Filename: RC3004.TXT
Source: "The Bible: Wonder Book of the Ages" by Corinne Heline

[PAGE 70]

   When the Sun is in Aquarius, the Christ Force centers His activities in the 
etheric realm. He pours His love and blessings upon both Angels and the 
disembodied souls of earth's humanity who are living and serving in these 
realms. Here also is a portion of the heavenly homeland of children who have 
died in childhood; and here they are taught and accompanied by Angels. Such 
child-spirits do not live in the etheric realms at all times, for their real 
place is in the higher regions of the Soul World, or astral realm, but at 
special times they are brought by their angelic instructors down into the 
higher ethers where they can learn the joys of nature and the fairy folk.

   Also in the etheric realm are found the initiatory Temples which, in 
ancient times, also existed in physical form. As humanity lost the inner light 
they were removed from our plane of manifestation and continued to exist 
solely at the etheric level. Hence they have become today generally the 
subject of legend and poetry. Now, however, the time is approaching for their 
re-externalization. In the meantime, to the illumined disciple the etheric 
Temples are accessible, and appear as substantial in their realm as physical 
structures are on this plane.

   One such Temple, the most beautiful of all to Christians, is located above 
the city of Jerusalem. Closely associated with the work there conducted, and 
in all similar inner-plane Temples, are the Angels. They are free to enter 
such sanctuaries at will, and it is their joy to serve in the holy places 
belonging to the children of earth.

   It is said that a Guardian Angel hovers above the chair of each Knight who 
sits at the Round Table in King Arthur's Temple. This is a legend, but 
profound spiritual truths are concealed in legends, and especially in the 
Grail legends of the Middle Ages. The Grail Temple is really a part of the 
Christian Mystery School. The deeper meaning of spiritual legends is veiled by 
poets and artists, who relate them to the manners and customs of the period in 
which they first appear. There is no mystery in Christianity more profound 
than that of the Holy Grail, for it belongs to the story of the Last Supper 
and has reference to deep cosmic truths that Christ imparted to His disciples 
at that time, and especially to John, the Beloved Disciple, who "rested upon 
His bosom."

   Through the ministry of the Hierarchies of Capricorn, the disciple learns 
to minister as an Invisible Helper to persons still living in the physical 
world. As the Path of Holiness passes through Aquarius the work is enlarged. 
Here the disciple learns, under the guidance of Angels, to work with beings 
who inhabit the inner realms.

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   The qualified disciple who has followed the Christ thus far is able now to 
enter CONSCIOUSLY into the etheric realms. There he observes the varied and 
beautiful ministries performed by Angels for the benefit not only of humanity 
but of all the kingdoms of earth. Many of Nature's secrets are revealed to him 
then through the activities of the nature spirits or fairy folk. Thus he finds 
himself in an enchanted world, a tenuous world, wherein fairy lore has its 
origin; for the realm of the higher ethers is veritably fairyland. Many an 
inspired writer or mystic has woven fantasies about the wonders of this 
region. Adelightful example is Maeterlink's BLUE BIRD, which, though a child's 
fantasy depicts truly the nature and characteristics of the etheric realm.

   When the Sun passes through Aquarius, the Christ Glory is already rising up 
out of the earth, preparatory to His Easter Liberation. During March, with the 
Sun passing through Pisces, which is the sign of sorrow and suffering, the 
Christian Church enters upon the Lenten sacrifices, and participation in the 
Christ suffering on Golgotha. Pisces is the sign of Crucifixion, the sign of 
the Messiah. The Crucifixion of the Cosmic Christ begins when the Sun is in 
Libra at the autumn equinox, when the Glory descends into the "hades" of the 
planet earth. The commemorative observances of the Christian world at Easter, 
when the Sun turns upward toward the summer solstice, is not His Crucifixion 
but His cosmic Resurrection. The earth planet is then aware of a certain void, 
a spiritual emptiness, as the Cosmic Glory departs. This is the source of the 
mingling of sadness and joy in the Eastertide of the spring equinox.

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                      THE CHRIST MYSTERY IN THE HEAVENS: 

   As a disciple travels THE PATH OF HOLINESS that leads into the spiritual 
realms, the experiences encountered become ever more wonderful and 
transformed. At these supernal levels of existence there is no veil separating 
those living on earth from those inhabiting the inner planes of light. From 
the superphysical world here too may be witnessed and understood the actions 
of human souls during the period between death on the physical plane and 
rebirth into incarnation, together with those of Angels and the yet higher 
kingdoms of light. Here too, it is that one cane observe the workings of 
nature spirits and note how their activities underlie what science refers to 
as the laws of nature. Here on every Easter morning, amid triumphant hosannas 
of Angels and Archangles, the Christ, following His release from the annual 
incarnation in the earth, appears in radiant glory. In the Temple of the 
Christian Mysteries the glorious Easter processional is formed around His 
luminous presence, not as a mere spectacle but as a medium by which to 
transmit a transcendent power upon all of those who have been found worthy to 
be numbered among His sanctified company.

