The Astrological Significance of Each Egyptian Tarot Card ... · Elbert Benjamine Editorial: Mercury Vicki Brewer, Hermetician, Minister Are We More Than Half Civilized? Elbert Benjamine

The Silver Key

The Astrological Significance of Each Egyptian Tarot Card … Part II

Elbert Benjamine

Reprint from the February

1937 American Astrology

Magazine

Theancients, even aswedo, considered man’s

ability ofmental expressionhis most important and dis-tinctive attribute. Thereforehad they permitted theirimaginations to select aplanet which should haverule over this most signifi-cant influence in the life ofevery man, undoubtedlythey would have chosensome conspicuous orb suchas Jupiter or Venus. In anyartificial system of corre-spondences they would nothave chosen as represent-ing ability to think, a planetso inconspicuous that it isseldom seen with the nakedeye.

For short periods of timenear its greatest elongationsMercury can be discernedlow down in the twilight,appearing like a first mag-nitude star. The best timefor observation is in theevening when eastern elon-gations occur in March orApril. Elongation meansgreatest angular distancefrom the sun; and Mercuryis so close to that brilliantorb that it can only be seenjust before sunrisewhen it is

near its greatest western elon-gation, and just after sunsetwhen it is near its greatesteastern elongation. The dayson which these greatestelongations occur are notedin the common ephemerisunder “phenomena.” Thisyear, for instance, on Febru-ary 7 it is in greatest westernelongation; and can then beseen just before sunrise; andon April 20 it is in greatesteastern elongation and canthen be observed in the eve-ning just after sunset; al-though the conditions forviewing it near these datesare not exceptionally favor-able.

Of all the orbs within theolden septenaryMercury, byfar, is least conspicuous andmost difficult to observe,and thus the least likely to beselected in any imaginarysystem as playing so impor-tant a part in the affairs ofmen. We must believe,therefore, that those whogave it rule over thought andmental expression, did sorather reluctantly, and onlyafter a vast amount of obser-vational research had con-vinced them that it has theprecise influence which

Continued Page 5

Summer 2001 Vol. 76, No. 3

Arcanum 1, redrawn Spring 2001

Contribute Your Utmost To Universal Welfare

Page 2 Summer 2001, Vol. 76, Number 3

Inside this issue …

The Astrological Significance of Each Egyp-

tian Tarot Card...Part II, Arcanum I

Elbert Benjamine

Editorial: Mercury

Vicki Brewer, Hermetician, Minister

Are We More Than Half Civilized?

Elbert Benjamine

Endocrine Gland Update

Angelo Chirban MD, Hermetician, Minister

From Whence Come the Energies of Prog-

ressed Aspects

Elbert Benjamine

Plus…

Membership Room

Stellarian Honor Guard

Summer Issue 2001

ISSN: 009-6520Vol. 76, No. 3

PUBLISHED BYThe Church of Light

EDITORPaul Brewer, President

TYPESET

Vicki Brewer

CIRCULATIONDorothy Fast Wissler

The Church of Light Quarterly isthe official publication of theChurch of Light. It includes edu-cational and inspirational supple-ments to The Brotherhood ofLight Lessons.

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Directors:

Paul Brewer, PresidentDoris Chase Doane,

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Church of Light Quarterly

Summer 2001, Vol. 76, Number 3 Page 3

Editorial

Mercury

Vicki Brewer, Hermetician, Minister

“Great men are they who seethat spiritual thought is stronger than any material force,

that thoughts rule the world.”

—Ralph Waldo Emerson, Progress of Culture

Like Mercury, the fleet footed messenger of the Gods,the nervous system carries messages to and from the

brain to other parts of the body. The process is so perfect thatmost are unaware of the information flowing through thisvast, life supporting network. Like quicksilver, it flows un-fettered through the nervous system until something cap-tures the attention or consciousness. It is then thatawareness dawns in the form of THOUGHT or PERCEP-TION. With practice, in these moments of consciousness,magic can happen. Unlike our brothers and sisters occupy-ing lower levels of the evolutionary chain, humans haveearned the potential to exercise freewill through self aware-ness. They can consciously direct the expression ofWill —the Divine Spark. With the capacity to travel between theanimal and executive functions, the messenger Mercury isable to call upon INTENTION tomobilize the physical andmental energies of the body.Magical forces are brought intobeing.

Mercury’s nature is intellectual and, most importantly fornewly Self Aware humans, it is convertible, flowingthrough the harmony/discord, positive/magnetic/negativequalities in the form of associations that are kept. The im-portance of being convertible lies in the realization that bychoosing the associations (emotional, intellectual and spir-itual) each person becomes the Magician and Creator oftheir own life by learning to channel the currents of energyinto desired directions and purposes. Bridging the differ-ences between physical, mental and spiritual bod-ies…THOUGHT is the means by which we may becomefully integrated and empowered individuals. Mercury’sbest quality is EXPRESSION and the worst quality isRESTLESSNESS.

While the lessons are filled with many techniques— astro-logical, alchemical andmagical—for taking charge of one’sown destiny, it is always good to look anew. Featuring

Arcanum I in this issue creates the opportunity to view theMercurial functions.

Course II, Astrological Signatures teaches that each sign isa sounding board and that each planet is a tone. Tone “C” isalways the same but resonates on the soundboard of a violindifferently than a flute. Some signs (or sounding boards)transmit particular planetary tonesmore readily than others.Each person comes into this life with planets in particularsigns...some more resonant than others. This we cannotchange. Nor is it necessarily desirable to do sowhen viewedfrom the perspective of the collective whole....diversity isthe key to survival. However, we can attempt to modify be-havior by learning to view “gut reactions” and conditionedresponses in terms of how a planet resonates when express-ing its highest qualities as well as its not so desirable quali-ties.

For example, Mercury in Taurus is in its INHARMONY.The natural quickness of Mercury will take on the slow,plodding and material qualities of Taurus (best quality isSTABILITY and worst is OBSTINACY). It is easy to seehow this is not the best medium for Mercury to function.Expressing through fixed earth, thinking and speechmay berigid and overly concerned with material acquisition. Ac-cording to Hermetic Soul Science, this is the result of theconditioning of the “animal soul” (which each of us bringsinto this life). Nothing is inherently bad about a TaureanMercury...however, it is not always conducive to the effec-tive flow of ideas. Quicksilver flows into nooks and cran-nies where nothing else can travel. Like the metal it isassociated with, the function of Mercury (or thought) is totravel into many different spaces so that new informationcan be processed. This is not easy for a Taurus Mercury.

Each person is capable of being in tunewith and then direct-ing the mechanical tendencies of the animal soul that sup-



ported and carried them through the evolutionary path. Allthat is required is a truthful picture of self (supplied by thebirth chart), an appreciation of how and why you are whoyou are (it is no accident that you are here!) and then a clearpicture of the desirable qualities to be cultivated. By liftingconsciousness into the realm of objectivity anything be-comes possible and anyone can “rise above”!

Becoming familiar with the Table of Essential Dignities is aterrificway to understand the nature of an energy thatworksin your life. Take a few minutes during the day to beginviewing yourself from the astrological perspective. For ex-ample if you haveMercury in Taurus begin to observe yourthinking behavior. Is there a tendency to rigid thinking? Isthere a tendency for thought to travel in the direction of the“I HAVE” attitude. Begin to extract what you appreciateabout your Taurean Mercury. Horoscope Maker and

Reader says it can be “practical and refined rather than toodetermined and unyielding.” Begin thinking of exampleswhere youmight want to loosen up. To do this you’ll need apicture of what Mercury looks like when it expressesthrough signs that are more resonant to its natural energy.

Mercury is at HOME in the sign Gemini (best quality isVERSATILITY and the worst qual i ty isCHANGEABLENESS). Here the fleet footedmessenger isfree to travel within a constant flow of ideas such as areexpressed in conversation or in writing. Its energy is notbound bymaterialmotives rather it is accentuated by the de-sire for mental expression. It is that state of developmentcomparable to early childhood education noted for versatil-ity of information in the form of a multifaceted curriculumlaying the foundation for later development. Here the qual-ity of PERCEPTION is like fluid air and expresses as ITHINK. It is unfettered by too much emotional content andpractical concerns …these are concerns for a later day.

Mercury is so versatile that it has two homes! Its otherHOME is Virgo (best quality is ANALYSIS and the worstquality is CRITICISM). C.C. Zain calls it “liquidearth”...binding together that which was gleaned in theGemini phase of perception. Rather than a free flow ofthought there is emphasis on the utility of thought...the criti-cal faculties begin to ANALYZE how desired results maybe accomplished. Here the unfettered, free flow of ideaswhich characterized Mercury in Gemini begin to seem im-mature and silly unless they can begin to be refined into amore useful product. VirgoMercury is in a constant processof analysis which may incline toward being critical. Inter-estingly the two homes for Mercury are square to one an-other! So it is that we come to understand just how versatilethe planet Mercury is. On the one hand its function is justpure exchange of information...on the other, its function isapplication and utility. Both are important and to be appre-ciated for the task they perform.

The sign ofMercury’s HARMONYis Scorpio (best qualityis RESOURCEFULNESS and the worst quality isTROUBLESOMENESS). Hermetic philosophy teaches usthat duality is necessary for creative expression thatmay re-sult in trinity... two poles united by the bigger picture.Strange as it may seem Scorpio seems to represent Mer-cury’s step beyond itself into a larger possibility. Zain saysthat Scorpio energy “moves more with the world’s mentalcurrent than athwart its flow.” “Scorpio people have a neverfailing fund of ideas and resources and an abundant life giv-ing magnetism...they make good surgeons, doctors, chem-ists, scientists and mechanics.” Mercurial impressions fuelits natural creativity and through ScorpioMercury holds thepotential to align itself with a higher purpose. Mercury’sfree and sometimes frantic flow of energy is quieted to thepoint of applying the inner resources to that which is DE-SIRED. Mercury in Scorpio is at its best when directed toscientific endeavors because of its great capacity to pene-trate the unknown and discover what lies just beyond thatwhich is known.

And last, there is the EXALTATION of Mercury in Aquar-ius (best quality is ALTRUISM and the worst quality isARGUMENTATION). In Aquarius, perceptions attain thelevel of “KNOWLEDGE”.The process beginswith the firstinkling of LIGHT that captures the attention and rises to thelevel of perceptionwhich can be analyzed and then debated.Occasionally an inkling can evolve into and idea thatachieves the firm footing necessary to reside within thebody ofwhat is considered commonly heldKNOWLEDGEand then to progress beyond. Aquarius is attributedwith be-ing inventive and scientific, pleasant, friendly, quiet, pa-tient, determined, faithful, sincere, easily influenced bykindness, artistic, refined, having strong likes and dislikeswith an interest in education and discoveries. Aquarius pro-vides the perfect environment to foster creative and produc-tive exchange of information and ideas. You might call itIDEAHEAVEN! Aquarius is a fixed sign co-ruled by Sat-urn. On one hand this may sound like bad news but whenpairedwithUranus the rebellious air sign it’s good news be-cause the desire for crystallization lends a degree of solidityor stability which is required to thoroughly contest an idea.Uranus is the planet of progress and change and the onething we can completely rely upon is change! Why is this?Because what we can know about anything is incompleteand imperfect and eventually some clever minded individ-ual or groupwill figure this out! Change is required for evo-lution. And PERCEPTION is the beginning (andsometimes the end) of the entire process. We can count onthe Aquarian Mercury to always be searching for the nextbest idea.

Take a look at your birth chart Mercury. Do you find thatyour thinking is characteristic of the sign it occupies? Nexttime you’re trying to solve a problem, query yourself aboutthe nature of the problem. Try and match it with theMercu-rial approach that best suits its solution. Exercising a little



modern astrology, through statistical studies, likewise hasdemonstrated.

