Editing Alice Bailey (section)

== Main ideas ==

=== The seven rays of energy ===
Bailey's writings includes a detailed exposition of the "seven rays" which are presented as the fundamental energies that are behind and exist throughout all manifestation. They are seen as the basic creative forces of the universe and emanations of Divinity that underlie the evolution of all things.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lucistrust.org/arcane_school/talks_and_articles/the_science_the_seven_rays|title=The Science Of The Seven Rays (Lucis Trust)|website=www.lucistrust.org}}</ref> The rays are described as related to human psychology, the destiny of nations, as well as the planets and stars of the heavens. The concept of the [[Seven Rays#In Theosophy|seven rays]] can be found in Theosophical works.<ref>Wood, Ernest, ''The Seven Rays,'' Theosophical Publishing House, Wheaton, Illinois, 1925</ref> Campbell writes that Bailey, "...{{nbsp}}was the first to develop the idea of the seven rays, although it can be found in germ in earlier Theosophical writings."<ref name="Campbell, Bruce 1980 p. 153" /> The seven rays also appear in Hindu religious philosophy.<ref>{{cite book|last=Colebrooke |first=Henry Thomas|title=Essays on the Religion and Philosophy of the Hindus |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_bj1pFUyTbHEC |publisher=Williams and Norgate |year=1858 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_bj1pFUyTbHEC/page/n84 79], 83, 119 |quote=Reprinted from 'Asiatic researches' and from the 'Transactions of the Royal Asiatic society.' Original from Harvard University.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Garrett |first=John |title=A Classical Dictionary of India: Illustrative of the Mythology, Philosophy, Literature, Antiquities, Arts, Manners, Customs, &c. of the Hindus |url=https://archive.org/details/aclassicaldicti00garrgoog |publisher=Higginbotham and Co. |year=1871 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/aclassicaldicti00garrgoog/page/n218 203], 216 |quote=Director of Public Instruction, Mysore, India; Original from Oxford University.}}</ref>

=== Esoteric astrology ===

Esoteric [[astrology]] is part of Alice Bailey's "Ageless Wisdom" teachings, which she said were relayed by her Tibetan Master Djwhal Khul.<ref name="Leo 1978 318">{{cite book|title=Esoteric Astrology|last=Leo|first=Alan|year=1978|publisher=Destiny Books|isbn=0-89281-181-1|page=318}}</ref><ref name="Leo 2005 88">{{cite book|title=Symbolism and Astrology: An Introduction to Esoteric Astrology|last=Leo|first=Alan|year=2005|publisher=Cosimo Classics|isbn=1-59605-614-2|page=88}}</ref>

The esoteric astrologers who follow the teachings of Bailey typically base their work on her five-volume ''Treatise on the Seven Rays'', particularly volume three which focuses on astrology. Her esoteric astrology deals with the evolution of soul consciousness and the obstacles to that evolution.<ref name="Oken 1990">{{cite book|title=Soul-Centered Astrology|last=Oken|first=Alan|year=1990|publisher=The Crossing Press}}</ref>

=== Esoteric healing ===
Bailey's teaching on healing primarily concerns the relationship of soul to personality, of the spiritual to the material nature. In her view, all disease has its ultimate root in some type of blocked or inhibited soul life. Therefore, healing consists of releasing the soul, that is the establishing of a right relation between the soul and the personality where the personality is defined as the instrument of soul expression. Eliminating [[inflammation|obstructions]] and congestion, the source of a major part of disease. The whole process of healing is directed by thought, the mind of the healer and sometimes emotional synergy to inhibit causes of disease. Healing becomes automatic where the practitioner no longer is directed by energies, currents, centers, that include the nadis as one area of focus, the abstract is related back to the practices where appropriate but healing is directed without effort.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lucistrust.org/books/ponder_on_this/ponder_online/contents/part_2/books_ponder_on_this_ponder_online_contents_part_2_068_070|title=068-070 (Lucis Trust)|website=www.lucistrust.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lucistrust.org/online_books/esoteric_healing_obooks/part_one_the_basic_causes_disease/chapter_the_psychological_causes_disease_part1|title=CHAPTER I - The Psychological Causes of Disease - Part 1 - Online Books (Lucis Trust)|website=www.lucistrust.org}}</ref>

