II THE CONSTELLATIONS

Books: Light of Egypt

The twelve great constellations of the zodiacal belt which forms

the Earth's orbit and the Sun's shining pathway around the

celestial universe have been considered as mere imaginary

figures, or emblems, invented by an early, primitive people to

distinguish the monthly progress of the Sun and mark out, in a

convenient manner, the twelve great divisions, or spaces, of the

solar year. To this end, IT IS THOUGHT, the vario s star groups,

termed constellations, were fancifully imagined to represent the

various physical aspects of the month, under, or into, which they

were consecrated by the Sun's passage during the annual journey,

so that, in some sense, the, twelve signs or constellations were

symbolical, not only of the seasons, but also of the labors of

the year.



That such a system seems perfectly natural to the learned

mythologist, and that granting the ancients so much is a very

great concession toward this CHILDISH KNOWLEDGE is, of course,

quite excusable when we are constantly told, or reminded, that

actual science--that is to say, "EXACT SCIENCE," does not date

backward more than a couple of centuries at most.



Even the modern astrologer, much as be descants upon the

influence of the twelve signs, has but little, if any, real

knowledge of this matter above and beyond the purely physical

symbolism above mentioned. And perhaps it is as well that such a

benighted condition prevails, and that the Divine, heavenly

goddess is unsought and comparatively unknown. The celestial

Urania, at least, in such isolation remains pure and undefiled.

She is free from the desecrating influence of polluted minds.



Such, in brief outline, is the general conception of mankind

regarding the shining constellations that bedeck, like fiery

jewels, their Maker's crown, and illumine with their celestial

splendor the wondrous canopy of our midnight skies. Is there no

more than a symbol of rural work in the bright radiance of the

starry Andromeda, the harbinger of gentle spring? Nothing, think

you, but the fruit harvest and the vintage is in the fiery,

flushing luster of Antares and the ominous Scorpion? Are men so

spiritually blind that they can perceive nothing but the symbol

of maturing vegetation and the long summer's day in the glorious

splendor of Castor and his starry mate and brother, Pollux? It

would, indeed, seem so, so dead is the heart and callous the

spiritual understanding of our own benighted day. To the initiate

of Urania's mysteries, however, these dead, symbolic pictures

become endowed with life; these emblems of rural labor or rustic

art transform themselves from the hard, chrysolitic shell and

expand into the fully developed spiritual flowers of spiritual

entities, revealing in their bright, radiating lines the awful

mystery of the soul's genesis, its evolution and eternal

progressive destiny amid the mighty, inconceivable creations yet

to come; pointing out each step and cycle in the soul's

involution from its differentiation as a pure spiritual entity, a

ray of Divine intelligence, to the crystallization of its

spiritual forces in the realms of matter and its evolution of

progressive life; the same eternal symbols of the springtime, the

glorious summer, the autumn and winter of its eternal being.



In making this attempt, probably the very first within the era,

to convey in plain and undisguised terms the interior mysteries

of the twelve constellations, the reader and student is advised

to ponder deeply upon the outlines presented. The subject is too

vast to present in one or two chapters. Therefore we hope that

this revelation may incite the student to further research. The

real significance, the true, spiritual importance of such

mysteries, can only be realized and fully appreciated after

prolonged meditation and careful study.



With this brief digression, which we consider needed advice, we

will resume our task, and attempt to usher our student into the

weird labyrinth of Solomon's starry temple--"the house not made

with hands, eternal in the heavens."





1. Aries



"First Aries, in his golden wool."



This constellation represents the first Divine idea, the "word"

of the Kabbalist, and the first active manifestation of the

glorious En Soph. In other words, it is MIND IN ACTION, the first

pulsation of Deity in the dual aspects of "Lord and Creator." To

the human soul it is, and always typifies, the unknown, invisible

power which we term INTELLIGENCE; THAT WHICH KNOWS, and gives

unto each Deific atom of life that distinguishing, universal, yet

deathless force which not only constitutes its spiritual identity

and physical individuality, but enables it to pronounce, in the

presence of its Creator, those mystic words: "I am that I am." In

other words, this beautiful constellation symbolizes the first

pulsation of that ray of pure intelligence which constitutes the

Divine Ego of the human soul. It is the force that impels ever

onward the life atom in its evolutionary progress, and reveals to

us the beginning, or first manifestation, of the Divine Ego as an

active, self-existing atom of Infinite spirit, within angelic

spheres.



