In a general sense, the Ageless Wisdom Teachings have always been with us. The outer expression has been altered, suiting it for humanity in every time and place - adjusting the form as necessary. However, the basic Universal Truths have remained the same (by Universal Truth, I mean things like the "Law of Cause and Effect" or "Karma", which, in scientific terms is stated as "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction".
This Truth is universal because it remains true in every time and place. What changes is our common understanding and thus method of stating it.
Now, more recently, our "modern" expressions of the Ageless Wisdom began appearing towards the end of the ninteenth century. The particular "line" of teachings most commonly discussed here appeared then, in the works of Madam Helena P. Blavatsky (or "HPB") and gave rise to the Theosophical Society. Her works created the foundation for many later teachings, including the works of Alice A. Bailey (or "A.A.B."). AAB’s works also helped create the conditions within humanity which gave rise to many later teachings (including the works of Lucille Cedercrans which are my primary background).
Lucille’s works describe themselves as part of a "New Thought-form Presentaion of the Wisdom", a new formulation of Truth (not a simple restatement) created for humanity’s use during the next 2,500 years. The works also state that Lucille was one of seven workers each of which was presenting that New Thought-form Presenting to humanity at that time (each in their own way), with many others to follow.
The primary body of Lucille’s works (both written and transcribed) were created between 1950 and 1963, using the language of the times (1950’s English, and the terminology of the Ageless Wisdom Teachings also used by AAB). However, it was written for the students and practitioners of The Wisdom who would appear after the 20th century (meaning us, here and now).
Lucille’s body of works can be categorized a number of ways. Some of it was created as written material, courses such as The Nature of The Soul, Creative Thinking, The Soul and Its Instrument, and Introduction to the Path of Initiation. Other portions are transcriptions of live presentations given to groups, such as Leadership Training and the Ashramic Projections series. Other published works are or will be combinations of the two (such as The Disciple and Economy, and Applied Wisdom.
Some of the information in those works in time specific or otherwise outdated (such as references to a future event in 1975, a common experience in 1955, or to the telephone as a "black box".)
Some of the facts described in those works have changed over time (such as the threat of Communism).
However, the universal Truth to which those works are a key, to which the earnest seeker may gain access and realization by practicing those works, remain the same.
The techniques still work, even better than before. The New Path of Discipleship is much clearer now, having been trod by many feet, and there are a growing number of descriptions of it. I would hope that we here would be open to input from all of them, recognizing a common source and purpose.
As for accomplishing what is intended, well, in a sense you are quite correct, for the words alone do not do anything. They are like a key sitting in your pocket. In your pocket, it does nothing. You have to pick it up, insert it into the correct lock, and turn the key.
The same is true for these teachings; they have to be picked up, to be used, in order to accomplish anything. That does not mean studying the words; that means becoming the Truth behind the words. That becoming is accomplished by doing the inner work, by incorporating the inner work - the ceremonial magic of consciousness - contained in the work (which the words describe) into one’s life and affairs.
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I would suggest that the basic reasons that Lucille’s works have had difficulty being accepted are related to the nature of those works.
Lucille’s works are not a restatement of the Ageless Wisdom. The New Thought-form Presentation of the Wisdom (NTFPW or "The Wisdom) is entirely new. It was formulated by the Masters M., D.K., and R. when they created the Synthetic Ashram, and contains within it all the Truth which humanity needs in order to take its next step, initiation into Soul Awareness, at the end of this age.
Lucille’s projections of The Wisdom (written courses and transcribed oral presentations) are primarily Seventh Ray precipitations of a Synthetic teaching. Thus, the energy behind it is very different.
The method of progress is via the New Path of Initiation, or Group Discipleship, which is very different from the old path which every initiate has trod up to now. For instance, the old path was organized along primarily Third Ray lines - a numerical system of progress, controlled by "dictators", with a clearly-defined goal which was known from the beginning. All of that is typical of Third Ray types of organizations. However, the New Path is primarily a Seventh Ray process, a magical ceremonial activity of consciousness in which there is no numerical progress (it’s a continuous magical activity), leadership is via cooperation within a group life, and there are no "goals". All of which is typical of the Seventh Ray organizational process.
Now, it should also be kept in mind that contact is made with the NTFPW and with the Ashram of Synthesis, and the magical activity is carried out, by the Devas of Synthesis who have to be formulated by the group unit working within the Ashram.
So, given its nature, Lucille’s work can be a bit much to swallow.
Also, yes, the fact that her work is only now becoming widely available has had a huge effect on its lack of recognition. Most of her material dates from 1952 through 1963, but did not become generally available for decades. "The Nature of the Soul" in 1993, followed by "The Soul and Its Instrument" in 1995, the "Ashramic Projections" series in 1997, "Creative Thinking" in 2001, "The Disciple and Economy" in 2002, and "Leadership Training" in 2003, and more is being prepared. So, there really has not been much of her material out there until very recently.
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A lot of people have had that kind of experience with Lucille’s material, in reference to its "experiential, practical, hands-on approach". That experience is both an expression of the Ray behind the work in question, and of our primary Ray of approach to the work in question.
Sixth Ray is presently waning in influence while Seventh is waxing. Any form of expression of the Ageless Wisdom which was formulated during the past age will be permeated with Sixth Ray, and the methods of approach to Truth, the Path itself, that were formulated during that age were also permeated with Sixth Ray. Thus, in the Sixth Ray age of the philosopher, we had teachings which were "about" truth, and methods of walking the Path which directed one’s attention inward away from the world of affairs and upward toward abstract ideals and ideas.