=== The constitution of man ===
In line with previous Theosophical teachings,<ref>Leadbeater, C. W., ''A Textbook Of Theosophy,'' The Theosophical Publishing House, India, 1914, chapter I</ref> Bailey taught that man consists of
# Monad (spark of God, true Self)
# Soul (higher mind, Love nature, higher consciousness)
# Personality consisting of three aspects
#* Lower mind (intellect)
#* Emotions or astral nature
#* Physical and etheric body

Each of the three aspects of the lower nature is described as a "body" or aura of energy and seen as partial expression of the real self or soul. The soul is regarded as the reflection of the real self that works through or uses the three aspects of personality.<ref name="Bailey, Alice 1953 p 564">Bailey, Alice A. ''Esoteric Healing.'' Lucis Trust. 1953 p 564</ref><ref>Bailey, Alice A. ''Initiation Human and Solar,'' Lucis Trust. 1922 p IV, chart III</ref> She also speaks of these as "vehicles" or "sheaths", and alternately as the "mental body", "astral body", or "physical body".<ref>{{Cite book|title = Ponder on This|url = https://www.amazon.com/Ponder-on-This/dp/B004U4Q6XC/ref=mt_other?_encoding=UTF8&me=|publisher = Lucis|date = 1983-01-01}}</ref> The "etheric" body is most directly related to physical health and is seen as the vital energizing agent for the individual while in physical incarnation.<ref>{{Cite book|title = The Esoteric Codex: Theosophy I|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=_O9zBgAAQBAJ|publisher = Lulu.com|date = 2014-02-13|isbn = 978-1-312-01114-4|language = en|first = Mark|last = Rogers}}{{self-published source|date=July 2020}}</ref>{{self-published inline|date=February 2020}} (p.&nbsp;172)<ref>{{Cite book|title = Ponder on this: From the Writings of Alice A. Bailey and the Tibetan Master, Djwhal Khul|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=-joiEThbSXIC&q=alice%2520bailey%2520aura&pg=PA33|publisher = Lucis Publishing Companies|date = 1971-01-01|isbn = 978-0-85330-131-8|language = en|first = Alice A.|last = Bailey}}</ref> (p.&nbsp;33) See also: [[Subtle body]]. The mind and emotional nature are seen as [[aura (paranormal)|auras]].<ref>Jurriaance, Aart, ''Bridges, " Bridges Trust, South Africa, c. 1978, p. 130, 77, 91, 105''</ref> or energy fields of which brain activity is a secondary effect.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Ponder on this: From the Writings of Alice A. Bailey and the Tibetan Master, Djwhal Khul|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=-joiEThbSXIC&q=alice%2520bailey%2520brain%2520secondary&pg=PA411|publisher = Lucis Publishing Companies|date = 1971-01-01|isbn = 978-0-85330-131-8|language = en|first = Alice A.|last = Bailey}}</ref> (p.&nbsp;411)

=== The Great Invocation ===
The Great Invocation is a mantra given in 1937 by Bailey. The mantra begins with "From the point of Light within the Mind of God, let light stream forth into the minds of men{{nbsp}}..." with the rest of the passage expressing the ideas of love, the return of [[Christ (title)|The Christ]] ([[Maitreya (Theosophy)|Maitreya]]) and of men acting in accordance with the plan of God.

It is well known by some followers of the New Age movement, where it is widely used as part of meditation, particularly in groups.<ref name="melton57">{{cite book |last1=Melton |first1=J. Gordon |last2=Clark |first2=Jerome |last3=Kelly |first3=Aidan A. |title=New Age Encyclopedia |publisher=Gale Research Inc |year=1990 |page=[https://archive.org/details/newageencycloped00jgor/page/57 57] |isbn=0-8103-7159-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/newageencycloped00jgor/page/57 }}</ref> For instance, the invocation has been used in the [[Findhorn Foundation]] community since the 1970s. In response to the [[September 11 attacks]] (2001), the Great Invocation was used as a central element of a new daily program at Findhorn known as the "Network of Light meditations for peace".<ref name=sutcliffe138>{{cite book |last=Sutcliffe |first=Steven J |title=Children of the New Age: A History of Spiritual Practices |publisher=Routledge |year=2003 |pages=138–139 |isbn=0-415-24299-1}}</ref> Rosemary Keller described the Great Invocation as a call for "the Christ to return to Earth" and wrote that Bailey-related groups purchased radio and television time to broadcast the invocation as part of their mission, and that often the invocation was recited in what Keller called "light groups", to accomplish what Bailey's disciples considered to be attracting and focusing "spiritual energies to benefit the planet".<ref name="Keller763" />

