Leo, Neptune and the Rays
The Leo/Aquarius axis mirrors a conflict between the urge for creative individual expression (Leo) versus contributing to the greater group process (Aquarius).
Leo is given by DK as representing the first initiation (EA degree in Masonry), where the Christ consciousness is awakened and anchored within the cave of the heart. Leo of course, rules the heart and the fiery spiritual courage that emanates from this “inner crucible”.
Neptune as soul ruler of Leo represents the Christ, in fact it is one of the names by which the Christ is known, referring to the first two initiations over which He presides. Leo though, is also a fiery mental sign. Its solar rulership is exoterically and esoterically along the Ray 2 line, via the Sun and Neptune.
However, this fifth sign corresponds to the fifth principle of manas or mind (Leo’s mane – mental aura), and Leo’s element of fire. Leo’s hierarchical rulership of Uranus is also along the mental ray line and related to the head centre.
Rays 1 and 5 come through Leo – these “odd rays” being distributed by the “even-rayed” Sun and Neptune.
Leo of course, is also a gateway for Sirian energy during the month of August. The Sun (Solar Logos) rulership of Leo reflects the fact that our star is the progeny of Sirius. Sirius is the higher correspondence of Leo’s manasic qualities, being the source of cosmic manas. Yet cosmic manas translates in this solar system as Love Wisdom – our Solar (Blue) Logos being the active expression of its Sirian source. The close connection between our Solar Logos, Leo and Sirius brings to mind the following:
“A solar Logos is both a Divine Manasaputra and likewise a Dragon of Wisdom, and His problem concerns itself with the development of the principle of cosmic Will which will make Him what has been called a “Lion of Cosmic Will.” (TCF306)
Hence we can see the dual nature of Leo at all levels – an expression and synthesis of love and mind. It reflects the inherent duality and “problem” of this Ray 2 Solar System. In the qualities of this dual nature lay the potent ingredients of Leonine creativity – love and mind, will and wisdom; sparkling mental brilliance alloyed to a loving heart.
The vibration of hierarchical ruler of Leo, Uranus, works (at its lowest octave) upon the unredeemed vehicles of humanity and disciples in such a way as to give an extreme urge for individualism and sometimes rebelliousness; similarly with Leo’s polar opposite Aquarius, and its Uranian rulership.
The individual (Leo) seeks to separate and know itself apart from the mass (Cancer) and then as a conscious soul seek its soul group (Aquarius). Neptune governs this triangle as soul ruler of Cancer and Leo, and veiled by the Moon as hierarchical ruler of Aquarius. As we enter the Age of Aquarius, the Leo polarity is highly visible in the expression of individualism – in fashion and media particularly.
The epitome of Leo’s Neptunian glamour can be seen in magazines that portray the beautiful, dreamy, sensuous archetypes; as well, the Neptune-ruled music and movie industries. The acting profession is, par excellence, Leonine. The actor is the dramatiser of human emotion and ideals.
“Leo—is connected with the astral permanent atom, for the reason that desire or the power to go forth and occultly touch that which is desired is the basis of all sense of awareness or responsiveness and the underlying cause of progress or evolutionary movement forward; it is the keynote of the man who has achieved that true “self-centred” attitude which makes him an individual. Later, as responsiveness grows and the world of small affairs is converted into the world of ever larger values and reality, the desires change into aspiration and finally into spiritual will, purpose and intent.” (EA302)
Movies inspire and move us. Music is a path leading directly to the heart, or via the emotions to the heart. London, the spiritual expression for Great Britain, is a Leo soul. Recently she brought forth from the heart of the Ray 2 national soul (during a Ray 2 subcycle of the mid-sixties) a massive expression of music and fashion which changed the world.
More recently, Princess Diana, with Uranus in Leo, and whose Cancer sun had progressed into Leo, somehow helped access the emotions and heart of the British people, in fact the whole world, after her tragic death. Sun trine Neptune natally also complimented her progressed Sun in Leo, veiling Neptune. Was there a sacrifice of sorts made by this soul?
Leo is a solar hero and sacrificing saviour in both its Neptunian expression and unfoldment of its heart, the love petals. The true regality of Leo is humble service to one’s “subjects”.
Diana expressed in her life great emotional extremes and all the associated glamours of Neptune.
