Good evening friends and welcome to this Festival in Aquarius. The time of the full moon each month is such a unique occassion; it is full of spiritual opportunity for service. Remember this word ‘opportunity’; it is a keynote for the times in which we live. The opportunity of the times is the reason why we and many other groups in the world are meeting in meditation. It is a time when humanity and Hierarchy can approach each other in consciousness. And because of this closeness we are able to radiate the energies of Light and Love more effectively into human consciousness. So let us take a moment to linkup with our co-workers around the world and with the whole of humanity in silent atunement and oneness. And then we will sound together the ancient prayer, the Gayatri.

O Thou Who givest sustenance to the universe,
From Whom all things proceed,
To Whom all things return,
Unveil to us the face of the true Spiritual sun
Hidden by a disc of golden Light
That we may know the Truth
And do our whole duty
As we journey to Thy sacred feet.

The theme of our reflective thought tonight is service; selfless, unimpeded service. Service is of course embodied in the keynote of Aquarius: Water of life am I poured forth for thirsty men. That will be the seed thought for our meditation work. We need to reflect on what this keynote really means.

Aquarius is an air sign and therefore its influence is all-pervasive and inter-penetrating. To many types of mind, this influence is intangible and must, therefore, be unable to produce the desired results; yet the fact is that these intangible pervasive results are of far greater potency and are far more extensive in their effects than the more concrete and spectacular happenings.

It is interesting to see, for example, how astronomers are picking up on this Aquarian influence. They are now searching the universe for other planets which may have the potential for life as it is expressed on Earth. They equate the potential for life with the existence of water, which in their minds is needed for even basic life forms to exist. So they seem to be responding to the "waters of life" part of the keynote. And they are "thirsty men" seeking this information and knowledge. The Aquarian influence is being felt, but interpreted in a purely material way. Life, to them, is associated with the need for liquid water.

Of course we know from our study of the Tibetan's teachings that life has a much different meaning. The Tibetan provides several definitions for the meaning of the word "Life." For example, he says that "Life is the energy in expression of the divine will-to-good" and "Life is loving synthesis in action." The word "Life" refers to that which synthesizes spirit, soul and body. It is in reality that fourth something which hovers behind all manifestation and all objects. So life is in reality some pure divine essence, the source of which lies entirely outside but still pervades our entire manifested world. It is an energy emanating from certain great Lives Who stand behind our solar system as its life and source…". So we see that this "fourth something" called life pervades and animates all forms in the entire universe, including the Earth and including all forms upon the earth.

Now it is important to understand that the "water of life" does not refer to liquid water, per se. Water, in this case, is the symbol of substance and of material expression, plus emotional motivation. The goal for the true Aquarian initiate is to surmount the tests undertaken through the long process of incarnation and initiation. He then stands free from all hindrances and acts as a distributor of the energy of life in the service of humanity. Therefore the two wavy lines in the symbol of Aquarius refer not to water but to the distribution of divine energy and life.

This distribution process is being greatly enhanced by the growing influence of the 7th Ray energy of Order and Organization. It is said that the 7th
Ray is, in the last analysis, the focused differentiated energy of the lst Ray of Will and Power. The 7th
Ray therefore provides an open channel for the divine energy of Shamballa to make a direct, unimpeded impact upon the physical plane and upon human consciousness. This is the pure energy of life itself pouring in with greater abundance. This is what Christ referred to when He said "I come to give you life more abundantly." Through the combined energies of the 1stRay and the 7th
Ray the Will of God will enhance the power in humanity to relate and bring into objective manifestation a more abundant expression of life itself. The 7th
Ray enables spirit and matter, the highest and the lowest, to become more closely related. And the effect of this relationship upon humanity during the Aquarian age will be a deeper appreciation and expression of Life itself.

