Arvindus

Contemplations

The Lucis Trust Logo

  • Title: Contemplations, The Lucis Trust Logo.
  • Author: Arvindus.
  • Publisher: Arvindus.
  • Copyright: Arvindus, 2024, all rights reserved.
  • Index: 202402021.
  • Edition: html, first edition.

Content

§

Lucis Trust is a non-profit organization, founded by Alice and Foster Bailey in 1922, and is responsible for, among other things, the publication of the books of Alice Bailey (mostly under telepathic dictation of Master Djwhal Khul).1, 2, 3, 4 In this contemplation we shall focus on the logo of the organization, which is shown below.

The Lucis Trust logo

Figure 1: The Lucis Trust logo.

When we consider this logo linguistically then we first read the word "LUCIS" at the bottom of the logo. 'Lucis' is the Latin genitive of 'lux', meaning 'light'.5, 6 Like its Latin synonym 'lumen' and its English and Dutch counterparts 'light' and 'licht', 'lux', and thus also 'lucis', is etymologically thought to be rooted in the Proto-Indo-European 'leuk' or 'louk', meaning 'bright' or 'to shine'.7, 8, 9

Another sprout in Latin of the aforementioned Proto-Indo-European root(s) regards 'lucifer'.10, 11 The word literally means 'light-bringing', but it is also the name of Venus as the morning star and of Satan.12, 13

In the ageless wisdom it is considered that the light of the mind, individualisation, was established in earthly man through the incarnation of high beings from Venus in earthly bodies.14, 15 Lucifer as Venus is thus considered to be the light-bringer for humanity.16 That's probably why Lucis Publishing Company was initially called 'Lucifer Publishing Company', however misunderstanding from the (Christian) public anent the background of the name caused the decision for a name change.17, 18

So far only the name "LUCIS" in the Lucis Trust logo was considered, but this logo is also used without that name underneath attached. But then still the linguistic consideration can be continued, for at the centre three letters can be discerned, namely "L", "u" and "x", spelling together the earlier mentioned Latin word for 'light', 'lux'.

Now scientifically the term 'lux' is in use to denote "the amount of illumination provided when one lumen is evenly distributed over an area of one square metre".19 'Lumen', which was above also mentioned as belonging to the same family of words as 'lux', 'lucifer' and 'lucis', thereby refers to the "amount of light".20

This scientific concept can be seen as a reflection of the esoteric concept of soul and body. The ageless wisdom considers that the nature of the soul is light,21 so the lumen of science here compares to the soul of the ageless wisdom. And like lumen falls on a surface, expressed as 'lux', does the soul illuminate the body when in incarnation.22 So the lux of science compares to the incarnated soul. And the latter is what 'Lux' in the logo then symbolizes.

With this our linguistic consideration on the Lucis Trust logo is however not done yet, for in the triangle we may read the Greek letter 'Δ' or 'delta'. The logo reads thus as 'ΔLux'. And this 'Δ' is used in science to indicate a "finite difference".23 If for instance lux1 is 1 and lux2 3, then Δlux1, 2 is 2. The Δlux of science then compares to the ever increasing light of the soul which the body is receiving.24 The 'ΔLux' of the logo thus in this sense symbolizes the "Law of Evolution",25 whereby 'Δ' symbolizes the dynamism of spirit26.

Now 'ΔLux' is a combination of Greek and Roman letters, but the Lucis Trust logo can also be read entirely Greek. The 'Lu' then is read as 'Ψ' or 'psi' and the 'x' as 'X' or 'chi', resulting in 'ΔΨX'. 'Ψ' and 'X' were already considered in earlier contemplations.27, 28 There it was found that 'Ψ' in one sense symbolizes the soul (or Christ principle) and 'X' the body (or the cross of matter). From 'Ψ' and 'X' thereby, in line with the famous Christian XP (or chi-rho) monogram, symbolizing the spirit in bodily incarnation, a ΨX monogram was formed, symbolizing the soul in bodily incarnation (or the Christ principle nailed to the cross of matter). 'ΨX' there was read as 'psi-chi', which was considered as the root of the English and Dutch 'psyche'. Psi is the soul and the psyche is the soul in incarnation.29 Now the Lucis Trust logo contains at its centre such a ΨX monogram.

