An In tro d u c tio n to Alic e B a ile y 's
Es o te ric As tro lo g y
B y Gayle Garrison
F ir st pu blish ed in 1951, E sot er ic Ast r ology
differ s gr ea t ly fr om t h e syst em s of a st r ologica l
a n a lys is m os t fa m ilia r t o s t u d e n t s a n d
p r ofes s ion a ls of a s t r ology in t h e la t e 20t h
cen t u r y. Alt h ou gh Ba iley's 700 pa ge t r ea t m en t
does spea k t h e la n gu a ge of t h e t r opica l zodia c,
it t a k es off fr om t h a t poin t t o in clu de n on -
eclipt ic for ces a s cen t er s of em a n a t in g for ce
in ext r ica bly bou n d u p wit h t h e evolu t ion of n ot
ju s t in d ivid u a l p er s on s , bu t t h e wh ole of
h u m a n it y, t h e Life in for m in g pla n et E a r t h a n d
t h e en t ir e sola r syst em a s well.
I n or d er t o u n d er s t a n d t h e con t ext in
wh ich Ba iley discu sses su ch con cept s, a cer t a in
a m ou n t of h ist or ica l ba ckgr ou n d is in or der .
Alice Ba iley, a su n sign Gem in i, wa s a n
E n glish wom a n wh o by t h e t u r n s of dest in y
beca m e in volved wit h t h e Th eosoph ica l Societ y
in Ca lifor n ia in t h e ea r ly pa r t of t h e 20t h
cen t u r y. Rea der s m a y k n ow or r eca ll t h a t t h e
Th eosoph ica l Societ y r esu lt ed fr om t h e effor t s
of H elen a Bla va t sky, wh o wr ot e Isis Un veiled,
Th e Secr et Doct r in e, a n d ot h er wor k s in t h e
field of esot er icism la t e in t h e 19t h cen t u r y.
Th e Th eosoph ica l Societ y, Bla va t sky, a n d a
gr ou p of st u den t s a n d wr it er s wh o su r r ou n ded
h er , u lt im a t ely fu n ct ion ed a s t h e a ven u e for a
wh ole body of lit er a t u r e wh ich fa r br oa den ed
t h e scope of esot er icism su ch a s it wa s a t t h a t
t im e.
Th e Th eosoph ist s u n der t ook t o sh ow t h e
r ela t ion sh ip bet ween a ll r eligiou s a n d m yst ica l
s ym bolis m a n d t o p oin t ou t t h e com m on
t h em es t h ey con t a in ed: a h er it a ge of h u m a n
a n d cosm ic evolu t ion va st ly t r a n scen din g t h e
a cce p t e d a n t h r op ologica l, h is t or ica l, a n d
s ci e n t i fi c p a r a d i g m s of t h e d a y . T h e
cor n er st on e of t h e Th eosoph ica l t ea ch in gs wa s
t h e pr esen ce on E a r t h , t h ou gh u n seen , of a
gr ou p of h igh ly en ligh t en ed a n d wise gu ides.
Th ese gu ides, on ce m em ber s of t h e h u m a n
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An In trod u ction to Alice B ailey’s E soteric Astrology J ou rn al of E soteric Psych ology • Volu m e 7 • N o. 2 • 1992
k in gd om , h a d r a is ed t h em s elves t h r ou gh
spir it u a l disciplin e a n d ser vice, t o levels of
in sigh t en a blin g t h em t o see t h r ou gh t im e t o a
gr e a t ly e xp a n d e d u n d e r s t a n d in g of t h e
evolu t ion a r y pr ocess. Th ese gu ides ca m e t o be
s p ok en of a s P la n et a r y H ier a r ch y or Th e
Ma s t er s . I t wa s t h e H ier a r ch y, or r a t h er
s p ecific m em ber s of it , wh o wer e t h e t r u e
sou r ce of t h e in for m a t ion con t a in ed in T h e
S ecret Doctrin e.
Bla va t sk y open ly expla in ed t h e t elepa t h ic
pr ocess wh er eby sh e wa s a ble t o obt a in t h e
in for m a t ion for h er book s . Th e ca s e for
a u t h en t icit y wa s gr ea t , s in ce t h e p h ys ica l
loca t ion s fr om wh ich sh e wr ot e wer e in deed
docu m en t ed, a n d a t t h ose pla ces sh e cou ld n ot
h a ve h a d a cces s t o t h e n eces s a r y libr a r y
r e s ou r ce s q u ot e d t h r ou gh ou t T h e S e cr e t
Doct r in e. Sh e cla im ed t h a t dict a t ion wa s given
t o h er t elep a t h ica lly fr om cer t a in of t h e
Ma st er s, wh ose pu r pose it wa s t o r evea l t o
h u m a n it y it s gr ea t er h er it a ge a n d
r espon sibilit ies.
I t wa s t h is t r a d it ion in t o wh ich Alice
Ba iley s t ep p ed a s a s t u d en t of wh a t wa s
com in g t o be ca lled Th e Ageless Wisdom . In
h er Un fin ish ed Au t obiogr a ph y, wr it t en t owa r d
t h e en d of h er life, Ba iley r ecou n t s t h e st or y of
h ow sh e, t oo, en t er ed in t o t elepa t h ic con t a ct
wit h on e of t h e Ma st er s. It is in t er est in g a n d
p er h a p s es s en t ia l t o n ot e t h a t Ba iley wa s
in it ia lly qu it e a ver se t o su ch com m u n ica t ion s,
h a vin g fou n d t h e ph en om en a of t h e spir it u a list
s ce n e , w it h it s m e d iu m s in ect opla sm ic
s p l e n d or , a l t og e t h e r cou n t e r p r od u ct i v e .
H ow e v e r , t h e M a s t e r w h o s ou g h t
com m u n ica t ion wit h Ba iley wa s a ble t o a lla y
h er fea r s a bou t su ch pa r lor dr a m a s. In st ea d,
sh e wa s a ssu r ed, t h e object of t h e lin k wa s t h e
wr it in g of fu r t h er es ot er ic m a t er ia l. Alice
B a i l e y t h e n e n t e r e d i n t o a w or k i n g
r ela t ion sh ip wit h on e of t h e Ma st er s kn own a s
Djwh a l Kh u l (D.K.), or t h e Tibet a n (a ft er t h e
loca t ion of h is r et r ea t ). Over a p er iod of
r ou gh ly 30 yea r s , t h is p a r t n er s h ip yield ed
m or e t h a n 2 0 b ook s , of w h ich E s ot e r ic
Ast r ology is on e. Th e ot h er s dea l wit h a wide
r a n ge of t op ics a ll r ela t ed t o p r in cip les of
con sciou s evolu t ion a n d t h e m et h ods wh er eby
in dividu a ls a n d gr ou ps m a y lea r n t o h a ve a
posit ive im pa ct on pla n et a r y life.
Cen t r a l t o t h e in for m a t ion given by t h e
Tibet a n t h r ou gh Ba iley is t h e exist en ce of t h e
sou l a n d t h e fa ct of it s r ein ca r n a t ion . N o
con cept cou ld be m or e ba sic. In fa ct , D.K. goes
on t o ela bor a t e u p on t h e s ou l or in t er ior
evolvin g con sciou sn ess of a ll for m s, in clu din g
con st ella t ion s, in dividu a l st a r s, pla n et s, a n d
k in gdom s (su ch a s t h e h u m a n , a n im a l, pla n t ,
a n d m in er a l) con t a in ed wit h in a pla n et a r y
Life. Th u s, t h e exist en ce of t h e in dwellin g
con sciou sn ess of a ll t h in gs, n ot ju st t h a t of t h e
h u m a n bein g, becom es pr oper t er r it or y for
m et a ph ysica l in qu ir y.
E volu t ion , D.K. sa ys, pr oceeds on m a n y
levels, or pla n es, on ly a ver y few of wh ich
h u m a n it y is a wa r e. To r ea der s in t h e 1990s,
su ch a n idea is r ea dily a ccept a ble, livin g a s we
d o in a n e r a of a b u n d a n t ly a va ila b le
m et a p h ys ica l in for m a t ion . Th a t t h er e a r e
m a n y d im en s ion s of bein g a n d r ea lit y h a s
becom e a com m on pla ce a m on gst "N ew Ager s."
Of cou r se, t h is t ea ch in g h a s been pr esen t on
t h e pla n et in t h e for m of t h e H in du Veda s a n d
U pa n ish a ds sin ce t im e u n r ecor ded, bu t t h e
fou n da t ion of ou r pr esen t N ew or Aqu a r ia n
Age con sen su s on m u lt idim en sion a lit y m a y
well be t h e m or e m oder n for m in Th e Secr et
Doct r in e a n d it s sequ el t ea ch in g, t h e Ba iley
book s. In m a n y wa ys, t h e fu n da m en t a ls la id
d own by Bla va t sk y m a de wa y for St ein er ,
O u s p e n s k y, G u r d jie ff, a n d m a n y ot h e r
t ea ch er s wh o a n s wer ed h u m a n it y's n eed .
Lik ewise, t h e Ba iley book s fu r t h er pr epa r ed
con sciou sn ess for t h e explosion of m et a ph ysica l
a n d spir it u a l in t er est in t h e 1960s a n d 1970s.
Th e m a n y pla n es of con sciou sn ess, D.K.
sa ys via Ba iley, a r e n ecessa r y t o a pr oper
u n d er s t a n d in g of t h e cos m ic p r oces s , for
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An In trod u ction to Alice B ailey’s E soteric Astrology J ou rn al of E soteric Psych ology • Volu m e 7 • N o. 2 • 1992
t h r ou gh t h em flow t h e cr ea t ive en er gies wh ich
h e ca lls t h e Seven Ra ys. Th ese seven t ypes of
en er gy a r e a s ba sic t o t h e Ba iley wor ks (a n d t o
Th e Secr et Doct r in e) a s is t h e con cept of t h e
sou l a n d it s et er n a l r ein ca r n a t ion . Th e seven
r a ys, on e fin ds, for m t h e ba sis of a scien ce of
en er gy im pa ct s en com pa ssin g ever yt h in g fr om
r ock s t o wh ir lin g ga la xies a n d beyon d. Wh a t
m a k es D.K.'s t ea ch in g so t a n t a lizin g is h is
fr equ en t r efer en ce t o t h e fa ct t h a t t h is gr a n d
p a n op ly of cos m ic in t e r a ct ion ca n b e
s y s t e m a t i ca l l y s t u d i e d a n d e v e n t u a l l y
exp er ien ced by t h os e wh o a r e willin g t o
u n der t a ke t h e n ecessa r y st eps of self disciplin e
a n d self-t r a n sfor m a t ion .
