Ten Esoteric Cycles/Stages – Part VIIf (Three Rules for Determining Decanates)

(HZ: Please note that this ten-part series is just a review of Alice A Bailey’s Esoteric Works in respect to this ten cycles and stages review with a few additions plus some experiential heuristic observations and as a rule does not contain reified source impressions received during meditation.)

Three Experimental Rules for Determining Decanates

Decanate Ruler & Rule No. One.

The first experimental rule is that depending on which of the three major periodic vehicle aspects the human unit is focussed in most of the time will determine respectively the set of three sheaths they are focussing in and there is one aspect and set of sheaths in particular is normally suggestive.

If the Life aspect is the focus, then one of these three triadal sheaths or types of enlightenments is the focus of the initiate then the placement of the planets and their related influences within some set of decanates should confirm this if they came in body as an advanced disciple. This is explained in “Rule Two”.

If the Quality aspect is the focus than either the higher mind, son of mind or the concrete mind is the focus point of the probationary disciple then the chart should indicate this.

If the Appearance aspect is the focus than the etheric, astral, and mental sheaths are the focus for the average citizen or probationary aspirant. This information will be confirmed by either the Sun’s or the Ascendant’s decanate position particularly if they are before the age of 35 in general.  After this age and particularly if a dedicated disciple their life focus will have progressed.

This information can be inferred by the astrologer using two different means. The first is through the capacity for soul-mind-brain alignment and degree of soul status permitting access to world of meaning or the world of the soul. The second is through an experiential and theoretically knowledge and understanding of the science of the path that can be used to derive a set of questions to ask the subject. This discussion on esoteric cycles is intended to assist in this. The natal chart should confirm this unless a quickly advancing disciple. “Rule Two” below discusses s a suggestive method to help confirm the evolutionary focus of the subject derived using one of the above methods. A continuation of this analysis is to discern the focus that reflects the present life test or set of tests. This can be derived through an interaction with the subject and the overall analysis of the astrology chart will confirm this.

The major focus/test will be related to one of the three major periodic vehicles and one of their respectful sheaths – spirit, soul or personality with a secondary focus in a particular sheath – will, consciousness or activity aspect. There are therefore three major sign related tests and nine possible focusses or aspect tests. This is similar to determining which of the nine planets are ruling which of the nine chakras.

It is suggestive that the least aspected planet is also another key to determine the area of greatest focus and testing. An analysis should be done listing the planets from the least aspected to the greatest aspected as this will also indicate a livingness focus pattern. This pattern will be karmic but one’s karmic, life, and spiritual paths are equivalent.

In respect to the twelve labors of Hercules on the path of initiation each of the signs presents a series of one, two, or three major tests related to each decanate. The nine tests such as is described under Hercules in the given example labor under Scorpio influences where Scorpio like Virgo has more of a triple aspect focus. For this science to evolve into a more practical guidebook on the path into the unknown these three to nine tests need to be quantified. It is inferred that each of the tests are related to ultimate sensitivity development and related activity, expanded consciousness, and life identifications of the various sheaths to better express the intent of the Plan/Purpose.  Thus, the sheaths will demonstrate relationship with more inclusive spatial and temporal dimensional related form lives; more inclusive levels of group consciousness; and more inclusive group purpose identifications and related freedoms experienced by the Monadic, Egoic, and Personality aspects.  These freedoms are causally linked with the development and synthesizing of the nine-fold sheaths expressions per the three periodic vehicles. These freedoms are normally expressed as degrees of omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence within some dimension, life unit ring-pass-not which are likewise composed of various Lives. The quotes below capturing the use consummation of Ray dominated major periodic vehicles can be considered as literal freedoms consciously realized in one’s brain awareness.

