Esoteric astrology focuses on causes rather than effects, on the soul behind the body. Through repeated incarnations the soul expands its consciousness and works out its karma. Signs and planets alone are not enough to read this process; we also need to know the rays that colour them.
The source of the rays
The seven rays are streams of energy that enter the solar system from cosmic sources and condition all life within it. Animal, plant, human, organisation, city and nation are all conditioned by the rays. Roberto Assagioli developed his psychosynthesis techniques from this teaching; its main source is the twenty-four volumes of Alice A. Bailey and the Tibetan Master Djwhal Khul.
Rays first, chart second
The physical, emotional and mental bodies may be on different rays; together with the soul and personality rays they form a "ray structure". This structure cannot be derived from the horoscope. It emerges through reflection, observation, meditation and study. The right order is to determine the rays first and then interpret signs and planets in their light. In the Tibetan's words, until the astrologer is sure of the subject's two major rays, dogmatic statements are impossible.
Sacred and non-sacred planets
Esoteric astrology divides the planets into two groups. For ordinary humanity the non-sacred planets are more decisive; as the disciple advances, the sacred planets take over the ruling role. The correspondences of rays with planets, colours, chakras and gems differ in the sources depending on the point of view. These differences can look like contradictions; most arise from mixing exoteric and esoteric readings and are resolved with intuition and patience.
Rays, planets, colours and centres
| Ray | Planet | Colour | Centre / gland | Gem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Will-Power | Pluto, Vulcan | Red | Crown / pineal | Diamond |
| 2. Love-Wisdom | Sun, Jupiter | Indigo | Heart / thymus | Sapphire |
| 3. Active Intelligence | Earth, Saturn | Green | Throat / thyroid | Emerald |
| 4. Harmony through Conflict | Moon, Mercury | Yellow | Base / adrenals | Jasper |
| 5. Concrete Science | Venus | Orange | Ajna / pituitary | Topaz |
| 6. Idealism | Mars, Neptune | Sky blue | Solar plexus / pancreas | Ruby |
| 7. Ceremonial Order | Uranus | Violet | Sacral / gonads | Amethyst |
Colours vary with exoteric and esoteric viewpoints, and centre assignments vary with a person's stage of development. In average humanity the non-sacred planets rule except for Venus and Uranus; for disciples and initiates the sacred planets rule, except for Pluto, which rules the base. The subject is extremely intricate.
The journey of energy
The path a ray follows from its source to a human being is described step by step in the texts:
- Seven solar systems, of which ours is one
- The seven stars of the Great Bear: the source of the seven rays, the Seven Rishis of Indian tradition
- The seven stars of the Pleiades: the Cosmic Mother, the feminine principle
- Sirius: the "son" of Father and Mother; together the three form the great triangle conditioning our solar system
- The seven stars of the Little Bear
- The twelve zodiacal constellations
- Our Sun: the gateway through which the ray energies pour
- The seven sacred planets
- The twelve zodiacal signs
- The centres of the Earth: major cities and certain groupings
- The human kingdom, then the animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms
When these energies reach a human being they find the centres of least resistance according to the person's state of consciousness. The seven endocrine glands are linked with the seven major centres, and here one of the most mysterious processes takes place: subtle forces outside the body become tangible forces, hormones, within it.
Sound and colour
The rays can also be perceived through colour and sound. A musical analogy helps: Mozart's clear harmony recalls the second ray, Wagner's immense will the first. Such analogies are not exact correspondences but doors that help us feel the quality of the rays.