Leoni Hodgson [updated Jan 2010]
Astrologers
and Numerologists are always looking at numbers or planet movements in
order to try to ascertain upcoming trends and cycles. There are many
systems of numerology. I thought it might be useful from an esoteric
viewpoint, to look at how numbers affect humanity on a global scale, and
how human consciousness is shaped and moulded by the influences which
condition the human psyche year by year – the Seven Rays.
1. THE SEVEN RAYS
The
Seven Rays are the seven forces wielded by the Absolute Creator to
build the universe (all forms and Souls), and to have a Spiritual
experience through the pageantry of these players on the stage of life.
The orthodox numerologist should merge current understanding of the
numbers, with the following. For more information read Alice A. Bailey’s
Esoteric Psychology volumes I and II.
The three major rays of “the Father”
1. Ray One of Will and Power (1)
It
is easy to reconcile the traditional understanding which numerologists
have of the number "1", with the description given in this Ray 1
paragraph. When "1" is potent in the personality, then very powerful and often arrogant characteristics will be seen.
Ray
1 is the creative-destroying force of the universe – volcanoes
erupting, earthquakes, tsunamis, war, death, destruction, all followed
by the bursting forth of new life and new beginnings. In human nature it
gives tremendous power, strength, will, courage and fearlessness. It
focuses upon the “I”. Ray 1 types are rulers and leaders – statesmen,
managers, statesmen, governors, supervisors, politicians, judges, law
enforcers, military personnel, pioneers, explorers, the matriarch who
rules the family with a rod of iron. Examples are Mohandas Ghandi,
Franklin D. Roosevelt, Nelson Mandela.
Strengths:
Strength of will, courage, fearlessness. Dynamic power to lead, govern,
direct. Power to synthesise, centralise, initiate. Power to preserve
values, to establish and enforce the law. Independence and detachment;
large mindedness. Power to destroy, liberate old forms.
Weaknesses:
Wilful, anger, violence, controlling. Unrelenting ambition, pride.
Impatient, power-hungry. Inhibited, suppresses, stubborn. Separateness,
isolationist. Hardness, cruelty, arrogance.
Historical
Ray 1 figures: Patton, Franklin Roosevelt, Charlemagne, Anwar Sadat,
Chancellor Bismarck, Adolph Hitler, Mohandas Gandhi, Mikhail Gorbachev,
Hercules, Winston Churchill, Mussolini, Margaret Thatcher, Paul Keating,
Khrushchev, Luther, Carlyle, Walt Whitman, Napoleon, Kitchener.
2. Ray Two of Love-Wisdom (2)
Numerologists
have always used the "2" as dualism and a primary symbol of
relationships, and this is confirmed by the universal force of Ray 2.
Other interpretations however such as 'submissiveness and the feminine'
need to be questioned when viewed esoterically, because this is the
cosmic ray of love, of unification and of wisdom. Above all else it is
potentially the most powerful (although still undeveloped in most) force
in nature. When "2" is potent in the personality, then gentle, loving
and inclusive characteristics will be seen.
Ray
2 is the attractive and magnetising force of the universe, which draws
life and matter together, to build the stars, planets and all form life.
Then in man, from the merging of Father-Mother, the Son (consciousness,
soul) arises, and evolves from ignorance to wisdom. Our solar system is
governed by the second ray, and there are more ray two souls on Earth,
than on any of the other rays. Ray 2 focuses on “we.” There are two
distinctive Ray 2 groups – those who represent the love aspect and are
drawn to go into healing, and those who represent wisdom and are drawn
to education. Both groups are the embodiment of love and wisdom and are
the most charismatic and magnetic group of souls. They are reformers and
humanitarians, and many are drawn to work in religion.
Love
Types: Strengths – Loving wisdom, serene, composed. Inclusive,
empathetic, sympathy, compassion. Exquisite sensitivity. Tolerant,
patient, tactful, faithful. Magnetic, attractive love. Power to salvage
and redeem. Power to heal through love.
Weaknesses
– Express emotions indiscriminately. Binds others through a need to be
loved, over attachment. Impressionable, vulnerable, fearful,
overprotective, hypersensitive. Non assertive, inferiority complex,
self-pity.