Alice Bailey's writings have a theme that generally advocates replacement of the old with the new and this occurs in connection with the Great Invocation as follows: "This new Invocation, if given widespread distribution, can be to the new world religion what the [[Lord's Prayer]] has been to Christianity and the [[Psalm 23|23rd Psalm]] has been to the spiritually minded Jew."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lucistrust.org/online_books/the_reappearance_the_christ/chapter_two_christ_unique_occasion|title=CHAPTER TWO - CHRIST'S UNIQUE OCCASION - Online Books (Lucis Trust)|website=www.lucistrust.org}}</ref>

=== Discipleship and service ===
Bailey's writings downplayed traditional devotional and religious aspects of the spiritual life, in favor of a life of meditation, service to humanity, and cooperation with "the Plan of the Hierarchy".<ref name=Lane132>{{cite book|title=The Phenomenon of Teilhard: Prophet for a New Age|last=Lane |first=David H.|page=132|publisher=Mercer University Press|year=1996 |isbn=0-86554-498-0}} "One of the three fundamental requirements of the training in the School is "occult meditation" and disciples are taught to "cooperate with the Plan of Hierarchy" elaborated in the writings of Alice Bailey. Serving "the Plan" by serving humanity is central to the esotericism which forms a practical way of life for disciples and prepares them for "service in the Aquarian age". (''[footnote in situ]'' from the Arcane School brochure supplied by the Triangle Center, Wellington NZ. The Aquarian Age is the "New Age" issued in under the astrological sign Aquarius.)"</ref> In her thinking, service, "...{{nbsp}}is a soul instinct ... innate and peculiar to soul unfoldment. It is the outstanding characteristic of the soul, just as desire is the outstanding characteristic of the lower nature{{nbsp}}..."<ref>{{Cite book|title = Esoteric Psychology Vol II|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=axsqmWdk3FQC|publisher = Lucis Publishing Companies|date = 1942-01-01|isbn = 978-0-85330-119-6|language = en|first1 = Alice A.|last1 = Bailey|first2 = Djwhal|last2 = Khul}}</ref>

=== Unity and divinity of nations and groups ===
Ross describes Bailey's teachings as emphasizing the "underlying unity of all forms of life", and the "essential oneness of all religions, of all departments of science, and of all the philosophies".<ref>Ross, Joseph E., ''Krotona of Old Hollywood, Vol. II'' Joseph Ross, 2004, p. 398</ref> Campbell notes that the New Group of World Servers was established for "...{{nbsp}}promotion of international understanding, economic sharing, and religious unity".<ref name="Campbell, Bruce 1980 p. 153" />

=== Comparison with Theosophy ===
{{Theosophy}}

Theosophists are divided on their assessment of Alice Bailey's writings. For instance, the noted contemporary Theosophical writer [[Geoffrey Hodson]] wrote a highly favorable review of one her books, saying, "Once more Alice Bailey has placed occult students in her debt."<ref>Hodson, Geoffrey, ''World Theosophy Magazine,'' February 1931&nbsp;– June 1931, The Theosophical Society, 1931</ref> Olav Hammer writes, "Her first book, ''Initiation Human and Solar,'' was at first favorably received by her fellow theosophists. Soon, however, her claims to be recipient of ageless wisdom from the Masters met with opposition."<ref>[[Olav Hammer|Hammer, Olav]], ''Claiming Knowledge: Strategies of epistemology from theosophy to the new age''. BRILL, 2001, p. 65</ref> The conflict is understandable since her works contain some criticisms of Theosophy, and at the time of the break she voiced her criticism of what she saw as dogmatic structures within the society, while questioning the pledges of loyalty to Theosophical leaders that were required. "During the annual convention of 1920 in Chicago, there was a power struggle between forces loyal to Besant and the Esoteric Section and others who believed that the latter had become too powerful. Below the surface was a hidden controversy regarding Alice's work with the Tibetan."<ref name="Keller, Rosemary 2006 p 762" /> For a more recent example of Bailey/Theosophy division, see [[Theosophy in Scandinavia]].