Seeing the actual, spiritual reality symbolized in Aries, how

easy it is to note its full significance upon the external plane

when refracted and reflected into the planes below through the

complex action of the human organism, conveying the same radical

influx in the first astrological month and the first sign of the

Zodiac. We can read a perfect parallel in the astral influx upon

the human body, as set forth in the "Light of Egypt," vol. I,

which says Aries symbolizes the sacrifice and represents the

springtime, the beginning of a new year. The first action of pure

intelligence brought forth the first expression of form, and led

to the sacrifice of its angelic state, and, having gained the

victory over the lower realms of matter, once more the springtime

of a new life, with the promise of life, light and love.



The sign Aries represents the thinking powers of humanity; in

short, the active, intellectual being, the lord of material

creation--Man; and in its cosmic relations, as shown under "The

Occult Application of the Twelve Signs" (vol. I), we find the

same perfect analogy.





II. Taurus



"He (Aries) turns and wonders at the mighty Bull (Taurus)."



The second constellation of the shining twelve represents the

first reaction of spiritual conception. In other words, it is the

mind's attention to its own ideas. In the Kabbalah it represents

that peculiar state of executive force whereof it is symbolically

said: "And the Lord saw that it was good," after each act of

creation.



When intelligence first manifests itself form is a matter of

necessity, and, as no form can possibly exist without matter, so

Taurus is the first emanation of matter in its most etherealized

state. Hence it is feminine, Venus the ruler thereof, and it

represents the first pure form of the human soul, as it existed

in its bright paradise within the angelic spheres of its parents,

and reveals to us the first surprise of intelligence in embryo,

the first sensation of consciousness, so to say--conscious of its

Divine selfhood. Hence "He (the male spirit of pure fire, Aries),

glorious in his golden (solar) wool, turns (expressing reaction)

and wonders at the mighty bull (or material form)." Thus the

first idea of pure intelligence in embryo, the result of action

in Aries, becomes objective to its consciousness and is surprised

at its own conception. It is the first sensation of pure, Divine

love within angelic realms, and it (the male spirit of pure fire)

sees that it is good.



Bringing this spiritual reality within our conception, and

comparing it with its reflected astrological influx, what a

beautiful harmony we find, and yet so simple that verily we

cannot refrain from once more quoting our old-time, worn, yet,

nevertheless, golden law: "AS IT IS ABOVE, SO IT IS BELOW; AS ON

THE EARTH, SO IN THE SKY." Reflecting that Taurus is an Earthy

sign, and a symbol of servitude, we see that matter is ever the

servant of spirit, a necessary means for the manifestation of

intelligence, again recognized in the fecundating forces of this

astrological sign on every plane of its action. And it is ruled

by Venus, the love element in Nature, her sympathies ever finding

expression in this beautiful sign. What can be clearer, more

understandable, than, that the involved principles and Deific

attributes, as represented by the shining constellations, when

refracted through the human organism, so complex in its

constitution, reflects qualities which are the external and

parallel expression of the subjective principles, and, further,

that form is absolutely necessary for the manifestation of

intelligence?





III. Gemini



"He (Taurus) bending lies with threatening bead, and calls the

Twins (Gemini) to rise. They clasp for fear and mutually

embrace."



This bright constellation (Castor and Pollux), Gemini, is

spiritually representative of the second spiritual action. Hence

it is, of course, a masculine sign and positive. We have

witnessed act I of the soul's drama, and, as some have said,

tragedy, and in this, the third of the shining twelve, we find

the opening scene of act II, viz: The evolution of the twin

souls, or, more correctly, the differentiation of the Divine soul

into its two natural component parts--male and female.



Here we approach one of the most arcane secrets within the wide

scope of Occult philosophy, hence must be exact, and at the same

time clear, in our statements. Note, then, that after the male

spirit of pure, ethereal, divine fire (Aries) bad conceived the

first idea, and Taurus, the material envelope, had given that

idea objective existence to its (the Ego's) consciousness, we

find SENSATION AS THE RESULT. No sooner sensation than

aspiration; i.e., longing. This closes the action and the

reaction.