Wisdom types: Strengths – Clear perception, intelligence. Power to
teach, heal, illumine. Love of pure truth. Clear understanding.
Weaknesses – Cold and indifferent. Over absorbed in study. Scorns mental limitation in others.
Historical
and Famous Figures: Buddha, Christ, Plato, Pythagoras, Albert
Schweitzer, Abraham Maslow, Mother Theresa, Carl Jung, Sigmund Freud,
Alice Bailey.
3. Ray Three of Active Intelligence (3)
Number
"3" has always been regarded as symbolic of expansion and growth, and
many numerologists have linked 'intelligence' with this number,
confirming the correctness of this when compared to Ray 3. When "3" is
potent in the personality, an active mind and natural intelligence will
be displayed.
Ray
3 is the force of the Mind of God as it works through substance. It is
the highly fertile and intelligent activity of matter itself (3rd
Aspect, Holy Ghost, Mother), which naturally and easily adapts itself to
suit its environment. It is the proliferation of nature, covering the
earth with an active blanket of life. It is form life which knows
exactly what it needs to do to reproduce, to nourish itself, and to
survive, the apotheosis of which is – the personality! This is the third
ray at work in the universe, and it is always concerned with the
material and external. This ray develops human intelligence, and
produces individuals who can master the complexities of the modern
civilised world, and excel in all its fields. Vocations which come under
this ray are, business people, financiers, entrepreneurs, alchemists,
chemists, astrologers, astronomers, physicists, mathematicians,
tacticians, strategists. Examples of people with ray three somewhere in
the make-up are Albert Einstein, Aristotle, Bill Gates, Richard Branson.
Strengths:
Acute, powerful intellect; capacity for rigorous analysis. Great mental
fertility and creativity. Wide ranging, philosophical, and abstract
mind, wide views on all abstract questions. Ability to plan, strategise,
theorise, speculate. Skilful, influential communicator, facility with
language. Great activity and adaptability. Power to manipulate. Power to
understand and explain complexly woven patterns. Executive/ business
skill, good with money, philanthropic.
Weaknesses:
Intellectual pride. Devious, untruthful, deceitful. Manipulative,
calculating, an opportunist. Excessive thought without practical action,
scattered reasoning. Hyperactive, restless wasted motion, disorder,
chaos, busyness. Amoral materialism, excessive materialism. Chameleon,
always changing.
Historical
and Famous Figures: Albert Einstein, Bertrand Russel, J.D. Rockefeller,
Isaac Asimov, Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, Machiavelli, Shylock, F
Krupp, Jack Nicholson, Lucretia Borgia
The four minor rays of “Mother-Intelligence”
4. Ray Four of Harmony through Conflict (4)
The
traditional understanding of number "4" is that it symbolises all that
is solidly earth-bound, practical and four-square. This is correct and
based upon the incarnation of the soul into matter. But when it is
linked to Ray 4, the true esoteric power of "4" can then be seen. It is
the force which bridges the spiritual worlds and the worlds of man, and
symbolises the war which occurs between spirit and matter, between the
beauty of spiritual beingness and the earthbound selfish ego. When the
higher trinity – spirit, controls the ego, then beauty and harmony – on
earth and shining through the form nature, is the result. When
"4" is potent in the personality, creative and artistic characteristics
will be seen, and often rebelliousness and emotionalism.
This
is the ray-force of conflict and war. It rules the Human Kingdom, hence
the struggle and conflict which seems so distinctive of our race. But
it is also called the Ray of Beauty, because when all differences are
resolved and all parts come together into a harmonious whole, the result
is glorious. Artists can be found on any ray, but there seems to be a
preponderance of them on R4 – composers, musicians, writers, and all
entertainers. Mediation, counselling and peace-making belong to this
ray.
Strengths:
Facility for bringing harmony out of conflict. The capacity to grow
spiritually and psychologically through constant crises and struggle.
Capacity to reconcile, to achieve "at-one-ment", to compromise, mediate
and ‘bridge’ opposites. Love of beauty, ability to create and express
exquisite beauty. Strong imagination and intuition. Love of colour,
strong sense of drama. Abundant creativity, musicality, ability to
entertain, amuse, delight. Spontaneity and improvisation. Fighting
spirit, courage, ability to make peace.
