“At the time of Christ the sun was in about seven degrees of Aries. Five hundred years were required to bring the precession to the thirtieth degree of Pisces. During that time the new church lived through a stage of offensive and defensive violence well justifying the words of Christ: “I came not to bring peace but a sword.” Fourteen hundred years more have elapsed under the negative influence of Pisces, which has fostered the power of the church and bound the people by creed and dogma.

In the middle of the last century the sun came within orb of influence of the scientific sign Aquarius, and although it will take about seven hundred years before the Aquarian Age commences, it is highly instructive to note what changes the mere touch has wrought in the world. Our limited space precludes enumeration of the wonderful advances made since then; but it is not too much to say that science, invention, and resultant industry have completely changed the world, its social life, and economic conditions. The great strides made in means of communication have done much to break down barriers of race prejudice and prepare us for conditions of Universal Brotherhood. Engines of destruction have been made so fearfully efficient that the militant nations will be forced ere long to “beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.” The sword has had its reign during the Piscean Age, but science will rule in the Aquarian Age.

In the land of the setting sun we may expect to first see the ideal conditions of the Aquarian Age: A blending of religion and science, forming a religious science and a scientific religion, which will promote the health, happiness and the enjoyment of life in abundant measure.”

—   Max Heindel, “The Gleanings Of A Mystic”

Heindel, along with Jung and Rudhyar, influenced me greatly in my studies of symbolism. He cites several Gospel passages in support, including Mark 14:13 (see also Luke 22:10)

“And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.”. The disciples do so and follow him to the place where Jesus was to hold the Last Supper.  Jesus, represented by Virgo (the Virgin) and Pisces (the fish), will “die” when the “man bearing a pitcher of water” appears (Aquarius).

Note: I don’t endorse Heindel’s ethical or theological teachings as dogma. But I find them fascinating and significant to contemplate. Logicians never fail to amaze me with their solely utilitarian attitude toward ideas.  One must be for or against, one must believe or disbelieve, use or discard. They never consider whether ideas might give us aesthetic pleasure and solace and that falsifiability might not always and in every case be the appropriate criterion to apply to them.

Instead, ask if an idea is beautiful and powerful.

Having said that, what would be wrong in approaching religious/spiritual experiences, symbolism, and mythology, looking for parallels between concepts there and the esoteric world revealed by theoretical science?