 

Chapter II
Astro-Dynamics

   The term astro-dynamics is used to indicate the study of a horoscope from the standpoint of the planetary influences being diminished or intensified by the native's reactions to his experiences during a given incarnation. The cyclic functions of life forces create a periodic emphasis on each planetary influence and aspect and to the degree that each emphasis is utilized constructively is the alchemical transmutation made. To the degree that the negatives are expressed will the positives be depleted and made less effectual for growth. This is easily understood when we consider that no human being is ever "cut off" from any part of his horoscope. There is no such thing as a "stoppage" of planetary influence. Even the inhibitive and restrictive ray of a heavily afflicted Saturn is still "expressing" in the consciousness of the person who is expiating such a form of karma.

   A practical application of astro-dynamics may be stated thus: any person who consults an astropsychologist does so because he is "in trouble." He is in trouble because he has been "living with his negatives." Without a dynamic approach to interpretation, the reader can easily fall into confusion if he interprets the trines and sextiles of his client's chart as "statically good." A trine or sextile is "good" only if it is put into concrete expression as a counteractive to that which is destructive or retrogressive in the person's nature. Poverty, sickness, unfulfilled or distorted love-impulses, fears, and the like are evidences that the client has not applied the urge to fulfill the promises of his sextiles or the benefits of his trines, but has expressed his energies in terms of his squares and oppositions, thus depleting his possibilities for good as life goes on. A continual expression of negatives will result in depletion of the regenerative urges and a tighter bondage to the Wheel of Life is created.

   In musical parlance, the term "modulation" is used to indicate a chord or passage which serves as a bridge from one section to another in a different key or tonality. This term may also be used, in the astro-dynamic terminology, to describe the purposes of the sextile and opposition aspects. These aspects, in a given chart, may be considered the "points of transmutation" when the two planets of an opposition receive the trine and sextile from a third planet, and when one planet of a sextile is squared by a third planet. In either of these cases, the planet making the good aspect to the affliction represents the agency by which the person finds his "redemption from evil." Thus, through the exercise of that planetary energy transmutation is made and the power of the square and opposition to express discord is diminished and neutralized.

   The aspects described above represent the "easiest" form of alchemy. However, others must be considered: In all probability, the transmutation of an unrelieved square is more difficult than any other experience in life. This term indicates two planets in square aspect to each other with no trines or sextiles to other planets. Superficially it represents an aspect of "heavy karma," indicative of a serious problem through which the native must learn a much needed lesson. Since each of the two planets concerned will be activated from time to time by favorable aspects of lunations and progressed Moon, etc., there is a certain amount of "assistance" assured. But, because such an aspect indicates the possibility of great sorrow or difficulty, the native must be instructed as to the basic, positive qualities of both planets. When the aspect is activated recognizably, the native must do his utmost to express, to some degree at least, the positive expression of the two planets, or at least the one that is most directly being expressed. Since the two planets of the square are continually "hand-in-hand" they are constantly affecting each other--the negatives of one intensify the negatives of the other, and the resultant evil breeds more evil in the future. However if, by spiritual discipline and/or corrective psychology the native allows only a constructive vibration of each planet to be expressed, then the good of each stimulates the other, transmutation is made and, in time, destiny is transcended.

   Much the same approach can be made to the unrelieved opposition, with the exception that the function of fusing the two at once would apply more practically and more possibly than in the case of the square. There is such an element of "seesaw" about the opposition aspect that if one planet is emphasized at the expense of the other, a condition of lopsidedness could result--hardly a manifestation of harmony or balance! In other words, the alchemical transmutation demanded by this type of aspect is "expressing the affairs of each in terms of the other" or "in cooperation with the other."

   The most important thing for the astro-psychologist to bear in mind with reference to adult clients is that, in most cases, negative aspects have been expressed and experienced for many years of life, and that many people are not really aware of the best good that they are capable of expressing and realizing. Humanity becomes so accustomed to its troubles, fears, bad habits, frustrations, and sordidness that the majority become reconciled to the attitude, "That's the way I am and I can't do anything about it." All of which is very foolish and wrong. There is a solution to be found for every human problem, in so far as a "problem" is only the result of some form of misdirected energy. But, with the horoscope as the way-shower, the agencies of solution can be found in all of the benefic aspects of the chart.

   The dynamic approach to astrological interpretation finds its master-work as a guide for children. The newly incarnated Ego, boy or girl, comes to parents who have undertaken the sacred responsibility of guidance. They may have preconceived ideas of what they would like their child to be, but if they wish to be real parents, they will guide that child along the lines that are best for him. Such guidance includes much more than vocational guidance, important as that is. It means that they themselves must act as neutralizing agencies for the negatives indicated in the child's chart. No woman whose child has Mars afflicting Moon should allow herself to indulge in "temper" in the child's presence. Why? Because every time she does, she emphasizes that discordant vibration in the child's subconscious, his instinctive irritability becomes intensified, and a "picture of cruelty" is etched more deeply into the child's vibration-pattern. However, because a little child reacts to everything that goes on around it, every manifestation of calmness, poise, kindness and consideration neutralizes, to a small degree, the harsh impulse of Mars square Moon and makes it possible for the child to deal with those impulses much more easily as he grows up. In other words, the mother, in right conduct, emphasizes something that is harmonious and constructive in the child. She then represents something that is good, not evil, in its chart--and in its life.

   This material is presented for the consideration of advanced students and astrological practitioners. It correlates the dynamic factors of alchemical transmutation with the mathematical calculation and tabulation of progressed aspects.

   The title derives from the approach that at no time does a horoscope "stop functioning." Nature, they tell us, abhors a vacuum; there is no such thing as "nothing" in manifestation. Correspondingly, there is no such thing as "nothing," "emptiness," or "cessation of activity" in a horoscope. There are, to be sure, periods of apparent quiescence, routine activity, and a general smoothness or monotony of function. These, however, in their own good time, build to peaks of climax, intense experience, drastic change fulfillments, and/or seeming descents.

   It is the purpose of the astro-dynamic approach to study the progressed aspects, or cycles, from the standpoint of their representing a stimulation of not just one planet at a time, but of an entire "area" of the horoscope.

   The nature of planetary vibration allows a "field of extension" which we call the "orb." This extension of either side of a planet's exact position allows it to "reach out and take hands" with the other planets that it aspects. Thus, the "life" of the horoscope is activated.

   Ordinarily, in the preparation of an astro-analysis we list the progressed aspects in order for the current year or two for the purpose of determining the principal sources of experience in the person's life at the present time. In astro-dynamics we do the same, except that we list the progressed aspects by "groups" or "areas." It is this approach which most clearly indicates the possibilities for alchemical processes. We contrast the positives and the negatives that are being stimulated simultaneously or in sequence and thereby determine which factors are available for regeneration of emotion and redirection of reactions.

   Whatever extra mathematical calculations may be involved for this kind of "treatment" is more than compensated for in the vivid and vitalized presentation of the progressed aspects concerned. The whole horoscope takes on added "dimension"--from a picture on a flat piece of paper it becomes a galvanic representation of a living thing. Attention!

   A man requests your assistance concerning a marital problem. You calculate both his and his wife's charts, tabulate the aspects pertaining to each and pay particular attention to the mutual conjunctions. These mutual conjunctions form the basis for your problem-analysis.

   In his chart you find Pisces on the Ascendant; Mercury, ruler of the seventh, is in 9 Aquarius, in the eleventh house. Mars is in 12 Scorpio, eighth house, square Mercury. You find one mutual conjunction uniting the two charts. Her Mars is in 10 Aquarius--conjunct his Mercury--square Moon in Taurus, which is opposition his Mars in Scorpio. The conjunction of her Mars to his seventh house ruler is the key to a difficult marital situation, characterized by the vibration of unregenerate Mars. His alchemical agency is his unafflicted Venus sextile to Mercury. (Get the picture by putting these positions on a blank chart.)

   In tabulating his current progressions, you find that from the previous Adjusted Calculation Date to the next Adjusted Calculation Date the Moon travels 13 degrees 38 minutes. By division of twelve the monthly travel of the progressed Moon is shown to be one degree and eight minutes. The ACD is the fifteenth of the month. There are thirty-four minutes of Moon- travel each half month.

   Tabulating the monthly positions of the progressed Moon for this year-period--from the fifteenth of each month--reveals that during the last two weeks of March, 1947, the progressed Moon makes the exact conjunction of his Mercury. In early June it makes the exact square of his Mars. In early August it makes the exact sextile of his Venus. (On the outside of your practice chart indicate these Moon positions. Tabulate these aspects and dates, at the bottom of the page. Bracket them so as to impress your mind with the fact that you are dealing with a "field of stimulation.")

   The Mercury-Mars square shows that from late March to early June the marital problem is going to be stimulated in a very decided way. (Since you are, in this hypothetical case, dealing only with the man, it is not particularly necessary to concentrate further on the wife's chart. It is his reactions that you are concerned with. Whatever the wife may do during those months will tie in with his aspect.) However, with the conjunction to Mercury, the sextile to Venus begins to vibrate simultaneously with the square to Mars, because Venus is in orb of sextile in the native chart. Therefore, Venus is the alchemical agency for this man to use during this period of a little over four months. He must counteract the Mars vibration (which in Scorpio is very strong) with the principle of the Venus vibration It is his panacea at this time. Using it persistently during this troublesome time will result in great soul growth and as his marital experience progresses he will be much better able to direct his part constructively.

   A short elaboration on the above: Suppose that both the man and his wife consult you jointly. Both are eager to learn more clearly how to harmonize their marriage experience. You then combine the factors of both charts and find that she has Saturn unafflicted in Gemini trine to her Aquarius Mars and sextile to his unafflicted Venus. In this case, tabulate her progressed aspects--by "area" for the same months. Each person provides a negative stimulation of Mars for the other. But each one has an alchemical agency to work with. In mutual understanding that each must use a certain constructive vibration to neutralize and harmonize discord they then can face the coming period with greater assurance of mutual help and consequently greater marital happiness. She must counteract a violent disposition (Mars square Moon) with the patience and poise of Saturn in Gemini He must transmute the tendency to mental discord through ever deepening affection and outpouring of love. Each has his own pattern to deal with, but, since they are, together, a partnership, mutuality of growth and alchemy can be achieved.

   The above is a very simple, direct illustration of this approach. However, the procedure is the same for any complexity of progressed aspects. The principles of alchemy and transmutation demand that we look for the solution of the problem, but if we consider each progressed aspect as "a thing in itself" the solutions may not be so evident. Tie up the areas in your tabulations and causes. Effects and solutions will be so much more "livingly" manifested.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher
Chapter III
Planets Are People

   The identity of relationships through the study of a horoscope is one of the most subtle and difficult problems with which the psychological astrologer has to deal. The difficulty lies in the fact that the reality of a relationship between two people is not a thing of flesh or man- made law, but of the essence of feeling of the two people for each other. This "essence of mutual feeling," in the cases of intense attractions or enmities, is a holdover from contacts made in past incarnations and can manifest distinctly regardless of age, sex, or worldly relationship. The occultist knows that a deep bond between two people cannot spring into being at the very first contact of the persons concerned. The first contact was made in the past, and the relationship, whether of love or hatred, is being continued in this life as though there had never been an interruption.

   There is only one possible end for any relationship between two people--and that is fulfillment. No bond of hatred is ever left "hanging in the wind." Such a thing would refute the Law of Love. Hatred is "love in reverse"--it is consciousness of contact with the universe, through another person, turned in on "self." Until the consciousness reinterprets that expression of energy in terms of the higher self, it can only express that which is negative, destructive, and unredeemed.

   The following are some hypothetical examples of relationships and experiences, which from a karmic standpoint represent sources of hatred, fear, and envy. They are found in the lives of men and women the world over and in all ages.

   The creative original individualist, in any field of endeavor, represents a threat to the crystallized orthodox person. These prototypes may be described as, or symbolized by, Uranus and Saturn, respectively. Uranus may fear and hate Saturn because the latter stifles and frustrates his freedom; Saturn may fear Uranus as a threat to undermine the "status quo." Hatred results when Uranus loses freedom, or when the security of Saturn is destroyed. Until each can learn something of value from the other the conflict remains.

   The conflicting phases of feminine nature are illustrated by the "maternal woman" and the "sweetheart woman." The age-old tug of war, with the male of the species as the harried and bewildered object of conquest! Mrs. Moon-Jupiter-Saturn develops an implacable hatred for that hussy, Miss Venus-Uranus, and sees in her a threat to the peace of home and respectable living. The latter regards her hardworking, dowdy sister as a pitiful fuddy-duddy who has forgotten the meaning of romance.

   A tragic problem--and there are many such--is represented by parental interference. A person who, in the past, neglected his opportunities may be karmically drawn to a parent who is very egoistic and possessive. The parent, with no regard for the child's intrinsic urges, seeks to make him over into a replica of an admired relative--or himself. The child's whole life-experience then becomes a distortion which results in frustration. This, in turn, results in bitter hatred and resentment toward the parent. The possessive egoism of the parent feeds on himself to the degree that the child becomes enslaved; the parent's life becomes more and more "fixated" on its vicarious fulfillment through the child. Other sources of experience are ignored, friendships become more and more meaningless; spiritual, mental, and psychological atrophy result. Affection, companionship, and mutual understanding are experience and what could have been a source of inspiration, warmth, and fulfillment turns into a deadly horror. Both are wrong. The child is wrong in permitting another to live his life for him. The parent is wrong in using power with the urge to domination as the chief motive. As the negative and painful emotions take more and more hold of these people, they incapacitate themselves for good in every other expression in life. And--what they take with them into their next experience had better be left unsaid.

   In so far as the validity, reality, or importance of an experience depends on the reactions to the event of the person concerned, and since our experiences come to us as objectifications of what is indicated in our horoscopes through our "interchange" with other people, is it not logical to interpret the aspects of the chart as people? In the soul-vibration of another person is found a correspondence with something in your own nature which is indicated in your chart.

   If the aspect should be a negative one (square or opposition), your contact with that person stirs into being a negative or destructive reaction. You call that reaction "fear" or "jealousy" or "hatred." You say, "I fear that man," or "I envy that man," or "I hate that man." That is what you say, but in the light of astrology, that is not what you really mean. What you mean actually is: " That man served to remind me of something negative in my nature. I feel that he might do a wrong to me that I remember having done to another. My feeling is fear. I know that he has achieved something that I should have achieved, but did not. My feeling is envy. His wrong to another reminds me of my own past wrong-doing. My feeling is hatred."

   The man or woman you describe as your worst enemy is the person whose horoscope, in some way, corresponds with your worst aspect. That person might be anyone: father, mother, sister, brother, child, husband, wife, lover, or employer. As one tuning fork causes another of the same pitch to vibrate with it, so the negative state of your "enemy" stimulates your negative and brings it into your consciousness with pain. Use that painful reaction as a barometer of your own spiritual state. It is indicating to you a very important lesson. It serves to point out the need for you to undertake a very important step in development. Your "enemy" is not your enemy. He or she is your teacher. Learn through that person, of yourself.

   But don't stop there. In identifying your "enemies" by means of your reactions toward and experiences with them, you attain a detached perspective of yourself as a factor in your circle of relationships and see how you make of yourself an "enemy" to others by the expression of your own negatives. The next step is to make of yourself a "friend" to all people. As you, to a greater and greater degree express the positive possibilities indicated in your chart, you make of yourself a magnet to draw into expression the good that is latent in others.

   As you cause, by your constant efforts toward regeneration, the stimulation of the good in others they are automatically made aware of their own good. They like you. They admire you. They are comfortable and happy when in your company. They feel at their best: more courteous, more considerate, more courageous, stronger. They say that they love you, that you are their friend. That doesn't quite convey what they really mean. What they mean is that their higher self is brought to their consciousness through their contact with you. They do not really "love you." They are simply made more aware of their own God-Self, through which they express harmonious and constructive reactions.

   Your reactions to any person constitute the only factor that determines your relationship with him. Use your "positives," transmute your "negatives," and defeat your "enemies" by eliminating the "enemy" within yourself.

   The artist in man has, for ages past, sought to interpret in verse, songs, and pictures, his concept of life as a Great Battle. Every scripture has told the story, in symbol and allegory, of the onslaughts of the Forces of Darkness against the Stronghold of Light, the contention of the Devil with God for the soul of man, the ceaseless friction between Evil and Good, the Tempter eternally seeking to undermine that which is aspiring in the human heart.

   Sorties, skirmishes, and battles-to-the-death--all phases of this Conflict--are shown in each horoscope. The aspirant contains within himself the field upon which the claims of destiny contend with everything in his nature that urges him forward and upward. He must, if he would triumph, attain as clear an understanding as possible of the nature of the enemy that abides in his subconscious. This enemy has aides-de-camp in the form of the squares and oppositions, but his headquarters is the 12th house. It is there that the plans are made, the traps are set, the shackles are forged and the nets of illusion are woven. The light of day seldom penetrates to this cave, for the enemy and his minions prefer darkness for their labors. The aspirant can dispel the shadow only with the light of "self-knowledge."

   Since each experience represents a triumph or (temporary) defeat in the battle, and since each experience is brought about by contact with another person--or persons, those people whose planetary energies serve to stimulate the afflicted ruler or occupant of the aspirant's 12th house must be viewed and studied by him with the attitude that they objectify his innermost possibilities for self-defeat. And--those people can be anyone; a parent, a child, a friend, a love, wife, or husband can fulfill that pattern. The aspirant is such because he has taken steps toward the Impersonal, and in using his horoscope as a "map" on the Path of Life it behooves him to understand that he must study his relationships from the standpoint of his subconscious reaction to them, not from the worldly name they have. As he transmutes his reactions, so he improves the quality of his relationship.

   The following method is suggested: The aspirant makes a detailed study of his twelfth house conditions from the standpoint of malefic conjunctions, squares and oppositions. He then relates as far as possible the charts of those persons who have had a deleterious influence in his life. He studies particularly those charts which have any planet or ascendant conjunct the afflicted ruler or occupant of his twelfth house; he makes a mental summary of his experiences with these persons and thereby makes himself aware of the negatives in his nature which were stimulated by contact with them. Regardless of the severity and painfulness of the experiences, he will release all hatred. He will realize that each and every one of these persons served to objectify a phase of his own negative subconscious and he will no longer think of them as "perpetrators of evil" against him, but as object lessons for his instruction and enlightenment.

   Afflicted Sun rules 12th: Power is the key to this karmic lesson. The aspirant has misused power in the past, and in this incarnation he suffers abuse and injustice from those in authority. He has used his position and influence to enslave another, in some degree, and he must learn that power must be expressed in terms of justice and mercy. The father, or an older brother, may be the instrument used during the aspirant's childhood to reflect the past wrong. In later life the employers, since they exercise authority over him, may bring to his attention this needed lesson. Power as it expresses in physical vitality may be indicated, in reverse, in a weak and ineffectual body, karmically attracted to a father who is much subject to illness and physical debility.

   Afflicted Moon rules the 12th: Womanhood is the key to this karmic problem. It represents for this incarnation, a time for adjusting all unredeemed destiny that originated when the aspirant used a female body, unredeemed destiny that concerns domestic experience, the opportunity to develop, through feelings, an increased faculty of sympathy and tenderness. The Moon symbolizes the feminine polarity of the human psyche and whether the aspirant is male or female, this karmic aspect, indicates disorders and insufficiencies of this faculty. "Trouble through the mother" is the classic interpretation of afflictions to the Moon. In this sense, the aspirant's mother is seen as his "enemy." Such being the case, he will realize that her influence on his life parallels his own on someone else--in a past life. His heavy responsibility to her in this incarnation fulfills what he left undone--in the past. His affection for her is never adequately returned and he learns what the withholding of love means. He is tied to home conditions now, for he sought to escape them--in the past. Women baffle him, he never seems to gain a clear understanding of them. He never tried to be a "real-woman"--in the past. Or he treated women with indifference--in the past. The aspirant will realize that women are not his "enemies." He must, however, cultivate a deeper understanding of and sympathy for the basic elements of "woman-nature" if he is to redeem this karmic state.

   Afflicted Saturn rules the 12th: The karma is repression. The "enemy" is Crystallization. Persons who represent this position are a seeming blight on the life of the aspirant. They stimulate his feelings of insecurity; they lead him into paths of suppression and denial; they (apparently) block up the flow of Life. Through his relationships with them he receives his severest disciplining; through them he fulfills his deepest and longest-overdue responsibilities. They serve to remind him of everything in his nature that is impractical; they hold him to earth while he yearns for freedom.

   He is an individualist while they are hidebound; he is mystically inclined, they are orthodox and observant of forms; he attaches no particular significance to money, they interpret everything in life in financial terms. His instinctive tendency and desire is to free himself from them and escape the fetters of their influence. The tendency will remain until he realizes that he cannot escape his rightful responsibilities; that he must learn to utilize intelligently the things of earth; that money, though it has no power of its own, still is a medium of exchange among people, and he must learn its proper use. The philosophical aspirant will realize that he is not tied to difficult and disappointing relationships that are not of his own making, but will seek to give of his best to these conditions and learn whatever there is for him to learn from the others involved with him.

   Afflicted Neptune rules the 12th: The Enemy is deception. This "enemy," because of its subtlety, is a difficult one to defeat. Treachery, betrayal, mental confusion, and perversion, constitute its armor. The opponents of the aspirant who has this position are underhanded and sneaky--they "don't play fair." Well, the aspirant himself didn't play fair in the past, and now he must learn what it means to be the recipient of such treatment. He professed one thing and did another; he solicited the trust of others and betrayed that trust; he used spirituality--or a claim of it--as a smoke screen for power or gain; he trafficked--not wisely but too well--with astral forces; he misrepresented and misled. The aspects made to this afflicted Neptune represent the types of people through whom this karmic return will be made. One person may influence him into a destructive habit; another may share a wrong-doing with him--and leave him "holding the sack;" his faith and deepest love may be expressed toward someone who proves unworthy of anyone's high regard. The aspirant's two best weapons in dealing with this particular "enemy" are faith in spiritual principles and knowledge. With knowledge he can bring himself into a more perfect alignment with spiritual honesty--the finest corrective for that form of subconscious conditioning which results in illusion and deception.

   So it is with the other planets: Uranus (unbalance), Jupiter (extravagance and greed), Venus (possession), Mercury (thought), and Mars (manhood and sex.) Each one, as afflicted ruler or occupant of the twelfth, indicates a certain group of people who serve, however unconsciously, as one's most valued teachers.

   The mechanics of relationship provide the occult student with a perfect "field of research" for the study of alchemy. The interchange of reactions of two people who are "close to each other" is the pabulum which either one, or both, may utilize in the "weaving of the golden wedding garment." From the base metal of a subconscious mixture of attractions and repulsions, each person may distill, by his own transmutations, the essence which is called love. The Great Teacher has instructed us--"Love your enemies, and do good to those who persecute you." Why? Because He knew that a reaction of hatred or vengeance creates a bond between the recipient and the perpetrator of an evil deed, and only when that reaction is neutralized by good will the bondage be dissolved.

   How true it is that we so often, though unwittingly, cause pain to those we profess to love, mislead those we would help, and injure those toward whom we have the "best intentions!" There are so many relationships in which we can just as easily express our negative aspects as we can our positives. The relationships are, generally, our most intimate ones--those in which other people contact and stimulate various phases of our natures. The comparison-study of the horoscopes of two persons who are "close to each other" will reveal the significance of the relationship to each of the persons concerned--the mutual harmonies, the mutual problems, and the mutual agencies for alchemical transmutation. In this application the stellar science indeed offers a key for the unravelling of mysteries. No phase of life is more illusionary than relationship; nowhere is the keen eye of detachment more needed to "see through" the fogs of desire, fear, enmity, and conflict.

   In attaining a detached and impersonal viewpoint of a relationship, we realize that terms sued as "husband-wife," "parent-child," "brother-sister," and "lover-beloved" are as garments to be worn for identification on the physical plane. The essence of these relationships is found superphysically, on the mental, emotional, and spiritual planes.

   This essence, its purpose, and its reality are found in the mutual conjunctions of the two horoscopes. Two agencies of Spirit find their expression through the same degree (approximately) and the horoscopes are thereby riveted together like two boards--each mutual conjunction being a nail. A perfect classical example of "alchemy through relationship" is found when each planet so involved has one square and one sextile. Each person stimulates a latent disharmony in the other, but each person contains within himself the means of transmuting that disharmony. The house in which the conjunction falls in each chart will indicate, of course, the department of that person's life through which the relationship will be expressed and which will be most directly affected by it. The complete "picture of disharmony" is found by combining the square aspects in each chart with their position in the other person's chart. Then the effect of each person, for evil or unhappiness, on the other is seen in completion.

   The "alchemical picture" is found in the same way, with reference to the planets making the sextile aspects in each chart, and the position and effect in the chart of the other. When the sextile is "used," the square in each chart is transmuted to a degree, the sextile in the other chart is sympathetically stimulated, the houses involved are favorably stimulated; the relationship, as a whole, is improved in quality and the possibilities for mutual harm are thereby lessened. By continual application of this process, the relationship becomes, more and more, one of love--since each person concerned assists the other in attaining awareness of his Higher Self.

   An astro-alchemical function of a more difficult and intense nature is created when only one of the two persons "uses his sextile." When this happens, the "evil" that is continually expressed by the other, under stimulation of the mutual conjunction, is "met constructively" by the alchemist in his expression of his sextile aspect. The "evildoer" intensifies his negative tendency by the repeated expression of his square aspect and the result is depletion of the capacity to do good. To paraphrase a medical term, this condition might be described as "sextile-anemia." A tragedy--no less. It is tragic for the evil-doer and doom for the relationship. There will come a time when the negative person can no longer respond to his sextile possibilities and the relationship, as an exchange between two persons, can live no longer. The relationship is dissolved, each comes to a parting of the ways. The alchemist goes on to an upward expression of living--the other must face the results of his wrong-doing.

   To the degree that a relationship is complicated by a variety of mutual aspects will it be complicated in its expressions. There may be two or three mutual conjunctions, one of which may be afflicted, one benefic and one mixed. It is such relationships as these that go on for years and years--or lives and lives. Further, since no life contains only one significant relationship, each one of these aspects in one chart represents relationships with yet other people. The person who has to deal with a complex relationship with one person may, for greater understanding, study his "exchange" with the other people represented by his various aspects. He can learn from every one of them--and should--if he would make that one relationship a thing of fulfilled harmony. The people represented by benefic mutual conjunctions are those through whom he "tunes in" on his best self, and through them he understands more and more clearly what he can contribute to the relationship that contains many mixed conditions. His trines symbolize expressions of his Higher Self--the people who reflect his trines show him his best contribution to any relationship.

   It is interesting to note that the odd-numbered houses of the horoscope, culminating in the eleventh, are designated as the "houses of relationships," and the eleventh itself as the "house of friends." From the first house through the ninth we express the "personal," "fraternal," "parental," "marital," and "pedagogic" relationships. Then the cultivated, distilled essence of all relationships is shown by our capacities through expression of the eleventh.

   Love without passion, affection without possessiveness, intimacy without smothering, assistance and encouragement without over-indulgence, cooperation without domination and subservience, fruitful joys without pleasure-madness, sympathy without negative sentimentality, mutual exchange without any loss of mutual freedom of thought and action--such are the attributes of all harmoniously fulfilled relationships. The essence of these attributes we call Friendship, the urge toward universal Brotherhood.

   Because the eleventh house represents our most highly spiritualized impulses in reference to relationship, it may be studied as one of the "spiritual barometers" of the horoscope. To the degree that the eleventh house is "benefic" may every other relationship problem be assisted. Every brother-sister, parent-child, and husband-wife problem can be "unknotted," to a degree, by application of the harmoniously expressed urges of the eleventh house.

   Friendship, then, may be said to be the panacea for the "wounds of relationship."

   These "wounds" are the frustrations of those essential qualities that are peculiar to each type of relationship. The fraternal, or brother-sister, relationship is experienced during childhood and the formative years, and represents the first step toward the fulfillments of the eleventh house. In the intimacy of home life under the guidance of parents, boys and girls learn cooperation, sharing, and the enjoyment of group pleasures. The reactions of brothers and sisters to each other and to their parents constitute the basic elements of their relationship tendencies. Naturally, when the fraternal relationship is fraught with discord, fear, and hatred, the later fulfillments in mature life are often inhibited and distorted.

   Many a man or woman has experienced misery and inharmony in marriage due to subconscious negatives that are traceable to the fraternal relationships in childhood. Competition for the parents' favor, rivalry in talents and accomplishments, aversions, and resentments, and all other forms of conflict, if untransmuted, can very easily be, and usually are carried over into the marital and parental patterns and cause relationship- defeat in later life.

   Of course conditions vary as charts vary. A man may have a "difficult third house" and a "fortunate seventh house." In other words, his experiences in early life with brothers and/or sisters may contain much that is unhappy, and his marriage-partner may be the greatest blessing of his life. However, to the degree that he carries his dark reactions, into his marriage, later on, will he be unresponsive to the assistance that his wife can give to him.

   Another man may have companionship of the most harmonious and fruitful kind with his brothers and sisters and yet, through marriage, face his greatest tests. Nevertheless, because of the harmonious relationships during his childhood, he knows much more of the meaning of living. His relationship-pictures are painted with Joyfulness, Companionship, Give-and-Take, Mutual Trust, and the like, and through the expression of these spiritual powers he can deal with his marital problems.

   No student of astrology need endure pain and suffering for years and years because of an unhappy relationship with a brother or sister. The unhappiness is the result of only one thing--continual expression of a negative phase of the third house. As that negative phase is transmuted the relationship is improved and the pain neutralized. The fraternal relationship is, of all relationships, the one that can most directly be redirected into Friendship. Since it usually does not involve the possessive elements of parenthood, and never involves the sexual exchange of marriage, it contains much more of the element of freedom.

   In one respect, the fraternal relationship is particularly important, from a psychological standpoint. That is in reference to an experience of karmic responsibility of a person for a younger, or less- evolved, brother or sister. In this instance, on the inner planes the relationship becomes that of parent and child, and the negative reactions of the older person may be transmuted more effectively through the expression of his, or her, parental urges--rather than those of the eleventh house. In other words, the parental impulses constitute the "way of transcendence," or the "redemption of karma." A serious lesson in parenthood is indicated by such a condition--its fulfillment will free the person to a much more successful expression of actual parenthood. Because of its subtle and illusionary quality, this kind of "karmic parenthood" usually contains much that is painful in its working out, but its fulfillment brings a rich reward in wisdom and spiritual strength--all of which is to the person's advantage in his relationship with his own children.

   The downfall and failure of parent-child relationships, either actual or esoteric, is due more to the parent's egoism and possessiveness than to anything else, and in no relationship in life is the impersonal viewpoint more vitally necessary. No mother or father can be a "good parent"--in the spiritual sense--unless the attributes of friendship are expressed in the relationship. There must be recognition of the child's intrinsic worth and tendencies. There must be discipline and guidance--but in terms of the child's requirements. No mother or father is a good parent who makes the child's life a vicarious fulfillment of her or his own frustrations. The parent who is a friend guides his child into the best expression of the child's own pattern of life.

   Look to your eleventh house and find your "Friendship-key." This is the planet which is either the unafflicted ruler of the eleventh--or the planet that makes the best aspect to the ruler. Planets in the eleventh indicate conditions that are interpreted through friendship, but the ruler is the key to the expression of friendship and brotherhood.

   The ruler of the eleventh house may have several aspects, both harmonious and otherwise. However, if an unafflicted planet makes a benefic aspect to the ruler in this case, that planet represents a pure channel of "relationship-transmutation." It is the planet that can, if applied, unloose the snags and snarls of any relationship problem. It represents the best you have to offer in your spiritual exchange with other people.

   Combine the vibration of this planet with that of the sign on the eleventh house cusp and the vibration of the ruler itself. This is the foundation of your "house of Friendship." It shows a composite of how you love your friends, what you wish to do for them, what you can do for them, and the best that they see in you.

   Persons who are identified, by mutual aspects, with the trines in your eleventh house conditions are those who stimulate your deepest capacity for loving. It is through them that you contact your own best self and express your finest for all relationships. It is through them that you find your clearest recognition of Universal Brotherhood.

   Persons who are identified, by mutual aspects, with the squares to the eleventh house ruler are " enemies of utmost importance." They externalize or objectify your reactions that defeat or destroy friendship. Because of the transcendent urges of the eleventh house, the malefic aspects (representing frustrations and difficulties) can manifest as deep hatreds, fears, and conflicts. Every relationship in your life is tainted or warped to the degree that these afflictions remain untransmuted. No occult or astrological student can afford to ignore these "warnings" in the horoscope.

   In conclusion, here is presented an example that illustrates the inter-relationship of Astrodynamics with "Planets Are People." For clarity's sake, this example is in a simple form.

   Two persons meet in the mature years of life, and friendship is immediate, deep, and happy. Each has one square and one sextile to the ruler of the eleventh, and the contact is represented by progressed Moon trine one person's eleventh house ruler, which is conjunct any one planet in the other person's eleventh house "pattern." In other words, the relationship "flowers under the best of conditions."

   Each person has reacted, over a period of many years, to every phase of his eleventh house pattern, and the comparative strength, at that time of life, of the sextile and square influences have, in this friendship, a perfect testing. To the degree that the negative of one is expressed, will the other be given an opportunity to transmute; to the degree that both respond to the square, will the friendship be spoiled and disrupted; to the degree that each person transmutes, will the other be "lifted" spiritually.

   This type of relationship represents a perfect opportunity for the practice of alchemy. That which is negatively inclined in the relationship can be neutralized by the highest expressions of both persons who are lovingly united.
What more perfect expression of friendship is there? 

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume I
Chapter IV
The Sun--Principle of Power

   Considering the simplicity of the structure of a horoscope we cannot fail to be impressed by the profundity of its symbolism. A center, twelve radiations bounded by a Circle--that's all. And yet it serves as a picture of Cosmos. Nothing in symbology represents so much, by such economy of means.

   The structure of a horoscope symbolizes the basis of manifestation of any thing--a human being, an event, a nation, or a solar system. Every objectification has its own pattern or vibratory rate, and the simple drawing of a circle with radiations from its center can be used to represent the "body" of this objectification.

   Let us consider a solar system: We are told that the Logos, having selected a spherical area of space at the dawn of manifestation pours its energies into the center, thus objectifying a Sun--or center of manifestation. The Will of the Logos interpenetrates this immense sphere in every part. From the center--or Sun--various fields for evolutionary activity are radiated. These "fields" we call the planets and each one provides a home for the development of various types of beings. Each planet stands in much the same relationship to the Creator as each color stands in relationship to the Principle of Light, or each tone to the Principle of Sound. The Sun, as central body, is the Logoic Will objectified, and the bodies of the system are the expressions of that Will in manifestation.

   The horoscope, as a map of the heavens, should actually show the Sun in the center. However, in relationship to the Earth, which is our field of evolution, and for astrological purposes, we include the Sun in the family of planets for this reason: in human terms, the expression of Will is yet to be developed by evolutionary processes. Humanity, for the most part, lives in its negatives, its feelings, fears, and desires. Consequently, domination from experience is inevitable. Living in the "Sun consciousness" would imply a complete identity with the Source, complete detachment from the claims of feeling, complete control and direction of all faculties expressed by a human being. This, in our terms, is Mastership. In other words, a Master, even in the flesh, determines his experiences by radiation from his own center, not by response to the urges and drives of his planets. He then, as far as is possible, is truly a creator--he lives in his Sun consciousness.

   From the standpoint of even the most mundane approach to astrology, the same drawing is used. The birthplace is the center from which radiates the variety of life experiences, in terms of people, places, and things. The same drawing is used to represent the "objectified Ego;" the Higher Self--or "God-potential" is the center of the circle, and the varying states, or expressions, of that potential are the planetary positions and aspects. The horoscope is thus seen,in whatever application, as the symbol of a manifestation of God.

   Since the Sun represents the highest state of consciousness known to man, the principle implied is that of Power--the first Logoic aspect. We, as astro-analysts, must give very careful attention to the Sun aspects in the horoscope because these represent the "degrees of God consciousness" that the person has thus far attained in his present cycle of development. Every benefit Sun aspect, indicating a harmonious or constructive application of the Power principle, is a redemption. Every malefic is thus seen to be a hindrance or perversion of Power. The Sun is the synthesis of all the planets, and any planet identified with the Sun by aspect, dispositorship, etc., gains thereby in power and scope of expression, both spiritually and mundanely. Planets, particularly the dynamic ones, placed in Leo, indicate that their constructive expression must be based on the right use of power; afflictions indicate the tendency to pervert it.

   An interesting study is to be found in the charts having the Sun unaspected. Such a pattern tells us that, on this cycle, the person concerned is initiating his power consciousness. Sign position of the Sun tells us the spiritual or esoteric path of this development. House position tells us where, in this incarnation, he makes his start. Planets in Leo, and their aspects, tell us through which agencies he is seeking to express the Principle of Power, and by them through which channels his Power consciousness will express in the future. The Sun, however aspected, placed in the fourth house, shows the possibilities of power expression in the maturity of life. The negative aspects to this position show the people or experiences and reactions that will threaten this fulfillment during years of growth.

   Let us impress on our minds the thought that afflicted aspects involving the Sun are serious problems. The other planets may be in conflict with each other and many problems result thereby, but when the consciousness of power and purpose is stunted, the ability of the person to deal with his planetary difficulties is greatly limited. Solutions are thus much harder to find and apply. In other words, the entire horoscope is weakened to the degree that the Sun consciousness is inhibited or depleted. And, consequently, the dynamic afflictions in the chart have just that much more power to "afflict dynamically." Force, or energy of any kind, must, in the final analysis, be controlled by power radiating from the center. Clarify this thought by imagining the Sun position as the center of activity in the chart, radiating its energies in all directions. The squares and oppositions to the Sun will thus be seen as lines of force from the planets intersecting, or interrupting, these radiations at right angles or head-on from the opposite side of the circle.

   Basically, the house with Leo on the cusp shows which department of life contains your source of Power experience or "lesson of Power." Whatever afflicted conditions are indicated in that house--and there may be many--express your power and authority in the affairs of that house to the best of your ability. The planets there show what you want to express, but Leo on the cusp shows how you can best express those urges. Where the Sun is placed shows where we seek to dominate directly and rule our conditions. It is, then, our "center" for this incarnation. A great variety of "Sun conditions" are, of course, possible. However, any planet in favorable aspect to the Sun--thus integrated to a degree with power--may be utilized as a counteractive to negatives in other parts of the chart. Any such planet is automatically very influential in the chart and may assist in the working out of disharmonies.

   A consideration of the negative aspects to the Sun: Charge the afflicted planet with power, read it negatively; thus is found the essence of such aspects.

   Sun-Mars: Power-Desire: Power is expressed through conflict, competition, domination, sex conquest, ruthlessness, and cruelty. Mars is basic, or primitive, self-expression, and when power is abused through it, its vibration releases tremendous energy that tends to result in some form of destruction, pain to others, or "domination at all costs." Power is here seen to express as egotism. This aspect is symbolic of the unregenerate masculine polarity. To a degree, the Sun, afflicted in Aries or Scorpio, carries much the same coloring; also, any affliction to the Sun conjunct Mars, in any sign. Since this aspect is so basically masculine in quality, its redemption may be found in some constructive application of the feminine polarity: Moon, Venus, or Neptune.

   Sun-Jupiter: Power-Pride: In this aspect, power is expressed in various forms of negative, or false self-approval. These forms of " patting oneself on the back" may be traced to the kind of consciousness which gives undue value to financial abundance, social or professional position, family background, egotistical reference to talents and abilities, and the kind of benevolence which is usually expressed with an eye to recognition or acclaim. An aspect of "false aristocracy," symbol of snobbery and pretension. The person so conditioned tends to exaggerate that which he deems worthy in his own nature and conditions, and reacts with anger or hurt at any implication that he is not all he pretends to be. Open, frank criticism and he closes his ears and consciousness to retire into his ivory tower of lofty, offended dignity; but let him hear, indirectly, that certain fine things are expected of him and he will bend over backwards to uphold the fine opinion which he values. In other words, he will "pour his power" into improvement if he feels it is worth the effort, but, in reverse, he will pour the same streams of power into his pride if he is belittled. He must maintain his good opinion of himself! Such a person could do nothing better to harmonize his inner disharmonies than to create a regular pattern of benevolent deeds--and not talk about them.

   Sun-Saturn: Power-Unfulfillment: This is, perhaps, the most "painful" of all the afflictions to the Sun. An area of experience is thus shown to be so lacking in fulfillment that the energies of the very Center itself are needed to redeem karma. In a horoscope that is predominantly dynamic, this aspect throws a heavy emphasis on ambition and achievement in some form. The "urge to climb" is intensely felt, and power is utilized to a large degree in overcoming obstacles. It would appear that this pattern represents a past in which opportunities for development were neglected or wasted. In this incarnation lost time must be redeemed. In a predominantly passive chart, this aspect is heavily gravitational in effect; the requirements of Saturn hold the person to Earth. In such a case, check carefully for any dynamic urge in the chart which may provide a possible release of power into channels of growth. The persons represented by Saturn in this aspect are those who tend to repress or inhibit the person concerned. They threaten his very individuality, and though he may have to redeem a much needed experience of responsibility, he must, for the sake of his own constructive and healthy living, not allow himself to become so influenced by other people that he becomes subject to despair, depletion of self-confidence, or other possible psychological negatives.

   Sun-Uranus: Power-Lawlessness: This is the aspect of the anarchist. Because of the nature and purpose of Uranus, its square to the Sun, or conjunction afflicted, is a potential for terrific destruction in some form. So great are the possibilities of energy release indicated by this combination that every agency of control must be found and carefully analyzed. A heavy tendency to crystallization in some form is automatically implied as an accompanying factor to this aspect--check the Saturn conditions carefully and thereby determine in which part of his experience the person tends to rebel with such intensity--and possibly even violence. An aspect of potential genius is indicated by any aspect of Uranus to Sun, but the square or opposition seems to indicate the possibility of considerable destruction attending its expression. If "harnessed," this aspect pours into the other planets involved tremendous magnetic and dynamic charges, and, consequently, when directed constructively, it can make for great achievements and abilities.

   Sun-Neptune: Power-Illusion: This is a very subtle and difficult aspect. The power to visualize--and dream--is intense, but since this aspect indicates the perpetration of illusion in the past, it shows a pattern of disillusionment in the present incarnation. The dramatic instinct is pronounced; in fact, so much so that at times the person lives in his dream of "things as they might be" rather than realizing things as they are.

   In an artistic person, particularly those arts ruled by Neptune--music and drama--this is a very inspirational aspect; but it is inspiration without control. When stimulated the person can, with no effort, "tune in" on subtle influences and become, himself an instrument. However, the price that is paid for too much of this "tuning in" is physical, psychical, and nervous depletion--loss of power, vitality, and health generally. The people represented by Neptune in this pattern--in its negative phases--are those who may lead him into weakening habits, and thus deplete his retention of purpose.

   If the chart is mainly passive in quality with little source of stimulus or "urge," this aspect, if strongly marked may indicate a person whose life is dreamed away to no purpose or fulfillment. He must, sooner or later, come to grips with reality, and unite his efforts to some degree, with the channels of constructive living. When his dreams shatter into bits and his ivory tower crashes, and those he loved and admired turn out to be the greatest source of his pain, then he must meet these experiences with a constructive application of Neptune-faith, spiritual knowledge, purified love, and above all, learn from his disillusioners. They only reflected that which has been false in him in the past. This aspect shows an attunement with higher forces, or at least unseen forces, which in negative expression brings the person experiences with the lower astral ray. He must, to reconstruct his pattern, purify and cleanse his "inner pictures" through constructive meditation or prayer--and put his inspirations and dreams into reality by some form of work or toward the fulfillment of self-directed purposes of realizing truly high ideals.

   Sun-Moon: Power-Feeling: The astrologically inclined parents of a child with Sun and Moon in conflict must try to adopt an impersonal attitude toward it. This aspect shows that its subconscious mind is very easily impressed and " pictures " of negative feelings taken in childhood may obscure its self-awareness and create confusion for the rest of its life. A study of such a child's chart will reveal to the parents the directions it will want to go, but, if in their over-concern for every moment of its existence they impress it with their worries, fears, and anxieties, they will render it a great harm--that of clouding its sub-conscious with their own negative states and insure its inability to "carve its own course" as it grows up. A child with this aspect should be guided constructively to make its own decisions, never forced against its will. This applies, of course, to relatively unimportant things. Naturally a child cannot just run wild, but those little things that are of personal concern to it should be let alone by others so that it can establish, to a degree at least, its awareness of its little world. It has been found that some influence in childhood, impinged upon the sub-conscious of the child, has resulted in an inner conflict that resulted in disharmony and failure in adult life. When a child learns to know its own power without undue, or negative, influences on its subconscious it is so much better able to foresee, plan, create, and fulfill its purposes. After all is said and done, the Sun does represent the flowering of personality and ability, and the awareness of self as a creator of good can best be stimulated right in the beginning. If an adult person with Sun square or opposition the Moon consults for a solution to a disintegrative tendency in his life, do what can be done to urge him to psychoanalyze in some form and bring to the surface of his conscious mind the compulsions which may have been impressed on him when he was little. He must get them up and out in order to clear his channels for a more constructive expression of life.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume I
Chapter V
The Moon--Principle of Motherhood

   In the study of the sign positions and aspects of the Moon in a horoscope we deal with one of the fundamentals of life-expression: the basis of feminine polarity. The Moon is one of the cornerstones of a chart; she is the root from which springs all the other variations of the passive, receptive, and emotional phases of the personality. The fullest significance of the Moon vibration can be comprehended only when every human being is understood to contain within himself, or herself, the essences of both polarity; every chart has Sun-Mars as well as Moon-Venus, in some pattern or other.

   Physical sex, in the world of forms, is a specialized emphasis of either polarity for the purposes of perpetuation. But, on the inner planes of subconscious impressions, feelings, karmic memories, and racial patterns, the Moon influence prevails. Fulfillment of evolutionary processes is thus seen to be made in the physical aspects of both polarities, usually alternating, and since physical sex is attended by a specialization of experience, everyone must know the life of male as well as female. This "specialization" is not only of expression but, automatically, of karma; thus certain lessons can be learned only through incarnation as female. In this connection, much in the karma of males may be traceable, by cause and effect, to unfulfillments and misdirections of the feminine urges in past embodiments, and the Moon, in male charts, is the key to these karmic patterns. The karma that a man experiences through women is merely the objectification of this own unregenerate feminine polarity; he is manifesting as male, but, by reflection through his contacts and exchanges with "the women in his life," these inner disorders are manifested.

   Mars, dynamic and vitalizing, is the function of impregnation, the essence of male sex; the Moon is that which receives this energizing and nurtures the dormant seed into form. Thus, the Moon is the link between Ego and family race. She is the agency through which man as male projects himself into the streams of life.

   Thus, the Moon is seen as the Principle of Motherhood and, in mundane or objective astrology, this is her primary signification. Through experience as mother, mankind receives lessons that are second to none in scope, depth, and importance. It is as mother that the potentials of Mars selfishness, Mars egotism, Mars domination, and Mars destructiveness receive their first alchemicalized transmutations through the initiation of self- sacrifice demanded by the functions of motherhood.

   Much has been said, for ages past, about the sacredness of motherhood; how few people realize that the same urge which moves a primitive, animal-like woman to lend her body to pain in order that the stream of life may be perpetuated is, in microcosm, the same urge by which a Master, through highly developed forms of transmutation and alchemy, "nurtures" the spiritual life of the race. The primitive woman responds instinctively to the urges of blood and desire; the Master fulfills his transcendent aspirations in impersonal love. When the nurture of the life of another--or others--is concerned, the motherhood principle is expressed. (Astrologically, of course, the woman in the above example is Moon->Mars; the Master, as an expression of spiritual Light synthesizes the planetary spectrum. In his case, the Moon is cosmically expressed as Neptune and Mars is expressed as Uranus).

   How, might be asked, can each child in a large family have the Moon in a different sign, since all have the same mother? Because of the quality of experience involved in maternity, and the changes of "capacity," psychological and emotional levels, and in domestic situations which may occur during the years of fruition, a woman is not quite the same person at the birth of her sixth child as she was as a mother of one. Each child in a family group has an individual pattern, and his, or her, Moon reflects or indicates an individual "mother picture." Hence, though the mother is the same individual she is "seen" differently, according to the consciousness or subconsciousness, by each child. And--and this is very important--she may have a different kind of karmic bond--some expression of basic attraction or repulsion--with each child. Thus, each child's Moon indicates a different pattern of reactions and feelings in his relationship with the mother.

   The sign position of the Moon in the chart of a girl-- a potential mother--shows, basically, what kind of a mother she will, or can be; the Moon aspects describe her basic motherhood experiences. In a boy's chart, by reflection, the Moon describes the general trend of his domestic experiences and the essence of his attitudes toward women generally. There is an important point to be made in this connection: because of the transition of the mother of a family, the father may, in his children's life, have to take her place; his Moon is indicative of his ability to fulfill this responsibility. In other words, he, then, must be mother as well as father and not only his Sun-Mars but his Moon as well are all given direct expression. The reverse holds true: a woman's Sun-Mars indicates her ability to exercise the power and initiative to make a living for her family if the father passes. Both polarity patterns are then synthesized through the Uranus vibration for the transcending of relationship responsibilities and family karma.

   The Moon as a mental factor: The Moon symbolizes the processes of the subconscious "mind of feeling," not of detached, impersonal thought. She is opinion, based on family or racial patterns which may, or which may not, have much reference to actuality. In other words, she is "thought that is motivated by feeling response." Here the Moon is seen as "personal viewpoint" which is certain to make itself evident when a person discusses anyone or any thing while in a state of emotional disturbance. As the basic factor of the mental triad--Moon, Mercury, Neptune--the Moon finds her regeneration through the processes of emotional discipline and control and the development of personal detachment. We are connected to people and things only to the degree--and in the kind of degree--that we have feeling about them. It is our feelings that make for "reality" as far as personal reference is concerned. It is only when feeling has been eliminated, prejudice removed, parental and family influences transcended, and inner poise developed that "things are seen"--through Mercury--"as they are in themselves."

   Thus Mercury says: "This hat is blue." An impersonal fact. The Moon might say: "I think this hat is lovely--the color is just like my baby's eyes." Personal feeling. These are, of course, trite examples, but they serve to indicate how personal feelings can influence our interpretation of facts.

   This trick of the Moon to disorder our perceptions, by feeling, can manifest in larger ways to produce tragic results. A young woman is "jilted" by her sweetheart; she reacts, in feeling, with intense resentment and suffers for years with the (subconscious) conviction that " all men are cheats and liars." (We can just see her tense face and hear the shrill words). She is not thinking with her intelligence but with her feelings of disappointment, outraged pride, and loneliness. A man suffers some unkindness or injustice at the hands of another man of different race or nationality. He reacts with bitterness that spills out on his children. One of his sons "takes in" this unhappy impression, and, because one person gave his father a "bad time" he, the son, is from then on prejudiced against the people of that nationality and he feels the strong urge to condemn them all, without reservation, to perdition. In this example, a weakness in the son's make up is revealed. He was not using his own ability to think, but left himself wide open to the negative impulses of the father's disturbed emotions. And, until he strengthens his power to discriminate and think--consciously--he will continually victimize himself, through his uncontrolled feelings, in his attitudes about that particular nationality.

   This retention of subconscious patterns, through feeling, represents on a large scale that which is known as "race memory," and in this connection the Moon, as "mother," stands for identification of the individual with his nationality or race. Mars urges us to fight for our country, but through the Moon we love our country as a child loves its mother. The symbolism is paralleled, exactly. As long as race consciousness pertains to the subconscious patterns of a person, he is in the same kind of bondage to his "feeling of nationality" as a child is "in bondage to his mother" when he sees, in the protective security of her love, the be-all and end-all of his living. These states of mind are, in essence, identical; one is infantilism with reference to an individual, the other is infantilism in reference to a race pattern. When emotionality is matured, all mothers are Mother, persons of whatever nationality are Brother and Sister, and any--or all--nations can be Home. However, in the scale of things, each race pattern provides a "nurturing mold"--or home--for specific and evolutionary purpose. Each is "good in its own time and for its own purpose," just as each mother is, "the right mother for each child."

   Since the Moon, as a mental factor, pertains to the interpretations of the horoscope for a psychological or psychiatric standpoint and so cannot be dealt with in detail here, we offer a few points of basic interpretation of the Moon, as Maternity, in combination with the other planets.

   The degree or intensity of maternal capacity is indicated by the sign position of the Moon, "experience-patterns," by the aspects made to the Moon by the other planetary bodies. In the sign Cancer the Moon is at her most motherly position; the urge to nurture is here the most marked. The next two best signs for maternal capacity are Taurus and Pisces. In Leo, the Sun sign, she glows with warmth and power, but with a positive quality that contrasts with her basic passivity of nature. In Libra she blends beautifully with the Venusian vibration of the partnership sign which emphasizes the seventh house impulses. In Gemini and Aquarius she is at her most purely mental, and in Aquarius the Moon is as impersonal as she can get-- detached, scientific, and friendly rather than purely motherly in feeling. In Capricorn she blends with the form side of life through the Saturn vibration; here she is practical, capable, dependable, but somewhat lacking in the responsiveness and sympathy that mark the maternal urge. In Scorpio she is intensely emotional and generative, but the watery Mars vibration emphasizes force and severity. This position is considered unfavorable for the Moon from a physiological standpoint. In a man's chart it does not reflect a particularly harmonious or happy "picture of women." In Aries, the Moon is most definitely "un-herself." Here she expresses with a dynamic, egoistic, and masculine quality that is the antithesis of her feminine nature--the keyword is "self-assertion."

   It must be emphasized that the Moon focuses the maternal urge, but there are several kinds of "variation of experience." These are indicated by planets which are found in the sign Cancer, ruled by the Moon; these planets are said to be disposited by the Moon. Also, planets in the fourth house--regardless of sign--indicate, to a large degree, the objective side of the "home-consciousness;" it is through "home experience" that these planets find their chief channel of expression and highest potential for fulfillment.

   The faculty of instinct is one of the keywords of the Moon function. In this connection, the Moon symbolizes a "race urge," a "biological compulsion." She represents the most deeply rooted expression of the drive of the feminine polarity. Though passive and receptive in nature, the Moon finds her rulership and detriment in Cancer and Capricorn, both cardinal signs; thus a certain dynamic or generating faculty is seen in the Moon functioning.

   To the degree that the Moon is allied with signs that are congenial to her, she expresses with strong drive, deep fulfillment needs; when she is allied to uncongenial signs, she must express her urges through qualities that are not congenial to her basic keynote; to the degree that she is well-aspected, she promises fulfillments, harmony of give-and-take in experience, and health; to the degree that she is afflicted, she indicates "feminine karma," both objectively and subjectively, the needs for transmutation and regeneration of feeling, physical disharmonies--particularly in women--; and the indications of transmuting the feminine expression are shown by any affliction to the Moon in the charts of men as well as of women.

   The following interpretative notes must, of necessity, remain basic and simple, for clarity's sake. Remember that the Moon rules the function of the subconscious mind, and any afflicted aspect represents a negative "picture" which brought over from the past is "close to the surface of consciousness," and will manifest, definitely in childhood. The transmutation of a horoscope starts with the transmutation of afflicted Moon aspects.

   Moon-Sun: The maternal impulse is here identified, in some way with Power. Afflicted, feeling and purpose are in conflict--either one tending to predominate; excess of the Moon influence tends to deterioration of inner strength; with excess of Sun influence, maternity is expressed in terms of domination and tyranny. This is a disintegrative aspect because the person, through "feeling about herself," is not fully aware of inner capacities, therefore, self-assurance is lacking; to regenerate this aspect, power, in domestic experience, must be redirected for Moon fulfillments, not expressed just for its own sake. Benefic, feeling and purpose are harmonized; maternal experience is expressed and fulfilled with capability; a certain " positiveness " is found, thus indicating the possibility that the mother may be the "leader" in the family. Moon in good aspect to the Sun, is a redemption in any chart because it shows an integration of basic polarity.

   Moon-Mercury: Afflicted, feeling and maternal concern conflict with thought; the mother with this aspect needs mental disciplining because she tends to "interpret" according to her feelings at the moment, and not in line with actuality. She should watch her words carefully and not give way to overmuch talking while she is emotionally disturbed because she is apt to commit herself to untruths and injustices. "Take time to think" is a good policy for redirecting this impulse, and, when this aspect is found in the chart of a child, the mother will recognize that the child is very impressionable to her words--she must not inflict on his mind her negative impulses and thoughts. Many people who have this aspect have been, karmically, impressed with the negative expressions of their mothers' emotions, and have lived for many years with unhappiness because of the "pictures" which were impressed on their subconscious minds in childhood. In either ease, mother or child, mental discipline and emotional poise, are of prime importance to creating happiness and success. Establish the habit of "finding out the facts," (Mercury) and by acting in accordance with them, feeling can be controlled.

   Moon-Venus: These two form the basis of the fulfilled feminine polarity in the sense that they indicate woman's emotions as mother and as mate. Since Venus is "cultivation and refinement," her inharmonious patterns with the Moon indicate a lack of sympathetic feeling; depending on which of the two is the more strongly emphasized in the chart, the maternal urge will obscure the "response to the other fellow," or the esthetic or partnership urge will obscure the needs for motherhood. This is an aspect symbolizing an inharmonious relationship with the mother, as far as emotion is concerned. And, in the chart of either a man or a woman, it represents a need to balance and complete the feminine patterns. This process may be done by (for the Moon) taking advantage of opportunities to express the urge to nurture and (for Venus) development of courtesy, cooperation, "thinking in terms of the other fellow"--which, after all, is the basis of all civilized (Venusian) living. Benefic aspects between Moon and Venus indicate a basic cultivation of the emotional nature. Refinement and charm, courtesy and good taste have been built in; these qualities may be reflected, physically, as beauty and grace. Harmonious relationships with the mother, or women generally, are promised. Cultivation of esthetic faculties are also indicated, since the subconscious mind has been strongly impressed by the redeeming factor of "thinking and acting in terms of harmony."

   Moon-Mars: This, in whatever form is a touchy aspect, since the two form the basis of "primitive emotion." Intensity of subconscious impressionability is indicated and the maternal feelings are highly charged. If negative, particularly the square, this is "hot-temper," irritability, jealousy, and resentment. The urge to dominate is strong and such mothers tend to "lead their children by the nose." This aspect indicates the possibility that ambition and the "urge-to-achieve" is stimulated by the experience of motherhood--such women feel the urge to "fight for their children." With the negative aspects, this urge is expressed with great force; the "law of fang and claw" is much in evidence. Potentialities of hatreds and enmities are strongly evidenced by Mars afflicting Moon, since the subconscious mind is keenly impressed by the "urge to defend and defeat." Harmonious patterns of Mars-Moon indicate the possibilities of much more constructive action--energy is expressed through the urge to achieve rather than the impulse to destroy. This is a courageous mother, intrepid and valiant, who is capable of living her maternal experiences in terms of positiveness and hard work. A good Saturn, Venus, and/or Jupiter aspect to the Moon--patience, harmony, and/or benevolence--are good correctives for Mars-Moon afflictions.

   Moon-Jupiter: The maternal urge is expressed through benevolence and abundance. Afflicted, the mother may be inclined to over- indulgence--she seeks to "overprotect" her children; a superabundance of maternal concern is indicated, and though the motives may be utterly sincere and unselfish, the mother with Moon afflicted by Jupiter is lacking in judgment--her feelings obscure her sensible evaluations and she tends to weaken her children by making things "too easy for them." She must discipline herself by, to some degree, disciplining her children. She must allow them the privilege of developing through the exercise of their own initiative and in fulfillment of responsibilities. In thus "freeing herself" from them she, to a degree, gains in perspective and emotional control. Benefic aspects between Moon and Jupiter form a very beautiful pattern of amplitude, generosity, sincerity, and balanced judgment. Such a mother expresses herself abundantly and healthily. She is a radiation of warmth and comfort, a source of well- being for her family, both physically and psychologically. This aspect is an astrological portrait of Ling Sao, the mother in Pearl Buck's book, "Dragon Seed."

   Moon-Saturn: Here the maternal experience is identified with the form side of life through Responsibility. The conjunction of Saturn with the Moon makes the maternal experience something of a crucifixion--even beyond the ordinary meaning of the word. Maternity, in this instance, "nails" a woman to the exigencies of life, and through domestic experiences, she must fulfill herself through many obstacles which may be actual, but which also may be because of her subconscious viewpoint. This is a pattern of "narrowing"--much has to be done through a limitation of scope. Inflicting Venus and/or Jupiter, Moon conjunct Saturn presents a rather sad picture--a domestic experience lived rather joylessly and in terms of limitation of means. Afflicting Saturn and/or Mars, the vitality and "thrust" are depleted--achievement is made against the counteractives of restraints and inhibitions. Saturn square or opposition Moon steadies the temperament and may prove a necessary counter-active to dynamic afflictions, but the Saturn influence will be felt as impediment, restriction, or inhibition. The position of Saturn will show a channel through which the maternal urge will express for the fulfillment of responsibility. The benefic aspects between Moon and Saturn indicate control of feeling and integration of practical abilities. This is the strong, competent mother who lives in an orderly, methodical manner. She is a pillar of dependability and, whether or not she is particularly emotional or loving, she still is reliable and able to put the domestic side of her life on a sound, practical basis. Perhaps somewhat lacking in "expressiveness," she is a loyal and devoted mother who expresses her maternal love in her desire to protect and stabilize.

   Moon-Uranus, Moon-Neptune: In these patterns, an indication is shown whereby the basic maternal urge may be redirected into impersonal spiritual, universal, or creative channels. In contact with Uranus and Neptune the indications of the Moon take on a scope that she does not have with the lesser planets. The subconscious mind is sensitized and vitalized by attunement to what might be called "cosmic patterns"--intuition and the psychic faculties may be unfolded. Moon-Uranus is much more dynamic and creative; Moon-Neptune is more sensitive, emotional, receptive and compassionate. However, the interpretative approaches to these aspects must be made from a comparison with the Moon's aspects to the lesser planets--since they form the "first steps on the ladder;" Moon trine Uranus, square Mars is not as easy as when Moon is sextile or trine Mars. In this example, much control and direction is required of Mars before the Uranus trine can express constructively. Otherwise Uranus, backed by a disorderly Mars, may express destructively. Moon trine Neptune, square Sun is a very sensitive Moon, impressionable, psychic; but with disorder between Purpose and Feeling, or depleted vitality; the sensitivity of Neptune may result in some form of negative psychism and mental confusion. Study the Moon-Uranus aspects by synthesizing the Moon with the other dynamic planets that she may aspect; Moon-Neptune--compare her patterns with Venus and Saturn. We must know how the subconscious mind is aligned to either the masculine or the feminine polarities--this gives us a key to the basic subconscious quality. Moon in aspect to either Uranus or Neptune is a clue to "latent universality" since these aspects show the directions by which the primitive, basic "flesh and blood" urges of the Moon will, in time, be expressed in terms of impersonal, or cosmic fulfillments. 

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume I

Chapter VI
Venus: Principle of Perfected Manifestation

   Venus, feminine and magnetic, is the consciousness of harmony resulting from the alchemy of emotional transmutations.

   Harmony may be defined as the "consciousness of fulfilled union"--the antithesis of Ego-separateness. Through primitive Mars, as individuals, we live in, and for, self; Mars, regenerate, is that expression of self which is based on the courage of individual integrity. A human being cannot "give to others" if he has not established an awareness of what and who he is within, an awareness of his potentialities and the determination to fulfill them. This Mars urge toward self-maintenance is the necessary stage by which the Ego identifies itself with the streams of life through "projection" and the resultant karma. Each of us has one soul body to create; we cannot create it for another and no one can create it for us. Every one of us has--in each incarnation--at least one phase of the soul body to fulfill; we cannot fulfill another's and no one can fulfill ours. That, in essence, is the purpose of the Mars vibration--awareness of individuality.

   However, we find that experiences are the objectifications of our own inner states which are "ignited" by our contacts with other people. When the Mars vibration tends to predominate, we are urged to use our self-awareness to interfere in another's life, to push him around, to subjugate him for our own purposes. This is Mars as a disrupter of relationship; fulfilled relationship is self-expression that contributes to another's good at the same time. The Venus vibration is our capacity to act--to draw to ourselves--in terms of harmonious interchange with other people, in cooperation and assistance, with good will and constructive purposes. In this way our projections are fruitful and mutuality of development is assured. The streams of experience are fed and progressively sustained.

   The title-word "manifestation" may be considered from two approaches. Saturn is Manifestation as physical form, the objectification of Spirit. In relationship processes, Saturn is seen to be "responsibility." There is a heavy, earth-bound, condensed quality about responsibility that perfectly reflects Saturn's essential nature.

   It has been observed, and psychologically proved, that the impulse of love provides the most satisfactory basis for the fulfillments of obligations and responsibilities. When we love, we find resources of greater courage, and deeper faith, the expressions which tend to "lighten the burden." Moreover, fulfillment is made much more completely and satisfactorily when a loving, happy, and enthusiastic attitude forms the basis of effort. Thus, we derive our title--the Venusian consciousness as the basis of perfecting the body of relationship. Saturn's exaltation in Venus' sign, Libra, is the astrological correlative. Further, the experience of relationship (Venus) automatically implies the responsibility (Saturn) of fulfillment.>

   We are told that "Uranus is the higher octave of Venus." The emotional triad is comprised of Mars, Venus, and Uranus. While Mars is the individualistic, male projection, and Venus symbolizes his transmutation and refinement through relationship, Uranus is the "fusion" of the two within the individual. Thus the higher vibratory frequency of Uranus is the blend of masculine and feminine polarities which is known as the "hermetic marriage," and the creative expression of this vibration manifests its fulfillment without the necessity of a partner. We can see, from the study of this process, that Uranus represents the expression of supreme union which is not dependent upon the illusions of emotional relationships; for in relationship, the crisscross of male-female interchange is always evident. The polarities, fused, permit the person to create from his own center, on a higher level of emotional consciousness than either Mars or Venus can achieve singly, or in interchange with each other through two different people. Venus in Uranus' sign, Aquarius, is a transcendent expression of love based on detachment and freedom.

   Venus is in its fall in the sign Virgo. Virgo is mental, analytical, and critical. When you analyze, you pull a thing to pieces to observe the separate parts. This, in the sphere of Venus experience, makes for emphasis on things. Affection is expressed in terms of "right and wrong," "duty," and "fitness," in the superficial sense. Venus in Virgo is seen to be >love as "something to be done" rather than as a source of life- giving and enriching experience which refreshes the heart and illuminates the mind.

   An extended expression of Venus in Virgo may be described as love of one's work, but in lesser phases, or in domestic experience generally, it seems to show as a preoccupation with the practical matters of daily living: a clean, well-ordered home, a talent for good cooking, and the making of lovely things. The redemption of Venus in Virgo will be found in the establishment of harmonious (beautiful) attitudes toward other people. A critical talent is conveyed by Virgo, but Venus urges the expression of tact and courtesy; sympathetic understanding must take the place of spotting--and exposing--the other fellow's faults. A clean, orderly home is a fine and wonderful thing, but a home that also contains a joyous, comfortable, and livable vibration is representative of fulfilled heart experience, the cultivation of Venus.

   Venus, in any horoscope, is the symbol of the esthetic faculty as well as of the love potential. Rhythm, balance, proportion, and taste are just as evident in cultivated relationships as they are in the qualities of things which we call beautiful.

   Venus is the instinctive esthetic response-- the result of inner refinement following processes of emotional transmutations. She is thus seen to be our innate ability to perceive and appreciate color, line, modulation, and proportion. She is cultivated taste--the discriminating evaluation.

   Neptune, on the other hand, is our response to contrived beauty--in other words, our capacity for art response. Many people have a keen response to the beauties of Nature and of other people, but, lacking Neptune, they cannot respond to the abstract or symbolic expressions of art forms. >Then, there are those who possess a high degree of development--a great talent or perhaps even genius along the lines of some particular art who are unappreciative of beauty in other forms and may demonstrate their "lack of Venus" by uncouthness of personal appearance, unsociability, and deficiency of emotional development and relationship cultivation.

   Venus gives the lovely complexion, or the graceful, well-proportioned body, or the expressive voice that people are born with-- they are naturally beautiful. Neptune is the clever use of cosmetics which creates the illusion of beauty; the dancing and singing lessons by which people contrive a greater degree of beauty than they possess naturally. Venus is the instinctive good taste by which a woman adorns herself according to her own personal requirements; the selection of clothes which, by design and color, unify her appearance--she and her clothes are one harmonious thing. Neptune is fashion, vogue, and artifice by which people of unindividual taste follow a contrived, artificial pattern. Being fashionable may be--but often isn't--synonymous with being in good taste.

   Neptune is art--in whatever form, the contrivance of a symbol to express an esthetic idea or ideal. Of all the forms of art, instrumental music and drama are particularly--and peculiarly-- Neptunian. The special qualities of Venus are evidenced in the arts of Dance and Song. This statement is made in reference to the "natural basis" of these two arts; both are highly cultivated manifestations of remarkably developed bodily functions. Neptune and Venus, in some combination or relationship, are necessary for the astrological indications of artistic talent. Another planet may indicate a special qualification, but these two form the "esthetic basis."

   In the two signs Libra and Pisces, Venus finds the purest expressions of her essential nature; Libra, the seventh house sign, is the symbol of relationship, and Pisces is the essence of spiritualized love. In Taurus, Venus finds a strong expression of her emotional potentiality, but in more earthy terms. In Gemini and Aquarius she blends with the relationship urges of fraternal and friendship love. In Sagittarius, combining with the Jupiter-ninth-house quality, she is considered very favorable, since an "overtone" of spirituality and idealism is implied. In Cancer she is home loving and motherly, keenly responsive to the needs of loved ones. In Leo she glows warmly and dramatically--Venus in Leo is the arch symbol of romantic love. In Scorpio she is intensely magnetic, the Mars vibration is indicative of love as sex expression. However, this position of Venus is considered unfavorable--for her--because "partnership is threatened by personal desire," and from a physiological standpoint, in reference to the feminine physical organism, afflictions to Venus in Scorpio can threaten fulfillments in sex exchange. However, in higher types, this position of Venus can promise the potential for great transmutations of emotion through consecrated devotion--it can be very spiritual. In Capricorn, as in Virgo, material or practical considerations seem to predominate. An afflicted Venus in Capricorn is relationship--or love, or its pretense--as a furtherance of ambition and position. This depletion of Venus is indicative of consummate selfishness--in the cold, calculating sense of the word. In Aries, Venus is "love as self- expression"--carrying out the egoistic, dynamic influence of Mars.

   The scope of Venus potential in a chart will be found by determining the harmonious aspects as well as the planets disposited by Venus. The latter phrase is important because Venus herself may be unaspected or weak by position or afflicted by aspect; but planets in Taurus and/or Libra are "expressing through Venus" and extend her influence into the chart. Since Venus is passive--the result of transmutative processes--she is afflicted--she does not afflict another planet. Squares and oppositions to Venus--or malefic oonjunctions, represent (1) the possibilities of frustration of the urge to union and the expression of love; (2) states of consciousness that are inhibitive to the development of the esthetic and social urges. Venus sextiling an otherwise afflicted planet shows the need for using Venus as an alchemical agency to redeem the other planet from its affliction. Trines to Venus represent flowerings of the soul, the cultivation of inner graces of mind and emotion, the capacities for beautiful and joyous living.

   When Venus is unaspected, we must regard her house position as the focal point of the social urge; her sign position indicates the esoteric potential of the love nature. We can interpret this pattern as representing an incarnation in which alchemical preparation is being made for the future. Though Venus, in this case, gives little "promise of reward" in this life, yet if reaction patterns are established by which self-isolative impulses are transmuted into giving, or devotion to an ideal or work or the cultivation of sympathetic understanding, the process will build in a Venus return in the future. The person with an unaspected Venus may possess a disposition that is not particularly happy or sociable, but if he does something, now and then, to make someone else happy or encouraged, he then expresses energy in terms of Venus--an emanation of good-will which must, inevitably, reap its reward.

   Venus strong by influence but afflicted by aspects is "urge without cultivation;" the gregarious man who can't distinguish friends from acquaintances; the woman who just loves beautiful colors--she wears a red hat, a purple coat, a yellow dress, and pink shoes; the "artist" who will sing at the slightest provocation--his voice distresses all who hear him; the woman who is addicted to collecting "nice things"--her home is a jungle of incoherent bric-a-brac. These are cartoon-like examples of Venus being spilled out all over the place. These persons display a decided lack of discriminative selection or a sense of the fitness of things. Venus is always the "nicest way of doing anything."

   At this point we suggest a synthesis of Venus with the three "primitives"--Mars, Moon, and Saturn. These three form the foundations of experience on the emotional, mental, and physical planes and their relationship with Venus gives us the how and why of her scope and influence in the chart.

   Mars-Venus: This is the pattern of "desire love;" the sex impulse and its refinement through union; the assertiveness of self and its completion through relationship; the projection of dynamic urge and its perfected fulfillment; in martial experience--fulfilled matehood through the integration of male and female polarities. Regardless of the physical sex of the person, the predominance of either Mars or Venus in the chart indicates the predominant polarity tendency. If both are deficient the emotional potentials are low, sexuality lacks fire, and the purely mental or the purely physical expressions of life will predominate in the person's experience. If Mars afflicts Venus, it is necessary to compare carefully the scope of each. Mars strong, Venus weak: predominance of masculinity, dynamic and self- assertive urges and sex desires; Mars weak, Venus strong: femininity predominates, the personality lacks thrust and zest; esthetic response may be highly developed but there is little urge toward work or effort; this pattern is not favorable for men, since the feminine element predominates over the masculine. Mars sextile or trine Venus: promise of sexual mutuality and fulfilled love impulses; a healthy, integrated emotional nature; capacity to enjoy activity and to work cooperatively; in the charts of either men or women this aspect is favorable, since it promises mutuality between the masculine and feminine phases of personality and relationship.

   Moon-Venus: This is the feminine basis of the horoscope. Woman as mother and as mate; the latent feminine polarity in men, indicative of their relationships and experiences with women, generally. Afflictions between Moon and Venus in a woman's chart are indicative of physiological inharmonies, possible frustrations of maternal and wifely impulses; unfulfillments of the affectional capacities. In a man's chart, Moon afflicting Venus is indicative of his feminine karma, inharmonies of relationship with mother, wife and/or female associates. This is the man who is unlearned in the ways of woman-kind--his feminine patterns are in disorder, unregenerate, and promising of disappointment and friction; through "heart ignorance" he makes painful karma for the future. This man needs to cultivate understanding and sympathy; until he does, his consciousness remains, to a degree, brute-like, particularly if his Mars and Saturn are strong, regardless of aspects.

   Saturn-Venus: Inharmoniously, this is joy sacrificed to responsibility, love dominated by duty, or love depleted by introversion, ignorance, or fear; enforced discipline of the esthetic or love impulses as a karmic return from past excesses; Venus otherwise well-aspected and strong, the square from Saturn may indicate limitation of scope for the perfection of quality. Harmoniously aspected Saturn-Venus is expression of love through responsibility; fulfillment of responsibilities is a channel of flowering of the love capacities; love is here seen to be an anchor, an agency of beneficial restraint and direction of energy and work. This is "love which must be made manifest"--the dream must be actually lived. Constancy and fidelity are keywords of this aspect--love goes deep and lasts long. Union serves to stimulate practical talents and the experience of loving forms a solid basis for constructive well-rounded-out living.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume I
Chapter VII
The Planet Mercury

Part I

   To the planet Mercury is symbolically ascribed the faculty of Intellect by which we interpret, identify, classify, analyze, and evaluate the things of Earth. As the principle of Identification it represents "name-giving," "word creating," and the objectification of thoughts in spoken and written words. It is the symbol of conscious communication and perception. It is our awareness when we are unencumbered by our emotional congestion or sub-conscious-feeling disturbances.

   The substance we call Mercury is heavy, yet its quality is liquescent; our thoughts, when unorganized or unfocused, are also liquescent, fleeting, quickly merging from one impression to another, "up-and- down, "yes-and-no," "now-hot-now-cold." However, when our thought-patterns are organized we have the faculty of deciding definitely and embodying them in some sort of concrete definite out-picturing in single words or in their extensions into sentences. This out-picturing is what we call "language"--the universal faculty of embodiment of thought. The liquescence of Mercury is seen in the many ways by which a specific thing can be identified; its definiteness is seen in the "solidity" with which it is identified in a specific word or sentence.

   Mercury identifies the abstract as well as the concrete. It is through Mercury that we understand the concrete, but it is through other planetary faculties that we understand the abstract. Mercury, however, is the basic root of our understanding-unfoldments, from the most literal of concreteness to the most intangible of abstractness. Let us analyze the planetary symbol: a cross (matter, manifestation, structure, concreteness, incarnation) surmounted by a circle (perfection, completeness) which in turn is surmounted by an upturned semi-circle (instrumentation, receptivity of instruction or inspiration). Synthesizing these symbolic factors, we see that by the exercise of the Mercury-faculty we learn about life principles through their expression in the chemical region of the universe. This symbol might be called "Venus with the horns of Wisdom," and Mercury's air-dignity, Gemini, is the ninth-house sign (Wisdom octave) of Venus' Libra. We are told that the Lords of Venus and Mercury were the Masters who instructed infant Humanity in the principles of language, the crafts, arts, and sciences by which Humanity learned to function with ever-increasing efficiency in the material world. In short, Mercury is the link (messenger) between the gods (principles) and mankind. It is through Mercury that we learn, first, the objective nature and quality of things, and then the awareness of principles opens our consciousness to the subjective reality; on both octaves we are learning but on the first we integrate through identification; on the second we know through experience which yields Understanding.

   Since the symbol of Venus is included in the symbol of Mercury it may be surmised that all of mankind's artistic expressions were founded through the desire to communicate. The up-turned semi-circle which Mercury has in common with Neptune represents a microcosmic form of the instrumentation which is one of Neptune's principal meanings. Primitively, man draws a little picture of something to communicate his thoughts about it to another person. From that level he evolves a system of symbols to communicate his "thought-pictures"--ideographs, letters and their combination into words, thence to sentences. The expression that mankind gives of his concepts, realizations, dreams, and aspirations--distilled from evolutionary experience- -is what we call the FINE ARTS; they are all, regardless of materials or techniques, the Mercury-faculty extended by Venus-Neptune as symbolic communications from the resources of consciousness. Not everyone understands a picture, a piece of music, a poem, or a sculpture; those who do are sympathetically at-tuned to the consciousness of the artist. However, everyone who possesses a normal degree of mentation can understand the relatively "literal symbolism" of language and express himself--at least in speech--by it. To learn speech is something we have all done in every incarnation since the beginning; we do it--and learn it-- instinctively. This instinct is symbolized by the mental realm of the Moon-vibration--that which we know or learn through subconscious-memory faculty. Thus speech is seen to be as instinctively natural as walking or sleeping. Reading and writing, however, are extensions of Moon through Mercury. The conscious mind must be trained to understand the symbol-technique represented by the particular language to which one is born. You learned English in your childhood, but you may not have known English in any previous incarnation. You learned to speak in English by instinctive imitation of those around you as a recapitulation of a faculty you have exercised in every incarnation; but it may be that only within the scope of the relatively recent past that you acquired a fluency with the written word and it may be that English, your birth-language, is the only one that you now have any ability to read or write. An outstanding illustration of the "adulthood" of Mercury is seen in the natural talent of learning to speak, read, and write in other languages. The possession of this talent is evidence that the person has exercised his Mercury-potentials for many incarnations; his mind has acquired a receptivity by which he can comprehend a variety of symbol-techniques; comprehension of vocabulary, grammar, etc., have become a specialized faculty that is integrated in consciousness. The "mercurialness" of Mercury is nowhere better illustrated than in the "magic" that takes place in a person's consciousness toward other people when he learns to communicate in their language--OR when they communicate with him in his. The "psychological space" that tends to exist between people who are foreigners to each other is thereby, to a degree, disintegrated and a sense of mutual "togetherness" takes its place. From "Mercury as words" we graduate to "numbers," then to abstract symbols. In these three stages, the conscious mind is exercised on three specific levels, the first two being the more concrete and direct channels for learning. It is true that each planet has its special effect on the mental faculties, but, in addition to Mercury, three others specifically refer to "mental octaves." These are Moon, Neptune, and Jupiter. The Moon, ruler of Cancer, is the "instinctive" mind; by this octave we think by "inherited patterns," we "think as the tribe thinks," we think through feeling, fear, desire, prejudice and instinctive security-patterns. Mercury is our "individual choice and selection," "thought free of congestions of feeling or subconscious negatives." Neptune is the psychic mind, the telepathic mind and that part of mentation by which we become instruments. Jupiter is the mind of morality," it is "thought raised to the level of concept," decision that is based not just on expediency but on understanding of principle. Through Mercury we learn by study and observation; through Jupiter we learn from experience from which we distill improvement and growth. All four of these planetary symbols involve the semi-circle which is the symbol of the Moon; Jupiter is "the Moon surmounting the cross of incarnation;" Mercury and Neptune have the semi-circle up-turned but Neptune's symbol does not use the cross--it is the pure symbol of "chalice," "perfect intake," "receptivity that is founded on faith" and it is the symbol of the upper-octave faculty which we call instrumentation.

   We ascribe to Mercury the rulership of two mutable signs: Gemini and Virgo, Air and Earth respectively. As ruler of Gemini, Mercury is exalted (matured) in Virgo because knowledge is matured in being put to use; knowledge, as such, remains in its "childhood" if it is not projected or expressed for the ongoing of incarnation. Only through knowledge can service be fulfilled and material affairs be improved. Anything that is "rightly known" can be "rightly used;" ignorance is the path to "wrong use" and corruption of service.

   Mercury is the most plastic of all planetary vibrations. By this is meant that "he" is most easily affected by--or qualified by--the sign which he is in. Both of the signs of his dignity are mutable signs; one (Gemini) is female-masculine, the other (Virgo) is male- feminine. Mercury, as intellect, is un-emotional or neuter as far as gender is concerned. By sign-rulership he is the root of fraternal relationship patterns and the androgyny of his nature is clearly revealed in the nature of Uranus, ruler of Gemini's ninth-house sign, which is the symbol of creative bi- polarity. The intellect is also a bi-polar faculty since it is one which both sexes must exercise in every incarnation. It, as far as "generic quality" is concerned, is neither masculine nor feminine, but it is not peculiar to either one or the other. One of the evidences of polarity-fusion is the development and exercise of intellect by human beings incarnated as females; just as cultivation of the sympathies represents a "rounding-out" of the nature of males. The mind must be trained to coordinate the conditions of, and give expression to, the powers of emotion, feeling and desire on all evolutionary octaves.

   As the faculty of reason, Mercury represents the root- in-consciousness by which the Law of Cause and Effect is learned. The conscious mind observes the material world, hence an awareness of the out- picturing of inner causes is evolved. In mythology, the wing-footed Mercury was the messenger of the gods to mankind. "The gods" is simply a symbolic way of referring to life principles. When mankind emerges from a purely feeling- reaction toward life and experience he clears the way to unfolding his awareness of the material world and the principles which it expresses and by which it functions. Man learns about an action when he perceives its effect; from that, he learns about his own consciousness as the source of all his actions and expressions The unreasonable person--if one could be entirely so-- is so because he refuses to open his consciousness to the voice of Mercury. He does not study himself in relationship to the effects which he has caused. He does not study things and other people as manifestations of law, therefore he does not integrate himself in form. He remains in an unfocused swirling of feeling-reaction; no control, no pattern, no directive. Planetary squares to Mercury represent the person's potential for being un-reason-able. Bear this in mind when you analyze a chart--it is very important. Mercury is the way by which we learn how to disintegrate congestions and fulfill ideals.

   A psychological point that may be of interest: when Mercury's Virgo is on the Ascendant, his other dignity is (usually) on the Mid-heaven. The introversion that is so often ascribed to Virgo-Ascendant is here pictured: Self-development is the focus of ambition fulfillment. Personality complexities of Virgo-Ascendant and Pisces-Ascendant (Virgo and Pisces are the last of the signs of the lower and upper semi-circles) are represented by the polarity of Capricorn-Cancer synchronizing with the fifth and eleventh houses--the houses of creative love. Whenever Capricorn-Cancer are focused in the fifth house, we see the love potential mixed up with parentage-consciousness and these persons are most likely to have emotional complexes of a karmic nature in relationships with their parents.

   Mercury, variable and impressionable, is at the mercy of "too much action," "too much fixity" and "too much adjustability." Since this planet rules the two basic mutable signs, its potential for integration is largely qualified by the relative dynamic-ness or static-ness of the chart, as a whole. Gemini and Virgo each initiate a zodiacal quadrant, therefore they initiate a quadrant of houses totaling together an entire semi-circle of houses or one complete diameter of the wheel. Therefore any congested or frictional aspect to Mercury has the direct effect of impeding the person's ability to learn from the experiences represented by those two quadrants-- wherever they are placed in the chart. The particular placement of Mercury, as "focalizer" of the Gemini-Virgo vibrations, shows the department of experience that provides exercise of the mental faculties toward the "rehabilitation" of disharmonies and coordination of mind with feeling. The sign in which Mercury is placed identifies this particular "generic coloring"--dynamic/expressive or absorptive/reflective. A most important factor in the analysis of Mercury patterns is found in the planet which rules Mercury's sign placement. This planet is Mercury's dispositor and has much to say about the way that the person develops--or fails to develop--his "reason-able" faculty.

   "Mind against emotion" is pictured by an uncongested Mercury disposited by a congested planet. The congestions involving the dispositor represent--of course--problems which are ignited by emotional reactions of a negative kind--toward other people, events or whatnot. The clarity of Mercury, uncongested, makes it relatively easy for the person to learn from his experience and to exercise reason-able control of his emotions and feeling-reactions. You can be sure of one thing if Mercury and its dispositor are uncongested: no matter what other difficulties may be pictured in the chart, the person has a natural ability and urge to be practical about learning how to realize his ideals and fulfill his deepest urges, regardless of what the ideals are or what he, in consciousness, terms "fulfillment" or "success." His ideal may be financial abundance, it may be popularity and admiration, it may be professional fulfillment of a talent, it may be power over other people; it may be one of a hundred other things, but the clarity of uncongested Mercury--both by aspect and vibration--makes it possible for him to see his way clearly toward realizing his dream.

   A congested Mercury with an uncongested dispositor promises disintegration of a mental congestion if the principle of the dispositor is exercised in relationship to the Mercury problems. The "virtues" of the planetary dispositor are the "alchemical agencies" by which that particular generic quality of the Mercury may be "purified" and the mental qualities harmonized and organized. Any planetary aspect to Mercury is better than no aspect at all, because every aspect is a "channelling" for the training of the Mercury faculties. Mercury, cardinal, fixed, or mutable must be synthesized with the cross that is most strongly emphasized in the chart, because, for example, a cardinal or mutable Mercury may serve as a very effective counteractive to many planets in fixed signs--and so forth. Cardinal Mercury emphasizes expression, fixed Mercury emphasizes retention, and mutable Mercury emphasizes adjustability.

The Planet Mercury

Part II

   For the pursuance of this material we will use a copy of the Great Mandala--a twelve-housed wheel with the zodiacal signs in sequence starting with Aries as the Ascendant; place the planetary symbols in the signs and houses of their dignity. Emphasize the third and sixth cusps because they pertain to Mercury's dignity in Gemini and Virgo.

   The androgynous (bi-polar) nature of Mercury is seen in his attributes of "in-take-ness" (learning) and "out-put-ness" (expression of thought). To learn everything and express nothing is to use only half of the Mercury faculty; conversely people who are mentally unorganized display only "half of Mercury" when they express continually without concentration, reflection, or mental intake. As expression, Mercury cannot put out anything that is valid if the intake is not the result of a concentration and clarification of mental powers. We express ourselves to the world according to our mental picture of the world; viewpoints that are based primarily on congestions of feeling and desire do not--and cannot--"see" the world with clarity or give expression of thought with truth or judgment.

   A square or opposition aspect from a planet to Mercury may act as a stimulus to expression, but the expression itself will tend to outpicture a negative in consciousness. This is what is meant by congestions to Mercury. States of subconscious feeling based on ignorance, disharmony, and so forth divert the Mercury faculties from true perception; consequently what is expressed through Mercury will be a "false messenger" to other people. With reference to the Great Mandala, let us see how Mercury's potentials can be thwarted and corrupted by misinterpretation of other planetary principles. Misinterpretation simply means false knowing--therefore false understanding.

   The "criminality" that is traditionally ascribed to Mars-square-Mercury is due to a mental coloring of negative egotism. "Me first" is the keyword of this combination. The Great Mandala tells us that "I- AM" (the awareness of individualized Being) is the keyword of Mars' rulership of Aries. The congesting mixture of the Aries vibration with Mercury, as ruler of Gemini, is a picture of "I think in terms of what is expedient for me-- first and last." A criminal is such because he is unaware of, and has no respect for, the "I-AM" of the other fellow. So--his Mercury functions accordingly; he figures the angles," "works the tricks," and "plays the game" according to his limited understanding of "I AM and I Want." This negative preoccupation with "I AM" without consideration of "You Are" does create congestions in thought because we are here to learn how to use the resources of the first three signs for evolutionary expression. The anti-social criminal mind is not very aware of the principle of the sixth sign, Virgo, the Earth- dignity of Mercury, because Virgo is the application of mental powers toward the fulfillment of service-patterns. In turn, service (Virgo) emanates from the heart-center of Leo, and Leo is the first trine (Love-aspect) of the fire- trine initiated by Mars' Aries. The harmonious aspects of Mars-Mercury picture a practical integration in thought. The person can project his thoughts into form and give them objectivity. This is one of the best patterns of picturing the ability to "get things done" because thought is integrated with action and physical expression generally. This pattern emphasizes the masculine areas of consciousness because it adds the dynamic coloring to the thought-processes.

   Venus and Mercury can make only the conjunction, semi-sextile, and sextile aspects to each other. The Venusian vibration, by the sextile, acts as a refining alchemicalization for any congestion of Mercury by other planets. Since Mercury's Gemini and Venus' Libra are trine to each other this planetary aspect points unquestionably to a vibratory resource by which relationship-disharmonies may be adjusted into constructive exchange and mutual good. The sextile from Venus indicates that artistic expression is also an alchemicalization for the harmonizing of mental powers. Venus-Mercury, by conjunction or sextile, adds a touch of refinement to the entire personality which can increase with spiritual maturity. Since Mercury's Virgo is Libra's twelfth house-sign, this aspect between the two planets indicates the improvement of relationship-experiences when service is rendered and the consciousness of fraternity is one of the most significant "adjusters" to all kinds of relationship-congestion or difficulty. This aspect clearly indicates that when the person seeks to learn (Gemini) from relationship he unfolds a sure-fire potential for harmonizing relationship, through the alchemicalization of mutuality. Venus conjunct Mercury squared by a third planet is like a birdling in a nest of thorns. The delicacy and refinement of the conjunction is--to a degree--congested in expression by the third planet; that planet may represent an environment factor or a relationship-factor, but the aspect itself indicates that the person must refine his consciousness toward that situation or relationship and redeem it by expression through Venus. The principle represented by the "squaring planet" must be unfolded into conscious levels by the alchemy of exercising Mercury-Venus.

   Moon square Mercury most certainly activates the mental faculties but the great need shown is concentration. This is the aspect of "scatterbrained-ness." Reference to the Great Mandala is very illuminating: Gemini is Cancer's twelfth house-sign, therefore knowledge and mental organization is the "redemption" of the "instinctive feelings" of Cancer. A chart having this aspect tells us that the Principle of Maternity is one of the important "studies" for the person in this incarnation; the disorganized quality of Mercury in this pattern is due to a weakness in the psychological base of subconscious feeling, and the need is shown to learn the lesson of disciplining the mind against the onslaughts of negatives in subconscious feeling. The mother of this person may have a very pronounced effect on the mind and--since the Moon is the arch-symbol of basic feminine polarity--the aspect pictures a form of negative thinking and expression on the part of the person in a previous female incarnation. So--now, whether male or female, with this aspect the native is susceptible to the mental influences of either the actual mother or to persons who take a mother's place in the life. The Moon is also the "public mind"--the collective instinctive mind of masses of people who are magnetized together through the common denominators of nationality, religion, emotional vibration or mutual activity. The person with Moon square Mercury who seeks to express in public ways must organize his thoughts to be effective. The "mass-mentality" is affected--for good or ill--only by concentration of power. To fulfill such a work-pattern the discipline required for planning, organizing, etc., is the means by which the person is induced to correct the disintegration or "scatteredness" of the square aspect. Mercury's Virgo is third house-sign from Cancer; since Virgo is Earth--and therefore a more concrete expression of Mercury's potentials--the experience-chapter represented by the placement of Virgo in the natal chart may be the most objective channeling for correcting the Mercury square. If Gemini is knowledge, then Virgo is knowledge put to work in practical ways. The instincts represented by the Moon must be trimmed down and focused if knowledge is to be put to practical use.

   The Great Mandala shows Capricorn at the apex of the wheel; its ruler, Saturn, is the Guardian of that gate; he says: "Fulfill your responsibilities to yourself and to others or you cannot pass through into Aquarius and Pisces." In a chart showing Saturn square or opposition to Mercury we see a picture of "organize your mind in this incarnation--or else!" This aspect is a peculiar one because it illustrates, perhaps more clearly than any other, the inherent goodness in a "bad" aspect. Capricorn is Gemini's eighth house-sign; regeneration is through discipline and order. The frustration which seems to be pictured by this aspect is evidently focused in those conditions of the house carrying Gemini, because Gemini is Mercury's mutable sign and, hence, the one that most needs organization. This aspect, in a chart that is primarily cardinal or mutable by planetary placement, is a focus of organization; it "holds back" the Mercury conditions only because the Mercury conditions need to be brought into greater order and clearer system. The cardinal person who just "expresses without plan" or the mutable person who "just floats" needs to be focused on points of needed fulfillment. The fixed person who has Saturn square Mercury can, if he will, use his Mercury to learn about the results of unadaptability. He has, in the past, "buried deep" in set patterns of thought and reaction; consequently when he is timed for "new things" he tends to resist and resent the changing of his conditions. This person can be--usually is--highly concentrated with, perhaps, a wonderful focus of mentality, but he tends to think about everything, or learn anything, from a very set approach. He will, in time, sicken inside himself at the crystallization of his conditions and affairs and seek to expand through change. Saturn square Mercury, in a fixed chart, can picture mental or intellectual fear, and to experience the desire to know more will prove an effective release for the mental congestions and from that level to an improvement of psychological conditions. Any chart with Saturn square Mercury will have to be synthesized and analyzed carefully to determine if the purpose of the aspect is to organize tendencies that incline to be scattered or to observe the results of over-crystallization. Life is a sequence of emanations: the best of the past (Saturn) made its contribution to the best of the present. The person with Saturn square Mercury may tend to resist and resent the past (the old, crystallized, and out-dated) as no longer practical or needed. However, if he uses his Mercury he will study the old to determine its constructive value to the present. This decrystallizes the feeling of frustration and results in turning the combined powers of Saturn and Mercury to good account.

   Further, Saturn rules the cardinal sign which initiates the Earth trine--the third octave of which is Mercury's Virgo. The spiritual lesson is this: since "third octave" means "Wisdom," perfect fulfillment on any level adds to the resource of wisdom--since wisdom is distilled from experience. Book-knowledge (Gemini) is the first step in understanding, but all claims to understanding are put to concrete testings in the processes of living. Therefore, in valid service-contributions we prove whether or not we know whereof we speak. So, with Saturn square Mercury, knowledge must be demonstrated in the kind of living that is true service; this is the evidence of the wisdom-octave of Mercury's vibration.

   Uranus, ruler of one fixed sign and exalted in another, adds a touch of what might be called "implacability" when square to Mercury. Uranus "inspires" Mercury with the genius of inventiveness because Uranus is the symbol of individuality that expresses creatively. But this aspect can mean "lock-jaw" for Mercury because the thought-processes are filtered through an intense resource of emotionality. Immovable opinionatedness is pictured by this aspect--it is the picture of the fanatic mind. A genius may need this deep certainty in order to fulfill his great purposes; he is focused on a great fulfillment and he cannot afford, in many cases, to be too responsive to, or influenced by, the thoughts of others. He must live and fulfill through his individuality however unorthodox or eccentric he may appear. He can be a tyrant or despot, master criminal or inspired scientist, but his mind is revolutionary in its effect; his mental expressions are charged with power--for good or for ill. However, geniuses are few and far between; the average person with this aspect may be evolving a genius-potential, but mental adaptability is one of the things needed in evolutionary processes--we have to be free inside to learn more and more as we climb the ladder. A mediocre person with Uranus square Mercury may feel, "I know it all--don't tell me anything." Life, by activating the Uranus, may elasticize him in radical ways by bringing about changes in such an abrupt fashion that the person's world either expands with life or it disintegrates through resistance to needed changes. Gemini is the root of fraternal consciousness; Uranus' Aquarius is its spiritualized octave; when the two rulers are square we have a possible portrait of a person whose experience in this incarnation is tuning him for the first time to the concept of universal brotherhood and this is an octave of consciousness that is way over the mind and heart of the average person. So, "catching a first glimpse," the person may talk fraternity beyond his ability to realize it and live it--except in a sort of "pretend-way." He may--and usually does--proselytize a great deal on this subject and bash his head against the wall of rock-like conservatism. This aspect is the symbol--par excellence--of the "parlor pink;" it is also the symbol--let's face it--of a person who is contacting astrological or psychological thought for the first time. The Uranus vibration interjects newness of mental perspectives. We may be catapulted into a Uranus vibration during the course of one incarnation but we do not adjust to that vibration except in several incarnations. Uranus square Mercury simply means that in this incarnation the mental powers and the intellectual capacities are encountering a newness that was never known before. Uranus trine Mercury is an established mental adjustment to an impersonal pattern; individuality is here timed for "flowering" and the person expresses naturally in this transcendent vibration that refers to "that which is progressive." This person can learn from the all-over picture--he can think in terms of the race, not the limited conditions of the local group. This aspect, on whatever evolutionary level, is outlet for a potential of genius because, with the trine, Mercury is organized for expression.

   In conclusion, connect the cusps of the third, sixth, ninth, and twelfth houses of the Great Mandala by straight lines; the result is the mutable square, the congestions of Mercury through the defects of Jupiter and Neptune, and the negative potentials of Jupiter and Neptune created by the basis of unorganized Mercury. If Mercury is "talk, tell, and communicate," Jupiter is "teach" and Neptune is "inspire." We give information through Mercury but we radiate wisdom--distilled from our experiences--through Jupiter to ignite the latent Wisdom of our "younger brothers and sisters." Through Neptune we "ignite the souls of people" and this ignition can only be radiated from a consciousness that is centered on true perception; this perception, in turn, is evolved from the constructive exercises of Mercury. The upper octaves of Mercury, when congested, represent potentials for "perversion of truth;" when they congest Mercury then the faculty of intellectual organization is "tampered with" through subtle false concepts that have been built in past incarnations. All conditions represented in a chart by congested Jupiter and Neptune represent a need to gain truthful information from facts that pertain to those conditions and experiences--that means use Mercury objectively, unemotionally, and concisely. Facts, not beliefs; statements, not implications; proofs that are realizable not just blindly and credulously accepted through mental laziness are the Mercury correctives for Jupiter and Neptune congestions. The "base" of the mutable cross is formed by two Mercury signs to give reliable foundation to the truthful realizations of Jupiter and Neptune; they, in turn, are to provide scope on more and more abstracted octaves for the exercise of the Mercury faculties. We understand a literal picture, then a word, then a number, then a symbol, then a concept, then a principle, and then an ideal. To understand the nature of ideals (Neptune) is the flowering of the Mercury-potentials, because in ideals is found the esoteric reality of all manifested life.
Foreword

   So much favorable comment has come to us concerning the astrological articles by Elman Bacher which appeared in our Rays from the Rose Cross during past years that we feel sure this volume Will be cordially welcomed by all students of spiritual astrology.

   Mr. Bacher's profound knowledge of and devotion to the stellar science, along with an uncanny understanding of human nature, made it possible for him to present material which undoubtedly places him among the best of modern esoteric astrologers. As the truth and value of astrology become more and more generally accepted, his presentations will serve increasingly to help people know themselves and fulfill their highest destiny.

   Before his passing in 1951, Mr. Bacher expressed a keen desire to have us publish his articles in book form, and although we deeply regret that he is not here to see the culmination of his desire, we are happy in knowing that his wish is now being fulfilled.

  
Introduction

   To the Rosicrucian student astrology is a phase of religion, basically a spiritual science. More than any other study it reveals man to himself. No other science is so sublime, so profound, and so all- embracing. It portrays the relation between God, the macrocosm, and man, the microcosm, showing them to be fundamentally one.

   Occult science, investigating the subtler forces that impinge upon man, the Spirit, and his vehicles, has charted their effects with no less definiteness than has academic science the reactions of sea and soil, plant and animal to the solar and lunar rays.

   With this knowledge we may determine the astrological pattern of each individual and know the relative strength and weakness of the various forces operating in each life. To the degree that we are in possession of such knowledge we can begin systematic, scientific character building--and characterise destiny! We note times and seasons cosmically advantageous to unfolding undeveloped qualities, correcting faulty traits, and eliminating destructive propensities.

   The divine science of astrology reveals the hidden causes at work in our lives. It counsels the adult in regard to vocation, the parent in the guidance of children, the teacher in management of pupils, the physician in diagnosing diseases, thus lending aid to each and all ill whatever position they may find themselves.

   No other subject within the range of human knowledge appears to hold for this day and age the possibilities open to astrologers for helping people to their own dignity as gods-in-the-making, to a greater grasp of universal law, and to a realization that we are eternally secure within the caressing fold of Infinite Life and Boundless Being.

Chapter I
Mars: The Principle of Energy

   As the Sun symbolizes the creative center of things, so Mars stands for the energy which flows, like blood, through the life of manifestations and makes possible all forms of growth, sustainment, and progress. Mars may be called the Sun's "right-hand-man." The two together synthesize the masculine polarity and, in primitive or undeveloped types, who live in emotion and desire rather than in will, Mars takes the place of the Sun until certain stages of evolution have been transcended.

   Mars is essentially egotistical, separative, frictional, and dynamic. His is the voice of I am, I want, I will get, I defend myself, I defeat my enemies, I must survive. It is through his vibration that we see other manifestations of life-people, experiences, things-as obstacles to be overcome. They, in our consciousness, stand as threats to our life, satisfactions, and progress.

   Thus, Mars is seen, in the horoscope, as the center from which we struggle for self-sustainment--on all planes. He represents our degree of eagerness to live, our determination to keep going, our urge upward and onward; he is the steely eye, facing the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Mars, unregenerate, is I will have what I want--at whatever the cost to others; regenerate, is alchemicalized into the shining gold of courage--his cardinal virtue.

   Thus, we see that Mars is the maker of karma, because he is our projection into life. He is the basis for action, but not its fulfillment. He is the objectification of consciousness because in what we do we reflect that which we are. Through Mars we live in, and for, ourselves, but when energy is expressed in terms of union with others (the Venus vibration) then Mars finds his regeneration.

   Mars, as energy, is the principle of work. His degree of expression indicates how we bring zest, enthusiasm, force, and drive into that form of experience which represents our contribution to life and the channels through which we make a living. There is a universe of difference, in consciousness, between work and labor. In the first, we do the thing we want to do, as a form of self-expression and psychological release; in the second, we simply do something for the pay involved. To the first we bring an urge of the heart to do our best, in terms of action; in the second, material self-sustainment is the only concern--a routine, automatic doing in order to make money.

   Mars, as the principle of work, does not necessarily mean a Mars type of work. A musician, poet, philosopher, teacher, nurse, lecturer, or what-not can bring to his line of activity this principle of work-as-fulfillment. Mars shows how strong is the urge to work, to self-expression, to effort, to development; any afflicted, or inhibitive, aspect to Mars in the chart shows a depletion of urge, a scattering of energy, a lack of courage, and a tendency to knuckle under rather than to carve out destiny.

   We must not confuse the indications of a talent with the indications for a life work. A person may have all the indications of being a gifted artist of some kind, but if Mars is not connected with this pattern, the art expression cannot be taken as the vocational pattern, since his urge is not expressed through it. He may use it as a hobby or for creative release in some way, but his life-work pattern, to be authentic, must include some degree of the Mars vibration to insure success and fullest accomplishment. Anyone who follows, as a life work, some activity unconnected with his Mars potential, does not, and cannot, really work-he just labors and struggles and wonders why he can't seem to get ahead, and ultimately insuring unhappiness for himself. Mars, as a factor of the life-work-pattern, may show by direct aspect to other planets involved, by being strong himself, or by his dispositorship of others.

   In line with present-day concepts of constructive psychology, we know that much internal disorder is due to the misdirections of Mars, because Mars is the prime symbol of the sex impulse, the creative motivation of all life. In the vibration of Mars, mankind finds one of its chief sources of Ego-expression through the accomplishment of sex exchange-- or, as undeveloped people express it, sex conquest. Mars, as conquest, in this reference is seen as an expression of utter selfishness, in which the satisfaction of the desire urge is the only objective. It is only when this urge is experienced in terms of mutuality that "exchange" takes place. In this case, Mars, through Venus, is gradually redeemed or regenerated into higher and higher expressions of love.

   In primitive life, Mars finds its feminine counterpart in the Moon. One is the urge to initiate or project life, the other is the urge to bear and nurture it. The Mars-Moon pattern in the horoscope of either male or female may be described as the desire potential; Mars-Venus is the love potential, and the Sun must be taken into account in the analysis of the parenthood potential. Synthesis of the patterns of Mars, Moon, Sun, and Venus will indicate the possibilities of fulfillments, frustrations, predominant emotional tendencies, and polarity urges of the person's nature. Careful attention to the afflicted aspect that exists between any two of these planets that is most nearly exact by degree will indicate the pattern that contains the most deeply rooted potential for frustration or disharmony in the emotional nature.

   Space does not permit a complete, detailed discussion of Mars all its patterns with all the other planets, but, because we are primarily concerned with psychological factors in astrology, we must, at this time, offer some material in reference to Mars and the sex urge. In recent years, the sexual factor of human nature has been the object of intensive study on the part of all people who seek to assist others in their development, and the astro-analyst has a big contribution to make in this connection. He sees in the horoscope a picture, like an X-ray, of the emotional potentialities, not just as static patterns of reaction, but, karmically, as expressions of the Law of Cause and Effect--from the past, through the present, and pointing to the future. We are now concerned with "afflicted" aspects.

   Mars-Moon: The subconscious mind is charged with unfulfilled, disordered sex pictures; sexual reactions are easily aroused and, when expressed, are done so with intensity. Great wastage can result if scientific and spiritual sex instruction is neglected--the subconscious pictures must be cleansed and re-organized. Parents should allow sex awareness to come into the lives of such children without fear or "nasty-niceness" because these false attitudes only serve to make the problem more difficult. Naturally honest and honorable approaches should be made as soon as the child evinces sex interest. His energies should be given constructive and productive outlets, and, without undue strictness or harshness, the child's early life should contain a certain routine of activity that can serve as a mold for his energy outlets. Well balanced physical training is very beneficial, since the organism then has a chance to develop through energy output, and wholesome respect for the physical body can be inculcated. The child must be taught respect for his sex organism, and with such redirection of his subconscious, healthy attitudes may be absorbed. These factors become comparatively more important to the degree that Mars is strong by sign (Aries, and particularly Scorpio and Capricorn) and/or if the Moon is in Scorpio and the planetary occupancy of water signs is marked.

   Mars-Venus: The fires of Mars (desire-passion), when distilled through the alchemy of Venus result in the flowering of human love because Venus is the result of energy expressed in terms of the other fellow. Venus in the chart may be strong by sign, aspects, etc., but if Mars is weak, then the love potential is slight. In this case, Venus would be identified as culture, artistic or social abilities, love of beauty, etc. The love potential is clearly shown as a possibility of fruition if Mars and Venus are in aspect to each other--the desire impulse then has a direct contact with its alchemical agency, but careful synthesis must be made regarding possible factors of frustration or inhibition of this process.

   When Mars is strong and Venus weak, if the two aspect each other the pattern shows a possibility, in this incarnation, of developing the love nature. This pattern shows a predominance of the masculine impulse (initiative, conquest, etc.), which, for flowering, must be harmoniously cultivated. When Venus is the stronger, and Mars is debilitated, then the receptive, or feminine qualities, predominate and the person is sub- consciously attracted to a more positive or dynamic partner. Mars square Venus is a detriment to the expression of Venus, however well aspected she may be otherwise, because she does not, in this case, receive the dynamic impulse in constructive or fruitful form. The result of this aspect may show as: a deep urge to love, but the inability to express it; the tendency to express love in terms of ego assertion rather than heart expression; an over-predominance of the basic masculine qualities that creates an unresponsiveness to the feminine expressions of life--or a lack of understanding of them; the person may prefer to live his life in terms of work rather than love.

   Mars-Uranus: This, on the emotional plane, is dynamite. The potential for passion is very great and, if Venus is connected, love may be developed to extraordinary degrees. Intensity is the keyword, whatever the expression. Since Uranus is the fusion of Mars-Venus into creativity, this aspect shows a tremendous urge to create or invent, in some way, and the aspect shows the need for much control and direction. Inhibited, the dynamic energies can be banked up and choked to such a degree that there is great danger of destructive outbursts, emotionally or physically.

   The negative expressions of Mars-Uranus combinations show that energy may be wasted or dispersed in extreme degrees and, in the sexual expressions of life, this aspect indicates a pattern of unregenerate sex as protest or lawlessness. This is a symbol of possible libertinism-the person may scatter himself as the impulse moves him; he doesn't want to--or can't--be held down to what he calls "limitations" or "bondage of relationship." He is, in his terms, a "free soul;" so free is he that, emotionally, he can't keep his feet on the ground at all-but flits hither and thither. Such a person should be advised that unless love impulses are molded into constructive and fruitful forms, nothing but wastage is the result.

   Other conditions allowing, Mars-Uranus can indicate the possibilities of powerful sublimations, if the energies are directed. A cause, an ideal, a lifework, any of these may be the channel through which the person redirects his sex potentials into impersonal expressions. This process presupposes a strong willpower, and if such is lacking in the chart, the scattering of this intense expression of Mars energy can result in very difficult and painful karma. Mars-Uranus also indicates a possibility of perverse expressions of sex through over-balance of the masculine polarity, and emotional balance and fulfillment difficult to attain. This pattern should be carefully compared with the feminine indications in order to ascertain the possibilities of emotional integration.

   Mars-Neptune: In this afflicted pattern we have a symbol of many obscure and difficult-to-put-the-finger-on conditions that have been the object of re-search by psychiatrists and psychologists for many years. It is an indication of a high-strung and easily affected nervous system which, under certain types of stimuli, can result in serious deviations of the sex-impulse. We may describe this pattern as sex-illusion.

   Attended by a pattern of frustration, this Neptune influence may cause the person to seek release through the "liberations" of drink and/or drugs. The organism is sensitive to these stimuli, and since--or if--the love potential is deficient, the person has the urge to find his sexual releases through false and illusionary forms. These releases are unhealthy, destructive and, because the lower astral vibrations are repeatedly contacted, very contaminating. The energy releases are diffused into "dreams" and emotional health retarded-in extreme cases, destroyed completely.

   However, reactions to drink and drugs can be corrected by therapeutics; Mars-Neptune can indicate something even worse-- expressing the sexual nature and impulses through symbols. In this form of pathology, subconscious pictures have been brought over in which the person does not, or cannot, express his sex urges with another person at all--he can only be stimulated by some inanimate thing which symbolizes to him an object of desire. These perverse forms can only be uprooted by careful analysis and therapeutic or spiritual psychology. Something "devilish-way down deep" has become an emotional reality to the person which twists and deflects his urges out of all normal perspective. Check the chart carefully for every indication of possible healthy emotional expression, by which the person's sex impulses may be brought into alignment with the reality of human patterns.

   The above pertains to extreme or complicated conditions involving Mars and Neptune, and of course other factors must contribute to indications of such perverse tendencies. However, Mars-Neptune does indicate some form of sex expressions that deviates from the norm. Let us consider a few possibilities of regenerating this pattern:

   Energy may be sublimated through creative art, music, or drama; work may be found dealing with the healing professions; devotion to human welfare in some form could be a splendid corrective measure in redirecting the desire nature; knowledge and understanding of sex, physiologically, psychologically, and esoterically, would certainly serve to clarify the mental pictures so that the person could, to greater degree, understand his problem; establishment of cleanliness as a factor in his physical habits could bring his consciousness into attunement with the ideal of inner and outer purity; and, above all, establishing in the consciousness the goal of love by which all desire impulses find their regeneration.

   Mars-Saturn: The essence of emotional frustration. To the degree that Mars is strong by sign and aspects, this frustrating pattern can create trouble and pain, and cause the person to develop all manner of complexes, inferiorities, self-deficiencies, and fears. Study the chart esoterically to determine the purpose of this frustration--why is the person being held back by Saturn? What must he fulfill through Saturn. Then, when fulfillment of the responsibility has been made, what avenues does Mars have for constructive, creative, and healthy living. This aspect serves a serious purpose, wherever found in the chart. Mars has been misused in the past, and now must by karma, be held in restraint, for his energies are needed to rebuild a distorted pattern. Appeal to the person's self-respect, honor, and courage--he must understand that the inhibitive force must be dealt with and so transcended. 

Introduction

   To the Rosicrucian student astrology is a phase of religion, basically a spiritual science. More than any other study it reveals man to himself. No other science is so sublime, so profound, and so all- embracing. It portrays the relation between God, the macrocosm, and man, the microcosm, showing them to be fundamentally one.

   Occult science, investigating the subtler forces that impinge upon man, the Spirit, and his vehicles, has charted their effects with no less definiteness than has academic science the reactions of sea and soil, plant and animal to the solar and lunar rays.

   With this knowledge we may determine the astrological pattern of each individual and know the relative strength and weakness of the various forces operating in each life. To the degree that we are in possession of such knowledge we can begin systematic, scientific character building--and characterise destiny! We note times and seasons cosmically advantageous to unfolding undeveloped qualities, correcting faulty traits, and eliminating destructive propensities.

   The divine science of astrology reveals the hidden causes at work in our lives. It counsels the adult in regard to vocation, the parent in the guidance of children, the teacher in management of pupils, the physician in diagnosing diseases, thus lending aid to each and all ill whatever position they may find themselves.

   No other subject within the range of human knowledge appears to hold for this day and age the possibilities open to astrologers for helping people to their own dignity as gods-in-the-making, to a greater grasp of universal law, and to a realization that we are eternally secure within the caressing fold of Infinite Life and Boundless Being.

Chapter I
Mars: The Principle of Energy

   As the Sun symbolizes the creative center of things, so Mars stands for the energy which flows, like blood, through the life of manifestations and makes possible all forms of growth, sustainment, and progress. Mars may be called the Sun's "right-hand-man." The two together synthesize the masculine polarity and, in primitive or undeveloped types, who live in emotion and desire rather than in will, Mars takes the place of the Sun until certain stages of evolution have been transcended.

   Mars is essentially egotistical, separative, frictional, and dynamic. His is the voice of I am, I want, I will get, I defend myself, I defeat my enemies, I must survive. It is through his vibration that we see other manifestations of life-people, experiences, things-as obstacles to be overcome. They, in our consciousness, stand as threats to our life, satisfactions, and progress.

   Thus, Mars is seen, in the horoscope, as the center from which we struggle for self-sustainment--on all planes. He represents our degree of eagerness to live, our determination to keep going, our urge upward and onward; he is the steely eye, facing the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Mars, unregenerate, is I will have what I want--at whatever the cost to others; regenerate, is alchemicalized into the shining gold of courage--his cardinal virtue.

   Thus, we see that Mars is the maker of karma, because he is our projection into life. He is the basis for action, but not its fulfillment. He is the objectification of consciousness because in what we do we reflect that which we are. Through Mars we live in, and for, ourselves, but when energy is expressed in terms of union with others (the Venus vibration) then Mars finds his regeneration.

   Mars, as energy, is the principle of work. His degree of expression indicates how we bring zest, enthusiasm, force, and drive into that form of experience which represents our contribution to life and the channels through which we make a living. There is a universe of difference, in consciousness, between work and labor. In the first, we do the thing we want to do, as a form of self-expression and psychological release; in the second, we simply do something for the pay involved. To the first we bring an urge of the heart to do our best, in terms of action; in the second, material self-sustainment is the only concern--a routine, automatic doing in order to make money.

   Mars, as the principle of work, does not necessarily mean a Mars type of work. A musician, poet, philosopher, teacher, nurse, lecturer, or what-not can bring to his line of activity this principle of work-as-fulfillment. Mars shows how strong is the urge to work, to self-expression, to effort, to development; any afflicted, or inhibitive, aspect to Mars in the chart shows a depletion of urge, a scattering of energy, a lack of courage, and a tendency to knuckle under rather than to carve out destiny.

   We must not confuse the indications of a talent with the indications for a life work. A person may have all the indications of being a gifted artist of some kind, but if Mars is not connected with this pattern, the art expression cannot be taken as the vocational pattern, since his urge is not expressed through it. He may use it as a hobby or for creative release in some way, but his life-work pattern, to be authentic, must include some degree of the Mars vibration to insure success and fullest accomplishment. Anyone who follows, as a life work, some activity unconnected with his Mars potential, does not, and cannot, really work-he just labors and struggles and wonders why he can't seem to get ahead, and ultimately insuring unhappiness for himself. Mars, as a factor of the life-work-pattern, may show by direct aspect to other planets involved, by being strong himself, or by his dispositorship of others.

   In line with present-day concepts of constructive psychology, we know that much internal disorder is due to the misdirections of Mars, because Mars is the prime symbol of the sex impulse, the creative motivation of all life. In the vibration of Mars, mankind finds one of its chief sources of Ego-expression through the accomplishment of sex exchange-- or, as undeveloped people express it, sex conquest. Mars, as conquest, in this reference is seen as an expression of utter selfishness, in which the satisfaction of the desire urge is the only objective. It is only when this urge is experienced in terms of mutuality that "exchange" takes place. In this case, Mars, through Venus, is gradually redeemed or regenerated into higher and higher expressions of love.

   In primitive life, Mars finds its feminine counterpart in the Moon. One is the urge to initiate or project life, the other is the urge to bear and nurture it. The Mars-Moon pattern in the horoscope of either male or female may be described as the desire potential; Mars-Venus is the love potential, and the Sun must be taken into account in the analysis of the parenthood potential. Synthesis of the patterns of Mars, Moon, Sun, and Venus will indicate the possibilities of fulfillments, frustrations, predominant emotional tendencies, and polarity urges of the person's nature. Careful attention to the afflicted aspect that exists between any two of these planets that is most nearly exact by degree will indicate the pattern that contains the most deeply rooted potential for frustration or disharmony in the emotional nature.

   Space does not permit a complete, detailed discussion of Mars all its patterns with all the other planets, but, because we are primarily concerned with psychological factors in astrology, we must, at this time, offer some material in reference to Mars and the sex urge. In recent years, the sexual factor of human nature has been the object of intensive study on the part of all people who seek to assist others in their development, and the astro-analyst has a big contribution to make in this connection. He sees in the horoscope a picture, like an X-ray, of the emotional potentialities, not just as static patterns of reaction, but, karmically, as expressions of the Law of Cause and Effect--from the past, through the present, and pointing to the future. We are now concerned with "afflicted" aspects.

   Mars-Moon: The subconscious mind is charged with unfulfilled, disordered sex pictures; sexual reactions are easily aroused and, when expressed, are done so with intensity. Great wastage can result if scientific and spiritual sex instruction is neglected--the subconscious pictures must be cleansed and re-organized. Parents should allow sex awareness to come into the lives of such children without fear or "nasty-niceness" because these false attitudes only serve to make the problem more difficult. Naturally honest and honorable approaches should be made as soon as the child evinces sex interest. His energies should be given constructive and productive outlets, and, without undue strictness or harshness, the child's early life should contain a certain routine of activity that can serve as a mold for his energy outlets. Well balanced physical training is very beneficial, since the organism then has a chance to develop through energy output, and wholesome respect for the physical body can be inculcated. The child must be taught respect for his sex organism, and with such redirection of his subconscious, healthy attitudes may be absorbed. These factors become comparatively more important to the degree that Mars is strong by sign (Aries, and particularly Scorpio and Capricorn) and/or if the Moon is in Scorpio and the planetary occupancy of water signs is marked.

   Mars-Venus: The fires of Mars (desire-passion), when distilled through the alchemy of Venus result in the flowering of human love because Venus is the result of energy expressed in terms of the other fellow. Venus in the chart may be strong by sign, aspects, etc., but if Mars is weak, then the love potential is slight. In this case, Venus would be identified as culture, artistic or social abilities, love of beauty, etc. The love potential is clearly shown as a possibility of fruition if Mars and Venus are in aspect to each other--the desire impulse then has a direct contact with its alchemical agency, but careful synthesis must be made regarding possible factors of frustration or inhibition of this process.

   When Mars is strong and Venus weak, if the two aspect each other the pattern shows a possibility, in this incarnation, of developing the love nature. This pattern shows a predominance of the masculine impulse (initiative, conquest, etc.), which, for flowering, must be harmoniously cultivated. When Venus is the stronger, and Mars is debilitated, then the receptive, or feminine qualities, predominate and the person is sub- consciously attracted to a more positive or dynamic partner. Mars square Venus is a detriment to the expression of Venus, however well aspected she may be otherwise, because she does not, in this case, receive the dynamic impulse in constructive or fruitful form. The result of this aspect may show as: a deep urge to love, but the inability to express it; the tendency to express love in terms of ego assertion rather than heart expression; an over-predominance of the basic masculine qualities that creates an unresponsiveness to the feminine expressions of life--or a lack of understanding of them; the person may prefer to live his life in terms of work rather than love.

   Mars-Uranus: This, on the emotional plane, is dynamite. The potential for passion is very great and, if Venus is connected, love may be developed to extraordinary degrees. Intensity is the keyword, whatever the expression. Since Uranus is the fusion of Mars-Venus into creativity, this aspect shows a tremendous urge to create or invent, in some way, and the aspect shows the need for much control and direction. Inhibited, the dynamic energies can be banked up and choked to such a degree that there is great danger of destructive outbursts, emotionally or physically.

   The negative expressions of Mars-Uranus combinations show that energy may be wasted or dispersed in extreme degrees and, in the sexual expressions of life, this aspect indicates a pattern of unregenerate sex as protest or lawlessness. This is a symbol of possible libertinism-the person may scatter himself as the impulse moves him; he doesn't want to--or can't--be held down to what he calls "limitations" or "bondage of relationship." He is, in his terms, a "free soul;" so free is he that, emotionally, he can't keep his feet on the ground at all-but flits hither and thither. Such a person should be advised that unless love impulses are molded into constructive and fruitful forms, nothing but wastage is the result.

   Other conditions allowing, Mars-Uranus can indicate the possibilities of powerful sublimations, if the energies are directed. A cause, an ideal, a lifework, any of these may be the channel through which the person redirects his sex potentials into impersonal expressions. This process presupposes a strong willpower, and if such is lacking in the chart, the scattering of this intense expression of Mars energy can result in very difficult and painful karma. Mars-Uranus also indicates a possibility of perverse expressions of sex through over-balance of the masculine polarity, and emotional balance and fulfillment difficult to attain. This pattern should be carefully compared with the feminine indications in order to ascertain the possibilities of emotional integration.

   Mars-Neptune: In this afflicted pattern we have a symbol of many obscure and difficult-to-put-the-finger-on conditions that have been the object of re-search by psychiatrists and psychologists for many years. It is an indication of a high-strung and easily affected nervous system which, under certain types of stimuli, can result in serious deviations of the sex-impulse. We may describe this pattern as sex-illusion.

   Attended by a pattern of frustration, this Neptune influence may cause the person to seek release through the "liberations" of drink and/or drugs. The organism is sensitive to these stimuli, and since--or if--the love potential is deficient, the person has the urge to find his sexual releases through false and illusionary forms. These releases are unhealthy, destructive and, because the lower astral vibrations are repeatedly contacted, very contaminating. The energy releases are diffused into "dreams" and emotional health retarded-in extreme cases, destroyed completely.

   However, reactions to drink and drugs can be corrected by therapeutics; Mars-Neptune can indicate something even worse-- expressing the sexual nature and impulses through symbols. In this form of pathology, subconscious pictures have been brought over in which the person does not, or cannot, express his sex urges with another person at all--he can only be stimulated by some inanimate thing which symbolizes to him an object of desire. These perverse forms can only be uprooted by careful analysis and therapeutic or spiritual psychology. Something "devilish-way down deep" has become an emotional reality to the person which twists and deflects his urges out of all normal perspective. Check the chart carefully for every indication of possible healthy emotional expression, by which the person's sex impulses may be brought into alignment with the reality of human patterns.

   The above pertains to extreme or complicated conditions involving Mars and Neptune, and of course other factors must contribute to indications of such perverse tendencies. However, Mars-Neptune does indicate some form of sex expressions that deviates from the norm. Let us consider a few possibilities of regenerating this pattern:

   Energy may be sublimated through creative art, music, or drama; work may be found dealing with the healing professions; devotion to human welfare in some form could be a splendid corrective measure in redirecting the desire nature; knowledge and understanding of sex, physiologically, psychologically, and esoterically, would certainly serve to clarify the mental pictures so that the person could, to greater degree, understand his problem; establishment of cleanliness as a factor in his physical habits could bring his consciousness into attunement with the ideal of inner and outer purity; and, above all, establishing in the consciousness the goal of love by which all desire impulses find their regeneration.

   Mars-Saturn: The essence of emotional frustration. To the degree that Mars is strong by sign and aspects, this frustrating pattern can create trouble and pain, and cause the person to develop all manner of complexes, inferiorities, self-deficiencies, and fears. Study the chart esoterically to determine the purpose of this frustration--why is the person being held back by Saturn? What must he fulfill through Saturn. Then, when fulfillment of the responsibility has been made, what avenues does Mars have for constructive, creative, and healthy living. This aspect serves a serious purpose, wherever found in the chart. Mars has been misused in the past, and now must by karma, be held in restraint, for his energies are needed to rebuild a distorted pattern. Appeal to the person's self-respect, honor, and courage--he must understand that the inhibitive force must be dealt with and so transcended.
 Mars: The Principle of Energy

   As the Sun symbolizes the creative center of things, so Mars stands for the energy which flows, like blood, through the life of manifestations and makes possible all forms of growth, sustainment, and progress. Mars may be called the Sun's "right-hand-man." The two together synthesize the masculine polarity and, in primitive or undeveloped types, who live in emotion and desire rather than in will, Mars takes the place of the Sun until certain stages of evolution have been transcended.

   Mars is essentially egotistical, separative, frictional, and dynamic. His is the voice of I am, I want, I will get, I defend myself, I defeat my enemies, I must survive. It is through his vibration that we see other manifestations of life-people, experiences, things-as obstacles to be overcome. They, in our consciousness, stand as threats to our life, satisfactions, and progress.

   Thus, Mars is seen, in the horoscope, as the center from which we struggle for self-sustainment--on all planes. He represents our degree of eagerness to live, our determination to keep going, our urge upward and onward; he is the steely eye, facing the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Mars, unregenerate, is I will have what I want--at whatever the cost to others; regenerate, is alchemicalized into the shining gold of courage--his cardinal virtue.

   Thus, we see that Mars is the maker of karma, because he is our projection into life. He is the basis for action, but not its fulfillment. He is the objectification of consciousness because in what we do we reflect that which we are. Through Mars we live in, and for, ourselves, but when energy is expressed in terms of union with others (the Venus vibration) then Mars finds his regeneration.

   Mars, as energy, is the principle of work. His degree of expression indicates how we bring zest, enthusiasm, force, and drive into that form of experience which represents our contribution to life and the channels through which we make a living. There is a universe of difference, in consciousness, between work and labor. In the first, we do the thing we want to do, as a form of self-expression and psychological release; in the second, we simply do something for the pay involved. To the first we bring an urge of the heart to do our best, in terms of action; in the second, material self-sustainment is the only concern--a routine, automatic doing in order to make money.

   Mars, as the principle of work, does not necessarily mean a Mars type of work. A musician, poet, philosopher, teacher, nurse, lecturer, or what-not can bring to his line of activity this principle of work-as-fulfillment. Mars shows how strong is the urge to work, to self-expression, to effort, to development; any afflicted, or inhibitive, aspect to Mars in the chart shows a depletion of urge, a scattering of energy, a lack of courage, and a tendency to knuckle under rather than to carve out destiny.

   We must not confuse the indications of a talent with the indications for a life work. A person may have all the indications of being a gifted artist of some kind, but if Mars is not connected with this pattern, the art expression cannot be taken as the vocational pattern, since his urge is not expressed through it. He may use it as a hobby or for creative release in some way, but his life-work pattern, to be authentic, must include some degree of the Mars vibration to insure success and fullest accomplishment. Anyone who follows, as a life work, some activity unconnected with his Mars potential, does not, and cannot, really work-he just labors and struggles and wonders why he can't seem to get ahead, and ultimately insuring unhappiness for himself. Mars, as a factor of the life-work-pattern, may show by direct aspect to other planets involved, by being strong himself, or by his dispositorship of others.

   In line with present-day concepts of constructive psychology, we know that much internal disorder is due to the misdirections of Mars, because Mars is the prime symbol of the sex impulse, the creative motivation of all life. In the vibration of Mars, mankind finds one of its chief sources of Ego-expression through the accomplishment of sex exchange-- or, as undeveloped people express it, sex conquest. Mars, as conquest, in this reference is seen as an expression of utter selfishness, in which the satisfaction of the desire urge is the only objective. It is only when this urge is experienced in terms of mutuality that "exchange" takes place. In this case, Mars, through Venus, is gradually redeemed or regenerated into higher and higher expressions of love.

   In primitive life, Mars finds its feminine counterpart in the Moon. One is the urge to initiate or project life, the other is the urge to bear and nurture it. The Mars-Moon pattern in the horoscope of either male or female may be described as the desire potential; Mars-Venus is the love potential, and the Sun must be taken into account in the analysis of the parenthood potential. Synthesis of the patterns of Mars, Moon, Sun, and Venus will indicate the possibilities of fulfillments, frustrations, predominant emotional tendencies, and polarity urges of the person's nature. Careful attention to the afflicted aspect that exists between any two of these planets that is most nearly exact by degree will indicate the pattern that contains the most deeply rooted potential for frustration or disharmony in the emotional nature.

   Space does not permit a complete, detailed discussion of Mars all its patterns with all the other planets, but, because we are primarily concerned with psychological factors in astrology, we must, at this time, offer some material in reference to Mars and the sex urge. In recent years, the sexual factor of human nature has been the object of intensive study on the part of all people who seek to assist others in their development, and the astro-analyst has a big contribution to make in this connection. He sees in the horoscope a picture, like an X-ray, of the emotional potentialities, not just as static patterns of reaction, but, karmically, as expressions of the Law of Cause and Effect--from the past, through the present, and pointing to the future. We are now concerned with "afflicted" aspects.

   Mars-Moon: The subconscious mind is charged with unfulfilled, disordered sex pictures; sexual reactions are easily aroused and, when expressed, are done so with intensity. Great wastage can result if scientific and spiritual sex instruction is neglected--the subconscious pictures must be cleansed and re-organized. Parents should allow sex awareness to come into the lives of such children without fear or "nasty-niceness" because these false attitudes only serve to make the problem more difficult. Naturally honest and honorable approaches should be made as soon as the child evinces sex interest. His energies should be given constructive and productive outlets, and, without undue strictness or harshness, the child's early life should contain a certain routine of activity that can serve as a mold for his energy outlets. Well balanced physical training is very beneficial, since the organism then has a chance to develop through energy output, and wholesome respect for the physical body can be inculcated. The child must be taught respect for his sex organism, and with such redirection of his subconscious, healthy attitudes may be absorbed. These factors become comparatively more important to the degree that Mars is strong by sign (Aries, and particularly Scorpio and Capricorn) and/or if the Moon is in Scorpio and the planetary occupancy of water signs is marked.

   Mars-Venus: The fires of Mars (desire-passion), when distilled through the alchemy of Venus result in the flowering of human love because Venus is the result of energy expressed in terms of the other fellow. Venus in the chart may be strong by sign, aspects, etc., but if Mars is weak, then the love potential is slight. In this case, Venus would be identified as culture, artistic or social abilities, love of beauty, etc. The love potential is clearly shown as a possibility of fruition if Mars and Venus are in aspect to each other--the desire impulse then has a direct contact with its alchemical agency, but careful synthesis must be made regarding possible factors of frustration or inhibition of this process.

   When Mars is strong and Venus weak, if the two aspect each other the pattern shows a possibility, in this incarnation, of developing the love nature. This pattern shows a predominance of the masculine impulse (initiative, conquest, etc.), which, for flowering, must be harmoniously cultivated. When Venus is the stronger, and Mars is debilitated, then the receptive, or feminine qualities, predominate and the person is sub- consciously attracted to a more positive or dynamic partner. Mars square Venus is a detriment to the expression of Venus, however well aspected she may be otherwise, because she does not, in this case, receive the dynamic impulse in constructive or fruitful form. The result of this aspect may show as: a deep urge to love, but the inability to express it; the tendency to express love in terms of ego assertion rather than heart expression; an over-predominance of the basic masculine qualities that creates an unresponsiveness to the feminine expressions of life--or a lack of understanding of them; the person may prefer to live his life in terms of work rather than love.

   Mars-Uranus: This, on the emotional plane, is dynamite. The potential for passion is very great and, if Venus is connected, love may be developed to extraordinary degrees. Intensity is the keyword, whatever the expression. Since Uranus is the fusion of Mars-Venus into creativity, this aspect shows a tremendous urge to create or invent, in some way, and the aspect shows the need for much control and direction. Inhibited, the dynamic energies can be banked up and choked to such a degree that there is great danger of destructive outbursts, emotionally or physically.

   The negative expressions of Mars-Uranus combinations show that energy may be wasted or dispersed in extreme degrees and, in the sexual expressions of life, this aspect indicates a pattern of unregenerate sex as protest or lawlessness. This is a symbol of possible libertinism-the person may scatter himself as the impulse moves him; he doesn't want to--or can't--be held down to what he calls "limitations" or "bondage of relationship." He is, in his terms, a "free soul;" so free is he that, emotionally, he can't keep his feet on the ground at all-but flits hither and thither. Such a person should be advised that unless love impulses are molded into constructive and fruitful forms, nothing but wastage is the result.

   Other conditions allowing, Mars-Uranus can indicate the possibilities of powerful sublimations, if the energies are directed. A cause, an ideal, a lifework, any of these may be the channel through which the person redirects his sex potentials into impersonal expressions. This process presupposes a strong willpower, and if such is lacking in the chart, the scattering of this intense expression of Mars energy can result in very difficult and painful karma. Mars-Uranus also indicates a possibility of perverse expressions of sex through over-balance of the masculine polarity, and emotional balance and fulfillment difficult to attain. This pattern should be carefully compared with the feminine indications in order to ascertain the possibilities of emotional integration.

   Mars-Neptune: In this afflicted pattern we have a symbol of many obscure and difficult-to-put-the-finger-on conditions that have been the object of re-search by psychiatrists and psychologists for many years. It is an indication of a high-strung and easily affected nervous system which, under certain types of stimuli, can result in serious deviations of the sex-impulse. We may describe this pattern as sex-illusion.

   Attended by a pattern of frustration, this Neptune influence may cause the person to seek release through the "liberations" of drink and/or drugs. The organism is sensitive to these stimuli, and since--or if--the love potential is deficient, the person has the urge to find his sexual releases through false and illusionary forms. These releases are unhealthy, destructive and, because the lower astral vibrations are repeatedly contacted, very contaminating. The energy releases are diffused into "dreams" and emotional health retarded-in extreme cases, destroyed completely.

   However, reactions to drink and drugs can be corrected by therapeutics; Mars-Neptune can indicate something even worse-- expressing the sexual nature and impulses through symbols. In this form of pathology, subconscious pictures have been brought over in which the person does not, or cannot, express his sex urges with another person at all--he can only be stimulated by some inanimate thing which symbolizes to him an object of desire. These perverse forms can only be uprooted by careful analysis and therapeutic or spiritual psychology. Something "devilish-way down deep" has become an emotional reality to the person which twists and deflects his urges out of all normal perspective. Check the chart carefully for every indication of possible healthy emotional expression, by which the person's sex impulses may be brought into alignment with the reality of human patterns.

   The above pertains to extreme or complicated conditions involving Mars and Neptune, and of course other factors must contribute to indications of such perverse tendencies. However, Mars-Neptune does indicate some form of sex expressions that deviates from the norm. Let us consider a few possibilities of regenerating this pattern:

   Energy may be sublimated through creative art, music, or drama; work may be found dealing with the healing professions; devotion to human welfare in some form could be a splendid corrective measure in redirecting the desire nature; knowledge and understanding of sex, physiologically, psychologically, and esoterically, would certainly serve to clarify the mental pictures so that the person could, to greater degree, understand his problem; establishment of cleanliness as a factor in his physical habits could bring his consciousness into attunement with the ideal of inner and outer purity; and, above all, establishing in the consciousness the goal of love by which all desire impulses find their regeneration.

   Mars-Saturn: The essence of emotional frustration. To the degree that Mars is strong by sign and aspects, this frustrating pattern can create trouble and pain, and cause the person to develop all manner of complexes, inferiorities, self-deficiencies, and fears. Study the chart esoterically to determine the purpose of this frustration--why is the person being held back by Saturn? What must he fulfill through Saturn. Then, when fulfillment of the responsibility has been made, what avenues does Mars have for constructive, creative, and healthy living. This aspect serves a serious purpose, wherever found in the chart. Mars has been misused in the past, and now must by karma, be held in restraint, for his energies are needed to rebuild a distorted pattern. Appeal to the person's self-respect, honor, and courage--he must understand that the inhibitive force must be dealt with and so transcended.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume II
Chapter II
Jupiter--Principle of Improvement

   When we analyze the symbol of Jupiter, we see a semicircle surmounting, or overshadowing, the cross of material manifestation. This semicircle may be interpreted as the Moon--the function of nurture--or as a general symbol of spirit. In either case, the essence of Jupiter's purpose is conveyed.

   In the case of the former, we see the "principle of nurture" permeating all physical manifestation--preserving, healing, and amplifying the component parts of experience-as-incarnation; in the second, it identifies Jupiter as the agency by which spiritual forces are made manifest to earth consciousness.

   Jupiter must always work through form; his scope is definitely conditioned by the dictates and requirements of Saturn. He is not transcendent, as are Uranus and Neptune;he is a "fore-shadowing" of them, since he provides a channel for the exoteric presentation of spiritual truths. In psychological application, he is those qualities of mind and heart which provide an invigoration and uplift to the evolving consciousness. He is the arterial blood in the physical body--the fresh, clean, nourishing fluid which in its course carries out a work of renewal and sustainment. He is the ninth house of the horoscope--the true judgment and understanding which are distilled from experience, and which provide pabulum for constructive progress in life.

   There is always a plus quality to Jupiter's vibration. He is "more than just enough." He is bigness and amplitude in any form. His is not specifically an aesthetic vibration, but his "personality" is certainly clearly evident in the complexity, magnificence, and splendor of pageant, ballet, and grand opera. His is the extension of Mars energy which we call "play;" he is the enthusiastic, laughing, progressive, generous lover of life.

   If one word were required to sum up the virtues of Jupiter, that word must certainly be benevolence. Jupiter is our capacity to give--sincerely, abundantly, and wisely. It is through Jupiter that we blend with the lives of others from a motive of assisting them, by a radiation to them of our best of heart, mind, and material resources. Jupiter is philanthropy, he is the beneficence of religion. He is any means by which we, individually or collectively, improve conditions on this plane. Jupiter can be expressed, of course, in terms of "self and self alone," but this is not his ultimate capacity. No matter how much wealth an individual acquires, how large his home, how elaborate his wardrobe, how vast his inheritance, or how extensive his education, he does not live up to his Jupiter until he gives something of his abundance to improve something outside of himself. It is through this extension that Jupiter counteracts possible difficulties caused by Saturn crystallization due to fear of loss. Jupiter and Saturn work hand in hand when intake is accompanied by a beneficent output.

   Psychiatrists, psychologists, and astro-analysts-- attention! Jupiter never demonstrates his power more specifically than when "output" has been made as an expression of gratitude for the receiving of "intake." Sincere gratitude--to a person or to God--provides a quality of "openness" for the consciousness, making it more and more attuned to growth and to abundance of expression. No aspiring person lets a single day of his life go by without feeling and/or expressing gratitude to someone for something. This is a sincere, joyous, positive gratitude; it is not a servile crawling by which the receiver debases himself and insults the giver. Jupiter's psychology--thanks for the gift and a willingness to share it--is a profound and a far-reaching one. It is a nourishment to the mind, body, and soul, infusing, as it does, a stream of renewing energies into conditions that have been allowed to become crystallized, morbid, and unhealthy. Our national festival of Thanksgiving is enjoyed when the Sun is in the sign Sagittarius-- ruled by Jupiter!

   There are some who contend that Jupiter is well taken as a symbol of the father--carrying out the masculine version of the nurture urge. Be that as it may, of one thing we can be sure; Jupiter is the symbol of the teacher, or "spiritual father." Jupiter nurtures the spiritual mentality, and as such he is represented by the clergyman. Any teacher is a spiritual parent--his work and purpose is to guide the younger, or undeveloped person, along the lines of unfoldment that do not pertain specifically to physical needs. Saturn is the principle of Jaw, in the esoteric sense; but the 9th house is the profession of law, as a protection of the people. The 9th house is also the Church, as a protective and instructive institution. Thus the 9th house, through Jupiter's rulership, seems to sum up the " consciousness of right and wrong," not in the abstract or absolute sense, but in terms of the person's cycle of development his racial background, and the religious mold in which he is manifesting.

   Jupiter is our direct outward expression of this consciousness and his position and aspects in the horoscope show how and by which means, if any, we feel the urge to teach people the way (we think)they should go. A 9th house unafflicted by either planet of occupancy or planet of rulership is indicative that the person, in this incarnation, will have no difficulty, by and large, in finding the religion that he really needs and wants. He will be brought in contact with the teachers that are best fitted to feed his spiritual longings. Afflicted, the obstacles are shown to be the attainment of religious or philosophical satisfactions. Long delays, confusions, disillusionments, and disappointments are indicated by afflictions to the 9th house, and afflictions to Jupiter himself indicate how we, individually, need to discipline and train ourselves in order to express our fullest capacities as teachers or moral leaders. Much karma can be read from 9th house afflictions, by deducing from Cause and Effect; they are the"detours" which the person has made on his path towards spiritual unfoldment. This unfoldment of spiritual consciousness and understanding certainly bears out Jupiter's function as the "Principle of Improvement."

   One of the most fascinating phases of astrological interpretation is to be found in the "negative" or "karmic" aspects of Jupiter. Benevolence, higher understanding, protection, abundance, generosity- -how can such a planet represent "evil"? Plenty, my friends, plenty!

   In so far as Jupiter is a "dynamic," his evils are to be found, as in the case of Sun, Mars, and Uranus, through unbalance, uncontrol, and uncultivation. When the urge to improve is perverted, Jupiter manifests in many unpleasant ways, the chief inner one is:

   FALSE PRIDE: This is the person whose urges to self- approval are so strong that he cannot listen to advice or sincere criticism. Thus, he can't--and usually doesn't--improve himself by some processor other, but he keeps himself going by maintaining a disjointed evaluation of his own worth. The astro-analyst who reads for a person with this aspect must be tactful--you can not help him by "spot lighting" his defects because he will resist and resent your observations. You must maintain an attitude of approval, and without being untruthful, you must sugarcoat the medicine. If he asks for the "unvarnished truth" remember that for him the "varnish" makes the truth palatable. Analyze the chart carefully so that you find something in which he may justifiably feel proud of himself. At the same time you must ascertain what snag in his life causes him to wear the mask of false superiority as a compensation. His pride may center on family, position, nationality, background, the possession of money, or of a genuine talent. No matter; whatever is valuable to his inner self must become usable and objectifiable to have any real value.

   ARROGANCE: This is a variation of the above, caused by a mixture of Mars with afflicted Jupiter; a noticeably unlovely quality that causes the person to "force his pretensions." The arrogant person is essentially unkind--his attitudes toward other people seem to comprise condescension, unjustified superiority and snobbishness, with a certain cruelty by which he expresses his false pride, no matter who is hurt in the process.

   WEALTH: Financial abundance is one of the devil's favorite traps. Since money is a medium of exchange, no more, no less, it is only the persons who can use it without being either bound by it or fooled by it who possess a well-integrated money consciousness. Wealth, to certain types of people, is synonymous with character, virtue, spirituality, and what not. They say that the success of a marriage is insured if the husband to be has "plenty of dough." To them, financial return justifies the perpetration of any manner of dishonesty, injustice, or perversion of responsibility. A "lucky man," they say, is a rich man, one who has so much money he doesn't have to work. He can buy anything he desires, his children can have anything they want and his wife is smothered in luxurious idleness. They say, occasionally, that the possession of wealth would compensate them for any suffering or problem in their lives. They are people who cannot learn from their suffering, nor can they understand or handle their problems. Such persons coming into an inheritance of millions, would embark on the shortest possible journey to disaster. They give to money a power that it does not possess--and thereby deplete their own powers. The scion of a fabulously wealthy family, some years ago, inherited something like ten million dollars on his twenty-first birthday. He had been surrounded by luxury since his babyhood--he knew nothing else. At the age of thirty-five he committed suicide leaving a note for a friend saying, 'I have only fifteen thousand dollars left--I have nothing to live for." This is symbolic of a Jupiter, possibly afflicted by Neptune, ruling the twelfth house--the illusion of the power of wealth as a source of self-undoing. Let wealthy people with afflicted Jupiters take care how they use money and how much power they give it over themselves. Wealth implies great scope of usability--and, since we "can't take it with us," we might as well learn to apply it as an expression of constructive and productive living.

   GENEROSITY: On certain cycles of evolution, people are tested as to the sincerity with which they express their urges to give. One would think, superficially, that if a man has an urge to give something-- how can there be impediments? But there are, and here is a hypothetical example: During the past incarnation, the person lived meanly and acquisitively--gave only when it was absolutely necessary, or with an ulterior motive of getting something in return. Toward the latter part of the life, he was the recipient of a generous, unselfish deed performed by another. He was moved with deep gratitude and as he passed out of incarnation, he impressed his subconscious with the desire to live longer that he might, in his turn, express his gratitude. He comes into this incarnation with that urge very close to the surface but the sincerity of that urge, because it was late in developing, has to be tested in order that its reality may become part of his consciousness. So he may have a parent who is overindulgent toward him and who doesn't want him to give to anyone--and the person finds himself involved in a frictional circumstance. If he really wants to express his subconscious feeling of gratefulness he must take his stand against the parent's overindulgence. If he allows the parent's influence to push him off his path of expression, he has failed his test. To the degree that he allows other influences to smother his generous impulses he will again become enmeshed, not only in self-concern, but in a very painful frustration complex. His " urge to give" is representative of an impulse of his higher nature--the frustration of it causes a distinct reaction of self-contempt and feelings of unworthiness and self-abasement. If in the example cited above of the person with the overindulgent parent, he realizes that resentment and friction are growing in his attitude toward the parent, he can, with philosophical approach, counteract that tendency and transmute it by feeling grateful toward the parent for providing, even though unconsciously, a much needed test. His attitude should grow more and more "outgoing" in keeping with his purposes of growth. Great religious leaders, or any persons who "give to the race," are tested in this way. They give of their best, no matter what the immediate result may be.

   CHURCH-EXPERIENCE: Many people in their processes of growth toward the unfoldment of spiritual understanding, find that their lessons come from distinguishing the "real from the unreal" through contacts with other persons in church activities. This type of karma-afflicted Jupiter ruling or occupying the 12th house--seems to pertain to people who have come into the present incarnation with a strong "religious urge." Much of their transmutations will be stimulated by contact with hypocrites, fanatics, and those whose spiritual pretensions do not match their development. These persons members of the same church--are the objectification of the afflicted Jupiter aspects, and their "performances" are certainly a source of deep testing for the aspirant. He loves his church, believes and has faith in the teaching, seeks in every way possible to establish cooperation and harmony with the others so that the church may stand as a credit to the community and as a standard of spiritual conduct--and what does he get? Everyone pushing and fighting to be the head of this or that "committee;" backbiting criticism going on all the time; the minister who makes his religious teaching a scourge and a punishment; the well-to-do man who threatens to withdraw his financial support any time his personal wishes--and prejudices--seem to be ignored; and so forth--you've met them, at some time or another. These are all representations of false pride, arrogance, presumption and pretension, bluff and false front. They are not very pretty pictures, but they are Jupiter- unregenerate. The person with the afflicted Jupiter vibration who is hurt and disillusioned (tested) by such persons is seeing his own past experiences reflected. He is now sincere and aspiring, but in this incarnation his sincerity, faith, and trust in spiritual principle are being given a chance to see what is real and what is unreal and spurious. He will fail his test if he allows the "shadows" to turn him from his progress. He must learn from the shadows, not be overcome by them.

   In psychological parlance, the term "mechanism" is used to identify certain deep-rooted subconscious drives. Correlating with astrology, we identify the "defense mechanism" as Mars the "escape mechanism" as Neptune. Jupiter certainly identifies the "compensation mechanism." We all, every single one of us, are seeking fulfillment, and wheel karmic patterns create disorder, incompleteness, frustration, and lack, we automatically feel the urge to "compensate ourselves" for what we feel to be our most deeply felt deprivation. In other words, we are driven to establish "improvement" and "beneficence" even if we must do so vicariously. The aspect in the chart indicating the most strongly felt "lack" or "frustration" may, certainly, involve Jupiter--but it is not necessarily so. However, because of the very nature of Jupiter himself, is it not reasonable to suppose that the "positive" expression of Jupiter will provide the most direct and satisfactory "compensation"! It is through Jupiter that we give; when we give we open ourselves, in consciousness, to receive. We cannot receive the fulfillment of our deepest needs, unless, and until, we put into action our willingness to make that thing possible for another. We then "contact" our Jupiter by direct expression in terms of his house position (environmental factor), benefit aspects (scope of constructive expression), and the planets to which he is related by benefit aspect (relationships, activities). An unaspected Jupiter indicates that "the time has come to begin giving." As long as we think of life in terms of "self-isolation" we stagnate--and Jupiter becomes more and more choked up by the crystallizations of Saturn. A multi-aspected, but afflicted, Jupiter, needs various kinds of control and direction; such a Jupiter may represent many psychological complexities which the person must, for clear understanding, approach with reason, fact, discrimination, and analysis. Mercury-Saturn is the corrective that most closely applies to the disorders of Jupiter.

   In synthesizing the patterns of Jupiter in a chart we not only observe his aspects and houses of occupancy and rulership; we must also study the conditions of the 9th house in co-relationship to get the picture of Jupiter as a spiritual significator. Jupiter is the level of Spirit in the lives of the people who are manifesting in the consciousness of forms. As such, and for them, he parallels the vibrations of Uranus and Neptune in the lives of people who have attained, to a degree, a consciousness of transcendence.

   Jupiter amplifies whatever he touches. Unless he is dignified--in Sagittarius--it is important to analyze with care the conditions of the planet which disposits him. An entirely afflicted, or variable Jupiter disposited by an unafflicted planet indicates that the constructive qualities of the dispositing planet may be used to help Jupiter control and discipline himself. An afflicted planet dispositing an unafflicted Jupiter is indicative that the planet may, to a large degree, be redeemed from its afflictions through the expression of Jupiter qualities at their best. In this case, Jupiter must "clean the house where he lives"--the constructive expression of his vibration provides a channel of transmutation for the afflicted planet.

   The afflicted conjunction of Jupiter with another planet indicates the tendency of that planet to express excessively--a quality of "too-muchness" is simplified. The expressions of the person toward the conditions and experiences of the conjuncted planet are misdirected because Jupiter afflicted, is "poor judgement;" "judgment" being defined as "soul- knowledge," the distillment of experience--not the result of factual study. However, in the case of such an afflicted conjunction, the power of Jupiter promises a rich return if the planet concerned is expressed constructively; the constructive expression of such a planet can only be made as a result of detached observation coupled with extensive self-discipline. The continued negative expression of such a conjunction--undirected energies--indicates an inevitable depletion of resources.

   The "graduations" of Jupiter show that his vibration expresses most purely in Sagittarius, Cancer, and Pisces. He is at a disadvantage in the Mercurial signs, Gemini and Virgo, and, in the opinion of the writer, Jupiter is most perfectly un-Jupiterian in Virgo and Capricorn. Virgo is analytical and detailed, persnickety and faultfinding--the opposite of big, generous Jupiter. In Capricorn, Jupiter is "opportunistic"--he tends to give, but with an eye to what he will get in return. The religious urge, mixed with the vibration of Saturn, tends to formalism and dogmatism. If Jupiter in Capricorn is multi-aspected and has some direct connection with the 9th house of the chart, then the religious urge--is seen to be extensive, but the person should study religions with the purpose of understanding them so he can understand other people and not for the purpose of contention, argument, or forcing his opinions on others. If the person is a teacher, of any kind, his Jupiter in Capricorn emphasizes the tendency to ambition and display. He must learn, somehow, to"get into the minds of his students" so that in his teaching he may be better able to unfold their latent capacities. His tendency will be to try to make them conform to his particular molds of thought. Jupiter in Capricorn needs to learn how to give--and to give without consideration of possible return.

   In Leo, Jupiter shines gorgeously, but when afflicted, self-justification and self-esteem are strong. This is a "noble aspect" but perverted and stunted it can manifest a blazing arrogance and mountainous superiority. In Taurus, blending with the Venus vibration, Jupiter takes on a coloring of "financial abundance"--he expresses his qualities in terms of things of earth. In Aquarius he is very social and humane; he seeks to establish and maintain abundance in his relationships with friends--he is a beneficial influence in group activities. And so with other signs.

