Contraction and Expansion
In the current state of affairs of humanity, it is easy to identify two major trends in consciousness. On one side, in a significant number of human beings in all lands and cultures there is an ongoing “contraction” of their state of conscious awareness while, on the other side, also in a great number of human beings there is a progressive “expansion” of their state of conscious awareness. This situation is very significant because it explains the noticeable polarization of human beings around issues of all types that is seen today.
It is only at certain periods in history that humanity experiences this polarization in the individual and the collective consciousness. It takes place every time that there is change in the planetary energy that nourishes the development of consciousness — about every 2,200 years. As we have by now left behind almost completely the nourishing presence of the Sixth Ray energy and begun the era of the Seventh Ray, then we are experiencing this polarization once more.
In the same way that the physical body needs to be nourished by energies that are “physical” in nature, so too one’s consciousness is nourished everyday by energies that are “consciousness” in nature. This consciousness-nourishing energy is subtle, yet very real and powerful. It is present everywhere and it is absorbed by one’s consciousness every time that one uses consciousness — such as during the process of thinking, during meditation practices, when we use desire to achieve something, or when we use feelings and emotions.
The “contraction” of consciousness seen today in a large number of human beings is thus due to the “starvation” they are experiencing in their consciousness. For a number of past incarnations these human beings became used to the nourishing qualities and characteristics of the Sixth Ray energy. Now that this energy is no longer available, their consciousness is contracting. In a sense, their consciousness signature or main quality is that of the Sixth Ray and because of this, they are unable to adapt to the new energy. Most of them will not incarnate again on Earth while the Seventh Ray energy is present.
A side note here: The expression “contraction” of consciousness is a relative term. In fact, human beings seldom lose the gains obtained in the development of consciousness, and the term “contraction” does not mean that the human consciousness actually loses something. What occurs in many individuals at the turn of a Consciousness Age is simply a cessation of growth in consciousness. This is felt at a sub-conscious level and the reaction is to protect or insulate the gained development of consciousness from changes. The way this protection or insulation is expressed in the daily life is through a fear and a subsequent aggression to those states of consciousness, ways of thinking, systems of values and cultures that are different from those of the individual.
On the other hand, the ongoing “expansion” of consciousness seen today in a large number of human beings is due to their capacity to absorb and be nourished by the new energy of the Seventh Ray. The signature or main quality of their consciousness is that of this Ray consciousness and because of this, their era of opportunity is once more starting.
The main point to be emphasized here is that today’s polarization of consciousness in humanity is the result of the natural cycles of consciousness on our planet. Those who are experiencing “contraction” are just ending their several-thousand years cycle of growth. Nothing is wrong with them and the future will bring other cycles of opportunity. As for those who are experiencing “expansion” in consciousness, their newest cycle is just beginning, and the responsibility is in them to create a new civilization and culture that is expressive of the Seventh Ray consciousness.