Esoteric Astrology - Vol. 8: Esoteric Astrology

By Douglas M. Baker

ESOTERIC ASTROLOGY - VOL. 8
THE SOUL'S PURPOSE, CASES 17 -33

By Dr. Douglas M. Baker

This very important work is based on an analysis of the horoscope, placing emphasis on the Rising Sign as it expresses the Soul's Purpose and its nuances. Thus, the universal approach is yet maintained but brought to bear on the specific or existential features of the individual's horoscope. Via 17 detailed analyses in this volume, the earnest student or professional astrologer is given in-depth information regarding Karma, previous lives, chakras, myth, objects for meditation, the Ray of the Soul and of course, the Soul's purpose for the personality. (Vol. 7 treats cases 1 – 16.)

The introductory section explains:

• Symbols and Methods used
• Planetary Rulers
• Chart Interpretation
• Permutations in Basic Symbols
• Compound Complexes
• The Rising Sign
• House Cusps
• Sun — Earth Opposition
• Astrological Parsing
• Literal Parsing
• Aspects
• Use of Angular Aspects
• Planet — Sign — House Influences
• Intercepted Signs
• Retrograde Planets
• Karmic Indications in the Horoscope

Whilst esoteric astrology is primarily concerned with the hegemony of the soul as it progressively asserts itself in the life of the individual, it is also capable of providing the personality with direction and useful advice. When we are dealing with Man on the Path, a far, far more accurate an interpretation of his situation, its potentials and limitations for expression is given here by using the esoteric rulers of the Signs of the Zodiac as demonstrated in esoteric astrology.

The development of the computer has made the horoscope available to the millions, and it is but a matter of time before the same computers begin to sieve out the "real from the unreal." In the end, however, the real is only discovered within, and the fullest exposition of esoteric astrology gives the keys to such discoveries within and their correlation to wide and more universal principles. To ignore the individual horoscope is to leave astrology, esoteric or exoteric, with feet of clay. What this writing represents is a wiser and more psychosynthetic interpretation of the horoscope.

Thus, providing the interpreter views the horoscope from a point of higher synthesis, the most accurate interpretation of a personality matter may be gauged from particular astrological aspects. Bailey herself, or the Tibetan Master through her, gave the key to the psychosynthetic approach by allocating esoteric rulerships to the Signs for Man on the Path and a further set of rulers, called "hierarchical", which apply to those disciples who are initiate and engaged in the work of the Hierarchy of this planet, as It implements the Divine Plan for the Earth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Baker eBooks Publishing
• Release date: Apr 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9781625691545

Douglas M. Baker

Dr. Douglas M. Baker. English born and raised in South Africa has done extensive scientific research into those hinterlands of the mind which one might call psi-semantics. He graduated in the Arts & Humanities in South Africa and qualified in medicine at Sheffield University (UK) in 1964. Having taught in the East End schools of London for 10 years, he began his tour of the Western world giving lectures and seminars in Esoteric Healing, Esoteric Anatomy, Esoteric Astrology, Esoteric Psychology, Esoteric Science and Metaphysics. He, more than any other, set in motion the trends towards alternative methods of medicine which have transformed that field in Britain today. As medical advisor to the De la Warr laboratories in Oxford, he undertook research into Biomagnetism and quantum physics their effects on the human aura and dark matter, producing the book by the same name in conjunction with George de la Warr. Through the years he has given more than 15,000 lectures and attracted people from all over the world to his Esoteric Science Festivals and International Summer Schools staged in America, Canada, England, Switzerland, Italy, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. His transformative experiences during the Second World War, when twice severely wounded, set the pattern for his life long investigations into the Powers Latent in Man. His extensive esoteric writings are said to be the largest collection in the world produced by a living author. He has written over 100 books, many of which have been translated into the 9 European languages at https://www.douglasbaker.com, and his list of downloadable MP3 audio lectures available at www.douglasbaker.org, include 500 live lectures given around the world and on a vast range of subjects. He has led the field in esoteric astrology, producing with a team, his magnum opus, a Dictionary of Astrology for the 21st Century in three volumes. This is in addition to the already existing 11 volume set of books on the same subject.