Ever, in obedience to the unsatisfied wants of an immortal soul

Nature immediately responds. Hence "He bending lies with

threatening head, (that is demanding)," and calls the twins (the

twin souls) to rise (to appear or evolve forth)," and as a first

rude shock caused by their separation, or, rather, by their

separate existence as two distinct, yet mutually dependent,

forces, we have the context.



"They clasp for fear and mutually embrace."



This most impressive scene in the soul's drama is one of profound

interest and sublime beauty.



In the Kabbalah we find the same parallel, wherein it is stated:

"And so God created man in His own image (the action of Aries and

Taurus); in His own image (mind) created He him, male and female

created He them." In other words, Aries, Taurus and Gemini are

thus spoken of in pure allegory.



The mundane Bible of the Jews, like everything else esteemed

sacred, finds its original and perfect expression in the great

Astral Bible of the skies.



To the average student the evolution of the Twin Souls is a

profound mystery, embracing, as it does, the whole of involution

and evolution, seeing that this beautiful constellation

represents to us the first recognition, or consciousness, of the

Divine Ego of its dual forces, sensation and aspiration, called

forth by the action of Aries and Taurus. How beautifully has the

poet expressed this first pulsation of Divine love: "They clasp

for fear," etc. Evolved by the Divine will of pure intelligence,

they must ever remain as separate, yet mutually dependent,

forces, positive and negative, male and female, upon whose action

and reaction rest the perfect evolvement of the powers and

possibilities of the One.



In order to clearly grasp the whole of these ramifications, we

again invite our student's careful attention to the same sign,

Gemini, in its astrological aspect, as it is representatively

expressed by refraction upon the human organism. We find that

this sign (the representative of the constellation always)

signifies the union of reason with intuition, and that it governs

the arms, hands and executive forces of man.



Surely, as we reflect upon the almost marvelous

inter-relationship between things spiritual and things temporal,

we must conclude, with the man Jesus, that "They have eyes but

they see not, and ears, but alas they hear not."



If it were not so man would, indeed, by virtue of the latent

forces within him, take the kingdom of Heaven by storm and reign

supreme as enthroned king of all material forms. Man, in his

blindness, has relegated intuition to obscurity; has neglected

the cunning of the left hand and debauched the pure love of the

divine state. Consequently, the executive forces within him are

unbalanced, thus rendering him the slave of material forms,

instead of being their lawful sovereign. Therefore, not until,

with clean hands and pure heart, he restores intuition to her

throne, united with reason, can he hope to COMPREHEND the reality

of this arcane mystery of the twin souls, Gemini.





IV. Cancer



"And next the Twins with an unsteady pace

Bright Cancer rolls."



In this beautiful constellation we witness the reaction of

Gemini, the closing scene in act II. Hence it is, of course, a

feminine force we are observing. In other words, it is that

period (or rather one of them) wherein the Kabbalah expresses the

reaction of the En Soph, via his Creators, as "And behold the

Lord saw everything that He had made, and behold it was very

good."



Just so Cancer, spiritually interpreted, means equalizing, hence

HARMONY, which is indeed very good as contradistinguished from

chaos.



To the human soul Cancer is the period of exalted rest. It is the

highest point in the arc of the Divine Soul's Angelic Cycle. From

this glorious, but subjective, summit or altitude in the realm of

spirit it must descend.



Restless energy and the still unsatisfied longings of its own

immortal nature are the forces that bring such evolution about.

Having evolved the dual forces of its divine nature, the Ego sees

that it is good and rests from its labor. But as this exalted

state is purely subjective, and ideal, it must of necessity, to

satisfy the longing for further unfoldment and desire to know,

descend into material realms and conditions. From this point

begins the soul's involution downward, until the lowest point in

the arc is reached, viz., Capricorn.



Refer now to the sign Cancer, and carefully study out the

parallel upon its astrological planes and also under its Occult

aspects, as given forth in the "Light of Egypt," Vol. I, where we

read: "Cancer rules the respiratory and digestive functions of

humanity, and governs the reflective organs of the brain." Note

the parallel. Within subjective realms the Divine soul has

inspired and assimilated all that is possible to that angelic

state, and knows a period of blissful rest. But the longings of

its immortal nature urge on the soul. So we see that the sign

Cancer symbolizes tenacity to life; to live we must breathe and

eat and assimilate upon every plane of our being. It necessarily

follows that, the mentality expressed by Cancer must be

susceptible to inspirational currents; to inspire is to indraw.

