A Treatise on Cosmic Fire

by Alice A Bailey

  These cycles will not coincide, for they are not all similar to the one hundred year spiral. Some idea as to the Mahachohan’s cycle of emanatory impulses may be [1038] gathered by considering the dates of the foremost scientific discoveries since Plato’s time; the cycles of the second ray may also be averaged by a summary of the appearances of the great Teachers down the ages.

  The force emanations from the Manu, or those of the first Ray, are easily traced when the races are considered, and this has been done in the recognition of the races and subraces. What is oft overlooked is that each of these rays of energy demonstrates constructively, through the form-building agencies, and destructively through the ability of the force to destroy prior to building. Thus the cycles can be viewed from two angles.

  It is at this point that students in one branch of our theosophical movement must recognise the fact that just as H. P. B. came forth on a cyclic tide of energy to destroy the limiting forms to be found in the world of science and religion, so his work must fit in with other force emanations, such as the constructive work of the second ray in conjunction with the energy of the seventh at this time.

  When students learn to blend the one hundred year cycles of the first type of energy with the equally powerful impulses from the second Ray and the third, we shall then have a cessation of many controversies. No great impulse will come from the Lodge along the line of the first Ray of Will or Power till the close of a century. One such impulse along another line of force came when the discovery of the nature of the atom was arrived at through the study of electricity, and of radioactive substances, and an impulse from the second aspect is imminent. It is not safe for students with limited vision to dogmatise anent this question of cycles. Apart from the cyclic impulses continuously going forth, overlapping and superseding, and intermingling with each other, there are many which we might call lesser impulses (and the cycle of one hundred years to which H. P. B. refers [1039] is but one of the lesser impulses. There is a one thousand year cycle of greater moment). There are vaster cycles, of 2500 years, of 7,000 years, of 9,000 years, of 15,000 years, and many others which only advanced initiates know of or can follow; these can break in upon any of the lesser impulses, and can be seen appearing, unexpectedly, as far as average man’s knowledge is concerned, and yet they are but the returning impulses set in cyclic motion perhaps thousands of years ago.

  H. P. B. is right in his affirmation as far as the impulse of the first ray is concerned; but his followers are not right, in so far as they overlook and negate the six other types of impulses, of equal or of more importance, which may emanate cyclically from the Lodge, and which will meet with response from those who vibrate to that particular type of energy.

  III. RESULTS OF ITS ACTIVITY.

  These results can be studied in four ways, considering each as a subsidiary Law of the basic Law of Attraction and Repulsion. All motion is the result literally of the impact, or intercourse, between atoms, and there is no atom anywhere which escapes this force. In the case of rotary motion, which governs the activity of the atom of substance, the impulse emanates from within the ring-pass-not, and is produced by the impact of the positive charge upon the negative charges. This is true of all atoms, cosmic, solar, individual, chemical, and so forth.

  When, however, the effect of the rotation of the atom is so strong that it begins to affect other atoms outside its individual ring-pass-not, another influence begins to make itself felt, which draws together, or dissipates, those contacting coalescing atoms. Thus forms are built under the impulse of aggregated forces of some one kind, and these forms in turn produce effects on other cohering atomic forms, until the rhythm is built up, and a vibration [1040] instigated which is a continuation of the rotary motion of the individual atoms, and the modification produced on them by their group activity. This causes progression and simultaneous rotation. The movement forward is modified considerably by the internal atomic activity, and this it is which causes that motion we call spiral cyclic. It demonstrates in all forms as a tendency to repeat, owing to the backward pull of the rotating atoms, and yet is offset by the strong progressive impulse of the form activity. Students can work this out in connection with:

  The planetary Logos, as He manifests through the rounds, each one of which, in its earlier stages, recapitulates all that has previously occurred.

  Man, in the ante-natal period, in which he runs through the various stages of development.

  Spiritual man, as he creates that which will destroy the “Dweller on the Threshold.”

  This spiral-cyclic activity, which is distinctive of all forms, can perhaps be comprehended more practically if we study it as an expression of four laws, taking each one briefly in turn:

  1. The Law of Expansion.

  This law of a gradual evolutionary expansion of the consciousness indwelling every form is the cause of the spheroidal form of every life in the entire solar system. It is a fact in nature that all that is in existence dwells within a sphere. (306) The chemical atom is spheroidal; man [1041] dwells within a sphere, as does the planetary Logos and the solar Logos, this sphere being the form matter takes when its own internal activity, and the activity of the form are working in unison. It requires the two types of force—rotary and spiral-cyclic—to produce this. Scientists are beginning to recognise this more or less, and to realise that it is the Law of Relativity, or the relation between all atoms, which produces that which is called Light, and which, in its aggregated phenomena, forms that composite sphere, a solar system. The motion of the constellations external to the solar sphere is responsible for its form in conjunction with its own rotary motion in space. As the wave lengths of the light from the constellations, and their relation to the sun are better understood, and as the effect of those wave lengths or light vibrations (which are either attractive to, or repulsive to, the sun) are understood, much will be revealed. Little has as yet been grasped as to the effect [1042] those constellations in the heavens (which are antagonistic to the solar system), have upon it, and whose wave lengths it will not transmit, whose rays of light do not pierce (if it might be expressed in so unscientific a manner) through the solar periphery.