These old time observers of the stars and students of humanattributes, to express the relative qualities of the planetsused one ormore of three symbols in different combinationsand in different positions. The circle, because like spirit ithas no beginning nor end, was used to represent spiritualqualities. The sun, presenting the appearance of such a disc,was recognized to be, like spirit, the source of that energywhich expresses as life. Because the moon was observed toexert so powerful an influence upon the emotions, and itsphases had so noticeable an effect upon the mind, its cres-cent was used to represent soul, or mind. And as the earth isthe place where lunar and solar forces meet, or cross, andwhere under the impetus of spirit the mind evolves bymeans of experience, the cross was used to denote thatwhich is material.

To express the qualities ofMercury bymeans of a simple hi-eroglyphic, for instance, they placed the crescent of mindabove, in a dominant position, showing it to be the guidingforce. Immediately below the crescent of mind, was placedthe circle of spirit. Thought ever guides and dominates thespiritual principle in man, evolving it or holding it back, asthe casemay be. Yet below the circle of spirit was joined thecross of matter, to indicate that material things were subser-vient to mind, and when Mercury’s influence was domi-nant, of less importance than the things of spirit.

The circle, above and attached towhich is a crescent and be-low and attached towhich is a cross, quite precisely denotedin terms of universal symbolism the most outstanding at-tributes of the influence of Mercury in human affairs. Andcareful study of the implications of these three symbols thusjoined to form the emblem by which this planet is indicatedin the common astronomical ephemeris will bring a goodgeneral understanding of the planet’s significance. But toconvey more detailed information relative to the principleover which Mercury has ruled the ancients had need ofsomething more complex than this hieroglyphic of mindand matter united by spirit. They therefore designed a pic-ture, which should convey in a language altered not by thepassing of time nor affected by race, all of importance theyhad discovered through countless generations of observa-tion as to the significance in the life of man of those thingsunder Mercury’s rule. This is the symbolical pictographnow known as the first Major Arcanum of the tarot.

They had observed that before a man does anything the im-age of the action is present in his consciousness. Before hebuilds a house hemakes amental plan.And further observa-tion convinced them that something analogous to thoughtpreceded the activities of plants and animals; and that thethought composition of their astral bodies determined theform into which they grew, their reaction to subsequent en-vironment, and even the type of environment which they at-tracted. As is plainly indicated by allocating the first tarotcard — to explaining the significance of thought, the an-cient wise men believed, as do most modern philosophers,that thought is number 1; that is, it is the commencement ofeverything. Before the light of intelligence was present, asthe Bible states:

“The earthwaswithout form, and void.” This first tarot cardis called The Magus. Amagus is one who practices magic,that is, who uses his thoughts to demonstrate some desiredcondition. Thismagus is standing; the attitude ofwill whichprecedes action. His robe is of white, image of purity, origi-nal or regained.Andhis forehead is girtwith a circle of gold,symbolizing the possession of light, or intelligence.

Each emblem in the picture, and its relation to every otheremblem, is portrayed thus to give some definite teachingabout Mercury and the things this speedy planet rules. Butthe most significant teaching, here plainly stated in the lan-guage of symbolical pictograph, is revealed by the magusraising a scepter of gold to heaven in his right hand, whilewith his left he points the index finger toward the earth.

This scepter is raised to the proximity of a four-pointed star.The star with rays extending heavenward is the symbol ofthe overshadowing genius of his spiritual master directinghis efforts and counseling him in his upward struggles. Buteven more obviously it is the symbol of those planetaryforces which have so powerful an influence over the life ofevery man.

This magus, however, is not negatively reclining; passivelywaiting for what appears to be a progressed aspect to bringinto his lifewhatsoever it commonly signifies. Instead, he ison his feet, with one of the implements signifying the fourchief departments of human life raised in his right hand andthe other three before him on the cube signifying the physi-cal plane, handy to his use. In another place I will explainthe origin of these four emblems which also designate thefour suits of theMinor Arcana. But as they are here pictured

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mental gymnastics will stretch your imagination and in-crease your appreciation for all the other approaches peopleuse. You will probably notice that most people tend to fallinto their natural “groove” (some may call it a rut!). Youwill also observe something else...your Self Awareness

growing by leaps and bounds. Remember, if you are read-ing this you have FREEWILL and you can choose the typeof life you want to lead by choosing the way you think. Thepower of thought is magic … THOUGHTS rule the

world! �



in the very first, or Mercury, design, their astrological sig-nificance should now be briefly stated.

The suit of Scepters (the magus holds a scepter in his up-raised hand), which in common playing cards is the suit ofClubs, symbolizes the element fire. This in human life be-comes enthusiasm, ambition and enterprise. Consequently,this suit belongs to the department of life having to do withbusiness, occupation, station, honor and profession. In as-trology it is represented by the M.C. where the sun appearsat noon.

The suit of Cups (a cup is before the magus on the cube),which in common playing cards becomes the suit of Hearts,represents the element water, symbol of the emotions andtypical of domestic and affectional relations. It thus broadlycorresponds to the western angle of a birth chart, where thesun sinks below the horizon.

The suit of Swords (such a sword lies on the cube of thephysical world), which in common playing cards becomesthe suit of Spades, represents the element earth, symbol ofstruggle, allied to affliction and death. It thus corresponds totheNadir, where the sun is in its grave, or lowest point in thediurnal cycle.

The suit of Coins (such a coin as is on the cube before themagus), which in common playing cards becomes the suitof Diamonds, represents the element air, the breath of life.The other foods may be purchased with money and thusmoney has become the symbol of life itself. It therefore cor-responds to the Ascendant of a birth chart, where thenew-born sun each day rises above the eastern horizon.

The attitude of will which the magus in the picture plainlyholds is not that of submission. Much as Benjamin Frank-lin’s lightning rod was raised to capture the destructivelightning and conduct it harmlessly to the earth, so holds themagus aloft his scepter to act as an aerial to capture the ener-gies plainly being radiated from the planet. But it is clear tosee that he proposes to domore thanmerely deflect this cap-tured planetary energy into some harmless expression. Hiswhole attitude portrays the determination to use it in con-nection with the emblems representing the chief depart-ments of his life that symbolically lie before himon the cubeof the physical world.

To enable him, instead of being shoved about, puppet like,by planetary vibrations, to capture those desired and divertthem into channels of his own choosing he must possesshigh intelligence, which is denoted by the band of goldabout his head. But even endowed with such intelligence,how can any person rule his stars, as this magus clearly ispictured doing?

The pictograph explains that it is done through the use ofthought; that is, through the functionwhich is the distinctiveattribute ofMercury; for the characteristic of amagus is thathis work is performed through the agency of thought. It is

because mental expression is the outstanding quality bothofMercury and of amagus, that such an individualwas usedto depict the ancient teachings relative to this versatileplanet.

Mercury rules the nervous system of man over which flowthose etheric currents which carrymessages to and from thebrain. Dr. George Crile in his book, The Phenomena of Life;

A Radio-Electric Interpretation, which appeared in Febru-ary, 1936, gave conclusive proof that these energies areelectric in nature, and constitute the vital force of life. AndDr. Edwin J. Cohn, Professor of Biological Chemistry atHarvard, revealed at themeeting of the American ChemicalSociety on April 12, 1936, that he had measured the tinyelectrical charges which carry messages over the nerves,and had found their source of origin on the giant proteinmolecules, hitherto considered electrically neutral. Hepointed out that the movement of such an electro-magneticmolecule is like the armature of the dynamo. It produces anelectric current. By means of the electric currents thus gen-erated the mind exercises its control over the body.

Proteinmolecules are able to release the high-frequency en-ergy of the lightning which fixed the nitrogen that plant lifetook from the soil. This is in accordance with Einstein’sLaw of Equivalence: that the energy of an atom is given outin the same quanta as those received by the atom. And theseshort-wave radiations have properties with which we havebecome familiar in the radio. In fact, Dr. Cohn uses the sametechnical developments in the measurements of the electri-cal properties of the giant protein molecules that have led tothe improvement of the radio.

Of all the cells in the human body, those of the nervous sys-tem, which are ruled by Mercury, are best adapted to theproduction of short-wave radiations, as well as to carryingelectric currents. And the gray matter of the frontal lobes ofthe brain are best adapted of these nerve cells ruled byMer-cury in this respect.

This means that, as occultists long have held, the nervoussystem of man is a radio broadcasting set. And it alsomeans, because scientists have found these electrical phe-nomena of the nervous system to be reversible as when thecells recharge in sleep, that the nervous system is a delicatereceiving set, capable of intercepting short-waves whichreach it from other broadcasting sets.

Telepathy, which material science very reluctantly is beingforced by the experiments of its own savants to accept, thusfinds its explanation. And also thus is explained the processwhich the magus, pictured in the first Arcanum of the tarot,is employing to utilize the energy of a selected planet, or of aplanet the energy ofwhich reaches himbecause at the time itreceives a progressed aspect.

Not that the ancient initiates who left to us their explana-tions of astrology and of life in the language of symbolical



pictograph on the tarot were aware of the modern technicalexplanation, which is in terms of electrical phenomena. Butthey, as magi, that is, as those who used the power ofthought for practical purposes, came to understand howthoughts are able to tune the nervous system and the cur-rents passing over it to the planetary energy they wished toreceive; and how because its energies reached the astralbody by way of the nerves in such volume, other and morediscordant energies were shut out.

But to explain in 1937 scientific terminology justwhatMer-cury, which rules the thoughts, is shown doing in tarotArcanum I: Through his thoughts and feelings man has theability to increase or decrease his mental and nervous ten-sion, which means the rapidity with which the nitrogencompounds release radiant energy, and thus by controllingthe comparative shortness of the wave lengths emitted, hecan tune in on various levels. And as the etheric energies ofthe nervous system are ready transformers and conductorsof corresponding astral broadcasts, he can tune in notmerely on broadcasts through the ether, but on the astralbroadcasts from the planets and from minds that no longerare of earth. The magus of tarot No. 1, is shown in the act ofthus tuning in on such a broadcast. And as this tuning in pro-cess is accomplished through directing the thoughts, it iseminently fitting that the explanation should be thus pic-tured on the tarot illustrating the functions of Mercury.

In fact, whether he is aware of it or not, each individualtunes thus in on the energy of any planet that makes an as-pect in his chart by progression. If he has a progressed as-pect to Mars, for instance, the Aggressive thought-cells inhis astral body receive, through the aerial mapped by the as-pect, an additional supply of energy. Because they havemore energy they can impart it to the nerves of the gonadsand of the adrenal glands. This local electrical stimulationreleases hormones in the blood. These reaching the cells ofthe body increase their electrical discharge.

These electrical discharges aver the nervous system, unlessthere is a deliberate effort made to cultivate other thoughts,stimulate thoughts of the Aggressive type, which keep thenervous system constantly tuned to pick up still more of theMars broadcast. But as the brain-cells generate high electri-cal charges under the processes of thinking and feelingwhich accompany the Mercury-ruled thoughts, it is withintheir power to reverse the process. That is, instead of beingstimulated by the electrical current coming from the bodycells, the process of thought can initiate a current whichstimulates another hormone, which has quite a different ef-fect upon the body cells.

As the magus is doing in the tarot picture, by selecting suchthoughts as stimulate the feeling commonly induced by thevibrations of a given planet when it receives a harmoniousaspect, it is possible to tune the nervous system and theetheric energies flowing over it, so that they pick up, radiofashion, and harmoniously, the broadcasts of energy from

the selected planet. And by association, through thethoughts, the planetary energy thus acquired with any par-ticular department of life, this harmonious energy can be di-verted to working in this particular department of life toattract events such as without the use of thought would onlycome at a time when there was an unusually favorable pro-gression from the planet thus tuned in on.