On the one hand she was a shy and retiring Crab, yet on the other she wanted the limelight and to be a “Queen of Hearts”. On the day of her car crash, the transitting Neptune in Capricorn line (astrocartographic) was going directly through Paris, which is a Capricorn personality. France of course, is a Ray 5 personality; Moon was also in Leo.
The important factor substanding much of the above phenomena and the life of Lady Di, is the fact that a large segment of Humanity is poised to take the first initiation; they are moving from Cancer to Leo:
“A great part of the fifth root-race, three-fifths perhaps, stand close to the Probationary Path, and with the coming in of the new age and the advent of the Christ in due time and in His own place (note the care with which I express this; dogmatic assertions in terms of men’s concrete minds are inadvisable) many will find it possible to make the adequate extra effort, entailed in the taking of the first major Initiation. They will begin to pass from the fifth to the fourth plane. The Lord of Fire will achieve his peculiar work for this cycle by arousing the fire of kundalini in the large numbers of those who are ready. This will be begun in this century, and carried forward actively for the next one thousand years.” (TWM391)
The last 500 years in education and media (1425 AD – Ray 3 cycle) has seen the manasic facility develop to the point where thousands have emerged from the mass consciousness (Cancer/Ray 3) and are learning to think and discriminate as individuals. If measured in twelve 180 year increments of the 2,160 year Pisces cycle, counting from Pisces backwards, we find the end of the Leo period at approximatley 1440 AD, the period of the Renaissance, with a great efflorescence and creativity emanating from Europe.1
France, Great Britain, Germany, Russia, Roumania – all have Leo, the fifth sign prominent as the rulers of their capitals or the country as a whole. This is most relevant at the height of the Fifth Branchrace, of the Fifth Subrace of the Fifth Rootrace, which Europe epitomises. The Ray 5 that Leo/Aquarius have in common also points to the knowledge and scientific proof brought forward of the existence of the soul – a destiny for that Ray 5 soul, France.
Solar Plexus Chakra
The 5th chakra, the solar plexus centre (counting from above down) is the seat of desire and emotional expression. DK tells us that Neptune and Mars rule this centre (EA517) – Mars for average humanity and Neptune for Disciples. Neptune is related to that “higher light” of the solar plexus – higher aspirations and ideals – and which is possibly the transfer point where energies are raised to the heart.
For many, the way to the Heart is via the solar plexus centre, where the Dweller is engaged, through walking the fires of relationships. The Science of Right Human relationships constitutes a Boddhisattva Path of sorts, such are the sacrifices required.
Communication and right speech are the major keys that will unlock this realisation. The sign of communication and relationships, Gemini, is ruled by Venus esoterically, Ray 2 is the only ray coming through it, which is appropriate as it is also another gateway for Sirius.
Throat Chakra
The 5th chakra counting from below up, is the throat. It is the higher correspondence to the sacral centre, in that it transforms sexual desire (procreative) into (creative) mental activity. Venus-ruled Taurus and polar opposite Scorpio also mirror the throat and sacral chakra opposites.
Saturn and Venus, soul and hierarchical rulers of Capricorn, and rulers of the throat and ajna chakras, seems to hint at the success of this repolarisation consummated at the third degree Initiation. There is a close link between the creativity of the throat and ajna centres. DK describes “active creativity” for the ajna, so perhaps the throat is more “creative activity”. The mystery of the 5 and 6 also lay hid here – the synthesis of manas and buddhi.
Ajna Chakra
Venus and Ray 5 rule the ajna centre. Venus, the goddess of beauty, presides over the beauty of harmonious relationship and the creation of form as a vehicle for the expression of beauty:
a) “The ajna centre focusses the intention to create….It embodies the idea lying behind active creativity, the subsequent act of creation producing the ideal form for the idea.” (EA 148)
We could relate this to the Aries/Libra axis – where the idea in Aries finds its (thought) form in Venus-ruled Libra. However, this quote also seems to point to the highest potential of Leo. The 96 petals of the ajna centre can be seen as
8 x 12, or the 8th sign (Scorpio/Ray 4) of the twelve sign zodiac.
