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The Destiny of the Nations
World problems are increasing in complexity as the population of the world increases, and as nations become inter-related and interdependent. It is important for the future of mankind that we understand and cooperate with the spiritual laws and forces at work within the interwoven structure of civilisation, so that the individual part - human and national - can be rightly related to the evolving whole.
A nation is subject, as a man is, to the impact of energies emanating from solar and cosmic sources. These energies influence the nation as a whole through the "mechanism of response" equivalent to the Monad-soul-personality constitution of a man. Different nations are more receptive to some energies that to others; and all nations, subject to the evolution of national consciousness, have a destiny before them which is literally based on the qualities and the principles of the particular ray energy seeking expression through the national soul.
In this book the ray energies affecting certain nations, world groupings and major cities are analysed in relation to meaning and purpose, and to the emergence of ideas appropriate to energy influences dominant at the end and at the beginning of an age.
The world of humanity is shown as a state of becoming, guided and given opportunity by the spiritual Hierarchy - the inner government of the planet - from a stable state of Being. The understanding, acceptance and fulfilment of spiritual possibilities weaves the destinies of all peoples together into a synthesis, in which each contributes to the whole the unfoldment of individual potential. A recognition of the soul destiny of nations in the light of the teaching in this book, has a practicality today in our search for international adjustments. The ray qualities affecting the peoples of the world can be used intelligently to promote understanding and unity.
We are given a glimpse in this book of the beauty of energy synthesis when all component parts work together according to their own ray combination and the "the glory of the One".
"The future will see right relationships, true communion, a sharing of all things ... and goodwill; we have also a picture of the future of humanity when all nations are united in complete understanding and the diversity of languages - symbolic of differing traditions, cultures, civilisations and points of view - will provide no barrier to right human relations. At the centre of each of these two pictures is to be found the Christ."
A nation is subject, as a man is, to the impact of energies emanating from solar and cosmic sources. These energies influence the nation as a whole through the "mechanism of response" equivalent to the Monad-soul-personality constitution of a man. Different nations are more receptive to some energies that to others; and all nations, subject to the evolution of national consciousness, have a destiny before them which is literally based on the qualities and the principles of the particular ray energy seeking expression through the national soul.
In this book the ray energies affecting certain nations, world groupings and major cities are analysed in relation to meaning and purpose, and to the emergence of ideas appropriate to energy influences dominant at the end and at the beginning of an age.
The world of humanity is shown as a state of becoming, guided and given opportunity by the spiritual Hierarchy - the inner government of the planet - from a stable state of Being. The understanding, acceptance and fulfilment of spiritual possibilities weaves the destinies of all peoples together into a synthesis, in which each contributes to the whole the unfoldment of individual potential. A recognition of the soul destiny of nations in the light of the teaching in this book, has a practicality today in our search for international adjustments. The ray qualities affecting the peoples of the world can be used intelligently to promote understanding and unity.
We are given a glimpse in this book of the beauty of energy synthesis when all component parts work together according to their own ray combination and the "the glory of the One".
"The future will see right relationships, true communion, a sharing of all things ... and goodwill; we have also a picture of the future of humanity when all nations are united in complete understanding and the diversity of languages - symbolic of differing traditions, cultures, civilisations and points of view - will provide no barrier to right human relations. At the centre of each of these two pictures is to be found the Christ."
- GenresOccult
121 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1949
11 people are currently reading
607 people want to read
About the author
Alice A. Bailey
470 books226 followersPease note: this is a different author from Alice Bailey.
Alice A. Bailey (1880-1949) was an English esoteric practitioner and writer.
At the age of 35, she entered the Theosophical Society center in Los Angeles (USA), at the Pacific Grove Theosophical Lodge. In 1919, Bailey (39 years old) severed her ties to the Theosophical Society and began to write texts that he claimed were dictated telepathically by a certain "Tibetan," or "D. K. ». She published those texts under the title Human and Solar Initiation. There she made known the existence of the spiritual hierarchy, which Madame Blavatsky had already spread, although not in an orderly way.
She later revealed that the Tibetan D.K. was the master Djwal Khul. She wrote using the teacher's name for 30 years, from 1919 until her death in 1949.
Alice A. Bailey (1880-1949) was an English esoteric practitioner and writer.
At the age of 35, she entered the Theosophical Society center in Los Angeles (USA), at the Pacific Grove Theosophical Lodge. In 1919, Bailey (39 years old) severed her ties to the Theosophical Society and began to write texts that he claimed were dictated telepathically by a certain "Tibetan," or "D. K. ». She published those texts under the title Human and Solar Initiation. There she made known the existence of the spiritual hierarchy, which Madame Blavatsky had already spread, although not in an orderly way.