Campbell writes that Bailey's books are a reworking of major Theosophical themes, with some distinctive emphases, and that they present a comprehensive system of esoteric science and occult philosophy, cognizant of contemporary social and political developments.<ref>Campbell, Bruce, F., ''Ancient Wisdom Revived, a History of the Theosophical Movement'', [[University of California Press]], Berkeley, 1980, p. 152</ref> Steven J. Sutcliffe points out that both Bailey and Blavatsky's work evoke a picture of [[Tibet]] as the spiritual home of the Masters and that Bailey claimed a more-or-less direct lineage to Blavatsky. He describes Bailey as a 'post-Theosophical' theorist, reporting that Bailey received instruction from "former personal pupils of Blavatsky" and notes that her third book (''A Treatise on Cosmic Fire'') not only reproduces Blavatsky's apocryphal [[Stanzas of Dzyan]] but is dedicated to Blavatsky, as well.<ref>Sutcliffe, Steven J, ''Children of the New Age: A History of Spiritual Practices.'' Routledge, 2003, p 48</ref>

Parallels between Theosophy and Bailey are many, for instance, one principle of Theosophy, the [[Law of attraction (New Thought)|Law of Attraction]] was discussed in esoteric writings by Blavatsky,<ref>{{cite book|last=Blavatsky |first=Helena Petrovna |title=Isis Unveiled: Secrets of the Ancient Wisdom Tradition|author2=Michael Gomes |publisher=Quest Books |year=1997 |page=83 |isbn=0-8356-0729-1}}</ref> [[Annie Besant]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Besant |first=Annie Wood |title=Popular Lectures on Theosophy |publisher=Theosophical Publishing House |year=1919 |page=79}}</ref> [[William Quan Judge]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Judge |first=William Quan |title=The Ocean of Theosophy |url=https://archive.org/details/oceantheosophy03judggoog |publisher=United Lodge of Theosophists |year=1915 |page=[https://archive.org/details/oceantheosophy03judggoog/page/n123 103]}}</ref> and others;<ref>{{cite book|last=Kumar |first=Sri K. Parvathi|title=Occult Meditations |publisher=Dhanishta Publications |year=1942 |page=230 |isbn=81-89467-04-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Tatya |first=Tukaram |title=A Guide to Theosophy: Containing Select Articles for the Instructions of Aspirants to the Knowledge of Theosophy |url=https://archive.org/details/aguidetotheosop00fundgoog |publisher=Bombay Theosophical Publication Fund |year=1887 |page=[https://archive.org/details/aguidetotheosop00fundgoog/page/n281 265]}}</ref> and was also discussed in the writings of Alice Bailey, including a whole chapter in one of her books.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bailey|first=Alice A.|title=Letters on Occult Meditation|publisher=Lucis Trust |year=1942 |pages=53, p265}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Bailey|first=Alice A.|title=Esoteric Psychology II |publisher=Lucis Trust |year=1942 |pages=111–113 |isbn=0-85330-119-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Bailey|first=Alice A.|title=A Treatise on Cosmic Fire |publisher=Lucis Trust |year=1973 |pages=1166–1229 |isbn=0-85330-117-4 |quote=SECTION TWO&nbsp;– DIVISION F&nbsp;– THE LAW OF ATTRACTION}}</ref> The term has been embraced, in a simplified form, by the contemporary [[New Age]] movement and was popularized in the 2006 film ''[[The Secret (2006 film)|The Secret]]''.

