Seven rays
The 'seven rays' is a concept that has appeared in several religions and esoteric philosophies in both Western culture and in India since at least the sixth century BCE. Also they are known as chohans or angels from heaven.
In the west, it can be seen in early western mystery traditions such as Gnosticism and Mithraism; and in texts and iconic art of the Catholic Church as early as the Byzantine Empire. In India, the concept has been part of Hindu religious philosophy and scripture since at least the Vishnu Purana, dating from the post-Vedic era.
Beginning in the late 19th century, the seven rays appeared in a modified and elaborated form in the teachings of Theosophy, first presented by Helena Blavatsky. The Theosophical concept of the seven rays was further developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the writings of Theosophist Charles Webster Leadbeater, and by other authors such as Alice Bailey, Manly P. Hall, and others, including notably the teachings of Benjamin Creme and his group Share International; and in the philosophies of organizations such as Temple of the People, "I AM" Activity, The Bridge to Freedom, The Summit Lighthouse, The Temple of The Presence and various other such organizations promulgating what are called the Ascended Master Teachings, a group of religious teachings based on Theosophy.
As the New Age movement of the mid-to-late 20th century developed, the seven rays concept appeared as an element of metaphysical healing methods such as Reiki and other modalities, and in esoteric astrology.
In Antiquity
In ancient Greek mythology, Zeus takes the bull-form known as Taurus in order to win Europa. Taurus is also associated with Aphrodite and other goddesses, as well as with Pan and Dionysus. The face of Taurus "gleams with seven rays of fire."The Chaldean Oracles of the 2nd century CE feature the seven rays as purifying agents of Helios, symbolism featured in Mithraic liturgy as well. Later, in the 4th century, Emperor Julian Saturnalia composed a Hymn to the Solemn Sun, and in his Hymn to the Mother of the Gods spoke of "unspeakable mysteries hidden from the crowd such as Julian the Chaldean prophesied concerning the god of the seven rays." In Greek Gnostic magic of the same era, colored gemstones were often used as talismans for medicine or healing; they were often engraved with a symbol borrowed from the Egyptian deity Chnuphis: a hooded serpent or great snake. The snake was shown with a lion's head, from which emanated either twelve or seven rays. The twelve rays represented the zodiac, and the seven rays represented the planets, usually with the seven Greek vowels engraved at the tips of the seven rays. The reverse sides of the talismans were engraved with a snake twisting around a vertical rod. These were known as "Gnostic amulets" and were sometimes also engraved with the names Iao Sabao. Gnostic gems with Abraxas also featured the seven rays.
In Catholicism
In early Christian iconography, the dove of the Holy Ghost is often shown with an emanation of seven rays, as is the image of the Madonna, often in conjunction with a dove or doves. The Monastery of St. Catherine on Mount Sinai, circa 565 CE, shows the Transfiguration of Christ in the apse mosaic, with "seven rays of light shining from the luminous body of Christ over the apostles Peter, James and John." In the present day Byzantine-style St. Louis Cathedral in Missouri, the center of the sanctuary has an engraved circle with many symbols of the Holy Trinity. The inscription reads: "Radiating from this symbol are seven rays of light representing the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost."During the 12th century, Saint Norbert of Xanten, founder of the Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré, discovered the spot where the relics of Saint Ursula and her companions of Saint Gereon and of other martyrs lay hidden while in a dream. In the dream that led him to this location, he was guided by "the seven rays of light... surrounding the head of the crucified Redeemer."
The Annunciation is an oil painting by Early Netherlandish master Jan van Eyck, from around 1434–1436. The picture depicts the Annunciation by the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that she will bear the Son of God. In a prominent element of the complex iconographic work, the Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit descend to her on seven rays of light from the upper window to the left, with the dove symbolising the Holy Spirit following the same path. The seven rays on which the doves descend are unique elements in the painting in that they are of the heavenly realm rather than the earthly realm, with the difference shown by the artist through the use of gold leaf rather than ordinary oil paint. Only the seven rays are so treated, and while all of the other light sources in the painting cast shadows, the seven rays do not.
The Italian secret society of the late 17th century, Knights of the Apocalypse, was founded with the professed aim to defend the Catholic Church against the expected Antichrist, though it was accused of having political motives as well. They wore on their breasts a star with seven rays.
