One of the primary empirical evidences, in my view, of the scientific accuracy of the theosophical teachings related by HPB is the treatment of Neptune.
In a footnote on page 102 of volume 1 of the Secret Doctrine, HPB says:
“When we speak of Neptune it is not as an Occultist but as a European. The true Eastern Occultist will maintain that, whereas there are many yet undiscovered planets in our system, Neptune does not belong to it, his apparent connection with our sun and the influence of the latter upon Neptune notwithstanding. This connection is mayavic, imaginary, they say.”
The Titius-Bode Law, known at the time of HPB, explains that the planets of our system are not located at random distances from the sun, but instead follow a precise spacing, based on a sequence of ratios of 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128.
After its discovery, this ratio successfully predicted the location of both Uranus and Ceres. In fact, of all the planets in our system only Neptune fails to conform to this precise mathematical spacing. As an example of modern scientific absurdity, when Neptune was discovered to not fit with this spacing, the scientific community discarded any recognition of the Titus-Bode Law and you’ll find very few scientists that even know this ratio exists, despite their study of the planets.
HPB, and the Theosophists, were the only ones to present an alternative, which is basically this: Neptune is an anomaly, not native to our system. So it’s not surprising that it alone doesn’t fit into the spacing ratios.
When Pluto was discovered, scientists used it’s location to entirely dismiss the spacing law, yet if Neptune is not included in the law, then Pluto conforms precisely with the predicted spacing.
It is the Theosophical perspective alone that explains why the Titus-Bode Law holds true, all the way out to Pluto, if only Neptune is skipped, as the non-native planet it is.
Is it not odd that a law that can accurately predict the locations of every planet but one should be discarded because of that one? By sheer statistical probability the law must be seen to be accurate and founded upon some truth; it could not possibly be random and coincidental that the planets are spaced in such a way, and yet this is the position of modern astronomy! Any decent scientist would be inclined to explore why Neptune doesn’t fit, as opposed to why (in their minds) the law doesn’t fit solely because of Neptune.
Here’s a chart displaying the accuracy of the Titus-Bode Law if Neptune is skipped.
Replies to This Discussion
- Permalink Reply by Jon Fergus on
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Haha, why are scientists so afraid to examine their underlying assumptions? Like you say, have they even considered that the moon might be older?
Reminds me of the primate-to-human idea in evolution. There’s a massive assumption that never gets examined, that if there’s a relationship then humans must’ve come after primates. It’s never even entertained that it might be the other way around.
So I agree, they should study theosophy a little. ;)
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- Permalink Reply by Ryan Hauck on
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This is not the first time I have heard of this theory, and honestly, I feel it to be intuitively true.
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- Permalink Reply by Jimmy on
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This seems to me to be evidence of intelligence at work in nature. A side note – The ancient Greeks believed that intelligence is immanent in nature, and they called this principle of universal intelligence “Logos”. And Logos in ancient Greek language was also used to express the idea of “ratio”. So to the Greeks, the planetary sequence of ratios would probably be seen as evidence of Logos.
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- Permalink Reply by Jon Fergus on
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This seems to me to be evidence of intelligence at work in nature.
At the very least, it eliminates the possibility that the solar system is formed by nothing but blind forces and random coalescings of matter, as modern theories would have it. It really sheds light on the purposeful ignorance of scientific theories, when something this meaningful is totally ignored.
About ratio (and related to ‘logos’): it’s interesting that the measure of an octave is that of the doubling of the frequency between two notes, so that from one “A” to the next “A” to the next “A” follows the exact same formula of ratio as found in the planets (i.e. 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, etc.).
See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octave
and: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/sound-frequency-wavelength-d_56.html
Add to this Kepler’s third law of planetary motion, and the “music of the spheres” seems to take on a whole new meaning.
Since “logos” is always associated with “sound”, “voice”, “word”, etc., perhaps we get here a glimpse into a fundamental design underlying nature…
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- Permalink Reply by james E Orchard on
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Hi Jon.
Is there any place for Vulcan, its position is according to HPB, between Mercury and the Sun, and according to DK-Bailey, within 8 degrees of the Sun.
It is said to be in etheric matter, consequently has yet to be discovered but will be when the Race develops etheric vision, which incidentally is said not to be a psychic power, rather an extension of our physical vision that comes with evolution.
The Greeks and others knew of Vulcan and the exact power it wields, called the blacksmith of the Gods as it uses fire to forge raw metals into shape. It is one of the 7 sacred planets.
james
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- Permalink Reply by Jon Fergus on
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Hi James. The ratios used for the Titus-Bode rule can be extended in either direction (i.e. closer to, or further from, the sun). What would need to be done is simply to “reverse-calculate” from Mercury inwards towards the Sun, using the same ratio. The ratio 0,1,2,4,8,16,etc., is used above, with Mercury as “0”, Venus as “1”, etc., but we could re-do the calculation with Vulcan as “0”, Mercury as “1”, Venus as “2”, etc., and the rule should hold true. This would give us the predicted location of Vulcan.
