Esoteric teaching tells us that the twenty-fifth year of every century is of great spiritual significance, for it marks the centennial gathering of the Hierarchy, the spiritual beings on the inner planes who control the evolutionary process of the Earth. Hierarchy convenes once each century, according to esoteric teaching, to assess the state of the divine Plan for the world. 2025 is one such occasion for the Masters’ evaluation, particularly of the center Humanity, the planetary mediator in the chain of being. However, speculation on this centennial assessment is a challenge for human beings; the issues of the day are so all-consuming that they can absorb all our attention, confining our focus to the problems of the immediate present and leaving no energy for envisioning the world we hope for in the future. Even these last six words imply a kind of futility—“if only”—, a sense of impossibility that ignores the potential of human creativity. When lifted above the plane of desire and centered in the mind, the imagination is a great creative, invocative power. We’re reminded of this reservoir of energy which resides within us by the words of Alice Bailey: “It must ever be remembered that the imagination is the seed of the intuition”—of that which is attainable—“because that which is not existent somewhere within our apparently complex planetary system cannot be imagined.”

“Use the imagination as an agent of perception”, Coleridge said. If you want to move into a new sphere of reality, try to imagine a more expanded universe and yourself as a part of it. Each of us might approach this challenge in a different way, but the collective effort of all who strive to envision the contours of a better world might indicate to the waiting Hierarchy the present state of humanity’s capacity for change and the direction of its envisioned goals. With this in mind, what tracks can we lay down now for future servers? What can we accomplish today that will bequeath some benefit to future labors on behalf of the planet? Whatever we do will require the use of the imagination and a long-range vision of our goals. What conditions might stand out as the Hierarchy peruses the state of the world? Here an extended view is required, focusing on long-range goals with an emphasis on soul quality rather than material development.

Striving for a vantage point in the uppermost tier of the global arena, what might the present conditions indicate to a centennial assessment? One consideration might be the present growth of authoritarianism in global society. Of greatest significance might be not the increase in authoritarianism but humanity’s response to it. Its acquiescence to it or its resistance, and the degree of intelligent response applied to that resistance, might well be the more important factors for Hierarchy to consider than the age-old urge to authoritarianism itself. As the energies of Aquarius pour in, inaugurating a 2000 year cycle of the Aquarian age, they will inevitably evoke resistance from the polar opposite of Aquarius, which is Leo, sign of the self, of identity and individuality, which might help to explain both the urge to authoritarianism and the heightened emphasis on maintaining sovereignty, an increasing challenge as the Aquarian impulse towards group consciousness, universality and synthesis gains strength.

Continuing with the theme of opposing forces, we see the growth of insight into the worlds of the lower kingdoms, animal, vegetable and mineral, the developing ability of scientists to imagine entering into the umwelt, the environment which constitutes the worlds of those kingdoms. At the same time the pillaging of the planet continues in spite of warnings and scientific evidence of the growing crisis this is creating for the natural environment. We see the strength of cooperation in international relationships when focused on world problems of war, disease and poverty, yet national sovereignty remains a tricky issue when attempting to apply corrective measures. The media bring global problems right before our eyes as never before, yet that same technology is increasingly fostering the trivialization and fragmentation of our attention.

It would seem that humanity is reaching a pivot point where choices are demanded and the effects of the choices we make will have profound and long-term impacts for years, even centuries, to come. Why, then, isn’t a sense of urgency more apparent? Or is it and we simply don’t recognize it? Perhaps the inertia on the part of some is viewed as an indication that the present situation is so dire as to be hopeless; that we are helpless to impede the present direction towards ever deepening materialism, isolation, and sectarianism; that perhaps the need to change is simply too much to ask of the mass of our fellow human beings.

If so, this overlooks a fundamental spiritual attribute—positivity. Positivity as a spiritual power is vitally needed, and it can spur vast numbers of human beings to strive towards a better world. Another attribute available to humans is the mind, the intelligence, which is often termed adaptability. Not only does this quality endow the capacity to conform to new conditions, but the recognition that adaptation is a fundamental spiritual law which has been at work, driving all human progress throughout the millennia. Archaeologists and anthropologists, historians and scientists can all verify the human capacity to adapt which underlies evolution. Darwin charted its course in the evolution of forms, but the arts, culture, religion and education also offer manifold examples of humans’ and nature’s intelligent capacity to alter circumstances for the better. In this realization lies every reason for incredible hope.

Another function of positivity applies to the signs by which we measure change. Holding in mind that human and planetary evolution progresses by almost undetectable gradations, to focus on time and numbers as measurements of “success” can be discouraging and debilitating. Esoteric teaching reminds us that a vast conversion of humanity towards goodwill and cooperation is not realistic in the near future; rather, establishing a balance, an equilibrium between opposing forces should be the goal. When the numbers of people of goodwill, of those who strive for right human and planetary relationships, constitute a sufficient counter-balance to the forces of opposition to those goals, we’re assured that change can and will occur. These workers act as a leavening agent does in bread, lifting the whole and causing expansion and transformation. And it might be an unexpectedly small percentage that will “turn the tide” in the direction of Aquarian values such as sharing, goodwill, right relationships, and universality. Identifying these workers and especially these groups, and including the vast range of the human urge to betterment beyond the overtly “spiritual”, can be revelatory and quicken our own capacity for change and renewed effort.

Esoteric teaching says that the new age will bring in eventually a civilization and a culture which will be utterly different to anything hitherto known. With this in mind, and knowing that the energies of goodwill, brotherhood, sharing and universality which Aquarius will bear are unstoppable, we have the guidelines on which to create the structures of a new age beginning now.