Counting backwards, we find that Leo is the 8th sign and relates to Mercury as the “Messenger at the Eighth Gate” (EA298). Mercury and the Sun are one, hence another mysterious relation to Leo.
b) “It (the ajna) corresponds to the physical sun (ruler of Leo) and is the expression of the personality, integrated and functioning, first of all in the disciple and then the initiate. This is the true persona, or mask.” (EA147)
c) “(the ajna)…is the organ of idealism…and is closely related to the 6th ray…” (EH149)
In relation to the above quotes, it would seem that the Sun’s physical symbol for the ajna veils the idealistic, visionary qualities of Neptune.
In this respect we may also ponder the relation of Venus and Neptune:
“The Venus Scheme…is…home of the planetary Logos of the sixth Ray.” (TCF595)
Leo/Neptune
Individualism (Leo) occurs after the evolving soul has dragged itself from the sea of mass consciousness, as symbolised by Cancer – also Neptune ruled. The lunar and solar signs of Cancer-Leo both have Neptune as soul ruler. Cancer is exoterically “emotional”, yet Leo rules the astral permanent atom. (EA302) From one angle, Cancer is more of the third aspect of intelligence, whilst Leo is “manasically discriminating”.
Individualism is a recapitulation of individualisation for the evolving soul, and constitutes a major hurdle to development if prolonged.
This is where Leo becomes truly the “king of the beasts” or ahamkaric principle2 which represents the highly crystallised individual personality; its “accumulations” constitute the Dweller on the Threshold, or shadow. The personality must be sacrificed, a quality of Neptune, the soul ruler. Here arise two mysteries:
a) “The Mystery of the Lion and the Unicorn: This secret is preserved for us in the ancient nursery rhyme about the “lion and the unicorn going up to town,” and contains in a peculiar way the secret of initiation and the “going up” of the human being to the portal of admittance into the Hierarchy as well as the “mystic raising” of which Masonry holds the key. This deals with the emergence of the consciousness of the initiate (white and one-pointed) and the defeat of the king of beasts (the personality) leading to the triumph of group and world consciousness, of selflessness and illumination over self-consciousness and selfishness. In the true rendition of this ancient myth the king of beasts (Leo) is blinded and killed by the piercing of his eye and heart by the long horn of the unicorn.(Capricorn)” (EA155)
b) The Mystery of Makara: The Unicorn is triumphant in Capricorn. Makara is Capricorn and Neptune is Makara (See point 3); the mystery of the solar and lunar Pitris, the soul and the dweller, lay hid here. Neptune’s highly refined vibrations act upon the unredeemed astral body and contribute to the illusion of self.
Alignment with Neptune can be achieved through sacrifice and service to one’s fellow humanity. This is represented as well by the polar opposite Aquarius and the Moon as hierarchical ruler “veiling” Neptune. (EA321) Neptune and the astral body are associated with desire, which eventually transmutes into love. Hence Neptune’s association with the solar plexus centre as well as the heart (Neptune 2nd aspect) – to where solar plexus energies are raised. This can be a problem for the charismatic, magnetic Leo aspirant and repetitive patterns acted out when others are drawn to them – physically and spiritually. The glamours of attractiveness and power are of a Ray 2 and Ray 1 nature respectively
Esoteric Physiology of the Heart Vulcan, Ray 1 & Leo.
Neptune represents the Life aspect, mysteriously anchored in the physical heart (Leo), and Mars is the blood or vehicle that carries that Life to all parts of the body. Neptune and Mars are the two co-rulers of Ray 6 – Devotion. Mars also rules the first decanate of Leo.
The heart is the pumping bellows that fans the sparks deep in Vulcan’s forge.
*If* the Life aspect is anchored in the heart at the sinoatrial node (sa node), it can be seen as Vulcan’s hammer that pounds out the life impulse. Its polarity is positive/masculine and embodies the Will aspect. Vulcan’s hammer beats upon the anvil or atrioventricular (av) node, which sends electrical impulses to all parts of the heart, making it pump. Its polarity is negative/feminine and embodies the Power aspect. (Uranus possibly rules over this distribution)
My following poem expresses these ideas:
Vulcan harnesses electric fire…
Flames in the furnace,
Fanned and focussed
To a hissing incandescence…
A galaxy of sparks,
By the soundless breath
Of Brahma’s bellows…
Atoms flee before the onslaught
Of thunder upon the anvil
And re-emerge anew,
Transformed and liberated…
Survivors of the stormy blast,
Progenitors of a new State.
