Introduction
The Mystery of Helena Roerich’s Date of Birth
Helena Roerich (Urusvati): Aquarian Messenger
Helena Roerich’s Letters About Alice A. Bailey
Helena Roerich’s Transits for Her Letters About AAB

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Introduction
The following letters from Helena Roerich about Alice Bailey may leave some wisdom students feeling incredulous. Helena Roerich was Master Morya’s messenger for the Agni Yoga series of books, and maintained an anti Alice Bailey (AAB) attitude, as did many Theosophists of that era.

As a student of theosophy she must have been privy to TS politics of the day and influenced by their attitudes to a certain degree. Or she may have arrived at her conclusions independently, after reading AAB’s books, or being “guided” by what she regarded as a “higher source”. There may have also been some sort of personal rivalry that she felt with Bailey.

Several statements in her unpublished letters discourage students from AAB’s work – but in many cases go well beyond, with plenty of shocking criticisms and dark declarations about Bailey. Those unpublished letters  came to light during a three-week discussion in an online Agni Yoga forum in August-September 2002. Translations in the following letters were made by three different translators – members of the Sangha Forum in 2002. Some of the English is imperfect and a little stilted, yet it is comprehensible. (Currently a Russian-speaking editor is cleaning up some of the original translations.)

How could an amanuensis for the Master become so ‘poisoned’ against Alice Bailey? The answer is not hard to find, as HR’s horoscope reveals a challenging degree of personality integration factors. As an astrologer who seeks to apply much of the Alice Bailey material from her book Esoteric Astrology, the author could be accused of using astrology to back a biased argument against Helena Roerich.

There is no such motive – astrology provides the deepest psychological tools that bring understanding for any individual.  The author has always had great reverence and recognition for the wisdom that HR brought through, and the Agni Yoga teachings in general. One can only use the intuition to recognise or resonate with the timbre and quality of that transmitted work.

During a long 1993 circum-navigation of India, the author made a pilgrimage to Naggar, India where Helena and Nicholas lived, preserved as a shrine to their memory – at the time when the Himachal Pradesh state government was taking over management of the property.

When taken for a private tour by the custodian of the Roerich house, I saw with my own eyes all of the Alice A. Bailey and HPB books on the shelf of her study, well thumbed, annotated and studied! Perhaps the books were studied carefully to discern the “darkness of Alice Bailey” – or as a serious student? The tone of all the following letters suggests the former!

Hence, the author wishes to make it very clear in this analysis, that only one part of HR’s expression is being examined; it acknowledges her positive points but does not focus upon them because the motive for this study is to understand what caused HR to make these damning criticisms that have created a rift between some followers of these two amanuenses – HR and AAB.

Before considering HR’s letters and going into an analysis of her horoscope, it will be of benefit to include the following recent article from a researcher of Helena Roerich’s birth date and time. It casts the date and time of birth in a new light, that has required the re-writing of this article 17 years later! Astrologers must be always meticulous when it comes to birth data, otherwise the horoscope reading can yield errors in interpretation.

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The Mystery of Helena Roerich’s Date of Birth (by Julia Yakub)
“On January 31 (new style – February 12), 1879 in one of the noble aristocratic families of the capital St. Petersburg, in the house on Sergievskaya Street, a girl was born. The newborn was named Elena.” (N. Kovaleva, Helena Roerich, Path to Initiation.)

So we read in many biographical accounts of Helena Roerich, including the one, written by Helena herself. However, a group of dedicated followers, affiliated with Roerich Family Museum-Institute in St. Petersburg, Russia, have a different tradition of celebrating this remarkable event.

The reason is in the fact that the founder and patron of the museum-institute, situated on Vasily Island in Academic M.P. Botkin’s old residence, where N.K. Roerich had visited many times, happened to be H. Roerich’s niece – late Liydmila Stepanovna Mitusova. The museum was named museum-institute, because it was not only meant to be an exhibition of the private family belongings, painting, photographs, manuscripts and other cultural treasures, but also a centre of research into Roerich heritage.

Lyudmila Mitusova wrote extensive memoirs. And she was the one, who offered alternative view on the dating of this important event, having been accustomed to celebrating it on a different date due to the most intimate family tradition – from the time she was a child. As Mitusova remembered, the family had always celebrated HR’s birthday on February 13.

“In the museum-institute, it is customary to remember Elena Ivanovna on the same day as it was done in the Mitusov family. “… It is a tradition in our family to celebrate Helena Roerich’s Birthday on February 13th. From an early age, my father celebrated this Day with his cousin [HR]. When Yuri Nikolayevich [Roerich] returned to his homeland, he also celebrated this Day on February 13,” – wrote Lyudmila Stepanovna in her memoirs, Bygone Days and the Fates of the Nearest Ones.”1

The two families were closely connected, and Liydmila grew up, being often visited by Helena and her sons, and an affectionate bond was created between them. Helena’s mother Ekaterina was a godmother to one of Liudmila’s sisters, and upon her passing, Helena took that duty upon herself. She was very involved with Mitusov children, affectionally known to them as aunty La-La. Mitusov family was often visited by Yuri Roerich later in the years as well, who also gave some explanations about the discrepancy of the dates.

“I can say that Yuri celebrated the birthday of his mother, Elena Ivanovna Roerich, our aunt La-La, on February 13 and always pointed out this day in conversations with me. For example, once in the late 1950s I mentioned in a conversation with Yurik that I didn’t want to “do this and go there” because it would be on the 13th – the “unlucky” day. Yurik said firmly and a little reproachfully: “What are you saying – there are no “unlucky” numbers. And Mama was born on the 13th!”” (from the memoirs of L. Mitusova.)

