THE ARCANE FORMULAS/PART 9
LESSON
9.
CYCLICITY AND
BALANCE.
The SWING
of the rhythmic pendulum is
always at right
angles to its central line
of suspension—always to-and-fro,
backward and forward, from a
fixed center of gravity which is directly
under its point
of suspension. A
similar law is evident
in the movements of a body
revolving in a circle,
in which is manifest the
power of
the central point which holds
the body from flying
off into space, and also the
power which causes the
body to continue in cyclic revolution instead of
falling toward the centre.
In fact, the
cyclic motion is merely
another form of
rhythm and is dependent
on the latter, just
as rhythm, itself, is dependent
on the existence of the Law of
Opposites, or Polarity. Polarity,
or The Opposites,
is the fundamental
cause of both Rhythm and Cyclicity.
All
active movement expresses
itself in rhythmic
motion, between its two poles
or opposites. But
this rhythmic motion is not
necessarily always in a straight
line, as in the
case of the
pendulum. In fact, the
motion of large bodies, and also of
races, history, events,
etc., is generally
in a circle.
This results from the attraction
and repulsion of objects and forces
outside of the swinging
thing, which tends to draw
it out of
its backward and forward swing, and which gradually converts the
straight line of
the swing into a circle.
Consequently, on all
sides, and in all things
we find the Law
of Cyclicity in full operation.
As the
Aphorism states: "Cyclicity is akin to Rhythm, and arises
by reason of it. All
events tend to move in
Cyclic Trend—in constant circular
movement of continuous recurrence.
The only escape
from Cyclicity is
found in the process of transmutation into Spirality. This
is accomplished by
advancing the Central Point of
Motion. The conversion of
the Circle into the
Spiral is one of
the highest forms
of mental Alchemy.”
It is evident to all
who will examine the
subject that the mental life of
the average person is merely the
constant traveling 'round and 'round in a recurring circle—the
circle gradually widening
from childhood to the prime of
life, and then narrowing from
that time to old age
and death. The average person is held firmly
bound by this Law
of Cyclicity, and while
he finds the circle
widening or narrowing
as the case
may be, he never
makes any real progress. It is always
a constant swing
around the same old central
point—a process similar to the
travel of the
squirrel in the treadmill
of his cage—a constant traveling
which results in his
getting nowhere.
It is
only when the individual
is able to convert
the circle into the
spiral, that he is
able to advance. All
real advance is
accomplished in this way. Many acquire
Spirality "by accident," as it
were. They find that
by the assertion of the Ego—by the
use of the
inner Will, they
are able to advance
the Central Point of
Motion. Advanced Occultists are
able to consciously
advance their Central Point
of Life Motion,
and thus to do intelligently
that which the average person does to a lesser degree under the
unconscious influence of circumstances.
It is
most difficult to render
simple and plain the Arcane
Formula regarding this form
of Mental Transmutation, for it is so
bound up with the conscious use
of the Will
that it cannot
be understood except by
those who have felt the
realization of the Will,
Consciousness. It may be described in this way, however;
The average person merely desires
to advance. This desire exerts more or less
influence on the Will.
When, however, a
person has learned to Will, he
is able to accomplish far more
than he could by the
mere power of plain desire. By his conscious
Will he is able to project
his Ego a step
or more in advance in the Cosmic scale,
and thus establish a new
Centre of Cyclic Motion. By
the increasing power
which comes to
him gradually by this conscious use
of the Will,
the individual establishes
a habit of
Spiralic Progression which replaces
the old simple Cyclic
movement.
The Neophyte
by cultivating the
habit of constantly
willing an advance
at each circle, will find that
though his life still
maintains its circular
movement, yet at each return
to a given point
will he advance
a little higher
in scale and plane. Just as
a traveler ascending
a mountain must needs
go 'round and 'round it, each
time a little nearer to the peak,
so will the traveler along The Path of
Attainment find that at
each circling the old paths
will be below
him.
The
study of
the succeeding chapters of this
book will give
the Neophyte additional instruction and suggestions in the
direction of the use of the visualizing power
of the mind to bring
about desired conditions.
Visualization may be employed in this matter
of converting the
Circle into the Spiral, as well
as in the minor matters of life.
The distinguishing mark
of the advanced Occultist, or
individual who has found the
Real Self, is
Poise or Balance.
This is always
a mark of
power, just as its opposite
is always a mark
of weakness. As the
Aphorism says: "Poise is Power.
Poise results from
Balance. Balance is
secured by adjusting and maintaining the Centre between the Pairs of
Opposites. By Balanced
Poise the Master neutralizes
Polarity and Rhythm, by
resolving them into Unity.
In the Heart of the Storm
is Peace. In the
Centre of Life there is
Poise and Power. Seek it
ever, O Neophyte—for
in it thou
shalt find thy Self".
The old Occult
Masters were wont
to illustrate the Balanced Life
of the Advanced Ego by
the figure of
the acrobat walking
the tight-rope, a feat
which has descended to us from
antiquity. They would picture
the Initiate traversing the Razor-edge Wire
of Life, balancing
himself by the
Balancing Pole of the
Opposites. Now shifting
the weight on one
side, and now on the other,
he is able to walk the
Path in safety. Having the
confidence of the Awakened Ego he trusts
to his own power and the
use of the
Balancing Pole. The untrained
person attempting the feat
would be borne over by the
pull of
one emotion or feeling,
or another, and would be dashed to
ruin. But the Balanced Ego walks in confidence
and safety, because of
his mastery of the
art of Balance.
Pitting one emotion against another
he neutralizes the one
which threatens to pull
him down. By
Mental Alchemy or Transmutation, he
is able to transmit
a dangerous pull
into a part of his
balancing process. His
axiom is "Action and Re-Action are equal," and this principle he applies in all
the emergencies and crises
of life.
He always manages to have a push
or a
pull to counteract a push
or a
pull in a different direction, and thus
balance and poise is
maintained.
Balance and Poise
may be attained by
entering into a realization of the
real nature of the
Ego—that the Ego is
based and focalized in Will—that
the Ego can, and should,
always act from
the plane and position of Will
rather than from the
plane and position of
Emotion and Feeling. In
fact, the entire instruction of this
book, up to this
point, has been in the
direction of leading the individual
to a consciousness of
his real nature,
which, if once
acquired, must inevitably result
in perfect Balance
and Poise. The facts
stated, the instruction, the
exercises, all will
aid in the acquirement of
Balance and Poise. Toward this
goal, all of
our efforts have
been directed.
Balance
results from Mastery. Mastery
results from Knowledge and
Practice. You have
been told the truth.
Make it your
own. Realize what
you are. Practice the
methods of the
Formulas. Then, and then
only, will you enter
into that consciousness
of Peace, Poise
and Power, which comes to him
who hath acquired Balance. As we
have said in the Arcane
Teaching: Oh, Neophyte, in the
Centre of Life
shalt thou indeed find Poise and Power.
In the Heart of
the Storm shalt
thou find Peace. In the
Centre of the
Cosmos shalt thou find
thyself. He who finds the
Centre of Himself, finds the Centre of the Cosmos.
For, at the last,
they are one!
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