Seven rays

The Seven Rays is a metaphysical concept that is used within Theosophy. It was originally presented by H. P. Blavatsky in the 19th century, and further developed by C. W. Leadbeater, Alice Bailey, Helena Roerich, Manly P. Hall, and many others in Theosophy-based organizations ^[1] such as Agni Yoga, The "I AM" Activity, ^[2] The Bridge to Freedom ^[3] The Summit Lighthouse, ^[4] Share International, ^[5] The Temple of The Presence (1995), ^[6] and various other organizations. ^[7]

The "Seven Rays" are said to be seven major types of Light-Substance (spirit/matter) (wave/particle) that compose the created universes. These are also believed to convey "Divine Qualities". ^[8]

Elaboration of the concept

According to Alice A. Bailey, each person has a soul ray that remains the same through all their incarnations, and a personality ray that is different for each incarnation. Each ray is also governed by one of the Masters of the Wisdom.

AAB stated the Seven Rays locally originate within the "Solar Logos", i.e., the consciousness of the Sun, and are regarded by Benjamin Creme as being focused to the Solar Logos from the "Galactic Logos" (the consciousness of the Milky Way Galaxy), and having their ultimate origin within the mind of God.

On the local planetary level, it is believed by those adherent to the Theosophical tradition that the Seven Rays are focused from the Solar Logos through the god of our planet, Sanat Kumara, to the Cosmic Masters of the Ancient Wisdom (also called the Ascended Masters or Great White Brotherhood) and from them to us, according to what ray we are on.

Each of the Seven Rays is believed to be associated with a different kind of occult energy, a different color, and governed by a different Cosmic Master of the Ancient Wisdom.

List of the seven rays

The Seven Rays are listed below:

Note: Alice A. Bailey and the Church Universal and Triumphant assign different colors and in some cases different Masters to each of the seven rays. It is to be noted that in the Letters on Occult Meditation, Alice A. Bailey indicates that there is no simple correspondence between the rays and these colors. The colors, Masters, and Retreats indicated here are those indicated by both Alice A. Bailey and the Church Universal and Triupmphant. Note that the colors and Masters assigned by the Church Universal and Triumphant may be different from those indicated by Alice A. Bailey. (According to Alice A. Bailey [and C.W. Leadbeater], the Masters live in immortal bodies at a residence on the physical plane at the indicated ___location, while according to the Church Universal and Triumphant, and other Ascended Master Activities, each Master is believed to serve at a Retreat on the physical or etheric plane at the geographical ___location shown after their name). Also, each ray has a jewel which is believed to focus the energy of that ray, which is indicated. For the Church Universal and Triumphant is indicated what is called the Gifts of the Holy Spirit for that ray, and, in a section below, the characteristic Magic magic for each ray as listed by C.W. Leadbeater.

1. FIRST RAY:

Alice A. Bailey:
Ray: Will - Power
Colour: Blue
Cosmic Master: Morya
Residence: Darjeeling, India
Planet Rulers: Pluto/Vulcan
Chakra/Gland: Crown/Pineal
Jewel: Diamond
.

Church Universal and Triumphant:
Ray: Will of God
Color/Vibration: Blue, White
Ascended Master: El Morya
Retreat: Darjeeling, India
Quality: Power, Goodwill Faith
Chakra Throat
Day: Tuesday
Gifts of The Holy Spirit: Faith in God's Will, Word of Wisdom
Gemstone: Diamond, Sapphire, Star Sapphire, Lapis Lazuli

2. SECOND RAY:

Alice A. Bailey:
Ray: Love Wisdom
Colour: Indigo
Cosmic Master: Koot Hoomi
Residence: Shigatse, Tibet.
Planet Rulers: Sun/Jupiter
Chakra/Gland: Heart/Thymus
Jewel: Sapphire

Church Universal and Triumphant:
Ray: Wisdom of God
Color/Vibration: Yellow
Ascended Master: Lanto
Retreat: Grand Teton, Wyoming, USA
Quality: Wisdom, Understanding
Chakra Crown
Day: Sunday
Gifts of The Holy Spirit: Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge
Gemstone: Yelllow Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, Topaz

3. THIRD RAY:

Alice A. Bailey:
Ray: Active Intelligence
Colour: Green
Cosmic Master: Venetian
Residence: [Not mentioned]).
Planet Rulers: Earth/Saturn
Chakra/Gland: Throat/Thyroid
Jewel: Emerald

Church Universal and Triumphant:
Ray: Love of God
Color/Vibration: Pink, Rose
Ascended Master: Paul the Venetian
Retreat: Chateau de Liberte, S. France; Temple of the Sun, New York
Quality: Love, Creativity, Beauty
Chakra: Heart
Day: Monday
Gifts of The Holy Spirit: Discerning of Spirits
Gemstone: Ruby, Diamond, Garnet, Rose Quartz, Pink Beryl