In Hindu scripture
is a Hindu and Vedic deity depicted in three forms: fire, lightning and the sun. In Hindu art, Agni is depicted with two or seven hands, two heads, and three legs. In each head, he has seven fiery tongues with which he licks sacrificial butter. He rides a ram or a chariot harnessed by fiery horses. His attributes are an axe, a torch, prayer beads and a flaming spear. Agni is represented as red and two-faced, suggesting both his destructive and his beneficent qualities, and with black eyes and hair. Seven rays of light emanate from his body.The Vishnu Purana, a post-vedic scripture, describes how Vishnu "enters into the seven solar rays which dilate into seven suns." These are the "seven principal solar rays," the source of heat even to the planet Jupiter, and the "seven suns into which the seven solar rays dilate at the consummation of all things..."
20th century Hindu scholar, poet and mystic, Sri Aurobindo, described the Vedic seven rays of knowledge, or Agni, as "the seven forms of the Thought-principle" and wrote that "the seven brilliant horses of the sun and their full union constitutes the seven-headed Thought of Ayasya by which the lost sun of Truth is recovered. That thought is again established in the seven rivers, the seven principles of being divine and human, the totality of which founds the perfect spiritual existence."
Syncretistic interpretations
Egyptologist Gerald Massey wrote in 1881 of what he described as connections between Vedic scripture, ancient Egyptian mythology and the Gospel stories. He theorized that the Archon Iao, the "Seven-rayed Sun-God of the Gnostic-stones" was also the "Serpent Chnubis," and "the Second Beast in the Book of Revelation." In 1900, he elaborated further, describing the unity of "the seven souls of the Pharaoh," "the seven arms of the Hindu god Agni," "the seven stars in the hand of the Christ in Revelation," and "the seven rays of the Chaldean god Heptaktis, or Iao, on the Gnostic stones."Samuel Fales Dunlap, wrote in 1894:
Moses was of the race of the Chaldeans. The Chaldean Mithra had his Seven Rays, and Moses his Seven Days. The other planets which circling around the sun lead the dance as round the King of heaven receive from him with the light also their powers; while as the light comes to them from the sun so from him they receive their powers that he pours out into the Seven Spheres of the Seven Planets of which the sun is the centre.
Dunlap wrote that the idea of spirit as the ultimate cause is present in all of the great religions of the East, and that this idea can be found in "the Seven Rays of the Chaldaean Mithra and the Seven Days of Genesis. From the Sun came fire and spirit." According to Dunlap, "this was the astronomical religion of the Chaldeans, Jews, Persians, Syrians, Phoenicians and Egyptians."
Dunlap compared the nimbus of Apollo to the seven rays of Dionysus, presiding over the orbits of the seven planets. The seven rays are found also in the Chaldean mystery of "the God of the Seven Rays, who held the Seven Stars in his hand, through whom the souls were raised." Prior to the Christian era, this deity was known as Iao or Sabaoth, and later described as "Christos of the Resurrection of Souls."
In the late 1940s, art historian and writer Ananda Coomaraswamy was curator in the department of Asiatic Art at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and built the first large collection of Indian art in the United States. His writings in the field of perennial philosophy and the Traditionalist School included complex essays collating symbols of ancient wisdom and metaphysics from widely diverse cultures including Indian, Islamic, Chinese, Hellenic, and Christian sources. He wrote that the seven rays of the sun appear in both Hindu and Christian symbolism, representing similar concepts, and in particular the symbolism of the seventh ray that "corresponds to the distinction of transcendent from immanent and of infinite from finite." He added that of "our Axis of the Universe and Islamic Qutb..... The seventh ray alone passes through the Sun to the suprasolar Brahma worlds, "where no sun shines"."
In Theosophy
Syncretism is one of the core principles of Theosophy, a religious philosophy originating with Helena Petrovna Blavatsky from the 1870s, and the seven rays appear repeatedly in the related writings. Theosophy holds that all religions are attempts by the "Spiritual Hierarchy" to help humanity in evolving to greater perfection, and that each religion therefore has a portion of the truth.Blavatsky wrote in the first book of The Secret Doctrine of an " analogy between the Aryan or Brahmanical and the Egyptian esotericism" and that the "seven rays of the Chaldean Heptakis or Iao, on the Gnostic stones" represent the seven large stars of the Egyptian "Great Bear" constellation, the seven elemental powers, and the Hindu "seven Rishis." She stated that the seven rays of the Vedic sun deity Vishnu represent the same concept as the "astral fluid or 'Light' of the Kabalists," and that the seven emanations of the lower seven sephiroth are the "primeval seven rays," and "will be found and recognized in every religion."
In the second volume of the Secret Doctrine, Blavatsky discusses the "seven nervous plexuses of the body" and the seven rays they radiate, stating that this principle is found in the Rig Veda, in the mythology of Ahura Mazda, in the beliefs of the Incas, the Chinese Yao, and the Egyptian Osiris, who "when he enters the ark, or solar boat, takes seven Rays with him." She describes the "seven wise ones" of the Veda as "the seven Rays which fall free from the macrocosmic centre".