Book preview

Table of Contents

ESOTERIC ASTROLOGY - VOL. 8

A special note to eBook readers:

Introduction

Symbols and Methods used

List of Astrological Symbols used and Planetary Rulers

Planetary Rulers

Chart Interpretation

Dictionary of Astrology

Permutations in Basic Symbols

Compound Complexes

The Rising Sign

House Cusps

Sun — Earth Opposition

Astrological Parsing

Literal Parsing

Aspects

Use of Angular Aspects

Planet — Sign — House Influences

Intercepted Signs

Retrograde Planets

Karmic Indications in the Horoscope

CASE 17, LEO ASCENDANT

SOUL’S PURPOSE

KARMA AND PREVIOUS LIVES

PREVIOUS LIVES

OBJECTS AND CONCEPTS FOR MEDITATION

MYTHOLOGY

OBJECT FOR MEDITATION

CHAKRAS

ABSTINENCE

CASE 18, VIRGO ASCENDANT

SOUL’S PURPOSE

SUMMARY OF SOUL’S PURPOSE

RAY OF THE SOUL

CONCEPTS AND OBJECTS FOR MEDITATION

KARMA AND PREVIOUS LIVES

CHAKRAS

MYTHOLOGY

CASE 19, VIRGO ASCENDANT

SOUL’S PURPOSE

OBJECT FOR MEDITATION (1)

OBJECTS FOR MEDITATION (2)

KARMA AND PREVIOUS LIVES

CHAKRAS

RAY OF THE SOUL

MYTHOLOGY

CASE 20, TAURUS ASCENDANT

SOUL’S PURPOSE

OBJECTS for MEDITATION

KARMA AND PREVIOUS LIVES

CHAKRAS

THE CENTRES AND THE TRIANGLES

MYTHOLOGY

CASE 21, SAGITTARIUS ASCENDANT

SOUL’S PURPOSE

RAY OF THE SOUL

OBJECT FOR MEDITATION

KARMA AND PREVIOUS LIVES

CHAKRAS

MYTHOLOGY

CASE 22, TAURUS ASCENDANT

SOUL'S PURPOSE

SUMMARY

ADMONITION

OBJECTS AND CONCEPTS FOR MEDITATION

RAY OF THE SOUL

KARMA AND PREVIOUS LIVES

CHAKRAS

MYTHOLOGY

CASE 23, VIRGO ASCENDANT

SOUL’S PURPOSE

KARMA AND PREVIOUS LIVES

RAY OF THE SOUL

MYTHOLOGY

OBJECTS AND CONCEPTS FOR MEDITATION

CASE 24, ARIES ASCENDANT

SOUL’S PURPOSE

SUMMARY OF SOUL’S PURPOSE

RAY OF THE SOUL

KARMA AND PREVIOUS LIVES

CHAKRAS

OBJECT FOR MEDITATION

MYTHOLOGY

CASE 25, SCORPIO ASCENDANT

SOUL’S PURPOSE

KARMA AND PREVIOUS LIVES

RAY OF THE SOUL

ADMONITION

MYTHOLOGY

CASE 26, VIRGO ASCENDANT

SOUL’S PURPOSE

RAY of the SOUL

MYTHOLOGY

SUMMARY OF SOUL’S PURPOSE

OBJECTS FOR MEDITATION

KARMA AND PREVIOUS LIFE

CHAKRAS

CASE 27, PISCES ASCENDANT

SOUL’S PURPOSE

KARMA AND PREVIOUS LIVES

PREVIOUS LIVEs

RAY OF THE SOUL

MEDITATION

FOUR STEPS OF MEDITATION

OBJECTS AND CONCEPTS FOR MEDITATION

MYTHOLOGY

CASE 28, LIBRA ASCENDANT

SOUL’S PURPOSE

OBJECT FOR MEDITATION

RAY OF THE SOUL

SUMMARY

CHAKRAS

KARMA

PREVIOUS LIVES

OBJECTS FOR MEDITATION

MYTHOLOGY

CASE 29, LEO ASCENDANT

VECTORS OF SOUL’S PURPOSE:

RAY OF THE SOUL

OBJECTS AND CONCEPTS FOR MEDITATION

KARMA AND PREVIOUS LIVES

CHAKRAS

MYTHOLOGY

CASE 30, CAPRICORN ASCENDANT

SOUL’S PURPOSE

KARMA AND PREVIOUS LIVES

OBJECTS FOR MEDITATION

CASE 31, CANCER ASCENDANT

SOUL’S PURPOSE

MEDITATION

OBJECTS AND CONCEPTS FOR MEDITATION

SUMMARY OF SOUL’S PURPOSE

ESOTERIC SIGNIFICANCE OF PAIN

KARMA AND PREVIOUS LIVES

MYTHOLOGY

CASE 32, GEMINI ASCENDANT

SOUL’S PURPOSE

KARMA AND PREVIOUS LIVES

MYTHS AND PARABLES

SOUL RAY

CONCEPTS AND OBJECTS FOR MEDITATION

CHAKRAS

CASE 33, AQUARIUS ASCENDANT

SOUL’S PURPOSE

CONCEPTS AND OBJECTS FOR MEDITATION

KARMA AND PREVIOUS LIVES

RAY OF THE SOUL

MYTHOLOGY

CHAKRAS

OBJECT FOR MEDITATION

ESOTERIC ASTROLOGY - VOL. 8

THE SOUL’S PURPOSE

CASES 17 - 33

by Dr. Douglas Baker

B.A., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., F.Z.S.

