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Identification of the Personal Rays
QUIZ TITLE: Identification of the Personal Rays (Soul-Personal-Mental-Astral-Physical)
LENGTH: 100 questions excerpted from "Tapestries of the Gods Volume I" by Michael D. Robbins, PhD, which can be downloaded here:
https://makara.us/04mdr/01writing/01tg/tapestry1.pdf
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DESCRIPTION: This quiz is designed to help students identify the Ray energies as they manifest through their 5-body system. Knowledge of the book from which the quotes were taken is not required. This quiz was created with a three-fold purpose in mind:
1) To help Quantify the teachings
2) To help students Qualify their comprehension of the material
3) To be Utilized as part of a multi-modal approach to the study of the Ageless Wisdom
INSTRUCTIONS: Please select the answer that most closely applies to you. Students will be shown their totals after submission.
DISCLAIMER: All results will be tallied anonymously. No personal information is collected.
CONTACT: Please direct questions and comments to Patrick_Westfall@Hotmail.com
WEBSITE:
https://www.TheAgelessWisdom.info
QUIZ LINKS: (900 questions total!)
1. A Treatise on Cosmic Fire: Part 1:
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2. A Treatise on Cosmic Fire: Part 2:
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3. Esoteric Psychology I:
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4. Esoteric Psychology II:
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5. Esoteric Healing:
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6. Esoteric Astrology:
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7. The Rays and the Initiations:
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8. Identification of the Seven Rays:
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9. Identification of the Personal Rays:
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1. The Experience of your Soul Ray is:
Ray 1: The dynamic charge of spiritual will and power.
Ray 2: A glowing suffusion of loving wisdom.
Ray 3: The stimulating inflow of creative, versatile, active and acute intelligence reflecting the Divine Plan.
Ray 4: An irresistible inner urge to bring harmony and beauty out of conflict and chaos.
Ray 5: An unremitting urge to penetrate the veils of matter and form until their secret causes are revealed and their exact natures disclosed.
Ray 6: An unrelenting urge to find and follow someone to whom (or something to which) total devotion can be given.
Ray 7: The urge to manifest divine ideas in perfect form.
Clear selection
2. The Contribution of your Soul Ray is:
Ray 1: The service of strengthening and liberating others, vitalizing and directing the power of their will, and impelling them to achieve the courage to BE.
Ray 2: The service of lovingly and wisely teaching others—utilizing empathy and compassionate understanding to help them grow into their full potential and become whole.
Ray 3: The service of stimulating the intellect and mental creativity of others; finding ways for them to develop and sharpen their abilities to reason and communicate; and assisting them to expand the powers of their mind, and to adapt, intelligently and resourcefully, to any contingency that may arise.
Ray 4: The service of harmonizing and beautifying the lives of others —helping them reconcile their conflicts, resolve their crises constructively, and bring peace and/or aesthetic loveliness into their daily experience. (All these actions apply to the gifts which the fourth ray soul is equipped to bestow upon the environment in general, as well as upon people.)
Ray 5: The service of focusing the laser-like powers of the mind upon the discovery or inventive application of the new scientific truths.
Ray 6: The service of inspiring in others the courage and consecration to offer their lives upon the altar of the highest ideal they can conceive. This, they themselves do, inspiring others by their example.
Ray 7: The service of helping others organize their lives so thoroughly, and manage their affairs so effectively, that their highest dreams are transformed into realities.
Clear selection
3. Soul-Inspired Aspiration—Type A emphasis:
Ray 1: To become a dynamic, powerful and benevolent leader—strong, firm and steadfast in service to the Highest Law and in defense of the Greatest Good.
Ray 2: To develop a deep, intuitive loving understanding of people, the better to nurture them and help them evoke the divine pattern of their being.
Ray 3: To create (through the power of deep thinking and the most careful reasoning) a comprehensive, thoroughly rational system of philosophical thought, for more clearly understanding the true nature of reality in its manifold interwoven aspects.
Ray 4: To transform conflict into harmony, ugliness into beauty, discord into concord and war into peace—artfully bringing divine equilibrium and ‘at-one-ment’ into every aspect of life.
Ray 5: To become vitally involved in discovering the keys and solutions to Nature’s mysteries through advanced scientific research and experimentation.
Ray 6: To surrender in complete faith, devotion and adoration to the highest possible source of guidance.
Ray 7: To bring regulated, rhythmic order out of the chaos of human living by providing the practical ‘grounding’ for much needed ideas—building them into useful forms and integrating them into well established, excellently organized patterns of activity.
Clear selection
4. Soul-Inspired Aspiration—Type B emphasis:
Ray 1: To shatter all chains (tangible and intangible), thus liberating people from all forms of bondage and oppression.
Ray 2: To develop a wise and comprehensively inclusive understanding of life in order to carry illumination to others.
Ray 3: To develop an extremely resourceful and versatile mentality that can be applied creatively to numerous intellectually challenging enterprises.
Ray 4: To fight and struggle to express the exquisitely beautiful yet agonizingly painful drama of life in all its vibrancy and rich contrast of color.
Ray 5: To invent, develop or skillfully utilize those mechanisms, instruments, or technical improvements which will transform and uplift the quality of human life.
Ray 7: To become instrumental in creating group and organizational transformation by redesigning and restructuring the patterns of human culture and civilization, so that a new order may more rapidly emerge.
Clear selection
5. Selflessness and Altruism:
Ray 1: Selflessness in the first ray soul comes from total identification with the Divine Purpose and Plan. The Purpose and Plan are of great scope, and dwarf the significance of the little person and its tiny concerns; hence, the easy impersonality attained by those whose souls are upon the first ray.
Ray 2: Those with ray two souls find it natural to ‘give themselves away’ and to put other people first. They have a highly developed capacity for identification, easily slipping, as it were, into the identity of others—walking the proverbial mile in their brother’s shoes.
Ray 3: Delighted absorption in the enterprise of creating and arranging for the intelligent execution of those plans which are thoroughly aligned with the objective of manifesting the Divine Plan.
Ray 4: Perception of the inevitability of humanity’s battle with the ‘pairs of opposites’. All human beings are seen to be subject to the fluctuations of form as it both responds and fails to respond to spiritual energy; compassion and tolerance are thereby and fails to respond to spiritual energy; compassion and tolerance are thereby awakened.
Ray 5: The willingness to forget the demands of the little self for the sake of the discovery of pure knowledge. Scientific research or the process of technical inventiveness and application can become so absorbing, so utterly interesting, that the usual forms of ego-gratification are totally overridden. The mind operates without any limiting personality constraints.
Ray 6: Sixth ray souls know how to forget themselves (and even sacrifice themselves) in the cause of devotion or idealism. Their eyes are so firmly fixed upon the ideal or upon the one they love with passionate exclusivity, that their own ego satisfactions are totally forgotten.
Ray 7: Understanding of organism and the division of labor upon which any properly functioning organism (or organization) relies. Seventh ray selflessness grows out of true humility, which is, in occultism, ‘an adjusted sense of right proportion’.
Clear selection
6. Spiritual Conscience:
Ray 1: The first ray soul speaks through the conscience as the voice of Divine Law. Those upon the first ray are committed to the preservation of spiritual values and principles. When there is deviation from law and principle (or the urge to deviate), the soul speaks forcefully. Through the conscience, the first ray soul ever enjoins upon one the courage to be a selfless and fearless servant of the Will of God.
Ray 2: The second ray soul speaks through the conscience as the voice of love, wisdom, healing and enlightenment. When there has been a violation of the Law of Attraction (or the Law of Love), the soul on the second ray will indicate to the personality the need for reestablishing the bonds of loving relationship. Extremely sensitive to cleavage, or separation, the second ray soul has a ‘feeling understanding’ that all people (and, even, all things) are intimately related.
Ray 3: The third ray soul speaks through the conscience as the voice of reason and intelligence. It speaks when breadth of mind is being slighted, and when the application of intelligent, reasoned thought and activity could help others achieve their goal more satisfactorily and rapidly. It ever prods towards resourcefulness, and the use of the imagination to reveal multiple, effective approaches to a challenge.
Ray 4: The fourth ray soul speaks through the conscience as the voice promoting completeness by honoring polarity, which continually prods the individual to ‘see the other side,’ and to never cut off one side of a polarity in favor of the other; it will not tolerate a ‘lopsided’ point of view. In situations where partiality is a threat, the fourth ray soul speaks for wholeness
Ray 5: The fifth ray soul speaks through the conscience as the voice which demands the advancement of truth and the rejection of error. This type of conscience cannot tolerate that which is inaccurate or unfounded on fact. It prods its recipient to prove assertions or to demand that others do the same.
Ray 6: The sixth ray soul speaks through the conscience as the voice which insists that one live up to one’s highest possibilities. It rejects compromise with circumstances, and will settle for nothing less than the ideal. This type of conscience cannot tolerate any deviation from an ideal standard, or any falling short of an often unrealistic self-expectation.
Ray 7: The seventh ray soul speaks through the conscience as the voice promoting lawful relationship. It becomes active whenever there is a breach of spiritual rectitude or probity—more generally, whenever the rules of a valued social context are being violated.
Clear selection
7. Most Joyous Activity:
Ray 1: The first ray soul discards all nonessentials. All that then remains is being, pure and unqualified. The joy of the first ray soul is to be in perfect freedom.
Ray 2: For those with a second ray soul, ‘being in love’ is a source of constant joy. This is especially true for those with a type (2A) emphasis. The energy of love is so powerful in this type, that the expression of love is its own reward—a self validating experience.
Ray 3: For the third ray soul, theorization is a great delight— the joy of fashioning the blueprint of any system of relationships, and of relating that blueprint to other blueprints, until a comprehensive design for many systems of relationship is imagined.
Ray 4: For the fourth ray soul (in whatever field, and through whatever medium) the activity bringing the greatest joy is that of mixing, blending and harmonizing to create beauty. There is a constant adjustment of one thing to another in the interest of creating that perfect, mathematically-resonant condition in which true harmony reigns and true beauty appears.
Ray 5: Those whose souls are upon the fifth ray experience intense joy when they are ‘hot on the trail’ of a new discovery, or are ‘closing in’ upon the confirmation of a hypothesis. The trail of joy leads from the first flash of a scientific intuition, through all the steps necessary for its irrefutable verification or rejection. Joy arises in the arduous passage from ignorance to certitude.
Ray 6: The joy of sixth ray souls is found in lavishing love upon whomever or whatever they idealize; and they rejoice also in the lavish reception of love from the same source. They seek an ever closer proximity to the point they have magnetized. As they draw closer, and as their field of vision becomes filled with the image of that which they love (thereby excluding all other things), their joy increases.
Ray 7: The most joyous activity for those whose souls are upon the seventh ray is the act of bringing order out of chaos. The perception and/or creation of disorder brings pain; the perception and/or creation of forms, perfectly adapted to the consummate expression of divine ideas, is a source of the greatest joy.
Clear selection
8. Greatest Sense of Meaningfulness:
Ray 1: Under the impress of the first ray soul, that will seem most deeply meaningful which reinforces the sense of immortal persistence in a state of identification with the One Life.
Ray 2: Under the impress of the second ray soul, that will be seen as most deeply meaningful which touches on the enterprise of relating everything to everything else—either through unitive love or unifying wisdom.
Ray 3: Those whose souls are upon the third ray find most meaningful whatever will contribute to their intelligent comprehension or coordination of the many interwoven strands of energy, thought or action.
Ray 4: Those whose souls are upon the fourth ray find most meaningful whatever will contribute to the harmonious consummation of any circumstance, relationship or project in which they may be involved.
Ray 5: Those whose souls are upon the fifth ray find intensely meaningful any and all clues clarifying the mysterious nature of reality. Fifth ray souls are great problem solvers; for them, life is a vast puzzle and they are ever alert for hints to its solution. Whatever is seen as not contributing to the solution is considered meaningless.
Ray 6: Those whose souls are upon the sixth ray find most meaningful whatever will strengthen their connection to the object of their devotion. They are extraordinarily one-pointed, and when they look at the world, they see it only in relation to the beloved person or ideal; everything is interpreted in this light.
Ray 7: The world view of the seventh ray soul is focused on the relationship between the highest and the lowest—which, at length, must meet. The consciousness isolates as meaningful anything that relates to, or contributes to, the union of archetype with form, of content with expression, of spirit with matter.
Clear selection
9. Greatest Sense of the Sacred:
Ray 1: Upon no other ray is there such identification with the One Identity, the One Life, the ONE SELF. The sense of the omnipotence of the SELF, and what might be called the ‘energetic identification’ (different from conscious realization) of the total being with that SELF, inspires in the ray one soul the greatest sense of sacredness.
Ray 2: To those souls upon the second ray, Divine Love is sacred. Wonder at the spiritual intimacy of all apparently separated things promotes an outpouring of gratitude. For such individuals, intimations of inseparability are sacred.
Ray 3: It is evoked (for the abstract type) in the presence of rationally coherent, all-explanatory, systems of thought. Elegant theories and proofs which account for the nature of things, arouse in them a sense of the sacredness of the faculty of mind, and of the Mind of God in particular. Third ray souls with a more practical (or material) orientation, sense the sacred in the wonderful intelligence and timing of the Divine Plan, as it is progressively revealed to them.
Ray 4: For the fourth ray soul, beauty is sacred. The more the beauty reveals divinity, the greater its aura of sacredness. From another point of view, peace, as a condition of perfect accord, is sensed as sacred by the fourth ray soul. There is a state of such perfect equilibrium between all energies, that consummation is achieved and nothing more need be done. This state of harmonious perfection is reflected in the quality of certain great works of art, and in moments of perfected human relationship.
Ray 5: Fifth ray souls stand in awe before the mystery of ‘things as they are.’ If reverence is anywhere to be found within the consciousness of the normally irreverent fifth ray individual, it is awakened in contemplation of the wonderfully intelligent design of Nature.
Ray 6: Sixth ray souls are unusually sensitive to the sacred. To them, the object of their devotion, or the form of their ideals are always sacred, irrespective of actual worth. Such individuals do not understand the sacredness of all things; to their ardently selective vision only some things are sacred, and many other things are very much the reverse. For them, there is always one person, ideal or thing which is more sacred than all the rest.
Ray 7: For seventh ray souls, the aura of sacredness is evoked in contemplation of those forms (divinely created or man-made) which perfectly embody some aspect of the Universal Design. Seventh ray souls are particularly drawn to an appreciation of sacred objects as symbolic precipitations of perfectly organized subjective potencies. Within such perfected expressions, the highest and the lowest are seen to be sacredly united.
