Nicholas Roerich Museum

Ten Esoteric Cycles/Stages – Part VIIa (12 Final Tests & Summation of “Labors of Hercules”)

The Twelve Final Tests: Journey to the Heart of God – The Holy Place

When he is upon the Path of Discipleship (and here I include the Path of Initiation) occult rumour says that he then becomes conditioned by the tireless Watcher, the soul, and is subjected (during the final stages of the path) to exactly twelve incarnations, passing one in each of the twelve signs. In them he has to prove himself, attaining great moments of crisis in each of the constellations of the Fixed Cross in particular. EA, p. 83

“Rumour,” is inferred here to mean three different things, that the twelve zodiacal signs provide opportunity for the evolutionary unit – Man, to be conditioned by each of the twelve constellation influences proffering certain gifts and potentials. Second, that there are twelve final incarnations, one in each of the twelve zodiacal signs, where a sequence of final examinations is given and if passed permits the evolutionary unit – Man to move on to new adventures elsewhere within the body of deity. Third, that the “rumour” might be understood to mean various types of incarnations besides new births through a biological mother. In other words, a soul “life” can be one or more lives in body or one life in many bodies depending on organized objectives and purposes of the soul.

There is a revealing quote given in the Labors of Hercules by Alice A. Bailey (A.A.B.) that symbolizes this rumour of the twelve labors and sequence of final examinations:

“Hercules, by the will of Jupiter, was subjected to the power of Eurystheus, and obliged to obey him in every demand. He consulted the oracle of Apollo and was told that he must be subservient for twelve years to the will of Eurystheus, in compliance with the commands of Jupiter; and that, after he had achieved the most celebrated labours, he should be translated to the gods.”

As we know, Jupiter revolves around the sun and returns to its natal position basically and symbolically (approximately) every twelve years. Thus, the will of Jupiter relates one necessarily to all twelve signs through its cyclical journey. The tests are inferred to be created by the power of Eurystheus which can be understood, as used here to be an expression of Ishvara, the Gurudeva, being unlimited by time conditions, is the teacher of the primeval Lords. Ishvara, as the Gurudeva means the supreme Soul the Master of all or the One Spirit-Soul aspect of the planetary Logos that every spirit-soul on the Earth is a necessary part of. The commands of Jupiter, or the WORD, is understood and used herein to mean the channel of communication for the One Soul aspect of the solar Logos (reflecting the cosmic Logos, the Lord of the local Universe) or in relationship with the planetary Logos or Lord of the World.

The Cardinal Cross—is responsible for bringing about certain great points of synthesis, as a consequence of both change and crisis. Jupiter is responsible for the focussing of energies at this point. EA, p.350

Those that have taken these tests know that the twelve tests or Labors of Hercules takes place on the combined Path of Discipleship and Initiation following earlier cycles of being conditioned by the Will of Jupiter. The path of accepted discipleship and initiation are conditioned by the cardinal cross particularly as its focus is the path of synthesis. There are five stages of initiation which are undertaken under the symbolic will-direction of the watchful and directing Eye and Heart of Jupiter. The first two planetary initiation stages are taken under the Eye of Jupiter and the remaining three stages are taken under the combined will-directing Eye and watchful Heart of Jupiter. The twelve tests represent the required blending of the Eye and the Heart to proceed along to and culmination of the final three stages of initiations or planetary integrations. Thus, the successful outcome of these five stages can be understood to be due to the correct integration with the symbolic Will of Jupiter.

Jupiter distributes and particularly synthesizes the various influences or gifts of the twelve constellations. These are recognized by the aspirant as presented, spiritual and divine attributes and potencies (spirit-soul powers) proffered by the twelve constellations to those aspirants who has discovered them under the Laws of the Soul and particularly the Law of Group Progress. They are then unfolded or developed and when correctly utilized finds himself at one with the divine purpose as proffered continuously throughout the endless lives and cycles of Jupiter. The aspirant becomes eventually at-oned with those embodying similar attributes and potencies or the Cloud of Witnesses (graduates) within the Heart of God that the Will of Jupiter has assisted their symbolic entry into. The goal is to express the spiritual Being and Energy of the Whole and to know and be in truth that one is God incarnate. The successes come through the sequential recognition and rejecting of one’s identification with the form lives or substance-form consciousness-matter forces that God and Man uses to manifest through but instead identify that That which purposefully created such forms.

The first quote above stated that the aspirant was already on the probationary path of initiation when taking the twelve tests. Thus, the true path of initiation only begins approaching consciously the third initiation or the first solar initiation (giving aspects of solar awareness’s of subjective causative events). The goal is the permanent control of the personality as a channel for expression which we are told is the height of the human soul endeavor. One of the preliminary requirements is basic control of the three sheaths of the personality which needs to be completed before the path of initiation can be entered. Thus, for the average western probationary disciple invoking probationary initiate status, the twelve tests take place after the completion of the first phase of the second initiation, normally at the end of the third cycle of Jupiter, and extent up to the fifth initiation and not to the earlier cycles of Jupiter where the potential response and blending of the many influences or “lights” are being consciously undertaken. A “stillness vision” can be understood to symbolically indicate the beginning of these tests for the present incarnation. Tests only relate to those ready for testing once the esoteric capacity and ability potentials or “lights” are absorbed and nascently demonstrated in some practical service related ways but the intents of these tests are not necessarily always correctly translated in the larger context.