In its application, we find that this sign symbolizes love. How

beautiful the harmony and contrast of the constellation and its

astrological representative.





V. Leo



"Then Leo shakes his mane."



Herein is typified the third grand spiritual action which, as we

find throughout Nature, travel in pairs; hence Leo is a positive,

masculine constellation.



Having attained the highest point in the super-celestial states

of subjective, embryonic existence; having evolved sensation and

aspiration; now, inspired by a desire for immortality, the DUAL

SOUL of the Divine Ego is once more impelled forward; but, as all

evolution works in spirals, it cannot ascend higher without first

apparently descending lower; so ever onward in its eternal march.

This beautiful constellation symbolizes the first action on the

downward portion of the are. It is the affinities of the heart,

so to say, working from within to without.



Matter, in its more etherealized form, begins to assert its sway.

The allegorical serpent of Eden is working upon the feminine

portion, symbolized by the heart, and, like a magnetic tractor,

the soul's affinities are drawn downward, and, as if in defiance

of all responsibilities, consequences, and Karma, the soul,

lion-like, "shakes his mane in the imperiousness of deathless

courage."



As we read these weird allegories, written by Deity in the starry

vaults of heaven, the interested soul bows in reverence and awe

before that almighty power we term Providence, and the profane

call God.



No man has altered these pure records of divinity; no finger has

interpolated one single line. They are as beautifully clear to

the soul now as they were in the very dawn of Nature's awful

creation.



To the Initiate into Urania's mysteries it is unnecessary to draw

a parallel between the constellation and its astrological sign.

They are too clear, magnificent and impressive to escape notice.

To the majority of students the resembance may not be so

apparent, hence, for their benefit, we will point out a few

aspects of this interesting parallel.



We read that the sign Leo is the "solar Lion of the mysteries,

that, ripens with his own internal heat the fruits brought forth

from the Earth by the moisture of Isis (the soul)." Just so, the

Divine Ego, by its eternal energy and strength, the pure fire of

intelligence, externalizes through material forms the principles

involved in the downward portion of the arc, as qualities and

attributes of the soul (reflected in the physical man as traits

and qualities). Again we are told, "this sign reveals to us the

ancient sacrifice and the laws of its compensation." In the

imperiousness of a deathless courage, the soul defies all

consequences and responsibilities. Surely, this is the supreme

sacrifice, to leave its pure, Edenic state to gain knowledge, to

evolve its latent forces. And from this lion of the Tribe of

Judah, is born that Divine love and sympathy which ultimately

redeems and purifies the soul and saves it from death in matter.

The laws of its compensation are fulfilled in the prefected man.



In its intellectual aspect, we learn that the mental forces of

those dominated by this sign are ever striving to attain unto

some higher state. Their ideas are grand, compared with the

nature of the constellation, and all that it implies. The

reflection is clear, natural and beautiful. When we reflect upon

this awful period in the involution of the dual souls of the

Divine Ego, as symbolized by the constellation, and the grand

truths represented by the astrological sign when refracted

through the human organism, the reason for Leo being named the

Royal Sign becomes quite plain.





VI. Virgo



"And following Virgo calms his rage again."



Beautifully expressive are these lines to those who read their

mystic import aright. Virgo is the reaction of the leonine force,

and is, consequently, a feminine symbol.



Action and reaction are the eternal laws upon which the cosmos is

founded. They constitute the inseparable affinities, attraction

and repulsion, of everything within the realm of manifested

being. In this mystic constellation, we see the first ideas of

maternal instinct arise. This is a necessary result of the

impulsive action of the heart in Leo--the reaction from a state

of imperious, defiance. The heat of rage or energy and deathless

courage results in the IDEAS of something to be encountered,

overcome, and of self-preservation. The dual soul descends still

another volve in the spiral of its celestial journey toward

crystallized forms.



Virgo, the Virgin of the skies, and eternal symbol of that

Divine, immaculate conception, shows wherein these forces lie.