Clear selection
10. Heart’s Desire:
Ray 1: The deepest desire inspired by the ray one soul is ‘to be the One and Only.’ This is a condition of utter synthesis and indivisibility. In a distorted form, it manifests as egoism, but at root, it is the intention to return to a state of irreducible, divine simplicity.
Ray 2: In an ultimate sense, the deep desire inspired by the second ray soul, is to be in love with all—‘One with All.’ This is a different registration in consciousness than being the ‘One and Only,’ as is the case with the first ray soul. There is a difference between second ray unity and first ray synthesis. The second ray is more likely to acknowledge the variety with the unity, the many with which it is possible to be ‘at-one.’
Ray 3: The ultimate heart’s desire of the third ray soul is either to ‘plan along with God,’ or to ‘make the moves’ which manifest the Plan. The former is the abstract approach, which delights in devising the fluid arrangements which guarantee the intelligent execution of the Divine Intention. The latter is the more concrete approach which delights in the great activity required to carry out the Plan.
Ray 4: The heart’s desire of the fourth ray soul is to live in beauty, forever create beauty, and to become beauty itself. The fourth ray is the ‘middle ray’—the ray which ‘stands at the midway point’ between the higher three and the lower three. To relate (in beauty) the worlds of abstraction to the worlds of form—and, even more—to be that relationship (just as the aspirant must tread the Path by becoming the Path) is the heartfelt desire of souls upon the fourth ray.
Ray 5: The heart’s desire of the fifth ray soul is to know, beyond all possibility of doubt, the truth expressed through form. The great ‘Word of Power’ for the fifth ray is’ ‘Three Minds Unite.’ By fusing and blending all powers of the mind, those upon the fifth ray can wrest light from darkness. The heart’s desire is to be mindful of the Mystery.
Ray 6: To love and be totally loved by the ‘beloved’; to fully attain and perfectly express one’s very highest ideals—these are the heart’s desires of those whose soul is upon the sixth ray.
Ray 7: To achieve a perfected expression of the divine archetype in form, yet, partial fulfillments are possible, for there is built into the seventh ray soul a great patience, and a realization that all must proceed sequentially and in order, according to divine timing.
Clear selection
11. The primary instrument for expressing the Soul:
Ray 1: Those with a ray one personality have the ability to demonstrate fortitude and apply power purposefully and dynamically. In a personality qualified by the first ray, the soul has a strong and enduring instrument for expression.
Ray 2: Those with a ray two personality have the ability to express love wisely and understand people deeply. In a personality qualified by the second ray, the soul has (occultly speaking) an ‘attractive’ and magnetic instrument for expression.
Ray 3: Those with a ray three personality have the ability to act with a high degree of creative intelligence, resourcefulness and adaptability. In a personality qualified by the third ray, the soul has a versatile and mentally astute instrument for its expression.
Ray 4: Those with a ray four personality have the ability to create peace and beauty of relationship (within the field of art, or outside it) by harmonizing conflicts and resolving dissonances. In a personality qualified by the fourth ray, the soul has a pliable and imaginative instrument, adept at promoting rapport and unity.
Ray 5: Those with a ray five personality have the ability to arrive at exact knowledge through focused, concentrated thinking and scientific experimentation. In a personality qualified by the fifth ray, the soul has a ‘precision instrument’ through which to express itself.
Ray 6: Those with a ray six personality have the ability to devote themselves one-pointedly to a person or a cause, and live true to their highest ideals. In a personality qualified by the sixth ray, the soul has a steadfast, ardently focused instrument.
Ray 7: Those with a ray seven personality have the ability to demonstrate a high degree of organizational, administrative or managerial prowess, as well as a courteous team-spirit, by means of which they can skillfully coordinate any task, using a blend of practical efficiency and social finesse. In such a personality, the soul has a highly polished and skillful instrument.
Clear selection
12. The primary means of integrating the Mental, Sentient and Etheric-Physical fields:
Ray 1: The integration of the personality fields proceeds by the sheer force of will, discipline and control. The spontaneous activities of the various fields are regulated through imposition, and are made to conform to undeviating personality intent.
Ray 2: The integration of the personality fields proceeds by means of a gentle fusing and unifying process. The spontaneous activities of the various fields are regulated through the wise use of calmness and clarity, and are magnetically drawn into cooperation with personality intent.
Ray 3: The integration of the personality fields proceeds by means of a skillful ‘weaving’ process. What might be called the ‘energy-threads’ of the fields are adroitly woven into an ‘energy-fabric’ of unique design (i.e. an integrated personality). The spontaneous activities of the various fields are regulated through the intelligent coordination of their potencies, which are skillfully manipulated into a condition responsive to the energy of the personality ray.
Ray 4: The integration of the personality fields proceeds by means of a sensitivity to what might be called ‘energy-field discordance,’ and by means of the personality skill to resolve that discord into concord. Fourth ray personalities try to find the harmonizing skill to preserve the integrity of each field, and yet promote frictionless inter-field cooperation.
Ray 5: The integration of the personality fields proceeds by means of a careful analysis of the energy conditions within the three fields to be integrated, followed by a measured and focused application of precisely those energies which are needed to make integration an accomplished fact.
Ray 6: The integration of the personality fields proceeds by means of a militant [6B] (or more gentle, but unrelentingly insistent [6A]) enforcement of one-pointed orientation. The three lower fields are made to align for the more effective pursuit of intensely focused personality desire. The orientation is so earnestly focused that none of the three fields have any latitude for deviation.
Ray 7: The integration of the personality fields proceeds in a rhythmic, orderly fashion, assisted by the regular, systematic practice of definite disciplines and exercises designed to fuse the fields. The spontaneous activities of the various fields are regulated by rule and law, and are allowed expression only at certain times and in appropriate contexts.
Clear selection
13. The primary means of Coordinating and Directing activities upon the physical plane:
Ray 1: First ray personalities coordinate their physical plane activities with assurance and firmness, and give direction with one-pointed assertiveness.
Ray 2: Second ray personalities coordinate their physical plane activities with patience and tact, offering direction by means of a compassionate, respectful understanding of the true nature of the people or circumstances being directed.
Ray 3: Third ray personalities coordinate their physical plane activities by means of intelligent strategy, and direct those activities according to a creative, flexible plan. The third ray personality likes to ‘have a handle’ on circumstances. The idea of moving and arranging through the use of the hand appears constantly when the third ray is studied.
Ray 4: Fourth ray personalities coordinate their physical plane activities by sensitively adjusting one energy quality to another; they direct those activities by trying to preserve balance and right relationship. They can do their part in preparing any whole, any group or system, etc., for coordination by ‘ironing out’ the conflicts which prevent smooth organic and harmonious relations.
Ray 5: Fifth ray personalities coordinate their physical plane activities by relying heavily upon factual knowledge and abundant common sense; such activities are directed with an attitude of mental certainty as regards the exact results to be expected from the measures employed.
Ray 6: Sixth ray personalities coordinate their physical plane activities by aligning them so that they lead straight to the achievement of a particular, keenly desired objective. They direct their affairs with uncompromising one-pointedness—single-mindedly and without deviation or deflection. They never let-up and they drive every part of themselves to follow the motivating vision.
Ray 7: Seventh ray personalities coordinate their physical plane activities with great attention to detailed planning and scheduling; their style of directing activity is courteous, and proper. Their timing is excellent, and they have an instinctive understanding of priorities, and of the most efficient way to structure and implement those priorities.
Clear selection
14. The primary means of establishing ‘Ego’ or unique, Personal Identity:
Ray 1: Individuals with a first ray personality establish their unique personal identity by becoming what might be called ‘distinct centers of power and authority’ to whom others can come for strengthening and direction.
Ray 2: Individuals with a second ray personality establish their unique personal identity by becoming what might be called ‘distinct centers of magnetism and caring’ to whom others can come when in need of kindness, instruction, support, sympathy, understanding and a calming, loving touch.
Ray 3: Individuals with a third ray personality establish their unique, personal identity by becoming what might be called ‘distinct centers of resourceful, adaptable intelligence’ to whom others can come when they need new angles of vision, and new options for action. The third ray personality becomes recognized as one whose ability to manipulate circumstances ensures accomplishment—one way, or another.
Ray 4: Individuals with a fourth ray personality establish their unique, personal identity by becoming what might be called ‘distinct centers of bridging relationship and sensitive expressivity’ to whom others can come to be delighted, entertained, soothed, placated, exposed to beauty, reconciled to life circumstances, and harmoniously related to other people. These individuals also emerge as fighters, ready and willing to do combat in order to fulfill their objectives.
Ray 5: Individuals with a fifth ray personality establish their unique, personal identity by becoming experts—scholar/specialists, technicians, or highly skilled people with narrowly focused abilities. Others can come to them when in need of definite, concrete, reliable knowledge about the specifics which lie within their area of expertise.
Ray 6: Individuals with a sixth ray personality establish their unique personal identity by becoming what might be called ‘distinct centers of loyal adherence and dependable orientation to a self-chosen objective.’ They become known for being thoroughly dedicated, and utterly committed to their goal. In colloquial terms, they are ‘completely sold’ upon their point of view, and see themselves as people who can convince and persuade others.
Ray 7: Individuals with a seventh ray personality establish their unique personal identity by becoming ‘distinct centers of organizational potency and administrative competency’ to whom others can come when in need of ‘grounding,’ and of learning the most effective methods of manifestation. Seventh ray persons become known for their ability to organize anything they touch, including the lives of those around them.
Clear selection
15. The primary means of establishing Distinction and Self-Reliance:
Ray 1: Those with first ray personalities achieve distinction from the mass of humanity by exercising the faculty of uncompromising independence; their style of self-reliance stems from their willingness to trust that they can ‘go it alone,’ even in the most adverse conditions, and still succeed.
Ray 2: Those with second ray personalities achieve distinction from the mass of humanity by cultivating interpersonal skills and the power to teach; their style of self-reliance grows out of their gentle but persistent sense of responsibility for others, and their willingness to trust their intuitive estimation and understanding of people.
Ray 3: Those with third ray personalities achieve distinction from the mass of humanity by capitalizing upon the mobility of their mental processes; their style of self-reliance grows out of their resourceful ability to arrange and rearrange circumstantial variables until the right combination occurs and the desired end is achieved.
Ray 4: Those with fourth ray personalities achieve distinction from the mass of humanity by utilizing their sensitive response to beauty, their expressivity and creativity, and their faculty for establishing a fluid, harmonious rapport with many different kinds of people. Their self-reliance comes from their willingness to trust spontaneity, improvisation and imagination—all of which militate against imitation.
Ray 5: Those with a fifth ray personality achieve distinction from the mass of humanity by exercising the faculties of discrimination and observation: they simply ‘see for themselves.’ Their approach to self-reliance grows out of their willingness to trust the empirical method— which means trusting the evidence before their own eyes.
Ray 6: Those with sixth ray personalities achieve distinction from the mass of humanity by being uncommonly willing to throw their entire self into following a beloved person with unswerving devotion, or pursuing a beloved ideal with unwavering dedication. They are remarkable as ‘champions of a cause.’
Ray 7: Those with seventh ray personalities achieve distinction from the mass of humanity by their ability to manage daily life exceptionally well. They become noteworthy for their capacity to set the environment in order, arising from their willingness to persist in shaping or structuring any form until it is true to its archetype or pattern.
Clear selection
16. The primary means of establishing the Preliminary Vocation:
Ray 1: Those with an integrated first ray personality choose and excel at their preliminary vocation through their disciplined ability to control, assert, direct, lead and achieve, regardless of obstacles.
Ray 2: Those with an integrated second ray personality choose and excel at their preliminary vocation through the exercise of personal magnetism: by being warm, friendly, kind and likable; by using their well-developed social sensitivity; and by demonstrating, clearly, their care and concern for others.
Ray 3: Those with an integrated third ray personality choose and excel at their preliminary vocation through the ability to successfully adapt themselves to any and all challenges (whether intellectual or circumstantial), and the creative ability to ‘make all the necessary arrangements’ for successful outcomes.
Ray 4: Those with an integrated fourth ray personality choose and excel at their preliminary vocation through spontaneity and expressivity, and by creating some form of beauty, harmony, vibrancy, color, or dramatic living in their own life, or in the lives of others.
Ray 5: Those with an integrated fifth ray personality choose, and excel at, their preliminary vocation because of their recognized command of the facts in some area of specialized study or application. They master a technical field or technique (no matter how humble or mundane) and become known for their expertise. They try to learn everything there is to know about a particular discipline, and establish themselves by making their knowledge available.
Ray 6: Those with an integrated sixth ray personality choose, and excel at, their preliminary vocation by virtue of their enthusiasm and idealistic commitment. They are eager to devote themselves totally, passionately and without reservation to the pursuit they value most highly. They find themselves in vocations where they can exercise their enthusiasm, faith and utter commitment.
Ray 7: Those with an integrated seventh ray personality choose (and excel at) their preliminary vocation by virtue of their ability to express themselves skillfully through group or organizational endeavors. The concept of organization suggests a number of elements to be organized; seventh ray personalities do their best work when dealing with a number of people or things which have to be set into right relationship with each other.
Clear selection
17. The primary means of Standing in the Way of the Higher Self:
Ray 1: Those with a first ray personality stand in the way of their Higher Self by being too proud, dominating and self-assured; too convinced of their own value, and too determined to do things entirely on their own, exactly as they choose.
Ray 2: Those with a second ray personality stand in the way of their Higher Self by being too weak, timid and fearful; by being too accepting, too tolerant, too permissive and too inclusive; by not moving fast enough; and by being too attached to their own personal relationships and environmental comforts.
Ray 3: Those with a third ray personality stand in the way of their Higher Self by trying to do too much; by being too busy, active and critical, too vague, indefinite and impractical, as well as too devious, untruthful, manipulative and entangled to faithfully express the energy of that Higher Self.
Ray 4: Those with a fourth ray personality stand in the way of their Higher Self chiefly, through lack of self-control; by being too temperamental, unreliable and unstable, too vacillating, inconsistent and self-contradictory, too compromising and accommodating, too combative, too full of conflict and turmoil, and too lacking in steadfastness and steadiness.
Ray 5: Those with a fifth ray personality stand in the way of their Higher Self by focusing too narrowly and exclusively upon their own strictly mental, specialized and technical interests, at the expense of seeing, accepting and taking part in the larger, soul-inspired picture.