Medit a t ion , st u dy, a n d lovin g ser vice a r e
given a s t h e keys t o su ch u n foldm en t .
Con t em p or a r y r ea d er s m a y a s k wh a t
d iffer en ce t h er e is bet ween t h e lit er a t u r e
p r od u ced by Bla va t s k y a n d Ba iley on on e
h a n d , a n d t h e "ch a n n eled " t ea ch in gs s o
pr eva len t in t h e 80s a n d 90s on t h e ot h er .
Th ou gh t h e u lt im a t e a n swer t o t h is qu est ion
r est s wit h in t h e ju dgm en t of t h e in dividu a l,
on e m igh t p oin t t o t h e s h eer volu m e, t h e
plen t ifu l docu m en t a t ion a n d foot n ot in g wh ich
t ie in t o a n cien t sou r ces of spir it u a l wisdom ,
a n d t o t h e com plex a n d h igh ly ch a llen gin g
n a t u r e of t h e m a t er ia l it self. F ew h a ve a ccu sed
Bla va t sk y or Ba iley of bein g ea sy t o r ea d!
F ocu sed det er m in a t ion a n d per sist en t st u dy,
m a n y h a ve fou n d, a r e r equ isit e t o t h e gr a sp of
esot er icism .
Bla va t s k y's w or k spa wn ed the
Th eosoph ica l Societ y; Ba iley's h er it a ge yielded
a n et wor k of a ct ivit ies a ll r ela t ed t o t h e Lu cis
Tr u st , wh ich pu blish es t h e Ba iley books. Bot h
t h e Th eosoph ica l Societ y a n d Lu cis Tr u st a r e
in t er n a t ion a lly kn own , a n d h a ve been for qu it e
som e t im e.
Th e con t ext in t o wh ich E sot er ic Ast r ology
a ppea r ed wa s a r ich a n d in spir ed m et a ph ysica l
m ilieu . In fa ct , on e m igh t pr opose t h a t it s
p u blica t ion a n s wer ed a n eed wit h in t h e
m et a ph ysica l com m u n it y for som et h in g t h a t
wou ld br idge t h e ga p bet ween t h e va st cosm ic
views given by Bla va t sky a n d t h e n eed t o br in g
gr ea t er spir it u a l livin gn ess t o t h e ea r t h a n d
h u m a n s ociet y a s we k n ow it . I n E s ot er ic
Ast r ology, D.K. sa ys t h r ou gh Ba iley t h a t t h e
t ype of a st r ology h e seek s t o u n veil is t h a t of
t h e sou l, n ot of t h e per son a lit y, a n d t h a t su ch
a n a s t r ology wou ld be bes t u n d er s t ood by
cer t a in t ypes of fu t u r e a st r ologer s. Specifica lly,
h e sa ys t h a t t h e n ew sou l a st r ology will h a ve
t a k en it s pla ce in m a in st r ea m t h ou gh t by t h e
en d of t h e 20t h cen t u r y.
Th a t t im e is u pon u s n ow. P er h a ps n ot
coin cid e n t a lly, s e ve r a l a s t r ologe r s h a ve
r ecen t ly a dded t o t h e lit er a t u r e on t h e t opic.
R e a d e r s lik e ly w ill h a ve n ot ice d t h a t
a st r ologer , Ala n Ok en h a s in 1990 pu blish ed
h is S ou l -C en t er ed A s t r ol ogy, wh ich is a n
a t t em p t t o exp la in t h e es ot er ic a s t r ology
pr esen t ed in Ba iley's book. Also, Ru t h Mier swa
h a s r e ce n t ly p u b lis h e d h e r R ay-Cen tered
Astrology, lik e w is e a n e la b or a t ion u p on
Ba iley's wor k . Ma e R. Wils on -Lu d lu m is
k n own for h er wor k s on t h e su bject , In terpret
Y ou r R ays T h ru th e Plan ets a n d In terpret Y ou r
R ays U sin g A strology. It m a y be im por t a n t t o
n ot e t h a t ea r ly in t h e cen t u r y, Ala n Leo
p u b lis h e d h is volu m e e n t it le d E s ot e r ic
As t r ology a s well, bu t t h a t wor k d oes n ot
con t a in t h e sa m e fea t u r es a s does t h e on e
cu r r en t ly u n der con sider a t ion .1
E a ch of t h e a u t h or s m en t ion ed a bove h a s a
pa r t icu la r sla n t or a ppr oa ch t o a pplyin g t h e
p r in cip les of es ot er ic a s t r ology. Th is fa ct
cer t a in ly com plica t es t h e defin it ion of t h e field.
As a r eflect ion of t h is m u lt iplicit y (t h ou gh n ot
n ecessa r ily a s a dir ect r esu lt of t h e pu blish ed
wor k s n a m ed a bove), t h e t er m "es ot er ic
a s t r ology" is t od a y u s e d in m a n y a n d
som et im es con t r a dict or y wa ys. Som e u se t h e
t er m t o descr ibe a st r ology t h a t dea ls wit h pa st
life t h em es, wh ile ot h er s u se it t o m a k e a
d is t in ct ion bet ween p r ed ict ive a n d ch oice
cen t er ed ("esot er ic") a st r ology. Yet ot h er s m ea n
by it a n yt h in g t h a t is h a r d t o u n der st a n d,
va gu e or con fu sin g, or wh ich br in gs in n ew
e le m e n t s of a n a lys is . T h u s , t h e m e r e
pr olifer a t ion of t h e la bel "esot er ic a st r ology "
ca n n ot be con st r u ed a s t h e a ppea r a n ce of a
coh er en t t r en d or field of st u dy. On e m u st look
d e e p e r in t o e a ch of t h e va r iou s fie ld s
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An In trod u ction to Alice B ailey’s E soteric Astrology J ou rn al of E soteric Psych ology • Volu m e 7 • N o. 2 • 1992
su ggest ed. Th u s, it is im por t a n t t o kn ow a bou t
t h e m a n y u ses of t h e t er m , a n d t h e diver sit y
im plied.
Let 's look n ow a t t h e specific com pon en t s of
t h e esot er ic a st r ology of D.K. t h r ou gh Alice
Ba iley.
F ir st of a ll, sa ys esot er ic a st r ology fr om
Ba iley, "spa ce is a n en t it y" a n d "a ll t h a t exist s.
is con sciou sn ess in evolu t ion " (p. 7, E sot er ic
Ast r ology). Th u s, ever y for m of life is a u n it of
con s ciou s n es s , a n d is con t a in ed wit h in a
h igh er or d er , a Life t h a t en fold s it . F or
exa m ple, pla n et E a r t h is a n or ga n ism evolvin g
a n d h u m a n s a r e a cer t a in t ype of cell wit h in
t h a t u n it of con sciou sn ess, ca lled t h e P la n et a r y
Logos. F u r t h er , t h e sola r syst em is a u n it of
con sciou sn ess a n d pla n et s wit h in it s body of
m a n ifest a t ion fu n ct ion sim ila r ly t o t h e ch a kr a s
in a h u m a n . Alon g t h ese lin es, it is possible t o
s ee t h a t ou r loca l s t a r (a n d it s fa m ily of
pla n et s) is a lso a ch a k r a or cen t er wit h in t h e
body of yet a n even gr ea t er Life or en t it y
(ca lled a Cosm ic Logos). Th is in t er r ela t ion of
m u lt iple levels or la yer s goes on in fin it ely, a n d
pr ovides a m a t r ix t h r ou gh wh ich flow cosm ic
en er gies.
Th e or igin a t in g poin t for t h ese en er gies,
sa ys D.K., a r e levels of Divin e Con sciou sn ess
n ot visible in a n y wa y t o ou r ph ysica l sen ses.
Bu t t h ese en er gies en t er ou r field of a wa r en ess
a s t h ey becom e m or e den se, fin a lly r ea ch in g u s
t h r ou gh ce r t a in m a jor s t a r gr ou p s or
con s t e lla t ion s (p p . 2 8 -2 9 , E A). Th ese
im por t a n t st a r s, m a n y of wh ich a r e in t h e
Gr ea t Bea r , pr ovide life im pu lses t h a t flow t o
t h e zod ia ca l con s t e lla t ion s , t h r ou gh t h e
a ssocia t ed t r opica l sign s, t o t h e Su n a n d t h e
ph ysica l pla n et s in ou r syst em , a t la st a r r ivin g
t o cir cu la t e t h r ou gh t h e E a r t h a n d t o be
r a dia t ed ou t a ga in fr om h er e (p. 14, E A). Th is
is in a wa y a n a n s wer t o t h e p er s is t en t
qu es t ion a bou t h ow a s t r ologica l in flu en ce
wor k s . Ba s ica lly, t h is m od el s a ys t h a t
a s t r ologica l in flu en ce occu r s beca u s e a ll is
con t a in ed wit h in a livin g field of en er gies, a n d
t h a t cir cu la t ion of t h es e en er gies is t h e
m ediu m of com m u n ica t ion a m on gst t h e pa r t s
of t h e Wh ole. Th u s , fr om t h is p er s p ect ive,
a st r ology wor k s beca u se t h er e is a On en ess
P r in ciple a t ba se.