And speaking of the first and seventh rays, it is interesting to see the affect that these rays are having on the revolutionary events, first in Tunisia and Egypt, and now spreading throughout the Middle East. As you know, the last impact of the first ray of Shamballa occurred in the year 2000. This is the first ray of Will, and along with the increasing influence of the fifth Ray of Science and Concrete Knowledge and the seventh Ray of Ceremonial Law and Order we see, quite graphically, the changes they are inducing in human consciousness. It is said that these three Rays are "unitedly bringing about fundamental changes, and ushering in the new era. This combination is terrifically potent and brings about the precipitation of inner forces, an increased activity of the lower mind and an outpouring of the Shamballa force—all three of which can be seen functioning in the field of the planetary life today as never before. The greater effect is produced owing to the greatly increased sensitivity of mankind, compared to the two other times in which (in cyclic evolution) these three constellations were active. The combination is seen demonstrating in human affairs today." (EA p. 539)

It is said of the first Ray that it first has a mass effect, and provides a strong sense of the will-to-persist. We certainly saw that in Tunisia and Egypt. The masses of people, organized and orderly with the help of the new tools of science and technology--the social media tools--came together and demanded a change in their respective governments. This is action along the first Ray line. We see also the power of the educated and intelligent mind's ability to shine a bright light on the hidden effects of separativeness, selfishness and corruption. And the people simply want more justice and respect..

And it is interesting that this revolt is taking place in Egypt, the land of the ancient Sphinx. The mystery of the Sphinx is connected with the relation of the signs of Leo and Virgo which, in the time of ancient Egypt, were seen as one sign. This is not the mystery of soul and form, but the mystery of the higher and lower mind and their relation to each other. The fire of these two aspect of the Egyptian mind became the flame of the revolt. Perhaps this is why the Sphinx is smiling. It's mystery is finally being revealed and fulfilled, and it is good.

Then of course the mystery is more apparent when you include the fact that Leo is the polar opposite of Aquarius, and we see the two opposites of higher mind and lower mind working out more strongly now in the world. It is especially evident in the three keynotes of Aquarius with their focus on the transformation that takes place between the lower and the higher self.

They are:

"1. The service of the personality, the lower self, which eventually transmutes itself into the service of humanity.

2. Superficial and selfish activity which changes into a deep and active intention to be active on behalf of the Hierarchy.

3. Self-conscious living which changes finally into a sensitive humanitarian awareness.

The quality of these keynotes changes from a petty and superficial nature to one of deep purpose and profound conviction. The low grade and undeveloped Aquarian upon the Mutable Cross manifests through a superficial self-awareness. This matures in Leo and becomes a deep-seated self-consciousness and a profound interest in self and its need and wishes. As the interplay goes on between Leo and Aquarius (for they are polar opposites) there comes a deepening of all qualities and the superficialities disappear until—upon the reversed wheel—the intensive self-consciousness of Leo expands into the group awareness of Aquarius. The individual becomes the universal. Man, alone and separative, becomes mankind in his reactions and awareness and yet, at the same time, preserves his individuality; he is no longer just a human being, individually self-centred and separative, but becomes humanity itself, losing his personal identity in the good of the whole yet retaining his spiritual Identity."

That is really the goal for humanity in this new Aquarian age. It is summed up esoterically in the symbol of Aquarius--the man with the water pot on his shoulder. "The developed Aquarian (expressing the good of the whole) puts all he has into his water pot, storing it there for service and giving it freely on demand to meet a need."

The idea of service is, at this time, the major idea to be grasped for (in grasping it) we open ourselves wide to the new incoming influences. The Law of Service is the expression of the energy of a great Life, Who, in cooperation with Him in Whom we live and move and have our being, is subjecting the human family to certain influences and streams of energy which will eventually do three things:

1. Awaken the heart centre of all aspirants and disciples.
2. Enable emotionally polarised humanity to focus intelligently in the mind.
3. Transfer the energy of the solar plexus into the heart.

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.

As the center Shamballa is pouring out its energy directly upon humanity, let us realise our vital group responsibility to receive it and work with it to build in human consciousness the new ideals of the kingdom of soul. The key word for us today is opportunity; the opportunity to synchronise our response to that which is coming. It is our opportunity to pour out the water of life—the Life force of Shamballa—to a world in need. It is our opportunity to work with the "implementing force of universality" and to help bring forth the power of the "livingness which enables." May it enable us to do our part.

FESTIVAL OF AQUARIUS
New York, February 18, 2011
Dale McKechnie