With the consideration of the ΨX monogram we have left the more scientific elements of lumen and lux behind, and thus also another designation for 'Δ' is in place. And in line with considering 'X' as symbolizing the body and 'Ψ' the soul may 'Δ' be considered as symbolizing the triple monad.30, 31 So the Lucis Trust logo considered as 'ΔΨX' basically symbolizes the threefold of monad, soul and body (or personality).

We thus get an overview as shown below, whereby the elements on the horizontal line can be interchanged.

ΔLux Realization ΔΨX Perfection
Δ Dynamism Δ Monad
Lux Illumination ΨX Incarnation
Lu Light Ψ Soul
x Matter X Personality

Figure 2: Interpretation of the Lucis Trust logo.

About this overview the following must be noted. 'Realization' indicates the consummation of the 'Law of Evolution', resulting in the 'perfection' of the threefold man, consisting of 'monad', 'soul' and 'personality'.32, 33, 34 This 'realization' is preceded by 'illumination' in the 'incarnation' of the 'soul' in the 'personality' (or the threefold 'body'), is preceded by the casting of 'light' into 'matter', is preceded by true 'psychism' (or 'ΨX-ism').35, 36, 37

May of all this the Lucis Trust logo remind us.

Notes
  1. Lucis Trust, https://www.lucistrust.org/about_us/frequently_asked_questions_2, 31-01-2024. "Lucis Trust is a non-profit organization with offices in New York, London and Geneva. It promotes recognition and practice of the spiritual principles and values upon which a stable and interdependent world society may be based. The esoteric philosophy of its founder, Alice Bailey, informs its activities which are offered freely throughout the world in eight languages."
  2. Ibidem, https://www.lucistrust.org/about_us/history, 31-01-2024. "The Lucis Trust was established by Alice and Foster Bailey as a vehicle to foster recognition of the universal spiritual principles at the heart of all work to build right relations. The Trust was incorporated in the State of New Jersey, USA, on April 5, 1922. A separate limited company, Lucis Trust Ltd. was established as an educational charity and incorporated in the United Kingdom in 1935. And in 1951 Lucis Trust was established as a legal entity in Switzerland, with an office in Geneva.
    A publishing company, initially named Lucifer Publishing Company, was established by Alice and Foster Bailey in the State of New Jersey, USA, in May 1922 to publish the book, Initiation Human and Solar."
  3. Ibidem, https://www.lucistrust.org/store/category/alice_bailey_books_p, 31-01-2024. "The books of Alice A. Bailey, written in cooperation with a Tibetan teacher between 1919-1949, constitute a continuation of the Ageless Wisdom — a body of esoteric teaching handed down from ancient times in a form suitable to each era. Together Alice Bailey and The Tibetan produced 19 books of esoteric philosophy, and Alice Bailey wrote five additional titles independently."
  4. Alice A. Bailey, The Unfinished Autobiography, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM, Release 3), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001, p. 298-299. "We know that He whom we are accustomed to refer to as the Tibetan is in fact one of the Masters of the Wisdom known by certain of his associates as the Master Djwhal Khul."
  5. Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands, Ke-R, dr. Marlies Philippa / et alii (redacteuren), Amsterdam University Press, Amsterdam, 2009, p. 218-219.
  6. Oxford Latin Dictionary, Oxford University Press, London, 1968, p. 1054.
  7. Francis Lieber, Dictionary of Latin Synonymes, For the Use of Schools and Private Students, With a Complete Index, Lewis Ramshorn (translator), Charles C. Little and James Brown, Boston, 1839, p. 297 / nr. 654.
  8. Note 5.
  9. Note 6.
  10. Note 5.
  11. Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition on CD-ROM (v. 4.0), Oxford University Press, 2009, Lucifer.
  12. Ibidem.
  13. Oxford Latin Dictionary, p. 1045.
  14. Alice A. Bailey, Esoteric Psychology, Volume I, A Treatise on the Seven Rays, Volume I, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM, Release 3), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001, p. 419. "The Lords of mind came from Venus."
  15. Alice A. Bailey, A Treatise on Cosmic Fire, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM, Release 3), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001, p. 1076. "This was what made it possible to utilise Venusian energy upon the Venus chain and the Venus globe of our scheme and thus cause the phenomenon of forced individualisation in Lemurian days."
