For TS504: The Prism of the Soul at Atlantic University

November 19, 2011

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The Ten Basic Propositions inspired me to investigate and learn more about quantum physics and the current understanding of how the Universe works. I joined a local Theosophical Society study group that is working with the movie “What the Bleep…Down the Rabbit Hole” and a corresponding study guide produced by the Institute of Noetic Sciences.

Reflecting on non-ordinary means of communication and knowing, assisted me in recalling several such experiences in my life. I had an experience of feeling my astral body jarringly and quickly reenter my physical body when I was awakened suddenly. I have had dreams and intuitions of things that happened in the future. I’ve sensed that all the cells in my body were vibrating at a very high rate and that I was levitating off my bed slightly. I’ve felt waves of peace and ecstasy that I cannot find words to properly express during deep meditation on the love of God. When I shared some of these experiences in the study group as the discussion turned to non-ordinary ways of experiencing, there was very little acceptance of them and few had similar experiences.

I was previously unfamiliar with Hylozoism, and it opened my mind to a further understanding of the meaning of life.

Image of the prevailing model of the origin and expansion of spacetime and all that it contains from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universe

Source: Esoteric Psychology I - Section One - III. Ten Basic PropositionsSECTION ONE - CHAPTER THREE (by Alice Bailey)

III. Ten Basic PropositionsIn Concluding this section of our treatise, and before starting on our real study of the rays, I seek to formulate for you the fundamental propositions upon which all this teaching is founded. They are for me, a humble worker in the Hierarchy, as they are for the Great White Lodge as a whole, a statement of fact and of truth. For students and seekers they must be accepted as an hypothesis:One: There is one Life, which expresses Itself primarily through seven basic qualities or aspects, and secondarily through the myriad diversity of forms.Two: These seven radiant qualities are the seven Rays, the seven Lives, Who give Their life to the forms, and give the form world its meaning, its laws, and its urge to evolution.Three: Life, quality and appearance, or spirit, soul and body constitute all that exists. They are existence itself, with its capacity for growth, for activity, for manifestation of beauty, and for full conformity to the Plan. This Plan is rooted in the consciousness of the seven ray Lives.Four: These seven Lives, Whose nature is consciousness and Whose expression is sentiency and specific quality, produce cyclically the manifested world; They work together in the closest union and harmony, and cooperate intelligently with the Plan of which They are the custodians. They are the [142] seven Builders, Who produce the radiant temple of the Lord, under the guidance of the Mind of the Great Architect of the Universe.Five: Each ray Life is predominantly expressing Itself through one of the seven sacred planets, but the life of all the seven flows through every planet, including the Earth, and thus qualifies every form. On each planet is a small replica of the general scheme, and every planet conforms to the intent and purpose of the whole.Six: Humanity, with which this treatise deals, is an expression of the life of God, and every human being has come forth along one line or other of the seven ray forces. The nature of his soul is qualified or determined by the ray Life which breathed him forth, and his form nature is colored by the ray Life which -in its cyclic appearance on the physical plane at any particular time - sets the quality of the race life and of the forms in the kingdoms of nature. The soul nature or quality remains the same throughout a world period; its form life and nature change from life to life, according to its cyclic need and the environing group condition. This latter is determined by the ray or rays in incarnation at the time.Seven: The Monad is the Life, lived in unison with the seven ray Lives. One Monad, seven rays and myriads of forms - this is the structure behind the manifested worlds.Eight: The Laws which govern the emergence of the quality or soul, through the medium of forms, are simply the mental purpose and life direction of the ray Lords, Whose purpose is immutable, Whose vision is perfect, and Whose justice is supreme.Nine: The mode or method of development for humanity is self-expression and self-realization. When this process is consummated the self expressed is the One Self or the ray Life, and the realization achieved is the revelation of God as the [143] quality of the manifested world and as the Life behind appearance and quality. The seven ray Lives, or the seven soul types, are seen as the expression of one Life, and diversity is lost in the vision of the One and in identification with the One.Ten: The method employed to bring about this realization is experience, beginning with individualization and ending with initiation, thus producing the perfect blending and expression of life-quality-appearance.This is a brief statement of the Plan. Of this the Hierarchy of Masters in Its seven divisions (the correspondences of the seven rays) is the custodian, and with Them lies the responsibility in any century of carrying out the next stage of that Plan.

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Image and notes from Esoteric Psychology by Dr. Douglas Baker. I found Dr. Baker’s book to

be a much more accessible and digestible version of the Seven Rays teachings for the short

time we have to study them in the course. It helped me gain additional insights into the

Alice Bailey/Djwhal Khul writings.

