Labour 3: Gemini (21 May to 20 June).
Gathering The Golden Apples of the Hesperides
The story of Hercules’ labours has been interpreted by Alice Bailey in terms of the twelve signs of the zodiac. Hercules represents the seeker within each of us.
We follow Hercules’ experiences and exploits as he passes through the twelve signs of the zodiac, and gradually we realize that each sign represents a part of Hercules’ character that he now needs to transform so that he can travel further along his path. Each story, if pondered deeply, can give us insight into our own natures, and offers guidance in what we can do to be stronger, clearer, wiser and more powerful creators of our lives and servers of humanity and the planet.
This month is the story of Hercules’ task in the sign of Gemini.
The presiding One had watched the labours of the son of man who is a son of God. He noted how the labourer rose and prepared for his next task.
“ ‘Send out the word to guard the sacred tree. Let Hercules unfold the power to search without discouragement, deception or too great a speed. Let perseverance now be called upon. He has done well so far.’ And thus word went forth.”
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In the second labour of Taurus (21 April – 20 May), Hercules learned about the potency of desire and the law of attraction.
In this third labour Hercules begins to learn about the duality within him – that of soul and personality, and of soul and spirit. He is the visionary mystic and must now become also the practical idealist by developing an occult knowledge of reality.
“Far in a distant country grew the sacred tree, the tree of wisdom, and on it grew the golden apples of the Hesperides.
Hercules knew of these fruits, and when the world went forth to seek for them he sought the Teacher, asking Him the way to go and find the sacred tree and pick the apples.
‘Show me the quickest way and I will go,’ Hercules told his teacher.
‘Not so, my son,’ replied the Teacher, ‘the way is long. Two things alone I will confide to you, and then it is for you to prove the truth of what I say. Remember that the sacred tree is guarded well. Three maidens fair cherish the tree, protecting well its fruit. A dragon with one hundred heads protects the maidens and the tree. Guard thyself well from strength too great for thee, from wiles too subtle for thy comprehension. Watch well.
Hercules went forth upon the Way, sure of himself, his wisdom and his strength. Throughout the land he passed, seeking the sacred tree, but found it not. Time passed, yet still he sought, wandering from place to place and returning oft upon his steps.
The Teacher, watching from afar, sent Nereus to see if he could aid. Time and again he came, in varying form and with differing words of truth, but Hercules responded not, nor knew him for the messenger he was. Skilled though he was in speech and was with the deep wisdom of a son of God, Nereus failed. For Hercules was blind.
Finding no tree on the northern way, Hercules turned south and continued his search. Antaeus, the serpent, met him on that way and wrestled with him, overcoming him at every point.
‘He guards the tree’, said Hercules, ‘this I was told, so near him must be the tree. I must break down his guard and, thus destroying him, bread down and pluck the fruit.’ Yes wrestling with much strength, he conquered not.
‘Where lies my fault?’ said Hercules. ‘Why can Antaeus conquer me?’ Wrestling again with all his might, he grasped the serpent with both hands, lifting it high in air, away from the ground. And lo! The deed was done: Antaeus, vanquished, spoke: ‘I come again in different guise at the eighth task.
Happy and confident, Hercules went on, sure of himself and with new courage. He turned to the west and met Busiris, the arch-deceiver. His is the work to bring delusion to the sons of men through words of seeming wisdom. He claims to know the truth and with quickness they believe. Hercules believed when Busiris said, ‘My truth is right,’ and stayed. He daily weakened, seeking no further for the sacred tree. He loved Busiris and daily his strength was sapped until Busiris bound Hercules to an altar.
Hercules struggled for a year and then remembered the words of Nereus, ‘Truth lies within yourself’. There is a higher power and strength and wisdom in yourself. Turn inwards and there evoke the strength which is, the power which is the heritage of all the sons of men who are the sons of God.’
Suddenly Hercules saw Busiris for what he was and with the strength which is the strength of all the sons of God, he broke his bonds, seized the false teacher, and bound him to the altar in his place. He left him there to learn.