In E sot er ic Ast r ology (E A), D.K. m a in t a in s
t h a t t h e t r opica l sign s (i.e., t h ose ba sed on t h e
equ in oct ia l pr ecession ), even t h ou gh clea r ly
n ot spa t ia lly iden t ica l t o t h e con st ella t ion s of
t h e sa m e n a m es, do in fa ct - r epr esen t t h e
a ct u a l st a r gr ou pin gs or con st ella t ion s (p. 410,
E A). F u r t h e r , h e i n d i ca t e s t h a t t h e
con st ella t ion s a r e in t r u t h coh er en t en t it ies,
n ot ju st visu a l pa t t er n s of r ela t ion sh ip im posed
by h u m a n fa n t a sy. In t h is, D.K. differ s fr om
m u ch cu r r en t t h in k in g on t h e n a t u r e of t h e
zodia c. Con t em por a r y a st r ologer s m a y fin d it
bot h com for t in g AND per plexin g t o h ea r a bou t
t h e va lidit y of con st ella t ion s a s st a r s t r u ly
r ela t ed in som e wa y, a n d n ot ju st a ppa r en t ly
so! Of cou r se, t h e sider ea l a st r ologer s, wh o
h a ve a lwa ys m a in t a in ed t h e pr im a cy of t h e
ph ysica l con st ella t ion s, m a y n ot h a ve so m u ch
t r ou ble wit h t h is idea ! In t er est in gly, D.K.’s
posit ion a ccom m oda t es bot h t h e sider ea l a n d
t h e t r opica l. H owever , in t r a n sla t in g t h is va st
sch em e in t o u se for in dividu a l per son s, D.K.
seem s t o in dica t e t h a t t h e t r opica l sign s a r e t o
be u sed. On t h is poin t , see for exa m ple p. 239,
E A, in con n ect ion wit h Leo.
Th e a p p lica t ion of es ot er ic con cep t s t o
in d ivid u a ls , h owever , is n ot t h e p r im a r y
in t en ded u se of t h e in for m a t ion , D.K. poin t s
ou t . H e s a ys t h e gr ea t er u s e of es ot er ic
a st r ology will be in h elpin g h u m a n it y t o widen
it s h or izon s a n d r ea lize it s pla ce in a m u ch
gr ea t er or der (pp. 5-3, 12, E A). Th is r ea liza t ion
will in clu de t h e r ecogn it ion of t h e sou l a n d t h e
fa ce of r ein ca r n a t ion . Th e t wo a wa ken in gs will
pr oceed in t a n dem , wit h t h e gr ea t er cosm ic
en vir on m en t su ggest in g t h e gr ea t er spir it u a l
t r u t h wit h in .
O n e m a y n ot e t h a t p e r h a p s it is
ASTRON OMY, a s it fu n ct ion s t oda y, wh ich is
in deed ser vin g a s a veh icle of wider r ea liza t ion
for m a n y. S in ce r ou gh ly t h e m id 1600s ,
a st r ology a n d a st r on om y h a ve been est r a n ged,
t h ou gh obviou s ly t h ey gr ew u p t oget h er .
As t r on om y cu r r en t ly t ells u s t h e wh a t of
cr ea t ion , wh ile esch ewin g t h e r egion of wh y.
As t r ology h a s e ve r b e e n a n e xe r cis e in
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An In trod u ction to Alice B ailey’s E soteric Astrology J ou rn al of E soteric Psych ology • Volu m e 7 • N o. 2 • 1992
specu la t ion a s t o t h e wh y (a s well a s t h e wh en )
of h u m a n exp er ien ce. Wh en t h es e t wo a r e
r eu n it ed, a st r on om y will t h en fu n ct ion a s a
r evea ler of t h e ga r m en t of Cr ea t ion , wh ile
a st r ology will give t h e go-a h ea d t o in qu ir y a s
t o h ow h u m a n it y fit s in t o it a ll.
A n ew field of t h ou gh t is n ow evolvin g
wh ich m a y a ct a s a br idge bet ween t h e t wo. In
Th e jou r n a l of E sot er ic P sych ology, a n u m ber
of w r i t e r -t h i n k e r s h a v e u n d e r t a k e n
specu la t ion a bou t t h e Life wh ich m a n ifest s
it self t h r ou gh t ypes of st a r s, st a r syst em s, a n d
wh ole ga la xies. Su ch specu la t ion m igh t well
be t er m ed esot er ic a st r on om y, for it goes wit h
a st r on om y wh er e m ost scien t ist s will n ot da r e
t o go! T h is S t a r T r e k of m e t a p h ys ica l
specu la t ion m a y be pa r t of t h e in t en ded scien ce
of esot er ic a st r ology.
In pa r t , t h en , wh a t dist in gu ish es esot er ic
a st r ology (so fa r ) fr om wh a t we m igh t ca ll
t r a dit ion a l a st r ology is t h e for m er s’ em ph a sis
u pon t h e gr ea t er cosm ic en vir on m en t . F u r t h er ,
t h e gr ea t er cosm ic en vir on m en t is seen a s t h e
m a t r ix for t h e cir cu la t ion of t h e seven t ypes of
differ en t ia t ed for ce, or t h e seven r a ys. E sot er ic
a st r ology (a s given by D.K. a n d Ba iley) goes a n
a ll-im p or t a n t s t ep fu r t h er a n d id en t ifies
specific r ela t ion sh ips bet ween t h e r a ys, t h e
con st ella t ion s (a n d t h u s t h eir r epr esen t a t ive
sign s in t h e t r opica l zodia c), a n d t h e pla n et s
wit h in ou r sola r syst em (in clu din g t h e Su n a n d
t h e Moon ).
O b v i ou s l y , on e must ga in an
u n der st a n din g of t h e r a y qu a lit ies t o begin
wor k wit h t h is syst em . Th e r a y en er gies a r e
discu ssed t h r ou gh ou t Ba iley's wr it in gs, bu t
m a y be gr a sped som ewh a t r ea dily fr om h er
E soteric Psych ology I an d II. Bla va t sky dea lt
w i t h t h e r e l a t i on s h i p of t h e s e v e n
d iffer en t ia t ed en er gy t yp es a n d t h e On e
Cr ea t or in Th e Secr et Doct r in e, expla in in g wh y
a seven t ypology is r eleva n t . Th is t h em e wa s
picked u p a n d ela bor a t ed in Ba iley's A T reatise
on Cosm ic Fire. Rea der s a r e a dvised t o st u dy
bot h Th e Secr et Doct r in e a n d A Tr ea t ise on
C os m i c F i r e for a m or e com p l e t e
u n der st a n din g of t h e r a ys.
H er e is a br ief list in g of t h e r a y t ypes.
Th ou gh t h es e en er gies m a k e t h em s elves H owever , it is fa ir ly ea sy t o see t h e gen t le
pr esen t on ever y level, wh ile st u dyin g t h is list a n d u s u a lly s p ir it u a l/ r eligiou s P is ces in
t h in k of t h em a s a bst r a ct qu a lit ies, n ot a s a ssocia t ion wit h t h e Love-Wisdom qu a lit y. Ca n
h u m a n ch a r a ct er ist ics qu it e yet . we see Act ive In t elligen ce in Ca n cer , Libr a ,
a n d Ca p r icor n ! Yes , s in ce t r a d it ion a lly a s
Ra y 1 Will or P ower ; In it ia t in g Ca u se; ca r din a l sign s t h ey a r e a ssocia t ed wit h a ct ion ,
L ib e r a t ion t h r ou gh d e s t r u ct ion of in d eed . Wh a t a bou t Ta u r u s , S cor p io, a n d
Sa git t a r iu s wit h Ra y 4! Well, Sa git t a r iu s a s a
h in dr a n ce; Cosm ic P u r pose.
m u t a b le s ign s u r e ly d e m on s t r a t e s t h e
Ra y 2 Love a n d Wisdom ; At t r a ct ive F or ce; ch a r a ct er ist ic of a r r ivin g a t h a r m on y t h r ou gh
In clu sive pr in ciple; Cosm ic P la n . in t er n a l con flict a n d a dju st m en t . Bu t Ta u r u s
Ra y 3 Act ivit y a n d In t elligen ce; Diver sit y in a n d Scor pio!
a ct ion ; Cosm ic Act ion . Aga in we n eed t h e esot er ic descr ipt ion of
Ra y 4 H a r m on y a r r ived a t t h r ou gh con flict ; t h e sign s t o loca t e t h e poin t of sim ila r it y.
Adju st m en t . Th e a bove a r e a few exa m ples of h ow
Ra y 5 Con cr et e Kn owledge; Cr ea t or of F a ct s; r ea der s u n fa m ilia r wit h t h e r a ys m a y begin t o
Cosm ic Det a il. p la y wit h t h e id ea s a n d s ee if a n y s en s e
Ra y 6 Aspir a t ion or Devot ion ; Th e Ur ge t o em er ges! Bu t lest t h e su bject m a t t er becom e
T r a n s ce n d ; I n ce n t i v e t o e ffor t ; t oo ea sy, m or e com plexit y is soon t o a r r ive.
E n t h u sia sm . On t op of t h e seven r a y t ypology, D.K. a lso
Ra y 7 Rit u a lized Or der ; Or ch est r a t ion of a dvoca t es a n ew syst em of pla n et a r y r u ler s for
for m s; Rh yt h m ic a ct ivit y. t h e s ign s . I n fa ct , h e p r op os es TWO n ew
F ig u re 1 is a dia gr a m sh owin g wh ich r a ys s ch em es of r u ler s h ip ! N ow, con t em p or a r y
a r e s a id t o m a n ifes t t h r ou gh wh ich s ign s . a st r ologer s a r e filled t o t h e gills wit h n ewly
pr oposed r u ler sh ip syst em s, so t h is t opic m a y
Cr ea t ed by Rober t Roosen , P h .D., esot er icist
elicit a h o-h u m r espon se fr om t h em . P er h a ps
a n d a s t r on om er , of S a n Diego, CA, (a n d
copyr igh t ed by h im , 1991), Roosen 's dia gr a m is
a u n iqu e a n d efficien t lea r n in g t ool for qu ickly
n ot in g t h e r a y t o sign r ela t ion sh ip. Th e sa m e
in for m a t ion a ppea r s in E A on p. 489 a n d p. 590
in a t a bu la t ion . H er e we ca n r ea dily gr a sp t h e
fa ct t h a t ea ch r a y expr esses t h r ou gh t h r ee
sign s, bu t t h a t som e sign s a r e a ssocia t ed wit h
on ly on e r a y, wh ile ot h er s a r e a ssocia t ed wit h
t wo, a n d t h a t on ly Sa git t a r iu s is a ssocia t ed
wit h t h r ee.
