The seven rays are the seven great streams of light through which the Source expresses itself in this world. Each carries a distinct quality, and each is served by an Archangel, an Archeia and an Ascended Master. To understand the rays is to understand how the beings of light are organized, and where you yourself belong among them.
What the Rays Are
When white light passes through a prism it separates into bands of color. The teachings use this as a picture of creation. The one light of the Source, entering the world of form, divides into seven rays, each with its own color, quality and work. Nothing that exists is outside them. Every person, every nation and every period of history is said to be colored by one ray or another.
The rays are not abstractions. They are living currents, and each is in the care of particular beings. An Archangel and Archeia radiate the ray in its purity. A Chohan, or lord, who is an Ascended Master, administers it for the Earth and teaches those who are developing along it. On Venus, each ray is ensouled by one of the Seven Kumaras.
The Seven Rays at a Glance
| Ray and color | Qualities | Chohan | Archangel and Archeia | Chakra | Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First RaySapphire blue | Will, faith and protection | El Morya | Michael and Faith | Throat | Tuesday |
| Second RayGolden yellow | Wisdom and illumination | Lord Lanto | Jophiel and Christine | Crown | Sunday |
| Third RayRose pink | Divine love and compassion | Paul the Venetian | Chamuel and Charity | Heart | Monday |
| Fourth RayCrystal white | Purity, harmony and the ascension flame | Serapis Bey | Gabriel and Hope | Base of the spine | Friday |
| Fifth RayEmerald green | Truth, healing and wholeness | Hilarion | Raphael and Mary | Third eye | Wednesday |
| Sixth RayPurple and gold with ruby | Peace, devotion and selfless service | Lady Nada | Uriel and Aurora | Solar plexus | Thursday |
| Seventh RayViolet | Freedom, mercy and transmutation | Saint Germain | Zadkiel and Holy Amethyst | Seat of the soul | Saturday |
Students who read widely will find that different schools assign the colors and Masters somewhat differently. The arrangement above is the one used throughout this library and in the transmissions received by our circle.
The Rays One by One
The First Ray: Will, faith and protection
The First Ray is the ray of beginnings. It is the power that says let there be, and it is felt in a person as the will to act, the courage to protect and the faith to continue.
In balance: Decisiveness, courage, reliability, healthy leadership.
Out of balance: Domination and stubbornness, or their opposite: timidity and an inability to begin.
Call on Archangel Michael and El Morya.
The Second Ray: Wisdom and illumination
The Second Ray is the ray of understanding. It is the light by which things are seen as they are, and it is felt as the love of learning, clarity of mind and the patience to teach.
In balance: Clear thinking, open-mindedness, love of truth, the ability to explain.
Out of balance: Intellectual pride and coldness, or mental fog and gullibility.
Call on Archangel Jophiel and Lord Lanto.
The Third Ray: Divine love and compassion
The Third Ray is the ray of love. It is the cohesive power that holds all things together, and it is felt as warmth, compassion, creativity and the appreciation of beauty.
In balance: Kindness, tolerance, generosity, creative flow.
Out of balance: Possessiveness and sentimentality, or hardness of heart and self-dislike.
Call on Archangel Chamuel and Paul the Venetian.
The Fourth Ray: Purity, harmony and the ascension flame
The Fourth Ray is the ray of purity and of the ascension itself. It brings the scattered parts of a person into harmony, and it is felt as self-discipline, integrity and joy in work well done.
In balance: Wholeness, self-discipline, harmony, artistry in living.
Out of balance: Perfectionism and harshness, or chaos and lack of direction.
Call on Archangel Gabriel and Serapis Bey.
The Fifth Ray: Truth, healing and wholeness
The Fifth Ray is the ray of truth. It governs healing, science and exact knowledge, and it is felt as honesty, concentration and the wish to make things whole.
In balance: Truthfulness, accuracy, the healing touch, clear inner vision.
Out of balance: Cynicism and narrow skepticism, or self-deception and inattention to fact.
Call on Archangel Raphael and Hilarion.
The Sixth Ray: Peace, devotion and selfless service
The Sixth Ray is the ray of peace and of service. It governs devotion and ministration, and it is felt as the desire to help, the ability to calm, and a steady inner quiet.
In balance: Peacefulness, devotion, selfless service, emotional steadiness.
Out of balance: Fanaticism and martyrdom, or anxiety, anger and avoidance of conflict.
Call on Archangel Uriel and Lady Nada.
The Seventh Ray: Freedom, mercy and transmutation
The Seventh Ray is the ray of freedom. It governs transmutation, forgiveness and ceremony, and it is the ray of the age now beginning. It is felt as mercy, inventiveness and the power to change.
In balance: Forgiveness, diplomacy, creativity, dignity, love of freedom.
Out of balance: Rebellion for its own sake and restlessness, or rigidity and attachment to the past.
Call on Archangel Zadkiel and Saint Germain.
Finding Your Own Ray
Each soul is said to have come forth on one of the seven rays, and to carry its quality as a lifelong keynote. This is sometimes called the soul ray. It is not a limitation. All seven rays must eventually be mastered. It is more like a native language, the one in which you think most naturally.
You can often recognize your ray by asking a few honest questions.
- What did you love as a child, before anyone told you what you should love?
- What do people come to you for?
- Which of the seven descriptions above made you feel recognized?
- Which of the out of balance descriptions made you wince? The shadow of a ray is as telling as its light.
- Which Master or Archangel were you drawn to first?
If two rays seem equally strong, both may be right. The teachings describe a ray of the soul and a ray of the personality, and they are often different.
Working With the Rays Through the Week
Each ray is said to be amplified on one day of the week. A simple and very old practice is to give a few minutes each morning to the ray of the day: to picture its color filling the body, to call on its Archangel and Chohan, and to choose one act that expresses its quality. Over a year this builds a balanced development of all seven. The method is set out in Invocations for Each Day.
The Higher Rays
Beyond the seven, the teachings speak of five further rays, sometimes called the secret rays, which become active as a person's light body develops. They are subtler blends of the seven and are associated with the higher dimensions. Their colors are described in soft, luminous tones: aquamarine, magenta, rose-gold, peach and opalescent white. The rose-gold ray of the Venusian Council is counted among them. Little is taught about the higher rays in the outer world, and the Masters advise that a thorough grounding in the seven is the only preparation needed.
Questions People Ask
Is one ray better than another?
No. Each ray is a complete path to the Source, and all seven are needed. The ray of the present age is the Seventh, which is why the violet flame is emphasized now. That is a matter of timing, not of rank.
Can my ray change?
The teachings say the soul ray remains the same throughout a cycle of lifetimes, while the ray of the personality changes from life to life. In practice, the ray you most need to work with changes with the season of your life.
Why do some sources give different colors?
The rays were described by several schools working independently, in different languages, over more than a century. They agree on the qualities far more than on the colors. Use one system consistently and the differences will not trouble you.