Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher
Volume VII
Chapter IV
Fraternity of Astrologer, Artist, Priest, and Healer
"Relationship" may be defined as "the meaning,
purpose, and significance of a thing with reference to the synchronization of
its consciousness with that of another thing to which it is attracted by the
laws of sympathetic vibration;" these laws are all inherent in the Law of
Cause and Effect and the principles of creativity and epigenesis.
There are only two basic relationship-patterns,
each of which is manifested through diffusion in innumerable octaves
throughout the Cosmos. The first of these is the creative relationship--that
of macrocosm and microcosm to each other. The first aspect of this
relationship is that of The Unknowable to (what might be called) the
Logoi of arch-galaxies. The composite of arch-galaxies, at any given point in
time, is the total manifested Cosmos; each arch-galaxy is a "structure-point"
of the Cosmic Body. The second aspect (or octave) of this relationship is
that of the Logos of each arch-galaxy to the Logoi of its galaxies; the third
is the relationship of galactic Logoi to the Logoi of its solar-systems; the
fourth is that of the relationship of each Solar Logos in a galaxy to the
planetary Logoi of its system. From here on down into diffusion of
manifestation, creativity becomes epigenesis. To Sum up: macrocosmic identity
(from unity to solar logoic) is to macro-cosmic identity (subsolar-logoi) as
creativity (life function) is to epigenesis. In human terms, since humans are
not creators but epigenitors, the most transcendent octave of this
relationship-pattern is that of the universal regenerator to the collective
superconscious, conscious, and subconscious of the archetype, Humanity; the
densest octave is that of the biological relationship (sexual epigenesis) of
parent and child to each other.
The second relationship-pattern is that of
fraternity and it may be defined as: "The relationship of macrocosms to each
other and microcosms to each other by parallelity of creative or epigenetic
faculty:" also, since every manifestation is "micro-cosm" relative to The
Unknowable, fraternity is the relationship of things to each other by magnetic
attraction through synchronization of similarities and dissimilarities of
vibratory states. The minimum scope of fraternity is one thing in
relationship to one other thing; in all fraternal relationships, the two
things concerned have at least one point of mutual similarity and one point of
dissimilarity. The point of mutual dissimilarity makes possible the
epigenetic action in the life of the relationship. Creative action is
radiation from a self-willed fusion of polarity-powers; epigenetic action is
radiation of polarity-potentials from response to stimulus of power from a
higher octave. Think about this. A human relatively unevolved on a
particular point of consciousness is epigenetically stimulated by vibrational
contact with another who is relatively evolved on that point. The point-in-
common is the point-in-consciousness or point-of-faculty which each is seeking
to fulfill; they walk hand in hand in that particular fulfillment-aspiration.
The "point of dissimilarity" is the contrast of the one's relative fulfillment
and the other's relative unfulfillment. The former radiates to the latter;
the latter absorbs from the former. Hence each, because the relatively mature
must out-give and the relatively immature must in-take, serves to provide on-
going for the other.
The Unknowable does not have fraternity
with any other thing; It is The One, the All-that-is. But, what might be
called the "essential energy" is the biune essence, polarity. In polarity is
seen the arch-macrocosmic octave of fraternity; its biunity (two-ness-in-
unity) is manifested as ( l ) Will: positive, projective, impregnative,
masculine, male, and (2) Imagination: negative, magnetic, receptive,
reactive, feminine, female. The inter-action of this biunity makes possible
every creative and epigenetic function on all octaves and cycles throughout
all specified identities. Much thought can be given to the significance of
the number two. It is not really "two ones;" it is actually the outpicturing
of the polarity-potentials of one. If polarity is the biune "essential
energy" of the Cosmos (the inner life of unity), then two is the arch-symbol
of diffusion of polarity-potentials. "Humanity" is an aspect of unity because
it is an archetype; the two-ness of this archetype is the "diffusion" we call
mom and woman. Sex (male and female) is the physical representation of
biunity; gender (masculine and feminine) is the biune diffusion of vibrational
being. Each male and each female contains (or possesses) the biune attribute
of gender; the masculine of this attribute is expressiveness, the feminine is
reactiveness. These two words, in turn, composite what might be called the
"attribute of being capable of experience" and experience is, humanly
speaking, epigenesis--the evolutionary unfoldment of potentials. The four
words (two twos) male, female, masculine, and feminine are the structure
points of our epigenetic being; by our consciousness of them we identify
ourselves and others as factors in the archetypal human family, and by them is
manifested our individualized consciousness; of every possible human
relationship-pattern, as long as we pertain to the archetype "humanity." The
perfect fulfillment of consciousness through experience as relationship-
factors is the purpose of our evolution.