Continuing on his journey, and with greater wisdom, Hercules heard a cry of distress. Some vultures were circling a distant rock. Should he proceed or help the one in need? Although he had lost time he sped to his brother’s help and found Prometheus chained on a rock, in agony as vultures plucked at his liver, slowly killing him. Hercules broke the binding chain and freed Prometheus, chasing the vultures to their lair and tending the sick man. Then he again started on his way.
Hercules continued his search and heard a distant rumour of a tree to the east and on a bright and sunny day, he saw the tree and hastened his steps. ‘Now I shall touch the sacred tree,’ he shouted in joy. But suddenly the giant Atlas confronted him, staggering beneath the load of worlds on his back. His face was lined with suffering; his limbs were bowed with pain; his eyes were closed with agony; he asked no help; he didn’t see Hercules but stood bowed down with the weight of the worlds.
Hercules gauged the measure of the load and pain and forgot about his search. He only sought to aid the giant and without delay rushed forward and eagerly removed the load, lifting it off the shoulders of his brother onto his own back, shouldering the burden of the worlds himself. He closed his eyes, bracing himself with effort, and lo! The load rolled off, and he stood free, and likewise did Atlas.
Before Hercules stood the giant and in his hand he held the golden apples, offering them with love, to Hercules. The search was over.
The three sisters gave Hercules more golden apples and Aegle, the maid who is the glory of the setting sun, said: ‘The Way to us is always marked by service. Deeds of love are signposts on the Way.’ Hesperis, the wonder of the evening star said, ‘Go forth and serve, and tread the way, from henceforth, for all world servers.’
‘Then I give back these apples for those who follow on,’ said Hercules.”1
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The sign of Gemini signifies Hercules’ third labour – learning about himself by unifying his soul and body. Hercules who represents each of us, must gain the golden apples of wisdom. The mystical visionary must become a person of action in the very physical world of the everyday life. Through the two-way process of experience and learning, we deepen our understanding of the unseen worlds, deepen our contact with them, and learn to manifest those realities in the physical world. So we transmute knowledge into wisdom.
In this labour Hercules must bring together the dualities of soul and personality, so that they become one functioning unity.
The apple in the story represents the mind and knowledge of duality or the pull of the soul and personality. In the garden of Hesperides the apples symbolise synthesis and the many nourished by the one tree of life. Hercules had to search the whole world to find the apples.
First he met Nereus, wise but elusive, taking many forms and never giving a direct answer, only hints. He sent Hercules with a hint to go south which is a symbol of going back into the world away from spirit.
Then he met the serpent who was invincible whilst in touch with earth, its mother. In searching for the apples Hercules had to conquer glamour and illusion, as do all seekers or spiritual warriors. So he had to lift the serpent into the air, away from the ever changing glamour of life in the physical world, into the reality of the soul.
Hercules then passed to his next test in his search, with glamour in another form – Busiris who claimed to be a teacher. Hercules yielded his will and mind to this wily operator who bound Hercules to the altar trying to force him to forget Nereus.
Finally resuming his search he found and released Prometheus from the rock. The liver represents the solar plexus and desire nature and Hercules freed himself from the vultures of desire – he gave up being selfish by serving another.
The most crucial test now presents itself to Hercules. He meets Atlas, carrying the load of the world on his shoulders. Hercules is so concerned by Atlas’ suffering that he tries to carry the weight for him, giving up his search for the apples. He puts the need of another before his own. Once freed from his burden, Atlas goes to the garden of Hesperides and picks the apples without hindrance from the serpent and with the help of the three maidens. He gives them to Hercules who now is free.
Despite his setbacks and deviations due to glamour and illusion, Hercules has achieved, learning to use his will to persist in the task, and so to serve others with love and wisdom.
1. Adapted from Labour 3. For the full story refer The Labours of Hercules, Alice Bailey, Lucis Press, 1974. (p. 54-76).
May 2010