In a t t em pt in g t o con n ect t h e m ea n in gs of
t h e r a ys wit h t h e ch a r a ct er ist ics well-k n own
a n d lon g a ssocia t ed wit h t h e sign s, on e m a y
n ot ice t h a t e n t e r p r is in g, for ce fu l Ar ie s ,
d e t e r m in e d a n d s t r on g-w ille d L e o, a n d
execu t ive Ca pr icor n a ll a r e expr ession s of Ra y
1,Will or P ower . P er h a ps t h a t a ssocia t ion is
m or e r ea dily a ppa r en t t h a n t h e con n ect ion of
R a y 2 , L ov e -W i s d om , w i t h som et im es
disda in fu l Vir go a n d fr equ en t ly fickle Gem in i!
T o r e s olve t h is a p p a r e n t con flict , it is
n ecessa r y t o st u dy D.K's descr ipt ion s of h ow
t h e sign s fit in t o t h e la r ger pr ogr ess of t h e sou l
fr om on e in ca r n a t ion t o t h e n ext . a st r ologer s h a ve h ea r d it a ll; Vest a r u les Vir go,
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An In trod u ction to Alice B ailey’s E soteric Astrology J ou rn al of E soteric Psych ology • Volu m e 7 • N o. 2 • 1992
n o Vu lca n does, or Ch ir on r u les Sa git t a r iu s, or
P lu t o sh ou ld r ea lly be a ssocia t ed wit h Ar ies,
et c! So wh a t ca n be n ew or r eleva n t a lon g t h ese
lin es! Well, fir st of a ll, D.K.'s pr oposed n ew
s ys t em s wer e m a d e p u blic wit h t h e 1951
pu blica t ion of E sot er ic Ast r ology. Th u s h is
in for m a t ion is n ot pa r t of t h e m or e r ecen t wa ve
of in n ova t ion . Secon dly, t h e ba sis for u se of
t h e t wo p r op os ed s ys t em s is t h e fa ct t h a t
per son s va r y in r espon se t o sign s of t h e zodia c
a ccor din g t o t h eir st a ge of evolu t ion .
F or exa m ple, a ll a st r ologer s kn ow t h a t t h e
a t h let e a n d t h e cr ea t ive t h in ker wh o ea ch h a ve
t h e s u n in Ar ies , in s p it e of t h e s eem in g
differ en ces, bot h st ill expr ess t h e sa m e sign --
t h e a t h let e, t h r ou gh ph ysica l a ct ivit y, a n d t h e
t h in k er t h r ou gh in d ep en d en t in t ellect u a l
en d ea vor . Th ou gh t h e in t r ica cies of t h e
r espect ive a st r ologica l ch a r t s wou ld t ell t h e
wh ole st or y a s t o wh y, t h e t wo a r e r espon din g
t o t h e en er gies of t h e sa m e sign differ en t ly.
Th is exa m ple does n ot im ply t h a t a ll t h in k er s
a r e in h er en t ly m or e evolved t h a n a ll a t h let es.
R a t h e r , it s im p ly d e m on s t r a t e s t h e
p r in cip le of va r ia b le - r e s p on s e t o s ign
st im u la t ion .
D .K . s a ys t h a t w h e n a p e r s on , a s
r epr esen t a t ive of t h e in ca r n a t ed sou l, begin s t o
t a ke h er or h im self in h a n d a n d t o br in g a bou t
con ce r t e d d e v e l op m e n t t ow a r d h i g h e r
pot en t ia l, a t som e poin t differ en t pla n et a r y
a ssocia t ion s wit h t h e sign s a r e n ecessit a t ed for
a dequ a t e descr ipt ion of con sciou sn ess evolvin g
u n der t h a t zodia ca l in flu en ce. Th u s, h e sa ys,
a n evolvin g Ar ies will r ela t e m or e t o Mer cu r y
t h a n t o Ma r s, a P isces m or e t o P lu t o t h a n t o
Nept u n e, a n Aqu a r ia n m or e t o J u pit er t h a n t o
U r a n u s, a n d so on . Th is syst em h e ca lls t h e
E sot er ic Ru ler s of t h e Sign s.
T h e n , s a y s D .K , w h e n a u n i t of
con sciou sn ess begin s t o evolve so fa r t h a t it is
r a pidly em er gin g fr om t h e h u m a n k in gdom ,
yet a n ot h er syst em of r u ler sh ips per t a in s. Th is
on e h e ca lls t h e H ier a r ch ica l Ru ler s. Th e
pr ecise st a ge of developm en t a t wh ich t h ese
H ier a r ch ica l Ru ler s becom e r eleva n t m a y be
in fer r ed fr om r em a r k s on p. 163, E A, wh ich
im ply t h a t t h e t h ir d in it ia t ion is t h e poin t a t
wh ich t h is syst em a pplies. It m igh t , t h er efor e,
be con st r u ed t h a t t h ose wh o a r e a ppr oa ch in g
t h e t h ir d in it ia t ion , a n d t h ose beyon d, wou ld
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An In trod u ction to Alice B ailey’s E soteric Astrology J ou rn al of E soteric Psych ology • Volu m e 7 • N o. 2 • 1992
fin d m ea n in g in u se of t h e H ier a r ch ica l Ru ler s.
Th e exa ct r ole t o be pla yed by bot h t h e esot er ic
a n d h ie r a r ch ica l r u le r s in a s t r ologica l
in t er p r et a t ion a n d gu id a n ce h a s yet t o be
wor k ed ou t in en t ir et y by esot er ic a n d sou l-
cen t er ed a st r ologer s. On pa ges 513 - 514 of E A,
h owever , D.K. gives cer t a in d efin it e s t ep s
t owa r d t h is a ccom plish m en t . P r im a r ily, t h e
u s e of t h e n ew r u ler s h ip s con s is t s in t h e
con t r a s t of t h e ir m e a n in gs w it h t h e ir
cor r ela t ed t r a dit ion a l r u ler s.
F or exa m ple, n ew ligh t m a y be sh ed wh en
a Gem in i t h in k s of h er or h im self a s st r on gly
in flu en ced by Ven u s (Gem in i's esot er ic or sou l
r u ler ) in s t ea d of Mer cu r y (it s exot er ic or
per son a lit y r u ler ). Su dden ly, a ll t h e socia lizin g
a n d com m u n ica t ion t a k e on a m or e pu r posive
t on e. Or for yet a n ot h er exa m p le, a Libr a
r isin g in dividu a l will likewise see a n ot h er fa cet
of h er or h im self wh en a ssim ila t in g t h e fa ct
t h a t U r a n u s, r a t h er t h a n Ven u s, con dit ion s
fr om t h e s ou l level. Th en , s h e or h e m a y
u n der st a n d wh y s/h e h a s oft en been willin g t o
e n d a n ge r or s a cr ifice com for t a b le s ocia l
con n ect ion s in t h e pr om ot ion or pu r su it of
bet t er con dit ion s for h u m a n it y.
B e y on d t h i s t y p e of con t r a s t a n d
com p a r i s on , D . K i n d i ca t e s t h a t for
u n d er s t a n d in g of t h e d is cip le's life p a t h ,
a n ot h er level of com pa r ison is n eeded. To t h a t
en d , t h e S u n s ign wit h it s t r a d it ion a l or
exot er ic r u ler is con t r a st ed t o t h e Ascen da n t
wit h it s sou l or esot er ic r u ler . Th u s, a Su n
sign Scor pio wit h Ar ies r isin g wou ld com pa r e
P lu t o, t h e exot er ic r u ler of Scor pio, t o Mer cu r y,
t h e esot er ic Ascen da n t r u ler . S/h e m a y t h en
fin d t h a t t h e per son a lit y h a s a t en den cy t o get
wr a pped u p in em ot ion a l dr a m a a n d in t r igu es
of s ecr ecy, s ex, a n d p ower , wh ile t h e s ou l
vibr a t ion is in dica t in g t h a t it 's t im e t o focu s on
t h e m in d n a t u r e.
Below a r e a ll t h e r u ler sh ip syst em s, wit h
t h e exot er ic or t r a dit ion a l on es pla ced fir st ,
sin ce t h ey st ill per t a in t o m a ss h u m a n it y.
Ex o te ric Ru le rs h ip S y s te m
Ar ies Ma r s
Ta u r u s Ven u s
Gem in i Mer cu r y
Ca n cer Moon
Leo Su n
Vir go Mer cu r y An d wh a t of t h e u se of Vu lca n in t h e fir st
Libr a Ven u s pla ce! Th is celest ia l body r em a in s h ypot h et ica l
Scor pio P lu t o or u n k n own . H en ce n o st a n da r d eph em er is
Sa git t a r iu s J u pit er m a t er ia l exis t s for it , a n d t h is m a k es it
Ca pr icor n Sa t u r n difficu lt t o con fiden t ly in clu de Vu lca n in t h e
Aqu a r iu s Ur a n u s t yp e of a s t r ologica l ch a r t s we h a ve t od a y.
P isces Nept u n e H ea r sa y h a s it t h a t Vu lca n is n ever m or e t h a n
8 degr ees of zodia ca l lon git u de fr om t h e Su n .
Es o te ric Ru le rs h ip S y s te m Bu t t h is n ews is on ly m ea ger h elp if on e seeks
Ar ies Mer cu r y t o a t t em p t a ccu r a t e s t u d y of Vu lca n in
Ta u r u s Vu lca n in dividu a l ch a r t s. La ck of in for m a t ion a bou t
Gem in i Ven u s Vu lca n r em a in s a pr oblem in u sin g it for ch a r t
Ca n cer Nept u n e wor k, bu t per h a ps t h is will ch a n ge soon .