Blavatsky summarizes the syncretistic principle of her doctrine as it relates to the seven rays:
"...a key which reveals to us on indisputable grounds of comparative analogy... the Indian phœnix, the emblem of cyclic and periodical time, the "man-lion" Singha, of whose representations the so-called "gnostic gems" are so full. Over the seven rays of the lion's crown, and corresponding to their points, stand, in many cases, the seven vowels of the Greek alphabet AEHIOYW, testifying to the Seven Heavens. This is the Solar lion and the emblem of the Solar cycle, as Garuda is that of the great cycle, the "Maha-Kalpa" co-eternal with Vishnu, and also, of course, the emblem of the Sun, and Solar cycle.... As well remarked by C. W. King: — "Whatever the primary meaning it was probably imported in its present shape from India, that true fountain head of gnostic iconography."
In the third volume of the Secret Doctrine, published posthumously, Blavatsky described the "Seven Primeval Rays" as a group of celestial beings also known as "Gods" or "Angels" or "Powers". She stated that this symbolism was "adopted later on by the Christian Religion as the 'Seven Angels of the Presence.'"
In Theosophy, the seven rays are said to be seven major types of Light-Substance that compose the created universes. These are also believed to convey "Divine Qualities".
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.- First ray: Magic of Will of magician
- Second ray: Magic of Raja Yoga
- Third ray: Magic of Astrology
- Fourth ray: Magic of Hatha Yoga
- Fifth ray: Magic of Alchemy
- Sixth ray: Magic of Bhakti Yoga
- Seventh ray: Ceremonial magic
New Age teachings
Bailey stated that the seven rays that reach us on Earth locally originate within the "Solar Logos," i.e., the consciousness of the "Divine Being" of the Sun. According to Alice A. Bailey and Benjamin Creme, the seven rays are focused to the Solar Logos, through Sirius, the seven stars of the Big Dipper in the Great Bear, and the seven major stars of the Pleiades form the "Galactic Logos,", and have their ultimate origin within the mind of God.
On the local planetary level, it is believed that the seven rays are transmitted from the Solar Logos through the God of our planet, Sanat Kumara, then through the spiritual hierarchy of our planet which includes the "Masters of Wisdom".
Each of the seven rays is believed to be associated with a different kind of occult energy, and a different color.
Qualities of the seven rays
The seven rays are listed below:Alice A. Bailey and the Church Universal and Triumphant assign different colors and in some cases different Masters to each of the seven rays. In Letters on Occult Meditation, Alice 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 Bailey and the Church Universal and Triumphant.
According to Alice A. Bailey the Masters live in immortal bodies at a residence on the physical plane at the indicated location.
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.
The "Gifts of the Holy Spirit" of the Church Universal and Triumphant for each ray are shown. For both Alice A. Bailey and the Church Universal and Triumphant, each ray has a jewel which is believed to focus the energy of that ray, which is indicated.
Alice A. Bailey
| Ray | Concept | "Expression" | Colours | Astrological planets | Astrological signs | Wisdom Masters |
| First | "Will or Power" | "The basic Reservoir of Power" | Red | Vulcan and Pluto | Taurus and Pisces | Manu, Morya |
| Second | "Love-wisdom" | "Magnetism" | Blue | Sun and Jupiter | Leo and Virgo | Christ, Koot Humi, and Djwhal Khul |
| Third | "Adaptability" or "Active Intelligence" | "Instinct" | Green | Earth and Saturn | Gemini and Libra | Mahachohan |
| Fourth | Beauty or Harmony or "Harmony through Conflict" | "Uniformity of Colour" or "Experience. Growth." | Yellow | Mercury and Moon | Scorpio and Aquarius | Serapis |
| Fifth | Concrete Knowledge or Science | "Intellect" | Orange | Venus | Capricorn | Master Hilarion, Paul of Tarsus |
| Sixth | "Devotion" or "Abstract Idealism" | "Intellect" | Violet | Neptune and Mars | Cancer and Sagittarius | Master Jesus |
| Seventh | "Organisation and Ritual" or "Ceremonial organization" or "Ceremonial Magic or Order" | "Radioactivity" | Indigo | Uranus | Aries | Master Rakoczi |
The Summit LighthouseProphet, Mark, Prophet, Elizabeth Clare, ''Lords of the Seven Rays'' Livingston, Montana: 1986 - Summit University Press, Chart on page 11 of the lords of the seven rays and their retreats. [Seven Sacred Rays of the Ascended Masters].
