The Jewish Era dates from the Vernal Equinox of B.C. 3761. The esoteric connection between this symbol and the completion of the Divine Sacrifice may be easily seen. Prior to the commencement of the Christian Era, the Sun's Vernal zodiacal sign fell in Cancer.
The Jewish Era dates from the Vernal Equinox of B.C. 3761. The esoteric connection between this symbol and the completion of the Divine Sacrifice may be easily seen. Prior to the commencement of the Christian Era, the Sun's Vernal zodiacal sign fell in Cancer.
The Jewish Era dates from the Vernal Equinox of B.C. 3761. The esoteric connection between this symbol and the completion of the Divine Sacrifice may be easily seen. Prior to the commencement of the Christian Era, the Sun's Vernal zodiacal sign fell in Cancer.
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By Dr. George Winslow Plummer
Esoterism of the Great Drama on Golgotha,
and Ancient Correspondences.
(Astrological Section Lesson -1925)
Inthe last lesson we stated that the Cross of Matter would be further developed. In the present
paper it is our purpose to indicate the parallels between ancient and Scriptural
correspondences that led up to the culminating drama in the environs of Jerusalem
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By some authorities, the Jewish Era dates from the Vernal Equinox of B.C. 3761 and our
Easter occurs on the Sunday of the New Moon nearest the Vernal Equinox. At this time the
Sun is in Aries - the Ram, the symbol of offering or sacrifice, (the "Lamb that was slain"),
and the esoteric connection between this symbol and the completion of the Divine Sacrifice
may be easily seen,
Prior to the Exodus from Egypt, the Jews had been compelled to conform to the worship of
the Bull - Taurus, under the name of the sacred Apis. This worship of the Bull had persisted
for about 2,000 years prior to the actual Exodus and vestiges of the Bull worship are noted in
the reversion thereto by the Jews when they set up the Golden Calf in their journeying
through the Wildemess, Bas-reliefs show the same persistence of the Bull-worship among the
Babylonians and the Assyrians.
Another 2,000 years backwards in time, takes us to Gemini - the Twins and at this time we
find the Persians developing their two-fold theological system in the worship of Ormuzd or
Good, and Ahriman, Evil
Still further back in time, we find, when the Sun's Vernal zodiacal sign fell in Cancer, the
Brahman code operative in India
Prior to the commencement of the Christian Era, the Sun's vernal position was in Pisces, - the
Fish, and as a result, the symbol of the fish is closely interwoven with all other elements of
Christian symbolism. Jesus was the Avatar of the Piscean Age; his disciples were called to be
"fishers" by His express designation; human souls were the fishes, and one of the Master's
greatest miracles was the multiplication of the fishes when feeding the thousands.
One notable persistence of the fish symbolism is found in the Papal Ring, known as the
"Fisherman's Ring.”
Despite considerable controversy that has arisen in the last two years, the consensus of
opinion seems to be that we are now in the Aquarian Age. It is difficult to determine exact
points of departure in time, but many competent astrologers consider that the vernal sign is
now in Aquarius - the Water bearer, symbolizing fluidity. The chief characteristic of this
period aside from any others which have been previously mentioned is the development of
the Slavonic conditions that make for a greater unification or flowing together of the active
elements of humanity and a more practical realization of the true import of what has been
theoretically sought in the "Brotherhood of Man," The Brotherhood of Man itself implies a
closer association of the human units just as the ocean itself stands for the combination of the
watery units of the planet,
When the vernal sign shall have entered Capricorn - the Goat, the 7th sub-race of the Aryan
root race will have become developed in the American race as such, and the qualities of
stubborn determination that have opened up a continent will have become tempered by the
intellectual to such an extent that far greater progress along both intellectual and material
lines will be manifest, while the spiritual qualities themselves will have evolved to an almost
infinitely greater degree
The previous lesson showed a chart bearing the names of the Twelve Apostles and their
planetary and Tribal allocations. These Twelve Apostles also signify the twelve stages
through which man has evolved from his original condition as hermaphroditic, back to an
analogous condition when sex differentiations will be eliminated.
Humanity is as yet a long way from its highest manifestation. There are at least five further
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stages to human development, Twelve planets constitute our Solar System, these twelve
revolving about our parent Sun, Seven of these planets are known, not counting the Moon as
a specific planet. Five are unknown, Of the last five, one is just beginning to be known,
Vulcan.
