Spring 2010 The Volume 6 Esoteric Number 1 A publication of the School for Esoteric Quarterly Studies Esoteric philosophy and its applications to individual and group service and the expansion of human consciousness. The School for Esoteric Studies. 345 S. French Broad Avenue, Suite 300. Asheville, North Carolina 28801, USA. www.esotericstudies.net/quarterly; e-mail: [email protected]. The Esoteric Quarterly The Esoteric Quarterly is published by the School for Esoteric Studies. It is registered as an online journal with the National Serials Data Program of the Library of Congress. International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) 1551-3874. Further information about The Esoteric Quarterly, including guidelines for the submission of articles and review procedures, can be found at: www.esotericstudies.net/quarterly. All corres- pondence should be addressed to [email protected]. Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief: Donna M. Brown (United States) Review Editor: Joann S. Bakula (United States) Editor Emeritus: John F. Nash (United States) Alison Deadman (United States Barbara Maré (New Zealand) Gail G. Jolley (United States) Judy Jacka (Australia) Web Master: Dorothy I. Riddle (Canada) Copyright © The Esoteric Quarterly, 2010 All rights reserved. Copies of the complete journal or articles contained therein may be made for personal use on condition that copyright statements are included. Commercial use without the permission of The Esoteric Quarterly and the School for Esoteric Studies is strictly prohibited. Spring 2010 The Esoteric Quarterly Contents Volume 6, Number 1. Spring 2010 Page Page Features Nazi Germany: The Forces of 41 Taurus, Scorpio and Editorial 5 Capricorn Publication Policies 6 Phillip Lindsay History of the Esoteric 7 Duality and Non-Duality: 61 Quarterly Awakening to a Unified Perspective Poems of the Quarter: 10 Donna M. Brown “Wesak Moon” 75 by Gay Witherington Fundamentals of the “Nirvana” Work by Sri Aurobindo Picture of the Quarter: 11 Student Papers “Joy Vibration” by Freydon Rassouli The Meaning of the Soul 77 Quotes of the Quarter 12 Roy Blendell Advertisements 14 On Peace and its Bridging Nature Articles A Student Reclaiming the Principle of 17 Book Review Harmlessness Dorothy I. Riddle Astrology as a Path to Higher 86 Vedic Teachings on the Consciousness 25 Seven Rays by Kurt Abraham Zachary Lansdowne The mission of the Esoteric Quarterly is to We also encourage feedback from readers. provide a forum for the exploration of Comments of general interest will be esoteric philosophy and its applications. published as Letters to the Editor. Full-length articles and student papers are All communications should be sent to solicited pertaining to both eastern and [email protected]. western esoteric traditions. Copyright © The Esoteric Quarterly, 2010 3 The Esoteric Quarterly 4 Copyright © The Esoteric Quarterly, 2010 Spring 2010 Editorial Unicity and Synastry ne of the articles in this issue deals with philosophy and the newer trends in O the complex dynamic of synastry, or psychology and science. The author provides astrological concurrence and relationships. examples of positive harmlessness in The other featured articles are all thought, word and action and offers a number characterized by a measure of universality. of suggestions to deepen and ensure its Each draws upon one or more of the practice. perennial threads linking a plurality of Our next article by Zachary Lansdowne religious and spiritual forms. These golden explores the correlation between modern threads or currents emanate from, as Theosophical teachings on the seven rays and metaphysician and philosopher Frithjof the sacred hymns of the Rig Veda. Guided by Schoun termed it, “a nucleolus of certitudes” the psychological interpretive approach of Sri comprising the timeless essence of spiritual Aurobindo, a Hindu philosopher, poet and thought. As such, they represent something yogi, and augmented by the teachings of of the great diversity of form and tradition by Alice A. Bailey and others, the author which facets of the one Truth can be focuses on the seven spiritual ideals or revealed. pathways of spiritual development and the The universality of religious thought and, seven communities of human beings more importantly, of united spiritual effort, symbolized in the obscure texts of the Vedas. are also reflected in the cycle of the three His in-depth investigation reveals the ancient major Festivals into which we just entered. origins of the teachings on the rays as well as These three linked Festivals, destined to the unicity of Divine Revelation. comprise one of the central tenets of the New Another article by Phillip Lindsay presents World Religion, unite the great Western an astrological analysis of the rise of Nazi Festival of the Christ, the great Eastern power. The author focuses upon the Festival of the Buddha and humanity’s prominent influences of Capricorn, Taurus aspiration toward the Divine. The Festival and Scorpio on pre-Nazi and Nazi Germany. period represents the underlying accord in the Also discussed