She continues: “In the letter from Yurik [below] sent to my sister and I in Leningrad [St. Petersburg] on February 17, 1958, he writes about the arrival of Nikolai Konstantinovich’s armchair, “which was safely installed” in his office on the 13th, Mom’s Birthday. And further: “You probably already received my letter and the letter from Raya.”

The letter from Raya, Iraida Mikhailovna Bogdanova, dated February 14, 1958, mentioned by Yurik, has been preserved. It also refers to the 13^th as the birthday of Elena Ivanovna: “Now, you will be pleased to hear that the armchair arrived yesterday, February 13^th. And Yuri Nikolaevich with Viktor Tikhonovich [Chernovolenko – L.M.] have got it out. The chair was delivered perfectly well in a perfect condition. You, my dears, have really brought great joy to Yuri Nikolaevich and to all of us. The chair came on the memorable Day of Elena Ivanovna [HR]”.

         ______          
The two letters – from Yuri Roerich on February 17, 1958 (left) and from Iraida Bogdanova (right).

At the same time, there are documents showing that Elena Ivanovna was born on February 12, more precisely, on January 31 according to the old style. She herself wrote about it, for example, in the manuscript “Dreams and Visions” (an authorized typescript in the archives of the International Center of the Roerichs in Moscow), the same date is indicated in the record of her baptism in the metric book of Sergievsky “all artillery” Cathedral (discovered recently in the Central Historical Archive of St. Petersburg by Irina Anikina), Z.G. Fosdik also refers to the same date in the essay “Helena Roerich ”.” (from Bygone Days and the Fates of the Nearest Ones.)2

Yet another mention of the date 13^th is found in the Manchurian Diaries of N. Roerich. His entry on February 12 states: “12^th February. Bejing. We just sent the telegram to Naggar for 13^th…”, indicating, that the telegram was sent in time for H. Roerich’s birthday. The entry in the diary was made on February 12. On the record, Helena Roerich herself was using both dates alternately on occasion in various travel documentation in Britain, US and Russia (some found in ship logs of arrivals).

So, how can we explain such discrepancy in regard of the date of birth of Helena Roerich? Some propose, that perhaps a mistake was made at the time, when Russia changed their timekeeping from Julian to Gregorian calendar in 1918. But such explanation does not fully satisfy. Roerichs were educated and well-travelled people with ties in Europe, and they must have been very familiar with both calendar systems well before the final change took place.

At the time of the change, there was a Nautical office information available for conversion, and the dates of birth of others, including N. Roerich, Svetoslav and Yuri, as well as H.P. Blavatsky’s date of birth, were converted correctly and without mistakes. An unusual and intriguing explanation can be found in the article by Roman Usov, quoting another story, told by L.Mitusova:

“Yuri Nikolaevich told us that his grandmother, Ekaterina Vasilyevna, being extremely superstitious, when she gave birth to Elena Ivanovna on February 13, decided to hide this fact and put down her daughter’s date of birth as of February 12.”3

“L.S. Mitusova told Pavel Fedorovich Belikov [official biographer of the Roerich family] about this fact after his book about N.K. Roerich was published. It was from him that this important and annoying mistake went to the masses. He regretted it, but there was nothing he could do. In St. Petersburg, it is customary to celebrate February 13^th as the date of birth of Helena Roerich.”4

However, the controversy still remains, and many astrologers in Russia and abroad accept February 12^th as the official date. We may never know the truth about it. But we do know, that Helena Roerich herself was interested in her own horoscope, and in the letter to Rikhard Ruzitis in Riga (August 19, 1937), congratulating him on the birth of his daughter Ilse, she also revealed something about her own time of birth:

“… How wonderful that your second girl was born on January 24, so she is already influenced by the  sign of Aquarius, the sign of the New Age. Let this future warrior of the Mother of the World from her earliest years carry the signs of the New Era. My sign is also Aquarius with the rising Aries. It is remarkable that this sign has its Rulers of Uranus and Saturn, the two most opposite Forces. Who do you think is the Lord of Uranus? The earth signs of your eldest girl can be assembled for a special mission, because the true individuality can be fiery, while a person’s horoscope shows earth signs, and vice versa … ” (Helena Roerich. Letters. V (1937) p.216-217)

This article contains information, based on memories of the people with close ties to Helena Roerich and their family stories. And it relays that, which cannot be verified. However, it is an interesting alternative view that can be useful to esoteric community and particularly of interest to astrologers, who might want to take into account the possibility of existence of this alternative date as the actual true date of birth of Helena Roerich.

Essay and Research by Julia Yakub,
December 2019. (contact: Russian/English – jya7.cube@gmail.com)

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Helena Roerich (Urusvati): Aquarian Messenger (Phillip Lindsay)
“Helena Roerich was a Russian theosophist, writer, and public figure. In the early 20th century, she created, in cooperation with the Teachers of the East, a philosophic teaching of Living Ethics (“Agni Yoga”). She was an organizer and participant of cultural activity in the U.S., conducted under the guidance of her husband, Nicholas Roerich.

Along with her husband, she took part in expeditions of hard-to-reach and little-investigated regions of Central Asia. She was an Honorary President-Founder of the Institute of Himalayan Studies “Urusvati” in India and co-author of the idea of the International Treaty for Protection of Artistic and Scientific Institutions and Historical Monuments (Roerich Pact). She translated two volumes of the Secret Doctrine of H. P. Blavatsky, and also selected Mahatma’s Letters (Cup of the East), from English to Russian.”5

Here is a mere glimpse from Wikipedia of some of Helena Roerich’s achievements. HR’s spiritual name was Urusvati, which means the Morning Star – or Venus. (Venus-Lucifer, in Latin, “light-bringer”). Venus is the ruler of the fifth ray of science/knowledge and the only ray to pass through Aquarius in this cycle.