Ray 6: Those with a sixth ray personality stand in the way of their Higher Self by being too fanatical, unreasonable and one-pointed, too emphatic and extreme, too emotional, too rigid and narrow, too resistant to alternatives, and too convinced of the unquestionable rightness of their point of view.
Ray 7: Those with a seventh ray personality stand in the way of their Higher Self by being too rigid and resistant to change; too caught up in externals, methods and procedures; too locked into their personal routines, customs and conventions; too ensnared in the forms they have created.
Clear selection
18. The primary means of Evading or Failing to Respond to One’s Higher Calling:
Ray 1: For those with a first ray personality, the higher calling (the soul-inspired vocation) often remains unregistered because of a preoccupation with directing others, asserting authority, ‘getting their own way,’ and protecting their power, place and position. It should be recognized that always ‘going one’s own way’ can be an evasion, indicating an unwillingness to obey a higher voice.
Ray 2: For those with a second ray personality, the higher calling (the soul-inspired vocation) often remains unregistered because of a preoccupation with personal comfort and with the attachments which bring personal pleasure and happiness. Giving-in to inertia and quietly refusing to bestir themselves on behalf of the soul are evasions indicating a personal ‘point of tension’ which is not sufficiently strong to enable them to respond to their higher ‘note.’
Ray 3: For those with a third ray personality, the higher calling (the soul-inspired vocation) is often not registered because of a preoccupation with a multitude of plans, scattered projects and extraneous activities, which are frequently a diversion or digression from the direction intended by the Higher Self. A constant state of busy preoccupation is an evasion, indicating a need for the readjustment of priorities, so that there is time and ‘space’ to register and respond to the higher note.
Ray 4: For those with a fourth ray personality, their higher calling (soul-inspired vocation) often remains unregistered because they are so frequently embroiled in the perpetual ‘troubles’ of their own personal drama,—consumed by their personal crises, battles, temperamentalism, worries, emotional suffering, mood swings and, by all manner of personal instabilities.
Ray 5: For those with a fifth ray personality, the higher calling (the soul-inspired vocation) often remains unregistered because of a preoccupation with ‘foreground’ considerations. Many fifth ray persons become bound to the testimony of the senses (in which they do believe), and skeptically reject the less tangible testimony of the soul (in which they do not believe). Thus, they fail to ‘see the forest for the trees.’
Ray 6: For those with a sixth ray personality, the higher calling often remains unregistered or unexpressed because of an unremitting preoccupation with the ‘enthusiasm of the moment.’ They may be pursuing the wrong goal (the wrong ‘calling’); their emphasis may be incorrect from the soul’s point of view. Nevertheless, they are so intensely ‘caught-up’ in passionate pursuit, that the soul is unable to effect a mid-course correction, and often has to wait until the fury of the chase has spent itself before it can reorient the personality to its own spiritual purposes.
Ray 7: For those with a seventh ray personality, the higher calling (the soul-inspired vocation) often remains unregistered or unexpressed because of a preoccupation with appearances or with the creation and preservation of external patterns of arrangement. The soul calls, but the seventh ray personality is often too busy with mundane chores to hear.
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19. The primary means of Limiting the Expansion of Consciousness and of Refusing to Grow:
Ray 1: Individuals with a first ray personality limit their own growth and the expansion of their consciousness by refusing to accept the value of what others have to offer—even when those ‘others’ happen to be their own soul! Such people feel compelled to do things their own way and alone.
Ray 2: Those with a second ray personality limit their growth and the expansion of their consciousness through weakness and over-sensitivity, immobility and a lack of dynamism, and by being too fearful to ‘seize the moment.’ Such people are hesitant to venture forth and take risks, as the soul would have them do.
Ray 3: Those with a third ray personality limit their growth and the expansion of their consciousness through excessive changeability, disjointedness and lack of continuity. They often refuse to work using the correct methods, and so waste energy, dooming their efforts to futility. They will not approach tasks simply and with humility of mind, as the soul would have them do.
Ray 4: Those with a fourth ray personality limit the growth and expansion of their consciousness by repeatedly fighting and struggling with themselves (and others). Their life is often a battlefield in which the natural processes of growth are frustrated by needless conflict. They often refuse to moderate stress, strain and the extreme responses which render them torn, divided and too battle-fatigued to grow.
Ray 5: Individuals with a fifth ray personality limit their own growth and the expansion of their consciousness by an overly mental, rationalistic approach to life. They shut the door on many growth-promoting, consciousness-expanding ideas, because such ideas are not susceptible to the conventionally acceptable standards of scientific proof. They refuse to see sensory experience as a limited (however necessary) form of consciousness; instead, they embrace sensory limitation, and reject the reality of higher states of contact.
Ray 6: Those with a sixth ray personality limit their growth and expansion of consciousness through narrowness of vision, rigidly held. Of all ray types, they must broaden their horizons. They seem to prefer mental and emotional certainty, to the adventure of new contacts. Such people are hesitant to recognize the validity of the many paths, as the soul would have them do.
Ray 7: Individuals with a seventh ray personality limit their own growth and the expansion of their consciousness by their superficiality, formalism, and their tendency to judge by appearances. The soul is deep, and though it intends to express in fullness on the physical plane, it rarely is able to do so. Those who judge according to appearances may overlook the soul altogether, and with it the source of all that is essential.
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20. The primary means of expressing Selfishness and Separativeness:
Ray 1: The selfishness of those with a first ray personality grows out of their demand to be preeminent, and ‘first’ (or central) in all situations—in short, ‘number one.’ Because it is easier to preserve an attitude of superiority at a distance from others, individuals with first ray personalities easily become aloof and separative.
Ray 2: The selfishness of those who have a second ray personality grows out of their demand to be universally popular, loved and appreciated. They may do much which compromises their integrity, simply in order to be well-liked. Their concern for others, is often motivated by a craving to experience warm feelings in the company of those who are ‘nice,’ kind and pleasant.
Ray 3: The selfishness of those who have a third ray personality often grows out of their demand to be the most intelligent, most clever, and the most astute in the handling of anything that may arise.
Ray 4: The selfishness of those who have a fourth ray personality grows out of their demand to express themselves at all costs, without regard for discipline and the usual social restraints. They often think of themselves as unique, fascinating, colorful characters—to whom the usual inhibitions against unrestrained, spontaneous, self-expression do not apply. They become preoccupied with releasing their emotions, indiscriminately expressing their impulses.
Ray 5: The selfishness of those with a fifth ray personality grows out of their demand to examine all life experiences with almost clinical objectivity. To preserve the clarity of their minds, they eliminate the usual human emotions which link one human being to another, and can, therefore, seem almost inhumanely devoid of compassion and ‘human-interest.’ Above all, they seek knowledge.
Ray 6: The selfishness of those who have a sixth ray personality grows out of their demand to find and follow the ‘one true path’ (whether religious, political, economic, etc.). Once they have found the ‘right way,’ they insist that others find and follow the same. They become so preoccupied with the passion and pleasure of their pursuit, that they ignore the pattern of energies and qualities which distinguishes others. ‘The same way for all,’ is their cry.
Ray 7: The selfishness of those with a seventh ray personality grows out of their self-satisfaction with their own methods of work. They are tempted to see all other methods as sloppy, inept and inappropriate. Such personalities are tempted to see themselves as ‘one cut above’ all the rest. In short, they adopt an attitude of snobbishness, which is a selfish distortion of the hierarchical principle. They become preoccupied with status.
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21. The primary means for Self-Centering, Self-Referencing and for calling attention to the ‘Little Self:’
Ray 1: Negatively speaking, those with a first ray personality can easily become extremely self-centered. They ‘self-center’ by exaggerating their own importance, and ‘self-refer’ by always viewing themselves as standing in the dramatic center of their own existence. They call attention to themselves by ‘taking charge’—noticeably.
Ray 2: In their self-pitying preoccupation with their own vulnerability, and their inability to deal with what they perceive as the ‘hardness’ of life, those with a second ray personality demonstrate their particular mode of self-centeredness. They call attention to themselves through ‘conspicuous lovability.
Ray 3: In their pride over their ingenious ability to ‘make the impossible possible’, in their subtle or blatant opportunism, people with a third ray personality demonstrate their particular mode of self-centeredness. Third ray personalities often call attention to themselves through a certain ‘know-it-all’ attitude, and by a tendency to be ceaselessly (and conspicuously) active upon the physical plane.
Ray 4: In the preoccupation with their own struggle, stress, crisis, conflict and occasional triumph and victory (as well as with the unhappiness or exhilaration arising from these conditions), those with a fourth ray personality demonstrate their particular mode of self-centeredness. They see themselves as arbiters of aesthetic taste, and of the aesthetic value of experience. They often call attention to themselves through dramatic expression, through their love of fascinating and entertaining others
Ray 5: ‘ In their mental satisfaction with their own point of view; in their intellectual certainty concerning truth and error; and in their belief that the rational mind is capable of knowing everything worth knowing; those with a fifth ray personality demonstrate their particular mode of self-centeredness. Such people ‘self-refer’ by constantly seeing themselves as experts, or the ‘last word’ in their particular field of specialization. They often call attention to themselves by acting conspicuously certain about the factual knowledge they have mastered, and conspicuously competent in the application of that knowledge.
Ray 6: In their preoccupation with pursuing and achieving their goal at all costs; their intolerant certainty as to the correctness of their point of view; and their vision of themselves as somehow ‘special’ or ‘chosen’ because they espouse a particular ideology; those with a sixth ray personality demonstrate their particular mode of self-centeredness. They see themselves as elevated or, putting it crudely, ‘better than others’ because they believe or think in a certain way.
Ray 7: In their assurance that they are doing things properly, in their tendency to increase standardization and reduce opportunities for individualistic expression, and in their quick judgments (measuring the value of people against some arbitrary standard), those with a seventh ray personality demonstrate their particular mode of self-centeredness. They are too assured of their position and too certain of their judgments.
Clear selection
22. Which ‘type’ of Mind best describes your Mental Ray?
Ray 1: Firmness in Thought and Opinion: Ray one brings a quality of fixity to the mental process. When the ray one tendency to remain fixed and immovable at the center is applied to mental activities, there is a tendency to hold firmly to that which has been mentally determined or concluded. A conviction or opinion may be formed suddenly or over a greater period of time; but once formulated, it has strength and integrity, and resists change.
Ray 2: Abstracting Mind: The ray two mind is found upon the ‘soft’ (2–4–6) line of energy. Upon this line, love and intuition are easily cultivated and intellectuality is not. It is responsive to ideas (which are, in fact, formless abstractions); it is not, however, skillful in handling the thoughtforms in which the ideas have been clothed.
Ray 3: Abstract, Generalizing (and sometimes ‘Absent’) mind: Not only is the third ray the Ray of Active Intelligence, but it can justifiably be called the Ray of Abstract Intelligence. The third ray mind handles abstractions with ease. It is able to examine a context of many particulars and then abstract and articulate the general law or principle which explains those particulars. While the third ray mind has the capacity to deal with concrete specifics (if it must), it prefers to view contexts as if from afar, and thus see broad and general relationships. It becomes bored if forced to deal only with concrete details from which no general meaning can be extracted.
Ray 4: Free-Associative, Non-Linear, Paradoxical Mind: Within the fourth ray mental field thoughts occur in a free-associative manner. It is a mind which relates (and eventually fuses) the contents of consciousness (e.g., thoughts, emotions and sensations) on the basis of similarity and contrast, likeness and unlikeness. One thought ‘reminds’ the thinker of another, and that thought of another and so forth, until an associative chain is created. It is a mind, therefore, which is full of surprises and interesting symbolic connections, but it may have difficulty sticking to the point.
Ray 5: Scientific Mind: Science is a process of systematic inquiry leading to the ascertainment of knowledge. The precise and ever-questioning fifth ray mind is an ideal instrument for establishing certainty within the field of knowledge. Science is the pursuit of truth, and the fifth ray mind values verity above all. Science seeks to understand the ‘how’ of spirit in matter, and the fifth ray mind is endowed with the lucidity to reveal that ‘how.’
Ray 6: Extremely Repetitive Thought Content: There would be little hope of finding a variety of thought within the confines of a sixth ray mental field. Instead, one would probably find utter simplicity of mind—not the broad and comprehensive simplicity of the first ray mind, but a narrow, monochromatic simplicity arising from a paucity of thought. What one loves to do, one does repeatedly. This is nowhere more true than with those strongly colored by the sixth ray.
Ray 7: Standardizing Mind: The seventh ray mind would easily develop standardized ways of thinking; it is efficient and economical to do so. It would not be a mind known for adaptability; certain kinds of stimuli would receive a certain kind of response—a rather standard response.
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23. Which ‘type’ of Mind best describes your Mental Ray?
Ray 1: Dominating and ‘Impressive’ Mind: Ray one is endowed with the quality of imposition, for good or ill. The thought forms created via a ray one mental vehicle would be powerful and ‘impressive’ (in the occult sense)—i.e., they would override contrary thoughts and impress themselves upon other minds. Perhaps this type of mind, in the practice of telepathy, would be an excellent ‘sending’ instrument, but not as easily adapted to ‘receiving’—in short, the ray one mind is a projective mind.
Ray 2: Receptive and Passive Mind: The second ray mind which (due to the nature of the second ray) is nonassertive, nonintrusive, nonquestioning, nondemanding. Receptivity is one of the predominant second ray qualities and, when applied to the mind, creates a mentality which is open and accepting, but which tends to ‘swallow thoughts whole.’ It functions somewhat according to the ‘sponge’ or ‘blotter’ effect, passively waiting, receiving and absorbing the mental content which comes its way.
Ray 3: Intellectual Mind: Those whose mind is upon the third ray enjoy pure intellection for its own sake and divorced from the world of the senses. There are many intelligent people who are not intellectuals, and many intellectuals who cannot really be considered intelligent, so completely incapable are they of handling their physical or emotional life with any degree of skill. According to this definition, the intellectual focuses his attention primarily upon the plane of mind; even his desires are focused upon intellectual gratification and his physical activities are subservient to intellectual ones.
Ray 4: Receptive Mind: The fourth ray mind is peculiarly dependent upon activation from ‘extra-mental’ energy currents. These can be streams of higher inspiration, or simply currents emanating from one or other dimensions of the three lower worlds. Artists often are unable to create until they are inspired by the muse. A current of higher energy flows into their energy system, and they respond creatively. The fourth ray mind functions according to a similar dynamic; it will await impulsion and then respond.