Jon Klimo, in ''Investigations on Receiving Information from Paranormal Sources'', writes, "As with Blavatsky/Theosophical material, and more recent contemporary channeled material from other sources, we find in the Bailey work the same occult cosmological hierarchy: physical, etheric, astral, mental, causal, and higher inhabited levels of existence."<ref>Klimo, Jon, ''Investigations on Receiving Information from Paranormal Sources'', J. Tarcher, Inc, 1987, p 118.</ref> [[Olav Hammer]], in the book ''Claiming Knowledge: Strategies of Epistemology from Theosophy to the New Age'', highlights Bailey's Theosophical similarities as well as noting what he thinks are some differences between them: "To a large extent, Bailey's teachings are a restatement and amplification of theosophy of the ''Secret Doctrine.'' Bailey inherited from Blavatsky and [[Charles Webster Leadbeater|Leadbeater]] a predilection for profuse details and complex classificatory schemes. ... Her books have also introduced shifts in emphasis as well as new doctrinal elements."<ref>Hammer, Olav, ''Claiming Knowledge: Strategies of epistemology from theosophy to the new age''. BRILL, 2001, p. 65</ref>

Some Theosophical critics have contended that there are major differences between Bailey's ideas and the Theosophy of Blavatsky, such as Bailey's embrace of some mystical Christian terms and concepts<!-- Which? --> and her acceptance of [[Charles Webster Leadbeater]].<ref name="Campbell, Bruce 1980 p. 153">Campbell, Bruce, F., ''Ancient Wisdom Revived, a History of the Theosophical Movement'', University of California Press, Berkeley, 1980, p. 153</ref><ref name=blava_arc>{{cite web |url=http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/baileyal.htm|title=Theosophy's Shadow: A Critical Look at the Claims and Teachings of Alice A. Bailey|author=Weeks, Nicholas|publisher=blavatskyarchives.com}}</ref>

Nicholas Weeks, writing for the Theosophical magazine ''Fohat'' in 1997, felt Bailey's assertion that "...{{nbsp}}her teachings are grounded in and do not oppose in any fundamental way Theosophy as lived and taught by HPB and her Gurus" was false. Her books are in fact "rooted in the [[Neo-Theosophy|pseudo-theosophy]] pioneered by C. W. Leadbeater." He stated Bailey accepted Leadbeater's "fantasy" of the return of Christ and disparaged Bailey's ''[[Great Invocation]]'', a prayer supposed to "induce Christ and his Masters to leave their hidden ashrams [and] enter into major cities" to lead the [[Age of Aquarius|Aquarian Age]]. This contrasts with the Theosophy of Blavatsky, he says, which emphasizes reliance on "the [[Maitreya (Theosophy)#Maitreya and the "Christ Principle"|Christos principle]] within each person".<ref name=blava_arc />

=== Ideas about races and evolution ===
Bailey described a concept of racial differentiation that posited a division of humanity into races that are on different levels in a "ladder of evolution". These '"races" do not represent a national or physical type but a stage of evolution. For example, she states that the [[Aryan]] [[root race]] (or '5th race'), is an "emerging new race" and so a relatively new evolutionary phenomenon. She stated that this newer type is forming in every land but primarily in lands where [[Caucasian race|Caucasian peoples]] are found and indicates a culture where thought or intellect is dominant. She stated that as evolution proceeds, things are accelerated and humanity will soon be predominantly distinguished by the Aryan consciousness. "I speak not in terms of the Aryan race as it is generally understood today or in its [[Nordic race|Nordic]] implications."<ref>{{cite book|last=Bailey|first=Alice A.|title=Glamour, A World Problem |url=https://archive.org/details/glamourworldprob00bail|url-access=registration|publisher=Lucis Publishing |year=1950 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/glamourworldprob00bail/page/113 113–114] |isbn=978-0-85330-109-7}}</ref>

