Planets and Initiations

humanity’s entire journey through the five human initiations (or levels of development) is outlined in certain pairings of planets.

Planetary influences on the Initiations ⇧

Astrologers will eventually be able to cast the horoscope of the soul, which is sensitive to different combinations of forces to those controlling the personality life. It’s important to recognise that developing individuals respond distinctively to the incoming influences because their response has a different orientation from those of self-oriented personality matters. The latter, who live below the diaphragm and… react to the incoming energies through the medium of the lower centres will have a very different type of chart to that of the disciple and initiate. It will require a different mode of interpretation. (EA 70)

The human energy centres or chakras respond to the individual’s state of being, and there is a stage where this shifts from a basic life to more refined and self-aware one.

CGEveryone undergoing conscious development is strongly influenced by Mercury and Saturn—one bringing illumination and the other offering opportunity. (EA 70) Each initiation is really both an ending and a beginning, brought about by steps in our expanding consciousness. They manifest as periods of dawning awareness or even a specific moment or revelation, and are triggered when established behaviours, ways and aspects of personality have outlived their usefulness and we are ready for the next expansion. The human initiations are reckoned to be five in number, and are closely related to our response to the various esoteric planes of being as outlined in Theosophical cosmology within which human life evolves (see diagram TCF 117).

The first two initiations involve preparation for a well-functioning material life and physical body, followed by the trials of the emotional life for which many seek the support of counsellors, therapists etc. These two engage the vast majority of developing individuals until at the third, when our very life-view, ideas and concepts can be challenged, and during which we become ready to leave the strictly personal behind and embark on a life that serves more than our own development.

The two initiations after this—the fourth and fifth—are matters we can only understand once this threshold has been passed. During the entire process the energy of the sun (veiling a sacred planet, hitherto unknown) is steadily and persistently reaching us via the “solar angel” or our inner self or soul (EA 70-71).

Initiations One to Five ⇧

At the various initiations, the influence of the planets affects the [us] in a totally different manner [than earlier on in our development]. In addition ot this, Cyclically the energies from the constellations pour through the planetary centres (EA 70).

Most of us fall into the very human struggles and realisations of the growth process under the first three initiations, which concern the three aspect of personal life: material, emotional and mental. These can cycle in and out as we grow, but there will be a “point of no return” once we’ve managed the issues at each level. The fact that these don’t necessarily follow in strict linear fashion is covered under the three crosses, which are involved at this stage as we cycle through the necessary experiences and earn on the way.

First Initiation: Vulcan and Pluto

ZJAt the first initiation, [we] contend with the crystallising and destroying forces of Vulcan and Pluto. The influence of Vulcan reaches to the very depths of [our] nature, whilst Pluto drags to the surface and destroys all that hinders in these lower regions.

Second Initiation: Neptune, Venus and Jupiter

DFIAt the second initiation, [we come] under the influence of three planets—Neptune, Venus and Jupiter. The three centres—solar plexus, heart and throat—are actively involved.

Third Initiation: Moon (veiling a hidden planet) and Mars

BEAt the third initiation, the Moon (veiling a hidden planet) and Mars bring about a fearful conflict, but at the end [we are] released from personality control.

Fourth Initiation: Mercury and Saturn

CGAt the fourth initiation, Mercury and Saturn again bring about great changes and unique revelation, but their effect is very different to the earlier more general experience.

Fifth Initiation: Jupiter and Uranus

FH At the fifth and final initiation, Uranus and Jupiter appear and produce a “beneficent organisation” of the totality of energies found in the initiate’s equipment. When this reorganisation is complete, the initiate can then “escape from off the wheel and then can truly live.”

Edited from (EA 70-71)

Esoteric Astrology: 70-71