is Shamballa’s role in world religious ritual and a combined unfolding certain “racial Avatars” who invocative approach designed to evoke new emerge along First Ray lines and come forth currents of inspiration and revelation. from the realms of light and also from the Our first article by Dorothy Riddle explores realms of cosmic evil. Lindsay’s research the principle of harmlessness, one of the core reveals a fascinating synastry in the charts of values shared by all the major spiritual the Nazi party and its early founders, as well traditions. Despite the longstanding religious as a number of illuminating relationships emphasis on “doing no harm,” there is, as the among the so called “gang of seven” which author points out, a significant discrepancy he calls the “inverse initiatory seven.” What between the conceptual grasp of harmless- emerges is a lucid portrait of the energies and ness and its application. Rather than adhering forces that shaped one the most significant to the dated notion that characterizes events of the past century. harmlessness in terms of the absence of The last full length article in this issue is harmful behavior, her article highlights a concerned with the dynamic principles of proactive view as espoused by esoteric Copyright © The Esoteric Quarterly, 2010 5 The Esoteric Quarterly duality and non-duality and their reflection in Publication Policies human thinking. Drawing on examples from the major religious traditions, esoteric rticles are selected for publication in the philosophy and science, this article uncovers AEsoteric Quarterly because we believe the universality of non-dualism—the they represent a sincere search for truth, experience of non-separation and Oneness— support the service mission to which we in all authentic systems of thought. How and aspire, and/or contribute to the expansion of why the ’One becomes the Many’ is human consciousness. discussed, along with duality’s paradoxical Publication of an article does not necessarily power to both connect and separate. The imply that the Editorial Board or the School author explores the various factors involved for Esoteric Studies agrees with the views in awakening to unitive or non-dual expressed. Nor do we have the means to consciousness and concludes by touching verify all facts stated in published articles. upon the “living insight” and the “blossoming of the Presence” that results We encourage critical thinking and analysis when the split between self and others begins from a wide range of perspectives and to dissolve. traditions. We discourage dogmatism or any view that characterizes any tradition as In addition to the full-length articles, this having greater truth than a competing system. issue contains a “History of the Esoteric Quarterly” beginning with its initial inception Neither will we allow our journal to be used in 2004 to the present. We also offer a new, as a platform for attacks on individuals, occasional feature—“Fundamentals of the groups, institutions, or nations. This policy Work”—designed to address some of the applies to articles and features as well as to challenges that new students face with letters to the editor. In turn, we understand aspects of the training. Our first paper that the author of an article may not focuses on the foundational technique of necessarily agree with the views, attitudes, or visualization. values expressed by a referenced source. Indeed, serious scholarship sometimes This issue includes two student papers: “The requires reference to work that an author Meaning of the Soul,” by Roy Blendell and finds abhorrent. We will not reject an article “On Peace and its Bridging Nature,” by an for publication simply on the grounds that it anonymous student. Also included is a contains a reference to an objectionable review of the book “Astrology as a Path to source. Higher Consciousness” by Kurt Abraham An issue of concern in all online journals is that explores the special opportunities potential volatility of content. Conceivably presented by each of the zodiacal signs. articles could be modified after the We offer a radiant painting—“Joy Vibration” publication date because authors changed by visionary artist Freydon Rassouli, along their minds about what had been written. with our usual “Quotes of the Quarter” and Accordingly we wish to make our policy two evocative poems. The first poem, clear: We reserve the right to correct minor “Wesak Moon,” is by Gay Witherington. Our typographical errors, but we will not make second offering, “Nirvana” is published with any substantive alteration to an article after it kind permission from the Sri Aurobindo “goes to press.” Ashram in Pondicherry, India. Additionally, we expect authors to disclose any prior publication of an article, adapted Donna M. Brown from a book or any another source, at the Editor-in-Chief time of its submission. 6 Copyright © The Esoteric Quarterly, 2010 Spring 2010 The Esoteric Quarterly Five Years Old The story of the Esoteric Quarterly began on meeting of the board of directors the May 13, 2004 when John Nash visited the following month.