Vital Centers for Concentration 203 



source of evil. It is easier far to drift with desire; 

 but know, once for all, it is the path of discord, 

 the sower of disturbance. 



In the Zodiac we find the clue to these close re- 

 lations of organic sympathy which affect human 

 life and character so profoundly. The constella- 

 tion Scorpio is the symbol of desire because it ex- 

 ercises a paramount influence upon the physical 

 center where desires are generated. This activity 

 is assigned to the coccygeal gland (also known as 

 Luschka's gland), situated near the extremity of 

 the spinal column. This gland is most intimately 

 associated with the arteries and nerves; but its ex- 

 act function, like that of the spleen, pituitary body, 

 and pineal gland, still remains a mystery to the 

 anatomist. Scorpio is one of the " houses " of 

 Mars. Now thought, under the influence of Sagit- 

 tarius (next East of Scorpio as seen in the Heav- 

 ens) is either above or below desire exactly accord- 

 ing to the direction of our thoughts. If these are 

 of the earth, earthy, the direction of these stellar 

 influences is downward from Aries, governing the 

 head, to Pisces ruling the feet. 



The familiar figure of man in the almanacs 

 shows the commonly assigned influence of the zo- 

 diacal signs upon different parts of the body. Fa- 

 miliar as it is, though, how little the illustration 

 signifies to the majority of mankind ! Yet the con- 

 nection is deeply significant; and to a certain de- 