   Jupiter in the 12th house: the benefit aspects describe Jupiter as a "guardian angel "--a deep, subconscious awareness of protection. This is evidence of having "given secretly" in the past and the promise of "eleventh hour luck" in this incarnation. All seems to be lost and someone appears just in the nick of time to preserve the situation. This is the person who should not make a display of his giving--doing so is the corruption of the pure expression of and depletes his power for doing good. Regardless of Jupiter's sign, the 12th house is affiliated with the sign Pisces, and Jupiter's position here is indicative, to a degree, of the possession of a radiation of healing power to those who are sick and confined. No person with this position need feel that there is no one who needs him--there are plenty of them in hospitals, orphanages, and asylums, to whom he can give of his utmost and best for the alleviating of their suffering and the improvement of their conditions. To give money for good purpose is fine, but when Jupiter is at his best, he urges the giving of one's self--in time, work, and interest.

   Jupiter, afflicted in the 12th house is "self undoing through false pride "--a subconscious condition which " blacks out " perspective of one 's self .It also shows the karma that may be experienced by--or through--the possession of wealth and how the misuse of that abundance may lead to inner deterioration. The house of Jupiter's rulership, in terms of experience and/or relationship, is here seen to indicate a condition of limitation which can be redeemed, if unoccupied, by the expression of constructive Jupiter qualities. Twelfth house Jupiter throws a "mantle of secrecy" over the house that has Sagittarius on the cusp, and afflictions to Jupiter from other planets indicate a tendency toward furtiveness, hypocrisy, and false front. Jupiter, to live at all, "must out"--and if his outer expressions must be experienced in secret or behind the scenes then, for his best, he must he expressed with the utmost sincerity and genuineness possible, or corruption can result.

   Jupiter in the 2nd house: Financial abundance, with benefit aspects, is assured by this position if the person is doing the work he is meant to do, the work he most loves to do, and the work through which he can give the most of his best. In other words, Jupiter can only " bring in the bacon. " if he is expressed in such a way that he is able to radiate of his best. Which brings up this question: What about the man with Jupiter in the 2nd who is only capable of doing a "routine, over and over" kind of work? He is not aware of loving his work--he does it to make enough money to live by. He can assure himself of increased return if he makes the effort to improve his ability and scope of work expression, even within the limitations of a routine job. There is always room for making improvement--and the man who makes this effort thereby, even unconsciously, makes a contribution to the job at large. To the degree that he improves, the work, as a whole, improves. Jupiter not only "loveth a cheerful giver" but he takes the hand in assistance of anyone who improves in some way.

   Jupiter in the 6th house: Unafflicted, this is a preservative of the health. If the general patterns of the chart show a tendency to disease or physical inharmony, this position of Jupiter promises alleviation if the person himself does what he can to establish correct and constructive habits and health processes. He must try to improve his own physical conditions. Applying to work, this position of Jupiter seems to point to the assurance that the person will "do the work that he loves to do;" he has a clear channel for throwing into his work experiences his enthusiasm, determination to progress and to succeed. afflicted, Jupiter shows the tendencies to physical disharmonies through overindulgencies, and, in work, the inclination to do the kind of work that will assure the most return for the least effort. If the person doesn't give through his work, he lessens his opportunities and depletes his capacities for progress.

   Jupiter in the 10th house: Afflicted this is a subtle condition that warrants careful study. In the consciousness of such a person, "reputation" is seen to be a source of protection and beneficence, no matter how illusory. The "urge to improve" is here seen to he expressed as the "urge to improve in the eyes of other people, or of society at large." This position is the essence of pretension, a forced, contrived, artificial veneer which is applied to hide any manner of deficiency and unworthiness. This is the worldly ecclesiastic who glorifies GOD by the biggest cathedral, and the wealthiest congregation, to whom religion is a matter of publicity, renown, and fame. This is the "society hanger-on" who feels happy and comfortable only when being seen With the right people, who "preserves herself" by living in the good impression she makes in the eyes of those she admires and considers "superior," Jupiter afflicted in the 10th house or conjunct the ruler of it and afflicted, brings out much the same quality. Reputation seems to be the focus of Jupiter expression in either case. Renown, the actual attainment of it or the "way down deep" desire for it, is an extension of "reputation." A great person may have it conferred on him without his having any particular desire for it; another person may find that his capacity to improve himself may grow in the proportion that he is acclaimed for his achievements; still another has so strong a desire for a kind of self-approval that comes with recognition by the world that he has no scruples about attaining it, in some way. With this pattern of afflicted Jupiter, study the chart carefully to find the possible deficiencies that the person tries to cover up, those things which urge him to compensate for by pretension. If the person is going to be put on a constructive path of living, the debris that clutters up his mind and reactions must be cleared away, and his possibilities of attaining real attainment must be brought to his attention.

   Jupiter in the 4th house: Jupiter creates a condition of abundance in the house he occupies. This position, supported by benefice, promises affluence in the latter part of life, and a sort of "flowering"of higher impulses comes as a result of constructive activity during the years of growth. Anyone may have to deal with all kinds of difficulties during the course of incarnation but Jupiter in the 4th house makes of his home-life a sanctuary. Afflictions to Jupiter in the 4th show how depletion may be caused by wastages of opportunities for growth and improvement, thus causing a condition in the later years of turning to the home-circle as the only refuge for peace and comfort. This is an indication of affluent, or at least generous parentage. The domestic pattern is stamped with a coloring of plenty. The person finds in home life an enrichment of heart and spirit--and whatever he may be in the eyes of the world, or in professional activities, he radiates his best to his family. When he establishes his own home, he tunes in on something in his nature that represents his best. Jupiter's vibration expressing through 4th house conditions paints a picture of a devoted husband, a generous, loving father, an/or respected honored matron.

   Jupiter in the 5th house: an abundant love capacity-- the children are regarded as the blessings of life. Afflictions may indicate the experiences by which the person, as a parent, must develop understanding and judgment but, on the whole, this person finds his or her life expanding with amplitude through contact with his children. Because Jupiter is basically masculine his position in the 5th house of a man's chart indicates the joy he finds in fatherhood. His love of children is unlimited--he would like to do everything for all of them. Mr. Heindel had Jupiter in Sagittarius in the fifth--he was truly a "spiritual father," his capacity for devoted love was unbounded. Afflicted Jupiter in the fifth needs the discipline of discrimination. This is the parent who could so easily spoil his children by overindulgence, or whose excessive concerns for them could move him to overprotect them. He must find some means of developing a more detached, impersonal attitude toward them. Unregenerate Jupiter in, or ruling, the fifth, shows as a "compensation-mechanism" through excessive addiction to pleasure. This is the man who does not know how to turn his abilities to much practical account, so he improves his financial conditions by gambling and easy speculation. Mixed with a Mars vibration, sex pleasure can be the means used to "compensate" for unfulfilled love urges. Negative Jupiter-Neptune patterns involving the 5th house can be very bad--since Neptune is the essence of the escape mechanism, and if the desires for pleasure and "joy" are excessive, a jaded appetite may turn to the lurid compensations of drugs or excessive drinking. This pattern throws an influence of perversity into the pleasure experiences--artificiality, luxuriousness, and the morbidly sensational can take the place of those things which are healthy and truly "recreative." An afflicted Jupiter vibration expressing through the 5th house can do nothing better than establish, if possible, a response to pleasure activities that are conducive to improving health along natural lines. The out-doors, hiking, swimming, gardening, etc., could be employed, to a degree at least, with good results.

   Jupiter in the 3rd: this is a mental expression of Jupiter. Study becomes the channel for improvement, and education a necessity. Fluency of expression is indicated, but, if afflicted, Jupiter needs method and routine. Benefit aspects indicate happiness through fraternal relationships, which in turn "feed" the possibilities for success in mature relationships. Generally this indicates a capacity of abundant mental resources, a mind fertile in ideas and capable of retaining much knowledge. Possibilities for public expressions are seen to be incentives for study and intellectual development.

   Jupiter in the 9th: Jupiter in the ninth house, or in Sagittarius or disposited by a planet in the ninth emphasizes the "spiritual aspiration capacity." Professional patterns refer most specifically to law, the church, and teaching. Jupiter himself shows how we express our religious convictions, the planet ruling the 9th indicates our basic feelings about, and attitudes toward, religion generally. An empty 9th house-- unoccupied, Jupiter unaspected and the 9th house ruler insignificant by scope- -shows that the person is not yet attuned to the "understanding" side of life. He is still involved with" things as things. "To the degree that Jupiter and the 9th house have "scope," the patterns show to what degree the person has distilled understanding from his patterns of experience, and to what degree he seeks further understanding. The Jupiter mentality is the mind that is primarily interested in principles rather than dry factual knowledge. It sees the ceremonies and appurtenances of church as being symbols of inner truths and is interested in tracking down the origin of these outward symbols. The person with a strong 9th house will "seek until he finds" the religious concept which most fully satisfies his needs, and when he finds it he recognizes it almost immediately.

   As seen we study a chart from a psychological standpoint, it is of some importance to get a "picture" of the person 's ability to think in terms of principles--because all corrective psychology is based on an attunement to principles of thought and action. If the 9th house is undeveloped, we must speak to the person in terms that he can understand-- we must use "earth terms." In this way, the astro-analyst fulfills his purpose as an expression of 9th house faculties--as a spiritual parent he, of his understanding, leads "his children" by constructive advice that is simply presented, and always with the motive of "lifting up" and encouraging. The astrologer joins spiritually with all people in many walks of life who seek, in some way, to create improvement in the lives of others. Suggest the reader practice synthesizing the Principle of Improvement in relation to the other houses.

Studies in Astrology

Volume II
by
Elman Bacher
Chapter III
Saturn's Command: "Thou Must Fulfill"

   This material is offered to all astrological students in the hope that it will serve to clarify the purposes and mundane significance of the vibrations of Saturn. It is of vital importance that all astrologers be able to present to those they assist a constructive picture of why and for what this planet is as it is in any given horoscope.

   Obstruction, crystallization, disappointment, poverty, frustration, and the like are the only terms by which some students identify the vibration of Saturn. We beg to inquire: "How, in the name of everything that is enlightened, can such terms be used to calm the quivering nerves of the apprehensive client?" If the horoscopical pattern is to be studied for solutions to problems, each planetary vibration must be approached from the standpoint of its significance in the Solar Spectrum and its importance in the evolution of the Ego. To the degree that we can philosophically understand why a planet is as it is in the chart under consideration, we are, mentally and psychologically, so much better able to deal with the problems and conditions represented.

   Saturn is the symbol of the physical plane, through which all agencies of mind, emotion, and Spirit manifest for evolutionary purposes. It is the vibration of objectification and manifestation. Its position in the horoscope shows where the expression of Spirit is most heavily condensed; the point of greatest responsibility; the area of unfulfillment in the past, therefore the area of greatest spiritual effort in this incarnation. (The last phrase explains the exaltation of Mars-energy-in Capricorn, the sign of Saturn's rulership; Venus, as beauty, is the principle of Perfected Manifestation, and Saturn is exalted in Libra, sign of Venus' rulership.) Saturn, the outpost of mundane vibrations, sets the boundaries for every experience and every cycle of experience. Therefore, the great command of Saturn is "Thou must fulfill."

   Fear is one of the words that is most frequently used to indicate one of Saturn's principal qualities in negative expression. Fear is our reaction to any threat to our sense of security or well-being. That which is spiritually unfulfilled represents insecurity on the inner planes. So Saturn, afflicting, is the indicator of that which the Ego, or Higher Self, recognizes as being the most incomplete or the most lacking in fulfilled expression.

   Assisting a client to approach his aspects without fear is one of the principal purposes and duties of the astro-analyst. When Saturn aspects are interpreted to represent needs for fulfillment, an appeal can be made to the person's sense of integrity, self-respect, strength, courage, and competence. Assist him to feel capable of handling his situations so that his attitude is constructive. Study his chart carefully so that you can find soul-agencies by which the needed fulfillments can be most successfully realized. A good Mars indicates courage, and the ability to work hard; a good Moon gives the protective impulse; Jupiter denotes benevolence and abundance; Neptune represents faith and inspiration, etc. Also, the long- range-viewpoint is particularly applicable to presenting the solution for Saturn problems. Patience is one of the keywords for a "good Saturn," and patience, as a quality, is required to fulfill Saturn aspects--whatever their nature. When a person uses the virtues of Saturn he tackles the problem at its roots. To the degree that Saturn comes to represent, in the person 's mind, certain constructive qualities within does Saturn cease to be misunderstood as a burden or a frustration.

   Saturn never indicates a complete denial of every- phase of its position, as some students are inclined to think. Its position in any house shows conclusively that fulfillment, therefore experience in some form, is of utmost importance. There are as many avenues of experience in each house as there are meanings of the house. If Saturn implies a denial in some form, it automatically indicates that fulfillment of that house must be made in some other form.

   To think that Saturn frustrates expression of the house of its occupancy or rulership is a miscomprehension of the purpose of its vibration. It indicates that unfulfillment must be overcome by experience. The frustrating effect of Saturn is shown by the conjunctions, squares, and oppositions that it makes to other planets. It is the other planet that must contribute to Saturn's work. The person, in this incarnation, is compelled by his spiritual necessities--to direct the energies of the other planet from expression in its own house to the house occupied by Saturn. Hence, Saturn has been termed the "whiplash of fate," the "heavy hand of karma," etc. Since there are many types of Saturn's patterns, the "whiplash" effect is shown in varying degrees by different types of aspects. It is important to study the chart carefully from this standpoint in order to understand to what degree the person is, spiritually and psychologically, "earth-bound."

   First, the most earth-bound of all, the conjunction of Saturn with one of the dynamic planets (Mars, Sun, Jupiter, and Uranus), with no alleviating sextiles or trines: In this instance, a planet which is outgoing in expression is compelled to forsake the house of its rulership and express itself in terms of Saturn's requirements, for fulfillment of the conditions of its house position and house rulership. Thus, the dynamic planet is enslaved, "in bondage to earth."

   Second, a dynamic planet squared or opposed by Saturn, with no alleviating aspects: This type of frustration allows much more leeway for the afflicted planet to express itself than the first instance because it does have, by influence of house rulership and house occupancy, "room to breathe." Because no other planetary contacts are "enjoyed" by the dynamic planet, in this case, its expression has to be made in terms of constructive Saturn qualities in order that its own negative expressions may be avoided. This vibration blending does, then, give the planet scope for expression in its own house, and its house of rulership, if otherwise unoccupied, is also activated. The requirements of Saturn 's house of occupancy are fulfilled much more satisfactorily and constructively to the degree that the constructive qualities of the dynamic planet are "poured" into Saturn's house. This process on the inner planes corresponds to the redirecting of water from its original or natural flow into the field by irrigating channels. The dynamic energies of the planet are as life-giving, water to Saturn-Earth. Until this process is done consciously by positive transmutation, the person will be compelled by his spiritual necessities to do so--unconsciously--and the result will be the suffering we call frustration. On the inner planes, Saturn has the first--and last--word. Progress in the larger sense cannot be made until Saturn's needs are fulfilled and its expressions perfected.

   Third, a dynamic planet, with one sextile, squared by Saturn which has no other aspects: In this instance, the dynamic planet has alchemical assistance from the planet that it sextiles; but Saturn, having no other expressions, acts as a vampire, sustaining itself on the "life blood" of the dynamic planet. Because the alleviating aspect is a sextile, not a trine, this aspect seems to indicate a chronic or lifelong condition. If it is not worked on and worked with, it is easy to perceive the possibility that in the next incarnation Saturn will also afflict the sextiling planet as well as the one it now afflicts--a heavy burden!

   Fourth, a dynamic planet squared by Saturn, but having one trine: This repeats, to a degree, example three with the qualification that the trine promises much more in favor of the Saturn-squared planet. This example may indicate also a lifelong condition, but the dynamic planet will have much more capacity for self-expression and compensating factors for the Saturn square can be utilized for greater happiness and well- being. The person or persons represented by Saturn will be the agencies of restraint and responsibility, but the persons who "tie in" with the trine aspect will be those who compensate for the deficiencies induced by the Saturn fulfillments. In every one of these Saturn-patterns, the development of the constructive qualities of Saturn is the purpose of the aspects.

   Fifth, Saturn conjunct or afflicting one of the negative planets (Moon, Venus, Neptune, or neutral mercury): Saturn, as Earth, is itself negative or feminine. However, its function, being gravitational, does imply action or process. ( Capricorn, its sign of rulership, is cardinal, and so is Libra, its sign of exaltation). In this type of Saturn affliction, the other planet--particularly Mercury, Venus, or Neptune--needs the dynamic stimulus of another planet to energize its expression, or serious crystallization can result. Even a semi-sextile to the afflicted planet must be considered of value in this case, as it does indicate a start, a reaching- out for the afflicted planet.

   Saturn gives us the clearest picture of our identity with experience on the physical plane, and thus, serves as a measuring rod of our progress on the particular cycle of manifestation we are now on. Let us consider examples of Saturn as cycle-development-indicator.

   Saturn unaspected: The start of a neat cycle of earth experience; there is little "ballast" in the nature, except if Capricorn is rising, or Saturn is in the first house; scope of expression is indicated by planets in Capricorn or planets in the house ruled by Saturn. If the latter conditions are shown in the chart, the promise of a well-aspected Saturn is indicated for future incarnations if the house of Saturn's occupancy and dispositing influence are expressed in terms of saturnian virtues and constructive qualities.

   Saturn with one semi-sextile: A start on the path; contact has been made with the chart through direct expression with one planet; the birth of an alchemical agency through the planet aspected.

   Saturn with one sextile: A member, in good standing, of the family of planets; an effective channel for transmutation; agency of restraint if the aspected planet is dynamic and otherwise unafflicted; promise of future trine.

   Saturn with one square: treated, in part, in the earlier part of this article; a vampire, drawing energy from the planet aspected; need to express two-fold constructive qualities through house of occupancy; this condition of Saturn can indicate a blessing in disguise, though felt as a frustration, if the chart contains many cardinal and/or mutable afflictions--in which case the fulfillment requirements of Saturn serve to give focus and point to energies that would otherwise be disordered and incoherent. The person who possesses this kind of set-up will redeem the aspect, and himself, if he lovingly, willingly, and courageously accepts the opportunities to work and live with his Saturn, not against it in conflict.

   Saturn with one trine: the planet aspected has been productively and harmoniously integrated with Earth; through Saturn 's house, wisdom has been developed and knowledge can be beneficially expressed to others; older and more mature people benefit the person through the house of Saturn 's occupancy--they serve to stimulate that which he has already built into his pattern; a reliable counter-active to escape tendencies; a trine from Saturn to any planet is a point of maturity for the planet itself, Saturn, in this case, is a most effective antagonist for the squares and opposition of the planet so aspected; a trine aspect of Saturn is a flowering of the saturnian virtues.

   Saturn with one opposition: a frictional aspect that draws the energies of the planet aspected into the opposite side of the chart; a polarizing through responsibility and fulfillment needs; an "exchange of currents" is indicated by this pattern--each planet needs the virtues of the other for mutual fulfillments and the establishment of balance on the inner planes.

   Saturn afflicted with various aspects: a varied development of saturnian qualities, representing different stages of growth that has gone on for a longtime. The person with this pattern is well along on the cycle, much has been learned, much is yet to be learned; integration with Earth has been made in many different degrees and many types of "Saturn experience" are indicated for this incarnation; the qualities of the planets which receive the trines and sextiles from Saturn can be utilized, alchemically, to harmonize the afflicted planets The person so represented is, in relation to this cycle, an "old-soul"--give careful analysis and consideration to his trines in order to gauge his ability to transmute the squares.

   Saturn unafflicted: Saturn identified with other planets through sextiles and trines is indicative of great development and soul power. It serves as a counteractive to evil second only in scope to Sun trine Moon; it is a panacea for any frictional aspecting the horoscope and the saturnian virtues can be used as aides to any psychological problem indicated by other planets; if cadent in a chart containing many frictional aspects in cardinal signs and houses, its power may remain dormant during the early years of life, but since it promises much of value in the life of the person, it will, sooner or later, be activated into full expression; progressed Sun or Mars square or opposition natal unafflicted Saturn may indicate the period of activation--the energies of the dynamic planetary thrust can awaken Saturn to its objectification. A person with such a Saturn should not ignore any responsibility that comes to him--he has the power to fulfill it and he must utilize it to direct and give scope to his other planetary conditions. The person with unafflicted Saturn is blessed with the assistance of those in authority, and those who are advanced on his particular paths of life expression. They are truly his "brothers in Spirit," since both he and they have distilled Wisdom from their response to Saturn's command: "Thou must fulfill!''

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume II
Chapter IV
Uranus Commands "Release!"

   As a keynote to this discussion of Uranus, we offer the following definition of spiritual liberation: those points in evolution when the Ego, having completely and perfectly fulfilled the requirements of Saturn--relationships, responsibilities, works, utilizations--automatically begins to function on progressively more impersonal phases of experience.

   The vibration of Uranus provides this process of "progress after fulfillment." He is the disintegrator of forms, the antidote to crystallization, the opener of doors. Because of the intensely dynamic functions that he represents on the emotional plane, Uranus symbolizes the alchemist, the magician, and the creative artist. He represents the astrologer, whose impersonal wisdom is the distilled result of alchemical processes made during the course of wide and varied experiences in love and relationship.

   Of all abstract terms, the word "transcendent" most concisely describes the nature of Uranus. He transcends blood-relationship because he himself is the fusion of the fires of polarity which create relationship in human experience (the ultimate of the emotional triad). He transcends materiality because his realm is that of the Soul--the "Inner"-- and, as such, is beyond and above those illusions of reality which are so often ascribed to the material phases of life. He transcends possessiveness of things and people in any form, for his vibration makes possible that type of consciousness which recognizes soul power as the only real possession. The flowering of his vibration represents the transcendence of fear because Love- Wisdom, the result of experience, abolishes fear.

   Aside from the synthesis of sign-position, house- position, house-rulership, and aspects of Uranus in a given chart, there is another--and very important--study of his vibration to be made: in relationship or contrast to the influences and powers of Saturn. The two planets, by nature and purpose, are antipathetic. Saturn, afflicting, crystallizes, condenses, limits, and frustrates the possibilities of other planets. The position of Saturn indicates the path toward inertia. Uranus, however, provides release as the logical and natural progress following fulfillments, but when stagnation threatens, he forces open the paths which have become congested and his electrifying power creates a charge of renewing life. It is in his afflicting effect on other planets that he seems to act as a "smasher-up," a destroyer-by-violence, a disrupter and a disorganizer. The person who does not, or will not, keep in line with progressive measures of living must, by the laws of progressive evolution, be forced to do so.

   With this thought in mind, the astro-analyst will realize that Uranus does not afflict any planet in a chart unless there is a karmic tendency toward crystallization to be counteracted. Uranus does not "shake us up" unless we need to be shaken loose from our inclination to "cling to form" in some part of our experience. Therefore, to interpret the function of Uranus, and get the complete picture of his significance in a chart, we must compare his patterns with those of Saturn.

   The perfect example of this conflict is seen in the aspect of Uranus squared by Saturn, a pattern symbolizing the old versus the new, bondage versus transcendence, fear versus liberation, the instinct for safety versus the urge for adventure, creed and race versus universality, the tribe versus the individual, and orthodoxy versus realization.

   The following are a few "pointers"--suggestions for reading this aspect in different combinations:

   1. Both planets otherwise unaspected: In this case, the two planets must be compared from the standpoint of comparative "strengths"--dignity, exaltation, elevation, angles, and planetary dispositorship. Further, either planet gains in power to the degree that the sex-polarities (masculine: Sun and Mars; feminine: Moon and Venus) and the solar-lunar polarity are dynamic (Uranus) or passive (Saturn). This must be found by careful synthesis of sign-quality and aspect-quality. Either Saturn or Uranus will be found to be the more influential and must be taken as the "key" to the square aspect, and will be regarded as an "evolutionary barometer" of this incarnation. The person concerned either clings to the form side of life and resists change, or he rebels against forms in his search for broader experience and wider realizations.

   2. Saturn otherwise well-aspected: The consciousness is well integrated in the form side of life. Saturnian virtues; patience, practicality, utility, etc., have been developed in the past and the urge to security is strongly developed. Uranus is here seen as a threat to the orderly, accustomed processes of living, a disturber of the peace, a "defier of morality," impractical, disreputable, and unreliable. This is how a Saturn person feels about Uranus people--they just don't fit into his neat, tangible, "two-times-two-equals-four" universe. In fact, a Uranus person sometimes feels that two-times-two doesn't make much of anything that's really interesting

   3. Uranus otherwise well-aspected: This is a person who has "lived and loved much." Inner freedom is his range of understanding, independence of mind and action. The square from Saturn shows that in this incarnation he must fulfill a certain area of responsibility. In one respect, at least, he has been "foot-loose" too long. He has abilities--he must use them; he has knowledge--he must make it available to others; he has relationship-responsibilities--he must learn to fulfill them willingly and lovingly. Until he does so, Saturn will hold him in ever-tightening bondage.

   The persons represented by Saturn in the Uranian's chart will seem, to him, to be "trampers of his style," "millstones around his neck," and, in general, burdens and crucifixions.. And they will continue to seem so until he realizes that they serve to give form to his dynamic urges, to keep him united to the stream of constructive living, to give purpose and direction to his abilities.

   (Incidentally, the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ Jesus symbolize, perfectly, this "conflict" of Saturn and Uranus. Saturn symbolizes the crystallization of fear and ignorance possessed by the "world" that sought to kill the Teacher and destroy His influence; Uranus symbolizes the Divine Purpose of liberation which must, and inevitably will, release the consciousness of man from stagnant concepts and slavish ignorance.)

   4. Both planets variable: this pattern is best approached, after synthesizing, from an astro-dynamic standpoint. Either planet may have been emphasized the more strongly during the years of growth and maturity. The counteractive agencies to the afflicting aspects will show as possible neutralizations for the unregenerate qualities of both planets. The sextiles to each are particularly important, since they show avenues of potential alchemical developments.

   Uranus is electric, magnetic, and the most dynamic of all the planets. His "conditions," for this reason, must never be interpreted as superficialities. His conjunction with any planet intensifies the quality of experience represented by the planet, and a quality of "extremeness" is shown in that part of the life.

   The position of Uranus in the chart shows the source of potential genius; the benefic aspects, the opportunities for developing that potential, and the culmination of those developments. The malefic aspects indicate primarily the need for control and direction, for Uranus, by nature, is all "out-going," and his urges, if uncontrolled, can result in wastage on all planes.

   Interpret Uranus' conditions from a "largeness" standpoint. His sorrows are soul agonies; his punishments are catastrophic; his loves have nothing to do with man-made ceremonies and regulations. They are volcanics of the heart, the power of which can disrupt any set emotional pattern and hurl the lover into an entirely new universe. Uranus represents the intense fusion of emotional polarity which we call "creative power," and under the stimulus of his electrification, new forms of art, philosophy, fields of research, etc., are projected into human affairs. Continents are discovered, concepts of time and space are revised and elaborated, and man, himself a dynamic unit, finds ever-new worlds within himself.

   Uranus stands for our response to that which is new to us. He is "the way we walk to the opening door, "our ability to see farther, deeper, higher, lower--and to welcome any form of change (newness) which comes into our lives. That which was ten years ago called radical, extreme, and "brand new" has by now been poured into the mold of experience and is commonplace. That which is really new is that which we recognize as an unfoldment of areas of consciousness which have never before been tapped.

   Since liberation (progress) is a life principle, and no respecter of sex, Uranus shows in the charts of both men and women as the urge to freedom. His position shows in which department of experience the person must have "elbowroom;" where "limitlessness of self-expression" is sought and obtained. It also shows, since it is the potential of genius, how the person seeks to assist others in their search for liberation.

   In line with the above statement, trines to Uranus can indicate channels of precocity in children. It is evident that many children are, in their very early years, clearly aware of some knowledge or talent which was brought to a high peak of development in the past. These youngsters don't even have to wait until physical or chronological maturity takes place--they just abolish time and give vent to these amazing abilities while still in knee pants and pigtails! Trines to Uranus, regardless of the evolutionary status of the person, indicate that he is in advance of his time and place and background.

   Squares and oppositions to Uranus from other planets show to what degree his energies need controlling and directing. Conversely, the squares and oppositions that he makes to other planets show how his vibration can throw the other planets off center, make them express in confused and chaotic ways. Whenever Uranus and Sun, Mars, or Jupiter (the dynamic planets) are in discordant relationship, then check carefully to find the degree in which Saturn holds a controlling influence in the chart. Saturn, in this case, can form the patterns for fulfillment into which the dynamic energies must be poured.

   The astrological student or astro-analyst tunes in with the vibration of Uranus every time he, or she, studies a horoscope. That study must be used, and the Uranian vibration directed for the purpose of helping a fellow being to understand his life-patterns more clearly and impersonally. In this way, astrology is used as a channel of liberation and, as such, stands as one of the highest expressions of this mighty and spiritual vibration.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume II
Chapter V
Neptune: Principle of Instrumentation

   THY WILL BE DONE. It is by this phrase, or one of its many equivalents, that the human being recognizes that he is an instrument in the hands of the Over-all Forces, either White or Black. In an attitude of adoration or consecration, he surrenders his personal will in order to serve his concept of the purposes of those Forces. Also, those who are qualified to act as agencies for the releasing of Power are driven by irresistible urges to do so, even though they may not be conscious of their instrumentality.

   Of the former group, Jeanne d'Arc, the warrior-saint of France, is a good example. Through her devotion to her "voices" she became an instrument in the hands of those spiritual agencies which were concerned with the development of the French nation. An extraordinary example of conscious instrumentation was Isadora Duncan, the American dancer; her inspirational responsiveness made possible a dynamic liberation to the concept of the art of Dance in modern times. Among the many people in recent years who demonstrated instrumentation we may consider Bernadette Soubirous, the French peasant girl, through whom the establishment of the healing-grotto at Lourdes was made possible; Max Heindel, the late Father Flannagan, and Mother Frances Cabrini were "instruments" for the establishment of institutions for instruction, human regeneration, and healing.

   Of the second group, humanitarians who work along the more secular lines of government, science, economics, etc., are good examples. Of these we might mention Woodrow Wilson, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Albert Schweitzer.

   The exoteric symbol of Neptune is the "trident," or forked spear, of the ocean-god. Esoterically, however, the symbol represents the upturned cup, open to receive the inflow of inspirational or astral energies. Furthermore, we are told Neptune is not, really, a member of our solar system but is functioning as a "transmitter of galactic energies" to our system. In this function of galactic transmission, Neptune is seen to parallel, on a vast, transcendent scale, the functions of our Moon, which "works locally" between the Earth and the Sun.

   Combining the above factors, we see that Neptune is a feminine vibration, impressionable, sensitive, reflective, fluidic, and receptive. As the Moon is "mother" in a personal sense, with reference to relationship, home, and nation, so Neptune is "mother" in universal sense. "Mother Church," all-embracing, all-forgiving, all-redeeming, is Neptune; the ocean, harboring in its depths the evolution of millions of forms, is Neptune; the virtue of compassion, which is understanding-love, recognizes no barriers to its expression--it reaches all because it has experienced all--its universality is a perfect representation of Neptune. The magic of Art is Neptune; by attunement to this transcendent vibration Man gives expression to the highest impulses of his consciousness through poetry, drama, dance, music, painting, and sculpture. Through these agencies Man, from his beginnings, has sought to give "body" to his idealities through the direction of technique by Will, fired by inspiration. "Religion" and "Art" are two ways of saying "Man's expression, of his recognition of Divinity." Through these two forms of expression, Man proves himself to be "an instrument in the Divine Hands." Through the exercise of his Neptune potentials, he manifests as a microcosmic "transmitter of super-dimensional forces" in his capacities as artist, healer, teacher, and philanthropist.

   While Venus represents Man's faculty of "response to Beauty" through his inner sensitivities and cultivations, Neptune represents his faculty to "contrive Beauty" or "express Beauty" by means of exercising his artistic talents and abilities; he uses his materials as instruments to manifest his concepts, but he in turn, through response to inspiration, is an instrument through which great Intelligences speak to humanity. The two arts which most specifically represent the "instrumentation" of Neptune are Music and Drama.

   Neptune is the transcendent planet of the mental triad--Mercury and the Moon being the other two. Since the language, or "the word" of the inner plane is tone (rhythmic sound vibration), the musician "speaks to us in melody and tonal harmony." The interpretive musician acts as an instrument to manifest the concepts of the creative musician who, in turn, acts as an instrument for inner-plane voices. The trained improvisor, by his sensitive response to musical inspiration and the obedience with which his physical equipment reacts to that inspiration, is an immediate and direct channel for artistic utterance. In the exercise of his talent, his body, his musical instrument, his musical intelligence and responsiveness are all fused into one composite instrument through which the inner-plane voices speak to uS.

   The actor, from his inner knowledge of human nature and experience, which is accumulated through many incarnations of intense emotional experience, symbolizes in each characterization a certain vibratory pattern, or level, of the soul body of mankind. Through his inspiration he transmits the playwright's concept of humanity and temporarily assumes the reality of a certain type of person. The greatest acting requires, of course, technique of timing, reading, and movement, but the quality of spiritual greatness that moves the members of an audience to rapture and exaltation is that which is derived from the actor's transmission of his own inner memory (the superconscious) of experience. He "out-pictures" a facet of the inner memory of each person moved by his performance.

   The Drama of Life is reflected, microcosmically, by the drama of the theatre. Human problems, relationships, joys, loves, sufferings, defeats, and triumphs are all mirrored by the projection of the playwright and the instrumental interpretation of the actor. When we, as individuals, choose to make ourselves "instruments of the Divine" we play a role on our own Stage of Life that is ennobling, inspiring, beautiful, and triumphant.

   "Instrumentation" is a focalized releasing of power. When used by persons centered by the higher dimensions of consciousness great service of beauty, healing, and realignment are made possible in all phases of life--human and sub-human. However, power is no respecter of persons or things; it just operates as it is directed. (Consequently, when it is released through an unregenerate or unspiritualized consciousness, instrumentation becomes a process by which indescribable negatives may be exposed. Egotism that is self-centered and self-glorifying makes of instrumentation a thing of evil because through it Power is released for the fulfillment of ends that are limiting and destructive. In this reference the vibratory effects of Neptune must be understood in the study of horoscopes of criminals, delinquents, and psychopaths. These sick people are disorganized, intensity of desire capacities over-balancing Will and/or intelligence, intensity of Purpose coupled with perversion of Ideality--and all maladjusted conditions tend to develop responsiveness to destructive astral forces. Putting these impulses into action is "black instrumentation." The person whose intense, but undirected, sexuality leads him to perpetrate murder and cruelty as an "outlet" is a tool of Blackness; the religious fanatic who, in the name of his gentle, loving Masters abuses, imprisons, tortures, and enslaves his fellow man "for the glory of God and his Church" may be perfectly sincere in his motives, but in such treatment of others he proves himself to be on a low vibratory rate.

   The Spanish Inquisition may be studied briefly at this point since the organization was an "instrument" of "Mother Church." There were, doubtless, many members of the Inquisition who zealously and sincerely perpetrated outrages against "heretics," being motivated by idealistic efforts to express "glory to God" as their church interpreted it. Acts of heroism, self-sacrifice and loyalty which they committed point to an unshakable faith in their concept of spiritual rightness. The means used will have to be answered for in subsequent incarnations, but there is no doubt that sincere devotion to an ideal builds in Whiteness in the inner planes.

   It is the ultimate perversion of the vibration of Neptune when a pretense of ideality is utilized deliberately for self- aggrandizement, self-glory, and domination over the mind and body of another person. This is illusion masking illusion, corruption of corruption, a lie lying to itself.

   When the regeneration has been commenced and the Neptune-patterns from the past are ready for redemption people are "pulled into the most impossible-to-control situations." They are subtly influenced into habits which destroy them; they ask for bread--they get stones; they lovingly assume a responsibility--it becomes a back-breaking burden from which they never find release in this life; they seek spiritual enlightenment--they get a species of black magic which wrecks them; they have intense creative urges and their efforts toward self-expression are frustrated at every turn; they are endowed with unusual physical attractions--they never find the fulfillment of love which they seek above all other things. In each of these cases, the realization of the Ideal forever eludes the suffering person with the >accompanying temptation to sink into negative levels of cynicism, rage, and hopeless fury against Life which they begin to think of as something they can no longer endure but must escape from. Negative Neptune is the "flight from reality" through drink, drugs, indolence, perversion, and suicide. The "flight from reality" is the attempt to escape the pressure of the Inner Voice, which is the person's Reality; he cannot face his past failures to live spiritually.

   Neptune afflicted in the horoscope should be studied as a karmic indication of Principle having been perverted in the past. People who attempt, in one way or another, to escape their problems do so only because they are not aware of the principle which is working for their development. They have, in the past, blinded themselves to "Principle- awareness" by deliberately masking their own truth. Objectively or subjectively in these instances Neptune walks hand-in-hand with Cause and Effect: clouding the lives of people with illusions because of Illusion having been perpetrated.

   Since everyone's Neptune is activated in some way periodically it is of value to the astro-analyst to learn something of the person's experience and reactions in those times. A person who, to a degree, "lives with his Neptune" will recall moments of intense inspiration and exaltation; he will refer to a highly developed, spiritually-minded person whose acquaintance he made or an experience of artistic illumination. Persons who are not well acquainted with Neptune may recall experiences that caused them considerable distress. They misplaced and lost things; material affairs appeared chaotic and confused; things happened and things were said, the sources of which could not be determined; relationships took on a bizarre aspect and unsuspected things were revealed. On the more subtle planes of experience strange, disturbing emotions were aroused, complex desires and peculiar ecstasies may have been felt; will power and purpose seemed to dissolve into unaccustomed feelings of lassitude and indifference; trancelike imaginings and weird dreams may have been experienced. Persons whose charts carry a heavy emphasis on the element of Earth or the vibration of Saturn can experience in their Neptune-activations something really frightening: the material expression of life seems to become fluidic and perspectives appear all out of focus. This is Neptune reminding them of impermanence of the physical plane; it may appear like a temporary aberration but it is really just a momentary shift of consciousness onto a more subtle plane.

   The quality of "hyper-passivity" clearly describes Neptune's "personality" and as such emphasizes in a pronounced manner the receptive, feminine potentials of the chart. The sign of Neptune's rulership, Pisces, is of the water element and the mutable cross--the most purely impressionable of the entire zodiac.

   Since Neptune's function is "channel-ship" we must give careful study to the unregenerate patterns of the planets which aspect Neptune in the chart even if Neptune itself is unafflicted. This is important because though the "channel" may be efficient in function we should understand the quality of "what comes through." A person naturally endowed with psychic sensitivity or a high potential for idealism and devotion can, in his unregenerate expressions, open up to all manner of perverse or destructive influences. Thus, inundated by waves of inflow from the astral planes he can submit his heart, mind, and consciousness to agencies which are neither worthy nor health-giving. Neptune itself unafflicted in the chart is a potential for transmutation through Ideality--i.e. through the exercise of prayer, living devotion to high ideals which are expressions of life-giving Principle, purification of the entire organism through regeneration of physical health and responsiveness to the therapeutic power of music or art in general.

   Neptune is the ruler of the twelfth house of the "natural" or "cosmic" horoscope; its vibrations convey a twelfth house condition of some sort or another to the house that has Pisces on the cusp--or is principally influenced by that sign. Planets in Pisces--disposited by Neptune--are "potentials for the unfoldment of Cosmic Consciousness through the redemption of karma by Idealism;" frictional aspects to Piscean planets indicate the required "soul adjustments."

   The house containing Neptune contains the secret of how you express cosmic consciousness and, particularly through which experience-patterns; toward what ends are you used by spiritual or astral forces; the source of your awareness of "heaven on earth;" the principal environmental source of your inspiration; the point where you most easily surrender to (your concept of) God's will; your transcendence of separateness and instrumentality for truth.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume II

Chapter VI
Neptune Patterns--The Twelfth House

   The twelfth house of the horoscope forms the essential experience-pattern of Neptune's vibration and function. As we consider a blank wheel we see that this house is placed at the end of a cycle of development; it also, since Life is a continuous process by incarnations, "sits on the back of the first house." (The first house, of course, is the first breath of the next phase, or cycle, of on-going.) In this "sitting" the twelfth house may be taken to symbolize the "burden of sin" which the traveler must carry, for a time, as he continues his journey on the Path. It is the redemption of this "sin" which impels the person to incarnate again for a new cycle of experience. The twelfth house is the astrological symbol for the biblical phrase "original sin;" each person brings his own memory of sin--or unregeneration--from his previous embodiment. In relationship to the wheel as a whole, the twelfth house stands as the "accumulated residue" of a cycle of experience; in relationship to the first house it represents the essence of what is still to he regenerated by adjustment of the individual consciousness to the Cosmic--through succeeding experience.

   During any particular incarnation we use the planetary vibrations as "tools" for our development. Frictional planetary aspects represent our needed lessons in the use of our faculties--they are Life's way of "alerting us" to development-needs. The twelfth house indicates, essentially, what we were as personalities in the past. It tells the story of the way we looked at life last time and to what degree we subconsciously tend to live this incarnation in terms of what we were in the past. This picture, in the case of the twelfth house being tenanted or its ruler being "bound" by frictional or gravitational aspects, can be taken as an explanatory clue for the way many people tend to live in "back-going terms." They go through the progressive physical phases of childhood, adolescence, and maturity as everyone does, but the strong memory pictures of the past make it almost impossible for them to express themselves or to understand their experiences in terms of what is represented by their Ascendant sign--the present. Let us consider the different types of twelfth- house Ascendant patterns from this standpoint for application to different horoscopes.

   Pattern I: Same sign on twelfth cusp and Ascendant; succeeding sign on second cusp. This is analogous to being held back a grade in school. It means the person is continuing, in this incarnation, a phase of experience directly connected with his viewpoint in the past; it suggests that the person was out of incarnation for a relatively short time--he comes right back to what he was; to the degree that the ruler of the chart is afflicted the person becomes his own secret enemy--since that planet also rules his twelfth house; by this pattern Life says to the person: "I shall give you one more chance to make good."

   Pattern II: The same as Pattern I except that the succeeding sign is intercepted in the first house: this suggests that the person has been out of incarnation for a longer-than-usual time; he needs to establish his link with past conditions by living part of this incarnation in terms of the past so that, by objective experience, he may be made aware of his potentials for self-undoing and, so, recognize his need for regeneration and redirection; the sign intercepted in the first house is the traveling companion who has gone ahead but who waits quietly by the roadside for the Ascendant person to catch up. When the experiences which reflect past-life consciousness have been undergone and the person has been brought to a seeming stop in his development, the awareness of the intercepted sign is brought to the attention of the person to alert him to on-going; the intercepted sign calls out: "Hello there-I'm glad you finally found me; take my hand and let's get going." If a planet is found in the intercepted sign study it carefully by quality and aspect; since "planets are people" this planet will describe the type of people who will reflect the on-going qualities of the person. This pattern promises progress in this incarnation--the "pull of the past" can be transcended; if the intercepted sign is not occupied, its ruler, by position and aspects, will serve to describe the "companion waiting ahead."

   Pattern III: Twelfth house containing an intercepted sign: a very complex combination of "memories;" planets in either of the twelfth house signs will objectify the past conditions; to the degree that they are frictionally or gravitationally aspected will the person by pain- experience, face his "flowers of evil"--the seeds of which may have been planted even previous to the last incarnation. This pattern is "payment long overdue;" it is in the nature of a "notice of eviction"--unredeemed in this incarnation the bill will have to be adjusted in a future cycle of experience.

   Pattern IV: The same sign on the eleventh and twelfth cusps: this, on whatever "level of the spiral," links the potential for secret self-undoing with the unredeemed areas of consciousness pertaining to relationships in general. The eleventh house, in relationship to a cycle, is the culminating point of relationship-consciousness; we call it the "house of friends" because friendship is the essence of Love that has distilled through fulfillment of all relationship-experience on a given cycle. The unregenerate aspects to the planetary ruler of these houses--or if unafflicted, to its planetary dispositor--will indicate how the person tends to "block himself" in relationship-consciousness; careful study of fraternal, parental, and marital relationship-patterns will reveal the type of experience which the person needs most to "work on" to fulfill his cycle by Love. This pattern is also in the nature of "pay-up day" since the eleventh house is a culminating point on the cycle.

   Pattern V: Afflicting aspect to twelfth house ruler-- no interceptions: the indication of why, what, how, and through whom the person expresses his unregenerate past in terms of the on-going of this incarnation; this is a "reminder of the past" and strong, critical stimulation of the planet may "pull the person into his subconscious," but the regeneration of the pattern by constructive elements in the chart assures direct on-going.

   Pattern VI: Planet in the twelfth house, but in the Ascendant-sign: This is the most purely on-going of all the twelfth house patterns. There is a "secrecy" about the environmental expression of this planet but because of its position in the Ascendant-Sign the person automatically tends to express the vibration in terms of his consciousness of present personality. Unregenerate forces acting on or through this planet may, of course, be redirected in terms of the planet's own essential good; another agency of redirection is assured by the regenerate quality or aspects of the ruler of the chart as it disposits the twelfth house planet and is the focus for personality-expression and personality-fulfillment in this incarnation. Afflicted aspects of the twelfth house planet and/or patterns of afflictions pertaining to the house that it rules will indicate conditions and relationships that the person subconsciously tends to think of as "enemies" because, focused through his Ascendant-sign, they "challenge his on-going;" he has to use the vibratory powers of his present ASC to redeem or transmute those conditions.

   Pattern VII: First house unoccupied, ruler of the chart in the twelfth house and the twelfth house sign: afflicted aspects to the ruler in this pattern represent karmic adjustments to be made through limiting and confining environmental conditions; regenerate aspects show the potentials for flowering of personality-qualities in work or activities connected with the sick or confined or "generally unfortunate;" it is a clinging to the past--the person is not quite ready to establish an on-going expression of personality; such a person seems to be born "in back of his contemporaries"--he is not "modern" in his viewpoint. Certain elaborations of this pattern can indicate that the person, being very gifted in some way, expresses in the modern world "something wonderful from a past age"--he lives in the world of "now" but he symbolizes the world of "then."

   Pattern VIII: Ruler of the twelfth house in the Ascendant-sign, first house, or intercepted in the first house: "This is astrology's answer of "no!" to the teaching that early environmental conditions are the basic cause of later difficulties. By this position of the twelfth house ruler the early environment-influences are seen as effects from the unregenerate past. The person incarnates through certain parents, in a certain place and lives under certain conditions in his childhood because an unregenerate area of his consciousness needs that kind of a start for his on-going in this incarnation. The "bad memories" are immediately objectified in the early part of life; analyzing the chart by application of "cause and effect" will give a clue as to the person's inner reason for incarnating under those particular circumstances. This pattern is "secrets brought out into the clear light of day"--if the twelfth house is unoccupied the secret karma is out-pictured in the person's childhood, by the combined effects of early home- life, surroundings, and associates. Harmful influences which have the appearance of "deviating the person" are simply the objectifications of his surface-subconscious; this pattern may point to an attitude of deliberate wrong-doing in the past--of such a nature that the person is "pulled into" the same kind of picture so early in this incarnation that he hasn't the power or intelligence to combat the wrong influence--he just "falls right into it."

   Pattern IX: (cyclic): Any two adjacent houses covered by the same sign, hence ruled by the same planet: Wherever placed in the chart, this pattern carries out the principle of " present-in-terms-of-past." Any Sign of the Zodiac can be twelfth house; any sign can be Ascendant. The cyclic pattern of twelfth house in relationship to Ascendant may be described as: that area of consciousness, unregenerate, which impels reincarnation; the cyclic pattern of Ascendant in relationship to twelfth house may be described as: The progressive means by which unregenerate karma is redeemed by reincarnation. As a compound pattern of Cosmic symbol, the above phrases can be applied to any part of the chart which shows a linking of past to present.

   In reference to Pattern IX we may say that the house with the higher degree on the cusp represents the department of life to be fulfilled by that particular planetary vibration in this incarnation; the lower degree house (the previous) represents an experience or relationship which still waits fulfillment or regeneration. Since the third, fifth, seventh, ninth, and eleventh houses are the houses of progressive- relationship-patterns (the fourth and tenth being the houses of parentage) we can determine--in Pattern IX--what, in the past, has impelled the present relationship or how their relationship established in the past is to be fulfilled in this incarnation. Mercury, Venus, and Mars normally rule two signs each; involved in Pattern IX they, of course, extend their influence to a third house which serves to "complete their picture;" the other planets, normally ruling one house, can, in Pattern IX, rule two.

   Pattern X: (cyclic) Planet in the house it rules, but in the following Sign: in this pattern we see the "twelfth house relationship to Ascendant" expressed in terms of the planet's own vibration, not by house position. If the planet has an afflicted aspect the indication is that continual expression of its cusp-sign vibration "holds the person to the afflicted past" and assures depletion of constructive or regenerate expression. The environmental indication or mode of expression is the same now as it was in the past, but this incarnation demands expression through progressive planetary vibration; the latter of course, refers to the planet which disposits the one concerned. This pattern is, potentially, very on-going since the person, from past experience, is accustomed to expressing the planet in that particular house. It also can indicate a strong possibility that the early environment or parental influence may tend to emphasize the cusp-sign expression; the parents, in this instance, would represent the "pull of the past." The pattern demands of the person that he exert the expression of his own personality and integrity to "forge ahead on his own" in that department of his life.

   All of the patterns are variations of the statement: "-and He took upon Himself the likeness of a man;" the "redemption of the world" (unregenerate consciousness to be redeemed by experience-in- incarnation) by the Spirit (those levels of consciousness which have been aligned to Truth). Let us study our horoscopes with the renewed awareness that each stellar design shows us the picture--on all phases of our lives--of why we were born and how, by regeneration, we can attain the "second birth" which is the transcendence of the past. 

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume II
Chapter VII
Neptune--Aspects and Positions

   It is interesting to note the correlation of Neptune, ruler of Pisces, with the other two signs of the water triplicity. Cancer, cardinal and ruled by the Moon, is water as a generator of power-rivers, streams, waterfall, and rain; Scorpio, fixed, is ice--compressed and static-- symbolizing resource of power; Pisces, mutable, is water as an enveloping agency--fog, mists, miasmas, and above all the mighty ocean which encircles all bodies of land.

   Cancer is the maternal body which generates sustenance for the new incarnation. Scorpio, ruled by Pluto, is the "collective unconscious"--the vast ocean of astral forces which surrounds the body of humanity. Pisces is the "Great Overshadowing"--the Divine Life in which we move and have our being. Neptune represents our capacity to "open up" or to "tune in" to the recognition of the Higher Agencies and to unfold our awareness of the divinity of Life. Through the "instrumentation faculty" of Neptune we can, depending on our states of consciousness, contact the sources of exalted inspiration or we can open the door to Pluto's realm and walk in the caverns of our unregenerate states.

   This "overshadowing" of Neptune has been treated previously by interpretations of the patterns involving the twelfth house--the overshadowing of our own past incarnation which must be redeemed, to a degree, in the present one. However, your own personal variation of Neptune's direct influence is shown by the house of your chart that has Pisces on the cusp--or Pisces intercepted--and the house which Neptune itself occupies. The former shows where illusion and disillusionment are concentrated; the channel of experience that indicates your need for developing Faith; if Neptune is afflicted, the Pisces house indicates where and how, in the past, you betrayed Faith and now need realignment with Principle. The Pisces house can indicate a relationship-pattern of deep spiritual value or one that is masked and veiled--its inner reality is not outwardly recognized by others. It is well to realize that the Pisces house of your chart is the one which you, yourself, may understand the least clearly--its realities are more "occult" than objective in quality and significance. It is where you can mislead yourself because it shows how, in the past, you may have misled others. In the extremities of your difficulties the Pisces house will show what, most likely, will impel you to seek Divine Assistance; seeing that chapter of your life through dark glasses you are moved to ask for guidance from Him who sees clearly.

   The house containing your Neptune is your direct expression of spiritual consciousness, the department of life in which you can be qualified to lead others to establish Faith, the focal point of your idealism, your capacity for establishing Heaven-on-Earth. Through your Neptune house the Divine says: "Be ye the voice for my words and the hands for my work." It is where and how you express your understanding of "Thy will be done, in earth, as it is in heaven."

   Because of Neptune's affinity with the element of water, the fourth, eighth, and twelfth houses may be understood to be the most "congenial" for its placement. They represent the emotional and astral levels of consciousness and, placed therein, Neptune's sensitivity is more definitely emphasized. The signs Pisces and Cancer are considered Neptune's two "best signs" because of their fluidic, emotional quality. Furthermore, since the Moon and Neptune are "personal mother" and "universal mother," respectively, the Moon's sign corresponds to the Neptune quality more than does any other, except Pisces. Therefore Cancer is considered the "exaltation sign" of Neptune--the dynamic, cardinal quality of the sign amplifies the sensitive mutability of Pisces. Neptune in this sign expresses with more "force" than it does in its dignity.

   Neptune's slow travel indicates it to be of great value from the standpoint of cyclic research. Millions of incarnations are made during Neptune's position in any sign; each group is like a miniature "life-wave" attuned to certain expressions of cosmic consciousness. The correlation of Uranus with Neptune in this respect is of particular value. Consider:

   During the later years of the eighteenth century occurred a stellar event of primary magnitude--the conjunction of Uranus with Neptune in the sign Sagittarius. New concepts were born, new ideals, new visions, and new prophecies of a liberated mankind were projected into the human scheme of things. Revolutions occurred, the old was shattered by blows of disintegrative effect. This conjunction carried over into Capricorn in the early 1800s. Metaphysical teachings were released, new concepts of art and morality were promulgated.

   This activation by Uranus and Neptune was in the nature of a "cosmic lunation"--the dynamic Uranus and the spiritualizing Neptune provided a "new birth" for the entire human race. The "full moon" of this "lunation" was the opposition of Uranus in Sagittarius-Capricorn to Neptune in Gemini-Cancer during the early years of the twentieth century. A world war of devastating significance brought out into the open the levels of unrest and change which had been "gestating" all during the last century. In other words, Uranus had returned to the "lunation point" and Neptune, like the full moon after a Sun-Moon lunation, had reached its halfway point. Persons who incarnate during a major planetary opposition do so for greater awareness of certain soul principles; Uranus-opposition-Neptune is awareness for the entire human family--a critical point in our evolution.

   Those persons who incarnated while Neptune was in Aries were of the generation of visionary pioneers, particularly those who had Neptune in Aries and Uranus in Cancer--tumultuous souls who busied themselves in establishing the "new look" in human affairs: metaphysical teachings, woman's suffrage, birth control and all the other agencies of freeing humanity from outworn and crystallized concepts. We who incarnated during the opposition of the two planetary giants came into a world full of unrest and disturbance. We, by inner development and understanding, can take our rightful place in the scheme of things and make our contribution to the New Age, or, by inner undevelopment we can live--or try to live--by approaches that pertain to a bygone age and so find ourselves "out of line" with the changing aspect of things. Study Neptune in charts to determine how the persons concerned can be considered of this age, not just in it. Study the twelfth house conditions, the Saturn conditions and the afflictions to Neptune or to Neptune-Uranus, and get some sort of picture of how--or how not--the person is cyclicly "at home with this age."

   Neptune by position in the fourth, eighth, and twelfth houses conveys a certain natural sensitivity even if it is unaspected- -this pattern holds promise that sometime during the incarnation occult experiences are to be met and dealt with. It naturally follows that afflicted aspects to Neptune when in these houses are particularly acute.

   Neptune unaspected, like any other unaspected planet, is, on a given cycle, a "traveler starting out on a journey." If a traveler is not properly guided or instructed he easily risks taking the wrong roads, thus making many detours and delays before he arrives at his destination. Since Neptune is the transcendent expression of the "mental triad" (Moon, Mercury, and Neptune being the "triad of transmission"--the start of its new journey must be prepared for by (1) discipline and transmutation of subconscious feelings and redirection of feminine reaction-patterns-- symbolized by the Moon--and (2) knowledge by acquisition of facts pertaining to spiritual life-- as an expression of the intellectual faculties, symbolized by Mercury. Neptune, misdirected, can result in perversion of understanding which can bring the person into contact with the forces of black magic; such experiences result in various forms of disintegration and loss of "inner plane awareness." This in turn brings many difficult experiences--during later lives--by which realignment with Truth must be made. Study carefully the house position and house rulership of an unaspected Neptune to determine, as clearly as possible, what direction Neptune should take for its immediate unfoldment.

   Since Neptune is a fluidic, feminine, and impressionable vibration give careful study to the planet which disposits it (Venus for Taurus and Libra, Mercury for Gemini and Virgo, Moon for Cancer, and Sun for Leo)-- because the conditions of the dispositor will indicate the essence of "what comes through Neptune." For example, if Neptune is in Cancer--where it is particularly sensitive anyway--and the Moon carries an afflicted Mars vibration, the indication is that the sex urge and the potential for destruction can be strongly stimulated by the activities of Neptune by lunations, progressed Moon, etc. If Neptune is in Taurus and Venus is unafflicted then the person can be a focal point for a very spiritual love- radiation, as well as an artistic agency. Synthesize the dispositor of Neptune very carefully and, in your assistance to another, plan your "road map" so that the person will know ahead of time when certain subconscious tendencies will be activated and he can prepare his inner defenses. Help him to understand the subtlety of Neptune's expressions--people who appear on the scene when his Neptune is activated negatively simply objectify his own inner subconscious levels. They may "tempt" him, try to mislead him for their own selfish purposes, or give him false instructions. Therefore he must, for best results, "cleanse his thoughts and reactions" and establish awareness of what he really is, why he is, and what he can become.

   The above observations also apply to Neptune with sextiles, trines, and no afflicted aspects. These patterns promise certain realization of spiritual states in this incarnation, but still the Moon, Mercury, and the dispositor must be studied. During the years of childhood and adolescence many subconscious negatives can be intensified by repeated reaction and the full expression of a trine to Neptune may not be realized until later in life. Neptune "floats on the waves of feeling and thought"--if the mental faculties and capacities are undisciplined and unregenerate subconscious reactions have been intensified, a state of consciousness may prevail that obscures the full realization of the Neptune-potential. We cannot, in justice to those we seek to assist, take sextiles and trines to Neptune for granted since they are the flowerings of redirected consciousness.

   Neptune, wherever placed and however aspected, throws a decided influence toward the feminine, or passive, tendencies of the chart. If there is a "plus" of the earth and water elements and Moon and Venus are more in evidence than the Sun and Mars, then the whole chart carries a "hyper- feminine" quality. Neptune does not, of itself, act dynamically; it is we, as patterns of consciousness, who "act through Neptune;" if our channels are clear and clean we open up to inspirational and spiritualizing impulses; if they are not we bring through the opposite.

   The person who incarnates with Neptune on the Ascendent has evidently invited a difficult experience. Even with the best of aspects the physical body is sensitive to an extreme degree; susceptible to all manner of thought forms, atmospheres, and emotional vibrations. This position of Neptune is the arch-symbol of the "instrumentalist;" the vehicle can be used, beautifully, by the White Forces or disastrously by those of Blackness. Such a chart must be approached with great care; it is advisable to find out a few things about the person to acquire a perspective on the "Neptune-picture." A highly developed Ego can be represented by this position, and the planetary afflictions to Neptune could represent the difficulties he may have in "keeping his feet on the ground" in adjusting to the practical phases of life. These aspects can tell a story karmically, of the phases of human life which the person can regenerate by his own spirituality. Since "planets are people," each square or opposition to the Ascendent-Neptune can symbolize persons who need the spiritualizing influence or persons who serve as "testers" for the Neptune person. This person, to neutralize the negative effects of unregenerate influences must keep himself "inwardly alive" by repeated spiritual recharging. Particularly difficult is the pattern of Ascendant-Neptune being squared or opposed by the ruler of the chart, whatever that planet might be. The Ascendant and its ruler are the "newness" of the personality--its focal point of expression for this incarnation. This pattern presents a picture of the physical body itself being particularly sensitive to Black Forces and the indication is clearly shown that psychic training of only the most spiritual kind can be dealt with. This person needs continual alignment with White Forces through dedicated service, prayer, physical purity, and inspirational agencies such as music. If he chooses to walk a spiritual path, in his life activities, his motives and purposes must be immaculate, and he must acquire conscious understanding of the psychic nature of the human organism--he must come into an understanding of his own sensitivity and the responsibility that he has to those around him to "be a Light." Without understanding of his own nature and potentials he could be misdirected into negative expressions and eventually find himself on the downward grade.

   Neptune conjunction Moon is the arch-symbol of psychic sensitivity--particularly when found in the charts of women. Women with this position would do well, if circumstances permit at some time during their lives, to transcend the purely personal phases of woman-experience by "reaching out with hands and heart" to express motherhood in terms of welfare of those not connected with them by blood relationship. This position intensifies the maternal urge and the qualities of sympathy and tenderness are very deep and strong. Concentrated on the comparatively narrow sphere of home circle it can be very confined. Such women have come to a starting point in impersonal living and "all those who need nurture can be their children." Fortified by strong aspects, this Neptune-Moon conjunction can indicate the "born medium"--the faculty of living consciously in the higher dimensions of realization through clairvoyance or clairaudience. But, as noted before, solid groundwork must be established--such a sensitive person cannot risk attunement with that which is false and misleading.

   Neptune-Saturn combinations are very important--and very interesting. These two planets represent the "extremes" of the feminine polarity; Saturn is the most condensed vibration of the planetary spectrum; gravitational in function, it symbolizes the vibration of earth. Neptune, however, is the most sensitive, the most ethereal and "un-earthy" in the spectrum. The square and opposition aspects of these two to each other must first be analyzed by determining which one is the stronger by position, sign, and scope of influence in the chart. Also a comparison must be made from the standpoint of which is the more "afflicted" by other planets. Whichever one of the two is otherwise unafflicted is the key to the solution of the square or opposition "problem" since, being a free agent, it serves to counteract the negatives of the other. Too much Neptune, undirected and undisciplined, is "clear out of this world"--impractical, irresponsible, perhaps inspired but probably just a little too "precious;" too much Saturn, laying on with a heavy hand, "obscures the starlight," the consciousness is trapped in the world of forms and effects, idealism is strangled by the heaviness of burdens to be borne and responsibilities to be fulfilled. The opposition aspect of Saturn- Neptune is very significant--it indicates that this incarnation provides opportunities for the spiritualizing of attitudes toward responsibility-- fulfillments by Faith and Idealism and the demonstration of spiritual consciousness as a redemption of responsibility-karma. Both vibrations must be used to establish equilibrium between these two forces--by living a synchronized expression of both, the best of both can be utilized. Saturn in favorable aspect to an otherwise afflicted Neptune is a marvelous antidote to the swamping of astral conditions; also this pattern promises a relationship-- or relationships--with people who objectify the fine Saturn quality; they will be persons who act as "steadying-agencies" in the subject's life, through whom he will--or can--become alerted to the maturity of responsibility-fulfillment. They will vibrate harmoniously with serious aspects of his nature and through association with them the finer qualities of his character can take on added depth and significance of expression.

   An unafflicted Neptune in favorable aspect to "heavy" Saturn is like fresh water on a parched garden. The persons represented by the Neptune will be a source of inspiration and spiritual refreshment to the subject, who, by the afflictions from Saturn, may find life quite a drudgery through responsibilities and his own "limitation consciousness." If such a chart is heavily characterized by the earth vibration and Uranus is not much in evidence the subject may feel that his Neptune friends are rather a strange lot--he may not be able to understand them very well, but he will recognize his needs for their "lifting touch" in his life. He needs their realization of the inner life-his own is so preoccupied with the outer--and the aspect basically promises that through them he may take steps in this life to free his consciousness from the heavy chains of form.

   Neptune is the cry of the human consciousness for "Shangri-la--the place of Peace, the source of Life-giving waters." Peace is established in the human heart when living is done through adherence to thebest, the finest, and the most perfect realizations. The perfected state is first dreamed about, then visualized, then approached through processes of transmutation, and when the pull of Earth consciousness has been transcended the gates of true realization are open to Beauty, Inner Peace, and Knowledge of Truth.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume II
Chapter VIII
Pluto--Principle of Frozen Fire

   This material is presented in the hope that it will assist those astrological students who are sincerely interested in psychology to clarify their approach to patterns pertaining to the desire-aspects of human consciousness. We fail our task as "enlighteners" unless we make inner agreement to search for solutions to those complex and devious emotionalities that result from confusions and frustrations of the sexual consciousness of people. Evolution is generation and regeneration; phobia, psychosis, fixation, and the like are terms used to indicate levels of emotional consciousness which, because of lack of constructive releasement, have been permitted to stagnate, crystallize, congest, and "back track."

   In the application of astrological interpretations to the findings of modern psychology there is no single symbol more significant than the sign Scorpio in its placement as vibratory significator of the eighth house of the abstract wheel.

   As a fixed water sign, it may be likened to ice, compressed and immobile. As an emotional significator it is feeling in its most intense form. It is the great ocean of desire-power from which al1 humanity derives its emotional pabulum, to be transmuted through love for the regeneration of Life. (Physiologically, Scorpio represents all excretory functions of the body--the releasements of materials, in fluidic states, which for health must be "let out" so that the body's regenerative and transmutative processes may be carried on.)

   The above reference to Love might be better clarified if we use a design to illustrate. On a blank wheel put Aries on the cusp of the first house, Taurus on the cusp of the second house. This is the picture of "I AM"--the statement of conscious being--and "I HAVE"--the recognition of relationship with the things of Life through the consciousness of possession. Taurus--Venusian, earthy, and fruitful--symbolizes the maintenance and sustenance of physical life; it is our "roots in Earth" by which we, through the sense of having, maintain our hold in life-experience. In primitive levels the second house does not--nor need not--necessarily imply the consciousness of relationship with another person; but it is a state of "feeling" or "emotion" of ownership by which we carve our destiny according to our consciousness of "evaluating the things of Earth."

   To this design we now add Libra on the cusp of the seventh house. The "I AM" of first-house Aries now finds its fulfillment, or transcendence, in the "WE ARE" of partnership, marriage, or relationship of any kind. The isolative awareness of the first house is amplified through the mutuality of experience in "togetherness."

   The seventh house is the first house of the upper hemisphere, the initiation into soul-consciousness levels by the experience of love-recognition or love-distillation through the mechanics of relationship. The maintenance or sustenance of the seventh house is found in the eighth house, the "soul-consciousness polarity" of the second house. It is, as has been said, the "desire-resource," the "fires of polarity-exchange."

   We now place the symbol of Scorpio on the cusp of the eighth house, thus completing the picture of the individual thrust into the evolutionary levels of experience through the power of love for the transmutation and regeneration of his consciousness. (Suggest that all astrological students meditate on this design; it is the symbolic picture of the biblical account of the Garden of Eden, the birth of sex consciousness and the initiation of marriage. The perverted interpretation of this allegory, through ages of human experience, has been the cause of more tragedy and suffering than can be ascribed to any other one factor. "Eve" is the soul- consciousness, or the upper half of the wheel. "She" is derived from the need of each individual to transcend the states of the first house--isolative self- maintenance, innocence and/or ignorance. Each human being is a vibratory composite of "Adam and Eve;" physical sex is merely a specialization of polarity expressed in physical terms during a given incarnation for specific generative and evolutionary needs. There can be no such thing as superiority of the male over the female--we are all, in consciousness and subconsciousness, inherently both. Astrologers must understand this.)

   We will now create another design in our study of the sign Scorpio.

   In a blank wheel connect the mid-points of the fixed houses--second, fifth, eighth, and eleventh--by straight lines. The result is the perfect geometric form of a "static square" resting on its base. (This is the symbol we use for the "square aspect"--a relationship between two planets that are within orb of ninety degrees from each other.) Since the vibratory significators of these houses are all signs of emotional power we must study the polarity-relationship of these signs by pairs. We connect the midpoint of the second with the midpoint of the eighth and the midpoint of the fifth with the midpoint of the eleventh. The Leo-Aquarius polarity is the power of personal creative love, expressed in relationship of parent to child, being spiritually fulfilled in the Aquarian vibration of impersonal love-power which includes all relationship patterns as they are fulfilled in friendship or brotherhood. These two signs are love-power as radiations. The Taurus-Scorpio pattern represents resources of love-power through the evolutionary agencies of "desire for possession of things" and "desire for possession of love- experience."

   The "static square" here depicted gives us the clue to the real meaning of the "square aspect" that we use in astrology. Frictional patterns shown in a horoscope symbolize potentials for suffering-- "problems"--due to the frustrations and/or unspiritualized expressions of desire-power. To explain:

   Our problems are ignited in our consciousness--as pain--by the contact we make with other people and through our vibratory reaction to their patterns of consciousness. This can be possible only through the experiences delineated by the seventh and eighth house sector of the wheel, which is the sector of "vibrational exchange." Our states of unregenerate consciousness, unexpressed or unfulfilled desires, synchronize with a complementary pattern of the other person and our relationship- experience is objectified. Since this phase of life is brought to us through the other fellow, let us consider the design of the static square as starting with Scorpio.

   The wheel, as we know, is an abstract picturing of evolutionary processes through successive incarnations. Physical birth is symbolized in each incarnation by the ascendant, the cusp of the first house. However, in each incarnation, a "second birth" is initiated by the first reaction to sex-awareness: the recognition of one's complement, one's "other self," one's living symbol of desired and needed fulfillment. So, we may think of the wheel as having started its revolutions from the moment that humanity-- in the abstract (Adam and Eve)--became aware of the desire for fulfillment through the processes of polarity-exchange, starting with the vibratory exchange of physical sex experience on through all stages of development on mental and creative exchanges and in biological and unbiological relationships.

   Scorpio, then, is seen as the vibratory resource of desire-power for that entity we call humanity, and from which all living things derive their creative expression and perpetuation. Because we are backed up by many, many incarnations of having expressed this power in certain ways we may think of each human being as resembling, symbolically, an iceberg which shows above the surface only a small fraction of its entire bulk. Each one of us has a "great area" of submerged or unrecognized desire-potentials which stem directly from our affiliation to this resource. Thus mutual affiliation has been referred to by many thinkers as the "collective unconscious." Every human being, at any given moment of any stage of his evolution, vibrates to a certain level of this "elective desire body." (Similar--or shall we say analogous--to the relationship of any specific vibration of color to the entire spectrum, or to that of any tone to the "body of tonal vibration.")

   In terms of conventional, orthodox viewpoint we may say that Scorpio represents or symbolizes the "source of evil." The devil is the eternal tempter, the eternal push-in-the-wrong-direction, the eternal trap for the unwary, the arch-destroyer, the enemy of good, the foe of Man and a "stench in the nostrils of the Most High." We do not quarrel with orthodoxy but these phrases represent the attitudes of people who see life--and its chapters--as "black or white," "essentially good or essentially evil," the "high or the low," "day or night," and so on. These levels of concept have been--and still are--necessary because they serve as guideposts for the conduct of evolving humanity. There must be molds of some kind into which man pours his expressions of himself, else all evolving life would be chaotic and pointless. Desire, itself, would have no evolutionary purposes to assist beyond the satisfaction of the most primitive needs.

   However, an alchemical process works throughout the evolution of any individual or pair or group of individuals by the spiritualization of the love-consciousness and the development and expression of intelligence. Self-love becomes love of mate and progeny; self-protection becomes devotion to family, tribe, and state; the forces of sexuality are raised in vibratory quality to extend into levels of creativity and mental power. Through it all the consciousness of the individual ripens and matures into desire for improvement, expansion into wider and wider acquaintance with the universe of other people and, ultimately, for wisdom and realization of ideals. Thus Scorpio, through the eighth house patterns, makes possible the extension of experience into the transcendent expressions of the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth houses. Scorpio is evil only to the mind that sees evil as a "static entity." However, from the approaches made by dynamic realization, Scorpio is the source of all love, all aspiration, and, through the fulfillment of relationship-experience, the source of all wisdom.

   Since Scorpio is a fixed sign of great potential power, planetary placements or patterns involving its vibration may be interpreted as being backed up by intense resource, the result of a "long- time-compression" of desire force at that point. Scorpio patterns--and Scorpio types--are never superficial or insignificant. Give careful attention to any natal aspects pertaining to this sign because its potentials are very great for "great good or great ungood." Desire is concentrated there and its constructive releasement and expression is a "must" in this incarnation. Failing, painful destiny is assured for the future. No emotional inhibition can compare with Saturn in Scorpio for intensity of fear or fixation; no purpose-potential is more unwavering than Sun in Scorpio. Mars in Scorpio may represent sex desire at its most shrill need for expression. Mercury in Scorpio must watch its expressions--backed up by unregenerate impulses of jealousy, frustration, fear, etc. its words can have a devastating effect on the minds and feelings of other people. Moon and Venus in Scorpio intensify to a high degree those patterns which pertain specifically to the levels of feminine consciousness of anyone, male or female. There is, or can be, a certain implacability, ruthlessness, or tendencies to "express through domination" when these factors are not satisfactorily released. All of these planetary positions demand transmuted expression through releasements made possible by the love-consciousness of mutuality in relationship, satisfactory sex-exchange and fruitful generation or, on impersonal levels, in loving work- service or creativity of some kind. These are fires which cannot, indefinitely, remain in a state of suppressed shouldering; they must be allowed to "blaze with the Fires of Living."

   Since we are searching for understanding there is a psychological factor involved in the Scorpio vibration which we must consider, unpleasant though it is. That factor, and it is an individual and collective emotional state, is the essential result of the failure to release constructively those necessarily intense desire urges. Because the physical body is an outer expression of the inner let us consider how this problem manifests on the physical plane.

   As we said before, Scorpio represents all excretory functions of the physical body. Failure to make these needed releasements insures the condition of congestion with all its attendant possibilities of physical inharmony.

   In comparison then, how much more difficult it is to remedy the congestion of the desire nature. Any student can, by a few moments of reflection, recognize conditions of desire congestion in himself or in the natures of those he knows well. These congestions take very tragic forms sometimes and we must learn to recognize them.

   The essential basic tragedy of unreleased Scorpio is the frustration of the generative urge. From this particular congestion stems a myriad of emotional, nervous, and mental ills that may afflict humanity in almost every phase of development. True that there are a few persons in incarnation at any time who do not require this particular form of releasement but these people are few and far between. It is natural and healthy that people, generally speaking, experience the fulfillment of the mating urge in the companionship of love-relationship. Failing this fulfillment, when its need is deeply felt, there is presented a horrible picture of suffering and perpetuation of wrongs on others. Unfulfilled Scorpio--wherever it is placed in the chart--gives us a picture of possibility that the person may yield to expression of cruelty, dishonesty, murder, and all manner of destruction as a substitute satisfaction for this thing which, in his desire nature, screams for gratification.

   As the physical body may erupt with boils due to unreleased toxic conditions, so the consciousness may erupt with all kinds of black urges to get some form of releasement. The history of humanity's development as a sexual organism is riddled with chapters of fear, perversion, disease, and madness because so many human beings "agreed" to live, emotionally, by standards completely removed from the processes of natural experience and healthy, loving fulfillments.

   Marriage, which should be a natural response of two people to each other in terms of emotional rapport, has been made a tool to serve family interests, property acquisition, fortune, temporal power, dynasty, and heaven knows what else. An entire religious form was based on the attitude that man, being a worm and fit for nothing but eternal punishment, had no right to spontaneous enjoyment and fulfillment of his urges and his life. This "philosophy" has tainted the minds and emotions of millions of people for many hundreds of years. We are, in these times, beginning to get at the roots of these emotional diseases and, in studying them, we are forced to the conclusion that life cannot be well lived unless it is based on a philosophy of healthy, constructive, loving, and happy releasements.

   Some of the results of having been instrumental in deflecting the emotional life and happiness of others:

   People whose lives seem to be consecrated to suffering because of the lack of love experience; marriages which seem to be an eternal friction between the partners concerned--old enmity; children brought in who are sources of continual anxiety and care because of illness of mind or body--or deficient in essential character; women who are persuaded to marry men who keep them in continual enslavement to their desire urges without fruitful results; men who cannot free themselves from psycho-emotional bondage to their mothers; children who come in to parents who cannot--who will not-- treat them with reasonable affection or consideration; people who live an entire incarnation in fear of their own sexuality and shame at the thought of trying to "do anything about it."

   So it goes--the torment, pain, fear, inferiority feelings, cruelty, domination, enslavement, self-destruction, and madness-- evidences of the congestion of the desire nature. The remedy is found in enlightened, spiritualized education plus the vitalized determination to live healthily, expressively, beautifully, and lovingly in relationship with oneself and with other people. Thus the desire resource is transmuted and expressed in terms that make for evolution, as well as the redemption of karmic patterns into spiritualized consciousness.

   We find meditation on a sign or a planet as it relates to the "abstract horoscope" to be a reliable foundation for all study of interpretative astrological science. By "abstract horoscope" is meant a wheel with Aries on the cusp of the first house, Taurus on the second cusp, and so on around the wheel. This applies the thirty degrees of each sign to its related house. The placement of the planets in the signs and houses of their dignity complete the picture.

   In Part I of this series we considered the sign Scorpio in its "square relationship" to the other three fixed signs--the signs of "resource of emotional power," which are the sustenance of the cardinal signs preceding them.

   Now we must consider Scorpio in its relationship to the other two signs of its element--water. Our design will be a blank wheel with Cancer on the cusp of the fourth house, Scorpio on the cusp of the eighth, and Pisces on the cusp of the twelfth. These cusps are connected by straight lines forming an equilateral triangle. Of the three water signs and houses, one--the fourth--is in the lower, or "ego-consciousness," hemisphere; the other two are in the "soul-consciousness" hemisphere. To consider the fourth:

   This is the second aspect of cardinal "I AM" consciousness; it is the "I AM" in terms of the Ego's relationship with heritage, family background, racial consciousness, and identification with the streams of Life. Cancer, cardinal-water, is generative in the sense that it is our "home-building" consciousness; it is our base (the lowest point of the wheel) from which we rise up through the succeeding evolutionary patterns.

   Scorpio and the eighth house sustain the seventh house, which is our focal point of most intensified relationship consciousness in marriage (love) or in enmity (unfulfilled love). Consequently the intense, concentrated emotional power of Scorpio--through sex-impulse and its derivations--is needed here. Scorpio is generation and its spiritualizations through regeneration in love.

   Pisces and the twelfth house symbolize water as an enveloping agency. Abstractly considered it is the essence of the past brought over into the present. All the mutable signs and houses are "modulations" from one vibrational or environmental quadrant to the one following. The twelfth house is the modulation from one incarnation to the next--or, considered conversely, it is the essential key to understanding what, in the past, impelled the present incarnation. It symbolizes the emotionality of the water signs in its most transcendent and impersonal aspects of universality of Love, Sympathy, and Compassion-Understanding. Cancer is emotional identification with family; Scorpio is emotional identification in partnership; Pisces is emotional identification with world causes, universal welfare, and evolutionary progress as expressions of the most spiritualized faculties and consciousness.

   The water signs in composite, symbolize our faculties as "sounding-boards;" our "vibrational responsiveness to other people's vibrational patterns;" "subconscious instinctive family feelings;" "sub- conscious desire-impulses;" and "subconscious memories from past incarnations."

   Since the foundation of all astrological interpretation is "Know Thyself," suggest acquaintance with the water-sign pattern by turning the design we have created so that your Ascendant sign falls on the cusp of the first house. Even if your natal chart has intercepted signs, this turning of the wheel will give you a picture of how, in general, the water-sign consciousness applies to your individual astrological variation. Study it carefully, with emphasis on the cusp carrying Scorpio, for pursuance of this discussion. Approach it in this way: "Scorpio indicates the concentration of my desire-consciousness in such-and-such house in such-and- such quadrant of my chart." Meditate retrospectively on your past experiences pertaining to this pattern. Apply this technique by placing Scorpio on all cusps of an otherwise blank wheel. Elasticize your mental approach by applying the water-sign trine and the fixed-sign square to the twelve possible abstract positions.

   Our next consideration of the sign Scorpio will be in its relationship to Libra, the cardinal sign preceding it. On a blank wheel put Libra on the seventh cusp and Scorpio on the eighth. From the center of the wheel darken the lines representing the seventh and eight cusps and then shade in the seventh and eighth houses so that they stand out from the other houses. This is for the purpose of alerting you to the intense emotional signification of this two-house and two-sign sector of the wheel.

   Libra, cardinal-air, is the vibratory correspondence of the first house of the soul-consciousness hemisphere; it initiates the third sector of the wheel by the dynamic action of the magnetic attraction of two people to each other. The egotistic individualistic "I AM"--Adam--of the first house extended into "I am a unit in family relationship" of the fourth house, becomes, in the seventh, "I am one of the two complementary factors of an intensely focused emotional experience pattern." Venus, as ruler of Libra, is the abstract symbol of the " Eve-consciousness" of every human being, the agency of redemption for the isolative egoism inherent in all of us and the essential channel by which we all find the source of our cultivations and refinements through exchanges in mutuality--in all phases and levels.

   Scorpio, succeeding Libra, is the desire-food by which this redemptive experience is sustained and the eighth house is the process of generation, regeneration, renewal, and transmutation by which is distilled Understanding--leading from the eighth house into the transcendencies of the remaining four houses of the wheel. Add to our design a straight line from the ninth cusp to the Ascendant, enclosing the last four houses. This four-house sector is consciousness resulting from transmuted expressions of the desire nature; spiritualizations made possible by love. Apply this design to your own chart in meditation. Elasticize by studying it as it applies to the twelve possible positions in the abstract wheel. Utilize the basic key word approach to the sectors and to the individual houses, keeping in mind that Scorpio conveys the intensity of the desire nature; the focal point of sex consciousness; the chapter of experience which requires the utmost of your regenerative and transmutative powers; the levels of your emotional awareness that demand the improvement of vibratory quality by love; and the improvement of expression by constructive action.

   The viewpoint is maintained here that Pluto is the ruler of Scorpio; Mars is the co-ruler as the active expression of Pluto. And for these reasons:

   The essential qualities of a planet's "spiritual nature" must coincide with the essential qualities of the sign it rules. Mars is not only the Principle of Energy but it is the expression of that energy in action. Its sign is Aries--the initial step of the wheel, the " new life," the consciousness of Being and Doing. Its essence is dynamic in every way: thrusting, energizing, impregnating, stimulating, and vitalizing. It is the abstraction of individual selfhood contending with Life and its component parts as things to be overcome through the urges of self-maintenance and self- expression.

   Pluto, remote and slow moving, is the abstracted essence of the fixed, congealed, and compressed nature of Scorpio--the most rigid of all the signs (Leo, fixed-fire, glows with power and radiance; Taurus, fixed-earth, is fruitful and expressive; Aquarius, fixed-air, is a vibration of genius--transcendent and inventive; of the water signs, Cancer is responsive and moody; Pisces is extremely impressionable and subtle). Scorpio, smouldering with the compression of its inner fires of intense feelings, expresses its utmost infrequently, but then with great and telling effect. Volcano-like, these expressions are made when the urge to express exceeds the capacity to withhold and the energy-releases are made for far-reaching effects and results. Let us refer again to the design of Libra-Scorpio with the line drawn from the ninth cusp to the Ascendant. What does this design essentially convey?

   In periodic recurrence--revolution after revolution of the wheel--it symbolizes the need for reincarnation for the greater spiritualizations of the consciousness due to failures or unfulfillments of the partnership-regeneration patterns of the previous incarnation or cycle of incarnations. The Ascendant carries on its back the whole sector of four houses which include the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth. Pluto, as ruler of Scorpio, stands at the portal of spiritual life--on any phase--from relationship to relationship and--and this is significant--the relationship- essence of the past to the present and from the present into the future. The last four houses of the wheel represent the "Wine of Spirit" distilled from all fulfilled relationships.

   Now if, at the commencement of incarnation, the Ego is unable to say "I AM," of what use is incarnation? The fact that incarnation is made is proof that the Spark of eternal, indestructible Consciousness is seeking further spiritualizing, no matter how limited the capacity for self- expression may be. The congenitally crippled, the blind, the mentally deficient, and all such defective persons are personifications of the expression of the lower hemisphere of the wheel--consider this carefully-- loveless releasements of the generative and regenerative factors. The on-going of life is regeneration; those lives that seem to be back-going are themselves objects of devotion, sacrifice, and love for parents, or others, who need extreme measures to release their resources of knowledge, compassion, and sympathy; thus the processes of improvement and regeneration are maintained and perpetuated. The ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth houses not only represent people who live in spiritualized consciousness, but they also represent the patterns of work or service that are extended to those who personify evil destiny in their afflictions of suffering and ignorance. In other words, those who have learned the lessons of the eighth house distill, for service to all, those spiritualized powers by which afflictions and suffering can be, and are, redeemed. Therefore, enlightened people regard every incarnation as significant and of value; their viewpoint extends beyond the superficial and transitory; they perceive the Laws of Life in expressions and recognize that there is the possibility for the regeneration of any and all phases of human existence.

   The approach made by modern corrective psychology-- let us refer again to our design--is to help the person who is physically, emotionally, or mentally-psychically afflicted to re-establish his ability to say "I AM" in terms of (1) physical healing and improvement of the physical capacities; (2) the understanding of his emotional patterns of fixation, fear, frustrations, or inhibitions, so that the inner complexes and compressions may be released and an upsurgence of self-confidence, sexual-emotional health, relationship realignment, optimism, joy, and love be established; (3) disciplines and directives for stronger and more efficient mental awareness so that the person may bring himself into clearer alignment with things and people around him. All of these factors point directly to a higher level of "I AM" consciousness. There is no other basis for living life in constructive and fruitful terms.

   Now we must consider that from incarnation to incarnation an inner life starts with each emergence into sex awareness and the recognition of partnership experience. More destiny can be created from the pattern of one marital experience than from any other single factor in human development. All of the essential factors are involved: sexual exchange, rearing of children, economic problems, relationship entanglements, etc., making a composite of very complex emotional reaction patterns. Since we all are individuals, regardless of how close or bound we may feel to our partners, we cannot, ultimately, and should not try to, get away from the consciousness of "I AM." Even to try to effect this inner cleavage is to ensure, to a degree, the wreckage of integrity, the undermining of self-confidence, and the depletion of ability-expressions. The "I AM" of Mars-Aries should be--and eventually must be--a thing of honest self-awareness, integrity, and emotional health. Until this springboard is made the basis of our "leap into life" we risk floundering in swamps of indecision, falsity, and all manner of tragic complications. Pluto, as ruler of our intense desire-capacity, is released through Mars either as an agency of destruction, domination, greed, crime, perversion, and disease, or it is an expression of courage, self-reliance, constructive activity and work, the ardency of true love-impulse, the health of rewarding sexua1-mutuality, and the luminous spark by which life is expressed with warmth and light, joy, and progress.

   When your life seems to reach a point of stagnation and, through a feeling of inertia or depletion, you feel unaware of neW directions and new paths of growth, but you do want to continue progressively, look to your chart and point your attention at the cusp carrying Scorpio to alert yourself to your resources. Then by consideration of the house carrying Aries and the potential indicated by your Mars, find out how you can say "I AM" in bigger and better terms than ever before. This is the process on the inner planes:

   You are aware of a strong desire to move ahead with your life in some way. Desire, unreleased and unexpressed, banks up until congestion sets in; this congestion results in envies and jealousies of others, self-pities and a diminishing of self-respect and self-confidence. Futilities and superficialities are resorted to in order to fill up the "aching void" and your life goes wandering off into all kinds of (really unwanted) byways and detours.

   So--you know you must do something with yourself from your own center of awareness. Your start of anything is made with your Aries and/or first house consciousness; an enlarged or extended consciousness of your Aries-Mars potential is the key for greater releasement of your desire for on-going. Not what someone else thinks you might do, should or should not do, but what your horoscope says is your pattern for progress.

   Without reneging on legitimate responsibilities or trampling unjustly on anyone you will respond to the first opportunity that synchronizes with your progressive purpose. Your response will be in terms of "good Mars"--eagerly, enthusiastically, courageously, and positively. You say, in effect, "I wish to release something of the best that I have to offer to my own life and to my relations with other people--something from the deep, hidden resources of my consciousness and abilities. I am determined to make this a worthy and constructive contribution to be expressed and fulfilled with honesty, integrity, and courage."

   By such an attitude, and inner feeling, the resources of Pluto, the collective desire body, are released into life through you and serve to feed the spiritual vibrations and consciousness of all who contact you. This, in short, is the redemption of relationship, the essence of love- experience.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume III
Foreword

   So much favorable comment has come to us concerning the astrological articles by Elman Bacher which appeared in our Rays from the Rose Cross during past years that we feel sure this volume will be cordially welcomed by all students of spiritual astrology.

   Mr. Bacher's profound knowledge of and devotion to the stellar science, along with an uncanny understanding of human nature, made it possible for him to present material which undoubtedly places him among the best of modern esoteric astrologers. As the truth and value of astrology becomes more and more generally accepted, his presentations will serve increasingly to help people know themselves and fulfill their highest destiny.

   Before his passing in 1954, Mr. Bacher expressed a keen desire to have us publish his articles in book form, and although we deeply regret that he is not here to see the culmination of his desire, we are happy in knowing that his wish is now being fulfilled.

Introduction

   To the Rosicrucian student astrology is a phase of religion, basically a spiritual science. More than any other study it reveals man to himself. No other science is so sublime, so profound, and so all- embracing. It portrays the relation between God, the macrocosm, and man, the microcosm, showing them to be fundamentally one.

   Occult science, investigating the subtler forces that impinge upon man, the Spirit, and his vehicles, has charted their effects with no less definiteness than has academic science the reactions of sea and soil, plant and animal to the solar and lunar rays.

   With this knowledge we may determine the astrological pattern of each individual and know the relative strength and weakness of the various forces operating in each life. To the degree that we are in possession of such knowledge we can begin systematic, scientific character building--and character is destiny! We note times and seasons cosmically advantageous to unfolding undeveloped qualities, correcting faulty traits, and eliminating destructive propensities.

   The divine science of astrology reveals the hidden causes at work in our lives. It counsels the adult in regard to vocation, the parent in the guidance of children, the teacher in management of pupils, the physician in diagnosing disease, thus lending aid to each and all in whatever position they may find themselves.

   No other subject within the range of human knowledge appears to hold for this day and age the possibilities open to astrologers for helping people to their own dignity as gods-in-the-making, to a greater grasp of universal law, and to a realization that we are eternally secure within the caressing fold of Infinite Life and Boundless Being.

Chapter I
The Astrologer

   The astrologer belongs to one of those many groups of people who, motivated by impersonal love, seek to add to the betterment of human conditions. He has come to a point in his development when his inner resources, distilled from past incarnations, are of such quality and scope that they "must out;" in other words, a part of his consciousness can no longer find satisfaction in the purely personal--or biological--levels of experience. (Of course, his impersonal service is an expression of his development and experience as a human being, but its purposes are for the world of human beings at large.)

   Let us consider the astrologer in the light of "astrological designs:"

   In a blank circle draw the horizontal and vertical diameters. The cross made by these two lines symbolizes the human-beingness of the Astrologer: a man--or woman--incarnated for the purposes of development, dealing with problems, trials, and temptations as anyone else does; perhaps subject to one or many forms of testing-through-suffering. All this pertains to the personal part of him, but when we add the cusp of the ninth house to this "cross pattern" we see the astrologer emerge from the limitedness of a mere human. Placing the symbol for Jupiter in the ninth house of this design pictures his essential identity: he is "elder brother" and teacher.

   In his human-beingness on this plane he is brother to all people who come to him for guidance. He recognizes that he walks the same essential paths that all people do, but the thing that differentiates him from others is the composite of his impersonal love quality, his range of understanding of human conditions and his abstract mental faculties. This composite lifts his consciousness to a level that transcends the basic biological motivations of thought and feeling, he sees through the concepts of race, group-religion, caste, family moldings, physical relationship patterns, and even of sex itself. His approach to his "younger brothers and sisters" is from the basis of studying and understanding their vibratory patterns--in other words, their consciousness.

   His fundamental study is that of the vibratory nature of the entity we call humanity in its myriad expressions and variations, manifested by subconscious impressions and feelings, emotional tastes, physical attributes and conditions, and reaction patterns to all the departments of experience and relationship common to all human beings in their evolutionary progress. Mankind is not only one family--it is one thing, one particular pattern of life-expression.

   The astrologer is, of course, a facet of the one thing; but, by perception and understanding, he is in relationship to most of the other facets of the one thing as a person on a mountaintop is to those who are climbing the same mountain or to those who have still remained in the valley below. He has, at his particular evolutionary level, already distilled something of what the climbers on the mountain slope and the people in the valley are in the process of distilling: awareness of universal principles and its expression through the processes of human life. He, in his turn, still has mountains ahead, and there are those who have attained "look-out points" that are higher than that which he now occupies. But the impersonal consciousness is the common denominator of them all. That is the essence of the fraternity which relates him to those still climbing and to those ahead of him. To the former he is elder brother; to those ahead he is younger brother. But all of them are elder brothers to those who remain in the valleys of purely biological and materialistic consciousness.

   In our design, the ninth house symbolizes the knowledge or wisdom aspect of the astrologer; his love aspect is designated by the eleventh house. To our design let us add Aquarius on the cusp of the eleventh house and place the symbol for Uranus in that house; shade in the ninth and eleventh houses so that they stand out from the rest of the wheel; "ground" these two houses by adding the cusp lines of the third and fifth houses, thus designating a composite of two polarity-patterns: (1) knowledge raised to its transcendent expression of wisdom, distilled from experience; (2) personal love, as a creative expression, raised to its spiritualized level of boundless impersonal love for humanity--regardless of the latter's levels of manifestation or development.

   The love aspect of the astrologer's consciousness-- designated by the eleventh house and the vibratory essence of Uranus--is the culmination of all the houses of relationship and the most spiritualized expression of the air signs. The eleventh house is Human Relationship in its most protean expression. It is the distillation of all relationship patterns-- the power of love in its expression as the "waters of Life," the panacea of all emotional experience, the ultimate goal of all human loving. We call this state "Friendship"--the essence of the best that may be derived from the togetherness of people, no matter who, or what, they may be as individuals.

   This love aspect is, by its very nature, the fused essence of the love aspects of both sexes--or polarities. The astrologer, through his intensified experience in past incarnations, has distilled, to a degree, the understanding of the emotional characteristics pertaining to the masculine and feminine attributes. He must, to fulfill his service, be able to see into the problems of both men and women and to perceive the directions of regeneration and correction.

   The consciousness of the astrologer, in reference to this love aspect, might be more clearly delineated by another design. (The one we have been considering refers more particularly to the evolutionary directions or paths that must be traversed by one who seeks to render service through astrological interpretation.) The flowering of the love consciousness of the astrologer is shown by a blank wheel in which the cusps of the third, seventh, and eleventh houses are connected by straight lines, forming an equilateral triangle. Interestingly enough, one point of this triangle--the third cusp--is in the lower, or ego consciousness, hemisphere; the seventh cusp marks a point of equilibrium, being opposite to the Ascendant; the eleventh cusp, representing the highest peak of relationship consciousness, is in the upper, or soul consciousness hemisphere. There is an element--a common denominator--of "fraternity," linking these three houses to each other. The third house, on biological levels, is "brothers and sisters;" on a more impersonal expression it is "kindred and neighbors;" still more impersonal it is "fellow students"--people of whatever age or condition who are learning from the same source of knowledge, or who are being spiritualized by the same religious or philosophical interpretation. The seventh house is the fraternal relationship of one person--or consciousness--to a complementary expression-- either sexual or vibrational. The "fraternity of marriage" might be described in this way: one man and one woman serves, in togetherness, the on-goingness of life in love experience and procreation. Husband and wife, in this life service, are truly brother and sister as an expression of the third house consciousness intensified by the composite powers of desire attraction and love releasement. The eleventh house, in the soul consciousness hemisphere, is the transcendence of the former two, since it is the love consciousness expressed toward the entire entity which we call humanity, and it is not limited in its expression by being confined to only one part--or selected parts--of that entity as its object.

   So, the spiritually motivated astrologer must stand as a living symbol of that love which recognizes no barriers or limitations-- of any kind--to its expression.

   We will now consider a design which could be taken to represent a symbolic portrait of the astrologer in his composite factors of human consciousness and spiritual consciousness. Using a wheel with houses on white paper fill in the first six houses with a dark color--brown or blue, etc.; fill in the seventh and eighth houses with red--symbolizing the "fires" of relationship and regeneration; the remaining four houses will remain white- -symbol of the spiritualized consciousness. The portrait which results is that of a human being whose vibratory and environmental elements are essentially those of any other person; he has experienced much development through transmutation of his lower vibrations by the spiritualizing powers of idealism, love, service, sacrifice, self-discipline, and responsibility fulfillment. He has been many things--as a worker; he has fulfilled most of the patterns of experience in love relationship--both as male and as female; he is--or has been--something of an artist because his mental perceptions include an understanding of the symbolic and of the abstract. He is aware of the drama of life and he is sensitive to the nuances of human thoughts and feelings as they are presented in the problems that he studies. He knows evil but his mind and heart are set on good. He studies problems to fulfill the purpose of finding solutions. His motivation being one of love, he radiates encouragement, neutralizes fear, illumines the consciousness of his brothers and sisters by alerting them to their strength and powers. He is--and realizes that he is--an "open door" through which all who so desire may walk from the darkness of their unregenerate patterns into the light of self-knowing. He neither approves nor disapproves of anything he sees in any chart--he keeps personal feeling out of the picture--because he recognizes that each chart is a picturing of good in its becoming.

   In relationship to the client who requests his assistance we see him portrayed by this design: an otherwise blank wheel with the first six houses colored or shaded, the upper six houses remaining white. In this design, the lower shaded houses represent the client with his problem; the white houses represent the astrologer and his spiritualized consciousness. All human problems are rooted in unregenerate expressions of the first six houses; they are brought into their most intense focus throughout the composite action of the seventh and eighth houses and the solutions are found in the regenerating powers of the last four houses. In this design the astrologer reflects the regenerate potentials of the client. He is thus portrayed as the client's other, or higher, self. The magnetic action of love power attracted the client to the astrologer, who waits to assist all who need him, and by the distilled powers of his regenerate consciousness, he is able to study the client's chart and to throw a beam of light into the dark corners and perceive the needed spiritual corrective for the client's consciousness toward his problem.

   The astrologer, in contact with the client, has the responsibility of putting aside all patterns of personal disturbance while he undertakes the task of reading the client's chart. He must be the white hemisphere, and in the event that he is dealing with a deep personal disturbance it would appear a better policy to defer the reading until he can establish his inner poise. In recognizing the impersonal quality of his service he knows that he is an instrument by which the client's good is brought out into the open and he has, really no right to impose on the already disturbed or apprehensive client his own inner frictions. His responsibility is to reflect light--clearly, strongly, and unwaveringly.

   Since all forms of service entail certain characteristic patterns of testing for those who are aspiring, it might be well to consider a few of the principal tests which are, sooner or later, to be faced by all astrologers.

   The great responsibility of the astrologer is to keep his viewpoint free from all false claims of pride and power-lust. These temptations are very subtle and can be very difficult to detect consciously. To be able to read a horoscope sensitively does place in the astrologer's hand a certain power over the mind or emotions of his client; the latter, being to a degree dependent on the astrologer, may tend to feel and express a certain reverence toward the astrologer, which can be very flattering to his human consciousness. The astrologer must keep a respect for his own instrumentation; if he does so he will not fall into the trap of letting his ability become a source of pandering to latent vanities; he will, instead, let it remain a "candle burning brightly on the altar of spiritual service."

   The astrologer serves best if he can keep his service output free from all limiting claims of financial remuneration. If he can make his living in another way and do his astrological work as a creative expression he stands a much better chance of keeping his channels open and free-flowing. The client has a perfect right to make compensation if he wishes to--since he wants to establish equilibrium in relationship to the astrologer by what he considers right exchange and to express his appreciation. However, financial remuneration cannot be allowed to become a static factor to the astrologer if he is to keep himself a symbol of universal giving. The moment he establishes a policy of specific charge for his service he risks cutting himself off from many people who may need his assistance but who cannot ask for it because they cannot afford it. In short, the astrologer who keeps his service channels open and free is the one who serves best, most completely, most happily, and most spiritually.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume III
Foreword

   So much favorable comment has come to us concerning the astrological articles by Elman Bacher which appeared in our Rays from the Rose Cross during past years that we feel sure this volume will be cordially welcomed by all students of spiritual astrology.

   Mr. Bacher's profound knowledge of and devotion to the stellar science, along with an uncanny understanding of human nature, made it possible for him to present material which undoubtedly places him among the best of modern esoteric astrologers. As the truth and value of astrology becomes more and more generally accepted, his presentations will serve increasingly to help people know themselves and fulfill their highest destiny.

   Before his passing in 1954, Mr. Bacher expressed a keen desire to have us publish his articles in book form, and although we deeply regret that he is not here to see the culmination of his desire, we are happy in knowing that his wish is now being fulfilled.

Introduction

   To the Rosicrucian student astrology is a phase of religion, basically a spiritual science. More than any other study it reveals man to himself. No other science is so sublime, so profound, and so all- embracing. It portrays the relation between God, the macrocosm, and man, the microcosm, showing them to be fundamentally one.

   Occult science, investigating the subtler forces that impinge upon man, the Spirit, and his vehicles, has charted their effects with no less definiteness than has academic science the reactions of sea and soil, plant and animal to the solar and lunar rays.

   With this knowledge we may determine the astrological pattern of each individual and know the relative strength and weakness of the various forces operating in each life. To the degree that we are in possession of such knowledge we can begin systematic, scientific character building--and character is destiny! We note times and seasons cosmically advantageous to unfolding undeveloped qualities, correcting faulty traits, and eliminating destructive propensities.

   The divine science of astrology reveals the hidden causes at work in our lives. It counsels the adult in regard to vocation, the parent in the guidance of children, the teacher in management of pupils, the physician in diagnosing disease, thus lending aid to each and all in whatever position they may find themselves.

   No other subject within the range of human knowledge appears to hold for this day and age the possibilities open to astrologers for helping people to their own dignity as gods-in-the-making, to a greater grasp of universal law, and to a realization that we are eternally secure within the caressing fold of Infinite Life and Boundless Being.

Chapter I
The Astrologer

   The astrologer belongs to one of those many groups of people who, motivated by impersonal love, seek to add to the betterment of human conditions. He has come to a point in his development when his inner resources, distilled from past incarnations, are of such quality and scope that they "must out;" in other words, a part of his consciousness can no longer find satisfaction in the purely personal--or biological--levels of experience. (Of course, his impersonal service is an expression of his development and experience as a human being, but its purposes are for the world of human beings at large.)

   Let us consider the astrologer in the light of "astrological designs:"

   In a blank circle draw the horizontal and vertical diameters. The cross made by these two lines symbolizes the human-beingness of the Astrologer: a man--or woman--incarnated for the purposes of development, dealing with problems, trials, and temptations as anyone else does; perhaps subject to one or many forms of testing-through-suffering. All this pertains to the personal part of him, but when we add the cusp of the ninth house to this "cross pattern" we see the astrologer emerge from the limitedness of a mere human. Placing the symbol for Jupiter in the ninth house of this design pictures his essential identity: he is "elder brother" and teacher.

   In his human-beingness on this plane he is brother to all people who come to him for guidance. He recognizes that he walks the same essential paths that all people do, but the thing that differentiates him from others is the composite of his impersonal love quality, his range of understanding of human conditions and his abstract mental faculties. This composite lifts his consciousness to a level that transcends the basic biological motivations of thought and feeling, he sees through the concepts of race, group-religion, caste, family moldings, physical relationship patterns, and even of sex itself. His approach to his "younger brothers and sisters" is from the basis of studying and understanding their vibratory patterns--in other words, their consciousness.

   His fundamental study is that of the vibratory nature of the entity we call humanity in its myriad expressions and variations, manifested by subconscious impressions and feelings, emotional tastes, physical attributes and conditions, and reaction patterns to all the departments of experience and relationship common to all human beings in their evolutionary progress. Mankind is not only one family--it is one thing, one particular pattern of life-expression.

   The astrologer is, of course, a facet of the one thing; but, by perception and understanding, he is in relationship to most of the other facets of the one thing as a person on a mountaintop is to those who are climbing the same mountain or to those who have still remained in the valley below. He has, at his particular evolutionary level, already distilled something of what the climbers on the mountain slope and the people in the valley are in the process of distilling: awareness of universal principles and its expression through the processes of human life. He, in his turn, still has mountains ahead, and there are those who have attained "look-out points" that are higher than that which he now occupies. But the impersonal consciousness is the common denominator of them all. That is the essence of the fraternity which relates him to those still climbing and to those ahead of him. To the former he is elder brother; to those ahead he is younger brother. But all of them are elder brothers to those who remain in the valleys of purely biological and materialistic consciousness.

   In our design, the ninth house symbolizes the knowledge or wisdom aspect of the astrologer; his love aspect is designated by the eleventh house. To our design let us add Aquarius on the cusp of the eleventh house and place the symbol for Uranus in that house; shade in the ninth and eleventh houses so that they stand out from the rest of the wheel; "ground" these two houses by adding the cusp lines of the third and fifth houses, thus designating a composite of two polarity-patterns: (1) knowledge raised to its transcendent expression of wisdom, distilled from experience; (2) personal love, as a creative expression, raised to its spiritualized level of boundless impersonal love for humanity--regardless of the latter's levels of manifestation or development.

   The love aspect of the astrologer's consciousness-- designated by the eleventh house and the vibratory essence of Uranus--is the culmination of all the houses of relationship and the most spiritualized expression of the air signs. The eleventh house is Human Relationship in its most protean expression. It is the distillation of all relationship patterns-- the power of love in its expression as the "waters of Life," the panacea of all emotional experience, the ultimate goal of all human loving. We call this state "Friendship"--the essence of the best that may be derived from the togetherness of people, no matter who, or what, they may be as individuals.

   This love aspect is, by its very nature, the fused essence of the love aspects of both sexes--or polarities. The astrologer, through his intensified experience in past incarnations, has distilled, to a degree, the understanding of the emotional characteristics pertaining to the masculine and feminine attributes. He must, to fulfill his service, be able to see into the problems of both men and women and to perceive the directions of regeneration and correction.

   The consciousness of the astrologer, in reference to this love aspect, might be more clearly delineated by another design. (The one we have been considering refers more particularly to the evolutionary directions or paths that must be traversed by one who seeks to render service through astrological interpretation.) The flowering of the love consciousness of the astrologer is shown by a blank wheel in which the cusps of the third, seventh, and eleventh houses are connected by straight lines, forming an equilateral triangle. Interestingly enough, one point of this triangle--the third cusp--is in the lower, or ego consciousness, hemisphere; the seventh cusp marks a point of equilibrium, being opposite to the Ascendant; the eleventh cusp, representing the highest peak of relationship consciousness, is in the upper, or soul consciousness hemisphere. There is an element--a common denominator--of "fraternity," linking these three houses to each other. The third house, on biological levels, is "brothers and sisters;" on a more impersonal expression it is "kindred and neighbors;" still more impersonal it is "fellow students"--people of whatever age or condition who are learning from the same source of knowledge, or who are being spiritualized by the same religious or philosophical interpretation. The seventh house is the fraternal relationship of one person--or consciousness--to a complementary expression-- either sexual or vibrational. The "fraternity of marriage" might be described in this way: one man and one woman serves, in togetherness, the on-goingness of life in love experience and procreation. Husband and wife, in this life service, are truly brother and sister as an expression of the third house consciousness intensified by the composite powers of desire attraction and love releasement. The eleventh house, in the soul consciousness hemisphere, is the transcendence of the former two, since it is the love consciousness expressed toward the entire entity which we call humanity, and it is not limited in its expression by being confined to only one part--or selected parts--of that entity as its object.

   So, the spiritually motivated astrologer must stand as a living symbol of that love which recognizes no barriers or limitations-- of any kind--to its expression.

   We will now consider a design which could be taken to represent a symbolic portrait of the astrologer in his composite factors of human consciousness and spiritual consciousness. Using a wheel with houses on white paper fill in the first six houses with a dark color--brown or blue, etc.; fill in the seventh and eighth houses with red--symbolizing the "fires" of relationship and regeneration; the remaining four houses will remain white- -symbol of the spiritualized consciousness. The portrait which results is that of a human being whose vibratory and environmental elements are essentially those of any other person; he has experienced much development through transmutation of his lower vibrations by the spiritualizing powers of idealism, love, service, sacrifice, self-discipline, and responsibility fulfillment. He has been many things--as a worker; he has fulfilled most of the patterns of experience in love relationship--both as male and as female; he is--or has been--something of an artist because his mental perceptions include an understanding of the symbolic and of the abstract. He is aware of the drama of life and he is sensitive to the nuances of human thoughts and feelings as they are presented in the problems that he studies. He knows evil but his mind and heart are set on good. He studies problems to fulfill the purpose of finding solutions. His motivation being one of love, he radiates encouragement, neutralizes fear, illumines the consciousness of his brothers and sisters by alerting them to their strength and powers. He is--and realizes that he is--an "open door" through which all who so desire may walk from the darkness of their unregenerate patterns into the light of self-knowing. He neither approves nor disapproves of anything he sees in any chart--he keeps personal feeling out of the picture--because he recognizes that each chart is a picturing of good in its becoming.

   In relationship to the client who requests his assistance we see him portrayed by this design: an otherwise blank wheel with the first six houses colored or shaded, the upper six houses remaining white. In this design, the lower shaded houses represent the client with his problem; the white houses represent the astrologer and his spiritualized consciousness. All human problems are rooted in unregenerate expressions of the first six houses; they are brought into their most intense focus throughout the composite action of the seventh and eighth houses and the solutions are found in the regenerating powers of the last four houses. In this design the astrologer reflects the regenerate potentials of the client. He is thus portrayed as the client's other, or higher, self. The magnetic action of love power attracted the client to the astrologer, who waits to assist all who need him, and by the distilled powers of his regenerate consciousness, he is able to study the client's chart and to throw a beam of light into the dark corners and perceive the needed spiritual corrective for the client's consciousness toward his problem.

   The astrologer, in contact with the client, has the responsibility of putting aside all patterns of personal disturbance while he undertakes the task of reading the client's chart. He must be the white hemisphere, and in the event that he is dealing with a deep personal disturbance it would appear a better policy to defer the reading until he can establish his inner poise. In recognizing the impersonal quality of his service he knows that he is an instrument by which the client's good is brought out into the open and he has, really no right to impose on the already disturbed or apprehensive client his own inner frictions. His responsibility is to reflect light--clearly, strongly, and unwaveringly.

   Since all forms of service entail certain characteristic patterns of testing for those who are aspiring, it might be well to consider a few of the principal tests which are, sooner or later, to be faced by all astrologers.

   The great responsibility of the astrologer is to keep his viewpoint free from all false claims of pride and power-lust. These temptations are very subtle and can be very difficult to detect consciously. To be able to read a horoscope sensitively does place in the astrologer's hand a certain power over the mind or emotions of his client; the latter, being to a degree dependent on the astrologer, may tend to feel and express a certain reverence toward the astrologer, which can be very flattering to his human consciousness. The astrologer must keep a respect for his own instrumentation; if he does so he will not fall into the trap of letting his ability become a source of pandering to latent vanities; he will, instead, let it remain a "candle burning brightly on the altar of spiritual service."

   The astrologer serves best if he can keep his service output free from all limiting claims of financial remuneration. If he can make his living in another way and do his astrological work as a creative expression he stands a much better chance of keeping his channels open and free-flowing. The client has a perfect right to make compensation if he wishes to--since he wants to establish equilibrium in relationship to the astrologer by what he considers right exchange and to express his appreciation. However, financial remuneration cannot be allowed to become a static factor to the astrologer if he is to keep himself a symbol of universal giving. The moment he establishes a policy of specific charge for his service he risks cutting himself off from many people who may need his assistance but who cannot ask for it because they cannot afford it. In short, the astrologer who keeps his service channels open and free is the one who serves best, most completely, most happily, and most spiritually.

Chapter I
The Astrologer

   The astrologer belongs to one of those many groups of people who, motivated by impersonal love, seek to add to the betterment of human conditions. He has come to a point in his development when his inner resources, distilled from past incarnations, are of such quality and scope that they "must out;" in other words, a part of his consciousness can no longer find satisfaction in the purely personal--or biological--levels of experience. (Of course, his impersonal service is an expression of his development and experience as a human being, but its purposes are for the world of human beings at large.)

   Let us consider the astrologer in the light of "astrological designs:"

   In a blank circle draw the horizontal and vertical diameters. The cross made by these two lines symbolizes the human-beingness of the Astrologer: a man--or woman--incarnated for the purposes of development, dealing with problems, trials, and temptations as anyone else does; perhaps subject to one or many forms of testing-through-suffering. All this pertains to the personal part of him, but when we add the cusp of the ninth house to this "cross pattern" we see the astrologer emerge from the limitedness of a mere human. Placing the symbol for Jupiter in the ninth house of this design pictures his essential identity: he is "elder brother" and teacher.

   In his human-beingness on this plane he is brother to all people who come to him for guidance. He recognizes that he walks the same essential paths that all people do, but the thing that differentiates him from others is the composite of his impersonal love quality, his range of understanding of human conditions and his abstract mental faculties. This composite lifts his consciousness to a level that transcends the basic biological motivations of thought and feeling, he sees through the concepts of race, group-religion, caste, family moldings, physical relationship patterns, and even of sex itself. His approach to his "younger brothers and sisters" is from the basis of studying and understanding their vibratory patterns--in other words, their consciousness.

   His fundamental study is that of the vibratory nature of the entity we call humanity in its myriad expressions and variations, manifested by subconscious impressions and feelings, emotional tastes, physical attributes and conditions, and reaction patterns to all the departments of experience and relationship common to all human beings in their evolutionary progress. Mankind is not only one family--it is one thing, one particular pattern of life-expression.

   The astrologer is, of course, a facet of the one thing; but, by perception and understanding, he is in relationship to most of the other facets of the one thing as a person on a mountaintop is to those who are climbing the same mountain or to those who have still remained in the valley below. He has, at his particular evolutionary level, already distilled something of what the climbers on the mountain slope and the people in the valley are in the process of distilling: awareness of universal principles and its expression through the processes of human life. He, in his turn, still has mountains ahead, and there are those who have attained "look-out points" that are higher than that which he now occupies. But the impersonal consciousness is the common denominator of them all. That is the essence of the fraternity which relates him to those still climbing and to those ahead of him. To the former he is elder brother; to those ahead he is younger brother. But all of them are elder brothers to those who remain in the valleys of purely biological and materialistic consciousness.

   In our design, the ninth house symbolizes the knowledge or wisdom aspect of the astrologer; his love aspect is designated by the eleventh house. To our design let us add Aquarius on the cusp of the eleventh house and place the symbol for Uranus in that house; shade in the ninth and eleventh houses so that they stand out from the rest of the wheel; "ground" these two houses by adding the cusp lines of the third and fifth houses, thus designating a composite of two polarity-patterns: (1) knowledge raised to its transcendent expression of wisdom, distilled from experience; (2) personal love, as a creative expression, raised to its spiritualized level of boundless impersonal love for humanity--regardless of the latter's levels of manifestation or development.

   The love aspect of the astrologer's consciousness-- designated by the eleventh house and the vibratory essence of Uranus--is the culmination of all the houses of relationship and the most spiritualized expression of the air signs. The eleventh house is Human Relationship in its most protean expression. It is the distillation of all relationship patterns-- the power of love in its expression as the "waters of Life," the panacea of all emotional experience, the ultimate goal of all human loving. We call this state "Friendship"--the essence of the best that may be derived from the togetherness of people, no matter who, or what, they may be as individuals.

   This love aspect is, by its very nature, the fused essence of the love aspects of both sexes--or polarities. The astrologer, through his intensified experience in past incarnations, has distilled, to a degree, the understanding of the emotional characteristics pertaining to the masculine and feminine attributes. He must, to fulfill his service, be able to see into the problems of both men and women and to perceive the directions of regeneration and correction.

   The consciousness of the astrologer, in reference to this love aspect, might be more clearly delineated by another design. (The one we have been considering refers more particularly to the evolutionary directions or paths that must be traversed by one who seeks to render service through astrological interpretation.) The flowering of the love consciousness of the astrologer is shown by a blank wheel in which the cusps of the third, seventh, and eleventh houses are connected by straight lines, forming an equilateral triangle. Interestingly enough, one point of this triangle--the third cusp--is in the lower, or ego consciousness, hemisphere; the seventh cusp marks a point of equilibrium, being opposite to the Ascendant; the eleventh cusp, representing the highest peak of relationship consciousness, is in the upper, or soul consciousness hemisphere. There is an element--a common denominator--of "fraternity," linking these three houses to each other. The third house, on biological levels, is "brothers and sisters;" on a more impersonal expression it is "kindred and neighbors;" still more impersonal it is "fellow students"--people of whatever age or condition who are learning from the same source of knowledge, or who are being spiritualized by the same religious or philosophical interpretation. The seventh house is the fraternal relationship of one person--or consciousness--to a complementary expression-- either sexual or vibrational. The "fraternity of marriage" might be described in this way: one man and one woman serves, in togetherness, the on-goingness of life in love experience and procreation. Husband and wife, in this life service, are truly brother and sister as an expression of the third house consciousness intensified by the composite powers of desire attraction and love releasement. The eleventh house, in the soul consciousness hemisphere, is the transcendence of the former two, since it is the love consciousness expressed toward the entire entity which we call humanity, and it is not limited in its expression by being confined to only one part--or selected parts--of that entity as its object.

   So, the spiritually motivated astrologer must stand as a living symbol of that love which recognizes no barriers or limitations-- of any kind--to its expression.

   We will now consider a design which could be taken to represent a symbolic portrait of the astrologer in his composite factors of human consciousness and spiritual consciousness. Using a wheel with houses on white paper fill in the first six houses with a dark color--brown or blue, etc.; fill in the seventh and eighth houses with red--symbolizing the "fires" of relationship and regeneration; the remaining four houses will remain white- -symbol of the spiritualized consciousness. The portrait which results is that of a human being whose vibratory and environmental elements are essentially those of any other person; he has experienced much development through transmutation of his lower vibrations by the spiritualizing powers of idealism, love, service, sacrifice, self-discipline, and responsibility fulfillment. He has been many things--as a worker; he has fulfilled most of the patterns of experience in love relationship--both as male and as female; he is--or has been--something of an artist because his mental perceptions include an understanding of the symbolic and of the abstract. He is aware of the drama of life and he is sensitive to the nuances of human thoughts and feelings as they are presented in the problems that he studies. He knows evil but his mind and heart are set on good. He studies problems to fulfill the purpose of finding solutions. His motivation being one of love, he radiates encouragement, neutralizes fear, illumines the consciousness of his brothers and sisters by alerting them to their strength and powers. He is--and realizes that he is--an "open door" through which all who so desire may walk from the darkness of their unregenerate patterns into the light of self-knowing. He neither approves nor disapproves of anything he sees in any chart--he keeps personal feeling out of the picture--because he recognizes that each chart is a picturing of good in its becoming.

   In relationship to the client who requests his assistance we see him portrayed by this design: an otherwise blank wheel with the first six houses colored or shaded, the upper six houses remaining white. In this design, the lower shaded houses represent the client with his problem; the white houses represent the astrologer and his spiritualized consciousness. All human problems are rooted in unregenerate expressions of the first six houses; they are brought into their most intense focus throughout the composite action of the seventh and eighth houses and the solutions are found in the regenerating powers of the last four houses. In this design the astrologer reflects the regenerate potentials of the client. He is thus portrayed as the client's other, or higher, self. The magnetic action of love power attracted the client to the astrologer, who waits to assist all who need him, and by the distilled powers of his regenerate consciousness, he is able to study the client's chart and to throw a beam of light into the dark corners and perceive the needed spiritual corrective for the client's consciousness toward his problem.

   The astrologer, in contact with the client, has the responsibility of putting aside all patterns of personal disturbance while he undertakes the task of reading the client's chart. He must be the white hemisphere, and in the event that he is dealing with a deep personal disturbance it would appear a better policy to defer the reading until he can establish his inner poise. In recognizing the impersonal quality of his service he knows that he is an instrument by which the client's good is brought out into the open and he has, really no right to impose on the already disturbed or apprehensive client his own inner frictions. His responsibility is to reflect light--clearly, strongly, and unwaveringly.

   Since all forms of service entail certain characteristic patterns of testing for those who are aspiring, it might be well to consider a few of the principal tests which are, sooner or later, to be faced by all astrologers.

   The great responsibility of the astrologer is to keep his viewpoint free from all false claims of pride and power-lust. These temptations are very subtle and can be very difficult to detect consciously. To be able to read a horoscope sensitively does place in the astrologer's hand a certain power over the mind or emotions of his client; the latter, being to a degree dependent on the astrologer, may tend to feel and express a certain reverence toward the astrologer, which can be very flattering to his human consciousness. The astrologer must keep a respect for his own instrumentation; if he does so he will not fall into the trap of letting his ability become a source of pandering to latent vanities; he will, instead, let it remain a "candle burning brightly on the altar of spiritual service."

   The astrologer serves best if he can keep his service output free from all limiting claims of financial remuneration. If he can make his living in another way and do his astrological work as a creative expression he stands a much better chance of keeping his channels open and free-flowing. The client has a perfect right to make compensation if he wishes to--since he wants to establish equilibrium in relationship to the astrologer by what he considers right exchange and to express his appreciation. However, financial remuneration cannot be allowed to become a static factor to the astrologer if he is to keep himself a symbol of universal giving. The moment he establishes a policy of specific charge for his service he risks cutting himself off from many people who may need his assistance but who cannot ask for it because they cannot afford it. In short, the astrologer who keeps his service channels open and free is the one who serves best, most completely, most happily, and most spiritually.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume III
Chapter II
The Astrological Mandala

   A mandala is an abstract design which is used as a focus for concentration and meditation by a creative artist. The mandala depicts the essence of an artistic concept; by meditation on it the artist concentrates his inspirational faculties which are subsequently released into form through painting, sculpture, or whatever medium the artist uses for his expression.

   The astrologer is an interpretive artist whose essential mandala is the design commonly known as the natural chart. On a wheel, place the symbols of the zodiacal signs on the cusps in regular sequence, starting with Aries on the cusp of the Ascendant, Taurus on the second, etc. Then the symbols of the Sun, Moon, and planets are placed in the signs and houses of their dignity: Mars in Aries, first house; Venus in Taurus and Libra second and seventh houses; Mercury in Gemini and Virgo, third and sixth houses; Moon in Cancer, fourth house; Sun in Leo, fifth house; Pluto in Scorpio, eighth house; Jupiter in Sagittarius, ninth house; Saturn in Capricorn, tenth house; Uranus in Aquarius, eleventh house; Neptune in Pisces, twelfth house.

   The design resulting from placing these symbols around, and in, a circle containing twelve equal sections is considered by the writer to be the greatest mandala created by the mind of man. It is the composite symbol of the vibratory nature of the entity we call humanity. The horoscope calculated for the incarnation of any human being is a variation of this mandala; the same essential elements are found in all horoscopes of human beings, qualified in calculations only by the specializations of date, time, and place of birth.

   This "Great Mandala," as we shall call it, is a composite symbol of such magnitude and complexity that the imagination reels in contemplation of it. It might be well to create the mandala, step by step, from its beginning:

   Use a sheet of blank paper, calculate the exact center and place there a dot. This dot is the symbol of the Consciousness which makes possible the manifestation of a galaxy, a solar system, or the incarnation of a human being. It is the essential symbol of "being-ness" on all planes.

   Through the dot, lightly draw a vertical line the entire length of the paper; this line represents the dynamic, energizing principle of Nature--the symbol of cosmic generation, "being-ness" in the process of taking form, the essential symbol of male sex. Now draw, lightly, a horizontal line through the dot across the entire width of the paper; this line is the subjective aspect of "being-ness," the essential symbol of Form itself, the female principle of Nature--that which is energized or acted upon. The picture thus far represents a radiation from a central point-- Consciousness, a composite of the dynamic and subjective principles, the essential lines of force by which manifestation is made, the cross-pattern which stands as the eternal symbol of "beingness objectified." This much of the design--a geometric abstract--can be called the basic mandala and can be utilized for meditation by all astrologers. It is the skeleton of all horoscopical structure, the picturing of the Fatherhood-Motherhood of God and the essential symbol of cosmic sex which results in physical manifestation.

   There is an indefiniteness about the appearance of the basic mandala described above; the lines from the central dot can extend off the paper indefinitely--thus an impression of chaos or formlessness is conveyed. Since manifestation (incarnation) serves the purpose of evolution, and evolutionary forces always require specific forms as their instruments, we now take the next step to create, in our basic mandala, a field for evolutionary purposes.

   With the point of a compass on the dot describe a circle, the circumference of which will, of course, twice intersect the dynamic-vertical and horizontal-subjective lines. Since all points on the circumference of a circle are equally distant from the center we now have created, symbolically, a perfect field designating an instrument for evolutionary forces; each of the four sectors of the circle are equal to each other in area, as are the lower and upper hemispheres to each other and the two lateral--or vertical--hemispheres to each other.

   Now erase the light lines outside the circle, intensify the circumference of the circle and the vertical and horizontal lines within. The result may be called the "Mandala of Incarnation." Its form is definite--an enclosed thing in which certain specializations of evolutionary forces can work. This Mandala of Incarnation may be used as a focal-point for meditation from two standpoints: (1) from within-out; and (2) from without-in. The astrologer must so elasticize his interpretative ability that he never loses sight of the spiritual significance of any chart he studies.

   (1) From within-out: The creative Will of God expressing through a specific manifestation for evolutionary purposes; the essential spirituality of all manifestation; the God-spark inherent in the consciousness of each and every human being radiating into every factor of the individual's experience.

   (2) From without-in: Divine Love and Wisdom overshadowing and interpenetrating every point of manifestation; manifestation being "enclosed within the Divine Arms and always in sight of the Divine Eyes;" the human being looks into his consciousness to find the source of his conditions and the channels for his best expressions; he turns in to become aware of his powers and potentials; his consciousness is reflected by his outer condition--the radiations from the Center--but the Center remains eternally the source of all that he experiences. The "Life" of a horoscope is within the circumference, not outside of it; so we do not find our essential solutions outside of ourselves but in our particular expression of the Eternal Consciousness and our ever-growing awareness of it.

   Simple though it appears, the circle with its division into quadrants by two straight lines is a mandala of enormous complexity. If we consider that the circle itself is activated in being bisected by the horizontal line, the two hemispheres which result from this bisection are themselves undifferentiated and unactivated; their activation is made possible by the vertical line.

   Each bisection symbolizes the Cosmic Principle of Duality--two-in-one-ness. "Dynamic" and "Subjective" are found to be inherent attributes of any part of any manifestation. As such these two words, in composite, are expressed by the word "sex" when made in reference to Life incarnated. Sex, activated, is generation and regeneration--the "on-goingness" of Life. Either of the two pairs of hemispheres, in juxtaposition, result in the composite One; neither of whom can represent Life functioning creatively without the frictional ignition of the other pair. For meditation, sketch circles in which are represented these bisections individually; each pair of hemispheres can be taken to represent an expression of cosmic generation.

   The flat, two-dimensional representation of the quadrated circle is now to be given, abstractly, additional dimension.

   The Mandala of Incarnation is an essential matrix; but incarnation implies expression of that matrix in physical form. The terms length, height, and depth are usually thought of as three different expressions of physical dimension. When we consider that all physical manifestation is three dimensional we realize that length, height, and depth are three attributes of one essential dimension--the dimension of physical manifestation. Each of the four quadrants of the Mandala of Incarnation is a specialized level of Consciousness and, correspondingly, of experiences. Since experience is reflected in the dimension of physical manifestation and interpreted by consciousness, we will apply the principle of three dimensions in one to the Mandala of Incarnation.

   From the center of the circle, or by four more polarity diameters, subdivide each quadrant into three equal sections. This action is the twelve-fold division of the wheel which we use as the environmental houses of the horoscope. The three dimensions of each sector are not length, height, and depth, but are in terms of signs, dimensions of consciousness reflected by the houses as dimensions of experience.

   The dimension of the first house of each quadrant (first, fourth, seventh, and tenth houses) is the statement of Being--the "I am": first house, I am an individual; fourth house, I am an individual aspect of an entity called family group or family consciousness; seventh house, I am one of the two factors of an intensely focused emotional relationship pattern; tenth house, I am an individual aspect of the entity called humanity.

   The dimension of the second house of each quadrant (second, fifth, eighth, and eleventh houses) is possession of emotional resource by which the life of the previous, cardinal, house is sustained. Second house: My physical life is materially sustained by the exercise of my consciousness of possession or stewardship and by exchange with other people; fifth house: my family consciousness is sustained by releasements from my resource of creative love; eighth house: my relationship consciousness is sustained by transmutation of my desire forces through the exercise of my love consciousness in emotional exchange with my complements; eleventh house: my identity as an aspect of the universal entity, humanity, is sustained through the exercise of my spiritualized, impersonal love consciousness.

   The dimension of the third house of each quadrant (the third, sixth, ninth, and twelfth houses) is the impersonal distillation of the previous two houses. Third house: intellectual faculties by which I identify the world of forms; sixth house: my creativity expressed as service to life through my best as a worker; ninth house: wisdom--spiritual understanding--distilled from the regeneration of desire through love relationship; twelfth house: my consciousness of serving universally, my needed redemptions from the past incarnation which have impelled the present one, degree of cosmic consciousness distilled from the perfect fulfillment of all responsibilities through spiritualized love.

   The triune dimension is expressed in reference to the wheel as a whole by the "grand trines"--the equilateral triangles formed by connecting the cusps of (1) the first, fifth, and ninth houses; (2) the second, sixth and tenth houses; (3) the third, seventh and eleventh houses and (4) the fourth, eighth and twelfth houses. These trines pertain, respectively, to the four elements: (1) Fire: Spirit; (2) Earth: Consciousness of evaluation of forms; (3) Air: Identification and relationship consciousness; (4) Water: emotional responsiveness--the principle of sympathetic vibration.

   Here are suggested a few basic mandala patterns:

   (1) Twelve wheels, each of which has the signs on the cusps in sequence, each with a different ascendant; each of these mandalas may be utilized for meditation on the cardinal, fixed, and mutable crosses, the fire, earth, air, and water trines, the fire-air and the earth-water sextiles.>

   (2) Planetary environmental mandala--a planetary principle expressing through a particular house--can be found in ten groups of twelve wheels each: each group pertains to the placement of each of the ten planets (Sun, Moon, and eight planets) in each of the twelve houses, leaving out the placement of the signs.

   (3) Planetary vibrational mandalas can be created by wheels with the signs on the cusps--placing the planet under consideration in each of the twelve signs and studied regardless of house position.

   (4) Synthesis of groups 2 and 3: mandalas for meditation on Ascendant rulership: twelve wheels, with signs in sequence, for each of the ten planets as ruler of the ascendant--the ruler to be placed in each of the twelve houses.

   (5) Elaboration of number 4 in terms of meditation on the Ascendant ruler by its placement by sector: (1) houses 1, 2, and 3; (2) houses 4, 5 and 6; (3) houses 7, 8 and 9; (4) houses 10, 11 and 12.

   Simple and complex mandalas can be abstracted from any natal horoscope. Here are a few suggestions by which the student may concentrate his synthesizing ability:

   (1) From a given chart, abstract all dignified planets into a wheel with the natal sign positions on the cusps; meditate on the placement of these concentrated vibratory essences in terms of their house rulership, house placement, and sector or quadrant placement.

   (2) From a given natal chart, abstract any specific square or opposition and any one of its regenerative agencies (a planet making a trine or sextile to either one of the afflicted planets); meditate on this mandala from every possible standpoint that will open your consciousness to the clues of alleviation for the afflicted pattern.

   (3) Suggest abstracting the Saturn mandala from every natal chart that is studied by placing Saturn and all the planets which aspect it in a wheel with the natal signs on the cusps. Interpret Saturn as the principle of responsibility fulfillment, and meditate on its significance in the chart from all approaches.

   (4) The most important of all mandalas abstracted from a natal horoscope are those which pertain to the twelfth house. In composite, these give the clues to the whys and wherefores of the present incarnation. Suggest a mandala to be applied to a natal sign cusp wheel for every single factor pertaining to the twelfth house of the natal horoscope: sign, house, and sector placement of the ruler; vibrational and environmental placement of each planet aspecting the ruler; each condition pertaining to any planet in the twelfth house, and, last of all, a mandala composed of the signs on the twelfth cusp and the ascendant and the placement of their planetary rulers.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume III
Chapter III
White Light Astrology

   The essence of spiritual service of any kind is performed by the person who transmutes the negative areas of his own subconscious, strengthens and disciplines his mental faculties, keeps his heart consciousness alive with love power, and seeks always to be perceptive of the best in others. The perception of the actual or potential good in others is an ignition which sooner or later makes possible the expression of that good. The essence of evolutionary progress is the ever-unfolding awareness of Good; we as individuals make a contribution to the progress of the race as a whole when, by regenerate consciousness, we are able to alert others to a recognition of their higher potentials for the fulfillment of talents and abilities, health, love, and success in any field of endeavor.

   The term "white light" is a symbolized expression of this consciousness. White is the composite of all color refractions; in its purest form it stands as a symbol of the vibration of consciousness which is centered in God. The refractions of white light may be referred to, or thought of, as soul qualities, corresponding spiritually to the variations found in the color spectrums. Each of these colors manifests the principle of diversity as an expression of unity, in that each quality has its vibratory ranges from the most primitive, unregenerate aspects to its most regenerate and highly spiritualized aspects. The utmost degree of pure, luminous white composites the best of all visual vibratory expressions as a symbol of consciousness perfected.

   The astrologer, in his study of horoscopes of human beings, is actually studying, analyzing, synthesizing, and interpreting vibratory patterns of soul qualities representing all possible ranges of development and their reflection, in the world of forms, as experience patterns. The artistic consciousness of the painter, for example, is reflected by what is found on his canvases; that of the musician is manifested by that which comes out of his instrument.

   The astrologer, also an interpretative artist, expresses his consciousness by the way he interprets the horoscopes of others; the horoscopes are his instruments--corresponding to the brush, colors, and canvas of the painter, and to the violin of the musician. The astrologer's consciousness of good corresponds to the composite of the artistic perceptions of the esthetic interpreter. Inspiration is the ignition of all consciousnesses that are aligned to truth and beauty; for the astrologer, this ignition is made possible when he charges his consciousness with the desire to interpret a horoscope according to the best of all its potentials. This means that he makes his ultimate interpretative goal that of alerting the client to a recognition of the best and finest of the latter's soul colors and soul tones.

   The impersonality of the astrologer's service makes it imperative that, when he is at his work, he lift his consciousness from down- pulling patterns of personal feeling and emotion. We suggest, as a preparatory technique for developing this faculty, meditation on the following mandala: a circle, blank except for a round dot, or spot, in the exact center. This mandala is the most perfectly impersonal representation of a horoscope that it is possible to make. It conveys no experience pattern, emotion pattern, nor friction, sorrow, or difficulty. The dot in the center can stand as the purpose of the astrologer's task. It is one-pointed, condensed, and undifferentiated. That purpose is to be a source of spiritual enlightenment to the client and when meditation on that purpose is, itself, focused and concentrated, personal down-pullings vanish from the consciousness of the astrologer. In this way the astrologer "white lights" himself; his next step is to "white light" the client. He does so by adding to the above mandala the vertical and horizontal diameters; the result is the most abstract and impersonal portrait of a human being that can be made. This mandala is a composite picture of the spiritual consciousness--the central dot; the state of physical incarnation is the cross formed by the straight lines; and the enveloping of the perfect circle is divine power, divine love, and divine wisdom The mandala pictures a human being who is conscious of his spiritual origin and of the spirituality of incarnation. From meditation on this portrait, the white light awareness of the astrologer toward the client is unfolded.

   The next step in developing white light awareness is for the astrologer to add the other diameters to the above mandala, thus completing the twelve-fold horoscopical wheel. The mandala now presents the picture of the client as subject to the same general patterns of experience and relationship that are common to all other human beings. These twelve "houses" are the "rooms" of the house in which the entity, Humanity, lives during incarnation. Each is as necessary as all the others, each has its particularized significance in experience, and each is a work-shop for the creation of greater good on all planes of human expression and realization.

   The mandala, as it now stands, is the essential pattern of all horoscopes. Meditation on it, as a picturing of human life, can be made by all astrologers so that the realization of evolutionary purpose in human life may become deeper and clearer each day. Every horoscope perceived as a "variation-expression" of this mandala stands a much better chance of being sensitively and intuitively interpreted; without this preparation of "White Lighting" the basic pattern, the astrologer risks mental entanglement among all the complex factors of a natal horoscope. Further--and this is important--since horoscopes represent people, the astrologer develops the response of "white lighting" people automatically when he contacts them in his daily living. This is a natural development from his daily white light meditation on the astrological mandala because he throws out to people an awareness which is being more and more focused on perfections.

   From the abstract design we now begin to apply the white light technique to personal variations; we leave the universal pattern to consider particular patterns.

   The old admonition, "Charity begins at home," can be restated here in this form: The development of white light technique begins with the astrologer's meditation on his own chart. He, a human being, has the same essential pattern as has any other human being. But his particulars differ to a degree from those of anyone else.

   His being an astrologer does not automatically exempt him from patterns of personal feelings in the form of prejudice, resentment, false pride, envy, etc. However, his being an astrologer imposes on him the responsibility of transcending these negatives as soon, and as completely, as possible. His negatives can congeal and crystallize just as anyone else's can; so he, the astrologer, must turn his impersonal consciousness on himself, the human being. This is a truth: to the degree that an astrologer remains fixated in negative reaction patterns he limits his interpretative abilities. In that state he transposes his own negatives into similar patterns which he may find in another's chart. For example: a male astrologer has become fixated on a pattern of aversion to a specific feminine expression of human life. He has, toward that expression, a deep subconscious feeling of dislike or animosity--the result of his reaction to a problem- experience some time in his past. He has never released that frictional feeling from his subconscious. How, we ask, can he adequately interpret and psychologically or spiritually solve a similar condition which he finds in the chart of another male? There are astrologers who, motivated by deep urges toward self-defense and self-justification, fail to interpret correctly certain patterns in their charts which others can see at a glance. A little white light is urgently needed at that point.

   We astrologers, as a general thing, find no difficulty in "white lighting" the twelve houses of the chart. The houses stand as picturings of basic experience patterns and, as such, convey a more directly impersonal meaning. But some of us seem to have it in for certain planets and/or planetary aspects. Why? Because the planets are the focalizations of consciousness and some of the patterns they make in relationship to each other picture the friction and testing of consciousness patterns. We tend to regard as bad, evil, or unfortunate any experience pattern which ignites our unregenerate consciousness levels, thus causing us to experience reactions of pain. Those which ignite our regenerate levels of consciousness we interpret as benefic, fortunate, and happy. The symbolic composite we call black--evil, painful or bad--is to be worked on though the alchemicalizations of regenerating experience and transmuted into that which we call white. Why not, then, learn to perceive the whiteness inherent in all planetary qualities and relationships? This comprises the interpretative phase of white light astrology.

   The whiteness of any planet is the life principle which is symbolized by that planet. The diversity of expression of any planet is just another way of saying: the diversity of expression of human consciousness. According to your development you are aware of these principles; according to your non-development you are unaware of their meaning and significance. The purpose of white-lighting anything is to become more aware of its spiritual meaning.

   However clearly you, as an astrologer, may delineate and understand the chart of another person, it is suggested that a plan be adopted by which you may become more perceptive of your own whiteness. This plan involves meditation on several mandalas abstracted from your own chart; one mandala for each of your planets. These mandalas will not involve the use of numbers in any form since number implies limitation, and whiteness is unlimited. Do not permit a single negative, down-pulling keyword to be used in these interpretations. Use only words which convey levels of spiritualized consciousness.

   The mandala for your Sun position will be a circle with the twelve houses: the symbol for Leo on your Leo cusp; the symbol of the Sun placed in the house and sign where you have it; the symbol for your Sun sign is placed on its appropriate cusp. This is the concentrated picture of your Sun seen with white light. Synthesize by spiritual keywords every factor of this picture--it is the spiritualized essence of your Sun consciousness, will-power and purpose, the radiation of creative love.

   Your Venus mandala: a wheel like the above with the symbols for Taurus and Libra on the cusps appropriate to your chart; the symbol for Venus--the abstract symbol of the fulfilled feminine consciousness, the refinements of the soul, the esthetic awareness, the capacity for cooperation, etc.--to be placed in the house and sign where you have it, the symbol of the sign containing Venus placed on the cusp appropriate to your chart. And so on--one mandala for each of the other planets.

   The impression that is conveyed by each of your planetary mandalas is that of a pure color, a light blazing without hindrance. There are no implied complications or limitations to the ability of the planet to radiate at its fullest.

   Your white light horoscope is the composite of all your planetary mandalas: a wheel with your signs on the cusps, your planets placed according to the houses and signs in which you have them. Utilizing the most spiritual principles as key words, you now interpret your chart as a picture of the highest and best that you are capable of experiencing and realizing in this incarnation. Your chart, in this form, is an astrological portrait of your ideal self.

   The next step is to abstract a white light mandala, in the same way as is described above, for each of your square and/or opposition aspects; we will call these patterns aspect mandalas. Do not place the planetary degrees in the aspect mandala but meditate with spiritual key words on the two planets involved. Since each planet in an aspect mandala blazes with the sane pure essential light that it does in its own mandala, you are now exercising the faculty of synthesis to white-light a two-fold pattern. Follow out the same plan in application to your compound (involving three planets or more) aspects.

   After the white light preparation has been made the squares and oppositions in your natal chart will be clearly and truthfully seen to be the process of experience and reactions to experience by which you regenerate your life on all planes. In conclusion, this statement is offered for your spiritual consideration: Regeneration of consciousness is not for the purpose of making trines for the future, it is for the purpose of unfolding God-consciousness through the expression of your planets according to their spiritualized white light principles.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume III
Chapter IV
The Astrologer Discusses Teaching

   Jupiter, as the abstract ruler of the ninth house, is the astrological symbol of the teacher. Since a consideration of abstract subjects is assisted by meditation on a drawn symbol, or "outpicturing," it is suggested that four astrological designs be utilized in the pursuance of this material.

   The first will be a wheel with the houses numbered; the symbol of Sagittarius on the ninth cusp, the symbol of Jupiter in the ninth house. In the consideration of this design we find our point of concentration to be in the upper hemisphere of the horoscope; or, shall we say, in the soul consciousness part of the life pattern. It is the transcendent expression of its lower polarity, the third house. We could talk about the ninth house and remain "up in the air" forever if we do not "root ourselves" in consideration of the third house which is ruled abstractly by Mercury through the sign Gemini.

   To our original design we now add the sign Gemini on the third cusp and in the third house we put the symbol for Mercury. We have now established a "polarity design" by which a point in the lower half of the wheel is directed into the upper half. This design signifies a "path of evolution" by which an aspect of the "separative consciousness" evolves into an aspect of the "impersonal" or "soul" consciousness.

   The first house is "I AM"--the recognition of individual consciousness, of Being. The second house is "I have"--an emotional identification with Life by the consciousness of "attachment through possession." The third house is the "awareness of Life" through an exercise of the unemotional faculty of intellect. As abstract rulers of the first and second houses Mars and Venus are "emotional expressions;" Mercury, as abstract ruler of the third, is, even in primitive levels, the first awareness of unemotional impersonal consciousness.

   Mercury, then, is our capacity for "unemotional identification." By its exercise we give names to things, either concrete or abstract. We also give identification to things in terms of measurement, quality, and function. Mercury is not a means by which we identify ourselves with Life; it is the means by which we relate the objectifications of Life to ourselves for our utilizations and communications.

   Seen from this standpoint, Mercury (as ruler of the third house of the first or "ingathering" quadrant of the wheel) is the symbol of all learning. It is the faculty by which facts are transmitted from one person's mentality to another's mentality. It is, correspondingly, the faculty by which facts are comprehended by the mentality receiving the instruction or information. Mercury is language, expressed concretely by the spoken word, gesture, or picture; abstractly, by the written word. It is the symbol of universal relationship of people to each other in terms of mental rapport. It is the symbol of all students, and, as such, esoterically symbolizes the essence of all fraternal relationships. (We are all, regardless of outer relationships, parallel with each other--fraternally- -because we are all learners from life experience.)

   Further consideration of this design will show that all teaching has its roots in learning, and that development of skill as a teacher is dependent on the faculty of learning being kept alive. The polarity currents (in consciousness) between the lower and upper hemispheres must be kept stimulated if the upper half capacities are to flower. We are never separate from any part of our horoscope; even though we may spend twenty hours out of each day in the profession of teaching, the currents of "intake" must not become depleted or neglected. Learning is an ignition of awareness of facts and identifications; it may be likened to an inhalation of breath. Anyone truly and strongly motivated to teach will keep this "third house faculty" alive. In other words, he will neglect no opportunity to learn further. To stop the "intaking" is to insure an eventual stoppage, of crystallization, of the ability to teach. (Herein lies a lesson in sincerity and humility: teachers take heed.)

   If Mercury is the symbol of "mental intaking" then Jupiter--vital, radiant, and dynamic--is the abstraction of "exhalation:" transmission of knowledge or ignition of intellectual awareness amplified and enriched by the maturity of spiritual understanding. Knowledge of facts plus awareness of Principles. In this connection we must add another factor to our design: the sign Virgo on the cusp of the sixth house, creating a T-cross, two arms of which are in the lower hemisphere, ruled by Mercury.

   Here the abstract symbol of "fellow students" is expressed in an extended form to represent the "fraternity of workers." Work, spiritually considered, is more than physical labor--it is the service that each person may render as a contribution to the betterment of Life for all.

   Virgo, as an earth sign, has a distinctly practical connotation: "I work to make money to sustain my physical life and that of those I love." As long as the attitude toward the service of teaching is "I learn something so that I can teach something so that I can make some money," the square aspect of Gemini-Virgo threatens the unfoldment of the teacher's capacities by keeping him identified in consciousness in frictional awareness of "practical considerations." The redemption of this square pattern is found in the fact that the sixth house is the last house of the lower hemisphere and is the "modulation" into the upper hemisphere of emotional regeneration and spiritual awareness. It succeeds the fifth house, which is that of Love-power; when the consciousness of "money-making-labor" is charged with the creativity of Love and expressed as Service for the betterment of Life it becomes an expression of redemption. Through the experiences of Love-service we gain understanding of our subject that makes mere book learning seem, in comparison, a lifeless shell. This understanding is the thing that a true teacher radiates to his students.

   We now complete this design by adding the symbol for Pisces on the cusp of the twelfth house and place the symbol of Neptune therein: the cross of mutable signs. Through the first arm, Gemini, Mercury symbolizes the "learner;" its "exhalation" is Jupiter as abstraction of the ninth house. Mercury, through Virgo, is the "learner" from Service-experience; its "exhalation" is Neptune as the abstraction of the twelfth. Of this, more anon.

   To consider the subject more concretely, let us regard some of the problems that are, sooner or later, faced by those who experience the urge to teach.

   Since, in the first place, teaching is a dynamic expression of wisdom, the motive must be one of illumination. Anyone who responds to the urge to illuminate must accept a challenge from those patterns of consciousness that represent darkness: mental crystallization, rigid formalism of opinion and attitude, prejudice, the kind of ignorance that forms a basis of indifference toward the impersonal or spiritual needs of students. This experience pattern serves as a challenge to the integrity and courage of the teacher.

   The urge to fulfill an impersonal service is, sooner or later, to he tested by the person's own consciousness of economic factors. This testing is one of the most significant points in the evolution of anyone who is spiritually aspiring in any work-pattern. Considering again the design with the mutable signs we see that the opposition aspects are "rooted" by Mercury through Gemini and Virgo. Unregenerate Mercury, in its alliance with the first sector of the wheel, is "practicality," "expediency," "literalness," and "surface evaluation." These key words pertain to levels of consciousness which have not, as yet, touched the impersonal. Persons who are motivated into the teaching profession and who remain in this expression of Mercury are those whose basic attitude is one of self-interest. "Which job pays the most?" "Which job paves the way for the greatest academic prestige?," "earliest retirement," "biggest pension," "pleasantest surroundings," and so on. These considerations are held by everyone for a time in their evolutionary progress, but the point that is being made here is that eventually the attitude toward work must be regenerated into one of Love-service. Until that step is taken the function of teachership cannot be truly fulfilled. Astrologically, the above may be translated in this way: until self-interest is transcended, the cycle starting with Mercury-Gemini cannot find its spiritualized fulfillment in Neptune-Pisces, through Jupiter-Sagittarius.

   Since Jupiter, as symbol of the teacher, is found in the upper hemisphere of the wheel, the testings of the truly motivated teacher are much more "inner" than they are "outer." His most significant problems are soul problems. Some of these testings arise from the necessity to regenerate what might be called qualities of negative Jupiter, such as:

   Intellectual pride, by which the teacher fixates himself in egotistic levels due to the feeling of having superiority over those he teaches. This tendency can be remedied by a "switch in consciousness" by which the teacher intensifies his awareness that he is not nor never can be, a repository for all the knowledge of his particular subject, but is, in effect, an elder brother to those he teaches--and any one of them may be, innately, his superior in essential wisdom. He recognizes that he is a foreshadowing of the development of his pupils and that he serves as a "modulating point" by which they move from levels of innocence to levels of awareness of their own wisdom. He must never forget that he has, at some time or other, traversed the same path of learning, and, in terms of his own personal development, should still be a learner. In other words he should keep his attitude toward his teaching work fluid and dynamic--expanding, improving, and enlarging. Thus he utilizes regenerative key words of Jupiter to prevent the crystallizations caused by pride.

   Self-aggrandizement through desire for recognition and praise is an expression of Jupiter as vanity and greed. In this level, the teacher seeks continually to shine over his colleagues to compensate for his envy of them. He desires the adulation of his students; he utilizes his work to gain the good opinion of people. An urge to improve his skill and enlarge his scope is motivated, basically, by his wish to be well thought of. This "inturning" viewpoint carries the seeds of its own disintegration since it automatically results in an experience which will serve to shatter the fixated, limiting motivation.

   The purpose of teaching is not self-aggrandizement but the illumination of the consciousness of others. The teacher who has an attitude based on his integrity as a worker possesses what might be called a healthy humility--he respects the work he is doing; he cultivates his skill in order that the work be improved; he is thankful for all suggestions that are given him and he is willing to give them his consideration. His attitude toward his colleagues is one of appreciation for their value to the work, not one of competitiveness, since he recognizes that each teacher has his own unique contribution to make. He assists each one when he can and he is willing to learn from each of them when he can. In other words, he utilizes the Jupiterian key word of "improvement" and keeps his motivations spiritualized and regenerated.

   The true teacher's attitude toward his pupils is never one of "having power over them." It is true that he does have, since they are susceptible to his words and influence, but his motivation is to "alert" them to an awareness of their own powers and abilities and the ways and means by which they may express their best potentials. Motivated by love his attitude toward his pupils is one of benevolence; their progress is his joy. He appreciates the significance of the emergence of his pupils from one level of understanding to a higher one. His desire is to assist growth-- never to "keep in submission." His "output" as a teacher is backed up by loving appreciation of his pupils--as students and persons--who, in their turn, will be instrumental in the furthering of the work which is the object of their mutual devotion--the altar on which he and they have lighted their candles.

   The symbol of the teacher's path in its most subtly spiritualized expressions is found in the fourth quadrant of the mutable cross: Jupiter in the ninth to Neptune in the twelfth. This is the experience- pattern of the Elder Brother--the illuminator of Souls, the radiation of Wisdom of Philosophies and Arts; universal in its scope of redemptive power. In this sector of development intellectual knowledge has been encompassed and transcended. The pupil is concerned with the Principles of Life and his aspirations--not his desires or ambitions--are fired by contact with the illumined Intelligence and spiritualized consciousness of the teacher.

   One more design: Aries on the first cusp, Leo on the fifth, and Sagittarius on the ninth; Mars in the first house, Sun in the fifth, and Jupiter in the ninth. This is the trinity of the fire signs. Mars says: "I AM a manifested expression of the One." The Sun says: "I AM the radiating power of Love." Jupiter says: "I AM the radiation of wisdom."

   This triangular design outpictures the dynamic consciousness; Jupiter as teacher, here symbolizes spiritual parenthood: the father who guides the development and illuminates the evolving awareness of his "children," his "little brothers and sisters." In human terms, Jupiter is here seen to symbolize the spiritual responsibilities of fatherhood--and the responsibility of all parents to provide spiritual as well as physical nurture to those who have incarnated through them.

   On impersonal levels, it shows the inherent spiritual parenthood of all teachers to their pupils, who, on mental levels, are their children. Parents should be teachers; all true teachers bring to their pupils a radiation of Love-power that makes for completest fulfillment of their Teaching Service. 

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume III
Chapter V
The Ascendant

   Students, this is a discussion of you.

   The left horizontal of the horoscopical wheel, extending from the center to the circumference, is the emergence of you from the inner planes--as an expression of the idea we call Humanity--into objectification in incarnation; the Ascendant-point is your appearance on this plane at the time of your birth.

   When you emitted your first cry you were saying: "Look, World, here I AM again!" That cry was your "dawning," the Light of you appearing in the world of other human Lights as it has appeared many times in the past. You came in to express a brighter, clearer quality of your Light than you ever did before, and those who welcomed you with Love did so, actually, because of the promise inherent in your Light for the betterment of human Life during the years of your incarnation. Every incarnation is an expression of Humanity's love for, and faith in, the Light which is its Source and its Habitation.