Among the Twelve Apostles, seven were most active, yet varying in importance, Five are
little more than mentioned, although their work produced the results for which they were
chosen, These Twelve Apostles correlate with the Twelve Tribes, for it is written, "Thou shalt
sit upon twelve Thrones, judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel." From the 49th chapter of
Genesis, the student may easily work out the correspondences between the Twelve Tribes and
the Signs; Gad to Aries; Judah to Leo; Dan to Scorpio; Napthali to Virgo; Reuben to
Aquarius: Issachar to Cancer; Simeon and Levi to Pisces; etc.
‘The Twelve Stones in the Breastplate of the High Priest, described in the last lesson were true
astrological symbols and correlate with the precious stones of the Holy City as given in the
Book of Revelation, The New Jerusalem visualized by St. John the Seer is described as a
cube with 12 gates and 12 angels at the gates, The names of the Twelve Tribes were written
over the gates. Furthermore, there were Twelve Foundations to the city walls, and the Twelve
Gates were ornamented with 12 Precious Stones, representing the 12 Patriarchs. These
Twelve Precious Stones correlated in order with the 12 Precious Stones in the Jewish High
Priest's Breastplate.
If we consider Vulcan as being now a somewhat known planet, then we may say we have
eight planets operative to our consciousness, The Twelve Foundation Stones represent the
Church, Eight of them therefore represent the Church in its two manifested phases; i.e. the
Church Militant and the Church Expectant, while the four remaining but unknown planets
represent the third phase of the Church, the Church Triumphant.
The New Jerusalem was described as a cube. If any student will make a hollow cube out of
paper, he will find that on opening it out, it forms a perfect Cross. In one of its aspects
therefore, the Cross represents Man in his unredeemed or unregenerate state, The folded
Cross or Cube represents Man in his completed state with the Divine Spirit fully enfolded and
incorporated. If we keep this concept of the Cross in mind as we use the symbols of the
planets we shall gain a new idea as to the inner, spiritual significance of the influence of each
planet in its action upon and for a given individual.
The Holy City then, is really Man, The New Jerusalem is the new or regenerate Man, The 12
Gates of the City are the Twelve orifices in the body through which cosmic forces find
ingress. The Street in the Center of the City, through which the River of Life runs, is the
Spinal Cord, the trunk of the Tree of Life with its Twelve Branches or twelve pairs of brain-
nerves. The twenty-Four Elders seated on the thrones are claimed by one writer to be the
mediators between the "Seven Angels" and the 144,000. However, this number, 24, comes to
us from the Chaldean concept of astrology.
The Fixed Cross of the Zodiac, the Cross on which the native is crucified for the immediate
life expression, is symbolized by the Lion, (Leo), the Bull (Taurus); the Eagle (Scorpio); and
the Man (Aquarius),
‘The two outstanding figures in the Drama of the Cross are John the Baptist and Jesus. The
former prepared the way for the latter, in other words, went before him, Note the Sun
positions. On St. John's Day, June 24th, the Sun has just entered Cancer at the Summer
Solstice. At this time the physical Sun was at its zenith and John’s mission and message was
distinctly related to physical conditions. For this reason he could baptize only with Water, but
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he professed of One to come who should baptize with the Holy Ghost and with FIRE.
On Christmas Night, the Sun, in Capricorn, had passed its Meridian and the New Light that
was to enlighten the whole world appeared. Now the days begin to lengthen whereas after the
birth of John they began to shorten. So it was that John said, "I must decrease, but he shall
increase.”
The Three Magi (Wise Men) are, astronomically, the three stars that form the so-called "belt"
of Orion (Cingula Orionis). By simile, these three stars, rising, symbolized the Magi
“traveling” from the East, toward the great star "Spica" (Arista) in Virginis, (Virgo, the
Virgin) which stood over Bethlehem, (the "House of Bread"). Virginis, with her companion
Joseppe, (Joseph) of the constellation Bootes moved to positions in the firmament,
corresponding to the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, just below Jerusalem. The new-
bom King is metaphorically laid in the Manger "because there was no room in the
inn,” (literally, no position in the Zodiac) between the Ox (Bull - Taurus) and the Ass,
(issachar, one of the Twelve Tribes designated as an ass between two burdens), The
Shepherds or Goatherds (Capricorns) tending their flocks, (members of their constellations)
witnessed the message of "Peace, Good Will to Men"; (aspects of the Heavenly bodies
favorable to the inauguration of the New Dispensation) in the starry firmament on that
memorable night
Now the Snake, Serpent or Dragon of the skies, rises above the horizon; (Ophiucus). This is,
Herod, who, like Typhon seeking the Egyptian Osiris, seeks the life of the young child Jesus.