First Printed Edition: 1982

Copyright© 1981 D. M. Baker

Printed Version ISBN 9780906006672

Little Elephant,

High Road, Essendon,

Herts, AL9 6HR, England.

This is the only authorized eBook of the printed edition.

© Copyright Dr. Douglas M. Baker 2016

eBook ISBN 9781625691545

Published by Baker eBooks Publishing

Many audio lectures and some of the images and charts used here can be downloaded in higher definition for free from our website https://www.douglasbaker.org.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher's prior consent in any form, binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

A SPECIAL NOTE TO EBOOK READERS:

This volume contains a large amount of astrological glyphs embedded within the text. The sales page preview might not be able to show these but your reading device will as long as you leave the Font settings at Original or Publisher Font. Font size adjustments work fine with the glyphs. To allow the greatest number of reading devices to display this eBook, we used the free flowing layout and show the glyphs right above the text they belong to.

DGG

Editor

INTRODUCTION

Astrology is concerned with the effect produced in the substance of the sheaths by the influences, vibrations, etc., of the various planets. These are, esoterically, the influences of the solar centres. The forces, emanating from the solar centres, play upon the planetary centres. . . . This is hidden in the karma of the Heavenly Man. When true esoteric astrology comes into being, more anent this will be given. Astrological students are today only learning the ABC of this stupendous subject and are occupied with the exoteric fringes of that great veil which has been thrown wisely over planetary lore.

Alice A. Bailey

A Treatise on Cosmic Fire, p. 1051

". . . Astrologers will eventually be divided into two classes: the exoteric astrologers who will be occupied with the horoscope of the personality, and the esoteric astrologers who will be occupied with the purposes of the soul.

. . . The ascendant or rising sign indicates the intended live or immediate soul purpose for this incarnation. It holds the secret of the future and presents the force which, rightly used, will lead the man to success. It represents the sattvic or harmony aspect of life and can produce right relationship between soul and personality in any one incarnation. It thus points the way to the recognition of the force of the soul.

Douglas M. Baker

SYMBOLS AND METHODS USED

LIST OF ASTROLOGICAL SYMBOLS USED AND PLANETARY RULERS

Note: Per Esoteric Astrology by Alice A. Bailey, Lucis Press, London and New York.

PLANETARY RULERS

It is intuitional astrology which must eventually supersede what is today called astrology, thus bringing about a return to the knowledge of that ancient science which related the constellations and our solar system, drew attention to the nature of the zodiac and informed humanity as to the basic interrelations which govern and control the phenomenal and subjective worlds.

Alice A. Bailey, ‘Esoteric Astrology’

CHART INTERPRETATION

The new astrology teaches us to think in categories. The examples of interpretation demonstrate the fluidity of the method. There are no hard and fast rules, for each chart is as existential as the person to whom it belongs. Therefore chart interpretation is not simply a pat process of memorising astrological formulae or stock meanings for aspects—it is far more ‘layered’ and specific than that. In homeopathy and alternative methods of medicine, the same diagnosed disease may be treated very differently for different individuals. So too, the interpretation of an aspect is liable to vary from individual to individual.

The traditional approach to interpretation comprises elements of the permutative method but in this case, the construction of sentences from key words tends to be prescribed within the narrow and formalised bounds of the lower, rational mind. The rich field of symbolism—where the higher mental functions operate—is largely ignored. In the orthodox method, the meaning of a particular aspect is deduced from general principles. In theory, each planet is said to embody a ‘principle’ or psychological drive. The ‘mode’ of its expression is different when found in different signs of the zodiac, and the houses of the chart represent the different ‘spheres of life-activity’ in which the modified planetary principle manifests. Key concepts for planet, sign and house are regarded as distinct, and through their various combinations, the astrologer will deduce factual statements about the individual.

From this formula has evolved a body of ‘academic’ astrology—an edifice of theoretical meanings for aspects, built out of relatively inert ‘blocks’ of concrete thought; and occasionally enlivened by an inspired author. The greater the reputation, the more fixed and established the ‘meaning’ becomes in the mind of the astrological community. It would not matter at all if intellect was the highest faculty available to the astrologer. Unfortunately, to rely solely on the application of theoretical clichés (that have lost touch with the living source of meaning) to interpretation is to neglect the delicate nuances of meaning filtering down from the subtle levels of the mind, and to exclude the possibility of true intuitive insight. Real meaning is derived not from any one book of astrology or computer database, but from the living source of meaning within the astrologer—from faculties that transcend the intellect.