   The mystic Christian commemorates Easter not only as an historical event 
but as an annual spiritual occurrence. In the course of the solar year after 
His descent into the heart of the earth at Christmas time He arises again with 
ever recurring Eastertide to reascend to the throne of the Father into the 
high heavens for restoration of His powers before again returning to the 
physical sphere at the time of the Autumn Equinox.

   It was at the time of His crucifixion that the Christ left the body of 
Jesus, in which He had functioned for a three-year ministry among men, and 
transferred His Spirit into the planetary body itself to henceforth be its 
Regent. There is a profound significance in the words He spoke to His 
Disciples after the Resurrection: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in 
earth."

   When the human race succumbed to the seduction of Lucifer spirits the 
atomic rhythm of man's physical body was changed so the spinal spirit fire was 
attuned to the Luciferic forces and received the impress of these fiery 
Beings. It is the mission of the Christ to counteract this condition by 

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substituting His rhythm and impress for that of the Lucifers--for the Christ 
also, as an Archangel is a Fire Being. When this has been accomplished, the 
atomic vibration of man's body will make it immune to disease and death. 
Individuals of the New Age bear within themselves the glorious image of the 
Christ.

   The Hierarchy of Aries contains an archetypal pattern of man as he was 
created "in the image and likeness of God." This pattern will be increasingly 
manifested in the New Age. The six constellations above the equator contain 
these patterns in miniature, so to speak, and the Hierarchies of these 
southern constellations work with mankind to bring these patterns to 
fulfillment here on earth. For example, the Hierarchy of Aries holds this 
perfect pattern of the new Christed man. Libra, the sign opposite Aries and 
the home of the Lords of Individuality, steps down this cosmic pattern of 
Aries and is aiding man in bringing about its manifestations.

   Such is the knowledge which has motivated the great teachers of the world 
to help mankind bring the divine pattern into manifestation on this plane. The 
work is arduous. But down through the ages those brave souls who have been 
strong enough to follow the Path of Holiness into spiritual realms have 
returned aflame with what they beheld of a "new heaven and a new earth" 
inhabited by a Christed humanity. They know, as the Christ knew, that "the 
Word was God" indeed.

   As the Sun passes through Taurus during the month of May, the Christ force 
ascends higher and higher into earth's spiritual aura. The disciple who is 
walking the Path of Holiness follows in the wake of the ascending Christ Light 
and enters a sphere where he finds himself inwardly harmonized and 
strengthened by the creative power of music. Celestial Beings who inhabit this 
realm speak a musical language. Their every motion emanates music. They mold 
and fashion all manner of forms through the medium of musical tones. In this 
realm all growing things are nurtured by the power of music, while the various 
flower colors are produced by variations in tone. Music is assuredly the 
supreme creative power of this lofty realm.

   The constellation of Taurus is the home of cosmic patterns for all that 
exists on earth. These patterns are shadowed forth by its opposite sign, 
Scorpio, home of the Lords of From. This Hierarchy teaches form building 
throughout the physical plane; and from the constellation Taurus sounds forth 
the mystery tone God used in creation, that creative Word by which "all things 
were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made." This 
is the biblical keynote of Taurus.

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   The Lords of Taurus hold the cosmic pattern of a most wonderful organ 
destined to become a part of the future human body. This new organ, resembling 
a golden rose, will be located in the throat, and will be the center through 
which the creative word will be projected by the New Age man. By its power 
generation will become regeneration, and man will be able to mold a substance 
into whatever he desires. In the realm where Taurean powers are most active an 
illumined one can behold a vision of this perfection and meditate upon it. He 
perceives the glorious development awaiting him in the future and realizes 
literally the meaning of the Psalmist's words: "Thou hast made him a little 
lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour."

   When the Sun ascends toward its northernmost point in the sky in June it 
transits the sign Gemini, the constellation that sets a dual impress upon the 
human body-temple. It governs the dualities of the body: lungs, shoulders, 
arms and hands in particular. It also holds the cosmic pattern of the 
perfected androgyne in whom the masculine and feminine potencies are in 
equilibrium. Such is the attainment of Initiates of the Greater Christ 
Mysteries. This attainment brings immunity from disease and old age. And since 
consciousness remains unbroken whether such be in or out of the flesh, death 
as we know it is never experienced by them because their consciousness is 
centered in immortality without interruption.

