Principles of Spiritual Guidance

After great energies have been sent forth from their emanating sources and carried through the universal medium of distribution to all parts of creation, lesser units such as the Human Kingdom are suffused with the resulting influences. The esoteric astrological approach addresses itself to the right reception and further distribution of such energies through a particular orientation to spiritual guidance. This unique form of spiritual guidance rests upon a number of propositions, all of which further define the nature of esoteric astrology.

According to the information dictated by the Tibetan to Alice Bailey, the true esoteric astrology makes a clear distinction between the astrology of the ephemeral personality and the astrology of the reincarnating soul.[33] It is the evolution of the soul, also called the solar angel in the Bailey writings, with which the true esoteric astrology is concerned.[34] To this end, the esoteric astrology penned by Bailey emphasizes consciousness, which is an attribute of the soul, instead of fixating upon the likes and dislikes of the always fluctuating personality.[35]

In this way, the esoteric approach to astrological interpretation attempts to get behind outer appearances and events to penetrate into the dimension of meaning and ultimately into the dimension of significance,[36] dimensions associated with the levels of the soul and the monad, respectively. Thus, esoteric astrology does not deal with the delineation of personality traits, as does mainstream astrology, the personality and event oriented approach of which the Tibetan nevertheless deemed entirely sufficient for mass Humanity.[37] Instead, esoteric astrology directs its gaze to other matters, such as the tests to be encountered during any particular incarnation while in preparation for initiation.

Hence, the management of impinging energies must take place in the context of the requirements for initiations and soul growth, not in the context of the demands of the outer form or personality. Here is a key difference in orientation which distinguishes the esoteric astrological approach from its exoteric brother.

Consequently, the type of guidance or counseling to be found in the true esoteric astrological approach addresses matters wholly different from those usually covered in popular astrological discussions. Instead, esoteric astrology concerns itself with the nature of impinging energies rather than with the relatively small affairs of individual interests and events.[38] Even more radically, esoteric astrology is founded upon the recognition that all persons eventually evolve toward Hierarchy and beyond by a series of initiations.[39]

The type of spiritual guidance thus offered by esoteric astrology deals with right management of energies and forces as a part of certain initiatory tests. Thus, esoteric astrological guidance has relevance only for those members of the Human Kingdom who have willed to tread the Path of Return,[40] which begins with integration into Hierarchy and continues toward the emanating sources from which all has come.

On the practical level, this means that esoteric astrology seeks to help individuals enhance their contributions to the greater good, particularly through the development of group consciousness, or awareness of the greater groups to which they belong.[41] The means by which this is done is a consideration of the right use of ray energies, which according to esoteric astrology, are the most fundamental influences upon the soul.[42] In fact, the right use of energies is a central ethical concern of esoteric astrology,[43] the purpose of which is in part the establishment of a method for effective living based on a recognition of the reality of impinging energies.[44]
In terms of the technical indications that an astrologer can extract from an individual’s chart, the matter can be stated as follows.

Determination of how astrological energies may be rightly used results from consideration of two classes of astrological influence. These two classes are first, the energies of the planets, and second, the energies of the signs. Specifically, those on the earlier stages of the path leading to Hierarchy are held responsible for learning to recognize and rightly use the ray energies distributed by the planets in our solar system, while those in the more advanced stages of integration into Hierarchy are charged with recognizing and wisely using ray energies coming from outside the solar system altogether.[45] This distinction between those on earlier and later stages of the spiritual path is characteristic of esoteric astrology, which is built upon the notion that response to astrological energies varies according to evolutionary (or initiatory) status.[46]

The degree and type of response to astrological influence is largely determined, according to the Tibetan, by the condition of the individual’s etheric centers,[47] commonly referred to as the chakras by those in the fields of metaphysics and holistic healing. These seven inlets for cosmic, systemic, and planetary energies and forces are the gateways by which Humanity enters into rapport with its greater environment.

Because of the relatively undeveloped nature of the average human etheric centers, many astrological influences are simply out of range of human perception, according to the Tibetan.[48] However, as might be expected, this circumstance is in process of change, for the general trend of human evolution is rendering Humanity more and more capable of enhanced receptivity to astrological energies.[49] It can be anticipated that this new circumstance will bring as much difficulty as advantage initially, as newly awakened Humanity is knocked somewhat off balance by energy impacts with which it is hardly accustomed.