In her book ''Education in the New Age'', Bailey made predictions about the use of this esoteric racial concept in the schools of the future and that these schools would incorporate the idea of "root races". These "races" are a way of conceptualizing evolution as it occurs over vast prehistoric spans of time, and during which humanity developed body (Lemurian), emotion (Atlantean), and mind (Aryan). She states that there is now being developed a "new race" with a spiritual dimension that expresses as "group qualities and consciousness and idealistic vision".<ref>Bailey, ''Education in the New Age'', p. 69–71</ref> She stated that this new development may take many thousands of years and may therefore not be the quick advance some of her [[New Age]] followers wish for. In her ''The Destiny of the Nations'', Bailey described a process by which this "new race" will evolve, after which "very low grade human bodies will disappear, causing a general shift in the racial types toward a higher standard."<ref name=Penn>Penn, Lee, ''False Dawn: The United Religions Initiative, Globalism, and the Quest for a One-World Religion'', p. 264, Sophia Perennis, {{ISBN|1-59731-000-X}}</ref> For Bailey, the evolution of humanity was intimately bound up with its relationship to this Spiritual Hierarchy. She believed that the influences of religions, philosophies, sciences, educational movements, and human culture in general are the result of this relationship.<ref>Jurriaance, Aart, ''Bridges, " Bridges Trust, South Africa, c. 1978, p. 209, 261, 268''</ref>

==== Criticism of her ideas on races ====
Bailey's ideas about race were criticized by Victor Shnirelman, a [[Cultural anthropology|cultural anthropologist]] and ethnographer, who in a survey of modern [[Neopaganism]] in Russia, drew particular attention to "...{{nbsp}}groups [that] take an extremely negative view of [[Multiculturalism|multi-culturalism]], object to the 'mixture' of kinds, [and] support isolationism and the prohibition of immigration." Shnirelman saw some of Bailey's ideas on race as similar to the racism he perceived in the writing of [[Julius Evola]], saying that "...{{nbsp}}racist and antisemitic trends are explicit, for example, in the occult teachings of Alice Bailey and her followers, who wish to cleanse Christianity of its "Jewish inheritance" and reject the "[[Hebrew Bible|Jewish Bible]]" as a prerequisite for entering the Age of Aquarius."<ref name="Shnirelman">[http://sicsa.huji.ac.il/13shnir.html Shnirelman, Victor A. ''Russian Neo-pagan Myths and Antisemitism''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810224751/http://sicsa.huji.ac.il/13shnir.html |date=2007-08-10 }} in ''Acta no. 13, Analysis of Current Trends in Antisemitism.'' The Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 1998. Retrieved 2007-08-22.</ref>

Shnirelman's view was echoed by Isaac Lubelsky who criticized not only Bailey, but Blavatsky, Steiner, and others. In Lubelsky's view, racists ideas were common to the whole "Theosophical family".<ref>{{Cite book|title = Mythological and Real Race Issues in Theosophy, in "Handbook of the Theosophical Current"|last = Lubelsky|first = Isaac Lubelsky|publisher = Brill|year = 2013|url = https://isaaclubelsky.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/lubelsky-mythological-and-real-race-issues-in-theosophy.pdf|pages = 335–353}}</ref>

[[Monica Sjöö]], a Swedish painter, writer and a radical [[Anarcha-feminism|anarcho]]/[[Ecofeminism|eco-feminist]] wrote that Bailey, through her published teachings, had a "reactionary and racist influence on the whole New Age movement."<ref name="Sjoo">[[Monica Sjöö|Sjöö, Monica]] of the 1960s onward. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063909/http://monicasjoo.org/artic/channelbrief/sinisterchannelings1.htm ''The Racist Legacy of Alice Bailey'']}} in ''From the Flames&nbsp;– Radical Feminism with Spirit'' issue 22. Winter 1998/1999. Retrieved 23 August 2013.</ref> She also noted what she called Bailey's (and Theosophy's) "[[Fascism|pro-fascist]] religious views", such as the belief in a secret elite of "Masters" who influence world events and human minds through occult means and attempt to bring about the evolution of an Aryan race (although this is an understandably modern misunderstanding of her teaching&nbsp;– 'Aryan' as used by Bailey is easily confused with the modern terminology, and the "Masters" are not an elite, but instead are 'enlightened' individuals originally introduced in theosophy as having evolved beyond the human or "4th kingdom" into the fifth or "Kingdom of souls", and who&nbsp;– in her view&nbsp;– guide the human race as a whole).<ref>Sjöö, Monica, ''Some Thoughts About the New Age Movement, ''Wood and Water'' magazine, Summer 1989:2–6. [https://books.google.com/books?id=lokPtsd7Vr4C&dq=Wood+and+Water+magazine%2C+Summer+1989%3A2%E2%80%936&pg=PA123 as cited] in York, Michael, ''The Emerging Network: A Sociology of the New Age and Neo-Pagan Movements'', p. 124, [[Rowman & Littlefield]], {{ISBN|0-8476-8001-0}}''</ref>

