ASTROLOGY AND THE NEW GROUPS
This Law of Group Progress embodies one of the energies which have gradually been released over the past two centuries. A fuller tide was swept into activity at the time of the May, 1936, full moon and now the growth of the group idea, both in its good and bad aspects, can be imminently expected. As has several times been pointed out to students, this law [Page 195] is connected with a certain realised impulse in the minds of men, and this is, in its turn, the effect of various types of energy, which are playing upon the earth. The name "Law of Group Progress" is the phrase given by human beings to a particular type of energy which is producing the coherence of units in a group, thus forming them into one living organism. The recognitions eventuating are those of group affinity, group objective, and group goal. It is, in the last analysis, the emergence into the subjective consciousness of the same type of energy which produces that aspect of cohesive action which demonstrates as tribal, national or racial unity. In this case, however, the determining factor is not of a physical connotation nor have these groups a physical plane basis. They are based on a group idealism which can only be consciously registered when the units in the group are beginning to function upon the mental plane and are developing the capacity to "think things through"—that is, to register in the brain that which the soul has imparted to the mind. We have here a definition of the meditation process as it should be followed by those who, through alignment, have made some measure of soul contact. These groups are functioning entirely through a subjective relation, which produces a subjective integration and activity.
When we come to study the astrological implications in connection with these laws, we shall discover that the energies of the zodiacal signs have a specific effect upon the energy of a Being, Whose purpose works out into manifestation through these laws, which are regarded by us as great and inevitable natural laws and also spiritual laws. This effect produces a blending of energies which is both balancing and, at the same time, impelling.
In December, 1935, the energies of Capricorn were augmented by the pouring in of forces from a still greater constellation [Page 196] which is—to our zodiac—what the zodiac is to the earth. This augmentation will take place again in 1942. It must be remembered that, from certain angles, the circle of twelve signs or constellations constitutes a special unity which revolves within our universe of heavens as our planet revolves in the centre of our circle of influences. By means of this augmentation—during the coming Aquarian zodiacal cycle—groups on earth can avail themselves of the tide of Capricornian influences which will flow into our radius of registration every seven years. The one just past, gave a tremendous impetus to the work of the New Group of World Servers, and was the cause of the very good reaction in the world to their particular impulse. This worked out in every nation and in every group as a marked tendency to good will. In 1942, there will come another planetary inflow of which we all are begged to avail ourselves, and for which we are urged to make due preparation. This "week of group impact" occurring every seven years, will run from December 21st till December 28th, and if this should at any time fall at the period of the full moon, the opportunity will be most significant. This possibility must be watched. This week should be regarded as pre-eminently the "festival week" of the New Group of World Servers, and after 1942 advantage must be taken of this period, and special preparation made. This fact invites the attention of all of us.
These new groups are appearing everywhere all over the world. The groups upon the outer plane, with their diversity of names and stated aims, are not connected with this inner group which is sponsoring or "projecting" the new groups, except in so far as they have a definite, even if nebulous, connection. This becomes always possible where there are three members of the New Group of World Servers found in any one exoteric group; it then becomes "linked by a [Page 197] triple thread of golden light" to the New Group of World Servers, and can in some measure be used. This great and spiritual grouping of servers is, on the physical plane, only very loosely linked. On the astral plane the linking is stronger and is based upon love of humanity; on the mental plane the major linking takes place, from the angle of the three worlds as a whole. It will be apparent, therefore, that certain developments must have taken place in the individual before he can consciously become a functioning member of the New Group of World Servers, which is the principal group at this time definitely working under the Law of Group Progress.
All this involves personality integration and alignment and that magnetic, attractive appeal which is distinctive of all disciples in some form or another. In this way from the [Page 198] standpoint of esotericism, certain great triangles of energy will be found in the individual and consequently increasingly in humanity. Then too the "forces of creative life" will circulate from the "point within the head" (the head centre) along the "line to the heart" and then, with the throat centre, form a "triangle of fiery light". Such is the Way of Group Progress, and when this is being consummated, then the Law of Group Progress begins definitely to function and to control.
