One of our greatest challenges is letting go of what we think we know. When a person is determined to cling to their beliefs, they may only see things that confirm their preconceptions, even if they contradict reality. It's crucial to recognize that our current circumstances, both in this life and beyond, are shaped by the energy patterns in our subtle body, which are influenced by our thoughts and experiences. As we change our thoughts and desires, these energy patterns shift, attracting new corresponding events into our lives. This universal law operates across physical, astral, and spiritual realms, guiding our experiences in ways we may not fully comprehend.
—paraphrased From Course 20, The Next Life
Study the Brotherhood of Light Lessons.
Be informed by Nature's Laws.
Taurus: The 2nd Sign of the Zodiac
April 21 through May 21
I Have
“Render Unto Caesar the Things Which be Caesar’s and Unto
God the Things Which be God’s.”
The Golden Calf
Taurus, the first earth sign in the zodiac, holds a significant role as the natural ruler of possessions and material well-being. It symbolizes an attitude of practicality, patience, and perseverance, underlining the importance of attending to and experiencing the material world in our spiritual journey.
In the northern hemisphere, the Sun's journey through Taurus marks the first blooms and the promise of a new cycle, hinting at a tender immaturity. It marks the point in the Cycle of Necessity where the twin Souls separate, embarking on their descent into matter where conscious experience is the next important phase in their evolution.
In the Western spiritual tradition, the separation is viewed through the allegory of Adam and Eve. Their blissful existence in the Garden of Eden was disrupted when they partook in the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, awakening them to the demanding and harsh reality of survival and experience with the material world. This fall was not a punishment, but a crucial step towards attaining Self-Conscious Immortality and becoming a co-worker in realizing God’s Great Plan.
As the Soul adapts to this new dimension of reality, it encounters challenges and engages in experiences that nurture and sustain the physical body. Wealth and worth can enhance the Soul's evolution through refinement and capability. However, it is a double-edged sword; there is a risk of becoming enamored with and revering the symbols of wealth, as illustrated in the cautionary tale of Moses and the Golden Calf.
Moses tarried too long on the mount while seeking advice from God about the next steps for his people. In his absence they became nervous. Impatient and anxious, they induced Aaron to make a molten calf to worship so they could feel better...gold because the Sun rules that metal...a calf because the Age of Taurus had just commenced and could not be considered a full-grown bull...molten because this section of the constellation was backed against the fiery sign of Aries.
Though angry and disappointed in his people upon Moses’ return, he did not destroy their symbol of materialism and comfort. Instead, it was burnt with the spirit fire, ground to powder in the mortar of compassion, and strewn on the life-giving water from the nearby river of affection. It was neither ignored, despised, nor coveted. It was transformed into spiritual use, for after converting this symbol of material possessions into that which no longer could be worshiped, it was given to the children of Israel in their drink.
Material things become a burden when they are worshiped, but they hold immense potential when we convert them into spiritual value. The true richness of life comes from developing an appreciation for the good and fine, elevating our vibratory rate, and aligning us with the uplifting stream of Universal Brotherhood and Universal Welfare. This transformation is a powerful motivator for all spiritual seekers.
The spiritual text is:
“Physical Life and Its Opportunities Should Not be Slighted;
Neither Should Spiritual Aspirations Be Ignored...
Learn, therefore, to ‘Render Unto Caesar the Things Which be Caesar’s and
Unto God the Things Which be God’s’"
Click here for more of this meditation and a companion exercise.
Astrological Insights from Spiritual Astrology...George Clooney
The 2nd Decanate of Taurus (Taurus/Virgo) — Orion, the Knight's Struggle
“The Task of the Soul on Every Plane of Manifestation is to Struggle With and Overcome the Limitations of Its Environment.”
Keyword: STRUGGLE.
The celestial warrior Orion has been given many identities throughout recorded history. Sargon, Moses, Jason, and the legendary King Arthur fight oppression from without but also against materialistic tendencies and selfish ambitions. Our hero fights with environmental forces that endanger plans in every legend, and in every struggle, some loss is sustained.
The imagery of the celestial Bull, pictured full tilt, enraged, and pitching down upon the hero from the sky, teaches us how to confront our problems — head-on with courage and full confidence. Undaunted, Orion raises his club to deliver its most effective blow. Belonging to the earthiest of earth signs, the Bull appropriately symbolizes the crowding strength of the material environment with which we all must struggle and win if we are not to die. Every day, we confront problems that must be addressed. By so doing, over time, we gradually develop strength of character and gain spirituality. The spiritual lesson is that no situation in life must cause the soul to quail. Whatever physical disaster may come, whatever distasteful thing may be uncovered in the recesses of the unconscious mind, it is always better to face it squarely, recognize it for what it is, and then formulate plans to best meet the situation. This resilience of the soul, its ability to face and overcome, is a testament to our inner strength and potential.
George Clooney’s Sun is in the second house and the Orion decanate of Taurus. This suggests the development of his spiritual nature is associated with the acquisition of wealth and personal resources. Known to be a very private person, we know he initially struggled to find success in his career. In his early life, he STRUGGLED to meet his material needs. He sold women’s shoes, sold insurance door to door, stocked shelves, worked construction, cut tobacco, and was his aunt’s chauffeur when he arrived in Hollywood. Abundant wealth was not gifted to him. His journey, marked by determination, hard work, and humility, is a testament to his character and the strength of his spirit.