Here is conceived, in a pure, holy sense, the first instinct of

love within the dual soul. It represents that awful period in the

Biblical Garden of Eden, wherein the VIRGIN WIFE stands before

the tree of knowledge, of good and evil, where she is fascinated

by the allurements of matter and is unconsciously becoming

enveloped in the coils of the serpent. In other words, after the

cosmic force had SHAKEN ITS MANE in defiance of material forces,

it is the reaction of his subjective half which sees HOW GOOD

material things are; or, in other words, "and following Virgo

calms his rage again." The masculine half, or positive force of

the soul, yields to temptation and is soothed by the alluring

prospects.



It will be noticed in this connection that pity, reflection, and

compassion, are the peculiar actions of the sign Virgo in the

Zodiac (not the constellation), and that astrologically it

governs the bowels. This symbolism is really very beautiful when

closely compared and studied. That immaculate conception of pure

love of the soul for its other half, upon the astrological plane,

becomes refracted and reacts as compassion and pity. Again, the

soul, within subjective realms, sees how good material things

are, and its refraction represents the assimilating functions of

the human organism. It also reveals to us the significance of the

Lord's Supper. At this stage of its journey, the Divine Ego knows

for the last time that close communion with the twin soul before

the crucifixion, the wine typical of the sacrifice, the bread,

and the sustaining forces, of its own immortal being.



The intellectual aspect of the sign Virgo forms a perfect analogy

to the constellation, and is too evident for further remarks.





VII. Libra



"Then day and night are weighed in Libra's scales;

Equal awhile, at last the night prevails."



Another volve in the spiral, and we reach the grand climax of the

soul's journey, within the spiritual world.



The nature of this constellation was, for ages, concealed from

all but Initiates; for the reason that, it contains the most

important mysteries connected with the human soul. It is the

grand transition are between the spiritual world and the astral

world; in other words, between ideal conceptions and elemental

forms, between the world of design and the realms of force.



One of the chief mysteries of Libra is, that, it is androgyne, or

bisexual, in nature. So far the dual soul has evolved within the

realms of spirituality; here it stands, in the celestial balance,

between the two, giving way to temptation, takes the forbidden

fruit and instantly awakes from its purely spiritual state to

become surrounded by the illusions of matter. The struggle of the

soul with the attracting forces of matter is very clearly

expressed in the line:--



"Equal awhile, at last the night prevails."



In other words, astral and physical darkness bedim the soul's

spiritual sight, and, leaving the realms of innocence and bliss,

they sink into the vortex of the great astral world.



The celestial state is now forever lost as a realm of angelic

innocence. It can only be regained amid trial, sorrow, suffering,

and experience, and, when regained, it is as Lord and Master, not

as the innocent cherub. But when, having gained or reached the

equator of the upward arc of its progress, and, united once more

to its missing half, gives expression to that deathless force

with which it started from the opposite point, Aries: "I AM THAT

I AM;" no longer an embryo, but being within the UNIVERSAL SOUL

of being. Before closing this symbolic constellation, we must

reveal the mystery of its BI-SEXUAL NATURE. In the higher or

first portion of the sign it is {}, positive to some extent, and

masculine. The soul is still within the Garden of Eden and pure,

clad in the raiment of God, and is represented by the Chaldean

statues of "The Bearded Venus," or Venus, the Angel of Libra, as

a morning star, bright Lucifer. But in the latter half, after the

fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (positive and

negative, you see) has been partaken of, bright Lucifer falls.

The Sun of the Morning, shorn of his glory, becomes the symbol of

night, or Vesper, the evening star, and the symbol is thus {},

and the soul loses its heavenly raiment, or spiritual

consciousness, and becomes clothed with matter, the symbol of

night.



The sign Libra in the Zodiac, in its astrological aspect, is a

very external correspondence of all the foregoing.





VIII. Scorpio



"And, longer grown, the heavier scale inclines,

And draws bright Scorpio from the winter signs."



We now behold the gates of Paradise guarded by the FLAMING SWORD

which points to the four quarters of the world. This sword is,

according to Genesis, "to guard the way of the tree of life," and

such, esoterically, it really is.



The soul is no longer dual, but separated into male and female

personalities; "and behold they see that they are naked."