We of the present age possess mechanical contrivances ofwhich the astrologer initiates of old never dreamed; and inthe precision of scientific observation we far surpass theirmost skillful efforts. But in the practical application ofthought and the utilization of astrological forces, by com-parison we are mere apprentices. Through the process oftrial and error, continued through ages in which they wereunfettered by such materialistic dogmas as confront us to-day, they learned how to do those things which give controlof life and destiny. And while attention was given also toother things in acquiring such control, they found the chieftool for their mastery of life in the utilization of planetaryforces through the proper application of thought.

To state their views in modern terminology, the uncon-scious mind is built of thought-elements even as the physi-cal body is built of chemical elements. This unconsciousmind, or astral body, is fed by thoughts, or states of con-sciousness which accompany experiences. That is, in its as-cent through innumerable lower forms of life, theawareness and emotions accompanying the soul’s experi-ences built thought-elements into the four-dimensional, ors te l lar body. Through other experiences thethought-elements became organized as stellar cells, andthese in turn into dynamic stellar structures.

The most powerful of these thought structures in the astralbody are mapped by the planets in the birth chart; and theiroutstanding relations to other dynamic thought structuresare mapped by the aspects in the birth chart. Thus a birthchart is a map of an individual’s character, that is, of thethought organizations of his finer form, as these have beenconstructed up to the moment of birth in a human body.

These thought-groups and the way they are organized indi-cate the natural abilities with which the individual is born,and also, because thought-cell activity has an attractivepower, the kind of events that will be attracted into the lifeunless some effort is made to change the character, that is,change the thought combinations in the finer form.

Thus does Arcanum I give a concise explanation, in sym-bolical pictograph, that any ability mapped by the planetarypositions is due to the volume and arrangement ofthought-energies within the person’s unconscious mind;consequently another person can acquire identical abilitiesif he builds thought-energies in his unconscious mind insimilar volume and arrangement.



It also shows how this is done through vol-untarily tuning in, by the proper use ofthought, so that the nervous system and theetheric energies flowing over it pick up onlythe energies of a selected planet, and thesein harmony and proper relation to thoughtstructures already within the unconsciousmind. Thus an individual can acquirethrough his own efforts the ability to attractany event that otherwise could be broughtinto his life onlywhen there is present somepowerful and favorable progressed aspect.

A progressed aspect may be inevitable inthe heavens, like rain or snow, heat or cold,wind or calm; but its effect on the individualis determined by the way he handles it. Itmeans that a temporary stellar aerial is builtacross his astral body, for the duration of theaspect, which picks up the energies of bothplanets involved; and picks them up eitherharmoniously or loadedwith static, accord-ing to the nature of the aspect.

It is so much additional energy of a givenkind, reaching the thought-cells in a certaincompartment of the astral body, and caus-ing them to become unusually active. It isthe unusual four-dimensional activities ofthese thought-cells which attract into thelife at that time the indicated events.

If, therefore, through some consciously di-rected process a large volume of energy of adifferent qual i ty is suppl ied thethought-cells which otherwise would getonly the energy indicated by a progressedaspect, the type of their activity is changedand they work from the four-dimensionalplane to attract events at that time of quite adifferent character. Furthermore, as all im-portant events that come into the life aredue to the activities of thought-cells thatthen receive unusual supplies of energy of aparticular kind, if these thought-cells aresupplied with that particular kind of energyin proper volume the characteristic eventwill be attracted, even though at the timethere is no progressed aspect in the chart.

The ancient masters considered the use ofthought, to tune in on planetary vibrationssuch aswould supply the thought-cellswiththe proper additional energy to attract de-sired events, of such vast importance thatthey gave this teaching clearly in the veryfirst tablet on which they inscribed whatthey had learned of stellar wisdom. �

Consciousness and WillIn the book, Shadows of the Mind, Roger Penrosecites an experiment that used electroencephalograms(EEGs) to try and determine the timing of brain activ-ity associated with an act of “free will.” Human sub-jects were asked to flex their index finger suddenly atvarious times that were entirely of their own choos-ing – the idea being to time the brain activity with thewilling of the fingermovement. The resultswere sur-prising. The recorded electrical potential (which hadto be averaged over several runs due to the weaknessof the signal) appeared to build up gradually for oneto one and a half seconds prior to the time that the in-dividual “willed” the finger movement. How did thebrain know that the finger movement would be “or-dered to happen” one and one-half seconds later? Oris this how long it takes a willed action to take placeand, if so, why was consciousness not aware of theimpending action earlier? Note that human“pre-programmed” response time to an externalstimulus (e.g. a pin prick or hot oven) is aboutone-fifth of a second.

Robert Ornstein in The Evolution of Consciousness

cites similar experiments and states that “there is evi-dence that movements are not just preceded by gen-eral unconscious preparatory processes, but that thebrain activity preceding the movement predicts whatpart of the body will be moved and how, well beforethe moment of conscious realization. The type ofmovement to be made is reflected in the length andsize of the readiness potential in the brain. Footmovements show a pattern distinct from that of fin-ger movements. Pianists show preparatory brain ac-tivity longer before playing a melody than beforeplaying a single note. Smoothness, effort, and the in-tention behind an action all affect the timing and sizeof the readiness potential, and all this happens beforeyou are aware that you have begun to act!”

— Paul Brewer

_____________________

Penrose, Roger (1994) Shadows of the Mind, OxfordUniversity Press, 7.11, 385: In the 1970s, H. H.Kornhuber and associates (Deeke L., Grotzinger, B.and Kornhumber, H. H., 1976, Voluntary fingermovements in man: cerebral potentials and theory.Biol. Cybernetics, 23, 99)



The Religion of the Stars

Are We More than Half Civilized?

Elbert Benjamine

March 1941 Church of Light Quarterly, Vol 15, No. 1

(This Crusade talk by Elbert Benjamine is of proper length for a fifteen-minute radio broadcast. It has

no copyright, and anyone interested in disseminating The Religion of the Stats is welcome to use it or

reprint it for that purpose.)

What would you think of a people who were so oblivi-ous to climatic differences and to weather changes

that they ignored the existence of these environmental fac-tors and made no preparation to cope with them! Whatwould you do about a people who refused to note the com-ing of summer or winter, and who continued to plant theircrops as if there were no seasons, and then complained be-cause so many of their plantings met misfortune. Whatwould you say of a people who knew that in a few shortyears they would be transferred to an entirely differentcountry, but made no effort to learn what equipment wouldbe of advantage to them there!

In spite of all their machines of construction and destruc-tion, and in spite of all their material science, most people inthe world today are like that. They are oblivious to the im-pacts which the climate and the weather of the inner-planemake upon them.They ignore planetary stormswhich are asdisastrous to the fruition of their plans as any blizzard can beto the fruition of their crops. They make no preparation forthe fine sunshiny planetary weather which if utilized wouldenable them to realize their ambitions. And although theyknow definitely that their removal to the inner plane of lifeis only a few short years away, theymake no special effort tolearnwhat attributeswill fit them tomeet the conditions cer-tain to be encountered on that plane.

TheReligion of the Stars is not put forward to destroy the re-ligions in which people already believe. It is disseminatedrather to give a sound basis of facts to the faith on which thewestern religions of today mostly rest, and to give informa-tion which is vitally needed if those endeavoring to lead the

lives prescribed by these religions are in these efforts tomeet success.

Faith is of great power. But if it is to do itswork effectively itmust itself be based on facts. Faith will assist in producing afine harvest. But if through ignorance the grain is planted atthe worst possible time of year, even faith will not preventcrop failure. And the best intentions possible, when theirpossessor is ignorant of the operation of the forces involved,may result in irreparable injury.

Were this not the case, fond parents who through lack of as-trological and psychological knowledge lavishmoney, easeand affection on their offspring, denying themselves thatson or daughter may escape work and hardship, would notso often witness their hopes turn to ashes and their childrenarrive at dissolute and shiftless maturity.

Yes! In thisAquarianAge beliefmust be supplementedwithknowledge. We must know, first of all, that each of us is aself-conscious cell in the Cosmic Whole whose body wecall Nature andwhose consciousness we call Deity. Andwemust individually realize the imminence of that Deific Con-sciousness. We must learn to contact the all-pervading Su-preme Intelligence for ourselves, and thus gain first-handknowledge, at least in some measure, of the existence andthe purposes of God.

No, you cannot weigh the consciousness of God on thescales of the materialist; nor can that materialist weigh yourconsciousness on such scales. He cannot weigh any in-ner-plane condition in his laboratory. Your soul and the



all-pervading soul of God possess nomass. Thematerialist,therefore, may deny you have a soul, or that God exists. Butyou can prove to yourself that you have a soul through exer-cising its faculties, and you can become aware of the pres-ence of the Cosmic Soul which most call God through theexercise of these same Extra-Sensory Perceptions.

Even though you cannot exercise these inner-plane sensesand powers except at rare intervals which are not subject toyour selection, you can, if you are an average human being,so exercise them on special occasions that you become ascompletely aware of the inner plane where you will dwellafter physical dissolution, and as convincingly aware of thepervading presence of God, as you normally are aware thatyou are a conscious person on the physical plane.With suchpersonal experiences giving you first-hand knowledge, noone will ever be able to convince you of the non-existenceof Deity or of the non-existence of inner-plane life. To do sothey first would have to convince you that you have no exis-tence now in any realm.

But you do exist. You exist as a soulwhich potentially is im-mortal. And you exist on both theOuter and the Inner plane.Furthermore, as your own Extra Sensory Perceptions willapprize you if you give them proper opportunity, you willcontinue to exist on the inner plane after thematerialswhichcompose your physical body oncemore have turned to clay.These soul senses of yours, if you give them proper cultiva-tion, will place you in telepathic touch with loved ones whohave gone before, who now sojourn and carry on their joy-ous work in the non-material region where you will learnand labor and find delight after your residence on earth isdone.

This does not mean that a moderate cultivation of these fac-ulties of your soul will enable you to get messages fromfriends on the inner planewhenever you sowish. It does notmean that you will be able whenever you so desire to bringconsciousness through into everyday life of the conditionswhich are encountered there. But it does mean that at leastin rare moments your consciousness will feel the presence,and flash the import of the thoughts, of those who no longerabide on earth, and that your inner senses will, at timeswhich are opportune, give you an occasional yet unmistak-able glimpse of the region where in the future you willdwell.

Yes, you exist now on both the outer and the inner plane.And, although your physical senses are too dull, or you aretoo preoccupied fully to realize their power, you are re-sponding each day of your life to both environments.

Because you were born a human being you are sensitive toheat and cold, to wind and rain, to sunshine and darkness.And because you were born with certain character tenden-cies mapped by your chart of birth, you are sensitive in acertain way to the impacts of astrological energies when theplanetsmake progressed aspects. Had you been born an ani-

malwith a coat of fur, your sensitiveness to coldwould havebeen different. Had you been born a duck, with a well-oiledcloak of feathers, the rain would have been less discomfort-ing. But being born a human, in your natural state stormsand heat and cold have a profound effect upon the way youfeel, and upon what you do.

No, you cannot change from being human. You cannotgrow fur or feathers. Neither can you alter the fact that youwere born with the broad character tendencies mapped byyour chart of birth. You cannot acquire some other person’schart and use it as your own, no more than you can grow acoat of fur or feathers. Neither can you control the timewhen astral sunshine will light your way, or astral stormswill tend tomake detours imperative. You cannot determinewhat the physical weather shall be, nor can you determinewhat the progressed aspects in your chart shall be, or when.You are as powerless to control the inner-plane heat andcold, wind and rain, sunshine and darkness, as they reachyou from progressed planets as you are to control theirphysical counterparts.