Leo Su n E a r t h , t oo, a ppea r s a s on e of t h e r egu la r
Vir go Moon pla n et a r y r u ler s, t h e u se of wh ich is a n ot h er
Libr a Ur a n u s depa r t u r e fr om t r a dit ion a l m et h ods. To pla ce
Scor pio Ma r s E a r t h in a ch a r t , in ser t a t t h e poin t opposit e
Sa git t a r iu s Earth t h e Su n t h e sym bol t r a dit ion a lly u sed for t h e
Ca pr icor n Sa t u r n P a r t of F or t u n e (a cr oss wit h in a cir cle), a lso
Aqu a r iu s J u pit er t h e a st r on om ica l sym bol for E a r t h .
P isces P lu t o E a r t h , like m ost of t h e r u ler s in t h ese t wo
sch em es, r u les on e sign esot er ica lly a n d yet
Hie ra rc h ic a l Ru le rs h ip S y s te m a n ot h er h ier a r ch ica lly -- Sa git t a r iu s in t h e fir st
Ar ies Ur a n u s ca se, a n d it s opposit e, or Gem in i, in t h e secon d.
Ta u r u s Vu lca n Th is seem s t o be a pa t t er n , a s U r a n u s goes
Gem in i Earth fr om esot er ic r u ler sh ip of Libr a t o h ier a r ch ica l
Ca n cer Nept u n e r u ler sh ip of Ar ies, t oo, bu t t h is pa t t er n doesn 't
Leo Su n a lwa ys a pply.
Vir go J u pit er T h ou g h u n a p p a r e n t , a n or g a n i z i n g
Libr a Sa t u r n p r in cip le p er h a p s ba s ed on u n s t a t ed r a y
Scor pio Mer cu r y r ela t ion sh ips m a y u n der lie t h e n ew r u ler sh ip
Sa git t a r iu s Ma r s syst em s. It m igh t expla in t h e r epea t ed r u ler s
Ca pr icor n Ven u s m e n t ion e d t h r e e p a r a gr a p h s a b ove . I t
Aqu a r iu s Moon d efin it ely h a s s om et h in g t o d o wit h t h e
P isces P lu t o a r r a n gem en t of t h e h ier a r ch ica l r u ler s, for in
t h is list t h er e a r e pla n et s a n d sign s of t h e
A few com m en t s a r e in or der . It is t r u e sa m e r a ys a ssocia t ed. F or exa m ple, 7t h Ra y
t h a t cer t a in exot er ic a n d esot er ic r u ler s a r e t h e U r a n u s is pa ir ed wit h Ar ies, wh ich m a n ifest s
sa m e, su ch a s Sa t u r n for Ca pr icor n a n d t h e Ra ys 7 a n d 1. Th ir d Ra y Sa t u r n lin k s t o 3r d
Su n for Leo in t h ose list s, or Vu lca n for bot h Ra y Libr a ; 4t h Ra y Mer cu r y wit h 4t h Ra y
t h e esot er ic a n d h ier a r ch ica l r u ler s of Ta u r u s, S cor p io; a n d 6t h Ra y Ma r s t ies u p wit h
a n d N ep t u n e a s t h e s a m e for Ca n cer . DK Sa git t a r iu s of t h e sa m e r a y. Cer t a in ly t h is is a
in d ica t es in va r iou s p a s s a ges t h a t s u ch sim plifica t ion wh er e com plexit y r eign ed befor e,
p a t t e r n s h old s ign ifica n ce for t h e s ign s a sh ift a lt oget h er con sist en t wit h wh a t we
in volved. Con sider a t ion of t h a t specia l t opic wou ld expect of con sciou sn ess a t t h e t h ir d
m u st be set a side in a n in t r odu ct ion of t h is in it ia t ion or beyon d. F or a s D.K st a t es on p.
n a t u r e, bu t r ea der s sh ou ld be a ppr ised of t h is 149 of T h e R ays an d T h e In itiation s, “Ad van ce
poin t . in to th e w orld of spiritu al valu es an d in to th e
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An In trod u ction to Alice B ailey’s E soteric Astrology J ou rn al of E soteric Psych ology • Volu m e 7 • N o. 2 • 1992
realm of triad al existen ce (in w h ich th e in itiate
m ov es ), i s d ef i n i t el y a n a d v a n ce i n t o
sim plicity."
Bu t ba ck t o t h e pla n et a r y r u ler s, wh ich
lik e t h e sign s t h em selves, a r e r ela t ed t o t h e
r a ys a n d a r e dist r ibu t or s of a ssocia t ed r a y
en er gies. H er e a r e t h e cor r ela t ion s:
T h e Plan ets an d th e R ays
Ra y 1 P lu t o a n d Vu lca n
Ra y 2 Su n a n d J u pit er
Ra y 3 Sa t u r n a n d E a r t h
Ra y 4 Mer cu r y a n d Moon
Ra y 5 Ven u s
Ra y 6 Nept u n e a n d Ma r s
Ra y 7 Ur a n u s
As you ca n see, t h e level of com plexit y
in cr ea ses gr ea t ly a t t h is poin t , for t h e r a ys
a ssocia t ed wit h t h e pla n et s a r e n ot t h e sa m e a s
t h e r a ys a ssocia t ed wit h t h e sign s r u led eit h er
t r a dit ion a lly, esot er ica lly, or h ier a r ch ica lly by
t h a t sa m e pla n et .
F or exa m ple, Ven u s, dist r ibu t in g Ra y 5,
t r a dit ion a lly r u les Libr a (Ra y 3 on t h e Roosen
dia gr a m ), esot er ica lly r u les Gem in i (Ra y 2 on
t h e dia gr a m ), a n d h ier a r ch ica lly Ca pr icor n
(Ra ys 3 a n d 7). So h er e we h a ve a 5t h Ra y
pla n et con n ect ed wit h sign s of Ra ys 3, 2 a n d 7.
Ag a i n , t h e or g a n i z i n g p r i n ci p l e i s n 't
im m edia t ely a ppa r en t . P er h a ps a wor k a ble
a ppr oa ch is t o pr ovision a lly a ccept t h e r a y
a ssocia t ion s a n d exper im en t wit h t h em , u n t il
gr ea t er u n der st a n din g is a va ila ble.
Bu t r ea der s sh ou ld a lso k n ow t h a t D.K.
in dica t es t h a t t h e pla n et s pick u p a ddit ion a l
r a y color in gs t h r ou gh t h eir a ssocia t ion s wit h
t h e s ign s . F or exa m p le, U r a n u s , n or m a lly
dist r ibu t in g Ra y 7, a lso ca n be u n der st ood a s
r ela yin g Ra y 3 fr om Libr a (wh ich it r u les
esot er ica lly) a n d Ra y 1 fr om Ar ies (wh ich it
r u les h ier a r ch ica lly), or even Ra y 5 fr om
Aqu a r iu s (wh ich it r u les exot er ica lly). Or in
t h e ca se of Ma r s, wh ich n or m a lly dist r ibu t es
Ra y 6, we ca n see t h a t it m a y a ddit ion a lly
im p a r t Ra y 4 t h r ou gh it s con n ect ion wit h
Scor pio (wh ich it r u les esot er ica lly), or Ra y 5
t h r ou gh it s con n ect ion wit h Sa git t a r iu s (wh ich
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An In trod u ction to Alice B ailey’s E soteric Astrology J ou rn al of E soteric Psych ology • Volu m e 7 • N o. 2 • 1992
it r u les h ier a r ch ica lly, a n d wh ich it self a lso
expr esses Ra ys 4 a n d 6), or even Ra ys 1 a n d 7
t h r ou gh Ar ies (wh ich it r u les exot er ica lly).
Yet a n ot h er con sider a t ion per t a in s t o t h is
t opic of sign a n d pla n et lin ka ge, a n d t h a t is t h e
in t r igu in g a n d ba fflin g m a t t er of wh a t D.K.
ca lls "veilin g." H e in d ica t es in n u m er ou s
pa ssa ges t h r ou gh ou t E sot er ic Ast r ology t h a t
t h e Su n , t h e Moon , a n d som et im es Vu lca n
st a n d for or im ply ("veil”) Ur a n u s or Nept u n e,
or bot h (or even t h a t Vu lca n ca n st a n d for t h e
Su n ). Th ou gh a ppea r in g con t r a dict or y, D.K.'s
st a t em en t s pr oba bly depen d on t h e con t ext , or
in t h is ca se, t h e specific a st r ologica l sign u n der
discu ssion for cla r ifica t ion .
N on et h eless, t h e possibilit y t h a t on e body
m a y r epr esen t a n ot h er br in gs in yet a n ot h er
a ven u e by wh ich sign s m a y becom e r ela t ed on e
t o a n ot h er (a t ech n iqu e wh ich is m or e fu lly
discu ssed below). F or exa m ple, if t h e Moon a s
es ot er ic r u ler of Vir go r ea lly r ep r es en t s
Vu lca n , t h en Ta u r u s (r u led es ot er ica lly by
Vu lca n ) a n d Vir go h a ve a u n iqu e lin ka ge. Or if
a s esot er ic r u ler of Vir go t h e Moon is m ea n t t o
be Ur a n u s, or Nept u n e, t h en Vir go wou ld h a ve
yet a n ot h er s p ecia l t ie in wit h Libr a a n d
Ca n cer (ea ch esot er ica lly r u led by t h e t wo la st
m en t ion ed).
N ot on ly m a y t h e Moon im ply U r a n u s or
Nept u n e, so m a y a lso t h e Su n (p. 306, E A), a s
ea r lier st a t ed. An d t h is veilin g of U r a n u s a n d
N ept u n e t a k es on sign a l im por t a n ce wh en we
bea r in m in d t h a t t h ese t wo pla n et s sym bolize
a r ch et yp a l s t a ges on t h e P a t h of Ret u r n .