Stripped of their spiritual raiment, they feel the chill of

matter and the lusts of an animal nature. They need clothing, "so

God made them coats of skin." Sex is the symbolism herein

typified, and the evolution of the animal passions of

procreation, of multiplication and evolution. It is the complete

entry of the soul into elemental conditions, and the flaming

sword guarding the four quarters of the Earth to the way of life

are the four great realms of the astral world; the way to

physical life in concrete forms; and the way to life eternal

through the realms of the Sylphs, Gnomes, Undines and

Salamanders. They are the basis of all matter, known as Air,

Earth, Water and Fire. Here we see that, through the evolution of

sex and its accompanying desire for procreation, these blind

forces of Nature find their avenue of expression. Spiritual

consciousness almost lost, and without reason, the soul becomes

the prey, so to say, of these forces of the astral world, which

is the realm of design. The soul's creations must be met and

vanquished upon the upward arc of the Cycle of Progress. They

guard or oppose the way to eternal life. Here the soul, having

gained the victory, stripped forever of its earthy raiment and

the lusts of the flesh, arrayed once more in its spiritual

raiment, purified and sanctified, it will stand once more at the

gates of Paradise, where, reunited with its missing half, it will

partake of the fruit of the Tree of Life and become as Gods.

Astrologically the correspondence is perfect, and so thinly

disguised as to need no explanation.





IX. Sagittarius



"Him Centaur follows with an aiming eye,

His bow full-drawn, and ready to let fly."



Deeper and deeper sinks the soul into material forms. The

evolution of sex has produced the necessary avenues for the

entrance of countless forces, and the soul is now rapidly losing

the last vestiges of its spiritual conscience. In other words,

Sagittarius symbolizes that state of the soul wherein it is

descending to its polarizing point, and is, therefore, the vortex

of innumerable opposing forces, seeking expression in different

forms.



"It is the bow (strength or force of the soul), FULL-drawn and

ready to let fly" its arrows (of energy) in any direction that

may afford proper opportunity. Here we see the expression of that

deathless, fiery force, and imperious daring and courage, within

more material states; the primal fire reflected from another

angle.



But everything is unsettled. It is a masculine force, and

restless, and is represented under the allegory of the "Tower of

Babel" and the utter dispersion of the people (entities) to the

four corners of the Earth, and finally becomes involved in dense

matter, and its migrations are at an end on this side of the

Cycle of Necessity.



Upon the astrological plane, the zodiacal sign Sagittarius rules

the motive forces and the pedestrian instinct, the thighs, or

basis of locomotion; hence, we see, even here, a most perfect

analogy. This sign symbolizes, also, the governing forces of

humanity, which see the necessity of law and order; hence

government. In this expression, we find the bow (strength or

force) ready to let fly its arrows of energy in any direction the

opportunity may afford; when refracted upon the human organism

and reflected upon the external plane, these forces manifest as

the restless spirit, that ever impels onward, seeking new fields

of expression, out of which develops a sense of order,

restraining and training, or the governing of self and control of

others. When we reflect upon these symbols of starry truths the

mind bows in reverence before the wisdom that created them.





X. Capricorn



"Next narrow horns the twisted Caper shows."



The Goat, and in the realms of spirit, the crystallized mineral

is the reaction of the former, and shows to us death, inertia and

rest; hence Kronos, or Saturn, the symbol of death, is lord of

this state and condition. It is the polarizing point of the

soul's evolution in matter, and therefore, forms the lowest are

in the Cycle of Necessity.



Herein we behold the soul, imprisoned within the mineral state.

The fire of the flint, and the spark in the crystal, are the only

avenues of its lonesome expressions. But, as the lowest point, it

is also the promise of a higher, and the symbol of a higher

state, and the symbol of another spiral in its endless life.



This constellation, as the symbol of inertia and death, is also

the symbol of awakening life, and prepares the soul for the more

perfect expression of its powers in its forthcoming upward

journey. If we pause for a moment and consider the force and

power necessary to evolve out of this dark, dense, mineral realm,

the foregoing sentence will become clear and forcible. Hitherto,

the soul has been slowly drawn down into coils of matter,

imprisoned by material forces. It has penetrated the lowest

depths, and can go no farther. Rest here, is to gather strength,

force. Mark well the difference and parallel between Cancer and

Capricorn, opposite points in the arc. Cancer is the symbol of

exalted rest within angelic realms; Capricorn the symbol of rest

in dense matter. From the former state the soul is impelled

forward on its downward journey; from the latter state the soul

awakens to the struggle for life on the upward are; and must now

give expression to the positive powers of its immortal being,

which have become involved in material form; that shall make it

the master, and give it the victory over death and material

forces. Surely, this is truly the promise of a new day, and

higher state of existence.



