136 ROSICRUCIANCOSMO-CONCEPTION
between two courses of action. This is the important factor
which alone can explain the system to which we belong in a
satisfactory manner. Involution and Evolution in themselves
are insufficient; but coupled with Epigenesis we have a full
triad of explanation.
The fate of an individual generated under the Law of
Consequence, is of great complexity and involves
association with Egos in and out of incarnation at all times.
Even those incarnated at one time may not be living in the
same locality, so that it is impossible for one individual's
destiny to be all worked out in one lifetime, or in one place.
The Ego is therefore brought into a certain environment and
family with which it is in some way related. As regards the
fate to be worked out, it is sometimes immaterial into which
one of several environments the Ego is incarnated, and when
such is the case, it is allowed its choice as far as possible,
but once an Ego is so placed, the agents of the Lords of
Destiny watch unseen, that no act of free-will shall frustrate
the working out of the portion of fate selected. If we do
aught of such a nature as to circumvent that part, they will
make another move, so as to enforce fulfillment of the
destiny. It cannot be too often reiterated, however, that this
does not render man helpless. It is merely the same law that
governs after we have fired a pistol. We are then unable to
stop the bullet, or even to deflect it from its course in any
way. Its direction was determined by the position in which
the pistol was held when we fired. That could have been
changed at any time before the trigger was pulled, as up to
that time we had full control. The same is true regarding
new actions which make future destiny. We may, up to a
certain point, modify or even altogether counteract certain
causes already set in motion, but once started, and no further