   Your incarnation was vibratorily key-noted by the zodiacal sign which covers the Ascendant-point of your horoscope. Each one of the twelve signs is one of the three (Being-ness, Love, Wisdom) aspects of the dimension of Polarity (Positive/Negative) in terms of Gender (Masculine/Feminine). And--a human being's principal vibratory purpose in incarnation is to fulfill, to the best of his/her ability, the potential of the Ascendant-sign through the experience-chapter and vibratory placement of the planet that rules the Ascendant-sign. (By "vibratory placement" is meant the sign in which that planet is placed; the quality of expression is indicated by the nature of the planet which disposits it; the ruler being in Taurus or Libra is disposited by Venus; in Aquarius, it is disposited by Uranus, etc.

   Create three mandalas, one each for the cardinal, fixed, and mutable signs. This is done by drawing three circles; each one has the symbols of one of these three classifications of signs as they appear in zodiacal sequence; the sign-points are connected by straight lines, giving us the three variations of a square.

   The cardinal signs are the turning points as we travel around the wheel from the Ascendant-point; they represent the four basic points of seasonal change throughout the year and they also represent the four basic points of human relationship-structure: the masculine-feminine of parentage (Capricorn/Cancer) and the masculine/feminine of that which is begotten by the parents (Aries/Libra). Persons who have a cardinal sign on the Ascendant (unless there are interceptions and the Ascendant-sign is also on the twelfth cusp) have come in at this time to take a "new direction" in their evolution--their Ascendant-sign opens up a new quadrant of the zodiac for the quadrant of the first three houses. (Those who have the cardinal Ascendant- sign also on the twelfth cusp are simply continuing that which was inaugurated as a turning point in the previous incarnation.)

   Each of the four cardinal signs is the "Being-ness" aspect of the element to which it belongs: Aries-Fire; Cancer-Water; Libra-Air and Capricorn-Earth. Aries and Capricorn are the "male signs" of which Aries is the masculine and Capricorn the feminine; Cancer and Libra are the "female signs," of which Libra is the masculine and Cancer the feminine.

   The fixed signs are the "Love aspect" of the elements- -each being the fifth sign from the cardinal of its element. In parallel: Aries-Leo; Capricorn-Taurus; Cancer-Scorpio; and Libra-Aquarius. Since every horoscope is the result of the exercise of consciousness in the past incarnation and we really go "round and round the wheel" through our incarnations, we see that, from an evolutionary standpoint, Leo is the first fixed sign, Scorpio the second, Aquarius the third, and Taurus the fourth. On a mandala with the twelve signs in order--from Aries around the wheel--draw four straight lines as follows: (1) from Aries to Leo (cusp of first to cusp of fifth); (2) from Cancer to Scorpio (cusp of fourth to cusp of eighth); (3) Libra to Aquarius (cusp of seventh to cusp of eleventh); and (4) Capricorn to Taurus (cusp of tenth to cusp of second). In this way we see a "motion picturing" of the linkage between one incarnation and the next, since the line connecting Capricorn to Taurus "comes back" into the zodiacal cycle through the tenth, eleventh, twelfth, and first houses. Actually, we do not "go around a circle," repeatedly; we unfold through a spiral process from one "octave" to the higher one; each "octave" brings us closer and closer to "return to the Center" which is our "lost Eden;" in effect, we are, in Consciousness, re- absorbed into our Source.

   The mutable signs are the Wisdom-aspect of the elements, because each mutable is the ninth sign from its initial cardinal. To the above mandala we will now draw four more straight lines as follows: (1) from Leo to Sagittarius, cusps of fifth and ninth; (2) Scorpio to Pisces, cusps of eighth and twelfth; (3) Aquarius to Gemini, cusps of eleventh and third; and (4)Taurus to Virgo, cusps of second and sixth. We now have the picturing of the four elements in their trine aspects, the Being-ness, Love, and Wisdom aspects of the two "expressions" of Polarity and the four "combinations" of Gender. Apply this formula to your Ascendant sign and get a clear picture of the "trine-quality" and the "gender-quality" of your sign.

   Your ruling planet is the significator of the focusing, and expressing the vibration of your Ascendant-sign and its Principle, represents a basic function that you are to fulfill in this incarnation. However, you have another ruler which is co-related to your planetary ruler: that is the planet that disposits your ruler; we might term this planet the "vibratory ruler" of your chart since its generic quality is the one through which your planetary ruler must express. (Unless, of course, the planetary ruler is in its own sign of dignity--in which case it is "two- fold" ruler.)

   The environmental requirement for the unfoldment and fulfillment of your personality-potentials is shown by the house in which your planetary ruler is placed. The key-words of each house must be learned by the astrological student if he is to learn where his personal "essence" is to be progressively fulfilled. No matter where we go on this plane, we carry our entire horoscope with us, inside ourselves, for the simple reason that the horoscope is the picture of our consciousness and we can never get away from consciousness. We can, however, keep ourselves established in the requirements of our planetary ruler if we will perceive that any place or association with any group of people contains possibilities for exercising the potentials of the planetary ruler. Man is to utilize the physical plane. He is not to be used by it, but he will become congested and limited in it if he does not establish his self-awareness represented by the combination of qualities of the Ascendant-sign, the planetary ruler qualified by its dispositor and its significance by placement in a certain house.

   The astrological design shows us a strange and wonderful thing--that which is known as the "psychological base:" the cusp of the fourth house of the natal chart. This cusp, from an occult standpoint, can be studied by the Law of Cause and Effect as the significator of a condition which links this incarnation to the one passed--thereby showing us how we can strengthen our sense of "continuance" from the past embodiment into the present one.

   First, let us remember that we come into incarnation with no conscious awareness of what we have come from; the superconscious carries all of our memories from the past and it is the "re-vivification" of these memories that makes it possible for us to "tie-in" consciously with a certain level of our vibratory being that is closely connected with our memories of progress made in the past incarnation. Now, let us see how this is pictured abstractly, as a Life-Principle:

   A mandala containing only the cusps of the twelfth and first houses; place the symbol for Pisces on the twelfth and the symbol for Aries on the first; connect the two points on the circumference by a straight line. This is the essential picture of the residue of unfulfilled ideals which made necessary the present incarnation. Now add the lower vertical--the cusp of the fourth house--and place the symbol for Cancer at the cusp-point; connect this point, by straight lines, to the cusps of the twelfth and first. The "Aries-line" is the involution in the present incarnation to the point where identity with family and vibratory heredity is established-- the sense of "nest-occupancy" and relationship-identification with the vibratory quality of the parentage. (The fourth cusp is, of course, one-half of the complete line of parentage which is extended, for completion, into the upper vertical to the sign Capricorn, the cusp of the tenth house.)

   The Pisces line in the above mandala is the spiritualized matrix: one of three lines and two of three points of the Water- trine of Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. Therefore, since the first "up-turning" point in the cycle from the Ascendant is the cusp of the fourth house, we see that the spiritualized matrix, derived from the best of ourselves in the past is directly pictured in the best of our vibratory heritage. To know only the worst of our parents is, in human terms, to become most intensely aware of the worst in ourselves because we incarnated through them by the Laws of Cause and Effect and of Vibratory Sympathy. To remain established in our worst feelings about ourselves, as "expressions" of our parents, is to remain congested in the negative past. We cannot make spiritual and vibrational progress until we recognize our potentials for progress; to make such progress implies the need to become aware of our spiritualized resources.

   Now, translate this mandala into the terms of your natal chart--the signs on the cusps of your twelfth, first and fourth houses. Unless there is the complication of interceptions in certain arrangements, the signs on the twelfth and fourth houses will represent two aspects of one of the four elemental trines. A detailed analysis--by generic and spiritual value--of these two signs in relationship to the ruler of the chart gives us the picture of how the best of our past is to be continued in this incarnation as "pabulum" for progressive and upgoing expression of the planetary ruler.

   Turn your natal chart as it is so that the fourth cusp appears as the Ascendant--a quarter-turn to the right. The (apparent) twelfth house is actually the third house of the natal chart and it is the ninth house from the natal seventh--"ninth house" representing "Wisdom-aspect." This is the picturing of the wisdom resource from the last time you incarnated in the physical sex opposite to your present expression. The third house of the natal chart is the present intellectual unfoldment, but it is also, as seen in the above, a key to understanding something of the best of your complementary polarity because it reflects one of the "higher octaves" of yourself expressing the opposite sex. Your ability to learn now is conditioned by--and qualified by--your distillation of wisdom in past embodiments (learning is, for the most part, "reminding") and your past "learning from experience" (Wisdom) has a direct bearing on your mental abilities now.

   So, we see that the fourth house of the natal horoscope contains so much information concerning the best of ourselves translated from the past into the present. We hold ourselves back and down if we ignore this potential; we start the upward climb into psychological maturity if we use it.

   The above-described horoscopical conditions refer to the individualized chart--the "you-ness" of your vibratory portrait. But there is another way of learning how to say "I AM" and it is found in consideration of the fact that no matter what the actual Ascendant and planetary ruler might be, every horoscope has the Aries-Libra diameter somewhere--and Aries, through its rulership by the dynamic, expressive Mars--is the abstraction of "I AM." In primitive levels of consciousness, Humanity's "I AM" is stated in terms of friction, resistance, contention, self-defense, and destruction of that which is feared because it is not understood. Man has fought for his survival-- seemingly against the world, other people, and conditions. Actually, he has resisted the outpicturings of his own ignorance of Life-Principles--he has never fought other people but he has fought his fear of them since they, his "enemies," are never anything but the mirrors of his negatives. When he truly loves that which he really is, and his loving is an expression of that loving, then his "enemies" disappear and all people are recognized as his brother/sister/friends.

   Mars, through its rulership of Aries, is the abstract ruler of the horoscope Of humanity. Through this vibration we say not only "I AM" but "I AM determined to survive and perpetuate my existence." The Mars- potential in every horoscope is the " red blood" of consciousness, the vital sense of Being-ness, the essential masculinity of generic vibration, the capacity to vitalize, to stimulate, to impregnate (on whatever plane), to contend with inner and outer down-pullings, and finally, through its spiritual distillations, it is courage-born-of-faith--the aspiration of the Spirit to progress and to live on ever-ascending octaves of the consciousness of the One Life, the One Love, and the One Wisdom.

   The significance of the cusp carrying Aries in your chart shows, regardless of your physical sex, that experience-fulfillment demands the exercise of the most vital masculine generic quality; you must learn to exercise courage, you must develop self-confidence, you must face your fears, learn to understand their source in your consciousness and overcome them through transmutations and constructive expressions; you must develop and exercise the basic Mars-quality of initiative--referring to the "starting-ness" of Aries as the first sign of the Abstract Horoscope; at this point you must--and eventually will--learn what it means to propel yourself without waiting for suggestions, proddings or even encouragement from others; through the house carrying your Aries cusp you are the "birdling" who hops from the protective nest and exercises his strength to fly; once in the air and away from home-base he either flies or falls to the ground; no one and nothing can keep him in the air except his own strength and his acclimation to the element which is to be his natural field for living and moving.

   Since the Aries cusp may be anywhere on the wheel and the Mars-potential in any chart may be slight or great in scope, there is an infinite variety of "Marsiness" possible. To the degree that your Mars is "congested" by square or opposition aspects and to the degree that planets in Aries (disposited by Mars) are congested will you have to learn to exercise the virtue of courage as an expression of your inner Love-Wisdom; to fight, not by resistance to people you feel are "enemies" but non-resistantly by transmuted expressions of your consciousness; to stand by your convictions (if they are truthful ones) as an expression of your integrity; and above all things to respect the right of other people to express themselves according to their vibratory equipment. A healthy, integrated Mars never tries to congest, inhibit, limit, or imprison the fulfillment of another, but he seeks always to encourage by his Love-Wisdom the ignition of their best and finest potentials on all planes. The person who knows Love-Courage and Wisdom-Courage is the person who truly knows what "I AM" means; we must all, sooner or later, come into an awareness of this spiritualized sense of identity with our Source--our Father-Mother God.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume III
Chapter VI
The Second House

   Conditions pertaining to the second house of the horoscopical wheel focalize a great deal of what the astrologer is called upon to interpret in his service. Since every phase of the horoscope has its particular principle, it is suggested that we elasticize our conception of the second house beyond the traditional approach of seeing it as money and possessions.

   First, in order to place the second house in the scheme of things let us consider a mandala made as follows: a wheel with houses; place the symbols for Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, and Virgo on the first six cusps; draw a straight line from the cusp of the first to the cusp of the fifth; another line from the fifth to the seventh cusp. The sector of the first four houses is analogous to the grades of grammar school which we all go through in childhood as a foundation of our educational experience. The additional sector of the fifth and sixth houses could be considered analogous to our high school and college education, initiated as it is by the vital impulse of the fifth house. The inner conditioning indicated by these first six houses finds its expression in the upper hemisphere, initiated by the seventh house of partnership consciousness; it is analogous to the experience in the world which we enter into after completing our formal education--we put our knowledge to work. The composite of these six houses is what we bring to all mature experience for regenerating and perfecting, just as we bring to our mature experience as adults all the training, conditioning, and education that we have learned and acquired in our growing years. Unspiritualized expressions of the first six--and particularly the first four--houses indicate the essential root-square of all our problems.

   When we consider that primitive human consciousness expresses the fifth house as an instinctive expression--as a resource of the fourth house--rather than as conscious creativity, it is not to be wondered at that humanity tends to function largely in the consciousness of the first five houses. To most people even the sixth house is an expression of material sustainment rather than an expression of impersonal contribution in service. So much of humanity's relationship-consciousness is primarily rooted in the fourth house awareness of identity with family and race that decisions are made in terms of the group feeling rather than by the requirements of personal development and the urges to express the consciousness of personal integrity. Since the physical consciousness is the realm in which people tend to live, the second house focalizes much of their experience patterns and problem patterns because the second house is the essential symbol of sustainment consciousness for the entire wheel, concentrated by its significance in the sector of the first four houses. The first three houses may appropriately be called the ingathering quadrant--representing the inner plane processes by which we integrate ourselves with the triune dimension of physical manifestation.

   "Possession and "ownership" are words that identify the consciousness of most people in their second house expression. The real principle of the second house is revealed, however, when we consider the philosophical point that we do not possess or own any physical thing. The only possession we have is consciousness. The quality of that possession is found in the reactions we have to any phase of life; our stewardship of it is in regeneration. The life of humanity is an inner thing--material expression is its vehicle. So, what we call the "desire to possess things" is a primitive way of saying that we desire experience by which we can exercise our faculty of stewardship of physical forms and the ongoing that is provided for in regeneration.

   Since every factor found in the horoscopical wheel is a necessary thing in the life of humanity, there is no factor that is "wrong" or "evil." The second house--as a chapter of experience and a level of consciousness--is a symbol of Spirit as much as any other house is. It conveys, essentially, the emotional or desire consciousness by which humanity seeks to draw to itself the things needful for sustainment. To say "I Have" is an extension of the first house consciousness of "I Am." The underlying impulse of "I Am" is to sustain itself--to be able to continue saying "I Am" and to perpetuate that consciousness in the form world. To some people "my children" or "my wife" is said with the same degree of possession consciousness that "my money" is said. Both phrases imply self perpetuation and self expression.

   The essence of any astrological factor is found in consideration of the spiritual principle inherent in that factor. Since the second house has its particular "spirituality," let us consider three mandalas abstracted from the natural or archetypal chart. (This is a wheel with thirty degrees of each sign contained within the house appropriate to it, starting with Aries on the first cusp; the planetary rulers are related to the houses and signs of their dignity.)

   The first mandala will be a wheel blank except for the cusps of the first four houses forming the first quadrant. The symbol for Aries, Taurus, and Gemini are placed on the cusps of the first three houses respectively. Our key phrases will be: First house: I am an individualized consciousness; Second house: I desire to sustain my consciousness in the physical dimensions; Third house: I learn how to make this sustainment possible. This "ingathering" quadrant represents our process of "planting roots" on any cycle of evolution.

   Venus, ruler of Taurus and abstract ruler of the second house, is the principle of attraction; her significance to our second house is the urge to draw to ourselves the means of material sustainment, or attract the inflow of material abundance. In no other way is the truth of the statement that we do not make money more evident. We, in fact, do something in exchange for money. This brings to our attention the arch-principle of the Venusian vibration: equilibrium through exchange. Seen as an expression of this arch-principle, money is material exchange between people, not material possession; in other words, something received in return for something done. Perfect fulfillment of mutual agreement on this point is the essence of right money-use. The Commandment, "Thou shalt not steal," was given as an injunction against trying to violate a material expression of a universal principle.

   To enlarge our appreciation of the second house we now link it to the other house which is abstractly ruled by Venus through the sign Libra--the seventh house.

   The mandala will be: the twelve-housed wheel; the symbols for Taurus and Libra on the cusps of the second and seventh houses, respectively. The symbol for Venus in both of these houses; lightly shade in these houses so that they stand out from the rest of the wheel. Here we have the archetypal Venus-mandala--the abstract picture of the goddess's focus of influence on humanity's life-experience. The second house pictures the Principle of Attraction in man's consciousness of drawing material for self sustainment; the seventh house is the bringing together of people who complement each other. In other words, Life, in the processes of human relationship, achieves equilibriums through the love-exchange of complementaries.

   The seventh house abstractly identifies all pairs of givers and takers. The employee gives work--the employer gives pay. The physical life of the employee is sustained by using the money he receives; the life of the employer's business is sustained by the efforts of those who work for him. When mutuality of good is maintained in such relationships, all persons involved benefit each other through right exchanges. When the principles of either factor are violated, disharmony and unbalance result. This is evidenced on all planes--between individuals, two groups, or two nations.

   We must keep in mind that money--our symbol of material possession--is actually a "fluid" in the sense that exchange in some form takes place between people everywhere and at all times. It is like the blood which circulates throughout the physical body to sustain physical life. Stop the flow of blood and you stop the individual life-expression Stop, or congest, the flow of money in economic life and--just observe the results. They are evident everywhere.

   The flow of blood through the physical body starts with "output;" the "return" is made when the initial impulse has completed its work. The flow of money, between people, starts when, first, something is done for which money is given as payment. Humanity, in order to function with financial success, must learn to be willing to make the best possible output in quality of service to be rendered. The sixth house makes the first trine aspect to the second, and the sixth house preludes the seventh, the abstract symbol of relationship experience.

   Success in money return starts with mutual integrity of exchange consciousness and service consciousness. Deficiency or darkness of that consciousness eventually insures "money problems" in the form of subconscious remorse, loss of self-confidence, distrust of others (memory of past dishonesties), avarice, and the kind of extravagance that is all "output" without regard for equilibrium of exchange. These negative money pictures are the result of outrages perpetrated in the past against the Principle of Mutual Exchange, and are manifestations of "un-love" toward fellow beings. They, the pictures, serve as magnets for negative experience, loss, and limitation, and until they are regenerated by principle they insure the continual experience of financial negatives.

   The Venus mandala is the astrological picturing of the saying that "the love of money is the root of all evil." Not money itself; because money of itself has no power. But when the consciousness of a person is "rooted" in the second house his love consciousness is rooted in attachment to his possessions.

   Thus the alchemy of Love in his relationship with people is thwarted and it thereby becomes, in time, congested to such a degree that almost anything or anybody will be seen as a threat to his holdings. His greed, distrust, avarice, fear and the like impel him to create very twisted mental pictures of people and he automatically thrusts them farther and farther away from him. Evil grows to the degree that our consciousness separates us from people. Therefore we see that money is not just a medium of material exchange but it gives, by the way it is used, a direct indication of a person's heart consciousness.

   The person either loves the possession of possessions more than he loves and respects people; or in certain patterns of relationship--parents, wife, children, etc.--he exercises a rich heart consciousness, but in business he has the consciousness of a pirate; or his consciousness is integrated towards the ends of maintaining balanced and harmonious relationships with all people. We serve God by exercising the redemptive Love power, or we serve Mammon by enslaving ourselves to the illusion of possessing things. As long as this illusion dominates the consciousness we invite experience of a negative and painful kind.

   As soon as the right attitude toward, and right relationship with other people becomes the focal point of consciousness, the currents of the Love-power initiate an alchemical process by which liberation from the bondage of "being possessed by possessions" is achieved. Regardless of what anyone else does, every human being must, in due course of time, come into the awareness of the spiritual value of the right use of money. When that time arrives the assurance of right relationship between people will be manifested. Honesty is a flowering of the human heart by which the consciousness is able to interpret the things of Life for what they really are. An honest man or woman sees things as they are in reference to principle and as expressions of principles. They, truly honest people, do not need to be "legislated" into honest action by laws or by the threat of punishment; they function in the consciousness of right and respectful exchange with other people in every way.

   The process involved in astrological reading may be stated in this way: first, a solid understanding of the abstract or spiritual significance of each factor in the chart; then, application of abstract understanding to the particulars of the chart under consideration. This is because each human horoscope is a variation of the Archetypal Horoscope which is the Grand Vibratory Symbol of the entity we call Humanity. This archetype is the twelve-housed wheel, with the symbols of the signs placed on the cusps starting with zero of Aries on the first, zero of Taurus on the second, and so on through the other ten signs and houses. The Archetype is completed by placing the planets in the houses and signs of their dignity. Every factor is just as important as every other factor--since all are expressions of consciousness in incarnation. All are spiritual, all are good, and all are necessary. All astrologers must ground themselves in this understanding if they want to develop the ability to perceive the spiritual potentials delineated in the charts they study, as well as the causes and purposes to be found.

   Unlocking the secrets of the second house is one of the most significant services that the astrologer can perform because humanity, for the most part, is tied up in bondage to the desire for possessions. The consciousness of possession is the primitive level of the principle of the second house; the principle itself is stewardship--the responsibility of right use and perfect exchange. When a horoscope is read from the possession standpoint the factor of accumulation is emphasized--or can be emphasized--in the mind of the client. The astrologer must not neglect his opportunity to alert his client to principle. It is the awareness of principle that opens the consciousness to solutions and re-directions.

   The faculty of the second house can be clearly seen by consideration of the following mandala: A twelve-housed wheel; the symbols for Aries, Taurus, and Gemini on the cusps of the first, second, and third houses respectively; a straight line connects the cusps of the first and fourth houses, creating an enclosure of the first three houses. The second house conveys an emotional implication: the desire to sustain physical life. The third house is mental: the process of learning how to effect this sustainment. We sustain physical life by using the things of Earth, not by holding on to them. In the final analysis, we cannot hold on to any physical thing, but our use of physical things--and money--depicts our consciousness of either bondage to the sense of possession or inner freedom to use the things of earth with judgment and intelligence.

   The reading of any house can be a complicated matter. Let us break down the factors which can pertain to the second house patterns and consider them in sequence. This break-down will involve the creation of several white light mandalas. Use only the planetary positions by sign and house, not the degree numbers; we are going to try to perceive the workings of principle through the second house patterns, and we do not want to limit our awareness by the psychologically negating effect of impressing our minds with "bad" aspects.

   First mandala: the symbol of the second house sign on the second cusp; place the symbol of its planetary ruler in its appropriate sign and house. This is the "essential second house mandala" of any horoscope; it conveys, by the sign on the cusp, the consciousness of the person in regard to money and possessions; the position of its ruler indicates where and in what capacity this consciousness is to find its completest fulfillment of the power to attract the means of earth through the exercise of perfect exchange. It also serves to delineate the department of experience that will focus the best of the person's financial consciousness and, essentially, it shows to what degree the spiritual level of stewardship is expressed--or can be expressed--by the person. It also shows whether the person tends to express possessiveness or use of possession.

   Second mandala (or group): a mandala for each planet in the second house and in the second house sign. Place the sign-symbols on the cusps of the houses ruled by these planets. These planets focus the possession-consciousness much more intensely than any other pattern because the chapter of experience synchronizes with the consciousness pattern. This mandala emphasizes the experiences of finance very strongly; these experiences may include property finance, investment finance--in short, all manner of experiences which are focalizations of the financial consciousness. The regeneration of the houses ruled by the planets is definitely dependent on the regeneration of the possession-consciousness.

   Third mandala: a mandala for each planet in the second house sign but in the first house. This is a phase of financial consciousness in the making. Personal development--or personality unfoldment-- in this incarnation is preparing financial experience for the future. Financial ability is seen to be a point of personal evaluation rather than the faculty of acquisitiveness for its own sake.

   Fourth mandala: planets in the second house but in the third house sign: education and mental development are focused through financial experiences. Mental disciplines are to be met in experiences pertaining to money-making. The mental approach, in such a pattern, tends to be colored by the desire quality of getting and holding. The third and fourth mandalas are throw-back patterns because the planets so placed are in houses preceding the one they are related to by sign. The fourth mandala tells us that the person is--to a degree--not yet purely integrated in abstract or impersonal mentation; he tends to "think in terms of his desires of possession and financial evaluation."

   These four mandalas are all focuses of second house experience patterns. The harmonious development of this factor in our Earth- experience is shown to be of tremendous significance in soul growth when we remember that the second house is the first step in the formation of the Grand Trine of the Element of Earth. The base of this trine is a horizontal connecting the cusps of the second and sixth houses; the symbolic implication is that the Principle of Perfect Service (a phase of the impersonal consciousness) is directly dependent on the right exercise of the money consciousness. The apex of the Earth trine is the tenth house--Society and its perfected expressions as a universal entity. The defects of the second and sixth houses insure defects in the tenth. The phrase "Capital (second house) versus Labor (sixth house)" is as negative as anything can be. It must become "Capital and Labor," functioning together in perfect exchange between all factors in order that the apex of any society or civilization can attain its best. The natural--or abstract--rulership by Saturn of the tenth house and its exaltation in Libra--the sign ruled by Venus which also, abstractly, rules the second house--is something upon which we can all meditate. It pictures the essential meaning of the word civilization: "Civil relationships between all peoples in their dealings with earth-things and all exchanges pertaining to them."

   Regardless of the sign on the second cusp and the planets involved, we must keep in mind that Venus is the archetypal symbol of the second house as a factor of spiritual consciousness. At this point it is appropriate to state that the natural, or abstract rulers of the signs and houses condense--or concentrate--the esoteric meanings of the houses as chapters of our unfoldment. So, our consideration of second-house reading cannot be complete without studying the Venus positions and patterns; furthermore, we must intensify our consciousness of the significance of Venus as the "Principle of Equilibrium (Harmony and Balance)" through exchange.

   Fifth mandala--the Venus mandala: Taurus on the second cusp, Libra on the seventh cusp. Study this mandala by rotating the wheel so that each cusp in turn becomes the Ascendant. Perceive how the two signs--forming the 150-degree aspect--relate to the wheel as a whole in these different positions. Taurus and Libra composite the "consciousness of money" and the "consciousness of relationship." The principle, as has been said before, is "Equilibrium through mutuality of giving and receiving"--the Principle of Marriage. Meditate on the Venus mandala of any chart that you are called upon to read from a financial standpoint, in order to get at the roots of the person's basic consciousness of exchange. The house and sign positions of Venus--regardless of her aspects--will give you a clue as to the esoteric reasons for manifestation of financial lack or deficiency. Planets afflicting Venus must be regenerated if the root of poverty-consciousness is ever to be removed. The afflictions to Venus show only how the person, in his past incarnations, expressed unbalance and inharmony in his relationships with other people. Conditions pertaining to the second house are particular to this incarnation, but Venus is the archetypal symbol of right relationship in all phases and on all planes. Help your client to become more aware of the truth of this principle--doing so is one of your deepest responsibilities.

   To conclude this discussion: Utilize the spiritual keywords of the planets as they express rulership or occupancy of second house conditions; doing so insures perception of the esoteric purpose of money in this incarnation of your client. Do not weaken him by making financial decisions for him--to do so is a violation of your own Principle of Service. Alert him to his own consciousness of Principle and encourage him to "take up his own (financial) bed and walk"--walk in the paths of exercising his financial intelligence to its utmost best, in good will, honesty, and perfect exchange with all people.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume III
Chapter VII
The Fifth House

   The fifth house of the abstract horoscope is the second point for both the fixed-sign square and the fire-sign. The release of its potentials provides a very great channeling for spiritual on-going.

   The fifth house is below the horizon--in the northern hemisphere--and to the right of the vertical of the wheel: west. It is the middle house of the quadrant initiated by the fourth house; this quadrant is called--or can be thought of as--the family sector. Being below the horizon, the fifth house is in the hemisphere which pertains to the consciousness of the separate self. Being west, it is in the "fated" hemisphere--those chapters of experience which Life brings to us to deal with as best we can; we do not exercise self-determination as much in these patterns as we do--or can do-- with those in the eastern hemisphere.

   The four fixed signs--Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius--and their corresponding houses--the second, fifth, eighth, and eleventh--are the signs and houses of resource and sustenance, by which the quadrants initiated by the cardinals are "fed." The first house initiates the consciousness of "I AM an individual;" the fourth house says: "I AM an individual factor in a pattern of family, heritage, and race." The resources made possible by the fifth house enable Humanity to realize: "I have the power to contribute to the stream of life through the exercise of my love- consciousness and to sustain my creations by my own resource of love-power." The Sun, which abstractly rules the fifth house through the sign Leo, is the essential symbol of Power of any kind just as, literally, the Sun is the radiant source of life for our solar system, its creation. From this resource we are urged to release life-giving energies through the exercise of parental love and we give incarnation to other Egos who come in as our children. We also give life to impersonal expressions in the creativity in Art. Biological or impersonal, in loving our children or in loving our creativity and the work we are devoted to, these releasements are all expressions of the creative aspect of love-power.

   Because of the resources of intense potential implied by the four fixed signs and houses, the unregenerate patterns which are involved with them imply a corresponding intensity of karma. The essential keyword implied by unregenerate Leo is misuse of power through the exercise of egotism. (By "unregenerate Leo" is meant frictional patterns concerning planets in Leo or the Sun itself, wherever it is in the chart.) The symbol which we use for the "square aspect"--a square with horizontal base--when applied to the wheel falls in such a way that the angles coincide with the midpoints of the fixed houses; the second of these--the midpoint of Leo-- provides the upward turning point as we travel around the wheel counter- clockwise from the Ascendant. In this picture we are alerted to the importance of regeneracy of the fifth house: until that potential is regenerated the consciousness remains fixated in levels of possession and egotism--the second and fifth houses, both below the horizon. If we can imagine the fixed square being "stopped" at the sixth cusp and the currents "cut off," the energies which--symbolically--would seek to rise upward into the relationship quadrant above the horizon are frustrated and boil and churn back and forth within the first five houses, and the I AM of the first house remains fixated in a limiting expression of possession desire and power desire; possessions become objects of love consciousness and people who should be loved and sustained by love become the objects of the power consciousness, to be dominated and utilized as are inanimate possessions. A great symbol is shown in this frustrated pattern: the story of Man's inhumanity to mankind; Man's imprisonment of himself by himself.

   When humanity identifies its possessions as symbols of power, and children as objects of power rather than of love, we see the consciousness of egotism trampling through human experience. This consciousness, activated by the first four houses and sustained--if such can be called sustainment--by unregenerate levels of the fifth house depicts, in symbolic form, the concept of dynasty: groups of individuals vibratorily united through a family pattern or a national pattern who are held in a mold of family as an expression of power and egotism The individual and his essential rights are considered a cipher--at best,a pawn--in the maintenance of this fixated, rigidly organized plan. Marriage is based on position, heritage, and possessions; religion is a conformance to ritual and dogma by which the power and supremacy of the pattern is continually emphasized; education is a tool for the molding of minds according to the expediency of the plan. In fact, the third house, in this symbol, is impaled between the first and fifth houses. Having no releasement beyond the fifth house, education remains purely a thing of rote, tradition, and repetition of a limited intellectual organization. History tells this story over and over again; we have all gone through phases in which we functioned as--and felt like--ciphers in a family or nationalistic pattern; it is really an expression of the tribe consciousness of humanity. As such it fulfills an evolutionary need and, as such, it is good. However, in due course of time it must be transcended if the race is to evolve. Those who have recognized, to a degree, their inherent powers but who remain unregenerate are those who act as the tyrants, despots, and autocrats of families, groups, and nations; they are the "givers of commands" and the "wielders of whips." Those who remain in the first four houses, not as yet having come into an awareness of their powers, are the victims of the others; they are the superstitious and the credulous, the minions and the slaves. They live in their surface awareness, their desires and physical needs, their subservience to anything they fear or do not understand. They have, in short, not yet become aware that they are resources of power and self-determination. They are scarcely aware of individual potential. They exist as factors in an over-all pattern which exists as a molding for their experiences.

   When people come to a point of feeling unsatisfied, restless and bored with the crystallized patterns they have been living with and desire to find a more satisfying and more extensive release for their energies, then study the chart with an eye to analyzing the fifth house potentials. This analysis must of course include a study of the Sun because the Sun is the abstract symbol of the ability for self-determination. Many people crystallize because they have put their lives into channels that they themselves do not really want; in other words they have side-tracked themselves into artificiality of pattern and, being "fed up" with their own mistake are eager to get back to their real selves and begin to live constructively and happily in accordance with the best potentials in their charts. Some of these people have side-tracked themselves because of a reaction of fear of, or subservience to, a stronger will which has sought to force them out of line due to ignorance or to a lack of sympathetic awareness of their needs. Self-determination, let it be said, is an aspect of courage-- the fifth house is a self-expression backed up by the regenerated qualities of the first house. However, when purpose is electrified in the consciousness, releasements of hope, courage, and renewed enthusiasm are made and the person feels that he truly has been "born again." He must know what he wants to do with his life and if he continues to fulfill his responsibility patterns he has every right to re-determine his upward progress. In dealing with such a chart, create mandalas of every Sun-aspect; determine to what degree the person can re-direct a new course of living and help him to understand why he was impelled to move off from his rightful path so that he can meet the challenges of his aspects of consciousness more successfully in the future.

   In regard to the frictional patterns involving the fifth house, one in particular can be dealt with here: the assistance that the astrologer, as philosopher-friend, can render to parents who are stricken by what is perhaps the most pathetic form of human suffering--their reaction of grief to the transition of a beloved young child or baby. All human beings incarnate through their parents, specifically, by the Law of Vibratory Sympathy. Those persons who, as husband and wife, lovingly extend an invitation to incarnation to another Ego may have in back of them a history of possessiveness and parental domination over their children in the past. The conscious mind may not recognize it--and usually doesn't--but if a new incarnation is "cut off" the parents, from a philosophic standpoint, need not feel that their parental experience has been frustrated. That transition was made by Law, just as the incarnation was.

   Occult explanation tells us that many Egos incarnate for a short time in order to re-establish contact with this dimension in order that their on-going may be more completely made. Such children come in to parents who, for some inner reason, must learn to let go. Somewhere in the past there was too much holding on as an expression of parental authority or power and perhaps the progress of the child in the past was inhibited or frustrated. Also, when an Ego makes transition through some sudden or violent agency and the physical body is destroyed the person may come back very soon to establish its links, and then, not being intended to remain for a full span of incarnation-experience, it goes on in its progress. Encourage, if you can, an elasticization of viewpoint in the minds of such parents; encourage them to renew, if possible, the expression of their love power in some way. Encourage them, above all, to neutralize tendencies to prolonged grief, brooding and disintegrative sorrow, and point out to them that as long as they themselves are in incarnation they need not cut off all expressions of their love- potential. Try to help them, in other words, to keep their fifth house consciousness alive and expressive. To keep the fifth house alive is to keep the heart alive.

   In the fire-sign mandala we connect the cusps of the first, fifth, and ninth houses, forming an equilateral triangle, the "upward" of which is the vertical from the fifth to the ninth.

   When the power-aspect of the fifth house is amplified by the love-consciousness the symbolic insignia is drawn of the potential for joyousness. The suggestion is made at this point that we consider joyousness as being much more significant than just a feeling--usually temporary--of well-being or of satisfaction. Joyousness is a spiritual state in which--or by which--the Higher Self of Humanity is able to express its constructive releasement regardless of outward conditions and affairs, because joy is one of the attributes of the love-consciousness. It enables the releasement of power for the best good of all concerned because love clarifies the perceptions to an awareness of the inherent good in all people and of the best potentials and meanings of any experience.

   The best of Leo--and the fifth house--is the "smiling heart," the radiating enthusiasm and overflowing of high spirits that charge human life--and relationships--with loveliness, buoyancy, and charm. It is the insignia of pleasure and luxury by which the consciousness of Man expresses its awareness of amplitude--both inner and outer. It is the "house of hobbies" since a hobby, in the true sense of the word, is the creative releasement of an intense interest, a beloved pass-time, a re-creative and harmonizing activity. A psychological re-directive can be presented to people who have become stagnated through too much preoccupation with routine, responsibility- fulfillment and practicality. Everyone can find a channeling for release of creative and recreative impulses if he wants strongly enough to organize his life accordingly. Psychology has proved over and over again the power of a vibrationally synchronized hobby to infuse into human life a new awareness of joy, enthusiasm, and well-being on all planes.

   The first house is self-awareness; the fifth is creative self-expression; the ninth is the creative aspect of wisdom, distilled from experience. The first is being--I Am; the fifth is joyful being--I Love; the ninth is wise being--I Understand.

   The fifth house is love in its most one-pointed expression. It is a radiation from the individual consciousness which is a releasement of powers for the person from whom they emanate and a warmth and stimulation to those who receive it. The fifth house is traditionally called the "house of children." That interpretation, however, is a derivative. In the chart of a specific individual the fifth house is the insignia of his creative love potential: it paints the picture of his awareness of children as a factor in his relationship consciousness--it is his potential as a loving giver of life. The Love by which we parent other Egos is our level of that Divine Love expression by which a solar system is incarnated. Herein can be seen why egotism on the part of parents or teachers can be a death-dealing agency to the lives of children and pupils. Egotism is retroactive; it boils back into the levels of self-glorification and self-interest. Love is interested in the true welfare and up-going of those to whom it gives life. Kahlil Gibran refers to parents who love truly as "bows from which arrows spring forth"--to go on in their development and to fulfill their own purposes and destinies.

   Let us appreciate, more than ever before, that expression of Love which made possible our incarnation. Let us learn of parental love from those who have gone before us and recognize that our on- going was made possible because they responded to the opportunity to release life in their releasing of love. And we must recognize that as we too, whether parents or not, do create a greater beauty for all when we tap our resources of joyous-heartedness; in doing so we, by the processes of sympathetic vibration, actually parent the joyousness in the consciousness of all people who come in contact with us. We want to live life in joyous terms, courageously, generously, and beautifully. In order to do so, we must express the heart center and live lovingly.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume III
Chapter VIII
The Eighth House

   The experience of transition from the physical dimension to the invisible planes is one which humanity, for the most part, regards with a feeling of anxiety, dread, and in some cases, sheer terror. In no phase of astrological service is the astrologer required to be more sensitive, more impersonally compassionate, and more truly sympathetic than in those times when he is called upon to interpret a chart of someone whose grief-stricken reaction to the passing of a loved one has, temporarily, neutralized his capacity for on-going. Since each house in the wheel has its basic principles--as an experience-pattern--this material is presented with the hope that it will help all astrological students and practitioners to come into a clearer realization of this most occult of houses and thus to enlarge their ability to deal with people who are "walking the darkened pathway."

   The principle of the eighth house is regeneration; and, at this point, a word of explanation may be offered.

   A certain fine man whom the author knows has magnificently demonstrated the power of the regenerative viewpoint in the face of a shattering separation. His honored wife made transition from this incarnation at a lime when she was at the height of fame and fortune, loved and respected by many people. She had, as we would say, everything to live for; yet Life removed her from this chapter under drastic and calamitous circumstances. A little more than a year ago this fine woman's chart was made available to the writer who sought to unravel the secret of this particular transitional experience. Focusing the chart-analysis on the seventh and eighth, twelfth and first house patterns, this conclusion was reached: above and beyond any worldly fame she had attained, this woman was a truly great soul who, as a gesture of love-service, chose to make transition in this drastic way in order that a great redemption might be made. It is more than possible that this heroic deed has provided the possibility of great fulfillments for her in the future. This particular chart is a most marvelous example of the linking of relationship-patterns from the past and their fulfillment in the present incarnation. The challenge to the husband's courage and integrity of spirit was gallantly met and, in consequence, he was moved to a gesture of service which, being fulfilled, has already proven to be a source of regeneration and renewal for his remarkable work.

   To get at the essence of the eighth house prepare a mandala as follows: a blank, twelve-housed wheel; number the first, second, seventh, and eighth houses; intensify the diameter made by the cusps of the second and eighth. This is a simple picturing of the eighth house and its polarity, the second. Turn the wheel so that the eighth cusp becomes the Ascendant; the seventh house thus appears as the twelfth. Essential meanings of the twelfth house of anything are: (1) the link between the past incarnation and the present; (2) needed redemption which impels the present incarnation. From this standpoint the meaning of the eighth house of the present incarnation is seen to be regeneration of desire-pictures which are the hidden memories of reactions to marital and relationship experiences in the past incarnation. These desire-pictures have their roots in the sexual instincts and in the consciousness of possession which, in marital or sexual relationships, reach a peak of intensity greater than they do through any other phase of experience.

   To refer to the original mandala: the polarity, or opposition, made by the relationship of the eighth and second houses to each other may be interpreted in this way: the enemy (opposition aspect) of regeneration (eighth house) is attachment (primitive phase of the second house); the enemy (opposition aspect) of stewardship (second house) is failure to regenerate desire (negative eighth house). Stewardship is "right use of materials"--proportioned, equilibrated income and out-go; attachment to materials is all in-come and no out-go, a state of unbalance by which the consciousness eventually becomes "land-locked" in its preoccupation with material evaluations.

   The negatives of both of these houses "feed each other." Desire without Love, sex without fruition remain fixated on possessiveness; intense desire for money and things without balanced release through exchange congests the intaking pictures and a sort of paralysis results due to the ever-increasing demands of the desire nature. The loved person is regarded as a possession; the focus on money or possessions to the exclusion of right personal relationship neutralizes, gradually, the love- potential and, in either case, congestion results which, in its turn, breeds all kinds of ills on all planes of human consciousness. The powers symbolized by the eighth house are those which provide releasement for these congestions of the desire nature. This releasement is symbolized by the dynamic vibration of Mars: constructive action; through Venus: mutuality.

   The transition that we are accustomed to call death is actually a large-scale expression of the Principle of Regeneration which, in turn, is the essence of the onwardness and upwardness of any Life-expression. Our bodies are continually being renewed and regenerated when they are in a state of health; congestion--or "un-ongoingness"--is the thing that results in disease. On the emotional-reaction plane congestion is any reaction that results in the person's inability or disinclination to keep himself adaptable, responsive, receptive, and enthusiastic toward newness of experience. If we cling, in feeling, to things that no longer have a part to play in our constructive living, we congest in some way. If, however, we keep open to, and responsive toward, the significance of newness, we welcome the advent into our lives of other moldings into which we can pour our potentials.

   Congestion, as a reaction to a loved one's passing, results in such manifestations as self-pity, morbid brooding over the past, resentments, and tendencies to self-isolation. These, in turn, pile up the energies into dust-heaps of misanthropy, despair, escape-tendencies and neuro- mental confusions. When we cling to that which life has proven to be outworn, we do not stagnate--we retrogress. We are either with life in generation and regeneration, or we are against life in congested degeneration. The transition of the person loved by your client is not your client's problem; his problem is to tap the sources of inner power that will result in the neutralization of his down-going reaction-patterns. It is a vital part of your responsibility to help such a person understand that "there is no death, there is only life." Impress on his consciousness the eternal "living-ness" of life and the importance of our responsibility to adapt to change of circumstance and release the best of our on-going possibilities.

   Make your converse with such a person completely life- giving; never predict transition or even try to describe the means by which it might come about. Morbid curiosity on this point is not to be indulged. (From a purely astrological standpoint, anyway, it is not wise to attempt this kind of interpretation; the same pattern that designates death also designates the emergence from the old into the new during incarnation.)

   You, as an astrologer, must have a clear, clean perspective on transition and its meanings if you are to assist in any way. Fear of death cannot be permitted to lodge in your subconscious if you are undertaking the service of "throwing Light on another's shadowed consciousness." Ground yourself thoroughly in an awareness of eternal livingness and if you ever experience a tendency to react with shock, fear or anxiety to a death picture train yourself to neutralize it immediately by the most efficient means at your (philosophical and psychological) command.

   Another approach to the eighth house can be made when we realize that it provides a key to unlock problems of all kinds that may be shown in the chart. A problem is the result of misdirected energy; because of the intensity of quality implied in the eighth house pattern, a little redirection at that point could have a noticeable effect in redirecting almost any other negative condition shown in the chart. Actually, all of our relationship patterns now are sequences from the past and are, in the final analysis, rooted in our desire-consciousness from many incarnations of relationship-experiences. Our desires run the entire keyboard: self- preservation and self-maintenance; obsessions of all kinds; power over materials and people; sexual gratification and mutual possessiveness of two people toward each other; property and prestige before the world; fame and renown; and so on--all of these desire-pictures and impressions and memories have impelled us into specific patterns of relationship with other people all along; congestions on any of these points have been "inner deaths" from which we have had to find releasement some way or another.

   There is something in the human heart that is continually searching for enlightenment, and when the astrologer has a "grief problem" to deal with he recognizes that his first and foremost responsibility is to stimulate the bereaved person's capacity for courage and intelligent adaptability. When we realize that the eighth house is also called the house of sleep-experience we recognize the value of our daily period of sleep as a regenerative agency. Rather than continuing in the miasma of dread while facing the "unknown" (which has, incidentally been faced by all of us many times in the past), any bereaved person is instinctively searching for a clearer understanding of his experience-pattern than he has ever had before; he will, in fact, continue to search until he has found the answer whether in this incarnation or in the tenth one from now. Help him, therefore, to see the transition of his loved one in as merciful a light as possible; remind him of times when he was so exhausted by physical effort or pain that he wanted a few hours of sleep more than all the gold on earth. Then present the picture of the consciousness of the loved one (which has manifested for millions of years) as needing a few hours of sleep before resuming the next phase of experience. Make "death" known to his awareness as a rhythmical, natural, needed phase of experience. Then turn your attention to the client's eighth house because he is still here and must go on with his life. The suggestion is made that you "white-light" the ruler of his eighth house, and study its sign and house position accordingly. This is suggested because it is your opportunity to alert him to the very best of his on-going possibilities--and you must make your comprehension of this part of his chart as inclusive as possible.

   Do not, in such readings, make the mistake of interjecting your own personal reaction to his broken relationship-pattern. Recognize that a woman can love her husband above all other people, even her children; a man can love his mother more than anyone else, even his wife. Remember that no matter how deeply the client loved the deceased, the latter's passing provides more room in the client's life to extend his love-potentials in other directions and it is evident that such extension is required at that time. Study the solar-eclipse aspects that were made previous to the passing; this will indicate, if the eclipse conjuncted a planet, that a severe testing will be manifested between then and the next eclipse. But remember too that the previous eclipse may have trined or sextiled a planet in the client's chart; this is premise of a very significant "opening up experience." The transition may have made that opening up possible.

   Progressed Moon aspects current at the transition (that is, current in the client's chart) must be watched closely. What he puts into action during a progressed Moon aspect bears very significant fruit. If his reaction to the transition impels him to retrogressive action he stamps his consciousness with a deeper-than-ever impression of that aspect. So, again, we say that persons must be encouraged to release in constructive action for a mutuality of good when regenerative patterns are in effect. 

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume III
Chapter IX
Planetary Retrogradation

   Planetary retrogradation, as studied in astrology, is a periodic, rhythmic action which illustrates the great evolutionary principle of recapitulation.

   In ordinary mundane usage, retrogradation is considered to be synonymous with retrogression, which implies a process of decline, degeneration, going toward inertia, devolution, or counter-to- evolution. However, this interpretation is wrongly used when applied to life within form or to the orbital movement of the planets. It is true that when a vehicle of manifestation has fulfilled the purpose for which it was created, its substance, form, and organic function do enter upon a process of retrogression; the withdrawing of the Life-forces initiates a process of disintegration of the vehicle. But the Life-essence, which cannot die or disintegrate, awaits a suitable new vehicle for its further evolutionary expression and experience.

   When we observe and thoroughly consider the great principle of recapitulation we recognize that it is a pattern or mode by which Nature insures the thoroughness of evolutionary processes. That which was accomplished on one round of a given cycle is recapitulated or reviewed at the resumption of the new activity in order that the complete integrity of organic powers may be established. When recapitulation is undergone, that which was established is made the base of that which is to be established; the evolutionary program of the organism or entity is thereby made continuous, without holes or breaks. This principle is Nature's great safeguard for completeness and thoroughness of evolutionary processes. On the plane of human mentality, this principle is revealed in the faculty of memory; on the plane of organic functioning it is revealed in the cyclic pattern of birth, growth, maturity, and transition which is undergone by every evolving entity in each incarnation or cycle of manifestation. Max Heindel gives a most wonderful exposition of this principle in his writings concerning the great periods which mark the involution and evolution of our planet and the life it nurtures. With the inception of each new period, the previous period is recapitulated in order that integrity of function may be established.

   In prayer-activity, the principle of recapitulation is advocated by many spiritual schools. To review in memory the thoughts, words, and actions of the previous day does not mean that the aspirant goes back or retrogresses; he makes his honest review of his experiences in thought, word and action in order to distill spiritual value therefrom. He analyzes, compares, and evaluates not only his thoughts, words, and actions but his motives; when he realizes a motive to have been impure, he ejects that motive from his consciousness by realization; the clarity of the realization will alchemically become a strength of Spirit by which he will, in future, avoid entertaining and acting upon that particular motivation. Has he gone backward in making his spiritual review? On the contrary, in making a constructive thing of the review, he has gone forward, even though the recapitulation may have included a scrutinizing of something very unpleasant-- even abhorrent--to his finer sensibilities. The word "recognition" means "to know again" and recognition could well be identified as the basic purpose of all processes of recapitulation. Recognition, by recapitulation, is insured by Nature for all planes, modes, and degrees of evolving consciousness.

   One point must be made clear at the outset. Astrology does not teach that the planets of our system sometimes go backward. The retrograde action of the planets is a periodic apparent motion due to the axial and orbital rotation of the Earth--it is not actual. However, because of the relative observational changes--relative in the sense that the planets in geocentric astrology are zodiacally observed from the Earth rather than from the Sun--each one of the planets seems periodically to retrace a portion of its zodiacal travel, remain stationary for a period and then move forward again over the retraced area and forward into a new area.

   Since the Earth and each planet has its own orbital speed and distance around the Sun, these retrograde and stationary periods follow a rhythmic plan of regular sequence not unlike, for illustration, the human's periods of conscious activity when awake and subconscious activity when asleep, or the rhythmic plan of seasonal changes through the sequence of years. We must remember that every principle which is illustrated by astrology has its correspondences in the life of the universe because the universe is the creation of Consciousness and astrology is the symbolized study of Consciousness. The picture of every factor in a human's natal horoscope is a picture of Principle, or Law, revealed; if further incarnation is necessary for the evolution of a human, then incarnation is made subject to the laws apprehended as Space and Time. A timing and placing of incarnation which includes the registration of a "retrograde" planet in the natal horoscope tells the reader something about that person's evolution-of- consciousness just as does his Sun-sign, Moon-sign, Ascendant, or any planetary aspect.

   The fullest significance of the Principle of Recapitulation may be gleaned from considering the evolution of consciousness to be represented as a spiralic process. Change is the one constant thing to be seen throughout life and the spiral represents the composite of the "upward, onward and always" that characterizes all life-processes. Involution, which is the necessary preparatory phase, is as much a part of the onward as evolution is--just as studies and lessons and practice are the preparatory phase of fulfilling an artistic or professional talent. In any line of endeavor, or expression of organic life, the involutionary and evolutionary programs and objectives always contain periodic areas of recapitulation, but the start of the first recapitulation is always an extension from the initial point and every succeeding recapitulation is an extension from previous corresponding ones. Thus the linkages are formed and integrated; the spiral forms with unbroken continuity as individualized consciousness gains increasing awareness of its Self through organic experience.

   A question might be raised on this point: what about stragglers--are they not retrogressing to inertia? The phenomena of individualized consciousness unable to keep step with the fellows of their life-wave must be considered also from a relative standpoint. These entities have delayed or postponed their evolutionary program for a tremendous period of time but because they were once individualized, they must some day make their return, in consciousness, to source. Since their individualization with others of their life-wave, they did proceed for a time on the evolutionary program--they have had some evolutionary experience. Therefore, when they start again, their initial recapitulation will move them forward faster than they moved in their first attempt. These entities are not "lost forever;" they are channels for their Creator's Light and Life as all others are; they are retrogressing only in relation to the progress of their evolving brothers. They are having the experience that is right for them to have and will have their repeated individualization, recapitulations, and progressive steps in due course. Remember: in organic function and in consciousness, retrogression or retrogradation is relative, not absolute.

   From the standpoint of geocentric observation, the Sun and Moon are always observed to be in "direct" motion; neither of them ever make the periodic retrogradation that characterizes the apparent action of the planets. The Sun transits the zodiac once a year and recapitulates its natal position on each birthday of the individual; the Moon, by transit, recapitulates its natal position every twenty-seven and a third days; by progression, every (approximately) twenty-seven and a third years. Moving forward from its natal position at the end of its first progressed tour of the zodiac, it enters the second cycle and recapitulates therein all the aspects to the natal combined with the additional factors of a different "set-up" of progressed planetary aspects, major transits and solar eclipses.

   Solar and lunar recapitulation is also revealed in patterns formed by solar eclipses and Full Moons in this way: for example, solar eclipse, August 1952, in 28 Leo; Full Moon, February, 1954, in 28 Leo. This pattern spanned eighteen months of time and the Full Moon recapitulated the eclipse. The aspects made to the natal chart by the eclipse in such a case will key-note the experience of the person during that subsequent span of many months, and at the time of the recapitulating Full Moon, the spiritually-minded astrologer will do well to make an evaluation- review of his experience, distill constructive value therefrom and build his soul body thereby. The periods which are characterized by the recapitulation of a solar eclipse by a Full Moon are usually found to cover eighteen or twenty-four months of time; the solar eclipse of Cancer, in July, 1953, was recapitulated by the Full Moon in Cancer, January, 1955.

   The Sun and Moon reveal a constant backward movement in these ways: the Sun, by precession, moves backward through the zodiac and the sequences of eclipses, New Moons, and Full Moons will be observed to occur in "counter-zodiac" positions. Only the planets reveal the periodic "backward-stationary-forward" movement.

   We have all seen instances of students being demoted in school, due to what appeared to be insurmountable difficulty with a certain subject or phase of a subject. The necessity for such a demotion did not indicate that the child was basically stupid, sub-normal, or "bad." It did indicate that he was not yet equipped successfully to fulfill the requirement of that grade for that particular subject. Therefore, since he was required to gain that specific learning, it was necessary to let him recapitulate by going back to the preceding phase of the subject, restudy, and re-digest that material and thereby qualify, by having equipped himself, to progress.

   Our incarnated experience is evolutionary schooling. Just as we cannot assimilate all the material on a given subject in one term, so we cannot enter into all phases of human experience in one life Everything else aside, the fact that we are organically polarized as males and females would make total experience impossible. Yet, by a long sequence of incarnations during which we can incarnate, according to evolutionary need and karmic requirement, as male or female, we have the opportunity to fulfill all phases of experience pertaining to gender. Since concentration of thought and effort is necessary for success and fulfillment of our talents and professional endeavors, we use each incarnation to specialize in order to focus our consciousness and so derive the maximum benefit and development from what we do in work, or other activities and endeavors. However, just as individualization of consciousness demands eventual evolutionary fulfillment, so does any acceptance of experience demand fulfillment. And, very often, the Principle of Recapitulation must be utilized when, after accepting and living a certain phase of experience, we leave it for a while to focus our attention on other phases. That which was left in suspension was not forgotten; it was allowed, rather, to remain dormant, waiting future assumption and resolution. Herein is found a philosophic clue to the interpretive study of planetary retrogradation.

   Natal retrograde, staying retrograde by progression throughout life:

   The conditions indicated by the house ruled by this planet are indicated to be of secondary importance to the fulfillment of the present life-assignment; however, since all planetary factors have spiritual and evolutionary purpose and must be used by the entity, it appears that some form of vicarious fulfillment is indicated by this type of retrograde; in a future life, the fullness of expression represented by this planet will mark a major factor of the life-assignment--in the present life, the experience-factor represented by the planet and the house it rules is held in relative abeyance, so that those factors which comprise the major evolutionary assignment for this life may be concentrated upon.

   Natal retrograde, stationary by progression at end of life:

   Indication that the assignment of active recapitulation will be assumed in the next life; the period of abeyance ends in this life and the next life will find the person qualified to resume, by recapitulation, those factors of experience which have been held in abeyance for perhaps several lives; this type of progression indicates that the person will assume a new factor of major significance in the next life-assignment, being one which he started and then turned from some time in a past life; it will contain considerable karmic content, residual from the long past, and perhaps several lives may be necessary to fulfill this assignment.

   Natal retrograde, progresses stationary and then direct in this life:

   Indication that the assignment of active recapitulation is to be assumed in the present life; the period of abeyance is finished and the experience represented by the planet becomes a major evolutionary factor of the present life's assignment when the planet moves forward into direct motion from the stationary period. The astrological reader will give very careful attention to the timing of the progressed direct motion, relating it to the current progressed planetary aspects, current solar-eclipse cycle and the progressed Moon quadrant. This type of planetary progression is one of the most important, from an evolutionary standpoint, because it marks the second attempt of the person in matters relating to the house ruled by the planet, and what is done in the remaining years of this life in regard to it will create much obstructive or regenerative karma to be utilized in future. This type of progression marks a major evolutionary turning-point in the cyclic history of the individualized consciousness.

   Natal retrograde, progresses stationary, direct and then conjunct the natal position:

   The end of the period of abeyance and subjective recapitulation, the flowering of active recapitulation and actual, direct, creative expression of the planetary power; direct participation in the relationship-pattern and experience-factors represented by the planet, its house of rulership and house of occupancy. The particular aspect or phase of the soul-consciousness "comes into its own" and every natal aspect of regenerative quality--sextile or trine--indicated by the planet promises an upsurgence of great joy. The natal squares or oppositions indicated by the planet will bring testings at that time of life but, in terms of the person's greater ability to handle them, bringing to bear all the resources of spiritual power for the necessary resolutions. When a planet is natally direct but turns, and stays, retrograde by progression the indication is that this life sees a "withdrawing" from the factors represented by the planet; this action seems to indicate that the person is going to focus his attention, evolutionarily speaking, on other factors. If this planet, by progression retrograde, reaches the conjunction of its natal position in the present life, the indication is completely given that the special planetary factors will not be of major importance in the next life.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume 4

  
First Edition

Third Printing

Rosicrucian Fellowship
Mt. Ecclesia
Oceanside, CA--92054, U.S.A.

   Foreword

   The first three volumes of this series of astrological interpretations have been received with such a warm welcome by so many astrology students that we are pleased to present Volume IV.

   Mr. Bacher's profound knowledge of and devotion to the stellar science, along with an uncanny understanding of human nature, made it possible for him to present material which undoubtedly places him among the best of modern esoteric astrologers. As the truth and value of his spiritual interpretation of astrology become more and more generally accepted, his presentations will serve increasingly to help people know themselves and fulfill their highest destiny.

   Before passing in the early 1950's Mr. Bacher expressed a keen desire to have us publish his articles in book form, and although we deeply regret that he did not live to see his publications made available to the public, we are happy in knowing that his wish is being fulfilled.

  
Introduction

   To the Rosicrucian student astrology is a phase of religion, basically a spiritual science. More than any other study it reveals man to himself. No other science is so sublime, so profound, and so all- embracing. It portrays the relation between God, the macrocosm, and man, the microcosm, showing them to be fundamentally one.

   Occult science, investigating the subtler forces that impinge upon man, the Spirit, and his vehicles, has charted their effects with no less definiteness than has academic science the reactions of sea and soil, plant and animal to the solar and lunar rays.

   With this knowledge we may determine the astrological pattern of each individual and know the relative strength and weakness of the various forces operating in each life. To the degree that we are in possession of such knowledge we can begin systematic, scientific character building--and character is destiny! We note times and seasons cosmically advantageous to unfolding undeveloped qualities, correcting faulty traits, and eliminating destructive propensities.

   The divine science of astrology reveals the hidden causes at work in our lives. It counsels the adult in regard to vocation, the parent in the guidance of children, the teacher in management of pupils, the physician in diagnosing disease, thus lending aid to each and all in whatever position they may find themselves.

   No other subject within the range of human knowledge appears to hold for this day and age the possibilities open to astrologers for helping people to their own dignity as gods-in-the-making, to a greater grasp of universal law, and to a realization that we are eternally secure within the caressing fold of Infinite Life and Boundless Being.

  
Chapter I
The "Bad" Aspects

   Time was when the writer shared with many astrological students the understanding that "square" and "opposition," being "bad" aspects meant the same thing; also that "good" aspects, the trine and sextile, were thought of as being the same. Time came when the writer realized that if "square" meant the same as "opposition," and "sextile" the same as "trine," the same symbol would be used for both pairs of aspects. It must be established in the minds of students that every symbol utilized in astrology has its own particular, unique significance and that no two symbols can really mean the same thing. There would be no point to such an approach. These symbols are picturings of profound spiritual realizations which were given to Humanity by the Great Ones ages ago.

   If the progress through the wheel from Ascendant to the twelfth house pictures cyclic evolution, the placement of the planets by sign and house, the focalizations of consciousness for expression during incarnation, then the aspects picture the mechanism of the Spirit in action-- the how of this endless expressing. The mechanical sciences require a knowledge of weights, leverages, balances and counterbalances, gravity, propulsion, and so on; in other words, the principles of how the mechanism functions to achieve a certain result. A horoscope, evolved from geometrical design, contains picturings of principles as they manifest in human incarnation as expressions of consciousness, and every symbol that is used in this particular science pictures an essence or a function of that essence.

   The dynamic approach to human psychology has proved that a "switch in viewpoint" often makes possible an immediate clarification of the cause of a problem and reveals the needed directive. We, as astrological students, have tended to crystallize our viewpoint of the square and opposition aspects and to settle, mentally, into the picture that they are the bad aspects. The words "bad" and "evil" have been a part of our mental picturing ever since we were able to interpret anything; if we are going to evolve a constructive approach to psychological astrology we must switch our viewpoint of, and attitude toward, the meanings of these particular symbols of energy expressions.

   It is a debatable point--this reference to "bad" aspects. Can people who are astrologically uninformed, and in the throes of a personal problem, really be helped, way down deep, if their minds and feelings are impressed by references to the "bad" aspects in their charts? There is no getting around it--we all have a sub-conscious, instinctive reaction to words like "bad;" they ignite our inner picturings--or memories--of ugly, distressing, frightful, and difficult experience patterns. The astrologer who says, "Oh, this is very serious--you have a bad aspect between your Saturn and Mars," risks putting his client down about five notches. There is something so ominous about such a statement that, in simple kindness and mercy, we cannot present such interpretations to people who have come to us for guidance.

   Astrologers who have become fixated in the "badness" of the square and opposition aspects are those who have not inquired into the real meaning of these symbols. By "real meaning" is meant spiritual or philosophical significance. Since we must identify these symbols in some way in order to transmit our thoughts let us switch our word-approach into something toward which the client may react more favorably.

   It is suggested that the word "frictional" be substituted for "bad." Everyone understands that "friction" means "resistance," but people are not so inclined to feel disturbed by that word. Also, as in the case of a match being frictionally rubbed, the result is an ignition which provides light and warmth. So it is with us, inside ourselves, and our square and opposition aspects. Certain levels of our consciousness "rub against" other levels; the result is an ignition of awareness through pain-reaction, which serves to point out a necessity for redirection of consciousness. Since all the planetary patterns of a horoscope are enclosed within the wheel, the picture is shown that mankind interprets experience from within--in consciousness--not from without. In other words, the source of our experience-interpretations is not in the experiences themselves but in our own center of awareness and reaction.

   Let us consider the square and opposition aspect symbols in terms of their essential, abstract picturing. Use a blank, twelve- housed wheel for each. For the square, connect the midpoints of the fixed houses--second, fifth, eighth, and eleventh--by straight lines; the result is a square resting on a horizontal base which starts, cyclically, in the second house. This is the symbol we used for the "square aspect" between any two planets in a horoscope.

   The houses involved in this picturing are the "houses of resource," the well-springs of intense desire, feeling, love, and capacity. These four houses--and their abstractly related signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius)--include our deepest reaction-potentials. All astrological students know that there are two other squares; we call them the "cardinal" and "mutable" squares; but it is the fixed-house square that is used to portray this abstraction of "badness"--troubles and pains, sorrows, limitations, and all manner of negativism. This symbol tells us, when it relates any planets in any two signs or houses of a chart, that the present need for regeneration at those points is very great. Notice that in the square-design, when we come to the end of the lower horizontal--in the fifth house--we make a right angle, not diagonally to right or left but straight up, in order to progress further on the evolutionary path. So it is with other turnings--right angles at each corner. Thus the square aspect is seen to be uncompromising in its demands upon the consciousness; for this reason the square aspect is referred to as being the "most difficult," the "worst" or the "most evil" of planetary relationships. We are taxed most severely in our development at these points. Why?

   The horoscope, in its entirety, is a composite of the person's consciousness of cosmic principles--on his particular evolutionary level. Therefore it follows that two planets square to each other in a given chart are not "bad planets;" it simply means that the person is in a consciousness stage of relative unawareness of principle. An individual's unawareness may be very varied and this variety is shown by multiple frictional aspects to any planet in his chart: the planet may be squared by Mars and opposed by Moon, but trined by Venus and sextiled by Pluto. We are destined to experience reaction-patterns to every planet in relationship to every other planet in order to fulfill our vibrational destiny as human beings. Anything less than that would not be fulfillment.

   Because our experiences are, in the final analysis, ignited by our contacts with other people and because we project ourselves into relationships according to our consciousness it follows that unregenerate projection creates patterns of destiny that come back to us in the form of experiences of a painful or "bad" quality. We suffer through these alertings because we are made to perceive, by our reactions to other people and experiences, our own unregeneracy. The Higher Self "screams" at us: "Study this and learn from it; don't do this to another person, you've done it too often in the past; I insist that you redirect your reaction to this particular relationship or experience, because if you don't you will continue to misdirect your energy and darken your consciousness more than ever." So the pattern which registers in the horoscope as a square aspect between two planets pictures the necessity, in this incarnation, for a drastic revision of consciousness. The word "frictional" proves its value here because the fires of consciousness are ignited most intensely at these points and through pain- reaction--the brightest light is directed into the darkest corners. The Higher Self is seeking to re-establish harmonious synchronization within your consciousness by making it possible for you to realize undesirable results from the continued misdirections of your energies, and showing you the necessity for making a new turn on your path.

   The square and opposition aspects have a fascinating "common denominator." Apply the opposition symbol to the second blank wheel by using the cusps of the second and eighth houses as diameters; draw circles around these diameters which, of course, will be tangent to each other at the wheel's center. The diameters of the two small circles form, together, a diameter of the wheel itself and this diameter connects the midpoints of the second and eighth; cyclically speaking, the starting point of this symbol is the same as the starting point of the fixed square. The desire-resource of the second and eighth houses is common to both symbols, and the fundamental spiritual or occult process implied is regeneration.

   A peculiarity of the opposition aspect is that it "polarizes" the wheel. The lower point of the symbol is in the "individualistic" quadrant of the lower hemisphere; the higher point, in the eighth house, is the "extension" of the lower. The second house is "material on-going;" this is raised into its higher octave through transmutation of the desire-nature in relationship with people: the Power of Love to effect redemption of the consciousness. There must be some very important reason for the two small circles involved in this symbol to be connected by a forty-five degree diagonal rather than by a horizontal or a vertical. A horizontal is all right-and-left; a vertical is all up-and-down. However, the diagonal of this symbol is upward-and-onward--a composite of the vertical and the horizontal, the essential concept of all evolutionary processes and purposes.

   The consensus of opinion is that the opposition aspect implies a need to select one thing or the other. Some astrologers interpret this to mean that we should choose one planet to work on, even at the expense of the other. Others say we should--or must--make the effort to utilize both of the planetary vibrations at once, as best we can. The first of these approaches is plainly untenable; we cannot drop any of our astrological factors--we live with, and express, all of them through the entire course of an incarnation. The second of these approaches comes much nearer to the actual requirements of the aspect because it instructs us to utilize both planetary factors. However, the Higher Self speaks to us through the very meaning of the aspect. Are you going to express these two planets unregeneratively or regeneratively? he point is not which of the two planets but which of the two octaves of consciousness are you going to express--that which you have been in, tend to remain in, and, by now, should be emerging from, or that to which you are evolving--that which is inturning or that which is outgoing? That which is self-keeping or that which is self-evolving? That which results in the cutting-off of realization or that which opens the doors of your consciousness to awareness of beauty, truth, and goodness? This is the esoteric meaning of the opposition aspect and by it we can understand why the key-word awareness is used to identify its purposes.

   As above, so below. When the Sun and Moon come to the conjunction each 28 days a new "breath" is taken in the vibrational body of Humanity; two weeks later this "breath" is "exhaled" at the Full Moon. This action is the great rhythmic, tidal life of our occult existence and the pattern--conception and expression--is experienced by all of our vibrational organs in relationship not only to the other planets but--and this is important--also to the signs of their dignity. Just as every organ of our physical bodies has its oven pattern for growth, function, and fulfillment, so has each planet in relationship to the overall body of consciousness.

   A planet in the sign of its dignity has "returned to home base" after a tour through the zodiac; its accumulated essence, distilled from your experiences through many past incarnations, is now in full force and it is ready to start another cycle from its--and your--present evolutionary base. A planet in what we call the sign of its "detriment" is not a "bad" planet; it is half way around its own evolutionary orbit and makes the opposition aspect to the sign of its dignity--as far away from "home" as it can get. A chart containing even one planet placed in the sign of its "detriment" reveals that the person, in consciousness, is on that one point in a critical step on his present evolutionary cycle, and any frictional planetary aspects to that planet represent a taxing to the utmost of regenerative potentialities. This incarnation, with planets in detriment, is very significant because the person is going to be made aware of his inner deficiencies in a very acute way.

   If a planet in detriment registers in the present horoscope as the ruler of the chart (ruler of the sign on the Ascendant) then the criticalness of this incarnation is intensified. The ruler of the chart is our planetary symbol of I AM consciousness: in the sign of detriment-- opposite to its own dignity--the chart can really tell a story of great spiritual conflict since the frictional aspects to a "detrimented" ruler can make it possible for the person to identify himself with darkness. He may tend to interpret his own personality-potentials through his unregenerate consciousness and living in that way, he can risk a marked "back-turning" in his evolution. The regenerate aspects made by the chart ruler so placed serve to make him unconsciously turn "toward the Light" and in living by those patterns he insures an upward turning in his development, not only for this incarnation but for all that follow.

   Just as the physical birth is the result of conception and the Full Moon is the result of the lunation previous to it, so an opposition aspect between two planets is the awareness which results from a conjunction of these two planets at some time in the past incarnations of the person. There are no effects without causes and since Cosmic Pattern manifests on all planes we must realize in studying the opposition aspect that in this incarnation the person is being made aware of these two particular vibrational powers, or qualities, in his own nature in a very important and significant way. Recognize that inner tensions can be very great with even one opposition- aspect in the chart. The experience-patterns represented by the planets concerned--either by rulership or by occupancy--demand and urge the regenerate, spiritualized expression of the person's nature. Repeating the unregenerate frictional qualities will keep the person in "darkness" not only for this incarnation but perhaps for several "chapters" to come--and the testings will, in future be more and more severe.

   The criticalness of this aspect is clearly demonstrated when the opposition aspect is ignited by eclipses, progressed Moon, or progressed planetary aspects making the simultaneous square to both planets. In such a stimulation of the aspect the unregenerate residue in the person's consciousness--whatever his age may be--"comes out of the woodwork" and he experiences a testing of his regenerate capacities that can be very severe. On the other hand, when the opposition is activated by one planet being trined and the other sextiled, then whatever of regeneracy has been established can be drawn on to deal with the experience that is manifested. A "favorable" activation of the opposition aspect always implies, to a degree, a testing but "more of the best of consciousness" is more immediately available.

   In the foregoing is seen the reason why the opposition aspect is universally considered "not as bad" as the square because even if the two planets concerned have no other aspects, the pattern as a whole is activated four times by the combination of trine-sextile to the two times it is squared. Much more "elasticity" is enjoyed and the impulses to regenerate are much more numerous, in the long run.

   A happy ending: even the square or opposition aspects can be "life-savers" of great benefit when they are made by an otherwise unaspected Saturn in a chart having nothing in earth. The person in such a chart needs ballast, he needs controlling and direction, he needs channelings for his outgoing energies. Such a Saturn simply says--and this proves that the square and opposition are not essentially bad--"I will see to it that you keep your feet on the ground so that your life may be lived purposefully and constructively; you will have responsibilities to fulfill, ambitions to achieve, and qualities to regenerate and redirect; my vibration, even though it may seem to hold you down at times, is really your greatest blessing because it will keep you aligned to the streams of unfolding experience."

   Life does not punish us through our squares and oppositions; it teaches us our most needed lessons through them if we wish to learn to become aware of our needed regenerations. 

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume 4

  
First Edition

Third Printing

Rosicrucian Fellowship
Mt. Ecclesia
Oceanside, CA--92054, U.S.A.

   Foreword

   The first three volumes of this series of astrological interpretations have been received with such a warm welcome by so many astrology students that we are pleased to present Volume IV.

   Mr. Bacher's profound knowledge of and devotion to the stellar science, along with an uncanny understanding of human nature, made it possible for him to present material which undoubtedly places him among the best of modern esoteric astrologers. As the truth and value of his spiritual interpretation of astrology become more and more generally accepted, his presentations will serve increasingly to help people know themselves and fulfill their highest destiny.

   Before passing in the early 1950's Mr. Bacher expressed a keen desire to have us publish his articles in book form, and although we deeply regret that he did not live to see his publications made available to the public, we are happy in knowing that his wish is being fulfilled.

  
Introduction

   To the Rosicrucian student astrology is a phase of religion, basically a spiritual science. More than any other study it reveals man to himself. No other science is so sublime, so profound, and so all- embracing. It portrays the relation between God, the macrocosm, and man, the microcosm, showing them to be fundamentally one.

   Occult science, investigating the subtler forces that impinge upon man, the Spirit, and his vehicles, has charted their effects with no less definiteness than has academic science the reactions of sea and soil, plant and animal to the solar and lunar rays.

   With this knowledge we may determine the astrological pattern of each individual and know the relative strength and weakness of the various forces operating in each life. To the degree that we are in possession of such knowledge we can begin systematic, scientific character building--and character is destiny! We note times and seasons cosmically advantageous to unfolding undeveloped qualities, correcting faulty traits, and eliminating destructive propensities.

   The divine science of astrology reveals the hidden causes at work in our lives. It counsels the adult in regard to vocation, the parent in the guidance of children, the teacher in management of pupils, the physician in diagnosing disease, thus lending aid to each and all in whatever position they may find themselves.

   No other subject within the range of human knowledge appears to hold for this day and age the possibilities open to astrologers for helping people to their own dignity as gods-in-the-making, to a greater grasp of universal law, and to a realization that we are eternally secure within the caressing fold of Infinite Life and Boundless Being.

  
Chapter I
The "Bad" Aspects

   Time was when the writer shared with many astrological students the understanding that "square" and "opposition," being "bad" aspects meant the same thing; also that "good" aspects, the trine and sextile, were thought of as being the same. Time came when the writer realized that if "square" meant the same as "opposition," and "sextile" the same as "trine," the same symbol would be used for both pairs of aspects. It must be established in the minds of students that every symbol utilized in astrology has its own particular, unique significance and that no two symbols can really mean the same thing. There would be no point to such an approach. These symbols are picturings of profound spiritual realizations which were given to Humanity by the Great Ones ages ago.

   If the progress through the wheel from Ascendant to the twelfth house pictures cyclic evolution, the placement of the planets by sign and house, the focalizations of consciousness for expression during incarnation, then the aspects picture the mechanism of the Spirit in action-- the how of this endless expressing. The mechanical sciences require a knowledge of weights, leverages, balances and counterbalances, gravity, propulsion, and so on; in other words, the principles of how the mechanism functions to achieve a certain result. A horoscope, evolved from geometrical design, contains picturings of principles as they manifest in human incarnation as expressions of consciousness, and every symbol that is used in this particular science pictures an essence or a function of that essence.

   The dynamic approach to human psychology has proved that a "switch in viewpoint" often makes possible an immediate clarification of the cause of a problem and reveals the needed directive. We, as astrological students, have tended to crystallize our viewpoint of the square and opposition aspects and to settle, mentally, into the picture that they are the bad aspects. The words "bad" and "evil" have been a part of our mental picturing ever since we were able to interpret anything; if we are going to evolve a constructive approach to psychological astrology we must switch our viewpoint of, and attitude toward, the meanings of these particular symbols of energy expressions.

   It is a debatable point--this reference to "bad" aspects. Can people who are astrologically uninformed, and in the throes of a personal problem, really be helped, way down deep, if their minds and feelings are impressed by references to the "bad" aspects in their charts? There is no getting around it--we all have a sub-conscious, instinctive reaction to words like "bad;" they ignite our inner picturings--or memories--of ugly, distressing, frightful, and difficult experience patterns. The astrologer who says, "Oh, this is very serious--you have a bad aspect between your Saturn and Mars," risks putting his client down about five notches. There is something so ominous about such a statement that, in simple kindness and mercy, we cannot present such interpretations to people who have come to us for guidance.

   Astrologers who have become fixated in the "badness" of the square and opposition aspects are those who have not inquired into the real meaning of these symbols. By "real meaning" is meant spiritual or philosophical significance. Since we must identify these symbols in some way in order to transmit our thoughts let us switch our word-approach into something toward which the client may react more favorably.

   It is suggested that the word "frictional" be substituted for "bad." Everyone understands that "friction" means "resistance," but people are not so inclined to feel disturbed by that word. Also, as in the case of a match being frictionally rubbed, the result is an ignition which provides light and warmth. So it is with us, inside ourselves, and our square and opposition aspects. Certain levels of our consciousness "rub against" other levels; the result is an ignition of awareness through pain-reaction, which serves to point out a necessity for redirection of consciousness. Since all the planetary patterns of a horoscope are enclosed within the wheel, the picture is shown that mankind interprets experience from within--in consciousness--not from without. In other words, the source of our experience-interpretations is not in the experiences themselves but in our own center of awareness and reaction.

   Let us consider the square and opposition aspect symbols in terms of their essential, abstract picturing. Use a blank, twelve- housed wheel for each. For the square, connect the midpoints of the fixed houses--second, fifth, eighth, and eleventh--by straight lines; the result is a square resting on a horizontal base which starts, cyclically, in the second house. This is the symbol we used for the "square aspect" between any two planets in a horoscope.

   The houses involved in this picturing are the "houses of resource," the well-springs of intense desire, feeling, love, and capacity. These four houses--and their abstractly related signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius)--include our deepest reaction-potentials. All astrological students know that there are two other squares; we call them the "cardinal" and "mutable" squares; but it is the fixed-house square that is used to portray this abstraction of "badness"--troubles and pains, sorrows, limitations, and all manner of negativism. This symbol tells us, when it relates any planets in any two signs or houses of a chart, that the present need for regeneration at those points is very great. Notice that in the square-design, when we come to the end of the lower horizontal--in the fifth house--we make a right angle, not diagonally to right or left but straight up, in order to progress further on the evolutionary path. So it is with other turnings--right angles at each corner. Thus the square aspect is seen to be uncompromising in its demands upon the consciousness; for this reason the square aspect is referred to as being the "most difficult," the "worst" or the "most evil" of planetary relationships. We are taxed most severely in our development at these points. Why?

   The horoscope, in its entirety, is a composite of the person's consciousness of cosmic principles--on his particular evolutionary level. Therefore it follows that two planets square to each other in a given chart are not "bad planets;" it simply means that the person is in a consciousness stage of relative unawareness of principle. An individual's unawareness may be very varied and this variety is shown by multiple frictional aspects to any planet in his chart: the planet may be squared by Mars and opposed by Moon, but trined by Venus and sextiled by Pluto. We are destined to experience reaction-patterns to every planet in relationship to every other planet in order to fulfill our vibrational destiny as human beings. Anything less than that would not be fulfillment.

   Because our experiences are, in the final analysis, ignited by our contacts with other people and because we project ourselves into relationships according to our consciousness it follows that unregenerate projection creates patterns of destiny that come back to us in the form of experiences of a painful or "bad" quality. We suffer through these alertings because we are made to perceive, by our reactions to other people and experiences, our own unregeneracy. The Higher Self "screams" at us: "Study this and learn from it; don't do this to another person, you've done it too often in the past; I insist that you redirect your reaction to this particular relationship or experience, because if you don't you will continue to misdirect your energy and darken your consciousness more than ever." So the pattern which registers in the horoscope as a square aspect between two planets pictures the necessity, in this incarnation, for a drastic revision of consciousness. The word "frictional" proves its value here because the fires of consciousness are ignited most intensely at these points and through pain- reaction--the brightest light is directed into the darkest corners. The Higher Self is seeking to re-establish harmonious synchronization within your consciousness by making it possible for you to realize undesirable results from the continued misdirections of your energies, and showing you the necessity for making a new turn on your path.

   The square and opposition aspects have a fascinating "common denominator." Apply the opposition symbol to the second blank wheel by using the cusps of the second and eighth houses as diameters; draw circles around these diameters which, of course, will be tangent to each other at the wheel's center. The diameters of the two small circles form, together, a diameter of the wheel itself and this diameter connects the midpoints of the second and eighth; cyclically speaking, the starting point of this symbol is the same as the starting point of the fixed square. The desire-resource of the second and eighth houses is common to both symbols, and the fundamental spiritual or occult process implied is regeneration.

   A peculiarity of the opposition aspect is that it "polarizes" the wheel. The lower point of the symbol is in the "individualistic" quadrant of the lower hemisphere; the higher point, in the eighth house, is the "extension" of the lower. The second house is "material on-going;" this is raised into its higher octave through transmutation of the desire-nature in relationship with people: the Power of Love to effect redemption of the consciousness. There must be some very important reason for the two small circles involved in this symbol to be connected by a forty-five degree diagonal rather than by a horizontal or a vertical. A horizontal is all right-and-left; a vertical is all up-and-down. However, the diagonal of this symbol is upward-and-onward--a composite of the vertical and the horizontal, the essential concept of all evolutionary processes and purposes.

   The consensus of opinion is that the opposition aspect implies a need to select one thing or the other. Some astrologers interpret this to mean that we should choose one planet to work on, even at the expense of the other. Others say we should--or must--make the effort to utilize both of the planetary vibrations at once, as best we can. The first of these approaches is plainly untenable; we cannot drop any of our astrological factors--we live with, and express, all of them through the entire course of an incarnation. The second of these approaches comes much nearer to the actual requirements of the aspect because it instructs us to utilize both planetary factors. However, the Higher Self speaks to us through the very meaning of the aspect. Are you going to express these two planets unregeneratively or regeneratively? he point is not which of the two planets but which of the two octaves of consciousness are you going to express--that which you have been in, tend to remain in, and, by now, should be emerging from, or that to which you are evolving--that which is inturning or that which is outgoing? That which is self-keeping or that which is self-evolving? That which results in the cutting-off of realization or that which opens the doors of your consciousness to awareness of beauty, truth, and goodness? This is the esoteric meaning of the opposition aspect and by it we can understand why the key-word awareness is used to identify its purposes.

   As above, so below. When the Sun and Moon come to the conjunction each 28 days a new "breath" is taken in the vibrational body of Humanity; two weeks later this "breath" is "exhaled" at the Full Moon. This action is the great rhythmic, tidal life of our occult existence and the pattern--conception and expression--is experienced by all of our vibrational organs in relationship not only to the other planets but--and this is important--also to the signs of their dignity. Just as every organ of our physical bodies has its oven pattern for growth, function, and fulfillment, so has each planet in relationship to the overall body of consciousness.

   A planet in the sign of its dignity has "returned to home base" after a tour through the zodiac; its accumulated essence, distilled from your experiences through many past incarnations, is now in full force and it is ready to start another cycle from its--and your--present evolutionary base. A planet in what we call the sign of its "detriment" is not a "bad" planet; it is half way around its own evolutionary orbit and makes the opposition aspect to the sign of its dignity--as far away from "home" as it can get. A chart containing even one planet placed in the sign of its "detriment" reveals that the person, in consciousness, is on that one point in a critical step on his present evolutionary cycle, and any frictional planetary aspects to that planet represent a taxing to the utmost of regenerative potentialities. This incarnation, with planets in detriment, is very significant because the person is going to be made aware of his inner deficiencies in a very acute way.

   If a planet in detriment registers in the present horoscope as the ruler of the chart (ruler of the sign on the Ascendant) then the criticalness of this incarnation is intensified. The ruler of the chart is our planetary symbol of I AM consciousness: in the sign of detriment-- opposite to its own dignity--the chart can really tell a story of great spiritual conflict since the frictional aspects to a "detrimented" ruler can make it possible for the person to identify himself with darkness. He may tend to interpret his own personality-potentials through his unregenerate consciousness and living in that way, he can risk a marked "back-turning" in his evolution. The regenerate aspects made by the chart ruler so placed serve to make him unconsciously turn "toward the Light" and in living by those patterns he insures an upward turning in his development, not only for this incarnation but for all that follow.

   Just as the physical birth is the result of conception and the Full Moon is the result of the lunation previous to it, so an opposition aspect between two planets is the awareness which results from a conjunction of these two planets at some time in the past incarnations of the person. There are no effects without causes and since Cosmic Pattern manifests on all planes we must realize in studying the opposition aspect that in this incarnation the person is being made aware of these two particular vibrational powers, or qualities, in his own nature in a very important and significant way. Recognize that inner tensions can be very great with even one opposition- aspect in the chart. The experience-patterns represented by the planets concerned--either by rulership or by occupancy--demand and urge the regenerate, spiritualized expression of the person's nature. Repeating the unregenerate frictional qualities will keep the person in "darkness" not only for this incarnation but perhaps for several "chapters" to come--and the testings will, in future be more and more severe.

   The criticalness of this aspect is clearly demonstrated when the opposition aspect is ignited by eclipses, progressed Moon, or progressed planetary aspects making the simultaneous square to both planets. In such a stimulation of the aspect the unregenerate residue in the person's consciousness--whatever his age may be--"comes out of the woodwork" and he experiences a testing of his regenerate capacities that can be very severe. On the other hand, when the opposition is activated by one planet being trined and the other sextiled, then whatever of regeneracy has been established can be drawn on to deal with the experience that is manifested. A "favorable" activation of the opposition aspect always implies, to a degree, a testing but "more of the best of consciousness" is more immediately available.

   In the foregoing is seen the reason why the opposition aspect is universally considered "not as bad" as the square because even if the two planets concerned have no other aspects, the pattern as a whole is activated four times by the combination of trine-sextile to the two times it is squared. Much more "elasticity" is enjoyed and the impulses to regenerate are much more numerous, in the long run.

   A happy ending: even the square or opposition aspects can be "life-savers" of great benefit when they are made by an otherwise unaspected Saturn in a chart having nothing in earth. The person in such a chart needs ballast, he needs controlling and direction, he needs channelings for his outgoing energies. Such a Saturn simply says--and this proves that the square and opposition are not essentially bad--"I will see to it that you keep your feet on the ground so that your life may be lived purposefully and constructively; you will have responsibilities to fulfill, ambitions to achieve, and qualities to regenerate and redirect; my vibration, even though it may seem to hold you down at times, is really your greatest blessing because it will keep you aligned to the streams of unfolding experience."

   Life does not punish us through our squares and oppositions; it teaches us our most needed lessons through them if we wish to learn to become aware of our needed regenerations.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume 4

  
First Edition

Third Printing

Rosicrucian Fellowship
Mt. Ecclesia
Oceanside, CA--92054, U.S.A.

   Foreword

   The first three volumes of this series of astrological interpretations have been received with such a warm welcome by so many astrology students that we are pleased to present Volume IV.

   Mr. Bacher's profound knowledge of and devotion to the stellar science, along with an uncanny understanding of human nature, made it possible for him to present material which undoubtedly places him among the best of modern esoteric astrologers. As the truth and value of his spiritual interpretation of astrology become more and more generally accepted, his presentations will serve increasingly to help people know themselves and fulfill their highest destiny.

   Before passing in the early 1950's Mr. Bacher expressed a keen desire to have us publish his articles in book form, and although we deeply regret that he did not live to see his publications made available to the public, we are happy in knowing that his wish is being fulfilled.

  
Introduction

   To the Rosicrucian student astrology is a phase of religion, basically a spiritual science. More than any other study it reveals man to himself. No other science is so sublime, so profound, and so all- embracing. It portrays the relation between God, the macrocosm, and man, the microcosm, showing them to be fundamentally one.

   Occult science, investigating the subtler forces that impinge upon man, the Spirit, and his vehicles, has charted their effects with no less definiteness than has academic science the reactions of sea and soil, plant and animal to the solar and lunar rays.

   With this knowledge we may determine the astrological pattern of each individual and know the relative strength and weakness of the various forces operating in each life. To the degree that we are in possession of such knowledge we can begin systematic, scientific character building--and character is destiny! We note times and seasons cosmically advantageous to unfolding undeveloped qualities, correcting faulty traits, and eliminating destructive propensities.

   The divine science of astrology reveals the hidden causes at work in our lives. It counsels the adult in regard to vocation, the parent in the guidance of children, the teacher in management of pupils, the physician in diagnosing disease, thus lending aid to each and all in whatever position they may find themselves.

   No other subject within the range of human knowledge appears to hold for this day and age the possibilities open to astrologers for helping people to their own dignity as gods-in-the-making, to a greater grasp of universal law, and to a realization that we are eternally secure within the caressing fold of Infinite Life and Boundless Being.

  
Chapter I
The "Bad" Aspects

   Time was when the writer shared with many astrological students the understanding that "square" and "opposition," being "bad" aspects meant the same thing; also that "good" aspects, the trine and sextile, were thought of as being the same. Time came when the writer realized that if "square" meant the same as "opposition," and "sextile" the same as "trine," the same symbol would be used for both pairs of aspects. It must be established in the minds of students that every symbol utilized in astrology has its own particular, unique significance and that no two symbols can really mean the same thing. There would be no point to such an approach. These symbols are picturings of profound spiritual realizations which were given to Humanity by the Great Ones ages ago.

   If the progress through the wheel from Ascendant to the twelfth house pictures cyclic evolution, the placement of the planets by sign and house, the focalizations of consciousness for expression during incarnation, then the aspects picture the mechanism of the Spirit in action-- the how of this endless expressing. The mechanical sciences require a knowledge of weights, leverages, balances and counterbalances, gravity, propulsion, and so on; in other words, the principles of how the mechanism functions to achieve a certain result. A horoscope, evolved from geometrical design, contains picturings of principles as they manifest in human incarnation as expressions of consciousness, and every symbol that is used in this particular science pictures an essence or a function of that essence.

   The dynamic approach to human psychology has proved that a "switch in viewpoint" often makes possible an immediate clarification of the cause of a problem and reveals the needed directive. We, as astrological students, have tended to crystallize our viewpoint of the square and opposition aspects and to settle, mentally, into the picture that they are the bad aspects. The words "bad" and "evil" have been a part of our mental picturing ever since we were able to interpret anything; if we are going to evolve a constructive approach to psychological astrology we must switch our viewpoint of, and attitude toward, the meanings of these particular symbols of energy expressions.

   It is a debatable point--this reference to "bad" aspects. Can people who are astrologically uninformed, and in the throes of a personal problem, really be helped, way down deep, if their minds and feelings are impressed by references to the "bad" aspects in their charts? There is no getting around it--we all have a sub-conscious, instinctive reaction to words like "bad;" they ignite our inner picturings--or memories--of ugly, distressing, frightful, and difficult experience patterns. The astrologer who says, "Oh, this is very serious--you have a bad aspect between your Saturn and Mars," risks putting his client down about five notches. There is something so ominous about such a statement that, in simple kindness and mercy, we cannot present such interpretations to people who have come to us for guidance.

   Astrologers who have become fixated in the "badness" of the square and opposition aspects are those who have not inquired into the real meaning of these symbols. By "real meaning" is meant spiritual or philosophical significance. Since we must identify these symbols in some way in order to transmit our thoughts let us switch our word-approach into something toward which the client may react more favorably.

   It is suggested that the word "frictional" be substituted for "bad." Everyone understands that "friction" means "resistance," but people are not so inclined to feel disturbed by that word. Also, as in the case of a match being frictionally rubbed, the result is an ignition which provides light and warmth. So it is with us, inside ourselves, and our square and opposition aspects. Certain levels of our consciousness "rub against" other levels; the result is an ignition of awareness through pain-reaction, which serves to point out a necessity for redirection of consciousness. Since all the planetary patterns of a horoscope are enclosed within the wheel, the picture is shown that mankind interprets experience from within--in consciousness--not from without. In other words, the source of our experience-interpretations is not in the experiences themselves but in our own center of awareness and reaction.

   Let us consider the square and opposition aspect symbols in terms of their essential, abstract picturing. Use a blank, twelve- housed wheel for each. For the square, connect the midpoints of the fixed houses--second, fifth, eighth, and eleventh--by straight lines; the result is a square resting on a horizontal base which starts, cyclically, in the second house. This is the symbol we used for the "square aspect" between any two planets in a horoscope.

   The houses involved in this picturing are the "houses of resource," the well-springs of intense desire, feeling, love, and capacity. These four houses--and their abstractly related signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius)--include our deepest reaction-potentials. All astrological students know that there are two other squares; we call them the "cardinal" and "mutable" squares; but it is the fixed-house square that is used to portray this abstraction of "badness"--troubles and pains, sorrows, limitations, and all manner of negativism. This symbol tells us, when it relates any planets in any two signs or houses of a chart, that the present need for regeneration at those points is very great. Notice that in the square-design, when we come to the end of the lower horizontal--in the fifth house--we make a right angle, not diagonally to right or left but straight up, in order to progress further on the evolutionary path. So it is with other turnings--right angles at each corner. Thus the square aspect is seen to be uncompromising in its demands upon the consciousness; for this reason the square aspect is referred to as being the "most difficult," the "worst" or the "most evil" of planetary relationships. We are taxed most severely in our development at these points. Why?

   The horoscope, in its entirety, is a composite of the person's consciousness of cosmic principles--on his particular evolutionary level. Therefore it follows that two planets square to each other in a given chart are not "bad planets;" it simply means that the person is in a consciousness stage of relative unawareness of principle. An individual's unawareness may be very varied and this variety is shown by multiple frictional aspects to any planet in his chart: the planet may be squared by Mars and opposed by Moon, but trined by Venus and sextiled by Pluto. We are destined to experience reaction-patterns to every planet in relationship to every other planet in order to fulfill our vibrational destiny as human beings. Anything less than that would not be fulfillment.

   Because our experiences are, in the final analysis, ignited by our contacts with other people and because we project ourselves into relationships according to our consciousness it follows that unregenerate projection creates patterns of destiny that come back to us in the form of experiences of a painful or "bad" quality. We suffer through these alertings because we are made to perceive, by our reactions to other people and experiences, our own unregeneracy. The Higher Self "screams" at us: "Study this and learn from it; don't do this to another person, you've done it too often in the past; I insist that you redirect your reaction to this particular relationship or experience, because if you don't you will continue to misdirect your energy and darken your consciousness more than ever." So the pattern which registers in the horoscope as a square aspect between two planets pictures the necessity, in this incarnation, for a drastic revision of consciousness. The word "frictional" proves its value here because the fires of consciousness are ignited most intensely at these points and through pain- reaction--the brightest light is directed into the darkest corners. The Higher Self is seeking to re-establish harmonious synchronization within your consciousness by making it possible for you to realize undesirable results from the continued misdirections of your energies, and showing you the necessity for making a new turn on your path.

   The square and opposition aspects have a fascinating "common denominator." Apply the opposition symbol to the second blank wheel by using the cusps of the second and eighth houses as diameters; draw circles around these diameters which, of course, will be tangent to each other at the wheel's center. The diameters of the two small circles form, together, a diameter of the wheel itself and this diameter connects the midpoints of the second and eighth; cyclically speaking, the starting point of this symbol is the same as the starting point of the fixed square. The desire-resource of the second and eighth houses is common to both symbols, and the fundamental spiritual or occult process implied is regeneration.

   A peculiarity of the opposition aspect is that it "polarizes" the wheel. The lower point of the symbol is in the "individualistic" quadrant of the lower hemisphere; the higher point, in the eighth house, is the "extension" of the lower. The second house is "material on-going;" this is raised into its higher octave through transmutation of the desire-nature in relationship with people: the Power of Love to effect redemption of the consciousness. There must be some very important reason for the two small circles involved in this symbol to be connected by a forty-five degree diagonal rather than by a horizontal or a vertical. A horizontal is all right-and-left; a vertical is all up-and-down. However, the diagonal of this symbol is upward-and-onward--a composite of the vertical and the horizontal, the essential concept of all evolutionary processes and purposes.

   The consensus of opinion is that the opposition aspect implies a need to select one thing or the other. Some astrologers interpret this to mean that we should choose one planet to work on, even at the expense of the other. Others say we should--or must--make the effort to utilize both of the planetary vibrations at once, as best we can. The first of these approaches is plainly untenable; we cannot drop any of our astrological factors--we live with, and express, all of them through the entire course of an incarnation. The second of these approaches comes much nearer to the actual requirements of the aspect because it instructs us to utilize both planetary factors. However, the Higher Self speaks to us through the very meaning of the aspect. Are you going to express these two planets unregeneratively or regeneratively? he point is not which of the two planets but which of the two octaves of consciousness are you going to express--that which you have been in, tend to remain in, and, by now, should be emerging from, or that to which you are evolving--that which is inturning or that which is outgoing? That which is self-keeping or that which is self-evolving? That which results in the cutting-off of realization or that which opens the doors of your consciousness to awareness of beauty, truth, and goodness? This is the esoteric meaning of the opposition aspect and by it we can understand why the key-word awareness is used to identify its purposes.

   As above, so below. When the Sun and Moon come to the conjunction each 28 days a new "breath" is taken in the vibrational body of Humanity; two weeks later this "breath" is "exhaled" at the Full Moon. This action is the great rhythmic, tidal life of our occult existence and the pattern--conception and expression--is experienced by all of our vibrational organs in relationship not only to the other planets but--and this is important--also to the signs of their dignity. Just as every organ of our physical bodies has its oven pattern for growth, function, and fulfillment, so has each planet in relationship to the overall body of consciousness.

   A planet in the sign of its dignity has "returned to home base" after a tour through the zodiac; its accumulated essence, distilled from your experiences through many past incarnations, is now in full force and it is ready to start another cycle from its--and your--present evolutionary base. A planet in what we call the sign of its "detriment" is not a "bad" planet; it is half way around its own evolutionary orbit and makes the opposition aspect to the sign of its dignity--as far away from "home" as it can get. A chart containing even one planet placed in the sign of its "detriment" reveals that the person, in consciousness, is on that one point in a critical step on his present evolutionary cycle, and any frictional planetary aspects to that planet represent a taxing to the utmost of regenerative potentialities. This incarnation, with planets in detriment, is very significant because the person is going to be made aware of his inner deficiencies in a very acute way.

   If a planet in detriment registers in the present horoscope as the ruler of the chart (ruler of the sign on the Ascendant) then the criticalness of this incarnation is intensified. The ruler of the chart is our planetary symbol of I AM consciousness: in the sign of detriment-- opposite to its own dignity--the chart can really tell a story of great spiritual conflict since the frictional aspects to a "detrimented" ruler can make it possible for the person to identify himself with darkness. He may tend to interpret his own personality-potentials through his unregenerate consciousness and living in that way, he can risk a marked "back-turning" in his evolution. The regenerate aspects made by the chart ruler so placed serve to make him unconsciously turn "toward the Light" and in living by those patterns he insures an upward turning in his development, not only for this incarnation but for all that follow.

   Just as the physical birth is the result of conception and the Full Moon is the result of the lunation previous to it, so an opposition aspect between two planets is the awareness which results from a conjunction of these two planets at some time in the past incarnations of the person. There are no effects without causes and since Cosmic Pattern manifests on all planes we must realize in studying the opposition aspect that in this incarnation the person is being made aware of these two particular vibrational powers, or qualities, in his own nature in a very important and significant way. Recognize that inner tensions can be very great with even one opposition- aspect in the chart. The experience-patterns represented by the planets concerned--either by rulership or by occupancy--demand and urge the regenerate, spiritualized expression of the person's nature. Repeating the unregenerate frictional qualities will keep the person in "darkness" not only for this incarnation but perhaps for several "chapters" to come--and the testings will, in future be more and more severe.

   The criticalness of this aspect is clearly demonstrated when the opposition aspect is ignited by eclipses, progressed Moon, or progressed planetary aspects making the simultaneous square to both planets. In such a stimulation of the aspect the unregenerate residue in the person's consciousness--whatever his age may be--"comes out of the woodwork" and he experiences a testing of his regenerate capacities that can be very severe. On the other hand, when the opposition is activated by one planet being trined and the other sextiled, then whatever of regeneracy has been established can be drawn on to deal with the experience that is manifested. A "favorable" activation of the opposition aspect always implies, to a degree, a testing but "more of the best of consciousness" is more immediately available.

   In the foregoing is seen the reason why the opposition aspect is universally considered "not as bad" as the square because even if the two planets concerned have no other aspects, the pattern as a whole is activated four times by the combination of trine-sextile to the two times it is squared. Much more "elasticity" is enjoyed and the impulses to regenerate are much more numerous, in the long run.

   A happy ending: even the square or opposition aspects can be "life-savers" of great benefit when they are made by an otherwise unaspected Saturn in a chart having nothing in earth. The person in such a chart needs ballast, he needs controlling and direction, he needs channelings for his outgoing energies. Such a Saturn simply says--and this proves that the square and opposition are not essentially bad--"I will see to it that you keep your feet on the ground so that your life may be lived purposefully and constructively; you will have responsibilities to fulfill, ambitions to achieve, and qualities to regenerate and redirect; my vibration, even though it may seem to hold you down at times, is really your greatest blessing because it will keep you aligned to the streams of unfolding experience."

   Life does not punish us through our squares and oppositions; it teaches us our most needed lessons through them if we wish to learn to become aware of our needed regenerations. 

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume IV
Chapter II
The "Good" Aspects

   The function of the sextile and trine aspects is to reveal relative degrees of the regenerate consciousness of humanity. They are our points of enlightenment; our "urgings toward greater Good" (sextile) and "realization of unfolded Good" (trine). The sextile is the process by which the trine is created.

   The philosophically minded astrologer never thinks of or refers to the sextile and the trine as "lucky" aspects because he knows that every factor in a horoscope is an effect of a specific cause; the original cause was, of course, an expression--in action--of a particular level of consciousness in the past. He recognizes that every sextile in a chart out- pictures a certain work of regeneration which, started in the past, was brought to such a point of efficiency that it now registers as a dynamo for the releasement of further and greater regenerative power in this incarnation. He recognizes that every trine is a registration of equilibriated relationship between two planetary factors; a trine is always a result of regeneration of consciousness--it is never a fortunate "accident of heredity" in any way or on any level of development.

   By many, the sextile aspect is considered a "minor" or "small" aspect; perhaps this interpretation is made because the aspect involves only sixty degrees--half a trine. When we study the sextile symbol we are alerted to the fact that the sextile is as "major" as any other aspect; when we recognize its significance as a picturing of the dynamic phases of evolution we realize that it is one of the most important of all astrological symbols and is one by which the astrologer, in understanding it, can render great service to those who are seeking greater awareness of their own source of Light.

   The essential geometric form of the sextile aspect symbol is the hexagonal--a figure of six equal sides which rests, as do the square and trine symbols, on a horizontal base. The cyclic starting points of the square and trine are the midpoint and the cusp of the second house, respectively; the sextile "starts" at the Ascendant--the first factor which reveals the essential dynamic quality and significance of the aspect. As with the trine, progress around the hexagonal is made by diagonals at the turning points; a diagonal composite of horizontal and vertical implies an abstraction of "upward and onward forever"--the symbol of spiritualized evolution.

   The first diagonal of the hexagon cuts across the first and second houses and establishes contact with the cusp of the third house. In other words, it takes a short cut across the desire potential of the second house and directly connects the "I AM" of the Ascendant with the "I Think" of the third house. Following around the hexagon we see that the other five lines cut across the houses which are abstractly related to the earth and water signs and that the entire symbol has, as its structure points, the houses related to the fire-signs (Spirit) and the air signs (Mind). (These houses are also identifiable as the two pairs of "parallel relationship"-- first and seventh, third and ninth--plus the two houses of Love power potential--the fifth, and its spiritualized polarity, the eleventh.) The symbol tells us that the sextile aspect represents the dynamic, positive, propelling agencies of the human consciousness--it cuts through the levels of desire and instinct--pulling into expression those factors of consciousness which neutralize the miasmas in the subconscious resources of intense feeling.

   The square and trine symbols are "enclosed," representing a stage of consciousness in which something definite has been arrived at. The square is unregeneracy which has become "lockjawed"--it must be pried loose by regenerative agencies so that evolution can be continued; the trine is a specific level of flowering--a level of inner synchronization and equilibrium. It will, in due time, be decrystallized just as a flower is decrystallized in its own timing so that the new life processes of the plant may be inaugurated. The two planets involved in trine aspect to each other are destined to come into trine relationship with other planets in the future, so the "static" quality of their present relationship will, in right timing, become subject to evolutionary forces for the creation of new patterns of experience out of which new trines may result.

   In human experience we see this decrystallization of trines represented when we consider that those things which represent happiness, harmony, and contentment to a child of six do not bring satisfaction to a man of forty. That which may represent a flowering of culture to an aborigine in the jungle may appear as child's play to a person who is manifesting as a member of a truly cultured society. "Any planet trine to any other planet" represents, essentially, a flowering of consciousness; but, the manifestations of trines are relative to evolutionary development.

   When we consider the sextile symbol we are looking at a picture of "lines of force." This symbol is, unlike the other aspect symbols, open--a picture of radiations from a center. Since it is open there is an implication of indefiniteness of shape. It is in fact, process at work rather than thing accomplished. The six lines--cusps of the fire and air houses--represent the charging of new light and warmth from the center; not the center itself but that which emanates from it.

   The sextile aspect is the principle of leverage and counter-thrust. It has to have something to work against and, in reference to levels of human consciousness, the thing it works against is always a state of unregeneracy. We cannot remain in a specific or composite level indefinitely; to do so would be to insure stagnation. (Translate "stagnation" to mean "death.") The sextile aspect then is the mechanism by which Cosmic Progress expresses through us for decrystallization of congestion and makes possible the great alchemical changes of transmutation and regenerated releasement of potentials.

   Two planets in square aspect to each other depict a state of inertia through unregeneracy; these forces must, if Life is to express progressively through the person, be decrystallized so that the soul energies may be redistributed and thus make possible an eventual harmonious relationship as trine. A planet which sextiles one of two squared planets is the alchemical agency--counter-thrusting against the inertia of the square. The vibrational exchange between that planet and the one it sextiles is the de crystallizing potential for re-directing the energies of the squared planet. It is like a chemical which, when put into water, softens the water so that the work of cleansing is made easier and more thorough, or the liquid which loosens up the grease in a drain pipe so that the drain may more efficiently dispose of the waste water. When the two planets of an opposition aspect are, respectively, trined and sextiled by a third planet, the sextiled planet is the one that is being worked on by the regenerating agency. If you have occasion to study a chart one planet of which registers only by the sextile aspect to other planets, give very careful attention to that planet; on its cultivation depends much of the person's spiritual on-going; such a planet provides a very significant counter-thrust against much that may represent unregeneracy.

   Two planets registering as an otherwise unaspected sextile tell the story that, in their evolutionary inter-relationship, these two have been allowed to get off to a good start--an indication of direct awareness of regenerative expression and a fair promise that flowering into trine relationship is not too far in the future. However, the regenerative work must be expressed continually to make this flowering possible; complications by unregenerate patterns can result in a "gumming up of the works." Help such a client to understand the principles of two such planets so that he will know how to put to work these particular expressions of his consciousness as neutralizers for other vibrations of an unregenerate kind, and to develop their potentials in relationship to each other. We must give very careful study to the sextiles and semi-sextiles that we find in any chart; we recognize that they are the workings of the regenerate consciousness to decrystallize and redistribute energy-patterns which have become stagnated in unregeneracy.

   The symbol for the trine aspect, when related to the abstract wheel, coincides with the cusps of the second, sixth, and tenth houses--an equilateral triangle resting on a horizontal base. Symmetrical as is the water-trine, the Earth trine also represents, by its horizontal base, a peacefulness--a "perfect resting." In this symbol we see the human consciousness enjoying the fruits of constructive effort; after a phase of redirection has been made, the full flowering of the experience is realized and enjoyed--either at points during an incarnation or during a cycle of incarnation.

   Some astrologers co-relate the symbol for the trine aspect with the essential meaning of the planet Jupiter--due, it may be supposed, to the "happiness" or "good fortune" by which they identify that benevolent vibration. Actually, such an interpretation does not coincide with the meaning of the trine. Jupiter, with all due respect to his manifold virtues, is a dynamic vibration; the trine is equilibriated, poised, an indication of inner harmony, a flowering of spiritualized consciousness, an awareness of the Higher Self--all the results of transmutative efforts.

   Apply the horizontally-based triangle to the twelve- housed wheel and perceive that, cyclically, it starts at the cusp of the second house; it travels across to the cusp of the sixth house, then directly to the cusp of the tenth. The wheel is the picturing of the evolution of human consciousness through experience patterns so the inner meaning of the trine must be found in consideration of the houses that it abstractly represents, and from that may be deduced the planetary vibration to which it most closely corresponds. Since the trine represents regenerated result let us apply regenerate key-words to the three houses involved:

   Second House: "possession and desire for possession" has been transmuted into consciousness of right exchange of money and materials, perfect stewardship and the resultant regeneration of relationships, between people who have learned to direct finance-exchange through right feeling toward each other.

   Sixth house: the consciousness of "Labor" is regenerated into an expression of Love-Service as a releasement of fifth-house potentials; as an extension of regenerated second house, people who work and people who are worked for are in sympathetic and equilibriated relationship to each other; exchange in money and commodities is balanced by exchange in work- value; the right consciousness of money-exchange correlates with the best expression of work potential. "Capital versus Labor" is transmuted into "Capital and Labor" harmoniously integrated as a base--the horizontal line--for the vertical structure to the third point which is:

   The tenth house: the achievement of a perfected Society, including and enclosing the best expressions of all classes and evolutionary levels of humanity. Since the earth-houses succeed the fire- houses, the picture is shown that perfected society is a manifestation of the powers of self-awareness, love and wisdom of all people. The single trine aspect in an individual horoscope represents an attained awareness of some level or phase, of right relationship of the individual to the world at large; the symbol itself, as an abstraction of the Great Horoscope, represents the spiritual, cultural, and economic flowerings of humanity, as an entity, on its evolutionary Path.

   Civilizations rise, flower, and fall; individuals rise to, pass through, and transcend "points of rest" in their individual experience but the trine symbol is the apex, the "perfected achievement"--the blossoming of the best in individual or collective consciousness. Its planetary correlative is not Jupiter but Venus, the arch-symbol of the feminine essence of consciousness--Harmony, Love, and Beauty distilled from the strivings and growings of all people; honey distilled from the nectar of flowers; the perfection of line, structure, and color of the cultivated human body; the gleam and sparkle of meticulously cut jewelry: culture that represents the best of mankind's realizations.

   Through your trine aspects you are aware of your God- consciousness--you are "in tune" with your best: the amplitude, beauty, and harmony of your outer conditions are the reflections of your regenerated consciousness. Do more than just enjoy your trines--share them with all people you contact by keeping your "trined consciousness" alive and expressive always. In this way you not only share your treasures but, by the power of sympathetic vibrations, you "ignite" other people to a greater awareness of their inner Good, and thereby stimulate the good aspects in their charts.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume IV
Chapter III
The T-Cross and Grand Cross Aspects

   These two aspect-patterns are regarded by many astrological readers with feelings of considerable negative concern for the persons represented by the charts. It is true that life-lessons of grave import and evolutionary significance are indicated by these patterns. It is just as true that the astrological reader must learn to regard them impersonally and unemotionally, with philosophic calm, if he is to interpret them in a serviceable way.

   Any mode of astrological reading that tends to emphasize the interpretation of experience as being actual evil, misfortune, calamity, or tragedy cannot be truly enlightening; yet this kind of approach occupies the minds of many readers when they seek to interpret even a single- square aspect. Hence the fusion of opposition-aspect with multiple squares, as is depicted by both the T-Cross and Grand Cross, represents to them "something awful raised to the umpteenth degree," an implication of a quality of karma so terrible as to be almost--or actually--beyond hope of resolution during the entire scope of the present lifetime.

   In all justice, we astro-readers must make ourselves more cognizant and recognizant of the foundational Principles of Life so that, when we are called upon to read charts which contain these multiple tension-patterns, we can exercise correct perception and thereby further enlightenment, rather than exercise ignorance and fear and thereby increase distress and hopelessness in the consciousness of the persons concerned. These complex aspects can be viewed from many standpoints of Principle which reveal secrets of destiny as indications of evolutionary placement and progress. Our responsibility and service are focalized on the expansion of perception of principle.

   For pursuance of this material, it is suggested that you prepare several copies of the twelve-housed wheel with the zodiacal signs arranged in sequence from Aries as Ascendant-sign; also a listing of the zodiacal signs according to the "Crosses," as follows:

   Cardinal: Aries and Libra, Capricorn and Cancer; Fixed: Leo and Aquarius, Taurus and Scorpio; Mutable: Sagittarius and Gemini, Virgo and Pisces.

   The clockwise sequence of adjoining squares for each sign: Aries: Cancer and Capricorn; Libra: Capricorn and Cancer; Capricorn: Aries and Libra; Cancer: Libra and Aries; Leo: Scorpio and Taurus; Aquarius: Taurus and Scorpio; Taurus: Leo and Aquarius; Scorpio. Aquarius and Leo; Sagittarius: Pisces and Virgo; Gemini: Virgo and Pisces; Virgo: Sagittarius and Gemini; Pisces: Gemini and Sagittarius.

   Consideration of "planetary scope:" the minimum planetary scope of the T-Cross is three planetary points, two of which are in opposition to each other, both being squared by the third. The minimum planetary scope of the Grand-Cross is four planetary points, patterned as two pairs of oppositions forming a sequence of four square aspects. The maximum scope of both is all ten planetary points which maybe inter-related by close orb or by "extended" orb. In the case of many T-Cross and Grand-Cross aspects, of four or more planets, the numerical difference between the first planet which applies to the aspect and the last one may be as high as twelve or thirteen degrees; the extension of orb is valid because the planets are inter- related in the same aspect.

   Consideration of aspect-quality: The T-Cross and Grand-Cross aspects may be thought of as "pure" if their planetary points all occupy signs of the same cross--cardinal, fixed, or mutable; they are "mixed" if the planets, though in valid numerical orb, occupy signs representing a mixture of crosses. A few examples:

   T-Cross, minimum, pure: Venus in 9 Leo opposition Jupiter in 9 Aquarius, both squared by Moon in Taurus (or Scorpio).

   T-Cross, minimum, mixed: Venus in 26 Leo opposition Jupiter in 28 Aquarius, both squared by Moon in 2 Sagittarius (or Gemini); Venus and Jupiter are in fixed signs, Moon is in mutable.

   T-Cross, multiple (four to nine points), pure: Saturn 6 Libra, Jupiter 9 Aries, Uranus 14 Cancer, Neptune 17 Libra; the aspect-orb, from Saturn to Neptune is eleven degrees.

   T-Cross, multiple, mixed: Pluto 28 Gemini, Mars 3 Capricorn, Venus 2 Aries, Moon 8 Aries: aspect-orb is ten degrees, Pluto in mutable, the others in cardinal.

   Grand-Cross, minimum, pure: Sun 4 Pisces, Uranus 2 Virgo, Moon 7 Sagittarius, Jupiter 1 Gemini--close orb throughout, mutable signs.

   Grand-Cross, multiple (nine-point) mixed: Uranus 22 Capricorn, Moon 23 Cancer, Neptune 24 Cancer, Mercury 19 Libra, Mars 21 Libra, Venus 22 Libra, Jupiter 26 Libra, Sun 2 Scorpio, Saturn 3 Taurus; aspect-orb is 14 degrees, Mercury to Saturn; mixture of cardinal-fixed.

   Experimentation with varieties of T-Cross and Grand-Cross patterns-also using various signs as Ascendants-will develop fluency in recognition of them in the study of charts. Start with "minimum- pure" ones and progress, by expansion, into more complex and varied ones.

   Regarding the understanding of the reasons for, and purposes of the T-Cross and Grand-Cross aspects, keep always in mind this statement of Life-Principle: Release of power depends upon, and is succeedent to, focalization of power. For example, release of power in activity is focalized by Will to fulfill Purpose, release of power as Love is focalized by relationship-contact and the resultant ignition of individual or mutual consciousness-of-Love; release of power as Teaching is focalized by the need of the teacher to give expression to what he has learned and the need of the student to what is expressed. This Principle may be perceived by the discerning person in every aspect of life and experience. and on all planes of functioning.

   The almost ominous implication of difficulty delineated by the T-Cross and Grand-Cross aspects has its resources in the fact that it pictures an internal or subjective, method of much needed focalization for correction of wasteful tendencies practiced through several past lives. In other words, these patterns picture a karmically conditioned gathering of forces which tell the astrological reader that those Principles that govern human destiny will not permit the person concerned--he who is represented by the chart--to continue with a program of relative wastefulness in attitude and activity. The present incarnation is thereby represented as the karmically timed opportunity, through a relative limitation of scope, to bring order into consciousness by a focus on concentrated experience. Charts which contain the T-Cross and Grand-Cross aspects portray life-patterns which always reveal a certain "circumscribing" or "fencing in" of experience in specialized ways; many, many years or, in some cases, an entire lifetime are utilized to experience personal application to some particular phase of activity, relationship, or problem. To the degree that the person can under- stand and agree with the necessity for that phase, as opportunity for discipline, training integration, or redemption, will he make use of his T- Cross or Grand-Cross pattern.

   But, to the degree that he continues to resist, resent and rebel against it will he continue to intensify the difficulties implied in the "circumscribing" quality of the experience. We must keep in mind that no planetary aspect has frustration or limitation as its purpose. It is we who have created the present feeling of frustration in not having walked with our experience in a balanced way in the past.

   To bring order out of the chaos we created, Life institutes. by the Principle of Polarity counteractive measures in the form of focalizing and concentrating us in more and specialized ways so that by repetitious and continuous application we are enabled to engender processes of unconscious or conscious alchemy; to overcome weakness by developing strength, to dispel ignorance by garnering knowledge and understanding, to polish and refine the crudities of past unregeneracies and thereby distil the consciousness of soulic and spiritual power. We set the measures and pace of our unfoldment but the Forces and Principles of Life, as portrayed in our planetary aspect-patterns, provide the substance of our unfoldment-processes in environments, relationships, and activities in which and through which we are concentrated and focalized for specific phases of fulfillment and growth.

   From the objective viewpoint, the astro-reader in studying the registration of a T-Cross or a Grand-Cross sees a portrait of a human who regard his "Cross-experiences" from one of three principal levels: (1) helpless, hopeless endurance; (2) antagonism, angry resistance and friction; (3) making constructive use of the experience to gain training, refinement, and growth. This is offered as a clue toward the synthesis of the spiritual values of the chart-depending on which one of these three views is held by the person will the astro-reader know how best to approach the interpretative presentation of the tension-patterns.

   One of the most important points in the study of the T-Cross is found in thinking of it as a combination of lines of force. In imagination, place yourself at the center of a copy of the Great Mandala; around your waist are looped three ropes the ends of which are in the hands of three people who stand at the Aries cusp, the Libra cusp, and the Cancer Cusp; these three people are trying to pull you toward them--away from your position at the center; you are trying to keep your position and, to do so, you must resist all three directions of pull. Aries and Libra, opposite each other, represent the opposition aspect of the T-Cross; Cancer square to both of them, is the "apex" of the T-Cross; if the Cancer person dropped his rope then the tug-of-war would be only between Aries and Libra, but as long as Cancer also tries to pull you, you have to try to counteract his pull. You do so by exerting your counter-force in the direction of--what would be--the Capricorn-point opposite Cancer.

   Therefore, the point opposite to the apex of the T-Cross is as important to study as any of the three occupied points because that fourth point represents, spiritually and psychologically speaking, the quality which you must exercise and develop when the conflicts and frictions represented by the three points of the T-Cross threaten to pull you away from your center It represents spiritual qualities and powers which your Higher Self is seeking to make you aware of in order to develop internal balance and integration. In the study of any chart containing a T-Cross pattern give careful thought to the Sign opposite the apex and the conditions indicated by its planetary ruler. In the study of timings (major transits, progressions, etc. ) watch carefully for those periods when the activations will go over the Point opposite the apex- these timings always bring very significant opportunities-through testing-for maintaining and developing internal poise and serenity by spiritually polarizing the negative tendencies stirred up by the stimulus to the T-Cross planets.

   Planets are people: the patterns and tendencies of your consciousness are stimulated or ignited by your contacts with other people-- this ignition makes possible what we call experience. Among the most important people in the life of one who has a T-Cross in his natal chart are those who have planetary points in the sign opposite to the apex-planet of the T-Cross. Their planet--or planets-may be unregeneratively, regeneratively, or variably aspected, but in any ease in some degree, they represent that which the T-Cross person is seeking to find within himself for greater psychological and spiritual integrity. If the other person 's corresponding quality is unregenerate, he will be a very significant tester to the T-Cross person; if regenerate, he will be--potentially at least--a helper, an inspirer, a good example, an ideal. If his quality is variable, then study the most pronounced tendency by timing the meeting of the two persons; try to determine whether the unregenerate or the regenerate quality or tendency was most in effect when the people concerned initiated their relationship to each other. You may find that the best tendencies of the variable person were being stimulated at that time, indicating that his purpose in the experience of the T-Cross person is basically uplifting and helpful. To put to use the spiritual power or quality indicated by the sign opposite the apex of a T-Cross is creative white magic because it represents a very high degree of spiritual alchemy in consciousness.

   For the study and analysis of a Grand-Cross, the suggestion is offered that you make a separate mandala of it and study it apart from the natal chart at first, keeping in mind that the lines of force from the center of the horoscope, or the mandala, indicate two oppositions which polarize each other and four squares which inter-act upon each other. Then for clarity and elimination of confusion of thought, create a mandala for each of the planets in the Grand-Cross which will include all the natal aspects which include the particular planet. In this way you can dissect all the evidences of alchemistry and a regenerative potential that may be used by the person to gain spiritual growth from the experiences indicated by the Grand-Cross. A Grand-Cross is really a little horoscope within the natal--a concentration of the forces of consciousness which, if used constructively and creatively, can make the present incarnation a very important upward step on the evolutionary spiral. Its basic key-word might be stated: evolutionarily necessary concentration of consciousness and abilities for constructive use. The evil implied by the Grand-Cross is by individual interpretation only; its purpose is to further the individual's good through focalization.

   In conclusion there are a few special approaches which should be taken into consideration. Increased awareness or the powers of faith in spiritual law and patience--the right use of Time-will be particularly helpful to the person who has Saturn configurated in a T-Cross or Grand-Cross; he must be encouraged to practice the spiritually constructive, long-range view-point toward his experiences because his needs for the indicated discipline are especially urgent for his life-time.

   If the Moon is configurated in either of these aspect-patterns, then scientific knowledge concerning the purpose and action of the instinctual mind will be particularly helpful; because this person has undertaken a big assignment, for this life-time, in clearing negative residues from past lives. If the planetary Ascendant ruler is configurated, the evidence is shown that the person will experience considerable re-focalization through physical difficulties and information concerning the occult or spiritual co-relations of Law with physical Conditions may prove the answer to his greatest evolutionary need. If Uranus is a factor, then exercise in intelligent adjustment to changes is indicated as a part of the spiritual assignment-- especially if Uranus is squared or opposed by Saturn and Saturn has the predominant influence in the chart generally. The inclusion of Jupiter in these patterns indicates that sincerity of motivation is to be exercised to neutralize or alchemicalize tendencies of false pride and unfruitful compensations. Mercury's inclusion indicates that mental discipline and Clarification is to be distilled from the concentration of experience as well as improvement in methods of communication. The Sun's inclusion in these patterns is especially significant; the basic purpose of the concentration of experience is to--evolutionarily--turn the attention of the person God-ward, to realize his true Source of Life and Being.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume IV
Chapter IV
The Trine and Grand-Trine Aspects

   The Trine and Grand-Trine have regenerate correspondence, respectively, to the T-Cross and Grand-Cross Aspects. The lines connecting the three planetary points of a minimum T-Cross form a triangle, and each diameter of the square formed by the connecting lines of a Grand-Cross cuts the square into two triangles. The occult difference between the two types is that in the Cross-aspects, the principal structural angle is the right-angle of exactly or approximately ninety degrees which depicts the tension, resistance, congestion, and gravitational pull of the Square aspect. Lines from the center of a horoscopical circle which touch the circumference at three points representing planets which are exactly in Grand-Trine aspect to each other, form three angles of 120 degrees at the circle 's center. Any line connecting two of these planetary points to each other is one of the three sides of an equilateral triangle, identifying the relationship of the two planets to each other as being in Trine aspect. The spiritualized essence of Trine aspects is pictorially revealed in the fact that the three angles of a Grand-Trine are each sixty degrees--the numerical value of the Sextile aspect. Since the Grand-Trine is an enclosed figure, its design and angle- quality reveal that it is a result, in consciousness of previous sextilic exercises in regeneration and alchemy. The center-angle formed by two radii connected to planetary points that are Trine to each other is 120 degrees, the sum of two sextiles. The single trine is not enclosed, but it indicates a stage of relative equilibrium having been attained by the person who is now, possibly, in the process of creating a Grand-Trine. The single Trine is evolutionary flowering, the Grand-Trine is evolutionary fruitage.

   We must keep in mind that the Trine and Grand- Trine aspects portray regenerated consciousness of those pure essences of Spirit represented by the planets concerned, each of which is a specialized unit for expression and reaction. It is the realization of Spirit that defines our evolutionary goal through experience in the sequence of incarnations. The presence of a Trine or Grand-Trine in a natal horoscope is evidence of relative attainment of realization-of-Spirit on the present cycle of evolution. By "Spirit" is here meant the Divine attributes of Power, Love and Truth which, synthesized in the word "God," indicate the state of pure being. Regardless of aspect-patterns, any planetary point can be studied in terms of its Sign-rulership, House-rulership, Sign-occupancy and House-occupancy; these four factors indicate the basic "blue-print" of the evolutionary life- assignment in terms of the planet's principles and potencies for expression and reaction. However, when the planet is related to another planet by the Trine-aspect, then the indication is given that the person has developed a facet of his nature and abilities through conscious regeneration in past lives and the aspect now portrays a relatively evolved realization of Spirit which is to be used in the present life to alchemicalize other factors of the personality and to contribute to the spiritual on-going of humanity. The attainment, by realization, of Power brings the responsibility to use it rightly and creatively. By the law of magnetic attraction, the person who has a Trine aspect in his chart will of course attract into his experience those refinements, abundances, harmonizations and happinesses which are consistent with the mode of his realized consciousness of Good (God, Spirit). But that which the Trine represents as internal integrity, spiritual autonomy, evolvement of capacity, and attainment of ability must be kept in use for further regeneration. If it is only "taken from," it will be depleted; the negative and congestive tendencies in personality will thereby gain proportionate ascendancy in consciousness.

   No one can know how many lives were utilized in which effort was made that now is indicated, as result, by the Trine aspect in a natal chart. Therefore, if your chart contains even one Trine aspect know that you applied yourself for perhaps a longtime through specialized development and training in Action and in the subjective realm of Thought. That time and effort should not be wasted in the present life by allowing those powers of consciousness to "provide only pleasure and ease." They have been attained, as anything is attained, for use. In the use of Trine-qualities and Trine-powers we can resolve much of our karma that is heavy and dark and serve thereby to further the en-light-enment of any with whom we come in contact and, occultly, with Humanity at large. As we utilize and express our Trine-abilities we induce, by the inspiration of example, the incentive to spiritual efforts on the part of others who may be walking on our phase of the Path. This is not for our personal self-glorification, but that we may use our earned privileges to be channels for power as love and truth.

   Just as no human lives "unto himself alone," so a Trine-aspect is significant to a chart not only by regard to its particular planetary factors and Sign-House placement but in correlation with every other chart-factor. Some students reveal the interpretative view-point that, because a chart contains a Trine or a Grand-Trine, "everything will turn out all right." This viewpoint ignores the evaluation of the aspect by synthesis with the whole chart. Let us consider the correlative possibilities: either planetary point of a Trine aspect may have:

   No other aspect; one of the other possible aspects; several aspects of tension and congestion; several aspects of regenerate quality; a variety of both kinds: It may be dignified, being in the Sign of its rulership; it may be disposited by another planet, being in the Sign ruled by that planet; it may be the Ascendant-ruler, the"personal significator;" it may be the Descendant ruler the "focus of complementation." If it is in the Sign of its dignity it may be a "singleton," having no dispositorship influence, or it maybe the dispositer of several other planets. It may be the only "unafflicted" planet in the chart; it may disposit, or be disposited by, the planet that is most" afflicted."

   The greatest spiritual and evolutionary need for the person to use and expand his use of a trined planet is indicated if that planet is also one of the two planets that makes the closest to exact square aspect. The closest-to-exact square aspect (closest to ninety degree orb) indicates the greatest tendency to congestion, inertia, ignorance, and inner darkness. One of its planets, being also trined, must be used alchemically to regenerate that phase of consciousness represented by the other planet of the square. The suggestion is offered, for development of fluency, that you create a listing of variations of Square-and-Trine to each planet, studying them from the standpoint of the Square as being the most needed plan for regeneration and the Trine as being the most powerful spiritual alchemistry. For expansion of this listing, you can combine the zodiacal Signs and the environmental Houses with each planetary triad. Start with the simple form of Square and Trine, see the Spirit-power working on the Square through the agency of the Trine; the planet common to both aspects is thereby revealed to be an evolutionary turning Point. In each group, the "turning-point planet" may be thought of as "mortal mind," in reference to the Square aspect; in reference to the Trine aspect, it becomes--or is revealed to be--a mode of "enspiritualizing" power. This procedure is a basic technique for gaining fluency in perceiving alchemical potentials in a horoscope; it provides a splendidly fruitful exercise in perceiving the right use of the Trine aspect. Then when you undertake to analyze actual horoscopes, you will find yourself much more perceptive to the spiritualizing and regenerating possibilities of the persons you may seek to assist. Whatever else an Astrologer may be, he should be a mirror of Truth to others, just as their horoscopes are mirrors by which the Truth of their life-assignments is revealed to him. It is in this way that he uses the Trine-Powers of his astrologer-Identity in their purest form, and that use is a continuous and ever-expanding assignment. The more he prayerfully and sincerely seeks Truth through exercise of mind and consciousness, the more Truth he will see in horoscopes and the more he can thereby reveal as en-light-ening guidance.

   Consideration should be given to the parallel between the Trine aspect and the point opposite the right-angle point of a T- Cross. To illustrate: two planets are Trine to each other in ten Taurus and ten Virgo; these are the Fixed and Mutable Signs, respectively, of the Earth- Trinity-- the third and Cardinal of which is Capricorn. In this example, regenerative induction takes place when transits and progressions activate those degrees which are in orb of ten Capricorn. Such activations bring about a "temporary Grand-Trine condition" in the chart, since the natal Taurus-Virgo Trine is sympathetically activated from Capricorn. It is at such timings that the person is inwardly stimulated to expand his realization and use of the natal Trine and, also, to "realize happiness" from what is correspondingly brought about in his environment, relationships and endeavors.

   In this illustration, there are four points (or, by orb, "degree-areas") which, when activated, impel the use of Trine powers. These are the 10th degrees of Aquarius and Leo (squaring Taurus) and the 10th degree of Gemini and Sagittarius (squaring Virgo). Also, when the person represented by the illustration comes in contact with someone who has those areas occupied by planets in his chart, the Trine-power of Taurus-Virgo is impelled into use by vibratory induction. If the other person's planets, in orb of the 10th degree of Aquarius, Leo, Gemini or Sagittarius are unregeneratively aspected, then the induced impulsion to use the Taurus-Virgo Trine attains the status of a spiritual testing, perhaps even initiation, through the personal contact or the resultant relationship-experience. This is given as a simple example to illustrate an important point in correlating a natal Trine with other horoscopical factors. It can be used as a "spring- board" into the consideration of more complex inter-weaving of planetary force.

   The principle of subjective polarity is interestingly combined with Trine-power in the following illustration: a natal chart having planetary placements in, or in orb of the 10th degree of Taurus, Scorpio, Virgo and Pisces. This pattern reveals two inter-acting Opposition aspects, Taurus-Scorpio and Virgo-Pisces; two Sextiles, Pisces-Taurus and Virgo-Scorpio; two Trines, Taurus-Virgo and Scorpio-Pisces. This is an extremely interesting example of alchemy at work inhuman consciousness because relative spiritualizations (the Trines) and alchemical potentials (the Sextiles) work hand-in-hand with the two inter-related Oppositions, which represent a double pattern of tension. In this example, activations in Capricorn will trine the Earth-points and sextile the Water-points; activations in Cancer will trine the Water-points and sextile the Earth-points when an activation conjuncts one of the planets of this pattern, the entire implication of the four-point aspect is "ignited," and it is well to study other current activations to determine, as clearly as possible, the fullest significance of the timing of the conjunction. The Oppositions in this type of compound aspect "give the Trines and Sextiles something to work on" and they insure that the life of the person will contain a considerable variety of experience and endeavor. Connection of the four planetary points, on the circle's circumference, by straight lines results in the formation of a rectangle enclosing two diameters, just as the Grand-Cross forms a rectangle enclosing two diameters, the difference between them being that the former is patterned by two Trines and two Sextiles, the latter is patterned by four Squares. One might suppose that the "Trine-Sextile" rectangle is evidence that a previous Grand-Cross has been alchemicalized by regenerative endeavors; or that, if the Trines and Sextiles are not exercised in the present life, the present rectangle could become a Grand-Cross in the future. The inclusion of two opposition aspects in both of these rectangular formations indicates that considerable polarization--one way or the other--is being effected in the present incarnation.

   Of the individual Trine-aspects, in pure evaluation, there is none that represents greater "advantage in consciousness" than a Trine aspect to the Sun and especially if this "planetary Sun" has no squares or oppositions. There maybe much dark and heavy destiny represented by the Moon and other planets, but when the Sun point is clear and trined, the person has access to a free flow of Spirit power in and through his consciousness. If the Sunpoint is trined and squared, we see the evidence of a great spiritual test in this life: the consciousness of Power challenged by a tendency to misuse or abuse it. Such a person would do well to keep himself spiritually attuned by concentration or meditation on the lives and characters of eminent persons who have had great power and have used it wisely, creatively and spiritually.

   Correlation with the rest of the chart is especially important in the study of the Grand-Trine. Of itself, it represents an established pattern of internal poise and equilibrium. But if the dynamic factors of the chart lack aspect-scope or if the Moon, Venus and Earth-Signs are particularly strong, then the Grand-Trine could depict a tendency to take things too easily for progress. A static or quiescent chart can represent a lifetime characterized by restfulness after perhaps several lives of great effort and activity-a sort of "evolutionary Sabbatical." A Grand-Trine in such a chart seems to say: "I've worked hard for a long time and now I 'm going to enjoy rest for awhile."

   Other types of charts can indicate, by aspect- correlation, that the person brings in a Grand-Trine to alchemicalize great areas of unfulfilled or unregenerate destiny. In which case, he will be impelled--for survival and resolution--to put to use the full extent of his Grand-Trine powers and abilities in term of his own individual on-going in relationship to his race and to Humanity in general. A comparative correlation of Saturn with the Dynamic Factors--Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Uranus--in sympathy or contrast with the Grand-Trine is important to this type of chart. If Saturn is one of the Grand-Trine Planets, then the powers of patience, practicality, conscientiousness, and thoroughness are indicated to be part of the enspiritualizing equipment. But if Saturn contrasts with the Grand-Trine, then the picture is shown in a general way that old, deep karmic conditions must be resolved by the regenerating exercise of the Grand-Trine powers.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume IV
Chapter V
The Variable Aspects

   In addition to the fire major aspect-patterns (conjunction, sextile, square, trine, and opposition) there are three others with which the astrological student should be acquainted for more complete evaluation of horoscopes. They are the semi-sextile and semi-square and the quincunx. The semi-sextile and semi-square are "young" aspects. The quincunx is particularly important from an alchemical standpoint; it is the most variable of all aspect-patterns and is of prime importance to all astrological study pertaining to "inertia versus propulsion" in consciousness. It is the one aspect-pattern which, in itself, illustrates alchemical potential which is stimulated in variable ways by rhythmic activations.

   First, we will consider the real meaning of "aspect-pattern." The Sun, Moon, and planets--as "planetary points"--represent the faculties and powers for expression and reaction on all planes of human functioning. As such they are the expressive focalizers of the zodiacal signs. For clarity in writing and reading, we indicate their symbols inside the circle of the horoscope, but actually these symbols should be accurately placed on the circumference of the circle, because the study of astrology considers the zodiacal position of the planets as seen from the a Earth. If it were possible to do so, the planetary aspects would be depicted by straight lines drawn from the center of the horoscopical circle to the planetary points accurately indicated on the circumference. The numerical degree of the angle made at the center by any two ''planetary lines" is the planetary aspect. We may consider as valid an orb of eight degrees for the five major aspect- patterns, six degrees for the quincunx, and a maximum of three degrees for the semi-sextile and semi-square aspects.

   In imagination you are standing in the exact center of your room. On the floor around you is drawn a large circle of which you are the center. On the circumference of this circle are placed the zodiacal symbols that are indicated on the cusps of your natal chart. You face due north--to the cusp of your fourth house; you make a quarter turn to the right--and face your Ascendant; another quarter turn to the right to face your Midheaven; another quarter to the right to face your Descendant, cusp of your seventh house; one more quarter-turn to the right again to face your fourth cusp. Straight lines are drawn on the floor from the exact center, upon which you are standing, to each of ten points on the circumference representing your planetary-point positions. The lines which are connected to any two planetary points which indicate a square aspect will form, exactly or approximately an angle of ninety degrees at the center where you are; each trine aspect will reveal an angle of one hundred and twenty degrees, etc. As you turn yourself to see each of your aspects in sequence you get a different "viewpoint" of your chart, and a planetary aspect in your chart means "viewpoint as consciousness." As you face each aspect which includes, for example, your Mars, you have to turn yourself at the center where you stand. In life and experience, as you are called upon to deal with qualities in yourself which pertain to the principle of Mars, you have to adjust your viewpoint to events, people, environments, and subjective conditions. If your home is the nuclear center of your life-environment, remember that as you look out of each window of your house you perceive a different aspect of your exterior environment; in other words, you see your exterior environment from a slightly different viewpoint as you look through each of the various windows.

   So it is with your chart; each planetary relationship represents a quality of viewpoint, centered in your consciousness, by which you tend to regard and interpret the principles of life. To regenerate your viewpoint so that you can appreciate and interpret your experience more truthfully would correspond to the action of thoroughly washing the windows of your house so that you call see your exterior environment without impediment or obstruction. By a comprehension of the meanings of your planetary aspects you can intelligently use your timings for alchemical exercise and regenerative endeavors. There are periodic timings throughout your life when each planetary aspect is emphasized by the various types of stimulus and ignition in order that you may have the opportunities to "wash the windows of your soul." This "washing" is regeneration of consciousness, the universal alchemy of the Spirit.

   The semi-sextile aspect is exactly what the term implies: half a sextile. Its symbol is the horizontal and the two upper diagonals of the sextile aspect, like a "V" standing on a horizontal line. Because everything in life starts from a process of germination, all aspect- patterns start from the vibratory fusion we call the conjunction; from this vibratory unification or " joining of forces," the planets register the various aspect-patterns from life to life in accordance with the way you use your consciousness and mind. The semi-sextile is the promise of the sextile, which in turn is the mechanism for the generation of the trine: it is like the delicate green leaf which is externalized on the tree-branch at spring-time, the promise of blossom and fruit to come. The registration of a semi-sextile in your chart is the indication that you have already started, in the past a regenerative program concerning your consciousness of the planetary principles involved. Know that it is up to you to handle that "delicate green leaf" with care, to cultivate its qualities with thoughtfulness and patience, to make yourself constantly more and more aware of its evidences in your life. Give meditative spiritual consideration to the principles represented by the planets concerned and the signs they rule; having already made the regenerative start, you will naturally want to persevere in apprehending the spiritual values indicated as potential by this aspect.

   Remember that the semi-sextile, in comparison with the other aspects, is like a young child in relation to older boys and girls, adolescents, young men and women, parents, and elders. It is " impressionable" just as a child is, it can be easily marred if it is not tended and cared for with understanding and consideration. With spiritual diligence and unwavering patience, it is possible that in the course of one life-time the person who "tends his semi-sextile" can unfold a degree of spiritual understanding or awareness that would correspond to a sextile aspect between the two planets. In other words, his next-life horoscope would register the sextile aspect. This is comparable to seeing the first evidence of the blossom during the course of a day-the unmistakable evidence that the blossom has appeared when this morning there was only the leaf. You first become aware of your divine self in a new phase of evolution through your semi-sextile--the childhood of your "Christ Within" being externalized through your consciousness. We owe to our semi-sextiles the same kind of consideration that we tend to give to anything that is young, delicate and impressionable; its growth must be carefully fostered and nurtured, perhaps over a long period of time, through many stages of development. But the goal is the ultimate fruition which we identify astrologically as the trine aspect--the "viewpoint" by which Power, Love, and Truth are apprehended in terms of internal equilibrium, beauty, capacity, affluence, and joy. The exact semi-sextile aspect is thirty degrees; by orb, twenty-seven to thirty-three degrees. It is interesting to note that the cusps of the twelve houses are in sequences of thirty degrees as are the first degrees of each of the zodiacal signs.

   The semi-square aspect (exact, forty-five degrees; by orb, forty-two to forty-eight degrees) requires a little geocentric consideration. As seen from the Earth, the semi-square is the largest of the valid aspects which can be made between Venus and Sun. The Sun, Moon, and all other planets can form the semi-square to each other. (The sextile is the largest geocentric aspect possible between Mercury and Venus.) The semi- square--half of a square --is a warning; like the semi-sextile it is a "young aspect." The tiny cavity in the tooth which, it not corrected, becomes in time a dental horror, or the first evidence of rot in the tree which, if allowed to spread, kills it, are fairly good illustrative analogies. The semi-square in the natal horoscope is evidence that the person has begun to congest on those awarenesses of spiritual principle represented by the planets concerned. It is as though the person in the past, sought to experiment with life through ignorance of what he was really dealing with, and now the semi-square holds up a warning finger and says "Stop, Look and Listen." The old maxim, "A stitch in time saves nine," is applicable to the semi-square's indications; mend that little run in the stocking of your soul now-this life-or you will risk ruining the stocking. The semi-square is evidence of gathering tension, the appearance on the horizon of the cloud which might bring rain and spoil your picnic plans. You can't do anything about the storm cloud, but if you don't want to risk having a disappointing experience you will postpone your picnic plans until you know for sure how the weather will be. In other words, you won't stubbornly go ahead with plans when you have the evidence that postponement would be a more practical measure. The experience of feeling a growing progression of fear or anger is like the meaning of the semi-square; while the emotion is still intensifying it can be dealt with and controlled or transmuted, but after it reaches a certain degree of intensity, the astral potency overwhelms your mental-directive power and you plunge into an experience characterized by considerable pain and suffering. If you have occasion to deal with a chart containing several semi-squares keep the thought of past experimentation through ignorance in mind as an interpretive key; such a registration indicates that this present life will contain, for the person, many opportunities to learn from the evidence of instinctual negative tendencies but which must be dealt with regeneratively now or suffer grave consequences in future. Of course the two planets of any semi-square aspect may be regeneratively aspected in many ways by other points in the chart, but the semi-square registers a negative tendency. Understanding of it is necessary so that the person may--in this present life--know what he is dealing with inside of himself, rather than continuing on the path of ignorance and un-awareness that may have characterized his experience in the past in certain ways. Since you, as the astrological reader, stand as a personalized symbol to the person of awareness and knowledge, study the semi- squares by a careful correlation with all regenerative indication in the chart--from semi-sextile to trine--that are involved with the semi-square planets. Look, with the eyes of your Spirit, at that semi-square as though you were a dentist studying a small cavity as pictured in an X-ray--your job as a reader is to understand that warning as completely as possible.

   The quincunx (exact, 150 degrees, five signs; by orb, 144 to 156 degrees) is a fascinating astrological factor; it is like a "coat of many colors," a kaleidoscope and a chameleon all in one. Several pictorial symbols have been devised for it; the author suggests the following: the composite of the symbol for the semi-sextile aspect with a down-ward vertical from the center. These lines would correspond to the cusps of Aries, Aquarius, Sagittarius, Libra and Cancer of the Great Mandala and the picture it presents suggests an unfolded flower on a vertical stem. The quincunx is the only aspect that pictures alchemy within itself because the 150 degrees of its exact scope are primarily focalized by the ninety degrees of the square and the sixty degrees of the sextiles. It also implies the possibilities of the following aspect sequences: five semi-sextiles, semi-sextile and trine, trine and semi-sextile, sextile and square, square and sextile. The following formula may be applied to each of the zodiacal signs as a starting point:

   Aries quincunx Virgo. Aries semi-sextile Taurus, Taurus trine Virgo. Aries trine Leo, Leo semi-sextile Virgo. Aries sextile Gemini, Gemini square Virgo. Aries square Cancer, Cancer sextile Virgo. Semi- sextiles: Aries-Taurus-Gemini-Cancer-Leo-Virgo.

   Another formula, picturing the quincunx within the Great Mandala is this: Aries quincunx Virgo. Scorpio quincunx Aries. Virgo sextile Scorpio.

   Two quincunx aspects which both include one particular zodiacal sign total the entire zodiac when the sixty degrees of the sextile are added to them. All the "variation" of alchemy which is depicted by the contents of each 150-degree aspect is thus shown to have self-directed regeneration as the key-note. In other words the degree of realization of completeness implied as potential by the quincunx is made possible only through self-regeneration. It is suggested particularly to those students who as yet have not "done very much" with the quincunx aspect, that a complete tabulation of the above-mentioned zodiacal formulas be prepared for memorization and use in chart-analysis. (Considerable mental fluency is promised thereby !) An incisive, fluent mental grasp of zodiacal factors is required for the study and interpretation of the quincunx aspect because of the great variation implied by it. To concentrate one's knowledge and perception of the quincunx is to expand automatically one's fluency with all other aspect-patterns.

   For practical astrological use, the quincunx is most important in the study of timings. As a natal aspect it pictures a potential of alchemical variation; when studied in terms of activations it reveals a continual periodic emphasis which alternates the yet-to-be- regenerated factors and the relatively regenerated factors. A simple illustration: Sun in 15 Aries, quincunx Saturn in 15 Virgo; 15 Gemini: sextile Sun, square Saturn; 15 Cancer: square Sun, sextile Saturn; 15 Sagittarius: trine Sun, square Saturn.16 Capricorn: square Sun , trine Saturn. The l50 degrees of each exact quincunx are zodiacally counterparted by the remaining 210 degrees which include a two-fold sequence of square and trine to the natal quincunx planets. Within the 150 degree area, sextilic powers are to be employed to regenerate the square tendencies; in the 210 degree area, trine- powers are used to alchemicalize the square tendencies. In the above Sun- Saturn illustration, it would appear that the unfoldment of spiritualized executive power and ability is the purpose of the quincunx by experiences and training in leadership, personal autonomy, responsibility fulfillment in work and development of the power of patience. By combining the essential spiritual key-words pertaining to the two planets of a quincux aspect, the spiritual or evolutionary purpose of the alchemical exercises maybe discerned. From this approach it may be clearly seen that the quincunx is really not a "minor" aspect at all because it is a registration of opportunity in this life to effect very significant transmutations in consciousness. It is like the framework of a building which, depending upon what is put into it and how that equipment is used, can become a hovel or a lovely home.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume IV
Chapter Vl
Interceptions

   Astrology, at its simplest, is complexity piled upon complexity. In the minds of many students, however, the problems of interceptions proves to be a complication of back-breaking quality. This material is offered as food for thought in an attempt to clarify the purpose and meaning of signs and planets being placed in such a way that their vibratory "area" does not touch house-cusps. "Interceptions" can mean "woe is us" until we perceive the possibility of a philosophical meaning behind this particular pattern. When we do, we are well on our way to achieving an organized approach to its interpretation.

   First a break-down of horoscopical structure. Use a twelve-housed wheel; connect by straight lines the pairs of cusps as follows:

   Four horizontals--parallel to the horizontal diameter: cusps of 11th-9th, 12th-8th, 2nd-6th and 3rd-5th.

   Four verticals--parallel lo the vertical diameter: cusps of 12th-2nd, 11th-3rd, 9th-5th and 8th-6th.

   The mandala as it now appears symbolizes the symmetry of astrological structure. These lines connect points of the circumference of the wheel that are equidistant from the arch-structure lines of the horizontal and vertical diameters. These, in turn, form the composite of the lines of force that are basic to the contents of the wheel. These two diameters symbolize the cross of incarnation. Now create a symmetrical square by connecting these "cardinal points" by straight lines. This square is the abstraction of relationship-structure, our "field of experiences" by which we unfold our potentials in incarnation. Create another symmetrical square by connecting the mid-points of the 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 11th houses. This forms the symbol of the static square--the arch-symbol of congestion of spiritual potentials. This congestion is decrystallized by the symbol comprised of the diameters of 1st-7th, 3rd-9th, and 5th-11th. This symbol--the sextile aspect-- is a symmetrical open symbol representing the "lines of force" inherent in the composite of two closed equilateral triangles; these two triangles are formed by straight lines connecting (1) cusps of the 1st, 5th, and 9th and (2) 7th, 11th, and 3rd.

   All of these designs are balanced, symmetrical figures inherent in the interior essence of the wheel. Since they are structure designs they apply to all horoscopes, because the structure of any horoscope is a twelvefold division of the wheel's interior into equal sections--"houses"--of thirty degrees each. The composite of these designs illustrates, by symmetry, the equal importance of all houses. No one house is more important than another; every house is a channeling for the releasement of potentials and the unfoldment of consciousness toward the realization of ideals in incarnation. It also serves, by its symmetry, to illustrate the equi-importance of both sexes since the symmetry of these figures is continually evident no matter which of the four cardinal-house structure- points is placed at the Ascendant.

   To complete the "symmetricalness" we now add the symbols of the zodiacal signs outside the wheel, starting with Aries on the cusp of the first house and continuing around the wheel in regular sequence. The result is the Great Astrological Mandala--the abstraction from which all horoscopes are derived. This addition of the zodiacal signs integrates vibration with structure. We now recognize that the application of thirty degrees of each sign to the thirty degrees of each house represents a charging of structure with vibratory life just as a house becomes a home when it is used as a habitation by people and a violin becomes a musical instrument when it is played.

   In a horoscope that has no intercepted signs the symmetrical parallel of signs with houses is everywhere evident. The three structure-crosses: cardinal, fixed, and mutable, and the four generic trines: fire, earth, air, and water, appear in regular sequence and in geometrical formation; the six structural diameters parallel the six vibrational polarities, the house-quadrants parallel the zodiacal quadrants and the outline of planetary rulership of the twelve houses is concise and clear. The trine-pattern represented by the vibrational generic element covering the cusps of the 1st, 5th, and 9th houses represents the arch-resource of creative spiritualization for this incarnation. The "structure-sign-pattern" represented by the sign-vibrations covering the cusps of the 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th cusps represent the arch-resource of Relationship-Consciousness and Relationship-Experience-Interpretation.

   Before we go into a detailed approach to intercepted patterns, we will consider the pattern of the twelfth house--in relationship by sequence--of any house in a horoscope.

   Let us remember that every house is the twelfth house of the house which follows it; every sign is the twelfth sign of the sign which follows it; in horoscopes, signs are correlated to houses so (for example):

   Leo on the twelfth cusp is the twelfth house-sign of the Virgo Ascendant; Gemini on the eighth cusp is the twelfth house-sign of Cancer on the ninth cusp, etc.

   Twelfth house is "that from which something emanates." The Ascendant itself "emanates" from the twelfth house as the diameter of Ascendant-7thcusp emanates from the diameter of 4th cusp-10th cusp or as the trine of Aries-Leo emanates from the trine of Sagittarius-Aries or as the quadrant of Libra-Capricorn emanates from the quadrant of Cancer-Libra. And so on. In the Great mandala, the fire trine of Aries-Leo-Sagittarius, initiated by the cardinal Aries, emanates from the water-trine Pisces-Cancer- Scorpio; the latter trine is initiated in the past by the cardinal Cancer "root" of the vertical line of "vibrational heredity." This vertical diameter- -abstractly Cancer-Capricorn--out of which Aries-Libra is emanated--is astrology's symbolic picturing of what most people call "heredity."

   The processes of Life as evolution are a continual emergence from that which was (the past) into that which now is (the present) and thence into that which is to be (the future). Nothing "just appears;" that which was conditioned that which is; that which is is conditioning that which is to be. The sequence of houses correlated with the sequence of signs is astrology's way of picturing the sequence of life's ever- becomingness as continual releasement of potentials. In other words the horoscope is a static symbol of the eternally rhythmic (the symmetry of time) emergence of potentials from octave to octave in perpetual unfoldingness.

   Therefore, when the unfoldingness of an individual human is thrown out of rhythmic timing a defect results in the synchronization of sign with house. For whatever karmic reason or consciousness-conditioning, the emphasis of one level of unfoldment at the expense of another has the effect of intercepted signs appearing in the natal horoscope as a picturing of structural-vibratory defect.