   The archangelic life has reached the status where it functions in perfectly 
polarized bodies. This is not true of the less evolved angelic and human 
kingdoms. It is, therefore, possible for members of these kingdoms to descend 
from their high estate into lower forms of expression. The fall of Angels is 
recorded biblically in the account of the war in heaven, when Lucifer and his 
followers were expelled therefrom, and the Fall of man occurred, according to 
the Genesis account, when Adam and Eve (infant humanity) lost the Garden of 
Eden. Redemption from these falls required a higher power than was available 
to either of these life waves. It had to come from the archangelic level. And 
so it did. The Lord Christ, the most highly evolved of the Archangels, became 
the teacher and redeemer of both the fallen Angels and humanity. This is one 
of the most profound truths associated with the mystery of the Christos.

   The pattern of the perfect androgyne was projected by the Hierarchy of 
Gemini into its opposite sign, Sagittarius. The Hierarchy of Sagittarius 
(Lords of Mind) gives this enlightening teaching to earth's most advanced 
pioneers. After the coming of the Christ, further development of the human 
mind passed from the guidance of Scorpio to that of Sagittarius. Considering 

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the wonders of the mind, its creative powers and its ability to encircle the 
globe in an instant of time and to contemplate the vastness of cosmic space--
even though at present only a fraction of it is active, we get a faint glimpse 
of the transcendent glory of the Sagittarian Hierarchy whose lowest vehicle, 
corresponding to man's physical body, is composed of mental substance. It also 
indicates the sublime powers awaiting man when he attains like development.

   For an awakened soul, the supreme purpose of cultivating the mind is that 
it shall become Christed. As yet this is the attainment of but few only. The 
majority are steeped in the materialism of the concrete mind, which is focused 
mainly on worldly pursuits and interests of the separate self. So long as such 
concerns claim man's attention there will be a lack of spiritual perception 
and scant realization of the realities pertaining to the inner world and 
universal mind. Nor will there be any continuity of consciousness and but 
little, if any, intimation of the experiences encountered in the spiritual 
world during intervals between earthly lives. The result of consciousness so 
veiled from spiritual realities is the materialism that conditions the world 
today. This, however, is but a temporary phase of mankind's evolution. As 
added light falls on the path of those who strive for holiness, realization of 
spiritual realities will become clearer and stronger. The insistent impulse of 
such aspirants to make themselves worthy to walk in the Way of Holiness will 
bring more and more light.

   The Sun in its annual transit through Cancer reaches the highest point of 
its northern ascension at the time of the Summer Solstice. Its physical 
radiation then attains to maximum in the northern hemisphere, so the days are 
longest and nights shortest. It is the high noon of the year, and its keynote 
is LIGHT.

   Cancer is the foremost feminine sign of the heavens. In harmony with this 
fact, the sign contains a small cluster of stars arranged to as to resemble a 
manger. From the heart of Cancer well up the waters of eternal life, in which 
are germinated seed-forms that animate all the kingdoms of earth. The Summer 
solstice occurs when the Sun enters Cancer (June 21st) and is also attuned to 
the principle of fecundity. It is in obedience to this active principle in 
nature that seeds burst forth into a cycle of manifestation. Light, freedom, 
joyousness are dominant qualities of the midsummer season. Accordingly many 
people particularly in Europe, observe this time of year with music, dancing 
and exuberant festivities.

[PAGE 76]

   The Hierarchy of Cancer is known biblically as the Cherubim. It is the 
ministry of this Hierarchy to guard sacred places. They hover above the Holy 
of Holies. Through initiatory processes an aspirant is taught to build this 
Holy of Holies within Himself. The pot of golden manna within the Ark of the 
Covenant is a symbol of man's own individual Grail Cup and his own sacred life 
force. Humanity lost the Garden of Eden through misuse of this life force, 
since which the Cherubim have guarded the gates of Eden lest unregenerate 
humanity should find its way back prematurely. The Blessed Virgin Mary and the 
Disciples are alleged to have communed with the Cherubim after Pentecost, 
meaning that they had learned these sacred truths from this divine Hierarchy.

   As the Sun reaches its highest ascension the Christ Spirit ascends to the 
very throne of the Father. His activity is then focused at the very highest 
level of  earth's planetary aura, where He brings added illumination and 
renewed blessings to the celestial Beings who inhabit this realm; also to 
souls who, in their spiritual progression between physical embodiments, have 
risen to this high plane. In harmony with this, it is also at the summer 
season that an illumined one who is following the Christ on the Path of 
Holiness rises in consciousness to this realm to commune with its celestial 
denizens and learn further about the nature forces. Here it is perceived how 
the elementals of air and earth, the sylphs and gnomes, work in autumn and 
winter with disintegrating and dying plant life. On this exalted plane one who 
pursues the Path of Holiness stands before the actual mystery of life itself. 
Only the pure in heart attain to this plane. Those whose hands are stained 
with blood can never lift the veil of this holy place. He who seeks to 
discover the secret of life will never find it until his hands and heart are 
chaste and clean. Only to such will come the realization of the oneness of all 
life.