“Thus the Spark of divine white light, originally a son of the Father, or pure flame, enters

the world of matter and uses a material form to cognise, comprehend and conquer the

material world. Victorious he turns and faces Calvary and treads the long Path back to the

Father. In the analogy of Light (which is more than an analogy) white light diffuses into

seven colourings in the lower triad or prism; it then returns to its previous purity through

the higher prism and is accepted back, a prodigal son, into the Father's home, enriched by

his earthly experiences. Had we sufficient awareness we should know that the process is

purely one of vibration from start to finish. The Law of Vibration... is the key measure... it

governs the transmutation of differentiated colours back to their synthesis. It controls the

breaking up of the One into the seven, and then re-absorption back into the One. It is really

the basic law of evolution which necessitates involution.”

* * A Treatise on Cosmic Fire by Alice A. Bailey, Lucis Press, NY.

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Image from Esoteric Psychology by Dr. Douglas Baker

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Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_rays

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 (Luke 1:26-38). 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.[22] 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.[23]

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Source: WikipediaSyncretism 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."[32]

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".[33]

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 (of the gem with the solar lion and vowels) it was probably imported in its present shape from India, that true fountain head of gnostic iconography." (Gnostics, p. 218)[34]

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.'"[35]

…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 (THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE) 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. [41]

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Link to YouTube video of “The Seven Rays” song http://youtu.be/e19jYE1YlBg

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Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_rays

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Image and notes source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond

“A diamond in the rough”

My study of Astrology, A Cosmic Science by Isabel M. Hickey and the Edgar Cayce readings prepared me for an esoteric understanding of astrology, the planets, and of Vulcan. So it’s somehow comforting to see that the Alice Bailey work is parallel to my previous understandings.

Source: http://www.near-death.com/experiences/cayce08.html “The planet Pluto the seventh planet from the Earth and is associated with the afterlife realm referred to as the realm of consciousness. This afterlife realm is the realm for the final development of full consciousness. The planet Pluto was discussed by Cayce years before it was actually discovered! He referred to it as Vulcan and also as Septimus. When Pluto was discovered, Cayce affirmed that Vulcan or Septimus was the same planet as Pluto. The Pluto realm of the afterlife brings regeneration and a growth in consciousness, but also can bring self-centeredness. Pluto represents spiritual growth and development of the soul and its influence is just now developing in the destiny of humanity. ”

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritual_Hierarchy#Cosmic_beings_on_Vulcan Cosmic beings on VulcanAccording to Theosophy, Vulcan is a small dwarf planet that exists only on the etheric plane and that is why it has never been observed by astronomers. The Dwarf Planet Logos of Vulcan (to use modern terminology) is the indwelling spirit of the dwarf planet Vulcan. The spiritual hierarchy of Vulcan is called the Vulcanian Masters. Vulcan primarily functions as a school where the Staff Corps of the Solar Logos (the Solar Lords) can instruct the Venusian Masters in techniques of white magic.

In mineralogy, diamond (from the ancient Greek αδάμας – adámas "unbreakable") is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions. Diamond is renowned as a material with superlative physical qualities, most of which originate from the strong covalent bonding between its atoms. In particular, diamond has the highest hardness and thermal conductivity of any bulk material. Those properties determine the major industrial application of diamond in cutting and polishing tools.Diamond has remarkable optical characteristics. Because of its extremely rigid lattice, it can be contaminated by very few types of impurities, such asboron and nitrogen. Combined with wide transparency, this results in the clear, colorless appearance of most natural diamonds. Small amounts of defects or impurities (about one per million of lattice atoms) color diamond blue (boron), yellow (nitrogen), brown (lattice defects), green (radiation exposure), purple, pink, orange or red. Diamond also has relatively high optical dispersion (ability to disperse light of different colors), which results in its characteristic luster. Excellent optical and mechanical properties, combined with efficient marketing, make diamond the most popular gemstone.

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Image source: Wikipedia

I resonate deeply with the message and energy of the Dalai Lama, and even follow him on

Twitter. Jupiter features prominently (conjunct my Ascendant) in my horoscope chart and

I’ve always felt a deep appreciation for it’s energy and archetypal, expansive, philosophical

energies. My Ideal is Oneness and to be like the Dalai Lama and his happy, calm, wise and

loving way of living.

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It’s interesting to me that, as an aside, the company I work for as a client education

strategist is headquartered in New York (I want to look for the Temple of the Sun next time

I’m there).

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In my study of the Enneagram of personality, I found an author who wrote about the

Enneagram showing us how to transmute the old way of harmony through conflict to a

new way of healing through co-creation. I like to possibility of this evolution.

Image source: Christian Doering’s article at http://www.duversity.org/doering/index.html

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Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein

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Image: my dog, Dusty, on my deck

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My attraction to astrology and the Tarot may also be related to this ray’s energy

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Image source and notes from Dr. Baker’s, Esoteric Psychology.

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