RAY VII The Ray of Order and Ceremonial Magic

Some Strengths Characteristic of Those upon the Seventh Ray
Power to create order
Power to manifest and to work upon the material plane
Power to plan and organize
Ritualism and ceremonialism
Power as a magician
Power to work with the devas and elemental forces
Power to perfect form
Power to manage detail
Keen sense of rhythm and timing
Power to coordinate groups
Power to understand and implement the law
Power to build
Power to renovate and transform
Power to synthesize
Power to create order: The seventh ray is known as "the energy which produces order" (The Externalisation of the Hierarchy, p. 646). To create order is to arrange all elements within a whole intelligently and hierarchically. Hierarchical arrangement requires special attention to the functional value of each element, and its ideal positioning in relation to all other elements—a positioning which will enhance its functional value. Fittingly, the seventh ray has also been called "the Ray...of accurate arrangement" (A Treatise on Cosmic Fire, p. 589).
Intelligent order and accurate arrangement are two primary characteristics of the Divine Purpose which is expressed through the Divine Plan. The order intended by the Creator, and already existent upon the highest planes, holds all beings in right relation­ship. There is a Divine Pattern in conformity with which all beings included in the Divine Creation (from the tiniest subatomic form of life, to the most powerful Divine Entities) are perfectly arranged to express the goodness, truth and beauty of the Creator's Purpose. What that arrangement may be is far beyond the ken of the strictly
Ray Seven
human consciousness, but, from the human perspective, at least, it must be considered the perfect design, conceived by the Logos.
All self-conscious beings are, really, logoi (creators), and all unconscious beings are destined to be logoi. When we speak of the Creator, we usually mean the Logos of the planet Earth, but there are far greater Logoi (our Solar Logos, our Cosmic Logos, and entities far greater in magnitude). Our Planetary Logos and His creation are included by (and within) the Solar Logos and His creation, both of which are included by (and within) our Cosmic Logos and His creation, etc., ad infinitum. For all practical purposes, however, the Divine Pattern in which humanity finds its place can be considered the creative conception of the Planetary Logos of the Earth Scheme.
As evolution proceeds, the Divine Design of our Planetary Logos is worked out upon the physical plane of manifestation (the plane upon which the seventh ray, especially, holds sway). Eventually, the Divine Purpose (carried forward in time through the instrumentality of the Divine Plan) will be expressed in consummate form upon the physical plane, and all beings will be perfectly arranged with respect to each other. Their relationship will be perfectly (i.e., divinely) ordered, since it will reflect the Divine Pattern. Such a consummating relationship does not carry the connotation of rigidity, but rather, of a dynamic and fluid interplay, bringing every participating being to the fullest possible expression of its potentials within the creation of the Planetary Logos. Of course, every design is finite, even designs vastly greater than that of our Planetary God, but for all practical purposes, the consummation of the Planetary Purpose must be considered perfection, or, at least, cyclic completion.
Seventh ray people are particularly responsive to order and design, and in general (when spiritually developed), they understand the Divine Design with greater facility than those upon other rays. Even long before they have any significant spiritual awareness, they work at creating and manifesting what they consider perfected patterns. They are instinctively aware of the time and space relationships existing between the elements of any whole, and seek to create the best possible arrangement of such elements. Seventh ray people revolt against what might be called 'chaotic agglomeration'—in short, the mess. They are able to examine the elements which constitute a whole, and discover the best way of relating those elements so that power, beauty, efficiency—in short, the fullest potential of the related elements—may eventuate. That is the highest purpose of ordering—creating an arrangement which maximizes the potential of that which is ordered.
The Tibetan has expressed the great promise of the seventh ray, and the place it is to play in the creation of the coming civilization:
Seventh ray energy is the energy needed to bring order out of chaos and rhythm to replace disorder. It is this energy which will bring in the new world order for which all men wait. The Rays and the Initiations, p. 572.
168 • Volume I / Section I
Ray Seven
Much unnecessary human suffering has resulted from the unintelligent arrangement and management of energies. During the next two thousand years, under the impress of the seventh ray, this situation will be largely rectified, and an order (reflective of the Divine Order) restored to the physical plane.
Power to manifest, and to work upon the physical plane: The seventh ray has the greatest resonance with the seventh plane, the physical plane, the plane of physical manifestation. While it is true that advanced seventh ray people have the ability to direct their consciousness towards the higher planes upon which the ideas within the Mind of God can be contacted, they are never content with such contact alone. Their eyes instinctively turn towards the world of material form, and they remain unfulfilled unless they are able to bring the ideas contacted into expression within the world of dense materiality, the physical plane. Thus, seventh ray people, are intensely practical and filled with common sense (as are those upon the fifth ray), for only those who are intelligent about handling the energies of the physical plane can succeed in the art and science of manifestation.
The physical plane is very much a world of things. The seventh plane is really a 'frozen' world, a field of congealed energy. From one point of view, manifestation can be considered the art and science of precipitating, densifying (or 'freezing') energy relationships, and thus creating concrete things. Seventh ray people are adept at the process of precipitation, which brings the invisible into visibility, and that which is subjective into the world of appearances. Their power to manifest is constantly changing the face—not so much of reality, which is subjective—but, of actuality, which is objective and visible.
Power to plan and organize: Effectiveness upon the physical plane requires detailed planning and organizational ability. The understanding of timing and sequencing (so natural to those upon the seventh ray) is especially important if organization and planning are to be successful in the world of dense materiality. Perhaps the distinguish­ing feature of the physical plane is inertia, which we will consider as the tendency of matter to resist an increase in its vibratory frequency (its rate of movement). Energies are fluid, but things are congealed energy, and tend to remain at rest (relatively speaking) unless acted upon by an external force. Therefore, upon the physical plane (the world of concrete, inert things), there are severe restrictions upon movement.
Such restrictions must be taken into account by every planner or organizer. Such people have many things to accomplish, but, because of the inertia of matter, they cannot possibly accomplish everything at once. If manifestation is to be successful, actions must be subject to an intelligent ordering and sequencing (i.e., "first things first."). A good plan has an optimal order of execution; in an efficient organization, all elements function in the proper sequence with respect to each other. Seventh ray people understand how to introduce the essential aspect of right timing into the process of planning and organizing.
Section I / Tapestry of the Gods • 169
Ray Seven
The ability to organize is actually the ability to create organic relationships within any whole. Organic relationships are those in which the functioning of each element within any whole is enhanced by the intelligent arrangement of all other elements within that whole, and in which all elements serve the purpose of the whole, just as the whole supports the limited purpose of each element. Organic relationship may be succinctly described by the phrase, "one for all, and all for one." It is a condition of mutual enhancement, an augmentation of power and effectiveness through right arrangement.
The physical body is the outstanding symbol of perfected organization. When the body is functioning optimally, every aspect of it is supportive of every other. Even the best organizers must stand in awe before the divine organizational skill which created the human frame.
It is not easy to organize well. It requires a consciousness which is both synthetic and particular, a balance between an apprehension of the whole and a knowledge of each part. If this balance between whole and part is violated (as it so often is in the organizational structures of nations and societies), disintegration is inevitable. Those upon the seventh ray, however, are adept at preserving the balance; they bring stability to the systems they manage. It is their function to adjust the relationship between all parts or elements within a whole so that the whole may function in an integrated manner and without friction.