  16. 'Contemplations, The Christ and the Antichrist', Index: 202311081.
  17. Lucis Trust, https://www.lucistrust.org/arcane_school/talks_and_articles/the_esoteric_meaning_lucifer, 31-01-2024. "There are comments on the World Wide Web claiming that the Lucis Trust was once called the Lucifer Trust. Such was never the case. However, for a brief period of two or three years in the early 1920's, when Alice and Foster Bailey were beginning to publish the books published under her name, they named their fledgling publishing company "Lucifer Publishing Company". By 1925 the name was changed to Lucis Publishing Company and has remained so ever since. Both "Lucifer" and "Lucis" come from the same word root, lucis being the Latin generative case meaning of light. The Baileys' reasons for choosing the original name are not known to us, but we can only surmise that they, like the great teacher H.P. Blavatsky, for whom they had enormous respect, sought to elicit a deeper understanding of the sacrifice made by Lucifer."
  18. Ibidem, https://www.lucistrust.org/about_us/history, 31-01-2024. "The ancient myth of Lucifer refers to the angel who brought light to the world, and it is assumed that the name was applied to the publishing company in honour of a journal, which had been edited for a number of years by theosophical founder, HP Blavatsky. It soon became clear to the Bailey’s that some Christian groups have traditionally mistakenly identified Lucifer with Satan, and for this reason the company’s name was changed in 1924 to Lucis Publishing Company."
  19. Encyclopædia Britannica, Ultimate Reference Suite, Version 2015, (software), Encyclopædia Britannica, 2015, lux.
  20. Ibidem, lumen.
  21. Alice A. Bailey, Glamour: A World Problem, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM, Release 3), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001, p. 196. "The esotericist knows that in every atom of his body is to be found a point of light. He knows that the nature of the soul is light."
  22. Esoteric Psychology, Volume I, p. 132. "The soul is light essentially, both literally from the vibratory angle, and philosophically from the angle of constituting the true medium of knowledge. The soul is light symbolically, for it is like the rays of the sun, which pour out into the darkness; the soul, through the medium of the brain, causes revelation. It throws its light into the brain, and thus the way of the human being becomes increasingly illumined."
  23. C.H. Richardson, An Introduction to the Calculus of Finite Differences, D. Van Nostrand Company, Ltd., New York / Toronto / London, 1954, p. 1-3.
  24. Alice A. Bailey, Esoteric Healing, A Treatise on the Seven Rays, Volume IV, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM, Release 3), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001, p. 332. "From there in ever increasing potency, as the processes of incarnation and experience are pursued, the soul begins to control, galvanise into purposeful activity, and to use the physical body."
  25. Ibidem, p. 659. "The Law of Evolution—as commonly understood—concerns the evolution of the form aspect as it is gradually fitted to be an exponent or an expression of soul energy, and later of monadic energy."
  26. Alice A. Bailey, The Soul and Its Mechanism, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM, Release 3), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001, p. 57. "Life is dynamic, substance static. Life is activity or spirit, and substance form or matter."
  27. 'Contemplations, Psi', Index: 202103171.
  28. 'Contemplations, 'Ψ'', Index: 202104131 .
  29. Ibidem.
  30. 'Ageless Wisdom, Triplicities in Man', Index: 201308292.
  31. Alice A. Bailey, Letters on Occult Meditation, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001, p. 29. "On the involutionary path you have what is termed the Group Soul, aptly described (as far as earth words permit) as a collection of triads, enclosed in a triple envelop of monadic essence. On the evolutionary path, groups of causal bodies correspond and are similarly composed, three factors entering in."
  32. Alice A. Bailey, The Light of the Soul, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001, p. 256. "The entire eight means of yoga themselves only prepare a man for that state of spiritual consciousness which transcends thought, which is apart from any of the seeds of thought, which is formless, and which can only be described (and then inadequately) by such terms as unification, realization, identification, nirvanic consciousness, etc."