The appearance of Venus at every day’s dawn carries much beauty and mystery about the evolution of our precious planet, regarded esoterically as the “lower self” of Venus. Venus is a “sacred planet” whilst Earth is a “non-sacred planet” – evolving toward the status of Venus and the other sacred planets in the solar system. Some words about Urusvati from the book Agni Yoga, transmitted by her Master Morya:

“Only to Urusvati can I entrust the Teaching, without fear that it will be distorted or diminished. Only centuries-long experience provides the needed degree of devotion together with the understanding of the essence.”6 And to give an idea of HR’s extraordinary sensitivity and development,

“Today Urusvati heard the music of the spheres, the rhythm that strengthens the realization of evolution. It is not the theme precisely, but the rhythm that is the essence of the music of the spheres. And it is the degree of purity of the sounds that determines the quality of the interplanetary conduit. These sounds are heard on many far-off worlds, but on Earth they can be heard only at high altitudes, and only by those who have a musical ear.”7

Helena Roerich transmitted the Agni Yoga teachings in a series of books in the earlier half of last century. (All of the books can be found online or bought.) Ideally, an astrological biography should be written for all messengers like HR – to illustrate the higher psychic sensitivity that led them to being chosen by the Master for the role of amanuensis, as well as their completely human, and hence imperfect personalities!

In Esoteric Astrology, the personality is represented by the sun sign and the soul expression by the rising sign. HR was an Aquarian personality, hence very receptive to fresh frequencies streaming in from this sign – on its imminent approach for unfolding the next 2,000 year cycle:

“The bulk, however, of the world initiates climax their experience in Aquarius and become liberated world servers. They turn their backs upon all further progress for themselves in this cycle and on all satisfaction of their own spiritual aspiration and become carriers of the water of life to humanity, joining thus the ranks of the Hierarchy.”8

Aquarius also rules the third degree initiation generically – whether HR reached that exalted stage in that life is possible, though unknown to the author. (Initiations can be taken in various signs.) Aquarians are noted for their originality, innovation and inventiveness, humanitarian and philanthropic attitudes, plus an interest in anything “alternative”. Aquarius is also about science and technology, the revolutionary and rebel.

These seemingly disparate themes can be explained by the rulers of Aquarius – Uranus and Jupiter. Uranus covers the domain of the scientific mind (exoteric and esoteric), whilst Jupiter’s jurisdiction is the humanitarian and healer. Yet both planets cross over into one another’s domain.

The motivation for the revolutionary stems from the Uranus-Aquarian force that seeks to reform the status quo of the previous sign Capricorn (the “urge to better conditions”) – plus the humanitarian influence of the Love-Wisdom planet/ray – Jupiter. Some further definitions of Uranus and Jupiter:

“Uranus—Occult consciousness or that intelligent, fusing condition which produces the scientific at-one-ment of the two factors, higher and lower self, through the intelligent use of the mind … Uranus gives innate spontaneous activity and this produces evolutionary development—both natural and spiritual. It is the urge to better conditions … Uranus—Ray Seven—The will to be and to know simultaneously on all planes of manifestation.

Jupiter gives an inherent tendency to fusion which nothing can arrest. The achievement of ultimate synthesis is inevitable, and this Jupiter promotes … Jupiter—Ray Two—The fusion of heart and mind, which is the subjective purpose of manifestation. This is brought about through the third and the seventh ray activity on the exoteric wheel.”9

Roerich had both rulers aspecting her sun – a Jupiter conjunction, and Uranus widely opposing from Virgo. Sun-Jupiter gives a generous expression of the heart, and in fact, both bodies rule the heart chakra. HR also had Venus exalted in Pisces (discussed in more detail in the next section), which complements this theme of compassion.

Helena Roerich has been assigned by some students a second ray personality – that would have found a more than adequate expression through her Sun-Jupiter conjunction in Aquarius. She was a lover and a teacher of the Wisdom. Likewise, as the disciple of Master Morya’s ashram, she was a first ray soul that expressed potently through first ray Aries rising.

Sun-Jupiter was square to Pluto, planet of power and transformation, and dispositor of HR’s Scorpio Moon. Sun square Pluto people have lessons to learn around the right use of power and control, particularly if on the first ray line, like HR. As the sun represents the personality, then its square to Pluto was to integrate it into the mental body portion of the three-fold personality:

“Pluto … governs however the death or cessation of old ideas and emotions, and its influence is therefore largely cerebral and in that you have the clue to its late discovery. Mankind is only on the verge of becoming mental. Its effects are felt first in the mental body.”10

Positively, this Sun square Pluto aspect would have given her a potency in helping to break down and help destroy aspects of crystallised personality represented by the sun sign – continuous self-transformation. Negatively, a dominating and ruthless personality. The Sun-Pluto square is also part of a “grand square” or cross, with the Moon in Scorpio and the Earth in Leo – more on this later.

The birth time of Helena Roerich is confirmed, yielding Aries rising – a promoter of pioneering teachings of the Ageless Wisdom. Aries is a sign of leadership and new ideas precipitating into human consciousness; it is an often impulsive sign ruled by Mars, ruler of the solar plexus chakra, seat of the astral body.

HR’s Mars was well placed – exalted in Capricorn, conjunct the midheaven (career) and, the most elevated planet in the horoscope, giving it great power. (There is a book by HR called The Leader. Another biography, Helena Roerich: Living Ethics and the Teaching for a New Epoch.)

Of course, every planetary energy has a higher and lower expression. In this case, higher Mars is striving toward the mountain top of initiation in Capricorn, as a somewhat formidable figure in her culture. Mars in Capricorn can create a struggle between the lower material inclinations and the higher spiritual aspirations. Negatively, Mars in this position can be prideful and condescending, seeking social status and prestige – a possible factor for Roerich, raised within the cultural conditioning of Russian aristocracy.