Sometimes the mistake is made of trying to practise esoteric astrology with a traditional approach to interpretation but using higher, esoteric meanings for the planets, signs and houses. Even where intuition enters into the reading it still centres around already established formulations. The vibrance and mercurial qualities of the intuitive mind demand an astrology of the same order—an astrology flexible enough to admit the subtle meanings and numinous energies of the higher mental subplanes into the interpretation.

In the new astrology, symbols are shared by the sign, planet and house of the same astrological category. The theoretical distinction between sign, planet and house is not denied—we should be aware of those distinctions when reading a chart—but the living expression of their interaction in symbol, language and event, does not always adhere to the classifications as rigidly as orthodoxy would have us believe. The higher mind operates at archetypal levels and thinks in terms of ‘categories of thought’—sharing living symbols which are common to all levels of expression of the same archetype and presenting them to one’s consciousness in visual images.

For instance, Jupiter represents the principle of ‘expansion’; it is benign, jovial and fortunate, and from these characteristics key words are derived. However, to the chagrin of the orthodox, Jupiter may breach the classification barriers and manifest in things normally associated with its natural sign and house: Aquarius and the Eleventh House. If the higher Self is prepared to use them as visual images, then we too, may use such symbols as ‘stairs,’ ‘waves,’ ‘friends’, ‘dearest hopes and wishes’, etc. to represent Jupiter in a permutation, thereby widening the possibilities in interpretation. As far as the higher Self is concerned, wherever Jupiter is in the horoscope, there also are Aquarius and the Eleventh House. It has a synthetic and wholistic perception of the chart in terms of categories of thought, which overshadows the distinctions and differentiations that are the domain of the analytical lower mind.

There are other mechanisms connecting images to glyphs, besides traditional rulership, such as morphology and symbolism. Morphologically, Jupiter may manifest in shapes which resemble its glyph—a swan, a yacht, or a jug, etc. The higher Self may portray Jupiter in any of the above ways to communicate its meaning in a lucigram*. The particular forms that Jupiter takes will not only be unique to the individual, but they will be related to the whole chart under consideration. It is through direct contact with the living source of meaning that those who practise the new astrology will derive existential and highly personalised symbols for glyphs and aspects.

*Lucigram—a ‘light message’. A visual image portraying a message or picture from the higher Self.

This is how real meaning is derived—through the active participation of the astrologer’s higher Self in the interpretation. There is no doubt that true statements can be made about the individual through the traditional method; however, in the new astrology, interpretation is opened up much more—a wider range of derivatives of an aspect is encouraged, and the higher Self is invited to take part in the process. A series of permutations in basic symbols provides a labile pool of possibilities upon which the intuitive mind can play, deriving deeper and deeper meanings as the aspect is traced to its source.

Critics may accuse the permutative method of being too loose and liberal in its derivations, but it is not just a matter of anything goes, as long as it parses, as it may appear initially. This is a misunderstanding of the whole technique. The delineation of an aspect is a process of investigation into meaning through a selection of clues from among a series of permutations. And the selective factor is the intuitive higher mind—the development of which is both a requirement and a result of practising the new astrology.

It cannot be emphasised too strongly that what we are learning in the new astrology is a new language of symbols with which we will eventually be able to communicate with the higher Self—that immortal part of ourselves whose only means of communication with us is through imagery; in the words of Aristotle, The Soul never thinks without an image. Additionally, by becoming proficient in the astrology we will be able to translate the high wisdom of the soul and offer sound, practical advice to individuals who are seeking guidance and insight that would otherwise be unavailable to them, unavailable certainly in as specific, relevant and spiritually meaningful a capacity as this, the new astrology.

When learning a new or foreign language one is taught, besides the rules of grammar, etc., several basic phrases with which one could not have a very meaningful conversation: Here is Monsieur Dupont; Which way is the station? Two kilos of apples, please, etc. One would not expect to hold an edifying discourse with a professor of French literature using such dialogue but by repeating basic phrases (ad nauseam, it sometimes seems) one is becoming en rapport and developing a familiarity with the language that will, at a later stage, make a purposeful communication much easier. The same principle applies to learning the new astrology. By persisting with and repeatedly going over the basic keywords and parsing permutations in basic symbols—exercises which in themselves do not seem to offer much meaning—tracts are being created from the lower mental body to the realm of the higher mind along which the personality and the Soul can achieve a rich and meaningful dialogue.

DICTIONARY OF ASTROLOGY

Interduction:

Amongs many books authored by Dr. Baker is the three volume comprehensive Dictionary of Astrology, Vol. 1 - 3. We highly recommend this volume to all sincere student and professional astrologer.

The Dictionary of Astrology is the definitive phrasebook of the inner dialogue, supplying the prospective ‘conversationalist’ with the opening lines to an enlightening encounter. The great advantage of