   These are truths that belong particularly to the Heirarchy of Cancer, and 
they are not possible of direct transmission to the earthly plane. Therefore 
they are passed by the Cherubim to the Hierarchy of Capricorn, the sign 
opposite Cancer and home of the Archangels who, being of a lower hierarchial 
rank than the Cherubim and thus closer in consciousness to humanity, 
disseminate them to those of earth who are ready and willing to receive them. 
Hence, it was at a time when the forces of Capricorn permeated the earth that 
there descended into embodiment the Master Jesus, of the seed of David, who 
became the bearer of the Christ.

   It has been said that as the Sun transits the sign Cancer and Leo during 

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July and August the Christ ascends to the throne of the Father where He bathes 
in the Father's transcendent glory. It is here that He renews and revitalizes 
Himself, attracting higher and more spiritual forces for continuing His 
earthly ministry when He returns to the realm of humanity at the Autumn 
Equinox. During His sojourn in the high heavens the earth planet, 
clairvoyantly observed, appears luminous with His radiations; and the observer 
comes into a profound realization of the meaning of His statement that "All 
power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."

   When the Sun is thus transiting Cancer and Leo, an illumined one who treads 
the Path of Holiness ascends to the highest spiritual realms of this planet 
and enters into a deeper consciousness of transcendent power. He begins to 
understand that love in its highest aspect is not passion or sentiment, but a 
phase of divinity itself. It was with such power of love that Peter was 
imbued. He himself referred to this power of love when he said to the lame man 
beside the gate of the Temple Beautiful: "Silver and gold have I none, but 
such as I have give I thee...arise and walk." Again, it was this same power 
which so animated Paul that, despite all persecutions and imprisonment, he was 
able to utter those sublime words: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and 
angels and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling 
cymbal."

   When an aspirant reaches this degree of spiritual attainment the Christ is 
all in all to him. To serve as He served, and to love as He loved, becomes his 
highest aspiration. The biblical keynote of Leo is sounded in the words "Love 
is the fulfilling of the law."

   While the Sun is in Leo the Christ spirit is refreshed and renewed by the 
glories of the Father's kingdom. As the Lord Christ's highest attribute is 
sacrificial in nature, when the Sun passes into Virgo, sign of service, a 
cosmic urge moves Him to leave the realm of the Father and descend again to 
Earth, which He contacts as the Sun passes into Libra.

   THE PATH OF HOLINESS, following the Christ Ray, also leaves the spiritual 
region of Earth while the Sun passes through Virgo. Love being the keynote of 
Leo and service through purity that of Virgo, one who walks that part of the 
Path which traverses the higher vibratory planes of this sphere must have 
evolved purity as a power within himself. The quality of such power is not 
generally recognized, yet the Christ declared that only the pure in heart 
shall see God. In this connection the lines of Tennyson in SIR GALAHAD are 
descriptive. "My strength is as the strength of ten, because my heart is 
pure."

   This is the attribute that rendered Parsifal immune to the attack upon him 

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by the evil Klingsor. The spear of hate which the black knight hurled at 
Parsifal was deflected from its course. In that same moment, and by the virtue 
of this power, Parsifal made the sign of the cross and brought complete 
collapse to Klingsor's castle of evil.

   While Virgo holds the secret of the Immaculate Conception, it is through 
its opposite sign, Pisces, that this gift was brought to earth and 
demonstrated by the supreme feminine Master, Mary of Bethlehem. It was under 
the Hierarchy of Sagittarius (Archangels) that Mary herself was immaculately 
conceived; and it was under the spiritual guardianship of the Hierarchy of 
Virgo that she was born into the physical world.

   A candidate who is worthy to touch the supernal realm of Virgo finds 
himself before the mystery of the Immaculate Conception and learns that this 
divine gift was not bestowed upon one individual only, but that Mary and Jesus 
were type patterns which humanity as a shole is destined to emulate. In this 
celestial abode those who are spiritually enlightened hear Angels chanting of 
the day when, in a new heaven and a new earth, the Immaculate Conception will 
be the heritage of the entire race.

   As previously stated, the Hierarchy of Taurus holds the cosmic pattern of 
form; the Hierarchy of Cancer, that of life; the Hierarchy of Virgo, the power 
by which life ensouls form. These three constellations, the Feminine Triangle 
of the heavens, minister to all kingdoms of life on earth.

   It should be noted that one who follows the PATH OF HOLINESS through the 
six zodiacal signs above the equator has reached that high place of 
illumination where he is found worthy to stand before the sublime mysteries of 
the four Greater Initiations. The disciple who tread this Path as it is 
outlined in the six signs below the equator is being prepared to receive the 
work of the nine Lesser Mysteries.