The present position is that these twelve tests represent a symbolic and embodied twelve soul life objectives and purposes in general regardless how many biological incarnations they will take. Furthermore, the true progression of the ascendant from sign to sign on the reverse wheel indicates, for a disciple, a new soul-personality life or focus in general. Although, one theoretically can have more than one such defined soul life in body such as our self this life in one biological body. It was noticed that when a soul life direction or objective changed, or was evoked and acquiesced to, the evidence was per a set of different conditioning forces, intents, and conditioning energies. Furthermore, there was either a change in name, circumstances, or opportunities with new contacts and will-direction likewise.

Theoretically, in respect to the progressive astrological influences impacting us during Jupiter’s cycles through our natal chart symbolically and in effect, the three decanates of each sign being ruled each by separate planets we are exposed to specific influences and inadvertently tested in respect to their use, in one sense, three times. Assuming we are on the path and thus responding to the reversed wheel influences as soul-personalities we first, respond as an aspirant where our spiritual intelligence is tested; secondly, as a disciple where our spiritual love is tested; and thirdly as an initiate where our spiritual will is tested. Thus, we are basically exposed to thirty-six decanate related tests through one cycle of Jupiter focusing particularly on one sheath integration and fusion.

In each life the aspirant has a first nascent awakening as to their degree of spirituality or unconditional love generated through some unique spiritual or karmic life experience. This initiates for the aspirant with a trained mind and sense of responsibility a motivating necessity to become a more useful member of society in some form. Once this awakening takes place the aspirant by default invokes assistance from their environments what they need to fulfill this new void or meet their real needs. Throughout this process, the aspirant begins to free themselves from their past sense of self and ways of being or livingness in the world. Thus, freeing of self-identification with either family, friends, community, national or race forms. They sever the bonds of their Mother and respond to the love of the Father. For those born again aspirants to the mysteries, this above process which normally takes place around their twenty-first year when the soul appropriates the mind if one is on the path. Earlier, normally at age eighteen there is an urge to enter into the world to make a life for oneself just as in the myth of Hercules, he symbolically moved out into the world and slew a lion at age eighteen and later at age 21 married his bride symbolizing the three-fold acquiescing of the personality to the soul’s intent. This is reflected in the progressive unfoldment of his spiritual intelligence, love and will livingness along the soul’s intent.

Each of us also has a link to the period in Hercules life when they first destroyed and/or abandoned all of his earlier relationships with friends and family to fanatical focus their life towards some type of new spiritualized goal. This is normally during the Bhakti recapitulation period when the evoked energy, and always self-initiated, is overstimulating the astral sheath. This takes place normally for the first time during the beginning of the third Jupiter cycle (age 24-36) invoking fully the law of magnetic response but can take place in any cycle but requires a mental and impersonal focus to make it effective and invoke the law of service. It takes place again later under the law of service (but less dramatic) when initiating the first of the twelve tests during the nascent combining of the first two cross exoteric and esoteric planetary influences. Once there is a correct response to these esoteric planetary rulers the law of repulse can be evoked, and the second initiation results reified.

The average western evolved aspirant normally receives this visionary and symbolic confirmation after the first three cycles of Jupiter around the age of thirty-five if responding successfully to these earlier proffered opportunities. This correct response symbolizes outwardly a change in status for the aspirant from a probationary disciple to a probationary initiate. During each cycle Jupiter heightens the influence of each of the constellations creating a point of tension which leads to a potential recognition of some (constellation cued) related real need and addressed through the conscious blending of the new influences with the old and the initiating of an ongoing fusion. Age thirty-five also indicates the completion of the fifth or Leo conditioned maturation cycle which normally indicates some degree of control by the soul over the personality. This cycle can be understood to represent the re-appropriation of the atmic sheath or spiritual will potential earlier developed in past lives. Now, at the symbolic year of age thirty-six the advancing probationary disciple who has been conferred in an earlier stillness vision and now probationary initiate (also in the Virgo stage of the maturation cycle whose quality is initiation) prepares for a period of seven years to formally enter the Path of Discipleship and the Path of Initiation and take the final twelve tests previously conditioned for by the Eye of Jupiter throughout their many incarnations. Thus, at the end of their monadic sheath re-appropriation at age forty-two (symbol of mastery of substance and form) their spiritual will is now integrating with the Divine Will. Please keep in mind the re-appropriation of these sheaths also requires whatever developments previous built into these sheaths to descend and be reified into brain awareness before such can be organized for service on the physical plane. Thus it normally takes a full seven years for this to take place; so at the symbolic age of forty-nine (after the Libra maturation stage) the spiritual will and divine will is expressing on the physical plane and the final tests can now begin (the Scorpio maturation stage is now entered). The above age related cycle process only symbolizes the evolutionary stage of the average western aspirant. The final test of Jesus took place before his thirty-fifth birthday or at least those that took place on the physical plane indicating of his more advanced evolution from earlier cycles.

The above process of recapitulation of earlier evolution (or tests) successes up to the present life tests takes longer or shorter depending on his earlier life incarnation cycles of success. The major tests normally do not start until under the influence of Leo where one consciously takes control of his own evolution, group service and group salvation. This also normally takes place around age 35 for the typical aspirant, or after the fifth (fifth spirillae) seventh year cycle of maturation, for those that have reversed themselves on the wheel and are self-will initiated. The successful test depicting Leo supremacy in controlling the first two sheaths and somewhat the mental direction under the soul Law of Service is accompanied by a symbolic teaching and/or first point of revelation or “stillness vision” if one’s soul related purpose is to take an (another) initiation.