Yet long and painful experience has taught mankind to an-ticipate and prepare for seasonal changes. They have taughthim also to be prepared for rain andwind. He cannot changethe fact that he is a human being and thus sensitive to thebuffeting of the elements. No more so than he can changethe fact that he possesses the basic character tendenciesmapped by his chart of birth.

But he has learned how to change his personality as a humanbeing so that cold andwind have far less effect on him.Bornwithout protection from inclemency, he has learned to pro-vide himself with clothes. No longer does he go about na-ked, blistered by the summer sun and chilled to the marrowby the winds of winter. He cannot change the weather, buthe has learned that he can change the effect of the weatherupon himself by artificially altering his own personality.His hat, his raincoat, his shirt, his trousers, his shoes, all arethings which he has added to his personality. When youthink of people you do not think of them devoid of clothing;the clothes they wear have become an integral, even ifchanging, part of their personalities.

Men and women not only change the personalities withwhich theywere born by adding appropriate clothing, but inequal measure they can change, through cultivating appro-priate avenues for the expression of their energies, theircharacters which were mapped for them by their charts ofbirth. The energies are there, of a type and intensity quiteprecisely mapped in such a natal chart; but how these ener-gieswill find expression can bemostly altered by intelligentcultivation. The cultivation by which a given character en-ergy finds expression in one specific activity instead of an-other is called conditioning. And wise conditioning will dofully as much to protect you from planetary blizzards andenable you to enjoy your highest opportunities when the



planetary sun is mildly shining, as the wise selection of ap-parel will enable you to make the most of the physicalweather that you are equally powerless to change.

Man has learned through long and painful experience hownot merely to change his personality by adding or removingclothes and thus increasing his comfort, but howalso to gainan advantage by changing his environment. He cannotchange the climate of the land where he dwells. He cannotchange the time when pleasant breezes blow or gentle raincomes down. He cannot alter the temperature of the freez-ing blast that bears down on him so fiercely in winter. Nomore so then he can alter the nature or the time when plane-tary energy from icy Saturn, reaching him from the innerplane, chills and withers some fond endeavor. But he hasfound that by intelligently selecting his environment the ef-fects of the weather on himself can be altered in the direc-tion of his choice.

Man has learned to construct shelters, to build fires, to uti-lize shade and even air-conditioning. When the sun beatsdown upon him in the midst of summer time, not only doeshe condition himself through wearing scant attire, but heseeks the shade of some friendly tree, goes where the cool-ing breeze from the ocean blows, or finds an air-conditionedroom. But when the snows and ice of winter hem himaround he leaves these spotswhich gave himbenefit in sum-mer.Not only does he condition himself bywearingwarmerclothes, but he seeks a physical environment where theweather now at handwill have scant chance to do him harm.He moves indoors where stalwart walls keep out the chill-ing winds, and he builds a fire with which to keep the atmo-sphere within this dwelling warn.

Long ago, before the cavemen’s time and before the use offire, theremay have been an early human racewho in nudityand with no knowledge of the use of fire or shelter, sufferedand endured every adverse change of weather and everyharshness brought by the seasons. It may be that the peopleof that race feasted in the abundance brought by fruitfulsummer, but ignorant of, or ignoring, the succession of theseasons, made no preparation for the dearth when harvesttime should end.

If there ever were such a people they must have had a terri-ble time. To them it must have seemed an inexorable fatehad decreed that one unpreventable emergency should fol-low another in their lives. They must have believed that afate over which they could have no control was being kindto them when fruits and wild grains were abundant in sum-mer. And theymust have believedwhen the season changedand food grew scarcer and scarcer, that a fate which theywere powerless to alter was chastising them.

When the summer sun blistered their skin they must havebeen sure that this was an inevitable event of human life;andwhen the winter nights almost froze themarrow in their

bones they must have been convinced there was nothingcould be done but shake and shiver until the dawn.

They did not know, this early and imaginary people, whatthe forces were which at one time brought them joy andplenty, and at another brought them dearth and pain. Andthus they suffered. So also at the present day do most peo-ple, ignorant of the impacts of progressed aspects, suffer.They did not know how to make clothing for themselves,this imaginary people; nomore so thanmost people of todayknow how to condition their personalities to take advantageof the character traits mapped in their charts of birth. Andthey did not know how to build houses, or even to enter theprotection of some natural cave. And most people of today,in so far as protecting themselves from inner-plane forceswhich affect their lives and fortunes as profoundly, are likethis imaginary olden people. Nor do they do more to takeadvantage of the favorable climate and kindly weatherbrought at periods easily predetermined by progressed as-pects.

Maybewe live in civilized times. But in view of the fact thatmost of the world still blisters in the heat of Mars andfreezes in the cold of Saturn with no effort to protect them-selves through the clothes of conditioning, or by seeking aproper environment, there is a serious doubt! We have, it istrue, learned how to take advantage of the growing seasonsof spring and summer. But howmany take advantage of thefine inner-plane weather coincident with harmonious pro-gressed aspects to Venus and Jupiter?

So far as the inner-plane weather and climate are concerned— a weather and climate fully as influential in all our livesas the physical—most still ignore their existence. Yet untilwe recognize these tremendous forces, and take adequatesteps to cope with them, can we claim to be more than halfcivilized? �

____________________________________

�Thoughts are free and subject to no rule.On them rests the freedom of man, andthey tower above the light of nature...cre-ate a new heaven, a new firmament, a newsource of energy from which new artsflow.

—Paracelsus



TOOTS RESEARCH

The Unfinished Religion

ENDOCRINE GLAND UPDATE

By Angelo Chirban, M.D., Hermetician and Minister

In addition to being a Great Occultist, The Master, C.C.Zain or Elbert Benjamine, was also a great naturalist.

One of his intents in publicizing The Brotherhood Of LightTeachings as The Church Of Light — Religion of the Starswas to provide instructions for perfect living. To this extent,he has even provided us with instructions regarding how tostay healthy under the stress of various afflicted planets —planets under adverse progressed aspects. He writes aboutthe influences of various hormones in several of the lessons,but he delivers his main messages in Course XXI, lessons221-225. He did a remarkable job and his knowledge wassuperb. This is especially evidentwhen it is realized that theeffects of the hormones were not even known until 1922!

One of the most endearing statements made by this greatman and appearing in every Course book is: “This writer isnot so foolish to believe that what has already been pub-lished in the 210 Brotherhood of Light Lessons is the lastword, or that no errors have been made in them, or that newdemonstrated facts may not make necessary some revisionof the ideas there presented.” Because of the great strides inphysiology andmedicine in the last 50 years, there have ob-viously been many “new demonstrated facts” meeting theMaster’s expectations.

I intend to provide such an update regarding the hormoneswhich affect ourmundane bodies. I intend to discuss originsof the hormones, locations of their actions, mechanisms ofactions and the controls of their actions. I am not qualifiedto discuss the planetary or occult influences on these hor-mones and will only reinforce the Master’s teachings re-garding these aspects.

In Benjamine’s time the function of the hypothalamus wasunknown. The hypothalamus is located in an area of thebrain which is evolutionarily quite old — much older thanthe cerebral hemispheres with which the conscious mind ofa human confronts mundane situations. The hypothalamusis located at the base of the brain, superior to and connectedwith the pituitary gland, controlling many of its functions.

Above the hypothalamus lies the thalamus (hypo = below inGreek) which is a great relay center for the brain. Thus, theother portions of the brain including the cerebral hemi-spheres, the sensory gathering nervous tissue, the auto-nomic (under control from the unconscious mind or soul)send their commands or instructions or impulses to thethalamus (relay station) and are directed down to the hypo-thalamus and from there to the pituitary (the master gland)and to other glands in the body.

The hypothalamus, in addition to regulating the functioningof the other glands, also regulates heart rate, body tempera-ture, emotional (anger, fear, pain and pleasure) and instinc-tual funct ions, water and electrolyte balance,gastrointestinal activity and hunger, sleeping/wakefulness,and sexual response. You can easily see that this area is apowerful intervention point (along with the solar plexus forexample) for the unconsciousmind or soul to perform its ac-tions on themundane body. This concept is further enforcedby the next anatomic area to be mentioned, the epithalamus(epi = upon or above in Greek) from which extends the pi-neal gland (the third eye). This entire area (epithalamus, pi-neal gland, thalamus, hypothalamus and pituitary gland)known as the diencephalon can be considered the area of thethird eye known to the ancients (See diagram 1).

Benjamine states that “the front pituitary, which a few yearsago was considered to secrete only one hormone, is nowknown to manufacture not less than twelve;” Many of thehormones that were felt to be secreted by the pituitary glandin Benjamine’s time are actually secreted by the hypothala-mus. Additionally, the pituitary gland can be divided into,as Benjamine states “the front pituitary” and “the back pitu-itary” (now the posterior pituitary). The anterior pituitary isderived from the ectoderm—embryonic tissue that formssurfaces such as skin, and the posterior pituitary is derivedfrom the neuroectoderm—embryonic tissue that forms neu-rologic tissue.Agoodway to remember the hierarchal func-tioning of this area is: Conscious andUnconsciousMind >Thalamus > Hypothalamus and Epithalamus > Pituitary



andPineal glands. TheHypothalamus secretes various “Re-leasing Factors” (another name for hormone, but indicatesthat the hormone is released from a higher center) whichwork on the pituitary gland and other glands to cause themto release or to inhibit release of their particular hormones.

Here it may be good to mention exactly what modern sci-ence considers a hormone to be. A hormone is either a pro-tein or polypeptide (long chains of amino acids or shortchains respectively), a steroid (derivative of cholesterol - afat) or an amine (derivative of the amino acid tyrosine).These substances act asmessengers released into the blood-stream to control and regulate distal functioning of thebody. The hormone thus released reacts with specific recep-tor sites on the cells of its target organ or organs to cause itseffect.

To further clarify, generally speaking, a releasing factor is apolypeptide hormone released from the brain (the hypothal-amus) to regulate the release of a hormone from the pitu-itary gland called a stimulating hormone (anotherpolypeptide) into the bloodstream to cause the release ofthe specific active hormone from its gland located distantly(thyroid, adrenal, gonads etc.). The releasing hormones andthe stimulating hormones are regulatory hormones used bythe brain and nearby pituitary gland to cause the productionof and the release of the actuator hormones released fromthe target glands.

A good place to start with the individual hormones is inLesson 222, of Course XXI where

“…Long and close observation by the Church of Light As-

trological Research Department relative to the effect of pro-

gressed aspects and the birth chart prominence on hormone

activity has established that each of the planets through

birth chart prominence and by progressed aspect finds

ready response from the endocrine glands as follows:

“Sun: influences two of the hormones of the front pituitary

gland, one of which stimulates the thyroid gland and other-

wise contributes to the transformation of energy necessary

for sustained effort: and the other stimulates the adrenal

cortex and thus with that gland determines the presence of

courage. And it influences the secretion of thyroxin, the hor-

mone of energy production. These three hormones respond

either to thought-cell activity stimulated by progressed as-

pects involving the Sun, or to conscious thinking of the

Power type.’

These hormones under the influence of the Sun are nowknown as TRH - thyrotrophin releasing hormone, CRH -corticotropin releasing hormone, TSH - thyroid stimulatinghormone or thyrotrophin, ACTH - adrenocorticotropic hor-mone, and thyroxin.

TRH, a releasing hormone that is a polypeptide, is releasedby the hypothalamus. It works on the anterior pituitarygland to make TSH, a stimulating hormone which is also apolypeptide, which works on the thyroid gland to produceand release thyroxine, an amine type hormone that is dis-tributed throughout the blood stream and manifests thefunctioning of the thyroid system. By using various feed-back loops, the third eye area controls the final productionof thyroxine, the active hormone. When the thyroxin levelsbecome too elevated, they work on the anterior pituitarygland to shut off production of TSH by making the cells re-fractory to the effects of TRH.