1. The monadic ray is the energy which, when consciously employed, relates the initiate to the Father or Spirit aspect and gives Him “the freedom of the solar system”.
2. The egoic ray, when consciously utilised, relates the disciple to the second aspect of divinity and gives him the “freedom of the planetary sphere”.
3. The personality ray, again when consciously governed and employed, relates a man to the matter or substance aspect of divinity and gives him the “freedom of the three worlds” and of the subhuman kingdoms in nature. EP II, p.296

As reiterated, in respect only to the overarching cycle of evolution, the first major freedom is freedom of the three-worlds demonstrated by the personality in consciousness which takes place during the reorientation process before the stage of renunciation. The freedom of the three-worlds is the result of the initial blending of the influences of the lower two crosses. The first major freedom demonstrated upon the path of initiation is freedom of the planet meaning freedom of the lower five planes in consciousness due to the initial blending of the influences of the three crosses leading later to an initial freedom of consciousness upon the seven subplanes of the cosmic physical plane. It has been confirmed by travelers into the unknown that the Personality unfoldment potential achieved leads to planetary causative awareness, that Egoic unfoldment potential achieved leads to systemic causative awareness, and that Monadic unfoldment potential achieved leads to cosmic causative awareness. Causative planetary, solar, and cosmic awareness is not the same as consciousness but only includes contact and relationship potential with those Lives’ physiological form aspects that are achieving or have achieved such. Ultimately, once the purposes of evolution of the solar Logos are played out such types of consciousness might be demonstrated.

Decanates Ruler & Rule No. Two:

The second experimental rule is to determine which of the natal chart decanates, whether exoteric (normal wheel) and esoteric (reversed wheel), have decanate ruling planet placements in them.  This pattern is suggestive of the major evolutionary livingness focus of the soul and personality start point that first needs to be recapitulated to move forward this life in body.

As an example, using the referenced disciple’s chart being used throughout this discussion, the natal chart’s planets are highlighted below in red if they are the same as the ruling decanate planet. The highlighted ones in blue supplement the major focus. According to A.A.B. the third decanate rules the combined third and second aspects or does so in Capricorn anyway. This is reasonable given this is only the second solar system focussed on the second aspect unfoldment and integration with the third aspect. .

Chart of Zodiacal absorbed Capacities Tested & Esoteric Decanate Rulers

A Disciple’s Natal Chart Example: Consists of a set of Sign and Decanate related (recapitulated) focusses due to Planetary Natal Chart placements:

Per the reversed wheel the esoteric decanate rulers are highlighted in the chart above. There are two natal chart planet sidereal placement equivalents – Venus in Cancer and the Moon (veiling Neptune & Vulcan) in Virgo both in second decanates relating to the second aspect focus.

• Venus 19 degrees 20’ in Cancer in the twelfth house – Son of Mind recapitulated focus or buddhic sheath livingness focus? On the normal wheel the power of Venus in this sign tends to make the mind the servant of the personality and this is aided by the forces of the third Ray of Active Intelligence. On the reversed wheel Venus would tend to make the mind a servant of the Son of Mind with the blending assistance of the esoteric and second ray influences of Gemini coming through the fifth ray esoteric ruler Venus in  which is still a limitation as the Son of God would not be in control but illumination would be progressively developed.

• Moon (veiling Neptune and Vulcan) 11 degrees 3’ in Virgo in the second house (its esoteric ruler). – Son of Mind major focus or buddhic sheath livingness focus? Here the moon relates the form building aspect with the consciousness aspect which, at a high stage of development, produces the manifestation of the Christ principle or Christ-child. In this case Moon is the symbol of the response of the dead lives to the outer spiritual impact.

These two above planet placements are experimentally inferred to represent the soul’s evolutionary focus are likewise inferred as being significant in determining the potential major life focus and aspect of evolutionary activity and identity. The decanate related detriment planetary placements indicate that the disciple is responding to the esoteric influences coming through these planets in respect to the second aspect anyway given their natal chart placement. Detriment rulers basically means that the forces of the planets are less likely responded to permitting the unit to respond to soul related consciousness in these areas of gain.

• *There is also Mercury in Leo 2 degrees 51 minutes in the twelfth house conjuncting first house cusp but Mercury is not in the second decanate of Leo but the first or physical-etheric body (brain) aspect on the normal wheel and the lower mind on the reversed wheel. Mercury is also the least aspected planet in this natal chart and which gives its placement more significance in determining the life focus. In this case manasic illumination of the concrete mind was achieved and buddhic and atmic illumination was being achieved during the fifth Jupiter cycle.