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                  THE COSMIC CHRIST AND THE PLANETARY CHRIST: 

   The Bible is one of the great mystery books of all times. Few there are who 
realize its infinite depths. Christ said of the imperceptive multitudes: 
"Seeing, they may see and not perceive; hearing, they may hear, and not 
understand." (Mark 4:12)

   Of the mahy thousands of books that have been written about the life of 
Christ there are not more than two or three which mention the profoundest 
mystery concerning Him, namely, the Christ Mystery in the cosmos. Until our 
own time it was not, perhaps, essential that this Mystery be taught openly.

   Today we enter a Space Age, and it is the Cosmic Christ who will be the 
central figure of the religion of the incoming Aquarian Age. We who are 
privileged to begin here and now the study of those profound cosmic truths, 
preparing ourselves to be the pioneers of the Age so soon to dawn, must accept 
special responsibilities. These are the responsibilities of the New Age 
Disciple who is taught by the Risen Christ, or His emissaries.

   Therefore in tracing the Christ Path through the stars we shall endeavor at 
the same time to trace the pattern of New Age discipleship, the "Awakened One" 
who learns to walk in the same Path of Light in which the Christ walked, 
showing the Way to those who shall come after Him.

   The Christ Mystery is so sublime and so far-reaching in its import that it 
transcends any human definition. So profound are its meanings that they can 
never be plumbed nor expressed by mere words; they can be sensed only in th4e 
silence of spiritual contemplation.

   In the ROSICRUCIAN COSMO-CONCEPTION, Max Heindel states that: "In the first 
chapter of John this Great Being is called God. From the Supreme Being 
emanates the Word, the Creative Fiat 'without whom was not anything made,' and 
this Word is the alone-begotten Son, born of His Father (the Supreme Being) 
before all worlds--but positively NOT Christ." Here Max Heindel is making a 
distinction between the Cosmic Christ Jesus in His planetary and historical 
aspects. "Grand and glorious as is Christ," he continues, "towering high above 
mere human nature, He is not this Exalted Being. Truly, 'the Word was made 
flesh,' but not in the limited sense of the flesh of one body, but the flesh 

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of all that is, in this and millions of other solar systems." 

   The Father channels the will principle; the Christ, the love-wisdom 
principle; the Holy Spirit, the activity principle. The last literally infuses 
forms with life. The Holy Spirit works with the life principle which is 
present in all creation; and is the guardian of the sacred force, the creative 
principle of God. Therefore, every living thing is under his guardianship. God 
creates and Christ formulates, while Holy Spirit activates form. The 
difference between the Christ of the Earth and the Cosmic Christ is best seen 
by an illustration. Imagine a lamp in the center of a large hollow sphere of 
polished metal. The lamp will send rays from itself to all points of the 
sphere, and will refelct lamps in all different places. So the Cosmic Christ--
the highest initiate of the Sun period--sends out rays.

   The sun of our planetary solar system is threefold. We can see the outside, 
the physical sun. Behind that, or hiding in that, is the spiritual sun whence 
comes the impulse of the Cosmic Christ Spirit. Outside the other two is 
something we call Vulcan, not a planet, that can be seen only as a half globe. 
In occultism we say that is the body of the Father. When we had developed so 
far that the Christ came here and incarnated on earth, then a ray of the 
cosmic Christ came here and incarnated in the body of our Elder Brother Jesus. 
After the sacrifice on Golgotha He drew Himself into the earth, and became its 
Indwelling Planetary Spirit.

                            THE PLANETARY CHRIST: 

   The planetary Christ is a glorious Archangel, supreme among the archangelic 
Host. The Hierarchy of Capricorn is the home of the Archangels; but during the 
period of His mission to this planet, Christ and His ministering Hosts make 
their home in the spiritual sheath of the Sun--for each heavenly body has a 
spiritual sheath extending far into space beyond its visible form. In the same 
way every human being has a spiritual extension beyond his physical vehicle.

   From the very beginning of civilization the most primitive religions paid 
homage to this Great Being Who dwells in the Sun. High priests of Mystery 
Temples taught their most advanced disciples the truth relative to this 
glorious Sun Being, and they looked forward to a time when He would descend to 
earth and become the world's Redeemer. Those who were clairvoyant could see 
the Solar Lord to whom they paid homage to this great Being Who dwells in the 
Sun, and then they knew that His human embodiment was imminent. From country 
to country, from prophet to master, from master to teacher, from teacher to 

[PAGE 81]

disciple passed the glad tidings that the Blessed Lord, He who was to be the 
Saviour of the world, was close to earth.

   When we speak of a spiritual rising in inner space it is to be understood 
that "upward" and "inward" are virtually synonymous; yet at the same time, to 
the clairvoyant vision the Christ Glory does really have the appearance of 
"rising" upward to the Sun from the surface of the earth; for as the Divine 
Hermes of ancient Egypt said, "As it is above, so it is below."