Weaknesses:
Constant inner/ outer conflict, excessive moodiness. Self absorbed in
suffering, worry, agitation. Artistic temperament, unregulated passions,
exaggeration, temperamental, dramatic displays. Inertia, indolence,
procrastination, indecisive. Unpredictable, unstable activity patterns.
Overeager for compromise, moral cowardice. Fights for sake of fighting,
confused combativeness, swings to extremes.
Historical
and Famous Figures: Michelangelo, Pablo Picasso, Dostoyevsky,
Shakespeare, Salvador Dali, Sir Lawrence Olivier, Dylan Thomas, Eugene
O'Neil, Ludwig van Beethoven, Isadora Duncan, Pablo Picasso, Benevento
Cellini, Richard Wagner, Robert Burns (poet), Wolfgang Mozart, Franz
Schubert, Clause Debussy, Giacomo Rossini, Leonardo da Vinci, Lord
Byron, Vincent Van Gogh, El Greco, Edgar Allen Poe, Percy Bysshe
Shelley, Felix Mendelssohn, Anna Pavlova, Raphael.
5. Ray Five Concrete Mind and Science (5)
Number
"5" is definitely representative of change, and has been linked to the
intellect through Mercury by some numerologists. Its true esoteric
purpose and power is seen when viewed as the fifth ray of nature, the
force of mind when used by man in very practical ways – to understand
the world in which he lives. When
"5" is potent in the personality, it enhances the power of the lower
mind so that often people have good mechanical mental processes, and a
natural orientation towards science and scientific thought.
This
ray-force governs the Aryan (in consciousness) race, and the
development of the discriminating and scientific mind. It has brought
about the enquiring, questioning nature which launches man to search for
answers about himself and his place in the world. But it becomes a
problem when over-emphasised. For then facts and knowledge are used to
find differences, and to divide and attack – the separative spirit is
the cause of all sin on Earth. It produces scientists, electricians,
engineers, inventors, analysts, surgeons, lawyers, technicians,
psychologists, astrologers, detectives, etc. Historical examples are
Thomas Edison, Louis Pasteur, Charles Darwin, Alan Leo, Rudolph Steiner.
Strengths:
Keen, focused intellect, scientific mind. Highly developed powers of
analysis and discrimination. Capacity to think and act scientifically.
Power to define. Accuracy and precision in thought and action. Detached
objectivity. Facility with mathematic calculation. Technical expertise,
mechanical ability. Lucidity of explanation. Common sense and rejection
of non-sense. Power to discover through research, investigation,
experimentation.
Weaknesses:
Excessive mental activity. Over-analysis, rigid and set thought
patterns. Ultra-rational, over detailed. Lack of intuitive sensitivity.
Narrowness and prejudice. Separativeness and judgment. Seeks to control
through knowledge. Excessive objectivity. Lack of emotional
responsiveness and magnetism; social awkwardness.
Historical
and Famous Figures: Louis Pasteur, Gregor Mendel, Thomas Edison, Wright
Brothers, Charles Darwin, Niels Bohr, Galileo, Isaac Newton.
6. Ray Six Devotion and Idealism (6)
Number
“6” has long been viewed as a number symbolising compassion and love,
and this latter is correct when interpreted strictly as the conditional
love of earth-bound souls. “6” is man’s attempt to love which is limited
and flawed. The true number of love is “2”. When "6" is strong in the
personality very emotional, intense, passionate and fervent 'servers'
and 'believers' are seen.
Ray 6
is related to the Astral Plane, and is the force of idealism and
burning desire. It gives the energy of fiery devotion, unshakeable
loyalty, a self-sacrificial nature – for an ideal, a cause or a leader.
On the personality level Ray six souls are idealistic, pure, good,
saints, earnest, trusting, sincere, profoundly humble, and their
unstinting service to the poor and suffering is legendary. Mother
Theresa is an outstanding example. Ray six types are drawn to religious
and service vocations – the mystic, devotee, the saint, preacher,
evangelist, missionary, church official, martyr, orator, the active
philanthropist, reformer, service men and women, nurse, aide, carers.
Examples of strong ray six types are Joan of Arc, Martin Luther King,
Florence Nightingale and President Jimmy Carter.