4. FOURTH RAY:

Alice A. Bailey:
Ray: Harmony through conflict
Colour: Yellow
Cosmic Master: Serapis
Residence: Luxor, Egypt.
Planet Rulers: Moon/Mercury
Chakra/Gland: Base/Adrenals
Jewel: Jasper

Church Universal and Triumphant:
Ray: Purity of God
Color/Vibration: White, Crystal
Ascended Master: Serapis Bey
Retreat: Luxor, Egypt
Quality: Purity, Discipline, Joy
Chakra: Base of the Spine
Day: Friday
Gifts of The Holy Spirit: Working of Miracles
Gemstone: Diamond, Pearl, Zircon, Quartz Crystal

5. FIFTH RAY:

Alice A. Bailey:
Ray: Concrete Science
Colour: Orange
Cosmic Master: Hilarion
Residence: island of Crete, Greece.
Planet Rulers: Venus
Chakra/Gland: Ajna/Pituitary
Jewel: Topaz

Church Universal and Triumphant:
Ray: Science of God
Color/Vibration: Green, Gold
Ascended Master: Hilarion
Retreat: Crete, Greece
Quality: Truth, Science, Vision
Chakra: Third Eye
Day: Wednesday
Gifts of The Holy Spirit: Healing
Gemstone: Emerald, Diamond, Jade, Quartz Crystal

6. SIXTH RAY:

Alice A. Bailey:
Ray: Devotion or Abstract Idealism
Colour: Red
Cosmic Master: Jesus
Residence: Mount Lebanon, Lebanon.
Planet Rulers: Mars/Neptune
Chakra/Gland: SolarPlexus/Pancreas
Jewel: Ruby

Church Universal and Triumphant:
Ray: Peace of God
Color/Vibration: Purple and Metallic Gold, Ruby
Ascended Master: Nada
Retreat: Arabian Peninsula
Quality: Peace, Service, Brotherhood
Chakra: Solar Plexus
Day: Thursday
Gifts of The Holy Spirit: Diverse Kinds of Tongues and Interpretation
Gemstone: Topaz, Ruby, Alexandrite, Diamond with Pearl

7. SEVENTH RAY:

Alice A. Bailey:
Ray: Ceremonial Order
Colour: Violet
Cosmic Master: St. Germain (Master Rakoczi)(Master R.)
Residence: Transylvania, Romania.
Planet Rulers: Uranus
Chakra/Gland: Sacral/Gonads
Jewel: Amethyst

Church Universal and Triumphant:
Ray: Freedom of God
Color/Vibration: Violet, Purple, Pink, Aqua, Teal
Ascended Master: Saint Germain
Retreat: Transylvania, Romania; Table Mountain, Wyoming, USA
Quality: Freedom, Alchemy, Justice
Chakra: Seat of the Soul
Day: Saturday
Gifts of The Holy Spirit: Prophecy, Working of Miracles
Gemstone: Amethyst, Diamond, Aquamarine

Other Masters not assigned to head the seven rays

Besides the seven Cosmic Masters (Ascended Masters) that head the seven rays, according to Alice A. Bailey and Benjamin Creme there are at least 53 other Cosmic Masters, defined as beings who are have reached the Fifth Level of Initiation or above, making a total of 60 in all. According to Alice A. Bailey and Benjamin Creme, the most important Cosmic Master not listed above is the Master Djwhal Khul, the communications director of the Cosmic Masters of the Ancient Wisdom and the Ascended Master from whom Bailey said she channeled her books. Elizabeth Clare Prophet has revealed the names of a number of these Ascended Masters that were previously unknown.

Characteristic magic of each ray

C.W. Leadbeater gave a list showing the characteristic type of magic for each ray; this list indicates what he regarded as the most compatible type of magic to be performed by persons on each ray (although anyone of any ray can do any of these various types of magic). ^[9]

1. FIRST RAY: Type of Magic: Will of magician

2. SECOND RAY: Type of Magic Raja Yoga (Development of Mind)

3. THIRD RAY: Type of Magic: Astrology (Natural Magnetic Forces).

4. FOURTH RAY: Type of Magic: Hatha Yoga (physical development).

5. FIFTH RAY: Type of Magic: Alchemy (Manipulation of Material Substances).

6. SIXTH RAY: Type of Magic: Bhakti Yoga (Selfless Service and Altruistic Love [ agape ]).

7. SEVENTH RAY: Type of Magic: Ceremonial magic (Invocation of Elementals, and Devas).

Using the seven rays in magical work

To use the Seven Rays, it is said the first step is to determine what Ray you are on. It is believed the way to do this is to buy a book about the Seven Rays, read it, and meditate on it. Then, after a few weeks, it is believed one can determine one's "soul ray" and "personality ray" (see "Origin of the Concept" above), which are usually different but could be the same.