Mars is square to Saturn in Aries, an aspect that can create a tough, unyielding or unforgiving nature. Mars and Saturn are also in mutual reception – Mars tenants the sign of Capricorn ruled by Saturn, whilst Saturn is placed in Aries ruled by Mars. Mutual reception planets strengthen one another and take on some of each other’s attributes.

Mars is also the ruler of HR’s moon in Scorpio, hence this square aspect represented a large cross for her to bear in that lifetime. Saturn is the mind and its square to Mars is the challenge control of the astral body by the mind – much frustration can come from such an aspect. With Saturn square to Mars (especially in Capricorn on the midheaven), the individual can be very competitive, but it also brings courage and stamina:

“Once this aspect’s tendency to explode is mastered, it can be extremely transformational and purifying. The person is able to tame wild behaviour, because of its very authoritarian energy. Mars square Saturn has the power of a steam roller … once active will flatten all opposition to a pulp … once aroused Mars/Saturn can fly into the most terrific rages. It’s as if all the expressed hurts, angers and irritations get saved up … Sometimes they will deliberately target a weaker individual or group, guaranteed to never hit back.

It is very easy for Mars/Saturn to pick on a scapegoat to whom they can dump all their hangups onto … Saturn delays retaliation, so it is often the case that it will be a very tiny straw that finally breaks the camel’s back. Mars is also sex and passion, so Saturn here can suppress that too. The result is often very steamy, like the workings of a pressure cooker. Push Mars down with any force and of course it is going to be explosive the moment it releases itself. The natives will either super-sex-charged or celibate.”11

The esoteric ruler of HR’s Aries soul purpose is Mercury the Messenger – also placed in Aquarius; it is very intuitive in this sign and square to psychically sensitive Neptune, the co-ruler of the solar plexus. The square aspect between these two planets, lies at the heart of HR’s amanuensis skills – but also her imperfections – allowing fear or paranoia to cloud thinking, perhaps to even fall prey to mediumism.

Ironically, HR railed against mediumism but it seems that she projected this fear upon others such as Alice and Foster Bailey, C.W. Leadbeater etc. (As revealed in her letters about those individuals.) However, when HR’s Aries rising and Aquarian personality are considered together:

“Aries, the Inaugurator, is rendered effective on the Earth through the organising potency of Uranus. Aries is the source, the beginning and the initiator of the New Age and its coming civilisations, of the appearance of the kingdom of God on earth and also of the individual initiate into the Mysteries.

Aquarius is the present Determiner of the future. That which is now initiated in Aries will become manifested in Aquarius, and Libra will enforce the achievement of a point of balance or (esoterically speaking) of the “escape from opposing forces at the midway point between the source and the goal.””12

HR’s moon was in Scorpio, as her portrait suggests in the book Messenger of Beauty: The Life and Visionary Art of Nicholas Roerich. (Sun, moon and rising sign all contribute to physical appearance.) This is an important consideration, as the Scorpio moon closely opposes Scorpio ruler – Pluto in Taurus.

This Moon-Pluto opposition creates a grand cross with Sun-Jupiter in Aquarius/Earth in Leo – personality integration challenges around power or the lower will (Pluto) – first ray energy of which the first ray Chohan – Master Morya is an exponent. Hence, sun and moon are both aspected to Pluto, discovered during her lifetime in 1930, at the age of 51.

The combination of sun square Pluto with a Scorpio moon creates a double “signature” on these themes, that can verge on paranoia. The Master has to take into account all these personality foibles when considering using any messenger – yet He did say, “Only to Urusvati can I entrust the Teaching.”

Scorpio Moon can have  problems with power, spite, revenge, jealousy, possessiveness and hatred. All the “heads of the hydra” – the scorpion with a sting in its tail; some of the most negative emotions, amplified in “spiritually advanced” people wrestling with the Dweller on the Threshold.

The Moon is the unconscious part of an horoscope – the source of much inner and outer conflict. The moon is also the co-ruler of the fourth ray of Harmony through Conflict, the only ray to pass through Scorpio – and most likely a ray in HR’s ray structure – mind/personality perhaps.

Scorpio moon widely squares fourth ray ruler Mercury in Aquarius, with regard to thought processes getting tangled occasionally with a intensely emotional nature, hence compounding the challenge of Mercury’s existing square to Neptune.

Like other advanced teachers such as Krishnamurti, Helena Roerich had her human imperfections, yet the overall thrust and achievement of her life was triumphant – leaving a long lasting legacy for which students of the Wisdom will be eternally grateful.

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Helena Roerich’s Letters About Alice A. Bailey
To what degree these passages above describe a scapegoating attitude of HR to Alice Bailey – is unknown, but there may certainly be some of the authoritarian force present, fueled by the anger of self-righteousness. In the following letters, HR’s continual use of the phrase, “ardent ones” to describe AAB and her group, is completely mystifying.

The Russian word is YARY, meaning “Full of rage, rabies”. “The ardent enemy wants to lime you.” Pushkin. Expressing rage, permeated with rage.” Here is Mars square Saturn, Sun square Pluto, Scorpio moon – “to the max”! All of it of course a distorted and fanciful projection by HR upon AAB. Mars also rules the sixth ray, which may have been in HR’s ray structure, at a personality and/or astral level.

Jealousy may have been one of the motivations for speaking about AAB the way she did; combined with the square to Jupiter in Aquarius – blowing matters out of proportion, using exaggerated speech destructively.

AAB’s Mercury was her messenger signature, placed in Cancer in the twelfth house, sextile to Neptune in Taurus – it was her greatest talent as an amanuensis. Helena Roerich had Mercury in Aquarius square to Neptune in Taurus, the square a factor of not so harmonious energies flowing, hence the tendencies for inaccuracy and distortion. It has been noted by various students of the Agni Yoga books, where the personality of HR creeps in, especially when she discusses “traitors”, “dakness” or “betrayal” – the Scorpio tone is unmistakable!

