As you well know, Virgo is one of the four arms of the Mutable Cross, and -- as you also know -- the four energies which constitute this Cross (for the three Crosses are crossed streams of energy) are expressive of the whole goal of man in four definite stages. This Mutable Cross is sometimes called "the Cross of Rebirth", emphasising the constant mutation of which it is the symbol and also the "Cross of Changing Lives". It pictorially represents the four critical points or movements in the span of existence of the soul in manifestation: I. Gemini. 1. Essential unrelated duality. The Twins. 2. Sensed and recognised duality through a. Mass fusion in Cancer. b. Individual consciousness in Leo. The stage of Humanity. II. Virgo. 1. The period of the hidden germ of spiritual life. 2. The period of the active germ of spiritual life. a. Gestation in the early stages. b. The stage of quickened life. The stage of Probation or Awakening. III. Sagittarius. 1. Sense of duality ended. Fusion attained. 2. The one-pointed direct life. The stage of Discipleship. IV. Pisces 1. Duality linked in synthesis. Compare symbols for Gemini and Pisces. 2. The emergence of the World Saviour. The stage of Initiation. Throughout this relation and as a result of the steady unfoldment of the soul principle runs the theme of service. In |
 Gemini, the relation between the great duality of soul and body emerges in which, at this stage, the body or form serves the soul. In Virgo, matter or substance exchange or interchange their service and each serves the other. In Sagittarius, we find emerging the service of the One Life in terms of the service of the Hierarchy, the planetary expression of the idea of service, whilst in Pisces, there appears -- as a result of the entire evolutionary process -- the dedicated, trained and tested world Server or Saviour. It has been said that Virgo "involves the service of the immediately present" or in other words that God immanent evokes reaction from the form side and is thereby served. The three Crosses -- cosmic, systemic and human -- are profoundly interesting in their inter-relation; this we shall discover when we come to study with care their significance, position and energising effect in the zodiac -- both upon our planet and upon each other. This we shall do in a late part of this section of the Treatise. Virgo belongs to the earthly triplicity and an understanding of this triplicity will also be found illuminating. The three earth signs are Taurus-Virgo-Capricorn and they are related to each other in a peculiar way in connection with the non-sacred planet, our Earth. The relation with which we are concerned is that of the meeting and fusion of the energies of these three signs upon the Earth and their effect upon the kingdoms in nature which our earth manifests. It might be said that: 1. Taurus -- Incentive behind evolution (Impulse). Desire for experience, for satisfaction. The Light of Knowledge 2. Virgo -- Incentive behind discipleship (Goal). Desire for expression, spiritual desire. The Hidden Light of God 3. Capricorn -- Incentive behind initiation (Service). Desire for |
liberation. Service desire.
The Light of Life
All these express desire as it merges into aspiration and in the process brings light and life to man. In Virgo, the purpose for which form life exists begins to be realised and the desire for personality satisfaction begins to change and the desire of man for interior recognition of the indwelling Christ begins to assume increasing control until the inner spiritual reality is eventually released from the thralldom of matter and becomes manifest in its own true nature in the world. Putting the same thought in other terms, the light of knowledge of which Taurus is the custodian gives place to the light of wisdom of which Virgo is the guardian, and yields finally to the light of initiation in Capricorn. All this, however, takes place and must take place upon what is esoterically called "the radiant surface of the earth", the plane of form; the assumption or glorification of the Virgin has not yet taken place and the raising up of substance is not yet realised. It is interesting to note that Scorpio establishes the inevitability of this final assumption of matter into heaven in Capricorn, and this is pre-visioned for us in the story of Hercules in Scorpio when he raises the Hydra high above his head into the air. Virgo symbolises depths, darkness, quiet and warmth; it is the valley of deep experience wherein secrets are discovered and eventually "brought to light"; it is the place of slow, gentle and yet powerful crises and periodic developments which take place in the dark and yet which lead to light. It is the "blinded stage" which is found in Masonic rituals and which ever precedes the gift of light. Virgo stands for the "womb of time" wherein God's plan (the mystery and the secret of the ages) is slowly matured and -- with pain and discomfort and through struggle and conflict -- brought into manifestation at the end of the appointed time. Today it would seem (curiously and convincingly) that we are entering into the eighth month of the gestation period; this is almost literally the case where humanity is concerned for -- counting from Virgo to Aquarius, the sign into which we are now entering -- we find that there are just eight signs: Virgo, Leo, Cancer, Gemini, Taurus, Aries, Pisces and Aquarius, and this is surely the guarantee that the birth of the new age, of the new consciousness and the new civilisation and culture is inevitable and sure. (E.A., pp 257-261) |
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