  We are told in the Secret Doctrine that “the seven solar Rays dilate to seven suns and set fire to the whole cosmos.” (S. D., II, 72.) This it is which produces that final burning which ushers in the great pralaya, and brings to an end the logoic incarnation. It is produced under this Law of Expansion, and causes that eventual merging and blending of the seven sacred planetary schemes which marks the achievement of the goal, and their eventual perfection.

  In occult literature this term “Law of Expansion” is limited to the discussion of the seven Rays, and to the subject of the planetary initiations. When dealing with the expansions of consciousness of the human being, and his initiations, we group them under the second “Law of Monadic Return.”

  Students should here remember that we are dealing with the expansions of consciousness of a planetary Logos through the medium of:

  a. The chains.

  b. The rounds.

  c. The kingdoms of nature.

  d. The root races.

  It should be remembered that the consciousness He is in process of developing is that of the absolute will and purpose of the solar Logos, as it is the expression of the desire of the cosmic Logos.(308) Therefore, the expansions might be grouped as follows: [1043]

  1. The solar Logos expands His consciousness to include the desire of the cosmic Logos.

  2. The planetary Logos expands His consciousness to measure up to the will and purpose of the Solar Logos.

  3. The Lords of the Chains are working at the desire consciousness (the love nature) of the planetary Logos.

  4. The informing Lives of the globe in the chain are working at the intelligent consciousness of the planetary Logos.

  This can be worked out in connection with a globe in a chain (such as our earth-chain) in the following manner.

  The Lord of the world
, the planetary Logos, in physical incarnation, works at His own peculiar problem, the bringing through (into physical manifestation upon the planet) of the purpose or will of the solar Logos in any particular scheme. This He does through meditation.

  The totality of Dhyan Chohans of the fifth or spiritual kingdom are occupied with the working out into active manifestation of the will and purpose of the planetary Logos.

  The human family, or the fourth kingdom, is seeking to make manifest the desire, or love nature, of the planetary Logos.

  The three subhuman kingdoms have for objective the [1044] manifesting of the intelligent nature of the planetary Logos.

  All this done under the Law of Expansion, by the method of spiralling progression, cyclic growth, rotary repetition, and the summation of each greater spiral is the expansion of the consciousness into that of the sphere which enclosed the lesser ovoid, and the escape of the life imprisoned in the sphere. It is merged in its greater whole. As the fires of the sphere concerned blaze up, the “fire by friction” which produces rotary motion, and “solar fire,” which is the basis of the spiral-cyclic activity, blend and merge. The ring-pass-not of the confining spheroidal wall is negated, and a blaze results.

  The old Commentary expressed this as follows in connection with the planets, and it is equally, though relatively, true, of the atom of substance, or the solar atom:

  1. “The life pulsates, and the pole performs its function. The sphere revolves in many cycles. As it revolves it senses other spheres, and seeks to know their secret.

  2. They meet each other. They seek a greater intimacy or reject with hatred any more approach. Some pass away; others return and marry. They know each other. They spiral through their courses hand in hand. Through union the fires blaze up, the two become the one, and live again in their Son, who is the Third.”

  Through the study of these significant words students may learn somewhat concerning “polar affinity,” the “Marriage in the Heavens,” the transference of the germs of life from the male attractive planet to the negative and receptive one, and finally, at a later period, the absorption of the life of the two planets by a third planet, who is called occultly “the Son.” This refers to the synthesising planet which forms the apex of the solar triangle.

  In summing up the effect of the union of individual atomic rotary motion and the spiral cyclic activity of all [1045] atomic groups, it is necessary to point out, therefore, that the following units are affected.

  The essential individual atom. Its evolutionary progress towards self-determination is brought about by the effect of its group activity, or the motion of the form modifying its own inherent action.

  The atomic form, likewise an atomic unit, rotating on its own axis and influenced and driven towards the centre of force of a higher macrocosm by the activity of its embracing kingdom.

  The human atom, self-determined and individual, yet driven progressively forward by the influence of its group, or the potent activity of the Heavenly Man in Whose body it is the cell.

  The planetary atom, equally self-determined, a composite of all planetary groups, rotating on its own axis, yet conforming to the cyclic-spiralling action, induced by the activity of the greater sphere in which it finds its place.

  The solar Atom, also an individualised Life, the Son in incarnation, through the medium of the Sun, pursuing its own inherent cycle, yet spiralling in cyclic fashion through the heavens, and therefore, progressing through the effect of the extra-cosmic active Lives who either attract or repulse it.

  These are the main sets of atomic groups, but there are many intermediate forms upon which it is not possible as yet to touch. All in nature affects that which it contacts, and these effects work either as

  a. Attractive or repulsive impulses.

  b. Retarding or accelerating impulses.

  c. Destructive or constructive impulses.

  d. Devitalising or stimulating impulses.

  e. Energising or disintegrating impulses.