| Ray | Colour | Wisdom Master | Retreat | Quality | Chakra | Day | Gift of the Holy Spirit | Jewel | |
| 1st ray | Power of God | Blue Cyan | Master El Morya | Darjeeling, India | Strength Balance Will | Throat | Tuesday | Faith in God's will Protection | Diamond Sapphire Star Sapphire Lapis Lazuli |
| 2nd ray | Wisdom of God | Yellow Gold | Kuthumi | Grand Teton, Wyoming, United States | Wisdom Understanding Illumination | Crown | Sunday | Intelligence Knowledge | Yellow Diamond Yellow Sapphire Topaz |
| 3rd ray | Love of God | Pink Rose | Paul the Venetian | Château de Liberté, S. France Temple of the Sun, New York | Goodness Compromise Beauty | Heart | Monday | Discerning of spirits Creativity | Ruby Diamond Garnet Rose quartz Pink Beryl |
| 4th ray | Purity of God | White Crystal | Serapis Bey | Luxor, Egypt | Purity Resurrection Joy | Base of the Spine | Friday | Working of miracles | Diamond Pearl Zircon Quartz crystal |
| 5th ray | Truth of God | Green Gold | Hilarion | Crete, Greece | Health Consecration Focus | Third Eye | Wednesday | Healing | Emerald Diamond Jade Quartz crystal |
| 6th ray | Peace of God | Purple Gold Ruby | Lady Master Nada | Arabian Peninsula | Peace Service Brotherhood | Solar Plexus | Thursday | Diverse kinds of tongues and interpretation | Ruby Topaz Alexandrite Diamond with pearl |
| 7th ray | Freedom of God | Violet Amethyst | Saint Germain | Transylvania, Romania Table Mountain, Wyoming, United States | Freedom Mercy Compassion | Seat of the Soul | Saturday | Prophecy Working of Miracles | Amethyst Diamond Aquamarine |
In the mid-to-late 20th century, as the New Age movement gained in popularity, the concept and imagery of the seven rays appeared in a variety of settings.
In esoteric astrology, the seven rays are considered to be split into three groups: the first two rays represent Will and Wisdom, respectively, and the remaining five rays together form the group that represents Activity. In a style of Reiki adapted by Carolyn E. Jackson the student passes through a sequence of levels by mastering the "key" to each level. The key for the second level is known as the key of "oneness" and is attained by passing through each of the seven rays. This, however, is not part of traditional Reiki or other versions of the Reiki system.
According to psychic counselor Samantha Stevens, an individual can use affirmations, candles, color therapy, vibrational medicines and other methods to contact "archangels," which she defines as the "seven rays," based on Buddhist and Christian theories: "The Rays or Divine Flames represent elements in the perfectly integrated human being - one whose heart is aligned with their will and inspired by the Divine Imagination."
Light therapist and Radionics Practitioner Primrose Cooper writes that in using light as a healing modality, she finds it helpful to use the seven rays as defined in Theosophy to assist her clients in finding "psychological insight into their soul's purpose."
In recent years, there was the creation of a secretive group named "The Keepers of the Seven Rays". Their philosophy is the human being has seven emanations in which it finds itself, or connects with the Higher Self. These emanations are extensions of the Higher Self or otherwise called the Higher Will. These emanations reach out like arms and grasp onto the knowledge needed for the full development of the individual into his/her Higher Potential. All a human has to do to use these emanations is to know basic moral law, what their body and/or psyche can and cannot handle, and listen.
Metaphysical philosopher Gurdjieff writes frequently of his "Seven Rays of Creation". According to Gurdjieff, the Seven Rays of Creation are the seven manifestations of Energy in our Universe. The first Ray contains all things and all things obey the laws inherent in the First Ray. The First Ray then manifests itself in the 2nd Realm, the realm of Galaxies. From Galaxies to Solar Systems, Solar Systems to Planets. From Planets to Organisms on the planets, etc.
In popular culture
;Music- The progressive rock band Utopia performed a song entitled "The Seven Rays." The lyrics of the song center around the philosophies associated with the seven rays concepts popular with the new age movement, with much focus on the colors associated with each ray.
- Another progressive rock band, Hawkwind, have a song about the seven rays titled Seven by Seven.
- Mike Pinder of The Moody Blues refers heavily to the "seven rays" and the "Light of Seven" in his solo album "The Promise".
- The pop band Erasure refers to the Violet Flame through the title of their 2014 album, The Violet Flame.
- S.M. Stirling's fictionalized and changed Church Universal and Triumphant believes that the "Light of the Seven Rays" has become stronger since The Change. The Sword of the Lady mentions the Fourth Ray.