(A.Bailey, Esoteric Psychology).
CAPRICORN FULL MOON
There is that which lies at the core of the soul and at the core of the personality which is the same. This energy is Life.. It is not differentiated ‘life’ but the One Life. This realisation ‘atones’ the soul and the personality because there is no inherent separation.. They are like identical twins dressed in different clothes except that they are not twins but only ‘one’. This realisation lies at the heart of the transfiguration – all outer forms including those in consciousness are transfigured before the identifying ‘eye’ of the initiate. All is realised as one – one great fire that is Life. This may be stated over and over but its realisation is another matter. This realisation has simultaneous affects on both the consciousness of the initiate and his brain –an antahkarana of fire is registered from the highest formless world to the lowest world of form..
It is here that the fifth hierarchy, the fifth ray and the ajna centre are important. You may recall that in maps of the centres the etheric location of the ajna centre is not given among the four etheric planes. You might like to consider its association with the three highest subplanes of the fifth or gaseous plane and consequently with the agnichaitans of the physical plane. In a planetary sense at a higher level of correspondence some idea of the role of the NGWS as the planetary ajna centre may be obtained. Thus when the crown and ajna centre are functioning as a unit there is a bridge between the first subplane and the fifth and the work of the fifth ray is consummated. During the coming seventh ray cycle which coincides with the age of Aquarius this alignment is carried all the way through to the seventh or physical plane resulting in synthesis.
This synthesis is the realisation on the physical plane of that which lies behind all the planes. All seven planes or states of consciousness are in essence one – the one life of the cosmic physical plane. When this one life is experienced then all lesser distinctions are realised within context and let go of In the case of the initiate, individual or group, this ‘current’ of life energy is registered tangibly within the physical brain as well as in consciousness. The registration within form becomes a ‘touchstone’ for accessing the current which is why certain physical locations in the outer world become stable anchoring points for the fifth kingdom and is also the reason that the Temple of Power can be eventually realised on the physical plane. Your work as a group with Highden has been part of this process.
So, something happens within the lowest expression of the personality – the physical form. The energy of ‘life’ is registered and has a more or less permanent ‘anchoring’point. Something also happens within the soul – on its highest level of expression – the atmic plane.. This could be described as a ‘tear’ in the veil or web. Remember that the veils are progressively rent between the etheric levels which is also called the ‘burning of the web’. When it is also remembered that the descent of the fire of spirit and the ascent of the kundalini fire are simultaneous events and in reality there is only one ‘fire’then some understanding may result. The result in consciousness ( for the soul is ever the seat of consciousness ) is that the ‘compartmentalisation’ of consciousness is ended. Its division into personality, soul and spirit is bought to an end within the awareness of the soul. The eye in the triangle is experienced.
This ending of compartmentalisation through identification with the one life behind consciousness and form has its outer representation in the life experience of the initiate. He begins by being identified with his form and eventually with his personality as a unified functioning whole. He gradually becomes more aware of himself as a soul increasingly able to work through his personality and dis-identify with it. He becomes more group conscious and begins to identify with progressively larger inner and outer groups – his coworkers – his nation –humanity as a whole.
Eventually his identification shifts to the one life that is the earth – the life of Shamballa, the life of Sanat Kumara. And because Life is ONE this identification takes him into relationship in some small way with the Life which IS, expresses through and yet remains beyond the whole of Kosmos. Once LIFE becomes a reality within the ‘identity’ of the initiate then lesser identifications fade. He or she may still form essential parts of groups, organisations, nations but their anchor will not be ‘within’ their outer group but with the essential Life expressing through it. They become ambassadors of the One Life and through their identification with it which increases as the higher initiations are taken, they induce its realisation in others. All lesser fires are contained within the one ‘synthetic’ fire which underlies the cosmic physical plane and whenever this fire of synthesis is present even in the tiniest of ‘doses’ it has a homeopathic effect upon its surroundings. Such workers must remain ‘free’ to follow the call of spirit when it comes. They are leaves which are moved by the wind which ‘bloweth where it listeth’. They must learn to respond to that inner call, the straight knowing which flows down the fiery current of their anchored antahkarana – and in such a way they will widen this channel of fire. They are no longer held by group affiliations, loyalties or commitments but must hold their allegiance to something deeper that beats at the heart of all groups. Their comings and goings will then be ‘unreasonable’to the consciousness operating within such lesser groupings but this very unreasonableness will be a signpost to that which lies beyond reason – the spiritual instinct which acts without thought because it is not inherently separate from the life which motivates it. There is in fact no separate identity to ‘think’ about what ‘it’ should do.