   To illustrate: use any chart you have available that has an intercepted diameter. Apply the approach explained in the foregoing by connecting the "points" that represent the structure of the crosses and trines. Somewhere along the line you will see a defect in the symmetry of these designs because somewhere a cross-point or a trine-point will not coincide with a house-cusp. Thus the vibrational-content of the wheel is thrown out of symmetry and the sequence-content of the wheel is thrown out of rhythm. There are varying degrees of complexity and difficulty in interpreting "intercepted charts" as in anything else. Let us see if we can organize an outline of approach, starting with the easiest:

   Type 1-A: The horoscope has the cusps of the first, fourth, seventh, and tenth houses covered by a perfect vibrational cross--cardinal, fixed or mutable. In this pattern the composite "generator" (fourth-tenth) and the composite "generated" (first-seventh) coincide with four quadrants of the zodiac and the clarity of basic relationship-structure is pictured.

   Type 1-B: The above requirements are depicted in the Basic Generic Chart. This is a variation of the natal chart by which the sign containing the natal planetary ruler is used as Ascendant. This variation focuses the power of the vibratory ruler of the chart--the planet that rules that sign.

   Type 2--three possibilities: A--a perfect generic trine covers the cusps of the first, fifth, and ninth houses; B--a perfect generic trine covers the cusps of the seventh, eleventh, and third houses; C-- a perfect generic trine focused structurally at either the cusp of the fourth house or the cusp of the tenth. In all of these classifications, the problem of intercepted signs is comparatively minimized because the arch-symbols of cross and/or trine are synchronized with the basic structure-points of the wheel. When the placement of intercepted signs "creates a disturbance" in the relationship of sign-sequence with house-sequence of the structure-points, the interpretation problem becomes more complex. Study your intercepted-sign charts with an eye as to the relationship of a complete cross or a complete trine by sequence from the Ascendant. In other words, find out how close the intercepted-sign chart comes to fulfilling the requirements of symmetrical design; in so doing, you mentally reduce to a minimum the "hazards" presented by the complexities of "irregularity" in the wheel.

   "Past evil impelling the present incarnation" is pictured abstractly by a mandala as follows: a twelve-housed wheel with Aries on the Ascendant; the symbols for the mutable signs are placed appropriately on the cusps of the mutable houses. In other words the modulation for further regeneration is shown by the square of the mutable houses focalized by the most mutable of those four signs-Pisces--as the "end of the previous cycle" out of which the present one emanates. Apply this thought to any horoscope: which cross appears as the composite of modulations from each quadrant of the wheel into the next quadrant? This cross has much to say about the needed redemptions required for the quadrants initiated by the cardinal houses--as the entire horoscope is initiated from the twelfth house into the first house. Each mutable house is the karmic background for the ensuing quadrant; the signs covering these cusps represent the four-fold congestion of consciousness which is focalized in the chart by the planets ruling those signs.

   As a result of an intercepted diameter in a chart there will be two pairs of houses covered by the same diameter. Wherever this "phenomenon" occurs, you will know that the houses concerned in this "duplication" represent experience-patterns on which the person concerned is "making up for past defaults;" in other words the two houses having the lower degree of the sign of their cusps will portray the past; the two houses having the higher degree on the cusps will portray the unfulfilled past projected into the present. Such a pattern tells us also that the influence of the planets ruling the intercepted signs is to a degree, "held in abeyance" until a certain degree of redemption has been made. The planets ruling the duplicated cusps are, correspondingly "made to work overtime;" in the ease of Venus and Mercury--each of whom normally rules two signs -their influence can extend to three houses and their significance in the sum-total of the wheel is increased. Just as-- in human terms--if Johnny ''flunks an exam" in school, he has to study with added application to make up his work in that subject.

   It is very interesting to study charts that have the same sign on twelfth as is on the Ascendant. These charts have two principal classifications: (1) those with the succeeding sign intercepted in the first house; (2) those with the succeeding sign on the second cusp. The first classification tells us that the person may have been out of incarnation for an unusually long time; he has to "tie in" with his past in this incarnation, recapitulate something of his past mistakes--if the ruler of the twelfth house and Ascendant is congested, learn from his mistakes, apply more constructive measures and then move in sequence to the progressive vibration represented by the sign intercepted in the first house. This pattern promises progress in this incarnation but it also promises that the person, subconsciously tending to live this incarnation in terms of his past, will bring himself to a "blank wall"--the power of congestion representing that the resources from the past have become depleted; his natural urge to progress will be timed for awareness to the potentials represented by the intercepted sign in the first house, and, tuning in with this vibration will represent a "new life" in consciousness. He then, largely, will feel the urge to "leave the past" and throw in his lot with the "vibratory companion" represented by the planetary influence of the intercepted sign in the first house. This pattern also qualifies his marital consciousness since the first house interception has its complement intercepted in the seventh. It is a twofold awareness of new life and his complementary-relationship consciousness must unfold and progress if he is really to transcend the gravitational or congested pull of past negatives. If the second cusp is covered by the next sign in sequence, then we know that the person is destined in this incarnation to express a higher octave of quality of his past, and if the interception in his chart indicates that the cusp of his fourth or tenth house is in the same generic trine that his Ascendant-sign is in, we know that that parent-- father or mother--represents an outpicturing of the best of the person's past as a contribution to the best of his development in this incarnation. No one ever exactly repeats a level from one incarnation to the next--upwardness is always a factor to be considered in karmic interpretation.

   From a practical standpoint, there is not much more that can be said here as interpretation of the various possible placements of intercepted diameters. You as an astrological student, thinker, and philosopher must exercise the capacity of your own awareness of structure principles in application to the charts you analyze.

   Structure-structure-structure is your key to finding the significance of intercepted signs and the planets they contain. Find as many "regularities" and "symmetries" as you can in each chart of this type--by reference to patterns of cross and trine--and then study sequence so that you can determine the possibilities of why one diameter may represent a "holding back" or a "promise of future development" in this incarnation. The duplicated diameters--when they are lined up with structure-sequence--will indicate which pair of houses represents a condition from the past that must be repeated--for complete fulfillment--in the present.

   Elasticize your awareness of horoscopical structure. You will--or can--be thrilled by this stimulus of your intellect and your resource of esthetic sensitivity and understanding. The rhythm, sequence, design and drama that are pictured in the Astrological Mandala are archetypal of all artistic principles; and in a more specific philosophical sense, they picture the magnificent flow of Life-Principles as it outpictures the great Universal laws of Cause and Effect, Polarity, and Divine Harmony. 

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume IV
Chapter VII
Basic Relationship-Structure

   As food for thought, we suggest consideration of this statement, as introduction to a discussion of relationship-patterns: There are only two basic qualities of relationship: (1) Measurement--"Time- Space" (which does not concern this study); (2) Vibration--which is our subject. Of the vibratory quality there are only two basic types: (1) That of macrocosm and microcosm to each other; (2) the fraternity of microcosms to each other.

   The first type is so considered because the Unknowable has no fraternity with anything else; it encloses all that is--"all that is" is its expression. However, on every lower octave the Unknowable expresses itself in myriads of types of microcosms, each of which is fraternal to the others and each of which is "macrocosm" to the octaves lower than themselves; i.e., "their own microcosms."

   We will consider a hypothetical "line-up" in order to picture these myriads of microcosms. First, the Unknowable Itself. Its picture will be a dot--of theoretically no dimension--placed in the exact center of a piece of paper. We have no simpler way of out-picturing the Source of All. Then, the central dot is enclosed by the circumference of a perfect circle. The circle is then seen to represent the perfect, existence of the Unknowable: Life and Nature; Creativity and Manifestation; Positive and Negative; Cause and Effect. Polarity, then, can be thought of as the "Life- action," the "Being-ness," of the Unknowable. It is the macrocosmic dimension; all other dimensions are its microcosms. It is the essential bi-unity by which unity expresses its potentials.

   The mandala, so far, pictures with utmost clarity and simplicity the ALL-ness of Life, in composite. Now we will consider the mandala in its essential picturing of "Macrocosm-to-Microcosm."

   From the central dot, draw a horizontal radius to the left. This radius is the Unknowable's expression of its potentials to the extreme octave of physical manifestation. This radius represents, by its point on the circumference, the "farthest from the Source that the Unknowable can project itself." From that point, the travel around the circle's circumference (counter-clockwise) is the delineation of evolutionary processes by the releasement of potential. The radius, in short, is "the mandala of microcosm" --the composite of all possible expressions of the Unknowable.

   (There is only one radius in each circle, all other radii are emanations of the one. Prove this by creating a circle with a compass; the instant you place the pencil-point on the paper you have established the radius of the circle. The circle is created (emanated) by moving the pencil-point through space and time to make the complete picture; you have used no other radius but the one you started with.)

   We have no way of knowing what the extent of the Unknowable's first octave of expression can possibly be. But, since we must use specific words to convey ideas we will simply think of this octave as "The Universe." Then, referring to the mandala, the point of the radius is seen to be the body of the Unknowable--the totality of the circle will represent the fulfillment of all potentials inherent in the Unknowable.

   Since this mandala is archetypal, we can--and will--use it as the symbol of Life-expression on all lower octaves, the first of which we will designate as "arch-galaxy." The radius of the circle now pictures the composite potentials of every individual arch-galaxy--which is "fraternal" to every other arch-galaxy. The microcosm of the arch-galaxy we will think of as "galaxy" and the radius is then the potential of each galaxy, all galaxies being fraternal to each other. Then we consider the radius as the potential of, shall we say, all solar-systems which are microcosmic expressions of the galaxies, all solar-systems, by their archetypal pattern being fraternal to each other; then the composite of all planetary bodies which are microcosmic to the solar Logos of each solar system. All planets of each system being fraternal to each other.

   Now because we are primarily concerned with human beings, the radius is seen to be the picturing of the potentials inherent in the logoic idea we call "Humanity"--the highest octave of evolutionary potential on this particular planet. The radius is now seen to represent all human beings manifesting within the etheric envelope of, and on the surface of the Earth. Every other radius which might be pictured in the circle is an emanation from the arch-point of consciousness which we refer to as "I AM"-- the recognition of beingness as an expression of a perfect idea in the mind of our Father-Mother God.

   The "fraternity of microcosms" is now pictured by this mandala as the arch-symbol of humanity incarnate; its design is the same for all human beings, who, by Law, incarnate in the bi-une dimension of measurement (time-space) and polarity (masculine-feminine vibration). Each of these factors is inter-dependent upon the other one: incarnation is not made-- nor can it be made--without both.

   So far, we have the vibratory fulfillment- potential of each human being as an expression of his/her macrocosm--the Ascendant of his/ her horoscope.

   The idea we call humanity carries out the bi-une vibratory relationship-pattern in this way: The relationship of macrocosm to microcosm is evidenced in the relationship, to each other, of parent and child. In other words by polarity: the relationship, to each other, of father/mother to son/daughter. This pa-tern is "type one" as the arch- relationship structure of all human beings to each other; all other relationships are fraternal derivations of this one.

   Since physical sex is a specialization of the composite we call "gender," we recognize that every human being, in his/her inner nature functions in the universal dimension of bi-polarity. Every male and every female composites the masculine/feminine vibratory qualities. To be "masculine" is to impregnate, to project, to express, to stimulate; to be feminine, is to be impregnated, to serve as object for the projection, to embody the expression, to be stimulated, to reflect that which was cast forth.

   We will now amplify our mandate to outpicture, astrologically, this "arch-relationship-pattern."

   Extend the radius to the right, creating the horizontal diameter; draw the vertical diameter, creating the "cross of incarnation." Place the symbol for Aries at what is now the Ascendant-point, Libra opposite, Cancer at the bottom of the wheel, and Capricorn at the top. We now have the circle quadrated by the cardinal signs--the new-direction points; the radii are the four basic ways of saying "I AM;" the diameters are the two basic ways of saying " WE ARE;" and the total structural design depicts the composite of "that which generates and that which is generated" the fourfold representation of polarity-in-action in the life-expression of the idea, "Humanity. "

   Draw a vertical line and concentrate on it for a moment as the essential symbol of the generative action of polarity. It is the action of begetting, the composite function of parentage, the form- building process by which the male parent and the female parent fuse their energies and substances as a contribution to the incarnating Ego; i.e. the specializations of "male and female" composite the dynamic expression of polarity.

   Now draw a horizontal line of approximately the same length as the vertical; this line is the objective of the vertical, the "negative pole" of the parentage line, that which was begotten by the parents, that which was given form (incarnated) by the parents. Since every "begotten" is bi-polar, we now recognize that the extremes of this horizontal line represents the masculine and feminine--either one or the other--of the horoscope's subject; each is generic counterpart of. the other ( just as the father and the mother are generic counterparts of each other). The horizontal is, then the son/daughter of father/mother.

   To consider the generic quality of the twelve zodiacal signs: meditate on a "generic spectrum" of four basic qualities which we will designate as: (1) masculine-male; (2) feminine-male; (3) masculine- female; (4) feminine-female. This grouping combines, effectively, the two aspects of sex with the two aspects of generic vibrators quality--the "two-fold expression of two-fold polarity."

   Returning to the mandala with the cardinal signs we recognize that each of these four signs represents the "initiating" of one of the four factors in the "generic spectrum;" each one "initiates" a quadrant of the wheel and one of the elemental trines. Each one is, then, the Being- ness aspect of its particular element, the other two aspects of each trine represent the idealities of Love and Wisdom. The "trining" of the elements represents the essential goals of our unfoldments, the recovery of our "lost Edens" through transmutations and idealized releasements of our generic potentials.

   Hence, the two cardinal signs which refer to basic male quality of polarity are seen to be Aries and Capricorn. The other two depict basic female quality of polarity--Cancer and Libra.

   Create four mandalas representing the trines of the elements. Since these trines are the symbols of the "Being-ness, love and Wisdom" attributes, they represent the ideality of the four generic variations. The fire and air signs are masculine gender, the earth and water are feminine gender.

   Now, two more mandalas, each one a combination of the six masculine signs and the six feminine signs, respectively. The masculine mandala contains two verticals, the feminine one contains two horizontals. When we connect the points of the masculine mandala to the center by straight lines we get the arch-symbol of alchemy--the sextile aspect- symbol: the dynamic decrystallization of congested energies through transmuted expressions. The horizontals of the feminine mandala convey a "static quality"--"something upon which something else can rest;" a clear picture of the establishment of ideal society on the base of ideal parentage. On what other base does Society (in its higher expressions) rest except on the expressions of Love-Wisdom of those who parent it, personally or impersonally? The sextile aspect-symbol which is involved in the masculine mandala portrays the dynamic potential of every male and every female to regenerate his/her vibratory patterns and to release his/her potentials, evolutionarily in higher octaves of consciousness.

   Mars, ruler of Aries, the "male begotten," finds his exaltation in Saturn's sign, Capricorn: the fulfilllment of the impregnative male principle in fatherhood. "Fatherhood" is the male version of "form-begetting." We cannot remain "Life-takers" forever--we must become "Life-givers" if we are to find fulfillment. Is not planetary exaltation simply another way of saying "vibratory (or generic) maturity

   Taurus, the Principle of "steward-ship of Form," is the second, or love, aspect of the Earth-trine initiated by Capricorn. "Breadwinning" has been (for the most part) the principal way that the male has expressed his Love-potential for ages. His responsibility, as father, was to earn and to work so that his "beloved" and his "begotten" could be materially sustained. Since woman has moved into free exercise of her positive qualities since the re-polarization process went into effect with the last century and a half or so, we are now recognizing that the male has higher octaves to fulfill as father; psychology has refuted the old "saw" that child- raising is principally the mother's task; we now know, from our recognition of the principles of parentage, that the Love-Wisdom of the father is every bit as important and as necessary for the fulfillment of parentage-responsibility. Sagittarius, the third fire-sign and Wisdom-aspect of the masculine-male trine, is the twelfth house-sign of Capricorn: the Wisdom aspect of the male is then seen to be the redemption through which the male exercises his spiritual potentials in the experience-pattern of fatherhood. "Making money" is seen to be only one factor by which a male expresses his love for his children; "making minds, making hearts, making spirit and understanding" is seen to be the ideal of father as a factor in his children's experience.

   Venus, as ruler of Libra and the complement of Mars-Aries, is the "feminine-begotten" of father-mother Saturn/Moon. Her fulfillment in motherhood is shown by Cancer as her tenth house sign--as Capricorn is for Mars; but in the feminine patterns the exaltations are carried out differently than the masculine one. ( Incidentally, in a woman 's horoscope her Venus gives us the basic vibratory clue as to how she tends to feel about herself as a wife. In a male chart, Mars will designate how the man feel about himself as a husband.)

   Venus' sign, Libra is exaltation point of the father-symbol, Saturn, and Libra is Saturn's own tenth house sign. The "maturity" of the father-vibration is found in the refinement and delicacy of the Venus vibration, plus the quality of balance that is implied by the harmonizing vibration of the "lovely" planet. Father as male, must recognize the value of the cultivated feminine vibration as an "equilibration" of his own quality; when his own feminine potential is utilized in his parentage experience he perceives with understanding the feminine requirements of "her whom he has be-gotten;" to utilize only his masculine qualities of feeling and perception would represent too total a "complementation" with the feminine begotten; there would be a lack of balanced perception.

   The Moon finds her vibratory maturity in Venus' other sign, Taurus, her own eleventh house sign. The pattern of "eleventh sign" conveys the quality of Aquarius (the eleventh zodiacal sign) and the key-words "individuality" and "liberation" represent the exaltation of the mother-principle when she recognizes and appreciates the individuality of that which she has begotten and liberates the begotten to its unique fulfillment. "Mother" who congests on nurture and protection of the begotten does not recognize its need for its own unfoldment, development and exercise of its potentials. But, with appreciation and perspective of the begotten's individuality, she fulfills her task of nature, guidance and protection by loving liberation of the begotten to find its own levels of ideality and fulfillment. As Saturn finds his vibratory maturity through the refining influence of Libra, so does Jupiter--as the ruler of Saturn's "redemption- sign" Sagittarius--find his maturity in the sympathetic response quality of his exaltation-sign, Cancer, the mother-sign. Here the male nature expresses its potential for protective tenderness and sympathy for--and toward--the begotten. The father's inner wisdom is here amplified and rounded out by the sensitive emotional awareness and responsiveness of the maternal potential and his essential maleness is complemented by his own need to express the composite of his wisdom and feeling.

   Venus finds her maturity in an octave that is much higher than merely acting as a complement and reflectress of the Mars- vibration of Aries. Her exaltation is Pisces--the inspired Wisdom-aspect of the water-trine which is initiated by the mother-principle, the Moon, through the Sign Cancer. Pisces is the home of Neptune, the principle of ideality itself, the "super-mother," the "all-embracing, all-protecting, all-redeeming" octave of the maternal principle. Pisces, the twelfth house sign of the zodiacal belt is the residue of unfulfilled ideals that makes necessary the new incarnation. It is the symbol of mankind's redemption by the highest octave of his consciousness and, since Venus' cardinal dignity is the house of complementation and the sign of equilibrium, Libra, we see that perfect fulfillment of human relationship patterns and ideal expression of the generic qualities of our vibratory nature is the redemption of the world. When we perceive the perfect potential of the masculine and feminine elements in every human being it means that we have purged our consciousness of dark pictures of sin, crime, disease, fear, and ugliness. Venus through her maturity in Pisces, is the perfect realization of the perfect reflection of father-mother God in every human being.

   Evolutionary processes bring all human beings into fraternity sooner or later, with persons functioning in all other patterns; the "son" becomes "husband and father"--fraternal with all other husbands and fathers; the kind of father he has now represents his "picture of fatherhood" in the past; the kind of father he will reincarnate through next time will depend on how he fulfills his responsibility-pattern in this life. In short, we, each of us, carry within ourselves an ideal of each basic relationship-pattern; everyone is his own and her own husband/wife, father/mother, brother/sister and son/daughter. Our experiences in our cycles of incarnations are for the purpose of making real--realizing--these ideal pictures by means of expressing our ideal quality of generic powers; the end in view is the realization of the human ideal--the manifestation of the perfect human idea.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume IV
Chapter VIII
The Horoscope Abstracted

   This approach to "abstracting" a horoscope is presented in the hope that it will help students to clarify and focus their understanding of the elements that comprise horoscope-structure and horoscope- delineation. We know that a horoscope is a symbolic picture of human consciousness as it expresses in the triune dimension of incarnation; it is also a picture of cosmic principles as they manifest through the entity called Humanity. These principles are, compositely, the Life of the Universe--they manifest on all worlds and on all planes.

   Astrology depicts the "Brotherhood of Mankind" in a sense that all horoscopical elements are common to all human horoscopes; everyone has Sun, Moon, eight planets, and so on. Every horoscope is constructed by the same calculation patterns, which are essentially the sidereal and zodiacal elementals translated into reference to the place and time of incarnation. In other words, we are all made of the same vibratory stuff; we differ only in our individual particulars as variations of the great abstract horoscope, the basic horoscopical pattern.

   The structure of this pattern is a circle activated by two diameters--one vertical, the other horizontal; these lines form compositely, two pairs of two semi-circles each and four quadrants. The quadrants, in turn, are activated by division of three equal parts; thus the "Life" of the circle is seen to be twelve-fold; these twelve houses of thirty degrees each are the departments of experience by which, and in which human evolution is generated. This structure design is static; it does not change because it is the frame-work in which--and through which--the vibratory life of the horoscope takes place.

   The vibratory essence of the great abstract horoscope is found by placement of the zodiacal symbols outside the circle in such a way that zero of each sign falls on one of the twelve cusps; zero of Aries coincides with the cusps of the first house (the Ascendant), zero of Taurus on the second cusp, zero of Gemini on the third, and so on around the wheel. The sequence of signs is invariable--Leo always follows Cancer, Capricorn always follows Sagittarius, etc.

   The magnitude of scope shown by this pattern is seen when we recognize the reason for placing the zodiacal sign symbols outside the wheel, they are cosmic--universal--the levels and realms that are not "just solar system" but which pertain to realizations of evolving life- expressions. They play on Humanity from the Great Without; we are their agencies or instruments for expression on this particular planetary status. To place the zodiacal symbols inside the wheel would imply that God-consciousness is not related to the Life Principles of the universe at large; the principles expressed would then represent something which pertained only to the human expression of Life.

   The expression, in human terms, of these zodiacal signs is found in the placement of the planetary symbols inside the wheel. The interior life of the human consciousness is thus portrayed by the patterns of the planets in relationship to each other and the rhythmic cyclic activation of those patterns. The belt of zodiacal signs is analogous to the etheric bodies which form the matrix of our physical body; the house structure of the wheel is analogous to the dense physical body itself; the planets within the wheel in composite are analogous to the cellular and organic life of the body as a specific Life expression. Then if humanity (human entity) is a specific Life expression it is an archetype; we, as individual human entities, are expressions of "variation of the archetype." Our individual status as a variation of our archetype at a given moment in our evolution is a specific variation of the natal horoscope which archetypes this incarnation; our natal horoscope, in turn, is a momentary expression of the abstract elements which comprise the overall vibratory design--the Great Abstract Horoscope--which is the Horoscope of Humanity. It is made by a wheel with the houses numbered; the signs placed appropriately, starting with zero of Aries on the first cusp; the symbols of the planets placed in the houses and signs of their dignity.

   The suggestion is made, here and now, to every Astro-Philosopher who reads this material to keep on hand a neat, well-done copy of the Great Abstract Horoscope for daily meditation. A continually renewed impression of the vibratory and evolutionary meanings of each factor in this design provides a continual reminder of the spiritual purposes of astro-philosophical study. This meditation impresses the mind with: pattern and form; sequence; archetype; unity-which-expresses-through-diversity; polarity; and vibrational sexuality. It also makes a deep impression on the heart consciousness because it pictures the brotherhood and sisterhood of all men and all women to each other. The meditation on this mandala is a devotional exercise of great power because it opens the consciousness of the Astro-Philosopher who follows it and practises it with a "lifting" that has great regenerating effect. The Great Abstract Horoscope makes no reference whatever to aspects--good, bad, or indifferent. It has nothing whatever to say about good or evil karma, lucky or unlucky days, males and females, enemies, open or secret, and so on. It is simply a symbolic vibrational portrait of Humanity revealing its Ideal Self in symbols. Evolution is depicted in the astrological wheel by tracing a line from the cusp of the first house--the Ascendant--counter-clockwise through the wheel and back to the Ascendant. Because we utilize a flat surface in horoscope design, this line appears as a circle--returning apparently to the same point from which it started. We must realize that if a life is evolving the picturing must represent upward, onward, forever; consequently we recognize that the flat surface of the wheel is, itself, an abstraction of a three-dimensional concept. The flat surface represented by an astrological wheel is really a cross-section of a sphere which has been sliced through the center; it represents space, not only north, south, east, and west from the birthplace on the earth's surface, but above and below the birthplace. This is the physical representation; the action of the wheel is depicted in abstract symbol by the spiral; this spiral does not show on the two-dimensional surface of the wheel, but Astro-Philosophers know that the line starting at the Ascendant, travelling through the wheel and back to the Ascendant, is really the journey through an evolutionary cycle in which spiritual unfoldment is made; when the circling line gets back to the Ascendant point it has reached a higher level and starts the next cycle from that point. The starting point of each cycle would have to be depicted above the surface of the paper on which the wheel is drawn in order to present the picturing of the three-dimensional concept of the cyclic rising into higher and higher levels. Since a flat, two-dimensional surface is our medium of symbolic picturing, we do not create a three-dimensional symbol; the three-dimensional symbol is portrayed, abstractly, by the continual circling through the two-dimensional wheel. A "plain astrologer" may be satisfied with thinking two-dimensionally; an Astro- Philosopher interprets a horoscope dynamically, in terms of life processes being represented by the horoscopical symbol. This "spiralling" will be strongly impressed on your mind if you try the following simple experiment: place the point of your pencil on the point where the Ascendant line conjuncts the circumference of the wheel; let the pencil point travel around the circumference of the wheel in such a way that at the cusps of the fourth, seventh and tenth houses it is raised a little, each time, above the surface of the paper; when it gets back to the Ascendant point after circling the wheel, the pencil-point will be, for example, about an inch above the paper; lift the paper so that the surface touches the pencil point. If it were possible to hold the paper steady, you could, a second time, circle the wheel in the same way and raise the wheel an inch or so again. This is a three- dimensional representation of the wheel and it presents to our minds the evolutionary process which is abstractly depicted by the two-dimensional wheel.

   The spiralling around the wheel not only represents the travel of a human consciousness through the chapters of experience on different levels but it also represents the abstract pattern of each planet's travel from the sign of its dignity through the twelve zodiacal signs; the dignity sign of each planet--in relationship to the planet--is analogous to the Ascendant in its relationship to the wheel; each is a starting point for a cyclic journey in experience and in consciousness. The Ascendant (starting point) of the wheel is also analogous to the conjunction of the two planets which, as is indicated by this aspect, are starting a cycle of relationship patterns to each other. So we see that the circle of the wheel is, itself, an abstraction of the orbital movement that takes place within the wheel in the inter-relationships made by the planets to each other and to the structure of the wheel and to the zodiacal belt outside.

   The first step in abstracting your natal horoscope is to create a wheel with thirty degrees of each sign for each house, starting with Aries on the Ascendant. (This is, of course, the sign placement of the Great Abstract Horoscope). Then, without using the degree number, place your Sun, Moon, and planets in the right sequence, according to their placement in your chart, in this wheel--all planets in Aries will be in the first house, all planets in Virgo in the sixth house, all planets in Aquarius in the eleventh house, etc. No aspects between planets are, as yet, indicated. Study this wheel in terms of how the planets are grouped in quadrants and triplicities; how they are related to the lower and upper semi-circles and the eastern and western semi-circles; how they are related to the signs of their dignity to determine how far they have travelled in their own journey through the signs. For example, the Moon in Libra is in its own fourth house sign-- its dignity, Cancer, is one, Leo is two, Virgo is three, and Libra is four. It has, in this position, a fourth house relationship to its own dignity. Venus in Capricorn is in its own fourth house sign from its dignity in Libra, and its own ninth house sign from its dignity in Taurus. Mercury in Aries is in its own eighth house sign from its dignity in Virgo, and its own eleventh house sign from its dignity in Gemini. Interpret these cyclic placements by key words according to the house sign represented. List all of your planets in this way--create order and pattern in your synthesizing always.

   The next step is to create another similar wheel; but this one will include the numbers pertaining to the sign-degrees on the cusps and the degree and minute placement of the planets according to your chart. (In a horoscope with no intercepted signs, just turn the chart so that the Aries cusp becomes the Ascendant and you have the same picture; however, the second wheel permits you to write in your symbols and degrees so that they are easily readable). A horoscope with intercepted Signs simply has zero of those signs on the appropriate cusp. The point is that the sign placement of your abstract horoscope must coincide--in pattern--to the Great Abstract Horoscope; every house must be covered by its appropriate sign. The second wheel now represents:

   Your horoscope divested of the complexities of incarnation; it is your vibratory consciousness--regardless of your physical sex and all the complications pertaining thereto. This abstraction of your natal horoscope tells the story of your vibratory perspective of the basic chapters of human experience and every house is interpreted by the basic keywords of the planet which rules it abstractly. Thus the second and seventh houses of all abstract horoscopes are ruled by Venus--the principle of equilibrium and perfect exchange; Mars as the ruler of Aries, is the ruler of all abstract horoscopes--the basic key-word of interpretation is self- awareness, the initiating point of all experience cycles. And so on with the others; Moon is the Mother, Saturn is the Father; Mars is the native, Venus is his (or her) complement; the Sun, as ruler of the fifth house through the sign Leo, is will power and love power; Uranus, as ruler of the eleventh through Aquarius, is impersonalized love and the principle of decrystallization-- analogous to the sextile aspect relationship between planets; Neptune, as ruler of the twelfth house, through Pisces, is the principle of redemption through incarnation; in the abstract horoscope its placement focalizes where we must learn to make attunement to spiritual powers and ideal pictures in order to release the images of selfishness accumulated through the previous incarnation; Jupiter is the teacher, the religious or philosophic consciousness, the principle of improvement through unfolding understanding; Pluto is the focalizing of the deep resources of the desire nature, the sex urge and the essential source of all regeneration to be made through constructive action by the redirecting of the Mars vibration; Mercury as ruler of the third house through Gemini is the essential symbol of basic, or elementary fraternity--also the conscious intellectual faculties; as ruler of the sixth it is fraternity extended into the level of fellow workers; it represents, through rulership of Virgo, your ability, or consciousness, to work and serve either as labor or as an expression of releasement of the fifth-house Leo vibration of creative love. The composite of the parentage pattern is shown, of course, by the relationship and positions of Moon-Saturn, the rulers of the fourth and tenth houses in the abstract chart--the two planets represent your essential parentage consciousness.

   In applying the findings of the abstract chart to your natal chart you perceive the occult process of your consciousness being dipped into matter, and its patterns translated into your requirements for experience in incarnation. Your abstract chart shows what you express in incarnation; your natal chart shows how your consciousness interprets incarnation and through which agencies of relationship and experience this consciousness is to be unfolded and perfected.

   "Planets Are People:" in cultivating your inner perceptions of the people in your life, apply the rulers of their natal charts to yours and see how they appear in your incarnation; then relate those points to your abstract chart and perceive your inner consciousness of those people. Any person, male or female, who is identified by your Saturn is a factor of your father picture, in your consciousness; other planets of theirs conjunct your Saturn show that they are, to a degree, sub-variations of your father picture. And so on, with the rulers and planets of other people conjunct your various planets. You will-or can-gain a remarkable elasticization of your astrological consciousness by study of, and meditation on, your abstract horoscope. It has a wonderfully impersonalizing effect on your mind and feelings, making you aware of vibrational patterns which the complexities of the natal chart, alone, obscure. You will, as a result of such study and meditation, unfold another remarkable realization: human life as an expression of esthetic principles of pattern, design, rhythm, color, line--in short, all the essential elements which are common to artistic representations. You will perceive yourself to be, essentially, a dynamic factor in the overall drama, dance, and song of life.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume IV
Chapter IX
Condensing the Horoscope

   It has been observed that most astrological students, at one time or another, experience a distressing confusion in their efforts to study and analyze individual factors of a chart and trying, at the same time, to relate those factors to the sum total of the chart. This material is offered in the hope that it will serve to focus zodiacal sequences in their formations of cross and trine so that chart-factors will be more clearly perceived. for their individual value as well as for their relationship to the total. Two sheets of paper-- at least as large as standard typing paper will be used for mandalas.

   The first step for condensation will be to review what has been said in these articles many times: there is only one horoscope; one Sun, one Moon, one of each of the planets, one Ascendant and one Midheaven, one of each of the houses and signs, one square and one opposition, one conjunction, one sextile and one trine, one radius and one diameter. All of which is so because there is only one Center and one fulfillment of the potentials of that Center.

   The Center is, of course, the creative archetypal idea humanity--of which each human being is a specialized expression, incarnating by law in the triune dimension of time--space--polarity. Your individual identity in this dimension is twofold: your unfulfillments and your relative fulfillments. The purpose of reincarnating is to realize the perfected identity through fulfillment of all potentials. You are an individualized vehicle of the Cosmic Law of Cause (positive polarity) and Effect (negative polarity) because you possess the attributes of expressing your potentials (setting up causes) and reacting to the effects of causes. The perfected Identity is made through the processes of causing and reacting in consistence with Love-Wisdom. Your evolutionary modulations are the ways in which you choose to express (initiate cause) and to react (interpret the effect).

   With a narrow side on top, divide one paper into twelve equal sections--three across and four down. The top line is designated "Fire"; the upper left section is designated "1-Cardinal "; the middle is "2- Fixed "; and the right section is "3-Mutable." The second "across" line is designated "Earth"; the third "Air "; and the fourth "Water." (This entire diagram can be drawn neatly if a compass is used for the circles.)

   In the center of the upper-left "square," place a dot, then draw a straight horizontal to the left about an inch long. End this line with a large black dot.

   As your pencil-point emanated that line from the central dot, you were creating a motion-picture, symbolically, of the chemicalization of polarity-forces. This line, as you know, is the Ascendant of the horoscope-to-be; it symbolizes the appearance of the Sun on the Eastern horizon-the "body of daytime"--and it also symbolizes your chemicalized appearance on this plane at birth-the "dawn" of your incarnation. In this line are symbolically contained the sum-total of your "generic elements"--your qualities of, and capacities for, being a causer and a sympathetic-vibrator to the effects of causes. In these terms is found your vibratory identity as masculine and feminine, respectively. In your physical body is seen a chemical specialization which we call sex; as long as adherence to biological karma is maintained, your consciousness of this specialization is ignited by vibratory contact with persons of the other sex. Your vibratory karma is ignited by persons of either physical sex whose masculine-feminine "vibratory mixtures " represent complementation of consciousness to you. Think about this.

   This line, being a straight one, is the simplest way of picturing your generic potentials distilled from all of your previous incarnations and "brought into focus" during the prenatal development preceding this incarnation. We will now "unfold" the Ascendant-line as a flower unfolds its petals and study the significance of the one cross as the archetype of human relationship-consciousness f rom which all of our interpretation of experience is fundamentally derived.

   From the central dot of this first drawing, draw an upward vertical, a downward vertical, and the other horizontal--to the left. We now have an archetypal--pure--picture of the "skeleton" of the four macrocosms of identity--the masculine-feminine of the male and the feminine- masculine of the female. Counter-clockwise, starting with the Ascendant, place the symbols for Aries, Capricorn, Libra, and Cancer--respectively--at these points. The twofold vertical now composites the line of generation--the dynamic process by which substance for the new life is generated by the "collaboration" of the parents. Cancer, ruled by the Moon, is mother; Capricorn, its complement, is father. Both are life-givers; one--the male-- impregnates; the other--the female--receives the impregnation.

   Now, from the mid-point of the Cancer-line, draw three-quarters of a circle upward through the mid-point of Libra to the mid- point of Capricorn then downward to the mid-point of Aries. The three quadrants traversed by this line--compositing nine houses--symbolize the nine months of the pre-natal period, from conception to birth. The Libra-line symbolizes the timing during this period when the physical sex of the incarnation-to-be becomes objectified and the potentials of the opposite sex are subjectified--to be subsequently out pictured, during incarnation, by the mate. The complement of this pattern will be seen in drawing the "nine-houses line" from Capricorn downward and upward to Libra--in other words "from father to daughter" as the Cancer-Aries line is "mother-to-son." If it were possible to draw these two lines simultaneously the picture would be that of turning the "parental vertical" through the pre-natal period to the point of birth; an "X-ray" of coordinating the generic elements for the incarnation-to-be.

   An individual incarnates through his/her particular parents by the magnetic action of sympathetic vibration of his/her masculine-feminine combination to their individual and collective masculine- feminine combination. The other--and very important--factor of this magnetic action is the "attraction of differences"--the child 's individuality contrasting with the individuality of each parent. All relationship between people serves evolution and relationship means vibratory exchange. If the child were a duplicate of "half of his father and half of his mother" no exchange could be made--hence no vibratory attraction would be possible.

   The " individuality" of the child-to-be is seen in the one remaining quadrant of this drawing--the three houses of Aries-to- Cancer. This is the involution--after birth--into the use of physical and etheric vehicles and no one can do that but the child himself. He, no one else, uses his body his mind, his feelings, emotions, abilities and talents. The parents provide body-substance at conception and they exercise their own minds in love-service to the child after birth, but the child's involution for use of vehicles is, of necessity, an individual matter. (The complementation of this is, of course the quadrant from Libra to Capricorn.) What is "contained" in the composite chemical and etheric vehicle is, of course, that which is to be expressed, redeemed, and fulfilled in the incarnation.

   This drawing of pictures in symbols presents a strange and remarkable fact: each human-being is his own parentage, his own fraternity, and his own complementation--husbandhood--wifehood. Other people are related to us by our feeling-reaction to them but all of our feeling- reactions emanate from the same source--our consciousness. Therefore, other people are chemicalized expressions--or outpicturings of our own vibratory mixtures. Knowing this, the great Ones have told us to "Love Ye One-Another."

   Now we have pictured the basis of human relationships: the masculine-feminine male who is a causer of effects and reactor to effects ("giver" and "taker ") and she who is bi-polar female- causer and reactor, giver and taker. All human relationships are derivatives of this four-fold basis. Therefore, the Cardinal Cross in our first diagram represents the" four-in-one " identity, the four ways by which human-beings say "I AM." But identity is not sufficient unto itself, it needs expression to perfect itself. So, each one of these cardinal signs emanates from itself--just as a line is emanated from a dot, or a plane from a line--two expressions of spiritual identity--love and wisdom. Love is the spiritual goal--redemption-- of desire; wisdom is the spiritual goal--redemption--of ignorance. Desire- ignorance is the twofold karmic compulsion to reincarnation; through it we forge the evolutionary path from virginity to ideality-realization. The cardinal signs are, abstractly, the corner-stones of our "house of life"--the rooms of which are the twelve houses of the one horoscope.

   There is, as was said before, only one cross as a pattern, the interchange of positive and negative. Now to correlate the fixed cross and the mutable cross with the cardinal cross, create a twelve-housed wheel in each of the two remaining sections of the top line, which you have already designated as"fixed" and "mutable," respectively, of FIRE. On "fixed" place the symbol for Leo on the Ascendant, Taurus at tenth, Aquarius at seventh, and Scorpio at fourth; "mutable" place the symbol Sagittarius on the Ascendant, Virgo at tenth, Gemini at seventh, and Pisces at fourth. Let your eyes travel from Aries to Leo to Sagittarius. You are impressing your mind with the fact that the three signs of the Fire-Trine initiate the first representations of the cross of the great mandala. The pattern of elements in each are parallel: Fire-Son, Earth-Father, Air-Female complement and Water- Mother. (Reversing these wheels makes Fire the male complement.) From Aries through nine signs to Capricorn is "exaltation"--maturity--of the "I AM"; from being a "begotten, " the arch-symbol of expression--Mars--fulfills itself in "fatherhood"--becoming a life-giver. This symbolizes the first three quadrants of the progressed Moon after birth--the climax of physical, mental, and emotional involution. (Spiritual involution is attained during the 28th and 30th years--the completion of the first cycle of progressed Moon and transiting Saturn.)

   Since the generic sequence is from Fire to Earth to Air to Water we can now complete our tabulation of the other "emanations." The three wheels of the Earth-line will have as Ascendants, Capricorn, Taurus, and Virgo respectively the three wheels of the Air-line will have Libra, Aquarius, and Gemini respectively; the three wheels of the Water-line will have Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces as ascendant, respectively. Place the symbols for the other three structure points appropriately in all the wheels-- the last of which, Pisces Ascendant, will represent the cross that focalizes the most feminine, receptive and reflective of all twelve. The line of gestation in each wheel is (being two-fold): from female of vertical to male of horizontal (as Cancer to Aries) and from male of vertical to female of horizontal (as Capricorn to Libra)-- always traversing three quadrants.

   For practical application, since the planetary ruler of a chart focalizes the vibration of the Ascendant sign, it is suggested that these mandalas be studied in reference to the generic chart; this is the variation of the natal chart in which the chart is turned (unless the ruler of the Ascendant is in the Ascendant sign) so that the cusp covered by the sign containing the ruler appears as the Ascendant. If the person is male and that sign is a male sign, that variation is the male generic chart; the sign male and the person female, reverse and read as female, etc. Apply the "gestation line" to the generic chart that coincides with physical sex for parentage identification--correlate with natal chart. The two generic variations "splice" the generic composite of the natal horoscope and the generic elements can therefore be studied separately.

   Now the second paper for further condensation.

   From the center of the page create a wheel of about two inches in radius; place the zodiacal symbols in regular sequence about an inch from the circumference. Between this ring of sign-symbols and the circumference, forming a second ring, place the symbols from the Ascendant counter-clock-wise: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces; Libra, Aquarius, Gemini; Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo. Cardinal signs, fixed signs, and mutable signs cover cardinal houses, fixed houses, and mutable houses. This inner ring of the signs shows us the "unfoldment" of the elements in terms of their Love-Wisdom potentials--the spiritual expressions of identity. This "spread" shows us decanates in action. The Identity-congestion, Desire- congestion, and Ignorance-congestion of the cardinal, fixed, and mutable crosses, respectively, find their redemptions through the Love-Wisdom attributes that are inherent in each sign as an expression of the "I AM" principle.

   Each house of the horoscope is a specialized environmental-experience-relationship focus for evolution; the sign-sequence of the Great Mandala synchronizes principle with activity; in other words, the philosophical principles inherent in each of the basic twelve "experience- departments" are pictured by the essential meaning of the sign that is abstractly identified with it. Variations of sign-placement on cusps of houses are matters of individual evolution; but we can perceive them with greater clarity if we recognize that all variations are emanations--not "differences"- -from an archetypal base.

   The zodiacal belt around the outside of every horoscope is a complete and unbroken sequence always. The "spread" of each element into the trine-formation, enclosing the wheel, is the spiritual enfoldment of each of the four generic bases throughout the chart. The confusion felt by students is toward the sequence of "cardinal, fixed, mutable" being synchronized with "Fire, Earth, Air, Water." Recognize now, if you have never done so before, that the seeming "mixing up" of cross with trine is a symbolic picturing of a Cosmic Truth: Microcosm is never separate from the Love-Wisdom of its Macrocosm--or "Humanity from Father-Mother God."

   Think about this--quietly, deeply, and with focused concentration. It has been stated over and over by teachers through religion and philosophy for ages of time; let the realization emanate from your inner knowing.

   Since we, as "Ascendants" are microcosm of Father-Mother God the Law of Correspondence (as above, so below; as below, so above) applies to us in this way: our own potentials for Love-Wisdom are in us eternally--regardless of our congestions, confusions, and darknesses. These darknesses of consciousness are evidences of "un-love " and " un-wisdom" having been expressed--but we ourselves are the sources of their transmutations.

   Try this condensation with many charts if you have them available. List planets in each chart by cross, then identify their trine-placement. Make "sketch wheels" utilizing the "decanate-spread"-- starting from the Ascendant sign to establish the picture in your mind that each sign is a consciousness power that can express into higher and higher octaves. Your whole approach to chart-analysis and synthesis will be simplified and clarified thereby. 

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume 5
First Edition

The Rosicrucian Fellowship

Mt. Ecclesia
Oceanside, California, U.S.A.
Foreword

   The first four volumes of this series of astrological interpretations have been received with such a warm welcome by so many astrology students that we are pleased to present Volume V.

   Mr. Bacher's profound knowledge of and devotion to the stellar science, along with an uncanny understanding of human nature, made it possible for him to present material which undoubtedly places him among the best of modern esoteric astrologers. As the truth and value of his spiritual interpretation of astrology become more and more generally accepted, his presentations will serve increasingly to help people know themselves and fulfill their highest destiny.

   Before passing in the early 1950s Mr. Bacher expressed a keen desire to have us publish his articles in book form, and although we deeply regret that he did not live to see his publications made available to the public, we are happy in knowing that his wish is being fulfilled.

Introduction

   To the Rosicrucian student astrology is a phase of religion, basically a spiritual science. More than any other study it reveals man to himself. No other science is so sublime, so profound, and so all-embracing. It portrays the relation between God, the macrocosm, and man, the microcosm, showing them to be fundamentally one.

   Occult science, investigating the subtler forces that impinge upon man, the Spirit, and his vehicles, has charted their effects with no less definiteness than has academic science the reactions of sea and soil, plant and animal to the solar and lunar rays.

   With this knowledge we may determine the astrological pattern of each individual and know the relative strength and weakness of the various forces operating in each life. To the degree that we are in possession of such knowledge we can begin systematic, scientific character building--and character is destiny! We note times and seasons cosmically advantageous to unfolding undeveloped qualities, correcting faulty traits, and eliminating destructive propensities.

   The divine science of astrology reveals the hidden causes at work in our lives. It counsels the adult in regard to vocation, the parent in the guidance of children, the teacher in management of pupils, the physician in diagnosing disease, thus lending aid to each and all in whatever position they may find themselves.

   No other subject within the range of human knowledge appears to hold for this day and age the possibilities open to astrologers for helping people to their own dignity as gods-in-the-making, to a greater grasp of universal law, and to a realization that we are eternally secure within the caressing fold of Infinite Life and Boundless Being.

Chapter I
The Astrologer as Scientist, Artist, and Priest-Teacher

   The symbols of the circle, its quadrants, the zodiacal signs, the planets and their aspects must be understood to be symbols of life-essences, their purposes and functions, if astrology is to take its rightful place in the family of Illuminations. The approach that anything that is depicted in astrology is essentially bad makes it, relatively, impossible for the constructive work to be adequately fulfilled; further, such an approach has about as much correspondence to astrological truth as has the "hell-fire-and- damnation" version of Christianity to the simple, luminous teachings of Jesus.

   "Philosophy" means "love of Wisdom" and man's paths toward the attainment of understanding are many. Since astrology is one of the principle paths by which humanity finds illumination this material is presented so that students may come into a clearer recognition of the three paths which should be traversed by them, in some degree, and must be traversed if they are to fulfill their purposes as "Astro-Philosophers."

   The wheel of the horoscope and its "vibratory ingredients" contain the essential secrets of man's patterns of all kinds--and in all degrees and levels. The progress of the wheel, from ascendant through twelfth house--counter-clockwise--opens up to our understanding the "onwardness and upwardness" of evolutionary unfoldment as it expresses the song of "I AM" in the four quadrants. Cosmic "Triune-ity" is physically manifested by what we usually refer to as the "three dimensions" of length, width, and height but no one of these three can manifest without the other two. This triune-ity of one composite physical dimension has its astrological correspondence in the triune-ity of each quadrant's division of three houses; the four quadrants are then seen to express the totality of the wheel in twelve houses~-four triune-dimensional levels of consciousness and unfoldment. This is the symbolic picturing of "Pilgrim's Progress."

   Since, then, the pattern of the twelve-housed wheel depicts the essential progress of any human unfoldment, it naturally follows that its symbols can refer to our experience as astrologers. In other words, certain specialized faculties and qualities of consciousness, in composite, comprise the "astrologer-part" of our being; and for a certain number of incarnations this realm of consciousness is exercised to a certain way as a factor in our unfoldment.

   Our "astrologer-consciousness," because of its specializations, may be likened to a "sub-entity" in the entity of our composite consciousness, similar, shall we say, to "yellow" or "purple" being sub-entities in the composite vibrational entity that we call "color." Each sub-entity has, of course, its principal divisions and they, in turn, their myriads of variational expressions. So it is with the wheel and the signs by division in decanates, degrees, minutes, and seconds.

   The "astrologer-part" of human consciousness is a composite of those factors which make us scientist, artist, and priest- teacher. Just as the cardinal color-vibrations are linked to each other by their gradations so do these three human correlatives blend into each other to make the "spectrum" of astrological consciousness. All people who work in astrology may tend, to a degree, to align themselves essentially to one of the three classifications, but we must come to a point of "synthesizing ourselves" with all three if our astrological "chapter of development" is to be complete and well-rounded out.

   The essential meanings of the first three houses contain the secrets of the remaining three quadrants, the second, third, and fourth quadrants being "extensions" of the first. It is felt that by "X-ray" consideration of the first quadrant we can unlock the secret of these qualities and capacities of human consciousness which in specialized expression, give definition to our "astrological self"--the sum-total of which pictures humanity as "astro-philosopher."

   First House: the Ascendant of every horoscope; the first utterance of "I AM"; the physical envelope which instrumentates the consciousness; the awareness of being and of physical manifestation; the awareness of the "being-ness" of all things; the exoteric consciousness which identifies humanity as a factor in the manifested universe; in the beginning, man perceives this manifestation as form exterior to himself; subsequently, in unfoldment from the chrysalis of first-house consciousness, he perceives the multi-dimensionality of life by "esoteric" or "subjective" awareness and realization.

   As expression of the first house, the astro- philosopher is "astrologer-as-scientist." His approach to the subject is based on his desire to understand the physical expression of life from a basis that is different from any he has had before. Since his attention is focused on form, he naturally pays careful attention to quality and measurement. He trains himself to scrupulous accuracy regarding the mathematical calculations involved because they are the skeletal form upon which his interpretative abilities will develop. Further, he seeks to unlock the secrets of abstract symbols as they serve to delineate the processes by which the Physical World manifests. He recognizes that humanity functions by its specialized principles as a machine functions according to its mechanical principles. He studies events as they represent the "form-side" of astrological-patterns-in-action. He studies his own chart in terms of synchronizing event with aspect; in early stages of development he identifies his aspects by relating them to vibrational action outside of himself.

   Since he is a "first house expression," the astro- scientist is the astrological pioneer. He is a path-breaker in the sense that he "projects" awareness of astrological truths into his circle of acquaintances and associations. He is a "stimulator," bringing knowledge of a "new subject" to his immediate circle or to the world at large.

   The developments of the astro-scientist are shown by the first house of the second and third quadrants; i.e. the fourth and seventh houses. It is through these chapters that the astro-scientist begins to develop his subjective awareness, because on these levels he must turn his "astro-scientific eyes" into the charts of those to whom he is drawn in family-pattern and in relationship-pattern. The "scientificness" of his approach urges him, naturally, to try to understand the charts of those who are nearest and dearest to him in personal relationship. The astro-scientist fails at this point if he permits his astrological awareness to be disturbed and distorted by his feelings toward the charts--and their contexts--of those who are close to him. The objective, unemotional, scientific part of him must be trained and disciplined to hold to its own truth, regardless of the feelings he has toward the person whose chart he is studying. Astro- philosophy, in this way, proves its value as an "impersonalizer" of the desire-nature; it makes possible a technique by which the mind may be trained to "see clearly" in spite of the claims of the desire-nature; as astro- philosophers, we must all acquire and maintain this impersonal scientific approach toward all charts.

   In his tenth house expression the astro-scientist rounds out his studies by including an understanding of many, if not all, of the patterns of interpretation. He studies horary astrology; he studies the charts of nations and governments, groups, institutions, and events which pertain to many people together. He studies astro-biology and astro-diagnosis; he knows something of how different "systems" present the subject. In other words, this scientificness is extended in scope to include an understanding of the vibratory essentials of any and all kinds of manifestations of the objectified life of humanity. The astro-scientist who keeps his interest in the subject uncommercial has the best chance of unfolding in a rhythmic and natural way.

   Second House: abstractly ruled by Venus, the second house is the feminine correlative of the first. It is the first of the fixed houses, its cusp is the starting-point of the trine-symbol and it initiates those levels of consciousness by which the astro-artist is born. Since this is the only feminine sign of the first quadrant, it initiates the two triplicities of the earth and water trines which include the symbolizings of humanity's emotional resources and responsiveness, its urge-to-love and its urge-to-transmute; its urge-to-beauty, with all of that urge's attendant inspirations and aspirations, visions, dreams, and ideals.

   The term "astro-artist" is used to designate that part of our consciousness which projects the first house into realms of identity with people, not just of "understanding things." It is from the love-center that all artistry is cultivated, all true service projected, and all refinements realized. The astro-artist sees in astrology a channeling for the releasement of his emotional urges; also, through knowledge accumulated in his "scientific stage," he expresses the desire to harmonize and beautify human life by bringing to people an awareness of the essential goodnesses and beauties inherent in the great Principles of Life as they are designated in symbology.

   The essential mainspring of the astro-artist's motivation is sympathy, a basic attribute of the feminine consciousness (second house: Taurus, ruled by Venus, exaltation point of the Moon). The astro-artist wants to help, to encourage, to console, to lift, and to inspire. If he has not grounded himself in the requirements of the "scientific stage" his urge to help and to express his sympathetic feeling, may be, to a degree, impeded because he has failed to train himself in the technicalities of the subject. In other words since he is functioning from the center of feelings-- an intensely personal motivation--he must develop the "form side" of the subject so that his interpretations will be made from accurate pictures. By adherence to sincerity of motivation, the astro-artist avoids the pitfalls that may be in the way of all people whose emotional responsiveness is the keynote of their natures. These pitfalls may be sympathy uncontrolled by knowledge, false pity by which the astro-artist tends to turn away from pictures of needed redirection that are shown in the chart, and failure to perceive how EACH INDIVIDUAL CAN LEARN TO HELP HIMSELF BY UNDERSTANDING HIMSELF. The "complete" astro-artist cultivates detachment from emotional involvement in the problems of his client; he utilizes his awareness of the Principle of Cause-and-Effect as it manifests in the horoscope and sees the Law in operation throughout. However, his heart, mind, and hands are open to all who need his guidance; by adhering to the truth of astro-artistry he unfolds those transcendent areas of consciousness and faculty by which intuition and inspiration are born.

   Third House: in this expression, the astro- philosopher combines the qualities of the first two and adds to them knowledge of the human consciousness that makes it possible for him to interpret the astrological patterns in their most deeply subjective phases. He has skill, a trained mentality, a sound technique. To this he adds a compassionate heart--a consciousness warmly responsive to the inner needs of his fellow-beings. To this, in turn, he adds an inclusive mental grasp of the meaning of astrological symbols and patterns as they picture states of being, states of relationship, and states of evolution--not just events and suffering. Since the third house is polarized into the ninth, we see that the astro-philosopher of the third house type is scientist, artist, and teacher. The compositeness of his consciousness permits him to be designated as priest-teacher or "astro- priest." He is the "elder brother" to all who seek his guidance, because he has traversed the experience-patterns of those who come to him; he understands because he has realized through his own experience.

   He knows sex and marriage because he has distilled understanding from his incarnations as male and female; he knows husbandhood and wifehood, passion and sacrifice, childhood and parenthood. He knows that the outer is a reflection of the inner and seeks, always, to bring the minds of people into alignment with this truth. Because he stands as an intermediary between man's ignorance and enlightenment; the astro-priest fulfills the same function in his astrological service that any priest does in a ceremonial religion; as priest, he "sees the problem" from the vantage-point of wisdom. The astro-scientist knows the effect of vibratory forces on individuals and groups; the astro-priest understands the vibratory life of humanity. The scientist is objective, the priest is subjective; the artist may be one or the other, depending on which of the two classifications he aligns himself with most strongly. However, the astro-priest's motivation is not scientific; he includes that level but his extensions include the upper, transcendent levels of both mind and heart.

   The unfoldments of the astro-philosopher as priest- teacher are very interesting because the last phase of his "cross" (the mutable signs) is the twelfth house--the "finale" of the wheel. Since he is a composite of the first two types, plus something else, his development stages involve testings and rewardings that are comparatively greater than those of the other two.

   The astro-priest, in his "primitive stage" is the moralist, sub-expression of the ninth house. His literal interpretations of principle are necessary because he has not, as yet, had sufficient experience to round out his understanding. In this level, the astro-priest sees the chart as "picturing of good-versus-evil." Since he himself stands as a point of differentiation of these two factors in the minds of his clients--and they are attracted to him by the power of vibratory sympathy--his "moral consciousness" is the focal point of his interpretations. He very often, in this level, cannot perceive the "relativity" of what he calls "good and bad" and reads into the chart of his client his own standards. He may have the best of the first two types, but his own truth is, as yet, unevolved. The polarity of the third house is the ninth and it, in turn, is the result of the quadrant initiated by the seventh house and realized by the transmutations of the eighth house. The resultant understanding is what is represented by the ninth and it is that which the astro-philosopher, as priest-teacher, strives for in his unfoldment, as the door into the fourth quadrant.

   The third house comes into its "flowerings" in the seventh and eleventh houses; in these chapters, the astro-priest recognizes his "parallelity" with all people; as his unfoldment progresses by transcendence of experience, he realizes love-wisdom. He recognizes that the human is a suspension of the cosmic in all of its expressions and, in himself, he finds that which reflects the solution of his client's problems. Then it is seen that the composite goal of the astro-philosopher is realization that the worst in his client has been his own worst, at some time in the past; his best is an illumination into the dark corners of his client's conditions and reactions to those conditions. His wisdom and his love become fathomless resources for the re-direction of human patterns.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume 5
First Edition

The Rosicrucian Fellowship

Mt. Ecclesia
Oceanside, California, U.S.A.
Foreword

   The first four volumes of this series of astrological interpretations have been received with such a warm welcome by so many astrology students that we are pleased to present Volume V.

   Mr. Bacher's profound knowledge of and devotion to the stellar science, along with an uncanny understanding of human nature, made it possible for him to present material which undoubtedly places him among the best of modern esoteric astrologers. As the truth and value of his spiritual interpretation of astrology become more and more generally accepted, his presentations will serve increasingly to help people know themselves and fulfill their highest destiny.

   Before passing in the early 1950s Mr. Bacher expressed a keen desire to have us publish his articles in book form, and although we deeply regret that he did not live to see his publications made available to the public, we are happy in knowing that his wish is being fulfilled.

Introduction

   To the Rosicrucian student astrology is a phase of religion, basically a spiritual science. More than any other study it reveals man to himself. No other science is so sublime, so profound, and so all-embracing. It portrays the relation between God, the macrocosm, and man, the microcosm, showing them to be fundamentally one.

   Occult science, investigating the subtler forces that impinge upon man, the Spirit, and his vehicles, has charted their effects with no less definiteness than has academic science the reactions of sea and soil, plant and animal to the solar and lunar rays.

   With this knowledge we may determine the astrological pattern of each individual and know the relative strength and weakness of the various forces operating in each life. To the degree that we are in possession of such knowledge we can begin systematic, scientific character building--and character is destiny! We note times and seasons cosmically advantageous to unfolding undeveloped qualities, correcting faulty traits, and eliminating destructive propensities.

   The divine science of astrology reveals the hidden causes at work in our lives. It counsels the adult in regard to vocation, the parent in the guidance of children, the teacher in management of pupils, the physician in diagnosing disease, thus lending aid to each and all in whatever position they may find themselves.

   No other subject within the range of human knowledge appears to hold for this day and age the possibilities open to astrologers for helping people to their own dignity as gods-in-the-making, to a greater grasp of universal law, and to a realization that we are eternally secure within the caressing fold of Infinite Life and Boundless Being.

Chapter I
The Astrologer as Scientist, Artist, and Priest-Teacher

   The symbols of the circle, its quadrants, the zodiacal signs, the planets and their aspects must be understood to be symbols of life-essences, their purposes and functions, if astrology is to take its rightful place in the family of Illuminations. The approach that anything that is depicted in astrology is essentially bad makes it, relatively, impossible for the constructive work to be adequately fulfilled; further, such an approach has about as much correspondence to astrological truth as has the "hell-fire-and- damnation" version of Christianity to the simple, luminous teachings of Jesus.

   "Philosophy" means "love of Wisdom" and man's paths toward the attainment of understanding are many. Since astrology is one of the principle paths by which humanity finds illumination this material is presented so that students may come into a clearer recognition of the three paths which should be traversed by them, in some degree, and must be traversed if they are to fulfill their purposes as "Astro-Philosophers."

   The wheel of the horoscope and its "vibratory ingredients" contain the essential secrets of man's patterns of all kinds--and in all degrees and levels. The progress of the wheel, from ascendant through twelfth house--counter-clockwise--opens up to our understanding the "onwardness and upwardness" of evolutionary unfoldment as it expresses the song of "I AM" in the four quadrants. Cosmic "Triune-ity" is physically manifested by what we usually refer to as the "three dimensions" of length, width, and height but no one of these three can manifest without the other two. This triune-ity of one composite physical dimension has its astrological correspondence in the triune-ity of each quadrant's division of three houses; the four quadrants are then seen to express the totality of the wheel in twelve houses~-four triune-dimensional levels of consciousness and unfoldment. This is the symbolic picturing of "Pilgrim's Progress."

   Since, then, the pattern of the twelve-housed wheel depicts the essential progress of any human unfoldment, it naturally follows that its symbols can refer to our experience as astrologers. In other words, certain specialized faculties and qualities of consciousness, in composite, comprise the "astrologer-part" of our being; and for a certain number of incarnations this realm of consciousness is exercised to a certain way as a factor in our unfoldment.

   Our "astrologer-consciousness," because of its specializations, may be likened to a "sub-entity" in the entity of our composite consciousness, similar, shall we say, to "yellow" or "purple" being sub-entities in the composite vibrational entity that we call "color." Each sub-entity has, of course, its principal divisions and they, in turn, their myriads of variational expressions. So it is with the wheel and the signs by division in decanates, degrees, minutes, and seconds.

   The "astrologer-part" of human consciousness is a composite of those factors which make us scientist, artist, and priest- teacher. Just as the cardinal color-vibrations are linked to each other by their gradations so do these three human correlatives blend into each other to make the "spectrum" of astrological consciousness. All people who work in astrology may tend, to a degree, to align themselves essentially to one of the three classifications, but we must come to a point of "synthesizing ourselves" with all three if our astrological "chapter of development" is to be complete and well-rounded out.

   The essential meanings of the first three houses contain the secrets of the remaining three quadrants, the second, third, and fourth quadrants being "extensions" of the first. It is felt that by "X-ray" consideration of the first quadrant we can unlock the secret of these qualities and capacities of human consciousness which in specialized expression, give definition to our "astrological self"--the sum-total of which pictures humanity as "astro-philosopher."

   First House: the Ascendant of every horoscope; the first utterance of "I AM"; the physical envelope which instrumentates the consciousness; the awareness of being and of physical manifestation; the awareness of the "being-ness" of all things; the exoteric consciousness which identifies humanity as a factor in the manifested universe; in the beginning, man perceives this manifestation as form exterior to himself; subsequently, in unfoldment from the chrysalis of first-house consciousness, he perceives the multi-dimensionality of life by "esoteric" or "subjective" awareness and realization.

   As expression of the first house, the astro- philosopher is "astrologer-as-scientist." His approach to the subject is based on his desire to understand the physical expression of life from a basis that is different from any he has had before. Since his attention is focused on form, he naturally pays careful attention to quality and measurement. He trains himself to scrupulous accuracy regarding the mathematical calculations involved because they are the skeletal form upon which his interpretative abilities will develop. Further, he seeks to unlock the secrets of abstract symbols as they serve to delineate the processes by which the Physical World manifests. He recognizes that humanity functions by its specialized principles as a machine functions according to its mechanical principles. He studies events as they represent the "form-side" of astrological-patterns-in-action. He studies his own chart in terms of synchronizing event with aspect; in early stages of development he identifies his aspects by relating them to vibrational action outside of himself.

   Since he is a "first house expression," the astro- scientist is the astrological pioneer. He is a path-breaker in the sense that he "projects" awareness of astrological truths into his circle of acquaintances and associations. He is a "stimulator," bringing knowledge of a "new subject" to his immediate circle or to the world at large.

   The developments of the astro-scientist are shown by the first house of the second and third quadrants; i.e. the fourth and seventh houses. It is through these chapters that the astro-scientist begins to develop his subjective awareness, because on these levels he must turn his "astro-scientific eyes" into the charts of those to whom he is drawn in family-pattern and in relationship-pattern. The "scientificness" of his approach urges him, naturally, to try to understand the charts of those who are nearest and dearest to him in personal relationship. The astro-scientist fails at this point if he permits his astrological awareness to be disturbed and distorted by his feelings toward the charts--and their contexts--of those who are close to him. The objective, unemotional, scientific part of him must be trained and disciplined to hold to its own truth, regardless of the feelings he has toward the person whose chart he is studying. Astro- philosophy, in this way, proves its value as an "impersonalizer" of the desire-nature; it makes possible a technique by which the mind may be trained to "see clearly" in spite of the claims of the desire-nature; as astro- philosophers, we must all acquire and maintain this impersonal scientific approach toward all charts.

   In his tenth house expression the astro-scientist rounds out his studies by including an understanding of many, if not all, of the patterns of interpretation. He studies horary astrology; he studies the charts of nations and governments, groups, institutions, and events which pertain to many people together. He studies astro-biology and astro-diagnosis; he knows something of how different "systems" present the subject. In other words, this scientificness is extended in scope to include an understanding of the vibratory essentials of any and all kinds of manifestations of the objectified life of humanity. The astro-scientist who keeps his interest in the subject uncommercial has the best chance of unfolding in a rhythmic and natural way.

   Second House: abstractly ruled by Venus, the second house is the feminine correlative of the first. It is the first of the fixed houses, its cusp is the starting-point of the trine-symbol and it initiates those levels of consciousness by which the astro-artist is born. Since this is the only feminine sign of the first quadrant, it initiates the two triplicities of the earth and water trines which include the symbolizings of humanity's emotional resources and responsiveness, its urge-to-love and its urge-to-transmute; its urge-to-beauty, with all of that urge's attendant inspirations and aspirations, visions, dreams, and ideals.

   The term "astro-artist" is used to designate that part of our consciousness which projects the first house into realms of identity with people, not just of "understanding things." It is from the love-center that all artistry is cultivated, all true service projected, and all refinements realized. The astro-artist sees in astrology a channeling for the releasement of his emotional urges; also, through knowledge accumulated in his "scientific stage," he expresses the desire to harmonize and beautify human life by bringing to people an awareness of the essential goodnesses and beauties inherent in the great Principles of Life as they are designated in symbology.

   The essential mainspring of the astro-artist's motivation is sympathy, a basic attribute of the feminine consciousness (second house: Taurus, ruled by Venus, exaltation point of the Moon). The astro-artist wants to help, to encourage, to console, to lift, and to inspire. If he has not grounded himself in the requirements of the "scientific stage" his urge to help and to express his sympathetic feeling, may be, to a degree, impeded because he has failed to train himself in the technicalities of the subject. In other words since he is functioning from the center of feelings-- an intensely personal motivation--he must develop the "form side" of the subject so that his interpretations will be made from accurate pictures. By adherence to sincerity of motivation, the astro-artist avoids the pitfalls that may be in the way of all people whose emotional responsiveness is the keynote of their natures. These pitfalls may be sympathy uncontrolled by knowledge, false pity by which the astro-artist tends to turn away from pictures of needed redirection that are shown in the chart, and failure to perceive how EACH INDIVIDUAL CAN LEARN TO HELP HIMSELF BY UNDERSTANDING HIMSELF. The "complete" astro-artist cultivates detachment from emotional involvement in the problems of his client; he utilizes his awareness of the Principle of Cause-and-Effect as it manifests in the horoscope and sees the Law in operation throughout. However, his heart, mind, and hands are open to all who need his guidance; by adhering to the truth of astro-artistry he unfolds those transcendent areas of consciousness and faculty by which intuition and inspiration are born.

   Third House: in this expression, the astro- philosopher combines the qualities of the first two and adds to them knowledge of the human consciousness that makes it possible for him to interpret the astrological patterns in their most deeply subjective phases. He has skill, a trained mentality, a sound technique. To this he adds a compassionate heart--a consciousness warmly responsive to the inner needs of his fellow-beings. To this, in turn, he adds an inclusive mental grasp of the meaning of astrological symbols and patterns as they picture states of being, states of relationship, and states of evolution--not just events and suffering. Since the third house is polarized into the ninth, we see that the astro-philosopher of the third house type is scientist, artist, and teacher. The compositeness of his consciousness permits him to be designated as priest-teacher or "astro- priest." He is the "elder brother" to all who seek his guidance, because he has traversed the experience-patterns of those who come to him; he understands because he has realized through his own experience.

   He knows sex and marriage because he has distilled understanding from his incarnations as male and female; he knows husbandhood and wifehood, passion and sacrifice, childhood and parenthood. He knows that the outer is a reflection of the inner and seeks, always, to bring the minds of people into alignment with this truth. Because he stands as an intermediary between man's ignorance and enlightenment; the astro-priest fulfills the same function in his astrological service that any priest does in a ceremonial religion; as priest, he "sees the problem" from the vantage-point of wisdom. The astro-scientist knows the effect of vibratory forces on individuals and groups; the astro-priest understands the vibratory life of humanity. The scientist is objective, the priest is subjective; the artist may be one or the other, depending on which of the two classifications he aligns himself with most strongly. However, the astro-priest's motivation is not scientific; he includes that level but his extensions include the upper, transcendent levels of both mind and heart.

   The unfoldments of the astro-philosopher as priest- teacher are very interesting because the last phase of his "cross" (the mutable signs) is the twelfth house--the "finale" of the wheel. Since he is a composite of the first two types, plus something else, his development stages involve testings and rewardings that are comparatively greater than those of the other two.

   The astro-priest, in his "primitive stage" is the moralist, sub-expression of the ninth house. His literal interpretations of principle are necessary because he has not, as yet, had sufficient experience to round out his understanding. In this level, the astro-priest sees the chart as "picturing of good-versus-evil." Since he himself stands as a point of differentiation of these two factors in the minds of his clients--and they are attracted to him by the power of vibratory sympathy--his "moral consciousness" is the focal point of his interpretations. He very often, in this level, cannot perceive the "relativity" of what he calls "good and bad" and reads into the chart of his client his own standards. He may have the best of the first two types, but his own truth is, as yet, unevolved. The polarity of the third house is the ninth and it, in turn, is the result of the quadrant initiated by the seventh house and realized by the transmutations of the eighth house. The resultant understanding is what is represented by the ninth and it is that which the astro-philosopher, as priest-teacher, strives for in his unfoldment, as the door into the fourth quadrant.

   The third house comes into its "flowerings" in the seventh and eleventh houses; in these chapters, the astro-priest recognizes his "parallelity" with all people; as his unfoldment progresses by transcendence of experience, he realizes love-wisdom. He recognizes that the human is a suspension of the cosmic in all of its expressions and, in himself, he finds that which reflects the solution of his client's problems. Then it is seen that the composite goal of the astro-philosopher is realization that the worst in his client has been his own worst, at some time in the past; his best is an illumination into the dark corners of his client's conditions and reactions to those conditions. His wisdom and his love become fathomless resources for the re-direction of human patterns.

Chapter I
The Astrologer as Scientist, Artist, and Priest-Teacher

   The symbols of the circle, its quadrants, the zodiacal signs, the planets and their aspects must be understood to be symbols of life-essences, their purposes and functions, if astrology is to take its rightful place in the family of Illuminations. The approach that anything that is depicted in astrology is essentially bad makes it, relatively, impossible for the constructive work to be adequately fulfilled; further, such an approach has about as much correspondence to astrological truth as has the "hell-fire-and- damnation" version of Christianity to the simple, luminous teachings of Jesus.

   "Philosophy" means "love of Wisdom" and man's paths toward the attainment of understanding are many. Since astrology is one of the principle paths by which humanity finds illumination this material is presented so that students may come into a clearer recognition of the three paths which should be traversed by them, in some degree, and must be traversed if they are to fulfill their purposes as "Astro-Philosophers."

   The wheel of the horoscope and its "vibratory ingredients" contain the essential secrets of man's patterns of all kinds--and in all degrees and levels. The progress of the wheel, from ascendant through twelfth house--counter-clockwise--opens up to our understanding the "onwardness and upwardness" of evolutionary unfoldment as it expresses the song of "I AM" in the four quadrants. Cosmic "Triune-ity" is physically manifested by what we usually refer to as the "three dimensions" of length, width, and height but no one of these three can manifest without the other two. This triune-ity of one composite physical dimension has its astrological correspondence in the triune-ity of each quadrant's division of three houses; the four quadrants are then seen to express the totality of the wheel in twelve houses~-four triune-dimensional levels of consciousness and unfoldment. This is the symbolic picturing of "Pilgrim's Progress."

   Since, then, the pattern of the twelve-housed wheel depicts the essential progress of any human unfoldment, it naturally follows that its symbols can refer to our experience as astrologers. In other words, certain specialized faculties and qualities of consciousness, in composite, comprise the "astrologer-part" of our being; and for a certain number of incarnations this realm of consciousness is exercised to a certain way as a factor in our unfoldment.

   Our "astrologer-consciousness," because of its specializations, may be likened to a "sub-entity" in the entity of our composite consciousness, similar, shall we say, to "yellow" or "purple" being sub-entities in the composite vibrational entity that we call "color." Each sub-entity has, of course, its principal divisions and they, in turn, their myriads of variational expressions. So it is with the wheel and the signs by division in decanates, degrees, minutes, and seconds.

   The "astrologer-part" of human consciousness is a composite of those factors which make us scientist, artist, and priest- teacher. Just as the cardinal color-vibrations are linked to each other by their gradations so do these three human correlatives blend into each other to make the "spectrum" of astrological consciousness. All people who work in astrology may tend, to a degree, to align themselves essentially to one of the three classifications, but we must come to a point of "synthesizing ourselves" with all three if our astrological "chapter of development" is to be complete and well-rounded out.

   The essential meanings of the first three houses contain the secrets of the remaining three quadrants, the second, third, and fourth quadrants being "extensions" of the first. It is felt that by "X-ray" consideration of the first quadrant we can unlock the secret of these qualities and capacities of human consciousness which in specialized expression, give definition to our "astrological self"--the sum-total of which pictures humanity as "astro-philosopher."

   First House: the Ascendant of every horoscope; the first utterance of "I AM"; the physical envelope which instrumentates the consciousness; the awareness of being and of physical manifestation; the awareness of the "being-ness" of all things; the exoteric consciousness which identifies humanity as a factor in the manifested universe; in the beginning, man perceives this manifestation as form exterior to himself; subsequently, in unfoldment from the chrysalis of first-house consciousness, he perceives the multi-dimensionality of life by "esoteric" or "subjective" awareness and realization.

   As expression of the first house, the astro- philosopher is "astrologer-as-scientist." His approach to the subject is based on his desire to understand the physical expression of life from a basis that is different from any he has had before. Since his attention is focused on form, he naturally pays careful attention to quality and measurement. He trains himself to scrupulous accuracy regarding the mathematical calculations involved because they are the skeletal form upon which his interpretative abilities will develop. Further, he seeks to unlock the secrets of abstract symbols as they serve to delineate the processes by which the Physical World manifests. He recognizes that humanity functions by its specialized principles as a machine functions according to its mechanical principles. He studies events as they represent the "form-side" of astrological-patterns-in-action. He studies his own chart in terms of synchronizing event with aspect; in early stages of development he identifies his aspects by relating them to vibrational action outside of himself.

   Since he is a "first house expression," the astro- scientist is the astrological pioneer. He is a path-breaker in the sense that he "projects" awareness of astrological truths into his circle of acquaintances and associations. He is a "stimulator," bringing knowledge of a "new subject" to his immediate circle or to the world at large.

   The developments of the astro-scientist are shown by the first house of the second and third quadrants; i.e. the fourth and seventh houses. It is through these chapters that the astro-scientist begins to develop his subjective awareness, because on these levels he must turn his "astro-scientific eyes" into the charts of those to whom he is drawn in family-pattern and in relationship-pattern. The "scientificness" of his approach urges him, naturally, to try to understand the charts of those who are nearest and dearest to him in personal relationship. The astro-scientist fails at this point if he permits his astrological awareness to be disturbed and distorted by his feelings toward the charts--and their contexts--of those who are close to him. The objective, unemotional, scientific part of him must be trained and disciplined to hold to its own truth, regardless of the feelings he has toward the person whose chart he is studying. Astro- philosophy, in this way, proves its value as an "impersonalizer" of the desire-nature; it makes possible a technique by which the mind may be trained to "see clearly" in spite of the claims of the desire-nature; as astro- philosophers, we must all acquire and maintain this impersonal scientific approach toward all charts.

   In his tenth house expression the astro-scientist rounds out his studies by including an understanding of many, if not all, of the patterns of interpretation. He studies horary astrology; he studies the charts of nations and governments, groups, institutions, and events which pertain to many people together. He studies astro-biology and astro-diagnosis; he knows something of how different "systems" present the subject. In other words, this scientificness is extended in scope to include an understanding of the vibratory essentials of any and all kinds of manifestations of the objectified life of humanity. The astro-scientist who keeps his interest in the subject uncommercial has the best chance of unfolding in a rhythmic and natural way.

   Second House: abstractly ruled by Venus, the second house is the feminine correlative of the first. It is the first of the fixed houses, its cusp is the starting-point of the trine-symbol and it initiates those levels of consciousness by which the astro-artist is born. Since this is the only feminine sign of the first quadrant, it initiates the two triplicities of the earth and water trines which include the symbolizings of humanity's emotional resources and responsiveness, its urge-to-love and its urge-to-transmute; its urge-to-beauty, with all of that urge's attendant inspirations and aspirations, visions, dreams, and ideals.

   The term "astro-artist" is used to designate that part of our consciousness which projects the first house into realms of identity with people, not just of "understanding things." It is from the love-center that all artistry is cultivated, all true service projected, and all refinements realized. The astro-artist sees in astrology a channeling for the releasement of his emotional urges; also, through knowledge accumulated in his "scientific stage," he expresses the desire to harmonize and beautify human life by bringing to people an awareness of the essential goodnesses and beauties inherent in the great Principles of Life as they are designated in symbology.

   The essential mainspring of the astro-artist's motivation is sympathy, a basic attribute of the feminine consciousness (second house: Taurus, ruled by Venus, exaltation point of the Moon). The astro-artist wants to help, to encourage, to console, to lift, and to inspire. If he has not grounded himself in the requirements of the "scientific stage" his urge to help and to express his sympathetic feeling, may be, to a degree, impeded because he has failed to train himself in the technicalities of the subject. In other words since he is functioning from the center of feelings-- an intensely personal motivation--he must develop the "form side" of the subject so that his interpretations will be made from accurate pictures. By adherence to sincerity of motivation, the astro-artist avoids the pitfalls that may be in the way of all people whose emotional responsiveness is the keynote of their natures. These pitfalls may be sympathy uncontrolled by knowledge, false pity by which the astro-artist tends to turn away from pictures of needed redirection that are shown in the chart, and failure to perceive how EACH INDIVIDUAL CAN LEARN TO HELP HIMSELF BY UNDERSTANDING HIMSELF. The "complete" astro-artist cultivates detachment from emotional involvement in the problems of his client; he utilizes his awareness of the Principle of Cause-and-Effect as it manifests in the horoscope and sees the Law in operation throughout. However, his heart, mind, and hands are open to all who need his guidance; by adhering to the truth of astro-artistry he unfolds those transcendent areas of consciousness and faculty by which intuition and inspiration are born.

   Third House: in this expression, the astro- philosopher combines the qualities of the first two and adds to them knowledge of the human consciousness that makes it possible for him to interpret the astrological patterns in their most deeply subjective phases. He has skill, a trained mentality, a sound technique. To this he adds a compassionate heart--a consciousness warmly responsive to the inner needs of his fellow-beings. To this, in turn, he adds an inclusive mental grasp of the meaning of astrological symbols and patterns as they picture states of being, states of relationship, and states of evolution--not just events and suffering. Since the third house is polarized into the ninth, we see that the astro-philosopher of the third house type is scientist, artist, and teacher. The compositeness of his consciousness permits him to be designated as priest-teacher or "astro- priest." He is the "elder brother" to all who seek his guidance, because he has traversed the experience-patterns of those who come to him; he understands because he has realized through his own experience.

   He knows sex and marriage because he has distilled understanding from his incarnations as male and female; he knows husbandhood and wifehood, passion and sacrifice, childhood and parenthood. He knows that the outer is a reflection of the inner and seeks, always, to bring the minds of people into alignment with this truth. Because he stands as an intermediary between man's ignorance and enlightenment; the astro-priest fulfills the same function in his astrological service that any priest does in a ceremonial religion; as priest, he "sees the problem" from the vantage-point of wisdom. The astro-scientist knows the effect of vibratory forces on individuals and groups; the astro-priest understands the vibratory life of humanity. The scientist is objective, the priest is subjective; the artist may be one or the other, depending on which of the two classifications he aligns himself with most strongly. However, the astro-priest's motivation is not scientific; he includes that level but his extensions include the upper, transcendent levels of both mind and heart.

   The unfoldments of the astro-philosopher as priest- teacher are very interesting because the last phase of his "cross" (the mutable signs) is the twelfth house--the "finale" of the wheel. Since he is a composite of the first two types, plus something else, his development stages involve testings and rewardings that are comparatively greater than those of the other two.

   The astro-priest, in his "primitive stage" is the moralist, sub-expression of the ninth house. His literal interpretations of principle are necessary because he has not, as yet, had sufficient experience to round out his understanding. In this level, the astro-priest sees the chart as "picturing of good-versus-evil." Since he himself stands as a point of differentiation of these two factors in the minds of his clients--and they are attracted to him by the power of vibratory sympathy--his "moral consciousness" is the focal point of his interpretations. He very often, in this level, cannot perceive the "relativity" of what he calls "good and bad" and reads into the chart of his client his own standards. He may have the best of the first two types, but his own truth is, as yet, unevolved. The polarity of the third house is the ninth and it, in turn, is the result of the quadrant initiated by the seventh house and realized by the transmutations of the eighth house. The resultant understanding is what is represented by the ninth and it is that which the astro-philosopher, as priest-teacher, strives for in his unfoldment, as the door into the fourth quadrant.

   The third house comes into its "flowerings" in the seventh and eleventh houses; in these chapters, the astro-priest recognizes his "parallelity" with all people; as his unfoldment progresses by transcendence of experience, he realizes love-wisdom. He recognizes that the human is a suspension of the cosmic in all of its expressions and, in himself, he finds that which reflects the solution of his client's problems. Then it is seen that the composite goal of the astro-philosopher is realization that the worst in his client has been his own worst, at some time in the past; his best is an illumination into the dark corners of his client's conditions and reactions to those conditions. His wisdom and his love become fathomless resources for the re-direction of human patterns.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume V
Chapter II
Astro Philosophy Discusses Government

   Government is the "functioning of the Universe in accordance with Cosmic Principles." It is the One Directive which impels the cause of, organizes and harmonizes the effect of, every creative and epigenetic action in the Cosmos. Since it is the expression of the One Will, cosmic government is archetypal Autocracy; it is the root-pattern by which every Logos, microcosmically, orders the life of its manifestation and it is that which, in human terms, we designate as mastery. Rulership, in any octave, is an aspect of the Directive Power symbolized by the Sun; all planetary powers are derivatives of this Unity.

   The symbolic design we call the "square aspect"--a square resting on its horizontal base--is the arch-symbol of compressed congestion of potentials. It is made up of two expressions of the dynamic vertical and two expressions of the receptive horizontal; it pictures the juxtaposition of diametric opposites seemingly in contention with each other. A congestion has the effect of gravitational down-pulling, inhibition, suppression of expressive possibilities, slowing up of expressive and responsive action. It pictures an intensification of the tendency-to-inertia which, after a certain point, is death of the form as a vehicle of the Spirit. This pictures the "reign of the Devil," the domination of expression by suppression, the bondage of "on-and-up-going-ness" to "in-and-down-going- ness." The Spirit, Solar Power in its biune expression of Love-Wisdom, seeks always, in human consciousness, to overthrow and disintegrate this "rulership by shadow."

   The symbol for government as Cosmic or Archetypal Ordering is the diagonal square. This is the symmetrically balanced square standing on its lower angle. Each of its four lines is a symmetrical diagonal, hence each composites verticality and horizontality. Herein is seen the difference, as symbol of consciousness, between this square and the static square. Therefore rhythmic sequence is pictured by travel around its circumference. When the cross of horizontal and vertical diameters is added within this square, each of the two lines bisects a pair of opposite angles and the polarity of each angle-point is thereby objectified. By this four-fold bisection of angles, the Masculine-Feminine of Male-Female of Immature-Mature of microcosms of any archetype is outpictured. We are concerned with humans as individualizations of the archetype "Humanity," so this diagonal square with its structure cross, pictures macrocosmically the government of this archetype and microcosmically the "government-consciousness," passive and active, of the individual human.

   We now transpose this symbol into the octave of astrological symbolism; place the circular symbol of the Sun at the center (the jointure of the two cross-lines) and the symbols for Aries, Capricorn, Libra, and Cancer at the left, upper, right, and lower angle-points, respectively. The result is the Great Mandala without its circumscribing circle--the "skeleton" of Humanity as an evolving--not evolved--archetype and that of the individual human as an epigenetically evolving microcosm. We will discuss the "problems" of "Government of humans by humans" as they specialize in the three basic types of "being governed."

   Considering the dynamic essence of Aries-Mars as the "personality" of the incarnated human archetype, we are sensitive to the "controlling agencies" represented by the other three structure-points which are all, generically speaking, more feminine than Aries. The feminine polarity of the Cosmos is that which receives and shapes the dynamic essences. As Aries, through Mars, "blasts forth his energies from the Ascendant-point," Capricorn-Saturn, Libra-Venus, and Cancer-Moon stand as organizers and co- ordinators of the vital expressions. "That which Aries comes from"--as the "thing incarnated" in this mandate--is parentage; by parentage is the individualized form begotten, by parentage is the form sustained, protected, and nurtured. Therefore, Cancer-Capricorn as archetypal parentage is the first coordinator-governor of the individual's expression. The first of these, however, is Cancer--the symbol of Matrix, and the arch-symbol of seed-source. This, in group-terms, is government for the perpetuation and preservation of forces; it is the most primitive form of group-government. The primitive human was subjected entirely to the directive power of the elders of the tribe, and his significance was not as an individual, for himself, but as a factor of the tribal unity. His evaluation to the tribe was physical--his strength, prowess, combative and generative ability were the ear-marks of his value to the life of the tribe. His identity was tribal, his virtue was obedience to the directives of the elders. In relationship to that narrow directive he was "child" and child he remained until he, in time, began to realize an awareness of himself as an individual. To accept external directive unquestioningly, unthinkingly, is to be subject to the parental principle of government, secular or religious. And this applies to people living now as well as those who inhabited the jungles thousands of years ago.

   Governments that encourage such attitudes in their people as blind, unthinking adherence, in whatever form, to such a concept as "Mother Church"; fanatic patriotism; dependency on group-opinion and group- feeling for guidance; racial prejudice and hatred; or habitual addiction to governmental bounty for material sustainment are those that are functioning as external moldings of a very limited consciousness. They have their karmic and evolutionary place, and AS SUCH THEY ARE GOOD. But no government of this kind was, is, or can be a permanent pattern for any group because its essential function is to coordinate and focus a collective primitivity. Evolution serves to transcend primitivity on any octave. Cancer-Capricorn is archetypal structure; it is the symbol of security to the subconscious of Humanity. It symbolizes "that which was," and primitive (ignorant, fearful) people cling to an established external (parents, home, church, nationality-concept, etc.) to realize security. A government that congests on this function is one which discourages individual effort and thought; and in that way lies the path to dictatorship, which is "parental government" that has been allowed to become the tool for an intensely focused negative power-consciousness (of an individual or a group of allied individuals or nations). In primitive times, people thrived and progressed under the protective administration of men relatively wise, but the same basic type of government, in the hands of unprincipled and heartless persons, turns the parental quality into tyranny-- by which the collective residues of hatreds, greeds and cruelties become focused in the power-lusts of the ruler who personifies such a nation. This type of government becomes DEGENERATE the moment the welfare of the people at large is disregarded or when the attributes of individual initiative and expression are weakened through over-giving. Too much protection and bounty are as out of line with governmental principles as are cruel suppression and disregard of human rights. No one evolves who copies, in his personal life, the degenerate example of bad rulers; he simply adds negative power to the "power-for-evil" of the ruler and to the collective, congested evil of his fellows. To accept national or government bounty as a "timely assistance" and use it for its purpose (to "get going again") is in keeping with the principle of the type of government; to make a habit of accepting assistance from "Father-Mother Government" is to traduce one's incentives for growth, fulfillment, and maturity. (Parents--governors of your family circles--do you encourage dependency in your children? Or do you encourage the exercise of reason and ability so that your children may rhythmically develop the maturity of self-reliance?) It is true that some adults are so conditioned that they feel they have no reason for existing unless someone is leaning on them; they would rather "feel strong by comparison" than try to encourage the individual abilities of the weaker one. They are functioning, subconsciously, to try to compensate for a guilt (unfulfilled responsibility) complex . They resent any attempt of the "weaker person" to develop his own potentials and they are, in this respect, not too unlike some politicians who promise to give everything in return for a vote. Think about this in terms of present-day conditions. To be prominent and highly placed, to be called wonderful, great, kind, generous, etc., is the be-all and end-all of what they call happiness; and they are conditioned--and willing--to give anything in payment for this kind of approbation. A family formed by two such parents, a nation directed by such a ruler, will achieve pretty much the same kind of results--a parasitic undependable child on one hand, and a parasitic undependable, irresponsible citizenry on the other.

   The polarization of this governmental type is Capricorn, the Saturn vibration, symbol of the aristocratic type of government. Its keyword is Hierarchy--it is the first type extended into much more diffusion of expression by many classes which, congested and unregenerate, results in the infamy of caste. Cultivated, it provides the manifestation of cultivation and refinement (externally at least), the exercise of abundance through wealth for artistic and educational purposes. The vice of this type of government is seen in the emphasis of superficialities (ancestry, family background, money) as standards by which the individual is valued. The policy or slogan: "As long as it looks all right it's good" is typical of the surface-evaluation of this type. Ambition to realize place in the hierarchy takes the place of aspiration to realize self-improvement; adherence to crystallized formal standards of conduct, thought and belief may designate the identity of a "member in good standing" but it hardly can be taken as an identity of a person who is exercising his individual values and capacities. Saturn, the condensation of matrix, characterizes this type through the tendency to resist--stubbornly--needed changes; maintenance of established forms becomes so fixated a purpose that improvements which would benefit all are either ignored or disdained. The practice, over long periods of time, of wealth being congested in specific points of the hierarchy breeds corruption, because it discourages individual exercise. The monetary "fluid"--the life-blood of practical exchange--is a means by which humans can realize certain benefits by use of their individual faculties and intelligence. When it is handed down through generations in a relatively limited scope it becomes a karmic testing of individuals to take it and use it without making effort for themselves and so weaken themselves, or it makes possible a material compensation, of a karmic nature, to those who are conditioned to use it wisely for the improvement, progress, and well-being of themselves and others. However, a true aristocrat does not need family-background, this-and-that of ancestry, so much inherited wealth, and such-and-such a "position" to demonstrate the refinement of his nature and inclinations. He graces and beautifies whatever "station God has seen fit to place him"; his influence is one of refinement on all who know him. The aristocratic government that uses the public, but which has forgotten that it too has a pattern of service to fulfill to the public, traduces the best of its qualities. To have the advantages of education and not use them for a more extended good, to have access to large sums of money and congest on triviality, to disdain one's fellowman because of difference of position is no aristocracy--it is only a shadow of a mask of it. And the mask smiles-- cynically and unbeautifully. Aristocracy gives humanity the opportunity to observe its collective consciousness of separativeness in action. The study of aristocratic governments throughout various historical periods and in different nations tells us what ultimately happens when, by an illusionary concept, we seek to separate our common destiny-patterns from our fellows. This concept, diffused through the mechanism of organized religions, Christian or otherwise, has resulted in some of the most terrible karmic causation because, by its very nature it seeks to fight against the very thing that all religion seeks to establish--the ever-clarified sense of (God's and Life's) Unity in the human consciousness. The parent, separated in his consciousness from his child as a fellow-human, says: "Do what I say. I am your parent." There is nothing in such a statement to appeal to the reason or heart of the child. It serves to intensify his feeling of inferiority-difference in subservient relationship to his parent instead of increasing fellowship.

   The "I AM"-ness of Aries as Ascendant of this mandala pictures Humanity as a potential self-ruler because it is, by attribute, an individualized expressor. For the most part, most of us do not have the power- consciousness to rule ourselves, much less to rule others. But, because we are expressors we influence (a microcosmic octave of rulership) others by everything or anything that we think, feel, say, and do. There is only one Ascendant, archetypally or concretely, and since rulership is the ordering of the cosmos we can improve the quality of our influence on other people. It is true, and this is an interesting point, that we cannot rule or influence anyone who is indifferent to us or who is more perfectly organized than we are--we are influenced by those people much more than we affect them. Therefore we have to rule ourselves better if we are going to attract better "rulership-influence" from others. Apply this to the relationship of a nation's citizenry to its hereditary or elected rulers. Look at the story of France's civilization under the reigns of Louis XIV, XV, and XVI. The corruption and cynicism of the first two perfectly outpictured much that was degenerate in the general life-concepts of the people. The ineffectuality of Louis XVI made it possible for the disintegrative forces of revolt--he couldn't even stand up for the class he represented--to decrystallize that particular form of aristocratic government and pave the way for the more democratic form.

   If our life-purpose requires that we exercise power in public offices, then we know that we have the opportunity to stand as symbols of good influence or of bad influence; we will symbolize whatever we conceive to be the principles of government. We can remain congested in our ignorances of these principles and so reflect the ignorance of the people we represent or we can be adjustable to learn and so symbolize an ever-improving quality of power-vibration.

   In consideration of the Great Mandala we see that the Cancer-Capricorn diameter--as the "parentage-line"--exemplifies the pattern of "government of people by people": the two types of government represented are communal (Cancer) and aristocratic (Capricorn). Now to consider the significance of Aries as individual ruler-ship-expression:

   The "I AM" quality of this sign symbolizes the sense of individualized beingness. Since it is that from which all expression, as personal individualization, is made possible, it is also that by which all octaves of human-rulership are made possible. A ruler--of whatever kind-- cannot at any time be any more than he is as an individual human--his rulership expression is projected through his consciousness of himself as a person. Keep in mind that rulership, in the political sense, is an extension of parentage. The same keywords that apply to different types of rulers apply also, in a more localized sense, to different types of parents. This is so because the matrix-quality of the Cancer-Capricorn diameter designates our citizenship in the family-group and the nation-group into which we incarnate by karmic law and vibratory attraction.

   The lowest vibratory octave of Mars is seen to be in his office as releaser of Pluto-Scorpio compressions. This is the ruler as autocratic dictator. His "I AM" is "I Am a personalized symbol of all the congested ignorances, hates, and greeds of my subjects." The Russian czar, Ivan the Terrible, was a perfect example of this type of ruler; his people were a barbaric, ignorant, and brutish lot and their subservience to his infamously despotic rule was the epitome of slavishness. The next octave-- synchronizing with the evolutionary needs of the Russian people--was exemplified in Peter the Great. Every bit as despotic as was "the terrible one," this man functioned on a higher octave of perception and purpose. His will, enormously focused, served to co-ordinate his people, and he worked for years to develop and expand the economic power of his nation and to bring to it at least the vestiges of western European culture. In this type of ruler the characteristics of insensitiveness, forceful brutality, egotism, and lack of compassion arc strongly pronounced. Their egotism does serve, however, a most important purpose--that of welding the nation into a coherent identity and unity. The dormant "I Am" of the national group-vibration is ignited by the personal "I Am" power of the autocratic ruler. The "I Am" of a degenerate aristocratic ruler is exemplified in the character and personality of France's King Louis XV. The vacuity and cynicism of this man, ruler-symbol of one of the most degenerate and corrupt periods in the history of this nation, perfectly out-pictured the crystallized negatives of this type of government-- that of hierarchy--the form that provides points of concentration of power within the national edifice. A regenerate example of this type of government-- and a remarkable example she was--was the great Queen Elizabeth of England. Cultured, enormously learned, devoted to her country's progress and welfare with every fiber of her being, this brilliant and intrepid woman symbolized the cultural and economic aspirations of her vigorous and enterprising people. She was definitely a cut above many such rulers of class-conscious societies in that her intense patriotic love made warfare and destruction abhorrent to her; she has been considered to be the most humanly motivated and enlightened ruler of her age and one of the outstanding rulers in human history. Her unifying of her country as a world power, under a motivation of intense national pride, emphasized the Capricorn quality of superiority that characterizes this nation--an interesting example of national personality- trait. Further degeneracies of hierarchical concept--and this in a most crystallized form--are seen in the age-old, only recently decrystallized concept of caste in India. This concept (derived from human imagining of Cosmic Hierarchy) provided karmic bondage for millions of humans for many ages.

   There have been several remarkable examples of Cancer-government. This is the type of government that is focused on the perpetuity of welfare, material or spiritual. Corruption of this pattern is seen in the giving of money, food, entertainment, etc., to the populace by such individuals as the Roman rulers Nero and Caligula. An outer gesture of concern for the public masked, in these cases, a hideous fear and greed. They exemplified, in their policy of giving, the very worst aspects of this governmental pattern. Regenerate, we see in the government of the humane Quaker religion one of the finest examples of this type in modern times. Their policy of universal pacifism is, of course, a spiritual motivation of tremendous power for good in the world. Their contribution to human welfare has been outstanding. The administration of the Salvation Army is another example. The teaching and healing service performed by certain religious orders represents a fine aspect of this concept of government. Even those who function entirely in what is called "contemplative orders" make, if they are sufficiently evolved, a remarkable redemptive contribution through their work on the inner planes; this service is not perceived or observed by the outer world--it is a vibratory nurture based on renunciation of personality- consciousness. In fact, we may consider that the Jupiter vibration, as significator of the abstract ninth house, is mixed with the Moon-Cancer vibration to designate the essence of rulership by organization of religious authority. You might enjoy a study of biographies of rulers--from the illumined Pharaoh, Akhnaton, down through the ages--and come into a clearer understanding of how rulers, as individual humans, personify the collective unconscious, the collective ignorance and congestion, and the collective evolutionary needs of the populace. It is a fascinating study and one to which every occult and philosophical student should give some time and thought.

   Now we will undertake to study the principles of government as they are symbolically designated by the exaltation of planets. These represent government by relative mastership--the expression, as rulership, of solar power by highly evolved (kingly) humans which has, as its purpose, the illumination of the consciousness of mankind. This approach to rulership reveals the spiritual attributes inherent in each type as well as the spiritual obligations attendant upon this form of service.

   The first of these is the exaltation of the Sun itself in the sign Aries. The identity is "I Am a Begotten Son, or Daughter, of Father-Mother God." This is the identity of spiritual birth and the consciousness of possessing divine attributes. The rulership implied by this vibration is self-mastery which is the source from which all other spiritual government is derived, and from which all expressions of transcendent love and wisdom are emanated. The priest-kings of ancient Egypt, beautifully described by Joan Grant in her lovely book, "The Winged Pharaoh," exemplify this type. These great rulers were spiritually tested for their qualifications to serve as rulers of their people in what was one of the outstanding spiritual epochs in human history. Since specializations are emanated from the One, this exaltation-point of the Sun resources every other type of spiritual government. The ruler of Aries, Mars, is exalted in Capricorn. In this study, Capricorn is seen to symbolize the hierarchical concept of aristocratic government; the specialization of "class" reflects (what should be) the gradations of spiritual evolution. Originally the Brahmanic religion of India was based on this concept; Plato spoke of "the rule by the philosophical elect." The exaltation of Mars in Capricorn, in genetic terms, is the maturity of the male principle in responsibility-fulfillment. Therein is seen the spiritual qualification that designates true rulers in a hierarchical government: the responsibility to keep the spiritual "I Am" alive so that the offices of governing the less-evolved may be carried on with positiveness, courage, and a sense of father-love as the protective love-motivation. To give life is the attribute of parentage; to maintain principles of government that contribute to the general welfare and progress (materially, intellectually, and culturally) is that life which the true aristocratic ruler contributes to his people. His Mars-attribute makes it possible for him to defend himself, and consequently his people, from the crystallizations of prejudice, caste- congestion, and superficial evaluations. It keeps alive in his consciousness-- because Mars is the arch-masculine vibration, as a derivative of the Sun--the sense of valuing and appreciating himself as a worker in the world. The vigor, virility, and positiveness of regenerate Mars is health-giving in its effect; exercise of this attribute neutralizes the dangers of congestion on indolence, luxury, and parasitism which seep into a society that is founded on the principle of inherited money, place, and value. Mars in Capricorn is vitalization of the sense of father-love; its exercise demands self-discipline and work.

   The Moon's exaltation in Taurus, second earth-sign, raises the instinct to feed and protect the immature into the consciousness of stewardship. The weak are to become strong. The immature are to become mature. The negative of the Cancer-vibration is to over-protect and to over-nurture those who are, at a given point, dependent. The stewardship of the development of the weak and immature is the exalted octave of the Moon's power. To protect the development is a contribution to evolutionary progress; to foster the weakness is to contribute to retardation. England's great Elizabeth had Moon in Taurus, fourth house, and certainly no ruler at any time has ever been more respectfully alert and sensitive to the vigorous evolutionary potential of the ruled nation. A most significant psychological factor is seen in this position: Taurus is the Moon's eleventh house-sign; as such it relates to Moon's Cancer as Aquarius-Uranus relates to Aries. This position of the Moon (an eleventh house-sign relationship to its dignity) imposes on the spiritually mature the necessity to decrystallize the sense of possessing the immature or weak ones. To seek maternally (Moonishly) to possess another is to identify Taurus as the polarization of Scorpio; the two together form the diameter of desire-power. Any individual or any ruler who has the responsibility to nurture through the Moon's position in Taurus is warned to abstain from regarding the weaker, more immature person as a personal possession. The nation and the wealth of the nation are not possessions of the ruling agency. A ruler receives recompense for his work as any other worker does; that recompense should be an expression of exchange from the nation's people in return for his service as a coordinative guardian. The "overshadowing influence" of Uranus to be found in this pattern is the decrystallization of congestion-by-desire-and- possessiveness into stewardship of growth and development by respect for the individual's potentials for growth and fulfillment. Apply this instruction personally or nationally--the pattern is archetypal. The evolutionary aspiration of the Solar Logos Itself masses possible epigenetic action on the part of microcosms--thus the respect of Father-Mother God for Its children is pictured. Solar power released through the Moon principle says: "Let the begotten microcosm grow, develop, express, and fulfill its potentials; help it, guide it, instruct it, feed it, nurture it, protect it but let my power flow through it in ever-increasing strength; do not over-protect it from access to my Creative Stimulus. Encourage always the ever-extending radiation of love by the microcosm; set no barriers to this expression by congestive possessiveness.

   Saturn's exaltation in Venus' Libra is the spiritual alchemical fusion of justice with mercy. It is the dissolving of over- strictness and crystallization-of-concept by the exercise of humane impulses. It is also (because Libra in this mandala symbolizes the democratic government concept) the balancing of self-expression in government by the consciousness of responsibility of citizens to each other through their fraternal identity as co-nationalities. The exaltation of Saturn in this sign is the astrological symbol of the concept of justice for all--a law applies to poor and rich, learned and ignorant, and it means that true laws are those which counterpart divine laws in the sense that no one is an exception to them. Laws which protect one at the expense of another represent the degeneracies characteristic of corrupted Saturn-aristocracy --the illusion of caste- superiority and injustices by adherence to evaluations by wealth-possession. In this sense, the administration of a certain world-wide religious government is seen to be, at its best, a devotee of this law of justice for all. Its doors are open to all, its corrective measures apply to all, regardless of worldly placement or possession. At its worst, the Saturn in Libra symbol balances wrongs by material payment. In societies where financial possession is considered to be the standard of evaluation, a spiritual transgression against an individual or a group or the nation itself is considered redeemed if a certain financial transaction is made. This congestion-in-ignorance has played an infamous part in human history--it is one of the most blasphemous actions of which man is capable. It is a congestion in such darkness that life-long karma of the ruler may be required to decrystallize and adjust the unbalance. In human consciousness--that is, in the consciousness of individuals who are rulers--this position of Saturn in the mandala displays the White Light of Saturn when the ruler recognizes his fraternity--as a fellow-citizen--with his subjects. This is the balanced justice and equilibrium of the ruler-citizen relationship. Let no ruler forget this principle; upon it depends the resource of spiritual value of governmental service.

   Libra, as a significator of the democratic governmental principle, is the fusion of the principles of marriage with the principles of contributive self-government. In a democracy males and females are privileged to express and this governmental concept is one which, probably more than any other group-pattern, has most served to decrystallize the illusion of superiority and inferiority of the sexes, relative to each other. Marriage is a two-pointed citizenship of mutual exchange, mutual development, and mutual fulfillment. Democracy is a multi-pointed citizenship of mutual exchange, mutual development, and mutual fulfillment. One married couple is microcosm of all males and females in a particular nation; the polarity of the nation is the extension of the polarity of the couple. To incarnate in a democratic government is to realize a result from many incarnations of regenerative effort as an individual; as with the trine-aspect, such realization imposes the responsibility (Saturn) to contribute for mutual good and justice of all.

   The exaltation of Venus in Pisces (as ruler of Libra) is the consciousness of spiritual powers as the governing agencies of the affairs of mankind. To perceive the truths that are behind the placement of rulers, the experiences of nations, and the spiritual alchemy which is continually at work to realize the ideal of Humanity makes possible the realization of inter-fraternity between mankind and other earth-life.

   The essential nature of Citizenship is "Fraternity localized." As inhabitants of this solar system, our first citizenship- identity is that of (what we will call) "solarians." This identity is derived from the fact that all life-expressions on this planet and all life- expressions on the other planets of this system are microcosms of a common source--our Solar-Logos. If there were some way of identifying our system in its relationship with the other solar systems of our galaxy, we could further qualify our identity as "galactic citizens," then "arch-galactic citizens," then the final identity which we have with all other life-expressions as "Universarians" or "Cosmosians." However, our immediate localization in the Cosmos is by identity with our immediate Creative Source, the Manifestor and Governor of this system. We could designate this Source by a personalized name, for example, "Helios." This could specify the identity of our Source in the interfraternity of other Solar-Logoi of our galaxy. Then our citizenship- identity could be, as members of this system, "Heliosolarians" to differentiate our citizenship-status from other "Solarians" of our galaxy. As an American citizen of Spanish ancestry is a "Spanish American" (the background--derivative--qualifies the localized identity), so we would be designated as "Heliosolarian Earthians" to specify our immediate citizenship on planet Earth of the solar system of "Helios." In our horoscopes the circular traditional symbol for the Sun placed in the center of the wheel is the astrological symbol of "Helios" as our Creative Source; the suggested symbol of "semi-circle on horizontal line" (a symbol-picture of the rising Sun) is our personalized consciousness of the existence and nature of "Helios"; we designate this new symbol simply as "Sun" because it represents a relative comprehension of the nature of "Helios."

   The archetypal astrological symbol of democratic citizenship (as the principle of fraternity manifesting in a governmental form) is the sign Libra, seventh house-sign of the Great Mandala and cardinal initiator of the air-trine from which all specifications of fraternity are derived. Because the four cardinal signs indicate the basic specifications of our polaric-generic Being, the mandala with Libra as Ascendant will now be considered as the root of our democratic citizenship consciousness.

   As "Cosmosians," the Libra mandala pictures our attribute as "Reactors and Reflectors"--we react to the stimulus of other people's expressions. The occult mystery of the positive aspect of the vibratory power of Venus, as ruler of a cardinal sign, is seen in the fact that the action that we express subsequent to a reaction to another person's negative expression can be an expression of transmutative alchemy; we may react with pain but we do not have to re-project according to the pain- reaction; we can re-project in such a way that the friction, disharmony, or negative condition in general is neutralized. Thus, in this mandala, Libra (one of the signs which are focalized by Venus) is the expressor, but its expression, because Libra is the reflective polarity of Aries, is that of counter-active or transmutative alchemy. In this mandala, the "transcendencies" of the signs Libra through Pisces focalize the elements of soul-consciousness in those archetypal experience-chapters which usually pertain to the consciousness of the "separative self." To react and express by transmutative alchemy is to raise the consciousness of separative self into a degree of the octave of the "inclusive self." To the degree that regenerate action follows reaction will the combined vibratory forces of two, or many, people magnetized in relationship be transmuted.

   In physical terms, this mandala portrays woman as expressor, man as reactor; it portrays, in a more abstract sense, the expressiveness of soul-consciousness, the reactiveness of self-consciousness. Dynamic expressions of negative selfishness are the things which bombard the receptivity of the Venus-vibration; the reactive expression of Venus is to neutralize the destructive element and thereby establish a greater degree of unified good. In the democratic fraternity of marriage, this Libra-Ascendant pictures not only woman; it pictures the composite soul-conscious-ness of both people; it symbolizes the beauties and perfections which each person sees in the other; it symbolizes the beauties and perfections of each that are ignited in consciousness by the dynamic essence of the other. This is the "raising in love" (not "falling in love") by which two humans, citizens in the world of an intensely focused relationship, are enabled to perceive their soul-elements through mutual ignition of idealities. The transmutative alchemy that takes place in a love-relationship (and all love-relationship is marriage in the realms of consciousness) is Libra as initiator of new life-consciousness and as epigenitor of a new world of experience. Husband and wife--twofold manifestations of lover-beloved--are fraternal citizens in the "democratic country of the union which they establish;" the epigenetic development of each, through physical, mental, emotional, and vibratory inter-fusion, is the purpose of the union; individualized expression of both, mutual respect of individualities, and cooperative action in the love-service of child-begetting and child-stewardship composite the democratic quality of true love-union. Consequently we see that a government based on democratic principles is, of all governments, the one most highly charged with the essence of love- consciousness. Only people who had evolved a high degree of awareness of the unity of love-power were qualified to promulgate democratic governmental principles. They were people who had, to a degree, realized the ideal of interfraternity of humans as Earthians and as citizens of a localized national group. The respect for the individual rights of males and females and the provision of opportunity for individual expression picture the spiritual love- principles of marriage transposed into the extended octave of the "togetherness" of males and females on this planet or in a specific racial type or in a particular national form. The individual human, in the localization of his or her personal family life, proves the type of his ruler- ship-consciousness; as he is in his consciousness, so is he in his family and so is he in his relationship with fellow-nationals.

   Now to consider the "childhood of attainment." We refer to the sign Gemini in the Great Mandala as the immaturity of the citizenship-consciousness of Humanity. This is the third house-sign; as a root-sign it is the twelfth house-sign of the matrix-sign Cancer--it is that which "lies behind all parental expression." In this respect, Gemini's relationship to Cancer (and its polarity, Capricorn) is that which impels >parentage; it is the physical sons and daughters to a specific couple of husband and wife; it is the karmic sons and daughters born to a specific polarization of national ancestral background. Cancer-Capricorn, in relationship to Aries-Libra, is "that from which Form (manifestation) is derived." We do not inherit national traits; we are magnetized to parents of specific ancestry by the quality of our consciousness. "National trait" is just another way of saying "vibratory quality concentrated in a large number of people." We have words like "Scandinavian," "Spanish," "Polish," etc., to designate the citizenship of our physical birth or the national background of our parents, but there are many people who are not similar in nationalistic quality to their parentage; in fact they can be unsympathetic to the traditions and nationalistic viewpoints of their parentage. These people prove that, in consciousness, they are citizens of a different ideality--they find their affinity with people whose interests, ideals, and aspirations parallel their own. However, born in the localization known as "The United States of America," all children, by karmic magnetization are brought in contact with the ideals and aspirations expressed by the spiritually-minded founders of this nation; the essence of democratic citizenship is the cornerstone of the national edifice which they established. As Gemini, then, our children are "young, immature, growing Americans."

   It may safely be said at this point that incarnation as "American citizen" means that every child (regardless of his karmic or ancestral background) is timed to learn more of the spiritual ideal of democratic living. There have been many great democratically-minded individuals in human history. Democracy does not mean "political party"; it is a state of spiritual consciousness. The immortal Akhnaton, Pharaoh of Egypt almost six thousand years ago, has been called the first democratic ruler in human history; as sovereign of his people he sought to establish the principles of religious freedom, legal equality of the sexes and spiritual education as integral parts of the life of his subjects. He was, by the transcendent quality of his mind, heart, and spirit, a true "Son of Helios": his concepts of rulership included a sense of his basic fraternity with his subjects and that of his subjects to each other. If modern education in this country can teach, or vitalize, an awareness of fraternity in the minds of today's children, it will have fulfilled its esoteric purpose. If modern education can teach the Law of Cause and Effect it will have fulfilled its principal exoteric purpose because understanding of this law is the root of all education. The education of the factual intellect is important, of course, but brilliantly-endowed intellects can, and some do, live in a world which they interpret as chaotic, incoherent, confused, and unintelligible because they themselves are chaotic, incoherent, confused, and unintelligible in their relationship to themselves and to other people. They do not know that they themselves cause the conditions which register as effects in their lives. Gemini natives, then, as specific children born of specific parents in a specific locality, are citizens in the world of learning, the world of home and school. In a democratic governmental administration, the recognition is given to the right of every child to learn, to organize and coordinate his mental faculties, to extend his knowledge (brought over from past incarnations) of the objective world, to unfold his talents and potentialities for work-service and to become more spiritually informed. This recognition is given by virtue of respect for the child's individualized existence on this planet and respect for the good which he, potentially, may do as an adult. The generic essence of Gemini, in such designation, is feminine; the boy-student and girl-student function through the years of their learning-experience as in-takers; they function as receptors of and reactors to educational stimuli which are projected by the dynamic essence of Gemini's planetary polarity, Jupiter (ruler of Sagittarius). The Jupiterian polarization of Mercury's Gemini states that all true education is spiritual--knowledge of principles is macrocosm to knowledge of effects; knowledge of cause-and-effect clears the channelings for all other knowledge. The evolutionary instinct to spiritualize the concept of life-service is shown by the Virgo-Pisces vertical diameter of the Gemini mandala; the ideal of perfect personal and impersonal service is that which "gestates" the aspiration to learn. Knowledge (or understanding) that is not used for contributive improvement of human life is, relatively, "dead material." Therefore, as members of family-groups and of school groups, children are citizens in the state of mental maturing. The stewardship principle of this identity is the Cancer-Capricorn diameter on the second and eighth cusps--the "possession of group or national or family citizenship" is to be transposed into the octave of stewardship of the human group by exercise of that which is intellectually and spiritually learned. As long as we incarnate in the human archetype, we have citizenship only as "Earthians"; to congest on possession of American citizenship is to inhibit and constrict the sense of identity as Earth-citizenship. The human archetype is our family, it is the "society" to which we belong, it is the specification of our identity in relationship to our solar logos, "Helios," of whose power we are the highest epigenetic manifestation on this planet. Gemini is ninth house-sign of the Libra mandala--the sense of fraternity distilled from past incarnations represents the wisdom aspect of our focused complementary relationship- consciousness in the present incarnation. Injustices of viewpoint regarding the principles of polarity in human relationship serve to congest the flowering of love-relationship, marital experience, and fraternal citizenship with compatriots and fellow-students-in-life generally.

   Aquarius, fixed air-sign, is eleventh house-sign of the Great Mandala and fifth house-sign of the Libra mandala. As the latter, it is the transcendent essence of love-power in human relationships. It is "personal love that knows no barriers of external qualification," it is love that perceives the inner value and the inner reality of human individuality. It is the decrystallization of congested, egoistic aspects of personal Leo- love; it is love as the "heart-aspect" of the Master-ship-consciousness.

   The Aquarius mandala shows Capricorn at the twelfth cusp; that which is to be redeemed is crystallization of concept of separative human group-identity. Nations separate and different from each other, competitive against each other in fear and insecurity, are to he, by the Uranus vibration as ruler of Aquarius, re-identified as structure points in the edifice of the total of human society. This mandala, and the placement of Capricorn-Cancer, definitely pictures the influence of the Masters as those who serve by recharging the crystallized concepts of "separate nation- families" by the scope and power of their love-perceptions into a clearer realization of the one nation and the one family. The national placement of a Master--or of one who loves with a degree of Master-love--is the vibratory form into which he incarnates to fulfill his spiritual service; Joan of Arc for France, Queen Elizabeth for England, Kahlil Gibran for the people of Syria, etc. In all of these cases a service of inspired regeneration was performed for specified human groups but the entire race ultimately benefited by that service. If for example, Gibran thought of himself, in a congested way, only as a Syrian, the power of his poetry and painting would have been correspondingly depleted. He was a Syrian only by localized national identity; he was, and he knew it, in reality an Earthian and a "Solarian." The fraternal citizenship symbolized by Aquarius is the most complete picture of democratic principle in action because the scope of its power and influence includes all humans, regardless of outer aspects, background,or parentage. Aquarius, as ninth house-sign from Gemini, is fraternity universalized; as fifth house-sign from Libra it is love-radiation impersonalized and love-exchange spiritualized. All who learn are fellow-citizens and all who love are members of the heart's democracy.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume V
Chapter III
A Study of Polarity

   The horoscope is, among many other things, a mandala of sexuality. The life of all manifestations is the interchange made by the Cosmic Forces as they express the dynamic and receptive polarities. That which is dynamic we refer to as "positive," "active," "masculine;" it designates "that which impregnates or stimulates." In physical manifestation of living, generating organisms we call it "male sex." That which is receptive is that which is acted upon; it is "passive," "resultant," "that which receives the impregnation or stimulation and nurtures the new life into active expression." In physical terms we call this polarity-expression "female sex." People are familiar with the terms "male sex" and "female sex" because the generative impulses are a natal factor in their own experience and they are evidenced in the life-experience of other forms, such as animal and plant life, perceived on every hand.

   However, the word "sex" is much more extended in its meanings. It is life in action and movement; the eternal interchange of vibratory powers and their effect on each other is that which makes manifestation what it is. And this applies to all planes, from the most dense, slowly vibrating level of material manifestation to the very essence of the Creative Source itself. Every moment of our existence is an expression of cosmic sexuality; this will be seen if we consider a few things that demonstrate our ability to stimulate and to be stimulated.

   We ask a question; we are receptive to the information given to us by the person who projects the answer. We speak; we take in breath as pabulum for our words and we project the thought which we incarnate in sound-symbols called words. Our sense-perceptions are agencies of receptivity, by their exercise we receive impressions by which we identify the world exterior to ourselves. We make ourselves perceptible to others by our action in movement and sound. Someone projects himself into our awareness; we react to his expression according to our vibratory state of consciousness.

   These simple, everyday illustrations are just a few of the many that could be considered; however, they are sufficient to show that we, as expressions of life, are composite expressions of Cosmic Polarity. We are so constituted that we demonstrate throughout our lives, in one way or another, our essential bi-polarity. To understand "sex" to mean only the attributes of physical generation is to keep our understanding at mud-level. The philosopher comprehends that a principle--whether of sex or anything else- -is omnipotent.

   In creative activity the essential bi-polarity of the human organism is wonderfully illustrated. The artist, in his inspirational at-one-ments, opens his consciousness to realizations of the perfect patterns resident in the inner planes; he draws down, as it were, the stimulating power which makes it possible for him to conceive the ideal pattern in terms of his particular artistic medium. By concentrated meditation he molds this realization into form on the mental planes. Then, by the agency of his highly developed physical technique, he gives birth to this particular version of the ideal pattern. In short, he projects this manifested concept into the Physical World and it, in turn, is perceived by other people who derive from it a stimulus of their own idealism and inspiration. Thus the creative artist exercises both the receptive and the dynamic polarities; he fuses his own "maleness and femaleness" into one intensely focused creative act. Incidentally, this is astrologically illustrated by the planet Uranus, which is exalted in Scorpio; Uranus is the fusion of Mars-Venus--the synchronization of the essential symbols of the planets whose points of rulership initiate the two horizontal hemispheres--self-awareness and soul-awareness.

   Pupils--as children--are in the process of integrating their faculties through the functions involved in "growing up." They receive a stimulus from the teacher and they absorb the effect of this stimulus; sooner or later they give life to their knowledge by putting it into action in their work as adults. The teacher, who, in relationship to his pupils, acts as a "stimulator" has, in his turn, been stimulated by those who radiated teaching to him. We are all dynamic and receptive links in the eternal chain of becoming.

   "Masculine and male" and "feminine and female" are personalized expressions of Cosmic Polarity. The ultimate abstraction of these terms--their composite essential truth--is summed up in the simple phrase: CAUSE and EFFECT.

   As the essential sexual maleness of the human organism acts on the essential physical femaleness, so the creative source acts on and through material manifestation for the ongoing of its total Life. The material dimension--in all of its immensity of spatial expression--is female to the cosmic male. Matter has been defined as the "negative Pole of Spirit," "Mother Earth," and many other such feminized expressions, or figures of speech. Neither pole exists--or can exist--without the other; the essentials of each are inherent in every expression of life. The horoscope bears this out in a simple, beautiful way:

   Use three blank circles as illustration: in the first, place a dot in the center. This is analogous to the creative source manifesting a universe, a galaxy, a solar-system, or an individual human being. The "Life" of the wheel is not shown; its area is, except for the dot, entirely blank. Meditate on this wheel as it represents a specific life- expression.

   In the second circle place a central dot and then add the vertical diameter; the circle now has "Life"--its area is differentiated in the simplest possible way: division, by one line, into two hemispheres. This vertical line is the abstract symbol of the dynamic polarity of the cosmos; it is the essential symbol for the generative action of sex; it is the root-symbol of cause. Apply it to any human horoscope and recognize that this vertical is the composite of the cusps of the fourth and tenth houses--the "houses of parentage." Our parentage is the "first step," the "initiating agency," the cause of our manifestation on the physical plane as human beings. But, note this clearly: we have, as our parentage, a composite of male and female sex; one is focalized in male polarity as its physical expression and the other is focalized physically in female polarity. The two together generated our physical vehicle.

   Now, to the third circle add the central dot and the horizontal diameter. This is the picturing of that which is acted upon by the generating agency--the subjective aspect of life, that which was generated and is the result of generation. The vertical is cause, the horizontal is effect. The third circle, with the horizontal diameter, is also differentiated into two halves but, since they are "focalized horizontally," they appear as the "counterparts of the vertical halves. This horizontal diameter is, astrologically, the composite of the cusps of the Ascendant (first house) and the Descendant (seventh house). The person represented by the chart--the native--stands at the Ascendant, his consciousness enveloped in his physical garment; he "looks across the wheel" and, at the furthermost point, opposite to his own place, he sees (in the same way we see our reflections in a mirror) his counterpart, his "other Self," his needed fulfillments, his--in short-- mate.

   The thrilling, stupefying marvelousness of astrological symbology is nowhere more evident than as the composite of four halves in one circle. Add to the second and third wheels the complementary diameter; the result pictures the four quadrants of the individual horoscope but, in simple form, it pictures the bi-polarity of that which generates and that which is generated.

   You are a man; your seventh house is a woman; one of your parents is a man and the other is a woman. Yet the vertical line of parentage represents the bi-polarity of the dynamic essence of life; the horizontal represents the bi-polarity of the receptive essence. Continuing this approach in a more extended way we see that every factor of the astrological wheel is a composite of dynamic and receptive polarities. Any male or any female can have any of the signs on any cusp; the ruler of the chart, the Sun and the Moon, or any of the planetary positions can be found in any of the zodiacal signs regardless of whether the signs involved are considered "masculine" or "feminine."

   So we are able to recognize that if our physical bodies are specializations of polarity into male or female generative sex, our consciousness is a vibratory composite of both polarities. Understanding human relationship is really understanding the vibratory sexuality of the human consciousness. The astro-philosopher must cultivate this understanding if he is to unlock the deepest secrets of astrological patterns.

   The-astro-philosopher who is a parent--father or mother--starts to understand his children's charts when he starts to understand his own chart. To the degree that he "turns away" from anything in his own vibratory picture, will he be deficient in interpreting those of his offspring. His eighth house is his generative life particularly in relationship to his mate, but his fifth house is the area of love- consciousness by which he extends an "invitation to life" to other Egos who come in as his children. All parents, to a degree, express the fifth house love potential, but parents who are astro-philosophers combine the powers of the fifth house with those of its spiritualized polarity, the eleventh. They are not just parents, they are friends; they are not just nurturers of the body, they are nurturers of the mind and Spirit; they are not just "the old man" or "my ma"--they are elder brother and elder sister who have offered to share their understanding of life with those who come in through them. And, as astro-philosophers, they offer to their young ones a viewpoint based on understanding of principles plus the warmth and consolation of a loving heart. He, the parent, will seek to understand the bi-polar vibrational constitution of each child and prayerfully seek guidance to clear awareness of the patterns of the children's charts as they represent potentials for unfoldment. He must understand the principles of life as they are pictured in the fifth-house pattern of his own chart and align his consciousness more and more with the essential meanings of parenthood as a factor in Life-experience.

   We have come to a point in our approach to human nature when we no longer put men into packages labeled "masculine qualities only" and women in similar designations of "feminine qualities only." This outmoded approach has been proven to be out of line with the spirit of truthful inquiry. Males can, and sometimes do, manifest a marked tendency toward elements of the feminine personality and the converse is true of many females. The astro-philosopher, who is a parent, knows--and knows with his deep understanding--that his sons and daughters are composites of vibrational polarity and that their purpose in living and his purpose in nurturing and guiding is not to become "all man or all woman" but to cultivate the power to express the best of both, according to the essential requirements shown in the charts. Here is a significant point which is presented as a basis for a parent to determine his vibratory effect on the consciousness of a child: compare your chart with the child's and if you have a planet conjunct the child's Ascendant, then know that you stimulate in a very marked degree the vibration of that planet in the child's chart. This is a basic example of the Principle of Sympathetic Vibration--the "tuning-fork-principle." If you, a man, have your Mars or Sun on your daughter's Ascendant you, as an astro-philosopher, are bound to cultivate the most constructive expressions of that planet in your own living. You are the first "living man-picture" your daughter has and to the degree that you can represent regenerate Sun or regenerate Mars, as the case may be, you assist in a remarkable way to help her "register" a favorable reaction to the opposite sex. Other planets work the same way but Sun and Mars are used in this illustration because they are in composite--the basic or essential "masculine pattern of consciousness." Unregeneracy on your part, in relationship to her, will stimulate her (she, being the child and impressionable, is very sensitive to your vibration) to intensify any unregenerate "male-picture" that may register in her chart and make it correspondingly difficult for her, when she is grown, to "clarify her pictures" of the opposite sex.

   The same principle applies to your effect on your sons, your wife's on the children, and the children to each other. This "planet on Ascendant" is a vital vibratory tie-up and must be studied with great care--and the results of the study applied conscientiously in daily living. Further study can be given to any inter-relationship between two planets and charts; note particularly those exchanges in which the dynamic planets of the boys conjunct the planets of the girls; this is a variation of the "planet on Ascendant" pattern. If a girl has a "masculine-plus" vibratory pattern and a boy has a "feminine-plus," and they seem to be strongly drawn to each other in their growing up together, then study the Uranus of each in relationship to each other. Uranus, as has been said before, is the "composite of masculine and feminine." In relationships between people it indicates spiritual attractions of great depth and intensity, and the child who has Uranus affecting the other one's chart in a noticeable way can be potential "illuminator" of the other one. Help your children to understand themselves as expressions of the Goodness and Beauty of Life--which, in truth they are--and make yourself a "mediator"--through your astro-philosophical understanding-- between that which they tend, instinctively, to be, and that which their charts indicate they can become.

   If one parent is an astro-philosopher, the other one should try to learn something of the subject so that a degree of mutuality of understanding and approach can be found as a basis of training and guiding those to whom incarnation was given. Each child has, innately, a unique "father-mother" picture: perhaps there is a deep and difficult karmic tie-up between one of the children and one of the parents, or between two of the children. Mutuality of astro-philosophical understanding can be a wonderful "at-tune-ment" for the parents in their cooperative service as parents. These tie-ups must be understood by both parents to be manifestations of the Law of Cause and Effect--to be perceived as energy-patterns that are in the process of regenerate fulfillment through Love. They are not to be side-stepped, avoided or "shrugged off."

   Astro-philosophy provides a wonderful channel by which parents who are inclined to live excessively in their centers of feeling-response and emotion may gain perspective in their seeking to understand their children; further it gives the parents a wonderful "joint- hobby"--something they can use to help other parents and to enjoy together as long as they live. Through it they can realize the truth that marriage is fraternity, its life is mutuality, its flowering is true friendship.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume V
Chapter IV
Involuntary Military Experience

   Since the beginning of our incarnated experience, strife on any level or involving any quantity of persons has never been anything but a dramatization of the individual's struggle to evolve. The destruction, pain, and sorrow which the entity, humanity, has inflicted on itself has never been anything but an expression-in-action of ignorance of life-principles. This ignorance has always basically been--how could it be otherwise?--an individual matter.

   Until certain self-directives have been established mankind functions primarily by response to stimuli to the collective thought, collective instinct or collective subconscious feeling. In this way, Nature provides that karmic return may be experienced collectively. A group of individuals--tribe, nation, or alliance of nations--are enabled to meet a pattern of karmic return all together, rather than in individual timing. All persons, in a given situation, who are at-tuned to a particular vibratory negative--such as the sadistic frenzy of the lynching party--sympathetically respond and express "en masse." Since we, as individuals, fall far short of ideal expression we are, to some degree or other, "tied in" to certain patterns of unfulfillment. This is due to our ignorance of principles and our having expressed in action according to ignorance in past incarnations. Expression--cause--implies its own effect. One of the most phenomenal effects in modern times has been the global scope of warfare such as we have seen since 1914. The opposition between Uranus in Capricorn and Neptune in Cancer, preceding the outbreak of World War I, was the vibratory condition by which human beings in national groups met collective karmic return through warfare experience. This opposition was the "Full Moon pattern" from the conjunction of Uranus and Neptune in Sagittarius-Capricorn during the last years of the eighteenth century and the early years of the nineteenth century. It was the timing for universal decrystallization in order that universal progress could be made. A few moments of reflection are all that are needed to realize that the entire entity, humanity, was affected in drastic ways by this conjunction and its resultant opposition. New octaves of Power and Wisdom were released through the incarnations of many people who, during the past century and a half, functioned as "trail-blazers" toward the transcendence of the no- longer-needed. The powers expressed by these great persons affected our experience on all planes--intellectual, religious-philosophical, scientific, and artistic.

   A "life-wave" of incarnations was made in the early years of this century when the opposition of Uranus to Neptune was not only itself "white-hot," but was squared by the opposition of Saturn in Aries and Jupiter in Libra. This life-wave--focalizing the square of Saturn to both Uranus and Neptune--came in at a most precarious timing. That vibratory pattern was, in the opinion of the author, the arch-challenge of crystallization to progress. Perhaps the most important single factor in the life-experience of those people was the choice, in consciousness, of clinging to the old or of moving on in progress through individualized unfoldment. A critical evolutionary point, indeed! The outbreak of the Boxer Rebellion and the establishment of republican government in China during this era pictured that planetary pattern applying to the evolutionary status of a great civilization--an interesting example of the tremendous significance of those years--and of that aspect.

   We have a recorded history of many centuries of experience from a study of which we may find--just as we may in our present day experiences--the principles underlying the relationship between individual and collective causes and their effects. In these days people are asking: "After two global wars in much less han a half-century, do we have to have another one?" The answer comes back: "If we do, it will be because we have not applied ourselves sufficiently to learn from previous experiences about the principles which concern mutual good between national groups." In short, the effect--as it always does--will describe and identify its own cause.

   Consider the foundation of the Great Astrological Mandala: a circle with a dot in the center; a horizontal line emanates from the center to the left, touching the circumference; the symbol for the sign Aries outside the circle at that point. This much of the Mandala is the essential picture of the potentials of each human being appearing in the infant body at the dawn of incarnation. In this radius are implied all other possible ways of expressing the individual I AM during the ensuing lifetime. Now add the following with light pencil line: the upper vertical--Capricorn; the horizontal to the right--Libra; the lower vertical--Cancer. From the center of the left radius--the Aries line--draw three-quarters of a circle clockwise (backward) through Capricorn and Libra, ending at the middle of the Cancer radius. This is a "motion picture" in reverse--from birth to conception--nine months of human gestation. All four generic points are included in this picture: moving forward from Cancer to Aries--through the three quadrants--we see a resume of the generic qualities distilled from the past to the present. This is the simplest way we have of "gathering" the karmic residues from past incarnations for redemption in the present because the incarnation structure-points--the Cardinal signs--are all represented in sequence, from most feminine to most masculine, and each Cardinal composites the Fixed and Mutable of its particular generic Element.

   Since our experience is dual: dynamically masculine, a projection from our generic consciousness; and, reflectively feminine, a perception by our generic consciousness, we have in this simple mandala the essential sum-total of "I AM-ness" of the individual when he came into this particular incarnation. That means his "I AM-ness" of unawareness, fear- hatred, and ignorance as well as his "I AM-ness" of power, love, wisdom--the residues and spiritual accomplishments, respectively, of his past incarnations as male and as female. His magnetic attraction to his parents outpictures very significant factors of his generic relationship consciousness; his at-tunement to his race-nationality outpictures much of his collective >karmic residues. In the latter is found the reason why he has been--or may be--called into military service during this time of universal mutation; it is, in short, a residue of unfulfilled service and unfulfilled understanding of principles.

   To the mandala now add the radius representing the cusp of the twelfth house--place the symbol for Pisces at the cusp-point. Connect the Pisces and Aries radii by a straight line with an arrowhead pointing downward and touching the Aries cusp. This is the simplest way we have, in astrology, of picturing the emanation of the past into the present. Since every radius of an astrological wheel is an emanation of the one radius, this shows that the "I AM" of now is an emanation of the "I AM" of the past. The cusp of the second house would, in relationship to that of the first, symbolize the "I AM" of the future, the emanation from the present. Hence the dynamic essence of the Aries radius--the "I AM NOW"--symbolizes the potential, the impulsion and the necessity for putting into action in this incarnation the sum totals of our "I AM's" from the past. This means action as expression of ignorance of principles as well as of understanding of principles; such action, from either level, emanates effects for the future.

   Now, to speak of the question on the minds of most people these days, how long are we, individually and collectively, going to continue to set in action causes that will have warfare as their objectified effects? How much longer is it going to take us--individually and collectively--to recognize that certain actions--causes--objectify in warfare, crime, suffering and disintegration? This question--and its answer--has nothing whatever to do with any particular nation, political ideology, or form of government. This question is asked, sooner or later, by every human being. Its answer, and its understanding, are derived by each individual as a result of his evolutionary unfoldment. Change the quality of causes by learning from experience and go into action from the basis of new wisdom.

   Since every radius in the horoscopical wheel is one factor of a twofold polarity pattern, let us now extend the Pisces radius in the above mandala to make a complete diameter; extend the line to the opposite point and form the diameter of Pisces-Virgo--cusps of the twelfth and sixth houses. A diameter is the unfolded picture of the potentials of a radius since it shows both polarities. Thus with the Pisces-Virgo diameter we have the feminine signs of the mutable cross. Virgo (Earth) is male; Pisces (Water) is female. With reference to our subject, these two signs symbolically portray the two types of people who engage in military service. (1) Those who enlist-- serve voluntarily--express a service consciousness from the dynamic--or generically male--level; this quality is pictured by Virgo which, in essence, is love-service. (2) Those who are drafted--serve under compulsion-- are moved into military service by external forces; in other words, they are acted upon by karmic forces which are objectified by the representatives of governmental and military authority. This type of experience represents the generically female polarity of the service diameter; it is not only passive but the lack of self-direction implied makes this kind of experience a possible source of great suffering to the individual unless--repeat unless--he makes an adjustment to the situation in his consciousness and agrees to it within himself, moves with the karmic forces and fulfills his responsibilities to the utmost every step of the way. Let us consider a proof of this pattern as it has objectified in recent experiences of many persons:

   The draft action of the recent war was a "mutation point" in the life of everyone who was affected by it; just as, on a more universal scale, those who incarnate under the vibrations of certain major planetary aspects "tie in" with evolutionary turning points. Since mankind basically tends to inertia--preferring adherence to that which is established as a symbol of security--most people need to be moved by karmic forces in order to elasticize their approaches to experience and to open up new levels of consciousness of qualities and capacities. The authorities in charge of the last draft organization did much to try to determine the qualifications of individuals for suitable service. The fact that many men were assigned to lines of work that were entirely new to them was the outpicturing of karmic agencies at work on their lives. Their deep inner needs for elasticization of consciousness magnetized them to specific organizations, specific branches of service, and specific localities to fulfill responsibility patterns that may have been, from a time standpoint, ages old. One thing is certain: the draft- service opportunity that came to each man was the direct effect of default- causes which he himself set in motion in the past. To be incarnate implies the assumption, voluntary or otherwise, to serve life by improving the quality of vibrational output and response; we can never improve anything unless we gain a clearer and greater understanding of our realities. One of our basic realities is to attain mastery of individual destiny; this is proven in our possessing the faculty of choice. We can choose to make any experience a "mutation point" of up-turning or down-turning depending on the quality of our reaction to and action upon a given situation. We can learn how to make better choices to the degree that we become unemotionally aware of the quality of effects.

   If we have failed--and we all have--to serve according to principle in the past, then we recognize that life, through consciousness, provides the opportunity to redeem the quality of deficient service by at-tunement with group experience so that the combined consciousness of the group may add power to the regenerative effort, and each person who is constructively conditioned then serves all others who are similarly conditioned to the furtherance of progress. Military service is one of the most conspicuous examples, in time of "global stress," by which life makes this opportunity possible, and each person is thereby placed where and with whom his karma (self-generated destiny) decrees.

   Your horoscope is a variation of the Great Mandala, but your twelfth and sixth houses are in the same place as those of everyone else. Study the signs on the cusps of your Mutable Houses--third to ninth, sixth to twelfth--as the vibratory cross that, in your chart, corresponds to the Mutable Cross of the Great Mandala. Focus your attention on the planetary rulers--their placements, aspects, and generic quality--of two houses: 12th and 6th. Study with great care all squares and oppositions involving your twelfth house and its ruler. The ruler of your twelfth house gives you the key to your at-tunement with karmic forces; its regenerate aspects will picture your deep superconscious spiritual strengths to meet and transcend the "tough experiences" represented by its unregenerate aspects. In such an experience you will "tangle" with much that represents the negative astral in human consciousness--your negative twelfth house vibratory conditions picture your magnetization to the people thus represented who will serve as challenges to your deep desire for redemptive action and expression. Inform yourself of the principle of this planet and the principle of every planet that aspects it; you will--because you need it--be tested mightily at that point. Know that "Planets are People." Your chart, in every respect, will be out-pictured beautifully or otherwise by the people you will have to associate with in this period of "redemptive service."

   In time of planetary conflict the individual can take one of four choices: (1) an uncompromising abstinence from participation in any form; (2) abstinence from combat but willingness to serve in another way; (3) voluntary enlistment as a "self-propelled" gesture of service; (4) letting oneself be drafted and taking what is dished out. Of these four, the last requires the maximum of adjustability to the directives of karmic forces, since it is symbolized by the Pisces-point of the Pisces-Virgo diameter. Conscientious fulfillment of "everything that is dished out" is the keyword to keep in mind to neutralize resistances and resentments--because in that attitude of fulfillment, the service will be done--and that is the purpose behind the whole thing. By an expansive exercise of intelligence and expression of abilities as they are required will the person find himself growing in an amazing way because he will be called upon to consider many problems and situations that he never dealt with before. The Pisces vibration symbolizes the need and necessity of the drafted man to keep himself at-tuned to his own and everyone else's best; he must "alert" his ideality and seek to perceive the best potentials of all and recognize every opportunity to project his best; to encourage and hearten when it is needed; to elasticize his appreciation of the value of each factor in the experience as an opportunity to learn.

   Students--it is worse than futile to congest on resentment if this experience comes to you. Your life goes on through it-- though in ways which you may never have consciously planned or expected. No one can make you waste your time if you utilize your time-material. No one can make you waste your talents if you exercise your abilities and let yourself become aware of deeper resources of physical, mental, and spiritual strength.

   The whys and wherefores of this experience are pictured in your horoscope. In ways which you may not even imagine, you can, if you must and will, become more aware of who and what you really are for the improvement of your entire incarnation and for your relationships with people in the future. 

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume V
Chapter V
The Giving of Gifts

   We use the word anniversary to designate a timing for the expressions of our appreciation of life. To those we love, admire, and respect we do not give gifts simply because these persons have succeeded in living a certain number of years--because it is natural for everyone to remain on this plane as long as he can. We give gifts at our festival occasions to express our appreciation that those we love (whose vibratory qualities represent our ideals) have remained here with us. We love, admire, and respect certain people because their vibratory quality is such that it stimulates something of our finer, regenerate consciousness; contact with these persons "ignites" our perception of the Light that abides in each of us and of which we are the manifested expressions on this plane.

   All ceremonies pertaining to the spacing of human experience originate in the primeval impulse to recognize the principles of life in their rhythmic expression during our years here. Since mankind tends to objectify consciousness, festivals and symbolic ceremonies are used to interpret man's awareness of life-processes. It will be observed that all peoples have their own particular ways of presenting their interpretations of life; some are joyous and rhapsodic in quality, others are dignified and solemn. Ceremonies and festivals are dramatizations of mankind's emotional reactions to the phenomena of life and his giving is an expression of his appreciation and/or sympathies.

   At the festival of Easter mankind, according to place and time, celebrates his joy-in-living--the primordial response to awareness of his on-going as a physical manifestation; his gratitude for the Earth as a physical expression of beauty in its flowering, fragrance, and promise of fruition. This is the occasion when mankind celebrates the Ascendant of the horoscope--the renewing of the I AM consciousness, the upward glance, the forward impulse. The reference to the Ascendant of the horoscope pertains to the dynamic, energizing quality of the sign Aries, the Ascendant-sign of the abstract horoscope of the entity, humanity. The Easter-festival, regardless of its varied forms and rituals, is mankind's "song of confidence in Life," the indestructible faith in universal good that makes possible his equally indestructible determination to progress. Easter is the timing in each year- period to re-charge our own--and others'--consciousness with renewed vitality, renewed courage, renewed awareness of the Divine Potential, and renewed joyousness in the releasements and expressions of that potential. The story of the Resurrection is the drama of liberation; our gift-giving at this season is our appreciation of the liberating agency of Spirit as it manifests through those we love, and the liberation which their love and encouragement has meant in our lives. Easter is the "decrystallizing" function of Spirit, and in the horoscope it is symbolized by the vibration and action of the planet Uranus and the function of the sextile aspect between two planets to decrystallize a congestion made by either or both of them to other planets. The transmutation of quality of one--or both--squared or opposed planets permits a redistribution of the planetary energies for more constructive expression. This is the "Resurrection" in the life of each human who progresses spiritually. Our "Easter gift," as Astro-philosophers, is our contribution of insight to unraveling the congestions of our fellows and assisting them to redirect themselves onto higher levels of consciousness and expression.

   The birthday celebration of an individual is an appreciation--by his loved ones and friends--of the way he expresses the ruler of his Ascendant. This planet, whatever and wherever in the chart, is the symbol of self-awareness and personality-potential. Our giving of gifts at such a time is our expression of appreciation for the Light which that person represents in our lives--as a "spark of the Divine Light." We must be grateful for the efforts made by those close to us to improve their vibratory qualities and expressions; their improvements assist us to make ours since their best ignites our best. We objectify our appreciation by a material return-- something that will lift further the consciousness of the appreciated person.

   It is not known by the writer whether occasions comparable to "Mother's Day" and "Father's Day" have been celebrated by other races or if they are, uniquely, American festivals. However, in composite, they are the "festival of the fourth and tenth houses"--the vertical diameter of the horoscope, the dynamic Essence of the universe. In appreciation of the people it commemorates, we signify our reverential awareness of Love- radiation, Sacrifice, Nurture, and Protectiveness which are the inherent regenerate "bases" of the parental principles. We lovingly give a gift to Mother and Dad on "their day" to express our appreciation to them as individuals who, in Love-service, provided us with incarnation, protected and guided us in our years of growing. But we appreciate something of which Mother and Dad are individual human expressions: the nutritive and protective forces of Life itself. Mothers and Dads who are truly loved and respected by their children are so because they, in themselves, symbolize the overshadowing protection of Divine Forces; their service of sacrificial Love is a human counterpart of all out-giving for the perpetuation and on-going of human life.

   When, indeed, has Mankind not celebrated, in ceremony, the union of two who love each other? The festival of marriage is the dramatization of the horizontal diameter of the horoscope, the cusps of the first and seventh houses. The ecstasy and inspiring beauty of love-union is the agency by which mankind is most intensely alerted to the existence of his ideal self--ignited in his consciousness by the virtues and graces of the person who represents his or her complement. The human heart responds with utter joy to the "beauty that is Love" and those persons who have lived this beauty in the marital relationship stand as symbols, in human form, of the eternalness of beauty itself. We respond with a sense of deep rapture to the exalted vibration of a wedding ceremony--and the radiant happiness of the new wife and husband bring forth our most sincere wishes that their experience together will be happy and successful in every way. Because of the quality of spirit that they display, we appreciate couples who make a true success of marriage because they have lived the truth of loving and we are grateful to them for what they represent. The Astro-philosopher "celebrates the horizontal diameter" whenever he learns something from the best of other people and incorporates those qualities into his own living. The other person represents the seventh house--the complement; he is the Ascendant--the I AM; the fusion of the best of the complement into the I AM consciousness is what the marriage ceremony really symbolizes--the rounding out of personal consciousness into a more complete and perfect whole. As wives and husbands, Astro-philosophers re- live the love that united them whenever they seek to emulate the virtues and regenerate qualities of their partners: and they use the symbolic patterning of their horoscopes to clarify the inner meanings of their union and to gain perspectives on how each can help, teach, and guide the other.

   Though it is not credited with the scope of meaning implied by Easter or Christmas, the festival of St. Valentine's Day is a charming occasion which celebrates the fifth house of the horoscope and the sign Leo. This is the "song of the young in heart," the "star-shine of love," the warm and gracious impulse of the human heart to appreciate the beauties and virtues of the opposite sex, the recognition of the dawning of emotional fulfillment. Gifts of flowers and sweets are offered as expressions of the "feelings of sweetness" in our hearts to those who represent our ideal of loveliness and charm. The radiant quality implied by the sign Leo is that from which our Love consciousness warms and blesses the lives of those who are dear to us--we express to these persons our appreciation for the ideal which they represent to us. The young woman or young man who is beloved is a human symbol of Life's beauty in the eyes of the one who loves and the message that is presented by the sign Leo is that of: "live by loving;" "keep your heart renewed and refreshed by warm impulses of affection; "keep your perception of beauty alive by loving the finest in the other person." The daily gift of our heart's finest impulses toward beautiful living in relationship, the enchantment of harmonious togetherness and the inspiration of ever-renewed awareness of the Light which is inherent in the consciousness of the loved one is the true celebration of St. Valentine's Day--the annual gift of flowers (or whatnot) is simply the outer expression of that which the human heart should express continually toward the loved one; it is our appreciation of that which the person represents to us as an ideal of our hearts.

   The composite festival, in the sign Scorpio, of Halloween--October 31--and All Saints' Day--November 1--has a much more solemn implication; it is the "Occultist's Festival."

   Halloween, in later days, has become a festival of "fancy-dress and monkey-shines"--a far cry from the deeply spiritual significance which it had originally. Its perpetuation through history has been an expression of mankind's awareness of life on the inner planes and its astrological pattern, through the sign Scorpio, is the eighth house--the regeneration of evil into Good--the arch-symbol of the Powers of the White Occultist. Halloween is, according to old traditions, the one night of the year when those dead are granted respite from the bondage of their graves and freedom to roam the habitations of the living. The picturing of witches, devils, skeletons, and all such weird creatures are dramatizations, by man's imagination, of his awareness of the earth-bound and condemned; they symbolize his fear of the unknown--unknown because not understood. The sequence of Halloween with All Saints' Day completes the meaning of this festival: the conquest of the forces of darkness (fear and ignorance) by the Forces of Light (Virtue and Truth). In this connection, and at this point, a word of deepest appreciation to:

   Mr. Walt Disney, whose work in motion-pictures has proved him to be one of the greatest agencies for inspiring the heart of humanity in the world today. In the last two parts of his monumental work "Fantasia"--"Night On Bald Mountain" and "Ave Maria"--Mr. Disney and his colleagues have presented this "Scorpionic Festival" in magnificently dramatic form. We see the shades of Egos who, while on earth, became congested in negative qualities of pride lust, greed, cruelty, wrath, and envy. In "Fantasia" the characters which serve to represent these qualities live in a world where all is dark, smoky, fetid, painful, and anguished. These levels of consciousness, in any human being, are truly the hell-realms, and in such, we are lost in the power of the Prince of Darkness, hopeless and lacking self- direction. The luminous music of "Ave Maria" introduces the advent of dawn which is the Light of Truth, Purity, and Virtue, dispelling the perverse and dark conditions and powers of the "Black Angel." The occultist, or Astro- philosopher, who meets his personal experiences with courage and fortitude, fulfills them to the best of his ability and through regeneration of his negative impulses purifies his intuitions and illuminates his Inner Knowledge, conditions himself to be a "Light-thrower" into the darkened areas of another's consciousness. We may give parties and enjoy games and fun on Halloween and go to church in tribute of reverence to our saints the nest morning, but we celebrate, as philosophers, this occasion in our daily living when we regenerate and qualify ourselves to be givers of Light to humanity. Every Astro-philosopher has a particular planetary condition as the ruling agency of his eighth house--and this planet gives him the key as to the principal requirements of his regenerative experiences. Each effort in this direction contributes more light into the collective vibratory body of humanity--it is the great spiritual gift by which the part contributes to the well-being of the whole.

   The great festival of Christmas is the most "Composite" of all of our present day celebrations. It is the dramatization of mankind's most profound spiritual realizations, hopes, ideals, and aspirations--the focal-point for expressing love for his fellow-man.

   It is remarkable that the story of the first Christmas involves in its presentation life on this plane from the "lowly beasties" to the angelic hosts--the complete range of life-expressions from the most humble to the most exalted. Kings and wise men, humble shepherds, the angelic voices, the transfigured human parents--all grouped around the representation of Divine Spirit embodied in the purity of the new-born child. This festival is the dramatization of the eleventh and twelfth houses of the Abstract Horoscope as the impulse behind the manifestation of the cardinal cross; the symbol made by the vertical and horizontal diameters of the wheel is the Mighty Symbol of Incarnation.

   The eleventh house is spiritualized universal Love- consciousness--the polarization--or higher octave--of the fifth house. Its abstract rulership by Uranus is Love for all, Love that recognizes no limitations or hindrances, Love that decrystallizes and transforms all limited conditions. The twelfth house is the voice of redemption--the impulse (and necessity) to reincarnate for further fulfillment through evolutionary processes and experiences. That which is manifested by the powers of these two houses is the expression, in material dimension, of the bi-polar vehicle through which the latent Godhood is revealed. "...and He took upon Himself the likeness of a man" is the statement of Spirit manifested, and it pertains to the appearance of every Life-expression on this plane.

   In the consciousness of humanity, the symbol of a child has always represented the innocence of a new start; in the adoration of the Child who was to be Christed, we see the dramatization of mankind's up-looking to the vision of its own forgotten purity. Our hearts are deeply touched by the vibratory power of this festival because, all over the world, the joyousness and well-being of children and, in general, all people who are dependent, are focal-points of our emotional attention. We seek to manifest the power of benevolence to make better the conditions of others.

   Since incarnations are taking place every day all over the world we realize that spirit, manifesting, is an endless process and the Principle of Light, incarnate, is implied by every birth on this plane. Our giving of gifts at this season is our dramatization of homage to the Divine which is manifesting through myriads of forms through the entire cycle of evolution and our expressions of friendliness and good-will toward our brothers and sisters constitute our recognition of them as expressions of divine light, and divine love.

   The reality of Christmas can only be perpetuated if we function in this consciousness daily--never to lose sight of the essential light in all other human beings. The continued expression of such consciousness makes more and more evident the underlying meaning of the statement that: "He came that the Kingdom of Peace and Righteousness would be established on Earth." As with the Teacher, so with us; we are all agencies of this illumining and transfiguring power; our reverence for the Child, His human parents and the Angelic Hosts is our reverence for the love and the light which enfolds us all.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume V
Chapter VI
The Golden Rule

   "Do unto others what you would that they do unto you."

   This Great Commandment was given as a directive for conduct so that humanity could become aware of the action of the universal Law of Cause and Effect in its experiences, relationships, and affairs. By adherence to it, the self-preservative impulse is appealed to in such a way that consideration of the well-being, happiness, and success of other people is stimulated, and the natural, normal desires for fulfillment of the individual are extended into the higher octave of fulfillment for the self and for the "other self"--which means "all people."

   In considering the "self and the other self," let us re-word the Commandment slightly into: "I do unto others; so do they unto me:" and combine this phrase with the following simple mandala: a circle with horizontal diameter; the symbol for the sign Aries at the point which corresponds to the Ascendant; the symbol for the sign Libra at the point corresponding to the seventh cusp.