If you give it a try, let us know what you come up with!
re: Vulcan’s visibility: I suspect Vulcan simply has no fourth plane globe at this time, whether due to a pralaya (of whatever degree) or possibly because its lowest globe is above our own (i.e. its “fourth plane” may be one or more higher than our “fourth plane”). But those are just tentative speculations.
Your last paragraph begs the question, astrologically and in regards to the seven sacred planets: is Vulcan the planet of which “Sun” is a modern blind, and is Ceres the planet of which “Moon” is the modern blind? (both planets are invisible to the naked eye)
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- Permalink Reply by james E Orchard on
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Hi John,
All of top of my head and presumably what you mean,
HPB stated the Sun and the moon veiled two planets too secret to name, however later to the ES she stated they were no secret at all, and Vulcan was one, not sure if she named the other but I think it is Neptune, God of the sea,
All this is probably not relevant to the scientific section but answers a lot of questions to do with energies of our Solar System, our chakra system, and ourselves. Our connection to the Great Bear, Sirius and Pleiades
james
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- Permalink Reply by Jon Fergus on
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No worries about the diversion into “non-scientific” territory. It’s all of interest, I think.
On Neptune: HPB clarified in the SD that the other planet isn’t Neptune, so I think we can rule it (and Uranus) out. Ceres remains to me the most likely candidate.
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- Permalink Reply by james E Orchard on
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Hi Jon,
Sorry my mistake about Neptune, I meant Uranus as the other secret planet which fits as I will attempt to explain some in my own words, some HPB’s and rest Mythology.
However it must be realized that this is a very complex area and I suspect HPB used blinds mixing sacred and non-sacred planets together. These blinds should be used less and less as the race becomes more spiritual
The Sacred planets of our Earth System may well be different to that of another system. As you will notice in your extract she names five planets firstly indicating but not directly saying they are Sacred, however although she say Mars is Sacred in several places it is indicated in Mahatma Letters that this is not be so, as they state Mars is behind the Earth in evolution and Mercury in front, therefore Mars cannot be sacred as I understand it. Mars being the God of War governs the selfish faculties, or the unpurified 6th Ray of Idealism and Devotion
Further down she speaks of Four exoteric planets and three others that must remain secret to do with furnishing humanity with its outward and inward faculties, but she does not say she is talking about just ‘Sacred Planets’ except that neither Uranus or Neptune entered.
Now ‘outward’ and ‘inward’ characteristics could mean selfish personality characteristic as well as spiritual, while leaving out Uranus and Neptune indicates she may well have been talking about below
Other writings state that the seven schemes of our solar system are; Vulcan, Venus, Mars, Earth, Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter; Three Synthesising Planets, Uranus – Neptune – Saturn; with the Sun as the One Resolver,
The two veiled Planets and Rays as I understand them
Vulcan conveys the 1st Ray of Will & Power, and relates to the first plane, hence spiritual fire, the Smithy of the Gods.
At the other end of the scale is Uranus, 7th Ray of Ceremony, Order and Magic which is related to the physical plane and responsible for the physical manifestation of all we see.
This neatly fits the Greek-Roman Mythology.
Uranus was first discovered in 1690 But ancients knew of his particular Ray energy, purpose, and existence. To have a feasible story for the masses, as well as a thread for esoteric students to follow, they used the husband/father sky as an analogy.
In a little of the mythology, Uranus was the lord of the skies and husband of Earth. Every night he came and covered the earth, (mated with the Earth). Together with the earth he produced the mountains, and sea, The Titans, Giants the Cyclopes some monsters. He was then said to have been castrated by his son Saturn, his blood fertilizing the earth again and producing giants, nymphs and the Furies (spirits of the elements or elementals from the etheric realms of the physical plane)
You will notice that all that they produced are either physical or etheric, some of which are history of earlier races as well
Now if we look at Neptune who is said to be God of the Sea and lived under the sea in a Palace made of precious stones.
In my understanding Neptune is custodian of the 6th Ray and the sixth plane, the Astral Plane, whose element is water, “the Master of the Waters” as below SD11 765
Neptune or Poseidon is the Hindu Idaspati, identical with Narâyana (the mover on the waters) or Vishnu, and like this Hindu god he is shown crossing the whole horizon in three steps. Idaspati means also “the master of the waters.”
All food for thought
Something else I find interesting is the current scientific speculation about the origin of the moon. By studying moon rocks, scientists have discovered that the “moon seems to be made entirely of Earth material”. Have any scientists considered that the earth may be made of lunar material? Check out the following article, “Moon Rock Analysis Casts Doubt on Lunar Origins”:
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/03/moon-formation-collision/