Because of their organizational skills, seventh ray people act as preservers of the form. Skillful organization leads to the perpetuation of the relationship between soul and form, or spirit and matter. A perfectly organized system will continue in a state of dynamic equilibrium, and the relationship between its elements will not disintegrate. Of course, upon the physical plane (at this time) there is no perfectly organized form. Imbalance inevitably supervenes, and with it, the disorganization and eventual destruc­tion of the form. But within the inevitable limitations, the organizational finesse of seventh ray workers creates ideally structured relationships remarkable for their strength, and for the skill and efficiency with which they express their animating purpose.
Ritualism and ceremonialism: Seventh ray people are intent upon tangible accom­plishment. They always look for the best possible way of doing something, and once they find it or create it, they tend to repeat it. Thus, routines, rituals and ceremonies are born. These are definitely structured, sequences of activity designed to obtain certain, predictable results, and intended to be performed identically on every occasion. Seventh ray people are not fond of taking chances. They know how difficult is the process of manifestation, and how easily intentions are aborted. Once they formalize a sequence of activities which works (whether it is a daily routine, a business procedure, a church ceremony, a rain dance, etc.) they preserve it inviolate.
170 • Volume I / Section I
Ray Seven
Those upon the seventh ray have a strong social consciousness; they excel at well-organized group work. While all people have a number of routines which have a strictly personal significance, rituals and ceremonies are usually group events which solidify the bonds of relationship between participants. Those upon the seventh ray have an innate appreciation for the fact that each individual can be understood as a pattern—a small pattern forming part of a much larger pattern, a tiny unit of activity meant to participate intelligently within a much greater whole.
Accordingly, each individual is understood to have a proper place and function, and the fulfillment of that place and function render him a valuable contributor to the welfare and integrity of the whole. Ritual and ceremony (especially when patterned after evolutionary themes) tend, simultaneously, to reduce egoism and enhance the individ­ual's sense of participation in and contribution to humanity as an evolving entity. Further, by reinforcing the individual's sense of place and function, ritual and ceremo­ny convincingly illustrate (through the symbolic enactment of archetypal forms and patterns) that the individual is a corporate member of a series of ever-greater divinely conceived wholes or energy systems.
The most valuable forms of ritual and ceremony are organized according to the principle of hierarchy. There is always a conferring or transmission of energy from one in greater authority (archetypically, the "hierarch") to one of lesser degree. Whether the ritual is simply an awards ceremony (found in so many community settings), or (on a much higher turn of the spiral) the initiation of a neophyte into the ranks of the Spiritual Hierarchy of the planet—something is given or transmitted by one who is more powerful to one who is less so. The seventh ray is, we know, the ray most closely associated with all aspects of hierarchical organization and functioning, and seventh ray individuals have the greatest respect for the hierarchically arranged transmission of what might be called "the energy which enables."
The seventh ray is intimately related to the first ray; both are rays of power and will, and both are responsible for maintaining the stability and integrity of society. Ritual and ceremonial, because they impress upon participants the values which are indispensable to all groups and communities, large and small, are invaluable instruments of social cohesion; they uphold the social order and, on a higher turn of the spiral, the Divine Order.
It is clear that within the form of most rituals and ceremonies, there is not much room for individuality. In all social structures there must be a balance between individuality and conformity. Too much emphasis upon individuality inevitably leads to chaos, just as excessive standardization destroys the vitality and originality of a group, organiza­tion or society. Ritual and ceremony, however, are largely instruments of social standardization. They emphasize more what people have in common than what distin­guishes them from each other. In such proceedings, people fulfill certain offices, roles or positions. It is not their individuality that is emphasized, but their place and function
Section I / Tapestry of the Gods • 171
Ray Seven
within a larger pattern. In this way, they appreciate their organic relationship to the whole, and understand themselves as social beings, small parts of a "body corporate." Under the seventh ray, people learn the hierarchical principle that the whole is, essentially, more important than the part (though each part benefits immensely from the proper fulfillment of its function within the whole).
Power as a magician: Divorced from all glamorous, supernatural trappings, a magician is essentially a skillful manifester; there are many magicians in incarnation today (though they are, for the most part, unconscious of their magical powers). Magicians transform ideas into actualities. They are successful or not depending upon how well they know the laws and rules of manifestation, and how well they follow those laws and rules. Advanced seventh ray people are meticulous in their efforts to understand and execute laws and rules. Being the least inclined of all ray types to take chances, they realize that haphazardness is an invitation to danger, especially when dealing with the subjective electrical energies necessary to transform thoughts into things. Thus, they approach their magical work with extreme care—thinking the right thoughts, saying the right words, performing the right actions (all in the proper sequence), so that no false step or confusion ruins their effectiveness.
The highest pursuit for those upon the seventh ray is "white magic." White magic is essentially the art and science of bringing the powers of the soul through into physical manifestation. The Tibetan has outlined fifteen rules of white magic, each of which must be understood and executed with scrupulous care if the magician is to avoid either failure or self-destruction. If successful, the white magician becomes the soul-in-manifestation (i.e., the magician succeeds in manifesting his true nature [his soul nature] upon the physical plane). From one important point of view, the transfigura­tion initiation is the goal of the white magician. At that initiation (the third), the soul manifests fully through the personality. Interestingly, the transfiguration is archetyp-ically related to the constellation Capricorn, which (as far as our planet is concerned) is the foremost conduit of seventh ray energy.
The magician frequently works through ritual and ceremonial, and this will be increasingly the case in the Aquarian Age, during which, the power of the seventh ray will be especially potent. The seventh ray confers the tendency to perform "all things decently and in order." The Tibetan calls it the "Ray of Ritualistic Decency," (Esoteric Astrology, p. 445). Order, sequence and right timing are indispensable in the magical art and science, just as in any process of manifestation. There are many, many energies to be called forth and controlled. If they are invoked incorrectly and out of turn, a confusing and destructive vortex may arise, threatening the magician and his entire enterprise. The well-defined structure of ritual and ceremonial endorsed by the Spiritual Hierarchy guards him against incorrect procedures.
Power to work with the devas and elemental forces: The deva and human evolutions are interdependent and, intimately related. However, during the recent evolutionary
172 • Volume I / Section I
Ray Seven
history of humanity, these two kingdoms have been kept separate. At this time, humanity has little conscious intercourse with the deva evolution. This was not always so. During Atlantean times, humanity possessed certain formulae which enabled it to command many of the lower orders of devas. Because of human selfishness and ignorance, the results were catastrophic, and culminated in the great "Flood" which destroyed much of the then-known world.
Now, once again, the time has come to bring the human and deva evolutions into conscious interplay. This will be greatly facilitated by the power of the incoming seventh ray, which is particularly related to the deva kingdom. The first field of conscious deva/ human interaction will be the four etheric planes, and the etheric body of the human being, both of which are archetypically conditioned by the seventh ray.