Ray 5: Precise, Accurate, Exact, Correct Mind: When the fifth ray mind is functioning at its best, there are no ‘fuzzy edges’ to the thought it creates. No latitude for error is allowed; no vagueness is tolerated. It seeks an ever more exact approximation between thought, and that which thought describes—the ideal being a precise description of reality.
Ray 6: Extremely Repetitive Thought Content: There would be little hope of finding a variety of thought within the confines of a sixth ray mental field. Instead, one would probably find utter simplicity of mind—not the broad and comprehensive simplicity of the first ray mind, but a narrow, monochromatic simplicity arising from a paucity of thought. What one loves to do, one does repeatedly. This is nowhere more true than with those strongly colored by the sixth ray.
Ray 7: Extremely detailed mind: This is a mind which would be excellent at managing detail, for attending to every little particular. In fact there would be a need to discriminate what was important from what was not. In matters of manifestation, it is often proper management of the ‘little things’ which determines success.
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24. Which ‘type’ of Mind best describes your Mental Ray?
Ray 1: Decisive Mind: The type of mental uncertainty which plagues some of the other types of minds would not be a problem for individuals possessing a ray one mind. This does not mean that the conclusions reached and held would always be successfully enacted, but at least the tendency towards mental vacillation and indecisiveness would be comparatively rare. Less frequently than most would such individuals ‘be of two minds;’ the monolithic quality of the first ray energy, as applied to the mental field, would militate against this.
Ray 2: Non-Decisive Mind: Decision is based upon the process of separation or division. The second ray mind is the least separative and least divisive of minds—its every instinct is towards coherence. Whereas the fourth ray mind may find itself caught in the agonizing struggle of attempting to decide, the second ray mind may simply refuse to decide. It tends to be attached to both alternatives, and will not release one in favor of the other. It wants them both, just as they are. It is little inclined to draw the hard line.
Ray 3: Complex Thought Process: Just as the first ray is associated with divine simplicity, the third ray is associated with divine multiplicity. The third ray mind, of all mental types, is most at home with complexity—especially with what might be called ‘complexity in motion.’ The process of braiding or weaving is a good symbol for the frequently convoluted third ray thought process, in which many strands of thought are combined and recombined in a changing texture that is anything but simple.
Ray 4: Vacillating, Ambivalent, Indecisive Mind: This is one of the most frequently mentioned characteristics of the fourth ray mind. This does not mean that every individual with a fourth ray mind is indecisive; well-developed fourth ray minds can, indeed, be quick, intuitive and decisive. But there is a tendency for this type of mind to identify the polarities of a situation, and to oscillate (gently or violently) between the poles in the attempt to draw them together or find the right position between.
Ray 5: Keen, Sharp, Defining Mind: The thoughts created by the fifth ray mind have ‘hard edges.’ A mind bent upon distinguishing one thing from another must be sharp, the ‘mental blade’ keen. The fifth ray mind seeks definiteness, and thus labors to define its terms. When a thought is well-defined, it is protected against merging into another thought; it becomes a distinct mental construct with clear-cut boundaries. This is the mind which is best used to determine what a thing is and what it is not. It cuts through equivocation.
Ray 6: A Closed Mental Circuit: There are open minds and closed minds. Nothing is more closed than the mind which is assured that it has found exactly what it is seeking. It seems, this would almost always be the case with the sixth ray mind. Certain thoughts would be held fast within the mental aura, and emphasized again and again. Such would be the pattern of this emphasis, that all other thoughts which sought entry would be deflected as if by an impenetrable wall.
Ray 7: Patterning, Geometrizing Mentality: The seventh ray inspires the creation of exact patterns of relationships; it is the ‘Ray of…accurate arrangement.’ When applied to the mental field, this ray would stimulate the capacity to think diagrammatically and geometrically, ordering the content of thought in well-patterned designs. As well, sequences of thought, once established, would tend to occur in unvarying patterns.
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25. Which ‘type’ of Mind best describes your Mental Ray?
Ray 1: Affirmative Mind: Affirmation is a process of making thought firm. The ray one mind excels in the recognition, clarification and formulation of principles, which principles it tends to repeat. They frequently seek to make a forceful, impressive mental impact upon everyone and everything within their field of influence; affirmation strengthens the impact of thought. This impact has its effect, not only on the environment, but extends to the various fields within the energy system of the one who affirms.
Ray 2: Indefinite Thought Process: The same mental tendency which promotes fusing and blending militates against distinctness of thought. The second ray mind (unless other ray influences or energy factors offset the tendency) has a somewhat diffused focus; the outlines of thought are not rendered distinctly. This indistinctness and imprecision might well be transferred into speech.
Ray 3: Deductive, Non-Empirical Mind: The third ray mind is more useful for reasoning from a premise than for gathering and ascertaining the evidence upon which a premise can be inferred (though it certainly is capable of inferring and offering theories and interpretations based upon evidence). In general, however, this is a mind which is often too active to be a really good instrument of observation. It wants to ‘do something’ with the data at its disposal, and thus it is far better at manipulating the data presented to it than at patiently determining for itself the factuality or nonfactuality of the data.
Ray 4: Bridging, Linking Mind: The fourth ray is one of the primary rays of relationship. It inspires the quest for harmony, which is based upon finding similarities, resemblances, or compatibilities between people or things which must be related. When the fourth ray qualifies the mental field, it creates a mind focused upon finding ‘points in common.’ The entire aesthetic process is dependent upon the ability to relate the elements within any whole in a harmonious fashion.
Ray 5: Highly Focused, Concentrated Mind: The laser beam is an apt symbol for the thought process of the advanced fifth ray mind. It demands truth and this demand is expressed through an unrelentingly penetrating attention. Like a magnifying glass which concentrates solar rays into a focused, intense beam of light, the fifth ray mind ‘burns through’ to revelation.
Ray 6: Powerfully Adhesive Thought Process: The sixth ray mind would be the mind that never ‘let go.’ It is fascinating to realize that the Buddha’s entire philosophy could be summarized as ‘let go, and thus conquer desire.’ His mind never let go of the quest for complete liberation—Nirvana. For the sixth ray mind, mental attachment, therefore, would be the line of least resistance. For good or ill, it would be virtually impossible to pry this mind loose from the thoughts it had committed itself to think.
Ray 7: Constructive Mentality: Rays seven and two are the two rays most associated with the building process; they are inherently constructive. With the seventh ray mind, one would expect a careful and constructive adding of thought to thought until a solid system of thinking had been erected. Such a mind would then respond to all challenges systematically.
Clear selection
26. Which ‘type’ of Mind best describes your Mental Ray?
Ray 1: One-Pointed Mind: This is one of the preeminent qualities bestowed by the first ray. Applied to the mind, it suggests a thought process which is undeviating in the pursuit of the purpose for which the process was activated. Not to be deflected or distracted, the ray one mind marshals all its thoughts and directs them one-pointedly towards the fulfillment of an objective which is consistently ‘held in mind.’
Ray 2: Comprehensive and Inclusive Mind: The second ray ever seeks comprehensiveness and completeness. It rejects nothing and includes everything. Its ideal symbol is the sphere—the most perfect or complete of all geometrical shapes. For the sake of completeness, the second ray mind is inclined to absorb, incorporate or ‘devour’ many kinds of knowledge. Although its mental precision and powers of intelligent reasoning are not usually great, this type of mind tends to become encyclopedic—all-inclusive.
Ray 3: Highly-Analytical Mind: Individuals with a third ray mind have the capacity to manipulate and combine thoughtforms in order to fulfill their purposes with the highest degree of intelligence. The manipulations can be intelligent, and the combinations successful, only if that which is manipulated and combined is properly selected. Proper selection requires the ability to discriminate the nature and quality of one potential selection from another.
Ray 4: Form-Creating Mind: When the fourth ray qualifies the mind, forms are created under the aesthetic impulse, and very frequently for their visual or auditory appeal. The beauty of what is created (and not so much the utility or functionality) is considered of importance. While the individual with a fourth ray mind is not necessarily the artist, there will frequently be a strong appreciation for the aesthetic dimensions of forms as they appear on all levels— levels of thought, emotion and physical actuality.
Ray 5: Form-Focused Mind: The fifth ray mind is largely employed in the study of dense physical plane matter, but, increasingly, there are a number of such minds which study more subtle states. That to which the fifth ray mind applies itself must be, figuratively ‘before the eyes,’ or, more accurately, perceptible by the senses (whether gross or subtle). This type of mind is not inclined to focus upon abstractions (unless the soul ray so inclines).
Ray 6: Unremittingly One-Pointed Mental Focus: Rays one and six are the most one-pointed. The ray one mind sustains one-pointedness through the force of will, and can then quickly detach once the mental task is accomplished. The ray six mind would sustain one-pointedness through ‘mental ardor,’ a quality very sensitive to the driving force of desire. Only with the greatest difficulty would this type of mind detach itself from the object of its constant thought.
Ray 7: Production of crystal-clear thoughtforms: Thoughtforms created by the seventh ray mind would have extremely clean and clear lines. The seventh ray dislikes clutter of any kind. It is the ray of perfected form; forms cannot be perfected if they are encumbered by excess material, or if their contours are vague and ill-defined.
Clear selection
27. Which ‘type’ of Mind best describes your Mental Ray?
Ray 1: Synthesizing Mind: The ray one mind grasps the ‘big picture.’ It includes all factors of moment, and sees them as an interrelated whole. Nothing of importance is excluded, priorities are appreciated, and detail is seen as secondary to the overall gestalt.
Ray 2: Synthesizing and Fusing Mind: The second ray mind is, perhaps, the least analytical of minds; it is totally constructive and has a distaste for any kind of division or ‘mental dismembering.’ The second ray persistently demonstrates the ‘Will to Unify.’ The rather ‘lazy’ second ray mind would not tend to work at this fusing and blending as the fourth ray mind would; the synthesizing process would occur naturally and effortlessly.
Ray 3: Manipulative Mind: Manipulation, simply understood, is the power to move one thing relative to another. Manipulation is one of the foremost qualities of the third ray, and when applied to the mind, it results in the power to ‘move’ thoughts relative to other thoughts. Since thoughts are most frequently expressed in words and visual images, the third ray mind has the capacity to constantly and fluidly arrange and rearrange such words and images.
Ray 4: Unifying, Integrating, Synthesizing, Non-Separative Mind: In the dynamics of the fourth ray mind, there is a constant process of linking, fusing and blending (somewhat like the second ray mind, but far more active and dramatic). When qualified by the fourth ray, the mind becomes ‘mercurial.’ A mercurial mind is not simply rapid and changeable; it also promotes the process of fusion through linkage. Droplets of liquid mercury will coalesce upon contact; within the fourth ray mind, thoughts will do likewise.
Ray 5: Acutely Analytical, Discriminative, Separating Mind: The fifth ray mind wants to ‘know the difference.’ In the effort to eliminate confusion (or the inappropriate ‘mixing’ of things), it separates one thing from another until everything is seen as distinct. At some point (as modern physics has shown us) this process breaks down, but in the world of normal three-dimensional (‘Newtonian’) consciousness, it leads to clarification. The first impulse of the fifth ray mind, when presented with any object (whether concrete or subtle) is to ‘take it apart’ and find out ‘what makes it tick.’
Ray 6: Mental Ardor and Devotion: Ardor and devotion are usually qualities associated with the astral nature, but one can imagine an excitable, enthusiastic, fiery mind—a sixth ray mental elemental which is always eager to pursue its task. When aligned with the Martian (6B) energy, this would be what might be called a ‘vigilant mind,’ resting seldom, ever urging itself on (with or without the direction and supervision of the ‘inner man’). The third ray mind and the sixth ray mind would, theoretically, share the trait of incessancy of effort.
Ray 7: Coordinating, Synthesizing Mind: The seventh ray always facilitates the creation of organic structures—coherently functioning wholes. The many parts of a whole become a smoothly functioning organism once they are coordinated and synthesized. The manner of promoting synthesis varies with each ray; for the seventh ray, synthesis is promoted by establishing a well-defined organic relationship between every part with every other part, and between every part and the whole.
Clear selection
28. Which ‘type’ of Mind best describes your Mental Ray?
Ray 1: A Mind for Principles, not Details: The ray one quality of synthesis, which tends to perceive and create unified wholes, rather than ‘parts and pieces,’ inclines the ray one mind to think in terms of principles and ‘first things,’ rather than in terms of a multiplicity of details. During the ray one thinking process, the essentials of any consideration are easily discerned.
Ray 2: Absorbent and Accumulative Mind: The inclusive second ray bestows upon the mind the faculty of absorption—frequently indiscriminate absorption. The second ray refusal to eliminate through discrimination, which, when applied to human relations, can be effective in promoting the quality of love, inclines those with a second ray mind towards a broad and inclusive mental receptiveness. It is not an assertive or grasping mind, but it does, somewhat passively, tend to ‘take everything in.’
Ray 3: Qualifying Mind: A qualification is a reservation placed upon a statement. The reservation is based upon the awareness of an instance or instances in which the statement might not apply or be true. Qualifications are used by those who are aware of a wide variety of conditions which can influence or alter the general validity of an assertion. Generically, the third ray contributes the quality of caution, and, because of their awareness of implications and ramifications, those with a third ray mind will often function cautiously and tentatively.
Ray 4: Conflicted, Struggle-Filled, Crisis-Stressed Mind: Those with a fourth ray mind often experience mental crisis—a conflict-filled psychological state characterized by the interaction of antagonistic and apparently irreconcilable thought patterns. Mental crisis is a state of extreme cognitive dissonance, and within the fourth ray mental field (before the processes of reconciliation and resolution have been established and a dynamic equilibrium instituted) a battle rages between contending thoughts, attitudes, opinions, perspectives, etc
Ray 5: Detailed Thought Process: The fifth ray mind notices or creates many distinctions. The sheer quantity of data with which it deals is greater than that of most other minds. It sees all things as composed of many little pieces, which its seeks to identify and understand. It may be quite difficult for the fifth ray mind to understand a thing as a whole, for it seems to see (as the insect sees) with a ‘compound eye.’ When one converses with an individual who ‘cannot see the forest for the trees,’ the presence of the fifth ray can be suspected—often at the mental level.
