Planets: Mercury—ray 4 (sacred)

C Ray 4 (sacred planet)

Method: intelligent, fluid response to change

Mercury: general information

Mercury is the expression of the dual aspect of the mind as it mediates between the higher and the lower. This mediation again falls into two stages: the use of the concrete mind as the mediator within the personality, conditioning the personality life, analysing and distinguishing between the human self and the not-self and emphasising the “me and thou” consciousness as well as that of the personality and its environment. Secondly, it carries the messages between the soul and the brain and establishes right relation between the lower self and the higher self; it is, therefore, the illumined mind, relating soul and personality. (EA 353)

Mercury, Ray 4 and humanity

Mercury as the expression of fourth ray energy is:

…peculiarly related to the fourth [human] kingdom in nature… It is the esoteric ruler of Aries (hence it “leads into the mysteries”) and is also the exoteric ruler of Gemini… the sign of the major opposites as far as humanity is concerned, because it signifies soul and personality, consciousness and form; it is also the exoteric ruler of Virgo, …the form and that which indwells the form [the “Mother of the Christ-Child” in Bailey’s esoteric Christian language]. It is, finally, the hierarchical ruler of Scorpio, which is the sign of discipleship. […] Mercury… carries to humanity a certain type of force and this precipitates a point of crisis; it brings about the next great revolution which will lead mankind on to new experience, and to the revelation of the divinity which it is the destiny of man to reveal. (EA 548-49)

Rather than Mercury’s orthodox rulerships in Gemini and Virgo, developing individuals (“disciples and initiates”) are stimulated by Ray 4 via Mercury’s esoteric rulership in Aries, and Virgo (Moon as esoteric ruler), expanding consciousness through the resolution of conflict and the balancing of inequalities, during the lead-up to the second initiation. The overall Ray 4 effect through Mercury on humanity is one of:

Harmonising the cosmos and the individual through conflict, producing unity and beauty. The birth pangs of the second birth. (EA 67)

During the conscious development process, we are strongly influenced by Mercury and Saturn—one bringing illumination and the other offering opportunity. At a later stage (the fourth inititation) these two planets again bring about great changes and unique revelation, but their effect is very different to the earlier experience (EA 70-71). The combination hints at the way we are challenged by conflict and circumstances that spometimes force us to work through these issues and harmonise them (Ray 4). We thereby learn to build resilience and persistence (Saturn) as permanent traits.

In Esoteric Astrology Alice Bailey labels the relation of the individual inner self and the greater principle of love-wisdom The Cosmic and Individual Christ, where “Christ” stand for the overall principle of Love-Wisdom. There is also a relation to Aquarius via the Moon as hierarchical ruler, affecting humanity in general in the same manner via eventual harmony, gained through the resolution of social conflict and the mediating influence of Ray 4. We will hopefully witness the influence of Ray 4 as it comes slowly into manifestation around 2025 A.D. (EP1 26).

Mercury: Rulerships

• Orthodox: Gemini Virgo
• Esoteric: Aries
• Hierarchical: Scorpio

Mercury, the star of conflict, is also the major planet of relationships, for it governs and “engineers”… the interplay between our Earth with its conditioning constellations. In the case of Gemini, it relates our small planet to Virgo (Mutable Cross), to Aries (Cardinal Cross) and to Scorpio (Fixed Cross), and […] Through the medium of this inter-relation … the three cosmic Crosses become closely related and, in Gemini, certain of the fundamental zodiacal influences—synthesised and coordinated—are focussed upon our planet. This produces strain, action and reaction, and that condition of potent struggle and of difficulty which is so characteristic of our planetary life, but which produces eventually the awakening of humanity to full planetary consciousness, and, in the case of the planetary Logos, to full cosmic consciousness. (EA 357)

Orthodox: Gemini ⇧

In a peculiar way, therefore, Mercury increases in the Gemini subject the latent sense of duality in its various stages and also the sense of distinction, leading to that mental agility and that fluidity of mind which is one of the major assets as well as one of the major difficulties of this sign. This agility has, however, to be rightly understood and handled. When there is facility of mental approach in any direction and in connection with the many opposites in manifestation, you have the emergence of the divine Messenger in his true character, able to comprehend extremes and to relate them divinely to each other. (EA 354)

there is the will-to-be in form and the will-to-be free from form, but all these aspects of will are achieved through conflict and interplay of which energy both Gemini and Mercury are the eternal symbols. (EA 359)

The effectiveness of Mercury is also enhanced in its interpretive aspect because the Gemini person can always find points of contact with people on nearly every ray. (EA 364)

Orthodox: Virgo ⇧

To follow

Esoteric: Aries ⇧

Details to follow of Mercury as esoteric ruler of Aries: clarity of mind, the ability to cut through illusion, incisive perception and the combination of the dissimilar to form fresh insights.

Hierarchical: Scorpio ⇧

Details to follow of Mercury as hierarchical ruler of Scorpio: the resolution of conflict and the harmonising of seemingly impossible oppositions.

Mercury, as it relates Gemini to Scorpio and to our planet, has a mass or general effect, for it is the hierarchical ruler of Scorpio and its effect is of a planetary nature far more than is usually the case, and is, therefore, far more difficult to trace at our present point of planetary development and human consciousness. Its true significance will not be understood until the consciousness of individual man is also planetary in its scope and grasp, which is never the case until after the third initiation. (EA 359)

Mercury decanates

In conventional astrology, decanates simply follow the rulerships of each elemental triad, but the information in Esoteric Astrology is inconsistent. For more information, see notes about the decanates, and the “decans” tab under each sign.

Mercury Dignities

• Exaltation: Virgo
• Fall: Pisces
• Detriment: Sagittarius Pisces

Exaltation in Virgo ⇧

To follow

Fall in Pisces ⇧

To follow

Detriment in Sagittarius ⇧

To follow

Detriment in Pisces ⇧

To follow