The work of this ‘outer group’ is coming to an end and yet at the same time it is only now beginning. A School is a field of training, a nursery in which things can be tried out within a safe environment and the consequences of actions contained. A School is preparation for living. Shamballa School could be said to be preparation for LIFE. A container is breaking but you were never that container. Shamballa School is not an outer organisation or group. It is present when two criteria are fulfilled. 1. Life is present ( which it is everywhere and when on the cosmic physical plane ) 2. The presence of that Life is ‘realised in consciousness’
If you are able to hold, even intermittently, the realisation of that Life in whatever circumstances you find yourselves called to, then Shamballa School will be in session. As individuals you do not need to be together, nor do you need to be apart for there is no separation possible in Life.
This series of training in group initiation has not been a theoretical process. It has gone hand in hand with your own self initiated work in the three worlds. An initiate knows because he works and a group initiate does likewise. Whatever identification with the Life aspect you have achieved has not been the result of my words – my words have been a living response, a bridge called forth by your energetic demand for Life generated from your call and commitment to service. A bridge over which energy can move in both directions. I call you now to serve as such a bridge between the energy of Life and the calls of other groups. You will find your own living response to the tension generated and clothe the essential lesson of identification with the One Life in many outer garments of consciousness. Teaching is not about giving theoretical information – if that were enough then one messenger from Hierarchy would be all that was required. It is an experiential process which must be entered into again and again with larger and larger groups. It is a relationship founded upon the realisation that there is no need for relationship between things that are not essentially separate from each other. It is the brotherhood of the Aquarian age in living demonstration.
Let Life prevail!
(Βruce Lion, Group Initiation :286-292)
This Law of Group Progress embodies one of the energies which have gradually been released over the past two centuries. A fuller tide was swept into activity at the time of the May, 1936, full moon and now the growth of the group idea, both in its good and bad aspects, can be imminently expected. As has several times been pointed out to students, this law [Page 195] is connected with a certain realised impulse in the minds of men, and this is, in its turn, the effect of various types of energy, which are playing upon the earth. The name "Law of Group Progress" is the phrase given by human beings to a particular type of energy which is producing the coherence of units in a group, thus forming them into one living organism. The recognitions eventuating are those of group affinity, group objective, and group goal. It is, in the last analysis, the emergence into the subjective consciousness of the same type of energy which produces that aspect of cohesive action which demonstrates as tribal, national or racial unity. In this case, however, the determining factor is not of a physical connotation nor have these groups a physical plane basis. They are based on a group idealism which can only be consciously registered when the units in the group are beginning to function upon the mental plane and are developing the capacity to "think things through"—that is, to register in the brain that which the soul has imparted to the mind. We have here a definition of the meditation process as it should be followed by those who, through alignment, have made some measure of soul contact. These groups are functioning entirely through a subjective relation, which produces a subjective integration and activity.
In December, 1935, the energies of Capricorn were augmented by the pouring in of forces from a still greater constellation [Page 196] which is—to our zodiac—what the zodiac is to the earth. This augmentation will take place again in 1942. It must be remembered that, from certain angles, the circle of twelve signs or constellations constitutes a special unity which revolves within our universe of heavens as our planet revolves in the centre of our circle of influences. By means of this augmentation—during the coming Aquarian zodiacal cycle—groups on earth can avail themselves of the tide of Capricornian influences which will flow into our radius of registration every seven years. The one just past, gave a tremendous impetus to the work of the New Group of World Servers, and was the cause of the very good reaction in the world to their particular impulse. This worked out in every nation and in every group as a marked tendency to good will. In 1942, there will come another planetary inflow of which we all are begged to avail ourselves, and for which we are urged to make due preparation. This "week of group impact" occurring every seven years, will run from December 21st till December 28th, and if this should at any time fall at the period of the full moon, the opportunity will be most significant. This possibility must be watched. This week should be regarded as pre-eminently the "festival week" of the New Group of World Servers, and after 1942 advantage must be taken of this period, and special preparation made. This fact invites the attention of all of us.