Ray 6: Steely, Inflexible Mentality: A number of rays induce crystallization and rigidity: the sixth ray is one of them, and it does so rapidly. Sixth ray thoughts would be supercharged with fiery energy (especially if Mars were the controlling sixth ray planet). In whatever field of the energy system the sixth ray is dominant, intensity is found. Mental intensity would be a keynote of the sixth ray mind.
Ray 7: Organizing, Sorting, Classifying Mentality: The seventh ray is, above all, the ray of order. When qualifying the mind, it would produce order within the mental field, resulting in the quintessentially well-organized mind (though, of course, the fifth ray mind can also be highly ordered). Order is based upon right placement: ‘a place for everything and everything in its place.’ The tremendous onslaught of data which impinges upon the mind must be sorted and classified.
Clear selection
29. Which ‘type’ of Mind best describes your Mental Ray?
Ray 1: Map-Making and Outlining Mind: With its tendency to appreciate the essentials, the ray one mind can easily diagram or outline any set of fundamental relationships. This type of mind sees through any whole to the structural framework supporting that whole—its ‘skeleton’ so to speak. The ‘map’ of essential, fundamental relationships within any whole is seen all at once; the details are not considered as important as the set of related principles upon which the integrity of the whole depends.
Ray 2: Detailed Mind: The second ray confers upon one the patience to cover a mass of detail. This may seem something of a contradiction, since we have reason to believe that the second ray mind is often somewhat vague and imprecise. It is definitely not a ‘high-resolution’ mind (to borrow a phrase from photography), but in its need for completeness and comprehensiveness, it gathers and stores many mental perceptions.
Ray 3: Concatenating Mind: To ‘concatenate’ is ‘to link together in a series or a chain.’ The third ray mind links thoughts in ‘chains’ or series. For the third ray mind, particularly, thoughts come on strings’—they are ‘threaded.’
Ray 4: Mediating Mind: The fourth ray mind instinctively assumes (or works its way towards) the middle position. From there, it can see the value of positions on either side. This is a mind which can act as a ‘shuttle’ between polarized points of view, pointing out commonalities and promoting communication.
Ray 5: Literal Mind: The fifth ray mind has little talent for the figurative, for seeing one thing in terms of another. A thing is seen for what it is. Attention is focused upon the thing itself, and not upon what a thing may mean or what it may be like. One sees an example of the fifth ray mind at work in the practice of interpreting the Bible (or other scriptures) literally—concretely. To the strict literalist, a word means ‘exactly what it says;’ it denotes one specific, concrete thing, and nothing else.
Ray 6: Extremely Repetitive Thought Content: There would be little hope of finding a variety of thought within the confines of a sixth ray mental field. Instead, one would probably find utter implicity of mind—not the broad and comprehensive simplicity of the first ray mind, but a narrow, monochromatic simplicity arising from a paucity of thought. What one loves to do, one does repeatedly. This is nowhere more true than with those strongly colored by the sixth ray.
Ray 7: Standardizing Mind: The seventh ray mind would easily develop standardized ways of thinking; it is efficient and economical to do so. It would not be a mind known for adaptability; certain kinds of stimuli would receive a certain kind of response—a rather standard response. Thought patterns would be subject to ‘programming.’ Certain sequences of thought would be constructed, rehearsed and routinized.
Clear selection
30. Which ‘type’ of Mind best describes your Mental Ray?
Ray 1: Concentrated Mind: The capacity for centralization characteristic of the ray one energy, when applied to the mental field, leads to the ability to centralize in thought; this is another way of describing concentration. The ability to focus intensely upon one point would be expected, as would the ability to think straight towards the goal of thought, without circuitous meandering, and without being deflected by intruding thoughts.
Ray 2: Illumined Mind: The quality of the second ray is intimately associated with light and vision. When the second ray mind is being used as it should, it is filled with light; it is the light carried by thoughts rather than the form of the thoughts themselves which is of moment. Facts as facts will be of little interest to the individual with a ray two mind; facts as they shed light upon the divine pattern, however, will be of special interest.
Ray 3: Reasoning Mind: Advanced individuals with a third ray mind are particularly cautious about choosing their thoughts and arranging them in the proper (i.e., logical sequence) so that the conclusions they reach will be necessary conclusions. Thus, using the concrete mind, they reason their way to greater light. Other types of mind arrive at the same answer in less rigorous, less sequential fashion, but, upon arriving, may not know how they got there.
Ray 4: Intuitive, Non-Rationalistic Mind: The fourth ray mind functions normally and naturally in the intuitive mode. By numerical resonance, the fourth ray mind is attuned to the fourth or buddhic plane—the plane of the intuition. The fourth ray mind functions in a nonlinear, nonrationalistic manner, and (with its insistence on wholeness and inclusiveness) is able to complete the gestalt.
Ray 5: Lucid (Light-Bestowing), Truthful Mind: The purpose of all fifth ray probing and investigation is to ‘bring truth to light.’ This is a mind which is innately clear and truthful. It struggles with the ignorance veiling particular areas of inquiry, and through patient and persistent observation and questioning, transforms obscurity into revelation.
Ray 6: Ray 6: Extremely Repetitive Thought Content: There would be little hope of finding a variety of thought within the confines of a sixth ray mental field. Instead, one would probably find utter simplicity of mind—not the broad and comprehensive simplicity of the first ray mind, but a narrow, monochromatic simplicity arising from a paucity of thought. What one loves to do, one does repeatedly. This is nowhere more true than with those strongly colored by the sixth ray.
Ray 7: Extremely Detailed Mind: This is a mind which would be excellent at managing detail, for attending to every little particular. In fact there would be a need to discriminate what was important from what was not. In matters of manifestation, it is often proper management of the ‘little things’ which determines success.
Clear selection
31. Which ‘type’ of Mind best describes your Mental Ray?
Ray 1: Critical Mind: The often destructive quality of ray one energy, when manifesting through the mental field, will naturally create a potential for critical, destructive thinking. The weak points in another’s thought, attitude or way of life can easily be detected, disrupted or destroyed. This mental assault can be either good or bad, depending upon the motivation for the assault and the nature of that which is assaulted.
Ray 2: Non-Critical Mind: Those with a second ray mind are well-equipped to look in all directions and, in a subtle way, to see no differences or distinctions. This is either a great spiritual asset or a mental liability. The critical mind constantly separates—the good from the bad, the desirable from the undesirable, the right from the wrong. The second ray mind, again, does not draw a hard line.
Ray 3: Critical Mind: The third ray is the Ray of Active Intelligence, and those with third ray minds may pride themselves upon their mental prowess. They can see fine distinctions where others see none, and recognize the mental limitations of others far too easily. Criticism, of course, can be constructive, and the third ray mind of the highly evolved individual, with its sensitivity to unintelligent functioning, can provide a valuable corrective service.
Ray 4: Reconciling, Resolving Mind: The fourth ray mind, while peculiarly prone to mental crisis, is also the mind most suited to resolving it. This type of mind will always work to find those points in common through which the reconciliation of sharply dissonant thoughts can be achieved.
Ray 5: Critical Mind: The lower mind, being an instrument of separation, is given to criticism. Depending upon the ray of the mind, the quality and extent of the criticism varies. Fifth ray criticism arises from the ability to detect error. The fifth ray mind notices flaws in factuality which other types of mind might overlook. When properly motivated, it criticizes in the service of truth. It simply points out mistakes for correction. There is no malice in this—just the desire to help others ‘keep their facts straight,’ and see things exactly as they are.
Ray 6: Ray 6: Extremely Repetitive Thought Content: There would be little hope of finding a variety of thought within the confines of a sixth ray mental field. Instead, one would probably find utter simplicity of mind—not the broad and comprehensive simplicity of the first ray mind, but a narrow, monochromatic simplicity arising from a paucity of thought. What one loves to do, one does repeatedly. This is nowhere more true than with those strongly colored by the sixth ray.
Ray 7: Materializing Mind: The seventh ray mind would not be abstract, but focused upon bringing that which is intangible or abstract into materialization. It would be a mind in which the abstract would take definite form—a mind which would have a very close connection with the etheric levels, and would thus be effective in moving mental forms, via the ethers, into manifestation upon the dense physical plane.
Clear selection
32. Which ‘type’ of Mind best describes your Mental Ray?
Ray 1: Independence of Mind: Those with a ray one mind like to ‘think for themselves.’ Generically, the ray one energy inclines people to take action without waiting for others to act—i.e., to be nonimitative in the deepest sense, and a source unto themselves. This gives people upon the first ray the capacity to draw the power to initiate action from within themselves.
Ray 2: The second ray ever seeks comprehensiveness and completeness. It rejects nothing and includes everything. Its ideal symbol is the sphere—the most perfect or complete of all geometrical shapes. For the sake of completeness, the second ray mind is inclined to absorb, incorporate or ‘devour’ many kinds of knowledge. Although its mental precision and powers of intelligent reasoning are not usually great, this type of mind tends to become encyclopedic—all-inclusive.
Ray 3: Circuitous, Tangential, Ramifying Mind: The type of motion most associated with the third ray is the curved line, not the straight line, as is the case with the first ray. The third ray confers the tendency to ‘rotary motion,’ which works out as the inclination to ‘move around’ an object rather than go straight towards it. When applied to the mind, this tendency confers the ability to examine an object of consciousness from all possible perspectives—i.e., from each one of the 360 degrees of the circle surrounding the object.
Ray 4: Rapid Mental Attunement and Rapport: The fourth ray confers the ability to ‘get on the same wavelength’ as another. Mentally, this means the ability rapidly to come ‘en rapport’ with others’ thinking—to both ‘think and speak their language.’
Ray 5: Fact-Ascertaining Mind: A fact, according to Webster, is ‘a piece of information presented as having objective reality.’ The fifth ray mind discriminates the real from the unreal, truth from error, and fact from fiction. In humanity’s attempt to build the edifice of truth, the fact is the basic building block. That which has not been verified as factual is an ‘unsound stone,’ and its inclusion in the edifice brings the danger of instability to the entire structure. The fifth ray mind puts each assertion of truth to the test through experimentation.
Ray 6: Ray 6: Extremely Repetitive Thought Content: There would be little hope of finding a variety of thought within the confines of a sixth ray mental field. Instead, one would probably find utter simplicity of mind—not the broad and comprehensive simplicity of the first ray mind, but a narrow, monochromatic simplicity arising from a paucity of thought. What one loves to do, one does repeatedly. This is nowhere more true than with those strongly colored by the sixth ray.
Ray 7: Excellent memory: Memory fails for many reasons, one being confusion in the mind-brain’s system of sorting and classifying information. A computer program which has been written in a confusing or inelegant manner will be slower, inefficient and may even malfunction on occasions. Certain types of minds have difficulty with information retrieval. Presumably, this would not be the case with the seventh ray mind which would ‘know where everything is’ and ‘how to get at it.’
Clear selection
33. Which ‘type’ of Mind best describes your Mental Ray?
Ray 1: Intensely Active Mind: This quality is not the same as a ‘busy mind’ (as frequently found upon the third ray), because, when the mind is upon the first ray, the quality of purposeful activity is almost always preserved, and purposeless ‘busy-ness’ is eliminated. While, in general, the third ray is most frequently associated with activity, it must be remembered that for stimulating sheer vigor and vitality, the energy of the first ray is supreme.
Ray 2: Stillness and Clarity of Mind: Tranquility, stillness and quiet are all pronounced second ray qualities, which would naturally be transferred to the mental field when the mind is qualified by the second ray. The inactivity of the second ray mind may be a liability when it comes to its practical and adaptive use, but the resultant stillness can lead to complete lucidity and clarity of understanding. A still mind is a perfect, reflecting surface—reflecting the intuition and the essence of that which is perceived. It is said that ‘still waters run deep,’ and the second ray mind is a deep mind.
Ray 3: Incessantly Active Mind: Those with a ray three mind tend to be far more mentally active than those whose minds are qualified by other rays. The mental activity of the ray three mind, however, often seems like ‘activity for its own sake,’ and is not always purposeful. Such a highly activated thought process can certainly be the source of much originality and resourcefulness; such people are often seen as clever, and are said, colloquially, to be ‘always thinking.’ But excessive mental activity can also deflect illumination emanating from the soul.
Ray 4: Rajasic/Tamasic Mind: The fourth ray mind is both active and passive, excitable and inert. When an individual possessing this type of mind is ‘in a good mood,’ the thought process will proceed with fluidity and facility; when the mood is dark and somber, and personal energy low, there may be difficulty even trying to think.
Ray 5: Non-Imaginative, Non-Intuitive Mind: The fifth ray mind marshals its thoughts rigorously, and holds them as if with a ‘mental clamp’ leaving very little ‘space’ for the intrusion of something new, something imaginative or intuitive. The motive for this ‘clamp’ is to preserve the integrity of thought by deflecting intruding and disruptive emotional currents. The fifth ray mind is often successful in this, but in the attempt to deflect irrationality (i.e., emotionality), it pays the price of deflecting a supra-rational point of view as well.
Ray 6: Mental Passivity: One aspect of sixth ray energy is, we know, unusually passive and receptive. Theoretically, the planet conveying this aspect of sixth ray energy is Neptune. Sixth ray influence also inclines towards gullibility. It can be seen that this type of sixth ray mind (6A) would be indiscriminately receptive to currents of thought emanating from any source which it considered ideal or special (not indiscriminately receptive to everything—which is presumed to be more the case with the second ray mind).
Ray 7: Conformity to Rules of Thought: Those upon the seventh ray are always eager to follow rules (or to make them, and then follow them). Whatever they do, they wish to do correctly. The addition of the word ‘right’ before any noun or participle indicating a form of behavior, describes their goal: right action, right speech, right feeling, right relations, right magical process, etc., and, of course, right thinking.
Clear selection
34. Which ‘type’ of Mind best describes your Mental Ray?
Ray 1: Power to Leap to Conclusions: We are often told that those who are blind must advance by holding on, while those who have sight can advance freely and unattached. ‘Holding on’ is basically caused by fear, and ray one is a fear-destroying potency.
Ray 2: Inactive, Slow and Pondering Mind: The usual level of activity of the second ray is low. The second ray inclines towards the ‘wise use of slow action,’ and towards revelation through brooding and pondering. One of the key features of the second ray mind is its lack of what is usually recognized as mental activity. The second ray mind dwells upon thoughts and ideas. Illumination arises through brooding and pondering rather than cogitation; by analogy, new ideas ‘hatch’ under the warmth of this brooding process.
