- In Lemurian
days, during the early period of animal man and before humanity appeared on earth, in the
interim period of development, eight signs influenced the planet and the kingdoms of
nature found upon it. There was no response to the influences of Leo and Virgo.
The mystery of the Sphinx did not exist and these two signs were not then part of the
zodiacal wheel. Then individualization took place and the seed of [160] Christhood was
planted in man and these two signs began to influence humanity, and gradually that
influence was recognized and the zodiac was then known to have ten signs. The Mutable
Cross dominated, but it was then the Tau, for Pisces was lacking and only Gemini, Virgo
and Sagittarius were evidenced. Aries to Capricorn marked the circle of experience.
- In Atlantean
days, man had become so responsive to the planetary and solar influence that the door of
initiation into hierarchical experience was opened and two more signs were added. These
two signs were the higher correspondences of Leo and Virgo and were the polar opposites of
these two: Aquarius and Pisces. Their influence became active and effective and thus they
formed part of the zodiacal wheel because man began to respond to their potencies. It then
became possible for the Fixed Cross to function esoterically in the life of humanity, and
the first reversals of the wheel in the life of the advanced men of the period took place.
It was this reversal which was the true cause of the great contest or battle between the
Lords of the Dark Face (as they are called in The Secret Doctrine) and the Lords of
Light - a contest which is today persisting. Certain men then reached the stage of
discipleship wherein they could consciously mount the Fixed Cross and be prepared for a
major initiation. This the Forces of Materiality and of Obstruction (as they are sometimes
called) fought and the battle was fought out and conditioned in the sign Scorpio.
- Today, in
Aryan times, a similar conflict upon a higher turn of the spiral is taking place. The
reason is that certain world disciples and initiates have reached the point in their
unfoldment wherein they are ready to [161] mount the Cardinal Cross and take some of the
higher initiations. So the conflict is on between humanity (under the control of the Lords
of Materiality) and the Hierarchy (under the control of the Forces of Light and Love), and
right before our eyes the battle is being waged. The influences of the twelve signs of the
zodiac (particularly of seven of the signs) are being engaged, for today men of all types
and rays are responsive to their influences and are implicated in some form or another in
the affair.
You will
note, therefore, that if the concentrated forces of the Cardinal Cross are definitely
potent at this time (as they are) the battle is terrific, because,
- Humanity, as a whole, is in a state of turmoil, prior to a great step forward in
self-conscious unfoldment, and in the expression of the sense of responsibility which is
the first flower and fruit of self-conscious awareness. This fact is responsible for
sweeping into the conflict in a peculiar and pronounced manner, the forces of Cancer
(involutionary in nature), of Leo (concerned with individualization), and of Gemini
(expressive of man's essential duality). You find, therefore, today, the activity of the
mass consciousness of Cancer which is indicative of the activity of the Cardinal Cross in
the involutionary stage; the self-consciousness of man as indicated by Leo, the most human
sign of all, and indicative of the Fixed Cross; and Gemini, which gives the sense of the
dual nature of man - human and divine - which is the goal of the consciousness of
experience upon the Mutable Cross. You consequently have a sign in each of the three
Crosses particularly active today in influencing the masses of men everywhere. A little
[162] study of world conditions, as far as man is concerned, will prove this.
- The disciples of the world today and advanced humanity are equally in a state of
turmoil. They are being tested and tried, prior to taking a major step forward - in some
cases this will be the taking of the first initiation and in others the second. This is
brought about by, and brings in, the forces of Taurus, Leo and Scorpio, plus a general
pervasive influence coming from Gemini. You have here three signs found in the Fixed Cross
and one in the Mutable Cross conditioning and affecting the world disciples, and all of
them of terrific importance and potency today, owing to the stage of development and the
sensitivity of the disciples and world initiates.
- The initiates, in their turn, are being subjected to the impact of energies from
Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces - an inflow of force from each of the three Crosses. These
three forces enable the initiates to take the third initiation.
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