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A Ray confers, through its energy, peculiar physical conditions, and determines the quality of the Astral-emotional nature; it colours the mind body; it controls the distribution of energy, for the Rays are of differing rates of vibration, and govern a particular center in the body (differing with each Ray) through which that distribution is made. Each Ray works through one center primarily and through the remaining six, in a specific order. The Ray predisposes a man to certain strengths and weaknesses, and constitutes his principle of limitation, as well as endowing him with capacity. It governs the method of his relations to other human types and is responsible for his reactions in form to other forms. It gives him his colouring and quality, his general tone on the three planes of the personality, and it moulds his physical appearance.
Certain attitudes of mind are easy for one Ray type and difficult for another, and hence the changing personality shifts from Ray to Ray, from life to life, until all the qualities are developed and expressed. Certain Souls, by their Ray destiny, are found in certain fields of activity, and a particular field of endeavour remains relatively the same for many life expressions. A governor or statesman has learnt facility in his craft through much experience in that field. A world Teacher has been teaching for age-long cycles. A world Saviour has been, for many lives, at the task of salvaging. When a man is two-thirds of the way along the evolutionary path his Soul Ray type begins to dominate the Personality Ray type and will therefore govern the trend of his expression on earth, not in the Spiritual sense but in the sense of pre-disposing the personality towards certain activities.
Groups of people, organisations, nations and groups of nations are all the result of Ray activity and magnetism. Hence an understanding of the forces which stream forth from the divine creative center, and which we call the Rays, is of value in understanding the quality, nature, and destiny of vast human masses. The seven planets are governed by one or other of the Rays.
The Rays and the Senses
1. Hearing, 2. Touch, 3. Sight, 4. Taste, 5. Smell, 6. Mind, 7. Intuition
Through these seven senses contact with the world of matter and of Spirit becomes possible. The seven senses are, in a peculiar way, the Physical plane correspondences of the seven Rays, and are closely related to and governed by them all. The following tabulation will be found suggestive, that is all that it is intended to be:
1. | Hearing | 7th Ray | Magic | The Word of Power |
2 | Touch | 1st Ray | Destroyer | The Finger of God |
3. | Sight | 3rd Ray | Vision | The Eye of God |
4. | Taste | 6th Ray | Idealism | The Desire of Nations |
5. | Smell | 4th Ray | Art | The Beauty of Revelation |
6. | The Intellect | 5th Ray | Mind | The Knowledge of God |
7. | The Intuition | 2nd Ray | Love-Wisdom | Understanding of God |
TEN BASIC PROPOSITIONS
In concluding this section of our treatise, and before starting on our real study of the Rays, I seek to formulate for you the fundamental propositions upon which all this teaching is founded. They are for me, a humble worker in the Hierarchy, as they are for the Great White Lodge as a whole, a statement of fact and of truth. For students and seekers they must be accepted as an hypothesis:
One: There is one Life, which expresses Itself primarily through seven basic qualities or aspects, and secondarily through the myriad diversity of forms.
Two: These seven radiant qualities are the seven Rays, the seven Lives, who give Their life to the forms, and give the form world its meaning, its laws, and its urge to evolution.
Three: Life, quality and appearance, or Spirit, Soul and body constitute all that exists. They are existence itself, with its capacity for growth, for activity, for manifestation of beauty, and for full conformity to the Plan. This Plan is rooted in the consciousness of the seven Ray Lives.
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