   Place the point of a pencil on the Aries cusp as you say "I do;" as you say "unto," let the pencil-point travel around the circumference of the wheel passing (what would be) the cusps of the second, third, fourth, fifth, and the sixth houses, arriving at the seventh cusp as you say "others;" let it remain there as you say "so do they;" let it travel over the upper semi-circle--the cusps of the eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth houses--as you say "unto" and arrive back at the Ascendant when you say "me." Repeat this action several times to alert your consciousness to a greater realization of the continual, rhythmic functioning of the Law of Cause and Effect in human evolution; in short you are performing a motion- picture of the Golden Rule.

   The horizontal diameter of the horoscope-wheel is one of the most important phases of astrological symbology because it is the "arch-symbol" of such as: the occult essence of the opposition aspect; the picturing of the self and the other selves; the picture of action and reaction, force and counter-force; marriage as fusion of male and female qualities and expressions in love-relationship; marriage as the magnetic attraction between the individual and any or all complementary relationship-patterns, whether single or collective; the challenge to the separative self by the vibratory forces which seek to decrystallize the separativeness into the larger Life and Consciousness through union, exchange and blending; the mirroring of the individual through his feeling-reaction to those who complement him, either unregeneratively or regeneratively; it is the astrological picture of the physical Law which is started: every force automatically sets up an equal opposite force; this, in physical terms, is Life's way of establishing equilibriums after stress and tension.

   Since planets are the active focuses of principles, and planetary positions and aspects depict our individual consciousness of principles, then it is clearly shown that every planetary focus has its counterpart in the zodiacal degree opposite to its position in the natal horoscope. Give this careful attention--it will help you to understand much more clearly why some people who may not be specifically identified by your seventh-house patterns may appear--in your feeling-reactions--as your counterparts; something in their charts may oppose a point of one of your planetary arrangements. In other words, the other person's planet may serve to mirror the counterpart of something in your own chart. He is then, in part, a reflection of yourself, either to pull you down further into your congestions- -through reactions of temptation, friction and enmity--or, by his regenerate quality, to lift you out of your congestions--to love and ideality.

   Since I AM and I DO comprise the "song of the individualized self" as illustrated by the Ascendant of the abstract horoscope, the Golden Rule refers specifically to humanity's "being and doing." It is the start of travel around the wheel through experience-patterns and development-levels. The Rule says, in effect: life is to be lived; I show you how it can be lived in terms of neutralizing inner frictions and establishing harmonies and integrations each step of the way. Let us see how the mandala can be amplified to illustrate the Rule throughout the wheel.

   Add the other diameters, thus picturing the twelve houses; add the symbols appropriate to the house-cusps (Aries through Pisces); perform the "ritual" of reciting the Rule--as we did with the Aries-Libra diameter--starting with each cusp in turn. For example, when you "start the motion-picture" with Taurus you are impressing your consciousness with the value of the Rule as an underlying basis of conduct in all of your experiences pertaining to material stewardship and financial exchange and toward all people who are involved in your life through these experiences. So it is with all of the other houses and signs; the Rule directs your conduct in relationship to all people who figure as "vibratory expressions" in your experience-patterns--past, present, and future.

   Since every zodiacal point in the first six signs of the abstract horoscope is counterparted by the opposite point, the following is suggested as an exercise for becoming more fluently acquainted with the "opposition pattern;" place the pencil-point on the cusp of the first house and draw it along the horizontal diameter, saying: " Aries is counterparted by Libra;" then turn the wheel so that Libra is on the Ascendant, draw the diameter again saying: "Libra is counterparted by Aries." Follow out this procedure with each pair of counterparted signs until each pair is established in mind as "two parts of the same thing" rather than as "two different things."

   Each of the twelve signs is then seen to be a potential starting point for a journey around the wheel. The cusps of the twelve houses--as the horoscope is constructed--form what appears to be six diameters; actually the cyclic action of the "life within the wheel" indicates twelve diameters representing the polarity-action of the horoscope as a picture of the Law of Cause and Effect in action throughout humanity's evolution. These diameters are not complete in themselves until the return is made, since each is simply a short cut between one zodiacal point and its opposite; the two opposites form a structural segment on which the complete circle is built. So, from Aries to Libra and back to Aries--via the diameter--is the short-cut picture of traveling around the wheel from Aries through Libra and back to Aries on the circumference of the horoscope. Cyclic action is implied by both.

   Because we put astrological knowledge to work for a certain specific enlightening or regenerative objective, we must learn how to apply to the individual horoscope these picturings of "zodiacal points and their counterparts." In other words, we must always seek to make our philosophical conclusions practical--in astrological interpretation or in living.

   We must learn to recognize our patterns of consciousness by identifying our reactions to other people and synchronize these conclusions with the picturings in our horoscopes. When--if ever--this is accomplished we have put our astrological knowledge to constructive, practical use toward lifting reactions of envy, hatred, jealousy, fear, and the like from our minds and hearts. We cannot love our neighbors (humanity) as long as such qualities remain in our "inner." Not loving (the Light in) our neighbor means not fulfilling. Your Light is his light also and the dark congestions of down-pulling reaction must be dissipated if the Light in yourself and in him is to become a living reality in your consciousness. So, let us study our natal charts from this basis of "counterpart" and come into a clearer realization of the fact that our reactions to others form the vibratory barometer of our Consciousness; we will approach this study by renewing our realization that planets are expressions of principles; therefore they are the "goodness of Life in action;" it is our Life-purpose to learn how to live these principles as unfoldment of divine potentials.

   Life gives us many opportunities to deal with each planetary pattern and these opportunities are presented to us through our contact with other people whose planetary arrangements synchronize with ours in different ways. We are now concerned with "problems" so we will deal with the "counterparting" of the opposition aspects.

   Until such time as you recognize that your Light is one with humanity's Light you tend to "classify" other people in three principal ways: (1) the bad--those who stimulate your unregeneracies; (2) the bad-good--those who stimulate both your unregeneracies and your regeneracies; (3) the good--those you love because they stimulate only your best in consciousness. The "envelope" doesn't matter--relationship, sex, age--we are now considering the "other fellow" only as a vibratory mechanism, expressing in human incarnation, as a factor in your vibratory experience.

   Recognize that every opposition aspect between planets in your chart forms an active polarity-pattern; until those elements in consciousness are harmonized by regenerating each factor, a condition of inner tug-of-war prevails. Any person who comes into your life in a significant way whose ruler--planet ruling the Ascendant sign--is conjunct one of your opposed planets is personally identified by that planetary vibration in your consciousness and fits into your life in one of the three above- mentioned classifications. Any person who has any other planet but the chart- ruler conjunct one of your opposed planets might be called a secondary identification or variation of that vibration. Regardless of how the other person is identified, his being in your life is to give you an opportunity to regenerate your expression of the two opposed planets; stimulation of one automatically stimulates the other. If his planet is unregenerate in quality the lesson is clear: you must use the spiritual principle represented by that planet in order successfully to harmonize and fulfill the relationship. If his planet is "bad-good" in quality then you must express the best of both your opposed planets--in other words, you must fuse the best elements of both planets in order to establish greater harmony with all of his planetary conditions represented by that particular planet. If his planet is entirely regenerate, then he is an "agency" for making you aware of the best of the particular planet in your pattern with which he is identified, and he helps you to express the best of the other planet of your opposition. His planet being regenerate, he is your "friend" because his quality stimulates you to express your Light; if otherwise, he is your "tempter."

   Therefore, since the opposition-aspect seems to pit one planet against another, the solution is not "working on one planet at the expense of the other;" it is found in translating or transposing the quality of planetary expression into a higher octave, thus redeeming the weakness implied by congestion and friction from darkness into a greater expression of Light. This can be done by different approaches: (1) using the regenerate quality of a third planet which favorably--by trine and sextile--aspects the two opposed planets; (2) using the regenerate quality of the planets which disposit--rule the signs of placement of--the two opposed planets; (3) direct translation-- by applying the Golden Rule--of the quality of the two opposed planets. This is a direct philosophical discipline, since the quality of the two planets is dynamically projected from your "Light-center."

   In the illustration above, the alleviating planet which helps the opposition may be congested by square aspect from a fourth planet. If such is the case, pay careful attention to the zodiacal point which is opposite to the alleviating planet. Any person in your life whose ruler is within orb of that point will stand, through his regenerate qualities, as a living symbol of the "higher Self" of the alleviating planet. Study that person with great care. Why do you love that person? How does he "lift" you? Why do you feel that you need him? The answer is clearly shown astrologically and can be perceived in personal relations; the best of that person is the higher self of the planet that makes possible a regeneracy of your two opposed planets That person is personally identified as one of your principal "Light- showers" in this incarnation. Don't waste a moment of your time in envy of that person; seek to emulate his good as much as possible. So doing, you will be learning from your own higher self. Assiduously cultivate every quality in your own nature that inspires that person with feelings of love and respect for you; in that way his Light and your Light blend into an "inner-plane- marriage" and the fused Light of both adds to the Light-expression of humanity.

   The person whose primary (chart-ruler) or secondary planet squares your opposed planets is also your teacher, but from a different "level." If his planetary quality is negative his effect on you is to ignite or frictionalize the negative quality of your opposed planets. Such a person gives you a stiff examination of your ability to regenerate your opposition; his negatives tend to "take hands with your opposed planets and pull them in his own down-going direction;" since this person's planets can square your opposition from two points--the signs which square your opposition--is it not feasible that the planets in your own chart which rule the squaring signs may be the vibratory power by which you can free yourself from the "effect" of this person's down-pulling effect on you? In other words, by using regenerate expressions of these two planets in your own chart you release yourself from his patterns and you establish your own regenerate counterparting. He no longer appears as your enemy because you have raised into a higher octave of expression the vibratory quality which you have in common with him and in so doing, you make yourself--if the relationship- pattern is a close one--a "Light" for the regeneracy of his planet. You established "up-lift" for yourself but you also extend the up-lift to your neighbor and the regenerating process is seen to form a "complete circle"--it includes him--it doesn't just stop at your own regenerating. The person whose uncongested ruler or planet squares your opposition has the effect of "brakes" on you; his vibratory quality serves to try to protect you from continuing in your frictional or down-going path. He, consciously or unconsciously, serves to show you the error of your ways. Since you are two people, that planet in your own chart being expressed regeneratively is the way your Light "takes hand with his Light." In other words, his unafflicted planetary vibration alerts you to that which in your own nature regeneratively counterparts your opposition. Let yourself open, in consciousness, to the good in that person; he is your friend, your teacher, your guide, your way-shower; he is not-as you may subconsciously tend to feel--your enemy or your antagonist. Take hands with this person in willingness to learn from him and his power will be seen as an agency of raising your opposition planets into a higher octave of expression.

   Another form of "counterpart" is seen when you contact a person who has two planets in trine aspect which you have in square or opposition. This might be called "counterpart of aspect-quality;" he "counterparts" you in representing a regenerate fulfillment of something in your consciousness which needs regenerating. He, then, foreshadows the fulfillment you are to make, sooner or later. Particularly if one of his trined planets is opposition one of your squared ones he will stand as a personification of your own Higher Self; he then by aspect-quality and polarity-pattern counterparts you in a higher level of expression. If he has any trined planets opposition a squared planet in your chart that planet, in its regenerate quality, is counterpart of your aspect. Pay attention to that planet in your own chart and provide, from within your own chart and your own consciousness, the redemption and regeneration of your square aspect.

   Let us meditate more and more on the great principle of polarity, not from the standpoint of ourselves being "versus" everyone else, but that we are all reflections of each other. The worst and the best of each is counterparted by the best and worst of others; the established recognition, in consciousness, of our joint participation in the one WHITE LIGHT is the goal of all. 

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume V
Chapter VII
The American Astrologer

   The horoscope of the United States of America: 10th-- 14 Aquarius 11th--13 Pisces 12th--23 Aries Ascendant--7 Gemini 2nd--1 Cancer 3rd--21 Cancer. Planets: Uranus--9 Gemini Mars--21 Gemini Venus--3 Cancer Jupiter--6 Cancer Sun--13 Cancer Mercury--24 Cancer North Node--7 Leo Neptune- -24 Virgo Saturn--15 Libra Pluto--27 Capricorn Moon--18 Aquarius. Mercury in Cancer is ruler of the chart and the numerical power five (the sum of digits representing July 4, 1776) is the Mercury number. The three principal planetary powers are, in sequence of relative value: (1) Moon in Aquarius; (2) Mercury in Cancer; (3) Uranus in Gemini. All other planets are related, by disposition, to Moon (Venus, Jupiter, and Sun in Cancer, Saturn in Libra, Pluto in Capricorn, no planets in Taurus, Sagittarius, or Leo) and Mercury (Mars in Gemini, Neptune in Virgo, no planets in Aries, or Pisces).

   The "personal rulership" by Mercury designates this nation as a "messenger of the gods" in the sense that the United States of America has, as its evolutionary purpose, the fusion of races, nationalities, and religions for gestation of the Aquarian Age. We have incarnated here at this time--during the past 174 years--to learn more about the principles of life in terms of our archetypal nature as humans. We are, by virtue of our Gemini Ascendant and third house Mercury, a composite of life students, a national epitome of basic brotherhood-sisterhood relationship of humans. The chart's ruler focalizes the Ascendant-identity in the third house-sign, Cancer; the third cusp is then the vibratory ascendant; its ruler, the Moon in Aquarius, is the vibratory ruler, Cancer is "matrix," "seed," "nest," "mother," "enfoldingness," "protectiveness of the immature, the unformed, and the growing." The Cancer-Capricorn diameter is the vibrational diameter of parentage, and in this chart its rulers, Moon in Aquarius and Saturn (exalted) in Libra, the fixed and cardinal of the air-trine, are trine to each other. That which is being gestated--the New-Age Race--will be matured in spiritual aristocracy of true, living democracy if, repeat if, certain vital realizations are made by each progressing individual. The pattern of Moon-trine-Saturn is amplified by Uranus in Gemini (conjunct Ascendant) trine Saturn, and Mars in Gemini trine to both Saturn and Moon. Here we have a four-planet-and-Ascendant grand trine in the signs of the three octaves of fraternity as the "parallelity in human relationship." Because the chart has a grand trine as its basic planetary pattern, it is shown that this nation is provided with a distilled spiritual pabulum which is to be used for progressive--and needed--regeneracies to fulfill its specialized evolutionary purpose. The "pabulum" is the residue of democratic consciousness of each individual who incarnates as an American citizen or who, by evolutionary qualification, becomes a citizen through naturalization.

   Since the "vibratory horizontal" (third cusp, ninth cusp) of the chart is the diameter of education (third--learning, ninth-- teaching) it is shown that we are a composite of life-students and life-teachers. This diameter is focalized by the opposition of Mercury in Cancer and Pluto in Capricorn and the significance of this opposition--as an "awareness-pattern"--is to reveal the timing for regenerating the "practical mind" into an octave of "practical spirituality." This opposition is "channeled" by Neptune in Virgo, since Neptune sextiles Mercury and trines Pluto. Neptune is not only ruler of the eleventh house but it is in the sign and house of its own polarity, Virgo, fifth house. It is felt by the author that this position of Neptune, because the fifth house is in the lower semi- circle of the wheel, is one of the most significant factors in the entire wheel. It is disposited by the ruler of the chart and in sextile aspect (the "mechanism of alchemy") to it. It is the fellowship ideal which must be, sooner or later, realized by each individual American and expressed as a factor of that which is implied in "being an American." The fifth house placement of Neptune is personal radiation of love-power and in probably no other country is the ideal of fellowship more stressed in the pattern of family-life. Democratically minded Americans recognize and respect the individuality of children and the fellowship-relation between members of family-groups is definitely a transcendence of the "old picture" of rigid family-hierarchy in which children are not companions of but subjects of their elders. Because Mercury rules the fifth as well as the Ascendant we recognize that as parents Americans make a dynamic contribution to the spiritual evolution of our national plan in being willing to learn from their parentage- experiences, to study their children and study with their children. The upsurgence of interest in child psychology in this country is evidence of this planetary aspect in action--and it is the democratically-minded parents who comprise the vanguard of this activity. That American parents and children shall be friendly companions to each other--as an expression of Love-Power--is a foretaste of that which is to be established in the New Age.

   We have been given information through occult teachings that the progressive Americans of this age trace their evolutionary descent from ancient Egyptian incarnations. A characteristic of this ancient illumined civilization was that the initiate-priests and priest-kings were not "just rulers" of their subjects--they were spiritual parents. Spiritual instruction of the citizenry was available to all--at all times. Only spiritual worth qualified a man or a woman to function as a spiritual guide in those times--all aspirants were tested to the utmost to prove their qualifications as teachers, seers, healers, "watchers," "warriors on the inner planes," etc. All were fraternal in this respect, regardless of plane of development; all were "life-students" who had to qualify by examination to fulfill spiritual service-patterns. So, the fraternity of American parents and teachers to children and students is the channeling by Neptune of the third- house--ninth-house placement of Mercury opposition Pluto. Parents who are focused on this relationship-ideal are those who most clearly qualify to give embodiment to New-Age personalities.

   The astrologer, as a contributive factor in the spiritual life of this nation, is basically on the "ray of philosophy" rather than that of "devotional religion." He may be Protestant, Hebrew, Catholic, or a follower of any other form of devotion as far as his immediate "religious mold" is concerned, but his focus of attention is the study of life principles through symbols. The planet Uranus, ruler of the fixed air-sign Aquarius, is the planetary significator of those elements of consciousness that enable a human to "become an astrologer." As a fixed sign, Aquarius is one of the structure-points of the square of resource; as an air sign, it is one of the structure-points of the trine of fraternal consciousness. Its square is initiated by its own polarity Leo (fixed fire), the principle of radiative Love Power; its trine is initiated by the cardinal air-sign Libra, arch- principle of reflective complementation. Dynamically, Aquarius is the love- potential liberated for universal expression; reflectively it is the perception of the love-potential of all people by what we call the "spiritualization of Fraternity." The "Leo part of you" alerts you to your attributes as an expression of divine love; the "Aquarius part of you" alerts you to your capacity to express that potential boundlessly and perceive it endlessly as an attribute of every other human. "Psychology" (which is also designated by Uranus) is the "study of the soul" or the "study of the soul's laws." What is the soul but the distillation of past love-expressions? "Psychiatry" is the study of the effects from congestion of the soul's powers in the desire-octaves--a Gemini-like function of studying a specialization of the Law of Cause and Effect. The psychologist deals with the "Leo-Aquarius part of you;" the psychiatrist deals with the "Taurus-Scorpio part of you."

   It is interesting to note that in the chart of the United States there are no planets in Taurus-Scorpio; this diameter is intercepted in the twelfth and sixth houses. The chart contains, however, a very pronounced emphasis on second house patterns: the ruler, Mercury, in its own second house sign; Venus, Jupiter and Sun in the second house; Venus dignified by position; the vibratory horizontal (third cusp and ninth cusp) is duplicated on second cusp and eighth cusp, and the Moon, as vibratory ruler of the chart, is the prime planetary significator; the other two vibratory significators are, in order of significance, Mercury and Uranus. Venus disposits Saturn in Libra which squares Jupiter and Sun in the second house. The violations of the Principle of Stewardship of materials and money is one of the outstanding factors which originate the psychiatric condition of American individuals. The intense compression of attention on evaluation by money-standards with its attendant complexes, tensions, anxieties, and sex-neuroses (sex-consciousness is tied, hand and foot, to possession- consciousness because the diameter of Scorpio-Taurus is a polarity) results in the present high rate of mental-hospital population. Such afflicted persons bring into the present incarnation congested residues, from many past incarnations, of materialistic evaluation of life. But American incarnation is indicative of a timing to evolve from that illusionary evaluation to prepare for the fellowship evaluation of the New Age. It is in the hands of American astrologers to alert clients, audiences, and readers to the meaning of stewardship of materials and balanced exchanges as principles of life. Whenever a person seeks guidance from an astrological reader or analyst regarding "money, income, property and investment" he is, in his higher motivations, actually seeking a clearer understanding of the equilibrium- principle behind these things. Let every astrological practitioner who reads this material refresh his awareness of this truth. We dare not contribute to the weakness of others by catering to their desire for information regarding "good and bad days for financial exercise." We aspire, rather, to contribute to their strength by alerting them to the principles of life which are chemically expressed through media of exchange, coinage, barter, investment, and whatnot. All days are good days for the expression of principle; when the Principle of Equilibrium is comprehended, financial exercise becomes a life-giving channeling for the good of society, the nation, and the race at large.

   Because American citizens, as children, enjoy interchange and mutual growth with children of many national backgrounds, we recognize that the Aquarius-power in the United States chart points to each American astrologer as a "structure-point" in the edifice of international understanding. The astrologer who functions with White-Lighted consciousness knows that "nationalistic traits" are temporary collective specializations of human personality. Because so many people are congested on karmic patterns of nationalistic and racial fears, animosities and frictions, it is the privilege of the astrologer who is also an American citizen to alert the consciousness of his brother and sister humans to the fact that no one's identity is "national"--it is "vibrational." An interesting illustration of alchemy is shown in the United States chart in this way: Neptune, ruler of the eleventh house, is squared by Mars in Gemini but sextiled by the chart's ruler, Mercury, which "disposits" both of these planets. When our international sympathies are touched we open homes, pocketbooks, and resources to those in need. When our localized national prejudices are touched we tend to forget that all Americans are fellow-citizens and we give expression to animosities based on external (Mars, ruler of Aries, the twelfth house-sign) differences of "color, superiority, inferiority," etc. Since the ruler of the Ascendant and fifth cusp is the alchemical agency for the Mars-Neptune square, it is up to each individual American citizen to decrystallize the residues of nationalistic and "caste-ish" prejudice and hatred. Each must do for himself in this regard by very virtue of the fact that democracy--in the spiritual sense of the word--recognizes the individual's right to exercise his potentials, make his own mistakes and learn from the results of his mistakes. The Moon in Aquarius, as vibratory ruler of the chart tells us that an ever- deepening realization of our exoteric identity as "Earthians" is the key we must use to disintegrate those negatives of nationalistic pride, destructive rivalry, violation of exchange-principles and stewardship-principles, etc., in order that the Uranian requirements of the Midheaven may be fulfilled. The "melting-pot" quality of American citizenship and civilization is microcosmic earthian identity in gestation. The American astrologer, who in his service is the Uranus-power in action, can do much to help others clarify their awareness of the significance of "nationality" as an evolutionary "molding mechanism."

   In other words, because the ruler of the chart also rules the fifth house and the sign Leo is on the fourth cusp (the "psychological base"), the Cancer-position of both Mercury and the Sun identifies the nurture-principle of the love-vibration as the esoteric impulsion behind this gestation of "Earthian identity." Aquarius, with Uranus trine to Saturn (ruler of eighth and ninth houses) is the esoteric objective to be fulfilled. The Sun is squared by Saturn in this chart; blindness to philosophic values impels over-attention on money-values as compensation. Think about this in the light of historical fact. We "take pride" on being the richest country in the world but in all justice we cannot feel anything but shame in the way we have mis-stewarded our vast resources. Conversely, however, adherence to the principles of intelligent and foresighted stewardship would be a demonstration of true power because then the White Light of Sun would combine with the White Light of Saturn as "stewardship-responsibility-power" fulfillment.

   Another most important factor in this chart is the sign Libra on the sixth cusp; Venus, its focalizer, is in the second and conjunct Jupiter which, with the Sun, is squared by Saturn. Libra is the arch- symbol of the Principle of Exchange-in-cooperation so we see that cooperation as a factor in our national work-pattern is a "must" if we are to realize the ideal of true abundance. Venus is a result, a distillation of the qualities of energy-expression; when cooperation between work-initiators (employers) and work-instruments (employees) is not founded on a basis of mutual good then the Venus-power is demagnetized with attendant depletion of Saturn-power. Jupiter, as ruler of the seventh house, conjunct the Sun and both squared by Saturn, then becomes the "opponent"--the illusionary satisfactions of material greed. Negative Jupiter is "greed" as an intense focus on illusionary compensations for the loss of realities. It becomes the establishment of false security through illusionary abundance. We do not, individually or collectively, own any material thing--we exercise our intellects and consciousness as stewards.

   Also, Neptune in Virgo squared by Mars pictures the consciousness-defaults of both employers and employees in regard to the principles of service. When Neptune, as ruler of the eleventh house, is contaminated by negative Mars then the Aquarian objective of the Midheaven is held back from fulfillment. As long as the slogan "Capital versus Labor" is interpreted as a reality, this square--as a congestion in the national consciousness--will prevail. The sextile by the chart's ruler Mercury to Neptune, plus Libra on the sixth cusp, ordains that every American citizen- worker, whether employer or employee, is evolutionarily committed to exercise the principle of cooperative love-service in balanced exchanges. The employer who is negatively based, in ignorance, on exploitation disqualifies for the creative identity of "employer;" the employee who is based on the "un- principle" of non-improvement disqualifies for further development--he postpones the day for qualifying as a creative or administrative worker.

   The astrologer in this country who is focused on the ever-clarifying of his consciousness of life-principles has a specialized evolutionary service to contribute to the race in this "modulatory, gestative" time. In the United States, he can deal with almost every kind of evolutionary social strata, every kind of karmic-return pattern and, because of the repolarization of the archetype during the past century, he is able to contribute a clarifying of relationship-principles through the extended understanding of the principles pertaining to our sexual and generic nature. He himself--through attribute as a "Uranus-identity"--stands as a microcosmic Earthian identity not just because he is an inhabitant of this planet but because the impersonality of his viewpoint, scope of perception, radiativity of Uranus-love-power qualify him, in degree, to personify the New-Age Human.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume 6

Second Printing
The Rosicrucian Fellowship
Mt. Ecclesia
Oceanside, California, U.S.A.

   Foreword

   The five prior volumes of this series of astrological interpretations have been received with such an enthusiastic welcome by so many astrology students everywhere that we are pleased to add No. 6 to the series. Elman's Bacher's profound knowledge of and devotion to the spiritual aspect of the stellar science, along with an uncanny understanding of human nature, made it possible for him to present illuminating astrological treatises which undoubtedly place him among the best of modern esoteric astrologers. As the truth and value of his spiritual interpretation of astrology become more and more generally accepted, his presentations will serve increasingly to help people know themselves and fulfill their highest destiny. Before passing into the higher realms in the early 1950's, Mr. Bacher expressed a keen desire to have us publish his articles in book form, and although we deeply regret that he did not live to see his articles made available to the public in this convenient form, we are happy in knowing that his wish is being fulfilled.

Introduction

   To the Rosicrucian student astrology is a phase of religion, basically a spiritual science. More than any other study it reveals man to himself. No other science is so sublime, so profound, and so all- embracing. It portrays the relation between God, the macrocosm, and man, the microcosm, showing them to be fundamentally one. Occult science, investigating the subtler forces that impinge upon man, the Spirit, and his vehicles, has charted their effects with no less definiteness than has academic science the reactions of sea and soil, plant and animal to the solar and lunar rays. With this knowledge we may determine the astrological pattern of each individual and know the relative strength and weakness of the various forces operating in each life. To the degree that we are in possession of such knowledge we can begin systematic, scientific character building--and character is destiny! We note times and seasons cosmically advantageous to unfolding undeveloped qualities, correcting faulty traits, and eliminating destructive propensities. The divine science of astrology reveals the hidden causes at work in our lives. It counsels the adult in regard to vocation, the parent in the guidance of children, the teacher in management of pupils, the physician in diagnosing diseases, thus lending aid to each and all in whatever position they may find themselves. No other subject within the range of human knowledge appears to hold for this day and age the possibilities open to astrologers for helping people to their own dignity as gods-in-the-making, to a greater grasp of universal law, and to a realization that we are eternally secure within the caressing fold of Infinite Life and Boundless Being.

Chapter I
The Point, The Line, and the Circle

   For a long time it has been one of the author's most deeply-rooted personal convictions that astrology is humanity's supreme interpretative art. "Supreme" because its elements of structure and symbolism composite the structural and symbolic elements of the other arts. It is the symbolic picturing of cosmic principles "expressing humanly;" as such, it pictures everything which humanity itself seeks to express in the fine arts. It is the patterning of actions and reactions and these two words together are the macrocosm of what we call "human experience" which, in turn, is the "distillation of spiritual consciousness." Art, in whatever form, serves to intensify and vivify Man's awareness of himself, other people, and the world around him.

   The fundamental simplicity of astrological symbolism has the deep-reaching effect on our consciousness that it does have because of its archetypal quality; hence its messages--through planets, signs, houses, and aspects--reach us continually as we ourselves unfold our resources of wisdom and perception. All artists, universally considered great, are considered so because of an unusually high development in at least one branch of their particular art; the great astrologer is one who has effected a harmonious integration of intellect with love and intuition. He is, by nature of his talent, an intellect and an instrument, a stimulator and a reflector, a parent and a brother. He knows darkness but his awareness is centered in Light; he serves to illuminate the consciousness of others regarding their real identity as expressions of the Law of Cause and Effect, which is cosmic polarity in action through the human archetype.

   This introductory discourse on the "point, line, and circle" is for the purpose of mental preparation for consideration of the analogies between the fine arts and astrology. Any work of art is a chemicalized organization of elements, abstract and concrete, which serves to embody an archetypal idea. The conception of the idea is the action of the artist's feminine polarity; it represents his functioning as a"focus-er" of inspirational powers and as a perceptor of the archetype, by intuition. By exercise of will-power and technical skill (the masculine polarity) a vibratory fusion takes place which makes possible the gestation of the embodiment--the archetype is condensed and objectified through the particular artistic medium--the inherent perfection of the archetype is relatively manifested in tone, color, designs, movement, gesture, words, etc. The fusion of intuition with will is the exercise of bi-polarity--the artist is, at one and the same time, the "father-mother" of his work. Human beings do not and cannot--CREATE tones, colors, designs, movements, gestures, etc. We do, however, have the faculty of becoming aware of the existence and nature of archetypes, and our talents permit us to manifest our concepts of the archetypes, which are, and always have been, resident in Divine Mind. We as individuals, simply give individualized expressions of them. The transcendent quality of the work of a truly great artistic genius has its resource in the clarity with which he perceives the archetype and the efficiency with which he gives it expression. Think about this in connection with those works of art which you love most deeply and which have inspired you the most intensely. They live always in your consciousness and they serve to symbolize inner realities to you. Your response to them is part and parcel of your soul body; their essence will live in it as long as you exist. They are, in whatever form, vibratory statements of truth. The "creativity" of the artistic manifestor is the originality with which he embodies the archetype.

   A few examples--to illustrate the archetypal quality of great art: The music of Johann Sebastian Bach; the singing of Marian Anderson; the dance-arts of Isadora Duncan, Vaslav Nijinsky, and Mary Wigman; the acting of Eleanora Duse and John Barrymore; the dramas of Shakespeare; the sculpture of Rodin; the novels of Pearl Buck; the architecture of ancient Egypt; the poetry of Verlaine, etc.

   Without the "point, line and circle" there can be no astrological picturing. Without understanding the archetypal significance of these three we cannot understand the archetypal significance of either a work of art or a horoscope. In the composite of "point, line and circle, " as a sequence, is seen the symbol of emanation--macrocosmic and microcosmic, divine and human. Have you ever wondered what to do to create a symbol of "nothing?" Simple enough. You abide by the meaning of the word and do nothing. You leave the paper blank. The instant you have indicated anything on the paper, you have given embodiment to a " something. " The most fascinating factor in symbology is the study of the point--because the point is the start of all outpicturing. Can you draw a line"all-at-once"? No--you have to start with a point. To counter with "but I can use a stamp and draw the line all at once" is equivocation; the stamp (made to draw a line) was itself made by process.

   People--most people--are inclined to think that a zero (circle) is the symbol for "nothing." The mere fact that a zero is a "drawn thing" automatically invalidates such an interpretation. ("One and zero"--as a drawing--is not "one" but "ten.") Let us consider the nature of a "zero-circle" from the standpoint of how it is essentially made; from that, perhaps, we can attain a clearer perception of what it essentially symbolizes. (Note that, in addition and multiplication, our "numerical results" emanate to the left--just as the Ascendant-line "emanates" from the center of the Great Mandala in specific time-space. The number farthest to the left in the arithmetical result is analogous to the Ascendant-point.)

   The instant your pencil-point touches the paper you have established the point. By sequence of movement in time-space, you draw the line from that point. The point, then, is the source of the line, as far as representation is concerned. Polarity is represented here: your will and mind impose themselves on the material substances of the pencil and paper; the thought of drawing the line is your subjective action; the drawing is the objective action which results in the manifestation of the line. Of the two instruments, the pencil is masculine because its substance is qualified to make the mark; the paper is feminine because its nature is to "receive" the impress of the pencil-point and reflect back the picturing of your idea. By correspondence, you are (in this action) God; the pencil and paper are matter and the line is the specific result of the action of your will on the material substance; by correspondence again--just as Father-Mother God (creative Will and Imagination) utilizes the material universe to manifest archetypes--and those archetypes might be "humanity, ""cat," "oak tree," or "humming bird" (human, quadruped, vegetable, or bird). The action of the pencil-point on the paper is analogous to the action of cosmic polarity on and through the material universe. resulting in a specialized manifestation.

   Just as you, as an "emanation" of Father-Mother God, are the source of your expressions, so the point you have drawn is the source of all lines, planes and (theoretically) solids which can, or might, emanate from it. As such, it is the abstract symbol of infinite subjectivity; from that point lines can be drawn in infinite space and infinite time. Because the line "lives" is evidence that the point exists; because we are sustained in manifestation is evidence that our source exists. The line, then, is specific effect from a specific cause; the drawing of it is a chemicalizing process; the measurement of it is the exercise of your will to manifest perfectly the archetype in your mind. (An indefinite line is unfulfilled manifestation of the archetype; a measured line is specifically, definitely qualified as an archetypal outpicturing. ) Actually the point is a "filled-in dot;" abstractly, and we are now dealing with abstractions, it symbolizes the pure composite of all dimensions. Give the word "archetype" a great deal of thought--it could be made the subject of a life-time study for it is one of the most fascinating and illuminating of words.

   The point is now seen to be--as an abstract symbol--the archetype of source: God, cause, subjective essence, nucleus, seed, etc. The line, correspondingly, is the first emanation of the potential- -source because no other line was, as yet, drawn from the point. When the line is completed by specific measurement it is fully "chemicalized" and it is qualified, by its attributes of fineness" to emanate planes and solids.(just as a child, "emanated" by his parents, possesses the attributes of becoming a parent himself when he matures; his maturity, of body and emotion, qualifies him for a specific identity--parenthood--as the measurement of the line specifically qualifies it.

   Applying to the subject of this discourse, the point is the archetypal idea of the artist. The drawing of the line is the action of manifesting the archetype. The measured line, complete, is the finished work now qualified by its attributes to be seen heard, and enjoyed-- responded to. In the Great Astrological Mandala the center-point is the inherent Divinity of the archetype humanity; the line drawn to the left is the abstract ascendant, Aries, the "I AM" of all human-beings. In the horoscope of the individual human the central point is his "God-spark," his individualized "portion" of Divinity, the chemicalization of which is the line drawn horizontally to the left from the point; its contact with the circumference of the circle is his physical birth--the objectification of his "I AM. " Since there is only one radius of any circle, this "Ascendant-line" is the composite of the human's four basic identities: male and/or female; complementation (and these two comprise the sexual identity); masculine and feminine gender (these two comprise the identities of being Causers and Effects of Causes or Expressors and Reactors).

   The word "Art" corresponds to the word "Artist " as the word, " Humanity " corresponds to the composite word " Man-Woman. " There are many forms of Art--expression just as there are various types of human beings. Art, as an archetypal word, means: the manifestation of archetypes through the media of tone, color, substance, word, and movement and the abstract elements of design and rhythm."Humanity" means: manifestation, on this planet, of an archetypal idea of Father-Mother God; it is expressed through the two media of male and female sex appearing in the "evolutionary dimensions" of unfulfillment and relative fulfillment of Divine potentials. Now, the emanations of the line--as, in itself, a "source":

   Just as the Archetypal number is "one," so there is only one center to any horoscope and one radius--though, consequently, two diameters. The artist possesses--manifestively and/or interpretatively--one artistic endowment and that is his ability to perceive archetypes and to manifest them. But there may be many ways by which he can exercise his artistic "I AM"--both by participation in different art-forms or in different phases of one particular form There are in astrology three expressions of the four basic identities which were previously mentioned. In each of these twelve identities, the human expresses his specialized potentials; in each of the phases of the artist 's endowment (the genders of which, masculine and feminine, are manifestor and interpreter, respectively) he expresses his specialized artistic potentials; the playwright expresses through various dramatic forms and the actress learns to interpret various types of roles; the musician deals, or can deal, with different instruments and musical forms; the architect and the sculptor learn to adapt different substances to give embodiment to their ideas. The artist fulfills the " radii of the wheel "with each satisfactory demonstration of his manifestive and/or interpretative endowment; the human individual fulfills "his radii" when he becomes aware of the spiritual principles involved in his experience-patterns and expresses that realization in his daily living. How is the "end" of all this symbolized? Let us consider the fulfillment of the point--the circle:

   The ineffable beauty of a perfect circle is man- kind's supreme symbol of spiritual realization and perfect fulfillment of potentials. Subsequent to realization and potential-fulfillment comes perfect releasement, in perfect timing, from bondage to form. "Form" can mean a specific relationship, a specific experience-pattern on a particular octave, a specific state of manifestation, or a specific evolutionary cycle. To illustrate:

   On a paper draw the next simplest geometric form- -an equilateral triangle. The mid-points of the sides are the three points that are closest to the center (of the figure). As you move along the triangle from anyone of these three points you recede from the center until you come to the next angle-point. Do the same with the square--the mid-points of its sides are the four points closest to the center and the angle-points are most removed from the center. All three-or-more-sided enclosed figures are crystal symbols--they represent static states. Movement around them, though rhythmic in equilateral figures is not constant in relationship to the center. In this respect, the circle differs from all other enclosed figures. Trace your pencil-point from any place on the circumference of a perfect circle around the wheel and back to the starting-place: your pencil-point was the same distance from the center at all times. Hence, the "spiritual perfection" of the circle and its esthetic perfection (a continuous, perfectly controlled, "flow" from a given point) represents the ideal of rhythmic, harmonious expression of potentials and their perfect fulfillments in Love-Wisdom.

   Since the equilateral triangle--the " Grand Trine"--is the next most significant as a spiritual symbol (because of the "closeness" of its mid-points to the center) we have, in it, the picture of the relative perfection of the human being exercising, from time to time, the highest and best of his attributes. He doesn't--being human--stay at those high points (those closest to the center--and they have an analogy to the mid- points of a horoscopical diameter); he tends to recede from his Center toward the next angle-point--which symbolizes a new identity for further releasements of Love-Wisdom powers. Study the four generic trines, each one enclosed in a circle, with the mid-points of the sides connected to the center--to picture the "closeness." The angle-points, being furthest from the center, are in each of the four symbols, the triune power of identity (cardinal) to be expressed and fulfilled through love (fixed) and wisdom (mutable). The enclosing of a smaller circle by the three mid-points represents the"returning" of individualization (Adam-and-Eve) to unity (Paradise) by redemption through Love-Wisdom (the Christos). Continuing this process of creating smaller circles in the same way would eventually, from an abstract symbolic standpoint, reduce the original circle to its original Center-point, the conclusions of the experience of a manifested archetype: "from "Subjectivity through Objectivity and back to Subjectivity." To conclude:

   The circle is not a "chemical symbol." it is manifestation of the inherent perfection of a chemicalized expression. It is the ideal of perfect objectification and of perfect realization. It is the infinity of perfect effect as the center-point is the infinite perfection of the archetype. The circle of the horoscopical wheel is the human archetype to be manifested (Mastership); it is the truth, the goodness, and the BEAUTY-- the inspirational power--of the fulfilled work of art. It is the refined and sensitized consciousness of the artist as manifestor--interpreter--and " interpreter " means "teacher" as well as "performer"--and the fulfillment of his sacred endowment as a spiritual instrument. The circle's center-point is the divine source of manifestation--on all planes, octaves, and cycles.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume 6

Second Printing
The Rosicrucian Fellowship
Mt. Ecclesia
Oceanside, California, U.S.A.

   Foreword

   The five prior volumes of this series of astrological interpretations have been received with such an enthusiastic welcome by so many astrology students everywhere that we are pleased to add No. 6 to the series. Elman's Bacher's profound knowledge of and devotion to the spiritual aspect of the stellar science, along with an uncanny understanding of human nature, made it possible for him to present illuminating astrological treatises which undoubtedly place him among the best of modern esoteric astrologers. As the truth and value of his spiritual interpretation of astrology become more and more generally accepted, his presentations will serve increasingly to help people know themselves and fulfill their highest destiny. Before passing into the higher realms in the early 1950's, Mr. Bacher expressed a keen desire to have us publish his articles in book form, and although we deeply regret that he did not live to see his articles made available to the public in this convenient form, we are happy in knowing that his wish is being fulfilled.

Introduction

   To the Rosicrucian student astrology is a phase of religion, basically a spiritual science. More than any other study it reveals man to himself. No other science is so sublime, so profound, and so all- embracing. It portrays the relation between God, the macrocosm, and man, the microcosm, showing them to be fundamentally one. Occult science, investigating the subtler forces that impinge upon man, the Spirit, and his vehicles, has charted their effects with no less definiteness than has academic science the reactions of sea and soil, plant and animal to the solar and lunar rays. With this knowledge we may determine the astrological pattern of each individual and know the relative strength and weakness of the various forces operating in each life. To the degree that we are in possession of such knowledge we can begin systematic, scientific character building--and character is destiny! We note times and seasons cosmically advantageous to unfolding undeveloped qualities, correcting faulty traits, and eliminating destructive propensities. The divine science of astrology reveals the hidden causes at work in our lives. It counsels the adult in regard to vocation, the parent in the guidance of children, the teacher in management of pupils, the physician in diagnosing diseases, thus lending aid to each and all in whatever position they may find themselves. No other subject within the range of human knowledge appears to hold for this day and age the possibilities open to astrologers for helping people to their own dignity as gods-in-the-making, to a greater grasp of universal law, and to a realization that we are eternally secure within the caressing fold of Infinite Life and Boundless Being.

Chapter I
The Point, The Line, and the Circle

   For a long time it has been one of the author's most deeply-rooted personal convictions that astrology is humanity's supreme interpretative art. "Supreme" because its elements of structure and symbolism composite the structural and symbolic elements of the other arts. It is the symbolic picturing of cosmic principles "expressing humanly;" as such, it pictures everything which humanity itself seeks to express in the fine arts. It is the patterning of actions and reactions and these two words together are the macrocosm of what we call "human experience" which, in turn, is the "distillation of spiritual consciousness." Art, in whatever form, serves to intensify and vivify Man's awareness of himself, other people, and the world around him.

   The fundamental simplicity of astrological symbolism has the deep-reaching effect on our consciousness that it does have because of its archetypal quality; hence its messages--through planets, signs, houses, and aspects--reach us continually as we ourselves unfold our resources of wisdom and perception. All artists, universally considered great, are considered so because of an unusually high development in at least one branch of their particular art; the great astrologer is one who has effected a harmonious integration of intellect with love and intuition. He is, by nature of his talent, an intellect and an instrument, a stimulator and a reflector, a parent and a brother. He knows darkness but his awareness is centered in Light; he serves to illuminate the consciousness of others regarding their real identity as expressions of the Law of Cause and Effect, which is cosmic polarity in action through the human archetype.

   This introductory discourse on the "point, line, and circle" is for the purpose of mental preparation for consideration of the analogies between the fine arts and astrology. Any work of art is a chemicalized organization of elements, abstract and concrete, which serves to embody an archetypal idea. The conception of the idea is the action of the artist's feminine polarity; it represents his functioning as a"focus-er" of inspirational powers and as a perceptor of the archetype, by intuition. By exercise of will-power and technical skill (the masculine polarity) a vibratory fusion takes place which makes possible the gestation of the embodiment--the archetype is condensed and objectified through the particular artistic medium--the inherent perfection of the archetype is relatively manifested in tone, color, designs, movement, gesture, words, etc. The fusion of intuition with will is the exercise of bi-polarity--the artist is, at one and the same time, the "father-mother" of his work. Human beings do not and cannot--CREATE tones, colors, designs, movements, gestures, etc. We do, however, have the faculty of becoming aware of the existence and nature of archetypes, and our talents permit us to manifest our concepts of the archetypes, which are, and always have been, resident in Divine Mind. We as individuals, simply give individualized expressions of them. The transcendent quality of the work of a truly great artistic genius has its resource in the clarity with which he perceives the archetype and the efficiency with which he gives it expression. Think about this in connection with those works of art which you love most deeply and which have inspired you the most intensely. They live always in your consciousness and they serve to symbolize inner realities to you. Your response to them is part and parcel of your soul body; their essence will live in it as long as you exist. They are, in whatever form, vibratory statements of truth. The "creativity" of the artistic manifestor is the originality with which he embodies the archetype.

   A few examples--to illustrate the archetypal quality of great art: The music of Johann Sebastian Bach; the singing of Marian Anderson; the dance-arts of Isadora Duncan, Vaslav Nijinsky, and Mary Wigman; the acting of Eleanora Duse and John Barrymore; the dramas of Shakespeare; the sculpture of Rodin; the novels of Pearl Buck; the architecture of ancient Egypt; the poetry of Verlaine, etc.

   Without the "point, line and circle" there can be no astrological picturing. Without understanding the archetypal significance of these three we cannot understand the archetypal significance of either a work of art or a horoscope. In the composite of "point, line and circle, " as a sequence, is seen the symbol of emanation--macrocosmic and microcosmic, divine and human. Have you ever wondered what to do to create a symbol of "nothing?" Simple enough. You abide by the meaning of the word and do nothing. You leave the paper blank. The instant you have indicated anything on the paper, you have given embodiment to a " something. " The most fascinating factor in symbology is the study of the point--because the point is the start of all outpicturing. Can you draw a line"all-at-once"? No--you have to start with a point. To counter with "but I can use a stamp and draw the line all at once" is equivocation; the stamp (made to draw a line) was itself made by process.

   People--most people--are inclined to think that a zero (circle) is the symbol for "nothing." The mere fact that a zero is a "drawn thing" automatically invalidates such an interpretation. ("One and zero"--as a drawing--is not "one" but "ten.") Let us consider the nature of a "zero-circle" from the standpoint of how it is essentially made; from that, perhaps, we can attain a clearer perception of what it essentially symbolizes. (Note that, in addition and multiplication, our "numerical results" emanate to the left--just as the Ascendant-line "emanates" from the center of the Great Mandala in specific time-space. The number farthest to the left in the arithmetical result is analogous to the Ascendant-point.)

   The instant your pencil-point touches the paper you have established the point. By sequence of movement in time-space, you draw the line from that point. The point, then, is the source of the line, as far as representation is concerned. Polarity is represented here: your will and mind impose themselves on the material substances of the pencil and paper; the thought of drawing the line is your subjective action; the drawing is the objective action which results in the manifestation of the line. Of the two instruments, the pencil is masculine because its substance is qualified to make the mark; the paper is feminine because its nature is to "receive" the impress of the pencil-point and reflect back the picturing of your idea. By correspondence, you are (in this action) God; the pencil and paper are matter and the line is the specific result of the action of your will on the material substance; by correspondence again--just as Father-Mother God (creative Will and Imagination) utilizes the material universe to manifest archetypes--and those archetypes might be "humanity, ""cat," "oak tree," or "humming bird" (human, quadruped, vegetable, or bird). The action of the pencil-point on the paper is analogous to the action of cosmic polarity on and through the material universe. resulting in a specialized manifestation.

   Just as you, as an "emanation" of Father-Mother God, are the source of your expressions, so the point you have drawn is the source of all lines, planes and (theoretically) solids which can, or might, emanate from it. As such, it is the abstract symbol of infinite subjectivity; from that point lines can be drawn in infinite space and infinite time. Because the line "lives" is evidence that the point exists; because we are sustained in manifestation is evidence that our source exists. The line, then, is specific effect from a specific cause; the drawing of it is a chemicalizing process; the measurement of it is the exercise of your will to manifest perfectly the archetype in your mind. (An indefinite line is unfulfilled manifestation of the archetype; a measured line is specifically, definitely qualified as an archetypal outpicturing. ) Actually the point is a "filled-in dot;" abstractly, and we are now dealing with abstractions, it symbolizes the pure composite of all dimensions. Give the word "archetype" a great deal of thought--it could be made the subject of a life-time study for it is one of the most fascinating and illuminating of words.

   The point is now seen to be--as an abstract symbol--the archetype of source: God, cause, subjective essence, nucleus, seed, etc. The line, correspondingly, is the first emanation of the potential- -source because no other line was, as yet, drawn from the point. When the line is completed by specific measurement it is fully "chemicalized" and it is qualified, by its attributes of fineness" to emanate planes and solids.(just as a child, "emanated" by his parents, possesses the attributes of becoming a parent himself when he matures; his maturity, of body and emotion, qualifies him for a specific identity--parenthood--as the measurement of the line specifically qualifies it.

   Applying to the subject of this discourse, the point is the archetypal idea of the artist. The drawing of the line is the action of manifesting the archetype. The measured line, complete, is the finished work now qualified by its attributes to be seen heard, and enjoyed-- responded to. In the Great Astrological Mandala the center-point is the inherent Divinity of the archetype humanity; the line drawn to the left is the abstract ascendant, Aries, the "I AM" of all human-beings. In the horoscope of the individual human the central point is his "God-spark," his individualized "portion" of Divinity, the chemicalization of which is the line drawn horizontally to the left from the point; its contact with the circumference of the circle is his physical birth--the objectification of his "I AM. " Since there is only one radius of any circle, this "Ascendant-line" is the composite of the human's four basic identities: male and/or female; complementation (and these two comprise the sexual identity); masculine and feminine gender (these two comprise the identities of being Causers and Effects of Causes or Expressors and Reactors).

   The word "Art" corresponds to the word "Artist " as the word, " Humanity " corresponds to the composite word " Man-Woman. " There are many forms of Art--expression just as there are various types of human beings. Art, as an archetypal word, means: the manifestation of archetypes through the media of tone, color, substance, word, and movement and the abstract elements of design and rhythm."Humanity" means: manifestation, on this planet, of an archetypal idea of Father-Mother God; it is expressed through the two media of male and female sex appearing in the "evolutionary dimensions" of unfulfillment and relative fulfillment of Divine potentials. Now, the emanations of the line--as, in itself, a "source":

   Just as the Archetypal number is "one," so there is only one center to any horoscope and one radius--though, consequently, two diameters. The artist possesses--manifestively and/or interpretatively--one artistic endowment and that is his ability to perceive archetypes and to manifest them. But there may be many ways by which he can exercise his artistic "I AM"--both by participation in different art-forms or in different phases of one particular form There are in astrology three expressions of the four basic identities which were previously mentioned. In each of these twelve identities, the human expresses his specialized potentials; in each of the phases of the artist 's endowment (the genders of which, masculine and feminine, are manifestor and interpreter, respectively) he expresses his specialized artistic potentials; the playwright expresses through various dramatic forms and the actress learns to interpret various types of roles; the musician deals, or can deal, with different instruments and musical forms; the architect and the sculptor learn to adapt different substances to give embodiment to their ideas. The artist fulfills the " radii of the wheel "with each satisfactory demonstration of his manifestive and/or interpretative endowment; the human individual fulfills "his radii" when he becomes aware of the spiritual principles involved in his experience-patterns and expresses that realization in his daily living. How is the "end" of all this symbolized? Let us consider the fulfillment of the point--the circle:

   The ineffable beauty of a perfect circle is man- kind's supreme symbol of spiritual realization and perfect fulfillment of potentials. Subsequent to realization and potential-fulfillment comes perfect releasement, in perfect timing, from bondage to form. "Form" can mean a specific relationship, a specific experience-pattern on a particular octave, a specific state of manifestation, or a specific evolutionary cycle. To illustrate:

   On a paper draw the next simplest geometric form- -an equilateral triangle. The mid-points of the sides are the three points that are closest to the center (of the figure). As you move along the triangle from anyone of these three points you recede from the center until you come to the next angle-point. Do the same with the square--the mid-points of its sides are the four points closest to the center and the angle-points are most removed from the center. All three-or-more-sided enclosed figures are crystal symbols--they represent static states. Movement around them, though rhythmic in equilateral figures is not constant in relationship to the center. In this respect, the circle differs from all other enclosed figures. Trace your pencil-point from any place on the circumference of a perfect circle around the wheel and back to the starting-place: your pencil-point was the same distance from the center at all times. Hence, the "spiritual perfection" of the circle and its esthetic perfection (a continuous, perfectly controlled, "flow" from a given point) represents the ideal of rhythmic, harmonious expression of potentials and their perfect fulfillments in Love-Wisdom.

   Since the equilateral triangle--the " Grand Trine"--is the next most significant as a spiritual symbol (because of the "closeness" of its mid-points to the center) we have, in it, the picture of the relative perfection of the human being exercising, from time to time, the highest and best of his attributes. He doesn't--being human--stay at those high points (those closest to the center--and they have an analogy to the mid- points of a horoscopical diameter); he tends to recede from his Center toward the next angle-point--which symbolizes a new identity for further releasements of Love-Wisdom powers. Study the four generic trines, each one enclosed in a circle, with the mid-points of the sides connected to the center--to picture the "closeness." The angle-points, being furthest from the center, are in each of the four symbols, the triune power of identity (cardinal) to be expressed and fulfilled through love (fixed) and wisdom (mutable). The enclosing of a smaller circle by the three mid-points represents the"returning" of individualization (Adam-and-Eve) to unity (Paradise) by redemption through Love-Wisdom (the Christos). Continuing this process of creating smaller circles in the same way would eventually, from an abstract symbolic standpoint, reduce the original circle to its original Center-point, the conclusions of the experience of a manifested archetype: "from "Subjectivity through Objectivity and back to Subjectivity." To conclude:

   The circle is not a "chemical symbol." it is manifestation of the inherent perfection of a chemicalized expression. It is the ideal of perfect objectification and of perfect realization. It is the infinity of perfect effect as the center-point is the infinite perfection of the archetype. The circle of the horoscopical wheel is the human archetype to be manifested (Mastership); it is the truth, the goodness, and the BEAUTY-- the inspirational power--of the fulfilled work of art. It is the refined and sensitized consciousness of the artist as manifestor--interpreter--and " interpreter " means "teacher" as well as "performer"--and the fulfillment of his sacred endowment as a spiritual instrument. The circle's center-point is the divine source of manifestation--on all planes, octaves, and cycles.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume 6

Second Printing
The Rosicrucian Fellowship
Mt. Ecclesia
Oceanside, California, U.S.A.

   Foreword

   The five prior volumes of this series of astrological interpretations have been received with such an enthusiastic welcome by so many astrology students everywhere that we are pleased to add No. 6 to the series. Elman's Bacher's profound knowledge of and devotion to the spiritual aspect of the stellar science, along with an uncanny understanding of human nature, made it possible for him to present illuminating astrological treatises which undoubtedly place him among the best of modern esoteric astrologers. As the truth and value of his spiritual interpretation of astrology become more and more generally accepted, his presentations will serve increasingly to help people know themselves and fulfill their highest destiny. Before passing into the higher realms in the early 1950's, Mr. Bacher expressed a keen desire to have us publish his articles in book form, and although we deeply regret that he did not live to see his articles made available to the public in this convenient form, we are happy in knowing that his wish is being fulfilled.

Introduction

   To the Rosicrucian student astrology is a phase of religion, basically a spiritual science. More than any other study it reveals man to himself. No other science is so sublime, so profound, and so all- embracing. It portrays the relation between God, the macrocosm, and man, the microcosm, showing them to be fundamentally one. Occult science, investigating the subtler forces that impinge upon man, the Spirit, and his vehicles, has charted their effects with no less definiteness than has academic science the reactions of sea and soil, plant and animal to the solar and lunar rays. With this knowledge we may determine the astrological pattern of each individual and know the relative strength and weakness of the various forces operating in each life. To the degree that we are in possession of such knowledge we can begin systematic, scientific character building--and character is destiny! We note times and seasons cosmically advantageous to unfolding undeveloped qualities, correcting faulty traits, and eliminating destructive propensities. The divine science of astrology reveals the hidden causes at work in our lives. It counsels the adult in regard to vocation, the parent in the guidance of children, the teacher in management of pupils, the physician in diagnosing diseases, thus lending aid to each and all in whatever position they may find themselves. No other subject within the range of human knowledge appears to hold for this day and age the possibilities open to astrologers for helping people to their own dignity as gods-in-the-making, to a greater grasp of universal law, and to a realization that we are eternally secure within the caressing fold of Infinite Life and Boundless Being.

Chapter I
The Point, The Line, and the Circle

   For a long time it has been one of the author's most deeply-rooted personal convictions that astrology is humanity's supreme interpretative art. "Supreme" because its elements of structure and symbolism composite the structural and symbolic elements of the other arts. It is the symbolic picturing of cosmic principles "expressing humanly;" as such, it pictures everything which humanity itself seeks to express in the fine arts. It is the patterning of actions and reactions and these two words together are the macrocosm of what we call "human experience" which, in turn, is the "distillation of spiritual consciousness." Art, in whatever form, serves to intensify and vivify Man's awareness of himself, other people, and the world around him.

   The fundamental simplicity of astrological symbolism has the deep-reaching effect on our consciousness that it does have because of its archetypal quality; hence its messages--through planets, signs, houses, and aspects--reach us continually as we ourselves unfold our resources of wisdom and perception. All artists, universally considered great, are considered so because of an unusually high development in at least one branch of their particular art; the great astrologer is one who has effected a harmonious integration of intellect with love and intuition. He is, by nature of his talent, an intellect and an instrument, a stimulator and a reflector, a parent and a brother. He knows darkness but his awareness is centered in Light; he serves to illuminate the consciousness of others regarding their real identity as expressions of the Law of Cause and Effect, which is cosmic polarity in action through the human archetype.

   This introductory discourse on the "point, line, and circle" is for the purpose of mental preparation for consideration of the analogies between the fine arts and astrology. Any work of art is a chemicalized organization of elements, abstract and concrete, which serves to embody an archetypal idea. The conception of the idea is the action of the artist's feminine polarity; it represents his functioning as a"focus-er" of inspirational powers and as a perceptor of the archetype, by intuition. By exercise of will-power and technical skill (the masculine polarity) a vibratory fusion takes place which makes possible the gestation of the embodiment--the archetype is condensed and objectified through the particular artistic medium--the inherent perfection of the archetype is relatively manifested in tone, color, designs, movement, gesture, words, etc. The fusion of intuition with will is the exercise of bi-polarity--the artist is, at one and the same time, the "father-mother" of his work. Human beings do not and cannot--CREATE tones, colors, designs, movements, gestures, etc. We do, however, have the faculty of becoming aware of the existence and nature of archetypes, and our talents permit us to manifest our concepts of the archetypes, which are, and always have been, resident in Divine Mind. We as individuals, simply give individualized expressions of them. The transcendent quality of the work of a truly great artistic genius has its resource in the clarity with which he perceives the archetype and the efficiency with which he gives it expression. Think about this in connection with those works of art which you love most deeply and which have inspired you the most intensely. They live always in your consciousness and they serve to symbolize inner realities to you. Your response to them is part and parcel of your soul body; their essence will live in it as long as you exist. They are, in whatever form, vibratory statements of truth. The "creativity" of the artistic manifestor is the originality with which he embodies the archetype.

   A few examples--to illustrate the archetypal quality of great art: The music of Johann Sebastian Bach; the singing of Marian Anderson; the dance-arts of Isadora Duncan, Vaslav Nijinsky, and Mary Wigman; the acting of Eleanora Duse and John Barrymore; the dramas of Shakespeare; the sculpture of Rodin; the novels of Pearl Buck; the architecture of ancient Egypt; the poetry of Verlaine, etc.

   Without the "point, line and circle" there can be no astrological picturing. Without understanding the archetypal significance of these three we cannot understand the archetypal significance of either a work of art or a horoscope. In the composite of "point, line and circle, " as a sequence, is seen the symbol of emanation--macrocosmic and microcosmic, divine and human. Have you ever wondered what to do to create a symbol of "nothing?" Simple enough. You abide by the meaning of the word and do nothing. You leave the paper blank. The instant you have indicated anything on the paper, you have given embodiment to a " something. " The most fascinating factor in symbology is the study of the point--because the point is the start of all outpicturing. Can you draw a line"all-at-once"? No--you have to start with a point. To counter with "but I can use a stamp and draw the line all at once" is equivocation; the stamp (made to draw a line) was itself made by process.

   People--most people--are inclined to think that a zero (circle) is the symbol for "nothing." The mere fact that a zero is a "drawn thing" automatically invalidates such an interpretation. ("One and zero"--as a drawing--is not "one" but "ten.") Let us consider the nature of a "zero-circle" from the standpoint of how it is essentially made; from that, perhaps, we can attain a clearer perception of what it essentially symbolizes. (Note that, in addition and multiplication, our "numerical results" emanate to the left--just as the Ascendant-line "emanates" from the center of the Great Mandala in specific time-space. The number farthest to the left in the arithmetical result is analogous to the Ascendant-point.)

   The instant your pencil-point touches the paper you have established the point. By sequence of movement in time-space, you draw the line from that point. The point, then, is the source of the line, as far as representation is concerned. Polarity is represented here: your will and mind impose themselves on the material substances of the pencil and paper; the thought of drawing the line is your subjective action; the drawing is the objective action which results in the manifestation of the line. Of the two instruments, the pencil is masculine because its substance is qualified to make the mark; the paper is feminine because its nature is to "receive" the impress of the pencil-point and reflect back the picturing of your idea. By correspondence, you are (in this action) God; the pencil and paper are matter and the line is the specific result of the action of your will on the material substance; by correspondence again--just as Father-Mother God (creative Will and Imagination) utilizes the material universe to manifest archetypes--and those archetypes might be "humanity, ""cat," "oak tree," or "humming bird" (human, quadruped, vegetable, or bird). The action of the pencil-point on the paper is analogous to the action of cosmic polarity on and through the material universe. resulting in a specialized manifestation.

   Just as you, as an "emanation" of Father-Mother God, are the source of your expressions, so the point you have drawn is the source of all lines, planes and (theoretically) solids which can, or might, emanate from it. As such, it is the abstract symbol of infinite subjectivity; from that point lines can be drawn in infinite space and infinite time. Because the line "lives" is evidence that the point exists; because we are sustained in manifestation is evidence that our source exists. The line, then, is specific effect from a specific cause; the drawing of it is a chemicalizing process; the measurement of it is the exercise of your will to manifest perfectly the archetype in your mind. (An indefinite line is unfulfilled manifestation of the archetype; a measured line is specifically, definitely qualified as an archetypal outpicturing. ) Actually the point is a "filled-in dot;" abstractly, and we are now dealing with abstractions, it symbolizes the pure composite of all dimensions. Give the word "archetype" a great deal of thought--it could be made the subject of a life-time study for it is one of the most fascinating and illuminating of words.

   The point is now seen to be--as an abstract symbol--the archetype of source: God, cause, subjective essence, nucleus, seed, etc. The line, correspondingly, is the first emanation of the potential- -source because no other line was, as yet, drawn from the point. When the line is completed by specific measurement it is fully "chemicalized" and it is qualified, by its attributes of fineness" to emanate planes and solids.(just as a child, "emanated" by his parents, possesses the attributes of becoming a parent himself when he matures; his maturity, of body and emotion, qualifies him for a specific identity--parenthood--as the measurement of the line specifically qualifies it.

   Applying to the subject of this discourse, the point is the archetypal idea of the artist. The drawing of the line is the action of manifesting the archetype. The measured line, complete, is the finished work now qualified by its attributes to be seen heard, and enjoyed-- responded to. In the Great Astrological Mandala the center-point is the inherent Divinity of the archetype humanity; the line drawn to the left is the abstract ascendant, Aries, the "I AM" of all human-beings. In the horoscope of the individual human the central point is his "God-spark," his individualized "portion" of Divinity, the chemicalization of which is the line drawn horizontally to the left from the point; its contact with the circumference of the circle is his physical birth--the objectification of his "I AM. " Since there is only one radius of any circle, this "Ascendant-line" is the composite of the human's four basic identities: male and/or female; complementation (and these two comprise the sexual identity); masculine and feminine gender (these two comprise the identities of being Causers and Effects of Causes or Expressors and Reactors).

   The word "Art" corresponds to the word "Artist " as the word, " Humanity " corresponds to the composite word " Man-Woman. " There are many forms of Art--expression just as there are various types of human beings. Art, as an archetypal word, means: the manifestation of archetypes through the media of tone, color, substance, word, and movement and the abstract elements of design and rhythm."Humanity" means: manifestation, on this planet, of an archetypal idea of Father-Mother God; it is expressed through the two media of male and female sex appearing in the "evolutionary dimensions" of unfulfillment and relative fulfillment of Divine potentials. Now, the emanations of the line--as, in itself, a "source":

   Just as the Archetypal number is "one," so there is only one center to any horoscope and one radius--though, consequently, two diameters. The artist possesses--manifestively and/or interpretatively--one artistic endowment and that is his ability to perceive archetypes and to manifest them. But there may be many ways by which he can exercise his artistic "I AM"--both by participation in different art-forms or in different phases of one particular form There are in astrology three expressions of the four basic identities which were previously mentioned. In each of these twelve identities, the human expresses his specialized potentials; in each of the phases of the artist 's endowment (the genders of which, masculine and feminine, are manifestor and interpreter, respectively) he expresses his specialized artistic potentials; the playwright expresses through various dramatic forms and the actress learns to interpret various types of roles; the musician deals, or can deal, with different instruments and musical forms; the architect and the sculptor learn to adapt different substances to give embodiment to their ideas. The artist fulfills the " radii of the wheel "with each satisfactory demonstration of his manifestive and/or interpretative endowment; the human individual fulfills "his radii" when he becomes aware of the spiritual principles involved in his experience-patterns and expresses that realization in his daily living. How is the "end" of all this symbolized? Let us consider the fulfillment of the point--the circle:

   The ineffable beauty of a perfect circle is man- kind's supreme symbol of spiritual realization and perfect fulfillment of potentials. Subsequent to realization and potential-fulfillment comes perfect releasement, in perfect timing, from bondage to form. "Form" can mean a specific relationship, a specific experience-pattern on a particular octave, a specific state of manifestation, or a specific evolutionary cycle. To illustrate:

   On a paper draw the next simplest geometric form- -an equilateral triangle. The mid-points of the sides are the three points that are closest to the center (of the figure). As you move along the triangle from anyone of these three points you recede from the center until you come to the next angle-point. Do the same with the square--the mid-points of its sides are the four points closest to the center and the angle-points are most removed from the center. All three-or-more-sided enclosed figures are crystal symbols--they represent static states. Movement around them, though rhythmic in equilateral figures is not constant in relationship to the center. In this respect, the circle differs from all other enclosed figures. Trace your pencil-point from any place on the circumference of a perfect circle around the wheel and back to the starting-place: your pencil-point was the same distance from the center at all times. Hence, the "spiritual perfection" of the circle and its esthetic perfection (a continuous, perfectly controlled, "flow" from a given point) represents the ideal of rhythmic, harmonious expression of potentials and their perfect fulfillments in Love-Wisdom.

   Since the equilateral triangle--the " Grand Trine"--is the next most significant as a spiritual symbol (because of the "closeness" of its mid-points to the center) we have, in it, the picture of the relative perfection of the human being exercising, from time to time, the highest and best of his attributes. He doesn't--being human--stay at those high points (those closest to the center--and they have an analogy to the mid- points of a horoscopical diameter); he tends to recede from his Center toward the next angle-point--which symbolizes a new identity for further releasements of Love-Wisdom powers. Study the four generic trines, each one enclosed in a circle, with the mid-points of the sides connected to the center--to picture the "closeness." The angle-points, being furthest from the center, are in each of the four symbols, the triune power of identity (cardinal) to be expressed and fulfilled through love (fixed) and wisdom (mutable). The enclosing of a smaller circle by the three mid-points represents the"returning" of individualization (Adam-and-Eve) to unity (Paradise) by redemption through Love-Wisdom (the Christos). Continuing this process of creating smaller circles in the same way would eventually, from an abstract symbolic standpoint, reduce the original circle to its original Center-point, the conclusions of the experience of a manifested archetype: "from "Subjectivity through Objectivity and back to Subjectivity." To conclude:

   The circle is not a "chemical symbol." it is manifestation of the inherent perfection of a chemicalized expression. It is the ideal of perfect objectification and of perfect realization. It is the infinity of perfect effect as the center-point is the infinite perfection of the archetype. The circle of the horoscopical wheel is the human archetype to be manifested (Mastership); it is the truth, the goodness, and the BEAUTY-- the inspirational power--of the fulfilled work of art. It is the refined and sensitized consciousness of the artist as manifestor--interpreter--and " interpreter " means "teacher" as well as "performer"--and the fulfillment of his sacred endowment as a spiritual instrument. The circle's center-point is the divine source of manifestation--on all planes, octaves, and cycles.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VI
Chapter II
Spectrum

   "Spectrum" is one of the most important archetypal words involved in a study of art-expressions; the word, in archetypal or concrete application, is derived from a Latin word meaning "to look at." "Emanation" is the process by which the potentials of a thing are made manifest; "spectrum" is the result--the total of PERCEPTIBLE potentials, qualities and parts. We usually use the word "spectrum" to designate that appearance of a ray of light that has been refracted into its component colors (parts) and this is an excellent example for the purposes of this study because astrology is, itself, perceived visually. The rainbow is a perfect concrete example. It is a natural spectrum; but it is more than that--it is a perfect symbol of "spectrum" as an archetypal--word. The ray of sunlight is macrocosm, the rainbow is microcosm; the rainbow as a spectrum is macrocosm to each of its designable colors, its "microcosms;" "Spectrum," as an archetypal word, applies to each of the colors as "macrocosm" to each of its shades or gradations or qualities. In other words it is the "offspring" of luminosity and refraction; its basic characteristics are "designable colors ;"they, in turn, are qualified by gradations and shadings which can also be designated by specific words.

   As far as our solar system is concerned, the original spectrum is in the creative imaginations of Father-Mother God. The Divine Mind, since it is the Source of each archetype (ex: rainbow) manifested in this system, is the source of all "manifestation-spectrums" (ex: all kinds of rainbows) and all spectrums-of-manifestation of each manifested archetype (ex: the total and separate colors, and their gradations, of each rainbow). By analogy, then, Divine Mind corresponds to the ray of sunlight in our illustration; one archetype is rainbow (a manifestation of Light); a sub- archetype is one of the designable colors resident in the rainbow.

   The archetypal manifestation of Divine Mind (the creative imagination of Father-Mother God) is perceived to be our own solar system. The "spectrum of emanation" would be the gradation of the planets from the time the first one was emanated until the last one was emanated. The spectrum of its occult qualities would be the evolutionary gradation of the Planetary Logoi of the system analogous to the differentiated colors of the rainbow. Color has a spectrum of vibratory rate (specific shades) and also a spectrum of vibratory quality (relative radiance or dullness). The vibratory quality-spectrum of the entire solar system would be the sum total gradation of all inhabitants of this system in terms of "most-to-least" (or "least-to- most") exercises of spiritualized consciousness. The same classification would designate vibratory quality-spectrum of the inhabitants of any one particular planet and, in turn, their grouping by race and/or nation. This analogy is also applicable to the archetype tone--the essential material of the musical manifestor and interpreter.

   Tone is the archetype of all sound since, by its nature, it is rhythmic vibration perceived audibly. "Fraternal" with color, tone has a two-fold spectrum: vibratory rate (low and high) and vibratory quality; the spectrum of tonal vibratory quality is also twofold: that of Dynamic (softness and loudness) and Power (dullness and brilliance). The spectrum of "tonal rate" is the entire manifestation of the tonal scale from the slowest vibratory speed (lowest) to the fastest (highest). This "total scale"is divided into "octaves" as the rainbow is divided into "colors." (Colors are simply the "octaves" in a light-ray. ) As each rainbow-color is, in itself, a "spectrum of shades" so each tonal octave is a "spectrum." Every perceptible and designable shade of a specific color, the sum total of which is the "matrix"of the specific color, is analogous to each overtone of the musical note, the overtones of a specific musical note in composite, are the "matrix" of the note just as the etheric envelope of human, animal, plant, or mineral is its matrix. The tone, in relationship to its overtones, is "condensed vibratory embodiment' '--a specific factor of a musical system.

   The dynamic spectrum of color is its gradation from white to utmost density; the dynamic spectrum of tone is the gradation representing "softness-loudness." The power spectrum of both color and tone is the gradation from "least impinging power" (dullness) to "maximum impinging power" (brilliance of carrying-quality). A great pianist, by a controlling action of hand, wrist, or finger on the complete depression of the key, can create a "pianissimo" of delicate softness whose power will carry to the far corners of the audience-room. Others, less skilled, can play as loudly as possible and the tones they bring forth will sound hard or lifeless. The analogy of this to the Astrologer's "dullness" or "brilliance" in interpreting principles as they are pictured in a horoscope is one of the things to which you should give considerable thought; the analogy if exact.

   The manifestive artist uses a spectrum of media for his expressions. This spectrum ranges from the most concrete abstract medium (design) to the most evanescent abstract medium-rhythm. It also includes the three concrete media: tone, color and substance Line is the abstract medium between design and rhythm. Line is the archetype-symbol of "process of manifestation." The drawing of a line can be "spaced" (rhythmitized) and from line all embodied (enclosed) forms (designs) are derived; just as the line itself was emanated from its source, the point.

   Letter and word; tone and chord; line and design (two-dimensional embodiment) and mass (three-dimensional design) composite the artist's means of outpicturing his concepts of archetypes, whether manifestively or interpretatively. Rhythm, the spacing of sequence, or of sequential manifestation, is a "common denominator" of all art forms because rhythm is the archetype of the nature of all movement.

   The analogy of "spectrum in Astrology" to "spectrum in the arts" is fascinating because of its clarity. The archetypal resource of both forms of interpretation is human consciousness; the archetypal purpose of both is to interpret the nature of divine archetypes through manifested concepts of those archetypes the archetypal action of both is to intensify, vivify, and illuminate man's awareness of himself, other people and the world around him; the archetypal reaction to both is from the composite of man's instinctual feeling and instinctual knowing.

   The word "artist" is archetypal; its two principle "emanations" are manifestive (creative) artist and interpretative artist. The first human being who moved or posed his body in a certain way to give expression to a specific emotional state was the "first" manifestive dancer. The first human being who recognized that "the point, the line and the circle" could he utilized to symbolize the being, the consciousness, and the existence of humanity--or of a human being-was the "first" manifestive astrologer. (It might be observed at this point, that the "point, line, and circle" are the archetypal "ingredients" of the planetary symbols as well as of the structure- design of the wheel.) The manifestive astrologer-like the manifestive artist-- embodies his concept of an archetype by an originally--conceived symbol; the symbol is his way of outpicturing the nature, purpose, and objectification of a cosmic principle. The interpretative astrologer studies and intuitively perceives the meanings of already manifested symbols; he fulfills his function by applying his understanding of these symbols to the interpretation of the horoscope. (For example, the author suggests consideration of the following as a "manifestive" symbol for the planet Pluto: a circle enclosing the up- pointing arrow used in the symbol for Mars; the arrow is the energy- expression-potential; the circle is the collective subconscious of humanity- the archetypal desire-power as a "frozen fluid" waiting releasement through expression; it is the author's concept of the meaning of Scorpio's rulership by Pluto and co-rulership by Mars. (The letter P in an initial).

   The archetypal word spectrum has polarity. The masculine polarity is "spectrum of vibratory quality:" the feminine polarity is the "spectrum of manifested forms" which is the crystallization of archetypal design. These two polarities of spectrum are seen in astrology this way: the masculine polarity (subjectivity) is the entire "vibratory spread" of the twelve zodiacal signs, from the first second of Aries to the last second of Pisces. This is the spectrum of consciousness, humanly speaking; it is the spectrum of cosmic powers, divinely speaking. From the standpoint of polarity as it is manifested in the attributes of human nature, it is the spectrum of generic quality--the composite of "activeness" and "reactiveness" of which every human, male or female, partakes. It composites the essence of our projectiveness and reflectiveness, our expression and our perception. Since "polarity" is a composite, we recognize that this "masculine-subjective" aspect of the wheel is a "spread of points," any one of which is a potential by which we express according to our perceptions, and we perceive according to our capacity to express. Expression is the process by which individuality is manifested; perception is polarity experienced. These actions occur in time-sequence, but their source is a unity-consciousness.

   The "negative" or "feminine" objective polarity of astrological spectrum is the sequence of the twelve houses, through the twelfth-counterclockwise from the first. These depict specific experience- designations in which, and through which, consciousness is both expressed and perceived. They refer to the"objectivity" of Life. Each house is a "mechanism"for focalizing (as "parentage" focalizes the identity of a small child) the expressions of our perceptions of specific life-principles. Each house is a sub-archetype of the archetype-word "matrix;" it nurtures our experience and growth as the maternal body nurtures the gestation of the child internally and the father's power nurtures the welfare of both mother and child externally. So these twelve experience-patterns "parent" our spiritual unfoldments in time-space. In congestion (unregenerate expression of crystallized perception) we remain "bound" to the experience-matrix; through regenerated expression of decrystallized perceptions, we gain dominion over environment just as, with maturity, we gain "dominion" over our dependencies upon our bi-polar matrix: father and mother. Thus we enable ourselves to function more and more with individualized awareness of principles rather than in repetitious conformity to the limitation of appearances. Remember that this"spectrum of houses" is one polarity of the archetype human experience; therefore no part of it is "bad"or "evil." The houses, in composite, are materials to be used; they are designations of which we must learn the principle--just as the study of colors helps us to understand the nature of light.

   The planets are focalizers of the signs which they rule; they are specifically placed, by the Law of Cause and Effect, in the two representations of the astrological spectrum-sign and house. Just as each color has its own gradations and each tone has its oven overtones, so each planet has a "personal spectrum" of a two-fold nature. One is the "pattern-spectrum"--all possible aspects with all other planets; the other is the "focus-spectrum"--all possible placements in signs and houses as specifications of the significant generic "points" in the individual horoscope. An unaspected planet is like a "dull" tone in music--it has little "carrying power." A congestion of a planet 's relationship to another is like any technical problem in any art--the person has to "learn the principles" involved just as the artist has to overcome his ignorance or his inadequacies in order more perfectly to manifest or interpret his concepts of archetypes. The artist's "overcoming his problem" is analogous to the person with the congested aspect becoming aware of the principles involved in his particular experience-pattern and going into action from the basis of extended consciousness.

   The arch-spectrum of "astrological pattern" is two-fold: the sub-spectrum of the three-fold square (cardinal, fixed, and mutable) and the sub-spectrum of the four-fold generic trine (fire, earth, air and water). The three-fold square, in four variations, is the arch-symbol of: the attribute of Father-Mother God to take form. The four-fold trine in three variations, is arch-symbol of: the divine potential inherent in every form (manifestation or identity). The conjunction of two planets is really the archetypal symbol of marriage; two planets are "fused" for the start of an entire series of aspect-relationships to each other during the ensuing many incarnations. (Just as in marriage two individual persons are "fused" for a series of mutual relationships during the ensuing years. Think about this.) In other words, the conjunct-aspect is analogous to the central point of the circle because the central point "emanates" the potentials to the Ascendant; the conjunction-aspect is going to emanate a series of planetary aspects as the person progresses through his succeeding incarnations.

   All planetary aspects have "spectrum" in this way: by the significance of "orb" two planets have exact aspect to each other, they have approximate aspect to each other, or they have no aspect to each other. This is the spectrum of "aspect-exactitude"--the exactness of an aspect determines the intensity of its effects, congestively or expressively The square aspect has polarity in the sense that it, in itself, symbolizes archetypally congestion of (masculine) expression or congestion of (feminine) perception. The square, the sextile (alchemy, dynamic regeneration) the conjunction (fusion of powers), and the opposition (planetary focalization of a diameter) have spectrum only in the sense that any signs, houses, or planets can appear in these patterns. The trine-symbol has the two-fold spectrum of polarity:

   We use the equilateral triangle resting on its horizontal base (the three earth-signs of the Great Mandala) as the symbol for "trine-aspect." Because the earth-signs are used, and because this is the most static representation of the trine, this is really the feminine polarity of the trine; it is the result of having exercised relative love-wisdom in the past, and this is another way of saying "relative Mastership." The person with a trine aspect enjoys a certain harmony, or abundance, or integration in this incarnation because of his efforts in the past. The masculine polarity of the trine is the fire-trine of Aries-Leo-Sagittarius. This is the dynamic exercise of spiritualized consciousness and it is the higher octave of the sextile aspect. Because cause and effect have the same source, we can see that this two-fold representation of tile polarity of the trine tells us: "Yes, enjoy the fruits of this aspect but remember that you are evolving; you must also use the trine as a dynamic power to raise the quality of your relative Mastership for greater perceptions in the future.

   Your horoscope will take on an added "glow"and "radiance" if you will think of it in terms of spectrum just as your appreciation of art takes on depth to the degree that you become aware of the values and beauties of its several attributes and essences. "See" the four generic trines unfold from the cardinal, fixed, and mutable structure points; "see" the chemicalization of spirit into objectification by unfolding the four structure-crosses from the three fire, earth, air, and water signs. Think spectrum regarding everything that comes to your attention -- archetypes, sub- archetypes, and so forth -- for a while. You will unfold, at the same time, a remarkable scope of perceiving the values of planetary positions and patterning To "think spectrum"is to think archetypically. To "think archetypically" is to exercise the mind rhythmically.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VI
Chapter III
Rhythm

   In this study of Rhythm we are attempting to comprehend the nature and essence of the most intangible and evanescent attribute of cosmic manifestation. We will discuss this subject from as archetypal a standpoint as possible; it is necessary to do so if we are to perceive the meaning of this attribute to the essentials of the arts.

   Movement is the archetypal word which means the action of cosmic alchemy. The manifestations of the universe are continually in a state of change from one form, degree, size, quality, volume, cycle, and octave to another. No manifestated thing stays exactly the same from year to year--or even from day to day. Everything responds to the dynamic essence of evolutionary forces toward the end that inherent potentials will be released and fulfilled. Your body grows in size and in capacity-to-express or it deteriorates and lessens in capacity; whatever the direction, you, in your vehicle, move from one state to another. Your consciousness "moves" from one state to another and this movement is directly dependent on two things: (1) your reaction to a specific experience and (2) your succeeding action on the stimulator of your reaction. When your repetition of a negative reaction is carried into expression by corresponding action, you set up another negative cause and you move backward. This is so because experience-patterns manifest in sequence; if you fail to learn from the previous effect of a specific cause and put the ignorance into action again, your "lifeline" retrogresses instead of progresses. A repetition of a negative reaction which is counteracted by constructive action from the exercise of intelligence moves your evolutionary direction forward and upward. Think about this in terms of your movement in consciousness through your incarnation. The complete freedom to move forward from a specific aspect of a specific experience-pattern means that you have learned to apply the principle inherent in the experience-pattern in terms of your cycle-status.

   Rhythm is the cosmic law of cause and effect working through movement. In rhythm, all effects occur in natural timing. By rhythm, every specific emanation is "born" at the time that is consistent with its attributes.

   The reference to "Cosmic Alchemy" is applicable to the human body in this way: breathing is the inhalation that makes oxidation possible; the exhalation is the casting out of the un-needed residue. The heart-beat makes it possible for the body to inhale in order to feed and refresh the tissues of the body by the arterial action; the venous action is the withdrawing of that which is not needed. These two actions of the body, in addition to the "inhalation" of foodstuffs and the "exhalation" of wastes, are the primary illustrations of rhythmic action in the alchemicalization of the body. Though the body is timed for the fulfillment of its needs, we eat and drink according to conscious action; the breath and heart-beat are directed by the subconscious--they "go on" automatically. Think a bit about the natural rhythms of your physical life-alchemy is the purpose which is being fulfilled by these timed processes. Mankind has other ways of being alerted to the rhythms of the universe. Let us consider a few examples of the evidences of rhythm in the natural world:

   That metrical indication in music which we call "two four" rhythm--two full counts to each measure (one-and-two-and) not only illustrates the polarity of time but it is the archetype of all rhythmic action. Count one is male-masculine, the "and" is the feminine completion of the count; count two is female-masculine, its "and" is the feminine completion. (The masculine-feminine of male-female is cosmic polarity in four- fold expression-the Universal "Adam-and-Eve. ") Now-

   BREATHING: count one is the beginning of the inhalation; "and" is the completion of the inhalation; count two is the beginning of the exhalation; its "and" is the completion of the exhalation.

   WAVES: count one-the "inhalation"--is the "gathering of water-forces" as they recede from the shore; "and" is the forward surge to the apex of the wave; count two is the down-crashing of the wave: "and" is the farthest point reached by the forward-action of the wave on the shore. This illustrates the wave's "breathing," but the music of the wave is counted by the "pulse" of its sound; count one is the down-beat--the loud crashing sound; "and" is the forward surge to the highest point on the shore; count two is the "ingathering noise;" its "and" is the forward surge to the apex of the wave. The noise of the "crash" is analogous to the down-beat of count one in the musical measure, the heaviest" accent. "

   DAYS: the spectrum of the days of a year has rhythmic polarity in several ways. One is the polarity of day-time (conscious existence) and night-time (subconscious existence). Count one is sunrise; its "and" is noon; count two is sunset; its "and" is midnight. Seasonally, the spring equinox--Aries is analogous to sunrise; Cancer, to noon; Libra, to sunset; and Capricorn, to midnight. (This analogy does not refer to the Great Mandala, which has Cancer at the midnight-point and Capricorn at the noon- point; it is an analogy of the powers of sunlight during each day to its occult significance during the sequences in the year.)

   LIFE-CYCLE: a perfect illustration of "two-four" rhythm; count one is birth; "and" is adolescence; count two is maturity; "and" is transition. This "process" is, of course, a cosmic pattern; it is the action of Life manifesting Itself.

   HUMAN LOVE: count one is mutual love-recognition; "and" is generation; count two is fulfillment of assumed responsibilities; "and" is realization of principles involved in the experience (fulfillment of Relationship).

   EDUCATION: count one is the action which initiates a study-experience; "and" is the process of learning; count two is the action of applying that which has been intellectually learned; "and" is learning through work and/or through applying what was learned intellectually. If two-four is the rhythmic archetype of time measurement, three-four is the basic sub-archetype. Two-four and three-four are the metrical indications from which all other meters are derived. Two-four rhythm is symbolized in astrology by the archetypal symbol of the cross, four each of cardinal, fixed, and mutable signs. The cross is alchemicalization of consciousness through reaction to (or interpretation of)incarnated experience. Three-four rhythm is symbolized by the archetypal symbol of the trine which is the inherent spiritual potential; this potential is released and expressed by the sextile onto--and into--the square, which is the cross congested. The six radii--three diameters--of the sextile symbol representing the six fire and air signs, pictures the cardinal, fixed, and mutable of these masculine signs, the male of which is fire, the female is air. The sextile then, is "two 3's"; each one of these 3's, in enclosed form, is the equilateral triangle, half of the double grand trine, the power-love-wisdom of the individualized male or female. The four points of the archetypal Cross are the basic human relationships: male and female as "giver," male and female as "taker;" or male and female as "initiators of causes,"and male and female as "reactors to the effects of causes." This great symbol pictures the identities of inter-action and inter-exchange of all human beings with each other. The (enclosed) trine is potential for individualized spiritual radiation; this potential is the "fruitage" of that which was "fermented" by the cross congested through fear- ignorance, decrystallized by the counter-actives of the sextile and resulting in the pure residue of spiritual power, love and wisdom. The trine is "that which the soul has kept after the inhalation of experience and the decrystallization of congestions has been fulfilled. "Think of the analogy between the physical body and the soul body--each "inhales and feeds" "alchemicalizes, casts off what is not needed, and retains the essences of what it requires."

   The occult significance of the trine has much to say regarding the mystical healing power of three-four rhythm. Astrology illustrates this in the sequence of the cardinal-fixed-mutable signs. Each sign "enfolds" three decanates and each element "enfolds " three signs. The generic-element trines are cosmic three-four rhythm expressing from the four basic identities; this illustrates the "enfoldment"of the horoscopical wheel as divinity enfolds the universe. Therefore, three-four rhythm conveys to our instinctual knowing the reminder of the eternal Presence of the Divine. There is a subtle, almost indescribable, grace and charm in three-four rhythm that two-four and four-four do not have. The occult significance of the latter two is structural; even in three-four rhythm, phrases are basically constructed in groups of two or four measures, thus carrying out the affiliation of trine with cross. In music therapy, three-four rhythm has been proved to possess a greater power for soothing and quieting. Three-four rhythm, in the archetypal structure of four-measure phrases. is divine power in manifestation.

   When we apply the occult significanees of rhythm to astrology-in-action we see remarkable things. The basic breathing of vibratory action is the down-beat and the up-beat of the lunation and its Full Moon. This action is analogous to the inhalation-exhalation of air by the human-being; it is the vibratory alchemicalization on the entire archetypal body, humanity, as oxidation and eating are the composite of individual physical alchemical processes. According to our consciousness, our bodies "move" harmoniously or otherwise with the actions of sustenance. Correspondingly, our souls develop (move) with our responses to the action of vibration. An extension of "lunation-breathing" is seen in the study of solar eclipse, which is macrocosm to the microcosmic lunation. A solar-eclipse- pattern is the stimulation of two signs of a zodiacal diameter by two eclipses which are six months (six signs) apart. Such a pattern covers one year; a solar-eclipse-cycle (stimulation twice of the two signs of a zodiacal diameter) covers a period of two years and is remarkably analogous to a complete composition of music--in three-four rhythm.

   Count one is the first eclipse; counts two and three of that first "measure" are the succeeding two lunations; count one of the second measure is the "mid-point" lunation which squares the eclipse; counts two and three are the lunations which succeed the "mid-point;" count one of the third measure is the next eclipse; the five lunations which follow it repeat the sequence of the first two measures: the total of the two eclipses and their ten lunations comprises a "pattern;" the "cycle" is completed by thenext two eclipses and their ten lunationsw makinga complete vibratory composition; the Full Moon of the fourth eclipse of a cycle will fall approximately conjunct the first eclipse. To sum up: a cycle of two stimulations of two signs of a zodiacal diameter; each eclipse having its "mid-point lunation;" this is analogous to, in music, twenty-four measures in three-four rhythm-two eight-measure-phrases, four four-measure-phrases. The "and" of each "separate count" is, of course, the Full Moon of each eclipse or lunation.

   Example: eclipse Scorpio 20, November, 1947; mid- point lunation Aquarius 20, February, 1948; eclipse Taurus 19, May, 1948, mid- point Leo 13, August, 1946. Lunations in Virgo and Libra, September and October, 1948, complete the "pattern," first half of the Scorpio-Taurus "cycle." Eclipse Scorpio 9, November, 1948, mid-point lunation Aquarius 9, February, 1949; eclipse Taurus 9, May,1949, followed by five lunations to the eclipse in Libra (Taurus-Libra ruled by Venus--stimulus of one planetary vibration), October, 1949, which was followed by five lunations to the eclipse in Pisces 28, in March,1950, which, in turn, inaugurated another "cycle of vibratory music" entitled "Pisces-Virgo;" this one will carry over into 1952-- two eclipses in Pisces, two in Virgo with their mid-point lunations. How did you react to your chart-stimulations under the Scorpio-Taurus cycle? How are you preparing to meet the conditions represented in your chart by the four eclipses in Pisces-Virgo? Now (August, 1950) we are just finishing the first half of the first pattern of this cycle; the second pattern will be initiated on September 12 by the eclipse in Virgo 19. How are you playing your "music?" Practicing hard?

   In conclusion, a few remarks about rhythm as it applies to the other arts. Music and dance are the two arts in which the attribute of rhythm is most obviously and concretely manifested. Music is the perception of archetypes by intuitive audition and the manifestation of this perception in tonal contrivances. Dance is the alchemicalization of archetypal bodily postures through rhythm, as manifestation of archetype- perception; it is painting (or drawing) and sculpture "mobilized;" it is sequence of which sculpture is a "frozen point." Painting is manifested, basically, by lines. We recognize that the line-work which co-ordinates the basic theme of a picture to its secondary factors is rhythm out-pictured because line, in a drawing or painting, is emanation of structure-points--just as it is in astrology. The theme of a picture is, of course, the archetype which the artist seeks to manifest. Objectively, however,the "down-beat" of a picture is the focal point of the interpretative expression. The "rhythmic movement" in a painting is in the gradation of line-directions and the gradation of color-sharings. Sequence (movement) of inter-related harmonies of design and vibration composite the essence of "rhythm-in-painting." Dramatic art has rhythm in the timing of line-reading, exits and entrances (movements "into-and out-of"), actions on the stage, and the proportionate time-element in the inter-relationship of scenes (of each act) to each other and of the acts to each other.Sculpture and architecture have rhythm in pretty much the same way that painting and drawing have; except that harmony of mass- relationship, rather than that of color-relationship, is the important factor.

   The beautiful illustrations of rhythm in astrology are seen in the "spacing" of the twelve house-cusps and their grouping in sequences of quadrants and semi-circles; the "two-four" of alternate signs and of opposite signs--also of the lunation and Full Moon pattern; the "three-four" of cusps in each quadrant and of signs in each trine; the "four-four" of the points of each cross and the great action- pattern of "conjunction, square, opposition, square" of the progressed Moon and transiting planets.

   There is the "dance" of the Sun each year, and of the Moon every twenty-eight days, and of each of the planets in its own "tempo" through the zodiac; the mighty "beats" of day-and-night, of zodiacal diameter and of planetary dignity--and--detriment.

   Mighty Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto conduct the inflow of great vibratory life-waves of humans incarnating under the entrance into--and passage through--the zodiacal signs and their decanates by the rhythmic alchemy of these Master Powers.

   There is of course your own rhythmic entrance into each basic experience-pattern during your incarnation; the "spacing" of the aspects in your natal chart as they are rhythmically activated from your birth-time.

   Open your eyes and your awareness more than ever before to the harmonious rhythmic significance of astrological symbology; it is, in specialized form, the picturing of the beauty of patterned cosmic polarity in action. 

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VI
Chapter IV
Design

   In the first article of this series, we discussed the point, the line and the circle as the three foundations of symbolic art. The point is infinite subjectivity; by correspondence it can be the unknowable, it can be Father-Mother God, it can be the potential of God-hood of the individual human being. The horizontal line to the left, from the point, is the process of chemicalization of the potentials of the point. The end of the line symbolizes the state of utmost chemicality corresponding to the utmost density of matter in the Universe, our solar system or the total physical body of the human, the sum total of his manifested potentials. The circle is the symbol of the infinite perfection of objectivity. Remember that the horizontal line has polarity; its ends are two points from which emanation can be made. In the astrological symbol, the first Point (the Center) initiates emanation by the process of chemicalization; the second point (the left extreme of the line) initiates emanation by process of fulfilling the potentials of the center. The drawing of the horizontal line to the left from the center symbolizes involution; the drawing of the circle, using that line as radius, symbolizes evolution; a completed circle symbolizes the inherent perfections of all potentials of the central point in fulfilled manifestations; it symbolizes the essence of ideality which man seeks to realize in all of his evolutionary experiences; the circle, in its perfect beauty, symbolizes the fulfilled manifestation of an archetype--in the case of our subject, that archetype is humanity. These three symbols are (as symbols) archetypes; from them all other archetypal symbols are derived.

   Design is the cosmic Law of Order applied to the shape and structure of manifestations. Shape is the external appearance, the condensation of the form of the matrix; Structure is the interrelationships of etheric and physical parts and factors of a manifestation. Structure is the total result of the emanations from the matrix-center and shape is that which is visually perceived of structure.

   All factors of a manifestation are designed because each factor is significant to the purposes of the total manifestation. In other words, the design of all parts is in accordance with the laws of the essential nature of the manifestation; the design of the completed manifestation is the objectified external appearance of the subjective archetype. Think about the "design of parts" and "external design" of mammal (human being, horse, whale--"mammal" being an archetype). In which ways are their internal and external designs similar? Think of quadruped (leopard, beaver, antelope, yak); bird (eagle, duck. ostrich, humming-bird); reptile, insect, fish, etc. consider the tremendous significance of design in the natural world. Flowers are a fine subject for this kind of study because the beauty of their design includes that of shape, color, and fragrance; the fragrance of the flower is as much a part of its design as are its shape and color. All animal life has a design in its timing for reproduction and gestation; human life has designs of relationship and work-activities, intellectual development, and spiritual illuminations. Enjoy yourself thinking about the manifold designings by which life expresses its powers.

   Because our principle subject of study is astrology, by a pictorial (graphic) art, we will confine our observations concerning design to those analogies between astrology and the art of painting which has, as its abstraction, the art of line-drawing. Design is everywhere evident in the arts music, dance, poetry, drama, etc.--but we must, for conciseness, confine ourselves to these two arts, which most directly correspond to astrology.

   If we can imagine ourselves exercising the faculty of sight for the first time and being totally unaware of the identifications and purposes of material things on this planet we would see, as far as our awareness would be concerned patches of color. We "see three-dimensionally" only because we have exercised sight for many incarnations, and except for the brief period in infancy when we are reorienting ourselves to this plane, we are accustomed to perspective. But, hypothetically for the moment, being totally unaccustomed to perspective we would see everything in terms of two- dimensionality. Looking into your room you see what you recognize as "large or small" of glass, cloth, wood, etc. Forgetting identity and perspective, the only "substance" you see is color manifested by the designed shapes of the things you perceive. Color is inherent in substance, but the design of substance shapes the color, or colors.

   Now--design in astrology--and a beautiful subject it is!

   As a factor in the pictorial essence of astrological symbolism, the circle of the astrological mandala is the framework for that which the astrologer studies. Remember that the frame-work of our visual perceptions is the circular extent of our eyes' scope of action. We do not see through a square or rectangular frame--the design of our eyes makes it possible for us to see everything through a circle.

   "Seeing" is done in two ways--or in two "octaves." One is "physical seeing"--perception of physical things by exercise of a physical faculty which is the focus of two similar organs on one thing, or "point." The other is "intuitive" or "spiritual" seeing which is done by focus of "bi-polarity," and the circle of the astrological wheel is also the symbol of the "frame-work" of this "seeing." The astrologer looks at the horoscope with a focus of both of his generic elements--this focus is the single eye of understanding; he draws on his intellectual resources to calculate the chart and study its elements from a technical standpoint but he also draws on the resources of his memory-of-experiences in past incarnations as male and female to perceive the spiritual values of the factors contained in the chart. An astrologer functions as a composite of both polarities when his intuitive perceptions are ignited by concentration on a chart; he understands the consciousness of both sexes and is able to evaluate the astrological indications accordingly. East-west, north-south must be studied in any chart of any human being. We are all causers and reactors to the effects of causes-- and always have been. The astrologer, focussing the bi-polarity--the Center- Point--of his consciousness, is able to perceive the objective and subjective evaluations of astrological placements and patternings; in other words he perceives, through the circle of his spiritual insight, the tendencies of the person whose chart is being studied from the stand-point of his being a "Causer," and a "Reactor to the effects of causes." The astrologer must know the life of the Spirit as well as the life of the body (Consciousness and Action)--"subjective life" and "objective life."

   Because a horoscope is what it is (a symbolic picturing of the interpretation of life-principles by an individualized consciousness in incarnation), we do not do horoscopes of discarnate persons or sub-human archetypes. Impress your mind with this thought: The circle is not the basic design of the horoscope; the cross of the vertical and horizontal diameters is. The circle is only because the ascendant-radius is, and the ascendant-radius is only because the point is. The circle is, in fact, the last factor in astrological symbolism because it is the manifested perfections inherent in the potentials of the point. A blank circle does not show the action of bi-polarity, therefore it cannot he considered the basic design. The basic design must fulfill the purpose of indicating the action of bipolarity because that action is what life is. All other factors obtainable, a horoscope can be done without drawing a circle; but to have any horoscope at all the ascendant-degree is imperative--having the ascendant-degree you automatically have the cusp of the seventh house. Having these two factors presents the picture of basic complementation, and that factor, more than any other, is the design of essential bi-polarity of the individualized consciousness--the life-essence of life itself.

   The horizontal diameter, because it is a line, is not of itself--and cannot be--a design; but because its extremities touch the circumference of the circle it serves to create a design within the wheel. This design of two semi-circles is the arch-symbol of symmetry and symmetry is the bi-polarity of design;"male-female" is the symmetry of sex and "masculine- feminine " or dynamic-receptive " or " expressive-reflective" are the symmetries of GENDER. This horizontal line which serves to "activate" the potentials contained within the circle is the symbol of all differences between the polaric expressions of the universe or, correspondingly, of human nature. A diameter of a circle does not "divide" the circle into "two things;" it activates the polarity of everything represented by the contents of the circle which are, in turn, emanations from the central point. Further, the diameter, which is the two-fold aspect of the ascendant-radius, is the picturing of the bi-polarity of the central point, "unfolded" in the simplest and most direct manner possible. The lower and upper semi-circles, then, are the fulfilled expression of each polarity--the two, reunited, form the complete circle which is the total composite of polarity. "Male and Female" are the words which symbolize the chemicalization of polarity-differences on the generative plane of being. Now, to consider the design of the bipolarity of each polarity; keeping in mind always that everything represented in a horoscope is emanation from the central point:

   The relationship between two planets which we identify by the ninety-degree angle is the square--arch-symbol of congestion of potentials. In its appearance as we use it, it rests on a horizontal base and its two sides are verticals--variations of the archetypal symbol of the Cross--"compressed" within limitations implied by the circumference of the circle. This registration of the square-design is called "evil" by some because it pictures a tendency to remain "unexpressive"--therefore "dead," which is "anti-Life." The "pain" implied in this registration is the ignition of potentials by evolutionary forces working through human consciousness in order that the life-potentials may be released against a "built-in" inertia. This square, applied to the contents of a circle, touches the circle at four points (those corresponding to the mid-points of the second, fifth, eighth, and eleventh houses), the fixed signs of the zodiac, the power resources of desire-love. The regeneration of these resources is the great "integral magic" of alchemy--the apex of spiritual endeavor. But these points being "mid- points," do not coincide with the cusps which, in turn, are emanations of the "I AM" of the one ascendant-radius. There is only one representation of the square-symbol that not only coincides with the house-cusps but is structurally symmetrical and equilibrated: the square whose angle-points are the cusps of the first, fourth, seventh, and tenth houses--the cardinal signs of the Great Mandala, which are the structure-points of basic human relationship. And "inertia" and "counter-active-to-inertia" (the polarity of life-processes) is represented in this square in a remarkably illuminating way since it deals directly with the "humanity of relationship."

   In the exact center of a piece of paper place a point. From the point, draw a line horizontally to the left about two inches long; retrace back to the point and draw another line vertically upward the same length; retrace back to the point. On the upper side of the horizontal and on the left side of the vertical write the word "male." Now, from the point, a two-inch line to the right, back to the point, a two-inch vertical downward, back to the point; you have created the "lines of force" in the design of basic human-relationship. Place the symbols of the cardinal signs appropriately, according to the Great Mandala. Now, the angle made by each pair of successive lines from the point is a right-angle, the same as is found at the structure points of the fixed sign square. Aries and Capricorn represent "inertia"and "action" in this way: Aries is the "male begotten;" Capricorn is the male begettor.

   Give this careful thought: the "tendency to evil" which is symbolized by the design of the square means this: the tendency to continue to express from a level of protracted spiritual inertia. When we do not grow and unfold, we retrogress; retrogression is the supreme blasphemy because it represents a counteractive to the fulfillments of life. The static potentials of immaturity must be released and fulfilled, and "immaturity" is the relative UN-fulfillments on any level, octave, or cycle. To look at our design again, the angles and lines of force in the cardinal figure and the fixed-sign square:

   In the cardinal figure, draw a little arc near the point connecting the lines representing Aries and Capricorn; draw another little arc connecting the upper-horizontal and the left-vertical of the fixed- square. These two arcs enclose two expressions of "right angle; " the cardinal is "open," the fixed is "closed"--at least as far as relationship with the entire designs are connected. The Aries-Capricorn right-angle unfolds the upper-left quadrant of its wheel; the fixed-square right-angle focuses the up- per-left quadrant of its wheel. Do you see how the design of the square aspect, in its essential nature, depicts potential for unfoldment and potential for congestion? Draw arcs in both figures, analogous to these two, relating Capricorn-Libra to the upper-right quadrant of the fixed-square, Libra-Cancer to the lower-right and Cancer-Aries to the lower left quadrant; each open central right-angle of the cardinal "cross" has its potential for congestion shown in the corresponding angles of the archetypal fixed-square. These two aspects (polarities) of the square-design show the "counter-thrust"- -against each other-of the dynamic and inertial tendencies of human consciousness. Every "immaturity" ("child-hood-ness") of consciousness must transcend the inertial tendency to fulfill itself in the symbolism of the circle. The dynamic and congestive "angles" in these two figures-since each angle is a relationship of two factors of the potentials of the point--is the eternal urge of cosmic polarity through human relationship-consciousness to fulfill the potentials of the archetype "humanity."

   The study of astrological symbols as pictures is a fascinating mental and esthetic exercise. These symbols, for the most part, have been used from ancient times as delineations of realizations of life- principles. This discourse will pertain to the geometric essence of these symbols as they may be correlated to the geometric values of the graphic Art of Drawing, the abstraction of the Art of Painting.

   After having experienced incarnations for many ages, we have a subconscious or instinctive reaction to geometrical designs as picturings of Cosmic principles, actions, processes--and their chemicalizations in Form. The essential designs which the artist uses to present his concepts of archetypes are themselves archetypal As a graphic art, astrology pictures the consciousness of the archetype "humanity"-the basic resource of all human conceptuality. The archetypal quality of astrological symbolism (" simple-ism") is such that the meanings of the principles represented by them become more basically comprehended as the consciousness of the human being is clarified by the alchemies of regeneration. This clarification results in a distillation of power which, through artistic manifestation or interpretation, serves to stimulate, vivify and illuminate the consciousness of less evolved persons. As the consciousness of the artist is "impregnated" by at-tunement to inspirational forces, does the power of his consciousness, released through his artistic work, "impregnate" the consciousness (inner knowing) of individuals; the result, on both octaves, is the "birth"of a new level of realization. The response of the artist and of the individuals to the impact of inspirational forces is alchemy of a subtle, but very powerful, kind. It is magic that is closely akin to the magic of love because, in both, archetypes are perceived in degree. The inertia of self- isolation is decrystallized and the divine is glimpsed. Every such experience of a person responding to the inspiring power of manifested beauty is a degree of "Hermetic Marriage"--realization of "re-union with the Higher Self."

   Because designs are emanated from line, let us consider the gender of straight lines, which are the abstractions of curved lines. The vertical is dynamic and stimulative; the horizontal is quiescent and receptive. As such, these two symbolize causation and reactor to, or effect from, causation, respectively. The diagonal which connects a vertical and a horizontal is the dual-generic reflection of both. (The gender of curved lines is determined by the quality of the straight line which connects the two ends.) The vertical, by itself, stimulates what? The horizontal, by itself, reacts to (or is affected by) what? When the arms of a right-triangle are a vertical and horizontal the diagonal hypotenuse is opposite to the right angle and reflects that which is generated by the jointure of the two lines. As such it is analogous to the relationship of a child to his parents who reflects, to a degree, the qualities of both father and another. Every straight line enclosed by a circle ignites the potentials of the contents of the circle; therefore, the vertical and horizontal diameters together ignite the contents of the circle in a four-fold way--the quadrants initiated by the cardinal signs; each semicircle is therefore "ignited" in a two-fold way which results in the picture of the sympathetic vibration which attracts Father-Mother-Son- Daughter together to form the "enclosure" of the human-family pattern. Two kinds of vertical and horizontal are qualified by the four diagonals just as "man-woman" is qualified as "parentage" by the children they beget.

   Designs and line-formations not only imply shape and form but also action, releasement, congestion, involution, evolution, staticness, radiation, gravitation and many other kinds of life-action. To be static means to be "poised between preceding and succeeding movements"--and movement is cosmic alchemy. Nothing in manifested life is eternally static but this state of equipoise is just as important as movement because radiation of power succeeds focus of power. The chemicalized Universe is Nature 's agency of focussing her powers so, actually, the word "static" means "focalization;" it does not and cannot mean "dead" or "un-living." From this stand-point, let us consider a few "static" astrological symbols.

   All symmetrical symbols convey an impression of being static because they are laterally balanced, but there is a world of difference between symmetrical symbols which are open and those which are closed. The most static astrological symbols are those for the square-aspect and the Sun. Of these two, the square-aspect (because it completely lacks curve or diagonality) is the more static. This square, with horizontal base, is "all up and down, and straight across" with "inflexible" angles and a complete lack of fluidity or adjustability. It is the solidification of the four right-angles inherent at the central point and its "personality " may be described as: compression, rigidity, leashed power, implacability, heaviness, im-movability, crystallization, self-righteousness, opinionatedness, prejudice, fear-ignorance, the "letter of the Law," and gracelessness. Since its astrological meaning, as a symbol, is congestion of potentials we get an impression of "strength" from the square-aspect symbol but it suggests strength that is not being used, muscle and intelligence that are not being exercised. Love-potential corroded by hatred and self-interest (of the wrong kind). The square is "definite" and "clear-cut;" so, we recall, are its effects. When we experience the stimulation of our square-aspects (life-forces trying to jar us loose from congestions in inertia and immaturity), the square speaks to us in "his" blunt, forceful, and uncompromising way. "Idle" is like "square people," who express themselves with definiteness and very telling effect, but who are somewhat lacking in tact or graciousness. The square is the picture of "two-times-two"--the essence of formal structure and therefore the essence of what is known as "classicism" in art. Classic art is preoccupied with symmetry of structure and clarity of outline, whatever its medium. Mediocre classic art is "congestion on form" and "lack of inspirational powers; " great classic art happily weds the two. Aspects, art, human-nature, or what-not--the square is power in a state of relative inertia; study drawings that are focussed on the square-design; what is your reaction to them?

   Circular designs, by their essential nature, are of two principal types; the static-circular is radiative, the mobile-circular is convolutive. The three arch-radiative astrological symbols are those of the Sun, the wheel itself and the sextile aspect; the first two are closed, the third is open. Of the three, the sextile is the most radiative because its "rays" are not bounded. Only the point in the center of the Sun-symbol makes it suggest radiation; the circle of the symbol is really a picture of fulfillment of the potentials of a specific archetype. The astrological wheel is a "large-scale Sun-symbol "--the lines of force of which are the twelve basic octaves of "I Am," which, in turn, is the chemicalized potential of the central point. The three diameters, or six radii, represented in the sextile symbol are the Spiritual Trinity of the fire and air signs--the masculine polarity of male and female sex of humanity. It pictures, by its "unbound- ness, " the universality of alchemy centered in the Unknowable, Father-Mother God or the individual human-being. The effect of radiative design is one of impact and illumination--the "sensation" which accompanies alchemical exercise. When you experience the "impact" of an alchemical effort, your solar-plexus is analogous to the center of the sextile symbol, with relationship to your body. The emanation from your charged or regenerated consciousness can extend indefinitely into the world of other people and conditions If you focus your charged consciousness on one thing or one condition, then you "bind it with a circle." Look at the Sun, Moon, and stars when they are shining with full light; look at people's faces when they smile; what do we do to express a friendly greeting? We radiate by extending a hand to the other person who takes it in one of his. This is the interlocking of the fire and air trines of the sextile lines-of-force to create a two-fold magnetic interchange. Radiative design reaches out to us from the center of its theme as people reach out to us and we to them. A radiative design representing an extremely unpleasant subject can repel us, as unpleasant people do, and as we do when we are unpleasant. When the subject itself is of an inspirational nature the "sextile radiation" can charge us with an impact of beauty and inspiration that conveys a feeling of exaltation and renewal. Study radiative designs in pictures. Let yourself feel their archetype.

   Convolutive-circular design symbolizes recurrent action around the central point. It is more "mobile"than the radiative type and its inner meaning presents quite a different archetype. In astrology we have two basic convolutive-circular designs: Cancer and opposition-aspect. This type of design is, perhaps, the one which most clearly conveys an impression of "gracefulness"--it is very feminine in quality, being rhythmic and entirely curved. The original of the symbol for Cancer was the Taoist symbol called "Yin and Yang;" the enclosure of the two curved figures by a circle makes it the symbol of bi-polarity of seed (that which is enclosed in the womb, or matrix) the archetypal mother-word; Cancer, cardinal and generative, is ruled by the Moon whose basic symbol is a vertical semi-circle; the line connecting its ends is the vertical of the astrological fourth and tenth houses-the "line of parentage." Convolutive-circular design, though it suggests motion, also conveys an impression of monotony-continual recurrence to and from the center. It is not congestion-as in the square; in a closed figure like "Yin and Yang" it is the dormancy of energies not yet expressed, " or Cosmic ebb-and-flow from the center and back to it through evolutionary octaves, as in the opposition aspect symbol. The essence of this kind of design conveys to our inner knowing the rhythmic "return to rest"--which is transition, or sleep, which is a "little transition; " it is soothing in effect, extending out but forever curving in on itself in graceful "foldings" of line.

   The opposition-aspect symbol has something of the same monotony of the Yin-and-Yang symbol with the addition of a dynamic factor; the "basic line" of this symbol is the upward diagonal and "rudiment of aspiration" is thereby implied. As an astrological factor, this design is focussed at three points: the midpoints of the second and eighth houses and the central point of the wheel; its essential meaning is: Choice between unregenerate and regenerate expressions or transmutation of the two poles of the desire (Taurus-Scorpio) diameter. This symbol, by its continual "flow" from the central point to the second and eighth houses, implies repetition of experience-patterns, on ever higher octaves, until regeneracy of the desire nature is distilled. This symbol, as an artistic design of two circles tangent to each other at the central point, represents the transmutations by male and by female individuals, of desire-for-possession through stewardship (Taurus-second house); and through love (Scorpio-eighth house); each of these points represents an octave of the potential of desire and. the attribute of love-- this diameter is polarized by the complementary diameter of Leo-Aquarius which are the personal and impersonal octaves of Love-Power. Think of a motion- picture of a person in a swing: "two kinds of up" and "two kinds of down"-- starting and ending at the gravitational center; there is a rhythm and pulse in the "up-and-down" of this type of symbol; it is the eternal aspirational urge of humanity, "up-surging"from the static "beginning" of each octave.

   The most dynamic of all circular designs is the vertical spiral; this is a line-design of the essence of the circle perpetuated in time, space and consciousness. It is open, symmetrical, rhythmic and, more than any other design, it conveys a sense of eternal progress It is the most ecstatic of all symbols because (and when we study it we shall see this) it symbolizes the eternal action of cosmic fire, involuntarily and evolutionarily. The "pyr" of "pyramid" means "fire" and the equilateral pyramid is the chemicalized form of the equilateral triangle. The equilateral triangle in turn, is the essential external shape of that which is represented by the involutionary and evolutionary spirals in two-dimensional representation. Think of a pyramid: four equilateral triangles whose bases are the sides of a square; a circle circumscribing the square can be thought of as the first basic level of the spiral. In your imagination, look down on the pyramid from the top: this view of the pyramid presents a central point, the dynamic square of the cardinal signs of the Great Mandala, with its four diagonal, bi-polar lines. The four right-angles of this square are the enclosed reflections of the central angles of the wheel made by the intersection of the Taurus-Scorpio and Leo-Aquarius diameters; they correspond to the four angles of the static square which are the enclosed reflections of the central angles made by the intersection of the Aries-Libra and Capricorn- Cancer diameters. Do you recognize the astrological wheel in this "view"? From any one of these cardinal structure-points (son, daughter, father, and mother-male and female of immature and mature causer and reactor to the effects of cause) the "begotten-of-God"--involved, incarnated humanity, commences its return to its "lost Eden," the central point of the circle, the apex of the pyramid. Humanity, in its Manifested Body, evolves through the exercise of distilled Love-Wisdom, not to a "vanishing-point" but to the realization of the source, which is perfect being. The spiralic line continues, incarnation after incarnation, round and round, through the patterns of human relationship, through succeeding cycles of experience and of octaves of consciousness--but always upward from the basic circle which circumscribes the basic square. As the spiralic circles recede from the differentiatedness of the basic square, they become smaller and smaller-- continually proceeding toward the undifferentiated unity of the apex-point, the central point of the circle. Draw a circular spiral, starting at what would correspond to the ascendant-point of a horoscope, recognize, as you "evolve" the spiral-line toward the central point, that you are letting go of chemicalized separativeness and are becoming more and more aware of your spiritual source, your "God-hood." In chemicalized representation, we do not see the basic circle or the spiral line. Looking at the pyramid "face on," what do we see? The triangle of spiritual identity and attribute--the power- love-wisdom inherent in each one of the basic human identities of which we all partake in our spiralic evolutionary journey.

   So--verticality, horizontality, diagonality, radiativity, convolutionality, staticness, congestivity, openness, spiralic ecstaticness, and all the other many qualities that are suggested to our inner knowing by the directions of all emanations from structure points of design are the attributes of that which the artist-who-draws and the astrologer-who- interprets exercise their manifestive and interpretative abilities.

   Study astrological symbols anew with the "opened consciousness" of becoming more aware of their design quality. Your astrological awareness will become more and more sensitized and illumined. You will find, in time, that you are evolving a sensitive awareness of the cosmic designs that are inherent in human personality, experience, relationship, and all processes by which spiritual fulfillments are made. Your own living, from day to day, will be seen to be a resource for the expression of your consciousness of the beautiful. Other people, represented by the horoscopes you study, will assume, in your consciousness, an intensified beauty and value.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VI
Chapter V
Color

   Color is that attribute of Manifestation of Perceptibility. Since the manifested Universe is the vehicle or instrument of Spirit it has to be conceived and then perceived before it can be put to use; we as "sparks of Spirit" in manifested form, become aware of this instrument by our faculty of sight. The other senses are agencies by which we complete our perception, but by sight we "take the first step."

   Therefore, as "perceptibleness" (we see "things" as "patches of color"), color has a great significance in regard to the occult nature of manifestation. If we are here to unfold awareness of the principles of life, are must learn about the functions of material things and also about what they mean as chemicalizations of archetypes. To understand the nature of a material thing as well as its function is to understand the purpose of its archetype; to understand the purpose of an archetype is to understand, in degree, a life-principle. Archetypes, in composite, are the primary manifestations of life; the life of the archetype is the "life-cycle" of its manifested chemicalization. "Archetype and manifestation" is the most direct reference we can make to the Cosmic Law of "cause and effect."

   We are so accustomed, after hundreds of incarnations, to take for granted the colors of the world that we tend to forget (if we ever have known it) the significance of this attribute in the life-cycle of manifested things. Since all things affect, and are affected by, all other things, can it be that color represents one aspect of the nature of universal vibratory exchange? Colors are emanated and responded to; they affect the things that react to them and they are affected by the things that act on their chemicalized forms. Therefore, if we had "eyes to see," we could study this aspect of vibratory emanation of manifested things and learn about the nature and significance of their archetypes--their realities.

   The study of color has always had a place in those approaches by which human beings have sought to understand the inner and outer nature of their own archetype, humanity, and that of the other octaves of manifestation. It might be said, with some justification, that the study of life is the study of vibration which is the essential action of life. The Great Ones who teach us serve to ignite in our consciousness the awareness of vibration because they know that matter is not a "dead thing" but the manifestation of something that is eternally alive, rhythmically pulsating, ever releasing and fulfilling its potentials but never changing in essence.

   Since we are here concerned, in this study, with color as a factor in art-expression, astrological symbology and the truths concerning the nature of the archetype, Humanity, let us recall, in part, what has been given as instruction pertaining to the colors of the human aura. The author, not being as yet qualified, has never had the experience of perceiving the human aura, but several acquaintances, and perhaps many of you students, have. The one outstanding fact in the information conveyed by this experience is the color-attribute of this vibratory body. Regardless of extent, brilliance or dullness, it is understood that color is seen in every aura. In fact, without the at-tribute of color, the aura could not be seen at all, much less studied and analyzed; though its power can be "sensed" by sensitive persons through their reactions to the vibratory quality of the " aura- person." In other words, that which is "sensed" (by feeling-reaction) is that which is clairvoyantly seen as color of the aura.

   The composite of etheric bodies of human composition is one of the many forms of the archetypal state "matrix;" another form of "matrix" is air--in which we are all enveloped; still another is water (gestation), place of generative manifestations. Air and water, so it is said, are "color-less." If, however, air and water did not possess, in degree, the attribute of color-vibration how could light be directed through them? How could they reflect color? How could colors be perceived through them? It is an occult maxim that in order to manifest on any plane, a suitable vehicle is necessary; how, then, can color manifest in and through air and water if they, as "elements," did not possess in their essential nature that which corresponds to the nature of colors Can it be that the "colorless-ness" of air and water is the only true white there is, and that which we designate as "pure white" corresponds to the "colorlessness" as the physical body corresponds to the etheric matrix? Or as any fulfilled manifestation corresponds to its archetype, as a rose, in the full beauty of its perfect maturity corresponds to the "rose-archetype," as the most highly evolved specimen of an animal-species may correspond to its group-archetype ? (Food for thought!) Color is truly one of the mysteries of manifestation because, by it, the divine essence of manifestations is perceived in a specialized way. Color corresponds to design as a philosophical truth corresponds to the ceremony or ritual which symbolically transmits it to the inner knowing of humanity; as love between husband and wife corresponds to the incarnation of a child; as aspiration corresponds to service.

   We must use analogies:

   If we may consider the "colorlessness" of air and water to be archetypal white (and as such, the "color-symbol" of the Unknowable, the Infinitely Subjective), then the purest of what we call "white" is manifestive white. This, in turn and by correspondence, is the color of Father-Mother God in its essence and in its two expressions of "Virgin Spirit" and "Perfected Consciousness." (Why do we associate "white" with purity?) Purity is "undifferentiatedness," innocence is "not refracted by experience"; perfect-ion is realization of one-ity (unity). Anything that we describe as "perfected" is fulfilled, harmonious, and complete in the relationship of its parts to each other and to the total. White is "innocence before refraction of light" and the "perfected re-un-ity after refraction." In its relationship with the spectrum-colors, white symbolizes the relationship between perfected consciousness and the differentiatedness of soul-qualities which we designate by such words as courage, patience, integrity, etc. In its relationship to black, white is spiritual source and black is utmost chemicality of the emanations from the source. Consider this analogy: archetypal white is universal causation; manifestive white is universal bi-polarity; black is the densest of universal chemicality. Black is a very interesting subject of thought and study, and a fascinating subject for philosophical meditations. It has been used (poor thing) for ages to symbolize mankind's concepts of hell, death, and evil--in short, the color-symbol of the Devil. An injustice, no less. Black as a "color" in the material universe, is the compression of brown (the composite of all spectrum-colors) and brown is the color-symbol of productive earth--our home in incarnation. Black, then, is the congestion of productive life-forces but congestion does not mean death in the absolute sense--congestion is a little death which can, must, and will be decrystallized ("redeemed"). A color that would symbolize absolute death would have to correspond to archetypal white as black corresponds to manifestive white. And no such "color" exists because black is the "mid-point" between white and white. The square (congestion) aspect between two planets in a horoscope would represent two colors which by their relationship have the effect of "blackening" the shade of each other--you have seen, have you not, "blackish red" or "blackish greens" These shades represent degrees of congestion of color-potential toward a common point of "staticness." Black is not recognizable as "red" or "green" or any other color--it is the UTMOST density (lowest vibration) of all colors, as manifestive white is the utmost decrystallization of color-powers. In the "Inferno" of the Divine Comedy of Dante the nether-most region of this unhappy place is depicted as a place of the "forever lost," "beyond hope," "impossible-to-redeem," "absolutely no potential," "total negation," and "utterly life-less." It is true, we are told in occult philosophy, that there are a few members of life waves that congest to such a degree that they cannot progress with the others on their particular "wave;" but we are also instructed that, however long they may be held back, ultimately they start anew with another "wave" and so progress to fulfillment.. Thus "hell," as the place of the totally lost, is an illusion, a false concept of life. We feel that the "mercy of life" (or of Father-Mother God) is expressed in the truth that all potentials are to be eventually redeemed--no one and no thing is "forever set apart and discarded." The "color" black could, of course, symbolize the state of "congestion-to-such-a-degree-that-progress-is-for-a- time-i nhibited" but the eventual progress will be represented by the releasement (on a new cycle) of the congested potentials of black. Your astrological aspects will approach " blackness of color " to the degree that the squares are approaching the exactitude of ninety degrees and are unrelieved by the assistance of sextiles or trines. To the degree that the squares are removed from ninety degrees will their color be more evident. To the degree that your planets are trined will your planetary colors glow with radiance, power and beauty.

   The author is not presuming to present "absolute truths" in these symbolic color-picturings; however, we, as astrological students, become so accustomed to seeing astrological art presented by "black marks on white paper" that we forget the value of "thinking chromatically." Since we are dealing with the spectrums of designs and vibrations we must, from time to time, exercise our minds on the colors that are implied in drawn symbols; these "implied colors," in turn, symbolize the spectrums of human consciousness and experience, and we must perceive "gradationally" if we are to unfold our understanding of "placement-qualities," "relationship- qualities," and the "archetypal nature" of the planets as focalizers of the zodiacal signs. A little more food for thought: archetypal white as it "manifests" in the five color-octaves of three octaves of the point, line, and circle of astrological symbology:

   The five manifested octaves of archetypal white are : (1) Manifestive White ; (2) Grey (neutral); (3) the Colors of the Spectrum; (4) their composite, Brown; (5) their congestion, Black. The three octaves of point line, and circle are: (1) Cosmic (the Unknowable); (2) Solar (Father-Mother God); (3) Human (the Great Mandala of the Archetype, Humanity, and the personal mandala of the individual horoscope).

   1. Cosmic--the point, line and circle of cosmic ideation; the center is archetypal white; the Ascendant-line is manifestive white and the Ascendant-point is neutral grey, the abstraction of brown and the "composite" of the extremes of manifestive white and black. We cannot know the extent of that which is manifested by the Unknowable so its "appearance" at the Ascendant-point must be the indefinite, neutral, "extentless-ness" of grey. Grey is "boundless," it combines and blends with all colors and it is, more than is any other "shade," that which can convey a sense of indefinite, infinite manifestation, focalizing no one thing, but symbolizing "All-that-is- ness."

   2. Solar--the Manifestive action of Father- Mother God; the center is manifestive white; the Ascendant-line modulates from manifestive white through grey and through brown (composite of all spectrum- colors) to the Ascendant-point which is black; the black Ascendant-point symbolizes the total chemicalized manifestation, to the densest degree, of this solar-system; in the black are found all of the color-expressions which are symbolically inherent in the natures of all beings of this system and which are to be "released" as specific color-symbols of consciousness- gradations during the evolution of these beings in incarnation-cycles.

   3. Human--(a) The Great Astrological Mandala of the archetype, Humanity; the center is manifestive white, the Ascendant-line modulates from white through grey and brown; the Ascendant-point, the "I Am" of the individualized archetype is red, the first cardinal color which corresponds to the first cardinal sign of the mandala, Aries. The three variations of the "I Am" of Humanity are the cusps of the (in clock-wise order from the Ascendant) 10th, 7th, and 4th Houses; the total of these four "I Ams" is the I Am of the basic human family: male and female begettor, male and female begotten; male and female of causation and male and female of reaction to, or effect from, causation. Since scientists who study and analyze color tell us that there are four basic primary color-senses (red, yellow, green, and blue) we shall ascribe each of these to a cardinal point of the Great Mandala: Aries, red; Capricorn, yellow; Libra (complement of Aries) green; and Cancer (complement of Capricorn and initiator of the last Trine of the generic spectrum), blue. The fire-trine will be represented by gradations from pure red through orange; Earth--yellow through its darker shades to air-- green (in its modulations to water) blue--carrying through to complete the spectrum at Pisces in purple, color symbol of divine qualities and last color of the basic sequence of spectrum. This is one approach. You may find another, or many others. But--find something!

   3. (b) Human--the personal horoscope of an individual human-being: in unevolved humanity, the center is the red of blood; in evolving humanity it is the red of the individualized "I Am" blended with the redemption of white; the Ascendant-line modulates through grey and the color of the ray to the color that may be identified with the planetary ruler of the Ascendant-sign. This color will represent the temporary (for this incarnation) variation of the red-white of the center. The color of the ray is a "basic" to each human being during the entirety of his or her evolutionary progress in incarnation. Philosophic or occult knowledge sooner or later reveals the nature of one's ray and the color that pertains to it. It may be supposed that, in cases of un-evolved humans, the Ascendant-point color might be the brown of Earth which will be "decrystallized" or differentiated as the person begins his spiritual evolution. In the individual charts of humans, blackness may be, as was remarked before, implied in congested planetary aspects, but never at the ASC-point.

   There are, probably, as many "solutions" to this study of color in symbology as there are people who study it. But when we loosen ourselves from the limitations of personal feeling-reaction to colors we are better able to focus our awareness of colors as factors in abstract symbology--to correlate the essence of color-vibration with the essentials of symbolic figures. Another approach to study the "basic colors" in an individual horoscope is to synthesize the planetary positions by dispositorship--and create a compositing of the planetary positions by sign- placement. In such a synthesis, all planets dignified will convey a sense of purest color, those in detriment (opposite the sign of dignity) are, to a degree, "neutralized" and their colors will verge toward a mixture with grey. Also, to correlate color with design, study your chart from the standpoint of seeing how your planetary groupings make specific patterns--a grand cross, a grand trine, a square with the alchemicalization of one planet by a third which sextiles it, and so forth. Your horoscope, in whatever form or arrangement, is, in black and white, an abstraction of a painted portrait--in symbols. Look at the planets that are farthest north, south, east, and west-- they are structure-points in your "Astro-portrait;" opposition aspects are "verticals, horizontals, and diagonals" in your picture, etc. But let yourself become more aware of the importance of mentally "colorizing" astrological symbols--it is a most valuable and beneficial exercise of your intuitive powers.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VI
Chapter VI
Architecture

   Architecture is, in essence, manifestive art as expression of man's consciousness of cosmic protectiveness.

   Whatever man builds, through his expressions in this art, is a symbol of his instinctive desire to enclose, enfold, and protect that which he cherishes. This art differs from the other three- dimensional arts--dance, sculpture, and drama--in that it fills and encloses space. There is a certain utility in the essential nature of this art which also differentiates it from the other arts. Buildings, to fulfill their reason-for-being, must be occupied by something or lived in by someone. Hence, of all the arts, architecture is the least abstract, the most useful, and it is the one that is most basic to the needs of humanity.

   An analogy--the blue of sky and the brown of earth are ceiling and floor of man's habitation on this planet, the vast house of our physical living provided as creative expression of God. Because all share this ceiling and floor, man as an individualization of consciousness and as a "spark of Divine Fire," must microcosmically reproduce this pattern as an expression of his God-hood. So, he builds "ceiling and floor" to enclose the heart of his creativities (home and work) and that of his reverence, the church. Since home and church symbolize the core of man 's awareness of relationship to humankind and to God, these "buildings" from time immemorial have stood as the two essentials of architectural endeavor.

   The God-hood of human kind is the permanent seed atom which endures throughout the cycle of incarnations. The first house that is built for it is within the maternal body prior to birth. The maternal body is the enclosure of protectiveness with nurture for the incarnating Ego. The etheric matrix is the "outer body" in which we live during incarnation and our physical flesh-body has the enclosures of skin, skeletal, and organic structure in which the seed atom is enshrined. The male parent functions in correspondence to his mate by providing the enclosure of home to protect his two "most beloveds" and the home is a specification of space in which the relationship-life of persons magnetized to each other by specific vibratory requirements is perpetuated. All of these "buildings" (the etheric matrix, the womb, the physical enveloping, and the home) are the "humanity" of that which is "architecture"in manifestive art. Man has never built for himself alone--he has always built, as God builds, as an expression of his octave of Cosmic Protectiveness. As water and, subsequently, air were the original "homes" in which we lived as physical involutions so the great "sea of electrical magnetism" is the "home" of our relationship consciousness and "home" is the individualized chemical expression of man's consciousness of focalized relationship on the generative octave of being. During incarnation, man abides, or can abide, in many houses but relationship with other humans is the "home-life" of his consciousness. We feel "at home" (and this is not just a figure of speech) with those we love, we feel "out of (our rightful) place" with those we dislike. With those we love we "build easily" the fulfillments of relationship--on whatever octave of experience or consciousness. To build beautifully is to express love. To "build unbeautifully" is to emphasize (pile up) the congestions in consciousness of desire-ignorance; the resultant buildings are "shrines to ugliness." Man expresses his "architectural best"when he builds (anything) as an expression of his heart's and mind's highest and best. The soaring spires of temples and cathedrals are designs which symbolize man's spiritual aspirations toward his "lost Eden"--toward which he returns on the upward spirals of evolutionary progress. These spires are variations of the basic design of the pyramid, which we will discuss in this discourse.

   That which is intimately external to us is the outer reflection of inner building. Consciousness--and nothing else--is the material we use to build anything, in whatever octave, cycle, or dimension. The result of material building is the effect from the way the man has imposed his mind, talents, and abilities on malleable substances; and mind, talent, and ability all are octaves of consciousness. He imposes his consciousness on the "stuffs of art" to embody his concepts of archetypes in manifestive artistry; he imposes his consciousness on the "stuffs of relationship" as his "embodiments of relationship-consciousness," to enfold, protect, and perpetuate that which is unregenerate or regenerate in human relationships. We can build "caves for jackals and dens for thieves" just as we can build "homes for the beloved and shrines for the adored." All of these, in their myriads of expressions, are building with the materials of consciousness.

   Since each human is an individualized consciousness, we are the builders of everything that is manifested in our lives. By incarnating, we serve to build a new identity for our parents as they were instrumental in building a vehicle for us. Each child contributes relationship-material and relationship-experience to the "building" of his parents as individuals and as a couple. He expresses his consciousness, they react; they express, he reacts in the years of his development and for as long as his relationship to his parents endures. The child was magnetized to his parents by law and he built the particular quality of parentage-consciousness by his exercises as father and as mother in past incarnations. In other words, his parents are a chemicalized expression of his consciousness of "parents;" they, in a sense, and in relationship to him, are something he himself has built. Each human being is, therefore, the architect of his own parentage. Concretely this is pictured in the horoscope by the vertical diameter of the cusps of the fourth and tenth houses. The "parentage" of the archetype, humanity, is the zodiacal diameter of Capricorn-Cancer focalized by the planetary architects, Moon and Saturn, the "form-builders" of our vibratory archetype. This diameter is, of course, complemented by that of Aries-Libra as the vertical diameter of a horoscope is complemented by the horizontal diameter of the Ascendant and seventh cusp. Further astrological illustration: we can think of the chart as the blue-print of an edifice, so architectural are the symbols.

   A circle with vertical and horizontal diameters; the symbols for the cardinal signs at the structure-points, Aries as Ascendant-sign. Connect the structure-points with straight lines forming a square. The four right angles are the "enclosures" of the angles made at the center by the diameters of the mid-points of the fixed houses (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius); the right angles of the fixed sign square are the enclosures of the central angle made by the vertical and horizontal diameters. The sides of the two squares are the same in length. The cardinal points bisect four semi-circles; the fixed points bisect four quadrants.

   The circle is, at one and the same time, the perfect idea "Humanity" in Divine Mind. the perfect manifestation of that idea in form, the perfect objectifications of all the potentials inherent in the Central Point; by the perfection of its beauty it is the archetypal symbol of the Golden Wedding Garment which will be worn by the archetype humanity at the dawn of liberation from this manifestation, or which is worn by each individual at the timing of his liberation. The Golden Wedding Garment is the perfected habitation of the seed atom-- all humans have an etheric matrix, but not all humans wear a beautiful matrix; it is the perfect beautification and purity of this matrix that identifies the Golden Garment, the result of all of our building in incarnation.

   Previous reference has been made to the author's conviction that the circle which circumscribes the cardinal square and its "lines of force" (the Cardinal Cross), in combination with the Central Point, is a "bird's eye view" (looked down upon from above) of a pyramid. The archetype humanity involves from innocence--the state of Virgin Spirit--to the utmost of chemicalization by a spiralic process downward from the point in ever-widening (separative) circular windings. The essential perfect potential remains throughout but man, incarnated and new to this plane, sees only the chemicality of life and of his own nature. He does not know his unity with life and only dimly senses it in his feelings of instinctive togetherness with other humans with whom he is closely associated by ties of blood-relationship or clan-affiliation. For the most part he is aware of the differences between himself and his father, mother, and other people: stronger and weaker, older and younger, male and female, etc., but his similarities to other people, regardless of outer appearance, are not recognized until evolutionary processes have been in effect. To know relationship is to be aware of the "inner" of human life, and that awareness is the beginning of wisdom. The consciousness of involving humanity is not aware of the circular essential shape of the beam of light on which they are traveling; it is always circular but when it "strikes the screen of materiality " the undeveloped human consciousness sees only square--the sharp differentiations between people, not the unity by which all are affiliated in spirit.

   The two representations of the symmetrical square in our mandala symbolize the structure of the human family and the material from which that structure is built. The family is outwardly the male and female of human generative manifestation; inwardly it is the masculine and feminine of generic consciousness.The structure points of the fixed-sign square symbolizes the focalizations of the diameters of desire-love which is the food-substance of the total of our human relationship--life--the equipment we use to build each home of relationship-exchange. The cardinal structure- points are the four focalizations of human identity--mature and immature of male and of female--Father, Mother, Son, and Daughter; also the male and female as causer and reactor to the effects of causes. From this Cross of the Polarity of Identity, fed by the desire-love resources of the fixed sign diameters distributed by the unsymmetrical diameters of the wisdom octaves of the mutable cross, the upward spiral of evolution starts. As long as a human being must incarnate he participates in these three crosses; but to the degree that separative identity is transmuted into unity, desire into love, and ignorance into wisdom, will the squares get smaller and smaller, continually approaching resemblance to the circle which, in turn, is the perfect outpicturing of the smallest of all circles, the point. You can get a picture of this disappearance of the square by drawing a fairly large circle enclosing the cardinal square. Within the square draw a circle, within that circle another square, and so forth until the figures get so small you can't draw any smaller. Remember that "square" is an archetypal design; "cardinal square,""fixed square," and "mutable square" are three variations of one design; fixed and mutable are sub-archetypes of the cardinal as archetypal design of human identity and relationship. So, in drawing these smaller and smaller squares within smaller and smaller circles, you are really picturing, in essence, all three forms of the square on all evolving octaves. When you drew the first circle for this illustration (and the enclosed cardinal square) you pictured humanity ready to evolve; each successive smaller square and circle, in pairs, represents one higher octave-like the stories of a building that is pyramidal in shape. If you can draw or imagine a pyramid being cut by horizontal planes one above the other you will get the essence of how each spiralic level of the circle-and-cross is analogous to the floors of a building, each floor having many rooms in which different activities take place--or in which different expressions of Consciousness take place. In this drawing indicate "primitive" at the first level, and designate the different levels of the pyramid, cut by planes, as representing different periods in history in which men made noticeable evolutionary progress. On each level the cardinal cross of human relationship-exchange, the fixed cross of desire-love resource, and the mutable cross of wisdom-distillment are found in conjunction, or synchronization, with the eternal ideal that enfolds and interpenetrates them. With approach to the top point (the center point of the astrological wheel as we know it) love and wisdom become more and more fused, and the four identities lose their separative quality and merge more and more into the relationship ideal of fraternity, which is what our relationship to each other really is. We are all fraternal to each other because we are the "sons and daughters" of Father-Mother God; our "sonship" and "daughtership" is our bi-polar essential nature--"male and female" pertain to our nature only when we are incarnate, and in the upper octaves of being it applies only to our spiritual generative state, and the powers of bi-polarity are fused when the perfected awareness of the "one love" is attained. We are aware of "loves" while we are on the lower levels of the upward spiral--we identify the existence of love with the existence, in our lives and experiences, of other people. Actually, love, is one aspect of the circle and is omnipresent in perfect purity on all levels of being. As the top of the pyramid is approached the "separateness of loves" is transcended and the point at the top of the pyramid--the end of the upward spiral--is the perfect consciousness of the " one-ity " of love as Divine Attribute. As wisdom is distilled from experiences on the spiral, the congestions of fear and hatred are dissipated by the light of reason and understanding, which, in turn, are the illuminations of the mind by the power of love and the inspiration of beauty.

   Make a copy of a twelve-housed wheel, connect the cusp-points in sequence by straight lines creating twelve isosceles triangles. Each one of these triangles is half of an equilateral triangle, the arms of which are alternate house-cusps. There are two sets of these equilaterals: those of the fire and air trines and those of the earth and water trines. Think of the "Aries equilateral" as being: "masculine Aries and feminine Taurus" and so forth around the wheel. These equilaterals, three of each generic element, having polarity by division into two equal parts, are the real basic houses of the wheel as far as generic consciousness is concerned. Because each of the twelve mundane houses focalizes the principles of one of the zodiacal signs we recognize that they are specializations of the two-fold generic sections of each trine. Get this picture by drawing four wheels and "black in" (in each one) the three signs of an element and the succeeding sign. There is much food for thought in this representation of houses as generic divisions of experience.) The regular appearance of the twelve houses pictures a much more objective representation of cycle-experience during the years of incarnation. They are, in whatever form, rooms on a particular floor of your life-building. To the degree that the vibratory elements of your chart are congested will you be seen to be "living on a lower floor in your life-building."

   Think of your horoscope as a floor-plan blue- print of the evolutionary mansion (building) that you are now inhabiting. Your chart symbolically represents your potential for being a spiritual architect; the contents of your wheel represent the soul-materials you are using to build your pyramid--your Golden Garment--the composite of the best of your consciousness distilled from all previous levels of experience and realization. Become more aware than ever before of the beauty of architectural art--let yourself appreciate the esthetic values of fine buildings and, philosophically, let yourself become more than ever aware of their significance to human experience.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VI
Chapter VII
Dance

   To dance is to signify, by rhythmic bodily movements, one's consciousness of participating in the world of Nature. To dance is to make the physical body an instrument for the manifestation of archetypes as expressions of emotional states and of spiritual concepts. These emotional states are focussed points of spiritual awareness of such intensity that they "must out" through the instrumentality of the physical body.

   As man applied himself to manipulate material substances to express, by building, his octave of "enclosing protectiveness" to house that which he loved and worshipped, so did he dance to express the inner life of that which his physical body enclosed--his consciousness and heart with their dreams, fears, loves, challenges, aspirations, and understandings. "Living" is not just moving through time from place to place in space. It is moving through evolution from point to point in consciousness. To dance means to identify one's self with cosmic movement, which is the alchemical action of life, by rhythmic sequences of archetypal bodily postures. To dance does not mean, as some think, to "outpicture music." Man moved his physical body on this plane long before he ever invented a musical instrument; music and costume are vibratory accompaniments which serve to intensify and clarify the dance-artist's expressions which are, by their very nature, extremely personal. However, dance essentially expresses through its own merits--it does not need other adjuncts to fulfill its basic purpose. Dance is everywhere seen in the natural world; let us personalize a little to study a few examples:

   The natural dance of life-expressions is the sequence of unfoldments that follows upon birth and which is concluded at transition. Every manifested factor in the natural world has its timing for un-foldment of potentials and when that unfolding is made without unnatural interference, the plant or animal alchemicalizes its physical form through all the stages of experience according to the rhythm of its basic pattern. So with human beings; we have a "timing pattern" for the unfoldment of our potentials in the stages of growth, but individual qualifications vary the timing for fulfilling experience-patterns. However, human or sub-human, we all dance through these unfoldment-phases of natural growth.

   If we think of "dance" as the movements of a physical organism we see its evidence everywhere in the world of Nature. The branches of a tree move to and fro, responding to the wind-forces which play through them--we say that the tree is making beautiful movements with its arms. The waves of the ocean give the impression of dancing by their endlessly busy running up the beach and withdrawing in pulsating sequences of movement, each wave resembles a line of dancers rushing across a stage and back again. The Moon performs a long "bourree" (serene and legato) across the sky at night. The sportive dolphin leaps from the water in beautiful arcs; who is to say that he doesn't feel the same "joie-de-vivre" that boys and girls feel who "dance" by skipping down the street. Skipping and leaping are archetypal movements which symbolize the challenge to gravity and, as movement-symbols, they represent aspirational urges. The whirlings and spiralings of autumn leaves are fine illustrations of dance-movements- sweeping, gliding, up-soaring, fluttering down to momentary rest, then away again in new spirals and arcs. Billowing clouds dance in an eternal dissolving and remolding of shapes as the wind drives them across the stage of the sky; clouds are a perfect out-picturing of alchemical changes--silent and smooth, they melt from one aspect to another in an incomparable beauty of motion. A galaxy of colorful garden flowers, bending and swaying on their stems, is a natural "corps-de-ballet." Think of the many kinds of movements of animals and birds; the haughty parade of the peacock; the circular gliding through the water of fish and seal; the staccato flight of the butterfly; the fluid pacings of cats, and the virile prancing of horses.

   How do human beings dance? We all dance according to cosmic plan in our unfoldments of physical and psychic potentialities through the various phases of our growth as organisms. But every individual dances according to the quality of his consciousness. Some people, harmoniously integrated, dance through life in an extraordinary beauty of rhythm. They accept experience as it comes, deal with it, and learn from it to the best of their ability; then, being forward-looking by nature, they pass on to new experience, rhythmically. They exercise a minimum of inner congestion and a maximum of dynamic expression; the entire span of their incarnation is a beautiful arc of evolutionary progress. They work with integrity and idealism--their work-contribution is a true service, a radiation of goodness and true value to all who are affected by it. They love with intensity, amplitude, and joys they are open-minded, receptive to the values of new ideas. Kahlil Gibran, inspired artist and poet, had the soul of a "true dancer;" he said: "Dance with freedom and joy, but tread not on another's toes."

   In the metaphorical sense, "poor dancing" is the result of inner congestions. In the physical sense, a person who is afflicted with excessive shyness, self-consciousness, or physical defect does not--and cannot--dance beautifully, with spontaneity and joy. "Spiritual awkwardnesses" are caused by such emotional and psychological congestions as ignorance, negative selfishness, fear, hatred, greed, envy, materialism, possessiveness, frustration and its attendant cruelties, disappointment- patterns, inertia cynicism, and congestion on form-identity. This latter is one of the deepest-reaching sources of "unrhythmic life-dancing" there is. Its essence is a congestion on appearance as reality; it makes the consciousness focus on form rather than on essence and it serves to throw evaluation completely out of line. People who "dance according to form" rather than "according to Spirit" are those who accept the imposition of standards and evaluations by others, rather than by the establishment of standards from the exercise of individuality. They are the people to whom that which has been established is the symbol of security and rightness; they are crucified by caste-consciousness; they tend to evaluate human personality, character, and experience by a materialistic philosophy which congests them on the outer at the expense of awareness and appreciation of inner truths. The corrupt social and religious standards of past centuries picture this kind of congestion. Hereditary value rather than personal value; family, tradition, and social position represented the focus of appreciation rather than did in- dividual worth. Look almost anywhere and at any epoch and you will see congestion on form as the source of perverting and deflecting the natural rhythmic flow of human development and fulfillment. One perfectly superb example is seen in the misinterpretation of a certain spiritual allegory which had the effect of subjugating women for ages--a karmic device by which man's congestion on form reacted upon himself during his female incarnations.

   This congestion on form is symbolized astrologically by the planetary scope of "Moon-to-Saturn." Persons who are karmically or evolutionarily conditioned to live within the confines of this "scope" are those to whom individuality is practically an un-opened book. The patterning of the standards by which they live is, for the most part, according to that which was established by others in the past. Education, work, religious thought and ceremony, marriage, training of children, relationship-factors, etc., are prescribed for all, generation after generation. The feudal system of Europe and the effect of Confucian philosophy on the Chinese nation are good examples of this formalization of human experience. Esthetic expressions (and all peoples have them to some degree because the esthetic urge is too basically instinctive to be completely denied by anyone) are, for the most part, highly formalized and traditionalized. The esoteric essences of religion are submerged in accretions of rituals and ceremonies which are performed or participated in with feelings of awe and fear rather than as exercises of spiritualized intelligence. Marriage--which in essence should be the most intensely individualized expression of human life-is for the most part for the perpetuation of estate and name.

   We recognize, of course, that there is no "injustice" in people incarnating under such a regime; their consciousness is aligned to the structuralizing of Moon-and-Saturn or they could not be attracted into incarnation through it. But, karmic justice aside, such strict formalizations do inhibit the free flow of expression and unfoldment because fear is such a strong factor inherent in them. For a time on every evolutionary cycle "Moon-and-Saturn" hold the reins; they, together, symbolize the "formal back-bone " of all cyclic experience; but, eventually the individual potentials must be released by transcendence on "that which was;" the planets Uranus and Neptune are the vibrations which represent the "decrystallizing of outmoded form" and the "revelation of the inherent spiritual essence," respectively.

   Our subject at hand is dance but let us remember that all participants in a particular art-expression are members of a spiritual family--a "fraternity" of kindred artistic endeavor. Like any other human group, the artistic family (of whatever kind) is just as subject to the tendency to formalization (and crystallization) as in ally other family-group. When form, structure, rule, and traditional standard are emphasized at the expense of inspiration and spontaneous manifestivity, congestion of artistic value sets in. Look anywhere in the recorded history of artistic endeavor of the human family and you will find many periodic points of congestion on form and tradition, at which times a dearth of inspirational power was evident. Folk-dancing originated in the attempt to perpetuate tribal history and religious belief and tradition in a sort of dramatic representation. These "dramas" subsequently became formalized by inculcating the factors of rhythmic movement and vocal or instrumental accompaniment into what we call "traditional dance" and some of these dance-forms in various parts of the world, are ages old.

   The ballet is a more cultivated and intricately stylized expression of European "rhythmized drama." Originating in Italy as a factor in operatic representation, it was carried to France, developed into an exquisite formal technique as an indispensable part of representations of music-drama. The plots of these "danced-dramas" were, for the most part centered on fantasies of an "out-of-this-world" romanticism depicting allegorical or mythical subjects. In the later years of the last century the ballet, as a cultivated art-expression, was adopted by Russia and through the inspirational and dramatic powers of artists of that country it was amplified tremendously by the exploitation of its own resources as a dance-art, divorced from dependence on the opera. We still speak of the best of this art-form as the "Russian Ballet;" the manifestive and interpretative artists of that country stamped it with the brand of their particular quality of genius. The ballet companies of the principal Russian cities were recognized as the supreme exponents of this art and their great soloists occupy conspicuous niches in the hall of those immortally renowned by art-lovers throughout the world.

   Then toward the last years of the last century, a meteor blazed across the sky of European and American culture and artistic endeavor that shed a radiance of intensified inspiration on the world of dance that was to decrystallize the hyper-formality of ballet tradition into a new octave of dance-consciousness. This "meteor" was Isadora Duncan an inspired, inspiring, and intrepid artiste, and through her dance-service,--one of the foremost "decrystallizers" of the past century.

   Astrological students will be interested in her horoscope; it is well worth studying. Data: May 27,1878, approximately 1:00 A.M., 38 degrees N., 1221/2 degrees W. Jupiter should be in the twelfth house, Sun in third; Pisces, ruled by Neptune, is the Ascendant-sign, and Sagittarius is on the Mid-heaven. Suggested reading for information concerning her life-experience and artistic ideals: her auto-biography, My Life, and her Art of the Dance; also many books and brochures by other writers, which are available in most libraries and book stores.

   Note that the ruler of the chart, Neptune, is the principle of instrumentation, and one of Isadora's basic artistic tenets was to regard the physical body as a vehicle for inspirational powers. She was intensely sensitive to music, but it has been said of her that she could dance without music because her movements were so harmonious and "right" that she "made music visible." Two factors in her chart picture the universality of her influence: Jupiter, ruler of Midheaven, in the twelfth House in the sign Aquarius is trine to her uncongested Gemini Sun. Her spiritual power was enormous--both as a performer and as a teacher; this aspect pictures the basic religious purpose of her incarnation. You will recognize this when you read testimonials written by people who saw her dance. She incarnated to re- stimulate, through art and beauty (and she was, in her person, one of the most beautiful of women), the pure religious aspirational urge through contemplation of the human body as an "installment of the Divine" and as the vehicle for purely inspired gesture and movement. She brought to the social and esthetic congestions of her age the refreshment of a consciousness which had its abiding place in beauty, truth, and love. She reminded men and women of the essential purity and goodness of their spiritual being and she sought in many ways to encourage people to recover the naturalness of their own inner truths, by living in terms of sincerity, friendliness, and inspiration.

   On the world of concert-dance, her influence was almost cataclysmic in its regenerative effect. Her artistic truth was that of sincere inspiration, not that of accrued tradition. Many other manifestive dancers had their part to play in the regeneration of dance-concepts, but Isadora blazed the trail by the exercise of her individualized inspirational powers (Venus-trine-Uranus, in fire signs).

   She said in effect: "Live fully and courageously; free yourselves from the fears of out-worn traditions; love from the center of your consciousness with joy, respect, and generosity; live with courtesy and grace; champion the poor, and the oppressed, and heal the wounds of the spirit; lead children to an awareness of their innate beauties of body and soul and help them to know respect for their individual powers and abilities; let women perceive as never before their powers to inspire by the exercise of beauties of heart and mind; let men open their hearts to a renewed adoration of the Beautiful in Nature and in Humanity; let the fraternity of artists work a consecration on human life through fellowship and sincere efforts."