HR and AAB came into incarnation within about eighteen months of each other. Each was sent forth from the 1st and 2nd ray ashrams respectively – they are sisters from the One Greater Ashram.13

The following 2-3 pages contain most of the damning letters by HR on AAB – in chronological sequence. Following that, is the next section which analyses some of the dated letters according to the transits and progressions in HR’s horoscope.

All dates are given in Russian system, i.e.: dd.mm.yy (day, month, year). Some words or phrases have been bolded or underlined by the author, with one or two of my comments in square brackets [ ] – inside of a quote by HR.

03.03.23: “Then H.I. recounted what M. said about book by Ms. Bailey [“Initiation Human and Solar”], which H.I. recently bought, because she [AAB] spoke about the Masters – that one Master was allegedly educated in the University in England, and the other one had the best knowledge about all planets.

H.I. was indignant at this [statement] and M. told them that “nobody is guaranteed to know about White Brotherhood, I verily tell you, it is rather Shafran [S.M. Shafran, a mother of Z.G. Fosdik, who had clairvoyant ability] will be able to see than Bailey”. (Z.G.Fosdik, My Teachers. Meetings with Roerichs, 3.3.23, p. 168.)

25.11.29: “Alice Bailey visited today N.K. [Nicholas Roerich]. She spoke about cooperation and that all great men should meet in our House.” (Z.G. Fosdik, My Teachers. Meetings with Roerichs, 25.11.29, p. 537.)

23.08.1934: (Letter 1 Transits) The following letter was published in Letters of Helena Roerich II – but without the included fragment:

“Many naive people presume that the dark forces only work through evil, debauch and crimes. How deluded they are. Only brute powers and powers of lesser degrees work like that. Much more dangerous are the ones that come under the mask of the Light of the Teaching. You already know such example. There is a very large Society in America, and its head receives the doctrine from a teacher who does not reveal his name, calling himself “the Tibetan Brother“. We know who hides under this pseudonym.

His power is great. And the purpose of this teacher, who impersonates a Teacher of the White Brotherhood, is to attract to himself as many as possible of the good and useful people who could otherwise render effective help to the Great Plan of the Masters, the plan of planetary salvation. And these unfortunate, possessing not the true recognition of the fires of the heart, fly like moths into the black fire which turns them to ashes. [a good example of HR’s Scorpio moon.]

Ignorance, lack of inner sense pushes them into the embraces of the darkness and deprives them for a long time, if not forever, of the beneficial influence and magnetic attraction of the Beams of the Great Stronghold of Light.

Armageddon is terrible, you see the forces of darkness struggling for their existence – their despair makes them so united and persistent in achieving their goal. Prince of the World has a lot of talented, conscious and unconscious allies, and it is naive to think, that they do not know how to act subtly. They are very refined and inventive and act upon their victims’ consciousness.

But they all lack the warmth of the heart. I have books of this Tibetan Teacher, they are dry to the extreme. [Author’s note: This comment is typical of astrally polarised “new-agers” – its a real surprise to see HR write that. Any deep student of DK will attest to several moving passages is His work.]

One book is called “White Magic”. I was told, that the best pages are borrowed from the teachings of the White Brotherhood. It is interesting to note that to increase their own prestige and to attract supporters of our books, the head of this Society recommends them to their members and introduced classes to study the books of Agni Yoga. Thus light is being bound with the darkness on earth.” (The Letters of Helena Roerich. 1932-1955. p. 54. Novosibirsk, “Viko” & “Algim”, 1993. Written 23.08.1934.) (To astrological transit analysis.)

The following is a selection of extracts from published letters – written by H.I. Roerich and Z.G. Fosdik, about Alice Bailey and her Arcane School.

17.02.1934: “In America, there is a Theosophical Arcane School, which is now very prosperous, and it has special classes devoted to the study of books of the Agni Yoga series. In general, in both Americas, the books of Agni Yoga are widely read, and groups have formed in many cities and states around the study of these books.

The second English edition of “Agni Yoga” is already nearly coming to an end, just as the English edition of the first volume of Leaves of Morya’s Garden has been depleted. There are many soul-seekers now, but they do not join the Theosophists, intolerance, prevailing there, repels everyone.” (Letters to America, v.1, 17.2.34.)

07.01.37: “Why do Russian Theosophists need to walk in blinkers and know nothing about the true history of theosophical movement and its emissaries? Why, mentioning in passing about Alice Bailey, they are silent about the much older and more significant center in California, led by the Great Teacher Hilarion? Why don’t they mention anywhere the wonderful Temple Teachings book published by this center?” (Letters to Baltic states, 07.01.37.)

“Now, just to throw more cogs into the wheels of certitude, I’d like to quote from another letter today, this time from Helena Roerich to Sina Fosdick and Katherine Campbell, dated October 8, 1938. Apparently, the subject of selling Agni: Yoga books to Alice Bailey for her students was an ongoing discussion, and here, not too distant from the one by Nicholas Roerich, is this one. Because the letter was written to disciples, the questions raised by the other letter — of a possible desire to simply be civil, or of a need to take a benign public position — are not applicable.” (Helena Roerich Letter to Sina Fosdick and Katherine Campbell.)

08.10.38: (Letter 2 Transits) “Now, regarding Alice Bailey. I think Zina should meet with her (written in Russian with a “why not?” tone). I know that the ardent ones had a strong dislike toward her [Zina], and criticized her, but at the same time feared her very much.