She later revealed that the Tibetan D.K. was the master Djwal Khul. She wrote using the teacher's name for 30 years, from 1919 until her death in 1949.
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July 20, 2023
THE METAPHYSICAL AUTHOR LOOKS AT THE UNITED NATIONS, AND THE FUTURE
Author Alice A. Bailey wrote in the Introduction of this 1949 book, “It is of major interest for us to know something about the energies and forces which are producing the present international situation and presenting the complex problems with which the United Nations are confronted. In the last analysis, all history is the record of the effects of these energies of radiations (rays)… as they play upon humanity in its many varying stages of evolutionary development. These stages extend all the way from those of primeval humanity to our modern civilization; all that has happened is the result of these energies, pouring cyclically through nature and through that part of nature which we call the human kingdom.
“To understand what is today taking place we must recognize that these energies are seven in number. They called by many names in many different lands, but for our purposes the following seven names will be used: 1. The energy of Will, Purpose, or Power, called in Christian lands the energy of the Will of God. 2. The energy of Love-Wisdom, called frequently the Love of God. 3. The energy of Active Intelligence, called the Mind of God. 4. The energy of Harmony through Conflict, affecting greatly the human family. 5. The energy of Concrete Knowledge or Science, so potent at this time. 6. The energy of Devotion or Idealism, producing the current ideologies. 7. The energy of Ceremonial Order, producing the new forms of civilization.” (Pg. 3-4)
She continues, “I am… seeking here to do two things: 1. Indicate, as you have seen, a new and powerfully efficient esoteric psychology, and also 2. Show the lines of development which are inevitable, for the reason that certain major potencies are coming into play at this time. Certain forces are becoming increasingly active whilst others are steadily becoming quiescent. It is these active forces which we will not consider.” (Pg. 4)
She goes on, “You have, therefore, in the present field of divine expression the following energies manifesting: 1. The energy of idealism, of devotion or of devoted attention, embodied in the sixth ray. 2. The energy whose major function it is to produce order, rhythm and established, sequential activity---the seventh Ray of Ceremonial Ritual. 3. The energy of the second ray, which is always basically present in our solar system, that of love-wisdom… The next hundred and fifty years will see them coming into incarnation… it is to this type of human being that the work of reconstruction, and of re-building is naturally committed. 4. The energy of intelligence, actively displayed in creative activity… This is the energy of the third Ray of Active Intelligence, working towards the manifestation of beauty. 5. The energy of the will aspect of divinity. This has been but little expressed and understood by humanity up to the present, but the time has now come when it must be better comprehended. The demand from our innumerable planetary forces has not hitherto been adequate to invoke it and for its invocation the great Lord of the World has patiently waited. The call has now gone forth.” (Pg. 5-6)
She asserts, “This little known divine energy … is the Will of God to produce certain radical and momentous changes in the consciousness of the race which will completely alter man’s attitude to life and his grasp of the spiritual, esoteric, and subjective essentials of living. It is this force which will bring about… the second crisis, the initiation of the race into the Mystery of the Ages, into that which has been hid from beginning.” (Pg. 13)
She states, “The major requirement therefore at this time is the rapid educating of the people in the Plan and in the nature of the forces which are controlling evolution and their directing agencies. The fact of the Hierarchy must be announced in no uncertain terms, thereby arousing public interest, public investigation and public recognition.” (Pg. 36)
She says, “Everything tends to show that the German people, not being an integrated race, are very largely victims and should just as easily be guided into right ways as they have been, at present, guided into their present activities. They did, however, provide a medium through which the ancient Atlantean conflict could be precipitated and brought to the surface, and the ancient feud between materialism and the Forces of Light be finally resolved for this particular world cycle. Germany is mediumistic, as was its dictator… it is the Aries-Leo influence which produced the dictator.” (Pg. 79)
She summarizes, “Therefore, through the five major centers in the planet today, spiritual energy is streaming forth, and according to the vehicle expression which receives its impact so will be the reaction and activity, and so will be the type of consciousness interpreting and using it. The ancient occult truism remains accurate: ‘Consciousness is dependent upon its vehicle for expression and both are dependent upon life and energy for existence.’ This remains an immutable law.” (Pg. 102)
She states, “In this world cycle it might be aid that the emphasis of all spiritual power is placed in the Hierarchy which is, at present, the divine intermediary, interpreting the will of God, which is the purpose of Shamballa. It transmits or steps down the divine energy so that safe application to Humanity becomes possible.” (Pg. 140)
She concludes, “Thus the expressed aims and efforts of the United Nations will be eventually brought to fruition and a new church of God, gathered out of all religions and spiritual groups, will unitedly bring to an end the great heresy of separateness. Love, unity, and the Risen Christ will be present, and He will demonstrate to us the PERFECT LIFE.” (Pg. 152)
This book will appeal to those interested in ‘Theosophical’ and similar metaphysical viewpoints.