The Tibetan informs us that:
The physical plane, in its densest aspect, holds little of mystery for man today; he has knowledge on these matters. But the rarer levels of the physical plane lie hid and are, for man, his next field of discovery. The ceremonial ray brings with it the means whereby that knowledge may be acquired and revealed to all, and thus not be the sole property of the wise and of occultists. The three higher etheric levels, with their denizens, are waiting to become the property of all.. Esoteric Psychology, Vol. I, pp. 122-123.
Men in their etheric bodies will be noted and communicated with, and the devas and elementals of the ethers will be studied and recognized. When this is so, then the true use of ceremonial ritual as a protection and safeguard to man will assume its right place. A Treatise on Cosmic Fire, p. 474.
Under the seventh ray, humanity is about to experience an 'etherializing' of its interests. The seventh ray is a synthesizing ray. In their attitude to the physical plane, seventh ray people have a kind of 'bifocal' orientation; they see in two directions simultaneously. They certainly have the common sense to be concerned about the dense aspect of the physical plane (the solid, liquid and gaseous subplanes), but they are also unusually attentive to the ethers, and to the devas of the ethers. It is one of their important functions to call humanity's attention to the existence of these two interdependent levels of physical substance (the dense physical and the etheric levels), and then devise means of synthesizing them.
This is all part of the process of sublimation and transformation so much associated with the seventh ray, and, in relation to which, seventh ray people excel. We have reached a point in evolution calling for the elevation of matter, sometimes called the "spiritualization of matter." Those upon the sixth ray are innately interested in elevating the psyche, but they often do so at the expense of physical plane matter, which they are only too eager to leave behind. Seventh ray people, in contrast, are adept at
Section I / Tapestry of the Gods • 173
Ray Seven
raising the vibration of dense physical matter so that it can more easily respond to the subtle, etheric currents which are also part of the physical plane. To this end, seventh ray people will pioneer a renewed human intercourse with the devas, and will (lawfully and appropriately) enlist that "angelic kingdom" in the transformational process.
There are many ways in which the deva and human kingdoms are divinely intended to cooperate. The field of healing, which, in the future, will focus so specifically upon the etheric body, is one especially fruitful area of potential cooperation. Seventh ray individuals often make excellent healers, and will be among the first to enlist the aid of appropriate devas in the healing process. The arts are another area. The supreme Artist upon our planet is Sanat Kumara, the Lord of the World, resident in Shamballa, the planetary head center. Some dim reflection of the beauty which will manifest as the seventh and fourth ray (the two rays which promote an intimate relation with the deva kingdom) increase in potency can be gathered from the following quotation in which the Tibetan describes the seventh great purpose of Sanat Kumara:
Does it mean anything to you when I say that the ceremonial ritual of the daily life of Sanat Kumara, implemented by music and sound and carried on the waves of colour which break upon the shores of the three worlds of human evolution, reveal—in the clearest notes and tones and shades—the deepest secret behind His purpose.. I am not here writing in symbols, but am making an exact statement of fact. As beauty in any of its greater forms breaks upon the human consciousness, a dim sense is thereby conveyed of the ritual of Sanat Kumara's daily living... The Rays and the Initiations, pp. 246-247.
It is a foregone conclusion that the artists of the future (of whom a great number will be well-endowed with the seventh ray), will command the devas through a knowledge of sound and color, and will use ritualistic and ceremonial practices to call upon the devas in order to create a living and fluid art, the likes of which we can scarcely conceive—an art reflective of the Divine Order.
In the largest sense, the seventh ray unites spirit and matter. In a more strictly human sense, the seventh ray is instrumental in uniting soul and personality. The "Word of Power" for those upon the seventh ray makes this clear: "The Highest and the Lowest Meet." Man, himself, is a composite being, a "divine Hermaphrodite" composed partially of deva substance. It is the seventh ray which unites the strictly human aspect of man (which we will call here, for the sake of simplicity, the "inner man") with what might be called his 'devic envelope.' The seventh ray brings the two together into a well-coordinated, organic relationship. This will particularly be the case during the Aquarian Age. During the next two thousand or so years, there is to be a great emergence of the Kingdom of God, the kingdom of souls. Humanity is becoming consciously aware of the Solar Angels (those great solar devas who supervise the evolutionary development of each, individual human being).
174 • Volume I / Section I
Ray Seven
The time for union between soul and personality (on a large scale) has now arrived. One of the chief fields in which to accomplish this union will be the refined, sensitized and revitalized etheric body of the aspiring human being. It can be seen how well-suited is the seventh ray to bring about the union of the opposites (soul and personality). Seventh ray people, with their knowledge of the ethers and of pranic currents, will be in a position to facilitate the impact of soul energies upon the dense physical mechanism (and, especially, the dense physical brain), via the medium of the etheric body. It can easily be understood how those upon the seventh ray will assist in the transition of a large number of human beings from the fourth (or human) kingdom of nature to the fifth kingdom (the kingdom of souls). Interestingly, this transition requires the union of two large groups of devas—the solar devas (the Solar Angels) and the lunar devas (which form the lunar vehicles of the personality).
Power to perfect form: Spirit needs a perfected 'material' instrument through which to express. One of the great themes of evolution is the attempt by spirit to fashion (via the power of the planet Vulcan) that material instrument. It is a lengthy process, because matter must be properly conditioned in order to become a fitting medium of expres­sion.
Really, there is no fundamental distinction between spirit and matter. It is all one substance; we call the higher vibratory range of that substance by the name "spirit," and the lower vibratory range by the name "matter," but the distinction is arbitrary, and more a convenience of the mind than an actuality. There is a constant interplay, however, between these two ranges—mediated, by what might be called an 'interme­diate range of vibration' which we call "soul."
If the Plan of the Planetary Logos is to come to fruition, these ranges of vibration must work in the closest cooperation. Another way of stating this, is that form must be perfected so that it may embody—first soul, and then spirit-filled soul, and, at length, pure spirit, itself. Seventh ray people are particularly sensitive to the whole range of vibrations, and develop (more easily than most) the ability to coordinate these vibrations with each other. Not only can they 'shape' form admirably, but they have the vertical sensitivity to bring form into rapport with the higher agencies which are destined to use form as a vehicle of expression.
This ability to perfect form may begin in very humble ways, and upon the physical plane. Craftsmanship is one of its key evidences. An idea is conceived, and a form is worked until it becomes the representative of that idea. Through the power ("kraft," in German) of the hand, matter is shaped to become the most perfect embodiment possible. The tendency to preserve order within the environment is another evidence of the attempt to create perfected form. Organizational expertise is yet another. It is obvious that seventh ray people must first work with the physical form, gaining the ability to shape, manipulate, coordinate and control it, before they turn their attention to the higher and more subtle spheres whereon reside the divine ideas (i.e., beings)
Section I / Tapestry of the Gods • 175
Ray Seven
which must express themselves through form. This being the case, there are many seventh ray people who may seem overly preoccupied with material affairs, almost captivated by their love of objectified form. It must be realized that this seeming preoccupation is simply a preliminary step in the process of uniting spirit with matter— a step in which they are mastering the material aspect of their craft. Later they will reach into the realm of archetypes, and bring aspects of the Divine Pattern and physical form together.