These new groups are appearing everywhere all over the world. The groups upon the outer plane, with their diversity of names and stated aims, are not connected with this inner group which is sponsoring or "projecting" the new groups, except in so far as they have a definite, even if nebulous, connection. This becomes always possible where there are three members of the New Group of World Servers found in any one exoteric group; it then becomes "linked by a [Page 197] triple thread of golden light" to the New Group of World Servers, and can in some measure be used. This great and spiritual grouping of servers is, on the physical plane, only very loosely linked. On the astral plane the linking is stronger and is based upon love of humanity; on the mental plane the major linking takes place, from the angle of the three worlds as a whole. It will be apparent, therefore, that certain developments must have taken place in the individual before he can consciously become a functioning member of the New Group of World Servers, which is the principal group at this time definitely working under the Law of Group Progress.
All this involves personality integration and alignment and that magnetic, attractive appeal which is distinctive of all disciples in some form or another. In this way from the [Page 198] standpoint of esotericism, certain great triangles of energy will be found in the individual and consequently increasingly in humanity. Then too the "forces of creative life" will circulate from the "point within the head" (the head centre) along the "line to the heart" and then, with the throat centre, form a "triangle of fiery light". Such is the Way of Group Progress, and when this is being consummated, then the Law of Group Progress begins definitely to function and to control.
(A.Bailey, Esoteric Psychology).
CAPRICORN FULL MOON
There is that which lies at the core of the soul and at the core of the personality which is the same. This energy is Life.. It is not differentiated ‘life’ but the One Life. This realisation ‘atones’ the soul and the personality because there is no inherent separation.. They are like identical twins dressed in different clothes except that they are not twins but only ‘one’. This realisation lies at the heart of the transfiguration – all outer forms including those in consciousness are transfigured before the identifying ‘eye’ of the initiate. All is realised as one – one great fire that is Life. This may be stated over and over but its realisation is another matter. This realisation has simultaneous affects on both the consciousness of the initiate and his brain –an antahkarana of fire is registered from the highest formless world to the lowest world of form..
It is here that the fifth hierarchy, the fifth ray and the ajna centre are important. You may recall that in maps of the centres the etheric location of the ajna centre is not given among the four etheric planes. You might like to consider its association with the three highest subplanes of the fifth or gaseous plane and consequently with the agnichaitans of the physical plane. In a planetary sense at a higher level of correspondence some idea of the role of the NGWS as the planetary ajna centre may be obtained. Thus when the crown and ajna centre are functioning as a unit there is a bridge between the first subplane and the fifth and the work of the fifth ray is consummated. During the coming seventh ray cycle which coincides with the age of Aquarius this alignment is carried all the way through to the seventh or physical plane resulting in synthesis.
This synthesis is the realisation on the physical plane of that which lies behind all the planes. All seven planes or states of consciousness are in essence one – the one life of the cosmic physical plane. When this one life is experienced then all lesser distinctions are realised within context and let go of In the case of the initiate, individual or group, this ‘current’ of life energy is registered tangibly within the physical brain as well as in consciousness. The registration within form becomes a ‘touchstone’ for accessing the current which is why certain physical locations in the outer world become stable anchoring points for the fifth kingdom and is also the reason that the Temple of Power can be eventually realised on the physical plane. Your work as a group with Highden has been part of this process.