The next step is said to be to develop a connection with one's Master through meditation and ritual. Normally, one would develop a connection with one's "soul ray" Master when meditating and with one's "personality ray" Master when performing magical rituals. It is believed that wearing the color and/or jewel associated with one's ray is helpful in focusing the cosmic energy of that ray.

It is believed by some adherents to Theosophy that it is possible for adepts to spiritually travel on the etheric plane to the Etheric City or Retreat of a Master in order to be given instructions on how they can best serve what Alice A. Bailey called the "Plan of the Masters" for the continual advancement of human beings on Earth to higher Levels of Initiation. In the Church Universal and Triumphant and other Ascended Master Activities, students are are taught to go to the "Retreats" to receive instructions from the Ascended Masters while they sleep.

References

^ Kazlev, M. Alan. Schools of Theosophy.
^ Saint Germain Foundation. The History of the "I AM" Activity and Saint Germain Foundation. Schaumburg, Illinois: Saint Germain Press 2003
^ Partridge, Christopher ed. New Religions: A Guide: New Religious Movements, Sects and Alternative Spiritualities Oxford University Press, USA 2004. Describes the Theosophical Society and religious organizations based on a belief in Ascended Masters, such as The I AM Activity, The Bridge to Freedom and The Summit Lighthouse.
^ Lewis, James R. Church Universal and Triumphant in Scholarly Perspective Center For Academic Publication 1994.
^ Creme, Benjamin. The Ageless Wisdom Teaching Share International Foundation 1996. This book presents an introduction to that great body of wisdom underlying the spiritual teachings of all groups throughout the ages.
^ White Paper - Wesak World Congress 2002. Acropolis Sophia Books & Works 2003.
^ Braden, Charles S. These Also Believe MacMillan Publishing Company 2000. The classic study of minority religions in the United States of America.
^ Carson, Reed. Blavatsky' Foreknowledge of The Wave/Particle Duality of Light 1997. It would also be incorrect to claim light is fully explained as a particle. Rather it has a dual nature possessing the properties of both wave and particle. In general, electromagnetic radiation acts more like waves in the radio wave end of the spectrum, more like particles in the x-ray end of the spectrum, and usually (but not always) like a wave in the "middle" light area of the spectrum in our everyday experience. Her ambiguity, then, reflects a fact in nature, the wave/particle duality of nature.
^ Leadbetter, C.W. The Masters and the Path Adyar, Madras, India: 1925--The Theosophical Publishing House. Chart on P. 229 lists Characteristic Magic of each Ray.

External links

[1] Basic Ideas of Theosophy, including the Seven Rays

[2] Deeper discussion of the Seven Rays

[1] Kazlev, M. Alan. Schools of Theosophy.

[2] Saint Germain Foundation. The History of the "I AM" Activity and Saint Germain Foundation. Schaumburg, Illinois: Saint Germain Press 2003

[3] Partridge, Christopher ed. New Religions: A Guide: New Religious Movements, Sects and Alternative Spiritualities Oxford University Press, USA 2004. Describes the Theosophical Society and religious organizations based on a belief in Ascended Masters, such as The I AM Activity, The Bridge to Freedom and The Summit Lighthouse.

[4] Lewis, James R. Church Universal and Triumphant in Scholarly Perspective Center For Academic Publication 1994.

[5] Creme, Benjamin. The Ageless Wisdom Teaching Share International Foundation 1996. This book presents an introduction to that great body of wisdom underlying the spiritual teachings of all groups throughout the ages.

[6] White Paper - Wesak World Congress 2002. Acropolis Sophia Books & Works 2003.

[7] Braden, Charles S. These Also Believe MacMillan Publishing Company 2000. The classic study of minority religions in the United States of America.

[8] Carson, Reed. Blavatsky' Foreknowledge of The Wave/Particle Duality of Light 1997. It would also be incorrect to claim light is fully explained as a particle. Rather it has a dual nature possessing the properties of both wave and particle. In general, electromagnetic radiation acts more like waves in the radio wave end of the spectrum, more like particles in the x-ray end of the spectrum, and usually (but not always) like a wave in the "middle" light area of the spectrum in our everyday experience. Her ambiguity, then, reflects a fact in nature, the wave/particle duality of nature.

[9] Leadbetter, C.W. The Masters and the Path Adyar, Madras, India: 1925--The Theosophical Publishing House. Chart on P. 229 lists Characteristic Magic of each Ray.

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