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A 'zodiacal lotus' is a reflection on the physical plane, of the causal body of some creative entity:
The causal body (Tifareth-6) exists within the abstract-mental plane and is an organ whose basic function is the evolution of consciousness. Therefore, the structures of both the causal lotus and its zodiacal counterpart are fundamentally based upon the formula IHVh. (See also the article,
Tetragrammaton.)The basic elements of IHVh are Father, Mother, Son and Daughter. We shall examine them in relation to microcosmic Humanity existing within the sphere of creation of Helios, the solar logos:
FATHER (I, yod): Monadic plane. Yod symbolises the collectivity of human souls who have made conscious contact with their monad and attuned themselves to the original Idea (A, aleph) of the Creator. They are Sons of God who have 'awakened' to the divine Purpose and who now 'sit at the right hand' (Hockmah-2) of Helios (in Kether-1). From Hockmah-2 they administer His Purpose by inspiring the minds of receptive human-beings. Therefore they are the microcosmic representatives of the almighty macrocosmic Being Whose spirit (aleph) infuses the entire solar system. Within the core of every soul is a creative essence (i.e. the path of yod) that links us with the Purpose of the Father. It is the seed of our future adeptship and the key to our conscious membership of the spiritual Hierarchy. On the 'Tree of Life' diagram the path of 'yod' (i.e. extending between the sefiroth Hesed-4 and Tifareth-6) represents an individuated fragment of the greater Yod in Hockmah.
MOTHER (H, ha): Atmic plane. Capital 'H' (ha) here refers to the 'physical' dimensions of Helios ~ including especially the structural elements of the physical, astral and mental planes of our solar system ~ and to the divine intelligence that supervises its activity. This intelligent 'matrix' is a thought-form extension of the mind of Helios (i.e. from the cosmic mental plane) and composes the entire systemic/planetary environment (natural and human).
As Atma, ha represents the cosmic etheric infrastructure of the zodiacal lotus ~ His (Helios') cosmic nervous system, and especially the twelve super-etheric meridians that course through His subjective body of experience to and from the objective universe. For Humanity Ha especially signifies the material/astral/mental structure (or matrix) within which we all are enmeshed and contained. In other words, it's the macrocosmic form principle whose primary function is to embody within itself the unfoldment of the Father's Purpose.
It's only through the Mother (including the collective Human biosphere) that the Father's conscious creative influence can be intelligently and physically realised. In IHVh, the Mother symbol (H) refers to the Atmic plane (Binah-3) ~ the place from where the systemic form principle is coordinated and manifested in line with the Purpose of Helios and the conscious will of the Father principle. In this sense Binah (Atma) is like the center of a web of 'active-intelligent' lines of force that extend outward and provide the 'physical' infra-structure for all the lower planes (i.e. below the Atmic plane) of our solar system.
SON (V, vav): Buddhic, abstract-mental and causal bodies. In the present context, vav signifies the soul-consciousness ('Ruach') of a human-being ~ the sephiroth Hesed-4, Geburah-5 and Tifareth-6. It represents our conscious/psychic link with the spiritual triad 'AHI'.
The position of the Son is between the Father (Hockmah-2) and the Mother (Binah-3). His perception is in two directions. When he turns within he receives creative inspiration from the Father. When he looks without he judges and adjusts his relationship with the Mother. The Son is the bearer of the Father's yod-seed, but it remains relatively dormant until the third initiation whence its store of love-wisdom begins to be consciously and purposely utilised on the physical plane.
DAUGHTER (h, ha): Lower-mental, astral and etheric/physical bodies. The final 'ha' of IHVh symbolises the human personality ('Nephesh') which incorporates the sephiroth Hod-8, Netzah-7 and Yesod-9. It maintains our un/conscious physical connection to the Mother (i.e. it's the microcosmic form principle). The Daughter anchors our awareness on the material plane.
The zodiacal lotus is basically formed through the intersection of three crosses (see Figure 1):
Figure 1.