The sparks from Vulcan’s forge (the Son aspect) are swept up in the deoxygenised blood coming through the right atrium of the heart, and taken to the lungs. There an alchemy takes place between the inner spark of the Son and the outer life oxygen, to return to the left atrium of the heart, and onto enriching all parts of the body.
Relationships
Venus rules over the lungs (Gemini) and unites the Twins through the magical alchemical process of oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange. The above processes mirror the magical loving interaction of all relationships. Is this where Venus’s mythological marriage to Vulcan takes place? Venus as Vulcan’s wife rule exoterically and esoterically over Taurus. She is ruler of Ray 5 and provides the manasic quality.
Venus is also the lover of Mars and Neptune, maintaining intimate relations with both. This may relate to the link between the desire/aspiration of the solar plexus chakra, the love of the heart, and the high idealism of the ajna chakra (see 4b). Venus as the daughter of castrated Uranus alludes to the desire nature in this case.
Mars (Vul-cain) is the raw blood – Mars does Vulcan’s will; Neptune is the Son aspect, and rules the blood circulation (EH143).
Neptune (Christ) is “the water and the Life” that it transports. Aquarius, Leo’s polar opposite, governs the blood stream and its circulation” – (moon veiling Neptune – EA142)
An average 72 heart beats/minute is the mantra which sounds out and builds/unfolds the causal lotus: 72 x 5 = 360, which sees the five pointed star formed, and the twelve petals of the causal lotus unfolded, after the perfected man has trod the full circle of life.
Vulcan and Neptune
The Vulcan symbol looks like a sea *anchor* – another Neptunian symbol. It is a rich symbol of how the Life is anchored in the heart, through which pours the blood (waters of Neptune), that carries the life aspect to every part of the body. One allegory is the anchoring of the Christ principle at the first Initiation in Leo.
Other metaphors could be the ship of the body anchored securely by the soul; the ship of the causal body moored securely to Spirit.
DK also says: “esoterically the Heart of the Sun” (ruled by Neptune in relation to Vulcan), “reveals that which is deeply hidden and brings it up to light” (EA393).
Perhaps this alludes to this Ray 2 solar system and the substance of Ray 2 that underlies all life? Jupiter hierarchically ruling Virgo is a clue here too.
“The 1st Ray (Vulcan) pierces, penetrates and produces the line along which Light comes; the 2nd Ray (Neptune indirectly) is the light carrier which supplements the work of the 1st Ray. Life (1) and consciousness (2) are indispensable from one another.” (EA359)
Perhaps one of the most interesting statements DK makes is in relation to Death, in light of this discussion of Neptune and Sacrifice, and the Leo/Aquarius axis influenced by Uranus and Ray 7:
“The Law of Sacrifice is the Law of Death in the subtle bodies, whilst what we call death is the analogous thing in the physical body. This law governs the gradual disintegration of concrete forms and their sacrifice to the evolving life, and is closely linked in its manifestation with the seventh Ray. This Ray is the one that largely controls, that manipulates, that geometrises and that holds sway over the form side, governing the elemental forces of nature. The physical plane is the most concrete exemplification of the form side; it holds the divine life imprisoned or enmeshed at its densest point, and it works at this time in line with the seventh law. In a mysterious way this law is the reverse side of the first, or the Law of Vibration. It is Vulcan and Neptune in opposition, which is as yet an almost incomprehensible thing for us. The densest form of expression on the physical plane is after all but a form of synthesis; just as the rarest form of expression on the highest plane is but unity or synthesis of a finer kind. One is the synthesis of matter, and the other the synthesis of life.” (TCF597)
Leo. Third Initiation. AAB.
Leo cannot really develop the true higher will (Uranus) until the desire aspect of Neptune is worked out, i.e. repolarised to aspiration, higher idealism and love (see 6b):
“In the perfected Leo, the loving self conscious soul…proceeds to make its ideal objective a fact in consciousness, through sensitivity to the higher vibration and directed intelligent service to the Plan.” (EA309)
Alice Bailey is a good example of a Leo rising with the ascendant degree in the Mars decanate and Mars actually conjunct the ascendant.
She transformed herself from a very wilful girl and later a bible thumping Christian zealot (Mars/Ray 6), into greater receptivity to the Divine Will (Neptune), in her collaboration with DK. Her Mars energy was still there, but the Neptunian telepathic sensitivity developed; DK made contact with her when transitting Neptune was exactly conjunct her ascendant in 1919.