When I was in New York, I met her in person twice, and I cannot say I really liked her. But in our life, we have to encounter many and various people, otherwise how could we learn to recognize people’s true nature, to develop tolerance and the ability to cooperate whenever there is an opportunity to promote something that serves good? Close, common work is one thing, and cooperation to a certain degree is another.

This is why I do not see any reason not to sell the books of the Teaching to Alice Bailey. Why not ask her if she could get some advance orders for the planned publication of “AUM”? If yes, you could ask Frances for the last time to prepare the remainder of the pages, as soon as possible. The paragraphs she has lost could be taken from Gartner’s translation — I have already mailed it to you. Of course, Frances should be given a deadline. If she refuses, then we shall have to use Gartner’s translation for publication.

I have his last version with corrections, and one English lady here has looked it over. Next week I will mail it to you.  Of course, it would be good to have this publication made as inexpensively as possible. You have “AUM” in Russian as an example. The blue color with silver should be retained. But if silver turns out to be too expensive, then black should be used instead. You should inform AB about the betrayers, but maintain dignity when you talk with her. Otherwise the apostates will run to her, and considering their rage, they can cause a lot of harm.” (ibid. 08.10.1938.) (To astrological transit analysis.)

16.09.51: “Do not have any relationship with Bailey’s school, they are revealed as hidden enemies. Don’t sell them Community. Tell them it is not for sale. Illumination can be sold without any special discrimination.” (Letters to America, v.3, 16.09.51.)

07.12.1951: “I have not heard about Ussakovskaya [an AY student] from our co-workers … She can receive help on condition of her withdrawal from the Arcane School. She needs to be warned how much darkness is gathering around the light. And first of all, she needs to be warned against the spouse [Foster Bailey] of the founder [Alice Bailey].

He is definitely a deceiver and a dishonest man. The ardent ones use our books – hence the allusions to the One Source. But I proclaim – in the Name which is Sacred to me, that neither DK, mentioned by them, nor anyone of the Great Brotherhood had ever or has now any connection with the Arcane School. The founder was a definite medium. But no Teaching can be unveiled by mediums. The purest among them can produce little books but not the whole series of volumes of the Teaching!” (“Letters to America” III vol. p. 274-275. 7.12.1951.)

01.01.52: “Also don’t worry about Arcane School. Such tumours existed and exist in all centuries and in all Teachings. What is the origin of so many various schisms? They are unavoidable and often help to emphasize the true pearls more clearly. Nature is beautiful in variety of its appearance. Only in variety we cognize the corresponding values and meanings of each manifestation of life. Don’t be afraid of any patterns of life.” (Letters to America, v.3, 01.01.52.)

15.02.52: “Treat Renz calmly, but with great care. It’s hard to deal with an unbalanced person! Delaying answers, you give time for new circumstances to arrive. But to emphasize that cooperation between members of different groups is absolutely necessary and no one will be interested in maintaining relationship with fighting groups. Branstedter is, apparently, a more positive type. You can tell him that no one has right to forbid him to print several aphorisms, taken from the book of the Teachings. But of course, on the condition to provide references from which series of books they were taken. We should not have any “auspices” of Arcane School or any other.

One should not mislead people about the Source of the books of Teaching. Also tell him that neither my work, nor my well-being, nor the circumstances of my life allow me to spend energy on excessive correspondence. I am completely occupied with the work of completing my Fiery Experience and the work associated with it – say it as it is. But in your correspondence, mention less about the concept of the Cosmic. Tell these co-workers that I salute them on the path of the Teaching and wish them best success. Sincerity and constant indelible striving for the Highest Ideal, in their Chosen Appearance, of course, will bring them well-deserved and best Answer.” (Letters to America, v.3, 15.02.52.)

27.03.52: “Of course, my darlings, do not give any rights and copyright to people, associated with the Arcane School. Tell Branstedter and Rentz in no uncertain terms that we were never connected with the Arcane School or its founder and we can not cooperate with them. But there is no need to explain to them the reason for our forbearance, the less explanations the better. Every word from you – is like a red cloth for a furious bull! The Great Lord definitely does not allow us to cooperate with A. Bailey’s followers. How many of these attempts to stain and blot the pure foundations of the Teaching!!” (27-Mar-52, “Letters to America”, vol.3.)

10.05.52: “Concerning Branshtedter and Rentz – let them lie on a bed they made [to solve problems they have created]. Tell them in no uncertain terms that you cannot intervene with their feuds and cannot give them rights on publication of new books as long as the ardent ones are in a state of strife and the legal process continues. Also they have to firmly grasp our strict condition – not to confederate with any other Societies and Teachings.

The Teaching of Living Ethics or, as Rentz names it now, Teaching of Life cannot be associated with any other teaching or teacher. Branshtedter must understand that we had not and have nothing in common with the Arcane School representatives. They use our Teaching, but we strictly affirm that Teaching of Living Ethics was given by the certain Great Lord M., and it cannot proceed under the flag of Arcane School, nor even stand on the same level with it.

Ardently, do not give any rights for publications of new books. It is necessary to stop Rentz insanity and intrigues of Bailey with  Branshtedter. They want to take possession of the whole publication. We cannot allow the Teaching of Living Ethics to become a subject of conflicts and legal process. The Teaching cannot be possessed by persons who don’t understand difference between Great Lord M. and Mrs. Bailey’s Tibetan teacher.

It must be stopped or the ardent ones will come to madness. The fierce time of Teaching distribution in Europe hasn’t come yet, and big changes are awaiting Western Countries. The small quantity of books of the Teaching, which is already available there is quite enough for the serious seeking souls.” (Letters to America, v.3 10.05.52)

11.07.1952: (Letter 3 Transits) “My darlings, I answer to your letters from 27 and 28 June. “It should be answered strongly and categorically,” – it was Told. Write, my dear ones, to these seditioners, that you informed H[elena] I[vanovna] about apparently impossible situation among competing co-workers, which is absolutely inadmissible around the Teaching of Light, and convey to them the Decision of the Great Lord.