• Mercury is on the cusp of the first decanate of Leo and conjuncting the third decanate of Cancer which it is inferred to rule esoterically (see chart above) given a relationship between the higher mind focus of the soul and the brain.

Also, esoterically Mars in Libra and Neptune in Virgo are given as the two planets ruling a first aspect decanate or lower mind livingness focus, but the natal planets are not in the first decanate they are in the second decanate. What are their significances?

• **Mars 18 degrees 19’ in Libra in the third house – Son of Mind focus. This position of Mars indicates the preparation for the final struggle in Scorpio given that the point of balance between the soul and body was reached in Libra in an earlier life. The permanent preponderance of spiritual energy imposed upon the lower personal forces takes place once Mars is in Scorpio which took place through progression (tropically, Mars is in Scorpio).

• **Neptune 25 degrees 3’ in Virgo in the second house – Son of Mind focus. The desire for incarnation is lessened. The Moon, in Virgo, relates the Sun sign of Cancer to Virgo and Aquarius. In this combination, you have the sign of mass-consciousness, the sign of the Christ-consciousness and the sign of universal consciousness related to each other and all of them through the medium of the influence of Neptune, which the Moon also veils. Due also to the ascendant and its polarity influences of Leo-Aquarius universal or true group consciousness was achieved for this exampled disciple.

Interestingly, Mars is in detriment in Libra, and Neptune is in detriment in Virgo in respect to Humanity as a whole. This indicates that the subject is not identifying with the aggressive self-fulfillment of personality desires or mystical union but is responding as a soul to the esoteric influences of Scorpio and Cancer but instead is the unfolding of Christ consciousness attributes.  The disciple is always identified and aligned with the Soul of Humanity indicating the absorbed and demonstrating influences of Cancer-Virgo-Aquarius related to the Moon’s veiled influences. In this case the disciple was aligned with the causal body’s Guardian Angels of Humanity and able to receive needed integration and value related guidance for Humanity. The question is whether these two determent planets should be included in determining the major evolutionary focus? Given they are in detriment in respect to the sign in whole, and not just in context of the decanate, and less likely to hold down consciousness of the soul gives their positions probably even more significance as all three aspects are blending and representative.

These two detriment related influences add to and qualify the overall major focus in the sensitization and use of the lower mind by the group conscious soul or Son of Mind becoming a Son of God particularly given the influences of 11^th house (of the group) Uranus in Gemini esoteric ruler of Libra trine Mars in Libra in the 3^rd house (of communication) in opposition to 9^th house (of the higher mind) Jupiter esoteric ruler of Aquarius and hierarchical ruler of Virgo thus linking the higher mind, son of mind and lower concrete mind with mass consciousness, Christ

consciousness and universal consciousness sources. These are all being focussed by individual consciousness due to the use and consummated influences of the 5^th and the 1^st rays conditioned by Leo. Leo is the natal ascendant cusp in this chart and on the reversed wheel the focus of the blended soul-personality was to Self-initiate.

The exoteric decanate positions of those natal planets equivalent to the above listed decanate rulers on the exoteric ordinary wheel consisted only of Saturn in Virgo. Saturn in this second aspect or astral body focus position for the probationary disciple is given to be the key to the opening the door of initiation.

• Saturn in Virgo 15 degrees 53’ in the second house and second decanate – astral body focus. Saturn, as the focus of the karmic dweller pattern redemption opportunities and is the second decanate ruler on the normal wheel. It provides opportunities for redeeming astral patterns along the personality ray line particularly given this is the personality ray inferred.

The opportunity provided by  Saturn in Virgo is a personality focus that is upon the reverse wheel is to take advantage of past life misuse of astral body patterns and redeem them and raise the vibration of the astral field or unfold higher sub-plane matter in this second aspect vehicle and sheath and thus bring through the group soul feeling aspect. In this case, the karmic dweller pattern was to learn how to universally love and not be interested in seeking personally love or to be loved.  Furthermore, a second ray personality was indicated above for this disciple indicating the focus on these types of unresolved patterns.

