The energies of the seven rays emanate from the seven stars of the Great Bear, pass through various constellations into our solar system and reach the Earth through the Sun and planets. Bailey's The Destiny of the Nations describes the state of these energies in our century.
The first ray: two faces
The most evident force in the world today is the first ray of Will, working in two ways. First, as the will of God in world affairs: an ordered, rhythmic progress towards unity and synthesis in every department of human life. Unity in consciousness, diversity in form. Second, as humanity's use of this will: aggression, separativeness, selfish diplomacy and armament. The same energy builds or destroys according to the consciousness that carries it.
The second ray: the ray of the Christ
The ray of Love-Wisdom flows into the world through the second great planetary centre, the Hierarchy. Directed by initiates and Masters, this energy approaches humanity cyclically.
The third ray: the centre called humanity
The ray of intelligent activity finds expression through the third planetary centre, humanity. Its task is to give an intelligent response to the will of Shamballa and the love of the Hierarchy. The New Group of World Servers plays an important part in this by awakening the latent goodwill in humanity.
The fourth and fifth rays: incoming and withdrawing
The fourth ray is said to begin coming into incarnation early in the new century and, together with Saturn's influence, to lead many onto the path of discipleship. Rather than the ray of art, it is the energy that teaches the art of living and turns ideas into the beauty of living forms. The fifth ray, after a long period of manifestation, is being withdrawn by special arrangement, the impulse given to the human spirit of discovery being judged sufficient.
The sixth ray going out, the seventh coming in
The sixth ray is passing out of manifestation, yet for the masses it is still the strongest and the line of least resistance, because a ray active for a long time gains rhythm and momentum through organised numbers. The seventh ray is steadily gaining momentum. One of its main aims is to bring together mind and matter, and matter and form. Many seventh ray souls and personalities are now coming into incarnation; their task is to organise the activities of the new age and end the crystallised old attitudes to life, death, leisure and people.
Why it matters
Knowing the cycle of the rays lets us read current events on a larger time scale. Behind polarisation, hardened ideologies and the simultaneous search for a new order lies the transition between an outgoing and an incoming ray.