by Niklas Nihlen

Here follow some thoughts on the Evolution of the Zodiac as it necessarily parallels or reflects the evolution of man.

The Zodiac is an archetype, yet within the limitations of time and space, we only approximate this archetype in a progressive manner in our circle of experience. Remember that when we speak about omitting certain signs from this circle, it is not because they are not there, but because man was not able to respond to those influences in an appropriate manner due to his mechanism of response.

Needless to say, the great Lives of the Zodiac relate us to the Mind of God and take us through the Heart and Soul of Deity right into the very highest Head centre.

Under the will of Deity and the unalterable energy at the heart of the manifested zodiac, may we resurrect and achieve continuity, assuming our rightful place within Him in Whom we live and move and have our being. OM

1. Evolution of the Zodiac:

a. Zodiac of 8 signs. In early Lemuria there was the zodiac of 8 signs. It was governed by Scorpio and Scorpio also marked the end of that zodiac. This particular zodiac with certain additions, governed till some 20 million years ago and concerned races 3.1 - 3.4 (the Lemurian rootrace, 1-4 subraces).

b. Zodiac of 10 signs. In later Lemuria (races 3.4 - 3.7) and early Atlantis (races 4.1 - 4.3) the zodiac of 10 signs applied. It was governed by Capricorn and Capricorn also marked the end of that zodiac. This zodiac in its certain mutations applied from some 20 million years ago to 5-10 million years ago.

c. Zodiac of 12 signs. Towards the middle of Atlantis (races 4.3 - 4.5) there came a “new heaven” with the zodiac of 12 signs. It was governed by Pisces and Pisces also marks the end of the zodiac. This zodiac is still with us here in the Aryan race (5.5 - 5.7), as it was already in place and present at the seeding of the Aryan rootrace in Atlantis (4.5). It may, therefore, be up to some 5-10 million years old.

2. Mutation in the circle of experience:

a. Circle of 8 signs - this zodiac covered the developments in ancient times of early Lemuria. Signs omitted were; Leo, Virgo, Aquarius, Pisces. Sagittarius (and the Galactic Centre) was the beginning of the circle of experience and Scorpio marked the end (also at the Galactic Centre). Man was the beast, and yet it was a period of change as there was the beginning of a new orientation. This wheel was symbolised by the image of a man-centaur with the tail of a scorpion.

b. Circle of 9 signs - this was an intermediate cycle relating to the subjective approach of Hierarchy, via Sagittarius, 21,688,345 years ago, and resulting in individualisation (Leo and/or Virgo added). This would mark the potent Sagittarius/Leo activity during the subjective approach. The number 9 of the initiating sign Sagittarius and the 9 signs related to this zodiac would symbolise the period of gestation and the tiny babe in Virgo, which animal-man was. This wheel was also symbolised by the image of a man-centaur with the tail of a scorpion.

c. Circle of 10 signs - this wheel only came in gradually after individualisation in Lemuria (overlapping into early Atlantis); it was a new cycle of effort for the new man. Effort, strain, struggle; the fight with the forces native to the underworld, or the strenuous conditions entailed by the tests of discipleship or initiation—these are distinctive of experience in Capricorn. The outcome from the earlier periods led to the inclusion of the sign Leo and also Virgo (for the mature babe).

The circle of 10 signs was then the basic wheel and Aries now marked the beginning due to the revolutionary events and Capricorn was the end of the circle (the sign of birth and initiation), thus omitting Aquarius and Pisces. Capricorn was the boat (the arc) constellation, the makara/crocodile, the aquatic animal that crossed the waters of Aquarius/Pisces.

This in a different context symbolises the galaxy stretching across space and the vault of heaven. Capricorn also necessarily relates to the fifth or Capricorn Hierarchy, which was highly involved in these events.

However, developments were not very smooth in Lemuria, and this affected the wheel of experience. For example, there were those Angels (I call them the Mañana-devas), or the Sons of Mind, who did not incarnate into their destined forms at the appointed time and, therefore, did not follow the law. Their procrastination or refusal to incarnate led to the "sin of the mindless." Already prepared and ready to receive them were the forms of a slated batch of animal-men that had already separated sexually.

