O Thou Who givest sustenance to the universe,
From Whom all things proceed,
To Whom all things return,
Unveil to us the face of the true Spiritual Sun
Hidden by a disc of golden Light
That we may know the Truth
And do our whole duty
As we journey to Thy sacred feet.

OM.

Thank you. Let’s now turn our attention towards a brief interpretation of the qualities and energies which flow through the constellation of Sagittarius and consider their impact on the consciousness of the individual disciple and, more importantly, upon the consciousness of humanity as a whole.

There are three signs which are more intimately connected with humanity than any of the others and these are: Leo, Sagittarius and Aquarius. In terms of the developing consciousness, Leo is related to self-awareness and the integration of the personality nature while its polar opposite (and complementary) Aquarius, points to the gradual unfoldment of group consciousness through the complete transformation of the lower mental nature.

Sagittarius stands midway between these two and provides the field of experience wherein the disciple contends with the emotional nature and its eventual transmutation into the vehicle for the expression of the second divine aspect—buddhi. It governs the final stages upon the Mutable Cross which is essentially mastery over the fluid, versatile lower mind.

As the Tibetan said, "There is no true direction apart from thought, and thought is power. All disciples should ponder on this, for they cannot really comprehend God’s plan unless they work with a phase in their own lives which is subject to their own mental direction. Then and only then, can they understand." Perhaps this is why one of the characteristics of Sagittarius is "direction", because it is in this sign that the duality of the entire lower nature and the soul must be reconciled into one-pointed spiritual aspiration. It is clarity of aim and objective that enables the disciple in Sagittarius to travel straight upon the path which leads between the depths of personality experience and the heights of soul experience.

The sense of duality is augmented by the influence of its opposing sign Gemini, whose symbol depicts soul and form standing apart. The interplay between the higher and the lower selves is finally resolved by the concentrated mental effort which culminates in Sagittarius. This is necessarily so as the Sagittarian experience follows immediately upon the period of severe testing and purification in Scorpio wherein "the mind is released into full governing activity." This release is initiated when the intellect begins to control and coordinate the emotional impulses. We come to understand why we feel the way do and our reactions to situations can be governed by choice—intelligently made. Reason, compassion, and empathy now condition the astral body and are "expressed" in the disciple’s wider environment and relationships. (To this process the many schools of psychology make their contribution.) Eventually the intellectual mind becomes potent enough to evoke response from the overshadowing soul and the whole trend of thought life becomes group conscious and inclusive.

In a mysterious way, light is an attractive force and holds within it the capacity to "take in" or make way for more light; its effects are stimulating and produce expansion. Thus, the now "enlightened" intellect becomes sensitive to still higher mental states and the first flashes of intuitive perception begin to stream forth into the rapidly awakening consciousness of the disciple. "The shaft of light which is the intuitive and focussed attitude conveys the power to see the vision and to direct one’s course towards it." We no longer walk in the dark, figuratively speaking, but see the goal that lies before us. And this idea of moving forward toward the fulfillment of a recognized aim or vision is highlighted in the keynote for Sagittarius "I see the goal. I reach that goal and then I see another."

Whether the goal is based on the fulfillment of personality desires and ambitions or arises out of a deeper understanding of the plans and purposes of God, will be determined by how we respond to the newer energies reaching us from spiritual levels. And to the degree to which the many complexities of the lower, separative mind are being subordinated to the "swiftness and infallibility" of the intuition. This is one of the lessons the disciple must avail himself to in Sagittarius: he must learn the right use of the higher mind if he is to progress further upon the lighted way. Through this method he grows, for the roots of intuitive knowledge are laid deep within the soul and the soul must be contacted before the intuition can work.

The Tibetan said, "One of the primary conditions that a disciple has to cultivate, in order to sense the plan and be used by the Master, is solitude. In solitude the rose of the soul flourishes, the divine self can speak, and the faculties and the graces of the higher self can take root and blossom in the personality…In solitude the sound is heard." This "sound", in the occult sense, reveals the indwelling soul, which is the first Master, the true "master in the heart," ever seeking to impress its guidance. To listen means that we have to find creative ways to simplify our very busy lives and cultivate those interludes of inner silence that will allow us to hear the Voice of the Silence: the soul.