Author Alice A. Bailey wrote in the Introduction of this 1949 book, “It is of major interest for us to know something about the energies and forces which are producing the present international situation and presenting the complex problems with which the United Nations are confronted. In the last analysis, all history is the record of the effects of these energies of radiations (rays)… as they play upon humanity in its many varying stages of evolutionary development. These stages extend all the way from those of primeval humanity to our modern civilization; all that has happened is the result of these energies, pouring cyclically through nature and through that part of nature which we call the human kingdom.
“To understand what is today taking place we must recognize that these energies are seven in number. They called by many names in many different lands, but for our purposes the following seven names will be used: 1. The energy of Will, Purpose, or Power, called in Christian lands the energy of the Will of God. 2. The energy of Love-Wisdom, called frequently the Love of God. 3. The energy of Active Intelligence, called the Mind of God. 4. The energy of Harmony through Conflict, affecting greatly the human family. 5. The energy of Concrete Knowledge or Science, so potent at this time. 6. The energy of Devotion or Idealism, producing the current ideologies. 7. The energy of Ceremonial Order, producing the new forms of civilization.” (Pg. 3-4)
She continues, “I am… seeking here to do two things: 1. Indicate, as you have seen, a new and powerfully efficient esoteric psychology, and also 2. Show the lines of development which are inevitable, for the reason that certain major potencies are coming into play at this time. Certain forces are becoming increasingly active whilst others are steadily becoming quiescent. It is these active forces which we will not consider.” (Pg. 4)
She goes on, “You have, therefore, in the present field of divine expression the following energies manifesting: 1. The energy of idealism, of devotion or of devoted attention, embodied in the sixth ray. 2. The energy whose major function it is to produce order, rhythm and established, sequential activity---the seventh Ray of Ceremonial Ritual. 3. The energy of the second ray, which is always basically present in our solar system, that of love-wisdom… The next hundred and fifty years will see them coming into incarnation… it is to this type of human being that the work of reconstruction, and of re-building is naturally committed. 4. The energy of intelligence, actively displayed in creative activity… This is the energy of the third Ray of Active Intelligence, working towards the manifestation of beauty. 5. The energy of the will aspect of divinity. This has been but little expressed and understood by humanity up to the present, but the time has now come when it must be better comprehended. The demand from our innumerable planetary forces has not hitherto been adequate to invoke it and for its invocation the great Lord of the World has patiently waited. The call has now gone forth.” (Pg. 5-6)
She asserts, “This little known divine energy … is the Will of God to produce certain radical and momentous changes in the consciousness of the race which will completely alter man’s attitude to life and his grasp of the spiritual, esoteric, and subjective essentials of living. It is this force which will bring about… the second crisis, the initiation of the race into the Mystery of the Ages, into that which has been hid from beginning.” (Pg. 13)
She states, “The major requirement therefore at this time is the rapid educating of the people in the Plan and in the nature of the forces which are controlling evolution and their directing agencies. The fact of the Hierarchy must be announced in no uncertain terms, thereby arousing public interest, public investigation and public recognition.” (Pg. 36)
She says, “Everything tends to show that the German people, not being an integrated race, are very largely victims and should just as easily be guided into right ways as they have been, at present, guided into their present activities. They did, however, provide a medium through which the ancient Atlantean conflict could be precipitated and brought to the surface, and the ancient feud between materialism and the Forces of Light be finally resolved for this particular world cycle. Germany is mediumistic, as was its dictator… it is the Aries-Leo influence which produced the dictator.” (Pg. 79)
She summarizes, “Therefore, through the five major centers in the planet today, spiritual energy is streaming forth, and according to the vehicle expression which receives its impact so will be the reaction and activity, and so will be the type of consciousness interpreting and using it. The ancient occult truism remains accurate: ‘Consciousness is dependent upon its vehicle for expression and both are dependent upon life and energy for existence.’ This remains an immutable law.” (Pg. 102)
She states, “In this world cycle it might be aid that the emphasis of all spiritual power is placed in the Hierarchy which is, at present, the divine intermediary, interpreting the will of God, which is the purpose of Shamballa. It transmits or steps down the divine energy so that safe application to Humanity becomes possible.” (Pg. 140)
She concludes, “Thus the expressed aims and efforts of the United Nations will be eventually brought to fruition and a new church of God, gathered out of all religions and spiritual groups, will unitedly bring to an end the great heresy of separateness. Love, unity, and the Risen Christ will be present, and He will demonstrate to us the PERFECT LIFE.” (Pg. 152)
This book will appeal to those interested in ‘Theosophical’ and similar metaphysical viewpoints.