In connection with a lesser duality found in every human being, that of head and heart, of mind and love, and of will and wisdom, the work of Jupiter is to develop these two qualities and bring them into synthetic interplay. EA, p. 126

Second ray influences and potentialities are abidingly present and pour into our planetary sphere and life, via the Sun (veiling a hidden planet) and Jupiter. These sweep the forces of Leo, Sagittarius, Pisces, Aquarius and Virgo into and through our entire planet and all its kingdoms in nature. EA, p.167

Jupiter expressing second Ray attractive force seeks to accomplish this fusion of the various aspects within each sign it transits as it focuses the influence of the constellations coming through the sun using particularly second ray influences and potentiates which controls and dominates all of the other ray types in this solar system. The transits of Jupiter continually prepares the aspirant for these tests through assisting in fusing the qualified mind and heart and will by way of linking, blending, and fusing of the esoteric and esoteric rulers qualities and building in more skilled abilities through the absorption of qualified zodiacal energies and their releasing powers through the yearly changing of the zodiacal influences as Jupiter transits through each. Thus, the embodied soul is at the will of Jupiter and the tests derived by Eurystheus.

The following chart summarizes the maturation cycle or spirit-soul’s re-appropriation of a particular sheath to express its purpose through. The sheath capacity reflects only its development up to the point of its re-appropriation. Any further development or unfoldment will take place following its re-appropriation. The extant development characteristics of the sheath will descend slowly into the aspirant’s awareness and this will only begin to take place at the end of the maturation cycle and takes the next cycle to fully demonstrate. Again, sheath characteristics only available if previously built into in earlier cycles of lives. Each of the maturation cycles are conditioned by a particular constellation in general. Each twelve year cycle is focussed on all of the sheaths but one sheath in particular appears to be the centralized focus in respect to the other sheaths – thus the developing and integrating of it within the whole as the aspirant integrates sequentially the newest appropriated sheath with those earlier ones. One can see that the developmental cycle or evolutionary cycle follows the maturation re-appropriation cycle sheath by sheath.

The inferred and generic chart below depicts a relationship between the maturation and the developmental cycles. Thus, the zodiacal sign of Aries-Libra is inferred to always condition the first cycle of Jupiter through the signs and also through the first sheath unfoldment in general meaning that the seven-year maturation sequential sheath unfoldment process does appear to be conditioned likewise by the signs from Aries to Pisces. But in owns natal chart Jupiter does not always fall in Aries or at zero point Aries but never-the-less its influence is noted for reflection purposes only. Each person begins the astrological conditioning of their physical incarnation cycle per their natal chart in general. If one’s Jupiter is in Taurus, then the first year cycle of Jupiter is itself conditioned by Taurus (if at 0 degrees Taurus) and ends with Jupiter transmitting the influences of Aries in general. The same logic applies to house influences. If one has Leo on the cusp of the first house Aries is still considered to be the house of Aries.

It is hypothesized, in the case of disciples responding to zodiacal related soul influences, that there is a sequential condition response by the soul to each of the polarized pairs of the twelve zodiacal constellations in general linked sequentially to each of the twelve year cycles of Jupiter and the seven year cycles of Saturn regardless of the sidereal natal sign of Jupiter or Saturn. This means that the first twelve year cycle and first seven year cycle are conditioned overall by Aries-Libra, the second cycle by Taurus-Scorpio, et.al. This is due to the sheath and livingness related focus of the life unit.

A Maturation & Integration Chart

Saturn Maturation Cycle: Age Grouping – Existing Sheath Development Appropriated	A Zodiacal Conditioning Influence	Jupiter Integration Cycle: Age Grouping – New Sheath related Development Opportunities	Sheaths Appropriated by Spirit-Soul; or related expansion contact & blending capacities demonstrated by the Disciple	Polarity Balancing of Astrological Influences Required on the Path
Ages 0 to 7 (Age 5 Etheric)	Aries (Libra)	Jupiter Cycle 1: Age 0 to 12	Physical – Etheric	Planets Energies vs. Forces
Ages 8 to 14 Astral	Taurus (Scorpio)	Jupiter Cycle 2: Age 13 to 24	Astral	Sun Sign Energies vs. Planets
Ages 15 to 21 Mental	Gemini (Sagittarius)	Jupiter Cycle 3: Age 25 to 36	Manasic-Mental	Sun vs. Rising Sign Energies
Ages 22 to 28 Buddhic	Cancer (Capricorn)	Jupiter Cycle 4: Age 37 to 48	Buddhic	Polarities between Exoteric and Esoteric Planetary Ruler Influences
Ages 29 to 35 Atmic	Leo (Aquarius)	Jupiter Cycle 5: Age 49 to 60 (12 Labors Consciously Begins for the probationary initiate)	Atmic	Exoteric/Esoteric Polarities between Hierarchical Planetary Ruler Influences. Creative Hierarchy Polarities
Ages 36 to 42 Monadic	Virgo (Pisces)	Jupiter Cycle 6: Age 61 to 72	Monadic	6 Sign Polarities (Love of God)
Ages 43 to 49 Logoic	Libra (Aries)	Jupiter Cycle 7: Age 73 to 84	Logoic	Cosmic Path Polarities

The generalized chart indicates some given and inferred various conditioning influences, due to balancing of astrological related polarities, coming through planetary, zodiacal, and cosmic pathways as they are listed. The cosmic pathways influences are evoked into play after the development of the triadal vehicle. Furthermore, the chart infers only various correspondences but not correlations. As an example, the disciple responds first to the lower four solar systems normally at the second initiation after aligned with their higher four centers and only later responds to the higher three systems related to the head center. The same apples to the creative Hierarchies as these are responded to gradually under different planetary integrations beginning with the first initiation. The same applies to the influences from Gemini in blending the sign polarities and responding by degree or aspect to the three major constellations.