Cross of the Mother:
Mutable cross (Form)
Cross of the Son:
Fixed cross (Consciousness)
Cross of the Father:
Cardinal cross (Spirit)
It is said by the Master Djwal Khul that average mankind are crucified upon the Mutable cross, disciples are upon the Fixed cross, and initiates hang upon the Cardinal cross. (See Esoteric Astrology, by Alice Bailey.) That is because the Great Mother (H) is the initiating principle in the lives of average humanity up until the first initiation. It is then that they symbolically climb onto the Fixed cross and the Son principle (V) becomes the motivating influence. After the third initiation the Cardinal cross is consciously mounted by the initiate and the Father principle (I) becomes the initiator of experience. The Daughter (h) does not have her own cross because she is the direct focus of the evolutionary/creative forces of the other three principles.
The twelve-petalled lotus is also sub-divided into East (I), West (H), Above (V), and Below (h). These divisions are most obvious in the house structure of a natal horoscope and relate to the horizon at the moment of birth, but they apply symbolically to all lotuses. The eastern horizon is the place of the Father, the origin of creation. The birth (rising) of the sun (Son) is the issue of the Father's seed.
The western horizon is the Mother's dark but fruitful domain ~ the womb of night into which the sun (Son) is propelled by the Father. He is driven to unite with his 'feminine' complement ~ the egg of his desire.
Above the horizon is the kingdom of the sun (Son), a place of glorious light (or soul-consciousness). Below the horizon is the deepest darkness of spiritual unconsciousness. The Son must don a cloak of 'matter' as he sojourns within the body of the Mother. His 'physical' countenance is called the Daughter.
We can see therefore, that the horizontal bar of each cross is aimed towards the macrocosmic elements while the vertical bar is focussed upon the microcosm. Thus from IHVh we derive twelve couplets giving the archetypal meanings of the twelve zodiacal energies. (See Figure 2.)
Figure 2.
The first letter of each pair indicates the cross to which the couplet belongs. It signifies the initiating influence of the sub-formula. The second letter refers to the 'direction' towards which the initiating force is directed ~ East, West, Above or Below. Lack of space will limit our analysis to a few brief images. (But for more information see the larger article,
The Twelve Petals ~ Unfolded.)Aries : (I-I, yod-yod). The dispersion of the Father's seed. The impulse of the Father towards creation by the extension of his own essence (yod). The impulse becomes increasingly hidden as it is clothed in the vehicles of consciousness (Son) and form (Daughter). The drive of spirit to disseminate its creative energy. Impregnation of the Mother is achieved through the open conduit of the Son/Daughter. The masculine power (i.e. purpose) of microcosmic creation is contained in yod.
Taurus : (V-I, vav-yod). The Son invokes the Father. The opening of the Heart to receive the influx of spiritual desire into the soul. The growing revelation of the jewel (yod) within the lotus (vav). The Daughter must learn that true wealth (the 'jewel') lies within the Son (her soul) and that she must seek to manifest it through herself.
Gemini : (H-h, ha-final ha). The Mother suckles the Daughter with the milk of her knowledge. The growth of the Daughter within the body of the Mother. The Daughter is made accustomed to her physical/astral/mental environment by the subliminal influences and orchestrations of the Mother. Her awareness of self and others is expanded. She learns from the Mother the concept of 'right relationship' with the 'physical' environment of which she is a part. Here the Mother's influence is felt primarily within the lower (or rational) mind of a human-being.
Cancer : (I-h, yod-final ha). The Father disciplines the Daughter and demonstrates his power over her 'impure' desires. He teaches her to recognise her fear-based emotional dependencies (or insecurities). The Daughter is urged by the Father to find the secret of his strength, power and independence within herself.
Leo : (V-h, vav-final ha). The Son infuses the Daughter with his light so that she shines like the sun. She reflects his radiance into the darkness of Earth (form) like a full and beautiful moon. The Son teaches the Daughter to focus her love upon him (her own soul) rather than the personalities of others. He demonstrates the futility and transience of personality love, and that true fulfillment and satisfaction can only come through unfolding her own inner self.