In the absolute sense, every manifestation in
Cosmos has fraternity with every other and all others since all are "children
of The Unknowable." Should we choose to make the effort, we humans
could possibly touch a feeling of fraternity with the inhabitants of planets
of other solar systems as well as those of our own system. We can, however,
by analogy perceive intellectually the fraternity of higher octaves of Life in
consideration of the inter-fraternity of creative sources in descending order
to that identity we call "Solar logos." This represents the exoteric aspect
of the archetypal fraternal relationship--the parellelity by identity through
similarity of creative attribute. In descending order we will name the
fraternities of arch-galactic Logoi, galactic Logoi, Solar Logoi, Planetary
Rulers, Satellite Rulers, and, in Earth-terms, the members of each specific
life-wave, each archetype, each species of each archetype. The fraternity,
for example, of mammalia includes all humans, cats, whales, rodents, etc., but
each of these species is, in itself, a fraternity. There are also the two
fraternities, in every archetype, of males and females. This esoteric aspect
of fraternity refers to form, identity, structure-pattern, instinct-pattern,
and creative or epigenetic potential. It is the"who and what" of fraternity
manifested. Elasticize your mind a bit to consider this " fraternal grouping"
of Life-forms.
The esoteric aspect of fraternity has to do with
inter-relationship by parallelity of evolutionary development relative to the
creative source--in our case our Solar Logos. We, as inhabitants of Earth,
are fraternal to the inhabitants of all planets of our system--we all derive
from the same creative source. In a more condensed sense, we (as the highest
epigenetic development on this planet) have a closer fraternity with the
highest development on each of the other planets of our system. Further
subjective condensation: we, on this planet, are most closely fraternal to all
others whose ideality-fulfillments and ideality-unfulfillments are similar
(parallel) to ours. This fraternity transcends in significance all others
which refer to sex, race, nationality, etc. It is the fraternity of
consciousness-octaves and all members of soul-fraternities are magnetized to
each other through the attraction of their similarities plus dis-similarities
for epigenetic development. All musicians, for example, from most primitive
to most cultivated, are fraternal to each other because all who belong to this
fraternity have, in common, a similarity of esthetic expression--regardless of
the range of differences in their scope. The arch-fraternity of workers has
its biune diffusion in employer and employee, but all members of both
classifications (generally or specifically) are parallel to each other in the
kind of service which they render to the ongoing of human life. This
fraternity, unevolved, is congested, in the concept of "money is the reason
for working;" evolved, the realization is attained that"money is an outer
evaluation and an expression of inter-exchange between people--and that love-
service is the ideal to be realized." In each factor of human experience, a
principle unites people in groupings by inter-relationship--the principle of
the "inner"of the work-activity; the outer action is the means by which
principle-realization is evolved. Each life-principle overshadows (as does
the Grand-Master of a lodge or spiritual organization) every human fraternity
in and through which realization of truth is distilled.