Now since Sixth Ray is a sub-ray of Second, during the Sixth Ray age, using Sixth Ray methods, it was relatively easy to gain abstract realization of Second Ray teachings (such as that of The Christ), and be quite satisfied with that. Access to First or Seventh Ray teachings was a bit more difficult, and the followers of those paths tended to approach them as abstract ideas.
Now there is nothing wrong with any of this. It was simply an expression of where humanity, and the entire planetary life, was at that time.
However, as we move into this Seventh Ray age the emphasis is naturally shifting from aspiration to abstract ideas to that magical activity of consciousness which manifests Divine Intent. Lucille’s works are an expression of the Ashram of Synthesis, which was formulated by synthesizing First, Second, and Seventh. In particular, it is an expression of the Seventh Ray aspect of the Synthetic Ashram, and carries the synthesizing quality of Seventh Ray. Thus, the emphasis in those works is on performing the ceremonial magic of consciousness, on the work of group discipleship rather than on abstract knowledge.
Naturally this is easier for those who are responding to the new Seventh Ray energy, the new path of group initiation, and the new Synthetic Ashram to understand. However, this understanding does not necessarily denote or suggest greater advancement on the path. On the contrary, it is a peculiarity of this stage of transition from Sixth to Seventh, from the old path to the new, that those who have advance furthest down the old path of individual realization, who in a sense have the most invested in it, have the most difficulty is recognizing the new path of group initiation.
Imagine, for instance, a disciple along First Ray lines who, along the old path, has passed through the halls of experience and of knowledge, and of initiation, has taken the first, second initiations and is standing before the door at the culmination of the third, preparing to become a world leader and server. Under the new path of group initiation, the first ray path is via cooperative leadership, of which he has no knowledge and in which he has no experience. In order to take initiation via the new path, this candidate for initiation would have to retrace his steps down the mount of initiation, releasing everything he had learned, giving up his embodied capacity to serve, and begin again as a novice. Most simply cannot do it.
Now this is not a fault, its more Newton’s third law of motion as applied to the Soul on the Path (an object in motion will tend to continue in that same motion until acted upon by an external force). Difficult as it is, it is much easier for a Soul which is just beginning the path, to participate in group initiation than it is for that soul which has already journeyed some distance down (or up) the path of individual realization.
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Having been built during the recently concluded Sixth Ray Age, all of the mental, astral, physical-etheric, and physical-dense forms of our civilization are primarily qualified by and express the Sixth Ray of Devotion to an Overshadowing Ideal. This energy focuses the attention of the incarnate consciousness on an overshadowing abstraction.
However, the predominant Seventh Ray Energy of the present age focuses the attention of the incarnate consciousness downward, toward realizing the abstract idea by manifesting it in practical application in the three lower worlds and the physical-dense world of affairs. Thus, this new age has the potential of transforming our civilization into a practical expression of the spiritual ideal, or, in Christian terms, "Bringing Heaven to Earth."
Because of its peculiar structure and karmic position, the Synthetic Ashram has the primary responsibility for bringing about this transformation.
& In the Sixth Ray Age, forms were created by the Intelligent, organizing Activity of Substance. This is inherently a Third Ray activity, and produces forms in which the structure is centralized, organized from the inside-out and top-down, and which, for instance, goals are known from the beginning, and the success or failure of a organized activity is evaluated in numeric terms (how much money was made, who scored the most baskets/goals/runs, etc.).
In a Seventh Ray activity, there is no such centralized structure or numeric goal. The focus is on the ongoing Ceremonial Process which brings the Overshadowing Divine Intent into appearance. Organized group lives, in this system, are related via their union as consciousness within the Ashramic Group Life, which, while it may have temporary expressions is the world of affairs, does not actually manifest below the physical-etheric.
& Yes, the six other ashramic focal points (in addition to Lucille) were similar in that they were Disciples on The Thread, working to bring the N.T.F.P.W. into availability, and the Synthetic Ashram into expression. The form of appearance of their work necessarily varied from disciple to disciple. It is the Ashramic Quality of their work that is related, not the forms of appearance in the outer world.
& No, the group life is not, properly speaking, reflected in the outer physical plane. The Seventh Ray Ceremonial Magical Process cannot create anything denser than the physical-etheric. However, those mental, astral, and physical-etheric structures are re-reflected downward in appearance in the physical dense by the Deva of Appearance (see The Nature of the Soul) who directs the elementals to create the outer form.
Thus, it is a multiple-stage reflection, the Overshadowing Divine Intent is formulated into an Idea on the Buddhic. The Buddhic Idea is reflected into the three lower worlds, becoming a thought-form on the mental plan, taking on astral force in the astral plane, and becoming a physical-etheric form of appearance in the physical-etheric plane. The physical-etheric form is in turn reflected into physical-dense by the Deva of Appearance.
All of this is part of the Seventh Ray method, utilized by the conscious disciple.
And as in many areas, steady persistence is necessary to achieve success. Yes, a trained teacher can be helpful, but it is not absolutely necessary. Groups studying this material on their own have had great success, and we are doing everything we can, subjectively and objectively, to encourage and support the efforts of all students and practitioners of this material.
Regards,
Glen
For more information see: The Magic of Consciousness