Teaching on the intrinsic value of silence runs consistently throughout the various presentations of the Ageless Wisdom and has been an almost universal requirement in all efforts to approach the inner worlds. In Tibet there is a beautiful saying, "Signs from the Soul come silently. As silently as the sun enters a darkened world." The vow of silence has been demanded of the novitiate in almost every spiritual and religious practice—East and West—and it invariably preceded some kind of initiation rite. The old adage "silence is golden" speaks of silence as being imbued with light. In its depths power is generated, problems are solved, realizations are reached, sensitivity is developed.

As well as ask its blessing, we must, however, serve silence too. "Govern thy lips as they were palace doors, the King within", we read in the light of Asia. Much of the Buddha’s teaching is centered on right discourse—the balance between silence and speech. We are told that an important factor in the group preparation for initiation is the cultivation of silence. This does not mean the retention of speech and suppression of words. Rather, it is harmlessness in thought and the silence of a loving heart that are needed to produce true group unity and cohesion. Effective group work and cooperation with the Hierarchy depends on that "inner reflective quiet which in no way negates intense outer activity" but leaves each member free to attend to his own work and business. This attitude of mind releases the group from "wordy criticisms, feverish discussions, and constant preoccupation with the dharma, motives and methods of their fellow disciples" which only act as impediments to service. As the Chinese sage Lao Tze observed "Many words lead to exhaustion"—particularly if they convey ambiguous meanings and are motivated by criticism, or by an individual desire to shine.

How will it be possible to establish right relations between the larger racial, religious and national groups in the world if the workers in the spiritual field are unable to establish and hold among themselves right relations? This is a deceptively simple question and it is interesting to contemplate these matters from the perspective of the Hierarchy. The difficulties with which they must contend as They seek to impress the plan upon groups who offer themselves for service must be daunting, to say the least.

One wonders if the political correctness movement, which caused so much controversy a decade ago, was not, on some level, an experiment in the practice of right speech undertaken on a large scale. The American Heritage dictionary defines political correctness as "relating to, or supporting broad social, political and educational change; especially to redress historical injustices in matters such as race, class, gender and sexual orientation." It was a movement that originated on college and university campuses in the United States and quickly spread to Europe and other English-speaking countries abroad. While it was certainly taken too far in some instances, it may very well have yielded far-reaching and constructive effects within the public mind that are not yet evident.

Our lives are becoming increasingly global in scope; exposing us to divergent groups of people whose national and religious cultures are often quite different from our own. The idea of "thinking before we speak" in order to avoid using expressions that might have the effect of excluding or marginalizing others seems a wholesome one and conducive to fostering a spirit of friendship and cooperation among all members of the human race.

We are told that that which counts most with the Hierarchy is the "the establishing of such a potent group interplay and group relation that an emerging world unity can be seen in embryo." One such example of this newer type of world group can be seen in the new group of world servers. All spiritually inclined and humanitarian-minded people, all who seek and work for right human relations, all who practice goodwill and truly endeavor to love and serve their fellowmen are an integral part of this group. They educate and enlighten the public mind to the universal values to which we all can recognize. Their shared goal, no matter in what field of activity they are working, is to present the vision of a worldwide unity between the races, religions and nations to a rapidly awakening human family.

It is through humanity on the physical plane, that the nature of reality will be revealed; the true and the beautiful will be manifested and the divine plan will eventually work out. This is a compelling point to consider from the angle of Sagittarius because esoterically its ruler is our own planet—the earth. Through the particular tests and opportunities of this sign, the disciple develops that spiritual orientation and direction which will enable him to see "the goal" and to steadfastly and persistently reach it; bringing the whole experience of spiritual living on the path of discipleship "down to earth."

Let us now begin our work in meditation—keeping in mind the keynote of Sagittarius "I see the goal. I reach that goal and then I see another."

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