Strengths:
Transcendent idealism. Power of abstraction. Intense devotion,
self-sacrificial, self-sacrificial ardour. Receptive to spiritual
guidance. Ability to achieve ecstasy and rapture. Earnest, sincere.
Utter loyalty, unshakeable faith, undimmed optimism. One-pointed,
single-minded, unflagging persistence. Profound humility. Purity, goodness, sainthood.
Weaknesses:
Rigid idealism. Unreasoning devotion, ill considered loyalty. Excess;
extremism; hyper-intensive; overdoing. Unvarying one-pointedness in
spite of evidence to contrary. Blind faith. Emotionalism. Selfish and
jealous love. Too dependent on others, unwise susceptibility to
guidance. Superstition and gullibility; lack of realism. Unnatural
suppression of the instinctual nature. Masochism, the martyr-complex,
self abasement. Easy to be involved with fanatical (mob) behaviour.
Fanaticism and militarism.
Historical
and Famous Figures: Jesus of Nazareth, Joan of Arc, Ayatollah Khomeini,
Jane Fonda, Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell, Ronald Reagan, Pete Seager,
Rev Jesse Jackson, Jimmy Carter, Sir Galahad, Martin Luther King,
Florence Nightingale.
7. Ray Seven of Ceremony, Order and Magic (7)
Number
“7” has been viewed by many numerologists as being a number involving
‘going into retreat’ and also sacrifice, and is often associated in this
regard with Neptune. Esoterically, this sacrifice is a result of the
pain and suffering which occurs when souls are too attached to their
material possessions – Ray 7 rules the physical plane. In the cycle of
numbers from 1 to 7 it is the last number, so when strong in the life
does teach the necessity of learning to “let go” and move on. Although
it is a number which gives power to organised earth life, Ray 7 also
rules ritual and magic. Many “7’ people may be organised and
earth-bound, others live with “fairies” and opt for an alternative
lifestyle.
This
lowest ray is related to the highest – ray one. It manifests God’s Plan
on Earth. It is the manifesting ray, producing forms on the Physical
Plane, which it rules. A seed is sown, and after a period of gestation a
form is born on the physical plane – a baby, a creative work, an
organisation. This is the seventh ray in action. Ray seven types are
“manifesters” because they know how to work the rituals of life. They
excel in any vocation which requires superior management and organising
skill – business leaders, managers, politicians, organisers, alchemists,
ritualists, designers, architects, stage director, magician,
occultists.
Strengths:
Power to create order out of chaos, to plan and organise. Power to
manifest and to work upon the material plane. A keen sense of rhythm and
timing, a natural ritualist. Power to work as a magician, to work with
Devas and elementals. Power to perfect form, manage detail. Power
to understand and implement the law. Power to renovate and transform.
Power to build. Power to coordinate groups. Power to synthesise.
Weaknesses: Rigid orderliness and formalism; crystallisation. Over concern with rules, regulations, the “law.” Subservience to habit, excessive perfectionism. Superficial judgement based on appearances, a snob.
Meaningless, pompous ritual. Intolerance of individuality; lack of originality. Bigotry and sectarianism.
Addiction to occult phenomena, perversion of the magical process. Materialism; earth-bounded.
Historical
and Famous Figures: Sir Francis Bacon, Sir Francis Drake Leonardo Da
Vinci, General Kitchener, Aleister Crowley, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas
Jefferson, Merlin, Kofi Annan, Tony Blair, Jackie Onassis, Audrey
Hepburn.
—————————————————————————
The number "8" is a combination of rays 7 + 1 and is power manifested upon the physical plane.
This can be used for material purpose by the ego or for spiritual service by the soul.
The number "9" is a combination of 7 + 2 and is love manifested upon the physical plane.
This can likewise be used for material purpose by the ego or for spiritual service by the soul.
2. THE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS CAN BE MAPPED BY ANALYSING THE FOUR DIGIT NUMBER SYSTEM WE USE TO NAME THE YEARS.
Example: 1953.
1. The first digit sets the tone and goal for 1000 years. Hence the goal of the “1” which underpinned the evolutionary goal for humanity in the last millennium was to develop individuality and self consciousness.