Neptune sits on the MC of her horoscope, squaring the Leo ascendant.
She had monthly blood (Mars/Neptune) transfusions in the last years of her life. AAB’s iron Leonine will expressed itself with the many hardships she endured, as well as her executive capacity in forming the Arcane School and Lucis trust. The Aquarian polarity was expressed in helping birth the new Aquarian dispensation through the Ageless Wisdom and Occult teachings.
Leo/Aquarius also share in common the fact that Ray 5 pours through both signs and, apart from Ray 1 in Leo, the only ray to do so. This is a particularly significant fact as it relates to the seed of manasic development (Leo) coming to (relative) fruition at the Third Initiation, symbolised by, DK informs us, Aquarius.
AAB is rumoured to have taken the Third Initiation in that life. Capricorn also relates particularly to the Third Initiation (MM in Masonry) and alludes again to the mystery of the Lion and the Unicorn.
Leo reaches another peak of expression later at the Fifth Initiation. Just as the Masonic EA degree is governed by Leo, (EA64) and is the seed pattern of an EA on ………., so is it at the “intermediate” stage of a Master of Wisdom. For aspirants and disciples, Leo’s main influence and subsequent conflict is the ability to access the power of an awakening heart and developing intellect.
Egoic Lotus. Dweller. Groups
The transition stages between the opening of the petals of the egoic lotus would mirror this process: 4th petal – love/knowledge, 5th petal – love/love, 6th petal – love/will. Perhaps the 5th and 6th petals particularly, which may correspond to the 5th and 6th centres, as well as Leo’s dual expression of Love and Will:
“He must work upon the unfoldment of the fifth and sixth petals….. He must strive to bring about a stabilisation of both the astral body and the mind, and must aim at that emotional equilibrium which is produced by the conscious “balancing of forces.” (TCF863) (See also John Berges’ book “Sacred Vessel” on the number 56 in the Great Invocation and its relation to Isis/Sirius)
In Leo, selfish personal will is in conflict with the greater Will; personal creation mirrors and mimics the Creator. The greater Will has an avenue of expression through a soul group, therefore recognition of one’s spiritual group (Aquarius) will help the individual align to “Thy Will, not my will”. Groups provide the learning vehicle whereby individuals endowed with personal power and pride (Leo), learn to relinquish that power and cultivate humility. The nine heads of the Scorpio hydra come to mind here – Scorpio is the fifth “gate” counting backwards.
The lion leaves his pride and returns to his Pride (soul group). Quite often a Leo aspirant wants to form their own group, shining as the nucleus of a self-created solar system. This is where it can be difficult for a disciple to discriminate between what is already established and a useful structure to work within, and the whole problem of setting up another structure and duplicating work already done. Instead of repeating the duality of our system, there can be conscious unification through the Law of Recognition or what Morya calls intelligent “co-measurement”.
Often another structure is built as an expression of the endless ramifying of Spirit incarnating into matter. Hence the importance for aspirants and disciples as Hierarchical workers, in recognising the hurdle of personality (the “beast”), using resources optimally by observing the Law of Economy.
This “beast” or Dweller on the Threshold, is represented by the inverted, materialistic five-pointed star of Leo and Ray 5. Its right orientation may be through the imposition of the upward pointing pentagram (higher mind/soul), on the downward pointing pentagram, forming a ten-pointed star of perfection – where Spirit can be brought into Matter.
This again relates to Capricorn, the tenth sign, the dodecahedron, the Lion and Unicorn, and Makara – the mystery of the Lunar and Solar Pitris.
Footnotes
1 – Note the connection of Saturn as Ray 3 ruler, and its relation to the Third Synthesising Scheme (TCF373), acting as the Third aspect or physical Sun expression of the Solar Logos. The Star “Regulus” in Leo also bears a Saturnian quality and Leo/Saturn act as a channel for energies emanating from the Great Bear. (EA427)
2 – The ahamkara principle—the mind as it serves the selfish interests of man and enables man thereby to achieve a sense of proportion and a finer estimate of values. Forget not that selfishness is a stage of unfoldment, and that it is a necessary stage whereby humanity learns the price of self-interest.