   The Path of Discipleship also follows from the outward to the inward, which 
is also upward. Max Heindel likened this Path to a church steeple which 
becomes narrower and steeper until there is nothing left to cling to but the 
cross; a very apt analogy. The Christ said: "If any man will come after me, 
let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me."

   The cross of renunciation, symbolized in the Lenten and Eastertide, must be 
accepted by every true disciple who endeavors to walk the Path of Holiness. 
His soul body can nenevr be built until he acquires mastery over himself, and 
is willing to forego the so-called pleasures of the sense world. The soul-
powers attained by self-conquest enable the illumined one to exchange the 
cross for a crown.

   It is said that the constellation Pisces will be the home of the human race 
when all of its units have been perfected. Pisces is called the constellation 
of the human race, as Aquarius is that of the Angels. Those who follow the 
Christ to the ultimate high goal finish their cycles of mortal incarnation; 
they are free from the wheel of birth and death. They "go no more out," and it 
is then that they as spiritual beings, cluster among the stars of the 
constellation Pisces, in a manner of speaking.

   Their karmic debts are paid and all their earthly bonds are severed. Such 
are known as the Compassionate Ones, the Elder Brothers of the race who no 
longer need earth's lessons. They are free to pass into a glorious existence 
within the constellation Pisces. However, these great ones may return at will, 
and in obedience to the precept that he who loves most serves best, often they 
give up the blissful opportunities of that divine plane in order to serve the 
less advanced members of the human race who are still struggling in the toils 
of their self-made karma. Humility, obedience and service are the keynotes of 
their lives.

   Such renunciation is illustrated in the life of Mary of Bethlehem who, 
having learned all of earth's lessons and having been caught up to reign with 
the Angels, returned to this planet to teach humanity one of heaven's supreme 

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mysteries, that of the Immaculate Conception. Knowing that she would be 
misunderstood, persecuted and reviled, yet she persisted, so that she might be 
to mankind an Exemplar so nearly divine that today, almost two thousand years 
later, it is still barely comprehended by a few and remains entirely unknown 
to the masses. Working under the law of service, she descended into mortality, 
saying, "Let it be according to thy word." Such a high state of spiritual 
attainment, builded upon sacrifice, humility of spirit, and perfect at-one-
ment with the law of obedience, awaits perfected man.

   The aspirant who reflects seriously upon the meaning of the twelve zodiacal 
signs which comprise our immediate cosmos do well to correlate the Piscean 
meditation with the experiences of the immortal Twelve during the season just 
preceding Christ's annual "crucifixion." As Golgotha's pain and sorrow are 
swallowed up in the golden glory of Easter morn, the disciple who has overcome 
the personal self and who walks the Path of Holiness through Pisces to its 
very end, will find that he has exchanged his cross for the golden glory of a 
"wedding garment" in which to function, free and triumphant, with the Risen 
Christ.

   The history of mankind since Christ's Sacrifice on Golgotha may seem to 
have improved little; but this age is the age of Pisces, which as we have said 
is the sign of the balancing of the ledgers of karma. The debts which man owes 
to man and nation owes to nation are now being liquidated, and as this Old Age 
of Pisces disappears in time and the New Age of Aquarius takes its place, 
world-wide harmony will be achieved, with a world government of nations, 
dwelling in brotherhood and peace, for Aquarius is the sign of the Son of Man.

   The physical drops of blood which fell upon the Mount at the Crucifixion 
were not the true agents of earth's slavation. The fiery wings of light and 
power, which are the Christ's Glory, striking in and through the planet are 
the earth's forever Redeemer. The archangelic Light is truly His blood, and it 
is this which saves.

   Now each year as the radiant Christ Ray ascends once more from the earth's 
core, its passage upward is felt as a drawing force in Nature; and when it has 
reached a certain height its forces are focused anew in the desire world of 
the planet. The raging emotions of mankind are now the special field of His 
ministration and at Eastertide mankind senses that a great tranquility is 
pouring into his soul from some unknown source. By means of this power 
intensifying year by year, mankind is slowly but surely becoming a Christ in 
the manking.

[PAGE 83]


                    THE CYCLE OF THE YEAR WITH CHRIST: 

                             THE FIRST QUARTER: 

                          JANUARY--FEBRUARY--MARCH 

   The cosmic resurrection occurs in March, when the Christ Spirit is 
liberated from the Earthly sphere and reenters the heavenly spheres. The 
Hierarchies of both Aries and Pisces then join with the Angels and Archangels 
in triumphant jubilation over this event. The rhythm of their comic hymn found 
earthly transcription in Handel's HALLELUJAH CHORUS. Pre-Christian ceremonials 
celebrating the return of spring and the victory of light over darkness were 
attuned to these same rhythms.