With these thoughts in mind, we can see how important it is to know an individual's stage of evolution when attempting to understand how a given ray energy can be expected to manifest. Many esoteric psychologists are competent to identify the presence of a ray energy at one level of evolutionary unfoldment, but may fail to detect it at another (either higher or lower). The same is true for astrological energies. Extensive experience with a wide range of people (not just spiritual aspirants and disciples) is, therefore, necessary if the esoteric psychologist is to understand how the seven rays affect the development of the human personality and soul.
Power to manage detail: The seventh plane is the plane of maximum differentiation. Spirit is simplicity, itself; matter is a complex manifestation of spirit. The further one proceeds from the source, the greater the complexity.
Seventh ray people, by numerical resonance, work upon the seventh, or dense physical plane. If they are to be effective, they must come to terms with conditions, as they exist, upon that plane. Therefore, they are compelled to pay attention to details. Their task is the creation of what might be called a 'detailed synthesis.' They cannot afford to ignore that which is small, because a small, '' dis-integrated’ element can ruin the integrity of the whole. For the sake of completeness (and the word "perfect" is just another way of saying "complete"), perfectionism is required. Thus, seventh ray people (who are the most perfectionistic of all ray types) attend to detail scrupulously, for the sake of creating a perfected manifestation.
Because of the extreme care they show in managing detail, those upon the seventh ray are known for their reliability. There are many reasons why things are done poorly, and inattentiveness to detail is one. Seventh ray people overlook nothing; "nothing gets past them," and nothing is allowed to "slip." Ideas are meant to achieve perfected manifes­tation upon the physical plane. God's Purpose is intended to work out perfectly. Those who are strongly conditioned by the seventh ray are in training, so that one day (as tested and utterly reliable artisans in the 'divine workshop') they may ensure that the Divine Pattern receives a "polished presentation" upon the physical plane.
Keen sense of rhythm and timing: The Divine Plan is executed rhythmically. It is a Plan for space, but even more a Plan in time. The Plan proceeds through the timed release of certain qualities of energy; the great participating Entities intensify or 'deintensify' their
176 • Volume I / Section I
Ray Seven
emanations according to cyclic law. And thus the worlds are built, and the appropriate forms emerge.
Seventh ray people build in the same way. More than many ray types, they have patience, and do not seek to force accomplishment. They know it is necessary to work sequentially on many different aspects of the structure. They manage their various energies and resources so that each will be deployed at the most advantageous time. Everyday life gives all of us the opportunity to understand the value of rhythm and timing. We do not, for instance, normally exercise heavily immediately after eating, nor eat a huge meal immediately before retiring. The best time to take a nap is not while driving a car, and few there are who decide to read a book while being interviewed for an important position. These examples seem absurd, of course, but appropriate timing does determine the success of any enterprise. Most infringements upon right timing are far more subtle, but debilitating nonetheless.
There is a time and a place for each of life's activities. There are peak moments when each activity can be performed to best advantage. Seventh ray people have a unique ability to discover and schedule such moments. They observe their own cycles, and the cycles occurring within their environment. Then, they coordinate the two so that a pattern of mutual reinforcement occurs, rather than an "interference pattern." In short, they learn to master time.
One can see, that under the seventh ray, it will be possible to live more scientifically and, thus, to optimize all the potentials of a given life cycle. Seventh ray people have a great knowledge of (and respect for) the well-timed expression of energy. This will ensure that energy is not wasted, that needless crosscurrents do not destroy opportunity. Whereas, in the past, the expression of soul potential has been frustrated by arrhythmic living (except in the most exceptional cases) under the rhythmic regime of the seventh ray, it will be a much more common occurrence.
Power to coordinate groups: The Age of Aquarius in which the seventh ray will play so prominent a part, will be a group age. The functioning of the seventh ray is intimately related to the formation and sustainment of groups. Unlike the first ray, the seventh ray does not incline the individual towards isolation and unilateral action—quite the opposite in fact. The first ray represents the point of utmost simplicity—that point in consciousness where only the one exists; the seventh ray represents the point of maximum differentiation at which the many are found. The seventh ray person takes his place as an agent of coordination among the many.
A group, like any whole, consists of a certain number of elements (i.e., members). Much of the difficulty within groups arises because the members do not work together in a mutually enhancing relationship. There is needless duplication of effort, interpersonal friction, an assignment of tasks unsuited to individual potential, arrhythmic interac­tion, and, in general, a lack of coordination. The group does not function as an
Section I / Tapestry of the Gods • 177
Ray Seven
organism. Seventh ray people are well-suited to correct these difficulties. Not only are their strong organizational skills useful, but their fine sense of timing, and their courteous behavior are equally valuable. As the Tibetan writes of those upon the seventh ray:
The good type of the ray is absolutely determined to do the right thing and say the right word at the right moment; hence great social success. Esoteric Psychology, Vol. I, p. 211.
The Aquarian Age will be the Age of group creativity. The group will replace the individual as the main creative agent, and the greatest contributions to human welfare will be the gifts of soul-inspired groups (composed, of course, of soul-inspired individuals). It is difficult enough to be a creative individual; developing a truly creative group presents many more problems. But all this will become possible because of the large influx of seventh ray souls, whose sense of creative group enterprise is easily cultivated, and whose power to coordinate group resources intelligently is distinctive.
Power to understand and implement the law: The Will of God structures the worlds; it creates the boundaries and "ring(s) -pass-not" which determine the proper placement of every created thing. The Will of God is Law. Human law is based, ultimately, upon the Will of God, and upon the structures and boundaries that Law creates. Law, in short, is based upon respecting boundaries and placements (i.e., upon the Divine Pattern, and what might be called the 'Divine Arrangement'), and hence, is closely related to the seventh ray (the ray of "accurate arrangement").
The seventh ray is the "Ray of Law and Order." (A Treatise on Cosmic Fire, p. 589) Law and order are the major agents of stabilization within any whole or system. Seventh ray people understand the 'scaffolding' of laws, principles and values which sustain the structure of the whole. Just as the skeletal system keeps all the softer parts of the body in place, so the laws of society maintain order and the right placement of all the various social elements. Without law, society would lose its pattern; boundaries would be infringed, lines of definition blurred, and confusion, formlessness and, eventually, chaos result. For these reasons, it is clear that seventh ray people, with their insistence upon the need for order and pattern, would necessarily be numbered among those who uphold the law.
Because they are so practical, seventh ray people seek to do more than merely understand the law. Knowing and understanding, per se, are not equivalent to action upon the physical plane. Seventh ray people demand practical action, and so, quite naturally, become directly involved in the creation of law and its enforcement. They are found throughout government, and within the legal system. They act as "pillars of the community," guardians of the social contract, and upholders of the social structure. Unlike law-conscious people upon the first ray, those upon the seventh ray read the fine print, and hold themselves and others accountable for all the many statutes.
178 • Volume I / Section I
Ray Seven
These are the people who, in their fastidiousness, are quite capable of "throwing the book" at offenders. At their best, however, they promote equality under the law for all members of society. This sense of equality will be extremely valuable during the Aquarian Age, when powerful and creative groups will assume such importance. It is imperative that relationships within such groups be governed by spiritual law and a realization of the equality of the spirit. These newer groups will not progress as intended unless they understand and strictly observe the laws and rules of group work. The presence of many seventh ray aspirants and disciples among their personnel will ensure success.
