While many people are aware of Evolutionary Astrology, there was an earlier “EA” known as Esoteric Astrology. Thinly outlined by Madame Blavatsky in the third quarter of the 19th century, Alice Bailey fully elucidated the material in volume three of her five-volume Treatise on the Seven Rays which were first published in the 1930’s. Overall, these tomes focus on ensouled matter, the Path of the Initiate and the Disciple, the evolution of soul consciousness and the blocks to said evolution. Specifically, the third book, Esoteric Astrology, offers significant insight into this ancient wisdom wrapped within the overly loquacious beauty of the obfuscating lexicon of Victorian/Edwardian spirituality. I am being a little cheeky here, but actually, this is the case with all of these books! These are intentional impediments to limit those who seek access to this level of information. Many of us have been challenged by this language style, to say the least.
Alice Bailey, née La Trobe-Bateman, was born June 16, 1880 and wrote more than twenty-four books on theosophical subjects. She was also one of the first writers to coin the term New Age. Her work is available from Lucis Trust, which the website states “was established by Alice and [her husband] Foster Bailey as a vehicle to foster recognition of the universal spiritual principles at the heart of all work to build right relations.”
These volumes begin with the following opening statement from The Tibetan (I added the bold for emphasis):
Extract from a Statement by the Tibetan
Suffice it to say, that I am a Tibetan disciple of a certain degree, and this tells you but little, for all are disciples from the humblest aspirant up to, and beyond, the Christ Himself. I live in a physical body like other men, on the borders of Tibet, and at times (from the exoteric standpoint) preside over a large group of Tibetan lamas, when my other duties permit. It is this fact that has caused it to be reported that I am an abbot of this particular lamasery. Those associated with me in the work of the Hierarchy (and all true disciples are associated in this work) know me by still another name and office. A.A.B. knows who I am and recognises me by two of my names.
I am a brother of yours, who has travelled a little longer upon the Path than has the average student, and has therefore incurred greater responsibilities. I am one who has wrestled and fought his way into a greater measure of light than has the aspirant who will read this article, and I must therefore act as a transmitter of the light, no matter what the cost. I am not an old man, as age counts among the teachers, yet I am not young or inexperienced. My work is to teach and spread the knowledge of the Ageless Wisdom wherever I can find a response, and I have been doing this for many years. I seek also to help the Master M. and the Master K.H. whenever opportunity offers, for I have been long connected with Them and with Their work. In all the above, I have told you much; yet at the same time I have told you nothing which would lead you to offer me that blind obedience and the foolish devotion which the emotional aspirant offers to the Guru and Master Whom he is as yet unable to contact. Nor will he make that desired contact until he has transmuted emotional devotion into unselfish service to humanity–not to the Master.
The books that I have written are sent out with no claim for their acceptance. They may, or may not, be correct, true and useful. It is for you to ascertain their truth by right practice and by the exercise of the intuition. Neither I nor A.A.B. is the least interested in having them acclaimed as inspired writings, or in having anyone speak of them (with bated breath) as being the work of one of the Masters. If they present truth in such a way that it follows sequentially upon that already offered in the world teachings, if the information given raises the aspiration and the will-to-serve from the plane of the emotions to that of the mind (the plane whereon the Masters can be found) then they will have served their purpose. If the teaching conveyed calls forth a response from the illumined mind of the worker in the world, and brings a flashing forth of his intuition, then let that teaching be accepted. But not otherwise. If the statements meet with eventual corroboration, or are deemed true under the test of the Law of Correspondences, then that is well and good. But should this not be so, let not the student accept what is said.
AUGUST 1934
The last paragraph is powerful. He alludes to the ways in which words spark and thereby light the Path when right and correct person is reading them. I greatly appreciate that DK gives the power of determining the validity of the work to the reader. He is not providing a simple dogmatic framework for others to follow without question, but rather an approach to this material using a method of scientific inquiry, honed intuition and a mind open and able to connect the myriad cycles and aspects with their iterative meanings.
Traditional astrology can be said to focus on personality or the ego-centered issues in life – the outward focus. These are the diurnal, or day-time concerns of career, social standing, path in life, relationships, finances. Soul-centered astrology is more about the inner relationship with Self and higher states of consciousness, awareness and a goal of becoming personal to the impersonal and impersonal to the personal. These include the states of neutrality, observation and of course meditation as well as contemplation.
Rather than seeking answers to the age old, exoteric questions like, “When will I get a million dollars?” or “Am I ever going to meet the love of my life?” Esoteric astrology gives you the answers to “Why am I here?” and “What is my soul’s purpose?” and shows you not only the ways that you will go about experiencing this soul flowering, but also the types of difficulties and when and where you are likely to encounter them on your Path to Consciousness.
This branch of astrology draws on the various threads of truth that flow through the ancient occult traditions of astrology, astronomy, religion, mythology and history. To learn about esoteric astrology, one needs a well-developed understanding of traditional astrology. Exoteric astrology is the foundation from which soul centered astrology springs forth, so a basic traditional astrological understanding of the planets, signs, houses and aspect patterns is strongly encouraged.
For anyone interested in delving deeper into this fascinating and useful approach to astrology, for the next four months, there is a workshop that will introduce and review the building blocks of this teaching in ways to deepen your understandings of:
1. The seven rays: Saturday 31 October 2020 at 9:00 am PDT
2. The esoteric/soul-centered planets: Saturday 21 November 2020 at 9:00 am PST
3. The esoteric/soul-centered Signs: Saturday 5 December 2020 at 9:00 am PST
4. The esoteric/soul-centered Houses: Saturday 16 January 2021 at 9:00 am PST
Each workshop is meant to be stand-alone and will cost $35 each. While there are no pre-requisites or requirements, this is a very intellectually centered study, so an intermediate understanding of astrology would be helpful as a foundation for taking any of these workshops. That being said, individuals with esoteric and sensitive backgrounds, leanings, and/or understandings can find their way. Future workshop opportunities will include esoteric aspects, crosses of incarnation, identifying the soul’s purpose, and the all-important delineation and synthesis.
Here is an overview of soul centered astrology I gave on 10 October 2020 for Kepler