December 15, 2025
The Destiny of the Nations is simultaneously one of the most terrifying books I've ever read and one of the most reassuring books I've ever read. It is terrifying because, if Bailey means what she (or her channeled spirit) says in the book, all the things taught in the Bible and by historic Protestantism are true. It is reassuring because, if Bailey means what she (or her channeled spirit) says in the book,
all the things taught in the Bible and by historic Protestantism are true
.
This is the first of Alice Bailey's books that I've read. I knew, generally speaking, who Alice Bailey was prior to reading it. I had heard speakers and preachers mention her work and how she "laid it all out for everyone to see." I am currently researching for a book I am writing about the relationship between Christianity and politics, and thought her work might be of some value in my research. To say the least, it was valuable because Bailey is overtly political in the application of her occult philosophy. If you are an eschatologically inclined Christian, whenever someone accuses you of being conspiracy theorist for believing that there are dark forces pushing the world towards a global governance scheme predicated on religious unity (c.f., Rev 13), then direct them to the work of Alice Bailey.
I was at times shocked by the forthrightness with which the author admitted to this occult scheme to influence every society and government on earth. For example: "There is, at this time, an emergence of certain powerful and dominating first ray personalities into the theatre of world activity. These people are in direct contact with this Shamballa force and are sensitive to the impact of the will energy of Deity. According to their type of personality and their point in evolution will be their reaction to this force and their consequent usefulness to the Lord of the World as he works out his plans of world unfoldment [. . .]. These people are found in every field of human affairs. They are the dominant persons, and the dictators in every aspect of human living--political, social, religious and educational" (Bailey, Destiny of Nations, 14-15).
If you are a Christian, or if you are inclined to defend the intellectual and cultural heritage of the West, you ought to read Bailey's work. If you are not a Christian, then you should take into consideration that Bailey clearly identifies Protestant Christianity as one of the primary roadblocks to achieving this one-world, one-religion scheme (pgs. 34-35).
It is also worth noting that in the above excerpt, Bailey uses the term "Lord of the World." In the New Testament, the devil, Satan, is referred to as "god of this world" by Paul (2 Cor 4:4) and as "prince of this world" by Jesus (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11). Again, this is both terrifying and reassuring.
This is the first of Alice Bailey's books that I've read. I knew, generally speaking, who Alice Bailey was prior to reading it. I had heard speakers and preachers mention her work and how she "laid it all out for everyone to see." I am currently researching for a book I am writing about the relationship between Christianity and politics, and thought her work might be of some value in my research. To say the least, it was valuable because Bailey is overtly political in the application of her occult philosophy. If you are an eschatologically inclined Christian, whenever someone accuses you of being conspiracy theorist for believing that there are dark forces pushing the world towards a global governance scheme predicated on religious unity (c.f., Rev 13), then direct them to the work of Alice Bailey.
I was at times shocked by the forthrightness with which the author admitted to this occult scheme to influence every society and government on earth. For example: "There is, at this time, an emergence of certain powerful and dominating first ray personalities into the theatre of world activity. These people are in direct contact with this Shamballa force and are sensitive to the impact of the will energy of Deity. According to their type of personality and their point in evolution will be their reaction to this force and their consequent usefulness to the Lord of the World as he works out his plans of world unfoldment [. . .]. These people are found in every field of human affairs. They are the dominant persons, and the dictators in every aspect of human living--political, social, religious and educational" (Bailey, Destiny of Nations, 14-15).
If you are a Christian, or if you are inclined to defend the intellectual and cultural heritage of the West, you ought to read Bailey's work. If you are not a Christian, then you should take into consideration that Bailey clearly identifies Protestant Christianity as one of the primary roadblocks to achieving this one-world, one-religion scheme (pgs. 34-35).
It is also worth noting that in the above excerpt, Bailey uses the term "Lord of the World." In the New Testament, the devil, Satan, is referred to as "god of this world" by Paul (2 Cor 4:4) and as "prince of this world" by Jesus (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11). Again, this is both terrifying and reassuring.
January 24, 2019
This book requires a real high level thought process about humanity and our role with the energy we give out and absorb. Essentially Alice Bailey theorizes how our thoughts, actions, potential and lack of unity alters nations development toward physically, spiritual and mental advancement. Its a great book but didn't give five stars cause honestly, I have to reread this book just to attempt to comprehend the complex thinking of Alice Bailey. This a real mind bender.
November 2, 2023
Overall, there are some good ideas here. However, the book is just too convoluted. Furthermore, without proper explanation of the concepts being applied, it becomes difficult to understand how Bailey justifies the conclusions being reached.
November 7, 2022
Left me speechless
January 21, 2008
World unity is not one centralized, dominating government but a diversity of responsible nations who understand the direction toward which we are evolving.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews