Let us continue a series of 12 articles devoted to the 12 “essential qualities” related to the 12 Signs of Zodiac, the living symbol, key and reality for the development of consciousness. The main purpose here is to marry the established understanding of the Signs in the Astrology of esoteric Teachings with Laurency’s work on the corresponding 12 Essential Qualities.
4th – Festival of Cancer – “I build a lighted house and therein dwell.“
Cancer is the fourth sign in the procession of the zodiac that has bearing on the development of the self as per the geocentric tropical perspective. The landing vibrations of Cancer magnified through the Sun correspond to the 4th of the 12 Essential Qualities. It is an opportunity to align our service and learning in harmony with those energies so that acquisition of Cancer’s watery qualities can be facilitated for humankind.
Laurency’s take on the matter is expressed as “Uprightness”. May the following of his work be of use in our approach to the full moon of Cancer, the most propitious time to realise the 4th essential quality:
4 Uprightness
truth
uprightness, justness, sincerity
integrity, objectivity, honesty
(KL1-8: The Conception of Right, 8.16)
Below is a basic consideration of concepts listed above as a starting point for deeper personal and collective consideration for world-activity:
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Truth – Truth is symbolically the accommodation and acceptance of light. If a house is dark, the all manner of covert manipulation and evil can impede evolving construction. A well lit house is akin to immediate conscious activity with matter so that clear study brings illumination. Our house is our world, a symbol for community – and light is needed. A flowing healthy heart connection to the community of the world prefaces common work to uncover the truth. Connective water always eventually finds a way to flow, even sometimes leaks, so that truth wins out. The truth can cause temporary confused emotional discomfort, but broadly this is necessary to build a better house.
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Uprightness – Societal status and material entitlement does not equate to true uprightness. Structures of social, institutional, political and economic power falsely parade their posed uprightness, focused through impressive figureheads and deceptive mouthpieces. Hubris and vacuous pompousness are the result. The state of true uprightness is earned through genuine action that upholds truth and incorporates goodwill toward the common good and evolution. Anyone can have it, and if it is met with an amount derision then in this day and age there is a good chance that an aspect of it is true. Individuals have freedom to choose how much they can uphold given their abilities and circumstance. It often goes without reward but the positive repercussions are real.
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Justness – Truth applied shows the process of justice, and that process can appear at the time to be non-existent. Justness is the living art of acting in accordance with justice. It is not to be confused with prejudice, which amongst other things is a lack of heart connection to others and community. Truth and justice cannot fully be realised until knowledge and wisdom fully unveil, but along that path attempts at good decisions can be made and learned from. Conscious refusal of contextual responsibility causes injustice, but the cosmic law of reaping and sowing eventually brings balance. Evolution for self and community accelerates when truth is applied sensitively and considerately, and in no way lacks rightness.
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Sincerity – There is much fiction and illusion in the dealings of humankind, and collectively we are not at a state where we are free of this liability when making important collective decisions. Nevertheless, it is useful to have open forum with the goal of truth is commonly aimed for. This implies a courageous dedication to collectively filter the pouring forth of mental confusion and emotional distractions. We must not fear being wrong and put aside ego and subservience. Only then can the pure waters be found, and with them the truth. Masking our feelings and damming our confusion leads to stagnation and disconnected incorrectness. Open sincerity will reveal the work that needs to be done. Everyone in the house has a responsibility of sincerity if the house is to be well lit. Ignorance exposed through sincere flowing exchange builds common sense. The opportunity to face a mistake is an open doorway to an illuminated room you never thought existed.
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Integrity – The walls of a well lit house need to be built of stable stuff if they are to stand true. Darkness only hides the need for repairs. Integrity is a manifestation of truth. It is earned through right work. Community over time will give a sign that the work being done is aligned to truth, and in some cases it will directly confer appropriate responsibility to the worker. However, conscious effort needs to be applied to maintain integrity, and at any point we are liable to confusion and corruption, especially wherever praise is involved. Then unfortunately a pose of mock integrity is used to acquire self-serving power. True integrity is a never ending labour of love that builds a house of union that enable the dwellers to best undertake collective consciousness development.
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Objectivity – Humankind at the present stage of development has access to useful objectivity in the lower physical world. Modern science tries to expand beyond this with difficulty. Any objectivity is prefaced by stages of subjectivity. If subjectivity is consciously acknowledged, accepted, applied and tested then gradual improvement of perspective ensures. Emotional and mental subjectivity is useful and necessary – it need not be feared or shunned. Conversely, over-sureness of these things can lead to poor decisions. A balance between confidently acting accordingly to a ‘best working hypothesis’ and avoidance of presumption leads to improving application of justness. Glimmers of objectivity are won when service to the common good and plan of evolution are striven for.
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Honesty – Concealment of truth is the impediment of consciousness development. The negative effects of concealment are magnified conversely with the degree of power involved. When governments and corporations are closed and use secrecy as a weapon against global health then the effects are negatively tremendous. Transparency of information rebalances power structures. The same theme of dishonesty is relatively undermining of goodness in all smaller community dealings. Dishonesty is often veiled as ‘the done thing’ and wrapped in distracting positive feelings such as purposefulness or dutiful discretion. The need for personal individual privacy is not to be confused with the social need to reveal confusion, incorrectness, corruption, selfishness or any manifested evil. Individuals or groups deserve to be freed from prejudice but they are not exempt from honest dealings with all levels of community, from local to global. Light increases in the house when all safely work together openly.