But Aries (the Ram, i.e. the Lamb, or young child) flees before him, and sinks below the
horizon, which, astronomically and geographically, is Egypt. This is the "Flight into Egypt."
Jesus has passed his trials, for the present. So he comes to Jordan. This is the Via Lactea - the
White or Milky Way. The waters part and the Heavens open unto him. Here the Milky Way
opens or rifts. He beholds the Spirit of God descending as the Holy Ghost upon his head. This,
is Cygnus, the Swan or Dove, directly above him.
His preparations for his ministry begin. He gathers his Disciples. Walking by the sea he notes
the two brothers, Simon and Andrew, (Gemini, the Twins on the horizon, or shore of the
celestial sea). Now he comes to James, son of Zebedee and John his brother, fishers, mending
their nets in the ship (Argo, the southern constellation). Then comes Levi at the toll, (Libra,
the Scales) and he too, followed Jesus.
Jesus and his Disciples walk "through the Com.” The Sun passes through Virgo, the Virgin
bearing the sheaf of corn. The light and heat of the Sun convert the corn into the substance of
bread. The pure sunlight develops in the juice of the grape the forces that convert it from
vegetable fluid to Spirit, - wine, Hence we have the statement by the King, "this is my Body"
and "this is my Blood,” the life fluid of the Spirit,
Herein is the secret truth of Atonement, or At-One-Ment, for by receiving into ourselves this
spiritual Bread and Wine, we receive the Christ Spirit or celestial forces and become in very
substance, at-one with them. Their (or His) power becomes thenceforth our power. "My
power give I unto you." And again, "All power is given unto me, both in Heaven and in
Earth."
Looking again skyward, we find that the time has come when Aries, the Vernal Equinox, has
passed the Nadir and now the celestial warriors (the Priests) prepare to seize Jesus, the Son
(Sun) of Righteousness, Judas betrays him for 30 pieces of silver. (Leo, the Lion, a cowardly
animal under certain conditions, synonymous with Judah of the Twelve Tribes, is in 30
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degrees). After his action, Judas goes out and kills himself or disappears, Leo-Judah,
disappears below the horizon.
Jesus is taken by the captain of the Governor's soldiery. (Hercules, of that constellation). A
crown of thorns is placed upon his head (Corona Australis), Next morning, Jesus is decked in
purple raiment. (Invested with the radiance of the rose and purple glow of the rising sun)
Simon of Cyrene (from Bootes) bears the Cross (intersection of the Equator and the Ecliptic)
In the place of the Skull. At the Cross was Mary Magdalene, the hair plaiter. Consequently,
we find in the heavenly position, Berenice's Hair. (Coma Berenices)
"They parted His raiment among them." His raiment was without seam. It was a pure raiment
of white Light, which, refracted, gives us the spectrum or Joseph's Coat of "many colors."
"Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land. ..the veil of the temple was
rent in twain. the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose." The
veil of daylight was rent when the Sun sank below the horizon; the stone of the Sun's radiance
and brilliance was rolled back and darkness covered the land. Then the saints that slept, - the
stars - arose, and come forth
The astronomical parallels to all the acts and miracles of Jesus or the Christ can be given in a
similar manner, but those already given will suffice to show how the Astronomical Religion
of the Stars not only prefigured the actual occurrence on Golgotha, but also enacted a drama
that is being repeated, even "until the end of the world."
This is the Drama of the Skies, the Macrocosm, We are individual Microcosms and the same
Drama is re-enacted in and through each of us as we journey through a given life expression,
and all the forces of the celestial cast play their parts in us through the several divisions of the
human body, physically, mentally and spiritually, to which they are assigned and over which
they exercise, each specific potential influence.
