We are delighted to present an article on the discovery of the new planet (if, indeed, it is a planet) written especially for the full moon newsletter by the people at SouledOut.org. Could the planet be focusing the dual forces of Leo and Aquarius? Is it the one Alice Bailey wrote about? Time will tell.

The New Planet -"Xena"!?    

This is an amazing time, as we experience the recent announcement of yet another world orbiting around our solar center. From the standpoint of esoteric astrology, this new discovery auspiciously coincides with this year's Sirius Festival, at the Leo full moon August 19.

Alice Bailey wrote of undiscovered planets and it may be helpful now to consider the Tibetan's message for our time in this regard. In discussion of the planetary schemes from A Treatise on Cosmic Fire (published in 1925, before the discovery of Pluto) a most relevant passage states,

The true figures in connection with any planetary scheme and its occult activity are not ascertainable by the man who cannot be trusted with the significance of the other planetary bodies (of great number) within the solar ring-pass-not. The entire solar sphere is full of such bodies …. Figures, therefore, cannot be considered as final until the effect of the lesser planetary bodies upon their immediate neighbours is known, and the extent of their planetary radiation has been gauged. There are more than 115 of such bodies to be reckoned with, and all are at varying stages of vibratory impulse. They have definite orbits, they turn upon their axis, they draw their "life" and substance from the sun, but owing to their relative insignificance, they have not yet been considered factors of moment. This attitude of mind will change when etheric vision is a fact, and the reality of the existence of an etheric double of all that is in manifestation will be recognised by scientists. This fact will be demonstrated towards the close of the century, and, during the early part of the next century a revolution in astronomical circles will occur which will result in the study of the "etheric planets." As these bodies are organs of energy, permeating the dense form, the study of the interaction of solar energy, and the occult "give and take" of planetary bodies will assume a new significance. Certain planetary bodies (both greater and lesser) are "absorbers," others are "radiators," while some are in the stage of demonstrating a dual activity, and are being "transmuted." All these circumstances require to be considered by the initiate who is dealing with cycles. [p. 793-794, emphasis is added]

With all the discussion of what constitutes a planet, it may be of use to consider what is referred to here, as "etheric planets"?

Indeed, astronomy has debated off and on since the discovery of Pluto whether or not it is a planet. On the other hand, certainly astrologers are convinced Pluto is part of the horoscope and in the relatively short time since its discovery in 1930, it has taken on significance equal in importance to the other planets.

It could be that astronomy decides to regard any celestial bodies discovered orbiting the sun further away than Pluto, particularly the Kuiper Belt and Oort Objects, as another category besides the planets already known and named. This happened with the asteroids - minor planets - now actually being viewed by exoteric astrology as significant, with their own symbology. The passage from Alice Bailey quoted just above goes on to say,

Figures also must be computed when the effect upon the planets of what are called "asteroids" is known. This is much greater than exoteric science has so far admitted, but the significance of this must eventually be interpreted in terms of energy and on etheric levels. [p. 794]

Regardless of scientific debate about what constitutes a planet, and more importantly from the point of view of planetary lightworkers, we can focus on the quality of the new planet, as we welcome it to the body we recognize as our solar system. What, indeed, does it portend?

Does this new planet have to do with etheric understanding? Bailey told us that people on the planet would see etherically by the end of last century, "Etheric matter is even now becoming visible to some, and will be entirely visible at the end of this century to many." (A Treatise on White Magic, p 374) We may take it for granted because devices are required to accomplish it, but one could certainly make a case that radio, television and computers all enable us to see that which is etheric, using light and sound waves.

Now people are seeing etheric material without devices, as we witness in multiple reports. Will this etheric communication, seeing the inner planes, now become more widespread and recognized?

Who Is "Xena"?

Every dense physical planet has a planetary logos, a kumara, and a corresponding planetary entity, a being, utilizing the planet as its dense body of expression.

Just as each of us influences each other, so too do each of the planets' beings influence each other as they participate together in the plan and purpose of our Solar Logos.

During this Sirius Festival cycle, we have an opportunity to register impressions about the new planet and its place in our solar system. What is its note and sound?

What is unique to our Earth's present time energies, to this time in world history, that is the reflection of this planet's, this being's quality?

For the discoveries of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, each of these represents qualities emblematic of the time they were revealed. For Uranus in 1781, the American and French Revolutions portended the spread of democracy and the call for freedom around the globe, and Ben Franklin discovered electricity. As for Neptune discovered in 1846, the railways and automated transit began to draw all parts of the world together on a grid.

When Pluto was discovered in 1930, the world was in the midpoint of the two world wars and getting ready to unleash radioactive energy upon the planet. Never before did our current civilization have the capability to annihilate ourselves on such a large scale.

Not all that long before the telescopic planets were discovered, people thought the earth was flat, that we were the center of the universe, that the sun revolved around the earth.

Now physicists are imaging and seeing the elegant universe which theorizes we have a minimum of 11 dimensions - yet they exist side by side, actually interpenetrating each other - just as the human soul, as a vehicle of expression, has three bodies, seemingly one.

The Undiscovered Planet?

This quote (from Bailey's discussion in Esoteric Astrology on Leo, published in 1951, after Pluto had been discovered and known about) relates to the Heart of the Sun (ruling planet of Leo), and the Leo~Aquarius axis, and thusly to the Sirius Festival.

Beyond these two distant planets [referring to Uranus and Neptune], lies another planet as yet undiscovered, though speculation is rife about it, owing to certain unexplained movements of the planet Neptune. It is through this planet that the Forces (as they are related to Leo and Aquarius) are focussed in one potent stream of force; these pour into our planetary life during the month of August, and distribute themselves, via Uranus and Neptune. You have, therefore, in this connection:

The physical Sun	Heart of the Sun	Central spiritual Sun.
	The undiscovered planet.
	Uranus and Neptune.
	The human Hierarchy.
	The animal Kingdom.

(Esoteric Astrology p. 308)

Naming the Planet

Leo and Sirius

Leo is also a time to remember the special Leo-Sirius relationship. Alice Bailey tells us in Esoteric Astrology that "August, which is ruled by Leo, is the month of the Dog-star, or of Sirius, which thus brings Sirius into close relation to Leo. Leo, in the cosmic sense (and apart from our solar system altogether) is ruled by Sirius. Sirius is the home of that greater Lodge to which our fifth initiation admits a man and to which it brings him, as a humble disciple. Later, when the new world religion is founded and is working, we shall find that the major, monthly festival in August, held at the time of the full moon, will be dedicated to the task of making contact, via the Hierarchy, with Sirian force".

Click here for a suggested Global Meditation for the Sirius Festival.