376. Esoteric Psychology - Volume I - 19. Section Two - CHAPTER II - The Rays and the Kingdoms in Nature 1. The Mineral Kingdom - A. BAILEY

Section Two - CHAPTER  II - The Rays and the Kingdoms in Nature

1. The Mineral Kingdom

Influence	The seventh ray of organisation and the first ray of power are the dominant factors.
Results	The evolutionary results are radiation and potency, a static potency, underlying the rest of the natural scheme.
Process	Condensation.
Secret	Transmutation. The Treatise on Cosmic Fire defines this as follows: "Transmutation is the passage from one state of being to another through the agency of fire."
Purpose	To demonstrate the radio-activity of life.
Divisions	Base metals, standard metals, precious stones.
Objective agency	Fire. Fire is the initiating factor in this kingdom.
Subjective agency	Sound.
Quality	Extreme density.  Inertia.  Brilliance.

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Students must remember that we are not dealing with the elements and atoms, as we study this kingdom.  They are the substance out of which all the mineral forms are made.  But we are dealing with the mineral forms as they manifest in the concrete world.  We are considering the tangible and objective world.  The internal constitution and geometrical formation of the minerals do not come under our subject matter.  This is not a scientific treatise, as usually understood, but a study in quality and consciousness as they affect the form aspect.  Much, if not nearly all that exoteric science has posited regarding the mineral kingdom can, for ordinary uses, be accepted as relative fact.  But two points should be considered, and they are:

1. The consciousness aspect of the mineral world.

2. The transmutation of forms by fire in that kingdom, leading to an ultimate radiation.

The best known example of the effect of the initiation of the mineral by fire can be seen in the great transition and transformation, allotropically brought about, from the carbon stage to that of the perfect diamond.  A further qualitative stage can be seen as the radiation or the throwing off of rays, as in radium.

That there are three stages in the evolutionary processes in the mineral kingdom must be borne in mind, and these (though apparently unrelated to each other from the angle of modern science) are nevertheless subjectively and essentially part of a tremendous inner process.  These stages are the correspondences in the mineral kingdom to the stages of animal consciousness, of self-consciousness, and of the radiant group consciousness of the soul.  There is a fourth stage of potency or of organised expressed power, but this lies ahead, and is the analogy in this kingdom to the life of the Monad, as expressed in the solar consciousness of the initiates of high degree.

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Just as science has discovered the ninety-two elements so that the list of the possible elements is relatively complete, so eventually science will have arranged the progressive tables which will show the three stages of the life cycle of every mineral leading from the static mineral stage, such as carbon, through that of the crystal, semi-precious stone and precious stone to that of the radio-active substance. In the determining of this development it is impossible for man as yet to see the relations, for the cycles covered are so vast, the action of the fire in these tremendous periods so varying, and the recognition of the intermediate stages so difficult, that aught that I could say would but feed amusement and incredulity.  But two basic premises can be laid down:

1. That the many mineral substances fall naturally into seven main groups, corresponding to the seven subdivisions of the influencing rays, those of organisation and power.

2. That only in those world cycles when the seventh ray is in manifestation, and therefore supremely powerful, do certain hidden changes take place in these seven groups.  These are the correspondences, in the mineral evolution, to the seven initiations of man.

At these times there is an increased radiatory activity.  This can be noted at this time in the discovery of radio-active substance, as the incoming ray increases its potency, decade by decade.  A certain amount of radiation is basic and fundamental in any world cycle.  But when the seventh ray comes in there is an intensification of that radiation, and new substances appear to come into new activity.  This intensification leaves the entire mineral kingdom, as a whole, more radioactive than before, until this increased radiation becomes in its turn basic and fundamental.  As the seventh ray passes cyclically out of [226] manifestation a certain measure of inertia settles down on the kingdom, though that which is radiatory continues its activity.  In this way the radiation of the mineral world steadily increases as the cycles come and go, and there is necessarily a paralleling effect upon the higher three kingdoms.  People today have no idea what effect this radiation (due to the incoming ray) will have, not only upon the surrounding mineral world but on the vegetable kingdom (which has its roots in the mineral kingdom), and upon men and animals in lesser degree.  The power of the incoming cosmic rays has called forth the more easily recognised radio-activity with which modern science is now concerned.  It was three seventh ray disciples who "interpreted" these rays to man.  I refer to the Curies and to Millikan.  Being themselves on the seventh ray, they had the necessary psychic equipment and responsiveness to enable them intuitively to recognise their own ray vibration in the mineral kingdom.

The seventh ray is one of organised ritual, and in form building this quality is basic and necessary.  The processes found in the mineral kingdom are profoundly geometrical. The first ray is that of dynamic will or power, and—speaking symbolically—when perfected forms and organised vehicles and dynamic power are related and unified, then we shall have a full expression, at the point of deepest and densest concretion, of the mind of God in form, with a radiation which will be dynamically effective.