The effects of thyroxine, the hormone released by the thy-roid gland is to accelerate metabolic rate and oxygen con-sumption in all body tissues, increase body temperature,affect growth and development in early life, accelerate glu-cose absorption and enhance the effects of the sympatheticdivision of the autonomic nervous system (the system thatgets you ready to fight or run away). Too much thyroxinmakes one hyper excitable and irritable. Too little makesone listless, slow in thought and speech, and somnolent.Too much TSH as you can see by following the feedbackloop, causes enlargement of the thyroid gland and goiter.While there are other factors to consider the thyroxine isconverted to triiodothyronine by the cells of the end organsand is the final and most effective extracellular thyroid hor-mone and then there are the intracellular effects of the hor-mones — I believe that too much detail will provokeboredom and go against our purposes at this time.

It is readily apparent that thyroxin is the hormone of energyas described by Benjamine (See diagram 2).

The CRH or corticotropin releasing hormone works in asimilar way on the anterior pituitary gland to release ACTHwhich then is released into the bloodstream to stimulate therelease of cortisol (cortin to Benjamine) from the adrenal

Diagram 1



cortex. The adrenal gland is composed of the cortex and themedulla. The cortex can be broken up into three layers, theoutermost being the zona glomerulosa which producesaldosterone, a hormone affecting salt balance; the zonafasciculata, which produces the glucocorticoids of whichcortisol is one and the zona reticulariswhich produces someandrogens (sex hormones). The feedback mechanism ofcontrol works in a similar way to the thyroid system. A highlevel of cortisol blocks the effect of CRF on the pituitaryand hence reduces the production of ACTH. Additionally,high levels of cortisol also work on the hypothalamus toalso reduce the production of CRF (See Diagram 3).

Overall, cortisol is essential for the response to stress. It in-creases the amount of glucose (a sugar and the most impor-tant source of immediate energy) in the blood stream by (1)causing the breakdown of proteins, (2) decreasing the utili-zation of glucose in adipose (fat) tissue and (3) increasinglipolysis, the breakdown of fat to glycerol which providesthe liver with more substrate to produce glucose. Cortisolhas marked anti-inflammatory effects and also causes sup-pression of the immune response. Cortisol also maintainsthe responsiveness of the vascular system to catechol-amines (another adrenal hormone to be discussed later).

As cortisol determines the response to stress, it can also beunderstood to determine the presence of courage. Not theaggressive courage of testosterone, the testicular hormoneregulated by Mars, but the stubborn, hold out against over-whelming odds -type courage.

“MOON: Influences the two hormones of the back pitu-

itary, the thymus hormone, and the hormones of the alimen-

tary tract. One back pituitary hormone regulates woman’s

periodic functions. Pituitrin, the other back pituitary hor-

mone, causes water to be retained in the body and the con-

traction of all the arteries except those of the kidneys. It

causes the contraction of the plain muscles of the bowels,

the bladder, the womb and other organs. It is sometimes

used in childbirth to contract the womb. It also has some-

thing to do with the metabolism of the carbohydrates. Its de-

ficiency leads to obesity. The thymus hormone tends to

retard attaining maturity. These hormones respond either to

thought-cell activity stimulated by progressed aspects in-

volving the Moon, or to conscious thinking of the Domestic

type."

The back pituitary or posterior pituitary secretes oxytosin,which causes milk ejection and uterine contraction andADH (pituitrin to Benjamine, now also called vasopressin)is antidiuretic hormone which stimulates water reabsorp-tion in the kidneys. The hormones which regulate“woman’s periodic functions” are several and complicatedandwill be discussed shortly. The thymus gland provides noknown hormone but plays an important part in the develop-ment of the lymphocytes and immunity prior to its involu-tion at puberty.

Oxytosin is essential for normal childbirth (delivery). It isused in virtually every childbirth after the delivery to aid incontracting the uterus and delivering of the placenta whichpasses after the child. It also, as already stated, promotes the“let down” ofmilk at the teats. It is also used to induce laborand to reduce postpartum bleeding.

ADH regulates serum (liquid portion of the blood as distinctfrom the cellular portion) osmolarity (roughly speaking,

Diagram 2

Diagram 3



how concentrated the serum is) by increasing the perme-ability of certain areas (the late distal tubules and collectingducts) of the kidneys to water — thus making the serummore concentrated (adding lesswater—higher osmolarity)or less concentrated (adding more water — lowerosmolarity). Vasopressin or ADH is also a very potent con-strictor of smooth muscle — the muscle that constrictsblood vessels and the gut. A disorder of the posterior pitu-itary gland in which ADH secretion is deficient is called di-abetes insipidus (diabetes = urine and insipidus = tastelessin Latin. This is opposed to diabetes mellitus =sweet urinein sugar diabetes). In this condition, an excess of urine ismade called polyuria (poly =many ormuch and uria = urinein Greek) causing the patient to have polydipsia (poly =many or much dipsia = drinking in Greek) i.e. great thirstsometimes necessitating standing under a running showerconstantly drinking and urinating!

The regulation of a woman’s periodic functions or the fe-male hormonal cycle is complex. We can start with the se-cretion of LRH,luteinizing -re-leasing hormone(remember releas-ing hormonescome from the hy-p o t h a l a m u s )which causes thesecretion of LHluteinizing hor-mone and FSHfollicular stimu-lating hormone bythe anterior pitu-itary gland. FSHand LH work onthe ovary by caus-ing reabsorptionof the corpusleuteum (imma-ture follicle) and leaving a white body or corpus albicans, amature ovarian follicle. A follicle is an arrangement of cellsthat remain after the ovum or egg has been shed into theuterine tube. (This uterine tube, by the way, is where fertil-ization takes place— not in the uterus). Thismature folliclesecretes estrogens, which provoke a thickening of theendometrium (the nourishing, outer lining of the uterus).The corpus leuteum secretes progesterone and estrogens,which act to level off the endometrium and ready it for im-plantation. If implantation fails to occur, i.e. no fertilizedegg attaches itself to the endometrium, the levels of proges-terone and estrogens drop and the endometrium decom-poses and menses begin (See diagram 4):

It ismy contention that Benjamine attributed the LRH to the“back pituitary.” This hormone being themajor regulator of“women’s periodic function.”

“MERCURY: influences the hormone of the parathyroid

glands and one of the hormones of the front pituitary.

Parathyrin, the hormone of the parathyroid glands, con-

trols the calcium metabolism of the body, and in combina-

tion with other hormones ruled by Mercury, Uranus,

Neptune and Pluto, controls the type of electrification. The

front pituitary hormone which responds to Mercury influ-

ences cerebral activity. These two hormones respond to

thought -cell activity stimulated by progressed aspects in-

volving Mercury, or to conscious thinking of the Intellectual

type.”

Parathyroid hormone or PTH from the parathyroid glandscontrols calcium metabolism by increasing serum calcium.Calcitonin, from special cells in the thyroid gland, causesreduction in serum calcium. These hormones work primar-ily on bone (themajor storage source for calcium,) but PTHalso works on the gut and the kidneys to increase serum cal-cium.

I believe that thehormone from thefront pi tui tarywhich responds toMercury and in-fluences cerebralactivity describedby Benjamine hasnot yet been dis-covered. This isvery interestingand exciting! Atthis time there areno known specifichormones fromthe pituitary glandthat are related tothinking. Thereare however,many types ofchemicals se-

creted from the third eye area of the brain (including the pi-tuitary) that influence other parts of the brain such asendorphins and enkephalins. These substances are beingstudied now. Endorphins, for example are released duringsex, prolonged exercise (runner’s high) and after usingsome illicit drugs such as heroin and are responsible for thepleasurable sensations or feelings registered by the brain.They influencemood, perception of pain,memory retentionand learning. These substances were not discovered untilthe late 1960’s and the 1970’s! I believe that the Masterpicked up this information on one of the Astral levels andthat it pertained to the future and was not yet a part of Mun-dane knowledge!

“VENUS: influences the hormone of the thyroid gland and

the hormones of the gonad glands. Testosterone is the male

sex hormone of the testes. Alphaestradiol has been found to

Diagram 4



be the active principle of estrone, the female hormone of the

ovaries. It is now commonly referred to as the estrogenic

hormone. These gonad hormones contribute to virility and

rejuvenation. The corpus leuteum hormone, progestin, the

hormone of pregnancy, also responds to Venus. The thyroid

secretion, thyroxin, is the hormone of energy production.

These hormones respond either to thought-cell activity

stimulated by progressed aspects involving Venus, or to

conscious thinking of the Social type.”

We have already discussed the thyroid gland and its hor-mone thyroxine under the Sun and need not say more aboutit here. Testosterone is indeed the male sex hormone of thetestes. It is under the same control in the male that the “fe-male periodic function” is under in the female. Namely,Gonadotrorin Releasing Hormone is produced in the hypo-thalamus. This causes the production of Leuteinizing Hor-mone by the anterior pituitary. This is then released into thebloodstream and causes the testes to produce testosterone.Testosterone causes spermatogenesis (formation and matu-ration of sperm cells and is also responsible for the develop-ment of the male sexual characteristics like deep voice,hairy chest, large Adam’s apple, etc.

The major female hormone is estradiol (Benjamine is morecorrect calling it alphaestradiol or a-estradiol). Its forma-tion and regulation was described under the Moon.Estradiol is responsible for the growth and development ofthe female reproductive organs and the proliferative phase(growth phase) of the endometrium (seeMoon discussion).These hormones indeed contribute to virility and rejuvena-tion. Progestin or progesterone has also been discussed un-der the Moon. It is formed by the corpus leuteum or maturefollicle and makes the endometrium ripe for the implanta-tion of the fertilized egg. After the fertilized egg has im-planted and started to grow,Human chorionic gonadotropinis produced by special cells (Blastocyst) of the developingembryo which keeps the corpus leuteum functioning andproducing progesterone. This keeps the endometriumof theuterus healthy and lush to provide nourishment for the em-bryo instead of being shed as menstrual discharge. The pro-duction of progesterone is later taken over by the placenta tomaintain pregnancy.

It appears that Venus then, influences the sexual hormonesand thyroid hormone through its effect on the third-eye areaof the brain.

“MARS: influences the hormones of the adrenal glands, and

the hormones of the gonad glands. Testosterone, the male

sex hormone, secreted by the testes, has been given great

publicity as a generator of male virility and as a rejuvenator

of the whole body. The adrenal glands secrete two hor-

mones. Adrenaline, secreted by the adrenal medulla, is the

hormone of emergency energy. Cortin, secreted by the adre-

nal cortex, is the hormone of courage. Both adrenal hor-

mones neutralize toxicity of the blood and are the chief

chemicals used by the body to fight infection. These sex hor-

mones and adrenal hormones respond either to


volving Mars, or to conscious thinking of the Aggressive

type.”

Testosterone has just been discussed. The adrenals are de-scribed perfectly. Cortin, now called cortisol orglucocorticoids ismerely semantics and has been discussedunder Sun above. I must mention however, that rather thanfight infection, the glucocorticoids actually cause increasedsusceptibility to infection by causing immunosuppression.These hormones are given in large doses to help prevent re-jection of transplanted organs, for example; rejection iscaused by the body trying to fight off a foreign invader byusing its immune defense (the transplanted organ from an-other person which the body sees as an invader -not self).Glucocorticoids actually inhibit this immune defense al-lowing survival of the implant.

One of my old professors in medical school told us of whencortisol was being first used inmedicine. It was tried on nu-merous infections. In tuberculosis for example, before spe-cific antibiotics were developed, it was given to peopledying of the disease. They immediately began feeling betterand looking better—however they died of the disease evenfaster. This was because the cortisol took away the inflam-matory aspects of the disease; however the effects on theimpairment of the immunity caused them to die sooner.