The Sun, always of significance for the focus of the personality. Its placement is natally at 10 degrees 20’ in Cancer – indicating more of a physical form focus than an astral form sensitivity focus on the normal wheel.  On the reversed wheel the focus was to recapitulate a lighted house or blending of the lights of the soul and body in general and invoke the group soul and spirit feeling or spiritual instinct aspect as a means for group soul inclusive expression. This eventually leads to accomplished relating, by the Son of Mind, of the concrete mind with the higher mind permitting the concrete mind illumination by the higher mind and over time being transformed into a progressive expanding spiritual mind.

Overall, it is shown that the above planet placements assist in qualifying the soul-personality life focus. The major focus of unfoldment continuing from past life can be seen to be overall a relating of the three minds (Universal Mind, abstract mind, and the concrete mind) leading to illuminating of the lower mind by the higher mind organized and qualified by the group conscious Son of Mind. This is emphasized by Jupiter in the 9^th house ruled by Aries and Uranus in the 11th house of group relationships.  Second decanate Neptune in Virgo and Mars in the 3^rd house of communications balanced by Libra making telepathic access to the subjective worlds also a focus. In this disciple’s case the focus was in the establishing and use of a soul-mind-brain alignment to enhance the Son of Mind’s group conscious influences and control once the karmic (need to be loved) astral patterns cleared responsible for excessive matter-form types of sensitivity circulating in the etheric body.

Thus, each position gives us insight into the overall dweller related karmic patterns and likewise the balancing efforts by the Angel working through the various vehicles. All together the larger karmic pattern of the dweller and the Angel are observed.

The surmised livingness focus of the exampled disciple can therefore be generalized as being in the re-generation stage seasonally. This stage is conditioned by the triangle of Cancer-Leo-Virgo which is correlated to the osculating dual directional wheel with a focus on the stabilization of identify with human soul. In brain awareness. It also suggests that the subject’s major starting focus is on the re-development of and the re-influence of the Son of Mind with a secondary focus on the development of the higher mind-lower concrete mind illumination.

Also, of interest is that the main focus is on the Son of Mind and the least aspected planet is Mercury in Leo 2 degrees where Leo is the sign of the human soul as Self in general. Un-aspected Mercury, as with all un-aspected plants, their power can be more easily focussed along any direction more easily as they are karmically more unbound. Mercury in this case provided an avenue for the unfolding of a capacity and ability to create highly complexed thought-forms to capture the soul’s contemplations.

The ascendant is also on the cusp of Leo at eleven degrees indicating the need to expand the sense of Self and self-initiate a unique contribution to assist Humanity to address its own soul-personality integration real needs as the Son of Mind’s influences are esoterically elevated and considered on the reversed wheel. Due to the positioning of both the Sun in Cancer 10 degrees 20” and Ascendant in Leo 11 degrees 19’ the life focus as shifting from the focus of body sensitity to group and Humanity’s body sensitivity.  This chart does indicate the truth of this disciple’s focus until the end of the fourth cycle of Jupiter. After that, the chart was not as much representative of the disciple’s advancement which is stabilizing back upon the reverse wheel or basic identification with the spiritual soul after several years advancing on the multi-wheel or identifications with expanding Wholes, expansion of identity with the One Self, and with the planetary and solar Christ Activity. This is again descriptive of the esoteric influences of Cancer-Leo-Virgo as the early conditioning influences that needed to be recapitulated.

Since this disciple was able to progress into the field of the higher initiations and bring these telepathic communications into brain awareness due to soul-mind-brain alignment propensities depicted by the natal chart it is useful to point out an important point in terms of the three aspects. The Creative Hierarchies and Hierarchical Lives, as with all entities, are three-fold (and seven-fold) and the disciple’s unfolding response to them will be sequentially one aspect at a time. It is also postulated that the Sun sign and its polar opposite as well as one’s ascendant sign and its polar opposite particular creative Hierarchies (or types of Wholes) are those that the probationary initiate will respond to first.