Again speaking symbolically (and what else is possible when dealing with a mechanism as yet so inadequate as the mind and brain of the average aspirant?), the mineral kingdom marks the point of unique condensation.  This is produced under the action of fire and by the pressure of the "divine idea".  Esoterically speaking, we have, in the mineral world, the divine [227] Plan hidden in the geometry of a crystal, and God's radiant beauty stored in the colour of a precious stone.  In miniature and at the lowest point of manifestation, we find the divine concepts working out.  The goal of the universal concept is seen when the jewel rays forth its beauty, and when radium sends forth its rays, both destructive and constructive.  If you could really understand the history of a crystal, you would enter into the glory of God. If you could enter into the attractive and the repulsive consciousness of a piece of iron or lead, you would see revealed the complete story of evolution. If you could study the hidden processes which go on under the influence of fire, you would enter into the secret of initiation.  When the day comes when the history of the mineral kingdom can be grasped by the illumined seer, he will then see the long road that the diamond has travelled, and—by analogy—the long road that all sons of God traverse, governed by the same laws and unfolding the same consciousness.

The seventh ray, when manifesting on the seventh plane (as is now the case), is peculiarly potent, and its effect upon the mineral kingdom is consequently dynamically felt.  If it is true that there is only one substance and one spirit, that "matter is spirit at the lowest point of its cyclic activity" and spirit is matter at its highest, then the ray of ceremonial order or ritual is but an expression of its polar opposite,—the first ray of will or power.  It is the expression of the same potency under another aspect.  This means therefore that:

1. The power or will of God expresses itself through the organised systematised processes of the seventh ray.  The geometrical faculty of the Universal Mind finds its most material perfection on the physical or seventh plane, working through the seventh ray.  So the mineral kingdom came into being as this major expression.  It holds in solution [228] all the forces and those chemicals and minerals which are needed by the forms in the other material kingdoms.

2. The mineral kingdom is therefore the most concrete expression of the dual unity of power and order.  It constitutes the "foundation" of the ordered physical structure or the universe of our planet.

3. The rhythmic ritualistic adaptability of the seventh ray, plus the dynamic will of the power ray, are needed in conjunction for the full working out of the Plan, as it is found in the mind of God.

This is why, in this present period of transition, the Lord of the seventh ray is taking over the control of affairs and the ordered working out of the Plan, so as eventually to restore stability to the planet and give the incoming Aquarian influences a stable and extended field in which to work.  This we shall later elaborate when we take up the study of the zodiacal signs and their relation to the rays.

We shall now touch upon the next two points,—condensation and its hidden secret, transmutation.  From the standpoint of external matter, the mineral kingdom marks the densest expression of the life of God in substance, and its outstanding, though oft unrealised, characteristic is imprisoned or unexpressed power.  Speaking in symbols, a volcano in eruption is a mild expression of this power.  From the standpoint of esoteric substance, the four ethers are far more dense and "substantial".  This modern science has also told us, positing the hypothetical ether.  This fifth kingdom (counting occultly from the egoic kingdom downwards) is a reflection of these four ethers, and the point of their densest concretion.  Just as they "substand" or form the basis of the manifested world, and are regarded as the "true form," so the mineral kingdom is the fundamental kingdom in the three worlds, under the Law of Correspondences.  [229] It is, in a most peculiar sense, "precipitated etheric substance", and is a condensation or externalisation of the etheric planes.  This solidification or precipitation—resulting in the production of dense objective or solid matter—is the tangible result of the interplay of the energies and qualities of the first and seventh rays.  Their united will and ordered rhythm have produced this Earth and the molten content of the planet, regarding the earth as the crust.

In the turning of the great wheel, cycle after cycle, these two rays come into functioning activity, and in between their objective cycles the other rays dominate and participate in the great work.  The result of this interplay of psychic potencies will manifest in the eventual transmutation of the earth substance, and its resolution back again into that of which it is the objective condensation.  Again language fails to find the needed terms.  They are as yet non-existent.  I mention this as an indication of the difficulty of our subject.  Intangible etheric substance has been condensed into the dense tangible objective world.  This—under the evolutionary plan—has to be again transmuted into its original condition, plus the gain of ordered rhythm and the tendencies and qualities wrought into the consciousness of its atoms and elements through the experience of externalisation.  This resolution is noted by us as radiation and the radio-active substances.  We are looking on at the transmutation process.  The resolving agencies are fire, intense heat and pressure.  These three agencies have already succeeded in bringing about the divisions of the mineral kingdom into three parts: the baser metals, as they are called, the standard metals (such as silver and gold and platinum), and the semi-precious stones and crystals.  The precious jewels are a synthesis of all three,—one of the basic syntheses of evolution.  In this connection, some correspondences between the [230]mineral kingdom and the human evolutionary cycles might here be noted:

1. The base metals	physical plane.  Dense Consciousness.  The first initiation.
2. The standard metals	astral plane.  Self-consciousness.  The second initiation.
3. The semi-precious stones	mental plane.  Radiant consciousness.  The third initiation.
4. The precious jewels	egoic consciousness and achievement.  The fourth initiation.