These Amanasa (mindless beings) defiled themselves and begat offspring with other lower and undesirable forms. This led to karma for the Angels, as they had broken the law of progress, and they therefore had to deal with forms less suitable. The Secret Doctrine tells us:

The animals separated first. They began to breed. The two-fold man separated also. He said, “Let us as they; let us unite and make creatures.” They did.

"And those that had no spark took huge she-animals unto them. They begat upon them dumb races. Dumb they were themselves." "They (the sexes) had already separated before the ray of divine reason had enlightened the dark region of their hitherto slumbering minds, and had sinned. That is to say, they had committed evil unconsciously by producing an effect which was unnatural."?(See also The Secret Doctrine, 721, 728.) These developments had repercussions on the Zodiac, resulting in certain mutations.

The astrological scientists in later Lemuria and early Atlantis had divergent opinions on what signs to include in the circle of experience that mainly consisted of 10 signs at that time. There were two main schools of thought, one which included 10 signs and another later school that encompassed 11 signs.

The earlier school of astrologers emphasised the events surrounding the Sin of the Mindless and its consequences. They therefore omitted the signs of Gemini and Libra, but included all the other signs. The absence, or omission, of Gemini and Libra symbolised the mind being in a state of latency, and Hermes/Thoth not being present.

To review, back in Lemuria certain signs of the zodiac were omitted from the zodiacal wheel as man could not respond to them. This resulted in a zodiac of only 8 signs at the time. It was only as a bulk of human units individualised and the seed of christhood was planted in them that the influence of the two zodiacal signs of Leo and Virgo began. These signs were then recognised by humanity, leading to a zodiac wheel of 10 signs. Before the zodiacal influence of Leo and Virgo were recognized that area in the heavens was certainly not a blank spot.

Having pondered the question of the evolution of the Zodiac--from 8 to 10 to 12 signs--paralelling the development of man, I would say that there are many ways to approach this very fundamental question, some of which are complementary.

One such approach would be to simply divide the heavens into 8 or 10 segments instead of 12, and thus having certain signs spanning 45 degrees or 36 degrees, instead of 30 degrees. This would be a simple and elegant mathematical solution, yet with little or no regard for the qualitative regions formed in the heavens where the Lords of the Constellations reside or project Their essence.

So, having considered many options, the conclusion that has emerged in my mind is that in those early days the omitted signs of Leo, Virgo, Aquarius and Pisces were all "veiled" or "hidden" by certain other subsidiary and basic layers of the heavens, relating to these signs.

For Leo and Virgo the veil consisted of Hydrus, the great Sea-Serpent, which straddles both of these constellations. For Pisces it was Cetus, the Whale holding Jonas captive, or Tiamat, the Sea-Monster. For Aquarius, the glyph of the sign itself clearly indicates its serpentine connections and, in those days, it was the serpent spewing forth fire and water.

The nature and the theme of the veil is, therefore, not to be mistaken--the "Serpent energy" and the Serpent in its many shapes is clearly indicated. It is the Serpent that represents manas, the spark of mind, and the knowledge of right and wrong, leading to immortality and godliness. This is so if rightly handled as it can be both a killer and a healer.

Therefore, through these signs, making a rift in the zodiac wheel (the perfect Eden), the Serpent was able to reach man and whisper in his ears to eat from the fruits of the tree of knowledge. And thus he did. In a manner of speaking, the signs of Leo, Virgo, Aquarius and Pisces are the Serpent, Eve, Adam and God respectively.

Humanity evolved over time, as did the zodiac from 8 signs to 10 and then to 12 signs--the serpents and sea-monsters, became the crocodiles, the Makara and the Dragons of Wisdom.

The remnants of the earlier developments are still with us today. They are present and primarily manifest within the zodiac wheel as the 13th sign – the Serpent-Bearer.

And so we wrestle,

Quote:

"In ancient days, as you may perchance have heard, there were only ten signs, and—at that time—Capricorn marked the end of the zodiacal wheel, and not Pisces as is at this time the case. The two signs of Aquarius and Pisces were not incorporated in the signs for the simple and sufficient reason that humanity could not respond to their peculiar influences; the vehicles of contact and the mechanisms for responses were not adequately developed. Originally, there were eight signs; then there were ten and now twelve.