The average person will respond mostly to the exoteric rulers of the sign and aspirants to the mysteries and probationary disciples will respond to and blend the exoteric and esoteric ruling planets where accepted disciples and initiates will respond and blend also the hierarchical planetary rulers. The chart also generically references a few other major influences coming through conditioning the response of the spirit-soul-personality once on the path of initiation due to the response to the blending three crosses and related to their inherent sets of constellations within the twelve zodiacal signs.

The probationary initiate stage advances one through a conscious focused assimilation of capacities, abilities and skills integrating journey through the initial blending of the exoteric and the esoteric astrological influences that need be fused and thus proffering attributes or gifts from the twelve set of constellations which actually precedes yet co-incident with the stage of the twelve tests which indicates the way to the path of accepted discipleship and door to initiation. The entering of the stage of probationary initiate status is consciously indicated when the first point of revelation is proffered by Jupiter’s journey conferring the influences of Aries and Taurus consciously upon the brain awareness of the probationary disciple by the combined transmissions of Mercury and Vulcan as a symbolic stillness vision. Mercury and Vulcan are both at-one with the Sun; and Jupiter transmits the Sun’s symbolic WORD or Desire channeled by Mercury and fashioned by Vulcan.

The 12 final tests are summarized per constellation below. These 12 achievements represent or capture a very generic set of objectives that each initiate must continually demonstrate on the path of initiation. Other objectives per constellation are likewise developed and demonstrated and these will be introduced in Part X related to both the rules for initiation and those astrological/cosmological influences absorbed. Also, in Part VIIc these 12-Final Tests are expanded upon.

Aries. Arrive at unity through effort through mastering of cyclical opportunities.

Taurus. Renunciation. Initiate. I see and when the eye is open, all is illuminated.

Gemini. Renunciation. Initiate: Let the spirit-soul control.

Cancer. I am divinity in motion and organize all activities.

Leo. I am That and That am I.

Virgo. I am the light of god and the light of wisdom.

Libra. Saturn. I Choose to Be and express the love-wisdom.

Scorpio. I am the Radiant Light of Liberation

Sagittarius. Mars. I am the Guardian of the Gate.

Capricorn. Venus. Lost am I in light Supernal yet on that light I turn my back.

Aquarius. Moon. Water of Life am I, poured forth for thirsty men.

Pisces. Pluto. I leave my Father’s home and turning back I save.

A Summation of Alice A.A.B.’s book on “The Labours of Hercules”:

Aries:

The classical labor of Hercules in Aries is symbolically given as the “Capture of the Man-Eating Mares” which symbolize wrong or illusioned ideas, thought, and speech. Aries ultimately portrayals the opportunities of spirit to work through the impulsed activity of the soul to influence the disciple living and working on the physical plane who is discovering and unfolding his innate divinity with its latent powers. The threefold periodic major aspects of Life, consciousness, and form activity in this sign are beginning to be fused in the aspirant as the personal self and yet the awakening of soul in form. Through the influences of the awakening soul the aspirant disciple endeavors to carry some larger purpose impulsed initially by spirit. The Mars related impulses of Aries lead the aspirant born in Aries to first take form and next to achieve through creativity due to the esoteric influences of Mercury but now reoriented and facing spirit it is to create according to the impulses of spirit reflected in the activity of the soul and thus leads to the impulse to resurrect.

Through the influences of Aries he now actively creates spiritual imbued forms to meet real group related needs as a pathway for liberation and resurrection out of form through the mediating aspect of the now controlled and illuminated mind symbolized at times by a white horse as opposed to the dark colored brood mares. It is useful to remember that this labor of Hercules leads to many failures as the disciple fails to persist in the demonstration of the illuminated mind to mediate and generate the soul impulsed ideas, thought and speech. He does not fully control the mind until mastering the Sagittarian labor of “killing the man-eating birds” through the development of the spiritual intuitional mind aspect. The keynote for Aries is given for the disciple is “I come forth from the plane of mind – I rule.” This leads eventually by Hercules to “arrive at unity with all through effort through mastering of cyclical opportunities” as these opportunities become known to him. This labor is achieved through the absorption of the “Light of Life.”

Aries.—The Light of Life Itself. This is the dim point of light found at the centre of the cycle of manifestation, faint and flickering. It is the “searchlight of the Logos, seeking that which can be used” for divine expression.

A study of the above thoughts will reveal the symbolic story of the irradiation of matter, of the growth of the light body within the macrocosm and the microcosm, and finally make clear the purpose of the Logos.

Cassiopeia” Enthroned Queen symbol of matter; Dominant woman.

Cetus: Sea Monster Enemy of the little fishes or that which intends to destroy the soul in incarnation; ocean of existence symbolizes the magnitude of Hercules problem.