   The Spring Equinox is one of the high points of the year for a disciple. 
Its keynotes are the freedom and emancipation that leads to a larger life. Iyt 
is also the time when the cosmic Christ is freed from the terrestrial fetters 
that held Him in bondage during the winter months. Hence, it is the most 
propitious time for an advanced disciple to break the bonds that bind him and 
to enter the joyous freedom of the spirit.

   The Church observes the ecclesiastical Feast of the Annunciation in March 
when nature commemorates the cosmic Feast of the Annunciation, for there is an 
intimate relationship between man and nature. Nature is God in manifestation. 
Man is a god in the making. Therefore one reflects the other. The most sacred 
rituals observed by man are in attunement with the seasonal transitions. Poets 
sing in praise of the joyous spirit of spring, while nature's green-and-gold 
splendor gives evidence that returning life forces are responding in triumph 
to nature's resurrection impulse.

   An advanced follower of the Path understands that the time has come to 
merge the sorrow and tears of the personal life (Pisces) with the transforming 
fires of Aries. As he accomplishes this he joins the mighty chorusing which is 
echoed and re-echoed by Angels and Archangels: "The Christ is risen, for 
Christ has now risen within me."

                            APRIL--MAY--JUNE: 

   The ancient Persians termed the month of April as the month of Paradise, 
and the early Christian fathers declared that it was during this season of 
enchantment when the Sun entered Aries that God fashioned the planet Earth, 

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and all that dwells therein. April is generally considered a resurrection 
month.

   When the Lord Christ makes His ascension the inner realms take on the 
appearance of a molten mass of shining gold. In the holy Grail legend, the 
Knights are told that on Good Friday a dove descends from heaven to replenish 
the water of life in the sacred Cup, and that they will be able to draw 
spiritual nourishment therefrom throughout the following year. So it is that 
the Risen Lord pours out His love and very Spirit to nourish every living 
thing upon this earth plane. Were it not for this annual replenishment, fields 
would be barren and the trees and vines would bear no fruit. In the light of 
this fact it can be seen that the Lord Christ uttered a profound and literal 
truth when He said to His Disciples at the Last Supper, "This (bread) is my 
body which is given for you:...This cup is the new testament in my blood, 
which is shed for you."

   One of the most beautiful feasts of the year is that of the Ascension, 
occurring about the time the Sun passes from Taurus (May) into Gemini (June). 
It is then that phalanx after phalanx of Celestial Beings kneel in adoration 
in the Christ's exalted presence, and the very stars unite in a symphony 
proclaiming His majesty and glory. During this holy feast His radiation 
permeates the earth with an effulgence past all describing, making bright both 
the physical and spiritual realms. As nature is in perfect accord with the up-
winging Christ currents during the forty days between the resurrection and the 
ascension, the period is of such spiritual significance that it is an 
auspicious time for a disciple to awaken within himself the powers of 
clairvoyance, clairaudience and other gifts of the spirit belonging to true 
discipleship.

   During the month of June the Christ becomes a channel for radiations sent 
forth by the Seraphim, the Hierarchy of Gemini. There the Christ contacts by 
means of the Holy Spirit, the third aspect of the Trinity. One of the keynotes 
of Gemini is ACTIVITY; it is also a keynote of the Holy Spirit. By means of 
this activity the Seraphim step down the mysteries of Holy Spirit to Gemini's 
opposite sign, Sagittarius, the Lords of Mind. Here they await man's 
develolment and illumination to the point where he is able to understand and 
apply the powers iof Holy Spirit in his daily life. As yet humanity in general 
is able to grasp but faintly the mysteries connected with the principle and 
powers of this third aspect of the Trinity.

                         JULY--AUGUST--SEPTEMBER: 

   As the Sun enters Cancer in the month of July, the Lord Christ ascends to 

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His own home world, the World of Life Spirit, also designated as the Buddhic 
Plane. This is the realm where unity and harmony reign supreme; also, the 
sphere of consciousness that the early Christian disciples contacted on the 
Day of Pentecost. This is to be the attainment of advanced humanity at the end 
of the present Earth Period. Through the operation of the Cosmic Christ, it is 
here that the Son or Word principle and the second aspect of the Trinity, our 
Blessed Lord, contacts the Hierarchy of Cancer, the Cehrubim. These celestial 
Beings are guardians of all Holy places of heaven and earth; they hold the 
great mystery of life itself. Under the guidance of the Lord Christ tjhis 
sacred mystery is stepped down from Cancer to its opposite sign, Capricorn, 
and given in charge to the Archangels. For this reason World Saviours who come 
to earth proclaiming the mystery of the Holy Spirit are born under the sign of 
Capricorn. The observance known ecclesiastically as the Feast of St. John, the 
forerunner of the Christ, occurs during the Summer Solstice season.