2. The second digit sets the tone and goal for 100 years. The
development of individuality (1), was to be fine tuned by the nine
vibration in the 1900’s. “9” is a synthesising number, so the
development of a holistic and more philosophical attitude in human
consciousness, was the goal. This would help balance the self centred
and selfish tendencies of “1”. As a consequence, a more integrated and
interdependent society emerged into the 21st century.
3. The third number is in effect for ten years. The fifties was intended to be a decade of change and movement, fundamental
qualities of the “5”. Humanity still remained in a state of flux
following the end of the world war, as immigrants sought a new life in
new countries. This transplanting of millions of people, and the
introduction of their new ideas and culture upon the collective mind of
their new country, would help achieve the goal of the “9”.
4. The last digit, that of any current year, remains in effect for twelve months. The purpose of this final number is to bring about certain specific results which:
1. Contribute to the goal of the current decade.
2. Contribute to the goal of the current century.
3. To the overall development of consciousness according to the millennium number.
For
example: The “3” in 1953 brought in the vibration of the Active
Intelligence Ray, and in that year the structure of DNA was worked out.
This was a great intellectual feat for mankind.
This helped to change (5) how mankind viewed itself.
The
discovery of genetic coding made a major contribution not only to
scientific thought which belongs to the “5”, but also to philosophical
thought which belongs to “9”.
All these number effects helped the overall “1” evolutionary goal in that millennium – to turn out self conscious human beings.
3. THE SPIRITUAL GOAL OF A MILLENNIUM WITH BASE NUMBER “2”
A millennium responding to the “2” vibration
brings in the power of Ray 2 of Love and Wisdom – the “2” millennium
is all about developing brotherly love in relationships.
Its
purpose is the development of wiser and more loving ways of interacting
with others. This is the goal on both a personal and global scale. Some
of the Names of the Lord of R2, and therefore which give a clue to His
purpose, are:
The
Displayer of Glory, Lord of Eternal Love, The Cosmic Magnet, Giver of
Wisdom, The Great Geometrician, The Radiance in the Form, The Cosmic
Christ, The One who hides the Life, The Cosmic Mystery, The Light
Bringer.
This
millennium gives the Lord of Ray 2, the Lord of Love and Wisdom, a
thousand years to develop these qualities in human consciousness. This
is also the goal of the Solar Logos whose primary ray is “2”, and which
is also a major ray of our Planet Logos. So one can see how vital this
millennium is, not only to humanity but in larger schemes and cycles as
well!
Paralleling
this is the fact that we are also currently in the Aquarian Age. Its
goal also happens to be the development of love and wisdom, to be
expressed through the Aryan (intellectual) consciousness, – once it has
been raised to a more universal or wiser level.
Have
you noticed a different type of consciousness in children born since
2000? I have heard that many have had speech difficulties, seem to be a
little backward in walking and communicating. My own grand daughter was
one of these. She had Mercury retrograde when she was born an
astrologers know this indicates slower development of communication, and
introversion.
I
suspect there is a tremendous re-orientation going on, as sensitive
souls who are seeds for the “2” vibration and therefore ‘wired’ to be
more considerate of others, try to cope with an atmosphere on earth
which has been created by one thousand years of self centredness and
gratification under the “1”. A few years may be needed for adjustment.
4. THE FIRST DECADE OF A NEW MILLENNIUM IS THE MOST VITAL SEEDING PERIOD FOR THE ENTIRE GREATER CYCLE
Based
on the law of analogy, we can say that events which occur on earth
during the first decade, set the tone for what can be expected in the
future. The following list indicates the years which affect future
decades and centuries.
Year 2000 sets the tone for the first ten years and for the entire first century.
Year 2001 sets the tone for the second decade (2010-2019) and for the second century (2100-).
Year 2002 sets the tone for the third decade (2020-2029) and for the third century (2200-).
Year 2007 sets the tone for the eighth decade (2070-2079) and for the eighth century (2700-).
And so on.
In the year 2007 [when the original paper was written]:
The
world as a whole was bathed in the vibrations of “2” and “7”. The Lord
of Love was seeking to seed His purpose in a more organised,
fundamental, and generic way (7).