The correspondences of fire, heat and pressure in the evolution of the human being are self-evident, and their work can be seen paralleling that in the mineral kingdom.

The mineral kingdom is governed astrologically by Taurus, and there is a symbolic relation between the "eye" in the head of the Bull, the third eye, the light in the head, and the diamond.  The consciousness of the Buddha has been called the "diamond-eye."

We have been technical, and much has been given which seems to have no bearing upon the psychological development of man.  But to understand the rays and their bearing on life as a whole, it is necessary that man should grasp the fact that he is only a small fraction of that whole.  Man has his roots in all the three kingdoms; all have contributed to his equipment; he is the macrocosm of the lower microcosm; he is the link which unites the three lower kingdoms to the three higher.  Let it ever be borne in mind that the sign of man's spiritual unfoldment lies in his ability to include in his consciousness not only the so-called spiritual values and the power to react to soul contact, but also to include the material values, and to react divinely to the potencies which lie hidden from him[231] in the custody of the other forms of divine life, found in the three sub-human kingdoms.

In the urgency of the present world situation, it might be well to ask: What need is there to study the rays and kingdoms of nature?  Of what profit is it to speculate on matters of which it is as yet impossible for the average student to apprehend the truth?  Such questions are intelligent and worth while and merit an intelligent reply.  I shall make answer by asking another question: What indication has the would-be server that his mental equipment makes him of any use in this present world crisis?

One of the first things that any teacher of the race has to do is to increase the mental equipment of the would-be server. The work is of-times handicapped by the devoted offering of the emotional aspirant.  The Plan is ofttimes delayed in its fruition by the ill-timed and ill-judged efforts of the earnest follower of the Great Lord.  Above all else the work is handicapped by the personality reactions of the leaders of the groups dedicated to esotericism.  All personality reactions are, in the majority of cases, based upon emotion of some kind or another.  Personal ambition, the desire (sometimes unrecognised) to be the supreme authority in a particular group, fear of interlopers and of terminologies (expressing identical truths), and jealousy of other leaders, plus a sincere though foggy and deluded interpretation of truth, are a great detriment to the cause of the Hierarchy.  And everywhere these things are to be seen!  The seat of all this trouble is to be found in the desire-feeling-emotional body, and in an undue attachment to externals and forms.  These factors prevent that clear-seeing which leads to wise and cooperative action.  If the mental equipment and the mental apprehension of truth can be increased, then it may be possible for real work to be done, and then the groups (that form the One Group) can go forward [232] into real usefulness.  To this end it may be profitable to provide material whereby the mental bodies of the students can grow, and wherein they can find sustenance and the means to develop.  Few people can evolve from within themselves the thoughts and the ideas which should lead them on in the realisation of truth; and those of us therefore who are responsible for the teaching of the race must perforce provide that which is required.  Also, in so doing we work for the coming generation of enquirers, knowing full well that the advanced teaching of today, and the new ideas which influence the pioneers of humanity, become the inspiration of the thinking public in the succeeding generation, and the theology, in due time, of that which follows them.  The beliefs and knowledges of the esotericists today (of the real spiritual esotericists, not of the so-called esoteric groups) are resolved into the formulas of faith of their successors, and become eventually identified with religious beliefs and organisations.

Mental comprehension of the ray teaching, and the study of the rays in relation to evolving nature, are of mental importance and of spiritual import, but of no practical value in the living of the daily life, except in so far as they serve to shift the polarisation of the aspirant off the emotional plane on to the mental, and thereby produce alignment and stabilisation.

We now come to a consideration of the rays and of the vegetable kingdom.  It is difficult for us to grasp the significance of the consciousness and the activity of the mineral kingdom, for it is so far removed from our own.  It is hard for us really to understand, with our seeing consciousness, the fact that, for instance, our nails and teeth and bony structure have a consciousness and an intelligent awareness that is the same in kind, though differing in degree, as that of the eye or of a sensory nerve.  But so it is.  As we approach the forms of life which approximate the living tissue of our animal bodies, our [233] appreciation of resemblance and of identical possibilities increases step by step.  It is only by arguing from analogy that we grasp esoteric truth, and it might bring us some illumination if we realised that there are higher forms of life and consciousness in the cosmos who find it as difficult to throw their consciousness down into the animal forms of humanity as we would find it hard to project ourselves into the consciousness of an iron ploughshare.  But again, so it is.

Let us now tabulate some of the available ideas and information.