It will he instructive to study this by a comparison of the

zodiacal sign, Capricorn, as set forth in the "Light of Egypt,"

Vol. 1, wherein we read: "This sign signifies the knees, and

represents the first principle in the trinity of locomotion,

viz., the joints, bending, pliable, movable." The analogy is

perfect. The soul, which has been pliant, bending to material

forces, now reverses this action, and bows the knee in awe and

reverence to the higher powers of its being. When refracted upon

the human organism, we find that the cold, lonesome state, and

weary struggle within the mineral realm, becomes love of self,

directing its energies to the attainment of selfish ends. What

could be more natural?



XI. Aquarius



"And from Aquarius' urn a flood o'erflows."



The soul, released from its crystallized cycle of matter, now

rapidly evolves into states, though material, yet entirely

different. Its previous arc, from Libra to Capricorn, has been

amid inorganic matter. It is now rushing with lightning speed

upon its weird, toilsome, upward, journey through purely organic

forms, from vegetable to animal; and, as all organic forms have

their primary origin in water, so does this celestial urn express

the primary conception of this physical state. Further, to more

fully express this, Aquarius is typical of man, as prototype of

the last grand goal of the soul's future material state--in other

words, the last quadrant of the four elements, viz.: Bull, Lion,

Eagle, Man.



There is something exceedingly significant in all this, and the

more we ponder on this spiritual allegory of the shining

constellation, the more we are impressed with the divine wisdom

of those early instructors of our race, who thus preserved truth

in an incorruptible form.



From this weird, but beautiful constellation, we learn how the

soul has progressed, finding innumerable avenues of expression of

its latent forces; the manifestation of its powers in the various

chemical changes, and development of functions expressed through

countless forms, on the lower planes of existence. The sacrifice

of its angelic innocence, the imperious defiance and deathless

courage, symbolized by Leo, have obtained the victory over the

lower kingdoms; which will be incorporated into his vast empire.

Yet, unstable as water, it cannot excel; or, in other words,

cannot rise to a higher state within this are, of its progressive

life.



We find that the astrological expression of this constellation,

the sign Aquarius, governs the legs, and is the natural emblem of

the changeable, moveable, migratory forces, of the body, forming

a perfect parallel with its interior symbol. There is a great

deal contained in this zodiacal sign worthy of deep study and

reflection.





XII. Pisces



"Near their loved waves cold Pisces take their seat,

With Aries join, and make the round complete."



Once more a reaction--the last scene of the soul's impersonal

drama. The constellation (if Pisces is the symbol of rest and

expectation. The soul has now completed the first round, or rung,

in the Cycle of Necessity; and its next state is that of

incarnated man. It has triumphed over every sphere below, and

defied, in turn, every power above, and is now within that sixth

state of the embryonic soul-world that transforms all its past

knowledge, sorrow, and suffering, into experience; and produces

the impersonal man.



It has traveled through constellated states within matter and

spirit, and, as a human soul, with reason, intuition, and

responsibility, it will, in its next state, become subject to

those same powers when reflected from a different plane. The

twelve constellations of its soul will manifest a complete

rapport with the twelve signs of solar light and power.



With this we close. The mystic sign of this constellation is {},

or completion, a seal and a sign of its past labors.



And, as we have seen, the shining constellations are the soul's

progressive history from its genesis, to its appearance within

embodied conditions as man; and so, by correspondence, are the

twelve solar signs symbols of man and his material destiny. The

foundation has been laid, the material and resources are at hand,

for his kingdom is exclusive. With his own hands he must build

his temple (the symbol of the perfected man), each stone

accurately measured, cut, polished, and in its proper place, the

proportions symmetrical, hence, harmonious; the keystone of whose

arch is WILL, its foundation love. This accomplished, be will

have completed the second round of the great Cycle of Necessity.



And who, after contemplating the wondrous harmony of this

beautiful system, and the complete accord of each part, can

refuse to agree with the truly inspired Addison that--



"Ever moving as they shine,

The hand that made us is divine."