Ray 3: Divergent Thought Process: Brainstorming is an exercise in resourcefulness. It is a creative act of invocation. It is what might be called a ‘reshuffling of the mental deck’ in search of new ideas and creative combinations of thought. It is impossible to brainstorm without releasing customary and rigid patterns of thinking. The third ray mind, with its tendencies towards ramification and recombination, is ideally suited for creative brainstorming.
Ray 4: Weighing and Balancing Mind: In the fourth ray mental field, any thought considered is subtly (or not so subtly) tied to an opposing thought (even if the tie promotes a raging mental conflict). The fourth ray mind, eventually, moves towards a ‘balanced point of view.’ If a thought becomes too extreme, a state of discomforting mental tension is perceived, and there supervenes a subtle corrective process which draws the thought back towards the center. The ‘opposites’ pull upon each other until mental equilibrium is achieved.
Ray 5: Non-Magnetic Mind: The fifth ray mind does not ‘color’ its thoughts. It simply describes, with as much neutrality as possible. Neutrality is not attractive; it lacks emotional appeal (and emotional rebuff). This type of mind does not entertain, nor seek to arrest the attention through dramatic assertion; it simply informs. Such magnetism as there is will have to emanate from another aspect of the individual’s energy system.
Ray 6: Extremely Repetitive Thought Content: There would be little hope of finding a variety of thought within the confines of a sixth ray mental field. Instead, one would probably find utter simplicity of mind—not the broad and comprehensive simplicity of the first ray mind, but a narrow, monochromatic simplicity arising from a paucity of thought. What one loves to do, one does repeatedly. This is nowhere more true than with those strongly colored by the sixth ray.
Ray 7: Rhythmically, Cyclically Functioning Mind: The seventh ray induces a respect for rhythm as an organizing principle; thus, it can be expected that the seventh ray mind would function in a well-regulated, rhythmic manner, with its own fairly predictable cycles. This would not be a mind given to incessancy of thought, like the mind upon the third ray or, perhaps, the sixth. It would be a mind which respected the necessity for both activity and interludes.
Clear selection
35. Which ‘type’ of Mind best describes your Mental Ray?
Ray 1: Detached and Impersonal Thinking: This is the ray of detachment and impersonality. Applied to the mental field, these qualities give the capacity to consider a subject from a broad, impersonal perspective in which the ‘little self’ may assume but little significance. The ray one influence lifts above pettiness, and those whose mind is qualified by the first ray are lifted above pettiness in thinking.
Ray 2: Intuitive Thought Process: One of the greatest gifts of the second ray mind is its intuitive capacity. Intuition is a ‘noncognitive’ thought process. Cogitation involves a number of movements of the chitta (mind stuff). Analysis, comparison, contrast, deduction, induction, mental creation, etc., and all the mathematical operations, call for considerable movement within the thought substance. Intuition, on the other hand, calls for stillness and receptivity. The habitually still and reflective posture of the second ray mind is conducive to the reception of intuitive impulses.
Ray 3: Creative, ‘Fabricating’ Mind: The third ray is the ray of Active, Creative Intelligence. Generically, the third ray bestows productivity— the ability to create form. The third ray mind is, therefore, a highly productive and creative mind; it readily fabricates thought from thought substance. Perhaps no other type of mind can generate thought so abundantly.
Ray 4: Feeling-Toned, ‘Kama-Manasic’ Mind: Because the fourth ray mind is upon the 2–4– 6 line of energy, it is more sensitive to or stirred by emotion. It rejects what it considers the aridity of purely intellectual mind—the mind qualified by the third or fifth ray. It also rejects the ‘hard-lined’ quality bestowed upon the mind by the first ray, and, presumably, by the seventh. So the mental constructs of the fourth ray mind are not purely manasic, but are colored somewhat by the kamic (desire) nature.
Ray 5: Empirical, Inductive Mind: The fifth ray mind examines the evidence. It wants to ‘see for itself,’ and judges personal observation and experience of greater value than the uncritical acceptance of any preconceived system of interpretation—no matter how well-revered.
Ray 6: Mental Passivity: One aspect of sixth ray energy is, we know, unusually passive and receptive. Theoretically, the planet conveying this aspect of sixth ray energy is Neptune. Sixth ray influence also inclines towards gullibility. It can be seen that this type of sixth ray mind (6A) would be indiscriminately receptive to currents of thought emanating from any source which it considered ideal or special (not indiscriminately receptive to everything—which is presumed to be more the case with the second ray mind).
Ray 7: Production of Crystal-Clear Thought-Forms: Thought-forms created by the seventh ray mind would have extremely clean and clear lines. The seventh ray dislikes clutter of any kind. It is the ray of perfected form; forms cannot be perfected if they are encumbered by excess material, or if their contours are vague and ill-defined. The fifth ray, too, creates thoughts with sharp outlines, but with little sense of ‘architecture’ or beauty of form.
Clear selection
36. Which ‘type’ of Mind best describes your Mental Ray?
Ray 1: Outspokenness: Because thought is so intimately connected with speech, the powerful and relatively fearless thinking of the ray one mind translates into direct, fearless speech. Such individuals will be inclined to say exactly what they think. This quality of outspokenness is related to the qualities of mental dominance and mental impressiveness.
Ray 2: Over-Kindness, Over-Softness in Expression: The second ray mind is a ‘soft’ mind. It touches the objects of thought gently. This gentleness would naturally extend to the sphere of speech, which is a direct reflection of thought. The mind, however, is meant to be an agent of the will. Its discriminating function cannot be denied, and it cannot accept all things and still remain true to this function; it cannot treat all manner of thoughts gently and still remain a servant of truth.
Ray 3: Highly Verbal and Communicative Mind: Not only is the third ray related to the throat center, but the mental field, itself, expresses to a great extent through that center. The third ray mind, therefore, gives considerable verbal and linguistic facility, and the urge to use that facility in active communication. Just as this type of mind is a mind of many thoughts, those many thoughts will be expressed through the throat center as many words.
Ray 4: Antagonistic, Contradicting Mind: Those upon the fourth ray can be quite contrarian. When the fourth ray qualifies the mind, the mental field will always respond by ‘posing the opposite.’ This is almost a mental reflex. The essential purpose for this reflex is the promotion of balance, but it can degenerate into a familiar syndrome: ‘You say black?; I say white!’ Those with fourth ray minds can hardly escape what might be called ‘the evocation of the opposite.’
Ray 5: Objective, Clinical, Descriptive Mind: If a mind is purely objective it seeks the pure knowledge of an object—apart from any distortion which might arise due to the influence of the mechanism of observation— especially the individuality of the observer. The fifth ray mind often has the ability to function as if in isolation from the other aspects of the individuality (the various other fields within the energy system). In the search for truth, it can set individual preferences, tendencies and distortions aside, and ‘see things as they are.’
Ray 6: Mental Passivity: One aspect of sixth ray energy is, we know, unusually passive and receptive. Theoretically, the planet conveying this aspect of sixth ray energy is Neptune. Sixth ray influence also inclines towards gullibility. It can be seen that this type of sixth ray mind (6A) would be indiscriminately receptive to currents of thought emanating from any source which it considered ideal or special (not indiscriminately receptive to everything—which is presumed to be more the case with the second ray mind).
Ray 7: Conformity to Rules of Thought: Those upon the seventh ray are always eager to follow rules (or to make them, and then follow them). Whatever they do, they wish to do correctly. The addition of the word ‘right’ before any noun or participle indicating a form of behavior, describes their goal: right action, right speech, right feeling, right relations, right magical process, etc., and, of course, right thinking.
Clear selection
37. Which ‘type’ of Mind best describes your Mental Ray?
Ray 1: Unembellished Thought and Speech: The ray one mind inclines its possessor to stick to essential issues. There is little time or inclination to ornament or elaborate what is thought and said. Unembellished thought and speech are related to the quality of outspokenness; together they result in what might be called ‘plain-spokenness.’
Ray 2: Non-Critical Mind: Those with a second ray mind are well-equipped to look in all directions and, in a subtle way, to see no differences or distinctions. This is either a great spiritual asset or a mental liability. The critical mind constantly separates—the good from the bad, the desirable from the undesirable, the right from the wrong. The second ray mind, again, does not draw a hard line.
Ray 3: Critical Mind: The third ray is the Ray of Active Intelligence, and those with third ray minds may pride themselves upon their mental prowess. They can see fine distinctions where others see none, and recognize the mental limitations of others far too easily. Criticism, of course, can be constructive, and the third ray mind of the highly evolved individual, with its sensitivity to unintelligent functioning, can provide a valuable corrective service.
Ray 4: Expressive, Colorful, Picturesque Mind: The terms with which the fourth ray mind clothes thought are rarely dry, colorless or unadorned. It is a ‘story-telling’ mind which entertains as it informs. Fourth ray thoughts, when expressed in words, evoke and stimulate the imagination of the listener.
Ray 5: Mathematical, Quantifying and Measuring Mind: The fifth ray mind seeks to create in thought and language an ever more exact ‘model’ of reality. It closely examines a particular object or field of study, and attempts to identify, classify and correlate all its ‘parts and pieces.’ To do so requires mathematics—enumeration, quantification, and measurement. Precision requires the use of number. The fifth ray mind, demanding precision, uses number to achieve it.
Ray 6: Mental Passivity: One aspect of sixth ray energy is, we know, unusually passive and receptive. Theoretically, the planet conveying this aspect of sixth ray energy is Neptune. Sixth ray influence also inclines towards gullibility. It can be seen that this type of sixth ray mind (6A) would be indiscriminately receptive to currents of thought emanating from any source which it considered ideal or special (not indiscriminately receptive to everything—which is presumed to be more the case with the second ray mind).
Ray 7: Imitative Mind: Socialization is a form of training arising through imitation. The easily trained seventh ray mind is, innately, an imitative mind. The ray seven mind appears, primarily, at that point in evolution when the individual seeks to be guided by the exact pattern of a higher law as it affects his physical plane life. He knows he has to fulfill the law in order to advance spiritually, and he seeks to do so in every particular. The pattern is seen as external, and he seeks to imitate it.
Clear selection
38. Which ‘type’ of Mind best describes your Mental Ray?
Ray 1: Brief and Trenchant Thought and Speech: While there are many modifying factors which contribute to an individual’s penchant for brevity or verbosity, the ray one mind can think and say a great deal with relatively few thoughts and words. There may be a tendency towards aphorism, or towards the selective use of quotation in order to capture the essence of an idea. Pithy, generalized statements can be expected.
Ray 2: Non-Critical Mind: Those with a second ray mind are well-equipped to look in all directions and, in a subtle way, to see no differences or distinctions. This is either a great spiritual asset or a mental liability. The critical mind constantly separates—the good from the bad, the desirable from the undesirable, the right from the wrong. The second ray mind, again, does not draw a hard line.
Ray 3: Critical Mind: The third ray is the Ray of Active Intelligence, and those with third ray minds may pride themselves upon their mental prowess. They can see fine distinctions where others see none, and recognize the mental limitations of others far too easily. Criticism, of course, can be constructive, and the third ray mind of the highly evolved individual, with its sensitivity to unintelligent functioning, can provide a valuable corrective service.
Ray 4: Dramatic and Exaggerative Mind: Those with a fourth ray mind like to ‘color’ what they say. A straight, undramatic depiction of the observable facts seems dull. In most mundane circumstances ‘coloration’ contaminates accuracy (however interesting or delightful it may be), however, when ‘colorful characters’ or picturesque places and situations are to be described, the ability to speak dramatically and colorfully actually enhances accuracy. It captures even more of the essence of that which is being described than a dry and objective description ever could.
Ray 5: Rational and Patient Mind: The fifth ray mind is eminently rational, reasonable and patient. The word ‘rational’ relates to ‘ratio,’ and we thus see the relation of rationality to the mathematical, computational skills usually possessed by the fifth ray mind. Rational thinking is, in one respect, measured thinking. There is a decidedly controlled and measured quality to fifth ray thinking.
Ray 6: Mental Passivity: One aspect of sixth ray energy is, we know, unusually passive and receptive. Theoretically, the planet conveying this aspect of sixth ray energy is Neptune. Sixth ray influence also inclines towards gullibility. It can be seen that this type of sixth ray mind (6A) would be indiscriminately receptive to currents of thought emanating from any source which it considered ideal or special (not indiscriminately receptive to everything—which is presumed to be more the case with the second ray mind).
Ray 7: Formality of Expression: Great care regarding the form of thought and speech. The seventh ray mind would incline towards proper thought and speech. There would always be a standard of reference—an exemplary pattern with which the form of thought and speech could be compared. Such an individual would frequently ask of himself: ‘Am I thinking and speaking in ‘good form’?’ The seventh ray mind would be a ‘law abiding’ mind; it would function within certain parameters which, instinctively, it would not exceed.
Clear selection
39. Which ‘type’ of Mind best describes your Mental Ray?
Ray 1: Realistic Mind: There is a certain ‘no nonsense’ quality about the first ray, and when it comes to dealing with what must be accomplished, the ray one mind is rarely given to silly or foolish thought—i.e., unrealistic thought. The first ray mind enables one to ‘know what it takes’—whatever the task.
Ray 2: Non-Critical Mind: Those with a second ray mind are well-equipped to look in all directions and, in a subtle way, to see no differences or distinctions. This is either a great spiritual asset or a mental liability. The critical mind constantly separates—the good from the bad, the desirable from the undesirable, the right from the wrong. The second ray mind, again, does not draw a hard line.
Ray 3: Planning, Strategic, Calculating Mind: The third ray is the ray of the strategist. Just as a certain reasoned sequence of thoughts leads the third ray mind to revelation, so a certain series of planned moves leads to the desired result. Individuals with a third ray mind focus first upon conditions as they are; then upon conditions as desired; and then upon the many ways (the many mental options) of moving from what is to what is desirable. This type of mind is ‘farseeing’ and leaves nothing to chance.
Ray 4: Imagining Mind: Imagination (in various degrees of unfoldment) is universally found throughout humanity, but the fourth ray mind is peculiarly prone to think in visual imagery. Some minds, we know, think almost exclusively in words, and seem almost incapable of generating colorful mental images. The fourth ray mind, however, easily ‘thinks in pictures.’ It can also think in pure sound, and this might be called ‘musical thinking.’ Words, too, are sound forms, but not pure tones—’word music’ may easily be created under a fourth ray impulse.
Ray 5: Mental Detachment: The ability of the fifth ray mind to isolate itself from the other aspects of the soul/personality mechanism is a two-edged sword. Positively, it can lead to an appreciation of truth, even though the implications of that truth seem personally disadvantageous. This can bring about self-knowledge and an end to selfishness and glamor. But it can also lead to the separation of the mental from the moral faculties.
