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An
Astrological Key to
Introduction
The
Festival of Easter The
Festival of Wesak The
Festival of Humanity Three Planetary Lords presiding over the Three Festivals Each of these three Festivals is presided over by a certain planet. The key to which is the presiding planet is found in the orbital sequence of the planets closest to the Sun. These planets are symbolically closer to God's Purpose and Plans and revolve inside the orbit of the Earth: Sun It seems
suggested to me that the innermost mystery and purpose as held by the
Sun is being relayed to us via the three planets inside the orbit of the
Earth. Thus, somehow Vulcan, Mercury and Venus are bridging the gap between
the Sun and Earth, between Spirit and Matter. This bridging is made by
one of the three planets in terms of their orbital sequence, which is
then reflected in the Three Major Spiritual Festivals, each presided over
by a certain planet. The Festival
of Easter This Festival in Aries solar month is presided over by Vulcan (symbolically veiled by the Sun). It is ever Vulcan who gives the initiating impulse and who sets the process into motion. Indeed it is Vulcan who has the Will and Power to move the worlds. The Depth's of Aloneness are plumbed and man stands completely isolated. He is detached from "that which is above, and this which is below". This sense of isolation is a reflection of the fact that Vulcan is the first planet outside of the solar orb. With Vulcan, all desire is renounced, and he finds the strength to move forward. It is Vulcan who has the power to reach the depths of manifestation, and Vulcan also reveals the deeply hidden and brings it up into light. In complete isolation he dwells upon the outermost rim of creation. Vulcan is the fashioner of Divine Expression, and in the frozen world. Vulcan is able to expend his innate art and fashion the forms to express the beauty of Spirit ever more perfectly. Vulcan wants to achieve release, and the "uplift of matter". He works with the depths from which supply must come. It is also Vulcan who fashions the sword and weapons who will liberate the spirit. In Vulcan, the sons of mind have nearly completed their work, and this is one of the reasons why we can say the Word and spiritual mantra for Aries at this stage: "I come forth and from the plane of mind I rule". The Festival
of Wesak This Festival is presided over by Mercury. Mercury is Budh, Wisdom, Enlightenment or 'reawakening' in the divine science. As a witness to the profound affinity existing between Mercury and Taurus we find that the Buddha (Mercury) himself was influenced by Taurus and achieved enlightenment in Taurus. Mercury brings illumination. Mercury is the Lord of Wisdom. Mercury is the leader and evocator of souls. Mercury heals the blind and restores sight; mental and physical. In this connection we find that the Word and spiritual mantra for Taurus is: "I see, and when the eye is opened, all is illumined." So Mercury holds a fundamental and ancient relationship with Taurus, this can also be seen in the similarity of their respective glyphs. Mercury also receives seven times more light than any other planet, just as the constellation of Taurus symbolically include the lights of the Seven Sisters in the Pleiades, found in the neck of the Bull. Mercury at Wesak relates Easter to the Festival of Humanity, just as Buddha relate the will of God to the representatives of humanity at the Wesak ceremony. Therefore, Mercury is considered three-headed because one with the Sun (Vulcan) and Venus and their respective Festivals. Mercury, true to his nature, is relating all three festivals. Hence Mercury is Hermes Trismegistus--Hermes the thrice-great! The
Festival of Humanity This Festival is presided over by Venus. Venus is "the little sun in which the solar orb stores his lights." Light comes through Venus who receives a triple supply and gives one-third to the Earth. Therefore Venus and the Earth are 'twin sisters'. Venus is the light bearer of Earth. Venus is called "the other sun". Every sin committed on Earth is felt in Venus. Every change in Venus is reflected on Earth. The planetary Logos of Venus loved the Earth so well that He incarnated and gave it perfect laws, which were disregarded and rejected. It is with these perfect laws that this Festival seeks to awaken us and then establish on Earth and Humanity. They deal with right relations that bring about union and oneness on this planet and later in the greater system itself. For such is the destiny of Humanity to pervade perfection throughout the system. To manifest and establish the highest perfections of Light, Love and Power in the lowest most concrete spheres. That is why 'perfect' Venus is the Earth's primary or spiritual prototype. That is also why the venusian soul can say the Word and spiritual mantra for Gemini is: "I recognize my other self and in the waning of that self, I grow and glow". Festivals related to the subplanes of the Cosmic Physical Plane An interesting
correlation could also be made with the subplanes of the Cosmic Physical
