Esoteric is the study of the transpersonal.  It is perceiving life in the context of an evolving consciousness.  Life then becomes a Spiritual journey.   The founding principle of esotericism is that we are essentially Divinity incarnating in form.  We are not our stories.   We are the Reader of our stories.

There comes a point in all our lives where a Spiritual path is consciously chosen.  Our focus then becomes split, on the ‘dual’ life of our Personality and our Soul.  With our goal to blend these aspects ‘parts of ourselves’ into a unified self expression. 

Just as we each individually unfold higher understanding through life experiences, so does Humanity, as a Whole, become more enlightened.    This development can be traced through the Precessional Ages, in two and a half thousand year cycles.  For example we are moving out of the Piscean era into Aquarius and we can see world thought changing.

There are as many paths as there are branches of a tree but each have experiences in common and recognizable stages along the way.  

I’ll begin with an introduction to the Zodiac by Alice Bailey:

“The Presiding One looked forth upon the sons of men, who are the Sons of God. He saw their light and where they stood upon the Way, which leads back to the Heart of God. The Way sweeps in a circle through twelve great Gates, and, cycle after cycle, the Gates are opened and the Gates are shut. The Sons of God, who are the sons of men, march on. Dim is the light at first. Selfish the trend of human aspiration, and dark the deeds resultant. Slowly humankind learns and, in learning, passes between the pillar of the Gates time and time again …

From out the mass of men, one stood forth in ancient days and caught the presiding Elder’s watching eye…Who is that soul upon the Way of life, whose light can now be dimly seen? Watch over his steps and, when he has an understanding heart, an eager mind and skilful hand, bring him to me.

Again the centuries passed. The great wheel turned and, in turning, carried all the sons of men, who were the Sons of God, upon their way… The watching Teacher saw a man emerge… mount the fixed Cross, demanding deeds to do, service to render unto God and man, and willingness to travel the Way… Obey the Teacher on the Way. Prepare for the last tests. Pass through each Gate and in the sphere which they reveal and guard, perform the labor which befits their sphere. Learn thus the lesson and begin with love to serve the men and women of earth.”

The twelve great gates are the twelve signs of the Zodiac.  The fixed cross mentioned, is one of three.  Each cross is made up of four signs and represents a different stage in the unfolding of our awareness.

The Mutable cross is a cross of flux and change, of adapting to environment and circumstances.  It is the cross of our Personality development and where Humanity, as a Whole, has been focused.

The Fixed cross comes into play when we first become sensitive to larger issues and deeper concerns then just our Personality’s issues.  This is in response to the receptivity of spiritual impulses.  ‘Mounting the cross’ means when we have made the conscious choice to redirect our attention along the lines of our Soul life.  It represents a reorientation; a taking on of a spiritual discipline.  Because of this discipline, one who mounts the cross is called a Disciple.   This is a time of determination.  Sometimes called a time of testing.  Sometimes called a time of labors. 

The Cardinal cross is the cross of Spirit.  It represents an even more expanded stage of awarenessness, one called an ‘Initiate’, who has undergone the self directed ‘initiations’ of the Fixed Cross.

The three crosses represent Body, Soul and Spirit or Appearance, Consciousness and Life.

“Matter is the vehicle for the manifestation of the Soul on this plane of existence, and the Soul is the vehicle on a higher plane for the manifestaton of the Spirit, and these three are a trinity synthesized by life which pervades them all.”  –  The Secret Doctrine  

It’s the Fixed cross that Humanity, as a Whole, is now mounting, now transitioning to.   Because of this, I’m not going to call this a time of testing or a time of labors. I’m going to call it a time for puzzles.  Puzzles are more fun then labors or tests.  Like all puzzles, it’s so much easier to put the puzzle pieces together when you’ve got a picture to look at for reference.

There have been many stories in history of creatures born half god, half man, Divine AND human.  Even Pegasus, the winged horse, could travel both heaven and earth.  The most recent popular story was about a man called Jesus.  But there is a story of a half god half man that is even better known then his.  Of a Hero who lived in an age before. 

This man’s name was Hercules.  He was among the most celebrated heroes of Greek mythology.  The Greeks knew him as Herakles. He is generally known to have had Zeus as his immortal Father and Alcemene as his earthly Mother.  Half Divine and half Man. 

He was instructed by Zeus to submit himself for twelve years to the will of Eurystheus, the King of Argos.  If he fulfilled this requirement, he would become like the Gods, immortal.  At the bidding of the King of Argos, he performed the tasks known as the Twelve Labors.   His is a journey of a Son of God dancing around the twelve signs of the zodiac and in so doing, becoming one with his own divinity.

As he dances round the wheel, he expresses the characteristics of each sign, achieves some fresh insight into himself, knowledge that enables the demonstration of the gift the sign confers.  In each, he surmounts his natural tendencies, and becomes  a Master of his own reality.