Such mysteries concerning the origin of things can be read in the astronomical disposition of the signs of the zodiac, where Leo is the symbol of the Father Spirit and Cancer that of the Mother Substance. These descend along their own arcs of involution through the planes of Buddhi and Manas, which are the higher and lower aspects of Mind, and in combination represent the potential and evolved Hermaphrodites, denoted by the planets Mercury and Venus, which are set over these signs in the astrological scheme, and have relation to the signs Virgo and Libra on the one hand and Gemini and Taurus on the other. Thence the Great Breath descends to the Kamic plane, manifesting in the Body of Desire. This is represented on either hand by the signs Scorpio and Aries. Next the Spirit-Substance manifests on the Astral or Psycho-Physical plane, which is symbolized by the planet Jupiter with its signs Sagittarius and Pisces, and finally precipitates in the material world denoted by the planet Saturn and its corresponding signs Capricornus and Aquarius, the symbols of matter in the concrete and in a state of flux. The scheme may be reduced to a diagram as on page 121. In view of this statement of the occult doctrine of the origin of the phenomenal world, we are led to expect in the course of physical evolution, which is another name for the process of spiritual unfoldment, that matter will yield continually new characteristics, which now lie _in obscuro_ or latency. For spirit is now shaking itself free of the trammels of matter, organisms are becoming more and more subject and responsive to the impulses of the mind, and matter is everywhere giving way to the effort of a spiritual expression. The world has passed the zero point of greatest materiality and darkness, and though the mass of mankind are as yet only on the plane of Kama, actuated solely by the force of their desires and material appetites, yet quite a large section of the world’s population is coming under the direct influence of the Manasic forces, and the demand for knowledge is being met upon every side. Some few of the more advanced pioneers of the race are functioning in the light of the Buddhic plane and are overshadowed by the spirit. At the head of all this Earth’s humanity is the supreme Arhat, the Adam Kadmon of the Kabalists, the Iswara of the Hindus, the Jehovah of the Hebrews. [Illustration: Figure 8.] What is going on in this world is happening also in others of the solar system, and over all is the Supreme Logos, Brahma-Vach, the Ancient of Days, whom we call the Lord. These are co-ordinating Centres of Intelligence and Power functioning in their respective spheres and on their several planes as the various nervous ganglia in the body of man, all being finally linked up to one Centre in whom resides the consciousness of the I AM, as planets are united to their central Sun.