   This great logo would have us all "dance" with joy, grace, health, and inspiration. We perceive, in our charts, the rhythmic movements of the planets from time of birth through the cycles of unfoldment and maturity, the patterns of our relationship-life, the challenges which we have created for ourselves and the powers which we have developed to transmute those challenges into triumphs. The fulfillings of these patterns comprise our "dance of life;" let us move with the cosmic forces rhythmically, with joys with courage, and with the inspiration of faith and understanding. This is the dance on the ever-upward spiral of evolutionary progress.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VI
Chapter VIII
Music

   The composition of music is the manifestation of archetypes by formalized, rhythmic arrangement of tone. It is the representation of that which is perceived by inner hearing, it is the language by which the intuition of the artist communicates itself to the intuitions of humanity. By correspondence, we might say that prose is to poetry what poetry is to music--three "octaves" of communicative art. Music is "language transcendentalized;" if words are sound-symbols of identities, tones are the archetypes of sounds, and their artistic manifestation in pattern and structure by composite of melody, harmony, rhythm, and tempo is a "speech that transcends, in power, the language of words. " Word-language is a relatively limited communication; its comprehension depends on a specialized exercise of the intellect. Tone-language, essentially archetypal, depends on exercise of intuition and emotion-responsiveness; its appeal is to the instinctual urge of humans to realize ideality. The magic--and it is one of the greatest of all magics of melody and harmony transcends the separativeness of nationalistic consciousness, from which is derived the separate variety of word-language. To respond to music is to hear ideality, and the specialized faculties of the manifestive and interpretative musicians of the world are "channelings" by which messages of great beauty and truth are communicated to the soul- consciousness of humanity.

   The planetary triad of "communication" is that of Moon, Mercury, and Neptune. These three planets represent the three octaves of mentation: the subconscious mind of instinct and feeling, the conscious mind of intellect, and the super-conscious mind of archetype-perception, respectively. All humans, however primitive, partake of the first two of these octaves because all are capable of organizing opinion (the Moon) by subconscious feeling and all who can talk have the faculty of intellect- exercise (Mercury). Only those who are capable of perceiving and expressing archetypes are those who function consciously and constructively on the third octave of Neptune as "focalizer" of the vibration of Pisces, the mutable sign of the water-trine initiated by the Moon through Cancer, polarity of Mercury's Virgo, and tenth-house sign of Mercury's Gemini. In its regenerate, spiritualized qualities, it symbolizes the most transcendental faculties of human consciousness--that of communicativeness with the Higher Self and the aware-ness of the existence of the archetype. Let us study the astrological symbol for Neptune:

   Exoterically, this symbol pictures the trident of the ocean-god; as such, it carries out the literal, personalized representation by which life-principles were taught to the uninitiated, literal-minded people of ancient times. Esoterically, it is not a trident at all; the up-turned semi-circle is "chalice" or the upraised arms of the horizontal diameter of the cardinal cross of the Great Mandala--the "male- female begotten" of humanity. The vertical line is the same as is that of the Great Mandala--the generative line of parentage, human or divine. The little circle at the bottom of the symbol is the "seed" of the soul body of humanity which is "stimulated into new life" by divine powers. This little circle is analogous to the "Cancer-point" of the Great Mandala and in this symbol it is the "seed" of all perfected realizations, the matrix of the "Golden Wedding Garment." This symbol is truly one of the most beautiful in astrology. It is symmetrical, and its verticality is counterbalanced by the loveliness of the open, up-reaching arms of the semi-circle like a tree with its branches lifted or a human with his arms lifted in an ecstasy of reverence or aspiration or joy. Now to correspond this symbol with that of Venus whose exaltation is in Pisces:

   The cross at the bottom of Venus's symbol is closed (rounded out) into the perfect circle of "soul-consciousness;" the circle of Venus's symbol is opened into the chalice which receives the divine. In this "opening of Venus" we see the secret of Neptune's transcendental nature: the beauty of perfect manifestation that Venus symbolizes is actually the formalization of the essential beauty of Neptune. If Venus is the beauty of symmetry, design, and rhythm in art, Neptune is the beauty of cosmic symmetry, design, and rhythm; if Venus is the beauty of perfect manifestation, Neptune is the beauty of archetype; if Venus is the altar or shrine, Neptune is the god to whom the shrine is dedicated; if Venus is the exoteric myth which is created to convey a spiritual allegory, Neptune is the life-principle personified by the myth; if Venus is the melody which moves the heart, Neptune is the archetypal memory-of-experience which is stimulated by the melody; if Venus is the beautiful gesture or movement of the dancer, Neptune is the essence of the emotional or spiritual realization expressed by the gesture; if Venus is the harmonious progression of colors which is the "life" of the painting, Neptune is the inner vision of the painter; if Venus is the composite beauty of melody, harmony, rhythm, and text of a perfectly wrought song, Neptune is that which is transmitted as spiritual stimulus through the composer, thence through the singer, to the audience.

   The femininity of Neptune is portrayed by the up- turned semi-circle. A horizontal line is abstractly feminine as the essence of "that which is affected by a cause" but this semi-circle focuses a much more intense feeling of "receptivity." To geometrize: if we enclose the structure of the Neptune-symbol in a circle of which the center-point is the jointure of the semi-circle and the vertical, and if we use the entire vertical of the circle as the vertical of the Neptune-symbol, it is interesting, and illuminating, to note that the two arms of the semi-circle cut the outer circle at the points corresponding to Scorpio and Pisces of the astrological mandala. These two signs plus the "Cancer-point" of the little circle at the bottom of the Neptune-symbol comprise the triad of the water- signs--the feminine--female principle of the zodiac and the triune faculty of sympathetic responsiveness of which the Pisces vibration represents the most impressionable and hypersensitive octave. So we have the aspiration of man- woman opening to the down-pouring of inspirational powers to ignite the "seed" of the soul-consciousness. This, in short, is the picture of inspiration in action; it is the picture of that subtle factor in human nature by which the human instrument becomes a vehicle of the divine (consciously) through spiritualized processes. Neptune, then, is the principle of instrumentation and its power is to make instruments of all artists by whom archetypal communications may be effected.*

   All manifestive (creative) artists are priests in so far as they are all "mediators" between the divine and the mortal in mankind. And in no other art does the interpreter more deeply fulfill the role of acolyte than does the singer or the instrumental musician. The fusion of musical value with word-value that is inherent in the art of song is the composite of the abstraction of music with the concreteness of language. The words of poetic sentences and the notes of musical phrases are blended into a strange magical alchemy by which the poetic word is intensified and the musical idea is "concreted." Since tone is the archetype of sound and words are sequences of composited art of song is then seen to be the archetype of the art of poetic reading. The great song-manifestor is one who perceives intuitionally the musical value inherent in the literary text and by the exercise of a fusion of esthetic perceptions, the singer amalgamates these factors into the completed presentation of blended literary and musical art. The instrumental soloist and orchestral conductor fulfill a similar "acolyte- hood" in the realms of more purely abstract music; the orchestra, under direction, is a composite of many "acolytes" who (each in his own way) contribute to the total musical perfection. What, you ask, has all this to do with astrology? Where and how is music to be found in a horoscope? Let us see.

   A musical score (lines and spaces grouped in measures) could be written in a circular form, the notes all having vertical stems pointing to the center of the circle. The lowest note of the score would be analogous to the circumference of the astrological circle, the highest note would be analogous to a circle close to the center of the wheel. In the treble and base staves of the ordinary musical lines we have five lines to each staff plus the median line of "middle C"--eleven lines in all. Create a circle big enough to contain ten concentric circles and subdivide into twelve sections just as the astrological mandala is sectioned into the twelve houses. Here we have the "low G " of the bass staff corresponding to the astrological circumference as the "emanation" of the Ascendant--point--the physical attribute, the densest vibration. The "high F" of the treble staff is the innermost of the enclosed circles and it might be taken to correspond, symbolically, to the most spiritual vibration of human consciousness-- analogous to the vibration of Pisces in the Great Mandala.

   The upper half of this diagram--a semi-circle enclosing ten other semi-circles is a symbolic picture of rainbow--the natural color-spectrum which has red, the densest color-vibration, as the "outside" of the arc, and purple, the fastest vibration, on the inside--closest to (what would be) the "center of the circle of which the rainbow is a major arc." Here we have color-spectrum, tone-spectrum, and the astrological spectrum of consciousness of humanity, all in one drawing. Draw this picture and think about it as "gradation of color," "gradation of tone" and" gradation of consciousness."

   Straightening out the Aries-radius into a vertical and unfolding the composite circle into a straight horizontal picture gives us the tonal spectrum on a specified section of the "great musical scale." (Change the clef-signs and substitute one zodiacal sign and you have the astrological Ascendant which "determines" the personality-type of an individual just as the key-signature and metric signature "determine" the "personality" of the musical composition. Further analogy: the two staves of music might be considered symbolic of all tones that are used in our musical tradition; they might also be considered, symbolically, as the entire tonal range of all audible vibration, just as each specified color of the rainbow has its myriads of gradations, blending imperceptibly into each other by sequence of light-refraction. Astrologically this picture shows the gradation of human evolution, individually or as an archetype, from the densest vibration of utmost primitivity (separative, physical consciousness) to the utmost of spiritualized consciousness in masterhood. The primitive state is red and its tone is the lowest on what-ever symbol you are using; the masterhood-state is purple in color and its tone is the highest on whatever tonal scale you use for symbolic illustration. If you know how to write simple notation, try a simple example of "astro--musicianship:" a circle enclosing four other concentric circles; subdivide into four quadrants (measures); at the point corresponding to the astrological Ascendant, indicate, outside the wheel, a treble cleff, a key signature and " three-four rhythm.

   Each of the three signs of each quadrant is, of course, one "count." Using only the treble staff for simplicity, write in the notes of a melody in three-four rhythm--for example, the first four measures of "Missouri Waltz;" each four measures represents a complete "tour" of the circle. Let us further pretend that the diagram is really spiralic. When you finish the first four measures, in imagination, you write the next four measures on (what would be) the next "rung" of the spiral, and so on through the entire song. Another illustration: subdivide the four quadrants into three, creating the twelve astrological houses, or twelve measures of music; intensify the cusps of the first, fifth, and ninth houses, creating three phases of four measures (Fire, Earth, Air, Water) each; indicate "four-four" rhythm. And soon. You can vary your patterns in many ways--the point is this: Astrological symbology, music symbology, and color spectrum are designed in essentially the same way. A circle big enough to enclose several staves could, theoretically, be used to compose a vocal solo with piano-accompaniment or an instrumental combination.

   As each musical instrument has its own particular tonal range and tonal quality, so does each planet have its essential quality as a focalizer of one of the twelve zodiacal signs. The "octaves" of a planet are the levels of consciousness that the person has toward the specific life- principle on succeeding evolutionary cycles, just as there are seven "C's" on the piano-keyboard.

   If, in imagination, we might say that every human being evolves through seven major development cycles, these would be analogous to the seven octaves starting on the lowest "C" of the piano-keyboard; the twelve half-steps of each octave would be analogous to the twelve zodiacal signs. The planetary ruler of each sign could be analogous to the major triad of each of the twelve keys--Venus and Mercury ruling two each.

   You can experiment with this idea in many ways; by a little exercise of your imagination you can analogize several musical and astrological factors. For example: musical discord and square aspect; the modulation from discord to harmony and sextile aspect (modulation from discord to harmony is alchemy expressed in music); the major triad based on a specific tone and the grand Trine based on a specific sign; the root-note of a major triad and a planet in dignity overtones of two notes played together and orbs of two planets in aspect to each, other; the soloist of a musical performance and the planetary ruler of a chart; instrumental or other accompaniment to a soloist and all the other planets beside the ruler of the chart. There is a wealth of imaginative research in making up titles of musical compositions by study of planetary groupings by house-position and sign- position, particularly those of the chart-ruler, as "key-note" of the horoscope. Such analogies can he very fascinating. Your interest in both arts will be intensified and your perceptions of the values of both can be greatly revivified as the result of such practice.

   Now, the astrologer as "musician:"

   As the great singer or instrumentalist interprets through tonal media the inspired archetypal concepts of the musical manifestor, so does the astrologer, by the power of the word, present his interpretations of archetypes--life principles--when he talks to a client or to a group of astrological students. As the musician develops his physical vehicle by technical exercise, so does the astrologer develop his mental vehicle in the exactitude of calculations and study of astrological technicalities. The "composition" that the astrologer interprets is always the vibratory being (the Consciousness) of humanity. The client is the " composer" of a specified astrological arrangement and the astrologer is the "acolyte" who serves the latent priesthood of the client. The musical manifestor and interpreter exercise their knowledge of esthetic (tonal and rhythmic) media to objectify their concepts of archetypes; the astrologer exercises his knowledge of human-life media as they specialize cosmic principles. The astrologer reflects the essence of what is in the client 's horoscope just as the singer or instrumentalist reflects that which is perceived in the score of the manifestor.

   Astrologers "compose" when they devise new symbols and new approaches to astrological interpretation. For the most part, however they--and the interpretative musicians--communicate that which has already been manifested, in horoscopes or in musical scores. As the work of the manifestive and interpretative musician ignites the intuitional hearing of humanity, so does that of the astrologer by speech. The "artistry " of astrological service depends on the clarity with which such ignition can be made. This, in essence, is the purpose of his "star-song" as is the purpose of the others in their "tone-song." Both touch, as perhaps no other two arts can do, the immediacy of the abiding spirit. Both are consecrated to the service of "touching the Spirit" by sound in the most beautiful, efficacious, and inspiring ways possible.
 *The above is in full recognition of the fact that "the ray of Neptune carries what occultists know as the Father Fire, the light and life of the Divine Spirit, which expresses itself as will." Like all other planets, Neptune has its "reflective" as well as its "expressive" octave. The feminine polarity of Neptune's quality is that of our capacity to respond to higher-octave stimuli through inspirational attunement. Neptune, in this respect, is the archetypal symbol of our mystic qualities. A great actor or musician projects (dynamically) by his acting or playing or composing. That represents his "dynamic" Neptune. The attunement to archetypes and response to inspirational impulses from the Higher is the feminine polarity of that functioning.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume 7
Second Printing
The Rosicrucian Fellowship
Mt. Ecclesia
Oceanside, California, U.S.A.
Foreword

   The six prior volumes of this series of astrological interpretations have been received with such an enthusiastic welcome by so many astrology students everywhere that we are pleased to add No. 7 to the series. Elman's Bacher's profound knowledge of and devotion to the spiritual aspect of the stellar science, along with an uncanny understanding of human nature, made it possible for him to present illuminating astrological treatises which undoubtedly place him among the best of modern esoteric astrologers. As the truth and value of his spiritual interpretation of astrology become more and more generally accepted, his presentations will serve increasingly to help people know themselves and fulfill their highest destiny. Before passing into the higher realms in the early 1950's, Mr. Bacher expressed a keen desire to have us publish his articles in book form, and although we deeply regret that he did not live to see his articles made available to the public in this convenient form, we are happy in knowing that his wish is being fulfilled.

Introduction

   To the Rosicrucian student astrology is a phase of religion, basically a spiritual science. More than any other study it reveals man to himself. No other science is so sublime, so profound, and so all- embracing. It portrays the relation between God, the macrocosm, and man, the microcosm, showing them to be fundamentally one. Occult science, investigating the subtler forces that impinge upon man, the Spirit, and his vehicles, has charted their effects with no less definiteness than has academic science the reactions of sea and soil, plant and animal to the solar and lunar rays. With this knowledge we may determine the astrological pattern of each individual and know the relative strength and weakness of the various forces operating in each life. To the degree that we are in possession of such knowledge we can begin systematic, scientific character building-and character is destiny! We note times and seasons cosmically advantageous to unfolding undeveloped qualities, correcting faulty traits, and eliminating destructive propensities. The divine science of astrology reveals the hidden causes at work in our lives. It counsels the adult in regard to vocation, the parent in the guidance of children, the teacher in management of pupils, the physician in diagnosing diseases, thus lending aid to each and all in whatever position they may find themselves. No other subject within the range of human knowledge appears to hold for this day and age the possibilities open to astrologers for helping people to their own dignity as gods-in-the-making, to a greater grasp of universal law, and to a realization that we are eternally secure within the caressing fold of Infinite Life and Boundless Being.

Chapter I
Dramatic Art

   The instinct to act is as primordial to human nature as is any other instinct. Consider the natural tendency of all people to emphasize or intensify communication-by-speech with gestures and facial expressions. This natural emphasis is that which is cultivated by intensive training in dramatic art, just as the natural beauty of the speaking voice is cultivated in the art of singing. To dramatize, means to intensify--in whatever form or through whatever medium. Consequently, dramatization is one of the archetypal attributes of all the arts--the organized expression of a specialized "point" of emotional reaction, thought, or realization. Even the playing of two or three octaves of a scale on the piano (usually not thought of as being particularly beautiful) can be dramatized by use of tonal dynamics in such ways that its mechanistic identity as a "scale" is transformed into a "point" of expressive musicality. Technical skill can, and sometimes does, serve to produce art-work that is universally designated as mediocre. Artistic mediocrity is, essentially, art produced un-inspirationally. Inspiration in whatever form--and there are many ways by which it can be experienced--is the most highly dramatized form of human experience in no other way do we experience reaction and realization with greater intensity. As Mars and Moon are "lower-octave" impregnation and receptivity, so Sun and Neptune are "upper-octave" impregnation and receptivity. The chalice of Neptune receives the down-pouring of solar power into the "soul-seed" (the little circle at the bottom of the Neptune-symbol), the symbol of spiritual or psychic impregnation which, in any form, is inspiration; and inspiration is always a designation of response to solar love-power--the sign Leo, of the Great Mandala. The Pisces of Neptune is the upper-octave of the water-trine, initiated by the cardinal Cancer, which is the triune principle of sympathetic vibrational responsiveness. Sun and Neptune are (in composite) the planetary identity of Father-Mother God-hood of humanity.

   Dramatic art had its inception in ceremony; ceremony, in turn, was man's way of personalizing, by action-symbols, his spiritual realizations. Ceremony and myth are two ways of saying the same thing: exotericising, by action and story, that which represents humanity's concepts of life-principles Man's truth is "Life's truth seen in a mirror;" the mirror is the evolutionary status of the emotional consciousness of the evolving being. The art of acting is the most completely personalized of all the forms of interpretative art-using as instruments the voice of the singer and the body of the dancer. The dancer moves in specialized rhythms, the singer "speaks " in specialized tones, the actor (by movement and speech) has something of both. The great actor fuses two highly specialized talents; that of panto-mime, which is "literalized dancing," and that of line-reading, which is " literalized singing." Great acting formalizes certain esthetic principles just as great prose-writing does; the movements of the dancer and the vocal expression of the singer correspond to acting as poetry does to great prose- writing.

   Keeping in mind that "to dramatize," means "to intensify," let us now consider the significance of the diameter Leo-Aquarius, fifth house signs of Aries-Libra, as the archetypal symbol of the principle of dramatic expression. This diameter is the polarization of that which is essentially symbolized by the fifth house or the Great Mandala--the individualized radiation of emotional powers. Leo, fixed fire, is the initiating sign of the fixed cross, analogous to Aries and Sagittarius of the cardinal and mutable Crosses, respectively. It is the love aspect of the archetypal I AM and because of sequence-position, it is the releasement of that which is established in the fourth house. Its keyword is I release and it is pabulum for not only the other three signs of the fixed cross but for the active expression of the Sun in the horoscope.

   Generation is Scorpio-eighth-house as individualized releasement is Leo-fifth-house, polarized spiritually and by genius through Aquarius-eleventh-house. We must keep in mind that power, as the Sun Principle, serves no purpose unless, and until, it is released and radiated. All the love in the human heart, all the creative endowment, all the inspired manifestive or interpretative genius are relatively meaningless if they are not expressed, and it is through Leo-Aquarius and Sun-Uranus that we express creatively, as far as humans can be creative. It is through the love attribute of Leo that we contribute emotional vitalization to relationships and to our work. Through it we find the resource of that which is focussed complementation, is Scorpio-generation-and regeneration. Leo is the arch-symbol of natural, spontaneous joyousness, the dynamic attribute of which the passive and transitory realization is called "happiness." Only through joyousness do we truly love, truthfully manifest or interpret, and sincerely serve. Even in "blood, sweat, and tears," joyousness is an inevitable factor in the consciousness of the artist; to be "un-joy-ful" is to be un-loving and un-radiative, in the creative sense of the word. The sorrows of Leo-Sun are rooted in the lack-of opportunity or congestion-of-ability to exercise love-radiation to other people or to work. The agonies of Aquarius- Uranus are rooted in inability to meet the gravitational challenges of Moon- Saturn and in the "birth-pangs" of bi-polar manifestivity. Unindividualized human consciousness is represented by the sequence of the first four zodiacal signs--Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer. The radiativity of this octave of primitive awareness is in the sign Scorpio, fifth house sign of Moon's Cancer- -the instinct to generate forms as a releasement of desire resources. With individualization, however, the person moves in evolutionary sequence one step ahead to the Leo-Aquarius diameter and his desire-radiation is transformed into at least a primitive aspect of love-consciousness and individualized power-consciousness. Individualized power-consciousness is the first "must" in the development and fulfillment of manifestive or interpretative artistry. So, the artist of whatever kind must know that he is a power, and personal integration must be effected before that power-consciousness can be expressed. Now, to the playwright and the actor:

   The playwright is a specialization of (either one or both) prose-writer and poetry-writer. However, by the specializations of his art, he is more essentially the writer of poetry than prose, even if he doesn't (and most playwrights don't) write specifically in verse. The writing of plays involves not only an instinctive at-tunement to the principle of rhythm but also to the inherent musicality of vocal values. He must, because acting is pantomime and action as well as speech, know something of the movement-values that are inherent in dance. A sense of "time-proportion" is as necessary to his work as is a sense of "space-proportion" to the painter or "tone-proportion " to the composer. Time-consciousness is what we call the consciousness of sequence of reaction and realization. "Human reactions and realizations" are what the playwright presents in esthetically organized "dramatized" form. Actually, the "doing" that is represented on the stage is the objectification of sequences of individualized reactions and realizations. On the stage or in real living, this "doing" is always an outpicturing of inner states. And the protean mentality or understanding of the playwright makes it possible for him to construct the action of his play in accordance with a deep "inner knowing" of individualized time-consciousness. The playwright may or may not seek to present a message in his work; but what he does present, either as "message"or "pure drama," is the organization of his concept of archetypes reflected through individual or composite human consciousness. Read any play worthy of being designated as dramatic art and you will find, somewhere, an "emotional point" that is the archetype of the whole play, however complex in structure it may be. The art of manifestive drama (playwrighting) is the harmonious and expressive organization of elements which are focalized, as the tree is focalized in its seed, on this emotional point.

   The Great Astrological Mandala with Aries Ascendant, cardinal structure-points connected in a square, the water-signs connected in a triangle, is the symbolic picture of that which all art seeks to interpret. Here is the human family--the male and female of "parent and child," male and female in immature and mature states, and the fourfold interchange of physical, generic, and evolutionary polarity. The trine of water-signs is the principle of sympathetic vibration by which manifestors and interpreters "tune in" on archetypes to be expressed through individualized concepts in esthetic media.

   The second presentation of the Great Mandala has the fixed signs at the structure-points, Leo as Ascendant, Scorpio as base. This is the mandala of all manifestive (creative) artists, radiating from their resources of creative power, polarized by the genius of Aquarius, to fulfill a karmic inspirational redemption of the group-subconscious of humanity. The position of Cancer as twelfth house sign of this mandala shows us that the radiative potential of the Leo-Ascendant is derived from a deep resource of sympathy, of which "parenthood" is the archetype. No truly great playwright does his finest and most inspired work basically impelled by a desire to make millions in money or to attain this and that of fame or applause. He does it because he can't refrain from it and live, any more than truly mature people can live (in the real sense of the word) without contributing to life. The playwright or other manifestive artist, is a spiritual parent, an "epigenitor" of his archetype. The Scorpio base of this mandala points to the psychological base of intense regenerative desire-power. No great artist of any kind is a "psychological milk-sop;" there is deep perception, profound understanding, strong sexuality, intense emotions and, consciously or unconsciously, a blazing aspiration, in all of them.

   The third basic presentation of the Great Mandala has Sagittarius on the Ascendant, mutable signs at the structure-points, and Pisces as base. This is the mandate of the interpretative artist who at-tunes himself to the concept of the manifestor and makes of himself a vehicle for the embodiment of that concept). It might be called, as abstract portrait of interpretative artist, the "mandala of individualized instrumentation." The interpretative artist disciplines, develops, and organizes his abilities and faculties in order that he may qualify for inspirational exercise. There have been a number of artists in the fields of drama, dance, and music who have qualified for designation as both manifestor and interpreter. Of the interpretative artists there are two basic types:

   One type is that of the archetypal personality of which there are--and have been--several noteworthy examples in the field of motion-picture acting. Representatives of this type, in silent and sound movies, are such as: Rudolph Valentino, Theda Bara, Mary Pickford (as "America's Sweetheart" of years ago), Douglas Fairbanks, senior, Mae West, Clark Gable, and others. The outstanding example of the archetypal personality in today 's movies is "Bing" Crosby--the "world's troubadour." (1951).

   The second type is that of the true dramatic interpreter, the actor or actress whose personality and personal equipment is pabulum for at-tunement to the concept of the manifestor. All great dramatic artists are of this type and they, in their persons and by their influence, are among the most conspicuous "inspirators" of the human race. The Sagittarius Ascendant of the "interpreter-mandala" portrays the esoteric (or psychological) priesthood of all dramatic representation. By the power of the actor, the essence of human personality-vibrations is represented in the roles he plays; these personality-vibration patterns are condensations of life- principles expressing through the human archetype. The inspirational projection of the actor fused with the skill and knowledge of the playwright contributes a vitalization of humanity's awareness of its own experience and identity as a life-expression. Man ever seeks to realize the truths of his archetype and, more than does any other art, drama has the power to "ignite" points of this realization. We do not really see our (individual) selves in the performances of great actors; we see "points of the self" outpictured. Our response to the impact of a great performance of tragic drama has the effect of lifting our consciousness from the "localized pain of our personal sorrows" into a vast participation of the sorrows and suffering of evolving humanity. The actor and actress are intermediaries between our consciousness of separative self and our consciousness of identity with the self-hood of our archetype, humanity. Give a little thought to your responses to performances of great acting. Do you recall the sense of "expansion into a larger self " by stimulus to your sympathy, your courage, your faith, your love, and your inspirations?

   Mention might be made here of one who, in her day, was considered by most to be greatest in the field of dramatic artistry and whose fulfillment of artistic endowment represented one of the greatest developments of theatrical art: Mme. Sarah Bernhardt. The career of this great French actress (she was a native of Paris and also of Scorpio) on the stages of the world covered a span of something like sixty years and, from a standpoint of sheer "quantity of expression," as well as of quality, it was a phenomenon of staggering proportions. She not only interpreted major roles from the classical, melodramatic, and lyric repertoires, but so great was the power of her vibration that she inspired the writing of a great number of the finest plays of her time--by such authors as Francois Copp‚e, Victor Hugo, Edmond Rostand, and many others. This woman was truly a priestess of dramatic art, consecrated with every fiber of her being to the fulfillment of an endowment that was truly a gesture of the divine to those on this plane. Read a good biography of her life. It will recharge your consciousness with a renewed faith in the power of beauty resident in the human archetype.

   In application to astrological reading, the symbolic essence of dramatic ability is Venus, Jupiter, and Neptune, the signs Pisces and Leo, and the fifth house. "Dramatic career" will involve certain favorable configurations with the Moon (as the symbol of the public) and also of the sixth and tenth houses. (The prodigious achievements of Mme. Bernhardt are shown by Sun in Scorpio in combination with a conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus; it is possible that she had both Moon and Neptune in Pisces--Twelfth House--with Aries Ascendant.

   Does the astrologer act? If so, what is his theater and whose lines does he read? A factor in the ethics of astrological service demands that the consultant astrologer submerge his personal feelings, thereby avoiding an infliction of negative vibrations on his troubled client, and that clarity of at-tunement to the horoscope may be effected. In this respect, he does exactly what the actor has to do. The astrologer, in his person and vibration, must dramatize serenity, friendliness, enlightenment, encouragement, and love. This is not "hypocrisy," though the word "hypocrite" does essentially mean "one who plays a part." The hypocrite misrepresents through a falsity of nature; the astrologer represents through the truths of human nature.

   The astrologer "reads the lines" of human nature as an explanation of life-principles functioning through a particular archetype. His stage is any place where he presents astrological truths for the enlightenment of the consciousness of other people, privately or publicly. The astrologer serves to dramatize the essential good of the person for whom he reads and, in this function, he proves his identity as brother-in-spirit to the dramatic artist.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume 7
Second Printing
The Rosicrucian Fellowship
Mt. Ecclesia
Oceanside, California, U.S.A.
Foreword

   The six prior volumes of this series of astrological interpretations have been received with such an enthusiastic welcome by so many astrology students everywhere that we are pleased to add No. 7 to the series. Elman's Bacher's profound knowledge of and devotion to the spiritual aspect of the stellar science, along with an uncanny understanding of human nature, made it possible for him to present illuminating astrological treatises which undoubtedly place him among the best of modern esoteric astrologers. As the truth and value of his spiritual interpretation of astrology become more and more generally accepted, his presentations will serve increasingly to help people know themselves and fulfill their highest destiny. Before passing into the higher realms in the early 1950's, Mr. Bacher expressed a keen desire to have us publish his articles in book form, and although we deeply regret that he did not live to see his articles made available to the public in this convenient form, we are happy in knowing that his wish is being fulfilled.

Introduction

   To the Rosicrucian student astrology is a phase of religion, basically a spiritual science. More than any other study it reveals man to himself. No other science is so sublime, so profound, and so all- embracing. It portrays the relation between God, the macrocosm, and man, the microcosm, showing them to be fundamentally one. Occult science, investigating the subtler forces that impinge upon man, the Spirit, and his vehicles, has charted their effects with no less definiteness than has academic science the reactions of sea and soil, plant and animal to the solar and lunar rays. With this knowledge we may determine the astrological pattern of each individual and know the relative strength and weakness of the various forces operating in each life. To the degree that we are in possession of such knowledge we can begin systematic, scientific character building-and character is destiny! We note times and seasons cosmically advantageous to unfolding undeveloped qualities, correcting faulty traits, and eliminating destructive propensities. The divine science of astrology reveals the hidden causes at work in our lives. It counsels the adult in regard to vocation, the parent in the guidance of children, the teacher in management of pupils, the physician in diagnosing diseases, thus lending aid to each and all in whatever position they may find themselves. No other subject within the range of human knowledge appears to hold for this day and age the possibilities open to astrologers for helping people to their own dignity as gods-in-the-making, to a greater grasp of universal law, and to a realization that we are eternally secure within the caressing fold of Infinite Life and Boundless Being.

Chapter I
Dramatic Art

   The instinct to act is as primordial to human nature as is any other instinct. Consider the natural tendency of all people to emphasize or intensify communication-by-speech with gestures and facial expressions. This natural emphasis is that which is cultivated by intensive training in dramatic art, just as the natural beauty of the speaking voice is cultivated in the art of singing. To dramatize, means to intensify--in whatever form or through whatever medium. Consequently, dramatization is one of the archetypal attributes of all the arts--the organized expression of a specialized "point" of emotional reaction, thought, or realization. Even the playing of two or three octaves of a scale on the piano (usually not thought of as being particularly beautiful) can be dramatized by use of tonal dynamics in such ways that its mechanistic identity as a "scale" is transformed into a "point" of expressive musicality. Technical skill can, and sometimes does, serve to produce art-work that is universally designated as mediocre. Artistic mediocrity is, essentially, art produced un-inspirationally. Inspiration in whatever form--and there are many ways by which it can be experienced--is the most highly dramatized form of human experience in no other way do we experience reaction and realization with greater intensity. As Mars and Moon are "lower-octave" impregnation and receptivity, so Sun and Neptune are "upper-octave" impregnation and receptivity. The chalice of Neptune receives the down-pouring of solar power into the "soul-seed" (the little circle at the bottom of the Neptune-symbol), the symbol of spiritual or psychic impregnation which, in any form, is inspiration; and inspiration is always a designation of response to solar love-power--the sign Leo, of the Great Mandala. The Pisces of Neptune is the upper-octave of the water-trine, initiated by the cardinal Cancer, which is the triune principle of sympathetic vibrational responsiveness. Sun and Neptune are (in composite) the planetary identity of Father-Mother God-hood of humanity.

   Dramatic art had its inception in ceremony; ceremony, in turn, was man's way of personalizing, by action-symbols, his spiritual realizations. Ceremony and myth are two ways of saying the same thing: exotericising, by action and story, that which represents humanity's concepts of life-principles Man's truth is "Life's truth seen in a mirror;" the mirror is the evolutionary status of the emotional consciousness of the evolving being. The art of acting is the most completely personalized of all the forms of interpretative art-using as instruments the voice of the singer and the body of the dancer. The dancer moves in specialized rhythms, the singer "speaks " in specialized tones, the actor (by movement and speech) has something of both. The great actor fuses two highly specialized talents; that of panto-mime, which is "literalized dancing," and that of line-reading, which is " literalized singing." Great acting formalizes certain esthetic principles just as great prose-writing does; the movements of the dancer and the vocal expression of the singer correspond to acting as poetry does to great prose- writing.

   Keeping in mind that "to dramatize," means "to intensify," let us now consider the significance of the diameter Leo-Aquarius, fifth house signs of Aries-Libra, as the archetypal symbol of the principle of dramatic expression. This diameter is the polarization of that which is essentially symbolized by the fifth house or the Great Mandala--the individualized radiation of emotional powers. Leo, fixed fire, is the initiating sign of the fixed cross, analogous to Aries and Sagittarius of the cardinal and mutable Crosses, respectively. It is the love aspect of the archetypal I AM and because of sequence-position, it is the releasement of that which is established in the fourth house. Its keyword is I release and it is pabulum for not only the other three signs of the fixed cross but for the active expression of the Sun in the horoscope.

   Generation is Scorpio-eighth-house as individualized releasement is Leo-fifth-house, polarized spiritually and by genius through Aquarius-eleventh-house. We must keep in mind that power, as the Sun Principle, serves no purpose unless, and until, it is released and radiated. All the love in the human heart, all the creative endowment, all the inspired manifestive or interpretative genius are relatively meaningless if they are not expressed, and it is through Leo-Aquarius and Sun-Uranus that we express creatively, as far as humans can be creative. It is through the love attribute of Leo that we contribute emotional vitalization to relationships and to our work. Through it we find the resource of that which is focussed complementation, is Scorpio-generation-and regeneration. Leo is the arch-symbol of natural, spontaneous joyousness, the dynamic attribute of which the passive and transitory realization is called "happiness." Only through joyousness do we truly love, truthfully manifest or interpret, and sincerely serve. Even in "blood, sweat, and tears," joyousness is an inevitable factor in the consciousness of the artist; to be "un-joy-ful" is to be un-loving and un-radiative, in the creative sense of the word. The sorrows of Leo-Sun are rooted in the lack-of opportunity or congestion-of-ability to exercise love-radiation to other people or to work. The agonies of Aquarius- Uranus are rooted in inability to meet the gravitational challenges of Moon- Saturn and in the "birth-pangs" of bi-polar manifestivity. Unindividualized human consciousness is represented by the sequence of the first four zodiacal signs--Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer. The radiativity of this octave of primitive awareness is in the sign Scorpio, fifth house sign of Moon's Cancer- -the instinct to generate forms as a releasement of desire resources. With individualization, however, the person moves in evolutionary sequence one step ahead to the Leo-Aquarius diameter and his desire-radiation is transformed into at least a primitive aspect of love-consciousness and individualized power-consciousness. Individualized power-consciousness is the first "must" in the development and fulfillment of manifestive or interpretative artistry. So, the artist of whatever kind must know that he is a power, and personal integration must be effected before that power-consciousness can be expressed. Now, to the playwright and the actor:

   The playwright is a specialization of (either one or both) prose-writer and poetry-writer. However, by the specializations of his art, he is more essentially the writer of poetry than prose, even if he doesn't (and most playwrights don't) write specifically in verse. The writing of plays involves not only an instinctive at-tunement to the principle of rhythm but also to the inherent musicality of vocal values. He must, because acting is pantomime and action as well as speech, know something of the movement-values that are inherent in dance. A sense of "time-proportion" is as necessary to his work as is a sense of "space-proportion" to the painter or "tone-proportion " to the composer. Time-consciousness is what we call the consciousness of sequence of reaction and realization. "Human reactions and realizations" are what the playwright presents in esthetically organized "dramatized" form. Actually, the "doing" that is represented on the stage is the objectification of sequences of individualized reactions and realizations. On the stage or in real living, this "doing" is always an outpicturing of inner states. And the protean mentality or understanding of the playwright makes it possible for him to construct the action of his play in accordance with a deep "inner knowing" of individualized time-consciousness. The playwright may or may not seek to present a message in his work; but what he does present, either as "message"or "pure drama," is the organization of his concept of archetypes reflected through individual or composite human consciousness. Read any play worthy of being designated as dramatic art and you will find, somewhere, an "emotional point" that is the archetype of the whole play, however complex in structure it may be. The art of manifestive drama (playwrighting) is the harmonious and expressive organization of elements which are focalized, as the tree is focalized in its seed, on this emotional point.

   The Great Astrological Mandala with Aries Ascendant, cardinal structure-points connected in a square, the water-signs connected in a triangle, is the symbolic picture of that which all art seeks to interpret. Here is the human family--the male and female of "parent and child," male and female in immature and mature states, and the fourfold interchange of physical, generic, and evolutionary polarity. The trine of water-signs is the principle of sympathetic vibration by which manifestors and interpreters "tune in" on archetypes to be expressed through individualized concepts in esthetic media.

   The second presentation of the Great Mandala has the fixed signs at the structure-points, Leo as Ascendant, Scorpio as base. This is the mandala of all manifestive (creative) artists, radiating from their resources of creative power, polarized by the genius of Aquarius, to fulfill a karmic inspirational redemption of the group-subconscious of humanity. The position of Cancer as twelfth house sign of this mandala shows us that the radiative potential of the Leo-Ascendant is derived from a deep resource of sympathy, of which "parenthood" is the archetype. No truly great playwright does his finest and most inspired work basically impelled by a desire to make millions in money or to attain this and that of fame or applause. He does it because he can't refrain from it and live, any more than truly mature people can live (in the real sense of the word) without contributing to life. The playwright or other manifestive artist, is a spiritual parent, an "epigenitor" of his archetype. The Scorpio base of this mandala points to the psychological base of intense regenerative desire-power. No great artist of any kind is a "psychological milk-sop;" there is deep perception, profound understanding, strong sexuality, intense emotions and, consciously or unconsciously, a blazing aspiration, in all of them.

   The third basic presentation of the Great Mandala has Sagittarius on the Ascendant, mutable signs at the structure-points, and Pisces as base. This is the mandate of the interpretative artist who at-tunes himself to the concept of the manifestor and makes of himself a vehicle for the embodiment of that concept). It might be called, as abstract portrait of interpretative artist, the "mandala of individualized instrumentation." The interpretative artist disciplines, develops, and organizes his abilities and faculties in order that he may qualify for inspirational exercise. There have been a number of artists in the fields of drama, dance, and music who have qualified for designation as both manifestor and interpreter. Of the interpretative artists there are two basic types:

   One type is that of the archetypal personality of which there are--and have been--several noteworthy examples in the field of motion-picture acting. Representatives of this type, in silent and sound movies, are such as: Rudolph Valentino, Theda Bara, Mary Pickford (as "America's Sweetheart" of years ago), Douglas Fairbanks, senior, Mae West, Clark Gable, and others. The outstanding example of the archetypal personality in today 's movies is "Bing" Crosby--the "world's troubadour." (1951).

   The second type is that of the true dramatic interpreter, the actor or actress whose personality and personal equipment is pabulum for at-tunement to the concept of the manifestor. All great dramatic artists are of this type and they, in their persons and by their influence, are among the most conspicuous "inspirators" of the human race. The Sagittarius Ascendant of the "interpreter-mandala" portrays the esoteric (or psychological) priesthood of all dramatic representation. By the power of the actor, the essence of human personality-vibrations is represented in the roles he plays; these personality-vibration patterns are condensations of life- principles expressing through the human archetype. The inspirational projection of the actor fused with the skill and knowledge of the playwright contributes a vitalization of humanity's awareness of its own experience and identity as a life-expression. Man ever seeks to realize the truths of his archetype and, more than does any other art, drama has the power to "ignite" points of this realization. We do not really see our (individual) selves in the performances of great actors; we see "points of the self" outpictured. Our response to the impact of a great performance of tragic drama has the effect of lifting our consciousness from the "localized pain of our personal sorrows" into a vast participation of the sorrows and suffering of evolving humanity. The actor and actress are intermediaries between our consciousness of separative self and our consciousness of identity with the self-hood of our archetype, humanity. Give a little thought to your responses to performances of great acting. Do you recall the sense of "expansion into a larger self " by stimulus to your sympathy, your courage, your faith, your love, and your inspirations?

   Mention might be made here of one who, in her day, was considered by most to be greatest in the field of dramatic artistry and whose fulfillment of artistic endowment represented one of the greatest developments of theatrical art: Mme. Sarah Bernhardt. The career of this great French actress (she was a native of Paris and also of Scorpio) on the stages of the world covered a span of something like sixty years and, from a standpoint of sheer "quantity of expression," as well as of quality, it was a phenomenon of staggering proportions. She not only interpreted major roles from the classical, melodramatic, and lyric repertoires, but so great was the power of her vibration that she inspired the writing of a great number of the finest plays of her time--by such authors as Francois Copp‚e, Victor Hugo, Edmond Rostand, and many others. This woman was truly a priestess of dramatic art, consecrated with every fiber of her being to the fulfillment of an endowment that was truly a gesture of the divine to those on this plane. Read a good biography of her life. It will recharge your consciousness with a renewed faith in the power of beauty resident in the human archetype.

   In application to astrological reading, the symbolic essence of dramatic ability is Venus, Jupiter, and Neptune, the signs Pisces and Leo, and the fifth house. "Dramatic career" will involve certain favorable configurations with the Moon (as the symbol of the public) and also of the sixth and tenth houses. (The prodigious achievements of Mme. Bernhardt are shown by Sun in Scorpio in combination with a conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus; it is possible that she had both Moon and Neptune in Pisces--Twelfth House--with Aries Ascendant.

   Does the astrologer act? If so, what is his theater and whose lines does he read? A factor in the ethics of astrological service demands that the consultant astrologer submerge his personal feelings, thereby avoiding an infliction of negative vibrations on his troubled client, and that clarity of at-tunement to the horoscope may be effected. In this respect, he does exactly what the actor has to do. The astrologer, in his person and vibration, must dramatize serenity, friendliness, enlightenment, encouragement, and love. This is not "hypocrisy," though the word "hypocrite" does essentially mean "one who plays a part." The hypocrite misrepresents through a falsity of nature; the astrologer represents through the truths of human nature.

   The astrologer "reads the lines" of human nature as an explanation of life-principles functioning through a particular archetype. His stage is any place where he presents astrological truths for the enlightenment of the consciousness of other people, privately or publicly. The astrologer serves to dramatize the essential good of the person for whom he reads and, in this function, he proves his identity as brother-in-spirit to the dramatic artist.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume 7
Second Printing
The Rosicrucian Fellowship
Mt. Ecclesia
Oceanside, California, U.S.A.
Foreword

   The six prior volumes of this series of astrological interpretations have been received with such an enthusiastic welcome by so many astrology students everywhere that we are pleased to add No. 7 to the series. Elman's Bacher's profound knowledge of and devotion to the spiritual aspect of the stellar science, along with an uncanny understanding of human nature, made it possible for him to present illuminating astrological treatises which undoubtedly place him among the best of modern esoteric astrologers. As the truth and value of his spiritual interpretation of astrology become more and more generally accepted, his presentations will serve increasingly to help people know themselves and fulfill their highest destiny. Before passing into the higher realms in the early 1950's, Mr. Bacher expressed a keen desire to have us publish his articles in book form, and although we deeply regret that he did not live to see his articles made available to the public in this convenient form, we are happy in knowing that his wish is being fulfilled.

Introduction

   To the Rosicrucian student astrology is a phase of religion, basically a spiritual science. More than any other study it reveals man to himself. No other science is so sublime, so profound, and so all- embracing. It portrays the relation between God, the macrocosm, and man, the microcosm, showing them to be fundamentally one. Occult science, investigating the subtler forces that impinge upon man, the Spirit, and his vehicles, has charted their effects with no less definiteness than has academic science the reactions of sea and soil, plant and animal to the solar and lunar rays. With this knowledge we may determine the astrological pattern of each individual and know the relative strength and weakness of the various forces operating in each life. To the degree that we are in possession of such knowledge we can begin systematic, scientific character building-and character is destiny! We note times and seasons cosmically advantageous to unfolding undeveloped qualities, correcting faulty traits, and eliminating destructive propensities. The divine science of astrology reveals the hidden causes at work in our lives. It counsels the adult in regard to vocation, the parent in the guidance of children, the teacher in management of pupils, the physician in diagnosing diseases, thus lending aid to each and all in whatever position they may find themselves. No other subject within the range of human knowledge appears to hold for this day and age the possibilities open to astrologers for helping people to their own dignity as gods-in-the-making, to a greater grasp of universal law, and to a realization that we are eternally secure within the caressing fold of Infinite Life and Boundless Being.

Chapter I
Dramatic Art

   The instinct to act is as primordial to human nature as is any other instinct. Consider the natural tendency of all people to emphasize or intensify communication-by-speech with gestures and facial expressions. This natural emphasis is that which is cultivated by intensive training in dramatic art, just as the natural beauty of the speaking voice is cultivated in the art of singing. To dramatize, means to intensify--in whatever form or through whatever medium. Consequently, dramatization is one of the archetypal attributes of all the arts--the organized expression of a specialized "point" of emotional reaction, thought, or realization. Even the playing of two or three octaves of a scale on the piano (usually not thought of as being particularly beautiful) can be dramatized by use of tonal dynamics in such ways that its mechanistic identity as a "scale" is transformed into a "point" of expressive musicality. Technical skill can, and sometimes does, serve to produce art-work that is universally designated as mediocre. Artistic mediocrity is, essentially, art produced un-inspirationally. Inspiration in whatever form--and there are many ways by which it can be experienced--is the most highly dramatized form of human experience in no other way do we experience reaction and realization with greater intensity. As Mars and Moon are "lower-octave" impregnation and receptivity, so Sun and Neptune are "upper-octave" impregnation and receptivity. The chalice of Neptune receives the down-pouring of solar power into the "soul-seed" (the little circle at the bottom of the Neptune-symbol), the symbol of spiritual or psychic impregnation which, in any form, is inspiration; and inspiration is always a designation of response to solar love-power--the sign Leo, of the Great Mandala. The Pisces of Neptune is the upper-octave of the water-trine, initiated by the cardinal Cancer, which is the triune principle of sympathetic vibrational responsiveness. Sun and Neptune are (in composite) the planetary identity of Father-Mother God-hood of humanity.

   Dramatic art had its inception in ceremony; ceremony, in turn, was man's way of personalizing, by action-symbols, his spiritual realizations. Ceremony and myth are two ways of saying the same thing: exotericising, by action and story, that which represents humanity's concepts of life-principles Man's truth is "Life's truth seen in a mirror;" the mirror is the evolutionary status of the emotional consciousness of the evolving being. The art of acting is the most completely personalized of all the forms of interpretative art-using as instruments the voice of the singer and the body of the dancer. The dancer moves in specialized rhythms, the singer "speaks " in specialized tones, the actor (by movement and speech) has something of both. The great actor fuses two highly specialized talents; that of panto-mime, which is "literalized dancing," and that of line-reading, which is " literalized singing." Great acting formalizes certain esthetic principles just as great prose-writing does; the movements of the dancer and the vocal expression of the singer correspond to acting as poetry does to great prose- writing.

   Keeping in mind that "to dramatize," means "to intensify," let us now consider the significance of the diameter Leo-Aquarius, fifth house signs of Aries-Libra, as the archetypal symbol of the principle of dramatic expression. This diameter is the polarization of that which is essentially symbolized by the fifth house or the Great Mandala--the individualized radiation of emotional powers. Leo, fixed fire, is the initiating sign of the fixed cross, analogous to Aries and Sagittarius of the cardinal and mutable Crosses, respectively. It is the love aspect of the archetypal I AM and because of sequence-position, it is the releasement of that which is established in the fourth house. Its keyword is I release and it is pabulum for not only the other three signs of the fixed cross but for the active expression of the Sun in the horoscope.

   Generation is Scorpio-eighth-house as individualized releasement is Leo-fifth-house, polarized spiritually and by genius through Aquarius-eleventh-house. We must keep in mind that power, as the Sun Principle, serves no purpose unless, and until, it is released and radiated. All the love in the human heart, all the creative endowment, all the inspired manifestive or interpretative genius are relatively meaningless if they are not expressed, and it is through Leo-Aquarius and Sun-Uranus that we express creatively, as far as humans can be creative. It is through the love attribute of Leo that we contribute emotional vitalization to relationships and to our work. Through it we find the resource of that which is focussed complementation, is Scorpio-generation-and regeneration. Leo is the arch-symbol of natural, spontaneous joyousness, the dynamic attribute of which the passive and transitory realization is called "happiness." Only through joyousness do we truly love, truthfully manifest or interpret, and sincerely serve. Even in "blood, sweat, and tears," joyousness is an inevitable factor in the consciousness of the artist; to be "un-joy-ful" is to be un-loving and un-radiative, in the creative sense of the word. The sorrows of Leo-Sun are rooted in the lack-of opportunity or congestion-of-ability to exercise love-radiation to other people or to work. The agonies of Aquarius- Uranus are rooted in inability to meet the gravitational challenges of Moon- Saturn and in the "birth-pangs" of bi-polar manifestivity. Unindividualized human consciousness is represented by the sequence of the first four zodiacal signs--Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer. The radiativity of this octave of primitive awareness is in the sign Scorpio, fifth house sign of Moon's Cancer- -the instinct to generate forms as a releasement of desire resources. With individualization, however, the person moves in evolutionary sequence one step ahead to the Leo-Aquarius diameter and his desire-radiation is transformed into at least a primitive aspect of love-consciousness and individualized power-consciousness. Individualized power-consciousness is the first "must" in the development and fulfillment of manifestive or interpretative artistry. So, the artist of whatever kind must know that he is a power, and personal integration must be effected before that power-consciousness can be expressed. Now, to the playwright and the actor:

   The playwright is a specialization of (either one or both) prose-writer and poetry-writer. However, by the specializations of his art, he is more essentially the writer of poetry than prose, even if he doesn't (and most playwrights don't) write specifically in verse. The writing of plays involves not only an instinctive at-tunement to the principle of rhythm but also to the inherent musicality of vocal values. He must, because acting is pantomime and action as well as speech, know something of the movement-values that are inherent in dance. A sense of "time-proportion" is as necessary to his work as is a sense of "space-proportion" to the painter or "tone-proportion " to the composer. Time-consciousness is what we call the consciousness of sequence of reaction and realization. "Human reactions and realizations" are what the playwright presents in esthetically organized "dramatized" form. Actually, the "doing" that is represented on the stage is the objectification of sequences of individualized reactions and realizations. On the stage or in real living, this "doing" is always an outpicturing of inner states. And the protean mentality or understanding of the playwright makes it possible for him to construct the action of his play in accordance with a deep "inner knowing" of individualized time-consciousness. The playwright may or may not seek to present a message in his work; but what he does present, either as "message"or "pure drama," is the organization of his concept of archetypes reflected through individual or composite human consciousness. Read any play worthy of being designated as dramatic art and you will find, somewhere, an "emotional point" that is the archetype of the whole play, however complex in structure it may be. The art of manifestive drama (playwrighting) is the harmonious and expressive organization of elements which are focalized, as the tree is focalized in its seed, on this emotional point.

   The Great Astrological Mandala with Aries Ascendant, cardinal structure-points connected in a square, the water-signs connected in a triangle, is the symbolic picture of that which all art seeks to interpret. Here is the human family--the male and female of "parent and child," male and female in immature and mature states, and the fourfold interchange of physical, generic, and evolutionary polarity. The trine of water-signs is the principle of sympathetic vibration by which manifestors and interpreters "tune in" on archetypes to be expressed through individualized concepts in esthetic media.

   The second presentation of the Great Mandala has the fixed signs at the structure-points, Leo as Ascendant, Scorpio as base. This is the mandala of all manifestive (creative) artists, radiating from their resources of creative power, polarized by the genius of Aquarius, to fulfill a karmic inspirational redemption of the group-subconscious of humanity. The position of Cancer as twelfth house sign of this mandala shows us that the radiative potential of the Leo-Ascendant is derived from a deep resource of sympathy, of which "parenthood" is the archetype. No truly great playwright does his finest and most inspired work basically impelled by a desire to make millions in money or to attain this and that of fame or applause. He does it because he can't refrain from it and live, any more than truly mature people can live (in the real sense of the word) without contributing to life. The playwright or other manifestive artist, is a spiritual parent, an "epigenitor" of his archetype. The Scorpio base of this mandala points to the psychological base of intense regenerative desire-power. No great artist of any kind is a "psychological milk-sop;" there is deep perception, profound understanding, strong sexuality, intense emotions and, consciously or unconsciously, a blazing aspiration, in all of them.

   The third basic presentation of the Great Mandala has Sagittarius on the Ascendant, mutable signs at the structure-points, and Pisces as base. This is the mandate of the interpretative artist who at-tunes himself to the concept of the manifestor and makes of himself a vehicle for the embodiment of that concept). It might be called, as abstract portrait of interpretative artist, the "mandala of individualized instrumentation." The interpretative artist disciplines, develops, and organizes his abilities and faculties in order that he may qualify for inspirational exercise. There have been a number of artists in the fields of drama, dance, and music who have qualified for designation as both manifestor and interpreter. Of the interpretative artists there are two basic types:

   One type is that of the archetypal personality of which there are--and have been--several noteworthy examples in the field of motion-picture acting. Representatives of this type, in silent and sound movies, are such as: Rudolph Valentino, Theda Bara, Mary Pickford (as "America's Sweetheart" of years ago), Douglas Fairbanks, senior, Mae West, Clark Gable, and others. The outstanding example of the archetypal personality in today 's movies is "Bing" Crosby--the "world's troubadour." (1951).

   The second type is that of the true dramatic interpreter, the actor or actress whose personality and personal equipment is pabulum for at-tunement to the concept of the manifestor. All great dramatic artists are of this type and they, in their persons and by their influence, are among the most conspicuous "inspirators" of the human race. The Sagittarius Ascendant of the "interpreter-mandala" portrays the esoteric (or psychological) priesthood of all dramatic representation. By the power of the actor, the essence of human personality-vibrations is represented in the roles he plays; these personality-vibration patterns are condensations of life- principles expressing through the human archetype. The inspirational projection of the actor fused with the skill and knowledge of the playwright contributes a vitalization of humanity's awareness of its own experience and identity as a life-expression. Man ever seeks to realize the truths of his archetype and, more than does any other art, drama has the power to "ignite" points of this realization. We do not really see our (individual) selves in the performances of great actors; we see "points of the self" outpictured. Our response to the impact of a great performance of tragic drama has the effect of lifting our consciousness from the "localized pain of our personal sorrows" into a vast participation of the sorrows and suffering of evolving humanity. The actor and actress are intermediaries between our consciousness of separative self and our consciousness of identity with the self-hood of our archetype, humanity. Give a little thought to your responses to performances of great acting. Do you recall the sense of "expansion into a larger self " by stimulus to your sympathy, your courage, your faith, your love, and your inspirations?

   Mention might be made here of one who, in her day, was considered by most to be greatest in the field of dramatic artistry and whose fulfillment of artistic endowment represented one of the greatest developments of theatrical art: Mme. Sarah Bernhardt. The career of this great French actress (she was a native of Paris and also of Scorpio) on the stages of the world covered a span of something like sixty years and, from a standpoint of sheer "quantity of expression," as well as of quality, it was a phenomenon of staggering proportions. She not only interpreted major roles from the classical, melodramatic, and lyric repertoires, but so great was the power of her vibration that she inspired the writing of a great number of the finest plays of her time--by such authors as Francois Copp‚e, Victor Hugo, Edmond Rostand, and many others. This woman was truly a priestess of dramatic art, consecrated with every fiber of her being to the fulfillment of an endowment that was truly a gesture of the divine to those on this plane. Read a good biography of her life. It will recharge your consciousness with a renewed faith in the power of beauty resident in the human archetype.

   In application to astrological reading, the symbolic essence of dramatic ability is Venus, Jupiter, and Neptune, the signs Pisces and Leo, and the fifth house. "Dramatic career" will involve certain favorable configurations with the Moon (as the symbol of the public) and also of the sixth and tenth houses. (The prodigious achievements of Mme. Bernhardt are shown by Sun in Scorpio in combination with a conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus; it is possible that she had both Moon and Neptune in Pisces--Twelfth House--with Aries Ascendant.

   Does the astrologer act? If so, what is his theater and whose lines does he read? A factor in the ethics of astrological service demands that the consultant astrologer submerge his personal feelings, thereby avoiding an infliction of negative vibrations on his troubled client, and that clarity of at-tunement to the horoscope may be effected. In this respect, he does exactly what the actor has to do. The astrologer, in his person and vibration, must dramatize serenity, friendliness, enlightenment, encouragement, and love. This is not "hypocrisy," though the word "hypocrite" does essentially mean "one who plays a part." The hypocrite misrepresents through a falsity of nature; the astrologer represents through the truths of human nature.

   The astrologer "reads the lines" of human nature as an explanation of life-principles functioning through a particular archetype. His stage is any place where he presents astrological truths for the enlightenment of the consciousness of other people, privately or publicly. The astrologer serves to dramatize the essential good of the person for whom he reads and, in this function, he proves his identity as brother-in-spirit to the dramatic artist.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VII
Chapter II
Motion Pictures

   The development of motion pictures as an entertainment-art has been one of the most remarkable phenomena of this age. It has brought drama, comedy, music, color, dance, travel, news, educational advancement, and a pronounced cultural influence in its best forms, into the lives of millions of people who might not, otherwise, have actually experienced these things. We are concerned in this discourse not with the technical development but with the occult significance of motion picture acting and its effect on the minds and consciousness of today's people. As in any other art, there are the pioneers who dared to blaze the trail toward a more extended cultural advancement. Then there are those workers who adapt the findings of the pioneers and develop them on a larger and more perfect scale as time goes by. Then there are those motion picture manifestors not particularly interested in or even aware of cultural advancement who "give the public what it wants" in terms of maintaining that which has been established as standards of entertainment-value. The latter group is that which most conspicuously "feeds the public's escapist-tendency;" the first two groups serve to improve, extend, and regenerate the public taste and appreciation and it is they who, for the most part, are responsible for the highest quality of artistic value to be found in this work.

   Many times motion pictures have been referred to as "an escape-mechanism," a "panacea" which serves to help people forget themselves and their troubles. Such an interpretation displays a lack of understanding. The motion picture art is not essentially an escape-mechanism even if some people use it as such. A psychological approach to this "quirk" in human nature should devolve on the human factor, not on the motion-picture factor. The names of "escape-mechanisms " are legion; let us consider their essence. Astrologically speaking, the vibration of unregenerate Neptune in combination with any square or opposition aspect is a potential for escape- mechanism. The square and opposition aspects are points of inner division, congestion of potentials, tendencies to disintegration, points of ignorance, confusion of identities, lack of self-awareness, lack of self-confidence, inhibitions through fear-hatred, etc. The unregeneracy of Neptune is, among other things, our potential to give power to illusions. And, we all do that, in some form or other, until the consciousness is flooded with the light of understanding and clarified perception as the result of learning through disillusionment. When we suffer from any of these negative conditions and we don't know why we suffer, we tend to identify inner truths with something, or someone, outside of ourselves. This is what is, essentially, meant by "escape-mechanism"--the attempt to escape from the pain of inner congestions and confusions.

   If humanity can be said to be motivated by one common objective, that objective is certainly the realization of ideals. The ideal is a music that, once heard, cannot be resisted. The search to realize this ideality is the great evolutionary surge; we have followed this "music," consciously or unconsciously, ever since we first manifested. The realization of ideality is the fulfillment, through regenerated expression, of potentials. Until we fulfill our own as individuals, we tend to be driven to seek its outpicturing in someone or something else. Evolution is dependent on expression; to "not express" or to "not do" is to "not evolve." Even a person who lives in terms of what we call "criminality" is evolving because he is expressing his potentials; he sets up causes which will react as karmic-return from which he may, ultimately, learn more about principles. The possession of money is many people's symbol of life's greatest good and they stop at nothing to realize this ideal; however, in time, and through experience, they learn what money really is and then they are conditioned to adjust their consciousness and actions according to a clarification of principle in their own minds. Gibran said: "Even faltering speech strengthens a weak tongue; " to cease searching for the ideal is to die, in consciousness; to continue to express, as a means of searching for that which is most valued and cherished, is to evolve.

   Our emotional reaction to another person identifies him as a symbol to us. If the reaction is one of envy, jealousy, hatred, fear, etc., he has served to stimulate one of our inner congestions, confusions or unfulfillments; the person we "hate" (wish to destroy) serves, by the stimulus of his vibration, to remind us of a past very serious, as yet unadjusted wrong. We do not ever "hate" another person; we can hate only our unfulfillments and we can destroy them only by regenerated expression. If our reaction to another is one of harmony, joy, love, admiration, inspiration, etc., then, whoever, or whatever he maybe, his vibration has served to remind us of our own inner regeneracies. This explains why people faith-fully and deeply love those who may mistreat and hurt them; the magnetic tie of karma provides the loving one with "pabulum" on which to pour his love. We love the ideal that another person represents to us and that "personalized ideal" is always a pattern of our own deep "dream of perfection." The financially successful older criminal may be an "ideal" to the younger, inexperienced one who has determined to exercise himself in what we call " criminal ways." Yet, in his anti-social, destructive, and unprincipled actions he still expresses in his deep urge to emulate the symbol of the older man. In justice to those who are ignorant and unevolved, let us remember that the person we designate as "criminal" may express a deep devotion to those he works for or with and within his particular limitations of consciousness, he may deal honorably with those of his "profession," and he may utilize much of his "ill-gotten gain" to be truly helpful. No one is entirely a criminal because everyone is seeking to realize an ideal. The parasitic "do nothing" is a worse traducer of his own nature than the active criminal is of his. A thief or what not at least can possess a modicum of courage. The "do nothing" hasn't even that and he is, by his very nature, non-contributory. He will have to make intensified effort in future to compensate for his deficiencies in the present.

   So, the person whose potentialities are not being satisfactorily expressed or who has conditioned himself out of line with his inner ideal may, and often does, turn to motion pictures and the players who work in them, to attain a living, if artificial, contact with his personal ideals. It is not the purpose of this discourse to criticize or judge the work of specific players except as an evaluation pertaining to this subject; but certain players will be mentioned because of the remarkable archetypal quality of personality and physical appearance, plus a certain level of technical skill, by which they exercise the power of living symbolism on the subconscious of individuals or groups. Of the many who have exercised a long- lasting influence over the public subconscious we will consider four men, of contrasting type, whose work in American motion pictures represents outstanding examples of symbolic archetypal personality: Lon Chaney, Bing Crosby, Rudolph Valentino, and Clark Gable.

   Mr. Chaney, whose work in silent pictures ranked him as the greatest make-up artist and one of the greatest pantomimists in the American theater, fulfilled, as an archetype, the universal, instinctive impulse of humanity to desire to transcend the hum-drum monotony of "everyday experience." His characterizations were, almost without exception, of deformed bodies and twisted personalities. He gave to audiences a satisfaction of their subconscious attraction to the weird and the horrible. His characterizations resulted in great emotional impact, he had great projective powers and the best of his performances, such as Quasimodo in Hunchback of Notre Dame, were unforgettable dramatic experiences. He epitomized the "quirks of Fate" by which humanity suffers through physical malformation and terrible frustrations of normal, natural urges. In short, his occult purpose was to bring to movie-audiences an awareness of the tragic in dramatic art. He was not an "entertainer" at all, either in purpose or in type of characterization. To have responded truly and whole-heartedly to Mr. Chaney 's remarkable work meant an intensified awareness of the pathos of human suffering. His occult purpose was aimed directly at stimulating compassion in the human heart.

   The author has long felt that the work of Mr. Bing Crosby on the screen is one of the most remarkable spiritual influences in the world. (1951). With much in present-day organized religion in a state of unrest and mutation, the vibration and talent of this man serves to bring, through song and light comedy, a "gently expressed" but powerfully far- reaching stimulus to humanity's ideal of simple goodness and natural friendliness. His vibration, from an astrological standpoint, is strongly Venusian--having Libra as Ascendant, Sun in Taurus, and Moon trine Mercury and Venus. And who personifies more perfectly the ideal of constructive non- resistance? To exercise a (possibly) fanciful analogy, he might be called the "twentieth century 's St. Francis of Assisi," so compelling is the goodness and sincerity of the archetype he represents. Words are written and actions planned but he, in himself, has the specialization of consciousness that projects this archetypal quality. Others act and sing, they are enjoyable and command the respect of the public, but there is only one BING CROSBY, the "world's troubadour" and, archetypally, the friend of all whom he contacts. Who would not love to possess the friendship power that he symbolizes? He melts the hardest hearts and, with his complete lack of tension--his are the most effortless of performances--he symbolizes the un-congested personality, expressive, kindly, persuasive rather than forceful, with a perception of the good that is inherent in all. If people who flock to his pictures would recognize that they, as individuals, need only to emulate this archetype and decrystallize residues of malice, envy, jealousy, hurtful impulses, etc., they would not only enjoy his performances even more but they would be taking his example to heart. Mr. Crosby personifies truths of the regenerated human nature--his work is a series of sermons-through-acting-and-singing. People the world over love him because he outpictures their own inner best potentials of heart and spirit. Do you regard Mr. Crosby--on the screen--as an "imagination-figment" completely remote from you and your life, or do you recognize that he holds up a mirror that reflects aspects of your own innate gentleness, friendliness and harmony? Think this over carefully.

   Mr. Valentino, a Latin-European of extraordinarily fine appearance, personified in his time a romantic ideal which superseded in power that of any other actor of his type. Psychology could say much concerning the hold that this man exercised over the subconscious of American women. It is true, un-pleasant as it may be to say so, that the miasma of puritanism has been an influence of blight on the minds and hearts of people for many years, and this influence has deflected people--millions of them-- from realizing the ideal of spontaneous fulfillment of love-relationship. The archetype represented by Mr. Valentino was the complete antithesis of this false, materialistic, corruptive, and subnormalizing "philosophy." The composite factors of ardent Latin temperament, plus handsome face and physique, plus a great skill in projecting the intensities of sexual magnetism, made it possible for this actor to effect a focused archetype of masculine personality which outpictured, to the feminine subconscious, an ideal of love-complementation. Under the spell of his vibration, women re- found their basic, instinctive womanhood--the desire to be conquered, over- whelmed, and transfigured by the projective power of the skillful, cultivated male. Nothing in this man's vibration and personality was at all "American;" he represented a personality-type of masculine graciousness, courtliness, amatory skill, and the cultivated charm of an older civilization. There may or may not be others on the screen today who compare favorably with this man's particular vibration and ability, but he was, in his time, archetypal of that which many if not most, women seek as an ideal love-partner. No one suggests that any man pattern his life after that of Mr. Valentino, but what he symbolized could be thought about and learned from by many men who have permitted their concepts of man-woman relationship to be congested through gracelessness, ignorance, puritanism--with its guilt complexes and lack of perception of that which is true beauty in woman. In his screen- representations, Mr. Valentino paid homage to the ideal of feminine beauty. In personal vanity, many women seek to compel the homage of men by tricks and artifices but man pays homage, ultimately, to his ideals, never to masks and bricks. There is a lesson to be learned, by men, in consideration of the work of this actor. For man to perceive, and to ignite by perception, the true beauty of woman so that woman might become and be the beauty that inspires, was the occult purpose of this actor's work on the screen.

   Mr. Gable, a personification of the Mars-Saturn- Mercury type, is probably the greatest American counterpart of that which, Mr. Valentino represented as a European. He has been designated, and with justice, the greatest archetype of masculine personality on the screen today. He is all men to all people --- his Moon in Cancer designates his occult faculty to "feed the collective subconscious," and his work is attended as enthusiastically by men as it is by women. It is easy to think of him, in his screen-portrayals, as fulfilling a form of "priesthood" in so far as a priest in ceremonial religion is a personification of life-principles. Far fetched as it might at first seem, the occult significance of this actor's work is profoundly religious because he ignites in the subconscious of people an intensified perception of masculine principles of personality.

   Students may not see any connection between the words "religious" or "spiritual and Mr. Gable's tough, hard-hitting, usually unsubtle, and earthy characterizations; but his person and vibration convey a symbol of resourcefulness, endurance, self-reliance, physical strength, genial good humor, and, above all, the quality of courage, which is the archetypal regenerate quality of the Mars-vibration. (He has Mars in the Ascendant-sign, making four major aspects, disposited by the ruler of the chart and trine both Jupiter and Saturn.) People, at times, tend to "sicken inside" with their own futilities, incompetencies, and weaknesses and those of others around them. Mr. Gable presents to their attention the actuality of patterns of great strength of body, mind, and character. His vibration certainly ignites an ideality-pattern since courage, self-reliance, endurance, and physical power are Mars-archetypes, and as such they represent qualities which we are all seeking to realize in ourselves. The trinity of Moon, Mars, and Saturn is the planetary base of each evolutionary cycle; Moon-Saturn, as rulers of the structure-diameter of Cancer-Capricorn, represents the parental source of the "I Am" of Mars as well as its fulfillment in maturity. A strong, well- integrated maturity presupposes a well-integrated Mars and the strongly individualized dynamic qualities of the Mars-archetype which Mr. Gable symbolizes is a vibratory essence which we all, men or women, have as a potential to be fulfilled and expressed. The universal appeal of his characterizations is pictured in the composite of two distinct patterns in his chart: Cancer-Moon and Capricorn-Saturn, with Sun and ruler in Aquarius sextile to Uranus; the twelfth house placement of his Ascendant-Mars gives us a key to the occult significance of his vibration as an archetypal personality-symbol.

   If you are one who has felt "compelled" to "find yourself through motion-picture representations " and you wish to free yourself from this symbolic imprisonment, make a copy of your chart with no degree-numbers; this is what the author calls your "White-Light" chart--it is the symbolic portrait of yourself as an archetype. Study it with an eye to determining what your vibratory focal-points are (forget square and opposition in this study) and start doing something to organize your life so that you can give fuller and freer expression to your essential vibratory potentials. Study the work of the actor and/or actress whose work on the screen "fascinates" you and recognize that something in their personality or vibration is in you too. It is your right and duty to find the truth of you as an individualized expression of the archetype humanity. When you commence this reorganization, you will find yourself gradually freed from the compulsion to identify yourself through another--and your enjoyment of theatrical art and entertainment will take on a greater sincerity because you will be more and more able to enjoy it and appreciate it for its own sake. The art of living is to find out who and what we realize of ourselves.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VII
Chapter III
Healing

   The art of healing is an impersonalized extension of bi-polar parental love. The preservation of the begotten body is one of the factors involved in parental responsibility; wisdom, which is knowledge distilled from experience through incarnations, is added to the basic love- urge of parenthood to form the essence of the arts of healing by which humanity, in service, preserves and protects the composite of its myriads of bodies. We will consider a basic mandala indicative of this extension:

   First, a circle with the vertical diameter, the signs of Cancer and Capricorn at the lower and upper points, respectively. This is the essential mandala of parentage--the maternal and paternal of the abstract I AM of the Ascendant. In primitive states, humanity functioned instinctively in parenthood, following the call of the generative urge as a fulfillment of an intensely expressed desire-with, perhaps, the barest modicum of what might be called "affection." With the conception, bearing, and hit- and-miss preservation of children, primitive mankind fulfilled the form- begetting responsibility. However, with evolution and the unfoldment of the love-potential, parents developed a consideration of children as individuals, and with this consideration was born a desire to understand them. The healing arts may be said to have been born with the first human who exercised his thought and ingenuity, as an expression of an instinctive parental protectiveness, to preserve the life of another. This hypothetical person, whoever he or she was, projected from the love-wisdom potential an imposition of mind and will on the phenomena of Nature to fulfill the dawning of the impersonalized love-service urge. Man ever urges toward extensions of blood- relationship in the unfoldments of his potentials. First, his parents, brothers and sisters, mate and children; then members of the clan or tribe to which he belongs; then members of another clan and so on--until he reaches an octave of consciousness in which he perceives a glimmering of his life- relationship with all people. He "took care" of his animals, first, because he was dependent on them for work and food; however, with the "glimmer of life-relationship" he perceived that he is related to his animals as well as to his human relatives and other humans and, as consequence, he has extended his knowledge of healing to benefit not only people but all animal-life as well. The universalist is decrystallized to such a degree that whatever he has of love-service potential is radiated to all creatures who need it.

   To the mandala at hand, now add the Pisces-Virgo diameter; comparable points on Cancer-Pisces and Capricorn-Virgo are connected by curved, counter-clockwise lines. In this way we see a composite motion- picture of the Cancer-Capricorn diameter turned nine signs, coming to rest at the signs which represent the wisdom-octave of parentage. "Wisdom born of evolutionary experience" is the archetypal meaning of any ninth house-sign pattern. A devoted but unenlightened parent may make every effort to heal a loved child, but wisdom results in the art of doing anything according to its essential principles. So, the medical specialists, diagnosticians, surgeons, nurses, dentists, gynecologists, dietitians, herbalists, veterinarians, psychiatrists, etc., comprise the great fraternity of therapeutists, the "impersonal fathers and mothers" who consecrate their efforts to the maintenance of inner and outer health of all creatures. Of this fraternity, there are two basic types which we will study by mandalas. The mandala of the exoteric healer is the Virgo-Pisces diameter polarized by Gemini, ruled by Mercury, and third house sign from Aries. Gemini is factual knowledge, it is understanding derived from observation of physical phenomena and the study of recorded facts and data. The exoteric approach to the therapeutic arts is based on an approach that the body itself is the source of its own ills and, as such, it was the means by which man was impelled to acquaint himself with the structure and functions of his physical vehicle. In his early stages of evolution, he knew only what he saw, or perceived by physical means; his consciousness and appreciation of life focused on his reaction to the objective world around him. So, he studied his body by observing what happened to it under certain conditions and experiences. He learned the different kinds of pain-reaction he was capable of when his body was affected in specialized ways by external forces or agencies. This "healing-mandala," polarized by Gemini, being essentially objective, is the mandala of all diagnostic art that pertains to any branch of healing, inner and outer. It also refers to the arts of surgery and medical treatment which apply directly to the physical condition.

   Man began to learn about external effects fairly early in evolutionary stages, but it was not for a long time until he came into an awareness of the significance of inner states to affect his physical well-being. The (hypothetical) first human who realized that an emotional or mental state had a direct bearing on the condition of his body, as the cause of an abnormality, was the first esoteric therapeutist. He was the first to recognize the co-existence of subjective life with objective life. His observations were the genesis of those which were subsequently evolved pertaining to the subjective cause of all physical abnormality or in-harmony-- injury as well as disease. In short, these observations refer to the karmic causation of physical disharmonies. (Winged Pharaoh, by Joan Grant, tells how the great healer-priests of ancient Egypt perceived, by clairvoyant examination, the inner causes of physical inharmonies.) The immortal Paracelsus may be referred to as an "epitome" (in relatively recent history) of this "first esoteric therapeutist." To the mandala at hand we now add the symbol for Sagittarius, polarizing Gemini, thus forming the mutable cross of instrumentation, the extension of the mandala of the exoteric healer, the portrait of man as an instrument for his own healing. The principal congestion involved is the congestion in ignorance, the "blindness to principle" which is ultimately the causation of all disease and physical injury. The initiating point of this cross is the fire sign Sagittarius-- corresponding to the Aries of the Cardinal Cross. The identity is: "I am a healer."

   Now, for clarity, "build" the Sagittarius-mandala as follows: the left horizontal, Sagittarius; the upward vertical, Virgo; the right horizontal, Gemini; the downward vertical, Pisces. The healing, preservative radiation of Sagittarius is polarized by the knowledge of Gemini; the parentage-diameter is the abstract service-diameter of Virgo-Pisces. The primitive maternal instinct of Cancer is here shown to be the universal maternity of the compassionate Pisces; the primitive paternal instinct of Capricorn, exaltation of the male principle, Mars, is here shown as the stewardship of the earth-element through Virgo, as wisdom expressing through love-service. Now add the fifth and ninth cusps and the appropriate signs Aries and Leo, respectively; connect the three fire-points by straight lines forming the trine of dynamic individualization that characterizes all great esoteric healers; each one of these, by the very nature of his purpose and responsibility-fulfillment, is a fore-runner in so far as each adds a point of understanding that serves to transcend the limitations of purely exoteric knowledge. Every healer, no matter what branch of the art he serves, who applies an inspired awareness of the inner causes of injury and disease is an esoteric healer; only those who focus on the body only are to be considered "pure exotericists" of the healing-arts.

   The love-potential (fifth cusp) of this mandala focusses the arch-regeneracy of courage and all esoteric healers must, to fulfill, express this virtue. The majority of humanity are, and always have been,"esoterically minded"--congested on outer appearances and blind to inner realities. To tear aside the veil of ignorance so that mankind might be alerted to "himself as the cause of his own disharmonies" has required a dauntless courage and a blazing zeal on the part of great healers. The instinctive "fear-of-the-unknown" which characterizes ignorance has always been the greatest challenge to the personal integrity of healers and this challenge has had to be met by exercise of the utmost dynamic urge represented by Mars' Aries. Leo, at the ninth cusp of this mandala focusses the "power and authority" vibration of the Sun at the house which refers to understanding and teaching. Who, in the healing arts, would presume or dare to present speculations as truths regarding subjective healing--that is, without the authority of true understanding of principles involved? In this factor of the mandala, we see the "king-ship of true understanding," the "nobility of illumined perceptions." The truths of the outer, important and significant as they are to the development of the healing arts, are mirrored reflections of the truths of the inner. Ninth house Leo is the "wisdom that radiates love" and the expression of realized truths of the inner is the essence of healing on any plane; this wisdom is a vitalizing contribution to human experiences in any aspect.

   As Cancer is the symbol of that which, in consciousness, impels the woman to sacrifice her body-substance for the incarnation of Egos, so is Pisces, as the fourth house sign of the "healer- mandala," the spiritual sacrifice which is made by all true healers. The "substance" of this sacrifice is the ideality of all healers, male or female, which is offered continually in order that the ideal of health may be manifested in human experience. As the primitive woman instinctively loves her offspring, so does the feminine polarity in all human beings love that which is young, helpless, and unformed. And--"unformed" means "ignorant." The sacrifice, through ideality, which is offered by healers is often infinitely worse in degree than any physical suffering could be. To have a vision of a radiantly healthy humanity traduced continually by the congested and dark forces of materialism, prejudice, stupidity, and envy is a crucifixion of the spirit that can be--and has been--abysmal in degree. The maternal heart of all healers endures these lacerations in service just as, in another degree, the woman endures the pain of gestation and parturition. So the picture is shown to all who would be healers: be willing to neutralize the forces of congestion by a continual outpouring of your identity and of your sympathetic impulses. In this universalizing service, everything in your nature which is, or has been, "Mother" reaches into extended octaves of consciousness in order that all may benefit from the outpouring of your compassionate and sympathetic impulses.

   If the urge to heal is derived from the feminine, maternal essence, then the actual work of healing is derived from the paternal essence as an extended universalization of the principle of stewardship inherent in the earth-trine, initiated by Saturn's Capricorn but focalized in this mandala as Mercury 's Virgo, the "male placement" of this mental planet. All the sympathy in the world may be, from a vibratory standpoint, an agency of healing, but so complex is the total of healing-arts and so varied are the factors they deal with that, in evolutionary processes, application of much study and observation is entailed. The polarization of Sagittarius by Gemini and of Pisces by Virgo shows us that factual knowledge of all planes of existence, in human terms, represents the completion or the fulfillment (complementation) of the basic urge or instinct by which a human seeks to make himself an instrument for healing powers. All the study and learning-from- experience ultimately serves the purpose of alerting the consciousness of the healer to a perception of health as being a universal attribute. An intelligent human father does not conceive his responsibility to comprise a "doing everything for the child;" he knows that his responsibility is to guide and alert the child to his exercise of individual potentials. So the healer, as a "universalized father," studies disease and injury for the purpose of alerting the patient (his "child") to an awareness of the patient's own responsibility in the matter. The "father-heart" of the healer says: "My child, you must learn why you have this condition and exercise yourself according to a clearer understanding of the principles of your body."

   The healer, an evolving human-being with problems like anyone else, can, and sometimes does, congest and cause himself to "back- slide" in the fulfillment of his universal service. He is, like anyone else, an aspect of the Great Mandala which gives clues as to certain specialized dangers if the healer operates from a basis of congestions-in-consciousness.

   The sign Cancer symbolizes not only "home and private life" but it is archetypal of the consciousness of adherence to particular race, nationality, or religion. These factors are all part of our "nest-consciousness" and serve as "evolutionary moldings." The healer who "congests on Cancer" is one who will exert himself to the utmost to help one "of his own kind" but may refuse his aid to one who is, in relationship to him, "outside the pale." Regardless of skill or ability, such an action displays ignorance of the principles of the healing arts. The sign Capricorn, focalized by Saturn, is orthodoxy, organization, and conventional standards. It is through the Saturn-vibration, in certain patterns, that the healer's individuality is challenged by "that which has been established as professional standards and ethics." All great healers are great because of their individuality and the courage of their inspired convictions. The greed for money, applause, and "reputation " which characterizes crystallized healers is a composite force which often challenges the integrity of the individual. If he transcends that challenge, his Light continues to burn brightly and purely; if he succumbs to any factor of it, his Light, sooner or later, dims and splutters. The healer cannot "sell his Light down the river" in acquiescence to that which his crystallized and unprincipled and hope to keep that Light clear and illuminative. The complementation of Sagittarius by Gemini, unregenerate, is congestion on intellectual attainment at the expense of the spiritual impulse. If a healer has reacted to disappointments and difficulties with an accretion of cynicism and gradually intensified un- sympathy, he may be tempted to find a consolation in turning "to books and away from people." A healer exists, as such, because of the needs of other living things not because of what is in books. Knowledge should be "married" to the spiritual ideal to complete, as fully as possible, the love-service which is the healer 's reason-for-being.

   Any astrological student who wishes to inaugurate a period of study pertaining to the charts of healers or to astrological factors pertaining to "healing abilities" should prepare his mind for this study by first reading biographies of great healers as an "at-tunement" to the spirit in human-nature which makes people healers. He should acquaint himself, "Mercury-ishly," with the significant steps in the development of the healing arts through humanity's evolution. This is comparable, on the intellectual plane, of "meditation on mandalas" since the mind is thereby sensitized to the vibration of healers. Suggest also a reading of Franz Werfel's exquisite Song of Bernadette as a "must" for all students who wish to sensitize their awareness of the instrumentation of all great healers and the occult agencies by which great healing-centers are established. Theosophical and Rosicrucian literature is, of course, a fathomless well of knowledge concerning healing-subjects.

   A few general observations: the surgical arts are characterized by the Mars-vibration; those of medicinal treatment and diagnosis, by Mercury. The Moon and Venus are conspicuous in the patterns referring to feminine specializations; Saturn for the chiropractic and orthopedic arts. A person endowed with healing vibratory power will have, usually, a strongly aspected and clear Sun, with an emphasis on the fixed signs, particularly Scorpio and Leo. The signs Pisces and Cancer and the planet Jupiter are "basic" in healing-charts. If the healer is a true one, he is a preserver--and Jupiter is the principle of preservation and improvement. The twelfth house--that of karmic responsibility-fulfillment to those limited- -must be configurated in the charts of those who serve through hospitals or other healing-institutions. Venus may or may not be conspicuous in such charts but the Moon must be--since it is the symbol of instinctive maternal sympathy and also of the public need. A form of inspirational healing can take place in the consciousness of anyone who studies the subject of healing-- and the astrologer, "twin-brother" to the esoteric healer, must radiate healing by his friendliness, perceptions, and impersonalized love. He functions as a "healer of the psyche" by his alertment of the consciousness of humanity to the truths of life-principles.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VII
Chapter IV
Fraternity of Astrologer, Artist, Priest, and Healer

   "Relationship" may be defined as "the meaning, purpose, and significance of a thing with reference to the synchronization of its consciousness with that of another thing to which it is attracted by the laws of sympathetic vibration;" these laws are all inherent in the Law of Cause and Effect and the principles of creativity and epigenesis.

   There are only two basic relationship-patterns, each of which is manifested through diffusion in innumerable octaves throughout the Cosmos. The first of these is the creative relationship--that of macrocosm and microcosm to each other. The first aspect of this relationship is that of The Unknowable to (what might be called) the Logoi of arch-galaxies. The composite of arch-galaxies, at any given point in time, is the total manifested Cosmos; each arch-galaxy is a "structure-point" of the Cosmic Body. The second aspect (or octave) of this relationship is that of the Logos of each arch-galaxy to the Logoi of its galaxies; the third is the relationship of galactic Logoi to the Logoi of its solar-systems; the fourth is that of the relationship of each Solar Logos in a galaxy to the planetary Logoi of its system. From here on down into diffusion of manifestation, creativity becomes epigenesis. To Sum up: macrocosmic identity (from unity to solar logoic) is to macro-cosmic identity (subsolar-logoi) as creativity (life function) is to epigenesis. In human terms, since humans are not creators but epigenitors, the most transcendent octave of this relationship-pattern is that of the universal regenerator to the collective superconscious, conscious, and subconscious of the archetype, Humanity; the densest octave is that of the biological relationship (sexual epigenesis) of parent and child to each other.

   The second relationship-pattern is that of fraternity and it may be defined as: "The relationship of macrocosms to each other and microcosms to each other by parallelity of creative or epigenetic faculty:" also, since every manifestation is "micro-cosm" relative to The Unknowable, fraternity is the relationship of things to each other by magnetic attraction through synchronization of similarities and dissimilarities of vibratory states. The minimum scope of fraternity is one thing in relationship to one other thing; in all fraternal relationships, the two things concerned have at least one point of mutual similarity and one point of dissimilarity. The point of mutual dissimilarity makes possible the epigenetic action in the life of the relationship. Creative action is radiation from a self-willed fusion of polarity-powers; epigenetic action is radiation of polarity-potentials from response to stimulus of power from a higher octave. Think about this. A human relatively unevolved on a particular point of consciousness is epigenetically stimulated by vibrational contact with another who is relatively evolved on that point. The point-in- common is the point-in-consciousness or point-of-faculty which each is seeking to fulfill; they walk hand in hand in that particular fulfillment-aspiration. The "point of dissimilarity" is the contrast of the one's relative fulfillment and the other's relative unfulfillment. The former radiates to the latter; the latter absorbs from the former. Hence each, because the relatively mature must out-give and the relatively immature must in-take, serves to provide on- going for the other.

   The Unknowable does not have fraternity with any other thing; It is The One, the All-that-is. But, what might be called the "essential energy" is the biune essence, polarity. In polarity is seen the arch-macrocosmic octave of fraternity; its biunity (two-ness-in- unity) is manifested as ( l ) Will: positive, projective, impregnative, masculine, male, and (2) Imagination: negative, magnetic, receptive, reactive, feminine, female. The inter-action of this biunity makes possible every creative and epigenetic function on all octaves and cycles throughout all specified identities. Much thought can be given to the significance of the number two. It is not really "two ones;" it is actually the outpicturing of the polarity-potentials of one. If polarity is the biune "essential energy" of the Cosmos (the inner life of unity), then two is the arch-symbol of diffusion of polarity-potentials. "Humanity" is an aspect of unity because it is an archetype; the two-ness of this archetype is the "diffusion" we call mom and woman. Sex (male and female) is the physical representation of biunity; gender (masculine and feminine) is the biune diffusion of vibrational being. Each male and each female contains (or possesses) the biune attribute of gender; the masculine of this attribute is expressiveness, the feminine is reactiveness. These two words, in turn, composite what might be called the "attribute of being capable of experience" and experience is, humanly speaking, epigenesis--the evolutionary unfoldment of potentials. The four words (two twos) male, female, masculine, and feminine are the structure points of our epigenetic being; by our consciousness of them we identify ourselves and others as factors in the archetypal human family, and by them is manifested our individualized consciousness; of every possible human relationship-pattern, as long as we pertain to the archetype "humanity." The perfect fulfillment of consciousness through experience as relationship- factors is the purpose of our evolution.

   In the absolute sense, every manifestation in Cosmos has fraternity with every other and all others since all are "children of The Unknowable." Should we choose to make the effort, we humans could possibly touch a feeling of fraternity with the inhabitants of planets of other solar systems as well as those of our own system. We can, however, by analogy perceive intellectually the fraternity of higher octaves of Life in consideration of the inter-fraternity of creative sources in descending order to that identity we call "Solar logos." This represents the exoteric aspect of the archetypal fraternal relationship--the parellelity by identity through similarity of creative attribute. In descending order we will name the fraternities of arch-galactic Logoi, galactic Logoi, Solar Logoi, Planetary Rulers, Satellite Rulers, and, in Earth-terms, the members of each specific life-wave, each archetype, each species of each archetype. The fraternity, for example, of mammalia includes all humans, cats, whales, rodents, etc., but each of these species is, in itself, a fraternity. There are also the two fraternities, in every archetype, of males and females. This esoteric aspect of fraternity refers to form, identity, structure-pattern, instinct-pattern, and creative or epigenetic potential. It is the"who and what" of fraternity manifested. Elasticize your mind a bit to consider this " fraternal grouping" of Life-forms.

   The esoteric aspect of fraternity has to do with inter-relationship by parallelity of evolutionary development relative to the creative source--in our case our Solar Logos. We, as inhabitants of Earth, are fraternal to the inhabitants of all planets of our system--we all derive from the same creative source. In a more condensed sense, we (as the highest epigenetic development on this planet) have a closer fraternity with the highest development on each of the other planets of our system. Further subjective condensation: we, on this planet, are most closely fraternal to all others whose ideality-fulfillments and ideality-unfulfillments are similar (parallel) to ours. This fraternity transcends in significance all others which refer to sex, race, nationality, etc. It is the fraternity of consciousness-octaves and all members of soul-fraternities are magnetized to each other through the attraction of their similarities plus dis-similarities for epigenetic development. All musicians, for example, from most primitive to most cultivated, are fraternal to each other because all who belong to this fraternity have, in common, a similarity of esthetic expression--regardless of the range of differences in their scope. The arch-fraternity of workers has its biune diffusion in employer and employee, but all members of both classifications (generally or specifically) are parallel to each other in the kind of service which they render to the ongoing of human life. This fraternity, unevolved, is congested, in the concept of "money is the reason for working;" evolved, the realization is attained that"money is an outer evaluation and an expression of inter-exchange between people--and that love- service is the ideal to be realized." In each factor of human experience, a principle unites people in groupings by inter-relationship--the principle of the "inner"of the work-activity; the outer action is the means by which principle-realization is evolved. Each life-principle overshadows (as does the Grand-Master of a lodge or spiritual organization) every human fraternity in and through which realization of truth is distilled.

   In thus considering the nature of fraternity, we are clearly alerted to the fact that what we call "entity" is a designation of our feeling about some-one; it is not, nor can it ever be, a designation of specific identity. Entity-feelings are congestions of love-consciousness, congestions of epigenetic powers, etc., which we feel when our unfulfillments are stimulated by another's vibration. No part of a human horoscope represents a delineation of "enemies, open or secret" because no human being is an "enemy" to any other. Those parts of the horoscope that we have been taught to delineate in this (philosophically false) way are those which, when stimulated by similar points in another's chart cause us to become aware of our feelings of guilt, frustration, and insecurity. Until we become aware of our parallelity with the person we identify these feelings by such words as hate, fear, detestation, disgust, etc. We say that we hate, fear, detest the person. That is not really true; we hate our ignorance, our congestions, and our false ideals; we do not hate people. The moment we become aware of the truth that something in that person parallels something in us we begin to glimpse our fraternity (togetherness) with him; something in our consciousness that wants (aspires) to decrystallize and evolve immediately goes to work at that point to make us aware of our regenerate parallelity with that person. An example of life 's mercy, no less. In the opinion of the author, stated in a previous article, the intense congestions which are epitomized by the fixed sign Scorpio, ruled by Pluto, find their arch- decrystallization in the sign Gemini--because Gemini is the astrological symbol for the essence of fraternal awareness.

   Keeping in mind that (symbolically speaking) straight lines are abstractions of curves, consider the fact that the symbol for this mutable air sign is the only one of the twelve made with four lines-- two horizontals and two verticals. As such, they are the abstractions of the four semi-circles initiated by the cardinal structure-points of the Great Astrological Mandala. They also picture, from another approach, the "four- foldness" of that which is inherent in the vertical and horizontal diameters of the Great Mandala. the four-fold composite of gender-sex of the archetypal human family: two-fold Begettor, two-fold Begotten--male and female both as expressers and as reactors. It pictures the essence of parallelity of parents with children in the sense that all parents have been children, children have the epigenetic potential of becoming parents, or "life-givers." Thus it pictures the parallelity of all manifestations because all erectors have been epigenitors and all epigenitors have the potentials for becoming creators. The creator is "elder brother" to the epigenitor; the epigenitor is "younger brother" to the creator. That which is closest to unity is the elder in any archetype. The fraternity of mate-hood is seen in the similarity of epigenetic power of human male and female synchronized with the complementation of dissimilarity of physical function. The fused action of two human sexual units provides the four-fold synchronization (expressive) reactive of male and female--the epigenetic fraternity of life-transmission. Husband and wife are "brother-and-sister" in the love-service of parenthood. Think about this if you feel inclined to throw all the blame for your marital unhappiness (if you have such) on your partner. Perhaps you need to remind yourself of the fraternity that is deeply and intrinsically inherent in the relationship. Those of you who may be congested on bad feeling toward a parent: remember that you and the parent are fraternal by membership in the same family-group; your similarities and dissimilarities are what magnetized you to each other for mutual fulfillment. Learn of yourself by studying and perceiving these similarities--you have no better source of instruction.

   With reference to the subject at hand, the fraternity of astrologer, artist, priest, and healer comprises the fraternity of epigenetic regenerators. In relationship to the source, these are pictured as the mutable cross-- the dispersors of channelings of wisdom and regenerative power. As such they are "God's little brothers" on this plane. But, in relationship to those who are ignorant, congested, crystallized, etc., they are pictured by the fixed cross, initiated by the fire-sign Leo, a symbol of that which corresponds to our Creative Source, the "humanization of the God-head." The inspired Power-Radiators of this plane are the "kings of Earth;" though Capricorn-Cancer abstractly pictures the principle of "parentage-of-forms, Leo-Aquarius pictures the principle of "parentage-of- Spirits" because it is through this diameter that creative solar power is released through this manifestation. (It has been given in occult instruction that our solar system had its inception, or began its manifestation, when the Sun, by precession, was in the sign Leo--the sign of radiative source.) Taurus-Scorpio is the desire-aspect of creativity, it is the bi-polar symbol of our creativity as epigenitors. Leo-Aquarius, however, is the Source of epigenetic power--it is the love attribute in which, and through which, we find our Divine Center. Before sex was, love was, and the fraternity of regenerators are those who recharge the spiritual consciousness of mankind from their releasements of fused Sun-Uranus power. As such, they are our elder brothers and sisters and fraternal to our Spirits as our fathers and mothers are to our expression as bodies on this plane.

   The great Regenerators of this planet may seem, and sometimes do seem, as gods to those less evolved. They know their source- of-power and they have distilled the wisdom to radiate that power according to fulfillment-principles. They possess extensions of our own attributes that make them take on a semblance of super-humanity. They make manifest our Inner Ideality of ourselves as individualizations of our archetype and we tend to "worship" them as we worship our concept of God. Their radiations of power as illumination by wisdom, love, beauty, and healing reach the innermost of our best selves--they ignite a fragment of the Self which abides eternally within each of us; in consequence, by their service we come into a perception of our inherent divinities--we experience a transfiguration of consciousness that makes us seem to be inhabitants of a heaven world. Because it is our nature to personalize our reactions and feelings we say that we love these people: we do, but what we really mean by that statement is that by response to their ignition of our consciousness we perceive more clearly than ever before that love which is God, the transcendent, transfiguring, transforming glory that is our attunement--for a little time at least--to what our lives should, in reality, be. It is a. part of our implied service, as humans, to keep alive that "magic"- and through its regenerating of our consciousness to radiate the inspiration, the joy, the healing-love to those in our immediate circles of relationship and acquaintance. We, too, can be "channelings" for the magic powers of Good, each in our own way and according to our development and aspiration.

   Let us remember that (though god-like) even the highly evolved ones of this Fraternity of Regenerators are, on this plane, human. And it is just as possible that each, or any, of them can congest in some specific factor of his or her personal awareness. We must, however devoted and worshipping, free even the most deeply beloved to be themselves as individuals, to make their "human mistakes" and exercise the right to learn from the results of those mistakes. When we love to such a point that we retain heart-felt gratitude for inspirational services rendered and release the pains of disillusionment and disappointment when our "elders" reveal feet of clay, we raise and purify the quality of our vibrational response, and, in liberating them from personal congestions, we make possible their freedom to regenerate and heal themselves. The "freeing" that we extend in true loving devotion is the essence of what they have sought to teach us; regenerative evolution is the process of liberating from congestions, and whether through response to art, to religious or philosophical teaching, to healing agencies, or what-not, we experience liberation in every response to regenerative agencies, The regenerator who congests on false pride, greed for applause and acclaim, intellectual crystallization, impairing his radiative powers by using them as a substitute for a personal frustration instead of love-service, is simply reacting with something in his being that refers to the "still human" part of him. Astrologer, priest, artist, and healer can (and do) meet these points in their experience; the tendency to allow personal disappointment to throw them out of line, the temptation to congestion on self-isolation, to congest on opinionatedness and prejudice, the challenges of the material world of finance and material means, etc., are all, to members of this fraternity, critical points in experience; much depends on them--so much has to be met in order that clarity of channeling and radiative power may be maintained. The astrologer must seek always the truths of life as they are pictured in his chart; he cannot, in truth, perceive the full values of another's chart until he has signified his willingness to see his own with detachment and discernment. This is the first of his occult responsibilities; on the quality of his determination to fulfil lit as he goes on through life will depend the quality of his love-wisdom-service to others.

   In conclusion, a fraternal thought to all regenerators who have chosen the path of astrological guidance: May the lotus of your soul unfold its perfections of white and gold on the serene waters of boundless and truthful sympathy; may the red rose of love and inspirational courage bloom on, and glorify, the Cross of your identities.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VII
Chapter V
Planetary Joys

   The polarity of our physical actions is a most fascinating study. For example: COMMUNICATION: masculine, speaking; feminine, listening; INSTRUCTION: masculine, teaching; feminine, learning; NUTRITION: masculine, mastication and swallowing; feminine, digesting and absorbing; PHYSICAL BEING: masculine, conscious action and expression; feminine, reaction and reflection. And so forth. In the first of these we display the qualities and attributes of our projective polarity, the second displays our reactive and subconscious levels of being-ness. Spiritualized consciousness has "joyousness" as the masculine polarity and "happiness" as the feminine, reactive polarity. "Happiness" is that which results, as reaction, from joyous action and expression. "Joyousness" is that quality of Spirit which impels our expressions of Love and Wisdom.

   It might be stated this way: We move through experience in joyousness from happiness to happiness. Experience is, of course, the sequence of our actions and reactions throughout our incarnations. Joyousness is not dissimilar from "faculty"--it is a power of consciousness. What we call "pain" is a reaction to something established through "unjoy"--expressions of energy congested in negative desire and ignorance. "Pain" (as a quality of our reactive faculty) might be called the "gestation and birth--struggles of happiness"--it is happiness "crying out to be recognized."

   In astrological symbology, the sextile aspect is the mechanism for translating the "pain-potential" into the "happiness- potential." When a human exercises his sextilic powers joyously he makes the most rapid translation of his congested energies into that which will register next time--or in a future incarnation--as the trine. The trine aspects are patternings of consciousness which register the results of previous spiritualizing exercise and they are "bank-accounts" for future-and greater-spiritual exercise. Every planet, as an "organ in the vibratory body" is a potential releasement of the joyousness-consciousness because each planet, as a "focalizer" of a zodiacal sign, is a "distributive point" for the expressions of spirit. Each planet in a given chart, must be understood in this way if the astrological reader and interpreter is to determine intuitively the spiritualization which the person's evolutionary needs require of him in this incarnation.

   For mandalas to clarify this thought, draw two circles. In one place the interlacing grand trines representing the cusp- points of the fire and air signs of the Great Mandala. This design is initiated by the projective, dynamic quality of Aries in the Great Mandala or by the Ascendant-sign of the natal horoscope. This is the mandala of humanity's joyousness, as male and as female; it is the potential of every human to express, by identity as a "child of Father-Mother God," the radiations of Love and Wisdom. Any sign can be an Ascendant-sign, therefore any planet can be the vibratory focalizer of this spiritualized energy.

   In the second circle, place the interlacing grand trines which are analogous to the earth and water signs. This design is the faculty of both male and female to react to spiritualized expressions from the resources of spiritualized consciousness. It is the mandala of happiness--the faculty of reacting and realizing in terms of the upper octaves of consciousness. Because the vertical (Capricorn-Cancer) is the line of parentage it is shown that what man reacts to with happiness he himself has built ("parented") by expressions of his own consciousness. "Verticality" is reproduced in the fire-air mandala in the lines Leo- Sagittarius and Aquarius-Gemini. These vertical lines "enclose" or "pattern" the twofold "radiation" from fire and air-cardinal to fire and air-fixed and mutable.

   Interpreted: IDENTITY (expressive male and expressive female)--radiating Divine power as love and as wisdom. These two dynamic trines symbolize the expressive polarity of the highest octaves of the individualized human consciousness; they represent, abstractly, the "epitomes of the virtues in expression." The horizontal of the fire-air mandala is reproduced in the earth-water trines by the lines Taurus-Virgo and Scorpio- Pisces. Since the horizontal Aries-Libra, in relationship to Capricorn- Cancer, symbolizes "that which is begotten" the horizontals of the earth-water trines "pattern" the radiations to fixed and mutable from the two cardinal parentage-points. It is the horizontal of Taurus-Virgo that is the base of the symbol we use in astrology for the trine aspect. This one is the most perfectly static of the four triangles--the one which most perfectly symbolizes result.

   A study of the three signs of the earth-trinity tells us that this trine is generated (initiated) by the sign Capricorn which, esoterically speaking, is the power to assume and fulfill responsibilities-- the insignia of the matured human consciousness. This initiating point is the exaltation of Mars: self-directed expression and self-initiated control of energy-powers. The radiation from Capricorn to Taurus, fixed-earth and Capricorn's fifth house-sign, "connects" or "channels" the principle and power of responsibility-fulfillment to the principle of steward-ship and equilibriated exchanges. Taurus is ruled by Venus, the principle of equilibrium, and this sign is exaltation-point of Capricorn's planetary polarity--the Moon, ruler of Cancer.

   Taurus, furthermore, is eleventh house-sign of Moon's Cancer and liberation of the begotten to its individualized fulfillments is the initiation through the stewardship-principle. The second "radiation" from Capricorn is to Virgo, abstracting two-thirds of the circle represented by the arc of Capricorn to Virgo through Taurus. Virgo is earth- dignity of Mercury and is the wisdom octave (ninth house-sign) of Capricorn's responsibility-fulfillment power. This responsibility, channeled through Mercury's power, is that of putting to right use and service that which has been learned. Mercury's air-dignity is Gemini, the feminine polarity of the education-diameter (Sagittarius-Gemini) and, as such, it is the principle of Learning, the "inhalation of knowledge" and the "response to the stimulation of inner knowing." As has been said before, it is the author 's conviction that Mercury, as ruler of Virgo, is exalted in the fixed air-sign Aquarius, the love-octave of the air-trine which is initiated by the Cardinal Air-sign Libra, ruled by Venus. As such the fraternity-consciousness of the air-trine is correlated and synthesized with the earth-trine as the spiritual responsibility to fulfill human relationships through the power of love as "fraternity," the essence of joyousness in human relationship and the epitome of the human heart's highest aspirations.

   In this study we are dealing with the astrology of humans while they are incarnate--"consciousness fused with the material universe." We use the horizontally-based triangle as our arch-symbol of spiritualized human consciousness because it is here on this plane that we perceive the out-picturings of our past alchemical endeavors and we have the responsibility to express them further in relationship to our fellow-humans. However, in the representation of the earth-trine is implied the fire-trine- just as Capricorn, or any other cusp-sign, is implied in the potentials of the abstract Ascendant, Aries. The fire-trine was expressed, in degree; the earth-trine is the resultant distillation in consciousness and outer conditions Capricorn, as an exaltation-sign, has inherent the powers of Mars matured by "affiliation" with the powers of Saturn.

   A trine-aspect between two planets implies the condition of a grand-trine in the making. All grand-trines are "evolutionary high-water marks" because three points of an element (fire, earth, air, water) are patterned or "structuralized" as the result of previous regenerate expressions. A two-planet trine is (to analogize) the hundred-per cent mark on your examination paper in one particular subject during the school term; a grand-trine is the hundred percent mark on your term examination that qualifies you for promotion with honors. The implication is that, having distilled the grand-trine, you are qualified to express those powers, not just to "enjoy the promotion with honors." Any chart displaying a grand-trine displays spiritual pabulum to be used for regenerating the congestions in the chart. Some astrologers have said, in effect: "I don't like to see a grand-trine in a chart; the person always tries to take things too easy--he doesn't make effort." That is only because the person (represented by the chart) has not been instructed that states of development are powers that must be used. Anyone who just enjoys his grand- trine and ignores corrective measures is like a. person who graduates with high honors but does not apply that which he has learned when he enters business or professional life--he just "sails along, priding himself on the high mark." Trines and grand-trines do not imply mastery--only relative mastery in terms of the evolutionary status. The horoscope of an inhabitant of the Borneo jungles could register a trine, but it would only mean that the person possessed a superior quality in comparison with his fellow jungle- citizens. Basic principles apply regardless of outer identity, but some knowledge of outer identity does help the astrologer to interpret the evolutionary quality of trine aspects.

   Planets, in relationship to each other, are either "dignified" or "disposited." If they are dignified, they are in the signs which they rule; if they are disposited, they are in signs ruled by another planet. A dignified planet that is trined (either "singly" or"grandly") tells us that the person will have, in this incarnation, a great variety of experience in those things to which the planet refers. A dignified planet is in a first house-sign placement; its "trined condition" is information that in this incarnation the person is to express dynamically a deep residue of powers distilled from many past incarnations. He has, as far as that planet is concerned, "returned to home-base after a tour of the zodiac" and he is now, by indication of the trine registration, qualified to radiate with great effect--and for great good--in terms of that planet's principles. Such a person will be provided with many objectives toward which he may "radiate" as well as many "reflective agencies" by reaction to which he may enjoy realizing the results of his past spiritualized expressions. A dignified planet that is grand-trined is one of the most important factors to study in the chart. Such a planet is an "arch-power" for regenerative adjustment for the entire wheel. A grand-trined exalted planet represents the maximum planetary expression in human astrology. Such a position is indicative of the fruitage of spiritual initiation in the past; an exalted planet having one single trine is indicative of the same but on a lesser octave.

   It is, however, tremendous power which if rightly and progressively expressed, makes the person appear in the world of other humans as a personification of white light. Dignified and exalted planets (trined and grand-trined) will usually picture a remarkable amplitude in outer circumstances because those patterns and powers represent our consciousness of the infinitude of God's power and love. Therefore a certain abundance of good will be perceived in the external circumstances. Another "trine-pattern" that is deserving of much study is the placement of planets in their own fifth and ninth house-signs. Call the planet's sign of dignity "one" and in each case count around the wheel counter-clockwise (or "zodiac-wise") and see if any of your planets are so placed relative to their dignity-sign. It is felt by the author that all planets so placed, regardless of sign-placement or planetary aspects have a certain specialized spiritual significance because in the planet's "zodiacal tour" it has reached those "points" representing timings to express their principles in terms of love-power and wisdom-power. Exercise much elasticity of key-word approach in this study. It is complicated and sooner or later intuition must step in to take over where intellect cannot reach. The use of simplified mandalas is a clarifying technique which makes it possible for your intellect and intuition to focus on specific points.

   Clarifying your awareness of the basic differences between the words "joyousness" and "happiness" results in an elasticization of your approach to trine-aspects that brings remarkable results. Just as birth on the physical plane marks a culmination (of the gestative process) so does it mark the initiation of the incarnation with its possibilities for growth, expression, and realization. We might speak of the joyousness of love-union (mutual expression) and the happiness experienced by the parents when their child is normally and healthily born; or the joyousness of musical practice and training and the happiness of a successful first recital. And so forth--there are many such illustrations to consider as representative of the trine aspect outpictured in terms of active and passive registration.

   Thus, joyousness creates happiness. Even intensive effort, struggle, agony of mind and soul, and all such intense emotional states can be basically joyous. It is joyousness that makes it possible for us to fulfill our requirements in spite of all seeming external or internal obstacles. In joyousness we charge our expressions with the utmost of our love-power, devotion-power fidelity-power, improvement-power, harmonizing-power, esthetic-power, sympathy-power, intelligence-power, physical-power, etc. The great ones in this world, regardless of how "unhappy" their lives may seem to us, are basically joyous because the Divine Powers of Love and Wisdom are channeled through them. Their "personal elements" may register unfulfillment in many ways but TRULY GREAT people are much more than "just folks with homes, wives, husbands, and jobs." They, and what they do to express their consciousness, are gestures of the divine to this plane--the great therapeutists, artists, writers, teachers, humanitarians all testify to the invincible power of joyousness to fulfill the realization of idealities. They do not think of life in terms of "something to be enjoyed" in the easy-going way that most of us think of "enjoyment." They approach living as their opportunity to express the utmost of their highest and best-- to fulfill their specialized patternings of evolutionary law and progress.

   The "unjoyous" are the apathetic, the careless, the indifferent, the mentally and emotionally slovenly; they exist in motion by response to things in themselves which, for the most part, they do not understand. The joyous ones are conscious -deeply so--of course and objective; they express their resources and fulfill their objectives with a focus of power, intelligence, and devotion that qualifies them to swing the tide of human evolution upward and onward. There are relatively few geniuses incarnate at any one time but every human can learn to live joyously in the sense that all who will to can become more clearly aware of their divine identity and of their divine resources. It is when we think of ourselves as "worms in the eyes of God" that we turn from our identity as "joyous Beings." We are, in truth, "sparks from the flame of God" and a spark has the attributes of light, warmth, and upward motion.

   To recognize that any planet can be the ruler of a horoscope and that every sign has its place in the trine-symbol helps us to realize that no human is excluded from the privilege of living joyously. The old "image" that "misery is our lot" is true only when we ourselves express miserably, limitedly, fear-fully, congestively, and without recognition of divine potentials and spiritual objectives. Every action we perform, every reaction we experience, every emotional expression and every thought we hold has a particular vibratory qualification and that means that all of these things can be translated into higher octaves of joyousness in expression and happiness in reaction if we choose to make them so.

Part II

   The sign Leo, ruled by the Sun as fifth house- sign of the great Mandala, will be taken, in this discourse, as the archetype of the consciousness of joyousness. When clearer realization of our solar identity and solar power is more and more revealed through alchemical functioning we recognize a greater amplitude of capacities and objectives. Our Solar Parent is the Source of ALL that we are, have, or can attain in our human functioning, and perception of our unity with this Source aligns us in consciousness, to the presence and the availability of solar abundance on all planes. A truly joyous-hearted person is so because he is aware, to a degree, of the availability of this abundance--he is relatively free from constricting fears which in most of us, minimize the quantity and quality of our expressiveness and reactiveness as we go through an incarnation. By exercise of Sun-consciousness, self-awareness,and self-direction, which are the roots of all security, are practiced; results are studied and mistakes learned by, which is the essence of all true education. Expression of Sun- consciousness is greater amplitude of out-givingness, the counter-active to the natural instinct for "intaking-ness" of the limited, insecure person. With the neutralization of these limitations and insecurities, the love- consciousness blooms like the red rose on its bush--the perception of the essential good in other humans takes the place, more and more, of prejudice, retaliation, jealousy and fear. Time is perceived to be an "ally," not a limitation, legitimate responsibilities are seen to be channelings for maturity, not heavy down-pulling burdens. All the planet-powers are derivations of Solar Power; let us consider each in turn as a channel uniquely qualified--for the expression of joyousness.

   MARS--ruler of Aries: Joyousness as physical action and physical development; the joy of meeting internal and external challenges with courage; good sportsmanship by which the competitive instinct serves to stimulate for further and better efforts; the joy of childhood--the interested attitude toward "new things;" the joy of pioneering and "carving out new paths;" in higher consciousness this joy is moral courage-dynamic powers expressed through personal integration to stand for the right as it is understood by the individuals; it is that quality in the aspirant that enables him to "face the enemy in himself " and to overcome that "enemy" by regenerate living; it is the self-protective instinct translated into the "joy of protecting loved ones, a loved work or loved ideals;" it is courage as a channeling for the expression for love.

   VENUS--ruler of Taurus: Joyousness as the sense of "identification with nature;" self-expression in terms of fulfilling one's physical needs by right exchanges with nature and with other people; love of earth-things, cultivation of plant-life for utility and beauty; the right use of the services of animal-life; joyousness as expression of good will in financial exchanges--to express the heart by financial means; the devotion to the principle of right stewardship on all planes so that equilibrium is maintained; joyousness as the form of expression by which our contributions to the physical aspects of human life are made in terms of esthetic values and standards.

   MERCURY--ruler of Gemini: Joyousness as the exercise of an open mind in the functions of learning; the joys of communication by written and spoken words; the exchanges of thoughts and ideas by the fraternity of languages in which minds meet in mutuality and external differences are minimized; joyousness in expressing that which has been learned by study of the Law of Cause and Effect--the basis of all spiritualized education; actions based on the response to all opportunities to learn-exoterically or esoterically; the arch-octave of this vibration is the joyousness of communication--which is fraternity activated.

   MOON--ruler of Cancer: Joyousness as the heart- quality which prompts us to express in terms of nurture, comfort, and protection; this joy is primitively based on self-sacrifice--the "feeding of life by the relinquishment of self;" it is the joy of mother-love and in its quality is seen the archetypal joy of giving; true giving, nurture, and protection depend on sympathetic at-tunement to truths, and the joy of superficial givingness is raised to higher and higher levels when discrimination is exercised so that the good in others is what we feel moved to nurture. Sympathy to another's true needs prompts our best expressions through this joy--we then are alerted to our utmost capacities to provide a degree of fulfillment for the required need. Sacrifice--on any level--that is made in response to compulsion may be made with remarkable completeness, but it is the voluntary, self-initiated sacrifice that is truly joyous because such an expression is based on integrity. This vibration is the essential base for all nutritive contributions to family, national, and international welfare and progress. Those who give to the race itself are often crucified for their giving, but the "possible opportunity of crucifixion " does not, to a joyous heart lessen the quality of the offered contribution.

   SUN--ruler of Leo: Joyousness in the pure, unalloyed radiation of Love-power, regardless of response or return; the administration of power in terms of equity and honor; this joy is truly that of hospitality, expressing through that which was established in Cancer; it is the particular quality of joyousness that characterizes all great entertainers--whose talent expressions enable us to respond with laughter and the attendant release of tensions. Essentially, Leo is joyousness as amplitude, of any kind, in expression.

   MERCURY--ruler of Virgo: Joyousness as the putting-to-use of that which has been learned; such expressions result in true service--the discriminating exercise of knowledge. Through Virgo we begin to "touch the impersonal" because it is the modulation from the lower six house- signs of the Great Mandala to the upper six. It is the joy of doing the work that one loves to do and it is also the joy of loving one's fellow-workers-- whether employers, colleagues or employees; these persons are fraternal to us in a specialized, impersonal way. Virgo is the joy of specialized physical, mental, and psychological training to equip us for the relatively perfect fulfillment of our chosen life-service and the "total enthusiasm" by which we effect that fulfillment

   VENUS--ruler of Libra: the joy of expressing the consciousness of "we are"--extension, by polarity, of the individualized I AM; the joy of aspiring to include the good of others in our plans and expressions as amplification of our desires to realize our individualized good. This is the joy of love-exchange-mutual expression and mutual reflection of human ideality-perception; it is our joy to be in such ways that the beauty of the human archetype may, in degree, be perceived in us by others so that their deep dream of beauty may be relatively at least, gratified. Joyousness--as Libra--is that expression of soul-power which we call co- operation; it is one of the arch-virtues and the persons who, with amplitude and generosity, exercise the power of co-operation are those to whom joy is a life-long companion; the integrity of truly good hearts strikes a sympathetic key-note in the hearts of others with a"lifting power." As a result, the song of "we are" is sung more and more beautifully.

   PLUTO--ruler of Scorpio: without love and beauty, generative exercise is a frenzied, self-centered compulsion, but as an expression of mutual love it becomes an intense, transfiguring co-operative joy; it is, as such, a dynamic expression of releasing deep resources of vibratory power toward the end that the" partnership-idealities " of each person concerned may be the more vividly realized; as love-expression, it is "Life giving life to itself"--the two persons concerned identify themselves with the procreative attribute of the Cosmos for the begetting of new life- vehicles or for the generation of deeper love-consciousness toward, and for, each other. On the subjective planes, Scorpio represents expressions from the deepest reaches of potential and consciousness--the most intense devotions and consecrations. It is the joy of the martyr, of the devotee and of the ascetic- -of anyone in whom the fires of personalized desire have been transmuted into higher octaves of impersonalized love. Such an one is not only the priest--he is his own altar and his life is his Mass. His re-generations are the sacrifice that he offers daily so that life may be made more on-going and up- going. The joyousness of Scorpio is ecstasy because its expressions are released from the most intensely compressed and focussed of our potentials and aspirations.

   JUPITER--ruler of Sagittarius: the joyousness of teaching; this planet is polarity of Mercury's Gemini--as such it is the radiation of wisdom; its position as ninth house-sign of the Great Mandala and fifth house sign of Leo tells us that all true teaching is an expression of love. The student (Mercury-Gemini) being loved, is taught; the teacher (Jupiter-Sagittarius), loving, teaches. Jupiter signifies the joyousness of all religious exercises, ceremonies, rituals, and festivals-symbolic dramatizations which align human consciousness to higher perceptions of life- principles. Exalted in the Moon's sign, Cancer, Jupiter represents a more purely self-directed joyousness in acts of giving--it is true giving which is devoid of ulterior motives. It is the joyousness of all truthful expressions by which the miasmas and distortions of ignorance are dispelled by the power of true teaching; instruction concerning the existence and nature of the Law of Cause and Effect represents the teaching--joy of Jupiter in its purest basic form.

   SATURN--ruler of Capricorn: the "wordless" joyousness of legitimate responsibility-fulfillment; the powers of a matured consciousness that enables a human to function as a "corner-stone" of family, nation, and race. The joy of planning by exercise of the matured mind and carrying out the plan efficiently and thoroughly, step-by-step, until fulfillment is realized. The joy of awareness of capacities to assume, without exterior compulsion, that which must be fulfilled. The joy of living with rectitude which does not "confine and inhibit"--it matures the consciousness for evolutionary progress. This joy is deeply parental in essence; it is that of the father, in human terms--and that of the Redeemer, in higher octaves of consciousness. URANUS--ruler of Aquarius: when the human has integrated his consciousness through many incarnations of adherence to Spiritual Law, the joyousness of Uranus blooms as that of the joy of the liberated soul; such a one "dances where he wills, but he treads not on another's toes." This is the joy of creative genius and of prophecy; it is "Love that perceives the Soul of another"--it is no longer the "love that worships the body." It is the joy of all impersonalized group cooperation--it is the radiation of fellowship, which is fraternity extended into limit- lessness of scope. It is "creativity" or "manifestivity" by which the beautiful truths of the human archetype are recognized and acknowledged. This vibration is the joyousness of revolt by the human against those things in himself which have impeded his realization of true fellowship; it is the joy of alchemical exercise by which congestions and inhibitions are released into octaves of greater expressiveness; it is the joy of all resurrections--the "transcendence of all tombs."

   NEPTUNE--ruler of Pisces: the joyousness of dynamic prayer; the "breathing of one's Self, with Love, into the ethers;" the, expansion of consciousness that results from focussed meditation and the resultant clearer perception of idealities. The joy of all inspired artistic expression--particularly that of the musician and the actor. It is the joy of inspirational at-tunement--and that of the heart's deepest and purest reverence. By Venus's exaltation herein, this is the joyousness of loving life itself and that of loving everything that life expresses. It is that love that creates beauty and the joyousness of perceiving life's most subtle and lost pure beauties. It is the truthful perception by which all hells are redeemed--by it, saints and saviors heal the wounds of body, mind, and Spirit. It is the joy of renouncing the "no longer needed" to "embrace the now- required." It is the faith in which all true progressive steps are taken--a faith made possible because love of life itself has recharged the consciousness and translated the agitations of fear, hate, and insecurity into the serenity of peace and wisdom through joyousness.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VII
Chapter VI
Shakespearean Star Portraits

   From the resources of his imagination and knowledge, the playwright chooses those elements of the spectrum of human personality and experience, which are appropriate to his concept of a theme, and he organizes those elements into a dramatic form which is to be interpreted by actors, actresses, and all others who function in the theater. All forms of art are distilled representations of human consciousness; works of art, like mirrors, reflect to humanity intensified representations of itself and its experiences. The playwright deals with human consciousness, emotion, and experience in terms of humanity's objective expressions; dramatic themes are presented and interpreted by humans in terms of objectively recognizable patterns of appearance, personality, activity, and relationship. Actors and actresses in performance are symbolic microcosms of humanity's own self--each role performed by an actor or actress is symbolic of a fragment of humanity's consciousness of identity and existence on this plane.

   Therefore, in the creations of a true genius such as William Shakespeare was (or whoever it may have been who wrote under that name !) a protean quality of artistic skill and understanding made possible the dramatic characterizations which reflect the human archetype, localized by name, sex, period and nationality but which really symbolize universal patterns of human nature and experience. Sooner or later, we all come face to face with the Hamlet, the Cordelia, the Othello, the Lady Macbeth, the Romeo, and the Juliet in ourselves. We weep or laugh by response to these--and other--characterizations because something in our deep subconscious knowledge of ourselves is stimulated when we see great acting which interprets the creative imaginings of a genius play-wright. Our own existence--past or present--is reviewed to a degree. Old, long-forgotten feeling-memories of suffering and joy are ignited. Our awareness (consciousness of individualized self-hood in many incarnations) is reawakened, and what we see on the stage is ourselves, condensed and focussed by the dramatic requirements of the theme being interpreted. We are man-woman, all professions, all nationalities, all relationships, all strivings, all failures, all joys, and all sufferings. The playwright, through the esthetic principles inherent in creative dramatic art, and the players, through the esthetic principles inherent in interpretative drama the art recharge our consciousness of our total being, our total identity as individuals, and our total relationship to all other individuals.

   Students of astrology: prepare a copy of the Great Astrological Mandala, a twelve-housed circle with Aries Ascendant, the other signs in sequence--thirty degrees to each house; Sun, Moon, and other planets in the signs and houses of their dignity. Meditate on this mandala a little as the symbolic composite portrait of humanity. It is from this design and symbol arrangement that all human horoscopes are derived and it represents the total of that which is interpreted, creatively or otherwise, in all of the fine arts. It is the picture of humanity's consciousness of its identities and experiences. Now, to specialize on dramatic art, "personalize" the Sun, Moon, and planets as characters in the Drama of Human Life; let your mind range over the scope of these "personalities" by imagining each planet (vibratory focalizer) in each one of the zodiacal signs, each one of the environmental houses, each aspected (by conjunction, sextile, trine, square, and opposition) to every other one. Add the factors of both sexes, all ages, all nationalities, all historical periods and you will glimpse the tremendous spectrum of that which is "grist" for the playwright's mill. You and I are in this picture--as we are, as we have been, and as we will be as long as our identity is "human being." You are now playing the role that your consciousness of life has created. Humans, in their Earth-living, are both playwrights and performers--each uses his consciousness to interpret life.

   The Art of Theater, more directly than does any other art-form, makes possible the stimulus in human hearts to tears and laughter. Weeping and laughing are two of the ways by which life makes it possible for us to decrystallize the solar plexal tensions and congestions. In response to the contrived agonies, sufferings, longings, and despairs in dramatic tragedy, we are moved to weep in memory of our own agonies and sufferings. In response to buffoon-ery, satire, and caricature, our intellects are "tickled"in such ways that we are moved to shake loose in laughter in witnessing the reflections of our absurdities, awkwardnesses and embarrassments. In witnessing romantic drama (of the happy ending kind) we thrill to intense emotions, deep love, aspirations, efforts, and the realization of ideals. The occult purpose of tragic drama is to induce the feelings of sympathy for other humans--not the intensification of self pity. That of comedy and satire is to decrystallize congestions on pomposity self- righteousness, hypocrisy, and over-seriousness--to "shake us down from our high horses." Romantic drama has its inner purpose in intensifying our awareness of the "tone, color, and design" of our living--to spark awareness of greater capacities for love, devotion, effort, and aspiration. The "happy ending" of romantic plays is dramatized symbolism of the aspiration of all humans to realize ideals and evolve through regeneration and transmutation. The "happy ending" reminds us of the goodness of life.

   The poetry and nobility of Shakespearean dramaturgy holds up an immense mirror in which humanity may see itself. Let us enjoy a consideration of some of the Shakespearean characterizations as they represent "focalized points" of human nature and human-experience patterns correlated with basic, simple astrological symbolism:

   ROMEO AND JULIET: from a reincarnationists standpoint, this drama would have been much more truly tragic in tone and effect if the two "star-crossed lovers" had permitted crystallized adherence into family-prejudice to prevent or disintegrate their love-union. The "Romeo and Juliet" in each human is that which longs for the total polarization called the Hermetic Marriage; but this "inner union of the self with the Self " can be realized only by fulfillment of relationship unions and patterns through love: The "houses of Montague and Capulet" are the "graven images" of family prejudice and social position which are represented astrologically by the diameter Cancer-Capricorn and congested aspects to Moon and Saturn. We all derive our incarnation from a family pattern to which we are attracted by the laws of vibratory sympathy and karma. However, each must, in due time, decrystallize congestions of this pattern, from octave to octave, by more purely individualized love-expression. Romeo "o'er leapt the walls" to be with his Juliet; this "o'er leaping" is Uranus decrystallizing or transcending the boundaries set by Saturn, symbol of "congestion of forms." Personalizing a little--Romeo and Juliet were timed, evolutionarily speaking, to prove the power of their love for each other; their challenge was through the enmity, rivalry, and prejudice of their family groups. Though they died, their tragedy was ameliorated by their devotion to each other--rather than, in fear, to the "family-image." We all, at one time or another, have an incarnation in which we have opportunity to prove the sincerity of our heart's highest aspirations and ideals. To do this, we have to use the powers represented abstractly by the diameter Leo-Aquarius to transcend the fixations on Cancer- Capricorn. To remain fixated on Cancer-Capricorn is to back-track on the evolutionary powers working for liberation and progress. The luminous poetry of the Balcony Scene represents the radiant purity of resumption of true love; Romeo and Juliet loved each other from a past incarnation just as we love our ideal self through all of our incarnations. The inspirational beauty of the play--as poetry--typifies the inner radiance that accompanies recognition of our ideals.

   KING LEAR: This drama is the tragedy of judgment corrupted by greed for approbation--doubly tragic because when the truth is perceived, the inner negatives are too deeply etched to be counteracted by constructive or regenerative effort. The realization of the hypocrisy and dishonor of the two oldest daughters, whom he had over-valuated, and the sincerity and fidelity of Cordelia, whom he had underestimated and spurned, caused Lear to react with such an excess of self-revulsion that madness ensued. Astrologically, it seemed that Lear is a portrait of "Jupiter afflicted." He based his favorable estimate of the oldest daughters on their protestations of devotion and affection--indicative that an insincerity in his own nature was counterparted by their falseness. Their greed for land and money and husbands of high position was counterparted by his greed for approbation. We can--we do--weep in witnessing the heartbreaking tragedy of the demented lying in his excess of self-loathing because we, too, have been moved by desire and greed to claim the false and spurn the true. The realization of such misdirected evaluation causes one of the most terrific kinds of disillusionment, the kind that can disintigrate our self-control if we are unable to learn from the disillusioning experience. Lear worshipped the false image of himself, synchronized in degree with the falseness of his two daughters. Because we can be Lear, it behooves us to exercise counter- actives to negative Jupiter-patterns by discrimination, sincerity, and detachment from subconscious creed-symbols and compensations. Cordelia personifies sincerity of self-evaluation--the quite-knowing what is true and real. When we spurn Cordelia, we enslave ourselves to false, betraying images; when we love and value Cordelia, we refuse the false and cling to the pure and true.

   OTHELLO: This dramatic study of the destructiveness of jealousy warrants a little psychological consideration. We are never--in any true sense of the word--jealous of another person. Jealousy is self-hatred based on an actual or imagined inferiority which, in turn, is based on some phase of unfulfillment of a potential, or some discolored facet of self-evaluation. Othello, if we personalize him a little, may have felt inferiority because of his black skin, particularly in relationship to his white wife, Desdemona, who truly loved him. Iago symbolizes the craftiness and duplicity of self-justification--the disinclination to exercise self- honesty. Othello's murder of Desdemona symbolizes the "murder in consciousness" that we commit when, goaded by intense negative rationalizations and justifications, we "murder" true self-evaluation. By exercise of these negative rationalizations, we ascribe truth to an untruth, and our feet walk a tangling path until we fall. The qualities of nobility that Desdemona loved in Othello represent those virtues in human beings which inspire love and honor; but Othello, blinded by the inner negative, could not realize and value the truth of himself. Iago, symbol of Othello's enmity within himself, emphasized the untruth--representing Desdemona as having been unfaithful. Othello, under pressure of the psychological negative, preferred to believe the lie. Goaded beyond endurance by the inner pressure, he murdered the thing he loved most--the truth of his marriage to Desdemona. Mars as co-ruler of Scorpio, is the destructive--killing action by which we express our releasements of intensely compressed Scorpionic negatives--the levels and areas of untransmuted desires and emotional powers. The salvation of Mars is transmutation by constructive, intelligent expression in action. Othello betrayed himself twice: by giving ear to Iago's suggestion, and then putting into action that which represented his desire to "kill out" what Iago influenced him to believe. A nobleman, worthy of love and honor, had thrown away all, by focus on his unreal self rather than on his Reality. We "kill" when we put into action our belief in an untruth about ourselves. A truly tragic theme.

   CLEOPATRA: The death of Cleopatra by suicide does not in any way neutralize the power of the play Antony and Cleopatra as an example of high romantic drama. Cleopatra, as a, woman-character, symbolizes the combination of Sun and Venus elements in human nature. According to historical and Shakespearean representation, she was magnificently endowed with attributes of physical beauty and charm, intelligence, culture, and skill--a woman so conscious of inner powers that she lived always in terms of amplitude. She had enormous wealth--and used it without stint. She had great capacity for love--and gave herself to love royally and completely. Whatever her short- comings may have been, there was nothing in her nature that was mean, petty, sordid, or vulgar. A great actress--such as Katherine Cornell--would project these qualities of character and personality in such a way that the audience would experience a recharging of its desire and aspiration to "live bigly"--in terms of power, wealth, beauty, culture, intelligence, and skill rather than continuing to live under the ignominy of capture and degradation, Cleopatra chose to end her life by her own hand; thus symbolizing THAT in human nature which wants to learn to live in terms of dignity and self-respect. Some of us crawl from time to time, through fear or feelings of inferiority; but we do not like ourselves for it and sooner or later we rebel against the inner negative. The "Cleopatra in us" symbolizes our disdain of the petty and mean; "she" is that in us which makes us long for vivid experience, met and fulfilled with courage and confidence in our abilities. We all have talents, ambitions, aspirations, and longings; the vibration of the Sun--as ruler of the royal sign Leo--is that which we use as the power of self-determination uncluttered by the down-draggings of "littleness feelings and thoughts."

   BEATRICE AND BENEDICT: Much Ado About Nothing is one of the most delightful and delicious of comedies. It presents in a sprightly and sparkling way the "old story of the battle of the sexes"--source of much that has been presented throughout the ages in comic drama. The posturings, tricks, and devices which men and women display in relationship with each other are represented by the counter-clockwise turning of horizontal diameter--Aries-Libra of the Great Mandala. These two signs represent the polarization of the expressive individuality of humanity--as "male" and "female." Each of the two signs of this diameter symbolizes facets of personality which are peculiar to maleness and femaleness, but together they form one diameter; they appear to be "different" but each counterparts the other. Cosmic drama, in relationship to this subject, makes it possible for us to come into a more healthy appreciation of our subjective polarity through laughter. Humans are innately bi-polar--we have all had much experience in the sex opposite to that in which we now express. When we recognize that "opposite sex" is simply our "subjective self " we can enjoy and appreciate our "hidden selves" as we are portrayed on the comic stage. In laughter we relax subconscious feelings of tension and when we guffaw, roar, and shriek at the antics of comedy actors and actresses who are interpreting the--sometimes--ridiculous interplay of men and women in relationship to each other, we refreshen our viewpoint toward human polarity. Beatrice and Benedict are the protagonists of Humanity destined to fall in love and have experience together--regardless of silly prejudices, false self-esteem, and "images of disinclination." Life works continually to incline us toward each other for our mutual development and fulfillment of potentials symbolized by Aries-Libra. Benedict is Mars who sees the charm and lovableness of Venus in Beatrice; Beatrice is Venus who needs the "kiss of Mars" to awaken her to a clear realization of her value as a woman. There is a little of Benedict and Beatrice in each one of us--we may spat and quarrel for a time but sooner or later Benedict-Mars and Beatrice-Venus bring the play--of our relationship experience--to a happy end by their union.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VII
Chapter VII
The Faculty of Intuition

   Intuition: our winged inner sense, the magical perceptive power by which a human after many, many lives of conscious regeneration, purification, and simplification, is able to effect an instantaneous realization of spiritual fact or law inherent in any expression of phenomena, experience, or relationship. The presence of this perceptive power or faculty in the consciousness of a human is evidence of his dedicated pursuance of truth and dedicated endeavor to spiritualize his autonomy (self-rulership) through Love.

   Egos who have evolved this faculty have appeared in many places throughout human history, but they are now incarnating in greater numbers than ever before. These persons, in degree, represent a vanguard in the evolutionary preparation for the New Age; they bring in from their developments in past lives the evidence of the potential of Intuition possessed by all humans and which all humans are eventually to develop and express. The present expansion in scientific exploration and invention externalizes this "New Age advent" because the human's ability to invent mechanisms and instruments is based on intuitive perception of principles. Consider for a moment that mechanism which most perfectly externalizes the intuitive faculty: the electronic calculator. This mechanism produces, almost instantly, the accurate solution of mathematical combinations and problems so complicated that highly trained people require hours to solve them. Recognize, by correspondence, that human intuition in action is based on the same power of accurate, synthesizing perception that is externalized by this fabulous machine.

   The word "intuition" is directly derived from two Latin root-words which, together, mean to look into. By the synchronized action of our two eyes--the polarized physical expression of visual perception--we look at things. Even the study of an X-ray picture reveals only that aspect of the physical which is beneath the exterior surface. It is by the action of the single eye of truthful perception, externalized in the physical as the pituitary gland, that we "in-to- it-ively perceive that which is with-in the physical, that from which the physical proceeds. Every single mechanism ever devised by humans represents an externalization of an intuitive perception of a principle of the cosmos. Think of the genius possessed by the human who first intuitively perceived the principle of the wheel and reproduced that principle in physical form! Or the principle of the boat, or the use of fire, or the principle of the radio, or that of motion-pictures; all of these devices, from the simplest to the most complex, were perceived as applications of cosmic principles to form and the perception, in each case, was experienced inwardly as intuitive functioning. It has been said, with truth, that a human cannot invent a device or mechanism the principle of which does not have correspondence with an actual or a potential faculty of the human. The converse can be stated: The inner-power of humans can discover ways and means to externalize each and every principle of the cosmos which has correspondence with the human's potentialities. The old saw holds true: there is nothing new under the Sun; there are only different ways to externalize what is perceived "under the Sun" and the perceiving is always some degree of intuitive action. Only the higher faculties make possible the perception of that which is "new," and of all these Intuition is the one which most directly gives evidence of the "regeneration of the self by the Self."

   One of the most perfectly pure correlations to be found in the entire realm of Astro-philosophy is that of the faculty of Intuition with the planet Uranus. There is complete correspondence in every point of this two-fold identification. Uranus is the liberative principle in the cosmos. Intuition is the most completely liberated faculty of the Ego; Uranus is the principle of synthesis, the faculty of Intuition provides the Ego with the most complete synthetic perception of things under consideration; Uranus symbolizes the purity of impersonal love, Intuition is that clear power of the Ego when it is completely free of the biases of prejudice--personal approval and disapproval; Uranus, in the realm of generic consciousness, symbolizes the perfect polaric balance of the true androgyne (man-woman). Intuition is that power of the Ego to draw on the deeply-hidden resources of knowledge and understanding derived from snaky past incarnations as finale and as female; Uranus, as ruler of Aquarius, symbolizes the apotheosis of the consciousness of fraternity; Intuition makes it possible for a human truly to perceive the similarities and correspondences between his own experiences and those of another human; Uranus symbolizes the Un-bound and un-binding apperception of Love; Intuition is the un-bound and un-binding apperception of truth inherent in any phase of phenomena or experience. Of all the planets in our solar system, Uranus represents that tendency to act, or to affect, with maximum speed- the transcendence of the limitations of time; Intuition acts with a speed that is designated as " time- less "--when it arises in consciousness to fulfill the requirements of directed attention it "just happens" and there are not words in our language that can describe the "instantaneousness" of its action. Only the experience itself can serve to "describe" it. Intuition, as the spiritualization of love united with the apperceptive power of the mind, can reveal all things, just as Love fulfills all things.

   The study of a natal horoscope with regard to determining intuitive power or inclination must include a correlation of Uranus, the symbol of the faculty itself, with the mental equivalents of other planets in terms of aspect-pattern and dispositorship. All planetary points have mental equivalents, just as they have physical, astral, and spiritual equivalents; each planetary point designates a certain "kind of thinking" because each one depicts kinds of things upon which a human's mental attention can be focused, whether it be some object in the material world, a personal environment, an event, or a relationship.

   Of the nine other planetary points, three are specifically representative of mental faculties, the other six may be understood, in terms of mental equivalents, to represent mental attributes. The three "mental faculty planets" are Moon, Mercury, and Neptune. The Moon symbolizes the instinctual mind, the reservoir of memories from past lives, the production mechanism of the mental faculty. Mercury symbolizes the conscious mind, the correlation between the brain and the sensory perceptions by which the human gains information of the exterior world, the mental power to identify specifically, to compute, to analyze, to study, and to communicate by speech and writing. Neptune symbolizes the faculty of the inspirational mind; it is the special mental principle which characterizes the creative and interpretive artist, it is the subtle mental faculty by which a human receives and apprehends communication from Higher Planes. These three planets may be considered to be the mental triad which characterizes communicative action: the Moon, as the instinctual mind, communicates the secrets of the past to the awareness of the present by producing effects which correspond to the stored-up memories; Mercury as the conscious mind, communicates the secrets of the external world to the mental awareness of the person and represents inter- communication between persons; Neptune, as the symbol of the inspirational mind, is the mental faculty which identifies channelship between the relatively higher to the relatively lower.

   Referring to the trine aspects as representing the relative fulfillment of intuitive development, Moon trine Uranus identifies the intuitive awareness of needs and their fulfillment, the awareness of how the progress of human groups may be furthered, the "new age" consciousness of the principles of home- life, provision and protection; more than any other one aspect, Moon trine Uranus is the planetary insignia of the "emancipation of women," the liberating of mass- consciousness from ignorance, prejudice and crudeness, the electrifying reformation of the personal instinctual consciousness by internal apperception.

   Mercury trine Uranus, more than any other aspect, identifies the intuitive knowledge of the scientific genius; it is the basis, in the mental body, for that which makes possible all discovery and invention. Children with this aspect very often reveal great ability in their studies at school. It is evidence of specialized knowledge brought over from studies and inquiries in past lives. These persons have exercised great independence of spirit in their intellectual pursuits in the past. They often reveal great ability in foreign languages, in which case the evidence is shown that in their present studies they are really recapitulating--"bringing to the surface"--much knowledge of languages gained in the past.

   The Uranus-Neptune aspects have to be evaluated by correlation with the entire chart; these aspects are cyclic or "epochal" in nature and only by a careful analysis and synthesis with the basic tendencies of the chart as a whole can the predominance of intuitive or inspirational mental abilities be determined. All humans who come in with the aspect of Uranus trine Neptune comprise a life-wave who are, in a general sense, more at-tuned to the effects of higher forces. They, as a universal group, represent a cyclic emphasis of relatively progressive and spiritualizing consciousness. The most highly evolved of these people-- regardless of historical timing of incarnation--make a. great contribution, through their revelatory and inspirational powers, to the progress of the race. Those highly developed who come in when Uranus is square or opposition Neptune are evolutionary transposers, their timing of incarnation brings them in when dissolution of that which is outmoded and crystallized is needed by the race. These timings are always characterized by conditions of upheaval, revolution, terrific tension and conflict, but the Uranus factor of the highly evolved persons identifies them as "workers for the future." They have the apperception of that which is to be and, having intuitive enlightenment, they work to initiate those steps, methods, and procedures which will result in the new manifestations which characterize the future.

   There are three other planets which, when correlated to Uranus, represent marked intuitive characteristics: Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus. Uranus correlated with Jupiter, or the ninth house influence gives a high degree of interpretive artistic genius, is intuitional and imaginative, spiritual qualities possessed by the Guru, the Teacher, the spiritual-law Interpreter and, in large degree, the Healer. Uranus trine Jupiter gives evidence of higher development of the abstract mind, the intuitive apperception of symbolism and principle. Uranus-Saturn identifies clairaudience and that quality of intuition which makes possible necessary reforms in the social, political, and business life of humanity. Uranus-Venus, one of the insignia of creative or interpretative artistic genius, is intuitional apperception particularly directed toward the comprehension of relationship; Uranus trine Venus gives evidence of the power to perceive the impersonal values of relationship and the ability to respond to a very high quality of spiritual affinity in relationship; it is one of the insignia, perhaps the principal one, of "biune love" or "soul-marriage."

   Considering Mars as the co-ruler of Scorpio-- action which releases the Scorpionic resources of desire-power--we may consider the aspect of Uranus trine Mars as being primarily an evidence of great capacity for action by which intuitive tendencies are directed for the fulfillment of enterprise. Mars "thinks" in terms of "how, what, where, when can I do;" Uranus trine Mars, therefore, could well be understood to represent an intuitive perception of right action. If Pluto may be considered as the planetary ruler of Scorpio, then Uranus trine Pluto indicates the intuitive faculty to be "backed up" by an enormous resource of desire-power and emotional force. This aspect is one which could be understood to be a "planetary insignia" of a magician-black or white. In the chart of a highly evolved, spiritually- minded human, Uranus trine Pluto could represent one whose reformative power is tremendous, both as regards his own personal regeneration and the power he may direct toward regenerating or transforming another individual or society at large. Externalized, this aspect could be thought of as the explosion of the first atomic bomb, opening up a new era in human experience regarding the knowledge and use of newly-perceived octaves of power.

   Regarding Uranus and Sun we will give special consideration because the Great Astrological Mandala (the twelve-housed wheel, Aries Ascendant, the planets in the signs and houses of their dignity) gives us the clue to the essential evolutionary root and spiritual meaning of the faculty of Intuition, as a potential possessed by all humans. The Great Astrological Mandala is the abstract astrological significance of earthian humanity and any point of faculty or experience which humans have in common can be studied from this design. Create a copy of the Great Astrological Mandala, intensify the diameter Leo-Aquarius, draw straight lines connecting the cusps Leo-Aries and Aquarius-Scorpio.

   No sign of the zodiac can be fully comprehended without a consideration of its opposite, just as two humans of opposite sex become aware of their subjective polarity by intimate relationship in strong magnetic attraction. To "know Aquarius" we have also to "know Leo," the fire sign ruled by the Sun, symbol of will, purpose, radiation, and individual autonomy. If the Sun is the radiation of love, Uranus is the liberative, transforming quality of love-radiation; if the Sun is the power of the Mind, Uranus is that form of individualism by which independence of thought has been evolved; if the Sun is the potential of Mastery, Uranus is that potential realized in and through all relationships by an increasing spiritualization and regeneration of the emotional nature. Aquarius, as spiritualized love, polarizes and "redeems" the egotistical love of unevolved Leo: Aquarius, through its ruler Uranus, as intuition, polarizes and redeems the "self-centered" mind of unevolved Leo. When Sun and Uranus are considered in their exaltations--Aries and Scorpio respectively--we see the symbolic apotheosis of the human as a Son of God and the human's potential to realize his spiritual identity through internal regeneration the "divine magic," the "creative alchemy," the transmutation by which the dross of the personal Ego is transformed into the White Light of the Spiritual Being. The unequivocal pursuit of Truth, the self- directed discipline and refinement of emotional and mental faculties, the expansion of Love-power through impersonalization, and the ever-more- clarified realization of true spiritual identity are seen to be the steps by which the Master Power of Intuition is focalized, evolved, and perfected in human consciousness. The astrologer looks at the symbols and numbers of a horoscope, but he intuitively looks in-to the chart to apprehend the truths of the person's consciousness. Astrological study for serviceable use and human enlightenment is one of the principle modes by which the Faculty of Intuition is developed in the human being.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VII
Chapter VIII
Animal Experience

   This discourse is presented for the consideration of students who in their studies often make inquiries regarding the " horoscopes of animals." These inquiries are, of course, perfectly legitimate- -being germane to a familiar factor of life-experience, one which is of great interest and concern to many people.

   Because astrology is essentially a study of consciousness, as a vibratory science it is applicable to any form or plane of life and the consciousness which ensouls and informs that life. If our knowledge of astrology, per se, were greatly extended beyond its present scope we could--all other factors being equal--do the horoscope of individual animals as we do those of individual humans; we could do the horoscopes of planets, solar systems, and galaxies as well as those of minute forms of life which inhabit this planet. When astrology is apprehended as being the study of those principles or laws by which all consciousness evolves, then its useful application to life throughout the cosmos may be perceived by correspondence with the life we know as humans.

   However, and here is the rub, in order to comprehend the astrology of other life-forms and life-waves, we have to know the consciousness pertaining to those forms and waves. We can observe and study the evidences of other types of consciousness than our own but we, being "particularly and peculiarly Earthian Humans," cannot apprehend the planes of consciousness to which other forms, sub-human and super-human, are aligned. In fact, many humans have but a dim and distorted comprehension of the consciousness of fellow-humans! Animal-life is informed, from a different center than we are--we humans being much more autonomous and the animals being much more completely under specialized guidance.

   It has been told us that of the sub-human evolutionary lines, those that are now mammalian will make their higher evolution through the human pattern. Thus, it is not only of interest but of great importance that we learn to spiritualize our awareness of, and relationship with, the members of the animal kingdom; they are fraternal to us as inhabitants of this planet and we, as the higher evolutionary expression have a decided responsibility to them, as older brothers and sisters have to younger ones in a family--the correspondence in relationship is almost exact.

   Therefore, though we cannot "do the charts"of animals, we can study our own charts in reference to our experiences with, and feelings about, sub-human life and thereby expand our consciousness of evolution on this planet. Using the astrological factors that we do use, a chart calculated for the birth time of, for example, a pet kitten or pup would picture the significance of the animal to our experience; the same would apply to the timing of our decision to bring a new pet into the home, or any animal into our personal experience. In the latter case, motivation and purpose would represent the keynotes of the astrological reading; that chart being correlated with our natal chart would picture the inter-related factors of the experience we might have with the animal. A chart calculated for the time when we select the animal could indicate basic points concerning the suitability of the animal to our purpose. Many people find that their relationship with an animal opens up a remarkably significant experience, and these experience-possibilities are what we will study.

   Individual human relationship-consciousness is no respecter of persons or things. A man may love his wife and children with tender, solicitous devotion, but if his relationship-consciousness contains an area of hatred, fear, or prejudice toward another man--or other persons--who happens to be of another race or nationality, his relationship-consciousness is not clear or pure. A woman may fulfill the requirements of her professional work with unwavering conscientiousness, but if her attitude toward her colleagues--or a colleague--is tainted with envy or false superiority, then her relationship-consciousness toward her profession is correspondingly tainted.

   Many such hypothetical illustrations may be considered; the point to keep in mind is this: our relationship with another person is primarily qualified qualified by our feeling about him or her; that area of feeling is ignited by vibratory contact with the person. In other words, other people symbolize qualities of consciousness to us because by the action of vibratory sympathy, any person can serve to stimulate any point of feeling in our relationship-consciousness. We, until we gain true understanding, tend to identify the person with the quality stimulated in our relationship-consciousness; when we have gained relationship-wisdom, we know that our reactions of an unpleasant nature are to be transmuted into the spiritual potency of good-will (Love). Therefore, all points in relationship-consciousness which we identify as hatred, envy, jealousy, fear, false superiority, tyranny, etc., may be apprehended as being "materials" to use for transmutative exercise. The fact that many, many people have proven the law of good-will through their transmutative efforts may be ascertained by a few moments of considered thought.

   Any magnetic focus of relationship-attraction can be utilized to intensify existing negatives in consciousness or to nurture the already-evolved regenerate qualities. And "relationship" is your viewpoint of yourself in vibratory alignment with arty other person, any creature, thing, activity, event, endeavor, or environment. Your natal horoscope performs its greatest service to you in picturing to you your basic tendencies of viewpoint in relationship-consciousness. Truthfully to apprehend these tendencies and the ways of rightfully using them is to obtain the master-key to all other phases of studying your chart. The evolution of the Consciousness of Humanity is furthered in direct proportion as each human learns rightfully to align himself in relationship tofellow-humans and fellow-creatures.

   Note carefully the last fifteen words of the previous sentence. That which is now was determined by that which was; that which is to be will be determined by that which is now. Each human of the present period of Earth-manifestation was at one time in the "animal status;" each creature now is potentially a human. In no absolute sense is a human "superior" to an animal; the difference is simply one of evolutionary timing. The truth of this statement will be instantly perceived from considering the fact that all initiates, masters, and adepts--the spiritual vanguard of present Humanity--serve by inspiring and encouraging our spiritual unfoldment and progress. If they, using an absurd hypothesis, were related to us by "absolute superiority," why would we be encouraged in any way at all to "walk the path they have trod"? If we were related to creatures by an "absolute superiority, " there would be no impulse in the human heart to improve the conditions of creatures, there would be no inspirational impetus to love them. Yet, many humans love creatures with unselfish and sympathetic deviation. Is that not in itself proof that we inwardly know that creatures will walk the path we are now treading? The realization, by a human, of his con-fraternity with creatures is a high peak in the course of his evolutionary sojourn; it is a tremendous expansion of his consciousness of Love and such a point in experience is inevitably attended by an increased apperception of the nature of divine love.

   Every position and aspect in your natal chart can be studied as representing a phase of, or tendency in, your relationship- consciousness. Therefore, your attitudes toward, and feelings about, sub- human life are also pictured by these horoscope-factors. Since relationship with sub-human life is inextricably inter-woven into the fabric of human evolutionary experience, we will consider this subject as it is abstractly portrayed by the Great Astrological Mandala. For cross-reference, create a copy: The twelve-housed circle centered by the traditional symbol for the Sun; Aries as Ascendant-sign with thirty degrees of each sign to each house; the planetary rulers of the signs appropriately planed in the houses which they "rule." This is the abstract horoscope of humanity, of with your natal horoscope is an individualized variation.

   To enter into a deeper sensing of the con- fraternity of humans and creatures, we will first consider the diameter Sagittarius-Gemini, the signs on the ninth and third houses of the Great Mandala which are ruled respectively by Jupiter and Mercury. Jupiter, in the cosmic sense, is the Principle of Organic Function and the Principle of Hierarchy. It is that power of Divine Mind by which every factor of an archetype is conceived in perfect relationship with every other factor, for function, expression and use. (It is the considered opinion of the author that Venus, as ruler of Libras is exalted in Sagittarius; its exaltation in Pisces derives from its rulership of Taurus.) As the Principle of Organic Function, Jupiter represents the growth of parts of a thing in terms of their purpose and in terms of inter- relationship with the other parts of the same thing. As the Principle of Hierarchy, Jupiter represents the inter-related function of things in terms of relative intelligence or relative susceptibility to the forces of intelligence.

   In these terms is seen the placement of parts of a thing in relation to other parts corresponding to affinity with directive intelligence. Sagittarius is polarized by Gemini, the third sign of the Great Mandala in counter-clockwise sequence from Aries, the zodiacal significator of the root of fraternal consciousness; fraternal consciousness being that apperception of "parallelity" or "correspondent similarity" in relationship. All the cells of your body are fraternal to each other, being cell-parts of the same body; but the cells of both your eyes are fraternal by specialization. All inhabitants of this planet are fraternal to each other, but all mammals are fraternal by specialization, humans are "specially fraternal" to each other, quadrupeds are "specially fraternal" to each other, birds are "specially fraternal," etc. Each specialization has further specialization but all specializations are grouped in the unity: Earthian Inhabitant. The planets of our system are "fraternal to each other" and our system is specially fraternal to the six other systems which comprise our immediate galaxy. On whatever plane of dimension you care to consider, organic function in terms of hierarchy and fraternity is illustrated. That means that the human's consciousness of fraternity is not complete until he has perceived the value of this inter-related togetherness on this planet with all other creatures, sub-human and super-human. A question naturally arises from this point: what can we humans do, and what must we do, concerning our feelings about the inhabitants of other planets? This question can be solved by each human for himself, in date time.

