CHAPTER XXIV
SOLAR INFLUENCE

The Sun as the centre of the universe is the gravitational focus of all the forces of the cosmos. It stands to us as the symbol of Deity, or of that Logos which is the manifestation to us of the Inscrutable and Omnipresent. So far as we are concerned it is the source of Light and Heat to the world, and these two properties are the ultimate expressions of the Wisdom and Love of the Creator. When we speak of light and heat we mean those forces which, when they impinge on the Earth’s atmosphere and are sensed by us, produce the sensations of light and heat. The Sun is thus rather the source of the cause of heat and light than of heat and light themselves. It is we who are the interpreters. Even so is it with regard to the Divine principles of Wisdom and Love. These in expression are manifest as Truth and Charity, as Knowledge and Affection, as Thought and Feeling, as Speech and Action. This gives us the following gradient of differentiation—

WisdomDivineLove
TruthSpiritualCharity
KnowledgeIntellectualAffection
ThoughtPsychicFeeling
SpeechPhysicalAction

Thus we see how through the various planes of life the Divine principles filtrate, as do the forces we know as Light and Heat through the various ethers, until they manifest in our physical life. For the Spirit of Truth is the manifestation of the Hidden Wisdom of the Father, and its Bride is the Spirit of Charity. Manifesting in the human they are seen as Knowledge and Affection on the Intellectual plane, and on the Psychic or emotional plane as Thought and Feeling, these being derived from the former, and ultimately finding expression as Speech and Action. Thus all the life of man is linked up with the Divine, as all the universe is with its cosmic centre the Sun.

The Sun shines upon all and illumines all when there are no clouds of doubt interposing themselves between us and the open canopy of heaven. These clouds arise by evaporation from the ferment of the lower nature.

As the cosmic centre, the Sun represents the Heart or seat of vitality in the Microcosm. Astrologically it has its seat in the sign Leo which corresponds with the Cardiac zone, including the heart and solar plexus. It is thus related to the vital principle in man. Its position and aspects in a horoscope will determine the stability of the Constitution and hence the natural duration of life. Its sign, position and aspects in the world are the chief cause of the variations of season and the nature of the weather. These season changes are, of course, related to the climate in different zones. The effects that are due in the British Isles to solar aspects with the various planets have already been scheduled. Saturn and Uranus are found to be magnetic and cold producing, while Jupiter and Mars are electric and heat producing. Venus acts to produce condensation resulting in drizzle or fine rain. Mercury brings fresh winds; Neptune fine weather. Saturn in the same way brings northerly and easterly winds, Venus westerly winds, Jupiter south-westerly and Mars south-easterly winds. Uranus brings winds from the north-west, and generally frequent showers with intermittent spells of sunshine.

Thus we may set the compass as follows—

Figure 27.

These observations apply only to the British Isles, and more particularly to England, where the observations were made. Everybody will recollect that the Coronation Day of King George V was a wet day. At that time the Sun was in semisquare aspect to both Venus and Saturn. Those resident in England will also recall the exceptionally hot days during the end of July and the beginning of August. The Sun was then passing from the quartile of Jupiter to the quartile of Mars, both heat-producing planets. The positions are necessarily geocentric, as we are considering the effects of the planetary modifications of solar energy so far as this Earth is concerned.