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.
6th – Festival of Virgo – “I am the Mother and the Child, I God, I matter am.“
Virgo is the sixth 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 Virgo magnified through the Sun correspond to the 6th of the 12 Essential Qualities. It is an opportunity to align our service and learning in harmony with those energies so that acquisition of Virgo’s earthy qualities can be facilitated for humankind.
Laurency’s take on the matter is expressed as “Will to Sacrifice”. May the following of his work be of use in our approach to the full moon of Virgo, the most propitious time to realise the 6th essential quality:
6 Will to Sacrifice
altruism, disinterest
resignation of power, glory, riches, gluttony
liberality, generosity, magnanimity
service
capacity for work, capability, accuracy
sublimation
courage
freedom from: pride, greed, ambition, self-interest, egoism,
demands, claims, sense of compulsion, inner and outer prohibitions
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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Altruism – Present affluent culture has within it a tendency to foster guilt and powerlessness in the face of the suffering in the world. This is the fertiliser for a fashion of adopting a glamourous charity and duping ourselves into believing we are altruistic. While there may be some positive outcome from this fashion, it must not be mistaken for true altruism and it bears the signs of entanglement in self-interest. True altruism wells up like a selfless beautiful blossom in the loving-heart and is guided by worldly wisdom to be applied in whatever cultural spheres we have access to. It may be anything from local to global action in accordance with Law. It requires not reward or recognition, and is as natural and pure as a mother loves her baby.
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Disinterest – Modern rational professionalism has co-opted the appearance of disinterest and wears it like a suit mocking the real thing. In open public meetings a cool air of dispassion is presented designed to distract from secretive behaviour and machinations to conquer in the name of personal ambition. What is worse is that individuals can parade this behaviour and completely believe they are disinterested. The real thing is transparent and noble action that has no motive of serving the self or serving some structural evil to promote elite detachment from reality. Disinterest is serving work that gives breath to the heart to facilitate common goodness in accordance with Law.
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Resignation of Power, Glory, Riches, Gluttony – Life after life we are tempted by excess until we see the broader cost to ourselves and others. Excesses are tested until natural resignation and containment are reflexes. Prohibitions do not work, are nearly always defied and are the breeding ground for incessant fantasies. Fulfilment and satisfaction comes with pure application to world-service. When we are in a state of creative occupation to bring about consciousness development, peace and harmony, then the thirst for excess wanes. Power, glory, riches and gluttony can be used as unhealthy distractions and faulty havens from ignorant fear.
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Liberality, Generosity, Magnanimity – There is enough for everyone. Mother nature provides for us in abundance. We the children have grown to be capable of being stewards. We have the opportunity to live in balance and harmony with the wealth of the material world and continue on with our evolution. When each of us presently comes into access with abundance we then have a choice to exercise unity-activity. From the heart comes the impulse to give, and from the mind the impulse is selflessly focused to who, what, where, when and how. Giving is its own reward but is never self-detrimental or abusive for the heart. In this present culture it is wise to be careful with what is shared to whom so that enabling does not prop up fictions and illusions. We only need to sharpen our wits to find healthy ways to express liberality, generosity, and magnanimity . Used in conjunction with the other essential qualities the pure gifts we are capable of will heal the suffering of the world.
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Service – Service need not be slavery. Once we collectively reach that realisation then the ‘children of the earth’ may show thanks to their mother and clear the space for joy and peace. The higher and purer the conception of service the broader its good application can be made. Our part to play is one within the infinite. The cosmos is not unreasonable. If service feels like slavery, then we’re doing it wrong. Slavery can be subtle semi-conscious support of unreasonable human corruptions, such as egotistic manipulations, monetary interest, war, separative compulsions, cults, structuralism as religion, and so on. Service is the brilliant journey and work of alining to the pure light of truth and living the art of building the highest common good.
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Capacity for Work, Capability, Accuracy – Many of us live in a favourable culture that fosters capacity for work, capability, and accuracy. In many social spheres reward and recognition is given to these earthly qualities. However, talent is too often completely gobbled up by monstrous systems, self-serving governments and heartless corporations. Therefore, talent can be used as a tool for maintaining suffering. On the other hand, there are many opportunities to refine these qualities in acts of higher selfless service. Then, once favourable supportive conditions are established, practice makes perfect. Works of beautiful transformative quality are achievable.
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Sublimation – In nature we can see that there are great systems at work, all of which we are part of in some way or another. We can see without our host planet we could not physically exist; that broader still we are energised by the sun; and even broader we are part of an observable galaxy in patterned rotation in an epic dance with other galaxies. On a subtler level we can awaken to the effect of planetary cycles, the patterns of intensification in culture, and the progression of rendering our subjective understanding of everything toward workable objectivity. In all of this we can test the hypothesis that we are guided by impulses and intelligence beyond that which we construct for ourselves. Testing reveals points of reliable subjective understanding and the attitude that we are here for a purpose. That purpose is to serve a healthy function in the grander systems, develop our collective consciousness, and wisely take care of all we have stewardship over. This involves our sublimation so that our individuality does not stand in the road of our highest potential.
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Courage – Pure work requires a strong heart. Despite any fear she may have, the mother continues on with the challenging duty of protecting her young. The heart is the physical core of the self – from there the spirit grows in capacity to serve, to fight for what is right and remain consistent with the light of truth. Just as the physical heart beats with passion, our hearts also expand with attractive vibration: therefore the health of the physical is concordant with the health of the emotional. Fear can seize the heart and allow for repulsive feeling to predominate. Courage is to acknowledge the fear and act with full care and compassion anyway. Courage incorporates all that is higher as well, including discernment of knowing what battles to fight and when. Even so, it seems the capacity of our hearts is incredible, and in the right circumstances our courage will make us unstoppable.