Power to build: The Lord of the seventh ray is known as "The Builder of the Square," i.e., the creator of the four aspects of the lunar form through which the soul can manifest. Those upon the seventh ray are builders and eventually learn to control the building forces of nature—the elementals and the lesser devic builders. This ray might well be called 'the ray of ordered cohesion.'
Seventh ray people simply know "how things fit together." They understand structure: the necessary sequence of steps in the building process; the time required to complete each phase; the materials to be used in construction; the methods of shaping, refining and polishing the materials; the forces exerted upon each other by the various parts of the structure; and the method of binding or fastening one part to another so that the entire structure will be stable. This type of understanding can be applied to the building of all kinds of structures—concrete, organizational or subjective.
It is interesting that upon Earth all structures must begin with the laying of a firm foundation, and be built upwards slowly. The process of manifesting spiritually inspired ideas, however, is exactly the reverse. The foundation or the root is "in heaven," (i.e., upon the mental plane, or even above) and the process of building must proceed slowly and carefully downwards. In either case, the patient and careful seventh ray approach is ideal.
It is anticipated that as the "Mysteries" are gradually restored, and humanity learns how to work with the deva kingdom, the building process will take place through the power of sound (to which the seventh ray is particularly related). Either through mantram or music, the building will proceed, and the most exact soundings and intonations will be required if the proper devic "materials" are to be selected and welded together to achieve the intended results.
It is clear that humanity stands before the dawning of a new civilization and the institution of a new order. But the new civilization will have to be patiently built. Humanity, the builder, is just beginning to take those steps which will enable it to "erect a new temple"—the Temple of the New Age. Under the guidance of those who resonate to the seventh ray, humanity will have the opportunity to build the Temple in
Section I / Tapestry of the Gods • 179
Ray Seven
conformity with the "divine blueprints" provided by "the Great Architect of the Universe."
Power to renovate and transform: From one perspective the seventh ray promotes conservatism, the preservation of well-established values. But from another perspec­tive, it is the most progressive of rays, and those strongly conditioned by its energy are among the earliest recipients of the new patterns which must be manifested to create the New World Order. Uranus, the planet which is the primary distributor of the seventh ray, always brings renewal and transformation.
Advanced seventh ray people create in an impersonal manner. They are not interested in expressing their own designs, but rather, are attuned to the "pattern of things in the heavens." True renewal and transformation are not worked up from below; they are the result of the power of the descending archetype to galvanize the building forces (the devas and elementals) into new modes of activity. Those upon the seventh ray invoke the divine archetypes awaiting manifestation, and magnetically draw them closer to the plane of earth. They know the laws and rules by means of which substance may be properly added to the 'archetypal frame.' In fact, they, themselves, act as channels through which the new archetypes can achieve precipitation. Thus, the evolved seventh ray individual works not so much to change or modify the forms already manifest (though some renovation of this kind is useful at times), but rather to create new forms which supplant the old. Global renovation and transformation cannot succeed if "new wine" is poured into "old bottles."
Power to synthesize: There are several rays which promote synthesis; in the task of creating synthesis upon the physical plane, the seventh ray plays a dominant role. The Tibetan describes the synthetic quality of the seventh ray as it applies to the three worlds of human evolution:
In a curious way the violet Ray of Ceremonial Law or Order is a synthetic ray when manifested in the three worlds. Just as the synthetic Ray of Love and Wisdom is the synthesis of all the life forces, so in the three worlds the seventh ray synthesises all that has to do with form. On the first plane, life in its purest, highest, undifferentiated synthetic aspect; on the seventh plane, form in its densest, grossest, most differentiated aspect; one is summed up in the synthet­ic Ray of Love, whilst the other is worked upon by the seventh." Letters on Occult Meditation, p. 202.
Now, for the first time since its appearance upon this planet, humanity will be in a position to cooperate with the synthesizing, fusing potency of the seventh ray. The goal of the Aquarian Age is to create a beneficent synthesis within the human family. The ideal of the one humanity has inspired many, but for the majority it remains simply an ideal, with little hope of manifestation. While essentially, and upon the inner planes, humanity is said to be a unified entity, upon the plane of manifestation, division and
180 • Volume I / Section I
Ray Seven
discord have been the rule. However, the seventh ray, in cooperation with the energies of the constellation Aquarius, will bring this subjective synthesis through, onto the physical plane. Although the coming Age will provide no ultimate planetary synthesis, the initiation of many members of the human race into the kingdom of souls will establish the thoughtform of synthesis so strongly, that the members of the human family will be spiritually bound to each other on the planes of objectivity as never before.
Seventh ray workers will participate strenuously in this synthesizing process. There will be nothing mystical or impractical about it. In thousands of practical ways (economic, political, educational, artistic, etc.) they will bring the members of the human family into right relationship. They will, in short, support and make exoterically effective the work of spiritual servers upon all the other rays. This thought is beautifully summarized by the Tibetan, in a selection from the Masters' Archives:
The preservation of values is the task of the initiate of the first ray; the attainment of positivity is the goal of the initiate of the second ray. He who works upon the third ray must reach the path from here to there. The initiate of the fourth ray arrives at the will aspect when conflict steps into its rightful place and causes no undue concern... The ray of vision and of application indicates the way direct, evokes the will to follow, and weld the love of God, the love of man and all that breathes into the purpose underlying all, and towards that purpose and its earthly consummation the seventh ray gives all it has. The Rays and the Initiations, p. 507.
Section I / Tapestry of the Gods • 181
Ray Seven
Some Weaknesses Characteristic of Those upon the Seventh Ray
Rigid orderliness; formalism; crystallization
Over concern with rules, regulations and the "dead letter" of the law
Rigid routinization; subservience to habit
Meaningless ritualism; pompous ceremonialism
Materialism; earth-boundness
Intolerance of individuality; lack of originality
Excessive conformity (or nonconformity); intolerance of anything new (or old)
Excessive perfectionism
Bigotry and sectarianism
Superficial judgment based upon appearances
Perversion of the magical process
Sex-magic
Addiction to occult phenomena; spiritualism
Rigid orderliness; formalism; crystallization: Seventh ray people fear chaos, that amorphous state in which no stable relationships exist, and nothing has its proper place. In a certain sense, chaos is a preliminary phase of the creative process. Certainly, in the search for a creatively satisfying design, conception or pattern, there is a shuffling and reshuffling of elements, a tentative proposing of numerous possible combinations. This search is marked by instability and uncertainty—no relationship between elements is preserved for very long until, at last, the 'need-fulfilling design' is discovered. If the creator is unwilling to bear the painful sense of disorientation of temporary chaos, nothing new can emerge; old patterns will abide and new ones will not be formulated.
Seventh ray people are no strangers to the creative process (especially those who are more involved in the process of restructuring and transforming, rather than in the preservation of the status quo). But there are a quite a few of those upon the seventh ray who are afraid to take the risk of 'reshuffling the deck.' Perhaps they fear that they will become lost, disoriented or "out of place." Or, perhaps, they fear losing the pattern upon which they have been relying, and being unable to find an appropriate substitute. Surely, some great self-doubt is involved in the refusal to relinquish an old pattern in favor of a new. Perhaps, the wellsprings of creativity have dried up or cannot even be reached.