Perseus: The one who subdues; the breaker or that which can chain the enthroned woman and that which can conquer the monster. Possesses the helmet of invisibility, the sandals of swiftness, the buckler of wisdom and the sword of spirit. The coming Prince who slew the Medusa or symbol of the great illusion.

Taurus:

The classical labor of Hercules in Taurus is symbolically given as the “Capture of the Cretan Bull.” The bull of desire is depicted as dwelling upon an “island fair” meaning developed personality separated from the mainland or group identification which is given as a place where “adventurous men could enter a vast maze of bewilderment.” The mainland is controlled by the three Cyclops or initiates (Brontes, Steropes, and Arges) symbolizing the three major divine aspects of the periodic vehicles – Spirit or Father aspect, light or the soul aspect and whirling activity or the form aspect. The goal for Hercules as an unfolding Son of God was to capture the bull or the many aspects of creative form desire and turn these over for the three one eyed Cyclops to guide them on the mainland, Holy Place or land of the group conscious spiritual soul to manage or qualify and give direction to. In effect the creative urge and forces are raised up into the Holy Place. The eye of the kama-manasic mind is turned over to the eye of the soul which mediates the Eye of Shiva and the light of the path is discovered. The keynote for the disciple in Taurus is “I see and when the eye is opened, all is illuminated.” This is due to the absorption of the “Light of the Path.”

Taurus.—The penetrating Light of the Path. This is a beam of light, streaming forth from the point in Aries, and revealing the area of light control.

Orion: The three kings in Orion’s belt representing the three divine aspects of will, love, and intelligence symbolizes Spirit; it literally means the breaking forth of light.

Eridanus: Immense river of stars under the feet of Orion or the river of the judged and s a symbol of the river of life carrying us into incarnation meaning we reap what we sow. Form taking aspect.

Auriga: Charioteer; leading forth into new lands so symbolizing the soul (descending into new desires).

The three planetary rulers of Taurus transform the earlier motto “Go forth into matter” of the unit to “I leave my Father’s home and turning back I save” the new motto on the reversed wheel.

Gemini:

The classical labor of Hercules in Gemini is symbolically given as the “Gathering the Golden Apples of the Hesperides.” This labor consists of five separate tests carried over the first five cycles of Jupiter of the aspirant/disciple where each labor has the opportunity to be achieved within each of these twelve year cycles of transiting Jupiter back to natal Jupiter. The goal is that of receiving the golden apple from Hesperis given as the star of initiation a five-pointed star. This symbolizes the achievement, through correct relationship created between Hercules dual selves, of omnipresent and omniscience innate within the spiritual soul or a state of synthesis or spirit awareness.

Cycle 1: Age 0-12: Test 1: Recognizing the flashes of and the following of one’s own soul guidance (Nereus).

Cycle 2: Age 13-24: Test 2: Lower Psychism and Serpent of Illusion (Antaeus) vanished through becoming a channel for the soul by raising up the three-fold personality identities into the light of the spiritual soul.

Cycle 3: Age 25-36: Test 3: Destroyed old wise teachers (Busirius or wisdom of the world and the lower mystical spiritual path).

Cycle 4: Age 37-48: Test 4: Assisted and serve others. The mind must lead the passions of the form life. Must gain mental control at each round. Control though creation.

Cycle 5: Age 49-60: Test 5: Shouldered the world for Atlas (The Master). Way marked by service and acts of love.

They represent a process of discovering the ideal relationship and communication between the lower and the higher selves leading to an identification with the universal or one Self or synthesis. During these five cycles the aspirant discovers and acquires the necessary knowledge and wisdom to receive the higher revelations and thus the registering of occult knowledge and reality. The highest know influence of Gemini proffers the initiate the comprehension of plan of the planetary and the cosmic Christ. The learning of this complete series of tests is requires the learning of the earlier tests of Aries and Taurus which is not finally learned until after the third initiation. Thus, the final twelve tests can only be undertaken upon the path of initiation where the “Light of Interplay” becomes the agent for the progressive blending of the lights.

Gemini.—The Light of Interplay. This is a line of light beams, revealing that which opposes or the basic duality of manifestation, the relationship of spirit and of form. It is the conscious light of that relationship.

Castor: Seven Stars of Pleiades; Hercules, the one who comes to Labor; Personality; mortal; waning in light; Boaz

Pollux: Seven Stars of Ursa Major; Apollo, Ruler or Sun God; Soul; immortal; waxing in light; Jachin

Lepus; Hare; Crimson Clor “falling confounded”; chased eternally; group of stars in this constellation also called “the enemy of the Coming One” which is the meaning of the brightest star Arneb while three other stars have names meaning the mad, the bound, the deceiver indicating the lower self chased by the higher self.

Canis Major; Sirius (the Prince or Chieftain) in this group or the symbol of the universal soul and 12x brighter than other stars of 1^st magnitude; immortal Hound of the Heavens chasing the lessor hound; Also called Apes or the head; there are three other stars in this group called the announcer, the shining one, and the glorious emphasizing the magnificence of Canis Major and the glory of the higher self.

Canis Minor; the underdog; has star in it called redeemer and next brightest star called the burden bearer or the one that bears for others relates to Hercules as he bears the burden of Atlas and learns the meaning of service.

