SECTIONS

Triangles: Taurus Scorpio Mars

Connected with the fourth ray, and to three other triangles:

Alice Bailey states that this triangle expresses the focussed energies of the seven solar systems of which ours is one. These energies (six in number) reach our solar system, via… Taurus, Scorpio and the planet Mars, stating dismissively to those who may be already groping for meaning that the peculiar nature, objective in evolution and basic purpose [of these constellations] is only revealed to initiates above the fifth initiation.

Fortunately, she goes on to hint that:

they are concerned with the problem of desire (which is to humanity a problem but not in its higher octaves) and with its transmutation into spiritual will and divine purpose. They are the originators of conflict … closely connected with the fourth Ray of Harmony through Conflict (EA 467)

She explains how two other numerically-related connections—the fourth hierarchy (the human) and the fourth round (or cycle) in our planet’s development—are connected with the overarching theme of our present experience of human life on Earth, with its:

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 357-8)

It is easy to scale down the purpose of this triangle to make it relevant to the individual horoscope. Mars expresses the energy of desire—the strength of our desire for anything can be measured by the degree of persistence we develop in order to achieve its fulfillment. The more refined the desire, the subtler must be the development of this persistence, until it ceases to be mere persistence and the energy of will is invoked.

desire is not (from the angle of reality) a subjective quality except in so far as it is a distortion or a glamourous use of the energy of will. Desire is the force of the form nature; will is the energy of the soul expressing itself as direction, progress, and conformity to the [inner purpose]. (EA 388)

Conflict—for instance between the desire and any obstacles in the way of its satisfaction—stimulates persistence, until we realise that the fulfillment of desire is not the object. Instead, the training of the will is of greater significance—desire is a way of fooling us into developing the capacity to express the as-yet embryonic quality of will.

Through desire, translated into terms of spiritual will, the form is esoterically “exalted”, and of this fact the exaltation of the Moon in Taurus is a symbol. …the bulls horns … the crescent Moon …also the symbol of the destructive nature of the form life of the Bull. …the destruction or death on the form and the ending of form influence thereby is the goal of the process which changes desire into aspiration. (EA 400)

The quality of will is essential for the expression of those energies of which the individual human soul—at the peak of its development—begins to become the vehicle, thereby invoking its own destruction when the necessity for the individual consciousness, of which the soul is the source, becomes redundant in the process of growth. (hence the relevance of this triangle to initiates above the fifth initiation which is when this process is said to occur).

This triangle adds two further signs and one planet to the six that make up the three fundamental triangles expressed by this one (see “Related”, below). Together, these eight are mainly concerned with the evolution of the soul—in this solar system, in the planet Earth and in humanity as the eight potencies of the Christ or the consciousness/love-wisdom aspect. That is, they are the most influential constellations in the unfoldment of consciousness (ray two, Sirius) as the medium by which life or spirit (ray one, Great Bear) illuminates form or matter (ray three, the Pleiades) or, in Bailey’s concisely ciphered words: the psychic unfoldment of the life in all forms (life meaning the will principle, as in life, consciousness, form), which enhances the key nature of this statement—it encapsulates the entire process and purpose of existence from the occult point of view.

These reach our solar system via this triangle:

Also, for information concerning the broad role of the remaining four signs—Leo, Virgo, Aquarius and Pisces (EA 468), see the triangle Leo-Virgo-Pisces.

Esoteric Astrology: 357-8, 388, 400, 467