First ray people (being certain of the power and vitality of their inner center) are more than willing to relinquish external patterns. They view such patterns as a limitation
182 • Volume I / Section I
Ray Seven
upon their spontaneity, and besides, if a pattern is needed, they can always generate one from within. But certain seventh ray people have no such faith in the power of their inner self as a source of constant renewal. They are more oriented towards externals, and their confidence often depends upon their adherence to an external structure rather than upon their belief in their own inner powers.
The result is that they do not dare run the risk of any form of chaos—even creative chaos. They will not tolerate disturbance in their environment (or in their psyche). In their attempt to see that things remain as they have always been, the innate orderliness of such people becomes over-fastidiousness. Instead of risking spontaneity, they rely upon formality (i.e., the presentation of self by means of established forms which are not at all expressive of the individuality). For such people, predictability is equivalent to security (and those upon the seventh ray are among the most security-conscious of all ray types).
The spirit is ever new, never the same; the principle of unrepeatability holds sway. But failing to understand this, less evolved people upon the seventh ray (or those suffering an 'evolutionary relapse') seek, to repeat exactly that which has worked for them in the past, so that they can be spared the anguish and uncertainty of "braving the new." Unfortunately, this rigidity entombs the spirit. It may be a beautiful tomb, sturdy in structure and built with the greatest of care, but that does not compensate for the spiritual crime of attempting to immobilize the life force.
The past is dead and unchanging (and, hence, totally reliable); it will ever be what it has been. Seventh ray people can, apparently, 'protect' themselves from the future by adhering to a dead pattern of past certainties, but they only succeed in becoming crystallized—a form of death. Life is fire and mobility, but instead, they choose to freeze. The river of life moves on, carrying forward those who remain in a state of fluidity, but fear of the new brings petrification; the stone sinks to the riverbed, and there it remains. The price for trying to "keep things the same" is to remain the same.
Over concern with rules, regulations and the "dead letter" of the law: Rules, regula­tions and laws place limitations upon activity. Seventh ray people demand clarity. Being confronted with an infinitude of possible options seems to them dangerously close to chaos. They dread a situation in which "anything goes." Thus, they deliberately choose to limit what they will and won't do, by adhering to certain patterns of activity and behavior, and foregoing many others. Such definite and limiting patterns are called laws, rules and regulations. 'Right action' conforms to the pattern; 'wrong action' deviates from the pattern. Having a guiding template or pattern simplifies the process of living.
Naturally, it is possible to conform too strictly to the pattern. Any pattern, no matter how good, is limited. The patterns which we call laws, rules and regulations are meant to uphold certain values and principles, but they can never do so perfectly, just as form
Section I / Tapestry of the Gods • 183
Ray Seven
can never perfectly express all the potentials of spirit. Many seventh ray people, however, forget the inadequacy of form and pattern. They adhere rigidly to rules, regulations and the "dead letter" of the law, forgetting the interior values and principles which such ordinances were instituted to express and uphold. They succumb to that recurrent seventh ray failing—the tendency to regard the external expression more highly than the internal and living essence of which the expression is a dim reflection.
The laws, rules and regulations devised by humanity are meant to accord with the Divine Will, and act as agents of its expression within the three worlds of human evolution. To the extent that they do this, they are good laws, good rules, and good regulations. But being devised by humanity, they can never be wholly adequate means of expressing the Divine Intent. People tend to forget this—especially people upon the seventh ray—and in so doing, place severe and rigid limitations upon themselves and others. Divinity needs scope to express its endless fecundity. The "seed of spirit" within the human being demands freedom above all, and will induce violent rebellion if confined by artificial patterns of conduct (i.e., spiritually repressive laws, rules and regulations), the construction of which was motivated by fear, and the purpose of which is simply to "keep people in place."
Rigid routinization; subservience to habit: Routines and habits are managed by the subconscious mind. In the process of going through a routine, or of proceeding according to habit, the individual need not think, need not even be aware of himself. Of course, this form of unconsciousness can be valuable, because when certain necessary functions become routinized or habitual, the conscious mind is left free to deal with other things. For instance, when the functions required to drive a car become a matter of routine or habit, the mind is freed to think productively about a higher order of things.
Sometimes, however, routinization simply becomes an excuse for "vegetation"—a non-thinking, trance-like state in which all higher functions of consciousness are temporarily suspended. The Path of Spirituality is the "conscious way," but when routine or habitual responses become excessive, unconsciousness engulfs more and more of the life.
Seventh ray people do run the risk of becoming excessively conditioned. The extreme case could be likened to the automaton—the robot, who does everything correctly, but has no self-awareness. Walden Two by B.F. Skinner and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, present what most thinking people would consider nightmare visions of humanity in an advanced state of well-regulated dehumanization. There is much of the seventh ray (albeit, a gross distortion) in these "utopian" visions.
Some of the great spiritual teachers (Krishnamurti and the Master Morya, for instance) have spoken of the destructive effects of habit and routine. Habit and routine are products of the past; they are "the past in the present"; from one perspective, they
184 • Volume I / Section I
Ray Seven
represent the past devouring the present; they destroy creativity. An evolutionary response to the challenges of life requires adaptability. But habit and routine are frozen patterns of response. While certain predictable and familiar challenges can (and should) be handled instinctively (on the basis of past learning), evolutionary challenges (which are both unpredictable and unfamiliar, and which arise from the inflow of new combinations of ray and astrological energies) require new solutions.
As we know, those who cannot adapt die; this is true of individuals, cultures, civiliza­tions, nations and races. Habit and routines simply cannot lead into the future. If the habits and routines are 'good,' they can provide what might be called a 'a plateau of correct response' to existing conditions, but nothing beyond. Evolutionary activity (progressive activity) occurs only when the consciousness is fully present to immediacy. But so often, responding according to habit and routine deadens consciousness to the immediacy of any situation. It may be easy to operate in this way, but spiritual progress comes to a halt. There are many seventh ray people who have to understand this.
Meaningless ritualism: Seventh ray people can continue doing something long after they have forgotten whythey are doing it. Thought disappears and only action remains. So many traditional rituals are performed in such a manner—as action dissociated from meaning. People know the old forms and "go through the motions," but there is no heart in it, and, hence, no life. Once the life goes out of the form, it is only a matter of time before the form dies. It is revolting and deadening to continue performing meaningless activity indefinitely. It is like artificially animating a corpse.
Seventh ray people are those who perpetuate form (or should one say, 'mummify form'?). The form of a ritual is perpetuated either through understanding or repetition, or, preferably, through both. When a ritual is truly understood by those who perform it, the thoughtform lying behind the ritual is vitalized. A vitalized thoughtform acts as a powerful agent of cohesion, conveying vitality and integrity to the outer form which reflects it. But when understanding fades, cohesiveness, vitality and integrity diminish. Since there is no longer a vibrant thoughtform associated with the outer motions, such motions receive no sustenance from the inner planes. If not for repetition, the form of the ritual would vanish from the minds of men, and thus from outer activity. But sufficient repetition can, in fact, keep the outer form alive (or, at least, lifelike). The form is artificially sustained upon the outer plane, even though its inner life and meaning have long since vanished. It is a joyless, arduous task to keep the dead alive. Life is meant to flow from the inner planes towards the outer; the outer form is not meant to be artificially stimulated by material energies. Many seventh ray people fall into the trap of perpetuating the life of form through the agency of outer stimulation. In doing this they are working with "fire by friction," and not "solar fire" or "electric fire." Without the infusion of these higher fires, outer activities (however well-coordinated and formally correct) become meaningless.