Ray
7 is called the Ray of Ceremony, Order and Magic. It is often called
the manifesting ray, as many things previously conceived only in the
mind, are birthed physically. Some of the Names of the Lord of Ray Seven are:
The
Unveiled Magician, Worker in the Magical Art, Creator of the Form,
Manipulator of the Wand, The Watcher in the East, Custodian of the
Seventh Plan, Keeper of the Magical Word, The Temple Guardian, The
Representative of God, The Lord of Death, The Whirling Fire, The Divine
Alchemical Worker, Orienting Force.
In a “7” year, the 7th Ray should see major events occur upon the physical plane.
In
2007, perhaps the most important event along these lines, was that the
debate about the health of the physical world upon which humans live –
the reality of global warming, finally registered in the collective
human psyche. Particularly so in the United States, and positive steps
were taken by the international community to begin to formulate ways to
combat the problem.
New magical-like scientific and technological wonders can be expected – especially in the health field. For example, 2007
saw the birth of personal genomics, where individuals can learn about
themselves and improve their health by having their genome scanned and
analysed.
You
could expect to see leaders who are more group-oriented, who are more
practical and organised in meeting the needs of suffering humanity, make
their appearance. As an example, Kevin Rudd and his Labor Party were
elected into office in Australia, after 11 years of the wealth-oriented
Liberal coalition. The Labor party traditionally supports the rights of
the workers and disadvantaged in society – and therefore is more closely
aligned with the work of the Christ. A simple act of saying “sorry” to
the Aboriginal people for the suffering endured under Australian
Government policies over the last 150 years, was a milestone in
right-human relations, and has helped bring white and black closer
together.
A
“7” vibration provides opportunity for occult workers, to manifest
aspects of the Plan – specifically to do with the Reappearance of the
Christ – since 7 is associated with the planet Neptune which is a symbol
for Christ. [i]
It is a year in which White Magic can be potently wielded by those who
know how to express this force through occult meditation.
Seven
is a number also associated with endings, sacrifice, sorrow, grief,
letting go, and as a result – spiritual re-orientation. Seven type words
could be “sadder, but wiser, the chastened one turns within.”
The underlying purpose for any sorrowful events occurring in a “7”
year, is to provide mankind with an opportunity to learn from its
mistakes, and respond more wisely in the future. This will be a
challenge for some time, since all those in power still have the number
“1” powerfully resonating through their natures. It will require those
who are in touch with the Soul, and are responding to the higher
vibrations of the numbers and rays, to show humanity how to respond in a
new and wiser way. I would expect there will be more of this type
appearing amongst the crop of new world leaders over the coming years.
It
is logical to think that since Neptune in a lower sense rules
fundamentalist religious groups, ‘sorrow’ could continue to come via
their machinations, as it has for so many years. But the old ways of
responding to terrorist force – seeking an “eye for an eye”, a “1” type
of response, is no longer appropriate. Now that humanity is in a “2”
millennium, we need to learn to respond in line with Christ’s vibration.
By dealing with the roots of the disaffection – and through intelligent
negotiation, including all affected and involved parties. The Aquarian
way!
5. INFLUENCE OF “9”
When
the numbers 2007 are added together, we realise the digit “9”, which
was also influential in that year. As well as being a number associated
with wise realisations, 9 is also a number indicating major endings leading to new beginnings!
This all fits with the above observations. For example, we should see
the ending of certain world alliances (political, national, social), and
the birth of new partnerships in the coming “1” year [2008 = 1].
Both
the UK, Australia and the US are due for new political leaders in this
period, and the new brigade will lay the foundation for a new 9 year
cycle of inter-action.
The
new Secretary General of the United Nations Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, is in an
ideal position now time-wise, to bring about necessary reforms and
updates which will enable the UN to be more effective vehicle for the
Christ, as it responds to world need.
On
an individual level, analyse your own life to see what has become old
and lifeless, and which needs to be shed in order for you to be
unencumbered and free for the coming new cycle beginning next year!
Figure out what you need to do in order to fulfil your soul destiny as a
seed for the new age (because you are in incarnation now). The Christ
energy is drawing closer to mankind, and is due to manifest around 2025.
The collective response from aspirants, disciples and initiates will
determine whether this revelation is delayed or on time! We are being
presented with an opportunity as occult workers, to make a difference.
What we do now and in the next few years will have reverberations for a
thousand years! It is something to think about and respond to.
[i] “Christ is spoken of as Neptune” Esoteric Astrology 219
The Seven Rays of Divine Manifestation