Virgo : (H-H, ha-ha). The Mother focuses energy upon herself. She ensures that her body (the physical/astral/mental environment) is maintained in a healthy and fertile condition. She makes sure that the nature of her form is pleasing to the Father and that it's an appropriate and efficient foundation for his creative purposes. Because the Daughter is a microcosmic cell in the body of the Mother, she is impelled by the Mother to nurture and cultivate her 'physical' attributes, and to take part in the development of the human psycho-physical environment.
Libra : (I-H, yod-ha). The movement of the Father towards the Mother. The creative union of the Father with the Mother can occur on three basic levels ~ physical, astral, and mental. In order for the Father to effectively impregnate the Mother, his creative essence must be transmitted through the medium of a unified Son and Daughter. As the consciousness of a human-being evolves, so can he participate in the higher forms of creative union between the Father (within himself) and the human environment (the Mother).
Scorpio : (V-H, vav-ha). The Son seeks to penetrate and illuminate the Mother whose darkness entombs his light. Therefore he encourages the Daughter to follow her selfish desires, to plunge deeper and deeper into the material darkness that is her very self. So, in that utter blackness, shall she more easily discern his brilliance (shining within) and thus freely choose him as her guide out of night and into day.
Sagittarius : (H-V, ha-vav). The Mother reveals to the Son knowledge of herself. She expands his understanding of the macrocosmic form principle by systematically exposing him to the unknown. Thereby does she cultivate in him wisdom. Here the Mother's influence is upon the higher mind and intuition of a human-being. Her purpose is to expand the soul-consciousness of the Son whereas in Gemini (H-h) the Daughter experiences an expanded state of personal awareness.
Capricorn : (I-V, yod-vav). The Father's creative purpose floods the being of the Son who thereby gains the authority of the Father. The 'jewel in the lotus' is fully revealed. The will of the Father dominates the life of the Son ~ this in contradistinction to the Father's desire aspect which is the governing influence in Taurus (V-I). Once again, the successful execution of the Father's purpose depends upon the receptivity and complicity of the Daughter.
Aquarius : (V-V, vav-vav). Son unites with Son, soul with soul in the spiritual fellowship that is the Age of Aquarius. The unification of souls towards the common Purpose of the supernal Father-Mother god.
Pisces : (H-I, ha-yod). The Mother flows towards and embraces the Father. She molds herself (as does her purified Daughter) into a form precisely shaped to accommodate the Father's creative energy. As a polarised egg (or ova), she gravitates towards the Father's seed (within the Son) so as to unite with it in creative union. When the season is ended she releases the next generation of seed from her withered husk and resolves back into her elemental state (the Great Sea).
If the human personality (i.e. Daughter) is not yet conscious of the purpose of the Son/Father she will need to develop faith and discrimination in her response to the approaching Mother principle. The Daughter is prone to be distracted by her own misguided intentions and un/conscious fears and desires.
It becomes clear from the above that the Daughter (human personality) is the key to the success or failure of the creative process as it unfolds within the zodiacal lotus. The Daughter must first become consciously unified with the Son (human soul) if the destined (or intended) interaction between the Father and Mother principles is to be successfully realised. (See Figure 3.) The formula ADNI is responsible for establishing this preliminary union within the zodiacal lotus ~ and then the formula IHVh, and eventually AHIH, become motivating influences in the life of a human-being.
Figure 3.
Presently the ruling formula within the planetary and solar lotuses is IHVh, but a great proportion of Humanity are still functioning under the law of ADNI. This proportion will steadily decrease as we move further into the Age of Aquarius, due both to the current opportunity for rapid spiritual growth, and also to the migration of souls to appropriate planetary vibrations as the Earth ascends to Her new level of being.
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Patrick (Maut-Su-Jah) - Updated: May, 2002