   In July the soul of earth is steeped in sheer ecstasy. Heaven bends low 
while earth is lifted up. In the divine interchange of spiritual forces the 
Mystic Marriage between heaven and earth is consummated. For a four-day 
interval desire currents are stilled so the spiritual forces can become 
increasingly operative. The earth is then being literally flooded with the 
pure white light of spirit. The disciple that learns how to tune in with this 
mighty inflow will receive an undreamed of accession of spiritual awareness.

   As the Sun reaches the highest point in its northernmost ascension the 
Christ likewise ascends into the spiritual realm described biblically as the 
throne of the Father. This is known in Rosicrucian terminology as the World of 
Divine Spirit, the abode of the God of this solar system. God is Love and God 
is Light. LOVE and LIGHT are keynotes of the Hierarchy of Leo, the Lords of 
flame (Love). Under the supervision of the Lords of Flame, and united with the 
powers of the Father, the first aspect of the Trinity, the Lord Christ, works 
with the supreme power of love, the stabilizing force of the earth. Here He 
becomes the channel for that power whereby He rottates the earth on its axis 
and revolves it in its orbit around the Sun. This love power is stepped down 
by the Hierarchy of Leo to its opposite sign, Aquarius; hence, it will be the 
power animating the new Aquarian Age.

   In this season cosmic influences give greatest aid to the aspiring disicple 
to make love the dominant motivating force of his life. It is the time for 
embellishing his every word, thought and deed with this magic of the heart. 
The thirteenth chapter of II Corinthians, one of the soul's greatest love 
songs, is the perfect mantram for both meditation and emulation during the 

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period that the Sun is transiting the royal sign of Leo.

   In September the Lord Christ turns from the glory of the highest heavens 
and begins His descent toward physical realms. Throughout this month the 
tender, yearning beauty of nature is like that of no other season, for the 
Christ is brooding over the earth with the gentle sorrow He flet as He wept 
over Jerusalem long ago. His tears were shed because He knew the long ages of 
pain and suffering through which humanity must pass, in having chosen darkness 
rather than light. His great heart grieved over the dark clouds that would 
encompass Jerusalem, the very heart of the planet to which He had dedicated 
Himself in service and upon which He was pouring out his great love.

   September is another month of preparation for a disciple. One of the 
keywords of Virgo is SACRIFICE. An earnest disciple, preparing himself by 
means of sacrifice and self-renunciation to take part in the coming winter 
feasts, meditates often upon the spiritual keynote of Virgo: "If any man 
desires to be first, the same shall be last of all, and the servant of all."

                         OCTOBER--NOVEMBER--DECEMBER: 

   When the Sun enteres Libra, which heralds the coming of October, the golden 
Christ force passes into earthly realms as this sublime Being begins anew His 
annual sacrifice, an event termed THE COSMIC CRUCIFIXION. To it St. Paul 
referred in Romans 8:22 "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and 
travaileth together until now." As this season of the Autumn Equinox is a time 
for the disciple to renew his dedication to walk in the way of the Lord 
despite any vicissitudes and hindrances that may beset his path.

   During November the Christ spirit permeates the desire realm of earth. This 
is a propitious time for the disciple to work on the purification of his lower 
nature and thereby be more able to aid the Great Ones in their work of 
cleansing earth's astral envelope. A special effort is then to be made to 
become a more efficient conscious server on both the outer and the inner 
planes of life.

   In the early stages of human development the Hierarchy of Scorpio, which 
presides over the zodiacal month of November, assisted in awakening man's 
indwelling ego, and in so doing launching him on the road of 
individualization. During the present stage of human evolution a disciple 
working under the jurisdiction of the Lords of Individuality (Libra) and the 
Lords of From (Scorpio), is learning to translate assertiveness into humility 

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and to sacrifice the personal "I" for the impersonal "we"; in other words, to 
actually lives the ideal of THE GREATEST GOOD FOR THE GREATEST NUMBER.

   Advent Season extends through the month of December and is heralded as a 
Feast of Light. The spiritual impulses of the season prepare mankind for the 
downpouring of the heavenly forces accompanying the rebirth of the Cosmic 
Christ into our earthly sphere. This period is followed by the Winter Solstice 
season which extends from December 21st to the 24th andculminating on the day 
following, the 25th, in Christmas, the day most deeply revered in all 
Christendom. The festive observance of this holy season will never cease for 
aspirants until the Christ shall have been born within our own souls. To the 
degree that a disciple attains to this state will be the spiritual ecstasy 
experienced at this time, and the joy of ever increasing participation in the 
seasonal mingling of the earthly and the heavenly is felt at no other time of 
the year.

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