As a teenager, and a new kid in school, he STRUGGLED with his appearance when he developed Bell’s Palsy. On Larry King Live, he told the story, “It was the first year of high school, which was a bad time for having half your face paralyzed.” Later on a Fresh Air interview with Terry Gross, he said about his experience, “It's probably a great thing that it happened to me because it forced me to engage in a series of making fun of myself. And I think that's an important part of being famous... The practical jokes have to be aimed at you...You have to be able to make fun of yourself...”
Like our hero, Orion, Clooney does not rest on his laurels. He and his wife Amal use their material resources and global appeal to benefit those oppressed and unable to stand for themselves. Among his many causes are: One Campaign, Not On Our Watch, Haiti earthquake victims, United Way, LGBTQ rights, Port of Beirut explosion victims, Darfur refugees, Syrian refugees in Berlin, the homeless, and gun control. He was a UN Messenger of Peace for six years. He uses his stardom to champion those in need.
For greater insight into the decanates of spiritual astrology, click here for more about Taurus and the decanate of STRUGGLE in Course VII or here for “The First Eighteen Decanates Analyzed” in Course X-1.
To purchase, Click here for Course VII, Spiritual Astrology or here for Course X-1, Delineating the Horoscope.
Alchemizing Venus:For use at times when our will and healthy boundaries are characterized by too much pliancy; emotional and affectional crises; and, when we tend to be vague, negatively imaginative, and unduly sensitive.
Constructive Social Urges express as Affection, asserted through strength of character in companionship and social contacts, and in appreciation for the beautiful in life.
“O Thou Eternal Spirit, in Whom I live, move, breathe and have my Being! Aid me to attain calmness when emotion would threaten my poise. Aid me to be reasonable when I would feel hurt and unreasonable. Aid me to know that others will give love to me only as I radiate love to them. Inspire me to face reality courageously, confidently and calmly.”
In Elbert Benjamine's classic series, he explains the astrological significance of the sign Taurus and its relationship to Arcanum XIV, The Alchemist tarot card.
EXPRESSION:
“In the spiritual world, the perpetual movement of life. In the intellectual world, the combination of ideas which create the moral life. In the physical world, the combination of the forces of nature.”
ADMONITION:
“Remember, then, son of earth, to conserve thy forces, not to recoil at thy works, but in order to wear out obstacles, as water, falling drop by drop, wears away the hardest stone. If Arcanum XIV should appear in the prophetic signs of thy horoscope, a well formulated plan of action followed perseveringly will raise thee by degrees to the heights thou wouldst attain.”
light.org is an internet resource for those searching for true esoteric insight that can only come from combining the best of the past with the promise of the future. Here we try to avoid the dogma of material science, “new age” thought, or fundamentalist religious concepts, while adhering to the old axiom “don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.”
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The Brotherhood of Light Lessons and the Aquarian Age
A new spiritual dispensation is at hand, where the love and compassion of the Piscean Age are enhanced by the wisdom that comes from a deeper understanding of the Nature of Reality brought by the new Aquarian Age and thus Religion is wed to Science. Our Brotherhood of Light lessons are the bridge that caries us into this New Age by combining the best of the Ancient Teachings with the wonders of our new discoveries. Nothing stays the same we must all adapt to the flood of new information.
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Why Astrology and the Tarot are so important to understanding Traditional Knowledge
The word Kabala signifies traditional knowledge. It thus refers to the Oral Law, as handed down from antiquity; and embraces the occult traditions of all lands and all peoples. Often it is used merely as referring to the esoteric doctrines of the Jews; but in its broader sense it includes also the secret doctrine of other races. This secret doctrine, common to many lands, was jealously guarded from the profane, and was never permitted to pass into writing except in such ambiguous terms as to baffle the uninitiated as to its true purport. In this sense the sacred books of the world, including the Avesta, the Vedas and the Bible are largely kabalistical; for they set forth traditions that are capable of an inner, or esoteric, interpretation. In fact, there are usually several interpretations possible, each more inner version revealing a deeper truth to those who have advanced along the path far enough to comprehend it.
And this seems the proper place to point out that the unwritten kabala, like the written kabala, is set forth in symbolical language, with purposeful blinds and subterfuges to confuse the uninitiated; so that of the few who undoubtedly exist at the present day who have received it, most remain in as much ignorance of its true interpretation as the majority of students do after studying the more accessible written kabala. This unwritten kabala has been transmitted only through certain secret schools. Those receiving it well merit what is given to them. They are left to their own devices in the matter of interpretation. And because the real keys to its interpretationóastrology and the tarotóhave been largely ignored, or distorted, they have floundered sadly in arriving at its meaning. Whether written or unwritten, the kabala is a philosophy correlated to esoteric astrology as exemplified by the tarot; and it can only be comprehended fully by those who perceive the true relation between astrological energies and their pictured tarot exemplification.
Excerpts from The Sacred Tarot by C. C. Zain
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Astrology of World Affairs by Hermetician Dennis Sutton
ancient wisdom — modern science
Sharing knowledge of Hermetic astrology, the birth chart, astrodynes and global astrology
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What does the Holographic Theory of the Universe and Quantum Theory have to do with our Hermetic teachings?
In this article we will attempt to present aspects that pertain to the Hermetic Teachings of the Church of Light. We also encourage you to investigate these theories for yourself...
The Brotherhood of Light lessons encourage us to study the Book of Nature...
Nature manifests through Diversity.
Diversity is the key to survival..mastering its many facets is the means by which we thrive.
Fear of the unknown and that which is different from self manifests throughout nature.
Through Cooperation we express the Will of Deity,
gain the freedom that results from transformation,
and achieve a sense of personal fulfillment, harmony, balance ... spirituality.