Ray 6: Mental Passivity: One aspect of sixth ray energy is, we know, unusually passive and receptive. Theoretically, the planet conveying this aspect of sixth ray energy is Neptune. Sixth ray influence also inclines towards gullibility. It can be seen that this type of sixth ray mind (6A) would be indiscriminately receptive to currents of thought emanating from any source which it considered ideal or special (not indiscriminately receptive to everything—which is presumed to be more the case with the second ray mind).
Ray 7: Magical and Mantric Formulae of Thought: Magic can be thought of as the ability to compel physical action through the instrumentality of certain forms (and formulae) of thought and speech. The seventh ray mind would naturally be focused upon physical manifestation; further, it would create sequences or routines of thought and speech which would prove effective in generating physical plane results. It would also be inclined to think in thought sequences which had been sanctioned by respected authority. In the ‘back’ of every seventh ray mind lies the thought, ‘If I think this, then that will happen.’ This is magical thinking.
Clear selection
40. Which ‘type’ of Mind best describes your Mental Ray?
Ray 1: Organized Thought Process: Those upon the first ray have the ability to know where a thing ‘belongs’—its place or station (which is often determined by its degree of power or influence). It is also a first ray quality which is used to ‘put people in their place’—i.e., make sure they do not get ‘out of line,’ or assume prerogatives which are not theirs by right of responsibility.
Ray 2: Non-Critical Mind: Those with a second ray mind are well-equipped to look in all directions and, in a subtle way, to see no differences or distinctions. This is either a great spiritual asset or a mental liability. The critical mind constantly separates—the good from the bad, the desirable from the undesirable, the right from the wrong. The second ray mind, again, does not draw a hard line.
Ray 3: Fluid, Flexible and Versatile Mind: The third ray confers fluidity, flexibility and versatility upon the mind. The third ray mind is a mind in motion. The outlines of thoughtforms are supple and changeable; the ‘shape’ of thought is easily modified—the field of thought is protean. This type of mind adapts itself easily to all kinds of mental pursuits.
Ray 4: Anagogic, Metaphoric Mind: The fourth ray mind has a facility for ‘likening one thing to another through the use of simile. In addition, the capacity of the fourth ray mind to create ‘mental fusion’ is seen in its frequent use of metaphor.
Ray 5: Impartial, Unbiased Mind: The researcher who earnestly desires certain results is liable to get them. Partiality and bias arise when one ‘cares too much.’ The fifth ray mind is capable of a certain ‘don’t care’ attitude; it’s all the same whether the results of inquiry turn out one way or the other, so long as they are true.
Ray 6: Mental Passivity: One aspect of sixth ray energy is, we know, unusually passive and receptive. Theoretically, the planet conveying this aspect of sixth ray energy is Neptune. Sixth ray influence also inclines towards gullibility. It can be seen that this type of sixth ray mind (6A) would be indiscriminately receptive to currents of thought emanating from any source which it considered ideal or special (not indiscriminately receptive to everything—which is presumed to be more the case with the second ray mind).
Ray 7: Automatically Symbolizing Mind: This is a rather speculative quality, but one which stands to reason. It is the function of the seventh ray to embody ideas in perfected form. Seventh ray souls (and perhaps seventh ray personalities) are not very adept at visualization, and so they constantly create externalized forms upon the physical plane as symbolic representations of ideas. The Masonic Movement (so related to the seventh ray) and the various ritualistically inclined churches of the world have produced an abundance of such externalized symbolic forms.
Clear selection
41. Which ‘type’ of Mind best describes your Mental Ray?
Ray 1: The Occult Mind: The ray one mind has the capacity to understand all things in terms of their essence, which is pure energy. It is a mind well-suited both to detecting and directing this essential energy. By its power of penetration, the first ray mind can pierce through the veils surrounding any subject, and force the revelation of that which is hidden. Occultism deals with the hidden reality—a reality which the ray one mind forces into the light.
Ray 2: Non-Critical Mind: Those with a second ray mind are well-equipped to look in all directions and, in a subtle way, to see no differences or distinctions. This is either a great spiritual asset or a mental liability. The critical mind constantly separates—the good from the bad, the desirable from the undesirable, the right from the wrong. The second ray mind, again, does not draw a hard line.
Ray 3: Wide, Eclectic Mind: The third ray always confers breadth and scope; there is what might be called an ‘extensive lateral reach.’ The web of relationships is vast, and to the third ray mind nothing is too remote to be brought to center. It is a mind which selectively scans the world of which it is aware, searching for exactly that which is needed. The third ray confers the power to ‘move through space’ and is associated with the concept of ‘transportation.’ That which is needed, be it a thought or a thing, is transported to the place of need.
Ray 4: Fictive Mind: Those whose minds are upon the fourth ray usually love ‘fiction’— stories, novels, dramas, etc. In one sense, fiction is unreal; it is purely the result of the creative imagination—a faculty much employed by the fourth ray mind. In another sense, fiction contains many ingredients of reality, but is liberated from the limitations of ‘things as they are.’ The fourth ray mind seeks, through the inventive power of the creative imagination, to create new realities.
Ray 5: Curious, Investigative and Probing Mind: A question is a demand for light—an invocation to the unknown for revelation. The fifth ray mind is filled with questions, and it (patiently) expects answers. It is the mind which persistently ‘looks into matters’ until the next undiscovered cause (in an ever-receding series of causes) is brought to light. Through unrelenting inquiry, layer after layer of mystery is ‘peeled back;’ veil after veil is lifted. Always there is something behind the obvious; everything has its secret.
Ray 6: Mental Passivity: One aspect of sixth ray energy is, we know, unusually passive and receptive. Theoretically, the planet conveying this aspect of sixth ray energy is Neptune. Sixth ray influence also inclines towards gullibility. It can be seen that this type of sixth ray mind (6A) would be indiscriminately receptive to currents of thought emanating from any source which it considered ideal or special (not indiscriminately receptive to everything—which is presumed to be more the case with the second ray mind).
Ray 7: Unadaptable, Inflexible Mind, Lacking Spontaneity: Within the seventh ray mind, once a pattern were set, it could be changed only with the greatest difficulty. A computer program is designed to perform only certain routines and not others. Pre-programmed ‘mental routines’ inevitably prove unadaptable and inflexible in the face of constantly changing challenges and opportunities.
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42. Which ‘type’ of Mind best describes your Mental Ray?
Ray 1: Isolating Thought Process: This quality can be considered allied to independence of thought. It is that quality which inclines those with a ray one mind to think things through by themselves, and to arrive at their own conclusions, free from the interplay with (and impression from) other minds.
Ray 2: Non-Critical Mind: Those with a second ray mind are well-equipped to look in all directions and, in a subtle way, to see no differences or distinctions. This is either a great spiritual asset or a mental liability. The critical mind constantly separates—the good from the bad, the desirable from the undesirable, the right from the wrong. The second ray mind, again, does not draw a hard line.
Ray 3: Resourceful, Option-Generating Mind: To the third ray mind, there is always ‘more than one way.’ Perhaps it is because this type of mind can see such a diversity of relationships. Its fluidity prevents it from being ‘locked in’ to any one approach to thinking or acting; it ‘covers all the angles.’ It sees all around a subject and is capable of adroitly ‘repositioning’ anything relative to anything else.
Ray 4: Quick, Spontaneous Mind: While to a certain extent the quickness of a mind is a function of evolutionary development, the fourth ray mind is not held in check either by rationalistic rigor or by one-pointed purposefulness. Because it is an intuitive, nonlinear mind, it can jump from point to point, and is not constrained to follow logical processes which (since they are ruled by Saturn) take ‘time.’ This is not a plodding or pedestrian mind, and is free to think ‘informally.’
Ray 5: Technical Mind: The fifth ray mind can handle ‘technicalities.’ Everyday thought and language do not deal with technicalities. They are, colloquially, ‘too much’ for the mass mind, and would impose too great a mental burden. Technicalities are the province of specialists who have the time and inclination to go into ‘all the technical details.’ And of course, speciality is the province of those richly endowed with the fifth ray.
Ray 6: Mental Passivity: One aspect of sixth ray energy is, we know, unusually passive and receptive. Theoretically, the planet conveying this aspect of sixth ray energy is Neptune. Sixth ray influence also inclines towards gullibility. It can be seen that this type of sixth ray mind (6A) would be indiscriminately receptive to currents of thought emanating from any source which it considered ideal or special (not indiscriminately receptive to everything—which is presumed to be more the case with the second ray mind).
Ray 7: Predictable, Well-Trained, Habit-Conditioned Mind: Some people never know what they will think or say next. This would not be the case if their mind were qualified by the seventh ray. It would be a mind given to appropriate response. If the circumstantial or interior condition were known, the mental response to the condition could be rather easily predicted. Of all mental types, the seventh ray mind would be, perhaps, the most easily trained. The seventh ray mental elemental would be (for a ‘blind and unruly’ involutionary life) quite conformable to law.
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43. Mode of Motion:
Ray 1: Rapid motion in a straight line. An arrow seeks its mark.
Ray 2: The motion of a slowly expanding sphere.
Ray 3: Sinuous, weaving motion; looping afar in numerous directions, then returning to center.
Ray 4: Oscillating like a pendulum over a center point, until coming to rest.
Ray 5: A narrowing spiral converging upon a point then piercing through that point to the other side.
Ray 6: Rapid, straight-line motion in pursuit of an ever-receding goal.
Ray 7: Rhythmically tracing and retracing an established pattern.
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44. Accuracy and Delineation:
Ray 1: Thoughts are clear cut, hard-edged, sharp and trenchant. The ray one mind likes to see the big picture and generally dislikes dealing with details, but is perfectly capable of doing so if necessary for effectiveness.
Ray 2: Thoughts are soft-edged, less tightly-knit, more amorphous. This type of mind would not emphasize distinction. Delineation is not clear and mental content may be somewhat unfocused.
Ray 3: This mind is clear and precise when dealing with abstract issues. It can split hairs when dealing with abstract ideas. It is, however, less concerned with accuracy when dealing with concrete details. With its facility for ambiguity, it can easily blur distinctions and fine points.
Ray 4: Accuracy is not a major concern, and is often sacrificed to exaggeration for the sake of dramatic emphasis. It is capable of drawing sharp contrasts between differing mental contents for the sake of arresting illustration.
Ray 5: Highly accurate thoughts are sharply delineated. The ray five mind preserves lines of distinctions between mental contents, avoiding imprecision at all costs.
Ray 6: This mind would be fastidiously accurate in matters related to its ‘mental passions’ but capable of gross distortions and inaccuracies relating to matters outside its areas of dedicated interest.
Ray 7: The ray seven mind would be a highly accurate mind generating sharply delineated thoughts which conform to an accepted pattern. Accuracy is pursued for the sake of being true to template, rather than for the sake of research and discovery.
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45. Firmness and Resolution:
Ray 1: The mind is very firm and endowed with the will-infused fixity to hold to its determinations. The ray one mind can crystallize through overemphasis, and through too constantly driving the point home.
Ray 2: The mind is not especially firm, but, due to inertia, tends not to change rapidly. It will abide with its particular ‘set’ until the complete absorption of new data brings about a change. The encompassing nature of its outlook, may render it a mind without a well-defined point of view.
Ray 3: The mind constantly maneuvers into new, more advantageous positions. A position can be held, its accuracy justified in well-reasoned argument, and then promptly abandoned for a new position. The firmness of the ray three mind may be more apparent than real, because there is ever a readiness to shift or mutate.
Ray 4: The mind is infirm, constantly subject to change, and holds its position only with difficulty. The ray four mind is easily ‘swayed,’ and habitually vacillates between alternatives. Steadfastness, which is equivalent to firmness, is the one quality it needs most to develop.
Ray 5: This is a firm mind, especially when the position held has been satisfactorily verified in the eyes of the holder. The Tibetan has point out that the phenomenon of ‘idée-fixe’ occurs most often when there is a ray five mind influenced by a strong ray six force elsewhere in the energy system. The fifth ray mind will hold firm until it has good reason (a reason based on its perception of truth) to change.
Ray 6: It is reasonable to suppose that the ray six mind would be firm to the point of rigidity when holding to those thoughts, or to that system of thought, upon which it is idealistically focused. This could well be the mind which would hold firm and refuse to change even in the face of the most convincing facts. It is the theological mind, as exemplified through history by the Catholic Church.
Ray 7: One would anticipate considerable mental firmness, especially when upholding a mental pattern to which there has been commitment. The danger of crystallization is also found in the ray seven mind, but it would be a crystallization of mental routine, in contrast with the ray six mind’s crystallization of mental orientation.
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46. Flexibility:
Ray 1: Although holding willfully to its point of view, the ray one mind is quite capable of jumping rapidly to new conclusions. It has great mobility when a purpose is served thereby. This mind is peculiarly responsive to the will of its possessor. It can be flexible when its possessor wills to have mental flexibility, but its thoughts are not naturally pliable or supple.
Ray 2: It is reasonable to conclude that the ray two mind is not adverse to change, but its lack of mobility would prevent it from being called truly flexible.
Ray 3: The most flexible of the mental types, the ray three mind easily changes its position. It is characterized by a frequent kaleidoscopic reshuffling of thoughts and by variation in its methods. The only limit to its flexibility occurs as a result of entanglement in its own thought processes—something like a spider caught in the web it has spun.
Ray 4: This is a highly flexible and pliable mind. It gives way under strong impression, and later ‘self-corrects’ to restore balance. The ray three mind is more active in assuming a new position; the ray four mind is more passive and responsive—its new arrangement greatly determined by the nature and direction of the external impact.
Ray 5: Flexibility is not one of the key attributes of the ray five mind. It is cautious and does not readily readjust its point of view unless believable evidence requires a readjustment. This type of mind is inclined to build a verifiable structure of thought. It will not bend unless there is a verifiable reason for change.
Ray 6: It stands to reason that the ray six mind would be the most inflexible— irrationally inflexible. The crystallizing tendency of the sixth ray, when applied to the mind, would produce an exceptionally rigid mentality, unwaveringly pursuing certain mental objectives by unvarying means.
Ray 7: The seventh ray mind would be inclined to preserve its mental methodologies. Within the established pattern of its thinking it would function adroitly and with fluidity. It would be inflexible to a degree because it would instinctively resist changes in its thinking procedures. In order to change, it needs to be ‘reprogrammed.’
