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THE RAYS, INITIATIONS AND CENTERS

Initiation 1. Birth

Sacral center        7th Ray        Physical plane         Beginnings        Relationship                        Sex Magic

Initiation 2. Baptism

Solar Plexus        6th Ray          Astral plane         Dedication        Glamour                        Devotion

Initiation 3. Transfiguration

Ajna center         5th Ray            Mental plane         Integration         Direction                        Science

Initiation 4. Renunciation

Heart center        4th Ray            Buddhic plane         Crucifixion          Sacrifice                        Harmony

Initiation 5. Revelation

Base of spine       1st Ray            Atmic plane         Emergence           Will                                Purpose

Initiation 6. Decision

Throat center          3rd Ray               Monadic plane         Fixation            Intelligent cooperation        Creativity

Initiation 7. Resurrection

Head center         2nd Ray               Logoic plane         Eternal Pilgrim    Love-Wisdom                 Attraction

Initiation 8. Transition

Hierarchy        Four minor Rays     Planetary Choice                              Consciousness                 Sensitivity

Initiation 9. Refusal

Shamballa       Three major Rays    Seven Higher Paths                                   Being                        Existence

A careful study of the above tabulation should give you a somewhat different idea anent the whole subject of initiation. The concept which has to supersede the one at present extant is that of group initiation, and not that of the initiation of an individual aspirant. In the past, and in order to get the idea of initiation into the minds of the people, the Hierarchy chose the mode (now obsolete) of holding out the prospect of initiation before the earnest disciple; upon this they placed an early emphasis of its peculiarity, its rewarding nature, its ritual and ceremonies, and its place in the scale of evolution. Since the fact of initiation had been grasped by many and achieved by some, it has become possible today to reveal what has always been implied, that initiation is a group event. If clear thinking had taken the place of a selfish individual aspiration, the fact of group initiation would have been obvious and for the following reasons, inherent and implied in the whole situation:

1. The Soul—in its own nature—is group conscious and has no individual ambitions or individual interests, and is not at all interested in the aims of its personality. It is the Soul which is the initiate. Initiation is a process whereby the Spiritual man within the personality becomes aware of himself as the Soul, with Soul powers, Soul relationships, and Soul purpose. The moment a man realizes this, even in a small measure, it is the group of which he is conscious.

2. Only the man whose sense of identity is beginning to expand and become inclusive can "take initiation" (as it is erroneously termed). If initiation were a purely personal achievement, it would throw the man back into the separative consciousness, out of which he is endeavouring to escape. This would not be Spiritual progression. Every step upon the Path of Initiation increases group recognition. Initiation is essentially an expanding series of inclusive recognitions.

3. Initiation admits the aspirant into membership in the Hierarchy. This involves, speaking esoterically, the relinquishing of all separative personality reactions in a series of progressive renunciations; these culminate in the fourth initiation, and are again mysteriously emphasised at the ninth initiation.

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