I must also stress that hormones are chemical messengersonly. They themselves do not neutralize or fight anything.Their concentrations in the blood are very small usually re-quiring special units of measurement to even describe suchminute amounts.

“JUPITER: influences the hormone of the pancreas, insu-

lin. Sugar and starch can only be used as fuel by the body, or

as the kindling necessary to burn fat, when insulin is pres-

ent. The liver is the central banking system of the body

where reserve fuel is stored in the form of animal starch, or

glycogen. Such storing depends upon the supply of insulin.

This hormone responds either to thought-cell activity stim-

ulated by progressed aspects involving Jupiter, or to con-

scious thinking of the Religious type.”

This description is as accurate now as it was then and re-quires no intervention on my part.

“SATURN: influences one hormone of the front pituitary

gland. This hormone governs the growth of the skeleton and

supporting tissues. Saturn, equally with mars also influ-

ences one secretion of the adrenal glands, adrenaline, the

hormone of the medulla. This is the hormone of emergency

energy. These two hormones respond either to thought-cell

activity stimulated by progressed aspects involving Saturn

or to conscious thinking of the Safety type.”

Again the Master is 100%. We have learned a bit more re-garding Growth Hormone. In addition to its function of



stimulating protein synthesis and overall growth, it islooked upon by many as the hormone of youth. There aremany studies currently going on regarding the replacementof GH in older people. The levels of GH drop rapidly afteradulthood is reached. Replacing GH has been shown to re-verse many of the effects of aging such as poor sleep, wrin-kles, graying hair, overweight, decreased muscle mass,fatigue, loss of libido. (Don’t ask. I use GH both personallyand professionally!)

“URANUS: influences one hormone of the front pituitary -

the one related to original thinking - and it influences the se-

cretion of the parathyroid glands. Parathyrin, the hormone

of these glands, controls the calcium metabolism of the

body, and in combination with other hormones ruled by

Mercury, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, controls the type of

electrification. These Uranus hormones respond either to


volving Uranus, or to conscious thinking of the individual-

istic type.”

Again I say, how very interesting and exciting! At this timethere are no known specific hormones from the pituitarygland that are related to original thinking. There are how-ever, as discussed under Mercury above, many types ofchemicals secreted from the third eye area of the brain thatinfluence other parts of the brain such as endorphins andenkephalins. Perhaps the Master picked up some informa-tion on one of the Astral levels not yet a part of Mundaneknowledge!

Parathyrin or Parathyroid hormone has already been dis-cussed, but I wanted to add a little regarding its effect on the“type of electrification”. Electrification in the body and thedifferent cells has been studied quite extensively sinceBenjamine’s time and proper explanation would require aseparate paper. However, with regards to parathyroid hor-mone and calcium, the latter has a role in the stabilization ofmost cellular membranes, including those of nerve cells.Toomuch calcium tends tomake them less likely to conductan impulse; too little calcium tends to make them irritableand promote excessive impulses. Additionally, calciumplays a part in the communication between nerves and be-tween nerve and muscle and also is very important in thecontraction of muscle tissue.

“NEPTUNE: influences the hormone of the pineal gland,

and the hormone of the parathyroid glands. The hormone of

the pineal gland prevents precocious maturity, and it neu-

tralizes and depresses the secretion of adrenaline and

cortin. Parathyrin, the hormone of the combination with

other hormones ruled by Mercury, Uranus, Neptune and

Pluto controls the type of electrification. These Neptune

hormones respond either to thought-cell activity stimulated

by progressed aspects involving Neptune, or to conscious

thinking of the Utopian type.”

The hormone of the pineal gland ismelatonin,which indeedplays a role in controlling the onset of puberty. The levels of

this hormone drop off after puberty. It has recently beenfound that low levels ofmelatonin contribute to insomnia inthe older adult. There is evidence at the current time that itmay stimulate the immune system possibly by depressingthe secretion of cortin (cortisol). Parathyrin (parathyroidhormone) has already been discussed.

“PLUTO: influences the hormone of the pineal gland, one

hormone of the front pituitary - the one related to coopera-

tive effort - the cortin hormone of the adrenal cortex, and the

secretion of the parathyroid glands. The hormone of the pi-

neal gland prevents precocious maturity, and it neutralizes

and depresses the secretion of adrenaline and cortin. Cortin

is the hormone of courage, neutralizes toxicity of the blood,

and is one of the chief chemicals used by the body to fight in-

fection. Parathyrin, the hormone of the parathyroid glands,

controls the calcium metabolism of the body, and in combi-

nation with other hormones ruled by Mercury, Uranus,

Neptune and Pluto, controls the type of electrification.

These Pluto hormones respond either to thought - cell activ-

ity stimulated by progressed aspects involving Pluto, or to

conscious thinking of the Universal Welfare type.”

We have already discussed the pineal gland, however an an-terior pituitary hormone related to cooperative effort —what a wonderful hormone this would be! It could be syn-thesized (as most hormones are today ) and given to almosteveryone. We could all use a good dose of such a miraclehormone. Unfortunately, we have yet to discover such aboon. Perhaps this is another bit of information picked up onthe inner plane that lies in the future. At this timeco-operative behavior amongst Humans is thought to be alearned behavior, involving pleasure and pain. We have al-ready discussed cortin and parathyroid hormone.

In summarywe can see thatmuch ofwhat Elbert Benjaminestated in Lesson 222 regarding the hormones and their ef-fects on the human body was remarkably true. Remarkablebecausemost of these hormones had just been or had not yetbeen discovered at the time of his writing. Some of his com-ments regarding the direct effects of the planets and their as-pects upon the terminal endocrine glands are veryinteresting and have not been studied. For example, we donot really know whether an aspect of Mars or Venus mighthave a direct effect upon the testes or the ovaries causing in-creased testosterone and estradiol respectively and thus by-passing the accepted regulation from the higher centers(pituitary gland, hypothalamus, etc.). I can assure you thistype of study has not been done because of the prejudiceagainst astrology held by the “scientific” community. Thedescriptions of the various pituitary hormones that “influ-ence cerebral activity,” “original thinking,” and “coopera-tive effort” from Mercury, Uranus and Pluto respectivelyare fascinating. The discovery of such substances 20 and 30years after the Master’s passage from this plane is evenmore so. �



Hermetic Astrology

From Whence Come theEnergies of ProgressedAspects?

Elbert Benjamine

From February 1938 American Astrology Magazine

Whenever a strong progressed aspect forms in any per-son’s birth chart those closely associatedwith him, if

they are observant, can note that he is affected in three dif-ferent ways: He thinks differently than he did before theprogressed aspect was within one degree of perfect. His ob-servable behavior is different than it was before. And eventsof some importance come into his life, often apparentlythrough no actions of his own.

So far as science has been able to discover, movements ofany kind consume energy. There was a time when it wasconsidered that thinking consumed very little because theloss in calories, or heat units, coincident with solving theheaviest kind of mental problems was insignificant. Al-most, or quite all thus lost could be accounted for as neces-sary to maintain the normal bodily functions. Physicalwork, however, showed at once a higher consumption offuel. Thus the assumption grew that mental work requiredlittle energy, instead, as is now known, of being the hardestwork in the world.

If you will read the reports of experimental psychologistsmade a few years ago you will get the impression that men-tal work is unique in that it seems to be action producedwithout an adequate cause of energy use. The physical en-ergy generated by the combustion of oxygen with fuel ismeasured in terms of calories. The energy it takes to raiseone kilogram (about two pints) of water from 0 degrees to 1degree C is a calorie. Just to keep alive aman requires 1,700calories a day. It takes 170 calories to digest ameal. Readingone hour, to sustain the muscles while so engaged, con-sumes 5 calories. A 10-mile walk consumes 600 calories.One hour at a desk, the energy being consumed by the mus-cles holding the body in position, requires about 21 calories.Yet the same experimenters found that if the body is so re-

laxed as to place no extra work on the muscles, but with thebrain intensely active, that so little energy is consumed thatit can not be detected with the calorimeter.

It is the custom of physical scientists to consider that actionof any kind consumes an adequate amount of energy, yethere apparently was an exception to the rule. It puzzledthem sorely, but as they could not measure or detect the en-ergy used in mental activity it became the assumption ofmany that such effort required little or no such expenditure.But they were not warranted in that conclusion. Nor are wewarranted, I believe, when we witness the activities in per-sons’ lives coincident with progressed aspects in assumingthat actual and adequate energies are lacking to producethose activities.

Discoveries of material science within the past year or twohave demonstrated, not only that directed thinking is thehardest work in the world, consuming a vast amount of en-ergy, but have shown that these energies are electrical, andcapable of measurement. A brief summary of these discov-eries will, I believe, pave the way for the next step, which isto show the nature of the energies which are consumed inthe additional thinking, the new type of behavior, and theevents attracted, when an individual has a major progressedaspect operative as mapped in reference to his birth chart.

The cells of the physical body are of protoplasm, just as webel ieve the substance of the astral body isthought-organized psycho-plasm. And each of these cellshas a nucleus of protein, with is comparatively acid. Sur-rounding this nucleus is the cytoplasm, which is compara-tively alkaline. Separating the acid nucleus and the alkalinecytoplasm of the cell is a semi-permeable membrane. Elec-trolytes are thus formed of the humors of the body in such amanner as to make of each cell a miniature electric battery.The semi-permeable membrane separating the nitrogen



fraction from the hydra-carbon fraction of the cell, and themembranes surrounding the cell, are adapted to storing andconducting electricity.We have long been familiar with theidea that the heat and light produced in burning wood, oil,coal or gas is merely the release of the heat and light radi-ated by the sun and stored in the plant. Also that the heat ofthe human body, andmuch of its energy, is derived from therelease of solar heat from such carbon compounds. Thegreen leaves of plants are able to store these solar energiesin the process of photosynthesis bywhich theymanufacturethe carbo-hydrates from the carbon dioxide of the air andwater.

But the function of the nitrogen compounds in releasinghigh-frequency energies is the latest discovery. Materialscience now holds that these high-frequency energies,which are of far greater intensity than the heat radiationsdue to oxidation of the carbon compounds, furnish the elec-trical, or etheric, energy which runs the body.

Nitrogen as it occurs in the air, due to the firm binding of itsatoms in pairs, is one of the most inert chemical elements.But when these pairs of atoms can be rent asunder, nitrogenbecomes one of the most active of all chemical agents,formingwith the oxygen of the air the unstable oxides of ni-trogen, such as enter into the nitro group.

Carbon compounds united with this nitro group form themost powerful explosives known. Glycerin, for instance,when the nitro group is added, becomes nitroglycerine;toluol, a coal product, when the nitro group is added, be-comes the explosive TNT. Iodine and chlorine are elementsessential to human life; and the iodide of nitrogen is so sen-sitive it may be exploded by a delicate electric charge or aslight mechanical disturbance; while the rays of the sun, aslight jar, or the lightest contact with the fringe of an oiledfeather will detonate chloride of nitrogen.

Part of the energy of TNT, nitroglycerine, and gunpowder isderived from the energy of solar radiation stored in the car-bon compounds. But glycerin, charcoal, etc., by themselvescan not be exploded. The high-frequency energy content ofsuch explosives is due to the nitrogen compounds. And inprotoplasm, carbon compounds — sugars and fats — arejoined with nitrogen compounds, called proteins.

Scientists hold that the temperature of the surface of the sun,about 6,000 C, is insufficient for its radiations to tear apartthe paired nitrogen atoms of the atmosphere. Lightning, ter-restrial electricity, and nitrifying bacteria, however, are ableto do this. The Fixed Nitrogen Research Laboratory atWashington reports that one hundred million tons of nitro-gen are thus fixed annually by lightning and carried to theearth’s soil by the precipitation of rain, snow and hail.