Three signs are also closely connected with initiation. The hidden secret of Aries, Taurus and Gemini is revealed at three successive initiations:

The secret of Aries is the secret of beginnings, of cycles and of emerging opportunity. At the third initiation, the initiate begins to understand the life of the spirit or the highest aspect; until that time, he has expressed first the life of the form and then the life of the soul within that form. This experience is of so high a nature that only those who have passed through it could in any way comprehend anything I might say.
The secret of Taurus is revealed at the second initiation by the sudden removal or disappearance of world glamour in the blinding energy of light. This constitutes the final radiant activity which consummates the play of the Taurian force upon humanity during the long and cyclic journey to which man is committed. The individual enacts on a tiny scale what humanity—as a whole—will enact when it takes initiation in Taurus.
The secret of Gemini has to be grasped at the first initiation because it is the mystery of the relation of Father, Mother and Child. The birth of the Christ-child upon the physical plane is the consummating glory of the Gemini force. EA, pp. 387-388

Cancer:

The classical labor of Hercules in Cancer is symbolically given as the “Capture of the Doe of Hind.” Cancer is the last of the four signs proffering opportunity to move out of the human kingdom into he spiritual kingdom for the aspiring aspirant disciple. This only takes place after the third initiation and particularly by the fourth initiation. In Cancer, the aspirant touches the universal aspect of his self which is given as the higher correspondence to mass consciousness. The goal is the unfolding of the spiritual intuition which provides knowledge of those things of spirit and reality, and the instantaneous recognition of truth. The highest know influence of Cancer proffers the initiate after the “building of a lighted house” to dwell is the organization of all of their activities by identification with divinity in motion achieved through group participation. This is observed due to the combined lights of the three-fold types of substance as it can now reflect the lighted house of the logos.

Cancer.—The Light within the form. This is the diffused light of substance itself, the “dark light” of matter, referred to in The Secret Doctrine. It is the light awaiting the stimulation coming from the soul light.

No bright stars as Cancer the sign of hiding or retreat behind, the coffin, grave; 83 stars in this sign; brightest is third magnitude;

Praesepa (cluster of stars) the manger or the beehive

Ursa Major

Ursa Minor

Argo ship of salvation (Cancer to Capricorn) 64 stars; brightest Canopus

Leo:

The classical labor of Hercules in Leo is symbolically given as the “Slaying of the Nemean Lion.” This lion symbolizes the powerful self-promoting personality menacing the environment and its eventual slaying of its self-determination by the soul symbolized also as a group aware Lion of Judah. It is in this sign that the human unit becomes the five-pointed star of individualism and thus the recognition of himself as the Self or spirit and matter unified and balanced. This is the outcome of this labor or the overcoming of the individual self-assertiveness of the coordinated dominant integrated personality of the aspirant and instead achieve a dedication to meet the real needs of the whole. This is yet another stage in the leading to the achieving of Christ consciousness expressed through an illuminated mind the love of god and the light of the world.

Leo is given as the sign for the last test for the probationary disciple for in this sign he begins has experience of acquiring knowledge. For it is in Leo that the word goes out to secure one’s own salvation. When the labor is achieved in this sign training for initiation definitely begins. It is through initiation in Capricorn that he completes his humanhood in Aquarius by entering fully his identification with Humanity as a unit and his service thereof. In Virgo his identification will expand to include likewise god, matter, and the scared Child as Hercules upsets the achieved balance between spirit and matter so that matter can better express spirit. It is in this way that we serve the ultimate objective or that where matter can be eventually resurrected and achieve universal and divine sensitivities and consciousness. I am That, I am is affirmed in his highest achievement through the “Light of the Soul.”

Leo.—The Light of the Soul. A reflected point of light logoic, or divine. The light diffused in Cancer focusses and reveals eventually a point.

Regulus or Law giver or law within himself

Sickle (group of stars);

Leo has 95 stars

Three stars associated with initiation:

Hydra: the serpent

Crater, the cup

Corvus, the raven

Virgo:

The classical labor of Hercules in Virgo is symbolically given as the “Seizing the Girdle of Hippolyte.” This labor produces the opportunity for the soul to mediate the influences of spiritual soul on the human soul in form sensitizing the form and matter for the birthing of the Christ consciousness. The girdle also symbolizes the Mother and the sacred Child. Thus, the girdle of unity or the unification of the spiritual will, the sacrificial will of the human soul and the personality will, also symbolizes the blending, unifying, fusing and synthesize of the form bodies of the three-fold periodic vehicles and the spirit-soul consciousness. The blending of these lights gives way to the light of god to produce the awareness and access to the light of wisdom gained in the achievement of this labor.

Purity, virtue and patience is proffered to Hercules by Hippolyte or this sign’s influence as the form life is the giver to Hercules of its good and valuable gifts or that those gifts of the unfolding Mother and the Christ Child in gestation but in this labor he fails to see it this light but sees personality form related matter and its identification it as an obstacle to be overcome at all costs. In Cancer Hercules had to overcome his identification with his physical elemental life ruled by the Moon and in Virgo the Moon rules the personality sheath related kama-manasic life or its form substance composed likewise of kama-manasic matter which Hercules, as a Son of God, has to overcome his identification with. Hercules failed to learn that he was responsible to know, understand, love, and salvage these lessor lives composing his substance that provided him his own evolution and potential. Hercules failed to honor his own humanity or that which makes manifest objectively the divine as it is intended upon the lower three cosmic physical planes. It is “through the medium of humanity that a consumption of “light” effectiveness will be produced which will make possible the expression of the whole.” “This union between spirit and matter takes place through the “subordination of the form life to the will of the indwelling Christ.” This follows the initial union of the personality and soul consciousness in Leo producing the individualization. This Leo consciousness created is renewed in Virgo through the initial virtues of purity and patience leading to the virtues of compassion and charity producing more and more inclusiveness; such that, Hercules now identifies himself as the “Mother and the Child. God, I, matter am.”