Section I / Tapestry of the Gods • 185
Ray Seven
Pompous ceremonialism: Certain cases occur in which the meaning of a ritual may be lost, but the celebrant becomes so enamored of the ritual's outer form, that he does not mind the meaninglessness. Such a ritualist becomes excessively self-important, and uses the ritual as a means of ego-inflation. He exaggerates various aspects of the ceremony in order to draw attention to himself. His mind is upon himself as the performer, and far from any thought of the deeper significance which lies within the forms and motions he executes. This is a form of self- exaltation to which certain seventh ray people may be prone (especially if Jupiter [the 'ceremonial planet' strongly related to the seventh ray] is powerful in their astrological chart). Again, this is an example of deriving one's identity from an outer form (and an outer function), rather than from communion with the inner pattern of one's being (or better, from one's formless essence).
Materialism; earth-boundness: Because the seventh ray is so closely associated with the seventh plane (the plane of materiality) those strongly endowed with seventh ray energy run the risk of becoming "earthbound souls." When at a relatively early stage of evolution, people who are born in or under the constellation Capricorn, are known as "the earthbound soul" (see Esoteric Astrology, p. 333). Interestingly, Capricorn, at this time, is the foremost distributor of the seventh ray to our planet.
Until the seventh ray person is highly developed, the higher dimensions of conscious­ness mean little. Such dimensions seem, if anything, unreal. The seventh ray is a precipitating energy, and those upon this ray relate best to things which are in a precipitated state (i.e., tangible). Of course, everything within the three worlds of human evolution can, from a higher perspective, be considered precipitated, and according to the Ageless Wisdom, even the four highest and apparently formless planes (the logoic, monadic, atmic and buddhic planes) are also precipitated (for they are part of what is called the "cosmic physical plane"). Yet, from the vantage point of customary, brain-conditioned awareness, only that which is found upon the dense physical plane seems precipitated, and it is to this particular level of reality that many people upon the seventh ray confine their attention. Preoccupation with the material element, then, is their line of least resistance. Their world is a world of objects. They do not concern themselves with that which they consider vague and insubstantial and, hence, bind themselves to the level of physical plane perceptions, becoming, in consciousness at least, "earthbound."
Intolerance of individuality; lack of originality: One way of defining an individual, is a human being who conforms to his own interior pattern, one who marches to a "different drummer"—his own drummer. So often, seventh ray people are afraid of individuality, for the pattern of individuality cannot possibly conform to the socially sanctioned pattern, the fulfillment of which guarantees social approval, support and security. Again, one who is an individual acts from center, whereas many of those upon
186 • Volume I / Section I
Ray Seven
the seventh ray have considerable difficulty finding that center, or even believing that it exists (so externalized is their consciousness).
Acting as an individual brings the element of unpredictability into life. Unpredictability is the one thing which security-conscious seventh ray people try to avoid. Should they try to express their own individuality (so they think) the responses of others would be unpredictable, and might threaten their security. Nor do they endorse the unpredict­ability of others, for the same reason—threatened security. They prefer to be "regular" (some might say "square") and they feel most comfortable when the behavior of others fits neatly into such a mold.
It is clear that the conformist sacrifices creativity. Creativity always involves the unexpected. The creative individual opens himself to inspiration, and never knows what may arise, or what he may feel inspired to do. Real creativity is ever new, whereas conformity to established patterns (no matter how socially or religiously sanctioned) perpetuates the old. The conformist is out of touch with his origin, his spiritual center. Hence 'origin-ality' (which is an impulse from that originating center) is an impossibil­ity. Seventh ray people have to learn to trust themselves as individuals which means, ultimately, to trust the inner Self. Without this trust in the inner pattern of their individuality, they will be unable to fulfill their part in the Divine Plan, because fulfilling their part simply demands that they be themselves.
Excessive conformity or nonconformity; intolerance of anything new or old: Her e we
have contradictory traits, both of which most definitely characterize different types upon the seventh ray. One type seeks to preserve the status quo; the other seeks to overthrow it. One type always looks to the past, and to that which has been established; the other type, to the future, and to that which is yet to be established. The difference between these two orientations can easily be explained by the difference between the influence of the two planets Saturn and Uranus—both of which seem to carry different aspects of seventh ray energy.
It is important to realize, however, that the idea of conformity is (essentially and always) a characteristic of seventh ray behavior. The so-called, seventh ray nonconformist only begins that way. After he has refused to conform to what he considers an inadequate pattern, he seeks to discover or create a more adequate pattern, and, then, proceeds to conform to it. Seventh ray people in a state of nonconformity simply haven't found (or created) the pattern to which they can willingly conform. The problem, however, is that many of those upon the seventh ray spend their time either in rigid conformity to an inadequate pattern, or in destructive rebellion against such a pattern. In the first case, the possibility of new values is rejected; in the second case, proven values of the past are also dismissed. Either position is not conducive to spiritual growth.
Excessive perfectionism: To the perfectionist, nothing is ever good enough. His best efforts, and those of others, are discounted because they do not measure up to his
Section I / Tapestry of the Gods • 187
Ray Seven
unrealistically high standards. Seventh ray people have extremely high standards. Perhaps, at root, it is because they have an unusually strong resonance with the Divine Pattern (which, from the human point of view, is perfect). In any case, they can make things very difficult for those who are less exacting.
Excessive perfectionism is anti-evolutionary. Skills and capacities grow slowly, and must be evoked and lovingly nurtured. If an impossible standard of perfection is consistently imposed upon people in the early phases of their efforts, they may become discouraged and cease trying, and, hence, do not (for a time) evolve. The same is true of the individual who imposes unrealistic standards of perfection upon himself. The sapling cannot be faulted for not being a fully-grown tree. But, fortunately, seventh ray people can usually be relied upon to understand the time equation; they must simply be encouraged to do so in relation to the slow growth of perfection.
Bigotry and sectarianism: Seventh ray people search for the perfect pattern. When they believe they have found it (or created it) they seek to conform to it. They then become identified with the pattern, which becomes (so they believe) the source of their much coveted security. In order to promote this sense of security, they continually reinforce their preferred pattern—be it the pattern characteristic of a church denomination, a society, club, or a social class. Such people make sure that the outline of the pattern remains clear before their eyes, and they nurture their feeling of 'belongingness ”. They insist on "fitting in."
Some seventh ray individuals are threatened by the coexistence of different patterns. They may not seek to destroy 'heresies,' as sixth ray fanatics do, but they will judge variant patterns superficially, being convinced of the superiority of their own. Those who espouse such 'unapproved' patterns will be seen as alien, foreign or dissident (a term which has been so often used within the seventh ray Soviet state), and "beyond the pale." People afflicted by this attitude often adopt an attitude of haughtiness, snobbery or condescension, which is reflected in their physical carriage and mannerisms.