   Service is also a "two-way thing;" he who desires to be well served must in his turn serve well. Animal life has been utilized for service by humans for countless ages of time and in the abuse of service- principles, Man has engendered much uncomfortable karma. The sixth house and the sign Virgo symbolize the human's consciousness of the principle of service; it is externalized by his experiences as a server and by his relationships with those who serve him, animal as well as human. Animal life has been and is sacrificed to serve as food for the human kingdom, but what of the human who abuses the (unconscious) service of animal-life by senseless, wanton destructiveness? The sixth house is polarized by the twelfth house and the sign Pisces; can you see the possibility that many humans, through an act of uncontrolled passion in this life, spend many years confined in prison as a karmic result of malicious destruction of, or hurt to, sub-human life in a previous incarnation? Malice and destructiveness are in consciousness and whether they are directed in action toward humans or toward sub-humans does not invalidate the karmic potency.

   Life, through some means or other, provides restraint for those who have, by action, proven themselves unqualified to enjoy freedom. Therefore, if you contemplate the purchase--or other means of admission into your experience--of animal-life for service, make it part of your project to give good service to those who are to serve you. If you are dependent on them for the fulfillment of work-programs, they are correspondingly dependent on you for care and protection. If your attitude toward your sub-human server is one of respect--which is Love you will not fail your responsibility and it will be enabled to perform its maximum of service for you. Also, by mutual experience in Love, you will further the creature's evolution in training and it will further your mundane requirements without your engendering retributive karma.

   Many people give devoted care to creature- companions who, at the same time, reveal very limited and constricted attitudes toward fellow-humans. It would appear that karma to the animal- world is being expiated by this type of life-program. These persons are being focalized in the present life on a specialization of the consciousness of life and love; it is possible that only through expressing love to, and giving service to, their "creature-companions" can these persons spiritually polarize their relationship-consciousness so as subsequently to unfold richer and higher apperceptions of respect and good- will toward humans. This facet of human experience would be illustrated by the diameter Leo-Aquarius being cross-polarized by the diameter Scorpio- Taurus. The regeneration of negative emotional residues, represented by Scorpio, being externalized by the stewardship of the creature-life, represented by Taurus, being the way by which the temporarily restrained Leo-Aquarius consciousness of Love is inwardly repolarized for subsequent better releasement.

   In conclusion, we will consider the significance of the air-trine to the relationships of humans to creatures. Libra, cardinal- air, ruled by Venus, is the apperception of relativity, the basic, essential core of relationship-consciousness; it is the apperception which makes it possible for any human to realize relationship with sub- human, human, and superhuman life. Aquarius, the fixed air-sign, ruled by Uranus, is the resource of impersonal, transcendental consciousness of love by which a human realizes an impulsion and a capacity to love life itself, through any of its external forms. Aquarius illustrates the love felt by Luther Burbank for plant-life, the love-bond which unites a blind human to his or her seeing-eye dog; it is the regenerated consciousness of love which unites humans in groups to serve the furthering of sub-human welfare. Gemini, the mutable air-sign, ruled by Mercury, and ninth sign from Libra, is the apperception of relationship as fraternity--that en-wisdomed consciousness of similarity by which humans perceive their togetherness with other humans and any or all other forms of life. St. Francis, the inspired and life-loving mystic, called all creatures by the terms "brother" or "sister;" he knew that he was "older brother" to those who crawl and fly and in loving them as he did he apprehended God 's love for him. May Light and Love permeate our consciousness of all of our fellows in life.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VIII
First Edition

The Rosicrucian Fellowship
Mt. Ecclesia
Oceanside, California, U.S.A.
Foreword

   The seven prior volumes of this series of astrological interpretations have been received with such an enthusiastic welcome by so many astrology students everywhere that we are pleased to add No. 8 to the series.

   Elman Bacher's profound knowledge of and devotion to the spiritual aspect of the stellar science, along with an uncanny understanding of human nature, made it possible for him to present illuminating astrological treatises which undoubtedly place him among the best of modern esoteric astrologers. As the truth and value of his spiritual interpretation of astrology become more and more generally accepted, his presentations will serve increasingly to help people know themselves and fulfill their highest destiny.

   Before passing into the higher realms in the early 1950s, Mr. Bather expressed a keen desire to have us publish his articles in book form, and although we deeply regret that he did not live to see his articles made available to the public in this convenient form, we are happy in knowing that his wish is being fulfilled.

Introduction

   To the Rosicrucian student astrology is a phase of religion, basically a spiritual science. More than any other study it reveals man to himself. No other science is so sublime, so profound, and so all- embracing. It portrays the relation between God, the macrocosm, and man, the microcosm, showing them to be fundamentally one.

   Occult science, investigating the subtler forces that impinge upon man, the Spirit, and his vehicles, has charted their effects with no less definiteness than has academic science the reactions of sea and soil, plant and animal to the solar and lunar rays.

   With this knowledge we may determine the astrological pattern of each individual and know the relative strength and weakness of the various forces operating in each life. To the degree that we are in possession of such knowledge we can begin systematic, scientific character building--and character is destiny! We note times and seasons cosmically advantageous to unfolding undeveloped qualities, correcting faulty traits, and eliminating destructive propensities.

   The divine science of astrology reveals the hidden causes at work in our lives. It counsels the adult in >regard to vocation, the parent in the guidance of children, the teacher in management of pupils, the physician in diagnosing disease, thus lending aid to each and all in whatever position they may find themselves.

   No other subject within the range of human knowledge appears to hold for this day and age the possibilities open to astrologers for helping people to their own dignity as gods-in-the-making, to a greater grasp of universal law, and to a realization that we are eternally secure within the caressing fold of Infinite Life and Boundless Being.

Chapter I
The Wedding Chart

   This discourse on wedding charts is offered as an attempt to clarify to astrological students the processes and meanings of the togetherness of two persons who are united for mutual experience in marriage. It has been felt by the author for some time that to do a chart for the time that the wedding is scheduled to start is not really valid. Herein is presented a little food for thought as to the valid timing of a wedding chart.

   From what occult philosophy has to say about human evolution through the processes of re-incarnation, to "be born" really means to "re-appear in the flesh." Since we have all been involved in the re- incarnative process for quite some time now, "to be married" really means "to be married again." It is extremely unlikely that any person now incarnate has never before been committed to the marital estate. We have all done the equivalent of saying "I do" in various languages, countries, and epochs--and in voices either loud or soft. Since "husband-wife" is a specialized identity of "man-woman," the twofold "I do" and the final pronouncements of the officiant (or their equivalents) is really a variation of "I AM;" in other words, as far as this incarnation is concerned, the birth of a new identity. There is a remarkable parallel between the "birth of husband-wife" and that of the individual as a physical expression. Let us consult the Great Mandala:

   A circle with the vertical and horizontal diameters; the symbols of the cardinal signs (Aries, Capricorn, Libra, Cancer) at the left point, upper point, right point, and lower point, respectively (the cusps of the Ascendant, tenth, seventh, and fourth houses); from the midpoint of the Cancer-line through the midpoints of Libra-Capricorn and down to the midpoint of Aries, draw a curved line, resulting in three-quarters of a circle; connect, by drawing a straight line, the cusp-points of Aries-Cancer (the points where the cusp-lines strike the circle.)

   To digress for just a moment to explain the symbolism of the straight Aries-Cancer line: until you arrive at the half-way point when you walk or drive through a tunnel you are entering the interior of the mountain or hill; the half-way point marks the change of your relationship with the interior and as you continue on from the interior toward the exit; as you pass through the exit you leave the interior. On the inner planes, between incarnated states, there is a "turning point" which is determined by your fitness to reincarnate. The vibratory gravitational pull of your unfulfilled ideals then goes into effect and your preparations for reincarnation begin to be activated. In other words, from that point you are leaving the interior of subjectivity--the "exit" of which is your first contact with your vehicle-to- be at conception.

   While you are still in the subjective state but are preparing for reincarnation, things are happening on the objective plane. For example: those who are to be your parents may have recently met each other, recognized the mutual love-attraction and desire for union, prepared for their wedding-ceremony, established their home, effected the intimacy of their union, etc. Or, if another child or other children preceded you into the family, this outer preparation may simply be the mutual decision of your parents-to-be to fulfill their urge for further parental experience and, in response to that urge, they effect the emotional and physical synchronization which results in the conception of your vehicle. Whatever it may be, preparation is synchronized in both the inner and outer states. At the timing that is exactly right for your requirements, the seed of your body is ignited into expression and your vehicle commences its individualization. At the end of the prenatal period you are "born"--which simply means "physically individualized." Your body is, at one and the same time, the chemicalized expression of a desire-object upon which your parents are to exercise their individual and mutual Love-Wisdom resources and your desire to evolve through new expressions of your potentials.

   The quadrant in the mandala represented by "Aries-to- Cancer" is the subjective preparation of your incarnation; Cancer is conception; Libra is the objectification of physical sex-to-be and subjectification of complementation-to-be; Capricorn is the solidification of the organism; Pisces, if it were to be shown at the twelfth cusp, is the condensed symbol of the unfulfilled residues of the three crosses; Aries, at the end of the three crosses; Aries at the end of the three pre-natal quadrants, is the symbol of your re-appearance, at birth, in physical individuality--the re-objectification of your "I AM" on this plane. From then on, until transition back to subjectivity, your "I AM" unfolds its potentials through your various relationship-exchanges with other human beings. Give this much thought and reflection--it is the "human picturing" of a cosmic pattern.

   With this analogy in mind and keeping the mandala at hand, we will now translate this pattern into terms of the subject at hand-- the significance of the wedding ceremony as the establishment of a new identity of two human beings.

   The "subjective turning-point" is the time when each person acts on a thought, a feeling, or an opportunity in such a way that their meeting is the inevitable outcome. Examples: they each accept an invitation (1) to dinner at the home of a mutual friend tomorrow evening; (2) to enjoy a camping trip with mutual friends next month; (3) to attend an exhibition of Chinese art on a certain day next January, or if they are both astrologers--bless their hearts; (4) to speak at a convention of "Star-lit Stargazers, Inc." at West Blubber, Greenland, in 1968. The receipt of the invitation marks the turning-point; the acceptance is the action which draws them, day by day, from the "subjectivity of bachelorhood-spinsterhood" toward the "objectivity of new identity as husband-wife." The time element is, of course, an individual variable, some couples must wait a long time before they meet while others meet and enjoy attraction to each other in sudden and (most delightfully) unexpected ways. The "mutual friends"--or the Board of Directors of "Star-lit Stargazers, Inc."--are chemicalized agencies of the one magnetic Love-power that is instrumental in effecting the contact of the two persons with each other.

   The first meeting of the two persons ends the "subjective" phase and this "point in time" is analogous to the "conception- point" of the mandate. Now their togetherness is physically established and the vibratory exchange is, consciously or unconsciously, inaugurated.

   From Cancer to Libra in the mandala is the time- element between the meeting of the two persons and their love-recognition of each other. When that takes place (the "maturing of the polarity-awareness of adolescence"), the subjectivity of gender, which coincided with the objectivity of sex in the actual pre-natal period, is mutually ignited by the action of sympathetic vibration; each sees the other as the ideal chemicalized symbol of the subjectified generic qualities--or "complementation" on all planes. They do not "fall" (awful word!) in love; they lift each other in consciousness by the mutual fusion of the best of their qualities. This "mutual fusion of vibration" is the archetype of that which is chemically expressed in the action we call sexual intercourse. Both of these "fusions" are releasements of tremendous resources and they are attended by "more- intense-than-ever-before" realizations of ideal, emotional, mental, and spiritual being-ness. The vibratory fusion organizes the conscious recognition, by each of "need for each other." In mutuality, this eventually leads--according to personal inclination--to the decision to marry; also, according to personal inclination, this is followed by announcement of the intention. The decision and the announcement are symbolized in the mandala by Capricorn at the uppermost point of the wheel--the symbol of concreteness, organization, and condensation--polarity of Cancer.

   The emotional state objectified by the announcement establishes the identity of "betrothed" and it should be added that, in this "prenatal" explanation, the sign Leo and the fifth house--following Cancer-- would symbolize the individualized love of each of the persons for the other. Leo is love-radiation--an individualized matter; it is not love-exchange, and all of the "identity-points" of the cardinal mandala are such because they refer to "relationships-by-complementation;" a "mother" is such in relationship to "child" and a "brother" is such in relationship to another brother or to a sister; the Capricorn of this symbol is the objectified identity of individual and mutual, Leo-Libra, "loving and being loved"-ness. In our tradition a ring is given by the man to the woman as a "dramatization" of his uplifted awareness of ideality, the power of which is symbolized by the brilliant beauty of the jewel--usually a diamond, which is the jewel-symbol of the Sun. This ring and the one--sometimes two--used in the wedding ceremony is never, as some have thought, a symbol of woman's bondage to, or enslavement by, man; it is always, because it is a circle, the symbol of the perfect- fulfillment of perfect exchange in perfect union. Mutual decision, presentation, and acceptance of the ring, the formal announcement and the first plan for time and place of the wedding ceremony are summed up in the Capricorn-point. The Aquarius of this fourth quadrant from Aries would symbolize the radiation of invitations to persons who love, and are loved and appreciated by, the betrothed couple; the love-extension to family-members and friends; the parents may feel that they are "losing their children" but actually they are, by the fraternity of Aquarius, gaining a "younger brother and sister." The young couple, at marriage, become members of the fraternity of husbands and wives, and, subsequently, that of fathers and mothers--of which their own parents are "senior members."

   The last phase of this "pre-natal" period of the marriage would be the sign Pisces in its regenerate meaning--symbol of faith and ideality. To marry is to signify an affirmation of one's realization of life's good and beauty and also to signify a willingness to contribute to Life of one's resources of Good and Beauty. The Pisces of the mandala symbolizes the wedding-ceremony as a dramatized symbol of the deepest and most heartfelt realizations of human joy, inspiration, and loveliness. The artistry of gowns and formal dress, flowers, and music symbolize Humanity's urge to reach and express realizations of eternal beauty--perfected manifestation. In our tradition, the ceremony usually starts with the first note of the musical prelude or of the wedding-march itself. The ceremony progresses, as we "travel through" Pisces, in points of prayer, meditation, music, and recitation of spiritual thoughts concerning the inner meaning of marriage. The officiant symbolizes in his person the intermediary between the personality and the reality of each of the two people. When he says "I now pronounce you husband and wife," the movement through Pisces--as the symbolic ceremony--is terminated at Aries and the emergence into Aries symbolizes the new identity of the couple as "husband and wife" in relationship to each other and in relationship, as individuals, to their individual life-pattern. Great bursts of music--and this music should be radiant and ecstatic in quality--and the couple walk together for the first time in their new identity. And--God bless them all--always.

   Something is often done in wedding ceremonies that is really not in keeping with the symbolism of the ceremony; that is for the officiant to pronounce the couple--at the conclusion of the service--"man and wife." A "man" is an adult, male human being; as such, before he can even consider marriage he must, of necessity, function for a few days, weeks, months, or years as "an adult male human being." The identity that is newly established is "husband," and with the assumption of that identity the man "incarnates" into a new octave of his "I AM" awareness as a symbol of his capacity and willingness to unfold and to express new levels of consciousness, resources, and powers.

   With the saying of the word "wife" in the above pronouncement, the statement of new identity is complete and integrated; the "pre-natal period" is finished and the material relationship is incarnated. It is the sincere and long-thought-of conviction of the author that the time of the officiants saying "wife" is the time that should be used for the wedding- chart. Regardless of plans, schedules, and announcements, the marriage is not "fully-born" until that pronouncement is complete. The child's birth-cry and the pronouncement of the wedding-officiant are both expressions of the power of the word--the living vibratory stamp of a new identity; from then on, the new-born child and the new-born husband-wife team are individualized "things- in-themselves;" they are, as it were, "on their own."

   If you have the charts of the bride and groom, identify their planetary rulers with the wedding-chart to determine which factor in the chart is "personalized" by each. A wedding-chart is not a "composite of two people;" it is the astrological pattern of a specialized experience. Follow this out by correlating, as much as possible, each planetary pattern of the individuals with the wedding chart for study of vibratory groupings. Then apply to each person's chart the planetary ruler and positions of the wedding chart; this is to study the essential meanings--to each individual--of the experience as a most important factor in the sequence of life-experiences. Having either or both of the individual charts complete would, of course, impose the requirement of studying the progressed aspects-- particularly those of the Moon--to study the individualized chart-action. If you do not have the birth time you will not have the complete charts but you can still group the planetary positions by crosses (cardinal, fixed, mutable) and generic (Fire, Earth, Air, Water) trines and compare them with the planet- groupings of the wedding chart. In either case, since any event occurs between two junctions, apply the previous solar eclipse to the individual's charts (not to the wedding chart because the wedding was not yet "born" when the eclipse fell) and list the aspects that it, and its resultant Full Moon made. If the wedding occurred after an eclipse-month then note also the effects of the lunation preceding the wedding on the individual's charts. Note the effects--on all three charts--of the solar eclipse which first falls after the wedding; pay particular attention to the "point," if there is such, that this eclipse stimulates in all three charts and note the extent of time between it and the next eclipse. This eclipse-pattern stimulating all three charts opens up the first major testing of the people by marriage and of the marriage itself from a certain composite of weaknesses of the two people, as individuals and as a couple. Also, for basic reading, list all "points-in- common" in the three charts; all such planets in the persons' charts that are squared or opposed tell you that--because of synchronization with a planet in the wedding chart--the marital experience brings to the persons an "apex opportunity" to perceive congestions in consciousness; conversely, all such planets that are sextiled will urge the exercise of self-directed transmutation; all that are trined will represent the "marriage's ability" to "bless the people" and through which they will experience hyper-realizations of their ideality. In other words, all of those patterns are experiences that are especially focalized in the marriage. The "uniqueness" of the wedding chart focalizes the individual and mutual uniqueness of the persons.

   When you study a wedding chart, pay much more attention to diameters than to separate house-cusps. Marriage is objectified human polarity and the diameters picture the foundations of the "two-in-one- ness" of all human experiences; in other words, the polarity foundations. Finance-stewardship is second-house--eighth-house; children are fifth-house-- eleventh-house, etc. The seventh house of a wedding chart, in its squares and oppositions, sums up the vibratory power that challenges the integrity of the union.

   All this is an excellent exercise of your synthesizing ability as an interpreter, an important phase of your service and a delightful stimulus to everything in your nature that makes you love astrology.

   One more suggestion; try reading your own natal horoscope as a "Marriage chart;" philosophically speaking--you figure this out--that's exactly what it is!

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VIII
First Edition

The Rosicrucian Fellowship
Mt. Ecclesia
Oceanside, California, U.S.A.
Foreword

   The seven prior volumes of this series of astrological interpretations have been received with such an enthusiastic welcome by so many astrology students everywhere that we are pleased to add No. 8 to the series.

   Elman Bacher's profound knowledge of and devotion to the spiritual aspect of the stellar science, along with an uncanny understanding of human nature, made it possible for him to present illuminating astrological treatises which undoubtedly place him among the best of modern esoteric astrologers. As the truth and value of his spiritual interpretation of astrology become more and more generally accepted, his presentations will serve increasingly to help people know themselves and fulfill their highest destiny.

   Before passing into the higher realms in the early 1950s, Mr. Bather expressed a keen desire to have us publish his articles in book form, and although we deeply regret that he did not live to see his articles made available to the public in this convenient form, we are happy in knowing that his wish is being fulfilled.

Introduction

   To the Rosicrucian student astrology is a phase of religion, basically a spiritual science. More than any other study it reveals man to himself. No other science is so sublime, so profound, and so all- embracing. It portrays the relation between God, the macrocosm, and man, the microcosm, showing them to be fundamentally one.

   Occult science, investigating the subtler forces that impinge upon man, the Spirit, and his vehicles, has charted their effects with no less definiteness than has academic science the reactions of sea and soil, plant and animal to the solar and lunar rays.

   With this knowledge we may determine the astrological pattern of each individual and know the relative strength and weakness of the various forces operating in each life. To the degree that we are in possession of such knowledge we can begin systematic, scientific character building--and character is destiny! We note times and seasons cosmically advantageous to unfolding undeveloped qualities, correcting faulty traits, and eliminating destructive propensities.

   The divine science of astrology reveals the hidden causes at work in our lives. It counsels the adult in >regard to vocation, the parent in the guidance of children, the teacher in management of pupils, the physician in diagnosing disease, thus lending aid to each and all in whatever position they may find themselves.

   No other subject within the range of human knowledge appears to hold for this day and age the possibilities open to astrologers for helping people to their own dignity as gods-in-the-making, to a greater grasp of universal law, and to a realization that we are eternally secure within the caressing fold of Infinite Life and Boundless Being.

Chapter I
The Wedding Chart

   This discourse on wedding charts is offered as an attempt to clarify to astrological students the processes and meanings of the togetherness of two persons who are united for mutual experience in marriage. It has been felt by the author for some time that to do a chart for the time that the wedding is scheduled to start is not really valid. Herein is presented a little food for thought as to the valid timing of a wedding chart.

   From what occult philosophy has to say about human evolution through the processes of re-incarnation, to "be born" really means to "re-appear in the flesh." Since we have all been involved in the re- incarnative process for quite some time now, "to be married" really means "to be married again." It is extremely unlikely that any person now incarnate has never before been committed to the marital estate. We have all done the equivalent of saying "I do" in various languages, countries, and epochs--and in voices either loud or soft. Since "husband-wife" is a specialized identity of "man-woman," the twofold "I do" and the final pronouncements of the officiant (or their equivalents) is really a variation of "I AM;" in other words, as far as this incarnation is concerned, the birth of a new identity. There is a remarkable parallel between the "birth of husband-wife" and that of the individual as a physical expression. Let us consult the Great Mandala:

   A circle with the vertical and horizontal diameters; the symbols of the cardinal signs (Aries, Capricorn, Libra, Cancer) at the left point, upper point, right point, and lower point, respectively (the cusps of the Ascendant, tenth, seventh, and fourth houses); from the midpoint of the Cancer-line through the midpoints of Libra-Capricorn and down to the midpoint of Aries, draw a curved line, resulting in three-quarters of a circle; connect, by drawing a straight line, the cusp-points of Aries-Cancer (the points where the cusp-lines strike the circle.)

   To digress for just a moment to explain the symbolism of the straight Aries-Cancer line: until you arrive at the half-way point when you walk or drive through a tunnel you are entering the interior of the mountain or hill; the half-way point marks the change of your relationship with the interior and as you continue on from the interior toward the exit; as you pass through the exit you leave the interior. On the inner planes, between incarnated states, there is a "turning point" which is determined by your fitness to reincarnate. The vibratory gravitational pull of your unfulfilled ideals then goes into effect and your preparations for reincarnation begin to be activated. In other words, from that point you are leaving the interior of subjectivity--the "exit" of which is your first contact with your vehicle-to- be at conception.

   While you are still in the subjective state but are preparing for reincarnation, things are happening on the objective plane. For example: those who are to be your parents may have recently met each other, recognized the mutual love-attraction and desire for union, prepared for their wedding-ceremony, established their home, effected the intimacy of their union, etc. Or, if another child or other children preceded you into the family, this outer preparation may simply be the mutual decision of your parents-to-be to fulfill their urge for further parental experience and, in response to that urge, they effect the emotional and physical synchronization which results in the conception of your vehicle. Whatever it may be, preparation is synchronized in both the inner and outer states. At the timing that is exactly right for your requirements, the seed of your body is ignited into expression and your vehicle commences its individualization. At the end of the prenatal period you are "born"--which simply means "physically individualized." Your body is, at one and the same time, the chemicalized expression of a desire-object upon which your parents are to exercise their individual and mutual Love-Wisdom resources and your desire to evolve through new expressions of your potentials.

   The quadrant in the mandala represented by "Aries-to- Cancer" is the subjective preparation of your incarnation; Cancer is conception; Libra is the objectification of physical sex-to-be and subjectification of complementation-to-be; Capricorn is the solidification of the organism; Pisces, if it were to be shown at the twelfth cusp, is the condensed symbol of the unfulfilled residues of the three crosses; Aries, at the end of the three crosses; Aries at the end of the three pre-natal quadrants, is the symbol of your re-appearance, at birth, in physical individuality--the re-objectification of your "I AM" on this plane. From then on, until transition back to subjectivity, your "I AM" unfolds its potentials through your various relationship-exchanges with other human beings. Give this much thought and reflection--it is the "human picturing" of a cosmic pattern.

   With this analogy in mind and keeping the mandala at hand, we will now translate this pattern into terms of the subject at hand-- the significance of the wedding ceremony as the establishment of a new identity of two human beings.

   The "subjective turning-point" is the time when each person acts on a thought, a feeling, or an opportunity in such a way that their meeting is the inevitable outcome. Examples: they each accept an invitation (1) to dinner at the home of a mutual friend tomorrow evening; (2) to enjoy a camping trip with mutual friends next month; (3) to attend an exhibition of Chinese art on a certain day next January, or if they are both astrologers--bless their hearts; (4) to speak at a convention of "Star-lit Stargazers, Inc." at West Blubber, Greenland, in 1968. The receipt of the invitation marks the turning-point; the acceptance is the action which draws them, day by day, from the "subjectivity of bachelorhood-spinsterhood" toward the "objectivity of new identity as husband-wife." The time element is, of course, an individual variable, some couples must wait a long time before they meet while others meet and enjoy attraction to each other in sudden and (most delightfully) unexpected ways. The "mutual friends"--or the Board of Directors of "Star-lit Stargazers, Inc."--are chemicalized agencies of the one magnetic Love-power that is instrumental in effecting the contact of the two persons with each other.

   The first meeting of the two persons ends the "subjective" phase and this "point in time" is analogous to the "conception- point" of the mandate. Now their togetherness is physically established and the vibratory exchange is, consciously or unconsciously, inaugurated.

   From Cancer to Libra in the mandala is the time- element between the meeting of the two persons and their love-recognition of each other. When that takes place (the "maturing of the polarity-awareness of adolescence"), the subjectivity of gender, which coincided with the objectivity of sex in the actual pre-natal period, is mutually ignited by the action of sympathetic vibration; each sees the other as the ideal chemicalized symbol of the subjectified generic qualities--or "complementation" on all planes. They do not "fall" (awful word!) in love; they lift each other in consciousness by the mutual fusion of the best of their qualities. This "mutual fusion of vibration" is the archetype of that which is chemically expressed in the action we call sexual intercourse. Both of these "fusions" are releasements of tremendous resources and they are attended by "more- intense-than-ever-before" realizations of ideal, emotional, mental, and spiritual being-ness. The vibratory fusion organizes the conscious recognition, by each of "need for each other." In mutuality, this eventually leads--according to personal inclination--to the decision to marry; also, according to personal inclination, this is followed by announcement of the intention. The decision and the announcement are symbolized in the mandala by Capricorn at the uppermost point of the wheel--the symbol of concreteness, organization, and condensation--polarity of Cancer.

   The emotional state objectified by the announcement establishes the identity of "betrothed" and it should be added that, in this "prenatal" explanation, the sign Leo and the fifth house--following Cancer-- would symbolize the individualized love of each of the persons for the other. Leo is love-radiation--an individualized matter; it is not love-exchange, and all of the "identity-points" of the cardinal mandala are such because they refer to "relationships-by-complementation;" a "mother" is such in relationship to "child" and a "brother" is such in relationship to another brother or to a sister; the Capricorn of this symbol is the objectified identity of individual and mutual, Leo-Libra, "loving and being loved"-ness. In our tradition a ring is given by the man to the woman as a "dramatization" of his uplifted awareness of ideality, the power of which is symbolized by the brilliant beauty of the jewel--usually a diamond, which is the jewel-symbol of the Sun. This ring and the one--sometimes two--used in the wedding ceremony is never, as some have thought, a symbol of woman's bondage to, or enslavement by, man; it is always, because it is a circle, the symbol of the perfect- fulfillment of perfect exchange in perfect union. Mutual decision, presentation, and acceptance of the ring, the formal announcement and the first plan for time and place of the wedding ceremony are summed up in the Capricorn-point. The Aquarius of this fourth quadrant from Aries would symbolize the radiation of invitations to persons who love, and are loved and appreciated by, the betrothed couple; the love-extension to family-members and friends; the parents may feel that they are "losing their children" but actually they are, by the fraternity of Aquarius, gaining a "younger brother and sister." The young couple, at marriage, become members of the fraternity of husbands and wives, and, subsequently, that of fathers and mothers--of which their own parents are "senior members."

   The last phase of this "pre-natal" period of the marriage would be the sign Pisces in its regenerate meaning--symbol of faith and ideality. To marry is to signify an affirmation of one's realization of life's good and beauty and also to signify a willingness to contribute to Life of one's resources of Good and Beauty. The Pisces of the mandala symbolizes the wedding-ceremony as a dramatized symbol of the deepest and most heartfelt realizations of human joy, inspiration, and loveliness. The artistry of gowns and formal dress, flowers, and music symbolize Humanity's urge to reach and express realizations of eternal beauty--perfected manifestation. In our tradition, the ceremony usually starts with the first note of the musical prelude or of the wedding-march itself. The ceremony progresses, as we "travel through" Pisces, in points of prayer, meditation, music, and recitation of spiritual thoughts concerning the inner meaning of marriage. The officiant symbolizes in his person the intermediary between the personality and the reality of each of the two people. When he says "I now pronounce you husband and wife," the movement through Pisces--as the symbolic ceremony--is terminated at Aries and the emergence into Aries symbolizes the new identity of the couple as "husband and wife" in relationship to each other and in relationship, as individuals, to their individual life-pattern. Great bursts of music--and this music should be radiant and ecstatic in quality--and the couple walk together for the first time in their new identity. And--God bless them all--always.

   Something is often done in wedding ceremonies that is really not in keeping with the symbolism of the ceremony; that is for the officiant to pronounce the couple--at the conclusion of the service--"man and wife." A "man" is an adult, male human being; as such, before he can even consider marriage he must, of necessity, function for a few days, weeks, months, or years as "an adult male human being." The identity that is newly established is "husband," and with the assumption of that identity the man "incarnates" into a new octave of his "I AM" awareness as a symbol of his capacity and willingness to unfold and to express new levels of consciousness, resources, and powers.

   With the saying of the word "wife" in the above pronouncement, the statement of new identity is complete and integrated; the "pre-natal period" is finished and the material relationship is incarnated. It is the sincere and long-thought-of conviction of the author that the time of the officiants saying "wife" is the time that should be used for the wedding- chart. Regardless of plans, schedules, and announcements, the marriage is not "fully-born" until that pronouncement is complete. The child's birth-cry and the pronouncement of the wedding-officiant are both expressions of the power of the word--the living vibratory stamp of a new identity; from then on, the new-born child and the new-born husband-wife team are individualized "things- in-themselves;" they are, as it were, "on their own."

   If you have the charts of the bride and groom, identify their planetary rulers with the wedding-chart to determine which factor in the chart is "personalized" by each. A wedding-chart is not a "composite of two people;" it is the astrological pattern of a specialized experience. Follow this out by correlating, as much as possible, each planetary pattern of the individuals with the wedding chart for study of vibratory groupings. Then apply to each person's chart the planetary ruler and positions of the wedding chart; this is to study the essential meanings--to each individual--of the experience as a most important factor in the sequence of life-experiences. Having either or both of the individual charts complete would, of course, impose the requirement of studying the progressed aspects-- particularly those of the Moon--to study the individualized chart-action. If you do not have the birth time you will not have the complete charts but you can still group the planetary positions by crosses (cardinal, fixed, mutable) and generic (Fire, Earth, Air, Water) trines and compare them with the planet- groupings of the wedding chart. In either case, since any event occurs between two junctions, apply the previous solar eclipse to the individual's charts (not to the wedding chart because the wedding was not yet "born" when the eclipse fell) and list the aspects that it, and its resultant Full Moon made. If the wedding occurred after an eclipse-month then note also the effects of the lunation preceding the wedding on the individual's charts. Note the effects--on all three charts--of the solar eclipse which first falls after the wedding; pay particular attention to the "point," if there is such, that this eclipse stimulates in all three charts and note the extent of time between it and the next eclipse. This eclipse-pattern stimulating all three charts opens up the first major testing of the people by marriage and of the marriage itself from a certain composite of weaknesses of the two people, as individuals and as a couple. Also, for basic reading, list all "points-in- common" in the three charts; all such planets in the persons' charts that are squared or opposed tell you that--because of synchronization with a planet in the wedding chart--the marital experience brings to the persons an "apex opportunity" to perceive congestions in consciousness; conversely, all such planets that are sextiled will urge the exercise of self-directed transmutation; all that are trined will represent the "marriage's ability" to "bless the people" and through which they will experience hyper-realizations of their ideality. In other words, all of those patterns are experiences that are especially focalized in the marriage. The "uniqueness" of the wedding chart focalizes the individual and mutual uniqueness of the persons.

   When you study a wedding chart, pay much more attention to diameters than to separate house-cusps. Marriage is objectified human polarity and the diameters picture the foundations of the "two-in-one- ness" of all human experiences; in other words, the polarity foundations. Finance-stewardship is second-house--eighth-house; children are fifth-house-- eleventh-house, etc. The seventh house of a wedding chart, in its squares and oppositions, sums up the vibratory power that challenges the integrity of the union.

   All this is an excellent exercise of your synthesizing ability as an interpreter, an important phase of your service and a delightful stimulus to everything in your nature that makes you love astrology.

   One more suggestion; try reading your own natal horoscope as a "Marriage chart;" philosophically speaking--you figure this out--that's exactly what it is!

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VIII
First Edition

The Rosicrucian Fellowship
Mt. Ecclesia
Oceanside, California, U.S.A.
Foreword

   The seven prior volumes of this series of astrological interpretations have been received with such an enthusiastic welcome by so many astrology students everywhere that we are pleased to add No. 8 to the series.

   Elman Bacher's profound knowledge of and devotion to the spiritual aspect of the stellar science, along with an uncanny understanding of human nature, made it possible for him to present illuminating astrological treatises which undoubtedly place him among the best of modern esoteric astrologers. As the truth and value of his spiritual interpretation of astrology become more and more generally accepted, his presentations will serve increasingly to help people know themselves and fulfill their highest destiny.

   Before passing into the higher realms in the early 1950s, Mr. Bather expressed a keen desire to have us publish his articles in book form, and although we deeply regret that he did not live to see his articles made available to the public in this convenient form, we are happy in knowing that his wish is being fulfilled.

Introduction

   To the Rosicrucian student astrology is a phase of religion, basically a spiritual science. More than any other study it reveals man to himself. No other science is so sublime, so profound, and so all- embracing. It portrays the relation between God, the macrocosm, and man, the microcosm, showing them to be fundamentally one.

   Occult science, investigating the subtler forces that impinge upon man, the Spirit, and his vehicles, has charted their effects with no less definiteness than has academic science the reactions of sea and soil, plant and animal to the solar and lunar rays.

   With this knowledge we may determine the astrological pattern of each individual and know the relative strength and weakness of the various forces operating in each life. To the degree that we are in possession of such knowledge we can begin systematic, scientific character building--and character is destiny! We note times and seasons cosmically advantageous to unfolding undeveloped qualities, correcting faulty traits, and eliminating destructive propensities.

   The divine science of astrology reveals the hidden causes at work in our lives. It counsels the adult in >regard to vocation, the parent in the guidance of children, the teacher in management of pupils, the physician in diagnosing disease, thus lending aid to each and all in whatever position they may find themselves.

   No other subject within the range of human knowledge appears to hold for this day and age the possibilities open to astrologers for helping people to their own dignity as gods-in-the-making, to a greater grasp of universal law, and to a realization that we are eternally secure within the caressing fold of Infinite Life and Boundless Being.

Chapter I
The Wedding Chart

   This discourse on wedding charts is offered as an attempt to clarify to astrological students the processes and meanings of the togetherness of two persons who are united for mutual experience in marriage. It has been felt by the author for some time that to do a chart for the time that the wedding is scheduled to start is not really valid. Herein is presented a little food for thought as to the valid timing of a wedding chart.

   From what occult philosophy has to say about human evolution through the processes of re-incarnation, to "be born" really means to "re-appear in the flesh." Since we have all been involved in the re- incarnative process for quite some time now, "to be married" really means "to be married again." It is extremely unlikely that any person now incarnate has never before been committed to the marital estate. We have all done the equivalent of saying "I do" in various languages, countries, and epochs--and in voices either loud or soft. Since "husband-wife" is a specialized identity of "man-woman," the twofold "I do" and the final pronouncements of the officiant (or their equivalents) is really a variation of "I AM;" in other words, as far as this incarnation is concerned, the birth of a new identity. There is a remarkable parallel between the "birth of husband-wife" and that of the individual as a physical expression. Let us consult the Great Mandala:

   A circle with the vertical and horizontal diameters; the symbols of the cardinal signs (Aries, Capricorn, Libra, Cancer) at the left point, upper point, right point, and lower point, respectively (the cusps of the Ascendant, tenth, seventh, and fourth houses); from the midpoint of the Cancer-line through the midpoints of Libra-Capricorn and down to the midpoint of Aries, draw a curved line, resulting in three-quarters of a circle; connect, by drawing a straight line, the cusp-points of Aries-Cancer (the points where the cusp-lines strike the circle.)

   To digress for just a moment to explain the symbolism of the straight Aries-Cancer line: until you arrive at the half-way point when you walk or drive through a tunnel you are entering the interior of the mountain or hill; the half-way point marks the change of your relationship with the interior and as you continue on from the interior toward the exit; as you pass through the exit you leave the interior. On the inner planes, between incarnated states, there is a "turning point" which is determined by your fitness to reincarnate. The vibratory gravitational pull of your unfulfilled ideals then goes into effect and your preparations for reincarnation begin to be activated. In other words, from that point you are leaving the interior of subjectivity--the "exit" of which is your first contact with your vehicle-to- be at conception.

   While you are still in the subjective state but are preparing for reincarnation, things are happening on the objective plane. For example: those who are to be your parents may have recently met each other, recognized the mutual love-attraction and desire for union, prepared for their wedding-ceremony, established their home, effected the intimacy of their union, etc. Or, if another child or other children preceded you into the family, this outer preparation may simply be the mutual decision of your parents-to-be to fulfill their urge for further parental experience and, in response to that urge, they effect the emotional and physical synchronization which results in the conception of your vehicle. Whatever it may be, preparation is synchronized in both the inner and outer states. At the timing that is exactly right for your requirements, the seed of your body is ignited into expression and your vehicle commences its individualization. At the end of the prenatal period you are "born"--which simply means "physically individualized." Your body is, at one and the same time, the chemicalized expression of a desire-object upon which your parents are to exercise their individual and mutual Love-Wisdom resources and your desire to evolve through new expressions of your potentials.

   The quadrant in the mandala represented by "Aries-to- Cancer" is the subjective preparation of your incarnation; Cancer is conception; Libra is the objectification of physical sex-to-be and subjectification of complementation-to-be; Capricorn is the solidification of the organism; Pisces, if it were to be shown at the twelfth cusp, is the condensed symbol of the unfulfilled residues of the three crosses; Aries, at the end of the three crosses; Aries at the end of the three pre-natal quadrants, is the symbol of your re-appearance, at birth, in physical individuality--the re-objectification of your "I AM" on this plane. From then on, until transition back to subjectivity, your "I AM" unfolds its potentials through your various relationship-exchanges with other human beings. Give this much thought and reflection--it is the "human picturing" of a cosmic pattern.

   With this analogy in mind and keeping the mandala at hand, we will now translate this pattern into terms of the subject at hand-- the significance of the wedding ceremony as the establishment of a new identity of two human beings.

   The "subjective turning-point" is the time when each person acts on a thought, a feeling, or an opportunity in such a way that their meeting is the inevitable outcome. Examples: they each accept an invitation (1) to dinner at the home of a mutual friend tomorrow evening; (2) to enjoy a camping trip with mutual friends next month; (3) to attend an exhibition of Chinese art on a certain day next January, or if they are both astrologers--bless their hearts; (4) to speak at a convention of "Star-lit Stargazers, Inc." at West Blubber, Greenland, in 1968. The receipt of the invitation marks the turning-point; the acceptance is the action which draws them, day by day, from the "subjectivity of bachelorhood-spinsterhood" toward the "objectivity of new identity as husband-wife." The time element is, of course, an individual variable, some couples must wait a long time before they meet while others meet and enjoy attraction to each other in sudden and (most delightfully) unexpected ways. The "mutual friends"--or the Board of Directors of "Star-lit Stargazers, Inc."--are chemicalized agencies of the one magnetic Love-power that is instrumental in effecting the contact of the two persons with each other.

   The first meeting of the two persons ends the "subjective" phase and this "point in time" is analogous to the "conception- point" of the mandate. Now their togetherness is physically established and the vibratory exchange is, consciously or unconsciously, inaugurated.

   From Cancer to Libra in the mandala is the time- element between the meeting of the two persons and their love-recognition of each other. When that takes place (the "maturing of the polarity-awareness of adolescence"), the subjectivity of gender, which coincided with the objectivity of sex in the actual pre-natal period, is mutually ignited by the action of sympathetic vibration; each sees the other as the ideal chemicalized symbol of the subjectified generic qualities--or "complementation" on all planes. They do not "fall" (awful word!) in love; they lift each other in consciousness by the mutual fusion of the best of their qualities. This "mutual fusion of vibration" is the archetype of that which is chemically expressed in the action we call sexual intercourse. Both of these "fusions" are releasements of tremendous resources and they are attended by "more- intense-than-ever-before" realizations of ideal, emotional, mental, and spiritual being-ness. The vibratory fusion organizes the conscious recognition, by each of "need for each other." In mutuality, this eventually leads--according to personal inclination--to the decision to marry; also, according to personal inclination, this is followed by announcement of the intention. The decision and the announcement are symbolized in the mandala by Capricorn at the uppermost point of the wheel--the symbol of concreteness, organization, and condensation--polarity of Cancer.

   The emotional state objectified by the announcement establishes the identity of "betrothed" and it should be added that, in this "prenatal" explanation, the sign Leo and the fifth house--following Cancer-- would symbolize the individualized love of each of the persons for the other. Leo is love-radiation--an individualized matter; it is not love-exchange, and all of the "identity-points" of the cardinal mandala are such because they refer to "relationships-by-complementation;" a "mother" is such in relationship to "child" and a "brother" is such in relationship to another brother or to a sister; the Capricorn of this symbol is the objectified identity of individual and mutual, Leo-Libra, "loving and being loved"-ness. In our tradition a ring is given by the man to the woman as a "dramatization" of his uplifted awareness of ideality, the power of which is symbolized by the brilliant beauty of the jewel--usually a diamond, which is the jewel-symbol of the Sun. This ring and the one--sometimes two--used in the wedding ceremony is never, as some have thought, a symbol of woman's bondage to, or enslavement by, man; it is always, because it is a circle, the symbol of the perfect- fulfillment of perfect exchange in perfect union. Mutual decision, presentation, and acceptance of the ring, the formal announcement and the first plan for time and place of the wedding ceremony are summed up in the Capricorn-point. The Aquarius of this fourth quadrant from Aries would symbolize the radiation of invitations to persons who love, and are loved and appreciated by, the betrothed couple; the love-extension to family-members and friends; the parents may feel that they are "losing their children" but actually they are, by the fraternity of Aquarius, gaining a "younger brother and sister." The young couple, at marriage, become members of the fraternity of husbands and wives, and, subsequently, that of fathers and mothers--of which their own parents are "senior members."

   The last phase of this "pre-natal" period of the marriage would be the sign Pisces in its regenerate meaning--symbol of faith and ideality. To marry is to signify an affirmation of one's realization of life's good and beauty and also to signify a willingness to contribute to Life of one's resources of Good and Beauty. The Pisces of the mandala symbolizes the wedding-ceremony as a dramatized symbol of the deepest and most heartfelt realizations of human joy, inspiration, and loveliness. The artistry of gowns and formal dress, flowers, and music symbolize Humanity's urge to reach and express realizations of eternal beauty--perfected manifestation. In our tradition, the ceremony usually starts with the first note of the musical prelude or of the wedding-march itself. The ceremony progresses, as we "travel through" Pisces, in points of prayer, meditation, music, and recitation of spiritual thoughts concerning the inner meaning of marriage. The officiant symbolizes in his person the intermediary between the personality and the reality of each of the two people. When he says "I now pronounce you husband and wife," the movement through Pisces--as the symbolic ceremony--is terminated at Aries and the emergence into Aries symbolizes the new identity of the couple as "husband and wife" in relationship to each other and in relationship, as individuals, to their individual life-pattern. Great bursts of music--and this music should be radiant and ecstatic in quality--and the couple walk together for the first time in their new identity. And--God bless them all--always.

   Something is often done in wedding ceremonies that is really not in keeping with the symbolism of the ceremony; that is for the officiant to pronounce the couple--at the conclusion of the service--"man and wife." A "man" is an adult, male human being; as such, before he can even consider marriage he must, of necessity, function for a few days, weeks, months, or years as "an adult male human being." The identity that is newly established is "husband," and with the assumption of that identity the man "incarnates" into a new octave of his "I AM" awareness as a symbol of his capacity and willingness to unfold and to express new levels of consciousness, resources, and powers.

   With the saying of the word "wife" in the above pronouncement, the statement of new identity is complete and integrated; the "pre-natal period" is finished and the material relationship is incarnated. It is the sincere and long-thought-of conviction of the author that the time of the officiants saying "wife" is the time that should be used for the wedding- chart. Regardless of plans, schedules, and announcements, the marriage is not "fully-born" until that pronouncement is complete. The child's birth-cry and the pronouncement of the wedding-officiant are both expressions of the power of the word--the living vibratory stamp of a new identity; from then on, the new-born child and the new-born husband-wife team are individualized "things- in-themselves;" they are, as it were, "on their own."

   If you have the charts of the bride and groom, identify their planetary rulers with the wedding-chart to determine which factor in the chart is "personalized" by each. A wedding-chart is not a "composite of two people;" it is the astrological pattern of a specialized experience. Follow this out by correlating, as much as possible, each planetary pattern of the individuals with the wedding chart for study of vibratory groupings. Then apply to each person's chart the planetary ruler and positions of the wedding chart; this is to study the essential meanings--to each individual--of the experience as a most important factor in the sequence of life-experiences. Having either or both of the individual charts complete would, of course, impose the requirement of studying the progressed aspects-- particularly those of the Moon--to study the individualized chart-action. If you do not have the birth time you will not have the complete charts but you can still group the planetary positions by crosses (cardinal, fixed, mutable) and generic (Fire, Earth, Air, Water) trines and compare them with the planet- groupings of the wedding chart. In either case, since any event occurs between two junctions, apply the previous solar eclipse to the individual's charts (not to the wedding chart because the wedding was not yet "born" when the eclipse fell) and list the aspects that it, and its resultant Full Moon made. If the wedding occurred after an eclipse-month then note also the effects of the lunation preceding the wedding on the individual's charts. Note the effects--on all three charts--of the solar eclipse which first falls after the wedding; pay particular attention to the "point," if there is such, that this eclipse stimulates in all three charts and note the extent of time between it and the next eclipse. This eclipse-pattern stimulating all three charts opens up the first major testing of the people by marriage and of the marriage itself from a certain composite of weaknesses of the two people, as individuals and as a couple. Also, for basic reading, list all "points-in- common" in the three charts; all such planets in the persons' charts that are squared or opposed tell you that--because of synchronization with a planet in the wedding chart--the marital experience brings to the persons an "apex opportunity" to perceive congestions in consciousness; conversely, all such planets that are sextiled will urge the exercise of self-directed transmutation; all that are trined will represent the "marriage's ability" to "bless the people" and through which they will experience hyper-realizations of their ideality. In other words, all of those patterns are experiences that are especially focalized in the marriage. The "uniqueness" of the wedding chart focalizes the individual and mutual uniqueness of the persons.

   When you study a wedding chart, pay much more attention to diameters than to separate house-cusps. Marriage is objectified human polarity and the diameters picture the foundations of the "two-in-one- ness" of all human experiences; in other words, the polarity foundations. Finance-stewardship is second-house--eighth-house; children are fifth-house-- eleventh-house, etc. The seventh house of a wedding chart, in its squares and oppositions, sums up the vibratory power that challenges the integrity of the union.

   All this is an excellent exercise of your synthesizing ability as an interpreter, an important phase of your service and a delightful stimulus to everything in your nature that makes you love astrology.

   One more suggestion; try reading your own natal horoscope as a "Marriage chart;" philosophically speaking--you figure this out--that's exactly what it is!

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VIII
Chapter II
Marriage

   For the pursuance of this material create mandalas as follows: (1 ) a Great Mandala: the Abstract Horoscope with Aries as the Ascendant-sign, including the Fire and Air trines--Aries, Leo, Sagittarius/Libra, Aquarius, Gemini); (2) a sign-mandala with Gemini as Ascendant; (3) a sign-mandala with Libra as Ascendant.

   While "complementation" is the word-symbol that refers to vibratory exchange in general, "marriage" is that specialized form of complementation that includes interchange with a person of the opposite physical sex. In its most complete expression--vibratorily and physically, the generative exchange is evolved; but many times a man/woman relationship does not--or cannot--involve this physical exchange; even so, we recognize our "other selves" in those persons who most completely complement us and our relationships with them are, perhaps, the most intensely "focused" of all our relationship-patterns and experiences.

   The quality of natural spontaneous joy that is found in significant relationships is resourced in the fraternity of the two people to each other. By the quality of our vibratory being at any particular point in the timing of our lives we magnetize to ourselves people who not only complement us-- "we need them and they need us"--but there is an inherent "simplicity" of each to the other. This simplicity is evidenced in a kind of "natural familiarity," an "easy recognition" that is quite different from the instinctive "uneasiness" that people feel toward each other when their fraternity is not recognized. (To have "no recognition" is "indifference" and no relationship results from the contact.) Mankind tends to fear and to hate that of which he is consciously ignorant; by this kind of recognition he sees others as "separate from himself" and the natural tendency to "defend himself from that which is not understood" takes the form of instinctive antagonisms and frictions. When we realize vibratory fraternity with even the most complete strangers we experience an easy attraction which may rapidly flower into friendship and happy beneficial exchange.

   The mandala with the Fire and Air trines pictures the essence of this quality.

   This mandala pictures a two-fold expression of the dynamic trine; the abstract of this trine is the Fire-trine; existence as power expressing with love and wisdom; its counterpart is the Air-trine initiated by Libra as the polarity of Aries; the two together form the six "points" of the sextile aspect--the mechanism of decrystallizing congestions. Give a little thought to this "trine-aspect symbol" as spiritualized expression. Now we will refer to our second mandala--the wheel with the sign Gemini as the Ascendant; connect the Ascendant with the fifth cusp (Libra), the fifth to the ninth (Aquarius), and the ninth to the Ascendant; thus creating the mandala of fraternity--since Gemini, as the Ascendant-sign, is the sign which refers to the third house of the Abstract Horoscope, and is the "root" of Humanity's fraternal Love-consciousness.

   In this mandala of fraternity we see the picture of basic brotherhood/sisterhood as the initiating point for the flowering of Love-Wisdom; brothers and sisters, playmates and fellow-students in child- hood; fellow students of any age, people who are similar in vocational or avocational interests, those who have a similarity of spiritual goals, those who enjoy the same things, those who are learning the same life-lessons. When we contact our "vibratory brothers and sisters" we recognize them; to the degree that we are free of congestions we easily--and sometimes quickly-- establish acquaintance with them; we have an "affinity" with them that makes possible this "good vibratory recognition."

   The experience of "falling in love" is an intensification of this vibratory affinity. In the Gemini mandala, Libra is on the cusp of the fifth house--the Love-aspect of the trine is now seen to be complementation of marriage and this vibratory recognition composites the most complete realization of "other-self-ness." The fraternity of brotherhood- sisterhood is here seen in an extended form of intensely focused complementation of one man and one woman whose fraternity with each other is the need for experience in the marital relationship. "Marriage" is here seen to be a twofold love-radiation and twofold stimulation by love-power. It is also the picture of the intense joy of lovers--the complementation is an ignition of the highest emotional octave of which each is capable at the particular timing of their lives. Truly, the love-joy of lovers is a radiation of beautiful and inspiring light--it charges the hearts of all with its ideal picturing. (Study your chart with the Gemini cusp as Ascendant.)

   Let us again look at the Great Mandala--Aries Ascendant--with special reference to the Gemini-Sagittarius diameter. Gemini-- the "root of Fraternity"--is the twelfth house sign of Cancer, the mother- sign; it is the ninth house sign of Libra, the wife-sign; Sagittarius is the twelfth house sign of Capricorn, the father-sign and third (fraternal) house sign of Libra and ninth house sign of Aries, the husband-sign. Let us interpret the house sign patterns in this way:

   Since Aries-Libra--the horizontal diameter--initiates the lower and upper halves of the circle, Gemini-Sagittarius is seen to be the modulation into the vertical division of the wheel, represented by the vertical diameter of Cancer-Capricorn. Virgo-Pisces is the modulation forward into the next expression of Libra-Aries. Mercury, through rulership of both mutable signs Gemini and Virgo, is the key-planet of modulation and adjustability into new octaves. Mercury, from a generic standpoint, is androgynous; it is "neutral" in the sense that it is not specifically masculine or feminine but is, in fact, inherently both. The quadrant initiated by male Mars is modulated by Mercury-Gemini (female sign, masculine gender) into the next quadrant, Cancer; which is ruled by the Moon and is, being Water, female-feminine; through Virgo (male sign, feminine gender) Mercury modulates the second quadrant and the lower half-circle into the third quadrant and the upper half-circle through cardinal Libra, ruled by Venus which is complement of Aries-Mars. The "masculinity" of the Air signs, initiated by Libra, simply pictures the "positive qualities of woman-nature," the masculine gender expressing in female sex or the initiation into upper octaves of consciousness by perception of the ideal reflection of one individual by another. Libra and its house--the seventh--is the portal to the temple of the soul; Aries--and the first house--is the portal into new experience by incarnation and by establishing a new octave of self-awareness. In Aries we say "I AM;" in Libra we extend our "I AM" into "WE ARE"--the transformation of separative self-consciousness by the power of Love- Fraternity; Love-Fraternity dissolves the "spaces" between ourselves and other human beings; we--and they--reach out vibratorily to each other and the "gaps are bridged" so that we and they are composited. The consciousness of individuality is thereby amplified into new and higher octaves of realization.

   It is the personal belief of the author--here presented as "food for thought"--that Pluto, as ruler of Scorpio, is exalted in Gemini, the root-sign of Love-Fraternity ("exaltation" is "generic maturity"). When we respond to an ignition of our inner wisdom and realize our fraternity with another person, our subconscious mind begins automatically -- as fire automatically burns upward--to decrystallize the congestions of envy, jealousy, and hatred, thus enabling us to "throw off negative ballast" and we, as a result, rise in vibratory quality. (These negative qualities are resourced in intense congestions of unreleased desire-power.) Further--let's look at the Scorpio Mandala--the twelfth house is covered by Libra, initiator of the Air-trine of which Gemini is the third ("Wisdom") octave; Venus, ruler of Libra, is herself "matured" in Pisces, the twelfth house sign of the Great Mandala, ruled by the identity principle of Neptune. The intensely compressed desire-quality of Scorpio--as the "thing incarnated" in this mandala--was impelled into "incarnation" by the marriage-complementation of Libra--harmony- through-perfect-vibrational-exchange is the redemption of the intensely compressed potentials of the Scorpio vibration. The "wisdom octave" of any of the four elemental (generic) trines is "that which is learned about Life from experience"--in contrast to the third-house-sign pattern (which refers to Gemini in the Great Mandala), which is "that learned through intellectual exercise;" third house pattern is integration of intellect; ninth house pattern is integration of consciousness through experience, and "EXPERIENCE" means RELATIONSHIP since it is only through relationship that experience has any particular meaning for us; nothing else identifies an experience except the way we feel about, and react toward, other people.

   So--Fraternity is the distilled essence of what is learned through Love-Relationship; when the intense potentials of Scorpio are constructively released we are, sooner or later (even if it takes years of incarnations), alerted to the brotherhood/sisterhood of all complementary relationships. The painful and terrible reaction we call "jealousy" is nothing but Fraternity that "has not yet seen its own face;" it is fraternal Love- attraction which, as yet, sees only differences, not similarities. The pain of this emotional reaction--a releasement of Pluto-Scorpio--is a deep-reaching one. No reaction of jealousy is to be taken as TRIVIAL or INSIGNIFICANT-- because it represents a timing for the greater unfoldment of fraternal Love; until the adjustment in consciousness is made--either as a "taker" or a "giver"--the subconscious will retain the "pain-pattern." The Scorpio Mandala- -with Libra as its twelfth house sign and Taurus (also ruled by Venus) as its seventh house sign--tells us how to deal with these intense pain-reactions: learn to perceive and to appreciate the best in the other fellow; appreciate him for his light and learn to emulate something of his regenerate qualities-- for, somewhere along the line, he is "high" where you are yet "low;" he has evolved something that you have yet to evolve--your pain-reaction is a moan of unfulfilled hunger from your sub-conscious which wants you to release something of your potentials and express more extensively. Don't waste time in envy--admire, appreciate, and learn from the person toward whom you tend to have this reaction; he is--whether he knows it or not--your "elder brother" from whom you can learn something of great importance toward realizing your ideal self.

   We must, for clarity's sake, focus on the seventh house in this discussion, even though there are several ways of analyzing a chart with regard to "complementation." The seventh house is your marriage experience and, in a natal horoscope, it must, by its very nature, represent your relationship with a person--or with persons--of the opposite physical sex. Planets in your seventh house represent a focalization of principles represented by the signs they rule which find their most complete expression in the field of complementary relationship. Not everyone actually marries, in the sense of becoming someone's husband or wife; but everyone has a seventh house with a particular focalization of Life-principles and vibratory qualities represented.

   Planets in the seventh house which are in the seventh house sign or intercepted in the seventh are the most definite focalizations of vibratory qualities to be dealt with in the marital relationship. These planets will represent a condensation of your experience-needs and will, consequently, represent a relatively strong compulsion to marry. Planets in the seventh house but in the eighth house-sign are a little different; these planets represent qualities which you need to regenerate--and the "ignition" of this inner need is brought to you in some form of intensely focused relationship-- which may, or may not, be with a person of the opposite sex or the same sex. Many times people are alerted to their most necessary regenerative need through contact with a person of the same sex--and until this regeneration is made, the other person will "appear as an enemy" to the subject.

   The first step in vibratory analysis of the seventh house as indicator of marital experience is understanding of the two signs on the horizontal diameter of the horoscope. This diameter is the polarity of "you and your complement" and all astrological students should "ground themselves" in a philosophic approach to the diameters found in the twelve signs--one of our most important steps. Then, of the planets that rule the Ascendant (and sign intercepted in the first house, if there is one) and the seventh cusp (and its intercepted sign, if there is one such).

   Determine the generic quality of these rulers: MALE SIGNS: Fire and Earth; FEMALE SIGNS: Air and Water; MASCULINE SIGNS: Fire and Air; FEMININE SIGNS: Earth and Water. Compare the generic quality of these house-rulers with the physical sex of yourself and your partner to determine which of the two is, basically, the more masculine and the more feminine; compare the general generic quality of both charts by synthesizing the generic qualities of all planets in both charts; the relative value of both charts as far as congested (square/opposition) aspects are pictured and the relative value of regenerate aspects; determine which planet, in each chart, is the most intensely congested and see how the other chart alleviates that congested planet. Do this with all congested patterns to determine how each can help the other to rise in vibratory quality.

   A most important clue is given by the placement of your planetary ruler in your partner's chart, and his/hers in your chart. Your ruler is in a certain sign, having a certain generic quality. The placement of the chart-rulers in the other person's chart will give the clue as to the focus of influence that each has on the other. If your planetary ruler is conjunct a planet in your partner's chart, then your influence is enhanced greatly for good or ill--because that planet in your partner's chart is your personal identification in his/her life and you can, by the way you express your ruler, "make or break" your partner by the way you identify yourself as that particular planetary influence. Also, apply his/her ruler to your chart and see if it conjuncts a planet in your chart: if so, study that planet with might and main; the regeneracy of that planet is the purpose for which you are drawn to your partner--if the planet is congested. If not, then its expression, on your part, makes possible a "channeling" of constructive effect on him/her and the picture is therein shown that that particular planetary vibration will "condense his/her need of you." So, it is incumbent upon you to exercise your regeneracies so that your Light, not your "darkness," will be the "gift" that you make to your marital experience.

   Then, of course, synchronize the two charts so that you may determine all mutual planetary conjunctions. These are "power-houses" by which light is generated in your relationship of marriage. Study the generic qualities represented by the sign-placement of these conjunctions to determine which phase of polarity is being exercised by the two of you together and study the planet that disposits each conjunction--that is very important because the planet that disposits such a conjunction represents the focalized life-principle that the two of you are, jointly, "working on" through the mutual conjunction.

   Remember that your chart is your chart and therefore a picture of your consciousness. Your seventh house is your inner picture of marriage; as such, recognize the value of realizing the ideal represented by your seventh house ruler; it is the principle that your partner should alert you to, and is the ideal that you are, in your Inner Being, most earnestly seeking to realize.

   To conclude, with a brief survey of the Libra mandala--the abstraction of humanity as a reflector of that which is of the soul.

   The basic feminine portrait of Humanity--the faculty that every man and woman has of reflecting to others ideal realizations of them by perceptions of their inner light. Virgo is on the twelfth, so service is the redemptive key-word of marriage; the service that is performed by the fulfillment of partnership is the releasement of light through regenerating our reactions to each other and to our experiences together. The placement of Gemini on the ninth is a key-word that the wisdom-resource of marriage is in fraternity of each to the other; "Fraternity" is "parallelity;" when we, in consciousness keep side by side with our partners rather than "higher and lower" we truly "take hands in loving companionship"--and each can, with comparative ease, learn from the light of the other.

   Those who have fulfilled the marital experience are much more aware of true Friendship--Leo is on the eleventh cusp of this mandala. Personal love-power is--or can be--released with great effect from the source of a loving and fulfilled heart to the extensions of impersonal relationships. Aquarius on the fifth tells us that the creativity of love, in marriage, has its impersonal meaning; we must not invite Egos into incarnation by making "graven images" of them; if we want to fulfill marriage through parenthood, we must do so in love, not with egotism and possessiveness. As parents, humanity fulfills his/her obligation by assisting the begotten to find its own realization of individuality and--having found it with integrity and clearness of perception--it must be liberated to its own fulfillments and experiences. The children grow up and go their ways, but the parents who love each other remain together. Their fraternity as husband-wife-brother-sister is integrated by love-wisdom and they are inwardly free to let their children find their maturity in expression of individuality on all planes. The fulfilled husband and wife stand, hand in hand, as a living symbol of the fraternity of men and women--as loving and beloved children of our parent-- Father-Mother God.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VIII
Chapter III
Fatherhood

   This discourse, pertaining to a specialized human identity, will be dealt with by considering a correlation of mandalas. Three will be required: (1) The Great Mandala--Aries Ascendant; (2) The mandala of Love-Power--Leo Ascendant; (3) The mandala of archetypal Fatherhood-identity-- Capricorn Ascendant. For each of these, apply the zodiacal sign-symbols in sequence, the circular symbol of the Sun at the center and the personal-Sun symbol (the horizontal line and semi-circle of the rising Sun) in each Leo- house.

   First--to consider the significance of Fatherhood- identity as a factor in the pattern of the Great Mandala, the horoscope of the archetype, Humanity. Capricorn, the upper of the two signs of the parentage- line (the vertical diameter) is the exaltation-sign of the male principle, Mars. Exaltation, vibratorily speaking, is maturity, and the maturity of the self-conscious, separative quality of Mars is found in the assumption and fulfillment of legitimate responsibilities. The responsibility implied in Capricorn as one of the two factors of the Cancer-Capricorn diameter, is that of providing form as an expression of Love-Power. The diameter of Cancer- Capricorn is the polarization of the Principle of Matrix; it is, in human terms, the essential design, or pattern, which identifies the human form.

   The arch-symbol of matrix, is, of course, the maternal sign Cancer; it is the Mother who provides the essential seed from which the human form is emanated in gestation. The polarization of this arch-principle of Capricorn is the impregnation of the form-seed by the male aspect of the Principle of Form-begetting. As such, the human identity is Father--the male personification of that which represents, to the Begotten, the security of recognizable Form. Insecurity is one of the two arch-roots of negative conditioning; frictional and congestive aspects involving Moon and Saturn, are, in astrology, insecurity-patterns. Saturn, ruler of Capricorn, is initiator of the Earth-trine (Capricorn, Taurus, and Virgo)--the principle which identifies this trine is stewardship of begotten form. This refers to the begetting and guidance of children (Capricorn), life-sustainment by material exchange (Taurus), and work-expression (Virgo). Moon-Cancer is the security-symbol of the immature human; the immature ones find security in the nurture, protection and sympathetic affection represented by the Moon as symbol of the mother-instinct. Saturn-Capricorn is the security-symbol of the mature human; the mature ones assume and fulfill responsibilities, they perfect their expression of potentials in contributive action relative to the large family, Society.

   If Cancer symbolizes our tendency to cling to that which protects us externally, Capricorn and the Saturn-vibration symbolizes our urge to establish our own individual security by regeneration of consciousness and expressing from that basis. Through Cancer we are the citizens of a family-group; through Capricorn we are citizens of the larger family of state, nation, and race; the archetype of this citizenship is, of course, our identity as Earthians--fellow-inhabitants of this planet of the solar system.

   Everyone--male or female--has Moon-Cancer and Saturn- Capricorn somewhere in the chart. These picture the biune security symbol of Humanity. In each incarnation we specialize our archetype; we carry subconscious instinct-memories of experience as the opposite sex from one incarnation to the next; we also carry aspirational urges to realize unity all through our sequence of incarnations. That in which we default, through ignorance and desire-congestion in one incarnation, we experience retroactively in the next, or a subsequent, incarnation. A female can learn a great deal about fatherhood principles through her experience as daughter, wife, or mother in relationship to males who outpicture her past fatherhood defaults. A male actively recapitulates the essence of past fatherhood- defaults by (it starts in each incarnation with this) his subconscious reactions to his father when he is in the immature, impressionable state. We are magnetized to our fathers by composite of dissimilarities and similarities to them. In other words, our individualized consciousness (ignorance or wisdom) of the principles of fatherhood is that which makes our particular father-relationship what it is in a given incarnation. We do not create our fathers, but our consciousness is the conditioning factor that determines the quality of our relationship with our father. Consciousness always determines relationship-quality.

   Now, the mandala with Leo as Ascendant. This is the archetypal mandala of Love-Power, that which is the resource of all emotional reaction and expression. It is the basic source of all emotional identification of relationship and, as the Creative Aspect of Father-Mother- God, it is the one love of which we all partake throughout our incarnations and which we are continually aspiring to realize and express in our relationship with human and sub-human life. Referring to the subject at hand we see that this power is "parented" in our consciousness by the generative force we call desire; the diameter of Scorpio-Taurus is the vertical of this mandala. The sexuality of the male and female gives incarnated form to the reappearance on this plane of a human focalizer of solar power. The personal desire of parents for union with each other masks the archetypal regenerative aspiration which, rooted by Scorpio at the fourth cusp of this mandala, starts as sex-expression but flowers as love-expression.

   The Capricorn of fatherhood-identity is seen to be the sixth house sign of this mandala. The diameter of which it is the male polarization (Capricorn-Cancer) forms the sixth-house-twelfth-house diameter of this mandala, and it is analogous to the Virgo-Pisces diameter of the Great Mandala (Aries Ascendant). This diameter is the Principle of Redemption by personal (Virgo) and impersonal (Pisces) service. Since Love-Power is the "thing incarnated" in this mandala, every factor in it is an aspect of Love. The placement of fatherhood-Capricorn at the sixth cusp is, in the specialization of male consciousness, the human expression of Divine Love by willingly assuming the responsibilities (Saturn vibration) to serve the on- going of human life (sixth house) by male expression as a form-begettor. St. Joseph, the human father of Jesus, is a personification of the purity of spiritualized human fatherhood. His parental service and devotion were expressions of a consciousness of the one love to instrumentate the begetting of a perfected human form. A devotional exercise of great power has been performed by millions of humans who have knelt with reverence before images and pictures of this benign Vibration because they, as symbols, convey a sense of the livingness of the loving, protective stewardship of fatherhood as microcosm of the father-hood of the Solar Logos. This sanctified Consciousness, in male form, has transmuted personal, genetic, possessive desire into an octave of spiritualized epigenetic service; he, and his prototypes throughout the ages, symbolize to the inner knowing of Humanity the Love that is specialized in the fatherhood-identity; His purity and devotion are archetypal of that true security which all immature ones seek to receive from their fathers, which all fathers should seek to realize in themselves and which all humans must, sooner or later, realize to be an aspect of a divine attribute. Fathers: turn your natal chart so that your Leo-cusp becomes the Ascendant; study this arrangement as your specialization of the Leo-mandala with reference to the conditions indicated by the Saturn-vibration. What is your consciousness of fatherhood as a Love-Service? How is your consciousness of your own father's love pictured? Do you tend to repeat, in your experience, what you interpreted as defaults in him? For what things do you honor him in your heart and seek to be honored by your own children?

   Here, for variety, is offered a reading-suggestion pertaining to literary portraits of highly evolved father-consciousness; you may, as an astrological student, enjoy a stimulus of your inner knowing by consideration of these imaginary archetypal personalities to correlate with your present study of fatherhood principles:

   John Evered in "Strange Woman" by Ben Ames Williams; Ling Tang in "Dragon Seed" by Pearl Buck; Stephen Sorrel in "Sorrel and Son" by Warwick Deeping; Phillip Gordon in "Well of Loneliness" by Padclyffe Hall; Lavrans Bjorgulfson in "Kristin Lavransdatter" by Sigrid Undset; David Naughton in "Claudia" by Rose Kranken. The qualities of highly developed masculinity are combined with wisdom and protective strength in these characters which keynote the evolved father type.

   Further consideration of Capricorn in the Leo mandala reveals it to be the ninth house sign of the Midheaven, Taurus, and hence the Wisdom-aspect of the principle of Stewardship. The man has, for the most part, been the "bread winner" of human families since primitive times. In such experiences, all Egos--incarnating periodically as males--distill clearer realization of the spiritual principles involved in the material stewardship of Life. It is clearly shown in this mandala that in all families of which the father is the material support, one of the father's basic responsibilities is to teach the principles of right exchange in material matters.

   That duty becomes a focalization of his father- purpose in this incarnation. To the degree that he is unaware of such principles will the mother, or others, have to fulfill that responsibility. Right exchange is an aspect of true security and as such it is evidenced in all psychological and spiritual maturity. To the degree that the father is spiritually informed on this matter is it incumbent upon him to guide his sons and daughters in the spiritual preparation of their practical and professional experience. To the degree that he is free from congestion on desire-for- possession-of-things (a crystallizing lockjaw of the consciousness of stewardship) will he be qualified to instruct truthfully. This is wisdom illuminating the practical experience-chapters of human life and no one functioning as an adult male can be considered an evolved father who is ignorant of this Principle.

   Now--the Capricorn Mandala: the abstract horoscope of fatherhood-identity; fourth aspect of the Great Mandala and first aspect based on the Earth Element as Ascendant. Because this mandala is that of an archetypal identity, we consider it from a little different standpoint than we do a natal horoscope. The vertical diameter becomes "parentage archetypalized." In other words, instead of male and female parent it is an archetypal instinct--an evolutionary urge--from which the identity is derived. Fatherhood and its polarity, motherhood, is "born of" the evolutionary instinct to transform the two "I AM's" of separative Aries and Libra into the composite "We Are" of the Aries-Libra diameter, herein pictured as the vertical diameter. Because our subject is a masculine specialization, we look to the male significator of this diameter. It is the Mars sign Aries, the matrix of Male Principle, the arch-vibratory symbol of individualized awareness of being. Fatherhood, primitively speaking, results from an action of the male to express his instinctive genetic urge and relax tensions. In primitive stages of consciousness, "love-exchange" is unknown--mating is a fusion of self-ish instinctive urge. But, from repetition through many incarnations the marital consciousness is distilled. The "WE ARE" of evolved husbandhood and wifehood distills, in its turn, regenerated consciousness of parentage principles--the laws of the Cosmos as they specialize through experience as human fatherhood and motherhood. If Mars, as ruler of this fourth house (the psycho-genetic base) is symbol of basic male quality, its ninth house sign, Sagittarius, at the cusp of the twelfth house, is the "matrix" of the spiritual redemption of the father-identity. This redemption is seen in the expressive giving-ness quality of Sagittarius's ruler, Jupiter. In back of every father is the Wisdom Aspect of his individualized consciousness. He incarnated as male, undertook fatherhood experience as an adult in order to redeem through wisdom. "What was good enough for me should be good enough for my kids" is an attitude completely outmoded--it is fatherhood congested. The urge to improve conditions for his children-- esoterically or exoterically--is the evolutionary progress specializing in the father consciousness. Also, Jupiter's exaltation in the Moon's sign, Cancer, pictures the masculine polarization of the Principle of Nurture; the tenderness, generosity, and out-going goodness of Jupiter identify the father as giver--of protection, guidance, and material good. Primitive man, like most animals, was not for the most part concerned with his children as individuals. Jupiter, in father-nature, is a distillment of compassion, sympathy, and interest in children--the result of epigenetic expression through many incarnations. If Jupiter pictures a man's expression of paternal love, as a specialization of Solar Love, Saturn pictures Humanity's archetypal symbol of the fatherhood identity and principle: He who gives form as expression of contributive love, who personifies to the Begotten the protective Principle, who out-pictures the mature masculine vibration, who out-pictures the unregeneracies and regeneracies of the individual's consciousness of the Father Principle and who personifies the masculine cornerstone of society's structure. The unregenerate father is the unregenerate citizen, the incapable teacher, blind to his essential attributes as a focalizer and expressor of Love-Power. The regenerate father, the "White-lighted Saturn," gives and sustains incarnation in Love-service, exemplifies in his person and character that upon which the family and society can build a better structure, expresses an awareness of the guiding truths of Life. He is one who influences and guides by principle, not by personal congestion, and he knows the truth of Love in human relationships.

   So--Saturn in a natal horoscope is the instinctive or subconscious father-picture--one aspect of the security urge which is the consciousness of the ever-protectiveness of Father-Mother God. The Capricorn Mandala has the "Love-matrix" Leo on the eighth cusp. Spiritualized fatherhood is sexual expression raised to the octave of love-consciousness. It is not a "hit-or-miss" expression--it is spiritually inspired, spiritually planned, spiritually and beautifully expressed as a releasement of solar power. (Occult instruction tells this over and over.) The spiritual exercise of planned (Self-directed) fatherhood synchronizes perfectly with the essences of the eighth house, the sign Leo and the power of Saturn as a charging of generative experience, by the male, with the utmost resource of Love-Power.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VIII
Chapter IV
Childhood

   "CHILD-HOOD" simply means "being in a state of involution"--on any octave of experience or unfoldment.

   There is not much poetry but there is a great deal of truth in the statement that "the child is father to the man." The man is the result of all of the processes of involution which emanate, in sequence, from the time of conception to fullest incarnated maturity. All involutions are, of course, phases of the one life-direction: evolution. They are timings for organization and focus of faculties; they culminate at the "points" when the faculties can be consciously used and directed. "Conscious directive" is just another way of saying "Maturity."

   Before we can undertake a technical approach to analyzing the charts of children, we must get a picture of what our various "childhoods" are; the structure of the Great Mandala will be used for illustration of the involution--and evolution--of human being-ness. The Law of Correspondence will be seen, here, to apply in this way: from Virgin Spirit through incarnations to liberation-from-form corresponds to from Virgin seed through incarnation to transition. From virginity--or innocence--on any Life- octave--we proceed through a succession of emanations, which we call "child- hoods," to cyclic maturities. A concrete example--the process of education: students on the first day of kindergarten, the first grade, the ninth grade, and freshmen in college are "virgin spirits" in relationship to the phase they are entering; the "most virgin" are, of course, the kindergarten students-- they have no educational experience in this life at all. All of these are "children" because they are still in the process of becoming educated. The "childhood of being educated" stops when the person first puts to use that which he has learned; on entering this phase, he enters into the "childhood" of his work-experience; as he applies that which he has learned, he "emanates toward" his maturity as a worker.

   So, let us remember that "childhood" is the process between relative points of maturity on any--or all--octaves of Life- expression, as--let this be added--unfoldment of potentials is the process between relative points of happiness.

   The start of your incarnation was the timing that determined the end of your necessary experience on the inner planes. From that point, qualified entirely by your karmic requirements, things began to happen that served the purpose of removing your consciousness from subjectivity to objectivity. The seed, nucleus of your vehicle-to-be, was matured within the maternal body; again, at the exact required timing, that seed received the effect of the paternal impregnation and the subjective phase of your incarnation was finished--the objective phase was begun. New childhood.

   Now begins the involution, into the composite vehicle, called the pre-natal period. This is the first of your "objective childhoods." For illustration draw a large circle, add the horizontal and vertical diameters; place the symbols of the cardinal signs, as they are in the Great Mandala: 4th--Cancer, 7th--Libra, 10th--Capricorn, 1st--Aries. From a point on the Cancer-line, near the center, draw, through comparable points, a line up through Libra and Capricorn, then down to Aries--three-quarters of a circle. This is the "line of the gestation period"--nine months of time symbolized by nine astrological house-signs--three quadrants. This is the gathering and focalizing of generic consciousness into the etheric matrix and its physical condensation. The ending of this gestation (prenatal) line at Aries brings this particular "childhood" to an end by its "maturity" at birth. Now the composite vehicle is objectified as an individualized expression of the archetypal idea--"humanity." It is not a "new human being" but "a human being reappearing newly."

   From the point on the Aries-line where the "gestation- line" ended, move your pencil-point outward--away from the center--a little. From that point draw a quarter-circle down to the comparable point on the Cancer-line. New octave--new dimension. This quadrant is the involution into conscious use of the physical vehicle--the individualized physical childhood. Astrologically, this period is represented by the "parallel voyages" of the progressed Moon and transiting Saturn (the formbuilders) from their natal positions to the first square. The last time that transiting Saturn, in direct motion, squares its natal position terminates this quadrant. More of this later.

   Move your pencil-point down the Cancer-line a little and draw a quarter-circle to the comparable point on the Libra-line. This quadrant is the childhood of mental exercise--the training represents the schooling that is obtained by the child in the grades of grammar school. He takes his first steps in learning to understand the symbols we call letters and numbers which is for the (basic) purpose of coordinating and organizing his mental faculties. Then, a new and most vital "child-hood." This point on the Libra-line symbolizes the dawn of adolescence, the emanation of sex- consciousness and the awareness of polarity. On the gestation-line, this point represents the timing in the pre-natal period when the sex-characteristics of the incarnation to-be were objectified and those of the opposite sex were subjectified. At adolescence the physical body manifests the chemicalization of sex-consciousness; the subjective sex-consciousness is manifested by the vibratory response of the person to persons, for the most part, of opposite physical sex. (More of this in the following article.) This subconscious "emanation" of polarity-consciousness represents the "childhood of mate-love." The basic astrological pattern is: Progressed Moon opposition its natal position and Saturn transiting to the opposition of its natal position. Now move the pencil-point out a little on the Libra-line and draw a quarter-circle to the Capricorn line; three quadrants of the wheel and the second square of progressed Moon and transiting Saturn to their natal positions.

   At this point--the second on the Capricorn-line--the first maturity after birth is reached. The person has evolved the use of his physical body, his conscious mentality and his erogenous, generative powers.

   He is now qualified, as far as equipment is concerned, to leave the status of life-taker and emerge into the status of life-giver. In other words, he can now become a parent. He not only can provide body-substance for another's incarnation but he should be qualified to assume and fulfill the responsibilities attendant on that expression. Anyone with physical equipment, desire-power, and a partner can become a parent, but being a parent involves the exercise of love-power and wisdom-power, as well as desire-power. Therefore, in the fourth quadrant after birth, the person enters the childhood of culminating maturity. This "childhood" is pictured by moving the pencil-point upward a little on the Capricorn-line and drawing the remaining quarter-circle downward to the Aries-line, completing one circle from birth. This period is the psychological-spiritual "childhood"--fusion of all of the personality-elements--physical, generic, and mental. On the wheel it encloses the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth houses. Since the twelfth house abstractly symbolizes unfulfilled ideality, it symbolizes here the testing- time of the 28th, 29th, and 30th years. This period marks the end of the first cycle: progressed Moon and transiting Saturn (direct) conjunct their natal positions. During this "super-birth" time the essentials of the entire horoscope are brought into intense focus. On its octave, it is analogous to the struggle of the infant to emerge from the maternal body. Only this is emergence of consciousness from the gravitational pull of psychological (psychic-emotional-mental negatives, rather than the struggle of one physical body against another. The aspects made by the first solar-eclipse after the progressed Moon's conjunction of its own place are very important to indicate the focus of testing until Saturn has completed its cycle.

   It is true that, from a standpoint of karmic conditionings, the gestation-period of a child's body may be attended by very difficult vibratory conditions due to the distresses, negative emotions, and tensions of the parents, particularly of the mother. However, since incarnation is made by vibratory attraction to specific parents and to specific environment, these conditions are outpicturings of vibratory patterns. The conditions are not "causes"--they are, in fact, specific effects of causes which the "child" himself has built from the way that he exercises his consciousness in the past. When we recognize that parentage and environment are effects, not causes, we recognize that we can redeem the quality of our relationship with our parents and the quality of our memory-pictures of our early environment by decrystallizing tension-thoughts and tension-feelings in substituting thought-patterns and feeling-patterns based on Love-Wisdom. Is this not, in essence, one of the principal meanings of the phrase "the Art of living"?

   At the end of the period marked by the conjunction of the progressed Moon and transiting Saturn to their natal positions--which is coincidental to the trine, by direct transit, of Uranus to its natal position- -the man emerges from the "emanations" of his six "childhoods"--one subjective and five objective. To sum up: (subjective): preparation, on the inner planes, for incarnation; (objective): (1) The prenatal period, involution into physical and etheric vehicles, culminating at birth; (2) birth to seven years; involution into use of physical vehicle; (3) seven to fourteen years: involution of use of mental faculties; (4) fourteen to twenty-one years: involution of polarity-consciousness, sex-awareness and emergence of the erogenous nature; (5) twenty-one to twenty-eight years: completion of the first cycle of the progressed Moon, culminated by the transit--in last direct motion--of Saturn to the conjunction of its natal position and the trine of Uranus to its own natal position; the latter two take place in the twenty- ninth and thirtieth years. This period is "summing up" of total childhood of the incarnation, the testings which serve to solidify the consciousness for mature years, the inner struggles by which we prove how much has been learned of Life-Principles so far, and then the action of Uranus provides a measure of liberation for progressive emanation.

   Since recapitulation is a principle in evolutionary emanations, the next period, ending with the third square of the progressed Moon and transiting Saturn to their natal positions (first square of the second cycle) in about the thirty-sixth year, is a recapitulative period in which life gives us the opportunity to learn from the results of the testing- time of the 28th to 30th years, and to redeem, at least in part, whatever needs to be redeemed. Life does not want us to go from one octave to another all slogged down by burdens of accumulated congestions--the vibration of Uranus is Nature's provision to insure some degree of inner freedom--and that freedom is a direct derivative from whatever we have learned by our testing. After all, the congestion we call "ignorance" is decrystallized only by wisdom "and the truth shall make ye free." This is the period to "fix what needs to be fixed" from the first thirty years and then we emerge, after the thirty- sixth year--having learned things we needed to learn--into the next phase (comparable to the erogenous-sexual period of adolescence), which is the period of greatest creativity so far. Our polarity-powers--higher octave of sexual powers--now dawn for a blaze of expression through the maturities of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual equipment.

   At the end of this period, the sixth quadrant, we come to the modulation into the fullest maturity of the incarnation; a threefold vibratory action takes place from forty-two to about forty-five; progressed Moon and transiting Saturn make the second opposition to their natal positions and transiting Uranus opposes its natal position. This period is another "birth struggle"--of great occult significance: it is the struggle, in consciousness, between the "slowing-up crystallization" of Saturn and the "progressive decrystallization of Uranus--Dying vs. Living. It is a conviction of the author that this "struggle" and its outcome have much to say about the "psychological foundation" and the "evolutionary status" of the next incarnation. At this time we, by our reactions and expressions, prove whether we intend to become inertial or to remain dynamic. Whatever in our consciousness tends to congest and to impede progress is shaken to its roots at this time. If we--in fear--cling to the old and no-longer-needed we build in inertia; if we adjust to needed changes we build in progress which results in a radiant new birth of spiritual consciousness. After this period we climb to the summit of our life-mountain--the fullest maturity of our later years.

   Now, a little technical study. Six sets of accurate calculations:

   1. The months in which the progressed Moon makes its first square, first opposition, second square, conjunction, third square, and second opposition to its natal position.

   2. Correlate to each of the above the timing of the solar eclipse which falls (after the progressed Moon aspect) conjunct square or opposition the natal Moon. (The succeeding solar eclipse "opens up" the Moon-patterns.)

   3. The dates on which Saturn, by last direct transit, makes its first square, opposition, second square, conjunction, third square, and second opposition.

   4. To each of the above (Number 3), correlate the lunation nearest the aspect-time which conjuncts, squares or opposes the natal Saturn. These lunations "ignite" the Saturn-aspects in correlation to the solar-eclipses in their relationship to the progressed-Moon aspects. (If your ephemeris provides.)

   5. The period when Uranus, by first and last direct transit, opposes its natal position. Find the timing of the solar-eclipses that conjunct, square, or oppose the natal Uranus in this period. This is the apex of the "shaking up" time--Uranus rumbles and roars at everything he dislikes about Moon-Saturn.

   6. A composite list of everything in the above- mentioned two-point period of Uranus-opposition-Uranus that ignites the natal Uranus by sextile or trine. That is, the progressed Moon itself, solar eclipses and their full-Moons, lunation-patterns and their full Moons, and majority planetary transits that represent stimulation of Uranus according to his powers for establishing inner liberations and progressiveness. Also, the study of the Uranus-opposition-Uranus requires a careful synthesis of the contrast of natal Uranus with natal Saturn to evaluate the relative powers of gravity and progress in the individual chart.

   It is also suggested that special attention be given to the progressed Moon aspects in this way: Make a list of the months when progressed Moon, in sequence, makes aspect to every planet which makes legitimate aspect to the natal Moon in the horoscope. Each of the "quadrant turning points" is focalized by the aspects of progressed Moon and transiting Saturn to their natal positions, but Moon-aspects in the natal chart are personal specializations of the Moon-principles and all of these aspects have important bearing on the "turning-points."

   When you are reading the chart of anyone, keep in mind what "childhood" he or she is in; analyze the chart for its basic values but keep in mind the "equipment" that is presented for the time of the experience you are studying.

   In conclusion: the astrologer's "first quadrant" is in "learning the calculation"--the body of astrological study. All of his other "childhoods"--as an interpreter-artist--are coincidental with his various stages of spiritual unfoldment.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VIII
Chapter V
Adolescence

   The word "adolescence" means "to continue to grow." In its application to human involution and evolution it refers to the periods on various octaves which succeed each new turning-point. It is the process during which is manifested the unfoldment of potentials after the new identity has been established. Abstractly, "adolescence" is a part of the "childhood" of the octave; it is not maturity--it is the unfoldment toward the maturity of the octave. In music, each "C" inaugurates a new tonal octave--a "turning- point" in the tonal spectrum; the "adolescence" of the musical octave would be al1 the tones between that "C" and the next one--above or below it--depending on the direction of the musical passage.

   Abstractly, the "childhood" of human-experience octaves might be designated as "being born," "starting school," "becoming an adolescent," "becoming a parent, or a worker, or a teacher." All of these designations refer to new points of experience. A man who has only one child-- only a few years old--is an "adolescent" in father experience. Another man, who has a number of children who are all adult, or even married and themselves parents, is in the maturity of father-experience. The younger father is in the process of parentage-maturing; the older man has reached maturity in this particular >experience. "Fatherhood-motherhood," as a new turning-point of identity, is established when the first child is born; the experiences between that time and the adulthood of the last child of the family is the "growing-up of parentage." When the "baby" of the family has reached the status of a self- sustaining adult, the father and mother reach their maturity, as parents. The birth of each child into the family is, in turn, a "variation" of the basic parentage identity because each child brings in a different vibratory pattern on which the parents must, in the ensuing years, exercise their potentials of Love-Wisdom. The development of each child is coincidental with a different "adolescence" of the parents, as a fraternal husband-wife "team."

   Give yourself a little mind-exercise on the word "adolescent." Turn your attention to many phases of Nature and observe the processes of "growing-up-ness:" the growth of plants and trees and the maturing of their flowers and fruits; the development of young animals and birds; the unfoldment, even, of daytime and nighttime that follows the appearance of the Sun and the Moon on the Eastern horizon. The seeming "arc" in which the Sun and Moon travel across the sky from horizon to horizon is a natural symbol of "manifestation and childhood," "adolescence," "maturity," "decline" and--with the disappearance of the luminaries below the Western horizon--"transition." This is a natural symbol of Cosmic Beauty because it symbolizes the essential pattern of all Life-expressions in their unfoldment of potentials, maturity and, finally, recession into subjectivity.

   The subject of this discourse is the concrete application of the word "adolescent" as it refers to a specialized phase of human experience. It is the timing for manifestation of the Bi-polar essence of the individual; he manifests a new maturing of his physical organism, his emotional potentials and a most significant evidence of his karma. (We will-- for simplicity--use the masculine pronoun "he" as the subject; but "he" will refer to any adolescent, male or female.)

   The first mandala we will study is a very simple one: a circle with the horizontal diameter; the symbol for Aries at the left point, the symbol for Libra at the right point. From the standpoint of the "on-going- ness" of the individual's life, this mandala is the arch-symbol of polarity, of which the Capricorn-Cancer diameter is the first basic variation. These two signs are "masculine" in the sense that they picture the dynamic individuality--"capable of initiating causes"--of male and of female, respectively. But, in relationship to Aries, Libra is "feminine" because "she" symbolizes the effect from (or reflection of) causes that were expressed by the Individuality.

   The two radii which comprise this diameter--appearing as a "single line"--are the archetypes of the two semi-circles. All of the potentials of the first six houses (of the twelve-housed wheel) are implied in the Aries-radius; those of the upper six houses are implied in the Libra- radius. The semi-circles are simply the unfoldments of resources initiated by these two cardinal signs. Therefore it is shown, in a way so simple as to be almost deceptive, that the horizontal diameter itself comprises the polarity- potential of the entire circle.

   As a result of the generative action of the parents (Capricorn-Cancer) this line is an effect: horizontal, feminine, resultant, matter, the begotten. But as a symbol of dynamic expressiveness of the individual human, it is a cause--the effect of which is the Capricorn-Cancer diameter symbolizing maturity of the individual, during incarnation in parenthood or any other expression of "life-giving-ness."

   So now we see the "magic" of symbology: the Cosmic Principle of Cause-and-Effect, in bi-polar expression (both abstract and generic) pictured by one and the same line. Give this a lot of meditative thought with reference to your own experience as a human. Your expressions as an individual are symbolized by Aries; your emotional-reaction-awareness of your complement is Libra. But--your expressions and your reactions are all you; your complements are living symbols of those elements in your physical and generic being which have not yet been fulfilled by your individuality.

   Now, in reference to the four-quadrant, twenty-eight- year cycle of the wheel, the period we designate as "adolescence" is the third quadrant--counterclockwise--from Aries, the one that is initiated by Libra The generic elements which were objectified in the prenatal period are now objectified by new octaves of emotional consciousness and outpictured by other humans. At this "new birth," "I AM" is transposed--as a musician transposes into a different key--into "WE ARE." The subject walks around in time and space and perceives "parts of himself" reflected by persons of complementary polarity-patterns. The scorn, bashfulness, antipathies, etc., which adolescents exhibit toward those of the opposite sex need not be objects of anxiety of parents; fear is the normal, natural reaction of the human-being when he is brought face-to-face with something he doesn't understand. However, when boys and girls respond to the power of attraction of each to the other, in bi-polar couples, we witness the charmingly ludicrous performances of "young things" trying to orient themselves in the distracting, fascinating dimensions of new emotional octaves. Such dramatizings, such tricks, such gigglings and weepings, such dreamings --both by day and by night--such new self-confidences and courages followed by their complete deflations, such vanities and true beauties, such hopes and disappointments, such star- lightings and moon-glowings, such irritations and absent-mindednesses, such fantasies, and such ideals and worshippings!

   Not only do the "young things" go through the travail of "new Beginnings" at this time--their parents do too! Sex-consciousness is attended by the need to understand sex; how do the parents, individually and as a team, deal with this phase (it is not essentially a "problem" except in their own minds) of their children's growth as individuals and their own as parents? Family-polarity really "goes to town" at these times: the son (and his girl-friend), the daughter (and her boy-friend), the parent who is husband-father (as well as "older brother" to his son because he has gone through the same experience himself) and the one who is wife-mother and "older sister," all are in processes of union with their unfulfillments-- individually, as couples, and as a family-group.

   Sex-education, as is any other phase of educative process, is symbolized by Gemini and the third house in the sense that any little child can learn the names and purposes of "things concerning sex" many years before he becomes adolescent. In the third quadrant of the wheel the educative process transcends the "mere naming of things."

   When the child becomes conscious of his sexual nature, his education must involve a learning to understand the principles of sexuality as they manifest in his being and in all Nature. When parents, because of "congestions in ignorance," confine their sex-instruction simply to names (sometimes, pathetically, not even that much) they fail their responsibility to their adolescent sons and daughters. Let us point our attention at the third quadrant of the mandala: Three signs are represented-- Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius; add the symbols of the latter two to the mandala. Libra is the turning-point, the new awareness of "We Are;" Scorpio, Fixed Water, is the desire to sustain the "we are" as its complement, Taurus, is the desire to sustain the individuality. "Traveling through Scorpio" is the releasement of generative resources at puberty, the physical changes, the magnetic processes of sexual attraction and the instinctive urges to make the "We Are" manifested chemically in physical union. Scorpio symbolizes the resource of most intense aspiration to realize the ideal of uniting personality with soul. Anyone in love who addresses the beloved as "my soul" is not being just emotionally fatuous--he is putting into words a recognition that the vibratory nature of the loved one has ignited the lover's consciousness of spiritual identity.

   Adolescence is the "pre-natal period of parenthood" and, as such, it is the timing for ignition of the person's inner ignorance and inner wisdom concerning the principles of generation and polarity- relationship. And, in this "ignition," very important facets of "secret karma" are manifested; karmic residues of unfulfilled relationship-patterns are "brought out into the open" after the dormancy of childhood. The adolescent's own latent fatherhood is now emerging as an effect from his expressions as husband-father in his last male incarnation; so with the girl--her previous wifehood-motherhood now reappears for further fulfilling. Since the father and mother have been, up to this time, the living symbols of "man with woman," the emergences of adolescence can intensify the affectional patterns of the child's feelings toward either parent or both of them, or a latent animosity can now appear. The boy has become conscious of "female" as a Life-symbol, so it is to be expected that his feelings toward mother and sister will intensify--according to his generic elements--and a deeper sense of affection and comradeliness toward the father and brother or a growing sense of rivalry toward them (as "fellow males") can manifest. Also "transferences of affection" from husband to son or from wife to daughter can take place in the emotional patterns of the parents because the "new adult male" and "new adult female" can represent, to the parent of the opposite sex, a symbol of new love. Many times the mother tries to recompense herself for marital frustrations by extending her wife-love to her adolescent son and so may a man to his daughter. Absolutely nothing "evil" need be intended by these transferences but when they happen they are evidences--effects--from having repeatedly expressed according to emotional congestions. The often-seen tragic congestions of intense mutual feeling of family-pairs toward each other are evidences of past relationships of a deeply emotional type--the persons are "nailed together" by the magnetic attraction of unredeemed desire forces. If these attractions are not decrystallized by the exercise of mutual respect of individuality, then the relationships take on the coloring that we call "generic complexes" and the adolescent phase, in such case, results in a congestion in old patterns rather than a liberation for greater fulfillment.

   If this period is to result in individual ongoing- ness, the parents must exercise their Love-Wisdom as never before and the adolescent must strive to learn more about the principles of generation and relationship than he ever knew before. The parents become teachers and the children become students; this is one of Nature's ways of encouraging impersonalization of the emotional attachments within the family organization. It is "Uranus at work" to decrystallize Scorpio-Taurus-congestions from the past. The emotional and desire-resources of the adolescent male and female must be encouraged to extend into the octaves of healthy individual mate-love. The parent who seeks to discourage this development makes bitter karma. Parents who "exercise this constraint" do so because their own frustrated urges (intense desires) are permitted to transpose normal and natural protective concern into a voracious "something" compounded of possessiveness, egotisticalness, and fear. Herein lies one of the most important responsibilities of parents as thinking people. The woman who makes her son a substitute-symbol for "husband" and at the same time retains the status of "wife" to the man she married is deflecting the reality of her marital identity into something that resembles a terrible illusion. The same for the man who, in compensation for marital disappointments, makes use of his daughter's womanly affections and devotion. Such relationship-mix-ups are tragic and "human tragedy" is summed up in "congestion in desire-ignorance." The transmutation of "tragedy" is releasement of congestions.

   When the "We Are"--the marital individuality--of a husband/father-wife/mother team is maintained in mutual Love-Wisdom, the individuality of the son and daughter is automatically respected, since neither parent has need of "emotional substitute-symbols." Then instruction regarding "facts and principles of love, marriage, and generation" can be naturally, intelligently, and inspiringly given and absorbed. Hence the adolescent is rhythmically conditioned to enter the Sagittarius-part of the third quadrant as he or she opens naturally to new realizations of old wisdom. From that, he/she is prepared, in consciousness, to "reach the Midheaven" and enter the fourth quadrant as an adult--a "younger contemporary," as man or woman--of the parents. To give the instruction and to absorb it is to fulfill the Capricorn-Cancer line--fulfilling parentage responsibility and fulfilling the requirements of parenthood-to-be.

   (If "learning calculations" is the "childhood" of the astrologer, then his "adolescence" is the study of symbols in their individual and collective significance; "maturity" is in outgiving of what has been learned; as consultant, writer, lecturer, and teacher, the astrologer is "spiritual parent" and he takes his place in the ranks of World-servers; in this service he is in the "adolescence" of his "elder-brother-ship-to-be.")

   TECHNICAL: it is suggested, from the author's experience, that the study of the adolescent's chart be made in this way:

   1. Careful analysis of each natal Moon-aspect; of squares and oppositions to planets in Cancer (ruled by the Moon) and their correctives.

   2. Analysis of squares, oppositions, and correctives of aspects to the planet which "disposits" (rules the Moon-sign) the Moon.

   3. Analysis of the seventh house of the horoscope as the resource of the "I Am" that emerges, in adolescence, as "We Are;" that which is to be fulfilled principally in the marital relationship.

   4. List--by careful calculations and in sequence: all aspects made by the progressed Moon to planets which it legitimately aspects in the natal chart before and after it opposes its natal position the first time --approximately in the fourteenth year; "pattern" this listing so that you are made aware of each corrective to every congested aspect; it is necessary to know to what extent the subject is capable of decrystallizing his desire-congestions.

   5. Include in this listing every solar eclipse that falls in this period of the "progressed Moon opposing its natal position"-- even if the listing of progressed-Moon aspects extends beyond the time when Moon-opposes-Moon--and it could.

   6. Include the date when Saturn, by last direct transit opposes its natal position; this and progressed Moon opposition-its- natal-position is the vibratory focus of the adolescent period--the "building- in" vibratory mechanism.

   We suggest use of mandalas for focus of concentration in order to release your interpretative awareness of the subject's generic potentials.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VIII
Chapter VI
Fraternity

   FRATERNITY is parallelity in human relationship. In our endeavor to decrystallize our congestions on "being different from other people," let us focus our attention now on "how like unto other people we really are" by meditating on the Great Mandala called the Abstract Horoscope: a twelve-housed wheel with the symbols of the signs on the cusps starting with Aries as the Ascendant, and the symbols for the planets placed in the houses corresponding to their signs of dignity. The fraternity of all human beings to each other is here illustrated in so far as it is the entire essential astrological symbology of all human beings. It is interesting--and illuminating--to note that physical sex, absolute evolutionary development, and "nationality, creed, and color" are not pictured in this design. The above-mentioned qualifications are temporary levels of expression by which man separates himself from his fellows through his feelings of inferiority and superiority, betterness and worseness, higherness and lowerness and, in general, "differentness." Man differs from his fellows, in any real sense, only in the dimension of time; some of us leave the level of primitivity a little sooner than others and, correspondingly some attain liberation sooner. But, we all travel the same road and we all fulfill the same evolutionary requirements as expressions of the idea "Humanity." When we clearly realize that our reactions of fear and hatred toward a "wrong-doer and his deed" are simply--repeat simply--memory-stimuli of our commitments of that deed in the past, then we recognize that condemnation of a "fellow wrong-doer" is the perversion of what should be fraternal love; he is fraternal to us in so far as he--and we--are parallel to each other in negative exercise of consciousness--the releasing of our vibratory resources in ignorance of principle.

   Actually, is not "condemnation of a wrong-doer" a protest of the consciousness in being made to see an outpicturing of its "naughty childhood?" We tend to blame ourselves, at times, when we remember mistakes or foolishness that we have done in past years; does not consciousness, then, "blame itself" when we exercise a reaction of intense negative feeling against something done by another person? Our consciousness is one with that of our brother/sister--essential resource for the expression of the one love and the one wisdom of our Father-Mother-God. We are parallel to each other in being expressions of an idea of our bi-polar parent; the masculine/feminine of each human being is, actually, what is meant by the brotherhood/sisterhood of humanity.

   We are parallel with other human beings in our patterns of similarity in suffering. Define "suffering" as "the way in which we involuntarily decrystallize our congestions in consciousness."

   We do not consciously invite suffering--the whole impulse of the human nature is to avoid pain and trouble to the utmost; but since we do not consciously exercise our capacities for growth and unfoldment, Life has its way--through rhythmic stimulus of our vibratory patterns--to alert us to needed correctives for the better releasement of our spiritual potentials. Suffering is the stimulus of a vibratory congestion and a parallelity of vibratory conditioning is found in the "doer of the wrong deed" and the one who reacts to the deed with pain; the former is functioning dynamically, the latter functions reflectively; both, in composite, represent the masculine/feminine of the congested pattern. Should not the "parallelity in suffering" be the ground on which we establish our most acutely sensitive sympathy with fellow human beings? What about the person who exacts revenge as a retaliation against a "wrong done unto him?" Is he really "balancing the account in justice?" His commitment of the same--or a similar--deed ties him in parallelity to the one through whom he experienced his hurt--the congestion is intensified and both are further "imprisoned." The negative condition in the basic consciousness is emphasized thereby and both will have to face a more drastic "recrystallization" in due time until the parallelity is mutually harmonized through love-wisdom.

   Students ask: "Why for goodness sake, is the third house called the house of brothers and sisters?" Let us see what two copies of the Great Mandala have to say:

   Turn one so that the fourth cusp (Cancer) takes the place of the Ascendant; turn the other one so that the tenth cusp (Capricorn) takes the place of the Ascendant. In the first, Gemini is the twelfth house- sign; in the second, Sagittarius is the twelfth house-sign. Basic keyword of the twelfth house-sign-pattern is redemption of unfulfilled ideals; Gemini is the ninth--Wisdom--house-sign from Libra, the symbol of feminine complementation; Sagittarius is the ninth house-sign from Aries, symbol of masculine complementation. Who makes incarnation possible? The Mother (Cancer) and the Father (Capricorn), as the bipolar generative expression of life. In other words, then, why does a woman become a mother and why does a man become a father?

   (1) To contribute to the redemption of human life by making possible the incarnation of more "Lights;"

   (2) To extend their scope of knowledge and understanding through their stewardship of their begotten;

   (3) In present female and male expression to "ignite" knowledge-resources derived from wisdom when each was incarnate as the opposite sex;

   (4) To experience "karmic return"--the agency of redemption--by fulfilling karmic relationship-patterns through the experience chapter of parentage--thereby elasticizing the expression of their Love-Wisdom resources through a variation of polarity and gender, in an extension (from the past) of the dimension of Time.

   Since the third house is the "twelfth-house-of-the- fourth-house," we see that the brothers and sisters (replicas, in part, of the masculinity-femininity of both parents) on the inner planes overshadow the embryonic seeds in the mother's body. The impregnating action of the father makes this "contact-ignition" possible and those "in the third house" emerge (Cancer-Capricorn are cardinal signs) from the invisible into the visible through incarnation.

   In the Great Mandala, the sign Gemini is the "root" of the fraternal diameter, being in the first quadrant of the wheel. Its ruler, Mercury--the intellectual faculty--is neutral as far as gender is concerned; the sign is third of the air-trine initiated by Libra, therefore "reflective" in quality. The mythological Mercury transmitted messages from the gods to human-beings; are not our brothers/sisters messengers from father/mother God to us? It is through our childhood relationships with brothers and sisters--in the physical sense--that we receive our first "messages" or relationship-parallelity and acquaintance with the opposite sex. "Brothers and sisters" also means "fellow-students," "playmates" and "childhood companions:" the "togetherness of children" in the early years of incarnation is the root of "togetherness of men and women" in adult life; the relationship of ourselves with our physical brothers and sisters is a focused, karmic expression of this parallelity. Also, the "neutral" quality--or "androgyny"--of Mercury as ruler of Gemini is symbolic of the passionless-ness (for the most part) of our affections for fellow-children; boys and girls play together and associate simply as "kids"--it is not until the emergence of the passional qualities in adolescence and sexual recognition of the opposite sex that the "differences of male and female" are perceived in a marked way.

   Now--an extended approach to the third house (referring to the Great Mandala).

   It is the first relationship house in the cycle of the wheel starting with the Ascendant; consequently, it represents our "childhood-relationships" in any experience level. As long as we are new to an experience-pattern, we are children, regardless of how old we may be chronologically. A person who starts a study of anything is a "child" in that particular endeavor. Adults who have congestions to the third house, to the sign Gemini and to the planet Mercury are persons who have difficulty in adjusting to a new mental horizon--and very likely will experience difficulties in adjusting to relationships with fellow-students. In adult years, there may be an "accumulation of negatives" (rigidity of opinions, false-pride, envies, and jealousies, inferiority and superiority complexes, etc.) which have accrued during the years of growth. When such an adult is moved--for whatever reason--to "inaugurate a new learning," these accrued negatives will emerge from his subconscious through his "fraternal contact" with fellow students; he may find his going "a little tough" because of his negative reactions to others and consequently find that the actual mental exercise is difficult. He may blame his age or his not having studied anything for a long time, but contact with other people is the ignition of negatives, and careful observation may serve to prove that his feelings of "un- fraternity" are really the root of his difficulties. (The author's experience in the war--paralleled by that of many other men--bears this out: being ordered to carry out a line of work that was completely new and unfamiliar, the third-house-Gemini-Mercury congestions brought about feelings and reactions of great disturbance and unpleasantness toward fellow-workers; this made the adjustment to the new work very difficult; when, however, adjustment to others was established in friendliness and familiarity--brotherhood--the adjustment to duty-fulfillment became one of harmony and actually, of pleasure.)

   The exercise of our third house faculties is focused on exercise of mind; consequently, the impersonality of approach can be a remarkable corrective for unpleasantness through contact with people with whom we are associated in both study (Gemini) and work (Virgo)-also ruled by Mercury--experience. Mentally to let every other fellow-student and fellow- worker fulfill his pattern according to his equipment is a most effective psychological decrystallization of false pride, envy, and inferiority. When we make our goal the best of our own learning and working, we free others from the unpleasantness of our negatives and we free ourselves from inner discomforts, resulting in greater efficiency all around. We cannot have personal feelings about knowledge and work since Gemini and Virgo are "roots" of our impersonal flowerings--Gemini is polarized by the wisdom of Sagittarius-ninth house; Virgo is the "modulation" from the lower semi-circle into the upper semi-circle through the cardinal sign Libra. To perceive and appreciate the abilities and potentials of fellow-students and fellow-workers is to charge the study and work-experiences with the glow of Love-power and congestions automatically loosen.

   What are some of the results from holding on to Gemini-Virgo, third-house sixth-house, Mercury congestions? Create the mandala of the mutable cross: a wheel with the cusps of the third, sixth, ninth, and twelfth houses covered by the symbols for Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces, respectively. Connect these points by straight lines, forming the mutable square. Emphasize the Gemini-Sagittarius and Virgo-Pisces diameters. A significant thing: the two "lower points" of the mutable square give us a clue to a remarkable "generic composite" through the rulership by Mercury. The masculine polarity is Gemini (female) and Sagittarius (male); the feminine polarity is Virgo (male) and Pisces (female). Herein Mercury is seen to be the only planet which "roots" the entire generic spectrum of two-fold quality of two-fold polarity, hence Mercury's androgynous nature is pictured completely.

   Various types of Mercury-congestion may be classified as follows:

   (1) Gemini: lack of mental focus, organization, and concentration; this results in superficial inquiry, dabbling, and mental vacillation; Mercury, remaining "childish" is "mental activity, but to no purpose," study without perception, thought without wisdom, speech and writing without pattern or technique; the best that can be said for this pattern is "acquisition of facts" but absorption of knowledge is difficult or purposeless, and expression, without wisdom, can be lacking in truthfulness which, in its turn, is evidence of immaturity. The first line of the mutable cross cuts across the cardinal sign Cancer, initiator of the second (or "family") quadrant and Leo, the resource of love-power, to the second mutable sign:

   (2) Virgo--ninth house-sign of the earth-trine, initiated by Capricorn--symbol of service as the wisdom-aspect of the element of earth and the releasement of creative-love potentials as a contribution to life; congested, Virgo is a "doing for material return;" it is "working without knowledge or wisdom;" the slogan "Employer (Capital) versus Employee (Labor)" is an archetypal word-symbol for "Sixth House Congestion;" both capital and labor are workers-in-the-world and only through fraternity can the slogan be reworded into "Capital and Labor as the composite of true service--each fulfilling his part with equity--with cooperation and the best possible personal contribution to the work-pattern; "Capital versus Labor" is service congested and depleted by lack of technical knowledge and (very important) its principle: wisdom concerning human values. Just as fraternal composites are found in the combination such as father/mother, husband/wife, etc., so is capital/labor the composite identity of service. From Virgo the second line cuts across the cardinal sign Libra (reflective complementation) and its emotional resource, Scorpio, to:

   (3) Sagittarius: ninth house-sign from Aries, third aspect of the fire-trine, the polarity of Gemini, the radiation of knowledge as wisdom, the fraternity of fathers and the fraternity of our elder brothers/sisters--our teachers, the parents of our Spirits. Congested, the ninth house is theory and abstraction that is put to no practical purpose; it is wisdom that is not demonstrated in daily living; it is religion that emphasizes forms, distinctions, and differences; it is a subtle testing-point in higher octaves of development because the congestion that we call "pride" is herein evidenced in our condescensions toward those we choose to feel are "lower" or "less wise" than we are; it is wisdom utilized to channel expressions of personal power-gratification, thus defeating its own purpose because of being out of line with its own principle; its essence, being congested, is failure to learn from experience, the consciousness being unperceptive of the principles involved in experience-patterns. Just as inharmony and contention between parents can result in the infliction of grievous wounds on the minds and emotions of growing children, so can--with much more drastic effect-- jealousies, envies, competitions, and feelings of unfraternity in the hearts of our teachers, educators, religious leaders and artists inflict double wounds on our minds and emotions because thereby the spiritual work of the world is congested, distracted, and depleted; as children sometimes tend to feel that they are "competitors against each other for the love of the parents," and fellow-workers (Capital OR Labor) are mutual "competitors for income-getting," so our Elder Brothers and Sisters may strive against each other for prestige, acclaim, fame, power, and influence; they should, actually, stand as living symbols of spiritual fraternity so that the consciousness of the "younger ones" may be more securely and certainly lifted in understanding and perception; if they are to "parent" our Spirits, they must undertake to do so with wisdom that channels their love-power. From Sagittarius the fourth line cuts across the apex of the wheel at the sign Capricorn (responsibility-fulfillment) and across the " Soul-quadrant" to:

   (4) Pisces and the twelfth house, polarity of Mercury's Virgo and sign of "redemption of unfulfilled ideals;" the fraternity of soul is pictured by this transcendent, Neptune-ruled sign; herein we face the out-picturings of our most serious expressions of "un-fraternity"--our violations against the Divine in man and through it, by karmic-return, we are brought face-to-face with our "fraternity with the worst in man"--the imprisoned, the persecuted, the betrayer of ideals and the worshipper of graven images; congested twelfth house is the "Judas" in each of us--through its picturings we see the "dust" that we have thrown into the eyes of our brother/sister--blinding him/her with illusions; Neptune, congested, sums up the worst that is inaugurated by congested Mercury and congested Jupiter; only the most drastic revisions of consciousness--through realizing and living the ideal--can bring these patterns into constructive realignment; the twelfth house and the sign Pisces are interpreted as "self-undoing" (the one self cannot be undone) because in them we walk into the traps we have set, in the past, for our brother/sister and make ourselves "messengers of darkness" rather than "messengers of the gods."

   Gemini (abstractly) and your third cusp (concretely), are the ninth house-sign from Libra (abstract sign of complementation) and your seventh house (concrete); "ninth house-sign" conveys "wisdom aspect;" the wisdom we derived from our last incarnation in the opposite sex manifests in the love we now receive--and happiness enjoyed--with brother/sister of that sex; and, that wisdom-resource makes possible greater unfoldments in this incarnation through our new chapters of fraternity.

   The first trine from Gemini is Libra itself--the intensely focused love aspect of fraternity; our husband/wife is truly our brother/sister and the next "extension" to Aquarius, the eleventh house-sign, is the picturing of fraternity in its most widely extended octave--that of friendship, the love-vibration, in parallelity, which unites us in consciousness with all of our brothers/sisters, transcending all barriers of relationship-classification and difference. Fraternity, then, is in the final analysis, the archetypal relationship-pattern of humanity since we all must fulfill all patterns of inter-relationship with each other to fulfill the manifestation, on this plane, of the human ideal.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VIII
Chapter VII
The Sun Sign

   This discourse is presented as an attempt to give answer to often-propounded questions by astrological students such as: Why, in astrology, is the Sun considered and treated as a planet? What is really meant by "afflictions" to the Sun? Of what significance is the Sun in the astrological consideration of psychological problems? How can the Sun--the Creative Source of our system--be taken as a symbol of "bad karma?"

   Looking at a diagram of the astrological wheel without its cusp lines, we are impressed with its exact resemblance to the symbol we use for the Sun--a central dot circumscribed by a perfect circle. As the power-radius of the Sun enfolds the entirety of the solar system so the total symbol of the astrological mandala parallels the Sun symbol. Adding the cusps' lines by drawing them as radiations from the center, we recognize that the Law of Correspondences is being pictured in action: the Sun or the human is seen to vitalize every factor which is the reflection of the consciousness of each. In other words, the solar system of the Sun and the body of the human are objectifications of the potentials inherent in the attributes of each. Before there was vitalization as "energy" there was vitalization as "Light." LIGHT is the archetypal creative fiat throughout the Cosmos on all creative octaves. Creativity expresses Light; Light is that which is revealed by Epigenesis; in Light all manifestation is; by Light it lives. God is Light, and in astrology, the Sun symbolizes man's consciousness of his divine source. The unity that is depicted in the symbol for the Sun--it is the most undiffused of astrological symbols--pictures the focused consciousness which exists to express. The unity of a Master's consciousness is the result of his having transcended darknesses, congestions, and ignorances through epigenetic action in many incarnations in such a way that he has conditioned himself to become relatively perceptive of the One Light. The diffusion of an unevolved person's consciousness is "un-Mastership;" the darknessess of congestion serve to scatter and diffuse the expression of potentials, and the resultant "clouds and storms" obscure his perception of Light. He is at the mercy of his tendency to react to the clouds and darknesses of others--out-picturings of his own darknesses; the Master abides serenely in his perception of the Unity of Life that is Light and Love.

   For your consideration--an example of manifestive symbolism originated by the author, which pertains to the subject at hand: an upward semicircle, the end of which rests on a horizontal which extends a little beyond on either side. As a picture, this figure represents a half- circle of the rising Sun above the horizon; as a symbol it is one-half (the upper part) of the circle of both the Sun symbol and the horoscopical wheel. The placement of the traditional circular Sun symbol at the center of the human horoscope, and the use of this new symbol in the horoscope as the ruler, Leo, could clarify to students the differences between the Sun as the creative source of our planetary system and the consciousness of evolving humanity regarding the principle inherent in the sign Leo. In other words, we think of the Sun as the focalizer of the sign Leo, the Love attribute of Father-Mother God, but the new symbol ("half the Sun") could much more easily convey the relative realization of the Central Principle that is held by the individual evolving human. It is placed in the human chart not (horary) just as you would place the traditional symbol of the Sun, aspected by other planets just as though it were a planet.

   Actually, the planets, as focalizers of the sign principles, symbolize in their positions and groupings the consciousness of life principles held by the evolving human, but the Central Sun abides as the emanative Source of everything pictured inside the wheel. The houses and signs of the upper semi-circle of the astrological mandala represent the "daylight part" of the Sun's seeming travel around the Earth each day; occultly, these signs and houses refer to the soul-consciousness of humanity; the lower six houses and signs refer to the "night-time part" of consciousness--that of the individual seemingly separated from his fellows.

   It is through the vibratory powers of the upper six signs (begun by Venus's Libra) that we enter into the consciousness of unity through the life of relationship; when the "tour" through the zodiac has been completed at Pisces the result is a completed circle--the microcosm of that which is represented by the circle of the Central Sun. The essence of your horoscope, in toto, is your perception of unity in diversity; to the degree that you become focused in consciousness of the one light, will your horoscope dissolve its "separate bits" and emerge--closer and closer--to its essential representation--the one perfect undifferentiated circle: one love, one wisdom as the expressions of the power which is Light. The new Sun Symbol (the picture of Light-radiation of each sunrise) conveys in a practical way the truth that each regenerative expression of a human is a "sunrise in his consciousness" and one revelation of the Light to all who contact him. The radiance, beauty, and truth of our identity as children of Father-Mother-God becomes evident with each evolutionary step.

   Since humans, being humans, are not creative but epigenetic, this new Sun symbol could represent the essence of perfect epigenesis--the octave of Creative Power which, in our archetype, corresponds to (not "is parallel to") the power of the Solar Logos. The new symbol is, in the individual horoscope, the Spark of Solar Light; the traditional symbol, placed in the center of the horoscope, is the Divine Source of all Light Sparks, or Power focalizers, of the human archetype of this planet. Every time you look at this new symbol in your horoscope you will impress your subconscious mind with the truth that you are an evolving being, you are revealing your inner light, you are rising to a higher octave of perception of your divine source and your divine identity.

   The disorganized, incoherent, stumbling, congested, fearful, hateful, ignorant human is so because he is focused on the diffusion of his planetary patterns; he sees himself separate from all other humans, he sees no common denominator in his experience-patterns, the manifestations of life are, in his reactions and feelings, outside of (and against) him; therefore, living in his inner microcosms he expresses the lesser of his potentials and all of their possible congestions.

   The Sun is Master of this system. A human Master is so because he is focused, co-ordinated, harmonized, simplified, refined, and centered in his perception of identity as "begotten of Father-Mother-God." (Herein is seen the explanation for the exaltation of the Sun in the first zodiacal sign, Aries, ninth house-sign of Leo and fifth house-sign of Sagittarius. For reference consult your Great Mandala.) He is clearly aware that he is a focalizer of solar power and he knows that his purpose in existing on this plane is to express that power according to the highest of his epigenetic capacities. His consciousness is fused, his actions are harmonious and efficient, his Love transcends all of the self-created barriers in the natures of less evolved persons. The secret of all mastery is (correspondent to the essence of the Solar Source) UNIFICATION.

   In this respect, study the Sun in your chart and recognize that (even if you have to decrystallize a mental habit of many years) the Sun cannot be afflicted. There it abides in the center of your chart, macrocosm of every factor in the chart; it radiates its divine blessings throughout the contents of the wheel. But, your "personal Sun" (like any planet) can be "squared" or "opposed" and it means that, in such cases. your consciousness of Light-Power as Love and Wisdom tends, to a degree, to be limited, dull and ineffectual. The cusp of your chart carrying the sign Leo (as "matrix" of Light in your consciousness) will tell the story of persons, who serve to alert you to the existence of your Light; the placement of the "personal Sun" by sign-position points to the microcosmic planetary vibration (unless the Sun is in Leo) from which you tend to distill your Light consciousness; the house-placement of your personal Sun is the command from the Most High (within yourself) to express light in that particular experience-chapter or relationship-chapter during this incarnation.

   In this part of your life, if your personal Sun has squares or oppositions, you will be challenged (depend on this!) by the vibratory powers of other people in order to stimulate your attention to focus on the existence of your Divine Attributes. Some of these people may be tyrannical by nature. You must learn to keep your Light alive and radiant in spite of everything they--seemingly--try to do to you. Others may be inclined to take advantage of your weaknesses in order to use you for their own purposes. You must study yourself and learn how to transmute your energies from disorganization and weakness to strength. (Persons you may know who have no squares or oppositions to their personal Suns will prove to be the best objects for study and the best teachers to help you learn how to unify and focus your potentials.) If you deflect from what you know to be your life- purpose, then you default on Divine Command. If your personal Sun has no squares or oppositions, then the congestions of the planet which disposits it are the focalizations for "Sun-exercise." Through increasing unification and focusing of positive powers, discipline of expression, purification of desire- urges and clarification of your awareness of Spiritual Identity, you are to deal with the problems represented by these "planetary afflictions." Frictional aspects involving planets in the sign Leo are to be redeemed by transmutations of egotistical congestion through expressions of radiative Love--through our Leo-points we must become contributors of the Good, the True, and the Beautiful for the ongoing of Life. Transcendence of diffused separativeness is the action of Mastership; radiation of focused Power as Love and Wisdom is the service of Mastership.

   The "first grade" of expression of Power is "power over things and people." The lust to dominate other people, to circumscribe their actions and thoughts is an exercise of power but it is based on ignorance of what power really is. We have the attribute--because we are causers--to influence people if they respond to us, but we cannot influence anyone who is either indifferent to us or who is more perfectly focused and organized than we are. To say "I have power" is to congest the consciousness of the personal-Sun with the urgings of the desire nature. This is an illusion which has made possible innumerable perpetrations of injustice and cruelty, by man toward man. "I have power" implies "I have the right to exercise my power in any way that I want (desire) to." The truth of the matter is "I AM Power" or "I AM a focalizer of Solar Power;" the responsibility attendant on this identity is to BE the best focalizer of Solar Power that is possible. Power is NOT a possession--it is a Divine Attribute and its expressions (radiations) as Love and Wisdom through individualized human consciousness testify to the omnipresence of the Divine on this plane. Release "I have" from your astrological approach to the personal Sun; substitute "I AM." Remember that the "I have power" approach is Leo as the fire-sign initiator of the fixed cross--the four signs that symbolize the utmost compression and congestion of the desire-potentials. "I AM POWER" is Leo as the fixed (centered, focalized, organized resource) sign of the fire trine of Divine Attributes; as such it is the creative Love aspect of Father-Mother God and the resource of every aspirational effort of humanity to realize the ideal of Love as the truth of all relationships. We cannot HAVE something that is not, by its nature, a possession; we can only aspire to BE that which our Divine Source ordains that we are. Perfected radiation (epigenetic action) is the livingness of this True Identity in human terms.

   The Leo Mandala: a twelve-housed wheel, Leo as Ascendant and the signs in sequence; the traditional circular Sun symbol at the center, the new "personal Sun" symbol in the first house. This is the abstract astrological portrait of humanity as epigenitors--radiators of focalized Solar Power and expressors of this Power as Love. The desire- diameter of Taurus-Scorpio appears as the parentage-diameter in this mandala-- the sexuality of male and female parents provides reincarnation for a human focalization of Solar Power. The polarity of this focalization (the Uranian air sign Aquarius) is liberation. All regenerate epigenetic action is liberation from the no-longer-needed. The caterpillar needs his cocoon but only when he emerges from its confines does he establish his identity as "butterfly." The mother human nurtures and then liberates the body of her child; both parents fulfill their experience in relationship to their children and then, with respect for the individuality of the children as fellow-human, they liberate them to their own experiences. Does this mandala not show us that parentage-default is rooted in possessiveness? Leo is "married to" Aquarius (Love that does not liberate for greater growth of development, and expression is not love--it is desire to express power on others by holding them static with constraint) physically, mentally, and emotionally; it should be the aspiration to express Love-power for others.

   The individualized Leo-Love of each parent for the other expressed through intense fusion by Taurus-Scorpio made possible a liberation from the inner planes of another Ego so that that Ego might progress in his evolution by reincarnation. He, in his turn, is further liberated when his epigenetic radiation is fused with that of another. So we see in this mandala that the "possessiveness aspect" of Taurus-Scorpio is the congestion of human progress; its regeneration is the impersonalized aspect of stewardship. Spiritualized (self determined) parentage is intelligent, loving stewardship of the individual growth of the begotten and respect for the begotten's right to realize the best of his individuality.

   The house-sign patterns of the personal Sun as indicated in this Leo mandala are: Leo, 1; Virgo, 2; Libra, 3; Scorpio, 4; Sagittarius, 5; Capricorn, 6; Aquarius, 7; Pisces, 8; Aries, 9; Taurus, 10; Gemini,11; Cancer, 12. (Correlate for clarification with a copy of the Great Mandala (Aries Ascendant) to perceive how the archetype sign-principles are expressed when Leo is Ascendant of the horoscope. For example, the personal Sun in Virgo is practical, not just because Mercury is ruler of Virgo, but because in Virgo the personal Sun is in its own second house-sign, stewardship principle, correspondent to the Taurus-Aries relationship of the Great Mandala. And so forth.

   Exoterically, the personal Sun involved in square and opposition patterns pictures karma resultant from ignorance of the true meaning of Power. "Planets are people"--and the squared or opposed personal Sun represents the challenges to your integrity from people who outpicture your past ignorance of this principle. By the very meaning of the personal Sun as an astrological symbol you are to decrystallize all "enmity-reactions" to such persons by (1) learning from their negative example what not to do, and (2) transmute your negatively-colored relationship to them by a strengthening of your inner purposes, your personal integrity and your love-consciousness and radiate that higher octave of consciousness to them. This is astrology's way of saving: "Love your enemies." The converse of a previous statement about Leo is appropriate here: WE DO NOT HAVE ENEMIES; we (by congestion of potentials) ARE enemies to our own best and highest good. The Light that is symbolized by the Central Sun is microcosmically reflected in the personal Sun of the individual human; it and its polarity, Aquarius-Uranus, is the arch- decrystallizer of all "enmities."

   In the above statement is seen an answer to inquiries by students concerning the psychological value of the Sun symbol in astrology: To the degree that you remain unfocused will your weaknesses be challenged by the desire-power-authority urges of others; to the degree that you unfold awareness of your true identity as a focalizer of solar power and express that awareness through love in which no shadows can exist will you epigenetically improve the quality of your entire psychological base. The therapy of the Sun is JOY--the house-position of your personal Sun in this incarnation is where you have chosen to banish shadows by the radiance of your purified love nature. You created the shadows in the first place--the squares and oppositions to your personal Sun; only you, as a focalizer of solar power, can redeem those congested energies and transform their expression by constructive epigenesis. With reverence and joy identify yourself with your source--know that Its Power transcends that of any seeming outer negative. This is the therapy that has been given to us by every teaching-Master and in your horoscope (sooner or later) if you knock, the secret of your solar identity will be "opened unto you." Your purpose is not to "be submerged;" it is to love, to express, to radiate, to be a living testimonial to the divine in the human archetype.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VIII
Chapter VIII
The Generic Spectrum

   In the last few years of the eighteenth century and the first two decades or so of the nineteenth occurred one of the most remarkable stellar phenomena of modern history--the conjunction of Uranus and Neptune, in Sagittarius and Capricorn. This "hyper-lunation" was "seed- planting" in terms of the cosmic vibratory powers of these two giants--rulers of the last two signs of the zodiacal belt.

   As a conjunction of any two planets carries out the pattern of the Sun-conjunct-Moon lunation (with its extensions of "first quarter," "trine," "opposition" and so forth), so it was with this conjunction; during the years of the nineteenth century and up through the first fourteen years or so of this one Uranus and Neptune moved, in relationship to the "conjunction-point" and to each other, to make patterns of aspects that represented a turning-point in the vibratory evolution of the human race.

   The "Full Moon pattern" of this tremendous aspect was represented by the opposition of Uranus to Neptune; this pattern prevailed when Uranus had returned to Sagittarius and Capricorn and Neptune had gone half-way around the wheel to Gemini and Cancer. This crescendo of vibratory powers on the part of Neptune included the last four signs of the zodiacal sequence (Sagittarius through Pisces) and the first four signs (Aries through Cancer). The objectified climax, shortly following the period of exact opposition in the middle degrees of Capricorn-Cancer, was the first World War- the spewing forth of congested and putrefied energies on the part of nations all over the world and the imagination of an entirely new phase of unfoldment on all planes.

   Let us consider this great conjunction in terms of house-sign patterns:

   The inception of this conjunction occurred in the abstract ninth-house-sign Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter, significator of abstract mentality, ideas, concepts, understanding, and philosophy. Jupiter is the Principle of Improvement and of Expansion. In Sagittarius, Uranus--ruler of Aquarius, the eleventh house-sign--was in its own eleventh house-sign, the keyword of which is liberation through universal, or impersonalized Love- Power. This position of Uranus had the effect of an electrification of human consciousness in the form of a vitalization of humanity's need for greater freedom on all planes; there were revolutions like nothing that had been known for ages--by actual warfare and by protest against the effect of centuries of spiritual and intellectual shackling by temporal powers; there was a "blasting open" of horizons of knowledge and thought so that the mental and spiritual capacities of humanity might find "new pastures." New philosophies and religious forms sprang up on all sides that man's need for broader understanding might be fulfilled.

   Neptune in Sagittarius was in its own tenth house-sign from its dignity in Pisces; it had reached the three-quarter mark in its own cycle and had come to the point analogous to Capricorn in its relationship to Aries. This was a timing for a new releasement of the powers that serve the purposes of redemption; that which was to be "re-redeemed" was the effect of many preceding centuries during which mankind's ideality had become congested to the choking-point by corruption and perversion of ideals.

   In Capricorn, Uranus reached its own twelfth house- sign, the last position in the cycle from its dignity in Aquarius; in this sign, Uranus' influence was to disintegrate outmoded forms to make way for new formations on all planes. In Capricorn, Neptune reached its own eleventh house-sign; a "wave" of Egos (Elder Brothers and Sisters) incarnated during this period who served to act as "instruments" (Neptune is the Principle of Instrumentation) for the down-pouring of tremendous spiritual powers to re- charge the spiritual consciousness of mankind.

   During the years of the nineteenth century Egos of great and remarkable development incarnated in, shall we say, "swarms;" philosophers and religionists, musicians, artists and writers, scientists and mathematicians, healers and teachers. These persons, whatever their specific field of activity was, served to bring humanity closer to each other by the tremendous range of their influence. A particularly significant opening-up took place by the advent--in the western world--of the sciences pertaining to psychology and psycho-analysis; a few great minds incarnated during this period who were determined to investigate the principles pertaining to human sexuality, emotionality, and the function of the subconscious mind. To these people we owe an unpayable debt. They pioneered in a field of research that had scarcely been tapped, and they stood strong and unshakable against the powers of crystallization, ignorance, and prejudice in order to bring to mankind a "new Light" toward greater understanding.

   In our particular subject at hand--the "generic spectrum"--we will deal, in astrological symbology, with one of the most important of the factors pertaining to the "inner nature" of man's constitution: the factor of bi-polarity.

   "Experience as male" and "experience as female" is represented abstractly by the division of the wheel by any diameter; the arch- symbol of this pattern is, of course, the Aries-Libra diameter of the Great Mandala--the abstract or "natural" wheel having thirty degrees of each sign per house, starting with Aries as Ascendant and moving counterclockwise around the wheel to Pisces at the twelfth cusp. The Aries cusp is the "I AM" of human consciousness; it is the projection of all potentials from the center of the wheel to the circumference--the "point of incarnation" or "the objectification on the physical plane." All radii of the wheel are simply emanations of this Ascendant-line, since there is only one radius for any circle.

   The horoscope in its totality is the composite of all consciousness of the individual, and this means the composite of all masculine and feminine potentials. Relationship is "within;" it is not, essentially, "outside of the individual." This can be easily proven by consideration of the fact that when you change your reaction to another person, you change your relationship with him/her. The outer aspect of relationship is its picturing in space-time on the physical plane--the mirroring of inner states by their expressions in form. The "maleness" and the "femaleness" of human beings serve to focus generic qualities, both in expression and by reflection. Certain experience-patterns, in actual physical living are peculiar to the male, others are peculiar to the female; each in its own way, is a picture of karma, since we incarnate by law in the dimensions of space-time and the physical expressions of gender: sex.

   Since our essential bi-polarity is not, as yet, fully realized, Nature makes possible, by the faculty of emotional reaction, a recognition of our latent generic states. This recognition is found in our relationships with other people, and we identify them--seemingly outside ourselves--by the stimulation that they make of our vibratory being. Because the quality of our relationship patterns resides in our consciousness, we now recognize--when our viewpoint is sufficiently detached--that each human being is his/her own father/mother, husband/wife, brother/sister, and son/daughter. Our generic being serves to identify other human beings as factors in one or more of these basic relationship-patterns--and their many variations--in accordance with our generic patterns and our congested or regenerate levels of consciousness. We do not have enemies; we, ourselves, are the source of what we interpret as "enmity." The regeneration of our emotional-reaction faculty improves the quality of our vibratory being and thus improves our consciousness of relationship with other people. That is the only way we can "defeat our enemies" and redeem relationship-karma.

   In consideration of this material, it is suggested that each student try a little "inner adjustment:" stop thinking of yourself as "male" or as "female;" think of yourself--and this may require considerable "elasticization"--as composite of masculine and feminine. Recognize that you, as an individual expression of the idea, "humanity," contain in your vibratory being everything that is meant by the words "man" and "woman." You are simply specializing as male or as female in this incarnation; you may have been the opposite in the previous incarnation, you may be the opposite in the one to come. If you are male your feminine patterns will, for the most part, be objectified by reflection in the "women in your life" and the reverse holds true for females. But--and this is very important--the bi-polarity of our being is coming into clearer manifestation as we evolve through the exercise of our potentials of Love-Power and Wisdom-Power--one of the remarkable phenomena resulting from the Uranus-Neptune conjunction and opposition during the last century and a half. The study of human relationships is no longer centered on the differences between the sexes as much as it is on the similarities of men and women as bi-polar mechanisms. We are coming into a realization that "opposite sex" really means "latent generic quality" which is "ignited" by contact with persons whose vibratory being complements ours, in some degree or pattern.

   The astrologer, in fulfilling his/her service, functions--or should function--as a bi-polar consciousness. If he/she is to understand the problems of the client he/she must draw on his/her experience- memories as male and as female in order to perceive the vibratory roots of the client's problems and potentials. The astrologer, in this functioning, is not neutral; he/she is compositing his/her vibratory elements as a ray of Light, focused into whiteness, to enlighten the consciousness of the client to clearer awareness of the source of the problems and their inherent correctives. "Masculinity" and "femininity" are not words of opprobrium when applied to females and to males, respectively They are words that refer to the two-fold expression of our vibratory being which, in the final analysis, is the basic life expression of our inner nature. Cause (masculine) and Effect (feminine) may be said to designate the Life-expression--polarity--of the Cosmos.

   The consultant astrologer who does not function with awareness of his/her bipolar reality will not do justice to his work as an analyst of relationship and sex problems. He/she must be able to perceive the combined masculinity- femininity of any one whose chart is studied to assist this person to recognize more clearly the inner source of relationship-problems. The male who does not know or recognize his own femininity is not going to perceive the "woman-part" of anyone he reads for. Truly, our "brother-human" is the masculine element of human nature; our "sister" is the feminine element, regardless of the physical envelope that is worn. Each astrologer should apply his/her analytical powers toward a more clarified understanding of his/her own personal relationships and see, with the Eye of White Light, how he/she affects, and is affected by, each person with whom there is close association. It is necessary to analyze the chart from the generic standpoint to determine the relative masculinity/femininity that is pictured. We now offer, as food for thought, a generic analysis of the twelve signs.

   Use a copy of the Great Mandala without the planetary symbols--just the sign-symbols outside the wheel. Notice that the first four signs--Aries, Taurus, Gemini, and Cancer--each represent one of the generic elements: fire, earth, air, and water, respectively; two of these, Aries and Cancer, are cardinal "structure-points."

   Since rhythm is the archetype of movement (in time- space), we recognize that the progress around the wheel, through the twelve signs, is a rhythmic progression; the simplest basic rhythm is what we call "two-four" rhythm--two counts, each of which has a down-beat and an up-beat. The down-beat is the masculine "initiation" of the count, the up-beat is the releasement--or feminine complementation--of the down-beat.

   In this sector of four signs we see two halves of two full rhythmic beats; "count one" is Aries-Taurus--the down-beat is Aries, the up-beat is Taurus, count "two" is Gemini-Cancer--Gemini is the down-beat and Cancer is the up-beat. Each count, then, has its two-fold generic quality, and the four-fold sector has its two-fold generic quality in its division of two complete counts. Aries-Taurus is, then, the male down-beat of the sector; Gemini-Cancer is the female up-beat, or complementation, Aries and Gemini are the masculine down-beats of each of the two counts; Taurus-Cancer are the feminine up-beats of each of the two counts.

   The ideal realization of humanity's vibratory nature is found in the spiritualization of all generic qualities: the "Grand Man" is the perfection of composite masculinity/femininity. So we see how this spiritualization is pictured in astrology: the circumference of the wheel is the seconds, minutes, and degrees of the sequence of twelve signs. There are four groups of trines, each representing the Power-Love-Wisdom aspects of one of the elements. Each element, in three octaves, covers the wheel and each one is a specialization of generic quality. The trines are initiated by the four cardinal signs, each of which is a basic generic statement of "I AM," and each represents one of the structure-points in the total pattern of human relationship: the male as husband and father; the female as complement--wife and mother.

   Number the signs around the wheel as follows: Aries-- 1, Leo--2, Sagittarius--3, Capricorn--4, Taurus--5, Virgo--6, Libra--7, Aquarius--8, Gemini--9, Cancer--10, Scorpio--11, and Pisces--12. Place your pencil-point on Aries and travel through the zodiac this way: Aries to Leo to Sagittarius to Aries--to Capricorn; Capricorn to Taurus to Virgo to Capricorn- -to Libra; Libra to Aquarius to Gemini to Libra--to Cancer; Cancer to Scorpio to Pisces--to Aries. This "tour" of the zodiac starts with the most masculine of male signs and ends with the most feminine of female signs; each cardinal sign is the most masculine of its element, each mutable is the most feminine and adjustable. Aries (dignity of Mars) joins the earth-element at Capricorn (exaltation of Mars); Capricorn (dignity of Saturn) joins the air-element at Libra (exaltation of Saturn); Libra joins the water-element at Cancer (dignity of the Moon) as initiator of the water-trine, the third octave of which is Pisces, exaltation of Venus, which is ruler of Libra; the Moon, ruler of Cancer, is exalted in Taurus, earth-dignity of Venus and second--or love-power octave--of the earth-trine initiated by the Moon's complement, Saturn, ruler of Capricorn. Pisces, exaltation of Venus, is ruled by Neptune and represents ideality. Venus's exaltation in this hyper-feminine sign symbolizes the perfected mirroring of the best in humanity's consciousness; the "renunciation" implied by the Piscean vibration is that of giving up the negative, unregenerate feeling-reactions in favor of perception of the inherent ideal--which is goodness, truth, and beauty.

   Now we have the entire zodiac "lined up" by generic quality; the whole belt of twelve signs by trine division represents the healing power of three-four rhythm--each element thus picturing a spiritualized key-note in which the music of human consciousness can be played. Each sign, by three-fold decanate-division, composites its element. You can now list your own planetary positions by generic quality, synthesize them with your Ascendant and ruler, and evaluate your listing by comparison with the gender of planets. We suggest Mars, Sun, Jupiter, Saturn (the father- symbol), and Uranus as masculine planets; Moon, Venus, Pluto (ruler of Scorpio--the "womb" of compressed desire-power), and Neptune as feminine planets. Mercury, the intellect, is neutral--or rather androgynous; Mercury, in its rulership of Virgo (a male sign) is masculine; as ruler of Gemini it is feminine. This planet adapts to the sign in which it is placed and adds an emphasis to the generic quality represented by the sign.

   Apply this listing to many charts in addition to your own. Learn to "size up" the generic values of charts for practical analysis of relationship-problems. Pay particular attention to all planets that are dignified by sign-placement; a planet in dignity is a "first-house" vibratory placement--a "start" of a new cycle of aspect-patterns to be made by that planet in future incarnations. Also--pay careful attention to the "structural rulers:" Mars, Moon, Venus, and Saturn as respective rulers of the cardinal (structural) signs; also planets placed in the cardinal signs--because they will be disposited by the structural rulers. If you wish, it may be helpful to list the planets of a given chart by their "maleness and femaleness" (fire- earth, air-water) as well as "masculinity and femininity" (fire-air, earth- water). Check the element--or grouping (this is very important)--that contains the most of uncongested planets, or any chart that is uncongested. In this factor, we see a registration of definite spiritualization of generic quality- -an important signification of inner freedom. Also, the structural planet (Mars, Moon, Venus, and Saturn) that is most congested and most regenerate. Study these two planets not only by their aspect-patterns but also in terms of the congestion and regeneration of the planet which disposits it. We must know the generic quality that each planet is focalizing, and this "dispositorship" gives us that key. 

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume VIII
Chapter IX
Your Life-Assignment

   The verb to assign is defined as "to mark out," "to point out specifically," "to set apart, as for a special person or purpose." These definitions imply that "to assign" is an action of selectivity by which a "something" is indicated to be appropriate or necessary for someone to undertake, to work with, to work on, or to fulfill. The act of assignment is made by someone for someone else or it is self-assumed; in either case, that which is to be dealt with is cognized or recognized to be a legitimate factor of endeavor or experience, a necessary part of an over-all plan or objective.

   Whether imposed or assumed, the acceptance of assignment is always a decision to move from a state of relative inertia or relative equilibrium. This acceptance proceeds from a cognition or a recognition that something more or something new, actual or recapitulative, is to be done. All action or "doing" is an extension from that which already has been done or achieved. The evolution of a human during the span of an incarnation is externalized as a sequence of actions proceeding from decisions qualified by reactions to the effects of previous decisions and consequent actions. The regeneration of residual reaction brought into the present life from the past is the basic assignment of any human for any life. The archetypal assignment for all individualized beings through the entire span of sequential incarnations is the conscious reattainment of perfect equilibrium, the state from which we were sent forth, or creatively projected, as innocent Spirits. This projection was made possible by a creative decision of God--in Him we move and have our Being, through us He moves and has Externalization; we are filled-full of Him. He fulfills through us.

   Macrocosm is externalized by myriads of microcosms which have correspondent similarity to it. This truth of creativity and manifestation is conveyed by the Hermetic axiom "as above, so below; as below, so above." In geometry this axiom is illustrated by such figures as circles, squares, and equilateral triangles. The size of corresponding figures may very infinitely but their nature, general appearance, and plan of construction are identical. Circles, squares, and equilateral triangles are graphic microcosms of the macrocosmic structural ideas circle, square, and equilateral triangle, respectively.

   All assignments are microcosms of the essential, or macrocosmic, idea assignment, which refers basically to the acceptance, by cognition or recognition, of that which is necessary to be done for complete fulfillment. Human life-assignments are revealed and perceived in an infinite variety of relative significance, in terms of immediate need, immediate objective, relationship-factors, ideals, etc. However, there is a two-fold equation which applies to all: degree of difficulty in fulfillment is directly proportionate to degree of needed regeneracy; degree of ease in fulfillment is directly proportionate to degree of consciously- attained equilibrium. To the degree that a human is removed from equilibrium is he removed from the consciousness of capacity to fulfill his assignments with efficiency, inspiration, and enjoyment; to the degree that he is aware of equilibrium within himself is he able to enforce or recharge his endeavors with the powers of his Spirit. The re-charging by Spirit-power brings about the revealment of equilibrium in body, mind, emotion, relationship, and endeavors. Since a human is a composite of many faculties, bodies, inclinations, abilities, and objectives it is necessary, through a given incarnation, that he or she specialize on that phase, or on those phases, of unfoldment that are most directly consistent with karmic requirements; incarnation is made by vibratory law in terms of time, place, parentage, and environment that are appropriate to the inception of self-imposed, self-assumed assignments.

   Planetary aspects alone do not picture "life- assignment." Each aspect pictures an inter-relationship between basic qualities and powers of consciousness and thus portrays a mode by which assignments are to be fulfilled. The tabulation of aspects in a given chart gives a summary of how the person has used the powers of consciousness in the past, how he tends to use them in this life and how he may tend to use them in future. The fulfillment of an assignment necessitates equipment as well as objective and, in the incarnated state, environment is as inevitable and as important a factor of equipment as is consciousness. All environmental and relationship factors correspond to individual human experience as the Earth itself corresponds to the evolution of Humanity. Therefore, the co-relation of the house-position of aspects with the vibratory factors represented by the planets and signs is necessary to the evaluation of life-activities as "assignments."

   Since there are twelve houses which indicate the environmental patterning for the aspects made by the ten planetary points (Sun, Moon, and planets) there will be, in every chart, some unoccupied houses. The houses symbolize the externalization of the signs, just as the planetary points represent the focalization of the signs as expressive powers. Those houses which do contain the planetary points represent the exterior patterning in terms of relationships and places of the life-activities. Part of the "over-all evolutionary assignment" of all humans is to learn to relate the self wisely to environment so that environment be rightly understood and rightly used as a "tool," but is never allowed to become a bondage to the person or an impediment to unfoldment. Each relationship and environment externalizes particular principles of consciousness and spiritual responsibility and the objective to be gained by experience in a relationship or environment is the apperception of a Truth of Life. All factors of Principle, Powers, and Externalization must be co-related for evaluation.

   Since regenerative transcendence of the past is the assignment assumed by each human for each incarnation, it is a practical idea to begin your study of the planetary aspect of a chart by relative evaluation. This is done by tabulating the various types of aspects and computing the orb of each, starting with the one that is closest to ninety degrees by orb. Avoid concentrating on this aspect as being "the most evil aspect in the chart." Rather, study it from the standpoint of what it tells about the person's consciousness and tendencies: it is the pattern that indicates the greatest need for regeneration of consciousness, it indicates the point of minimum internal equilibrium and maximum tendency to resist evolution. Therefore, it pictures those experiences--or that general type of experience--in which the person will have to make his maximum internal effort to learn his spiritual and evolutionary lesson.

   Your enlightening the person regarding the meaning and significance of his closest-to-exact square aspect is a paramount service, because to the degree that he understands how to handle the stimulations to the aspect will he realize power and wisdom to handle the other "less constricted" aspects in his chart. Your study of the aspect requires concentrated meditation because it is necessary for you to realize the evolutionary implications of it as representing phases of power, love, and truth yet-to-be-admitted into the person's consciousness. A square or opposition of wider orb will be activated for a relatively longer time, but the timing of the wider orb permits alleviating conditions (trines and sextiles to the natal made by transits, new Moons, etc.) to act at the same time. The timing of stimulus to a close-to-exact square focalizes and concentrates the "pain-potential" as well as the timing element. The pain we experience through stimulus of our squares is proportionate to an inherent tendency to resist evolutionary requirements. Remember always that a square aspect in a horoscope is evidence of the person's consciousness being grounded in a specialized way in this life in order to learn an urgent lesson; it is evidence of neglect of that lesson, or mis-used opportunity, in the past and it pictures the present opportunity to remedy that neglect in this life.

   All manifestation is projected from ordered plan or pattern and since all human life-assignments, in degree of fulfillment, manifest evolution of consciousness and refinement of nature it is necessary to give special attention to certain other factors that have many important things to tell the reader and the subject of the chart. One of these is the Moon, symbol of the instinctual nature. The Moon-aspects and position in a chart give us the most direct clues to that which, in consciousness, is brought into this life from the past experiences. It indicates the most pronounced habit- tendencies from the past which, when emphasized in the present life, externalize chaotic conditions. The faculty of feeling-reaction (which represents an aspect of the feminine polarity of consciousness) is forever seeking to deliver to our conscious awareness those modes and qualities of thought which we have planted in it. In this way the instinctual mind is recognized to be a production mechanism and a reproduction mechanism. If, by recognition, we do not like what the instinctual mind produces through our faculty of feeling-reaction-- to events, environments, and people--then we have to change the quality of our reaction-faculty; this can be done only by improving and refining the quality of our reactions. This process makes use of the regenerative or spiritual essences of all the planetary points, and especially those which are "unregeneratively" aspected to the Moon in the natal chart. As we regenerate those "planetary essences" we plant in the instinctual mind an improved vibratory quality, more ordered and refined.

   Those factors of the life-assignment which concern the Saturn-vibration are those which have as their evolutionary goal the consciousness of true security. Saturn is the principle of responsibility-fulfillment and it is only by the fulfillment of all assigned assignments and responsibilities that the form of equilibrium we identify as "security" is realized. It is very important, due to the influence which the astrologer's words and interpretations have on the client's consciousness, that a constructive philosophical-psychological understanding of Saturn be attained. Saturn is the symbol of dense form which serves as the vehicle for evolving consciousness; it is the tendency by which humans identify "security" as being a certain kind of material state--without which the human experiences what he identifies as "fear," "insecurity," and "uncertainty." If Saturn--in the cosmic sense-- symbolizes dense form, then its correspondence in evolving human consciousness is either "trouble and sorrow from having wrongly used form in the past" or "the realization of true inner security from having rightly and fulfillingly used form as a tool or vehicle of the Spirit." Saturn is the cosmic Principle of Gravity; its vibration in our consciousness tends to "bring us down to the root and essence of our as-yet-unfulfilled states" in order that our evolutionary ascent may be made thorough and complete. Some charts register Saturn in several square and opposition aspects--what some readers call "terribly afflicted charts." If there is, in truth, any "affliction" represented it is only by the indication that the person in this life needs to recapitulate a great deal from the past, redeem, and fulfill it with Love and Intelligence before he can progress. The aspects themselves are not "evil"--they are simply astrological indications of a certain kind of evolutionary need. The Spirit-ual qualities implied by the Saturn vibration are thoroughness, accuracy, patience (the use of Time as a building-substance), and concentrated devotion to right action (Saturn's sign Capricorn is the exaltation-sign of Mars, the principle of energy and action).

   It is becoming increasingly evident that the life- assignments of progressively-minded, aspiring people include degrees of participation in those measures having to do with the establishment of the New Age. As a humanity, we are being synthesized in this age more than ever before in our history, and those persons who are welcoming opportunities in study, activity, work, and recreation to expand their fraternal recognition of fellow-humans are signifying their spiritual and evolutionary alignment with the principles of the New Age. This evolutionary tendency is astrologically indicated by the planet Uranus, ruler of Aquarius and planetary polarization of the Sun's sign Leo. The establishment of the New Age is an inevitable result of spiritual progression in Human-- individual or collective-- consciousness; the study and intuitive realization of the Uranus-factor in charts has become a vital portion of the astrological reader's service. Many people in this age are finding their greatest difficulties in adjusting to the rapid expansion of thought, knowledge, and understanding which is now being promulgated. The internal resistance to that which is new or as-yet-not-understood can be an indication of much residual fear, inflexibility of mind, prejudice, or tendency-to-inertia. Some people cannot seem to "forgive Life" for"shaking them up," "taking things away from them," "upsetting their routines," or "making them so uncertain" and the astrological reader is often called upon to help these persons by spiritual and philosophical enlightenment. Regeneration of consciousness is made possible only through decrystallization and redistribution of internal energies, and adjustability of mind is the key to all expanding comprehension. As a reader, you will seek to understand the Uranus-factor in a chart to help the person concerned make a better fulfillment of his this-life's assignments through clearer understanding of the great evolutionary currents now prevailing and their reason for being. Uranus acts always to shatter and decrystallize the no- longer-needed so that the fullness of progress on all planes may be revealed and realized.

   Every living thing is composed of a hierarchy of parts and functions by which the organic experience of the thing is perpetuated. A human horoscope is a picture of a living consciousness, and all of its parts (signs, planetary points, houses, positions, aspects, activations by transit and progression) comprise a hierarchy of indications pertaining to the life-assignment. If one factor is to be designated as the most important in any chart or in all charts, that factor is certainly the Sun and its co-relative sign Leo. We are told that the Sun, by precession, was in Leo at the time of the inception of the present manifestation; as a planetary point the Sun represents pure creativity and pure apperception of the divine will, to which the "personal will" of the individual must eventually be brought in alignment. Therefore, any and all "separate life-assignments" are parts of a Hierarchy of evolutionary assignments, the apex of which, indicated by the Sun, is the conscious attainment of realization of divine will, love, and wisdom, conscious attainment of complete equilibrium, and conscious attainment of realized unity with divine source.

   In the study of any horoscope regarding "determining the life-assignment" remember that "know thy self" is the inherent objective throughout. The Sun as a planetary factor can be squared or opposed by all other points, except Mercury and Venus; but, as a planetary factor, the Sun represents the individual's relative non-attainment or relative attainment of realized spiritual identity, purpose, and function. Aspects involving the planetary Sun indicate relative inability or ability to externalize autonomy (self-rule); in the fullest sense, and as the apex of hierarchy of evolutionary assignments, the Sun represents, by conscious alignment with and realization of the Divine, the "rule of self by self." The self of a human is his divine essence and it is by ascending degrees, through evolution, of exercising the realization of divine nature that most effectively fulfills each "life-assignment" and the life assignment.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume IX
Second Printing
The Rosicrucian Fellowship
Mt. Ecclesia
Oceanside, California, U.S.A.