In thus considering the nature of fraternity, we
are clearly alerted to the fact that what we call "entity" is a designation of
our feeling about some-one; it is not, nor can it ever be, a designation of
specific identity. Entity-feelings are congestions of love-consciousness,
congestions of epigenetic powers, etc., which we feel when our unfulfillments
are stimulated by another's vibration. No part of a human horoscope
represents a delineation of "enemies, open or secret" because no human being
is an "enemy" to any other. Those parts of the horoscope that we have been
taught to delineate in this (philosophically false) way are those which, when
stimulated by similar points in another's chart cause us to become aware of
our feelings of guilt, frustration, and insecurity. Until we become aware of
our parallelity with the person we identify these feelings by such words as
hate, fear, detestation, disgust, etc. We say that we hate, fear,
detest the person. That is not really true; we hate our ignorance, our
congestions, and our false ideals; we do not hate people. The moment we
become aware of the truth that something in that person parallels something in
us we begin to glimpse our fraternity (togetherness) with him; something in
our consciousness that wants (aspires) to decrystallize and evolve immediately
goes to work at that point to make us aware of our regenerate parallelity with
that person. An example of life 's mercy, no less. In the opinion of the
author, stated in a previous article, the intense congestions which are
epitomized by the fixed sign Scorpio, ruled by Pluto, find their arch-
decrystallization in the sign Gemini--because Gemini is the astrological
symbol for the essence of fraternal awareness.
Keeping in mind that (symbolically speaking)
straight lines are abstractions of curves, consider the fact that the symbol
for this mutable air sign is the only one of the twelve made with four lines--
two horizontals and two verticals. As such, they are the abstractions of the
four semi-circles initiated by the cardinal structure-points of the Great
Astrological Mandala. They also picture, from another approach, the "four-
foldness" of that which is inherent in the vertical and horizontal diameters
of the Great Mandala. the four-fold composite of gender-sex of the archetypal
human family: two-fold Begettor, two-fold Begotten--male and female both as
expressers and as reactors. It pictures the essence of parallelity of parents
with children in the sense that all parents have been children, children have
the epigenetic potential of becoming parents, or "life-givers." Thus it
pictures the parallelity of all manifestations because all erectors have been
epigenitors and all epigenitors have the potentials for becoming creators.
The creator is "elder brother" to the epigenitor; the epigenitor is "younger
brother" to the creator. That which is closest to unity is the elder in any
archetype. The fraternity of mate-hood is seen in the similarity of epigenetic
power of human male and female synchronized with the complementation of
dissimilarity of physical function. The fused action of two human sexual
units provides the four-fold synchronization (expressive) reactive of male and
female--the epigenetic fraternity of life-transmission. Husband and wife are
"brother-and-sister" in the love-service of parenthood. Think about this if
you feel inclined to throw all the blame for your marital unhappiness (if you
have such) on your partner. Perhaps you need to remind yourself of the
fraternity that is deeply and intrinsically inherent in the relationship.
Those of you who may be congested on bad feeling toward a parent: remember
that you and the parent are fraternal by membership in the same family-group;
your similarities and dissimilarities are what magnetized you to each other
for mutual fulfillment. Learn of yourself by studying and perceiving these
similarities--you have no better source of instruction.
With reference to the subject at hand, the
fraternity of astrologer, artist, priest, and healer comprises the fraternity
of epigenetic regenerators. In relationship to the source, these are pictured
as the mutable cross-- the dispersors of channelings of wisdom and
regenerative power. As such they are "God's little brothers" on this plane.
But, in relationship to those who are ignorant, congested, crystallized, etc.,
they are pictured by the fixed cross, initiated by the fire-sign Leo, a symbol
of that which corresponds to our Creative Source, the "humanization of the
God-head." The inspired Power-Radiators of this plane are the "kings of
Earth;" though Capricorn-Cancer abstractly pictures the principle of
"parentage-of-forms, Leo-Aquarius pictures the principle of "parentage-of-
Spirits" because it is through this diameter that creative solar power is
released through this manifestation. (It has been given in occult instruction
that our solar system had its inception, or began its manifestation, when the
Sun, by precession, was in the sign Leo--the sign of radiative source.)