  Yet all can be expressed in terms of negative and positive [1046] force, manifesting as rotary or spiral activity. The lesser cycle can, from certain angles of vision, be regarded as appertaining to the rotary activity of certain atomic forms, and the greater cycles, which are so much more difficult for man to follow, as relating to the spiral action of the enclosing Life of the greater sphere. Every atom is part of a greater whole, even the solar atom is not a separated Life but a fragment of an immensity of Existence beyond the ken of man, and which is but dimly cognised by the most advanced Dhyan Chohan.

  2. The Law of Monadic Return.

  Here it is possible to study the Monad from the cyclic and energetic standpoint, and divorce our minds temporarily from that aspect of manifestation we call the human, or man.

  In considering the “Divine Pilgrim” we can study him as demonstrating in the form of:

  a. Three focal points of energy or force.

  b. Three fires, each producing a definite effect, and each in turn producing effects upon each other.

  In relation to a solar system, these three fires on the cosmic planes are called: (309) [1047]

  1. The central spiritual sun (essential).

  2. The sun (subjective), called ‘the heart of the sun.’

  3. The physical sun (objective).

  and the same thought can be carried through the monadic manifestation. The three monadic centres are distinguished by different types of energy:

  1. Monadic—dynamic energy electric impulse pure fire.

  2. Egoic—magnetic energy radiatory impulse solar fire.

  3. Personal—individual energy rotary impulse fire by friction.

  The first produces light, the second heat, and the third moisture or concretion.

  By the interplay of the three types of force which constitute the three monadic aspects, a rhythm is set up which eventuates in the formation of:

  A ring-pass-not, or ovoidal sphere, wherein the pilgrim is confined, and which contains within itself three major centres of force, corresponding to

  a. The three major logoic centres when the subjective or force side of existence is contemplated.

  b. The three permanent atoms if the purely objective side is in question.

  A cyclic pulsation, which is the cause of every evolutionary impulse.

  [1048] These evolutionary impulses may be regarded as three in number for a solar system, or for a Monad:

  There is the impulse which drives every atom to self-determination, and is the secret of the phenomenon called individualisation. It is largely the force called Brahma.

  There is the impulse which forces the individual atom towards group determination, and is the secret of the phenomenon termed “Initiation,” or the process of passing out of the human or self-determined individualised Life into the higher kingdom. It is the sum total of the force of Vishnu, the second aspect, and produces the higher states of consciousness.

  There is finally the impulse which forces the planetary groups, the sum total of all atoms and forms, to a conscious realisation of the nature of the all-enclosing group, the solar atom.

  The Monad, acted upon by the Heavenly Man, intelligently forms his ring-pass-not. There his work ceases from the purely monadic standpoint; the inherent life of the atomic matter thus constituted produces the later phenomena. The rotary life of the atoms, and their interplay, modified by the Life of the planetary group, or Heavenly Man, pursued through long aeons, causes the phenomena of the various involutionary stages up to the point where certain of the atoms have evolved to the consciousness of animal-man. All through this inconceivable period (that is, in connection with our earth sphere) the milliards of atomic lives have pursued their courses, energised by the Life of the Monad, as it pulsates through the medium of the monadic heart on the spiritual plane; and equally they have responded to the larger rhythm of the Heavenly Man. This it is which has produced graded concretion, and brought animal-man to the stage where the upward pull of the Monad itself began
to be felt. At the same time, the Monad on its [1049] own plane began to respond to the self-engendered energy of the lower form, the two rhythms contacted, individualisation occurred and the pilgrim manifested in his true nature.

  Then—as far as concerns the Monad—progressive life forward begins. It is truly cyclic, repetitive and spiralling. At first the action, or the interplay between the rotary lower atomic form, and the influence of the Monad, is lethargic, slow and heavy, and the form retards the action of the Monad, and its heavy vibration tends to offset the higher. Gradually, as the sweeping spirals play their part, the higher vibration makes itself felt, and the activity, or motion, is more balanced, but lighter. Thus the cycles run until the higher rhythm or vibration is so dominant that the influence of the form is negated, and leads to its eventual discarding. Simultaneously with this, the highest rhythm of all makes itself felt, leading to increased activity upon the highest planes, and producing in time a negation of the sheath life of the Ego. As the old Commentary again says:

  “The drops of moisture grow heavier. They break as rain upon the lowest plane. They sink into the clay and cause it to blossom. Thus do the waters cover the earth and all the cycles.

  Two are the objectives of the fathering drops, and each attained in vastly separated cycles; one is to sink and lose itself in the dark soil of earth; the other to rise and merge itself in the clear air of heaven.

  Between the two vast periods the heat doth play its part.

  But when the heat grows fierce, and the fires within the earth and beneath the waters burn hot and flow, the nature of the many drops is seen to undergo a change. They dissipate in steam. Thus doth the heat perform its part.

  Later again the fire electric flashes forth, and turns the steam to that which will permit its passage through the air.”

  We will now sum up briefly the various vibratory impulses which have a definite effect upon the Monad, and which must be borne in mind as we consider the evolution [1050] of the Divine Pilgrim. It is not the purpose of this Treatise to enlarge upon each distinctive impulse. It but seeks to indicate, leaving to later individual students the expansion of the imparted ideas.