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47. Decisiveness:
Ray 1: This is a very decisive mind, which arrives at conclusions quickly without troubling over many small steps in the decision-making process. It holds firmly to conclusions.
Ray 2: The ray two mind lacks clear-cut decisiveness. Decision may often seem a violation of the wholeness it always seeks to preserve. Hence, this type of mind might often be ‘nondecisive’—seeking to avoid decision.
Ray 3: The facility for generating options and alternatives may paralyze decision. A decision may be temporarily made with facility, but just as easily abandoned in favor of any one of numerous alternatives. The mind is ‘slippery.’
Ray 4: Indecision can become chronic; the mind frequently vacillates between two alternatives. There is a going back and forth between opposing points of view until, finally, a decision is reached—often by feeling or intuition rather than logic. The point of decision is hard to reach and hard to hold.
Ray 5: The ray five mind is decisive once all the facts of every situation are examined thoroughly, impartially, logically and rationally. This, however, often takes a good deal of time, so the decision making process may seem prolonged.
Ray 6: The ray six mind would be very sure of what it knows and quite unconcerned about what it does not know. It would tend to leap to conclusions even more rapidly than the first ray mind, and hold to decisions tenaciously.
Ray 7: The seventh ray mind would decide in a methodical and measured fashion. Patterns of law and rule would always be checked before the decision was finalized; the seventh ray mind seeks to have its decisions conform to an accepted pattern of rectitude—whether that pattern is conventional or revolutionary.
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48. Particularity—Management of Detail:
Ray 1: The ray one mind is quite capable of focusing upon relevant detail; the key word is relevant. This type of mind prefers to see the ‘big picture’ and the large sweep, rather than get bogged down in many small details. It prefers emphasizing principles rather than staying on top of many little particulars.
Ray 2: Ray two is the ‘Ray of Detailed Unity,’ (Esoteric Psychology, Vol. II, p. 394) and when the mind is qualified by the second ray the ability to handle detail is conferred. It is more the ability to contain and include a mass of detail than to organize it, or to focus with utmost precision upon particular details. The ray two mind, would always strive for the completed picture, and be adverse to excluding any particulars.
Ray 3: The third ray is often considered inaccurate and regardless of detail, but this is primarily true of mundane detail. The ray three mind is fond of considering the general sweep of any plan, and is often adverse to considering the manner in which strictly practical details will be executed. However, accuracy and the consideration of detail are not really the same. The ray three mind is sharp, and seeks to be highly accurate in establishing philosophical or theoretical distinctions as it reasons, but this is different from being attentive to concrete detail. It will be attentive to fine points of thought, but mundane details may be ignored.
Ray 4: This type of mind is often irked by having to consider factual details for their own sake. It has no great love of pure, unadorned fact. While it will be attentive to small matters in the creation of beauty or the establishment of harmony, it does not usually prefer to focus on minutiae or many little distinctions. If the fourth ray mind must consider details, it prefers to consider them in relation or in context—not simply as isolated items of interest.
Ray 5: It thrives on the consideration of minute detail and many small points and distinctions. This type of mind deals with the detail which pertains to a particular, narrow range of interest, and is not eclectic as is the third ray mind, nor all inclusive in its approach to detail as the second ray mind can be. It is adept at the marshaling of many facts and details to prove a point.
Ray 6: This type of mind would emphasize and reemphasize the detail of the thought system or ideology upon which it was fixated. It would probably be ill-adept at the handling of mundane detail. The ray six mind and the ray three mind might be similar in this respect, both having a great affinity for abstraction. The one-pointedness of this type of mind, and its intense focus, makes it a mind which deals with few and not many things. Such a mind would not be suited to recognizing or handling much detail. The ray six mind would be, in many respects an ‘other-worldly’ mind.
Ray 7: This would be an extremely detailed mind, adept at organizing, sorting, classifying, coordinating and synthesizing many details. Perhaps it is the mind which is best suited for managing a plethora of detail.
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49. Analysis and Synthesis:
Ray 1: This type of mind is especially synthetic, able to see the essence of any mental consideration without undertaking a procedure of detailed analysis. It reaches the same conclusions available to rigorous analysis, but gets to the point directly, incisively and swiftly. Many details are easily summarized or reduced to their essential—grasped as a whole.
Ray 2: The ray two mind tends to synthesize rather than analyze. The synthesis is not a summarizing or essentializing, as found in the first ray mind, but a binding or holding together of many related points—an amassing of related detail. There is often a disinclination to enunciate a single principle which synthesizes a collection of many thoughts. This type of mind is intuitive, as is the first ray mind, and, therefore, does not engage in the ‘taking-apart’ process distinctive of analytical reasoning.
Ray 3: The ray three mind is a highly analytical mind, given to rigorous reasoning and capable of making many fine distinctions. It is also, however, a highly synthetic mind. Ray three is the ‘Weaver,’ adept at combining many strands of thought into a single, closely woven fabric. The ray three mind is equally skilled at both processes.
Ray 4: This is a mind capable of both analysis and synthesis, but more inclined towards synthesis, achieved by building bridges between those mental contents which are alike. It is a mind adept at seeing resemblances between things. The faculty of symbolic analogy which synthesizes that which is above and that which is below can be particularly well developed by the ray four mind. When seeking to distinguish between the ray four and ray five minds, a simple question may very useful: ‘Do you agonize or analyze? Many people do not differentiate between the two, and some ray four people think they are analyzing when, in fact, they are only agonizing between two alternatives.
Ray 5: This is the most minutely analytical of all mental types. The determination to achieve exact understanding of any topic under examination leads to a complete dissection of all interrelationships. The fifth ray analytical faculty could be turned upon the physical, emotional or mental field—or even the soul field, but that is more properly the realm of the intuition. Fifth ray analysis is, however, most likely to be exercised upon concrete matters, rather than upon those which are abstract. The fifth ray mind tends to take things apart so that it can know exactly how they fit together.
Ray 6: This would be a nonanalytical mind. What it accepts, it accepts wholly, uncritically, and unquestioningly; it would reject without examination and analysis as well. The sixth ray mind might ‘pierce’ the issue it sought to understand, but it would be far too insistent and volatile to engage in a ‘piece-by-piece’ investigation.
Ray 7: This would be a mind more synthetic than analytical. The seventh ray mind’s sorting process may resemble analysis, to some degree, but it is performed not for the sake of investigation but, rather, to achieve proper arrangement and organization. Synthesis is a building process and ray seven is, preeminently (along with ray two) the ‘builder.’ The ray seven mind works upon thought content as given, and seeks to sort it out.
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50. Wholeness; Scope; Breadth of Consideration:
Ray 1: This mind is capable of breadth of vision—large-mindedness. Ideally, it will include the essential features of all that is under consideration, but will have a very good (and eliminative sense) of exactly what deserves consideration.
Ray 2: The ray two mind has a strong tendency to comprehensiveness and inclusiveness, if not to great clarity of focus. Wholeness and completeness hold great appeal. It may take an overly broad approach to subjects, and will seek to unify whatever it ponders upon.
Ray 3: This is a mind capable of very wide views—of seeing all around a subject, and ‘every side of a question equally clearly’ (Esoteric Psychology, Vol. I, pp. 204-205). It is inclined to think in big terms, but not necessarily in terms of the whole. In any case, it probably lacks the simplicity of the ray one mind, and the comprehensiveness of detail of certain of those who have ray two minds. For the ray three mind, the picture may be broad, but it will be complicated.
Ray 4: The scope of the mind may or may not be broad, depending upon other factors, but there will be an effort to synthesize and unify that which the mind addresses. The bridging fourth ray mind, when functioning optimally, works to promote interrelationship and to overcome fragmentation or lack of relation.
Ray 5: The ray five mind prefers the highly focused view of the specialist. Effort must usually be expended to achieve increasing breadth of mind. It may know a great deal about certain things, but fail to realize how they relate to other things outside the area of specialization.
Ray 6: An extremely narrow focus is to be expected. The individual possessing a ray six mind may believe his mental vision embraces the whole picture, but, in actuality, such a vision would be noteworthy for what it fails to include.
Ray 7: The ray seven mind would always attempt to see an entire picture, but its insistence upon concrete detail and the exact organization of what it sees, would have the effect of limiting the scope of the mental vision.
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51. Fecundity—Quantity of Production
Ray 1: The ray one mind inclines towards brevity. It summarizes, makes essential and enunciates principles. It tends to say just as much as is necessary, and no more. Using a ray one mind, much can be said in few words. Under the impress of a ray two soul, however, this might be entirely changed.
Ray 2: Provided that other influences dispose the ray two mind to formulating thought (which it is sometimes not inclined to do—focusing rather on an intuitional, nonverbal receptivity), there would be a tendency to write and say a great deal (especially if the mind were resonant with the energy of type (2B). Ray two strives for completeness, which often leads to excess. The ray two mind which is disinclined to use words (because it has not developed the skill, or because it finds words hopelessly inadequate to convey intuitional realization) may, at times, seem almost inarticulate, and might write and say very little. In this case, the energy of the mind would more than likely be resonant with type (2A).
Ray 3: The third ray is probably the most verbal of the rays. It has a strong connection with the throat center, and hence speaking, writing and, in general, the verbalizing of thought is a completely natural inclination. The third ray mind is probably the ‘wordiest’ mind. ‘Some lose themselves in thought processes and self-induced imaginings, and the vision gets hidden behind a multitude of words, both spoken and written.’ The third ray proclivity to produce form very much applies to the production
of words, which are the forms through which ideas and thoughts are embodied—hence the considerable quantity of them produced by the third ray mind. This can be an overly fertile mind.
Ray 4: There is no special tendency either towards brevity or towards prolixity. The fourth ray, having a sense of beauty and proportion will strive to preserve a sense of aesthetic balance so that neither too much nor too little is said or written. Dearth and excess can both be jarring to harmony, which the fourth ray (in general) seeks to preserve.
Ray 5: The fifth ray mind can stick strictly to the facts without embellishing them, and hence say little, if little is warranted. It can also ‘go on and on’ explaining in minute detail. Since it is inclined to analyze continuously, there is always more to say, since division (analysis) produces multiplication of data (just as synthesis reduces the number of items to be considered). Much will depend upon circumstances and other ray and astrological influences. If a person with a fifth ray mind is sounded out on his area of specialized interest, one can expect the recounting of every last detail.
Ray 6: It is justifiable to expect that since the sixth ray mind would continuously focus on a narrow range of mental contents and activities, it would, like the first ray mind, tend to be brief and to the point. Given discussion on its area of special interest, it might be incredibly verbal, though very repetitious. The sixth ray mind would have only a few things to say but it would continue to say them.
Ray 7: The seventh ray mind should have no particular tendency towards brevity or superfluity. The seventh ray mind, like the fourth, inclines towards balance. It, also, would have aesthetic leanings, and further, would reinforce politeness, courteousness, and an awareness of decorum and social standards.
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52. Directionality—Direct or Indirect:
Ray 1: The ray one mind is direct, unequivocal, and straight to the point.
Ray 2: The ray two mind utilizes the nonassertive, absorbent approach. It is pondering, noninvasive, and nonintrusive rather than one-pointed and penetrating. It thinks, speaks and writes in ‘spheres,’ rather than in ‘lines.’ Tact, and the desire, at all costs, to avoid wounding, often militate against greater directness.
Ray 3: The third ray mind can be extremely indirect, oblique, and given to circumlocution. Hints and innuendoes are frequent. It often indulges in ambiguity and abstraction, deliberately putting forth statements with a number of possible interpretations, in order to avoid the responsibility of directness and clarity. Again, the third ray mind has such manipulative control over mental substance that it can be direct or indirect according to its purpose, but it has an unusual facility for masking or leading away
from the point; even when it reasons towards the point, its reasoning may seem ‘round about.’ To the reasoner, however, every link in the chain seems necessary.
Ray 4: The fourth ray mind is neither direct nor indirect, but both at turns, depending upon whether the ‘rajas’ aspect of the fourth ray is dominating the mind, or whether it is being dominated by ‘tamas.’ The desire to preserve harmony, so distinctive of the fourth ray, will often prevent plain, direct speaking. The inclination to make a balanced presentation will also moderate bold, unequivocal assertions, as there is always the opposite point of view to be considered. When under the influence of ‘rajas’ however, the fourth ray mind will be difficult to restrain, and may be unusually direct.
Ray 5: The fifth ray mind functions with no circumlocution, evasion, equivocation, etc. Neither is there always an immediate stating of things, because individuals with this type of mind may find it necessary to marshal the evidence to support an assertion. In any case, a lucid response is likely. It is said of the fifth ray, that it ‘often lacks fire and point.’ This type of mind is usually very truthful, and has a point to make; however, it often proceeds cautiously, by little steps. It is direct by increments.
Ray 6: It stands to reason that the ray six mind would be passionately direct in making its points.
Ray 7: Clear and direct responses which are formally acceptable could be expected from an individual with a seventh ray mind. Rarely would there be an occasion to make a point too assertively or violently—due form, ever qualified by politeness, would constantly act as a moderating factor.
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53. Focus—Convergency or Divergency:
Ray 1: This is a mind capable of great convergence. It can focus purposefully, onepointedly and exclusively upon the object of its attention, compelling all its thoughts to serve a chosen end.
Ray 2: The ray two mind does not marshal all thoughts towards a chosen end, but it can brood and ponder concentrating upon a given point. The second ray mind has a definitely ‘ingathering’ modality. There is a tendency to gather many thoughts around a center. In another respect, however, for the ray two mind, ‘the center is everywhere.’
Ray 3: This mind has well-pronounced dual capacities. It can concentrate profoundly upon complicated subjects with many variables, weaving together many strands of thought, but it can also ‘spin out’ tangentially into ‘brainstorming’ and nondirectional, ramifying thought. It excels in the divergent generation of ‘far out’ ideas. Convergence, when it does occur, is not usually simple and direct; the mental practice of ‘making a case’ may guide several chains of well-reasoned thought to a convergence at the same point.
Ray 4: This type of mind is naturally divergent and often needs training to engage in stable, convergent thinking. It has natural abilities to free associate and generate analogies—especially when under the influence of strong emotion or artistic inspiration. It is against the nature of the ray four mind to proceed utilizing chains of reasoning as the third and fifth ray mind will. It does not move inexorably towards a point, but rather oscillates about a midpoint, the attainment of which signals the achievement of mental balance and poise.