Plane: Building the bridge between Venus and the Earth Looking at the manasic level of the cosmic physical plane, we are thereby focussing on the interplay between Venus and the Earth and the Festival of Humanity. It has been said that "Venus is the Earth's primary" and "Venus is the Earth's alter ego". In other words, Venus is to the Earth what the higher Self is to man, and thus we find this Festival having to do with the relation of Venus to the Earth and the building of the Antaskarana--individually and collectively. Venus is here related to the Manasic permanent atom and the Earth is related to the Mental unit. This is an indication of how Venus embody principles and last throughout the mahamanvantara, whereas the Earth only provide a temporary home for these principles. The interaction between Venus and the Earth is reflected in the coming of the Lords of Flame and the events in Lemuria. It was a planetary matter which finds its correspondence in the connection between the mental unit and the manasic permanent atom. The glyphs of Venus and the Earth are quite suggestive. The Earth has the cross encircled, whereas in the glyph of Venus we see the circle of Unity risen above the cross of matter. Venus has achieved where the Earth is still struggling, and is therefore able to assist in the process. This Venusian
Full moon Festival in Gemini is therefore very much oriented towards the
building of the antaskarana on the manasic plane by collective man, thus
providing a channel on this planet to its primary, Venus. So, as we bridge
the gaps on the mental plane within our own nature; between lower mind,
son of mind and higher mind, we are invoking Venus and we are doing the
Gemini Full moon service. The Masters themselves are working with the
bridging of all five minds. In addition to the three minds mentioned,
they embrase buddhic mind (pure reason or intuition) and atmic mind (will
and law). The Masters have achieved, therefore in a way the manasic plane
has for them become one unit, which is focussed in the manasic permanent
atom. Thus they are also primarily working with three minds, namely the
mind related to atma, buddhi and then manas as a whole. It can therefore
be said that the Masters have merged Venus with the Earth. Embodiment of perfected Venusian principles and values Anyway,
it is at this Gemini Full moon Festival that we may seek to bring through
the perfected Venusian principles and allow them to pervade world government
with these more lasting values in a fuller measure. The use of the Great
Invocation is emphasised by the Tibetan, and the Invocation itself was
given to Humanity under Venusian and Sirian aspects, thus indicating its
origin and purpose. Hence the supreme importance of the Great Invocation
in relation to the Venusian Full moon Festival, bringing through the Light,
Love and Power in store for us in the planet Venus. You can read more
about World Invocation Day here: http://www.lucistrust.org/epamphlets/widp.shtml Festivals related to the Creative Centers In another
way the three festivals reflect the interaction between Shamballa, Hierarchy,
NGWS (New Group of World Servers) and Humanity, thus bringing the Will
of Sanat Kumara into manifestation on earth: The Festivals related the Root Races Venus presides over the natural generation of men. Humanity (which appeared in Lemurian days) is said to be under the direct influence of Venus. That is the reason why this Festival of Humanity has a special correspondence to Individualisation and the developments of mind in Lemuria during the 3rd root race. The interaction between the 'twin-sisters' -- Venus and Earth is very much worked out in relation to the Gemini/Sagittarius axis where the Festival of Humanity takes place. Wesak is related to the 4th or Atlantean root race and the developments of the desire element into aspiration that there took place and the Great War between the light and the dark on the 4th ray Taurus/Scorpio axis. Easter being the great western festival which is related to the 5th or Aryan root race. It celebrates the eventual arising out of the tomb of form and enter into the cosmic etheric or Life aspect of Creation, where the gift of mind is aptly used and fully realized as a slayer of illussion. The Festivals and the Age of Aquarius The establishment of these three Festivals is part of the development of the New World Religion. A Religion that will bring us back in touch and make us flow with the waves and rhythmic pulsations of Deity during the 7th ray Age of Aquarius. It is not by chance we find that the decanate rulers of the Aquarius are: Saturn, Mercury and Venus. Considering that Jehovah was identified with both Saturn and Vulcan, we actually find a close correspondence between the planetary assignments made with the Three Festivals and the three decanates of Aquarius. Festival
of Easter - Resurrection - Aries - Vulcan - Saturn (Vulcan) Thus when celebrating these Festivals, we are actually preparing ourselves and enacting episodes that will truly be made manifest during the coming 2500 years of the Age of Aquarius. We are now setting the Pattern for the future. In working with these Festivals we are birthing the Age of Aquarius, allowing the Divine Circulatory Flow to penetrate ever deeper and more fully into and throughout all Creation. Sources 1. Esoteric
Astrology; Alice A. Bailey |