So, something happens within the lowest expression of the personality – the physical form. The energy of ‘life’ is registered and has a more or less permanent ‘anchoring’point. Something also happens within the soul – on its highest level of expression – the atmic plane.. This could be described as a ‘tear’ in the veil or web. Remember that the veils are progressively rent between the etheric levels which is also called the ‘burning of the web’. When it is also remembered that the descent of the fire of spirit and the ascent of the kundalini fire are simultaneous events and in reality there is only one ‘fire’then some understanding may result. The result in consciousness ( for the soul is ever the seat of consciousness ) is that the ‘compartmentalisation’ of consciousness is ended. Its division into personality, soul and spirit is bought to an end within the awareness of the soul. The eye in the triangle is experienced.
This ending of compartmentalisation through identification with the one life behind consciousness and form has its outer representation in the life experience of the initiate. He begins by being identified with his form and eventually with his personality as a unified functioning whole. He gradually becomes more aware of himself as a soul increasingly able to work through his personality and dis-identify with it. He becomes more group conscious and begins to identify with progressively larger inner and outer groups – his coworkers – his nation –humanity as a whole.
Eventually his identification shifts to the one life that is the earth – the life of Shamballa, the life of Sanat Kumara. And because Life is ONE this identification takes him into relationship in some small way with the Life which IS, expresses through and yet remains beyond the whole of Kosmos. Once LIFE becomes a reality within the ‘identity’ of the initiate then lesser identifications fade. He or she may still form essential parts of groups, organisations, nations but their anchor will not be ‘within’ their outer group but with the essential Life expressing through it. They become ambassadors of the One Life and through their identification with it which increases as the higher initiations are taken, they induce its realisation in others. All lesser fires are contained within the one ‘synthetic’ fire which underlies the cosmic physical plane and whenever this fire of synthesis is present even in the tiniest of ‘doses’ it has a homeopathic effect upon its surroundings. Such workers must remain ‘free’ to follow the call of spirit when it comes. They are leaves which are moved by the wind which ‘bloweth where it listeth’. They must learn to respond to that inner call, the straight knowing which flows down the fiery current of their anchored antahkarana – and in such a way they will widen this channel of fire. They are no longer held by group affiliations, loyalties or commitments but must hold their allegiance to something deeper that beats at the heart of all groups. Their comings and goings will then be ‘unreasonable’to the consciousness operating within such lesser groupings but this very unreasonableness will be a signpost to that which lies beyond reason – the spiritual instinct which acts without thought because it is not inherently separate from the life which motivates it. There is in fact no separate identity to ‘think’ about what ‘it’ should do.
The work of this ‘outer group’ is coming to an end and yet at the same time it is only now beginning. A School is a field of training, a nursery in which things can be tried out within a safe environment and the consequences of actions contained. A School is preparation for living. Shamballa School could be said to be preparation for LIFE. A container is breaking but you were never that container. Shamballa School is not an outer organisation or group. It is present when two criteria are fulfilled. 1. Life is present ( which it is everywhere and when on the cosmic physical plane ) 2. The presence of that Life is ‘realised in consciousness’
If you are able to hold, even intermittently, the realisation of that Life in whatever circumstances you find yourselves called to, then Shamballa School will be in session. As individuals you do not need to be together, nor do you need to be apart for there is no separation possible in Life.
This series of training in group initiation has not been a theoretical process. It has gone hand in hand with your own self initiated work in the three worlds. An initiate knows because he works and a group initiate does likewise. Whatever identification with the Life aspect you have achieved has not been the result of my words – my words have been a living response, a bridge called forth by your energetic demand for Life generated from your call and commitment to service. A bridge over which energy can move in both directions. I call you now to serve as such a bridge between the energy of Life and the calls of other groups. You will find your own living response to the tension generated and clothe the essential lesson of identification with the One Life in many outer garments of consciousness. Teaching is not about giving theoretical information – if that were enough then one messenger from Hierarchy would be all that was required. It is an experiential process which must be entered into again and again with larger and larger groups. It is a relationship founded upon the realisation that there is no need for relationship between things that are not essentially separate from each other. It is the brotherhood of the Aquarian age in living demonstration.
Let Life prevail!
(Βruce Lion, Group Initiation :286-292)