Taurus-Scorpio is the desire-aspect of creativity, it is the bi-polar symbol
of our creativity as epigenitors. Leo-Aquarius, however, is the Source of
epigenetic power--it is the love attribute in which, and through which, we
find our Divine Center. Before sex was, love was, and the fraternity of
regenerators are those who recharge the spiritual consciousness of mankind
from their releasements of fused Sun-Uranus power. As such, they are our
elder brothers and sisters and fraternal to our Spirits as our fathers and
mothers are to our expression as bodies on this plane.
The great Regenerators of this planet may seem,
and sometimes do seem, as gods to those less evolved. They know their source-
of-power and they have distilled the wisdom to radiate that power according to
fulfillment-principles. They possess extensions of our own attributes that
make them take on a semblance of super-humanity. They make manifest our Inner
Ideality of ourselves as individualizations of our archetype and we tend to
"worship" them as we worship our concept of God. Their radiations of power as
illumination by wisdom, love, beauty, and healing reach the innermost of our
best selves--they ignite a fragment of the Self which abides eternally within
each of us; in consequence, by their service we come into a perception of our
inherent divinities--we experience a transfiguration of consciousness that
makes us seem to be inhabitants of a heaven world. Because it is our nature
to personalize our reactions and feelings we say that we love these people: we
do, but what we really mean by that statement is that by response to their
ignition of our consciousness we perceive more clearly than ever before that
love which is God, the transcendent, transfiguring, transforming glory that is
our attunement--for a little time at least--to what our lives should, in
reality, be. It is a. part of our implied service, as humans, to keep alive
that "magic"- and through its regenerating of our consciousness to radiate the
inspiration, the joy, the healing-love to those in our immediate circles of
relationship and acquaintance. We, too, can be "channelings" for the magic
powers of Good, each in our own way and according to our development and
aspiration.
Let us remember that (though god-like) even the
highly evolved ones of this Fraternity of Regenerators are, on this plane,
human. And it is just as possible that each, or any, of them can congest in
some specific factor of his or her personal awareness. We must, however
devoted and worshipping, free even the most deeply beloved to be themselves as
individuals, to make their "human mistakes" and exercise the right to learn
from the results of those mistakes. When we love to such a point that we
retain heart-felt gratitude for inspirational services rendered and release
the pains of disillusionment and disappointment when our "elders" reveal feet
of clay, we raise and purify the quality of our vibrational response, and, in
liberating them from personal congestions, we make possible their freedom to
regenerate and heal themselves. The "freeing" that we extend in true loving
devotion is the essence of what they have sought to teach us; regenerative
evolution is the process of liberating from congestions, and whether through
response to art, to religious or philosophical teaching, to healing agencies,
or what-not, we experience liberation in every response to regenerative
agencies, The regenerator who congests on false pride, greed for applause and
acclaim, intellectual crystallization, impairing his radiative powers by using
them as a substitute for a personal frustration instead of love-service, is
simply reacting with something in his being that refers to the "still human"
part of him. Astrologer, priest, artist, and healer can (and do) meet these
points in their experience; the tendency to allow personal disappointment to
throw them out of line, the temptation to congestion on self-isolation, to
congest on opinionatedness and prejudice, the challenges of the material world
of finance and material means, etc., are all, to members of this fraternity,
critical points in experience; much depends on them--so much has to be met in
order that clarity of channeling and radiative power may be maintained. The
astrologer must seek always the truths of life as they are pictured in his
chart; he cannot, in truth, perceive the full values of another's chart until
he has signified his willingness to see his own with detachment and
discernment. This is the first of his occult responsibilities; on the quality
of his determination to fulfil lit as he goes on through life will depend the
quality of his love-wisdom-service to others.
In conclusion, a fraternal thought to all
regenerators who have chosen the path of astrological guidance: May the lotus
of your soul unfold its perfections of white and gold on the serene waters of
boundless and truthful sympathy; may the red rose of love and inspirational
courage bloom on, and glorify, the Cross of your identities.