Chapter IV

THE PERIODS OF EARTHLY CYCLES
N THE preceding chapter I stated that as i| the human being is an entity, physically, so each event or each being created by nature or by man and having a beginning in the physical expression on this earth plane is an entity, having a cycle of existence distinctly its own. This refers even to diseases, or to acci" dents, so'called, for they, too, are the results of man's actions, and, therefore, created by him, and have a definite worldly starting point and cycle of existence.
Cycles of time for the existence of things are like lines drawn from starting points and con' tinning for various lengths. And each of these lines is divided into periods or segments, sections, or sectors, as you choose to call them, of equal lengths. Each of these sectors constitutes a dif' ferent manifestation of Cosmic urge, impulse, or
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SELF MASTERY AN[D FATE
influence, tending to direct the progress and de' velopment of each thing.
The ancient philosophers accepted the eminent philosopher's statement that in the beginning of all creation, God geometri^ed. It is true that the more we search into the origin and operation of spiritual and natural law, the more we find that the whole scheme of the universe and the inci- dental scheme of each individual thing in the universe operates and manifests in accordance with the principles of geometry. Thus God is the great Architect and mathematician, and the very com- plex map of geometrical motions and designs for the movement and existence of all things is but slowly being comprehended by man. We may never know the origin and general plan of God's entire universe, and we may never know the reason for the mathematical progression of all events. But we can know through observation and through test and trial the effect of these mathematical pro- gressions in our own lives. I have stated above that each event begins at a starting point, which is the beginning of a line of progression, and this line constitutes its mathematical cycle equivalent
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THE CYCLES OF LIFE
to a curved line beginning at the conception and birth of an event, attaining the peak of the curve at its maturity, and declining in its curve to the last point of culmination or finality. The expres- sion, "the course of events," is based upon a very ancient and continuous observation of the fact that most events reveal very clearly a definite course of progression. This fact has been considered so little in the business world by the busy materiaHst that he has overlooked one of the most helpful of all metaphysical principles, and it is the Rosicru' cian alone vv^ho constantly maps his life and his daily affairs in accordance with the geometrical progression of mathematical operation throughout life. Hence the secret of his success, his power, and his ability to be a real master of his life instead of a victim of so-called fate. The Rosi" crucian begins his studies by a careful digest of the fundamental cycles of Hfe, and learns to become acquainted with the periodicity of all things in the animal, mineral, and vegetable kingdoms. He finally becomes acquainted through the studies with his own relationship to the Cosmic cycles, and those periods wherein he may do the most
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SELF MASTERY AND FATE
desirable things at the propitious times. It is this that has gained for the Rosicrucian throughout the many past centuries the title of Master, for he be' comes a master of his own life and his own affairs. We may liken the line that represents the pro' gressive course of events in life to the charted line drawn upon a map which the captain of an ocean steamship tries to follow when he leaves the port of New York expecting to reach the port of Liverpool. That line upon the map may be several thousand miles long, or it may be said to be seven days long. In the latter case, we may say that the cycle of the journey across the ocean, or the pro- gression of the journey, is seven days long and is divided into seven periods, of one day each. The first period of one day begins at the hour and minute that the ship starts from the wharf. The second period of one day begins just twenty-four hours after that, and the other periods follow in the same manner. Hence the journey is a cycle of seven periods and we would say, therefore, that the periodicity of the cycle of the journey is seven days or seven periods. Each of these days will produce a different effect in the events of the
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THE arCLES OF LIFE
journey. The first day may produce or manifest a rough sea, with wind and storm. The second day may produce a calm sea, with every advantage for progressing rapidly and making up the time lost during the first day. The third day may pro' duce not only a calm sea but a warm climate, with a favorable wind enabling everyone to enjoy the journey to the utmost, and enabling the ship to make more rapid movement. The fourth day may produce a moderate sea but a strong head wind that will delay the journey, and the other days may produce still different effects. If the captain and passengers of the boat knew the true periodicity of their journey, they would be pre pared for certain events, and instead of being victims of fate, so'called, they would be fore" warned and forearmed to be masters in every condition and circumstance.
The journey of life is much like a journey on the sea, and each life begins at a slightly different starting point. Just casual observation revealed long ago that man's life is divided into periods like the days of the ocean journey, with definite events occurring during each period. The average
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SELF MASTERY A7v(D FATE
human being is unconscious of these periods, and still more unconscious of any knowledge about the events which are most apt to occur during each of these periods. Therefore, he is unprepared to meet them until they are in full manifestation, and handicapped in solving the problems of life by a lack of knowledge regarding the propitious' ness of the tendencies which will be made manifest in each successive period. The course of a business, whether it be manufacturing, selling merchandise, or some other line of endeavor, has a definite cycle or series of cycles of one year each, beginning with the first day that the business began to operate or the owner or proprietor entered into it. And each of these yearly periods or cycles is divided into segments of definite lengths, wherein certain tendencies, conditions, and circumstances are sure to arise or present themselves, and which may be most unfortunate if unknown or misun- derstood, and exceedingly fortunate if appreciated and advantageously accepted.
Thus we see that the cycles of life really constitute a geometrical map or a mathematical scheme whereby we can mechanically and accu'
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THE CYCLES OF UFE
rately map out our lives and the external influ' ences, and either take advantage of these things, or innocently and ignorantly submit to them. In the one case we are masters of our destiny, and in the other case victims of our fate.
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