This might explain the hierarchical sequence of response at the various initiations which correlation will be later introduced. This order of aspect response might depend on monadic, egoic, or personality ray alignment 1, 3, 5, 7 vs. 2, 4, 6? There is not enough data to confirm if this is the case. In one referenced case the third aspect was responded to first followed by first aspect and lastly the second aspect but also in this case the subjective ray alignment is inferred to be 1, 3, 5, 7.  The same sequence took place in the response to various subjective esoteric groupings and lives where the third aspect was responded to first followed by the first aspect as a rule or at least this is how it is experienced in the personality in soul-mind-brain alignment. This is also the case in respect to three aspects of the Son of Mind which was responded to in the order of third, first, and second taking place during the various sequential esoteric cycles such as a cycle of initiation or the cycle of Jupiter.

Full communication with some life entity requires the response to all three aspects. This might then indicate that a detriment planet as a ruling planet for a whole sign is more significant than a planet in detriment ruling a decanate. This would indicate that all three aspects are included in some way. Furthermore, a similar individual ray related sequence is surmised, based upon some evidence, to be similar to the petal unfoldment sequence throughout the series of incarnations – knowledge petal than the knowledge-will petal in the first tier followed by the love-will petal in the next tier before the knowledge-love petal., et.al. This is given as being influenced by the monadic Ray and the Group Soul Ray.

Decanates Ruler & Rule No. Three.

The third rule, which was given, is that all accepted disciples and initiates on the reversed wheel end their career in a sign through a final struggle and test. What is that struggle and test and what planet would indicate this particular struggle and test? The nature of this struggle and test can be determined by what the planet ruling the third decanate on the reverse wheel. One should examine their chart to see if there are any planets in their third decanates and especially if they align with the chart given for decanate rulers on the reversed wheel.  One should also check to see if any of these third decanate planets also is considered a dignity in fall in those signs.

If it is assessed that the natal chart subject has Little Chelaship or Chela in the Light status, which means their focus is somewhere up to and through the second initiation, then one can always use Saturn as the ruler of the third decanate for all the signs. This is due to Saturn presenting opportunities of various types related to the constellation influences for those training to take the final twelve tests. A further reason being that Saturn can be correlated with the Brain aspect of the Logos providing access to the Mind of God’s karmic law necessities whose time has come for the lower kingdoms in general. For probationary initiates around the third initiation and on the path of initiation and thus influenced by the Cardinal cross use Uranus as the ruler of the third decanate as Saturn cannot follow the disciple onto the Cardinal cross or in fact it is Uranus organizing and supplying the brain with the necessary group influences to carry out the will of the group under the Law of Destiny.

Composed by HZ 2018-2023.

Ten Esoteric Cycles/Stages – Part I (Cycle of Evolution)
Ten Esoteric Cycles/Stages – Part II (Recreation, Regeneration, Reorientation, and Renunciation)

Ten Esoteric Cycles/Stages – Part III (Cycle of Maturation & Cycle of Integration)
Ten Esoteric Cycles/Stages – Part IV (Cycles of Jupiter, The Four Seasons, The Four Dharmic Wheel Directions)
Ten Esoteric Cycles/Stages – Part V (Seven Crises of the Soul & Cycles of Evolution, Aspiration, and Initiation)
Ten Esoteric Cycles/Stages – Part VI (The Seven Laws of the Soul)
Ten Esoteric Cycles/Stages – Part VII (A Sequence of the 14 Rules for Initiation) Revised 6/25/23
Ten Esoteric Cycles/Stages – Part VIIa (12 Final Tests & Summation of “Labors of Hercules”)
Ten Esoteric Cycles/Stages – Part VIIb (First Six Progressive Cycles of Jupiter & The Aspirant)
Ten Esoteric Cycles/Stages – Part VIIc (Twelve Basic Gifts of Hercules)
Ten Esoteric Cycles/Stages – Part VIId (Cycles of Jupiter, Twelve Tests, & Decanates)
Ten Esoteric Cycles/Stages – Part VIIe (4-Seasonal Stages, 4-Dharmic Wheels,12-Houses & 36-Decanates)
Ten Esoteric Cycles/Stages – Part VIIf (Three Rules for Determining Decanates)
Ten Esoteric Cycles/Stages – Part VIII (60 Major Astrological/Cosmological Influences during the Tests of Hercules)
Ten Esoteric Cycles/Stages – Part IX (Seven Stages of Discipleship) Revised 06.24.23
Ten Esoteric Cycles/Stages – Part X (Introduction to Cycles or Stages of Planetary Integration)