Lemurian days, during the early period of animal man and before humanity appeared on earth, in the interim period of development, eight signs influenced the planet and the kingdoms of nature found upon it. There was no response to the influences of Leo and Virgo. The mystery of the Sphinx did not exist and these two signs were not then part of the zodiacal wheel. Then individualisation took place and the seed of Christhood [Page 160] was planted in man and these two signs began to influence humanity, and gradually that influence was recognised and the zodiac was then known to have ten signs. The Mutable Cross dominated, but it was then the Tau, for Pisces was lacking and only Gemini, Virgo and Sagittarius were evidenced. Aries to Capricorn marked the circle of experience.

2. In Atlantean days, man had become so responsive to the planetary and solar influence that the door of initiation into hierarchical experience was opened and two more signs were added. These two signs were the higher correspondences of Leo and Virgo and were the polar opposites of these two: Aquarius and Pisces. Their influence became active and effective and thus they formed part of the zodiacal wheel because man began to respond to their potencies. It then became possible for the Fixed Cross to function esoterically in the life of humanity, and the first reversals of the wheel in the life of the advanced men of the period took place. It was this reversal which was the true cause of the great contest or battle between the Lords of the Dark Face (as they are called in The Secret Doctrine) and the Lords of Light—a contest which is today persisting. Certain men then reached the stage of discipleship wherein they could consciously mount the Fixed Cross and be prepared for a major initiation. This the Forces of Materiality and of Obstruction (as they are sometimes called) fought and the battle was fought out and conditioned in the sign Scorpio.

3. Today, in Aryan times, a similar conflict upon a higher turn of the spiral is taking place. The reason is that certain world disciples and initiates have reached the point in their unfoldment wherein they are ready to [Page 161] mount the Cardinal Cross and take some of the higher initiations. So the conflict is on between humanity (under the control of the Lords of Materiality) and the Hierarchy (under the control of the Forces of Light and Love), and right before our eyes the battle is being waged. The influences of the twelve signs of the zodiac (particularly of seven of the signs) are being engaged, for today men of all types and rays are responsive to their influences and are implicated in some form or another in the affair." (1)

Some additional thoughts on the thirteenth sign:

Ophiuchus and Scorpius overlap.

The Sun passes through the area in the sky assigned to Ophiuchus approximately between November 30 -- December 18. The constellation stretches beyond these dates though, but the Sun is then actually passing through other constellations and there is only an overlap effect. Its energies may still be effective though as “background” radiation.

This constellation is found at the Crossroads--the intersection between different realities, close to the root or laya-point at the Galactic Center. There the life- and death-giving forces are equally potent and this we need to handle carefully as we struggle from the unreal to the real and from death to immortality. It connects us with the deep fires and indicates a fundamental aspect of our development in this solar system.

Due to precession, the solstices and equinoxes will move and the winter solstice point will be precessing through the Serpent-Bearer during the age of Aquarius. Indeed the constellation is very relevant and the extent to which we are able to handle the serpent, will determine our ability to serve and become victorius. This will activate and release the serpent power of the kundalini in a more potent manner eventually.

Ophiucus stands between Scorpio and Sagittarius in the heavens and is primarily linked to one of the three decanates of Scorpio. It signifies tests and trials and the overcoming of temptation and hence will be important in the life of the disciple, struggling to achieve mental polarisation before the dweller is faced around the third initiation.

The temptations of the Christ are very suggestive in this respect, struggling as we do with maya, glamour and illusion--the flesh, the world and the devil. It could be said that the three constellations of the Centaur, the Serpent-bearer, and the Archer form a triangle around the Galactic Center, these constellations always being aware of the goal, the centre of gravity, the sacral, the intersection of male and female, of Sun and Moon and close to the point of origin. They never lose the scent of this origin and are always able to orient and move in the right direction. We fight to retain this knowledge within ourselves; as the centaur we struggle with maya, as the Serpent-bearer we seek to overcome glamour and as the Archer we pierce the veils of illusion.

Chiron, the wise centaur is of course related to all these three constellations. His connection with the Serpent-bearer becomes clear as we understand that this constellation is also known as Aesculapius who was taught the arts of medicine and healing by Chiron. He learned to cure illness and also the power to restore life from death. He gives the elixir of life to Orion who was stung by the Scorpion. He tramples on the Scorpion and they set together whilst Orion is resurrected in the east. Here we see the medical ability, the power to restore and regenerate also found with Scorpio where he rules one of the decanates.

(1) Alice A. Bailey, Esoteric Astrology, Lucis Publishing Company, pp. 159-61

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