214 Spiritual Astrology
described as the incarnation under the corresponding
manvanthara in the Pura-n.a-s. This is only a broad outline.
Every lunar month is called a day of the Pitru-s. The
new Moon corresponds with their midnight. The end of
the first quarter corresponds with the dawn of Pitru-s and
the full-Moon with their noon. The end of the next quarter
corresponds with their dusk. This division contains a
ritualistic key. The Moon is called the gateway between
the humans and the Pitru-s. This means that the departed
souls return to birth through the light of the Moon. The
fertilization of the ova of woman is done through the
influence of the ray of Soma through the Moon. Each ovum
has its own new-Moon and full-Moon. The period of
menstruation is called new-Moon. The fifteenth day from
that day marks the full-Moon. Four days before and four
days after this day, the ovum is receptive for the
reincarnating soul. This is because on the day of the full-
Moon, the earth stands between Sun and Moon who
represent that father and the mother principles in nature.
The ray of Sun fully reflected upon Moon is received by
this earth on the full-Moon day. The solar ray represents
the reincarnating ego and the reflected lunar ray, the soul
returning to earth. This means the soul descends to matter
and begets a body.
The apparent lunar path of the month is divided into
four quarters. Each quarter contains roughly seven solar
days. From the beginning of one quarter to its end, the
Moon describes an apparent angle of 90 degrees. One
week after fertilization a quickening of the foetus takes
place. Now, the ego established in the womb, experiences
a change in its scale of time. It follows the path of the
solar year and develops in the womb through three-