The study of the Life of Jesus is essentially the study of one's own Self, and Astrology not
only points the way but further shows us the way to salvation and redemption from the
conditions into which we individually and as a race have fallen through individual and mass
karma.
We of Earth, are, truly reflections of the activities in progress in the greater sphere above us.
The works that Jesus did, we may do too, according to His own assurance, if we make
possible the requisite conditions as to right living, consisting of right thought, right action and
right speech.
It is the primary purpose of Astrology to make clear to us the conditions just mentioned, and
it gives us the key by which we may open up the greater knowledge of the celestial arcana for
the purpose of applying it to ourselves; not for materialistic aggrandizement, but for the far
more noble purpose of serving humanity even as the Master served humanity.
In the Crucifixion Drama the Cross was the cardinal cross of the zodiac. Aries is the sign of
the Lamb or Christ, and in the Drama, Aries was on the Cross of the Meridian and the
Equator. The foot of the cross is Libra, The Crucifixion occurs on the Equinox, in the sixth
hour, the actual time when the Sun (Son) dies. The veil in the Temple was rent in two equal
parts. Hence, on the Equinox day and night were equal. Two thieves were also crucified on
either side of Jesus - Cancer and Capricorn, One thief went to Paradise with Jesus. Cancer
rose, Capricorn sank, below the horizon, i.e., the netherworld which is Kingdom of Satan or
Saturn.
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Esoterically, the Crucifixion symbolizes the lowest point of attainment in the descent of the
Logos into Matter. In other words, the Sun reached the lowest meridian for the northern
hemisphere at the time of the culminating act of the Drama, Then it ascends. After Spirit has
become involved in Matter to the extent required, evolution begins and the spiritual powers
become in the ascendant. It is only after man has reached his lowest point in matter or world
experience that he truly begins to ascend in permanent progress toward the higher planes or
spheres of being,
All the elements in the celestial Drama are peculiarly our own individual elements of progress
and experience. Every man and every woman meets a nadir or lowest point in human
existence at some time or other before passing beyond, and everyone is destined to personal
crucifixion on a cross of his own construction, before he can lawfully expect to rise in
spiritual power. In fact, the personal crucifixion is absolutely necessary to develop the desire
and stimulus to rise, otherwise, it is inherent in humanity to be more or less content or at least
passively acceptant of "things as they are" as long as they can stand them
All life on this planet and elsewhere as we may be able to conceive it, must be and is, a part
of the One Life, whether it be in Mineral, Vegetable, Animal or Human Kingdom, "In Him
we live and move and have our being." We cannot become separated from this One Life, do
what we will. And because we are a part of the One Life, we are obliged to be partakers of all
the conditions pertinent to that One Life, whatever our individual placement may be. Some of
these conditions are punitive, others admonitive, still others approbative, and the "still small
in, is that of the Silent Watcher who is both Monitor and an integral part of the
individualized aspect of that One Life.
The Two Thieves of the Celestial and the Palestinian Dramas are constantly with each one of
us. They are our Lusts and our Desires. Lusts will always remain - lusts, and are therefore
doomed to destruction. The other thief - desire - may in some aspects be a robber of our
higher selves, but desire may always be possible of purification - or salvation, and therefore
justified and ultimately redeemed and go with us into Paradise.
The veil that must be rent is the veil of ignorance; not necessarily academic ignorance, but
spiritual ignorance. Many, placed in the lowest positions in human life, with little, apparently,
to give cheer or encouragement, have nevertheless a wonderful vision of life, and as they live
up to it to the best that in them lies, they are happy in the possession of an inner light denied
to many who may enjoy all the obvious blessings, blessings which, alas, are often most
transitory and evanescent,
When we rend our individual veils of ignorance, then shall the saints that sleep, i.e., our
spiritual faculties, awake into new life and function for our personal illumination, enabling us
to discem spiritually, the things of the Spirit
Every star in the firmament has its direct or indirect influence upon human life individually
and collectively, passively when not in aspect; actively when in aspect. And the more the
student studies available data regarding the Fixed Stars, the more he will amplify his
knowledge and understanding of the vast forces continually at work upon his destiny, for as
the foregoing sketch of the Great Drama has shown, they play most important parts in the
cast, sometimes becoming more truly the principals than the planets of our Solar System in
the natal horoscope.
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