N ep t u n e d es cr ibes m ys t ica l con s ciou s n es s ,
sen sit ivit y, t h e r ecogn it ion of du a lit y, a n d t h e
a ct ivit y of m edia t or sh ip. Ur a n u s, on t h e ot h er
h a n d, st a n ds for occu lt con sciou sn ess, scien t ific
a t -on e-m en t of h igh er a n d lower s elf, a n d
in t elligen t u se of t h e m in d (pp. 306307, E A).
Th ese dist in ct ion s ca r r y specia l sign ifica n ce for
st u den t s of esot er icism a n d a spir a n t s t o t h e
Myst er ies.
I t m a y be t h a t t h e S u n veils N ep t u n e
esot er ica lly (t h a t is, u p t h r ou gh t h e secon d
in it ia t ion ), wh ile veilin g Ur a n u s h ier a r ch ica lly
(in t o a n d beyon d t h e t h ir d in it ia t ion ), sin ce t h e
h ea r t of t h e Su n wor k s t h r ou gh N ept u n e a n d
t h e cen t r a l spir it u a l Su n t h r ou gh U r a n u s (p.
2 9 6 , E A). S t u d e n t s a n d d is cip le s m igh t
exper im en t wit h r epla cin g t h eir own Su n s in
t h eir a st r ologica l ch a r t s wit h Nept u n e.
F r om wh a t we cu r r en t ly k n ow a bou t
N e p t u n e , t h i s w ou l d i n d i ca t e b ot h
vu ln er a bilit y t o t h e gla m ou r s of t h eir Su n sign
a n d a lso r igh t in spir a t ion by it s h igh est idea ls,
a s expr essed by t h e Su n Sign . F or exa m ple, a
Su n sign Ca pr icor n wou ld be a ler t ed t o t h e
gla m ou r s of execu t ive a n d lea der sh ip posit ion ,
wh ile n ot in g h ow a ppr opr ia t e in deed a r e t h e
vir t u es of self-disciplin e.
Cer t a in ly t h e com plexit y of r u ler sh ips a n d
a ssocia t ion s a m on g sign s, r a ys, a n d pla n et s
s e r ve s t o m a k e a b u n d a n t ly cle a r t h e
in t er r ela t edn ess of a ll fa ct or s wit h in exist en ce.
Bu t t h e fu n ct ion of veilin g in pa r t icu la r is a
m et h od of a ccou n t in g for t h e fa ct of va r ia ble
r espon se, a s ea r lier discu ssed. In t h e ca se of
t h e Moon , D.K sa ys t h a t it veils Vu lca n for t h e
u n developed su bject , wh ile it veils U r a n u s for
t h e a d va n ced on e (p . 13, E A). An d in t h e
exa m p le a bove, we s a w h ow t h e S u n m a y
in dica t e on e t h in g (N ept u n e) u p t h r ou gh t h e
secon d in it ia t ion , a n d a n ot h er (Ur a n u s) beyon d
t h a t poin t . In deed, esot er ic a st r ology is a n
in t r ica t e s ys t e m b u ilt on m a n y s u b t le
pr oposit ion s t h a t we ca n on ly h ope t o r evea l
t h r ou gh fu r t h er st u dy.
Th ou gh t h is syst em m a y seem bewilder in g
a t fir st pa ss, it does con t a in cer t a in m or e ea sily
discer n ed in t egr a t in g pr in ciples. On e of t h ese
is t h e wa y in wh ich sign s m a y be r ela t ed t o on e
a n ot h er t h r ou gh t h e m u lt ilevel r u ler sh ip
a r r a n gem en t .
In t h is wa y, on e fin ds t h a t Ar ies (wh ose
t r a d it ion a l r u ler is Ma r s , es ot er ic r u ler
Mer cu r y, a n d h ier a r ch ica l r u ler U r a n u s )
t h er efor e con n ect s wit h Scor pio (esot er ic r u ler
Ma r s a n d h ier a r ch ica l r u ler Mer cu r y), Gem in i
a n d Vir go (t r a d it ion a l r u le r s M e r cu r y),
Aqu a r iu s (t r a d it ion a l r u ler U r a n u s ), Libr a
(e s ot e r ic r u le r U r a n u s ), a n d S a git t a r iu s
(h ier a r ch ica l r u ler Ma r s ). Th e or ga n izin g
pr in ciple h er e is t h e sh a r in g of a n y t ype of
r u ler . Th is t ype of m a t ch in g ca n be don e wit h
a ll t h e sign s a n d h a s a s it s pu r pose t h e ga in in g
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An In trod u ction to Alice B ailey’s E soteric Astrology J ou rn al of E soteric Psych ology • Volu m e 7 • N o. 2 • 1992
of in sigh t in t o issu es r ela t in g t o t h e evolu t ion
of t h e sou l t h r ou gh ou t t im e. An in t r odu ct ion of
t h is len gt h ca n on ly h in t a t t h e wor k in gs of
t h is pa r t of esot er ic a st r ology. It is h oped t h a t
t h e idea s sh a r ed h er e will st im u la t e cu r iosit y
a n d fu r t h er r ea din g.
Bu t a ga in , wh y wou ld on e wa n t t o u se t h is
syst em of a st r ologica l t h ou gh t ? D.K.'s a n swer
t h r ou gh Ba iley is t h a t , a s id e fr om it s a ll
im por t a n t fu n ct ion a s a st im u la n t t o syn t h et ic
t h ou gh t , esot er ic a st r ology r epr esen t s a m or e
wor k a ble scien ce of en er gy im pa ct s for t h ose
wh o a r e begin n in g t o pu r posefu lly t r a n scen d
t h e com m on h u m a n lim it a t ion s. In clu ded in
t h is gr ou p wou ld be per son s wh o follow som e
t ype of spir it u a l pa t h a n d it s disciplin es, ot h er s
wh o m a y n ot follow a n ea s ily d is cer n a ble
spir it u a l pa t h bu t wh o a r e deeply dedica t ed t o
t h e welfa r e of t h e wor ld (su ch a s a r e cer t a in
p olit icia n s a n d lea d er s of m a n y t yp es ), or
scien t ist s, a r t ist s, a n d m a t h em a t icia n s wh o a r e
ben t on d is cover in g t h e n ext evolu t ion a l
pr in ciple n eeded by h u m a n it y. Th er e a r e n o
d ou bt ot h er ca t egor ies a s well, bu t t h es e
m en t ion ed will be su ggest ive.
Su ch per son s a r e sa id t o be pr oceedin g in
t h e opposit e dir ect ion fr om m a ss h u m a n it y in
t er m s of gr owt h a n d developm en t . Wh er ea s t h e
m a ss m a y seek com for t a n d secu r it y, ch ose for
wh om t h e esot er ic syst em is design ed will pu t
for t h m u ch effor t t o fu r t h er som e a spect of
h u m a n liber a t ion . Th u s, D.K. sa ys, t h ey h a ve
"r ever sed t h e wh eel of life a r e sym bolica lly
goin g t h e ot h er wa y, a n d a r e n ot look in g for
t h e sa m e t h in gs a s a r e t h e m a sses.
Tr a n sla t in g t h is con cept in t o t h e zodia c,
D.K. sa ys t h a t m a ss h u m a n it y m oves t h r ou gh
t h e zodia c wit h t h e dir ect ion of t h e equ in oct ia l
p r eces s ion , i.e. fr om Ar ies , t o P is ces , t o
Aqu a r iu s, a n d so on . H owever , t h e ser ver s of
t h e r a ce m ove a ga in st t h e t ide, for cin g a n ew
wa ve so t o spea k , a n d t h ey t r a vel fr om Ar ies,
t o Ta u r u s, t o Gem in i, a n d so on . Th is con cept
of m ovin g a r ou n d t h e wh eel of t h e zodia c ca n
on ly r efer t o pr ogr ess m a de fr om lifet im e t o
lifet im e in t h e sou l's m a n y r ein ca r n a t ion s. Th e
r e la t ive ly a d va n ce d , goin g a ga in s t t h e
dir ect ion of m a ss u n t h in k in gn ess, seek a n ew
dir ect ion a n d h en ce m eet t h e r esist a n ce in t h e
for m of en t r en ch ed idea s a n d r igid in st it u t ion s.
Th eir p r ogr es s m a y t h u s be s lowed , bu t
esot er ica lly discer n a ble, a s it pr oceeds in t h e
so-ca lled r ever sed dir ect ion .
Th is poin t br in gs u p t h e qu est ion of h ow
in deed t o discer n t h e dir ect ion a n in dividu a l is
t r a velin g wit h in t h e zod ia c, or t o s t a t e it
a n ot h er less poet ic wa y, wh a t object ive t h e sou l
h a s been pr im a r ily seek in g over n u m er ou s
in ca r n a t ion s.
It is possible t h a t t h is det er m in a t ion m a y
be m a d e wit h t h e com bin a t ion of s ever a l
esot er ic a n a lyt ica l pr ocedu r es r ela t in g t o t h e
ch a r t , bu t wh ich h a ve n ot h er e been discu ssed
yet . An ot h er , less a bst r a ct wa y, h in ges a r ou n d
t h e a n swer in g of qu est ion s a bou t t h e gen er a l
t r en d a n d in t er est s of t h e in dividu a l in t h e
lifet im e a t h a n d.
I f t h e i n d i v i d u a l i s fou n d t o b e
u n a ba s h ed ly s eek in g h er or h is p er s on a l
a dva n t a ge over t h e good of t h e wh ole, it is
pr oba ble t h a t su ch a per son is ca r r ied by t h e
m a ss, u n t h in k in g dir ect ion . If, on t h e ot h er
h a n d, a m ea su r e of a lt r u ism a n d self-gu ida n ce
is pr esen t , t h e r ever sed (i.e. Ar ies-Ta u r u s-
Gem in i-et c.) dir ect ion is likely in dica t ed.