  33. Alice A. Bailey, The Externalisation of the Hierarchy, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM, Release 3), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001, p. 588. "1. Emphasis should be laid on the evolution of humanity with peculiar attention to its goal, perfection."
  34. Note 30.
  35. Alice A. Bailey, Esoteric Astrology, A Treatise on the Seven Rays, Volume III, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001, p. 33. "2. Path of Discipleship. [...].
    b. Achievement of illumination. [...].
    3. Path of Initiation. [...].
    d. Dynamic Purpose in control. The will-to-good. The Monad functions."
  36. Alice A. Bailey, A Treatise on White Magic, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001, p. 98-99. "So it is with the human kingdom. As its illumination increases, as its light waxes more potent, its effect upon the sub-human kingdoms is analogous to that of the individual soul, its reflection, upon man in physical incarnation. "
  37. Alice A. Bailey, The Consciousness of the Atom, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001, p. 137. "The powers of the physical body, which we use every day, put us in contact with individuals, but when we have developed the powers of the soul, and have unfolded its potentialities, we shall be true psychics."
Bibliography
  • 'Ageless Wisdom, Triplicities in Man', Index: 201308292.
  • 'Contemplations, Psi', Index: 202103171.
  • 'Contemplations, The Christ and the Antichrist', Index: 202311081.
  • 'Contemplations, 'Ψ'', Index: 202104131 .
  • Alice A. Bailey, A Treatise on Cosmic Fire, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM, Release 3), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001.
  • Alice A. Bailey, A Treatise on White Magic, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001.
  • Alice A. Bailey, Esoteric Astrology, A Treatise on the Seven Rays, Volume III, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001.
  • Alice A. Bailey, Esoteric Psychology, Volume I, A Treatise on the Seven Rays, Volume I, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM, Release 3), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001.
  • Alice A. Bailey, Esoteric Healing, A Treatise on the Seven Rays, Volume IV, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM, Release 3), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001.
  • Alice A. Bailey, Glamour: A World Problem, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM, Release 3), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001.
  • Alice A. Bailey, Letters on Occult Meditation, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001.
  • Alice A. Bailey, The Consciousness of the Atom, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001.
  • Alice A. Bailey, The Externalisation of the Hierarchy, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM, Release 3), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001.
  • Alice A. Bailey, The Light of the Soul, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001.
  • Alice A. Bailey, The Soul and Its Mechanism, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM, Release 3), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001.
  • Alice A. Bailey, The Unfinished Autobiography, in: Twenty-Four Books of Esoteric Philosophy, (CD-ROM, Release 3), Lucis Trust, London / New York, 2001.
  • Francis Lieber, Dictionary of Latin Synonymes, For the Use of Schools and Private Students, With a Complete Index, Lewis Ramshorn (translator), Charles C. Little and James Brown, Boston, 1839.
  • C.H. Richardson, An Introduction to the Calculus of Finite Differences, D. Van Nostrand Company, Ltd., New York / Toronto / London, 1954.
  • Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands, Ke-R, dr. Marlies Philippa / et alii (redacteuren), Amsterdam University Press, Amsterdam, 2009.
  • Encyclopædia Britannica, Ultimate Reference Suite, Version 2015, (software), Encyclopædia Britannica, 2015.
  • Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition on CD-ROM (v. 4.0), Oxford University Press, 2009.
  • Oxford Latin Dictionary, Oxford University Press, London, 1968.
  • Lucis Trust, https://www.lucistrust.org/about_us/frequently_asked_questions_2, 31-01-2024.
  • Lucis Trust, https://www.lucistrust.org/about_us/history, 31-01-2024.
  • Lucis Trust, https://www.lucistrust.org/arcane_school/talks_and_articles/the_esoteric_meaning_lucifer, 31-01-2024.
  • Lucis Trust, https://www.lucistrust.org/store/category/alice_bailey_books_p, 31-01-2024.