Virgo.—The blended dual Light. Two lights are seen—bright and strong, the light of form; one faint and dim, the light of God. This light is distinguished by a waxing of one and the waning of the other. It differs from the light in Gemini.

Libra:

The classical labor of Hercules in Libra is symbolically given as the “Capture of the Erymanthian Boar.” The boar of directed desire. Hercules test in Libra provides two smaller tests denoted as that of “friendship rare” or that of earlier guiding influences processed and owned and “courage unafraid” or that inner integrity and strength gained through the balancing and absorbing of the fruits of these earlier directed desires with their linked experiences. These two tests symbolize “good thought” and “strength” and these are potentially abandoned in the search in the high mountains for inspiration and revelation that will capture and tame these individual directed desires symbolized by the wild boar driving him from experience to experience. Hercules failed these two smaller tests through the disregarding of his earlier guides or conclusions providing him his individual “good thought” and individual “strength” or his historical gained fruits from analysis of life’s contingencies. These fruits or gains from earlier directed desires between life’s events produces the nature of their dweller which symbolize a transformation of them into useful tools to manage these contingencies of life. Through the creating of causative relationships or links between all things the Libran accumulates endless matrix of meanings eventually achieving a sense of expanding synthesis as their concrete mind is blended with their abstract mind. Hercules learns the truer nature of discrimination permitting all truths to be seen as elements of the one Truth. This one truth is approached through the investigation, linking and balancing or weighing of all things or of life’s incongruencies. In this process the Libran remakes himself anew as he achieves the balancing of opposites creating ascension and a sense of immortality as his identifications are translated and abstracted. This leads to the eventual overcoming of the great illusion and individual dweller identification in Scorpio as he chooses “the way that leads through two great forces” symbolized by feeling vs. thought, buddhi vs. manas, or mysticism vs. occultism.

Libra.—The Light that moves to rest. This is the light that oscillates until a point of balance is achieved. It is the light which is distinguished by a moving up and down.

Scorpio:

The classical labor of Hercules in Scorpio is symbolically given as “Destroying the Lernaean Hydra.” The destroying of the hydra with nine heads symbolizes the overcoming, misuse, or the transmutation of the nine forces of sex, money, comfort, hatred, fear, desire for power, pride, separateness, and cruelty. This is achieved through the demonstration of true humility, true courage, and true initiate discrimination as these permit the development of the intuitive mind as the nature of the dweller is comprehended and disidentified with and compensated for. Thus, in Scorpio, Hercules absorbs the “Radiant Light of Liberation” and emerges from the battle triumphant. This light of liberation is located due to the blending of the earlier lights as well as the “Light of Day.” The light of day might be understood as representing the combined light of sacred City.

Scorpio.—The Light of Day. This is the place where three lights meet—the light of form, the light of soul, and the light of life. They meet; they blend; they rise.

Sagittarius:

The classical labor of Hercules in Sagittarius, the sign of silence, is symbolically given as the “Killing the Stymphalian Birds.” The birds are symbolic of ultimate restraint of speech and mind control, and especially for the disciple cruel gossip, talk of the self or selfish talk and casting pearl before swine. The achievement of ultimate or synthesized truth and spiritual power is achieved in Sagittarius once its labor is achieved. This freeing of the aspirant’s aura from a clutter of thoughtforms, along with the overcoming of the great illusion, is what permits the aspirant to see the goal clearly for the first time and entry through the gate into the fifth kingdom becomes inevitable in Capricorn. The centaur is half animal and half human but once the labor of Sagittarius is complete the aspirant becomes the rider on the white horse and thus half human and half divine. Spirit can now manifest through the soul-personality due to the absorbed light of Sagittarius.

Sagittarius.—A beam of directed, focussed Light. In this the point of light becomes the beam, revealing a greater light ahead and illumining the way to the centre of the light.

Capricorn:

The classical labor of Hercules in Capricorn is symbolically given as the “Slaying of Cerberus Guardian of Hades.” The three heads symbolize substance sensations reacted to, individual desires, good intentions not carried out. Hercules had to first accomplished three things. First he had to first purify himself of irritability and individual preferences or desires related to the necessitated living in the world of the personality preventing him from carrying out his service intentions plus achieve indifference to all sensations impacting his three vehicles as not to be sidetracked and thus fail in his mission of freeing humanity from these very same three obstacles to their own freedom from form life. Hercules, identified now with his spiritual soul, is at the stage of the third initiation which permits him to carry out this mission of salvaging the imprisoned lives, symbolized by Prometheus, in the outer three worlds imprisoned in form and matter as he has salvaged himself from the three-world (Hell) form and matter sensations, desires, and good intentions but is reminded again this this process is an ongoing process while living in the world being composed of three sheaths. The same applies to the labors in all the signs as they must be performed over and over again as long was one’s consciousness dwells in the lower three worlds.