Ba iley's E sot er ic Ast r ology con t a in s r ich
r esou r ces for t h e developm en t of a t ech n iqu e t o
s olve t h e d ilem m a of h ow t o d et ect t h e
in d ivid u a l's d ir ect ion a n d t o a n s wer t h is
qu est ion in a m or e object ive m a n n er , t h r ou gh
t h e in spect ion of t h e ch a r t for m a n y t h em es
wh ich a r e sa id t o in dica t e pot en t spir it u a l or
evolu t ion a l s t r ivin g. Th e p r om in en ce of
cer t a in sign s, t h e em ph a sis or la ck of it on
cer t a in cr osses (t h e m oda lit ies, or ca r din a l,
fixed, a n d m u t a ble sign s), cer t a in pla n et a r y
com bin a t ion s, in t er n a l geom et r ic pa t t er n s in
t h e ch a r t (p.305, E A), a n d r ela t ion sh ips t o
specific st a r s (p. 137, E A) m a y a ll on e da y be
u s ed t o m a k e t h e d et er m in a t ion a bou t a
p er s on 's p la ce on t h e r ein ca r n a t ion a l a n d
zodia ca l pa t h .
At t h is p oin t , a d is cu s s ion a bou t t h e
im plica t ion s of su ch a t ech n iqu e is im per a t ive.
F ea r s t h a t t h is t ech n iqu e m igh t be u sed t o
u n fa ir ly a n d fa lsely iden t ify a n elit e gr ou p a r e
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An In trod u ction to Alice B ailey’s E soteric Astrology J ou rn al of E soteric Psych ology • Volu m e 7 • N o. 2 • 1992
u n der st a n da ble. N ew Ager s a n d pr ogr essive
people of a ll per su a sion s h a ve wor ked lon g a n d
h a r d co e r a s e t h e in w a r d a n d ou t w a r d
m ech a n ism s of pr eju dice, a n d t h u s a r e loa t h e
even t o con sider a syst em of t h ou gh t wh ich
m igh t s eem t o p os it a n yt h in g lik e s p ecia l
st a t u s for on ly a few. Th is lin e of t h in k in g is
wise. It sh ows a n u n der lyin g sen sit ivit y t o t h e
in n a t e divin it y a n d u n lim it ed pot en t ia l of a ll
p e r s on s , n o m a t t e r w h a t t h e ir w or ld ly
a ppea r a n ce m a y be. N on et h eless, t h e fa ct of
differ in g levels of developm en t a n d m ot iva t ion
t owa r d t h e good of t h e wh ole r em a in s.
Th e lit er a t u r e of con t em por a r y cou n selin g
a s t r ology h a s a d d r es s ed a n d con t in u es t o
a ddr ess t h is issu e. In or der t r u ly t o ser ve t h e
clien t , cou n selin g a st r ologer s k n ow well t h a t
t h ey m u st spea k t o t h e clien t a t t h e level of t h e
clien t 's in t er est a n d fu n ct ion in g. It is of n o u se,
s a y, t o r ecom m en d Ba ch a s h elp wit h a
N ept u n e t r a n sit t o som eon e wh ose m u sica l
t a st es r u n t owa r d Cou n t r y. Lik ewise, it is
dest r u ct ive a n d in su lt in g t o su ggest t h a t a n ew
r om a n t ic r ela t ion sh ip wou ld be a n ew lea se on
life, wh ils t U r a n u s t r a n s it s Ven u s , t o a
m a r r ied m a n wit h five ch ildr en . On t h e ot h er
h a n d, ju st su ch a su ggest ion t o a sin gle per son
w h o h a s ju s t com p le t e d t h r e e ye a r s of
cloist er ed st u dy in a doct or a l pr ogr a m cou ld be
r igh t on t h e m a r k ! Th es e exa m p les a r e
in t en ded a s dem on st r a t ion s of h ow im por t a n t
it is t o spea k t o t h e clien t a t t h e level of r ea l
n eed, bu t t h ey do n ot sh ow u s a n yt h in g a bou t
t h e la r ger issu e of det ect in g dir ect ion on t h e
wh eel of life. Th e poin t in u sin g t h ese exa m ples
is sim ply t o por t r a y h ow a n a dm ission of t h e
fa ct of differ in g levels does n ot n ecessa r ily
in volve da n ger ou s or u n kin d discr im in a t ion .
An y r ea der s con cer n ed a bou t t h is seem in g
discr im in a t ion bet ween t h ose a dva n ced a n d
t h ose n ot m igh t feel bet t er wh en you h ea r t h a t
it 's n ot ju st people, bu t a lso P LAN E TS, wh o
u n der go su ch scr u t in y in esot er ic a st r ology! In
fa ct , t h e pla n et s in ou r sola r syst em fa ll in t o
t wo gr ou ps, t h e sa cr ed a n d t h e n on -sa cr ed. A
sa cr ed pla n et is on e wit h in wh ich a ll life for m s
a n d con sciou sn ess h a ve r ea ch ed a cer t a in level,
or wh ich in ot h er wor d s h a ve u n d er gon e
cer t a in in it ia t ion s . H er e is a lis t of t h e
sa cr ed/n on -sa cr ed division .
S a c re d P la n e ts
Vu lca n M e r cu r y Ve n u s J u p it e r Saturn
Nept u n e Ur a n u s
N o n -S a c re d P la n e ts
Ma r s E a r t h P lu t o Moon Su n
Th e division of t h e pla n et s in t o t h e sa cr ed
a n d n on -s a cr ed h a s s p ecia l r eleva n ce for
lea r n in g a bou t t h e ext en sive Life t h a t is ou r
s ola r s ys t em . I t a ls o is t o be u s ed for
u n d e r s t a n d in g of in d ivid u a l a s t r ologica l
in dica t ion s, D.K. sa ys (p.506 E A), wit h t h e
n on -sa cr ed pla n et s st im u la t in g t h e for m side of
exist en ce a n d t h e sa cr ed pla n et s a ct iva t in g t h e
spir it .
E sot er ic Ast r ology goes on t o expla in t h a t
t h e pla n et s a r e equ iva len t t o t h e ch a k r a s in
t h e Bein g ca lled t h e Sola r Logos wh ose body is
ou r sola r syst em . Th e r ela t ive st a t u s of t h e
pla n et s, t h en , in dica t es wh ich ch a k r a s wit h in
t h e Sola r Logos a r e a ct iva t ed m or e fu lly. As is
in dica t ed t h r ou gh ou t Ba iley's A Tr ea t ise on
Cosm ic F ir e, t h e visible pla n et s of ou r cu r r en t
sola r syst em a r e in ca r n a t ion s ea ch of va st
evolvin g con sciou sn esses ca lled t h e P la n et a r y
Logo.
E a ch P la n et a r y Logos, in t u r n , expr esses
it self t h r ou gh a pla n et a r y sch em e, com posed of
49 in dividu a l globes (or pla n et s). Th ese 43
globes a r e fu r t h er divided in t o 7 ch a in s, ea ch
con sist in g of 7 globes. As t im e a n d syst em ic
evolu t ion u n fold, t h e va r iou s sch em es, ch a in s,
a n d globes a r e br ou gh t in t o fu ll a ct iva t ion . Bu t
ea ch of t h e sch em es, a n d t h u s t h eir ch a in s a n d
globes, evolve a t dissim ila r pa ces. Th a t is wh y
t h e p r es en t ly k n own p la n et s of t h e s ola r
syst em , wh ich a ll r epr esen t differ en t pla n et a r y
sch em es, a r e sa id t o be a t differ en t st a ges of
evolu t ion (pp. 690 - 633, E A). Su ch con cept s
h a ve n ot been com m on ly a s s ocia t ed wit h
a st r ology, bu t t h ey ca n open u p t h e wa y for a
fa r gr a n d er vis ion of ou r p la ce wit h in t h e
Wh ole, wh ich is t h e in t en ded pu r pose for t h is
t ype of a st r ologica l a ppr oa ch .
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An In trod u ction to Alice B ailey’s E soteric Astrology J ou rn al of E soteric Psych ology • Volu m e 7 • N o. 2 • 1992
In t h is expa n ded con t ext of syst em ic a n d
cosm ic en vir on m en t , Ba iley's esot er ic a st r ology
goes a st ep fu r t h er , r ela t in g t h e pla n et s in ou r
sola r syst em t o ea ch ot h er , zodia ca l sign s, t o
n on -eclipt ic con st ella t ion s, a n d in dividu a l st a r s
in wh a t is ca lled Th e Scien ce of Tr ia n gles. (It
sh ou ld be n ot ed t h a t t h is con cept is n ot t h e
sa m e a s t h e geom et r ica l r ela t ion sh ip ca lled t h e
t r in e in t r a dit ion a l a st r ology. In st ea d, Th e
Scien ce of Tr ia n gles in gen er a l, wh et h er in
r ega r d t o cosm ic or syst em ic r ela t ion sh ips,
d e s cr i b e s l i n e s of for ce l i n k i n g t h e
con sciou sn ess of va st , collect ive Lives.) F or
exa m ple, a t r ia n gle exist s bet ween t h e st a r s of
Th e Gr ea t Bea r (Ur sa Ma jor ), t h e con st ella t ion
(a n d h en ce r epr esen t a t ive sign ) Ar ies, a n d t h e
p la n et P lu t o. An ot h er t ies t oget h er Th e
P leia des, Ca n cer , a n d Ven u s. Yet a t h ir d
u n it es Sir iu s, Leo, a n d J u pit er . As t h e r ea der
ca n d ed u ce, t h es e p a r t icu la r t r ia n gles ca ll
a t t en t ion t o con n ect ion s bet ween n on -eclipt ic
con s t ella t ion s , zod ia ca l s ign s (r ep r es en t in g
eclipt ic con st ella t ion s), a n d pla n et s wit h in ou r
sola r syst em .
Ot h er t r ia n gles in volve h u m a n it y a s on e
poin t of con t a ct . F or exa m ple, D.K iden t ifies a
r e la t ion of im p or t a n ce b e t w e e n Alcyon e,
Aqu a r iu s , a n d h u m a n it y (p . 200 E A); a n d
lik ewise a n ot h er lin k in g Ca pr icor n , Mer cu r y,
a n d h u m a n it y (p. 435-437 E A).