Because lightning puts more energy into the fixation of ni-trogen than the sun’s radiance puts into the carbon atom, theoxidation of a nitrogen compound, such as protein, emits a

shorterwave than the oxidation of a carbon compound, suchas the fats and sugars. That is, each cell of protoplasm, in ad-dition to generating heat, emits waves of high frequency,capable of knocking electrons off of atoms and thus creatingan electric charge.

Such electrical charges, Dr. Edwin J. Cohn, Professor of Bi-ological Chemistry at Harvard, found to be present on thegiant proteinmolecules, which previously had been consid-ered electrically neutral.Measuring these charges, he pointsout that the movement of such an electro-magnetic mole-cule operates like the armature of a dynamo. It produces anelectric current. And these electric currents are the ethericenergies which flow over the nerves and enable the mind tocontrol the body.

It is thus held that protein molecules are able to release thehigh-frequency energy of the lightning which fixed the ni-trogen that plant life took from the soil. This is in accor-dance with Einstein’s Law of Equivalence: that the energyof an atom is given out in the same quanta as those receivedby the atom. And these short-wave radiations have proper-ties with which we have become familiar in the radio. Infact, Dr. Cohn used the same technical developments in themeasurements of the electrical properties of the giant pro-tein molecules that have led to the improvement of theradio.

Of all the cells of the human body, those of the nervous sys-tem are best adapted to the production of short-wave radia-tions, as well as to carrying electric currents. And the graymatter of the frontal lobes of the brain are the best adapted ofthe nerve cells in this respect. These, because of their highspecialization, are the ones chiefly employed in objectivethinking.

This discovery of the electrical properties of protein provesthat the nervous system of man is a radio broadcasting set.And it alsomeans, because scientists have found these elec-trical phenomena of the nervous system to be reversible, aswhen the cells recharge in sleep, that the nervous system is adelicate receiving set, capable of intercepting short-waveswhich reach it from other broadcasting sets; and, as I be-lieve, from the planets. Each cell of physical life, whether aportion of a larger plant, animal or man, or independent ofsuch an organization, is a generator of electrical charges andradiates short wave-length energies. Through these ethericmotions it is kept in contact, I believe, with thefour-dimensional thought-cells which constitutes its intelli-gence. It is these four-dimensional thought-cells, thus asso-ciated through short wave-length etheric radiations with thephysical cells, that enable blood, corpuscles, epithelialcells, and various physical organs intelligently to continuetheir special kind of work even after they have been re-moved from the body of an animal. In the Rockefeller Insti-tute for Medical Research, for instance, a chicken heart hasnot only been kept alive but beating in a glass tube of nutri-ent solution, and constantly growing, for over 25 years.



So long as the electrical equipment is able to perform itsfunction of furnishing short-wave radiations thethought-cells, which have gained their experience for suchwork in less advanced forms, are able to keep contact withthe physical, and to exercise control of its movementsthrough directing the flow of electrical energies. But when,for any reason, the battery runs down, the essential condi-tions of contact between the three-dimensional and thefour-dimensional plane are no longer present, thethought-cells can not exercise control, and the physical ispronounced dead.

Thus also, in order that the brain cells shall vibrate suffi-ciently to register as objective consciousness, electric en-ergy is expended. The cells of the gray matter of the brainare the most effective electric batteries of the body. Yet allconscious thought, as has now been proved by laboratoryexperiments, consumes electric energies.And like any elec-tric battery if the circuit is kept closed it tends to run down.If you keep your foot on the starter of your car, you areaware that the current weakens, and that if this is continuedyour battery goes dead. So, not only with the brain, but withevery cell and organ of the body, if it is to continue to per-form its function it must be given an opportunity to re-charge.

Yet if, before the battery is dead, the circuit is broken, it re-charges itself. For a battery thus to recharge, it has to haveresting periods. And all the organs of the body are providedwith such periods of rest in order that they may not becomecompletely polarized, or dead. The nerve cells that operatethe breathing, for instance, thus rest from sixteen to eigh-teen times per minute. The heart and its nerves take someseventy to ninety short rests between beats per minute; andthe various other glands and organs take brief rests betweentheir periods of rhythmical activity.

The brain, because its effective use, requires a longer periodof activity not broken by short periods of loss of conscious-ness, has developed the power to generate moderatelystrong electrical currents over a considerable length of time.Yet for it to recharge it also must have a period of rest com-mensuratewith thework it has done. Commonly, the periodof rest is about eight hours out of each twenty-four. This pe-riod of rest, during which the cells of the brain recharge, isknown as sleep.

A rabbit kept awake, but otherwise kindly treated, alwaysdies, usually on the fourth or fifth day. Other animals andhuman beings, prevented from sleeping, also die. They diebecause the circuit has been closed so long the battery hascompletely run down. It has had no opportunity to recharge.

Rabbits and such animals as have been kept awake by scien-tists to determine the electrical effect of loss of sleep havebeen given the minimum amount of stimulation to keepthem awake. But college students used for the same pur-pose, have been tested in connection with the different de-

grees of mental activity. The more intense the mental activ-ity and the more concentration required the soonerexhaustion was observed.

In electrical terms, this means that to keep the attention di-rected to some predetermined line of thought, the brain cellsrelated to that line of thought must generate, or mobilize anelectrical potential higher than the electrical potential gen-erated, ormobilized, by the brain cells receiving stimulationfrom the desires of dissimilar thought-cells or from incom-ing nerve currents. In otherwords, the thoughts towhich theattention of objective consciousness are given, must be ableto command and use electrical energies of higher voltagethan other thoughts which compete with them for attentioncan command. It is because it must consume so much elec-trical energy in overcoming these resistances, even morethan that such thinking is a recently acquired biological pro-cess, that directed thinking is the hardestwork in theworld.

The reason scientists for so long considered that such brainwork consumed almost no energy is because they were try-ing to measure a low frequency energy, that of heat waves,in connection with brain and nerve activity. With the dis-covery that the body consumes more electrical energy thanheat energy, they acquired a new and clear conception of theimmense amount of energy consumption required for di-rected thinking.

And I believe thatwhenwegrasp the significance of the ner-vous system, and the high-frequency electric energieswhich it carries, as connecting up with the still more diffi-cult-to-detect planetary energies, we will no longer con-sider that progressed aspects operate without an adequateenergy consumption.

The human body is more sensitive than any mechanical de-vice so far constructed. For instance, during the past yearDr. J.D. Hardy and T.W. Oppel, of Russell Sage Institute ofPathology and New York Hospital, have reported that thehuman skin is more sensitive to small temperature differ-ences than are themost sensitive thermometers. But just be-cause at present no thermometers are keen enough to detectthese slight temperature variations they are not denied anexistence. The effects observed upon the skin are not con-sidered to be without an adequate expenditure of energy; inthis case an expenditure of heat energy.

Andwith the example before us of scientists once consider-ing brain work to require no appreciable expenditure of en-ergy because as yet they were unable to detect the kind ofenergy expended, it would seem unjustified to consider thatthe work accomplished coincident with progressed aspectsis not the result of adequate energy expenditure.

If you will observe any individual of your acquaintancewhen a heavy progressed aspect nears its culmination youwill observe that he thinks the type of thoughts astrologersassociate with the planets involved in the aspect. That is, if



Venus is one of the planets, affectional matters occupy hismind more than is usual; if Mars is one of the planets, strifeis apparent in his thinking; or if Saturn is one, his thoughtsturn more than is their custom to caution, fear, system, hardwork or loss. And it seems as difficult to believe that this re-sult in the type of thinking which is observed to be presentwhen a given planet is party to a progressed aspect, isbrought about through an abstraction, without energy ex-penditure, as it is to believe that thinking does not consumeenergy.

Or to state thematter in a slightly differentway: there are tenplanets, and whenever there is a strong progressed aspect toone of them, the thinking is always noticeably colored in thedirection of the type attributed to this particular planet, andnot toward the type attributed to planets not then involved ina progressed aspect. The implication is, therefore, that insomemanner the energies of the planet are able to influencethose electrical energies which when they vibrate the braincells give rise to objective thinking.

Furthermore, this thinking relates to the department of lifemapped by the houses in the birth chart ruled by the planet.That is, not only the general type of thinking is colored bythe planets making the progressed aspect, but the depart-ment of life about which there is more than usual thinking islikewise indicated.

It would seem, therefore, that the progressed aspect oper-ates as an aerial by which the energies of the planets in-volved in the aspect are picked up in more than normalvolume and added to the factors of the unconscious mind.These factors are not dependent for their persistence uponassociation with a physical organism; but they are depend-ent for certain types of expression, which we call objectivethinking and behavior, upon such association.

We can perceive very readily howa given type of thinking issure to influence the behavior. That is, if a man has a pro-gressed aspect in his chart to Mars, and thus his mind be-comes more energetic, daring and aggressive than usual, itis quite apparent that his physical actionswill bemore apt totend in the direction of hazards and strife. And, whateverplanet does receive a powerful progressed aspect, it doescolor the physical behavior in the direction astrologers at-tribute to it. This is something easy to observe.

However, a large portion of the eventswhich come into peo-ple’s lives are not the necessary outcome of their observable

actions. A freeze that destroys crops, a fire that causes loss,an automobile accident, a letter from a distance offering aposition, the death of a relative, the inheritance of wealth,may have no observable connectionwith eithermerit or pre-ventable behavior.

The Brotherhood of Light Research Department haschecked the birth charts and progressions at the time impor-tant events came to pass in the lives of thousands of people.The result of this vast accumulation of evidence shows thatimportant events are attracted into people’s lives only dur-ing the time an appropriate major progressed aspect iswithin one degree of perfect. The event is characterized bythe planets making the aspect; and relates to the departmentof life ruled in the birth chart by the planets involved in theaspect.

We can not believe these uniformly observed results areachievedwithout an adequate expenditure of energy. Some-thing exerts a pressure upon environment at a distance insuch a manner as to attract the event which is characteristicof the special kind and trend of energy expended. We havecome to believe, therefore, that events and conditions are at-tracted into human lives — and into the lives of all othercreatures— due to the activities of the thought-cells withinthe astral form. The astral form of every living thing is com-posed of such, cells, built by the consciousness accompany-ing experiences.

These stellar-cells, the more active of which are organizedinto the dynamic structures mapped by the planets in thebirth chart, have a certain intelligence of their own, andwork from the four-dimensional plane, to attract into the lifeconditions and events corresponding to the way they feel.

When they receive no additional energy from any sourcethey have only the amount and kind of activity indicated bythe birth chart. It is only when, from some source, such anaerial formed by a progressed aspect picking it up, they re-ceive an additional energy supply that their activity isgreater than the normal thus shown. That is, events of a spe-cific type, and related to a definite department of life, are at-tracted into the life during the time the appropriateprogression is within one degree of perfect because thethought-cells of the unconscious mind relating to this de-partment of life then receive sufficient energy and of a kindthat enables them to do the work necessary to bring theevent to pass. �



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Talented CofL Members

The following poem was written by CofLmember RichardDorris…we thought some of you might enjoy it also:

“Watch Tower

“Keeping in-Touch, between him and you,”Tapping the forces, that enlightens the few.

They possess the eye, that has no lens,They calculate the bull, and count the twins.

They open the doors, to the arcane path,Using the keys of metal, and universal math.

The weather that blows, the hidden wind,Is refracted by spheres, that alter its trend.

The love of life, that is seen with light,That is faster than green, blue or white.

It is called the One, the solar ray,From gold to silver, from iron to clay.

It reaches the minus, that orbits the plus,From lines of thoughts, to utter disgust.

Its influence is shown to those who hold,The keys of metal, of silver and gold.

These souls in question, using Solomon’s power,Stand humble and true, on top of the tower.”