“Express My just Instruction to Rentz and Branshtedter. A cooperation between Arcane School and Agni-Yoga Society is absolutely impossible. And the appearance of dispute and conflict between the co-workers is absolutely inadmissible for Us. And Our entrusted mother of Agni-Yoga must not be overburdened with such intolerable phenomena. Make stop the translation of My Books.

The co-workers of the Stronghold of Light may not recount sacrifices made and complain about suffering damages and loss. Ardently move away from the work for My Teaching which do not require wide distribution. Sacred Teaching will remain sacred with fewer disciples and We obviously do not plan to display Our Teaching at the crossing paths, not only the dark ones, but also those doomed to failure…” “Write this way,” – was I Told.

My dear ones, write how upset you were, receiving such harsh Decision. But indeed, they broke all borders of tolerance and the ardent ones [AAB workers] have only themselves to blame. “Vehemently show firm Will to small wreckers. We gave the test but no one passed it, the ardent ones only pursued their gain. We do not need such followers.” “Such burdening of the heart of the Mother of the World is unacceptable.

I need the mother of Agni Yoga to be strong for the Cosmic building, for the planetary salvation. I need her cosmic strength to curb the infernal fire, I need it for the Cosmic Cooperation on the entire Fiery Path.” Certainly, translate  for them the “Direction and Decision” only. That, about the Mother of Agni-Yoga and Cosmic Cooperation, are not for them. I hope they will go away.

For your information. The Great Lord considers the compilation works of Alice Bailey very harmful. The ardent one [AAB] was definitely a member of the dark forces. It is not difficult, with some knowledge, to compile such books when you live in cities where hundreds of thousands of occult works lie on the shelves of vast libraries. Teacher of Alice Bailey does not belong to the Stronghold of Light. The Great Lord refuses him.”

Her pages of White Magic are intertwined with the most particular black magic. And such intermixing is vehemently harmful and gives rise to great confusion and perversion in unsteady minds. So, dear, you will have to withstand the onslaught of dark forces, do not be afraid! The Shield of Light is raised above you when you are fighting for the Protection of the Teaching.” (11-Jul-52, “Letters to America”, vol.4.) (To astrological transit analysis.)

11.07.1952: “Thus my dear, you will have to stand an onslaught of dark forces, don’t be afraid! A Shield of Light is raised above you when you fight for the Protection of the Teaching.” (Letters to America, v.4, 11.July 1952.) “The Teacher Djwhal Khul has nothing in common with Tibetan impostors of Madame A. Bailey” (E.I. Roerich Letters to E.P. Inghe, 04.03.55.)

10.10.1954: (Letter 4 Transits) “The Solar Hierarch dwells on the highest sphere of our world and ardently rarely sends his Image, and only to the closest students and co-workers. The Solar Hierarch does not display cooperation with anyone now, except for cooperation manifested in the holy and sacred Cosmic Law. But the Great Hierarch can send Messages and Instructions through the mediation via his above-ground employees and students.

Many beautiful little books were manifested by such subtle receivers, or mediators, but not mediums. And the messages were, of course, from the Stronghold of Light. The hallmark of such Messages is their simplicity, purity and succinctness. But many pages are also produced by supporters of Darkness, as, for example, in the books of Alice Bailey.

In life, Black Magic is inevitably intertwined with White, and it is not easy to draw a line. Only a knowledgeable and experienced student of the White Lodge can perceive forgery and distortion. Thus, many beautiful pages by the Lords of the Light are interspersed in the works of the supporters of Darkness.

Advice to you, my darling, do not read the books of Alice Bailey. At the end of her life, she revealed herself as the follower of Lucifer. At first, she did not hesitate to appear as a student of some Sikkim layman, a certain Laden La, who was in the service of the local government. We knew him. She called him her teacher and even tried to associate him with the great Likenesses of the White Brotherhood.

But definitely, with all my strength and responsibility, I affirm that not One Brother from the Stronghold of Light has ever collaborated with Mrs. Alice Bailey. In her Yoga classes, she used the Living Ethics books. Much of what she received has been taken from these books, using the anonymity of the Teaching. Our co-workers in America, including Zinaida Grigorievna, are well acquainted with the personality and activities of this dark person.

Her activities became very harmful when she began to present the predictions of her Tibetan teacher, promising an unprecedented heyday, but not war, and when instead of the promised heyday the war came, her authority was vehemently undermined. In addition, her health began to give way, and repeated blood transfusions, of course, did not contribute to spiritual ascent, and she left. The ardent possessed a well-developed intellect and considerable erudition, but without any signs of spirituality.” (10-Oct-54, a letters to E.P.Inge.) (To astrological transit analysis.)

“So, dear, before you begin to be interested in the existing extensive literature on occultism and magic, it is necessary to establish oneself on the main provisions of the Teaching. Instead of the works of Alice Bailey, it is better to get acquainted with the first little books and “Esoteric Christianity” by A. Besant and, of course, with the works of Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna. I do not know of another such brilliant mind and talented promoter of the Teachings of the East, as Vivekananda. He stated clearly and simply the great Truths.

Get established in the study of the Teachings of the East. I was told to write to you – to follow the Teachings of the East, but to avoid their western commentators. Fiercely manifest yourself in a better understanding of the Doctrine of Living Ethics and understand what the New World, the New Proclamation is revealed in and what needs to be developed first of all in yourself. You will passionately understand the difference between the Teaching of Living Ethics and the new teachings that have been revealed by various rustlers – and with a considerable financial success.” (Letter to H.P. Inge, 10.10.54.)