  
Foreword

   The eight prior volumes of this series of astrological interpretations have been received with such an enthusiastic welcome by so many astrology students everywhere that we are pleased to add No. 9, the final one, to the series.

   Elman's Bacher's profound knowledge of and devotion to the spiritual aspect of the stellar science, along with an uncanny understanding of human nature, made it possible for him to present illuminating astrological treatises which undoubtedly place him among the best of modern esoteric astrologers. As the truth and value of his spiritual interpretation of astrology become more and more generally accepted, his presentations will serve increasingly to help people know themselves and fulfill their highest destiny.

   Before passing into the higher realms in the early 1950's, Mr. Bacher expressed a keen desire to have us publish his articles in book form, and although we deeply regret that he did not live to see his articles made available to the public in this convenient form, we are happy in knowing that his wish is being fulfilled.

  
Introduction

   To the Rosicrucian student astrology is a phase of religion, basically a spiritual science. More than any other study it reveals man to himself. No other science is so sublime, so profound, and so all- embracing. It portrays the relation between God, the macrocosm, and man, the microcosm, showing them to be fundamentally one. Occult science, investigating the subtler forces that impinge upon man, the Spirit, and his vehicles, has charted their effects with no less definiteness than has academic science the reactions of sea and soil, plant and animal to the solar and lunar rays. With this knowledge we may determine the astrological pattern of each individual and know the relative strength and weakness of the various forces operating in each life. To the degree that we are in possession of such knowledge we can begin systematic, scientific character building-and character is destiny! We note times and seasons cosmically advantageous to unfolding undeveloped qualities, correcting faulty traits, and eliminating destructive propensities. The divine science of astrology reveals the hidden causes at work in our lives. It counsels the adult in regard to vocation, the parent in the guidance of children, the teacher in management of pupils, the physician in diagnosing diseases, thus lending aid to each and all in whatever position they may find themselves. No other subject within the range of human knowledge appears to hold for this day and age the possibilities open to astrologers for helping people to their own dignity as gods-in-the-making, to a greater grasp of universal law, and to a realization that we are eternally secure within the caressing fold of Infinite Life and Boundless Being.

   This volume completes the series of nine volumes of Studies in Astrology, by Elman Bather. Copies of all the previous volumes are available.

  
Chapter I
Complementation

   "Complementation" is the most important single word in the study of human relationships because it is a word-symbol of the archetype of the vibratory exchanges that make relationship what it is. Its life is polarity; its two basic macrocosms are masculine and feminine. All basic human relationship patterns (marital, fraternal, parent-child, etc.) represent a specifie pattern of complementation in action as "ignitions" of human vibratory consciousness.

   The person whose vibratory qualities do not contain anything that we respond to, in our subconscious feelings, is the person to whom we are indifferent; in such casual contacts we meet such a persononly in the dimension of time-space. The absence of mutual vibratory ignition takes everything from the contact that could result in relationship. Ignition byone person on the vibratory body of another causes the person who is "ignited" to react with subconscious feeling; he, by his reactions, subconsciously identifies the contact by some sort of relationship-word. Lacking mutuality, the "relationship-quality" exists only in his own feeling.

   However, when we meditate on the subject of our subconscious reaction-faculty, we recognize a remarkable thing: we, as "reacting mechanisms," do react to some degree to almost every other human being. Walking down a busy city-street, we pass, and are passed by, innumerable people; unless we are intensely preoccupied with some focused mental picture, we fleetingly react to impressions of faces, features, bodies, clothes, walks, deformities, beauties, and actions of others; even a deep preoccupation can be jolted when we come into the vibratory field of someone who coincides with one of our inner relationship pictures in a marked way--our attention "snaps into awareness" of such a person and we experience a feeling- reaction. That feeling-reaction is relationship-awareness because one of our subconscious relationship-pictures has been, for a momentat least, "ignited." That person--an otherwise perfect stranger whom we may never see again--is an outpicturing of a facet of our subconscious relationship-resource, and as such is related to us in a vibratory way. This "relationship" will be pleasant or otherwise depending on the basic quality of our "inner picture."

   We become so accustomed to our basic relationship-patterns that we seldom recognize their true source or quality. We just react and react and react. The Art of Human Relationship--the greatest of all arts--is the harmonization of our reactions toward people so that we bring ourselves into a clearer and clearer perception of the ideal which is the archetype of each person. It is truth that the reality of any person--to you, at any point in your evolutionary timing--is the quality of your reaction to the person; change your reaction and you change the quality of the relationship, for better or for worse.

   This is not just a theory; prove it for yourselfby mentally rehearsing your own changes of reaction-quality toward people who have figured in a significant way in your experience during this incarnation. Did you ever love someone deeply and then find your reaction changing into a feeling of dislike or aversion? Did you ever fear someone and then, with clarified understanding, come to regard him as a valued friend? Have you ever experienced a congestion-disintegration by becoming more appreciative and loving toward one of your parents? or toward a brother or sister? Did you ever hate someone so deeply that you felt a desire to destroy him or to hurt him in some drastic way and then experience so marked a change of heart (significant phrase!) thatyou "came into" a feeling of deep respect and admiration? Were you ever apparently quite indifferent to someone who figured in your experience for a long time and then underwent such a change of feeling that you fell in love and married the person? All of these types of inner changes represent the realities of relationship-transformation by "modulation into different octaves and keys "--and into different patterns. Love-Wisdom nurtures the archetype reality of all relationships between people.

   In this discussion of "complementation" we are not concerned with the houses of the horoscope, primarily; the houses are the spatial (physical) description of experiences and relationships. We are concerned with the vibratory qualities, generic qualities, focalization of generic qualities by the planets and the generic patterns represented by the planetaryaspects. Try an elasticization to prepare your mind for this study: make a copy of your natal chart without the house-cusps; simply place the planets in their (relatively) accurate positions in the wheel by sign and degree-position. This is so you can keep in mind the aspects made by your planets to each other.) Now make a list of the planetary rulerships of the twelve signs; suggest: Mars for Aries, Venus for Taurus-Libra, Mercury for Gemini-Virgo, Moon for Cancer, Sun for Leo, Pluto for Scorpio, Jupiter for Sagittarius, Saturn for Capricorn, Uranus for Aquarius, and Neptune for Pisces. Learn this listing so that you are perfectly familiar with it. It is the planetary rulership of the zodiac. Also learn the planetary dispositorship of the zodiac: all planets in Aries are disposited by Mars, all in Taurus-Libra are disposited by Venus, all in Gemini-Virgo are disposited by Mercury, all in Cancer are disposited by the Moon, etc. In other words, planets in a given sign are disposited by the ruler of that sign; the planetary ruler of a given sign disposits all planets in that sign. Acquire fluency on these points.

   Now, for further clarification, enclose by a circle all planets in each particular sign in the "cuspless" wheel you've made. This gives your eye a chance to group your planets by sign-position, regardless of their house-position; list your planets by sign-position and bracket each group by the planetary dispositor; this listing is the vibratory grouping of your horoscope--you should learn it thoroughly. Now, in the cuspless wheel, draw a diameter: the starting-point will be the planetary ruler of your natal horoscope; the sign which contains the opposite point is your complementation sign; its ruler (whatever planet it is) focalizes that vibration and thus is your essential complementary vibration. Thus we see that the dispositor of your Ascendant-ruler and the ruler of the sign opposite to the one which contains your Ascendant ruler are the two basic points of your complementation patterns in this incarnation. The sign which contains your "complement planet" and its ruler will be the chief qualifying vibration of your complement. Study your Ascendant-ruler-dispositor and its planetary complement from every conceivable standpoint; in them is found the inner secrets of your relationship-consciousnessin this incarnation; they represent the focalized vibrations or inner picture of "yourself " and the inner picture of your "other self."

   Now to create the first of your two "generic charts." This one is derived directly from your natal Ascendant. Make a copy of your natal horoscope, correct in every detail, using, as Ascendant, the cusp carrying the sign which contains your Ascendant-ruler; do not change anything in the wheel. The sign that now appears as Ascendant (containing, either in twelfth or first house, your natal ruler) is your vibratory Ascendant. The planet that rules this sign is your vibratory ruler and its position by sign, elemental trine (fire, earth, air, water), structural cross (cardinal, fixed, mutable), and planetary aspects gives the picture of your inner recognition of yourself; your natal ruler is the "outward" of you-how you think of yourself consciously and how you most directly appear to other people. Remember that the ruler of your natal Ascendant is projected into the wheel from the Ascendant and by its house-position it indicates your self- recognitions in terms of space/time and activity. The vibratory ruler, however, is projected from the sign that it rules andits relationship to the body of the wheel is in terms of extension from its own sign of dignity. If the vibratory ruler is in the same element as is the sign it rules (the vibratory Ascendant-sign) then it isthe Power or Love or Wisdom expression of your inner nature which is focalized to indicate your basic spiritual power. If the vibratory ruler is in a sign which refers to the same structural cross pertaining to the sign it rules, then it is "square" or "opposition "its sign of dignity and this represents an evolutionary turning point--analogous to the "turning points" of the cardinal, fixed, and mutable squares (or "crosses") of the Great (or Abstract) Mandala.

   Your chart, as it now stands (with the vibratoryAscendant) is the basic generic variation of your natal chart. The generic quality of the vibratory ruler, the sign it's in, and the quality of its dispositor will serve to identify the basic generic quality of your natal chart, since this variation is derived from the sign-position of the ruler of the natal Ascendant. Synthesize carefully by reference to generic spectrum and remember that this variation is not a picture of your Being as "male" or "female;" it is the basic masculinity or basic femininity of your inner nature. Since this variation is derived directly from the natal horoscope, consider this thought: What house, in your natal chart, contains your vibratory ruler? This house, whatever it is, will picture the physical, or "space-time" focus of this particular vibratory flowering. In other words, the "where-and-when in your incarnation you will find perfection of this basic inner quality of your nature." What does your chart show concerning this?

   If you are at all philosophically or psychologically inclined (and of course you are or you wouldn't be reading this), you will recognize that you and only you are the determining factor of your relationship-experiences. Philosophers do not, as a rule, plough blindly through their incarnations making the same old mistakes in the same old way, over and over; they seek enlightenment toward improving their inner conditions and thereby learn how to improve the quality of their expressions. Philosophers do not spend their time in blame or accusation of others because they know that it is not people but their own negative reactions which cause their pain. So now, as philosophers, we will enjoy a study of the basic generic chart as it serves to picture the "inner" of our relationship- consciousness. Another variation.

   From the chart as it now appears as "basic generic," turn it (or make another copy) so that the sign opposite to the one containing the natal ruler appears as the Ascendant. This is--or we shall call it--your "complementation Ascendant;" its planetary ruler is your "complementation ruler."

   Now this planet, whatever it is, is the distillation of your complementary relationship-consciousness--way down deep. It is the essential vibratory portrait of your "other self " and, inversely, it is the portrait of the enemy you carry around inside of yourself; this "enmity" is, of course, qualified by the regenerate aspects made by this planet, but its congestions (squares and oppositions) are, in the opinion of the author, more important to understand than any other factor of your astrological make-up because each one of these congestions is the "mote in your own eye" by which you see evil in another.

   Each congestion to this complementation-ruler represents, actually, a deep, dark ignorance of a specific Life-principle. Stimulations of these congestions will cause "other people to hurt you the most intensely "--your reactions to them, by this stimulation, at different timings, is what you feel when Life, in her Wisdom, uses a knife to do a little surgery on your congested, crystallized inner conditions. As long as you live these patterns reactively you will suffer through your reactions to the persons represented by the aspects; but when you enlighten your consciousness as to the nature of the principle represented by this particular planet you will recognize that you must consciously align yourself to make this principle a constructive expression in your life; to the degree that you do this, you will "take hands with the enemy inside and make him your friend." The Great Teacher said: "Resist not evil;" did He mean: "I get up on this fretting and stewing about what other people do--spend your time in straightening your own consciousness and live accordingly?" It is suggested--because this particular point is of urgent importance--that you make as detailed a study of this "complement-ruler" as you can. Study its placement and meaning in relationship to the Great Mandala; study its generic meaning, its relationship meaning. What does it represent as a spiritual principle and, from a karmic standpoint? What did you do in the past to create the present congested aspects? How many people (whose charts you have) have "points" that synchronize with this planet in your pattern? What has been their influence and effect on you and your life? What has been your influence on them, please? Do you tend to blame them for "doing things to you" and then turn right around and do those same things to others? It is felt that in no other astrological factor does the student need to get his thoughts, feelings, and reactions out in the open, honestly and squarely, than in those matters pertaining to this particular planet.

   Charts, of course, vary considerably as far as vibrational quality is concerned. Perhaps this "complementation ruler " in your chart has no congestions--just sextiles and trines; then it is suggested that you compare this planet with your "vibrational ruler." Which one gives you the most "advantage," which one represents the free-est expression of Power as Love-Wisdom, which one acts most effectively as a "decrystallizer of congestions," which one represents a principle that you are the most clearly aware of in your conscious being, which one represents the more clearly an ideal that you see outpictured in others, or an ideal that you, yourself, outpicture toothers? There are many questions you can ask of your Higher Self pertaining to these things but they must be asked honestly--excuses, self- justifications, and blamings have no place in this kind of analysis. The "complementation ruler" can, of course be studied from an additional factor: the quality of the planet that disposits it--that planet might be very congested even if the complementation ruler itself is not; if such is the case, then learn from your relationships (the good outpicturing of other people) how to deal with that particular congestion. You will see something wonderful in other people that you wish you had yourself; try to determine what this principle is and put it to work in your daily living. This is what "life-learning" really means.

   So now we have the natal horoscope and its two basic generic variations. (Suggest complete copies of all three for reference). The cardinal signs focalize the vibratory relationship-structure, and this focalization is represented by the sign-positions and aspects of the structural planets: Mars, Moon, Venus, and Saturn. The generic grouping of the planets will serve to determine which of the two "variations" is the "masculine generic chart" and which is the "feminine generic chart" and from this synthesis you can determine the generic qualitv of your basic relationship-patterns. Which relationships focalize your masculine expressions and which focalize your feminine expressions; which focalize your reaction-patterns; what kind of relationship-pattern serves to bring to you your most needed spiritual lessons; towhich one--or two--do you naturally contribute your best in love and wisdom?

   One comes into a realization of astrological values through much study, meditation, observation, and experience; it is impossible for all these subtle factors to be "put in words" at a single sitting. But when a student of astrology is also a philosopher who keeps his mind open to new octaves of realization he "ignites" his Inner Wisdom bit by bit until deep levels of realization are lifted to the surface of consciousness for practical application. We have come into awareness that it is useless to center our attention on people as being only "male and female"-- the "repolarization process" has been in effect for too long a time to make this approach essentially valid. We are realizing that the truth of human relationships is cosmic polarity. Masculinity and femininity--"expression and reflection"--are expressed by all people, regardless of their physical bodies and their generative purposes and capacities.

   So, in more clearly alerting ourselves to the symbolic values of Mars, Moon, Venus, Saturn, and the other planetary bodies that focalize the generic value of the zodiacal signs, we see in every horoscope the manhood/womanhood of every human being. We must learn--it is our principal purpose here--the ways to express and reflect the Generic Principles of Life; our "school" is Humanity; our "classrooms" are the sum- total of all of our relationship-experiences, as male and female, in all of our incarnations. Nothing less than this could provide pabulum for complete realization of the human ideal.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume IX
Second Printing
The Rosicrucian Fellowship
Mt. Ecclesia
Oceanside, California, U.S.A.

  
Foreword

   The eight prior volumes of this series of astrological interpretations have been received with such an enthusiastic welcome by so many astrology students everywhere that we are pleased to add No. 9, the final one, to the series.

   Elman's Bacher's profound knowledge of and devotion to the spiritual aspect of the stellar science, along with an uncanny understanding of human nature, made it possible for him to present illuminating astrological treatises which undoubtedly place him among the best of modern esoteric astrologers. As the truth and value of his spiritual interpretation of astrology become more and more generally accepted, his presentations will serve increasingly to help people know themselves and fulfill their highest destiny.

   Before passing into the higher realms in the early 1950's, Mr. Bacher expressed a keen desire to have us publish his articles in book form, and although we deeply regret that he did not live to see his articles made available to the public in this convenient form, we are happy in knowing that his wish is being fulfilled.

  
Introduction

   To the Rosicrucian student astrology is a phase of religion, basically a spiritual science. More than any other study it reveals man to himself. No other science is so sublime, so profound, and so all- embracing. It portrays the relation between God, the macrocosm, and man, the microcosm, showing them to be fundamentally one. Occult science, investigating the subtler forces that impinge upon man, the Spirit, and his vehicles, has charted their effects with no less definiteness than has academic science the reactions of sea and soil, plant and animal to the solar and lunar rays. With this knowledge we may determine the astrological pattern of each individual and know the relative strength and weakness of the various forces operating in each life. To the degree that we are in possession of such knowledge we can begin systematic, scientific character building-and character is destiny! We note times and seasons cosmically advantageous to unfolding undeveloped qualities, correcting faulty traits, and eliminating destructive propensities. The divine science of astrology reveals the hidden causes at work in our lives. It counsels the adult in regard to vocation, the parent in the guidance of children, the teacher in management of pupils, the physician in diagnosing diseases, thus lending aid to each and all in whatever position they may find themselves. No other subject within the range of human knowledge appears to hold for this day and age the possibilities open to astrologers for helping people to their own dignity as gods-in-the-making, to a greater grasp of universal law, and to a realization that we are eternally secure within the caressing fold of Infinite Life and Boundless Being.

   This volume completes the series of nine volumes of Studies in Astrology, by Elman Bather. Copies of all the previous volumes are available.

  
Chapter I
Complementation

   "Complementation" is the most important single word in the study of human relationships because it is a word-symbol of the archetype of the vibratory exchanges that make relationship what it is. Its life is polarity; its two basic macrocosms are masculine and feminine. All basic human relationship patterns (marital, fraternal, parent-child, etc.) represent a specifie pattern of complementation in action as "ignitions" of human vibratory consciousness.

   The person whose vibratory qualities do not contain anything that we respond to, in our subconscious feelings, is the person to whom we are indifferent; in such casual contacts we meet such a persononly in the dimension of time-space. The absence of mutual vibratory ignition takes everything from the contact that could result in relationship. Ignition byone person on the vibratory body of another causes the person who is "ignited" to react with subconscious feeling; he, by his reactions, subconsciously identifies the contact by some sort of relationship-word. Lacking mutuality, the "relationship-quality" exists only in his own feeling.

   However, when we meditate on the subject of our subconscious reaction-faculty, we recognize a remarkable thing: we, as "reacting mechanisms," do react to some degree to almost every other human being. Walking down a busy city-street, we pass, and are passed by, innumerable people; unless we are intensely preoccupied with some focused mental picture, we fleetingly react to impressions of faces, features, bodies, clothes, walks, deformities, beauties, and actions of others; even a deep preoccupation can be jolted when we come into the vibratory field of someone who coincides with one of our inner relationship pictures in a marked way--our attention "snaps into awareness" of such a person and we experience a feeling- reaction. That feeling-reaction is relationship-awareness because one of our subconscious relationship-pictures has been, for a momentat least, "ignited." That person--an otherwise perfect stranger whom we may never see again--is an outpicturing of a facet of our subconscious relationship-resource, and as such is related to us in a vibratory way. This "relationship" will be pleasant or otherwise depending on the basic quality of our "inner picture."

   We become so accustomed to our basic relationship-patterns that we seldom recognize their true source or quality. We just react and react and react. The Art of Human Relationship--the greatest of all arts--is the harmonization of our reactions toward people so that we bring ourselves into a clearer and clearer perception of the ideal which is the archetype of each person. It is truth that the reality of any person--to you, at any point in your evolutionary timing--is the quality of your reaction to the person; change your reaction and you change the quality of the relationship, for better or for worse.

   This is not just a theory; prove it for yourselfby mentally rehearsing your own changes of reaction-quality toward people who have figured in a significant way in your experience during this incarnation. Did you ever love someone deeply and then find your reaction changing into a feeling of dislike or aversion? Did you ever fear someone and then, with clarified understanding, come to regard him as a valued friend? Have you ever experienced a congestion-disintegration by becoming more appreciative and loving toward one of your parents? or toward a brother or sister? Did you ever hate someone so deeply that you felt a desire to destroy him or to hurt him in some drastic way and then experience so marked a change of heart (significant phrase!) thatyou "came into" a feeling of deep respect and admiration? Were you ever apparently quite indifferent to someone who figured in your experience for a long time and then underwent such a change of feeling that you fell in love and married the person? All of these types of inner changes represent the realities of relationship-transformation by "modulation into different octaves and keys "--and into different patterns. Love-Wisdom nurtures the archetype reality of all relationships between people.

   In this discussion of "complementation" we are not concerned with the houses of the horoscope, primarily; the houses are the spatial (physical) description of experiences and relationships. We are concerned with the vibratory qualities, generic qualities, focalization of generic qualities by the planets and the generic patterns represented by the planetaryaspects. Try an elasticization to prepare your mind for this study: make a copy of your natal chart without the house-cusps; simply place the planets in their (relatively) accurate positions in the wheel by sign and degree-position. This is so you can keep in mind the aspects made by your planets to each other.) Now make a list of the planetary rulerships of the twelve signs; suggest: Mars for Aries, Venus for Taurus-Libra, Mercury for Gemini-Virgo, Moon for Cancer, Sun for Leo, Pluto for Scorpio, Jupiter for Sagittarius, Saturn for Capricorn, Uranus for Aquarius, and Neptune for Pisces. Learn this listing so that you are perfectly familiar with it. It is the planetary rulership of the zodiac. Also learn the planetary dispositorship of the zodiac: all planets in Aries are disposited by Mars, all in Taurus-Libra are disposited by Venus, all in Gemini-Virgo are disposited by Mercury, all in Cancer are disposited by the Moon, etc. In other words, planets in a given sign are disposited by the ruler of that sign; the planetary ruler of a given sign disposits all planets in that sign. Acquire fluency on these points.

   Now, for further clarification, enclose by a circle all planets in each particular sign in the "cuspless" wheel you've made. This gives your eye a chance to group your planets by sign-position, regardless of their house-position; list your planets by sign-position and bracket each group by the planetary dispositor; this listing is the vibratory grouping of your horoscope--you should learn it thoroughly. Now, in the cuspless wheel, draw a diameter: the starting-point will be the planetary ruler of your natal horoscope; the sign which contains the opposite point is your complementation sign; its ruler (whatever planet it is) focalizes that vibration and thus is your essential complementary vibration. Thus we see that the dispositor of your Ascendant-ruler and the ruler of the sign opposite to the one which contains your Ascendant ruler are the two basic points of your complementation patterns in this incarnation. The sign which contains your "complement planet" and its ruler will be the chief qualifying vibration of your complement. Study your Ascendant-ruler-dispositor and its planetary complement from every conceivable standpoint; in them is found the inner secrets of your relationship-consciousnessin this incarnation; they represent the focalized vibrations or inner picture of "yourself " and the inner picture of your "other self."

   Now to create the first of your two "generic charts." This one is derived directly from your natal Ascendant. Make a copy of your natal horoscope, correct in every detail, using, as Ascendant, the cusp carrying the sign which contains your Ascendant-ruler; do not change anything in the wheel. The sign that now appears as Ascendant (containing, either in twelfth or first house, your natal ruler) is your vibratory Ascendant. The planet that rules this sign is your vibratory ruler and its position by sign, elemental trine (fire, earth, air, water), structural cross (cardinal, fixed, mutable), and planetary aspects gives the picture of your inner recognition of yourself; your natal ruler is the "outward" of you-how you think of yourself consciously and how you most directly appear to other people. Remember that the ruler of your natal Ascendant is projected into the wheel from the Ascendant and by its house-position it indicates your self- recognitions in terms of space/time and activity. The vibratory ruler, however, is projected from the sign that it rules andits relationship to the body of the wheel is in terms of extension from its own sign of dignity. If the vibratory ruler is in the same element as is the sign it rules (the vibratory Ascendant-sign) then it isthe Power or Love or Wisdom expression of your inner nature which is focalized to indicate your basic spiritual power. If the vibratory ruler is in a sign which refers to the same structural cross pertaining to the sign it rules, then it is "square" or "opposition "its sign of dignity and this represents an evolutionary turning point--analogous to the "turning points" of the cardinal, fixed, and mutable squares (or "crosses") of the Great (or Abstract) Mandala.

   Your chart, as it now stands (with the vibratoryAscendant) is the basic generic variation of your natal chart. The generic quality of the vibratory ruler, the sign it's in, and the quality of its dispositor will serve to identify the basic generic quality of your natal chart, since this variation is derived from the sign-position of the ruler of the natal Ascendant. Synthesize carefully by reference to generic spectrum and remember that this variation is not a picture of your Being as "male" or "female;" it is the basic masculinity or basic femininity of your inner nature. Since this variation is derived directly from the natal horoscope, consider this thought: What house, in your natal chart, contains your vibratory ruler? This house, whatever it is, will picture the physical, or "space-time" focus of this particular vibratory flowering. In other words, the "where-and-when in your incarnation you will find perfection of this basic inner quality of your nature." What does your chart show concerning this?

   If you are at all philosophically or psychologically inclined (and of course you are or you wouldn't be reading this), you will recognize that you and only you are the determining factor of your relationship-experiences. Philosophers do not, as a rule, plough blindly through their incarnations making the same old mistakes in the same old way, over and over; they seek enlightenment toward improving their inner conditions and thereby learn how to improve the quality of their expressions. Philosophers do not spend their time in blame or accusation of others because they know that it is not people but their own negative reactions which cause their pain. So now, as philosophers, we will enjoy a study of the basic generic chart as it serves to picture the "inner" of our relationship- consciousness. Another variation.

   From the chart as it now appears as "basic generic," turn it (or make another copy) so that the sign opposite to the one containing the natal ruler appears as the Ascendant. This is--or we shall call it--your "complementation Ascendant;" its planetary ruler is your "complementation ruler."

   Now this planet, whatever it is, is the distillation of your complementary relationship-consciousness--way down deep. It is the essential vibratory portrait of your "other self " and, inversely, it is the portrait of the enemy you carry around inside of yourself; this "enmity" is, of course, qualified by the regenerate aspects made by this planet, but its congestions (squares and oppositions) are, in the opinion of the author, more important to understand than any other factor of your astrological make-up because each one of these congestions is the "mote in your own eye" by which you see evil in another.

   Each congestion to this complementation-ruler represents, actually, a deep, dark ignorance of a specific Life-principle. Stimulations of these congestions will cause "other people to hurt you the most intensely "--your reactions to them, by this stimulation, at different timings, is what you feel when Life, in her Wisdom, uses a knife to do a little surgery on your congested, crystallized inner conditions. As long as you live these patterns reactively you will suffer through your reactions to the persons represented by the aspects; but when you enlighten your consciousness as to the nature of the principle represented by this particular planet you will recognize that you must consciously align yourself to make this principle a constructive expression in your life; to the degree that you do this, you will "take hands with the enemy inside and make him your friend." The Great Teacher said: "Resist not evil;" did He mean: "I get up on this fretting and stewing about what other people do--spend your time in straightening your own consciousness and live accordingly?" It is suggested--because this particular point is of urgent importance--that you make as detailed a study of this "complement-ruler" as you can. Study its placement and meaning in relationship to the Great Mandala; study its generic meaning, its relationship meaning. What does it represent as a spiritual principle and, from a karmic standpoint? What did you do in the past to create the present congested aspects? How many people (whose charts you have) have "points" that synchronize with this planet in your pattern? What has been their influence and effect on you and your life? What has been your influence on them, please? Do you tend to blame them for "doing things to you" and then turn right around and do those same things to others? It is felt that in no other astrological factor does the student need to get his thoughts, feelings, and reactions out in the open, honestly and squarely, than in those matters pertaining to this particular planet.

   Charts, of course, vary considerably as far as vibrational quality is concerned. Perhaps this "complementation ruler " in your chart has no congestions--just sextiles and trines; then it is suggested that you compare this planet with your "vibrational ruler." Which one gives you the most "advantage," which one represents the free-est expression of Power as Love-Wisdom, which one acts most effectively as a "decrystallizer of congestions," which one represents a principle that you are the most clearly aware of in your conscious being, which one represents the more clearly an ideal that you see outpictured in others, or an ideal that you, yourself, outpicture toothers? There are many questions you can ask of your Higher Self pertaining to these things but they must be asked honestly--excuses, self- justifications, and blamings have no place in this kind of analysis. The "complementation ruler" can, of course be studied from an additional factor: the quality of the planet that disposits it--that planet might be very congested even if the complementation ruler itself is not; if such is the case, then learn from your relationships (the good outpicturing of other people) how to deal with that particular congestion. You will see something wonderful in other people that you wish you had yourself; try to determine what this principle is and put it to work in your daily living. This is what "life-learning" really means.

   So now we have the natal horoscope and its two basic generic variations. (Suggest complete copies of all three for reference). The cardinal signs focalize the vibratory relationship-structure, and this focalization is represented by the sign-positions and aspects of the structural planets: Mars, Moon, Venus, and Saturn. The generic grouping of the planets will serve to determine which of the two "variations" is the "masculine generic chart" and which is the "feminine generic chart" and from this synthesis you can determine the generic qualitv of your basic relationship-patterns. Which relationships focalize your masculine expressions and which focalize your feminine expressions; which focalize your reaction-patterns; what kind of relationship-pattern serves to bring to you your most needed spiritual lessons; towhich one--or two--do you naturally contribute your best in love and wisdom?

   One comes into a realization of astrological values through much study, meditation, observation, and experience; it is impossible for all these subtle factors to be "put in words" at a single sitting. But when a student of astrology is also a philosopher who keeps his mind open to new octaves of realization he "ignites" his Inner Wisdom bit by bit until deep levels of realization are lifted to the surface of consciousness for practical application. We have come into awareness that it is useless to center our attention on people as being only "male and female"-- the "repolarization process" has been in effect for too long a time to make this approach essentially valid. We are realizing that the truth of human relationships is cosmic polarity. Masculinity and femininity--"expression and reflection"--are expressed by all people, regardless of their physical bodies and their generative purposes and capacities.

   So, in more clearly alerting ourselves to the symbolic values of Mars, Moon, Venus, Saturn, and the other planetary bodies that focalize the generic value of the zodiacal signs, we see in every horoscope the manhood/womanhood of every human being. We must learn--it is our principal purpose here--the ways to express and reflect the Generic Principles of Life; our "school" is Humanity; our "classrooms" are the sum- total of all of our relationship-experiences, as male and female, in all of our incarnations. Nothing less than this could provide pabulum for complete realization of the human ideal.

Chapter I
Complementation

   "Complementation" is the most important single word in the study of human relationships because it is a word-symbol of the archetype of the vibratory exchanges that make relationship what it is. Its life is polarity; its two basic macrocosms are masculine and feminine. All basic human relationship patterns (marital, fraternal, parent-child, etc.) represent a specifie pattern of complementation in action as "ignitions" of human vibratory consciousness.

   The person whose vibratory qualities do not contain anything that we respond to, in our subconscious feelings, is the person to whom we are indifferent; in such casual contacts we meet such a persononly in the dimension of time-space. The absence of mutual vibratory ignition takes everything from the contact that could result in relationship. Ignition byone person on the vibratory body of another causes the person who is "ignited" to react with subconscious feeling; he, by his reactions, subconsciously identifies the contact by some sort of relationship-word. Lacking mutuality, the "relationship-quality" exists only in his own feeling.

   However, when we meditate on the subject of our subconscious reaction-faculty, we recognize a remarkable thing: we, as "reacting mechanisms," do react to some degree to almost every other human being. Walking down a busy city-street, we pass, and are passed by, innumerable people; unless we are intensely preoccupied with some focused mental picture, we fleetingly react to impressions of faces, features, bodies, clothes, walks, deformities, beauties, and actions of others; even a deep preoccupation can be jolted when we come into the vibratory field of someone who coincides with one of our inner relationship pictures in a marked way--our attention "snaps into awareness" of such a person and we experience a feeling- reaction. That feeling-reaction is relationship-awareness because one of our subconscious relationship-pictures has been, for a momentat least, "ignited." That person--an otherwise perfect stranger whom we may never see again--is an outpicturing of a facet of our subconscious relationship-resource, and as such is related to us in a vibratory way. This "relationship" will be pleasant or otherwise depending on the basic quality of our "inner picture."

   We become so accustomed to our basic relationship-patterns that we seldom recognize their true source or quality. We just react and react and react. The Art of Human Relationship--the greatest of all arts--is the harmonization of our reactions toward people so that we bring ourselves into a clearer and clearer perception of the ideal which is the archetype of each person. It is truth that the reality of any person--to you, at any point in your evolutionary timing--is the quality of your reaction to the person; change your reaction and you change the quality of the relationship, for better or for worse.

   This is not just a theory; prove it for yourselfby mentally rehearsing your own changes of reaction-quality toward people who have figured in a significant way in your experience during this incarnation. Did you ever love someone deeply and then find your reaction changing into a feeling of dislike or aversion? Did you ever fear someone and then, with clarified understanding, come to regard him as a valued friend? Have you ever experienced a congestion-disintegration by becoming more appreciative and loving toward one of your parents? or toward a brother or sister? Did you ever hate someone so deeply that you felt a desire to destroy him or to hurt him in some drastic way and then experience so marked a change of heart (significant phrase!) thatyou "came into" a feeling of deep respect and admiration? Were you ever apparently quite indifferent to someone who figured in your experience for a long time and then underwent such a change of feeling that you fell in love and married the person? All of these types of inner changes represent the realities of relationship-transformation by "modulation into different octaves and keys "--and into different patterns. Love-Wisdom nurtures the archetype reality of all relationships between people.

   In this discussion of "complementation" we are not concerned with the houses of the horoscope, primarily; the houses are the spatial (physical) description of experiences and relationships. We are concerned with the vibratory qualities, generic qualities, focalization of generic qualities by the planets and the generic patterns represented by the planetaryaspects. Try an elasticization to prepare your mind for this study: make a copy of your natal chart without the house-cusps; simply place the planets in their (relatively) accurate positions in the wheel by sign and degree-position. This is so you can keep in mind the aspects made by your planets to each other.) Now make a list of the planetary rulerships of the twelve signs; suggest: Mars for Aries, Venus for Taurus-Libra, Mercury for Gemini-Virgo, Moon for Cancer, Sun for Leo, Pluto for Scorpio, Jupiter for Sagittarius, Saturn for Capricorn, Uranus for Aquarius, and Neptune for Pisces. Learn this listing so that you are perfectly familiar with it. It is the planetary rulership of the zodiac. Also learn the planetary dispositorship of the zodiac: all planets in Aries are disposited by Mars, all in Taurus-Libra are disposited by Venus, all in Gemini-Virgo are disposited by Mercury, all in Cancer are disposited by the Moon, etc. In other words, planets in a given sign are disposited by the ruler of that sign; the planetary ruler of a given sign disposits all planets in that sign. Acquire fluency on these points.

   Now, for further clarification, enclose by a circle all planets in each particular sign in the "cuspless" wheel you've made. This gives your eye a chance to group your planets by sign-position, regardless of their house-position; list your planets by sign-position and bracket each group by the planetary dispositor; this listing is the vibratory grouping of your horoscope--you should learn it thoroughly. Now, in the cuspless wheel, draw a diameter: the starting-point will be the planetary ruler of your natal horoscope; the sign which contains the opposite point is your complementation sign; its ruler (whatever planet it is) focalizes that vibration and thus is your essential complementary vibration. Thus we see that the dispositor of your Ascendant-ruler and the ruler of the sign opposite to the one which contains your Ascendant ruler are the two basic points of your complementation patterns in this incarnation. The sign which contains your "complement planet" and its ruler will be the chief qualifying vibration of your complement. Study your Ascendant-ruler-dispositor and its planetary complement from every conceivable standpoint; in them is found the inner secrets of your relationship-consciousnessin this incarnation; they represent the focalized vibrations or inner picture of "yourself " and the inner picture of your "other self."

   Now to create the first of your two "generic charts." This one is derived directly from your natal Ascendant. Make a copy of your natal horoscope, correct in every detail, using, as Ascendant, the cusp carrying the sign which contains your Ascendant-ruler; do not change anything in the wheel. The sign that now appears as Ascendant (containing, either in twelfth or first house, your natal ruler) is your vibratory Ascendant. The planet that rules this sign is your vibratory ruler and its position by sign, elemental trine (fire, earth, air, water), structural cross (cardinal, fixed, mutable), and planetary aspects gives the picture of your inner recognition of yourself; your natal ruler is the "outward" of you-how you think of yourself consciously and how you most directly appear to other people. Remember that the ruler of your natal Ascendant is projected into the wheel from the Ascendant and by its house-position it indicates your self- recognitions in terms of space/time and activity. The vibratory ruler, however, is projected from the sign that it rules andits relationship to the body of the wheel is in terms of extension from its own sign of dignity. If the vibratory ruler is in the same element as is the sign it rules (the vibratory Ascendant-sign) then it isthe Power or Love or Wisdom expression of your inner nature which is focalized to indicate your basic spiritual power. If the vibratory ruler is in a sign which refers to the same structural cross pertaining to the sign it rules, then it is "square" or "opposition "its sign of dignity and this represents an evolutionary turning point--analogous to the "turning points" of the cardinal, fixed, and mutable squares (or "crosses") of the Great (or Abstract) Mandala.

   Your chart, as it now stands (with the vibratoryAscendant) is the basic generic variation of your natal chart. The generic quality of the vibratory ruler, the sign it's in, and the quality of its dispositor will serve to identify the basic generic quality of your natal chart, since this variation is derived from the sign-position of the ruler of the natal Ascendant. Synthesize carefully by reference to generic spectrum and remember that this variation is not a picture of your Being as "male" or "female;" it is the basic masculinity or basic femininity of your inner nature. Since this variation is derived directly from the natal horoscope, consider this thought: What house, in your natal chart, contains your vibratory ruler? This house, whatever it is, will picture the physical, or "space-time" focus of this particular vibratory flowering. In other words, the "where-and-when in your incarnation you will find perfection of this basic inner quality of your nature." What does your chart show concerning this?

   If you are at all philosophically or psychologically inclined (and of course you are or you wouldn't be reading this), you will recognize that you and only you are the determining factor of your relationship-experiences. Philosophers do not, as a rule, plough blindly through their incarnations making the same old mistakes in the same old way, over and over; they seek enlightenment toward improving their inner conditions and thereby learn how to improve the quality of their expressions. Philosophers do not spend their time in blame or accusation of others because they know that it is not people but their own negative reactions which cause their pain. So now, as philosophers, we will enjoy a study of the basic generic chart as it serves to picture the "inner" of our relationship- consciousness. Another variation.

   From the chart as it now appears as "basic generic," turn it (or make another copy) so that the sign opposite to the one containing the natal ruler appears as the Ascendant. This is--or we shall call it--your "complementation Ascendant;" its planetary ruler is your "complementation ruler."

   Now this planet, whatever it is, is the distillation of your complementary relationship-consciousness--way down deep. It is the essential vibratory portrait of your "other self " and, inversely, it is the portrait of the enemy you carry around inside of yourself; this "enmity" is, of course, qualified by the regenerate aspects made by this planet, but its congestions (squares and oppositions) are, in the opinion of the author, more important to understand than any other factor of your astrological make-up because each one of these congestions is the "mote in your own eye" by which you see evil in another.

   Each congestion to this complementation-ruler represents, actually, a deep, dark ignorance of a specific Life-principle. Stimulations of these congestions will cause "other people to hurt you the most intensely "--your reactions to them, by this stimulation, at different timings, is what you feel when Life, in her Wisdom, uses a knife to do a little surgery on your congested, crystallized inner conditions. As long as you live these patterns reactively you will suffer through your reactions to the persons represented by the aspects; but when you enlighten your consciousness as to the nature of the principle represented by this particular planet you will recognize that you must consciously align yourself to make this principle a constructive expression in your life; to the degree that you do this, you will "take hands with the enemy inside and make him your friend." The Great Teacher said: "Resist not evil;" did He mean: "I get up on this fretting and stewing about what other people do--spend your time in straightening your own consciousness and live accordingly?" It is suggested--because this particular point is of urgent importance--that you make as detailed a study of this "complement-ruler" as you can. Study its placement and meaning in relationship to the Great Mandala; study its generic meaning, its relationship meaning. What does it represent as a spiritual principle and, from a karmic standpoint? What did you do in the past to create the present congested aspects? How many people (whose charts you have) have "points" that synchronize with this planet in your pattern? What has been their influence and effect on you and your life? What has been your influence on them, please? Do you tend to blame them for "doing things to you" and then turn right around and do those same things to others? It is felt that in no other astrological factor does the student need to get his thoughts, feelings, and reactions out in the open, honestly and squarely, than in those matters pertaining to this particular planet.

   Charts, of course, vary considerably as far as vibrational quality is concerned. Perhaps this "complementation ruler " in your chart has no congestions--just sextiles and trines; then it is suggested that you compare this planet with your "vibrational ruler." Which one gives you the most "advantage," which one represents the free-est expression of Power as Love-Wisdom, which one acts most effectively as a "decrystallizer of congestions," which one represents a principle that you are the most clearly aware of in your conscious being, which one represents the more clearly an ideal that you see outpictured in others, or an ideal that you, yourself, outpicture toothers? There are many questions you can ask of your Higher Self pertaining to these things but they must be asked honestly--excuses, self- justifications, and blamings have no place in this kind of analysis. The "complementation ruler" can, of course be studied from an additional factor: the quality of the planet that disposits it--that planet might be very congested even if the complementation ruler itself is not; if such is the case, then learn from your relationships (the good outpicturing of other people) how to deal with that particular congestion. You will see something wonderful in other people that you wish you had yourself; try to determine what this principle is and put it to work in your daily living. This is what "life-learning" really means.

   So now we have the natal horoscope and its two basic generic variations. (Suggest complete copies of all three for reference). The cardinal signs focalize the vibratory relationship-structure, and this focalization is represented by the sign-positions and aspects of the structural planets: Mars, Moon, Venus, and Saturn. The generic grouping of the planets will serve to determine which of the two "variations" is the "masculine generic chart" and which is the "feminine generic chart" and from this synthesis you can determine the generic qualitv of your basic relationship-patterns. Which relationships focalize your masculine expressions and which focalize your feminine expressions; which focalize your reaction-patterns; what kind of relationship-pattern serves to bring to you your most needed spiritual lessons; towhich one--or two--do you naturally contribute your best in love and wisdom?

   One comes into a realization of astrological values through much study, meditation, observation, and experience; it is impossible for all these subtle factors to be "put in words" at a single sitting. But when a student of astrology is also a philosopher who keeps his mind open to new octaves of realization he "ignites" his Inner Wisdom bit by bit until deep levels of realization are lifted to the surface of consciousness for practical application. We have come into awareness that it is useless to center our attention on people as being only "male and female"-- the "repolarization process" has been in effect for too long a time to make this approach essentially valid. We are realizing that the truth of human relationships is cosmic polarity. Masculinity and femininity--"expression and reflection"--are expressed by all people, regardless of their physical bodies and their generative purposes and capacities.

   So, in more clearly alerting ourselves to the symbolic values of Mars, Moon, Venus, Saturn, and the other planetary bodies that focalize the generic value of the zodiacal signs, we see in every horoscope the manhood/womanhood of every human being. We must learn--it is our principal purpose here--the ways to express and reflect the Generic Principles of Life; our "school" is Humanity; our "classrooms" are the sum- total of all of our relationship-experiences, as male and female, in all of our incarnations. Nothing less than this could provide pabulum for complete realization of the human ideal.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume IX
Chapter II
Security

   "To exist" is "to be in a state of motion," but "to live constructively" is "to exist with a consciousness of source and objective." In this consciousness is found the root of the security-feeling regardless of the condition of outer circumstances. The astrological mandala pictures this as follows: Draw a circle with the vertical and horizontal diameters; place the Aries-symbol at the Ascendant-point Capricorn at the top of the wheel, Cancer at the bottom; connect Aries to Capricorn and Cancer by straight lines.

   Aries is the primordial I AM--the consciousness of individualized self-hood. Because Life is Action, "to be" means "to express," "to project" and "to act and react." Creativity and epigenesis are, depending on evolutionary octave, the arch-principles of Life-action because all expressions are radiative and affective by nature. Mars then is the Principle of Action, the "Spark from the Central Flame" which provides every epigenetic thing with the faculty of projective movement. But, Mars has to have an objective toward which to move, else his action is devoid of purpose or meaning. His unfocused actions are, therefore, wasted energy. To waste one's endowment of energy is to deplete the consciousness of I AM; the result of this depletion is one polarity of the insecurity-feeling.

   To have a relatively dim awareness of I AM is to be relatively decentralized and, correspondingly, relatively susceptible to the impacts of other mental, emotional, psychic, and physical power- projections. Remember that in target-practice the shooting and the throwing have no meaning if there is no target to focus on for training; the target chemically symbolizes the objective of developing physical co-ordination for which the shooter or thrower practices. To continue to shoot or throw without the focus of the target is "Mars without an objective;" such action results in a bare minimum of muscular exercise but little, if any, muscular co-ordination results.

   We speak of growing boys and girls as "shooting up to young manhood and womanhood." When the objectives of life-giving maturities are not focused on, then the mechanical growing up-like the aimless shooting and throwing-eventually results in the insecurity of wasted motion and energy. To "take incarnation" has for its purpose life-givingness which is maturity and which, astrologically, is indicated by the exaltation of Mars in Capricorn, the Saturn-sign of power to assume and fulfill responsibilities. These responsibilities are inherent in the fact that maturity of consciousness implies self-direction and the spiritual responsibility is constructive expression. On the genetic octave of expression, "constructive expression" is generative life and steward-ship of that which is generated, whether it is the incarnation of other Egos--"our children"--or the initiation of a work- pattern--"our service."

   Wasted growing-up-ness is, to a large degree, a mechanical action which results in insecurity when the person is timed for mature expression but is incapable of such functioning. He is at the mercy of other people's vibrations and powers and he is incapable of functioning from his center of self-direction. Mars, leaving Aries and traveling through the wheel counter-clockwise, must rise from the Cancer-point at the bottom of the wheel; to remain bogged down in dependency-security is to avoid the dynamic upward propulsion of true growing. Any person so bogged down tries to function through another strength, he does not "know his own." He remains fixated on "source," but since he is unaware of individualized objectives, he cannot help but fail to realize the ideal of true security.

   Since that which is growing needs protection and sustainment, true dependency-security is the fulfillment of legitimate needs. The fetus needs the maternal substance, the baby and growing child need food, shelter, guidance, and love; the student needs education, the worker needs a service-objective and income. All people who are evolving need the security- sense of specific identities--family affiliation, religious affiliation, national affiliation, and racial affiliation--until such time as the truth of selfhood is realized. Congestions in dependency-security result in psychological and sexual subnormality, crystallization in opinion, prejudice, intolerance, fixation on chemical expressions as symbols of security, racial and nationalistic fears and enmities and, above all, the inability to adjust to needed changes for development and elasticization of consciousness.

   A person "arrives" at a specific point in his evolution; when he identifies that point as "a reality" he remains, in a sense, static for a time to fulfill the requirements of that point. If he then fails to adjust to needed changes--remains fixated on that with which he has become familiar--he "dies inside" because his consciousness of himself will not permit the evolutionary forces of life to express through him. And that "point" can be one of innumerable things with which humans identify themselves during the sequence of their incarnations.

   The sign Cancer in the Great Mandala is the "nest- symbol" to the dependent person. Exoterically it is "chemicalized source"-- womb, mother, home, nation, and race. Esoterically it is his own psychological base--the things he rests on inside himself as a consciousness of resource to express for his individualized need for greater fulfillment. The psychological base is never dependent on the chemical expressions of life; once established the person rests on it and in it wherever he goes during his incarnation. This inner establishment makes it possible for him to adjust to any and all outer changes of circumstances; herein is seen a picturing of the Moon--ruler of Cancer--being exalted in its own eleventh house-sign, Taurus. Taurus corresponds to Cancer as Uranus-ruled Aquarius corresponds to Aries-- the eleventh house-sign pattern is liberation and impersonalization.

   The disorganized person--the vagrant, the outlaw, and the insane--is such because he has lost his sense of contact with identity and inner focus. The vagrant has experience, certainly, but it is in the nature of an aimless movement through life; the outlaw has lost his sense of belongingness with other people--he is in a continual state of protest against something in himself (something of the vibratory source of the present incarnation ) that he has not understood or clearly perceived. In other words, there is no connection, in the minds of such people, between what they were in the past, what they should be now, and what they might become in the future. Their forgotten past and unpictured future suspends them in the aimless present.

   The person we designate as "miser" is one of the most insecure because he is not aware of the source of his over-attachment to chemicality--money--as a symbol of security. His greed and unceasing grasping outpictures his crumbled inner foundation--he seeks security in "possessing" something whose essential identity is "medium of exchange as an expression of feeling about other people."

   Over-attachment to a loved one is also an outpicturing of negative dependency-security because the suffering person identifies another human as his psychological base. Devoted and faithful love is not, in itself, a "mechanism of congestion;" it is an expression of the human heart's highest octave. But the kind of love that cannot live independently of chemical nearness is truly not love but a symbol of inner insecurity; anyone who identifies another as "security" is off his own inner base--he is continually afflicted with anxieties, apprehensions, and tensions. The person, having "displaced" himself, says that he is anxious about the well-being of the loved one but it is his own security that he is really anxious about. True loving is health-giving, faith-strengthening, confidence- inspiring; the "loving" that is a fearful, tense dependency is just the opposite.

   So we see that over-dependency on externals is the arch-root of insecurity. The correction is found in understanding what the external symbolizes and then establishing the reality of that symbol in consciousness and expressing from that psychological base; such expression is self-generating and self-directing; it is symbolized by the line drawn from Cancer upward to Capricorn in the Great Mandala. This is the picture of the dependent, immature person transmuting his consciousness with experience to attain the status of a mature, independent individual. "We recognize, because polarity is inter-active and retro-active, that the Cancer-Capricorn diameter pictures the present insecurities having resulted from past unfulfillments and present securities having resulted from past fulfillments. That which is now established as sound, integrated psychological base-power is pabulum for exercise of responsibility-fulfillments. To be free of dependency on externals qualifies for self-directing, efficient dynamic functioning. Many people assume responsibilities--parenthood, work, etc.--but their crumbled psychological base, with resultant dependency on externals as securities, disqualifies them from successfully and completely fulfilling that which they have assumed.

   For example--and there are many such to be studied in these times--a man assumes the responsibility of governmental work; he is insecure by reason of his over-dependency on money as a symbol of security; he traduces the principles inherent in the responsibilities of his job; he "works the angles of expediency" but he breaks faith in order to realize his illusionary security-symbol; in his next incarnation--or in some future incarnation--his faith in other people will be shattered by their falseness and lack of principle; they will simply outpicture his own intensified insecurity, the result of his previous (present) spiritual immaturity. This is an important point to consider: to adhere to the principles of a work-pattern or a relationship-pattern insures the maximum efficiency of responsibility-fulfillment and, correspondingly, a maximum efficiency of maturing the psychological base to carry over as "strength- pabulum" into the next incarnation. The accumulations of strength-pabulum total to the accumulation of relative Masterhood; the depletion of strength- pabulum is recession from realizing Ideality.

   The person who assumes a pattern of responsibility and who betrays that pattern by inner darkness and lack of principle disintegrates his own psychological base to a degree. He disqualifies for further power-expression until he has reclaimed his consciousness, faces and passes the testings which Life (his own consciousness) brings to him in order to prove his worth. When you as an astro-philosopher, study charts to analyze the sources of another's problems and you recognize that his suffering has been directly due to his over- dependency on externals, then know that, somewhere in his past, he disqualified and his disqualifications have been outpictured this time by his dependency-reaction on the weaknesses of others. He will tell you that his parents never gave him enough, he never got any breaks, his boss never appreciates him, he has been continually taken advantage of and cheated, he is always involved in automobile accidents, his children are always sick, he was divorced three times, betrayed by the woman he loved, etc. Such tales outpicture terrifically deep insecurities, the direct result of betrayal of responsibility-fulfillments in the past. Now, such a person doesn't know just who he is or what he is here for; his motivations are only dimly perceived; he is unaware of his power-resources (strength-pabulum); and his consciousness of experience-principles is hazy at best. He has to learn anew what his identity is and what it means to understand experience-principles and the spiritual methods for expressing according to Principle.

   Now--a case very much in point these days-- international security.

   This term is a composite of the security- consciousness of every human now incarnate. In these later days we have come into a clearer recognition of "One World" than ever before in our history. To recognize "One World" is to assume the responsibility of living accordingly. To not recognize--or not be able to recognize--"One World" simply outpictures adherence to separative nationalistic concepts; nationalistically-minded people cannot be expected to"think internationally" any more than a small child should be expected to love other children's mothers and fathers more than he does his own. But--and this is very significant--there are many now incarnate who profess the "One World Consciousness" but who violate it continually. Which brings us to the subject of "Americanism:"

   To incarnate as a citizen of the United States of America is to assume the responsibility of living the "One World Consciousness." You and I and every other American citizen qualified for incarnation here, and we must justify that qualification or re-incarnate-- under a much less liberal governmental form. We are established as a nation under the spiritual directive of "liberty and justice for ALL--and the "ALL" does not mean just Americans. The citizenry of this nation are principally derived from European, Asiatic, and African backgrounds but, because of consciousness-quality we were at-tuned to the democratic principles of living and we were permitted--timed--to incarnate under a governmental form based on those principles.

   The horoscope of the United States of America pictures the Sun and three planets in the sign Cancer--we are truly a "nest" for humans of all kinds of racial, national, and religious backgrounds. The Sun in Cancer is ruler of the fourth house, and in that sign it is in its own twelfth house-sign--the "redemption-pattern." Cancer is on the second and third cusps; the Sun and two of the planets are in the second house; Mercury, ruler of the Gemini-Ascendant and dispositor of the Gemini Mars and Uranus, is in Cancer in the third house; the Moon, ruler of second and third, is in Aquarius; Saturn, ruler of eighth and ninth houses, is exalted in Libra and trine to the Moon. Our "national psychological base" (there are no planets in the fourth-house-sign Leo) is focused on this "planetary gathering" in the sign Cancer; it might be interpreted as: material substance-exchanges and education according to democratic governmental principles as the spiritualized source of our national evolution and progress.

   Have we ever perpetrated outrage on these Principles? Our treatment of our American Indian and Negro citizenry says YES. Have we ever wasted our fabulous endowment of natural resources? The answer is YES. Did we, as a democratically-inspired nation, permit the buying and selling of fellow-humans? The history of Negro slavery in this country says YES. Have we encouraged the weaknesses of other peoples? The history of war-debt defaults of other nations says YES. This is December, 1950-- newspapers in recent weeks have revealed how American materials are permitted to be sold to the very nation we are warring against--a repetition, in part, of the story of scrap-iron selling to the Japanese during their attacks on the Chinese people in the 1930 's. This, on the part of a democratic government, is certainly the supreme blasphemy against our principle of "justice for all."

   Further, to say, as some do, that "nothing can be done about it" is the supreme utmost of spineless acquiescence; such violations of our powers as substance-stewards must be stopped. Since a chemical expression only outpictures an inner state, to say that we are "afraid of the Chinese communists," "afraid of the Russians," "afraid of atomic bombardment" is only half-truth. We are afraid of the results of our own violation of principle and what we are going through now in the Orient is the result of our traducing those principles which inspired the founding of this nation. Food for thought! Let every American take stock of how he lives his citizenship. American citizenship is a blessing to be honored by living it--it is not "just something dropped in our laps" to be taken advantage of in wasteful, thoughtless ways. To the degree that we express according to religious intolerance, racial hatred, financial corruption and personal dis- integrity do we disqualify for this privilege; to the degree that we help others to help themselves, steward our resources intelligently and for the best good of all on earth, keep our minds open to further appreciation of the qualities and rights of all do we maintain our democratic qualifications. We, as a nation, are democratic power; we, as individual Americans, are microcosms of that power and it is our spiritual responsibility and our personal joy to manifest that ideal while we are incarnate. That, and nothing less, will insure our individual and national security. We must, as Americans and Earthians, function from the psychological base--the "power-pabulum"--or our spiritual principles. The Capricorn regeneration and fulfillment of democratic idealism is that which is "matured" from the Cancer-base. To realize this maturity is the meaning of "being American" and the meaning of "being democratic Earthians."

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume IX
Chapter III
Diameter, Quadrant, and Decanate

   For the pursuance of this material, a brief review of the Generic Spectrum will be necessary.

   The zodiac is not just a ''belt;" it is an emanation of vibratory qualities starting at the first degree of the cardinal fire-sign Aries; this point is, abstractly, the initiation of the circumference of the vibratory wheel of astrological science. This point is the objectification-incarnation--of the potentials inherent in the central point of the circle. The Ascendant-radius--the left horizontal--is the "projection of potentials from subjectivity to objectivity." In any given circle, the same radius is used to manifest the circle; hence all of the house-cusps in the wheel are emanations of the Ascendant-radius and they picture the unfoldment of generic Consciousness in experience and realization of the ideal through spiritualized transmutations and expressions.

   The mandala which pictures the structure of generic quality is the twelve-housed wheel with the signs Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn on the cusps of the first, fourth, seventh, and tenth houses, respectively. The horizontal and vertical diameters, intersecting at the center, form the cross of incarnation; the straight lines which connect the cardinal cusps form the evolutionary field by which humanity has experience in relationship with each other. In this mandala, we see the two- field bisection of the circle; two diameters creating two pairs of semi- circles. These diameters represent the two-fold expression of Polarity; that which generates (Capricorn-Cancer: the diameter of parentage), and that which is generated (Aries-Libra: the Ascendant and its complement). This mandala illustrates, in astrological symbol the Master-number twenty-two. Two is the only digit which gives the same result (four) when added to itself and when multiplied by itself. Twenty-two is the number of mastery expressing in form- -it is the higher octave of complementation and it is significant that every human being must fulfill evolutionary experience by incarnation in both physical sexes. The four cardinal signs pictured in this mandala comprise the incarnated way by which the manhood-womanhood of every human being evolves through relationship-experience and distills its spiritualizations from which the Ideal is manifested. All human relationships--either biological or otherwise--are derived from this archetypal foundation: the bi-polar generator and the bi-polar generated.

   Since the elemental trines symbolize the spiritualization of the generic qualities, we derive our generic spectrum from the relationship of exaltation-signs of the rulers of these four signs. Mars (male begotten and ruler of Aries) is exalted--matured-in Capricorn, ruled by Saturn, the father-symbol; Saturn is exalted in Libra ruled by Venus and complement of Mars's sign Aries; Venus is exalted in Pisces, third octave of the water-trine, the last sign in the zodiacal sequence, and this trine is initiated by the cardinal sign Cancer, ruled by the Moon--symbol of Mother-- and complement of Saturn 's Capricorn.

   Hence the fire and earth signs, since they are" initiated " by male symbols, are the male signs; the air and water signs, initiated by female symbols, are the female signs. Since every human being, as male or as female, is bipolar, we recognize a two-fold division of the male signs and the female signs into masculine and feminine. The fire-signs form the first half of the male half of the zodiac so they are the masculine male signs; the earth-signs follow, in sequence (Taurus follows Aries), so they are the feminine male signs. The air signs, initiated by the cardinal sign Libra, ruled by Venus, represent the masculine half of the female signs; the water- signs, initiated by Cancer, comprise the feminine female signs. Thus we see the entire zodiac representing a two-fold expression of two-fold polarity; from the first degree of Aries, the most masculine point, to the thirtieth degree of Pisces, the most feminine point. List the signs in this sequence and learn for future reference.

   The lower half (below the horizontal diameter) of the wheel is initiated by Aries: the upper half is initiated by Libra, as "reflection" of the lower half. The occult key-note of the first degree of Aries--the Ascendant-point of the great Mandala--is I AM. In this Ascendant- line is implied all the potentials shown in the zodiacal unfoldment and the contents of the astrological wheel. Therefore, it naturally follows that in the thirty degrees of Aries is implied the "contents" of the upper half of the wheel. This "content" is symbolically implied by the last fifteen degrees of the sign. The "cusp" of the sixteenth degree of the sign is the potential of the completed horizontal diameter of the wheel. When the left horizontal radius is "unfolded" to form a completed diameter, the "extension" results in what we call the cusp of the seventh house--the initiating point of the upper half of the circle. Since any degree of any sign can appear as the Ascendant of a horoscope, we recognize that the division of any sign into two halves of fifteen degrees each represents a symbolic picture of the polarity of that sign in embryo, and though the author, at this point, has not reached any specific conclusion as to the significant difference of planets placed in the first fifteen degrees of a sign and those placed in the last fifteen degrees, the picture is suggested that planets placed in the second half of the thirty degrees, if expressed unregeneratively, are potentials for much more "effective" negative karma--in the sense that being in the "polarity-half" of the sign, their negative expressions imply a possibility of being reflected in future incarnations by other people with whom the subject will have relationship. In other words, the second fifteen degrees, by analogy, might be termed the "feminine half" of the sign. "Feminine" means "reflective." Hence if we wish to avoid future suffering through painful reaction to others, we owe it to ourselves to regenerate planets so placed, the implication being that in future (unfoldment in Time-Space) those planetary vibrations will focalize our complementary relationship patterns and we will much more definitely "get back from others what we've dished out this time." Divide each house of a Great Mandala in two equal parts; place your natal planetary positions in this wheel and see in which half of their signs the planets fall. Perhaps you, as an inquiring student, can reach a conclusion in this matter. If you have squares or oppositions between planets placed in the latter fifteen degrees of their signs, do you feel more responsive to people who express negative qualities represented by those planets than you do to those who negatively reflect your "first fifteen-degree " planets? Do you feel that, with careful analysis, you can determine whether your first fifteen- degree planets give you greater freedom of direct expression than do the latter fifteen-degree planets? Analyze your planetary squares and oppositions from this standpoint and see if the polarity-pattern implied helps to clarify your reaction-capacities and expression-capacities.

   QUADRANTS: In the Great Mandala, the sub-division of the first house--and the sign Aries--into four quadrants of 71/2 degrees each pictures the "embryonic state" of the cardinal cross. Applying the Law of Correspondence we relate this division of one sign to the four-fold division of the entire wheel. Starting with Aries and "unfolding" the wheel counter-clockwise, we find that each succeeding quadrant is initiated respectively by Cancer, Libra, Capricorn.

   The subdivision of a sign into two sections of fifteen degrees each is particularly applicable to the study of the opposition aspects and all complementary patterns generally. The subdivision of a sign into quadrants, however, applies to the analysis of the square aspects, since every square aspect is, allowing for orb, a pattern of 90-degree relationship and each quadrant of the wheel is a 90-degree division. The division into quadrants (by degrees and minutes) represents zero to seven degrees, thirty minutes; seven degrees, thirty-one minutes to fifteen degrees; fifteen degrees, one minute to twenty-two degrees, thirty minutes; twenty-two degrees, thirty-one minutes to twenty-nine degrees, fifty-nine minutes. The next "step" brings us to zero of the next sign.

   There are three "crosses" implied in the structure of the twelve signs: cardinal, fixed, and mutable. In cycle unfoldment from the ascendant of the Great Mandala, the three crosses appear four times, in the four quadrants of the wheel: Aries, Taurus, Gemini; Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius; Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. Each cardinal "initiation" is a new way of saying I AM--as extensions of the basic I AM of Aries; each cross represents a pattern of growth and unfoldment through experience in the two-fold expression of two-fold polarity; we evolve through phases of male and female Life-takers and Life-givers. The "crosses" simply represent the processes by which we distill wisdom from our experiences and unfold the inner resources of love toward the attainment of realization of the ideal. Since, in a correctly calculated horoscope, every planet is placed where it is by due process of Law, there must be a valuable key in the placement of planets by quadrant. Each individual sign of the zodiac has its particular planetary ruler, as basic focalizer of the generic quality of the sign. But since thirty degrees represents a sequence of sign quality and because the Law of Correspondence applies to astrological structure as it does to any other manifestation, let us consider the placement of planets by quadrant in terms of secondary rulerships. The first quadrant of a mutable sign is ruled by the planetary ruler of the sign; the second quadrant is secondarily ruled by the planet that rules the next sign of that cross; the third quadrant is secondarily ruled by the planet that rules the next cross- sign and the fourth quadrant is secondarily ruled by the next. For example:

    Capricorn: Primary ruler: Saturn.
    Capricorn is the cardinal sign.
        First quadrant.....secondary ruler--Saturn
        Second quadrant....Mars--ruler of Aries
        Third quadrant....Moon--ruler of Cancer
        Fourth quadrant....Venus--ruler of Libra

       Leo: Primary ruler: the Sun.
    Leo is a fixed sign.
        First quadrant....the Sun--ruler of Leo
        Second quadrant....Pluto--ruler of Scorpio
        Third quadrant....Uranus--ruler of Aquarius
        Fourth quadrant....Venus--ruler of Taurus

       Pisces: Primary ruler: Neptune.
    Pisces is a mutable sign.
        First quadrant....Neptune--ruler of Pisces
        Second quadrant....Mercury--ruler of Gemini
        Third quadrant....Mercury--ruler of Virgo
        Fourth quadrant....Jupiter--ruler of Sagittarius

   Note that the extension of the first and third quadrants and the second and fourth quadrants would picture two aspects of polarity; this composite of polarity is pictured in the horoscopical wheel as the two diameters of each cross. Give careful consideration to your square aspects and the planets involved with reference to the secondary rulerships; the secondary rulers act as "hand-maidens" or "right-hand-men" to the primary rulers and their influence is effective in analysis of the planetary expression-qualities.

   DECANATES: In the study of decanates, we come to an analysis of each sign from the standpoint of its spiritual potentials. Just as the three crosses of four signs each are "unfolded" from the Ascendant of the Great Mandala, so the four generic trines of three signs each are "unfolded" from the Ascendant. The fifteen-degree and seven and a half degree divisions proceed--as "experience-unfoldment" through the zodiac counter- clockwise from the Ascendant; the picture shown is that of Humanity moving through its experience-patterns on the "on-ward-and-upward" path--from level to level, ever ascending through evolutionary processes. However, in the cycle of generic trines, the path is clockwise--and this is not a "cyclic" motion. It is an evaluation of the zodiacal powers from the standpoint of the spiritual potential. As we saw earlier in this discussion, it is based on the exaltation-points of the planets ruling the signs of structure--the cardinal signs.

   The spiritual potential of the generic quality of each zodiacal sign is three-fold; the archetypal key-words are (1) Power; (2) Love and (3) Wisdom. The second and third of these octaves are the emotional and mental perfections by which the essential power of each cardinal sign is released, in transmuted expression. The decanates of each sign are the division of the sign into three groups of ten degrees each. The second and third decanates of a sign symbolize the embryonic stage of the Love-Wisdom potentials; these potentials are expressed in the wheel by the two signs which correspond to the decanate; they are the two other signs of the same element as the particular cardinal. In the fixed and mutable signs, we see the Law of Correspondence and the Principle of Recapitulation at work and thus we can attribute to each decanate its appropriate co-ruler--as follows:

   Fire signs: First decanate: Aries-Mars; second: Leo-Sun; third: Sagittarius-Jupiter.

   Earth signs: First: Capricorn-Saturn; second: Taurus-Venus; third: Virgo-Mercury.

   Air signs: First: Libra-Venus; second: Aquarius- Uranus; third: Gemini-Mercury.

   Water signs: First: Cancer-Moon; second: Scorpio- Pluto; third: Pisces-Neptune.

   The Hermetic Law of Correspondence is beautifully evidenced, particularly, by one example of this decanate-analysis. The second decanate of each element is the "Fixed-sign" decanate. When we extend the three decanates of each element into the twelve signed wheel, we see that the fixed-sign decanates become the midpoint of each quadrant of the wheel. "Middle of sign" becomes, by correspondence, "middle of quadrant of the circle." The midpoint of each fixed sign-house (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) (second, fifth, eighth, eleventh) when connected by straight lines becomes the symbol of the square aspect--the arch-symbol of congestion; since the fixed decanate of each sign is the love decanate we see how the astrological mandala points clearly to the spiritualized releasement of emotional congestions: that of expression of the love-consciousness. Each sign (regardless of its generic quality) reaches its apex of compression at the midpoint--the jointure of the fifteenth and sixteenth degrees. This jointure is exactly in the middle of the second decanate. The cardinal decanate--the first ten degrees of any sign--carries out, by the Law of correspondence, the "beginningness" attribute of the cardinal signs as they represent the basic "turning-points" in the progress through the wheel. The third decanates (the last ten degrees) carry out the "transitional quality" of the mutable signs since, after the midpoint of the sign has been passed the "energies" begin to "recede" from the basic quality of the sign and approach the "modulation" into the next sign. So the mutable signs of the Zodiac form the transitional points from one ninety-degree quadrant into the next quadrant.

   Of what practical value is all this, you ask; and you have a right to ask. When we remember that "every problem contains its own cure" we can study afflicted and congested planets from the standpoint of their placement by sign-quadrant and sign-decanate and extract from that information a great deal that tells us about the inherent possibilities for regenerating the expression of that planet. For example: a congested planet is in the twenty-sixth degree of Capricorn; this is in the Libra quadrant, secondarily ruled by Venus; it is in the Virgo decanate, secondarily ruled by Mercury. Its placement in the Libra quadrant (Capricorn 's fourth quadrant) is analogous to the relationship between Capricorn and Aries in the Great Mandala--Capricorn being Aries' fourth quadrant; the key-word is responsibility-fulfillment; the Libra sub-vibration conveys "relationship- harmonization" through balance and right exchange. The Virgo decanate (the third octave--Wisdom) of the earth-trine tells us that the spiritual purpose of the experiences represented by the congested planet is the unfoldment of greater understanding; the person must be willing to learn from his experience in this matter; to the degree that he seeks to learn, keeps an open mind receptive to instruction and guidance will he utilize his spiritual resource for decrystallizing the congestion. If he, through false pride, stubbornness, etc., closes his mind to guidance he closes the door to his unfoldments; relationship-harmonization cannot be established and the congestion intensifies.

   Example: a congested planet in the ninth degree of Leo (fixed Fire--ruled by the Sun). This degree is in the Scorpio quadrant of Leo (second division of seven and a half degrees) and in the Aries decanate (first ten degrees). Since the planet is referred to as "congested" and it is in a fixed sign, we recognize that the congestion is intense--being in a fixed sign and in the Scorpio quadrants Scorpio, in relationship to Leo, is analogous to Cancer in relationship to Aries in the great Mandala; this relationship is "congestion in family-relationship," "adherence to the nest," ''parental complex" and (possibly) congestion of the Love resource by the exigencies of the sexual desire-nature. However, this point is in the Aries decanate--first decanate of a fire sign--and the spiritualization of the Mars vibration is courage. Such a person will find that subjective enterprise and awareness of his individual rights will serve as a power-releasement to decrystallize the congestions to the Leo-planet. The primary rulership of Leo by the Sun makes a positive attitude a "must" in dealing with these problems.

   And so on--with other congested patterns. Relate the decanate and quadrant to the abstract picturing of the Great Mandala and you will find that every variation of "problems" to be found in the charts of human-beings contain, by their placement, a direct clue to the vibratory solutions. Expressions of planetary powers through the spiritualized implications of the signs is the "go ahead" signal for evolutionary progress and harmonious unfoldment of potentials.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume IX
Chapter IV
Light--Part I

   En-Light-en-ment is always an act of revelation. It does not mean, as some suppose, to give something new to the thing under consideration or even to give something new to the person who is considering the thing. It is always an act by which, in relative degree, the truth of the thing under consideration may be more clearly realized. Such realization can never be "given" by one person to another because realization is always a subjective experience; the person who experiences it can only do so when he is suitably conditioned and timed for it. His suitable conditioning and timing-- synchronization of desire for Truth with capacity to utilize that which is realized--makes it possible for him to react to the stimulus of another person or an experience in such a way that his consciousness of the thing considered opens to a relatively higher degree of Truth. We may say that at that moment he has "gained more wisdom about the thing"--his awareness of the nature of the thing is then "wise-er" than it was.

   In these days of expanding inquiry into every facet of human experience and functioning it is really not surprising that many people all over the world are opening their minds to clearer realizations of the nature of the occult art-science called "astrology." This series of articles under the general heading of LIGHT, of which this is the first discourse, is presented to these inquirers in the expectation that those who are now "suitably conditioned and timed" will find, upon perusal, the experience of realizing clearer pictures of what astrology really is and how knowledge of its nature may be more constructively and philosophically utilized. Its purpose is completely consistent with its nature--its purpose is to en-light-en and its nature is the symbolic presentation of the evolving consciousness of Humanity, "en masse" or individually.

   Sometimes we become more vividly aware of a thing by consideration of what it is not. Basically and essentially, astrology is not a study of events; in terms of one person's horoscope it is not a study of "the people in his life ;" it is not a superstition, though many people have used it in such ways as to give evidence of their superstitious fear of life and experience; it is most certainly not a study of "good and bad luck; " its primary purpose is not to delineate the timing of events, past or future; and--give this considerable reflection--it is not a "study of the stars."

   The "nots" of astrology mentioned above could well be referred to as the "knots" in most people's concepts of astrology. Two of them are based on un-truth, the others contain sufficient content of knowledge or wisdom to make astrology of constructive utility--but only when the practitioner is motivated by high ideals of helpfulness to others, and when he is the kind of person who is ever ready to consider new revealments of astrological truth. No person now incarnate who is able to use astrological knowledge is "new to the subject;" all such people are recapitulating knowledge of the subject gained in former lives and, in justice to that past effort, effort is now being required to unravel the "knots" of congested concepts, superstitions, and half-truths by expanding the mind and enlarging the "will-to-Truth." The name of this art-science contains the clue to what it truth-fully is; let us analyze it for continual use during the perusal of this series.

   The "astr" of astrology is one of many hundreds of root-words derived from ancient languages which has both esoteric and exoteric meaning. Exoterically it refers to "star," and in this connotation astrology is understood to be a study of the influence on human character and destiny exerted by the stars in the heavens, as though we humans "have to do what the stars tell us to do--or be or think--or develop. Such an irrational concept of "starry influence" has the disintegrating effect of intensifying man's fears concerning "fate" as well as of his own weaknesses and ignorance. On the plane of intellectual exercise even the most exoteric approaches can be helpful in so far as people can become acquainted with a particular set of symbols, and the study of the interpretative key-words of these symbols does result in training the faculty of abstract thought. But, because knowledge without use is not astrology's reason-for-being, we must look more deeply into the word itself to realize the truths of its purpose.

   Esoterically the "astr" of astrology refers to light. Man has, for countless ages, looked upon the stars in the heavens as symbols of purest light. The astronomer studies the heavenly bodies in terms of their distance from us, their size, weight, density, and spatial inter- relationships. The astrologer studies what they symbolize as lights of consciousness.

   Again esoterically, there are two connotations to the word " light." One is that form of light that makes visual perception possible to those who are incarnate. In terms of manifested life, light is a creative power, an attribute of all manifested things which possess a creative or manifestive potential. But, before such light can "be" there must be that which creates the visual light and that is the light of consciousness. The creative consciousness of that which we call "life" (for lack of a more specific word) through the "stepped down," creative consciousness of galactic and solar logoi--all of which are evolving--originates any and all forms and degrees of light that can be perceived throughout the manifested universe. In other words, perceptible light is the negative polarity, the manifested reflection of the positive creative attribute-consciousness. The opening statements of the book of Genesis contain this one: "God said, "Let there be light and there was light". Whether one believes that the word "God" refers to cosmic creative essence or to the creative will and mind of a solar logos does not matter in this connection; what is to be considered is that consciousness of creative power was established and that light was the first gesture of the creative act. The "darkness" referred to refers to the state of unformed life which we call "chaos." "Chaos" does not mean, as some think, "nothing;" it is the one life essence which is to be utilized by creative wills and minds for manifestivity. Manifested light is the projection into manifestivity of creative intelligence. Consciousness is that degree of awareness -en-light-en-ment of power that is the prime requisite of creative action. A solar logos is aware of the power to create-manifest--through the establishment of a central body--"sun"--and an emanation of other bodies-- "planets" which, in toto, comprise its field of evolution. The logos evolves through the evolution of its myriads of life-waves and forms inhabiting the planetary bodies; macrocosm and microcosm are inter-dependent--the evolution of each serves, and is coincidental with, the evolution of the other. By the attribute of consciousness and the faculty of choice, humans exert their creative potential to further their evolution. We humans are not "creators" but, having the power of conscious regeneration, we reveal the potential for creativity. As our solar logos--God--is, so we are destined to become through the unfolding of awareness-consciousness--of our true identity and, correspondingly, powers. If, then, astrology is not a "study of the stars" but a study, in archetypal symbols, of consciousness we may shed our accrued misconceptions of the subject and look at horoscopes--our own particularly!-- for what they really are and for what they really are for.

   The statement that astrology is a study of the influence of Sun, Moon, and planets upon us--as individual or collective humans--is not untruthful but, for our purpose, there is another approach to the subject which goes deeper and must therefore be considered. As far as "effect of planets on humans" is concerned let us say that astrology is the study of the correspondences between planetary vibratory powers and our actual or potential powers. We, as humans, are fraternally related to all other humans as expressions of the same archetype on this planet. We are also--but more indirectly--fraternal to all expressions of life on this planet. Our habitation--Earth--is the manifested body of a Being which, in its octave of functioning, is fraternal to the planetary Regents of our solar system; therefore, in myriads of levels of correspondences, all on this system are inter-related. And, all are the manifested ideas of our Creator--our Solar Logos, "Father-Mother God." Since the planets of our system are the embodiments of Beings whose consciousness of life qualifies them for that office, and each one has its particular evolutionary function and effect on the total system or any factor of it, we, as humans and students of astrology, study our horoscopes to become aware of higher levels of consciousness of life through knowledge or awareness of our potentials in correspondence to the qualities and significance of those beings whose consciousness provides structure and pattern to our system. The astrological symbols of Sun, Moon, and planets designate what we call "rulership" of parts of our bodies, qualities of personality and character, the principles inherent in our capacities for expression and reaction, the vibratory qualifications of our experiences and relationships. All of these factors are, together or individually considered, for the one purpose of enlarging and purifying consciousness--"en-light-en-ing ourselves," or "serving to make the self more aware of the light of the Self-and the Self is the Spirit which identifies man's kinship and unity with his Creator.

   In order more firmly to establish a new approach or understanding, it has been found to be very helpful to stop speaking of the subject under consideration in the habit-patterns which one has used for perhaps a long time. There are several "cliches" which astrological students have learned and used and, in order to open more extensively to an awareness of "Astro-Light," we may have to practice some new terms and references. For example:

   We find it very easy and natural to say, in reference to a person's horoscope: "This person has a bad Uranus." Look at that statement for a moment from the standpoint of becoming more aware of what it says. In the first place no one can "have" any planet; in the second place no planet is "bad." How can it be, being a divine creation? Let's revise this a little: "This person's consciousness of the principles symbolized by Uranus is congested, unorganized, disorganized, immature or unevolved." We do not say that the person, therefore, is a bad person or an unlucky one or an evil one or an unfortunate one. We simply mean that the person's development--through no one knows how long a time--has not included very much regenerative attention to the aspects of the Spirit which are characterized by the planetary symbol of Uranus; we mean that he has in store considerable experience in growth and development and integration to make on that point. But that does not make him bad, or evil, or even unfortunate--it simply means that he has development to make of a specialized kind in his evolutionary becoming. The horoscope is a symbolic registration of consciousness--it is not a picture of static darkness but its great value lies in picturing the essences of the person 's life-assignments and relative evolutionary status.

   We say--often (oh, and so often!): "This position of Saturn and this aspect to Saturn makes this person a miser." Hold on a moment! All the heavenly host together cannot "make anyone a miser." The Saturn-registration in the horoscope pictures an action of the person 's consciousness--or lack of consciousness--regarding possession of material goods. Miserliness is an unbalance in consciousness--it is over-attention to acquisition to counter-balance a deeply-rooted fear of loss. Stop this unjust attitude toward Saturn--he tries so hard to teach us important lessons and one of them is intelligent utility of material means. He says: "My nature corresponds to your potential for learning--among other things--to use material substance and means intelligently. " Until you take into your consciousness the awareness of this principle for your own up-going, I shall have to speak to you through your fear of loss; when you learn to use; in a balanced way, the particular power of consciousness which I symbolize you will know that I have always been your friend and your teacher. Agree with what I represent as a power and quality of consciousness and your approach to your own Masterhood will be furthered in freedom and joy; you will then know that you do not have to blame me further for your fears and insecurities." We say--sometimes with a little smouldering of envy: "What a lucky guy! he has something-or-other trine Jupiter. " Jupiter smiles back at us in his kindly, understanding way and says to us--perhaps a little sad that we are envious: "I have so often been called the planet of abundance and good fortune--may I remind you that I simply symbolize your own consciousness of your own power to improve, enlarge, expand your nature and conditions; you do not 'get anything from me '--you express my principle of enlargement and expansion through optimism, kindliness, generosity, and fearlessness; what you give out, in expression, you attract back; if your consciousness of one is revealed through unbalances of extravagance, over-indulgence, false pride, or greediness I cannot register regeneratively in your chart because you, in your consciousness of me, have not qualified for such a registration as this man has. You need not envy his development. My principle serves all. Take it into your consciousness of life, make it your own by good action and your consciousness will, sooner or later, unfold awareness and manifestation of that particular form of Light which I represent."

   And so on--with each of the other planetary points In conclusion we must consider one other for its special significance in our horoscope--the symbol of the Sun itself.

   The author suggests that each student of astrology who feels so inclined inaugurate the practice of placing the traditional symbol for the Sun--the point circumscribed by a circle--at the center of each horoscope; this symbol, by correspondence, is that of our Creator, our own spiritual essence, our seed-atom and the eternal, indestructible will-to-live which characterizes consciousness throughout all time and space. This is the most simply constructed, the most perfectly focussed and the most purely archetypal of all astrological symbols--it is fitting that it should be used to designate the Human's consciousness of Divine Source, Identity, and Attribute. Another symbol--the author suggests a half-circle surmounting a horizontal line--may be legitimately and effectively used as the Sun in the horoscope, as a "planetary factor"--ruler of the fixed fire-sign Leo. Since this symbol is subject to patterning and aspects, qualifications and movement as is any other planetary symbol, it may be studied to represent the evolution of the person's consciousness of his Sun-nature. The appearance of the circular Sun-symbol (the "Spirit-symbol") corresponds to the appearance of the horoscopical circle--both centered by the same point. The "planetary Sun- symbol" corresponds in appearance with the upper semi-circle of the horoscope, the horizontal line corresponds to the horizontal diameter of the horoscope-- the "I AM of the individual's consciousness and the counterparting of the Ascendant by the cusp of the seventh house. Also as a picture this symbol suggests the sunrise at dawn--and its use in the horoscope is to keep us reminded of our consciousness of solar attributes which we are seeking to unfold through our evolutionary experience.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume IX
Chapter V
Light--Part II

   For the purposes of clarifying the expression and understanding of this material, we will agree that the word "light," initialed by the small "l," will refer to visually perceptible vibration; "Light," initialed by the capital "L," will refer to Consciousness; consciousness, with a small "c," will refer to human awareness.

   It is a wonderful thing to realize, upon reflection, that for countless ages human beings have revealed consciousness of the occult or esoteric nature of light as it has been--and is--perceived in terms of black, white, and the spectrum-colors. The subject has figured prominently in programs of philosophical teaching and learning in many lands and, in these later days, it has become an important factor in the fields of objective and subjective therapy. Those who are now sponsoring and furthering this subject in healing-work are recapitulating knowledge gained in former lives. It is not "new" in this age, it is simply being restated for the spiritual needs of present humanity. Inspirational responsiveness to the potency of natural or colored light and to that of beautiful color in substances serves to recharge the aura--which is always seen as color or colors in clairvoyant study--of the ailing person in such a way that he becomes conscious of a spiritual heightening; the condition of the aura--the etheric matrix--is strengthened and harmonized in degree and, in the same degree, the physical body is brought into healthier alignment. Not all humans have known, factually, about the aura and its significance to their existence, but it may be safely surmised that all, at some time or another, have experienced the uplift "inside themselves" which attends response to the spiritual value of light in its many beautiful and inspiring aspects of color.

   Give this considerable--and meditative--thought: Reaction to is evidence of correspondence with. We cannot respond to anything or anyone with which or with whom we do not have some degree of negative or positive affinity. The indisputable fact that a human can respond to the shade or quality of a color reveals that "something" in him has affinity to "something" in the color, or the black, or white. The equally indisputable fact that such response can lower or raise the quality of his auric, bodily, and spiritual condition reveals that his consciousness of the color has affinity with the Consciousness which is symbolized by the color. Power, in one degree or another, is the only thing that can change any vibratory state--chemical, emotional, mental, or soulic. Therefore, if a human's chemical, emotional, mental, or soulic condition is lowered or lessened by his response to black, white, or color he reveals a weakened or immature consciousness of power within himself. If, however, his condition is improved, strengthened, purified or harmonized, his response to the black, white, or color reveals an affinity between his Spirit and the spirit which the black, white, or color symbolizes to his consciousness. Reflect a moment on those occasions when your reaction to a particular shade of green, red, black, or combination of colors provoked a feeling of nausea, morbidity, despondency, or irritation; in that state of feeling were you aware of joy, health, harmony, peace? Your unhappy reaction revealed a lack of inner mastery over yourself--something in the power of the color-quality stimulated a corresponding quality in your astral, mental or soulic nature. Your reaction, which served to "lower your-tone," simply revealed a need for you to regenerate some factor of your inner constitution. Don't waste time and energy "blaming the color." With inner regeneration through redirection of powers your improved response-capacity will serve to reveal to you hitherto unrecognized beauty-value and power in the color. Regeneration of our consciousness always serves to reveal the Spirit to us.

   In capacity and inclination to respond with negative result to states of light, humans, as individuals, vary considerably. But there is one such state to which humanity--collectively or individually-- has reacted with much more negativism than to any other, for ages of time, and that is Black. In the cosmic sense Black is life undifferentiated and unmanifested; White is the consciousness, the Light, which makes all creation and manifestation possible. By reversal in the plane of physical perception, Black is the congestion of all Color and White is the state of color undifferentiated. Therefore, White has symbolized to the subconscious recognitions of humanity the state of purity, highest spirituality and perfect Light. Black has symbolized that which cannot be perceived in terms of its parts or factors. Since our cognitions and recognitions of phenomena depend on our ability to "differentiate things from things" we, in early evolution, congested on fear and insecurity and desperation in our reaction to the blackness (no light) of night-time. This reaction was an individual and collective experience and still is to this day for many people. As beings who have been conscious (incarnate and/or discarnate) for ages and ages of time we cannot even imagine a state of "not-being-ness" or "un-existence." Therefore as a "color" Black symbolizes those things we call "death, " "the unknown, "the congestions of extremely unregenerate conscious-ness--in short, all of those things toward which we respond with feelings of being obstructed or threatened in our progress through existence. To the degree that we align or relate ourselves to these darkened states do we intensify our incapacity and inclination to exist in terms of Life-givingness and Life-expressiveness; we deplete our consciousness of the Light of Spirit. However, "blackness" in the soul does not and cannot mean "life-stopping-ness" in any absolute sense; it simply indicates a state of congestion that, in turn, indicates an urgent need for regenerative measures. The Light is and is for us always; a human may create much painful karma by going into action on the basis of his relatedness to blackness of soul, but that karma, in turn, provides him with subsequent experience which turns the tide for his regeneration and evolvement toward new recognitions of the Light of God and the Light within himself.

   In the cosmic sense, again, White is the color- symbol of the purity of innocence--consciousness as yet undifferentiated or qualified by incarnated experience. White symbolizes the "color-identity" of Virgin Spirits before their involutionary descent as individualizations into bodies. At the other end White is the purified consciousness of the individual after completion of his evolution as a human-- his clear, pure unified realization of his true identity as a creation of the divine. At the start he was purity unaware of his pureness; at the end he will be purity realized. His inspirational response to the occult value of White in his evolving incarnated state is evidence of his Spirit's omni- presence; remember that if the human did not have within himself something that corresponds to the pure perfection of White he could not respond to it with spiritualizing results. Like attracts--and recognizes-like.

   To all students who are delving into the spiritual and esoteric meanings of astrology the suggestion is here made that you become more concentratedly and more consciously aware of the meaning to you of Black and White as "color-shades," as personal and spiritual quality-symbols, as vibratory powers which stimulate you one way or another, and as figures of speech found in poetry and allegory and legend. From the vantage-point of philosophical education and understanding become more aware than ever before how the collective subconscious mind and feeling of humanity have interpreted these two light-symbols; Black and White--and your cognitions of them--have much significance to your spiritual approach to astrology and to your evolving ability to interpret horoscopes--your own or those of other people. The symbolism of these two words is most profound. Of which--more anon.

   The spectrum-colors are light-symbols of soul- qualities. They refer to the most spiritualized consciousness of body, mind, and emotion which the human has as yet realized or can ever realize--as long as he is evolving in the identity of human being. A man of great wisdom once said that colors are the sufferings and joys in the existence of light and it is surmised that he meant that colors correspond with--or have correspondence to--the states of suffering and joy which humans experience in so far as humans can perceive light and were created by Light. We have been instructed that beyond the range of colors as we now know them there are infinite variations and extensions of light-vibration which can be perceived only through extrasensory perception on this plane or in functioning in higher dimensions of existence. But there again, we must have affinity with the conditions of soul or consciousness represented by these color-extensions before we can perceive them.

   Since the aura of a human is an individual matter- -resulting in his degree of realizing his Spirit-identity--the color--shades and color qualities which may symbolize his spiritual state at any point in his development may reveal, here and there, a darkened condition that suggests a tendency toward "blackness" in one or more of his colors corresponding, of course, to a state of relative congestion, obstruction, or "little death" in his consciousness due to accrued fear, hatred, or what not. Remember that blackness indicates the tendency toward congestion, or "chaos," in human consciousness but its presence, in aura or consciousness, is helpful in sofar as it reveals the need for regeneration. The black indication is acting as a "barometer of the soul" in a specialized way. To the degree that a person's responsiveness to pure, luminous, and potent color becomes more and more a part of his natural functioning do we see evidence of his soul-striving, his aspirational urges, his love, his unselfishness, his idealism, and his devotion to establishment of Good.

   A person's aura may reveal an area filled with a rich, intense shade of a certain color. This color-quality will reveal the evidence of considerable effort and attention having been given to a certain phase of development. Correspondingly his personality will reveal a pronounced ability along that line of endeavor, and the characteristics of mind and emotion will mark him in a very individualistic way. His "soul is strong and focused" on that particular point. But spiritual development and realization is indicated by the large soul-body, and the colors of the aura rather than being deep and intense in their shading, will tend toward the pastel quality--being "charged with White." There is a very significant and interesting correspondence to be found between the "tendency toward Whiteness "in the auras of spiritually-evolved humans and their personal inclination toward simplicity of manner and purity of integrity, motives, and purposes. Spiritualization results in simplification and so, with evolvement, the colors which represent the person's consciousness tend toward the simplification of Whiteness. However pastel a color-shade may be, in the auras of spiritually- evolved humans these lovely and delicate shades of pastel color have great vibratory potency or "impinging power." Such phrases as "drop by drop (the gentle unobtrusive action of water) wears away the stone" and "a soft answer turneth away wrath" and "forgive your enemies" are correspondences of power between the en-whitened pastel colors of the spiritualized aura and the en- spiritual-ized consciousness of a highly evolved human. Also the presence of "pastel potency" in the aura reveals the degree of integration of the person's consciousness toward all planes of his functioning--the various aspects of his being and consciousness are, in degree, unified and harmonized, one with the other.

   All of these observations regarding Black, White, and Colors have direct and practical spiritual application to the study of horoscopes. When we are ready to stop our use of misconceptions we will find that:

   The point, which should be indicated by a small round dot, at the center of the horoscope is a symbol--and the only valid one we have--of chaos, life un-differentiated, out of which all manifestation is made. That central point, applying to the horoscope of the individual human, is the Idea (Humanity) conceived by the Divine Mind of our Logos; it is from that Idea that we, as an earthian archetype, were projected into individualized experience. A circle circumscribing that central dot symbolizes our Logos as an individualized creative Consciousness and Its manifestivity as the Sun--the central body, or nucleus, of our solar system. Since man is Spirit this composite symbol of dot and circle pictures his Spiritual Essence, his Seed-atom and his Potential for perfecting all of his bodies. Then, from that central symbol the left horizontal line is emanated to form the Ascendant-line of the individual human's horoscope. If it were graphically possible and practical we would place the symbols of Sun (as ruler of Leo), Moon, and planets as well as those of the lunar nodes and Part of Fortune at the appropriate points on the circumference of the completed wheel; the circumference is, of course, the complete emanation of the Ascendant-radius. The picturing of the aspects made by the planetary points would be shown by straight lines from the central circle to the points on the radius which give the astronomical positions for that time and place. The angle made by any two of these lines indicates by numerical degree the aspect created by the two planetary points in relationship to each other. Every aspect in a horoscope-- as a "thing in itself"--has polarity in the two bodies with are so related to each other and polarity--however or wherever--is the ignition of consciousness. The person, from his center of consciousness as a human being, has evolved certain inter-relationships between the factors of his human consciousness. These are "aspects"--call them, or think of them as "view- points;" he looks out from the center of his chart (this central awareness) into the conditions of his chart, into the conditions of his environment, his relationships, his activities, his weaknesses and deficiencies, his aspirations, his ideals, and his relative fulfillments. Every one of these points on the circumference of the wheel has correspondence to a color which may appear in his aura and every aspect between the pairs of planets in his chart-pattern will correspond--basically--to a quality of his auric color, or colors. The whiteness of a human horoscope is represented not by the contents of the wheel (because the wheel-contents refer to him, or describe him, as a personality evolving the consciousness of truth), but by the whiteness in the central circle of the wheel--the central Sun-symbol. If the factors of the chart were to be indicated in color-shades, this central circle would be kept white--because it is the omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent Spirit. Black is indicated in the human horoscope only by the central dot, nowhere else--and as such it symbolizes the infinitude, the measureless and incomprehensible subjectivity of life itself, from which all creative Logoi and their manifestations are derived. Nowhere in a horoscope is "badness" (or black in the sense of absolute evil) indicated. The "viewpoints" we call "square" and "opposition" aspects are patterns indicative of tension, inharmony, ignorance, or congestion of whatever kind, but they are still registrations of the soul-body of the human; the points which make up each such aspect are divine powers as differentiated by the evolving human consciousness. Out of the Black of Chaos, the White of Creative Consciousness establishes a field of evolution and that evolutionary program is what each horoscope reveals. It is through the purification of the auric Colors (regeneration of "aspects and viewpoints") that the realization of identity with the White of Divinity is finally made.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume IX
Chapter VI
Light As Therapy

   The word therapy is derived from a Greek word meaning "healing." The verb "to heal" is derived from a Teutonic word which means, among other things, "to reconcile." "Reconcile" comes directly from the Latin root-words "re" (again) and "con" (with)--together these indicate to reunite. Therapy is thus seen to mean more than "a process of fixing up a part of the body." It means "to reunite harmoniously the affected part with the rest of the organism." All therapy serves the purpose of re-establishing the consciousness of physical, mental, psychological, or spiritual unification. Christ Jesus said, "My Father and I are ONE," "Be ye perfect even as your Father in Heaven is perfect," and "Love ye one another." In these and other similar statements is found the declaration of the unity of each with all and of all with the one--the health, harmony, and beauty of unity in diversity. If the word "health" is understood to mean the vital and harmonious functioning of the parts of the physical, emotional, and mental bodies then the consciousness of love is the health of human relationships, for it is in the consciousness of Love that the fulfillment of experience is made and relationships are the agencies of experience.

   The urge to realize or to recognize (re-cognize--to know again) unity is nowhere better illustrated than in those activities which characterize healing. If disease, malformation, and abnormality were characteristics of truth-full human being-ness, these conditions would be accepted and endured without attempts made to correct them. In fact, with such an attitude, it would never occur to anyone to try to correct them. But Man, who is of the one spirit of his Creator, seeks to realize the unity which is his true state. That unity is objectified as, or reflected in, the harmonious inter-relation of all of his parts with each other. The "search for health" is the striving, in consciousness, to recognize and realize the White Light of unity.

   There seems to be so wide a divergence, in "style," between the work of the spiritually-minded astrologer and that of the therapist. The former studies an abstract diagram on a piece of paper and the latter studies the living, breathing human body. Their respective "materials of study" are poles apart but it is of paramount importance for astrological students to realize that these two methods of human study are fraternal--the astrologer and the therapist are "spiritual brothers." Both must exercise the faculty of analysis, of symbols or of bodily parts and faculties, which is the basis of diagnostic art. Both of these "brothers" must know the individualized significance of each symbol or of each bodily part and that knowledge is distilled by focused, specialized study. In the experience of the astrologer, the concentrated exercise of intuition, through meditation, is also a most important factor. That which represents essential knowledge gained by analysis is that of the inherent perfection of the individualized part and of the significance of the relationship of the perfection of the part to the inherent perfection of the whole--horoscope or body. Thus it is seen that the work of analysis is counterparted and completed by the work of synthesis. Synthesis, in this respect, may be thought of as being that form of study by which true knowledge of microcosms--astrological factors or bodily parts--is correlated to true knowledge of the macrocosm--the entire horoscope or the entire composite of the physical, emotional, and mental bodies. Both of these forms of inquiry contain the same kind of exercise of consciousness. "Exercise of consciousness" means "using the powers of light" (as sensory perception to acquire factual knowledge through observation and study), and "using the powers of Light" (intuitive and spiritualized realization of Truth and motivations of dedicated service to human betterment and enlightenment). Health is, as one way of manifesting and identifying the unity of spirit. Healing, by whatever means--objective therapy or educational enlightenment--is an action by which consciousness of health is intensified. This, in essence, comprises the service of both the astrologer and the therapist.

   Astrology is, first and foremost, a study in symbols of the evolving consciousness of humanity. Therefore, the astrological reader who aspires to fulfill a service of therapy must acquaint himself with the subject of epigenesis. This word, derived from two Greek root-words, means "to build upon." In its occult or esoteric application, it refers to the faculty of humans to build the quality of their vehicles upon the quality of their consciousness. "As a man thinketh, so is he" depicts this faculty, which is the one creative faculty expressed by all humans from the start of their evolutionary unfoldment. From incarnation to incarnation, on the spiral of unfoldments of consciousness, human vehicles are formulated on the etheric planes, as matrices of the physical, by conditioning of the individual consciousness and karmic necessity. Since no human can use consciousness for another--in the absolute sense--this means that we, individually, determine the future quality of vehicles by present exercise of consciousness. Since we tend, subconsciously or instinctively, to identify ourselves and other people as "bodies," let us consider a horoscope as being a picture of a body: The circle may then be taken to represent the enclosure of skin, the "outside of the physical body;" the planetary points are the vital organs, centers of perception, and all other bodily contents. All human bodies are dense expressions of one structural plan or idea and though a human may appear at birth to be without some factor of sense-perception or organic structure and function, it is important to recognize that all human horoscopes have the same number and kind of symbolic factors. Lacking a bodily member or sense-organ throughout an entire incarnation does not deprive any human from his full quotient of horoscopical factors.

   Correspondingly, if, during the course of the incarnation, the person experiences a severance of a bodily part or cessation of a sense-perception, his horoscope still remains entire--he does not have a planet or sign taken away. This means that, as a living and functioning human, his potentials remain intact. Vehicular deficiency from birth or through incident during the incarnation outpictures a temporary obscuration of consciousness, in a specialized way, of potentials. To experience chronic or incidental physical lack is the karmic result of having expressed consciousness in some way in the past that contributed to another's lack, or limitation. In so doing, the perpetrator of the act identified himself with obscuration with the inevitable result that he, fully to explore that factor, must experience the obscuration in incarnated experience. If the will to survive and develop is sufficiently strong, the person will make intensified effort to compensate for the bodily deficiency; the evolved soul will seek to understand the causation of his deficiency in addition to his efforts to perpetuate physical survival. It is the latter type of humans for whom the astrologer may most satisfactorily act as a therapist because in the study of the horoscope as a registration of consciousness he may help the afflicted person to understand how he may regenerate his patterns of consciousness, mind, and emotion.

   The path of "astro-therapy" is probably the longest path that can be walked by an astrologer because every step taken on it must first be realized in the astrologer's own consciousness. As "beauty is in the eye of the beholder," so the ideality of health must be established, degree on degree, in the mind, emotion, and awareness of the astrological interpreter. The astrologer who, through whatever fixity or congestion of attitude, is unwilling to undertake programs of internal regeneration might just as well direct his energies and attention to some other branch of the subject because he will be stopped on this path almost as soon as he is started. The desire to help another to realize more health (unfold a greater realization of health- full being) can be fulfilled only to the degree that the astrologer charges his own consciousness with more health-full-ness in the form of experienced regeneration and the subsequent realizations of spiritual truths conveyed by the symbolism of the horoscope which he studies. The proof of his desire is attested in the degree with which he seeks more clearly to understand the causations behind the "unhealthy evidences" in his own chart. If he cannot "face his own karmic causations," how can he possibly perceive those of another person? The will to truth is the basic Light which must be turned on his own chart; with that application, in sincere motivation and idealism, he qualifies to help others. Technical material on astro- diagnosis--the correlation of symbols with bodily parts and conditions--must be learned first. Astro-therapy starts when the astrologer teaches the client how he must start using his consciousness in specialized regenerative ways to decrystallize and transmute the "obscurations" shown in the chart. The astrologer, for himself or for another person, uses astro-therapy when he starts to realize the following, which are offered as a few basic suggestions:

   THE SUN: realization that the consciousness of power must be attended by right use and application of Power; Power is for good use, not for egotistical gratification; the urge to survive is not a competitive fight with other humans--it is the aspiration to realize life's unity and eternity; the Sun symbolizes the consciousness of health through self-mastery.

   THE MOON: realize the significance and importance of the mechanism of the instinctual mind as the store-house of memories from past lives; fears, tensions, and hatreds stimulated by reaction to domestic, parental, national, and racial relationships may be harmonized and transmuted by (1) clearer understanding of the laws of karmic magnetic attraction and (2) stopping the expression of fears and tensions in those relationships and substituting more co-operative, constructive, loving, friendly and wisely appreciative attitudes.

   MERCURY: stop using the (great) power of the spoken and written word as a vehicle for expressing destructive criticism, malice, untruth, and prejudice; start using the transmuted powers of clear, unbiased thinking to evaluate more truthfully, to express encouragement and constructive judgment, to open the mind in willingness to learn and to consider helpful suggestions; respond with enthusiasm and joy to opportunities to learn and to understand; it is your prerogative to train your mind in any way you desire and to use it to realize truths; it is also your right to know that only you can put your consciousness--with its darkness or its light--into words, and if you desire to realize a higher degree of mental health you can do so by using the power of the word to express that which is true and loving.

   VENUS: you do not have to be indolent, lazy, and negatively passive; you have resources of energy for use and you can learn to express those energies in ways that make life more beautiful and inspiring; you can develop your sense of the beautiful by disciplining your emotional responses in such a way that your expressions of consciousness contribute to the harmonization of your relationships with other humans; you can become more co-operative with, and appreciative of, other people and will automatically yearn to do so when you let your consciousness become more aware of the good and the beauty which they represent.

   MARS: When the energy represented by this symbol is used to add potency and effectiveness to constructive and regenerative endeavors, cruelty, malice, fearful retaliations, and other such impulses are diminished; the physical organism retains its magnetic and vital qualities through constructively motivated conservation and with such internal discipline, the realizations of capacities, self-confidence, and worth-while goals are unfolded.

   SATURN: the tendencies toward crystallization and devitalization are counteracted when the consciousness of joyous and loving fulfillment of legitimate responsibilities takes the place of the attitude of burdensomeness. In the individual horoscope, Saturn indicates--by its position and aspects--a point of much-needed balancing through additional fulfillment; the unbalance implied has its resource in neglect and unfulfillment of a past life in that particular department of experience. The therapeutic value of Saturn lies in the consciousness of the immutable justice of spiritual and evolutionary law; guilt and remorse complexes, with their corresponding corrosive and crystallizing effects on the body, can be released through recognition that now is the time to do what is right, and in so doing the karmic obligation is fulfilled in the consciousness of healthy and reasonable attitudes.

   JUPITER: like that of Mars, this stands for a type of energy that needs control and discipline; in its negative implications it is the symbol of greed and false compensation; sincerity of motive, word, and deed is the spiritualization of consciousness represented by Jupiter because the power of the sincere mind and heart is the counteractive to internal falseness which prompts the development of greeds and distorted compensations. Jupiter symbolizes man's realization of truth and aspiration to unfold true judgments. In consciousness, the nobility of true sincerity must supplant the illusionary nobility of false pretense, aggrandizement, and affluence.

   NEPTUNE AND URANUS: the symbols of super-sensory perceptions and of transcendent areas of consciousness; Neptune is the spiritual power of faith, Uranus is that of impersonal love; Neptune is the power to visualize internally and to idealize--the person who has faith in the existence of health can visualize it for himself. Uranus is the urge to liberation and he who would free himself from constricting conditions must contribute lovingly to the liberation of others. Use these interpretations as "food for thought" and know that they are only a few examples that illustrate the "therapy of human consciousness by the power of Light."

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume IX
Chapter VII
Light As Communication

   From an esoteric standpoint, as we usually use the word, "communicate" means a process by which knowledge or information is transmitted from one mind to another. However, a study and synthesis of its derivative roots reveals its esoteric meaning which makes it possible for us more truthfully to understand the real significance and right use of this function of sensory, intellectual, and spiritual transmission. Its direct derivation is from the Latin word communicare which means to share. In it are found two basic root-words: "com" referring to "with" or "together," and "un" referring to "one-ness" or "unity." Thus we see that "communication" is a means by which diversity of minds and consciousness are, in degree, unified through the process of sharing. This sharing is a polarized process: the positive pole is revealed in actions of radiation, expressing, informing, telling, writing, projective telepathy, and inspirational projection; the negative pole is revealed in actions of perception, reaction to vibratory stimuli, all sense-perception, learning, understanding, and realization. All that is established in divine mind can be transmitted to--or shared with--diversified, individualized mind or consciousness. The over-all evolutionary goal is the realized unity of diversified minds with the One Mind of our Creator.

   Before undertaking a consideration of the occult, karmic, and evolutionary significances of communication between humans, we must first consider the basic or primordial or absolute communication between Divine Consciousness and human consciousness--the "creative sharing of Light." Divine Mind makes Itself known to us--"speaks to us"--by manifesting Itself as infinitely varying states of objectified vibration--the natural, physical world. It has also creatively provided us with centers and organs of sense-perception in the development and exercise of which we may learn of our source by observation of manifestation. Through sight, we perceive and know God's manifestation as color; through hearing, we perceive and know God's manifestation as tone; through touch, we perceive and know God's manifestation as texture and density; through taste, we perceive and know God's manifestation as chemical mixture; through smell, we perceive and know God's manifestation as invisible and silent chemical emanation or radiation. Extended, "transcendental" forms of sense-perception are included in clairvoyance, intuition, clairaudience, claircognition, telepathy, and inspiration. By these faculties, Man's internal apperceptions are revealed in realms that transcend the "limitations of Time-Space." All of these sensory and super-sensory faculties and powers make possible the many variations of communicative action and rapport between the Divine and Its sub-human, human, and super-human microcosms as well as between humans amongst each other and their sub-human and super-human "brothers and sisters." He who knows more (has evolved more conscious-ness) shares with him who knows less (is less evolved in consciousness and knowledge); he who knows less (is less evolved in consciousness and knowledge) receives from, and learns from, him who knows more and is more evolved in consciousness. The magnetic attraction of relative differences in consciousness and similarity of cosmic urge to realize unity is the communicative relationship between all living things. Communication is fraternity in action; Truth-full, constructive, and serviceable communication is fraternal love in action. Now, to astrology:

   Before a human can express to another mind in a communicative way, he must go through a "process inside himself" by which he formulates that which he desires to convey. In a subtle but imperishable way, this formulation is an inter-action of the subconscious mind with the conscious perceptions. Before any fact or realization can be conveyed, it has first to be learned and the particular faculty for learning was exercised prior to the present moment. It is the subconscious mind--symbolized astrologically by the Moon-which acts as the storehouse of memories--which are residual impressions established by past exercises of consciousness. It is the conscious mind--symbolized astrologically by Mercury--which cognizes and expresses according to the present need. By the adhesive, retentive quality of the subconscious mind, Man remains linked to that which he has been and has expressed in the past and his cognitions and interpretations of his present are established on what he recalls as memory or feeling-memory of his past. Therefore, we see that an individual always communicates within himself before he transmits or expresses his consciousness to another. A simple example: someone asks you what time it is--he needs that factor of information; before you can answer him, you have to "receive communication--by visual means--from what your watch tells you." Formulating a cognition, you are then able to transmit that fact as a communicative action to the other person. But, even before that, you had to learn how to read a watch to tell time; your subconscious mind retained memory of your having learned to read the watch from some time in the past. So--you "drew on your past" to fulfill the present communicative need for your friend. And so it goes, eternally: the past is the "pabulum" upon which the present draws to build the future. In the individual horoscope, the correlation of Moon and Mercury shows the alchemical "mixture" of feeling-memory, established by exercises of consciousness in the past, with perception by sense and intellect being exercised by the consciousness in the present. Also, the correlation of Moon-Mercury with Jupiter shows the alchemical process by which the individual is distilling apperception of truth--a cognition of fact which is above, and cleared from, all personal subconscious biases of interpretation by pain, pleasure, prejudice, antipathy, or favoritism. The correlation of Moon-Mercury with Uranus shows the alchemical evolution of such faculties as intuition and prevision; with Neptune, it shows the "gestation" of clairvoyant and clairaudient faculties (the evidence of things unseen and unheard) as well as the evolutionary establishment of the power of faith and the power to communicate by prayer.

   The foregoing must be understood to be a general basic survey of the nature of communication. Now, for practical astro-psychological purposes, we will concentrate on the basic arch-symbol of communication and communicative faculty--the planet Mercury, ruler of Gemini and Virgo.

   Create a copy of the "Gemini mandala:" the zodiacal sequence placed around a circle with Gemini as Ascendant-sign. Note that Taurus-Scorpio, the diameter of desire-power and generative power, forms the diameter of the twelfth and sixth cusps. Taurus refers to the throat-center, the mechanism by which vocal creatures create tone; remember that everything which we hear is perceived as an aspect of tonal vibration. Scorpio refers to that faculty for generating, or "evoking," material for another physical body. Through Taurus, we generate or "evoke" tonal material for the embodiment, the perceptible manifestation, of ideas, thoughts, feelings, emotions, knowledge, understanding, and realization; on the plane of physical sense-perception it is the power and faculty to generate tone that "overshadows" (twelfth house relationship to Ascendant) all communicative action. It is the Mercury-power to formulate tones as spoken words or sung words by the interaction of breath from the lungs and the mobility of tongue and lips; it is also the Mercury-power to use the hands to write and draw symbolic picture-imitations of the spoken word as written words or diagrams, and of tones as musical notation. In the Gemini mandala the Moon- sign, Cancer, is on the second cusp. Herein is seen that Man's consciousness of nationality "stewards" the evolution of his faculty to express and communicate by language. crystallized adherence to one nationality provokes limited knowledge and use of systematized language-- such a person can communicate, in speech and writing (or reading) only with those who know his particular language. But on the plane of present use of the intellect, that adherence can be decrystallized by the learning of another language, or of other languages. By such decrystallizing extension, the person can communicate with a correspondingly greater number of people, his "field of human rapport" is enlarged, his appreciation of the thought and way-of-life of others is deepened and, consequently, on the plane of spiritual recognitions he finds himself experiencing a greater degree of at-one- ment with other humans. The differences of languages provide communicative barriers only to those who do not step out of the crystallizing adherences to one language; to those who do "step out," the barriers disintegrate in degree. In this we see, again, a concrete illustration of the fact that communication is fraternity expressed; to the degree that more and more means of communication are learned will the spiritualization of fraternal rapport and sympathy be realized, enjoyed, and expressed.

   In this age which witnesses the appearance of radio, television, supersonic aircraft, and all such mechanisms by which the limitations of time-space are being scientifically transcended, a parallel is seen in the field of human spiritual endeavors. Many people, of all nations around the world, are also seeking to explore the causations of impediments in individual human functioning. These are people who are giving a powerful regenerative impetus to human evolution by dedicated service to humane measures, redeeming much negative karma built in their individual past lives and devoting themselves to "helping other people to help themselves" out of states of karmic abnormality, subnormality, and deflection from normal healthy functions. In keeping with this subject of communication, it is hoped that the following observations will serve to further a deeper "inner" understanding of the karmic causations which undermine communicative faculties in the human body; the first point to be considered is epigenesis:

   Epigenesis refers to the faculty of the human to build the quality of his vehicle in correspondence to the quality and states of his consciousness. ("Epi-gene-sis" comes from two root-words which mean "to build upon.") It is the one creative faculty possessed and--unconsciously or consciously--exercised by all humans from the dawn of their evolutionary procedure as humans. By epigenesis, Man reveals his creative likeness to his own Creator; it is the "root" which underlies the flowering, in ages to come, of his true creative activity as God-consciousness. The principle, or law, of cause and effect operating on the faculty of epigenesis in humans explains all conditioned quality of physical, emotional, and mental manifestation in the human vehicle--congested, deflected, crippled, or harmonized, potent, and efficient. In the present consideration of communicative faculty and purpose, we find that the Gemini mandala has much to tell us about the karmic causation of speech defects and impediments which register in the bodies of humans at birth or which "appear" during the incarnation as a result of a congested vibratory potential being stimulated by the action of timing. Such conditions as congenital muteness, cleft palate, abnormally thick tongue, stuttering and stammering, traumatic conditions which injure the vocal mechanism, tongue or lips, etc., are the principal ones which outwardly reveal that the afflicted persons caused communication to be impeded in the past. The subconscious retained memory of the destructive or congestive action influences, and the present physical body reproduces, by epigenesis, the negative potential as "karmic return" so that the person may explore the negative aspect of consciousness from "the other side of the fence" and so learn a little more about the truths of communicative faculty and their right usage for future development and evolution. Many, many kinds of action and influence in the past may cause communicative defect in the present life, but the Gemini mandala gives us the basic occult clues to the causation of most of these defective conditions--and painful experiences:

   The position of the Taurus-Scorpio diameter, coinciding as it does with the cusps of the twelfth and sixth houses, is the first point to consider. This is the diameter of consciousness of power as "desire" or, to put it another way, the individualized consciousness of desire. Keeping in mind that desire is a potency of consciousness that can range, in quality, from the most inhumane lusts, greeds and retaliations to the most sublime forms of spiritualized aspirations, we realize that the right use of this potency--as shown in this mandala-- is a form of contributive service (Scorpio on cusp of sixth house) and a builder of the consciousness of health. One such example is the expression of mutual love through exercise of the sexual mechanism; another is the disciplined conservation of vital and magnetic energies for use in constructive endeavors and work. So much for Scorpio at the sixth cusp; its higher polarization in the physical is the opposite sign Taurus, at the twelfth cusp of this mandala, which is the symbol of the creativity of tones released through the spoken word--the audible embodiment of feelings, thoughts, ideas, opinions, and realizations.

   Think about this: one small word--a "yes" or a "no"--spoken in a certain tone of voice, communicating to another a specific decision or feeling or realization or recognition, can change the course of a human life if the person to whom the communication is made reacts to what he hears in the word. One small word, pronounced as a judgment to affect another's life or destiny, may be spoken in such a way that the subconscious mind of the speaker "grasps and holds" an impression of malice or destructiveness to so strong a degree that the karmic return from that expression may objectify in painful experience several lives later. Through fear a needed word may be withheld; the power inherent in the unspoken word will be retained as a potential for blockage at a later time; the content of pain attending the needed subsequent decrystallization will be proportionate to the good that could have resulted if the original good word had been spoken.

   In order to unfold realizations or cognitions of karmic causes to communication difficulties or impediments, we have to be willing to elasticize our viewpoint and recognize that causation of these effects, manifested in the present by epigenesis, may have been long established in the sufferer's subconscious. To use the creative power of the spoken word to give channeling to forces of destructive and untruthful consciousness is to insure future experience with communicative impediment. In much repetition of extreme forms, the mental vehicle is disintegrated to a degree and in such wise that conditions identified as "imbecility" and "idiocy" result as karmic return, especially when deliberate cruelty has been the original emotional motivation. The present experience of many such sufferers is being helped by the power of love expressed in the care and consideration given by those who are seeking to assist them--and this love is also a karmic return, established from actions of good intent and kindliness in the past. So, in these times, we see--by observation of the fact that humans are seeking to help and rehabilitate even the most tragic cases of darkness, impediment, and relative disintegration--that the only barriers to communication are those which man himself sets up; the Creator has endowed us with potentials of mind and spirit and faculty to insure our eventual communicativeness with all planes of life. In the universal or absolute sense, there are no barriers to communication. All individualized minds function under law and by releasement and refinement of potentials within the inclusive scope of the one mind--which is the one light, the one consciousness--the ever-unfolding lines of communication of "each with all and of all with the One" are perpetually and perfectly held. By the right usages of our Mercury-factors, we reproduce the ever-open-ness of our lines of communication with fellow-humans on this plane.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume IX
Chapter VIII
Light As Affluence

   The word "affluence" is derived from two Latin words: "ad," meaning "to" or "toward," and "fluere" meaning "to flow." We usually use it to refer to conditions that are characterized by abundance, bountifulness, plentifulness of supply and wealth, but a consideration of the derivation of the word gives us the clue to its esoteric meaning. It is basically not a description of conditions but a quality of consciousness by which abundance is realized and manifested. In other words, the human consciousness--the "light by which a human perceives Light"--contains a potential of functioning "affluently" so that, correspondingly, conditions of abundance may flow toward and into human environments and affairs. As the desire to realize health is one of humanity's many endeavors to perceive Light, so is the desire to realize affluence; it is important to consider how a human being can generate the kind of consciousness that makes abundance evident in his life.

   If the consciousness of "hunger" is indicative of deeply-felt need, then "poverty" is a combination of that need with a conviction that the need can not, will not, or must not be fulfilled. Poverty is the opposite of affluence--it represents a "cut off" condition of consciousness that is represented outwardly by deficiency or relative lack of essential or desired things. We do not feel "poor" in not having something to which we feel indifferent; to "feel poor" is to feel deprived of that for which we have a strong feeling of desire or requirement. The poverty-complex is a form of mind-pattern, of congested quality, by which a human deprives himself of the realizations of affluence; this deprivation is a conviction of lack which characterizes his living generally or manifests in some specific factor or area of his life. The poverty-complex is always a karmic return from abuses or misuses of means and opportunities in past lives. It is essentially constructed on residual fear or guilt brought over--as reaction in the subconscious--from past actions characterized by wastefulness, destructiveness, dishonesty, or dishonor. By wastefulness we undermine our consciousness of right use; by destructiveness we set up a power of repulsion in the subconscious which "negates" our desire to attract that which we now want or require; by dishonesty or dishonor we deprive others of what is rightfully theirs and the subconscious residue, now registering as the poverty-complex, is the enervating and "lifeless" essence of fear and guilt. Whether of short or long duration, the "feeling of poverty" is always an indication, delivered up to the conscious mind by reaction from the subconscious, that a drastic revision of consciousness is required. That revision must be established in the subconscious mind before the improved conditions will appear in outer affairs. In other words, the person's feeling about life and himself must be changed by a process of "openingness" so that he, by expression of his consciousness, can "flow more freely into life" and so that the manifestations of life's abundance can "flow more freely into his affairs." Water is perhaps the most perfect symbol of the principle of life's affluence; remember that it must be released from its states of suspension as cloud, snow, and ice before it can life-givingly flow forth as rivers. It is the power of warmth that releases the water-potentials from their static state as ice and snow; correspondingly, some form of spiritual warmth must be established in the human's subconscious as a means of revitalizing his outlook on himself and his conditions. How is this renewing establishment made? Let us consider what the Great Astrological Mandala (the twelve-housed circle surrounded by the zodiacal belt with Aries as Ascendant-sign) has to tell us:

   Look first at the two signs which focalize the two arms of the vertical diameter: Cancer, cardinal water, is at the lower end; Capricorn, cardinal earth, is at the upper end; the total vertical line is the line of generation or parentage. The Moon, ruler of Cancer, is the archetypal mother-symbol; Saturn, ruler of Capricorn, is the archetypal father-symbol. Esoterically, these two signs, and the line which they form as "emanation" from the center of the wheel, refer to the attribute of a human being to generate his own destiny by the way he exercises his consciousness, from incarnation to incarnation. Man qualifies the evolutionary line of his existence by what he establishes in his subconscious mind (Cancer) and by the ways in which he outpictures these establishments (Capricorn). By his participation in the creative power of thought, each human is the mother and father of the quality of his own evolutionary line. By his powers of reaction in feeling, he is made aware of what he has established in his subconscious mind; by his powers of expression (thought, word, and >deed), he gives embodiment to that which he has established in his subconscious realms. The "conviction of poverty" is a "darkness in the subconscious"---it means that the person, in the past, has identified himself with deprivation by some kind of action representing misuse and/or abuse of opportunities and means. In short, by his defaults in these matters, he "parented" the present condition or situation which he "identities as poverty." Poverty is not a reality of life, it is an individual interpretation of conditions based karmic reaction. Think a moment: Is life "poverty-stricken?" Is our planet "poverty- stricken"? Does every human have the same kind of poverty-complex as every other human? Does everyone have to suffer from the poverty- complex eternally? The answer to all of these inquiries is no. Let us now consider a very important and interesting esoteric astrological clue to the means by which the poverty-complex may be decrystallized so that the locked-up energies may be released affluent-ly:

   This clue is found in the planetary exaltations--soulic powers of spiritual apperception distilled from conscious regeneration in past lives--as they are pictured in the Great Astrological Mandala: Jupiter, ruler of Sagittarius, exalted in Cancer; Moon, ruler of Cancer, exalted in Taurus; Venus, the principle of Equilibrium- through-exchange, rules Taurus and Libra; Saturn, ruler of Capricorn, exalted in Libra; Mars, ruler of Aries, exalted in Capricorn. First, Jupiter exalted in Cancer, as the apperception of the power of "givingness:"

   If we desire to overcome a poverty-complex we have to signify our sincerity on that point by doing something of an affluent nature to manifest the desired condition in human experience. That form of expression is what we call "giving." The statement "it is more blessed to give than to receive" is much more than an "old saw." It contains a profound metaphysical and occult directive: the act of giving is a blessing to the subconscious mind of the one who gives. If you are convinced, in your congested subconscious, that a desired or required state is "not for you" but you do something to make possible another person's realization of that thing, you take the first and most important step in decrystallizing your own poverty-complex. If your poverty-complex were "total," you would not even think of trying to make that particular thing evident to another person. The fact that you do give of that thing impresses the subconscious mind that you are aware of the thing's availability. With that action, performed in sincere helpfulness of motive, you begin to release the locked-up subconscious energies because giving is affluence in action. You have thereby opened yourself to the possibilities of realizing the desired or required thing in your own affairs and environment. Consequently, the result is that you have established more light in your subconscious mind and that establishment, from then on, becomes a magnet to attract those things consistent with your desire or requirement. With the en-lightened feeling, resulting from the "loosening" provided by your out-giving action and more out-giving consciousness, the exaltation of Mars in Capricorn makes you more aware of what you must do, as personal discipline and development, to make that improved establishment a "permanent fixture" of your soul-consciousness. In other words the new opening-up leads you onto a new path of spiritualizing endeavor which has as its goal the integrated establishment, for permanent use, of the new spiritual realization. One act of sincere and helpful giving-ness starts the affluent process; but exalted Mars--persistent constructive effort--has to be applied so that the poverty-complex of many years' standing may be completely dissolved and the energies pertaining to it may be completely translated into consciousness of Light. That means that more self-honesty may have to be realized; courage and self-confidence may have to be developed; more consistent and thorough application may have to be applied to current conditions and endeavors; all tendencies or inclinations to hold others--mentally, emotionally, or physically--in any kind of undue bondage may have to be relinquished. Remember, you want freedom from your poverty-complex so you must give others the gift of freedom; in order to do that you may have to let go of certain kinds of fear but fearlessness is, itself, an attribute of affluence. How could water flow if it were afraid of moving, or if ice and snow were afraid to melt? We have to be willing to melt and dissolve the secret congestions if we are to realize the consciousness--and evidences--of affluence. The powers of Truth, Courage, Faith, Love, Joy, and Freedom are the "thermal qualities" by which the Spirit melts the paralyzing constrictions established by the "personal ego" in its expression of unregenerate interpretations.

   If financial abundance is your desired and/or required symbol of affluence, then the two points which are exalted in Venus-signs give us some clues. The person who exercises disorganized and chaotic stewardship of present materials--no matter how much money he has- -is operating away from affluence because this kind of functioning is concrete evidence of weaknesses at work. The Moon's exaltation in Taurus--the second house sign--might be said to convey the keyword: I establish affluence by right stewardship--now. In the home, in business establishments, in professional activities, or commercial matters, humans cannot establish disorder in patterns of financial exchange and expect to continue to register affluence. We impose burdens on others if we perpetrate disorder in our affairs and, sooner or later, we have to rectify the unbalance. The sign Taurus is polarized by the fixed water-sign Scorpio which refers to consciousness of sex. It has become an established fact, through psychological and metaphysical inquiry, that the consciousness of money is counterparted by the consciousness of sex. Both are aspects of desire for maintenance and perpetuation. It has been determined that congestions in the attitudes toward sex and/or money have a retroactive effect on the opposite. In these days of "evolutionary speeding up," humans are given the opportunities to resolve much karma from many past lives and sex and money have been the desires which have prompted much negative expression in our past experiences.

   Consider this in the light of the programs of heavy taxation we are now dealing with. Also, in the light of what is being revealed in these times regarding the sexual aspects of human nature--the karmic conditions of the generative consciousness which are being revealed in so many complex forms. Therefore, a man's "poverty-laden consciousness of money" could well be found to have its roots in psychogenetic conditions of a constrictive kind and these conditions all require more charging by the consciousness of love and/or good will toward other humans. Saturn, ruler of Capricorn, is exalted in Libra, the seventh house-sign of the Great Mandala. This is the insignia, in a simple astrological way, of the Golden Rule--the perfect fulfillment of experience through harmonized consciousness of human relationship and the consciousness of spiritual justice which that form of realization includes. Affluence is the provide-ance of Life for our sustainment. That "providance" is already established for our use but if anything in our consciousness seeks to deprive another of what is his rightful fulfillment, then we cut off our recognition of Life's affluence; we limit our expression of affluence; and poverty sets in.

   The traditional symbol of the Sun--the point circumscribed by a circle--may well be taken, for this consideration, as the symbol of all affluent potentials, the symbol of Life's entire provide-ance. From what it represents, all things necessary for our evolution are emanated--just as everything pictured in a horoscope is "emanated" from the central point. The Sun, as ruler of the fire-sign Leo, may then be taken as the symbol of the affluence of spiritual light--all Love, all Wisdom, all Truth, all Beauty, all Ideation which humans can realize and, as well, all material representations which we interpret from spiritualized consciousness. Power in all possible degrees is represented by the Sun and, thus, it represents every possible degree of power which a human may realize. Power is--it is part of our "life-job" to unfold recognition of it in ourselves.

   Since poverty is an illusion created by the relatively unevolved human consciousness, it is not strictly true, from a philosophical standpoint, that "Saturn is the symbol of poverty." Such an interpretation does Saturn an injustice. Saturn speaks to us, through our fears and guilts, of the unfulfilled areas of our experience; when these areas are fulfilled, security is established in consciousness and consequently that form of inner ease which generates affluence is brought about. Also, the square aspects in the individual chart represent areas of inner tension and each of these can be interpreted as a "poverty-potential." Alchemical regeneration by expressing the spiritual attributes of the planetary points involved will "melt the ice" of the inner congestion. The person who suffers from a sense of "poverty of education" must first heal his subconscious mind by re-charging it with a strong desire to learn; the desire to learn is the desire to experience affluence on the mental plane and this form of affluence can only be experienced when the mind is allowed to open. Tendencies to prejudice, dogmatism, opinionatedness, and mental tyranny must be loosened and the humility of a true learner must be established in the subconscious. If schooling, per se, is not available then the true learner will open his mind to the awareness of other channels of study and learning: libraries, bookstores, public lectures are abundantly available for all in these times. If specific schooling is the desired thing, then the person will have to indicate his sincere desire by being willing to organize his life and affairs for the realization of the goal. People can learn much by the inexpensive method of becoming more perceptive of the world around them.

   The poverty of love, friendship, and companionship is, perhaps, the most tragic of all karmic congestive evidences. People who suffer from these deprivations might well give attention to the fact that love and friendship are states of consciousness-- establishing them in consciousness makes possible the affluent expression of them and the affluent realization of them in relationships. It is also important to recognize that many people who deeply yearn for relationship-joys and companionship-fulfillments are not friendly with themselves, however devoted they may possibly be to others. Respect and appreciation for one's self, as an expression of Divine Life, and one's potentials for revealing that which is good and beautiful, may have to be established in place of self-contempts, inferiority-feelings, and the like. Lack of harmony in such relationship-patterns as those with a parent or fraternal relative may have to be transformed by expanding the relationship consciousness in more universal ways. But, always, we should remember that the will to truthful understanding of others may--and can--unlock the tight areas of any human relationship. We must be affluent in our good will toward others if we would realize affluence in our experience.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume IX
Chapter IX
Astro-Philosophy Discusses Hospital Experience

   We humans are inclined to identify things in terms of the feelings we have experienced in contact, or relationship, with them. "Pain, suffering, trouble, and sorrow" are the associations we tend to make when "hospital" is brought to our attention. With such associations in mind and feeling, emphasized through the years, it is no wonder that anxiety, fear, and terror rise up in us when hospital-experience becomes imminent. We recognize and admit, from the evidence of our conditions, that we need help; we desperately want release from the inharmony and discomfort of disease and injury; but, in our limited comprehension of "hospital-truth," we tend to intensify our difficulty. We become so preoccupied with pain and fear that we anesthetize our consciousness of health and our faith in the availability of healing powers. It is true that people can release themselves from physical, emotional, and mental inharmony by an internal action, a switch in consciousness from congestion-on-inharmony to realization-of-health. These persons give living proof that healing is internal. The primordial, instinctive will-to-live is the basic healing agency for even those persons who are not aware of a conscious faith in recovery. However, the conscious intensifying of the awareness of health and healing not only hastens the correction of the particular condition but re-establishes health on all planes of functioning. All of these forms of service which might be called the "paths of healing" are, in truth, means by which humans assist other humans to diminish fear and hopelessness and to intensify their recognitions of the nature of well-being. Pisces, the twelfth house-sign of the Great Mandala, is the key.

   There are two astrological mandalas, extracts from the Great Astrological Mandala (twelve-housed wheel, Aries as Ascendant-sign, thirty degrees of each zodiacal sign corresponding to each house), which may be studied in consideration of why humans have hospital-experience. The first one depicts the evolutionary causes. This is drawn by indicating the symbols of the mutable signs at the cusps of the ninth, sixth, third, and twelfth houses, the symbol for Sagittarius at the ninth cusp drawn larger than the other three, and all four cusps connected by a sequence of straight lines and the two intersecting diameters. This drawing results in the mutable square and its internal complementary lines of force. The drawing of the square should start at the Sagittarius cusp because this sign is the "fire-sign representative" of the mutable cross; as such, it symbolizes the apperception of truth. The fourth sign in clockwise sequence from Sagittarius is Pisces, representing the water-element, and the subject of this discourse. A more condensed representation of this sequence will be seen in a vertical line of the four mutable signs with Sagittarius at the bottom, Virgo next above, Gemini next above, and Pisces at the top; a vertical line at the side, with the arrow-head at the top next to Pisces will show how (because this is a "square-mandala") "default in Sagittarius leads to negative Pisces conditions;" in other words, lack of apperception of truth leads to twelfth house, Pisces, karmic condition. In terms of "square and opposition aspect-interpretation," this mandala reveals that hospitals are places of limitation, constriction, and entombment only to the consciousness which refuses the opportunities to recognize Truth; the conditions which make hospitalization necessary are always the results of having expressed un-truth in the past. But, Truth is an attribute of eternal Being; it is always available, always serviceable, and omnipotent to help. Therefore, the karmic necessity which we call "hospital- experience" can be regarded as an opportunity to perceive truth-of-being in greater degree than ever before.

   If, in this mandala of the mutable square, Sagittarius represents past default on cognition and expression of Truth, then Pisces--at the top of the sequence--represents the outpicturing of that default in terms of necessity to make atonement. We make atonement by a process of refocalization of consciousness and the externalizing of this refocalization is the slowed-down experience of being incarcerated in the hospital. A hospital is a place of limitation, incarceration, sorrow, pain, and trouble only to a person who refuses to expand his consciousness of himself in relation to his experience. To a person who truly seeks truth, the hospital is a place of opportunity for re-newal. Pain-experience focalizes the great internal query of "Why?" When a person's "why?" is sincere, Truth always and inevitably recharges his consciousness and clarifies the meaning of the experience. Self-pity, unreasonable worry, and bitterness keep the person aligned to the "mutable square"--and all of its implications. The sincere desire to realize health inspires the suffering person to seek the truthful understanding of the causes of his condition.

   One person's hospital-experience also provides similar opportunity to each of his loved ones who are thus given the opportunity to expand and impersonalize on the emotional and mental planes. In unthought-ful pity we emphasize the painful elements of our loved one's experience because our attention is on the pain-ful outer aspect, not on the truthful significance of the experience as an indication of opportunity for growth, harmonization, and realization. Sagittarius, as the "root" of this representation of the mutable square, states that there is an understanding of principle to be perceived in the experience; when the opportunity is resisted and resented, the incarceration-in-difficulty intensifies; when it is accepted with a dissolution of self-pity and self-justification, the inpouring of Truth not only clarifies consciousness but it also strengthens faith and deepens the capacity for pure sympathy. One then comes into clearer and more truthful understanding of the difficulties of others, and the powers of right helpfulness are expanded and re-enforced.

   The path of humanity's evolution is traversed by two principal "modes." One is the mode of mysticism; this is the "Heart Path" of sympathy, inspiration, instrumentation, impersonal devotion, prayer, and dedication. It is basically symbolized by Pisces as ruler-ship sign of Neptune and exaltation-sign of Venus. The other is the mode of occultism, the radiative power and mind Path. It identifies the path of scientists, inventors, creative artists, magicians, and alchemists. All humans who serve through healing activities incline, basically, to one or the other of these modes, but both modes are essential for the identification of a Master Healer.

   The mystic path of healing-activity is well illustrated by such persons as Bernadette Soubirous, through whose inspired instrumentation the Grotto of Lourdes was established; Father Flanagan, who established Boys' Town, and all persons who pray for humanity's healing also illustrate the mystic mode. Research scientists, inventors, administrators, surgeons, and dentists illustrate the occultist mode. Florence Nightingale, primarily an example of the occultist mode, was a wonderful example of the combination of both modes.

   In the type of healer who most closely is associated with the correction of the patient's illness will be found an important clue as to the karma cause of the illness. The healer stands as a personalized representative of an expansion of consciousness which the patient needs to make--truly to correct the cause of his illness. The skill of a surgeon (occultist) may correct the external aspect of the condition, but the devoted and loving tenderness of the nurse (mystic) may be the power which most completely inspires the patient with renewal of his consciousness of the truth of health; a nurse who is careless, indifferent, and without sympathy may discourage the patient and increase his preoccupation with his trouble. His surgeon, however, may inspire him by his command of knowledge and skill, and this form of inspiration may stimulate in the patient a deeper- than-ever desire to know the truth of his condition. It is sincerely felt by the author that the healer-as-occultist is basically symbolized by Neptune being exalted in Leo, the Sun's sign and arch-symbol of power.

   The second mandala of hospital-experience is the water-trine mandala: an equilateral triangle formed by straight line connecting the cusps of the twelfth, eighth, and fourth houses; the symbols for Pisces, Scorpio, and Cancer appropriately placed; the symbol for Pisces drawn larger than the other two sign-symbols, and the symbol for Neptune placed in the twelfth house. Prepare three of these. In the first, indicate the diameter Pisces-Virgo; in the second, indicate the diameter Scorpio-Taurus; in the third indicate the diameter Cancer- Capricorn. These mandalas illustrate the fullness of the significance of each of the water-signs to hospital-experience by application of the Principle of Polarity. The symbols for the three water-signs arranged in a vertical line with Pisces at the top, Scorpio second, and Cancer at the bottom, will clearly picture the sequence which is appropriate to this discussion.

   First mandala--Pisces-Virgo: This is the diameter of consciousness of health, the depletion of which makes therapy or hospital- experience necessary. Virgo is health as the basic potency which makes serviceable activity possible; Pisces is the needed redemption of that potency. The person whose consciousness of physical potency or ability is less than its natural fullness cannot express the fullness of his serviceable activity, even though he may make heroic efforts in spite of his limitation. Those efforts, made as an expression of his will, are in effect redemption from within, but if therapy can assist to unfold expansion of ability, then the person "asks for help from Pisces"--he enters a hospital, "cuts off" from his previous activity for a time, accepts limitation of activity, and, at the same time, he accepts the opportunity more fully to improve his physical condition and his capacity for serviceable activity. The hospital-building which he enters for help and regeneration is an externalization of the overshadowing powers of divine grace. Think about this.

   No one is immune from the action of the Law of Cause and Effect, but, though every individual must face and resolve his karmic residues, the powers of Divine Grace are inherent in every activity by which humans receive help in the resolution of their difficulties. The presence of Divine Grace in the human heart is evidenced by any hospital, from the small tent-ward on the field of combat to the gigantic and complex institutions of metropolitan cities; all hospitals, from smallest to largest, are continually over-shadowed and recharged by healing agencies from higher dimensions. The most inspiredly dedicated of our healers are those who are, consciously or unconsciously, most sensitive to the directive stimulus of these Higher Agencies. Humans, seeing only the surface of things, interpret hospitals as being places of pain, sorrow, and darkness. The exact opposite is true: Hospitals are focalizations of the healing powers of light and love. When suffering humanity realizes this, the whole attitude toward their necessary hospital-experience undergoes a drastic and illuminating change. Faith, gratitude, hopefulness, and reassurance neutralize the constricting effects of pain, and both consciousness and body expand to make a more efficient adjustment to healing treatments. The power of Divine Grace transforms a hospital from being a place where ripe karma of pain, sorrow, and limitation must be endured to being a place where redemption and at-one-ment may be experienced.

   If the first mandala, headed by Pisces, is the "what and where" of hospital-experience, then the diameter Scorpio-Taurus indicates the means by which hospital service is carried out and fulfilled. Esoterically, Scorpio-Taurus is the diameter of stewardship, the spiritual principle which is distilled in human consciousness through experiences of "possession and ownership." That which is "stewarded" in hospital service and experience is regenerative power. It originates in higher, invisible dimensions, it is directed by Invisible Servers and channeled in each healing-institution by human servers to those in need. The Invisible Servers work dedicatedly through long spans of time to direct the focalization of power for human needs and the sign Scorpio symbolizes very clearly the dedicated consciousness and disciplined abilities of all true human healers.

   Florence Nightingale, whose indefatigable labors extended through a lifetime of ninety years stands as a wonderful human example of the persistent services of Invisible Healers. Healers discipline themselves to qualify, but no healer "owns" healing power-- in his stewardship of his personal equipment he acts as a "steward" of that which is projected from Invisible Sources for use on this plane. All releasement of power is subsequent to focalization of Power; the healer who, in a balanced and harmonious way, conserves his personal resources is the one who can most effectively release the power which flows through him to his patients; these resources pertain to the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of his being. Therefore, Scorpio- Taurus refers to the material of power which makes healing-regeneration possible through focalization and release; it refers to the Principle of Stewardship which operates through the consciousness of invisible and visible healers; it refers to the omnipresent Source of power, the provid-ance of Father-Mother God for the preservation and regeneration of evolving forms and microcosms. He who would serve as "healer," in dedicated service, "takes hands" with his Invisible Elders and serves as their incarnated "grounded" instrument.

   The third representation of this mandala, emphasized by Cancer, which is polarized by Capricorn, illustrates "that" which inspires or prompts a human to walk the Path of Healing-service. It is the parental power of pure sympathy. It was once said that "the first hospital was built when a human first prayed unselfishly and in the fullness of faith for the healing of a fellow human." That form of prayer when externalized in the physical is the hospital-building which encloses, as the womb encloses the growing embryo, the expanding emergence of health-consciousness. Cancer, the maternal symbol, illustrates the qualities of sympathy, tenderness, mercy, and compassion which inspire humans to assist in the healing of others; Capricorn, the paternal symbol, illustrates the providance of organized material form for the protection and enclosure of healing-activities, corresponding to the material home which a father provides for the protection of his young. "Embryo in the womb" and "patient in the hospital" correspond to each other in the sense that each is having the opportunity to unfold anew his life- consciousness through experience.

   The relation of hospital-administrators and servers to patients has many points of similarity to the relation of parents to their children. All therapists are "parents" to their patients' renewal of Life-consciousness through their activities in health-improvement, and health- improvement is always an agency of liberation. He who would liberate himself from the causes of physical inharmony must renew, regenerate, and revitalize his consciousness; he who would most truly serve on the path of healing must add to his technical knowledge and skill by learning of the importance of helping others to regenerate their consciousness. Healing is a spirit-ual thing; those who heal most truly are those who serve to reveal the omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience of the Indwelling Spirit. Prayer is the "technique" for this revealment; prayer and skill-knowledge unify the mystic-occultist powers in the healer. Sympathy, humility, dedication to factual and spiritual truth, balanced personal discipline, and faith make it possible for each healer to "ground" the regenerative forces from the higher realms for use in the hospital where he or she serves.

   In conclusion, these three representations of the water-trine mandala may be used to study prison experience. In their essential nature and purpose prisons are hospitals. In both, karmic residues are to be faced and resolved; the same Power and the same Agencies serve both; the prime objective of both forms of service is: atonement, and "atonement" means increased consciousness of at-one- ment, the harmonized unification of body, emotion, mind, and soul with Spirit.

Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher

Volume IX
Chapter X
The Astrological Path

   The purpose of presenting this discourse is two-fold. It is well that new students of astrology obtain a perspective of what this Path requires of them in mental training and what it includes in expansion of knowledge and understanding. Those students who are experienced on the Path should periodically remind themselves of the requirements of their chosen Path and refresh their spiritual aims, methods, and objectives. The Astrological Path is a long one, containing many complexities of unfoldment; the "long- range viewpoint" and quiet, unshakable patience are prime requisites for the fulfillment of any of its phases. Some students, in the present life, may be recapitulating knowledge gained through study in past lives, now ready to begin to apply their knowledge and understanding; some may still be continuing their program of absorption, and still others may be taking their first step on this Path. Regardless of present placement, all should have a comprehensive knowledge of the over-all program that is involved in this complex study so that the spiritual ideal and purpose may be held to unwaveringly.

   The art-science called "astr-ology" is the study of universal laws as they apply to evolutionarily unfolding consciousness; consciousness is the one primordial light and the symbols of the "lights"--Sun, Moon, and planets--are used to designate the faculties, vehicles, and powers by which unfolding consciousness becomes aware of divine consciousness. Just as our solar system is one of seven systems comprising a galaxy so each of our "solar-system-lights" is one of a family, inter-related to and interdependent upon each other and the central sun; all being externalizations of the divine creative consciousness of our Logos. Astrology is primarily not a "study of the stars"--that is the astronomer's job. The astrologer is a student of modes of consciousness which are externalized as the planetary, solar, and lunar bodies of our system. We humans have correspondence with these planetary bodies because we and they are creations of the same Divine Source and vibratory affinity aligns us all together in this solar system. The astronomer assists the astrologer in providing scientifically calculated data pertaining to the geocentric and heliocentric relationships of the "lights" to the belt of the zodiacal signs; this data is synchronized with time-space principles of incarnation for the calculation of the natal horoscope which symbolically pictures the present cyclic status of an evolving hu1nan consciousness. The "astr" of astrology refers to "star" only exoterically; esoterically and philosophically it refers to that light which is consciousness. It is by the degree and quality of evolving consciousness that all phenomena, experience, and relationship are interpreted; this refers to the physical body as well as to all environments, activities, endeavors, karmic lessons, aspirations, and ideals. All of these factors are symbolically pictured in essence by the natal horoscope; the sum-total of the "contents" of a chart represents the person's basic inclinations and tendencies in viewpoint--the specific result of the way he exercised his inclinations and tendencies in past lives up to the present life. When the astrological student establishes his awareness of the "astro-path" as being the study of consciousness--ever evolving through incarnated experience and patterned by the great archetypal Principles of the Universe--he will then appropriately evaluate each factor of the study to the basic core and thus maintain all evaluations in proper proportion and perspective. Every factor in a correctly calculated horoscope is an exact picturing of results in consciousness from causes in consciousness. Regeneration of consciousness determines improved conditions, more truthful evaluation of experience and a clearer and more perfect apperception of powers--potential and actual.

   The ancients were encouraged in their apperceptions of Divine Nature and Consciousness by the technique of "personalization;" modes and facets of the Divine Essence were given exposition as "the gods and goddesses." The anglicized versions of some of these divine names are now applied to our identity of the planets--the name of each planet representing a composite or synthesis of divine potentials, principles, and powers. So, in considering the many phases of the Astrological Path we will also personalize, for concreteness, and, in imagination, consider the nature and abilities of one whom we will call "The Master Astrologer," and whom we will identify as the prototype of all astrologers and astrological students, past, present, and future. His name will be "Astrophilus" (he who loves astrology), and he is one who, through many lives during many centuries of time has dedicated himself to the ever-expanding comprehension of astrological principles. As a Master-Astrologer, he is one who now is able to correlate all phases of learning with astrological symbolism. He will be understood to be the "personalized ideal" of all who walk the "Astro-Path."

   Astrophilus always has been, is now, and will continue to be aspiritual aspirant. This means that he does not permit his desire for astrological knowledge to supersede his desire for understanding of right use of astrological knowledge. He dedicates his application of knowledge to the service of human enlightenment because he knows that the enlightenment-service is the basic purpose for the attainment of knowledge in the first place. He knows that the maximum fullness of his knowledge is but a fragment of universal wisdom so, with true humility, he keeps his mind and consciousness ever-open and ever-adjustable to the consideration of new ideas. He is as impersonal and honest in his evaluation of his own chart as he is with the chart of anyone else because he knows that only total honesty will nourish his own unfoldment and ability. His intellectual and analytical endeavors--extensive, profound, and crystalline as they may be--are continually nurtured by prayer; whenever the need is felt, he invites the recharging of his consciousness and intuition by the powers of the Super-mind. Every act or endeavor in his astrological service is dedicated and consecrated by his love for God and fellow-humans. He recognizes that he is "Elder Brother" to--probably--most of humanity, but he never forgets that he himself is as much a child of the Divine Parent as is the most ignorant and uninspired of his fellows. His calculation of each horoscope is an act of spiritual ritual by which the forces of his mind, consciousness, and Spirit are focalized and unified to the fulfillment of his service.

   As a Brother, Astrophilus is sincerely appreciative of the endeavors and aspirations of humans on all paths which serve human enlightenment and regeneration. Through his many past lives he has shared the absorption of knowledge with fellow- students who represent all lines of inquiry and investigation. He maintains an essential gratefulness toward all teachers and experiences which serve to further his astrological, philosophical, and spiritual education. In finding a correlation between his chart and any experience, he appreciates the experience, however painful or difficult, because it served to expand his knowledge and understanding. He regrets and resents no experience; the healthy adjustability of his mind--dedicated to the reception of Truth-- permits no morbid retention of negative interpretations of experience but rather rejoices in each and every opportunity for the expansion of comprehension and apperception. He seeks always to avoid attitudes or viewpoints of bias and so refuses to retain in consciousness that quality of mental action that breeds prejudice or false approbation. He strives to regard his own experiences with spiritual equity so that he may more perfectly represent the equity of true enlightenment to those he helps.

   As a scientist, Astrophilus is first of all a mathematician and geometrician. The technical aspects of his work require a fluent comprehension of all arithmetical principles and of certain principles revealed through geometry. Since algebra is the mathematical exposition of the universal Law of Correspondence, a knowledge of this branch of science enables Astrophilus to evaluate and tabulate any and all vibratory equations to be found in a given chart, or which form the "patterns of linkage" between two or more charts. In his training, back in the early days in Atlantis, Chaldea, and Egypt, Astrophilus learned that accuracy in mathematical calculation and comprehension not only externalized the apperception of a mode of Truth, but acceptance of the mental disciplines involved in training externalized the sincerity of his pursuit of truth. Accuracy is truth externalized; and because of the tremendous complexity of "things" which are studied on the Astrological Path, the willingness to discipline the mental body so that the right results are obtained in mathematical endeavors is an important factor in the astrologer's dedication to his service. Whenever it is possible to do so, Astrophilus always seeks to determine the accuracy of all data; he works with that data in such a way that the maximum accuracy may be obtained. In his teaching-work, Astrophilus encourages his students in every way possible to appreciate the value of mathematical training; he knows from his own experience that Humanity owes a great debt to Mathematics for what it provides in disciplining, harmonizing, and focalizing the mental vehicles and the powers of consciousness. To engage successfully in mathematical endeavors, one cannot be satisfied with anything less than right (truthful) results!

   It is interesting--and significant--to note that so many forms of visual exploration are made through a circular frame-work. Our two eyes are focused in such a way that everything we see is through a "circular window;" the astronomer gazes through a circular mechanism to study and explore a portion of the solar system, a galaxy or some other division of the phenomenal universe exterior to the earth; the chemist and biologist peer through a circular microscope to study the "littleness" of material phenomena. In his work as a student of human consciousness, Astrophilus centers his attention also on a circular diagram formed by a certain arrangement of the zodiacal belt which contains a specialized set of symbols placed according to accurate mathematical principles and which convey a revelation of spiritual laws. Astrophilus is a specialist in the sense that his prime objective is to serve the furthering of human enlightenment but the principles which are inherent in his specialized study are germane to all forms of exploration made by other scientists.

   As far as scope of knowledge is concerned, Astrophilus "takes hands" with all of his brother-scientists; the essences of his study and exploration are found to be represented in some form or degree in all other branches of study by which the nature of the universe is revealed and comprehended. In the degree that the nature of the universe is comprehended does the realization of unity with the universe unfold. Astrophilus must use the powers of analysis just as a chemist does, but in addition he must also synthesize because his purpose is not to teach the "separateness of man from the universe" but to reveal the unity of humans with each other, with all creatures, and with divine source. The analytical factor in his study pertains to the human as an individualized aspect of consciousness, with particular karmic requirements of experience and particular "personal tendencies." The factor of synthesis is actually a process of the Higher Mind by which Astrophilus may assist the person to experience an expansion of awareness of unity within himself through developing spiritual autonomy and of awareness of unity with other humans through affinity of common destiny and evolutionary goal.

   Astrophilus, in addition to being a scientist, mystic, and priest, is also an interpretative artist. He seeks to find, through study of horoscopical indications, those modes and techniques by which the person concerned may through regeneration of consciousness become consciously more and more aware of the beauties of his own spiritual consciousness. Every principle used in astrological representation has its counterpart in one--or all--of the fine arts. In an over-all survey of astrological factors, we find design, rhythm, color (by implication), structure, mass (by implication), spectrum, and every conceivable aspect of beauty that can be realized or externalized by human beings. During the many years and lives of his experience, Astrophilus enjoyed contact with artists and artistic interpreters of all kinds. His spiritual affinity to these persons was based on the inspirational factor inherent in all artistic expression and enlightenment-service. To "enlighten" might be thought of as a process by which "light is thrown into consciousness" or "the presence of light in consciousness is revealed." Any human, by whatever mode or means, who serves to reveal harmony to other persons is an inspirator; harmony is the revelation of equilibrium throughout all parts of a thing and it is the conscious re-attainment of equilibrium that characterizes our evolutionary goal. It was from that state that we were projected, as individualizations, at the start of our experience as humans. All apperception of Beauty is a glimpse of the "heaven in our own consciousness," and through his knowledge of alchemy, Astrophilus is able to help people understand how they may effect conscious regeneration of their inner powers and thereby unfold wider and purer apperceptions of the beauty of their divine nature.

   After many lives devoted to the practice of realized truths and in accordance with high ethical standards, Astrophilus found a strange and wonderful awakening in his own consciousness. It pertained to a cognition that "the planets" which he had studied for so long in horoscopes were modes by which the divine revealed itself through human consciousness. As a result, Astrophilus found himself becoming more and more conscious of God's presence in all planetary aspects--each aspect being thus perceived to be an indication not of "absolute evil" or "absolute good" but rather that of spirit-ual viewpoint. The hitherto-considered "evil" aspects were then perceived to be, in truth, symbolic pictures of experience-methods by which a human must ultimately realize his own divine nature. All square and opposition aspects register karmically timed and karmically qualified conditionings from which, through incarnate experience, the human is to be brought face-to-face with the results of past thought and action; from experiencing these results he is to apprehend in greater degree those modes of thought and action which further, rather than obstruct, evolutionary unfoldment and realization of the Spirit's highest ideals.

   Reader, these things said herein about "Astrophilus" are really being said about you--now an astrological student, perhaps a practitioner--who from some point on the Path may unfold the powers of the perfectly trained mental vehicle, the winged power of intuition and the diamond-clear power of clair-cognition through your continued and devoted application to astrological study. May the Spirit within grant you the strength of patience, the buoyancy of inspirational joy, and the blessing of ever-expanding appreciation of your fellow-humans through the truth- pursuing study of horoscopes as the need for such study may be brought to your attention. Life provides all opportunity to fulfill the Astrological Path.