All t h ese t r iplicit ies dr a m a t ize t h e cen t r a l
t h esis of esot er ic a st r ology, t h e cir cu la t ion of
cosm ic en er gies in a n or der ly a n d m ea n in gfu l
p r ogr e s s ion . T h is p r ogr e s s ion fin d s it s
cor r ela t ion in t h e som ewh a t wid ely k n own
a ct ion of t h e k u n da lin i for ce in t h e h u m a n
or ga n ism . As ku n da lin i m a kes it s wa y t h r ou gh
t h e h u m a n syst em , it does so in a pa t t er n of
a ct ivit y, cr ea t in g u n iqu e r ela t ion sh ips bet ween
cer t a in cen t er s or ch a k r a s in t h e in dividu a l.
Cosm ic en er gies r ou gh ly cor r espon din g t o t h e
k u n da lin i for ce a lso m a k e t h eir wa y t h r ou gh
livin g cen t er s wit h in t h e gr a n d body t h a t is t h e
r obe of t h e Cr ea t or . Th e Scien ce of Tr ia n gles is
m ea n t t o s h ow s u ch cos m ic r ela t ion s h ip s
u n foldin g.
Mor e a k in t o wh a t ea r lier wa s ca lled
esot er ic a st r on om y, Th e Scien ce of Tr ia n gles
cer t a in ly isn 't t h e u su a l t er r it or y t r ea t ed in
la t e 20t h cen t u r y a st r ology. Non et h eless, on p.
347 of E A, D.K. t ells u s t h a t Th e Scien ce of
t r ia n gles "w ill be far th e m ost im portan t aspect
of th e teach in g on esoteric astrology an d th e on e
w h ich w ill be th e first to be grasped by m od ern
astrology."
Th ose sch ooled in t h e pr esen t a st r ology
will won der h ow su ch esot er ic con cept s a s Th e
S cien ce of Tr ia n gles a n d ot h er m et h od s
m en t ion ed in t h is in t r odu ct ion ca n be br ou gh t
t o im m edia t e u sefu ln ess. Th er e a r e a t lea st
t h r ee wa ys in wh ich t h is m a y be don e. F ir st ,
esot er ic con cept s m a y be u sed a s m edit a t ive
t ools. F or exa m ple, on e m igh t sim ply bea r in
m in d t h e p ot en t ia l m ea n in g of on e of t h e
t r ia n gles for a ch a r t in wh ich on e or m or e of
t h e poin t s of t h e t r ia n gle figu r e pr om in en t ly.
Th u s, a n Aqu a r ia n m igh t lik e t o spen d som e
con t em pla t ive t im e m u llin g over t h e im por t of
t h e Alcyon e-Aqu a r iu s-h u m a n it y a r r a n gem en t
m en t ion ed ea r lier . Or , t h e a st r ologer cou ld do
t h is for a clien t , n ot in g a ppr opr ia t e t h em es t o
la t er be sh a r ed in cou n selin g wit h t h e clien t .
Yet a n ot h er m edit a t ive t ool is t o be fou n d in
con t em pla t ion of t h e t h em es r ela t ed t o ea ch
sign . Th ese t h em es a r e fu lly t r ea t ed in Ba iley's
E sot er ic Ast r ology a n d a r e fu r t h er ela bor a t ed
ot h er fa ct or s in t h e ch a r t . F r om t h e a n gle of
esot er icism , t h is pa st ba ck gr ou n d r efer s t o
t en d en cies exp er ien ced in p r eviou s lives .
Ma n y con t em por a r y a st r ologer s a r e a lr ea dy
qu ir e com for t a bly u sin g t h e lu n a r sym bolism
a s a key n ot on ly t o ch ildh ood developm en t a n d
fa m ily con dit ion in g, bu t a lso t o cir cu m st a n ces
of t h e sou l's evolu t ion in pr eviou s in ca r n a t ion s.
In t h is sim ila r it y, so-ca lled "t r a dit ion a l" a n d
esot er ic a st r ology m eet .
Lik ewis e, cu r r en t a s t r ologica l t h in k in g
sh ou ld h a ve lit t le or n o difficu lt y in t egr a t in g
t h e u se of t h e Su n sign a s pr esen t a n d t h e
As cen d a n t a s fu t u r e. I n fa ct , t h es e ch a r t
fa ct or s a r e som et im es discu ssed in ju st t h is
wa y. P er h a ps t h e esot er ic a ppr oa ch a dds a n ew
n ot e wh en a d voca t in g t h e As cen d a n t a s
in d ica t ive of t h e s ou l's q u a lit y a n d in
descr ibin g t h is fu r t h er wit h t h e a ssocia t ed r a y
qu a lit y, t h ou gh a st r ologica l dedu ct ion of sou l,
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An In trod u ction to Alice B ailey’s E soteric Astrology J ou rn al of E soteric Psych ology • Volu m e 7 • N o. 2 • 1992
in h er book en t it led T h e L abou rs of H ercu les
(i n w h i ch H e r cu l e s s t a n d s for e v e r y
m a n /wom a n in h is/h er sou l st r u ggle t owa r d
self-per fect ion ). Sin ce t h e esot er ic sign t h em es
closely pa r a llel fa m ilia r sign t h em es u sed by
m oder n psych ologica l a st r ology, t h is pa r t icu la r
com p on en t . Of es ot er ic a s t r ology is qu it e
r e a d ily a p p lica b le t o ch a r t w or k a s w e
cu r r en t ly u n d er s t a n d it for on es elf or for
clien t s.
Th e secon d wa y in wh ich esot er ic con cept s
m a y be in t egr a t ed in t o exist in g a st r ologica l
t h ou gh t a n d t ech n iqu e em ploys idea s so n ea r
t o t h ose of pr esen t da y a st r ologer s t h a t n o
differ en ce m a y be per ceived a t a ll. D.K. st a t es
sim ply t h a t for t h e m ost ba sic u n der st a n din g,
on e sh ou ld st u dy t h e Moon a s t h e in dica t or of
t h e per son 's pa st a n d it s lim it a t ion s, t h e Su n
a s t h e in dica t or of h er or h is pr esen t a bilit ies,
a n d t h e Ascen da n t a s a n in dica t or of fu t u r e
p os s ib ilit ie s or t h e w a y in w h ich t h e
r ein ca r n a t in g sou l is a t t em pt in g t o em er ge
t h r ou gh t h e ea r t h ly per son a lit y n ow (pp 18 -
19, E A).
Con t em por a r y a st r ologica l lit er a t u r e h a s
well es t a blis h ed t h e fa ct t h a t a p er s on 's
ba ck gr ou n d is sym bolized by t h e Moon 's sign ,
h ou se posit ion , a n d it s a spect s t o pla n et s a n d
p e r s on a lit y, a n d ve h icle r a ys ,r e m a in s
u n cer t a in a n d is a s yet on ly a n em er gin g a r t .
Bu t su r ely t h e Ascen da n t ca n be u n der st ood a s
a pivot a l qu a lit y wh ich is em er gin g in t h e
in dividu a l, a s t h a t wh ich is com in g t o be, or
even st r u gglin g t o a t t a in m a n ifest a t ion .
Th e t h ir d wa y in wh ich esot er ic con cept s
m a y be r ea dily a pplied h a s been m en t ion ed
ea r lier , a n d dea ls wit h t h e com pa r ison of Su n
a n d Ascen da n t sign s a n d t h eir exot er ic a n d
esot er ic r u ler s.
Th r ou gh Alice Ba iley, t h e Ma st er D.K. h a s
sa id t h a t t h e sou l's effor t t o em er ge t h r ou gh
t h e per son a lit y is sym bolized by t h e r ela t ion s
b e t w e e n t h e As ce n d a n t a n d t h e S u n ,
sym bolica lly a n d psych ologica lly u n der st ood.
F u r t h er , h e h a s in d ica t ed n ew field s of
a wa r en ess, t h ose flowin g fr om cosm ic cen t er s
su ch a s st a r s a n d n on -eclipt ic con st ella t ion s,
wh ich becom e sen sible for per son s of a dva n ced
in it ia t or y st a n din g. If t h e esot er ic a st r ologica l
a p p r oa ch ca n t h r ow ligh t on t h es e fa ct s
t h r ou gh m et h ods m en t ion ed h er e a n d m or e
fu lly in t h e sou r ce t ext , su r ely it is wor t h t h e
a t t en t ion of t h ose m ot iva t ed co h elp h u m a n it y
r ea ch it s fu ll p ot en t ia l t h r ou gh t h e u s e of
a st r ologica l in sigh t .
Th e wh ole field of esot er ic a st r ology n ow
st a n ds poised t o becom e a m a jor t ool wit h
wh ich New Age esot er icist s m a y m a ke cer t a in
br ea k t h r ou gh discover ies r ega r din g essen t ia l
spir it u a l a n d cosm ic en er gy r ela t ion sh ips. Su ch
discover ies will som e da y con t r ibu t e t o t h e
scien t ific m ode of livin g a n d a t -on e-m en t of
lower a n d h igh er , sym bolized by in t r igu in g
U r a n u s, wh ich is so ea r n est ly sou gh t for by
13
An In trod u ction to Alice B ailey’s E soteric Astrology J ou rn al of E soteric Psych ology • Volu m e 7 • N o. 2 • 1992
t h ose wh o en dea vor t o t r ea d t h e Occu lt Wa y.
Gayle Garrison is a cou n selin g astrologer u sin g
both trad ition al an d esoteric astrology to m eet
th e n eed s of clien ts. S h e w elcom es com m en ts
an d d ialogu e on th is article an d oth er topics.
Com m u n icate w ith h er at 153 Win n ers' Circle,
Cary, N C, 27511, US A, ph on e (919) 460-6861
1. All of th e titles m en tion ed in th is paragraph ,
togeth er w ith B ailey's E soteric A strology, are
available th rou gh th e Am erican Fou n d ation of
A strologers, P.O.B . 22040, T em pe, A Z , 85285-
2040