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Helena Roerich’s Transits for Her Letters About AAB
Dates in astrology, for those who are unfamiliar, show the various planets in transit or progression, triggering the natal pattern harmoniously or with difficulty, thereby challenging the soul to work out its karma. The dates of HR’s letters are revealing because the transits and progressions occurring in her chart at those times, were triggering some of its most unredeemed features.

The letters are in three groupings, and as far as the author is aware, these are all or most of the letters that involve references to Alice Bailey. Bear in mind that the letters’ later dates were just a few years before her death in 1955 – September 16, 1951 to July 11, 1952, and several up to 1954 are the main ones. Could it be that HR had become embittered in her latter years, in her early 70’s? That her resolution of Scorpio moon issues had still not been brought about, or in fact, the breaking of the adamantine Mars square Saturn aspect?

Nevertheless, four of these letters have been chosen in the following analyses, to demonstrate the astrological activation of HR’s horoscope on those dates, when the letters were written. The Scorpio moon activation comes up consistently in all four examples, demonstrating the author’s original explanation of HR’s shadow; and proving also that she actually wrote these letters, this is beyond doubt.

1. “Viko” & “Algim”. (23.08.1934) (See letter in previous text.)
A full moon period – a couple of days from full. It was 68 years to the day, at the Leo full moon August 23, 2002, that the unpublished letters of Helena Roerich were made public.

– Moon in Aquarius conjunct Mercury, activating the square to Neptune in Taurus.
– Moon square Moon in Scorpio – opposing AAB’s ascendant and Mars.
– Transiting Saturn conjunct Sun in Aquarius – activating square to Pluto.

There is more than enough evidence shown here that the liabilities in HR’s chart were triggered and expressed by her on that day, something that has poisoned for generations. Undiscriminating students of these letters have compounded the problem.

It is one thing to have the Agni Yoga teachings, relatively pure from their source, and yet another to mix it up with personal letters. One is universal and the other is personal – and therefore far more ‘tainted’. Where HR said in several instances that Morya told her so, perhaps sails very close to the wind in terms of using the Master’s name to back up undiscriminating personal remarks. It is something that was abused by certain leading members of the Theosophical Society and many other ‘spiritual’ groups since then. The temptation to do so, particularly if the individual has power issues, would be very tempting, and even something chosen unconsciously.

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2. Letter to Zina Fosdick and Katherine Campbell. (08.10.1938) (See letter in previous text.)
[Editor’s note: The commentary below says October 8, but the month is dated in roman numerals as XI (11) for November. Either month, transiting Pluto was squaring HR’s troublesome Scorpio Moon.]

– Transiting Uranus opposite Moon in Scorpio.
– Transiting Venus in Scorpio square Sun in Aquarius.
– Transiting Jupiter conjunct Jupiter/Sun – setting off square to Pluto.

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3. “Letters to America”. (11.07.1952) (See letter previous text.)
This was a letter that culminated a series that started on September 16, 1951. During that period there was a major transit of Pluto opposing HR’s Jupiter (and Sun). This date is used, as it is one of the most vitriolic letters and has several other major significators in the chart working themselves out.

– Transiting Mercury square the Moon in Scorpio.
– Transiting Jupiter in Taurus is closely opposing the Scorpio moon.
– Transiting Mars in Scorpio opposite Neptune in Taurus, T-squaring Mercury in Aquarius.
– Transiting Pluto in Leo opposite Jupiter in Aquarius, a transit that had been in orb since September 16, 1951.

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4. Letters to E.P. Inghe. (10.10.54) (See letter previous text.)
From the last transit discussed in 1952, Pluto by this time had been exactly opposing HR’s Sun, now still in orb but starting to move away from the exact oppostion. It would have been one of the most trying transits of her life.

– Solar arc Uranus in Scorpio exactly conjunct Scorpio moon.
– Transiting Mercury in Scorpio approaching HR’s Scorpio moon – 6 degrees applying.
– Transiting Mercury was also squaring the troublesome natal Mercury.
– Transiting Saturn in Scorpio approaching natal moon in Scorpio, and opposed to HR’s progressed Sun in Taurus.

It is the author’s re-stated contention that Helena was human, and it is human to err. Although this analysis may seem to focus on the negative aspects, the motivation for so doing was originally prompted by the disclosure of her unpublished letters. For this author and many other students, although this is a somewhat distressing distraction, the Agni Yoga teachings which HR brought through, stand. As with many disciples and even very advanced ones like Krishnamurti , their frailties and vanities show their humanity.  ((See The Initiations of Krishnamurti: An Astrological Biography. Phillip Lindsay.)

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1. http://roerich.spb.ru/news/ispolnyaetsya_140_let_so_dnya_rozhdeniya__eleny_ivanovny_rerih [↩]
2. The letters are kept in the archive of the Roerich Family Museum-Institute in St. Petersburg. [↩]
3. It is entirely possible that Helena’s mother was familiar with Gregorian calendar at that time, and would have been using it as many other aristocrats did, who spent a considerable amount of their time in Europe. [↩]
4. http://www.lomonosov.org/article/goroskop_eleni_ivanovni_rerih.htm [↩]
5. Wikipedia. [↩]
6. Agni Yoga [↩]
7. Agni Yoga [↩]
8. Esoteric Astrology, Alice A. Bailey. p.141. [↩]
9. Esoteric Astrology, Alice A. Bailey. pp.306, 139. [↩]
10. Esoteric Astrology, Alice A. Bailey. p.439. [↩]
11. https://darkstarastrology.com/ [↩]
12. Esoteric Astrology, Alice A. Bailey. p.548. [↩]
13. See Soul Cycles of  the Seven Rays I which includes an astro-biography of AAB: https://esotericastrologer.org/bookstore/. Also an a new updated essay about AAB’s rising sign Leo. [↩]