Pisces 13º: An ancient sword, used in many battles, is displayed in a museum.

10:41, 03.10.2015, Pisces 19º (late posting)

p. 276     AN ASTROLOGICAL MANDALA, by Dane Rudhyar

PHASE 343 (PISCES 13º): AN ANCIENT SWORD, USED IN MANY BATTLES, IS DISPLAYED IN A MUSEUM.

KEYNOTE: Through the effectual use of his will a consecrated man can become a symbol of courage for all those who follow in his footsteps.

Will power is the ultimate spiritual weapon, and its undeviating use is the certification of individual worth. Wherever found, this symbol emphasizes the imperative need to make use of the will in meeting the basic challenges of the inner life as well as outer adversaries.

With this third symbol of the sixty-ninth sequence we see singled out and strongly emphasized the one power in man which is an assurance of victory in the contests generated by social (or occult) processes in which he has become an active part. The individual must use that WILL POWER, yet it is not really his own once he operates at a spiritual level. It is God's will operating through his mind which focuses its thrusts. It is, occultly speaking, the power of the Brotherhood–the energy of the Whole operating through the one-pointed individual who has made this Whole aware of the need for its use in a particular situation.

Pisces 12º: In the sanctuary of an occult brotherhood, newly initiated members are being examined and their character tested.

10:28, 03.10.2015, Pisces 19º (late posting)

p. 275     AN ASTROLOGICAL MANDALA, by Dane Rudhyar (1973)

PHASE 342 (PISCES 12º): IN THE SANCTUARY OF AN OCCULT BROTHERHOOD, NEWLY INITIATED MEMBERS ARE BEING EXAMINED AND THEIR CHARACTER TESTED.

KEYNOTE: The ever-repeated challenge presented to the individual by the group in which he has claimed acceptance–the challenge to prove himself and his ability to assume responsibility effectively.

At any level of activity, sooner or later life itself demands of the individual that he or she stand up clearly and unequivocally to the ideal he himself has declared publicly his own. At the occult level the testing seems to be controlled and irrevocable. The "initiate" has become a constituent part of an integrated field of mental-spiritual activity. He is therefore controlled by the structural order of the group. He is no longer seeking; having found his place, he must prove himself able to fulfill the function associated with it. He is no longer "free" as an individual, for he has become a part of an integral Whole operating under structural principles of immense antiquity.

This second symbolic stage of unfoldment stands in contrast to the first in that the individual is now bound by collective laws and traditions. At a mundane political or business level he is the junior executive incorporated in a hierarchical institution. He has at all times to prove his worth. QUALIFICATION is an apt Keyword.

Pisces 11º: Men traveling a narrow path, seeking illumination.

10:19, 03.10.2015, Pisces 19º (late posting)

pp. 274-275     AN ASTROLOGICAL MANDALA, by Dane Rudhyar (1973)

THIRD LEVEL: INDIVIDUAL-MENTAL

PHASE 341 (PISCES 11º): MEN TRAVELING A NARROW PATH, SEEKING ILLUMINATION.

KEYNOTE: The capacity inherent in every individual to seek at whatever cost entrance to a transcendent realm of reality.

This refers to the ancient and eternal symbol of the Path of Discipleship. The greatness of man is that he can always be greater; and the belief–deeply rooted in men's inner nature–that if he fulfills the necessary conditions he can find "Elder Brothers" who have already attained a higher level of consciousness and will transfer their attainment and light to him. The Path is always open to the pure in heart, the mentally aware, the conqueror of emotions and the spiritually self-moblized.

This symbol opens the sixty-ninth five-fold sequence and a new level of consciousness. Man is always in the making and remaking. He can always go further, reach beyond. But he has to take the first step. Someone can show him the Path, but he alone can do the walking. Thus the Zen injunction: WALK ON.

Pisces 10º: An aviator pursues his journey, flying through ground-obscuring clouds.

10:10, 03.10.2015, Pisces 19º (late posting)

p. 274     AN ASTROLOGICAL MANDALA, by Dane Rudhyar (1973)

PHASE 340 (PISCES 10º): AN AVIATOR PURSUES HIS JOURNEY, FLYING THROUGH GROUND-OBSCURING CLOUDS.

