“Not in vain is it said that a fiery wish will be fulfilled. Let us not regard this as a hidden, illusory conjecture, let us accept it as a reality. Fiery thinking so crystallizes corresponding spheres that thought in itself will already be affirmation. (…) Let us not divide life, for life is eternal. But the fiery wish will be fulfilled. Thus, many images indicated in advance had already been formed in unalterable storehouses. Let us look upon these fiery desires in full consciousness, and let us not be superficial when we are concerned with the essence of Existence.” (1)
“The striving will creates multifold combinations. Only when thought leads to the realization of desire can one create. Everything is contained in striving. The foundation of every action is striving. Hence, the more vividly the striving is expressed and the more clearly the realization is formulated, the more powerfully does the striving create. Men do not know how to wish. Men do not know the measures leading to creativity. Men do not direct their desires toward achievement. Whereas, each aspiring thought can liberate the spirit from cosmic dross. Thus, thought will assist the desire and the psychic energy. How greatly psychic energy moves life! The formulation of the desire gives impulse to creative manifestations. Thus, the thought intensifies each creative energy.” (2)
We usually think that our desires must somehow be abandoned, compromised as they are with the changing, fickle and illusory world of emotions. Yet, as the Teachings testify, desire, when earnest and pure, is the first step on the path to the Infinite.
Even the etymon of the word ‘desire’ (desiderium in Latin) confirms that it is that impetus which impels us to regain the union with the stars that we lost, having privileged the oppressive territories of separateness and egoism, those stars (sidera) from which we originally came (de-sidera)*.
It is in fact to the stars and the Luminaries that we turn our gaze today, since Mars and Jupiter are in opposition heliocentrically on the Taurus-Scorpio axis, that zodiacal bridge on which Eros transforms into Philìa and then into Agàpe.
The compelling strength of Mars, image of Eros, first excites and shakes the human vehicles and then forces them into a tight battle to transfer energy from the solar plexus, which Mars governs for ordinary Humanity, to the heart centre, lovingly guarded and ignited, for Disciples and Initiates, by the magnetic and expansive energy of Jupiter, emblem of pure spiritual Love that contains and nourishes all.
“The Law of Love [Sixth sistemic Law] is the law of the astral plane. It aims at the transmutation of the desire nature, and links it up with the greater magnetism of the love aspect on the buddhic plane.” (3)
Where Mars initially expresses the mere satisfaction of selfish desires, Jupiter urges consciousnesses to broaden, to aspire to horizons of brotherhood and collaboration, and finally to ignite the inner flame and illuminate one’s own and others’ lives with the power of a purified and uplifting desire, the guarantee of a conquered group consciousness.
These passages in the process of expanding our consciousness are well described by Plato who outlines in the Phaedrus and the Symposium, through the words of Socrates, this ascending path of the human soul.
Eros, the lover, the expression of passion, desire and self-centred love, is at first focused on the small self and its needs, unaware of the bright horizon that lies beyond his gaze fixed on the material aspects of life. However, Eros is also a metaphor for the incessant human quest, of the philosopher (also a lover) who embodies the eternal tension towards the One that holds and explains everything.
Thus, through fighting, suffering and understanding, man opens the way to the Infinite he has finally caught a glimpse of and his heart begins to reach out to other hearts, to turn desires into aspirations, to share beauty and momentum towards the heights of the spirit; eros has given way to philìa, the love that starts from feeling and is sublimated into the fraternal and concordant closeness between men.
It is always the same fire that burns in the human consciousness but it gradually purifies itself, leaves behind the dross of matter and finally blossoms in the innermost self as agàpe, disinterested and spiritual love, that ‘transparent desire for good’ that becomes gift and sacrifice, that demands nothing for itself because the essence of Love is in Love itself and asks nothing more than to be able to pour out its unifying fire throughout creation.
Man, therefore, rises to perfect love only by identifying a value that is, from one turn of the ascending spiral to another, superior to that of his previous identifications, finally freeing himself from all attachment to soar into the essential heaven of Being where Oneness, Good, Truth and Beauty are one.
And it is also through faith and pure thought that one rises to the celestial heights and crosses the bridge that leads from desire to Love.
“The lever of faith will permit penetration into the spirit of man. Only through the lever of faith can one adhere to the Infinite. The great lever of faith will aid the spirit in finding its path.” (4)
Desire, then, if well-directed, if fervent and pure, leads us to Love; the latter is complete and inexhaustible abnegation, absolute availability, a drive without ulterior motives, a willingness to help and understand anyone.
Love is also limpid and wise simplicity in proposing the light of the supreme Principles to the many consciousnesses thirsting for Truth and Beauty, a simplicity that mirrors understanding and harmlessness and that knows how to find the right key to open every heart to the splendour of the Good.
Desire then also reveals itself as the inferior manifestation of service, understood as an ardent impulse for the good of the group, as the first manifest effect of the expression of the soul that seeks its way to serve its neighbour.
“This unfolding of what we might call ‘the consciousness of the heart’ or the development of true feeling is the first step towards group awareness. (…) The service rendered today is what it is because the response of men to these new Aquarian influences is being registered at present in the astral body and is working out through the solar plexus. This accounts for the emotional nature of most of the service rendered in the world at this time; (…) When, however, the service rendered is based upon a mental response to humanity’s need, then the whole problem is lifted out of the veil of illusion and out of the valley of the world glamour. Then the impulses to serve are registered in the heart centre and not in the solar plexus, and when this is more generally the case, then we shall have a happier and more successful demonstration of service. (…) How do we define the word ‘Service’? The definition of this word is not easy. There has been too much attempt to define it from the angle of personality knowledge. Service can be briefly defined as the spontaneous effect of soul contact. This contact is so definite and fixed that the life of the soul can pour through into the instrument which the soul must perforce use upon the physical plane. It is the manner whereby the nature of that soul can demonstrate in the world of human affairs. Service is not a quality or a performance; it is not an activity towards which people must strenuously strive, nor is it a method of world salvage. This distinction must be clearly grasped, or else our whole attitude to this momentous demonstration of the success of the evolutionary process in humanity will be at fault. Service is a life demonstration. It is a soul urge. (…) It is a soul instinct, if we may use such an inadequate expression and is, therefore, innate and peculiar to soul unfoldment. It is the outstanding characteristic of the soul, just as desire is the outstanding characteristic of the lower nature. It is group desire, just as in the lower nature it is personality desire. It is the urge to group good.” (5)
Supported by these affirmations, let us strenuously strive to turn our desires into love, our needs into gifts, our selfishness into sacrifice.
Availing ourselves of the driving and magnetising force of Mars and Jupiter, the fire of our soul will be kindled, the heart purified and the consciousness expanded.
And we will be ready to take another step into the fiery Mystery of Love.
“The right way is not to talk about love but to show it in action. (…)
Truly, we are passing through a time of assault,
and each stone must be secured by making an adroit maneuver.
Shoot the arrows with skill.”
(Illumination § 284)
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1. Agni Yoga Series, Fiery World I § 186
2. Agni Yoga Series, Infinity II § 396
* The particle de- in Latin can be found in terms indicating origin from, deprivation of, and removal from.
3. Alice A. Bailey, A Treatise on Cosmic Fire, p. 569
4. Agni Yoga Series, Infinity I § 46
5. Alice A. Bailey, Esoteric Psychology II, p. 123-5