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We love receiving your responses and comments here atCofLHeadquarters.We apologize for being slow to respondbut we are small in number and mighty in purpose. We tryand include a representative example of your comments intheQuarterly to help keep the energy flowing between all ofus. It’s always good to hear the voice of a kindred spirit!

**From a new member

“I just want to write to tell you that I’ve been a spiritualseeker for about 25 years. I’ve learned, and still practiceyoga and some effective meditation practices. In all myyears of study of metaphysical principles I’ve pretty muchignored and dismissed astrology because I never heard anexplanation thatmade sense. I recently started studying her-metic teachings and finally decided that I needed to come toa conclusion about astrology sincemany hermetic practitio-ners, and many other teachers I’ve encountered over theyears, practiced or used it.

“Imust admit that I started this course believing that Iwouldend up trying to filter out the useful principles from the as-trology but after reading this first book [Course I, Laws of

Occultism] I have to admit that I’m very impressed with thepresentation. This is the first presentation of astrology thatmakes complete sense to me and I’m surprised and am en-joying the study. In addition, the principles are quite scien-tifically sound. I’m also pleased that Mr. Benjamine urgedreaders not to take the teaching solely on faith but to test inlife and personal experience and since this is the only way Iknow to test spiritual teachings, I’mgoing to dowhat he rec-ommends. I’ve enjoyed the discoveries I’ve made in thisreading and I’m looking forward to continuing and com-pleting my study of these principles and making more dis-coveries!”

**5-8-01

Aperson fromArlington Texas called with interest in mem-bership information after being bequeathed CofL materialfromadeceasedmember…Those seeds just keep growing!

**9-10-00

Long time member, Jewel Richman sends this commentabout some of the CofL’s more illustrious members…I sup-

Membership Room



pose you could call this gossip but it’s such a good storyabout real peoplewhomade such a difference in our lives!

“…Mildred [Schuler] gave her all whenBenjaminewas liv-ing. They got along really well. She got up that conventionthat I sent you a picture of. She was a guest at Maria andElbert’s home at that time. She really liked Maria but saidshe had to cook big roasts for Elbert. He told her he had tohave meat. Mildred hadn’t eaten any meat since 1926.Elbert andMaria visited Mildred too. She said they workeduntil the wee hours of the morning on something pertainingto the Church of Light.”

**4-8-01

“Thank you. I received the natal chart onmy daughter and itdid explainmore tome in a short time than 16 years of expe-rience! To my delight…keep up the good work.”

**From an Arizona member

“…My studies are going just fine and I can’t recall beingthis enthusiastic about something since I was a teenager in-volved in basketball and gymnastics. Know that mythoughts and prayers are with you.”

Building a Better World

FYI: There is a time and a season for everything, so the bible

tells us. Astrologically we know this to be true. But, it seems

the time for astrology is not yet nigh...close though! No

doubt the last two or three decades have resulted in some

very real changes in attitudes about astrology. Even so, one

of the best ways to turn a lively intelligent conversation cold

is to mention that astrology is a useful tool. Unfortunately,

most people still see astrology as fortune telling…terrific

entertainment value! To a limited extent this attitude is our

own fault because we don’t yet know our own limitations.

Limitations are not a bad thing. In fact, a limitation once

known gives definition and form. The mission of researchers

everywhere is to discover the limitations of a subject and

then to move beyond them when possible. However, it is dif-

ficult to maintain a spirit of inquiry and openness in a cli-

mate of disrespect and ridicule. Astrological prejudice

chills the vital force that otherwise might breathe renewed

vigor into the kinds of questions astrologers will ask. For

most part, this prejudice is fueled by the institutions that

define our culture. Scientific methods courses…in no uncer-

tain terms... place astrology and alchemy firmly in the gar-

bage heap of the discarded past along with charlatanism

and quackery. “Science” is busy working on one side of the

equation. It seeks a predictable, mechanical solution that

leaves open-mindedness behind the closed doors of its

narrowly defined world. Although attitudes are changing

in the scientific world, the following article, written by the

chancellor of Boston College, John Silber, is a good exam-

ple of the prejudice that remains in important places. For

real progress to occur the kind of prejudice exemplified here

must be conquered by the willingness of astrologers and sci-

entists alike to open their eyes to truth and discovery. This

article is included here because it reminds us how far we’ve

come and how far we have to go. Remember as true pio-

neers we keep the flame burning until a time when science

and the other institutions of culture open their eyes and dis-

cover their heart. If Aquarian Age prophecy holds true then

tools for understanding the Soul will provide the much

needed balance for a technological world that can hope to

realize its humanitarian ideals. Three cheers for Kepler

College…may they become another beacon of LIGHT and

may they be blessed with an open mind, loving heart and

clear thinking! And, may John Silber be blessed with the

same!!!

“Wednesday, May 16, 2001

“Silliness under Seattle Stars

“Seattle has a new institution of education: Kepler Collegeof Astrological Arts and Sciences, named for the greatmathematician, astronomer and optical scientist, JohannesKepler (1571-1630). But Kepler’s scientific achievementswere not decisive in making him the college’s namesake.His real attraction is that he believed, to a limited extent, inastrology. He lived in the last years when a great scientistcould believe in astrology.

“The promoters of Kepler College have honored Kepler notfor his strength but for his weakness, as if a society advocat-ing drunkenness named a school for Ernest Hemingway.

“The simple existence ofKeplerCollege isworth little com-ment.Where there are humans, there will be folly, and insti-tutions to advance it. But Kepler College claims that it is``the only college of astrology in the Western Hemisphereauthorized to issue BA and MA degrees.’’ This authoriza-tion does not come from theNational Association ofAstrol-ogers, Witch Doctors and Soothsayers. To the contrary,Kepler is accredited by the Higher Education CoordinatingBoard of the state of Washington. Thus, this board used thepower of law to make Kepler the peer of the University ofWashington.

“Kepler’s program is carried out almost entirely online.Each term, after 11 weeks at the computer, students come tothe campus for a week of face time with their teachers andtheir fellow students. This may be a competent way to teachastrology. As long as bodies of nonsense exist, there will bepeople able and willing to transmit them to others. But, ofcourse, many in the public will recognize the state as certi-fying not merely Kepler College but astrology itself.

“Astrology is in fact a bizarre survival from pre-scientifictimes. Its theories were worked out when people believedthe earth was the center of the universe and that seven plan-ets revolved around it: the Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun,Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.

“Although this view of the universe has been proven false,astrology continues with hardly a wobble. Astrologers plot



the state of the heavens at someone’s birth on what they calla natal chart. This tracks scores of variables producing thou-sands of combinations, sufficient to prove anything, andtherefore nothing.Any astrologer can plot a chart for a serialkiller showing how the serial killings were written in thestars.What they cannot show iswhy other people born at thesame time and place have quite different careers.

“The fact is that astrology, whether judged by its theory orits practice, is bunkum. In a free society there is no reason toprevent those who wish to learn nonsense from findingteachers who want to make money peddling nonsense. Butit is inexcusable for the government to certify teachers ofnonsense as competent or to authorize - that is, endorse - thegranting of degrees in nonsense.

“That is what the state of Washington has done. It is hard tothink how a state agency might use its authority in a waymore foolish and degrading to real education.

“As long as governments are composed of humans, theywill commit folly and legitimize folly. In 1692, Massachu-setts legitimized the superstition of witchcraft by hangingwitches. That the officials who did this followed their owndeeply held beliefs and those of almost all of their constitu-ents doesn’t obscure the folly and the tragedy. And even ifthe officials of the state ofWashington assume almost all oftheir constituents believe in astrology, that does not excusethem.They stand exposed as ignorant, foolish and contemp-tuous of the public interest.”

—Many thanks to Victoria Hill for sharing this with us.

Course 8 Math

Don’t forget…if you need help with the math courses con-tact the office! And, you do not have to do courses in or-der…skip the math and come back if you wish.

Classes:

Canberra AUSTRALIA

Hermetic Academy of Astrology; Julia Goldstein. Threeyear course work in Hermetic Astrology.

If you are conducting classes or study groups and wish tohave it announced in the Quarterly, please let CofL HQknow. [email protected].

Many Thanks

To Dr. Angelo Chirban for all the energy he contributes bygrading math exams and for his work with TOOTS…TheOrder of the Sphinx. Dorothy Wissler for grading examsand answering letters. Donald Baker for grading exams andBarbara Baker for writing letters…both of them for theircontinued support in the publishing of CofL books. AllanCurthoys for his work with Mundane Astrology and coun-seling.OurAnonymousOnewho contributes so generously

to the Advertising Program. Izabela and MarkSuleymanova for helping HQ with the Russian publishingoffer. Barbara Kniffen for building the archives for all of usto use. For the countless others, let us hear from you!

Clarification

The Order of the Sphinx (TOOTS) is the officially recog-nized graduate program designed to meet the needs ofHermeticians.We encourage all Hermeticians to participatein this group.At the present time the group is in its formativephase and like anything new can use lots of nourishing en-ergy. As the graduate arm of the CofL we fully expect thatthe fulfillment of Zain’s vision for future research will befulfilled...especially in the areas of ESP and Astrology. Aspapers are produced theywill be reported in theQuarterly soyou can all be looking forward to these results.The next TOOTSmeeting is scheduled for July 20th at CofLHeadquarters.

Tarot Cards

The BofL tarot cards are in the process of being redrawn.The process is unbelievably tedious and time consumingand absolutely necessary due to the degraded condition ofthe current cards. In answer to the questions about how truethey will be to the original BofL deck…they are an exactreplica. The process we are using is to scan the cards andthen using a vector drawing programwe are tracing the orig-inal image. Arcanum I, pictured on page 1 is a copy of thenew card. We’re excited about this project and hope that allof you will send your loving support for its timely achieve-ment!

Quarterly on the Web:

Look for the Quarterly on the CofL web site athttp://www.light.org. Although you can download a copyof the Quarterly for free, donations are appreciated andneeded. To read the Quarterly from the Internet, you willneed a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader, version 3 or newer.You can download the Adobe Acrobat Reader free fromAdobe Systems http://www.adobe.com/products/acro-bat/readermain.html.

We have resumed the policy of sending printed copies of theQuarterly to activemembers. If you do not wish to receive ahard copy please let us know.

The Academy of Hermetic Astrology in Canberra ACTAustralia

Remember to look for their Quarterly Newsletter on theHome Page. Like the CofL Quarterly their newsletter is apdf file and will require Adobe Acrobat Reader. Its link islocated on the CofLHome Page ....in the stardust next to theCofL Quarterly. �


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THE OFFICIALCHURCH OF LIGHT CORRESPONDENCE LIST

Newmembership is on the rise! In fact, newmembership in the first half of 2001 is up by 50% fromwhat it was this time lastyear. One of the most common questions asked by new and old members alike is “Can you put me in touch with other CofLmembers?” Church headquarters is happy to announce an all-new, streamlined system for helping our members to connect.You design your participation to fit your needs.Meet people locally or from around the world. If you have a particular area ofinterest or expertise, let us know. Whether you want one on one correspondence with a single pen pal or an email list filledwith new faces and ideas- it’s up to you!

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A nonprofit organization incorporated to teach, practice anddisseminate The Religion of the Stars

The Religion of the Stars teaches that every person in the world

should have Freedom fromWant, Freedom from Fear, Freedom

of Expression and Freedom of Religion. And, to obtain these in

proper measure, each must become familiar with the Facts of

Astrology, the Facts of Extra-Sensory Perception, the Facts of

Induced Emotion and the Facts of Directed Thinking. Rather

than working to accumulate all that one can for himself or her-

self, each must learn to take pleasure in “Contributing Your

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Documents

The Astrological Significance of Each Egyptian Tarot Card ... · Elbert Benjamine Editorial: Mercury Vicki Brewer, Hermetician, Minister Are We More Than Half Civilized? Elbert Benjamine