Nature he can make use of them, instead, of ignoring the laws of Nature he can adapt himself to them. This is called the covert agreement. It is the ancient wisdom, the simple way, and those who anciently observed it found it to be effectual for good. Those ancient Britains who thought Canute to be so great that he could set back the ocean tides were of that order of Titans who would measure their strength with the Almighty. We, who have understood the laws governing the tides, have gained a mastery over them by the simple means of adaptation. In this instance we have adapted ourselves to Nature. It is possible to extend the process to include the election of times and seasons for any purpose whatsoever. Solomon, who is regarded by the average man as an inconsequent babbler of effete doctrine, affirmed that there is a time for every purpose under the heavens. A closer study of this doctrine of elections—as the proper choice of time for specific purposes is called in Astrology—would lead men to take a conscious part in the conspiracy of well-doing, by the adjustment of action to purpose and of both to astral and cosmical conditions. This would be infinitely better than “taking one’s chance,” and certainly more in conformity with the spirit of true religion. But before we can do this we shall have to instruct ourselves more generally in the symbolism of the universe and the reading of those symbols which from the beginning were set and appointed to us for “signs and for seasons, for days and for years.” A knowledge of cosmical symbolism and of the facts of planetary interaction is that to which science will inevitably be compelled, and which sooner or later it will recognize as essential to a true concept of the relations of man to his greater environment. And when this system of Anthrocosmology shall have been established, as assuredly it will be, then will humanity perceive in all humility that God, and not Britannia, rules the waves, and that the planets are his agents. CHAPTER X THE LAW OF CYCLES It has already been shown that from most ancient times the Law of Periodicity was known and expounded. We find reference to it in the Vishnu Puràna which deals with the great periods of cosmic manifestation and activity, called Manvantaras, and the corresponding periods of obscuration and quiescence known as Pralayas. These are shown to have an astronomical basis and to have been directly related (_a_) to the period of Precession known as the Great Year of Plato, and (_b_) to the inclination of the Earth’s axis to the plane of the Ecliptic. For whereas the Precession, from whatever source arising, is found to be approximately 50´´ per year, the diminution of the Earth’s axial inclination is found to be 50´´ per century. Thus the Precessional Year is 25,920 years, and the other 2,592,000 years in extent.