The second preliminary accomplishment before he could free Prometheus was to be initiated into the mysteries of initiation. This means that he had to secure himself upon the path of initiation. This would permit him to assist other aspirants to free themselves from these same lower desire related elements attaching them and keeping them prisoner. It was only after performing these three acts that he was able to ascend to the mountain top and discover the field of the higher initiations and the Supernal Light which he later turned his back to descend and perform his labor under the influence of Aquarius. This labor is achieved through the absorption of the ”Light of Initiation.”

Capricorn.—The Light of Initiation. This is the light which clears the way to the mountain top, and produces transfiguration, thus revealing the rising sun.

Aquarius:

The classical labor of Hercules in Aquarius is symbolically given as the “Cleansing the Augean Stables.” The stables symbolize the karmic effects on the world over time, related to the Age of Pisces, of the desires of the advancing personalities. Hercules cleaned the stables through combining the waters of life with the waters of love symbolized by the rivers “Alepheus” and “Peneus.” This to better enhance Humanity’s position in the womb as the Christ Child. The keynote for the individualized Leo types populating the planet at this juncture is that of self-sacrifice, group consciousness and work and unselfish group service. These release the waters of life and love for the initiate in Aquarius to use on a collective level as they are now exhibiting Christ consciousness aligned with the world Christ and cosmic Christ. This permits those with this type of consciousness to identify with all levels of beings and groups as karmic related awareness’s or barriers of separateness are dissolved under this sign influences as depicted by Hercules for he realized that the “Water of Life am I, poured forth for thirsty men.”

Aquarius.—The Light that shines on Earth, across the sea. This is the light which ever shines within the dark and cleansing with its healing rays that which must be purified until the dark has gone.

Southern Fish or Australes; one fish the Avatar.

Pegasus: Winged Horse inspiring symbol of the higher mind, love, spurning the earth at home in the air; (winged feet of Mercury)

Cygnus: the Swan flying in midheaven; the swan of eternity flying in time and space the symbol of life itself, the cleansing, purifying “living waters” of Aquarius.

Pisces:

The classical labor of Hercules in Pisces is symbolically given as the “Capture of the Red Cattle of Geryon.” The red cattle symbolize humanity identified with their lower desires. Geryon, a three bodied, three headed monster with six hands, symbolizes humanity as an integrated coordinated personality with its three sheaths aligned or that which yet owns humanity. Hercules first kills the two-headed guard dog symbolizing the lower emotional and etheric physical matter aspects and frees them from the Shepard symbolizing the lower mind. Hercules then kills Geryon and drives and guides humanity through many obstacles bringing them eventually to the sacred City and offered them to Athena the Goddess of Wisdom by way of the mountain top of the third initiation. Hercules can now move on to cosmic tasks as his last task of leaving his Father’s home and saving was complete. Humanity’s personality identification has been killed and replaced with the identity of the higher Self. This is achieved through the absorption of the ”Light of the World.”

Pisces—The Light of the World. This is the light, revealing the light of life itself. It ends for ever the darkness of matter.

The Band or cluster of stars connecting the two fishes; the fish heading north is symbolic of the aspirant to the mysteries as the fish on the horizon represents the average person.

Andromeda: The chained woman symbolizes matter harnessed.

Cephus or the King and the husband of Cassiopeia; Father or Spirit aspect; Father of Andromeda

Pisces is ruled by Jupiter, exoterically and Pluto esoterically and hierarchically. Its type of light that can be absorbed on the reversed wheel the “The Light of the World. This is the light, revealing the light of life itself. It ends forever the darkness of matter.”

Aries.—The Light of Life Itself. This is the dim point of light found at the centre of the cycle of manifestation, faint and flickering. It is the “searchlight of the Logos, seeking that which can be used” for divine expression.
Taurus.—The penetrating Light of the Path. This is a beam of light, streaming forth from the point in Aries, and revealing the area of light control.
Gemini.—The Light of Interplay. This is a line of light beams, revealing that which opposes or the basic duality of manifestation, the relationship of spirit and of form. It is the conscious light of that relationship.
Cancer.—The Light within the form. This is the diffused light of substance itself, the “dark light” of matter, referred to in The Secret Doctrine. It is the light awaiting the stimulation coming from the soul light.
Leo.—The Light of the Soul. A reflected point of light logoic, or divine. The light diffused in Cancer focusses and reveals eventually a point.
Virgo.—The blended dual Light. Two lights are seen—bright and strong, the light of form; one faint and dim, the light of God. This light is distinguished by a waxing of one and the waning of the other. It differs from the light in Gemini.
Libra.—The Light that moves to rest. This is the light that oscillates until a point of balance is achieved. It is the light which is distinguished by a moving up and down.
Scorpio.—The Light of Day. This is the place where three lights meet—the light of form, the light of soul, and the light of life. They meet; they blend; they rise.
Sagittarius.—A beam of directed, focussed Light. In this the point of light becomes the beam, revealing a greater light ahead and illumining the way to the centre of the light.
Capricorn.—The Light of Initiation. This is the light which clears the way to the mountain top, and produces transfiguration, thus revealing the rising sun.
Aquarius.—The Light that shines on Earth, across the sea. This is the light which ever shines within the dark and cleansing with its healing rays that which must be purified until the dark has gone.
Pisces—The Light of the World. This is the light, revealing the light of life itself. It ends for ever the darkness of matter.

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)