KEYNOTE: Man's ability to develop powers and skills which by transcending natural limitations allow him to operate in mental-spiritual realms.

This symbol in a sense synthesizes the implications of the four preceding ones: the dedication to the community of men (present and future), self-assertion and the ambition to reach a social goal. Man is seen mastering difficulties implied in a type of operation transcending his organic limitations and the narrow boundaries of a localized "living space." He does so as an individual in command of powerful energies, but also as heir to the industry of countless innovators and managers.

This is the last symbol of the sixty-eighth five-fold sequence of evolving stages of consciousness and human activity. It evokes the achievement of MASTERY.

Pisces 09º: A jockey spurs his horse, intent on outdistancing his rivals.

12:57, 02.27.2015, Pisces 09º (late posting)

pp. 273-274     AN ASTROLOGICAL MANDALA, by Dane Rudhyar (1973)

PHASE 339 (PISCES 09º): A JOCKEY SPURS HIS HORSE, INTENT ON OUTDISTANCING HIS RIVALS.

KEYNOTE: Intense mobilization of energy and skill in the drive for success in any social performance affected by the competitive spirit.

Since the end of the archaic ages and the stressing of individualism, especially in our American society which worships the material images of "success," the desire to win any kind of "race" engenders an often-feverish release of energy controlled by technical skill and long practice. Wherever this symbol is found, it indicates the need to spur one's total being toward speedy attainment of whatever goal it may be.

This is the fourth symbol in the sixty-eigth series; its technical significance is quite evident. Every superfluous "weight," every unnecessary consideration is to be dismissed in the one-pointed attempt to reach one's social goal. SELF-QUICKENING may be the Keyword.

Girlcapsule's 2¢:

Pisces 08º: A girl blowing a bugle.

12:56, 02.27.2015, Pisces 09º (late posting)

p. 273     AN ASTROLOGICAL MANDALA, by Dane Rudhyar (1973)

PHASE 338 (PISCES 08º): A GIRL BLOWING A BUGLE.

KEYNOTE: A call to participation in the service of the race, as an evolutionary crisis approaches.

This symbolic picture presents another aspect of the emotional relationship between the individual and the collectivity of human beings. It can also be related to the old feminist movement or the present women's liberation. In traditional symbolism the woman refers more specifically to the biological and psychic aspect of human life; she is see primarily as the mother, and/or the intuitive or "psychic" type of person. A new race of human beings may well be slowly unfolding some of its potential of consciousness and fulfillment. The individual who envisions this evolutionary development "sounds the call." He or she is both seer-herald and mutant. In that sense such a human being is both an individual true to his original nature and a dedicated person–dedicated to the future he or she holds in latency as does a seed in mutation.

At this third stage of the sixty-eighth five-fold sequence the two preceding phases blend in a new form of consecration of the individual to the Whole. Tomorrow acts through today; it SUMMONS men to rebirth.

Pisces 07º: Illumined by a shaft of light, a large cross lies on rocks surrounded by sea mist.

12:53, 02.28.2015, Pisces 09º (late posting)

pp. 272-273     AN ASTROLOGICAL MANDALA, by Dane Rudhyar (1973)

PHASE 337 (PISCES 07º): ILLUMINED BY A SHAFT OF LIGHT, A LARGE CROSS LIES ON ROCKS SURROUNDED BY SEA MIST.

KEYNOTE: The spiritual blessing which strengthens individuals who, happen what may, stand uncompromisingly for their own truth.

Men who do not depend upon collective values, traditions or support but seek at any cost to be true to their individual self and destiny almost inevitably face some kind of crucifixion. They are sustained only by the power within them,  to which a light above answers. The symbol tells us: "Be true to thine own self, and in the midst of the outer confusion displayed by those surrounding you, you will realize what you really are as an individual–a son of God." [no reference provided in original text]

This second stage symbol presents us with a  realization in polar opposition to that evoked by the preceding scene. It implies the supreme worth of a life guided by an inner voice and manifesting a high degree of SELF-ASSERTION.