Perhaps this sectarian attitude is due to crystallizing tendency induced by the seventh ray. This tendency, in turn, causes rigidity and a lack of adaptability, an aversion to changing one's ways. In any case, it is a separative attitude, retarding the creative modifications demanded by the evolutionary impulse, and preventing that harmoniz­ing of diverse patterns which must, at length, be achieved if unity is to prevail.
Superficial judgment based upon appearances: From an esoteric point of view, the seventh plane is not only the 'lowest,' it is also the most peripheral, or external. The originating cause of a physical manifestation can, justifiably, be considered 'interior,' and the manifestation or expression of that cause, 'exterior.' The seventh ray is, by numerical resonance, closely associated with the seventh plane, and the consciousness of seventh ray people is, to a great extent, focused upon that plane—the plane of exteriorization, the plane of appearances.
188 • Volume I / Section I
Ray Seven
Advanced seventh ray people, of course, realize the importance of the subjective reality which is the cause of all external manifestation, but it is easy for the average seventh ray individual to lose sight of the cause, and focus merely upon the effect, the appearance. It is, after all, the function of the seventh ray to perfect the appearance. Seventh ray people consider an idea imperfect until it has manifested perfectly. Perhaps, they can be excused, then, for focusing so intently upon the manifestation.
The results, however, can be unfortunate, for these are the people who will "judge a book by its cover." They will choose the husk over the kernel, and thus lose contact with the spiritual essence, with core values. What is necessary is a retraining of the seventh ray consciousness so that it penetrates beyond surface actuality to interior reality, otherwise, at length, the experience of living will prove hollow.
Eventually, seventh ray people do become adept at tracing a materialized form to its subtle, originating source. To do this, they must master the art of symbolic interpreta­tion. In the Masonic Movement, strongly conditioned by the seventh ray, this type of "spiritual reading" forms the basis of an elaborate method of spiritual instruction and ascent.
Perversion of the magical process: Negatively, the seventh ray is closely associated with so-called "black magic." The 'blackness' of the magic has to do with the degree to which the magician is identified with the matter pole of spirit, for the densest state of matter (that found upon the seventh plane) is considered to be least illumined by the divine light—hence, black. Seventh ray people, so attuned to material results, and to effective­ness upon the physical plane, run the risk of engaging in black magic unless they understand the essence of the seventh ray "Word of Power"—"The Highest and the Lowest Meet." White magic relates the highest to the lowest, the world of spirit to the world of matter. Black magic ignores the spiritual pole.
It is easy for the seventh ray individual to be glamorized by his power to manifest results. He can, with relative ease, think things through into manifestation. It is, however, far more difficult for him to align with the Divine Pattern (prior to manifestation), and hold that alignment so that everything manifests true to that Pattern. For as long as magical creation emanates from the separative center called the personality, it will not be true white magic, and will run the risk of turning black, perverse and 'inverse.'
It is interesting that the rituals of black magic are all inversions of spiritual processes. Seventh ray individuals are sensitive to the hierarchical principle; if they want their magic to be spiritual magic, they must resist any temptation to invert the hierarchy of values (even though it might be temporarily expedient and materially effective). The five pointed star of initiation is the symbol of white magic (and plays an important role in those instructions from the Old Commentary written for seventh ray aspirants and disciples); the inverted pentagram is the symbol of black magic, of a world upside-
Section I / Tapestry of the Gods • 189
Ray Seven
down. By its means, infernal hierarchies are invoked, leading to the eventual destruc­tion or 'isolation in blackness' of the magician who, foolishly, thus invokes.
Sex-magic: It is the function of the seventh ray to unite the polarities, spirit and matter, or soul and personality. The sexual relationship is the material symbol of this union. From the esoteric perspective (and in relation to humanity), sexual energy is to be used in order to provide material vehicles for the descent (or incarnation) of discarnate human units. This same energy can be sublimated (i.e., transferred to the throat center) in order to stimulate the higher forms of human creativity. The manner in which people decide to handle their sexual energy has important effects upon the rate and quality of their spiritual progress.
Sexual energy can also be manipulated to serve selfish ends. It can be abused in a number of ways, primarily to augment physical pleasure, or to gain power over others. Seventh ray people are extremely concerned with the union of the opposites. Since sexual relations are the symbol of this union, and provide that momentary ecstasy which is the reflection of the ecstasy of spiritual union, there will inevitably be some who will choose the symbol over the reality. Rather than seek the higher, occult union (which has been called Identification), they will (as so often happens when the seventh ray is influential) materialize the entire concept, and seek in physical, sexual relations the union which can only be found upon the higher planes.
Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending upon one's perspective) there is normally a limit to an individual's quota of sexual energy. This is not a problem when sex is a normal and natural aspect of life, but when there is an undue emphasis upon sexuality and the so-called "spiritual" and transformative effects induced through sexual rela­tions, there often arises a compulsion to institute practices which are designed to increase the supply of sexual energy, and to manipulate it so that heights of 'spiritual-sexual ecstasy' may be achieved and sustained. These ends are accomplished through sex-magic. There are elaborate systems (for instance, tantric systems) designed to maximize the ecstatic quality of sexual union. Needless to say, the use of such systems (though justifications for their use are elaborate and insidiously convincing) involves an inversion of energy, and acts vampirish upon the rest of the energy system. The practitioner of sex-magic pays for his pleasure through debility and retarded spiritual progress. The upward, aspirational thrust of the vital etheric energies is sapped, the body's vital reserves are drained, and the possibility of true spiritual union recedes. All this, once again, points to the need for seventh ray people to distinguish between the symbol and the reality, the appearance and the essence, otherwise they will find themselves confined to the outer world, locked in an embrace with matter—a poor substitute for the unaltering bliss of Identification.
Addiction to occult phenomena; spiritualism: To many seventh ray people, with their material identification, "seeing is believing." They may, indeed, credit the reality of the inner worlds, but they insist upon demonstrations. Demonstrations are possible, but
190 • Volume I / Section I
Ray Seven
that which demonstrates in tangible form usually does not (at least at this point in human evolution) emanate from the planes of spirituality (beginning with the higher mental plane, and including the buddhic, atmic, etc.). Rather, it is the lower levels of the astral plane which can be brought into precipitation, and usually, it is (if not actually dangerous) not worth the effort. The problem is that the spiritual seeker wastes much time with phenomena rather than achieving the union of soul and personality. The persistent attempt to make things appear (something which all magicians seem to enjoy doing) is a serious sidetrack, and, at length, prevents the soul from appearing (i.e., from pervading the personality with its quality). Once again, it is a question of choosing between externals and essences. To many seventh ray people, there must come the realization that spiritualism is not spirituality. While, in years to come, there will be legitimate scientific inquiries into the processes of precipitation and materialization, the average seeker after occult phenomena needs to understand that contact with the soul is of far greater value than contact with the (apparently) departed or with the deluding conditions of the lower astral plane. As has been advised by One who understood essences: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you."
Section I / Tapestry of the Gods • 191