Planetary Spirits

The term "Planetary Spirits" is a descriptive English compound. "Planetary" derives from the Latin "planeta," meaning wanderer, referring to celestial bodies observed to move against the fixed stars. "Spirit" comes from the Latin "spiritus," meaning breath, soul, or animating force. The concept has roots in ancient Babylonian and Greek astrology, where celestial bodies were personified as divine entities.

Primarily the rulers or governors of the planets. As uur earth has its hierarchy of terrestrial planetary spirits, from the highest to the lowest plane, so has every other heavenly body. In Occultism, however, the term "Planetary Spirit" is generally applied 238 THEOSOPIIICAL only to the seven lii{]:hest hierareliics eorrcsjiondinjr to the Cliristiaii archanfrels. These have all jtassed thr(m<;h a stapn* of evolution eorrespondinjr to the humanity of earth on other worlds, in long past eyeles. Our earth, lu'inj; as yet only in its fourth round, is far too younj? to have produeed hijrh planetary si)irits. The hifjhest planetary spirit ruling over any glohi- is in reality the ''Personal God" of that planet and far more truly its "over-ruling providence" tlian the sdf-eontradiet()r\ hiliiiitc Personal Deity of modern Churehianity. Plastic Soul, l^sed in Oeeultism in reference to the liixja sharira or the astral body of the lower Quaternary. It is called "plastic" and also "Protean" Soul from its power of assuming any shape or form and moulding or modelling itself into or upon any image impressed in the astral light around it, or in the minds of tlie medium or of those present at seances for nuiteriali/.ation. The linga sharira must not be confused with the maifavi rupa or "thought body" — the image created by the thought and will of an adept or sorcerer; for while the "astral form" or linga sharira is a real entity, the "thought body" is a temporary illusion created by the mind.

The notion of Planetary Spirits, as articulated by Blavatsky and echoed in various esoteric traditions, presents a vision of the cosmos not as a cold, indifferent expanse governed by blind physical laws, but as a living, breathing entity animated by hierarchies of conscious intelligences. These are not merely abstract forces but, as Mircea Eliade might describe, manifestations of the sacred order that structures reality. They are the cosmic administrators, the celestial governors who, having themselves undergone vast evolutionary journeys on other worlds, now preside over the destinies of planets, including our own.

This idea resonates with the ancient astrological impulse to personify the celestial bodies, to see in the slow dance of planets a divine narrative. It's a worldview that finds echoes in the Hermetic axiom "As above, so below," where the macrocosm mirrors the microcosm, and the influences emanating from the heavens are not merely physical but also spiritual and psychological. Carl Jung’s concept of archetypes, powerful primordial images that shape human consciousness, can be seen as a modern psychological parallel to these ancient planetary intelligences, suggesting that our internal worlds are profoundly influenced by these cosmic patterns.

The "Plastic Soul" mentioned in Blavatsky's definition, its ability to assume any form and mold itself upon impressions in the astral light, hints at the intermediary nature of these spirits. They are not entirely transcendent but possess a capacity to interact with and shape the subtle energies of the universe, acting as conduits between the divine and the manifest. This offers a compelling alternative to a purely materialistic understanding of the universe, suggesting that consciousness is not an accidental byproduct of matter but a fundamental constituent of reality, organized into vast, intelligent systems. It invites us to consider the cosmos not as a machine, but as a vast, interconnected organism, pulsing with intelligent life at every level.

The contemplation of planetary spirits can thus become a practice of cosmic reverence, a way of recognizing the inherent divinity and intelligence woven into the fabric of existence, encouraging a sense of belonging within a divinely ordered, conscious universe.

RELATED_TERMS: Archangels, Devas, Grahas, Angels, Daimons, Hierarchies, Astrological Influences, Cosmic Consciousness