Controversy has arisen around some of Bailey's statements on [[nationalism]], [[American isolationism]], [[Soviet Union|Soviet totalitarianism]], [[Fascism]], [[Zionism]], [[Nazism]], [[race relations]], Africans, [[Jew]]s, and the religions of [[Judaism]] and Christianity. [[Yonassan Gershom]] and others have claimed that her writings contain racist material.<ref name="newman351">{{cite book|last=Newman|first=Hannah|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tdn6FFZklkcC&q=%22Invocation%2C+The+Great%22|title=Antisemitism: A Historical Encyclopedia of Prejudice and Persecution|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2005|isbn=1-85109-439-3|editor-last=Levy|editor-first=Richard S.|pages=351–352|contribution=Invocation, The Great}}</ref><ref name=Gershom /><ref>{{cite book |last=Penn |first=Lee |title=False Dawn: The United Religions Initiative, Globalism, and the Quest for a One World Religion |publisher=Sophia Perennis |year=2004 |pages=267–268, 273, 299 |isbn=1-59731-000-X}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Miller |first=Elliott |title=A Crash Course on the New Age Movement: Describing and Evaluating a Growing Movement |url=https://archive.org/details/crashcourseonne00mill |url-access=registration |publisher=[[Baker Book House]] |year=1989 |page=[https://archive.org/details/crashcourseonne00mill/page/197 197] |isbn=0-8010-6248-9}}</ref><ref>Sjöö, Monica (1998). ''New Age Channelings&nbsp;– Who Or What Is Being Channeled?'' Bristol, England: Green Leaf Bookshop. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110808131005/http://monicasjoo.org/books/naessay/newageessay1.htm Entire text online at Monica Sjoo website]}}, page found 2010-06-28.</ref><ref>Sjöö, Monica, {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063909/http://monicasjoo.org/artic/channelbrief/sinisterchannelings1.htm Sinister Channelings]}} Notes and explanations to accompany the "New Age Channelings" book. Entire text online, page found 2010-06-28.</ref><ref>[http://www.teosofiskakompaniet.net/BlavatskyvsBailyALC.htm A comparison between H.P. Blavatsky & Alice Baily. The Pseudo-Occultism of Alice Baily] by Alice Leighton Cleather and Basil Crump. 1929</ref>

The American [[Hasidic Judaism|Chassidic]] author [[Yonassan Gershom]] wrote that Bailey's plan for a [[New World Order (conspiracy)|New World Order]] and her call for "the gradual dissolution—again if in any way possible—of the [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox Jewish]] faith" revealed that "her goal is nothing less than the destruction of [[Judaism]] itself." Gershom also wrote that "This stereotyped portrayal of Jews is followed by a hackneyed diatribe against the Biblical Hebrews, based upon the "angry Jehovah" theology of nineteenth-century [[Protestantism]]. Jews do not, and never have, worshipped an angry vengeful god, and we Jews never, ever call God 'Jehovah'."<ref name=Gershom>{{cite web |url=http://www.pinenet.com/rooster/bailey.html |title=Antisemitic Stereotypes in Alice Bailey's Writings |last1=Gershom |first1=Yonassan |year=2005 |orig-year=orig. 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012013627/http://pinenet.com/~rooster/bailey.html |archive-date=2007-10-12 }}</ref>

Researcher Hannah Newman described what she found to be an [[Antisemitism|antisemitic]] element in the Great Invocation. According to Newman, "the Plan" named in the invocation refers to the plan authored by "the Hierarchy", that Newman states places "high priority on removing all Jewish presence and influence from human consciousness, a goal to be achieved by eliminating [[Judaism]]."<ref name="newman351" />{{efn|A commentary on the Great Invocation on Lucis Trust's website says "Christ emphasised ever the Fatherhood of God and substituted it in place of the cruel, jealous tribal Jehovah."<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Lucis Trust|title= The Great Invocation: Its Use and Significance |url=https://www.lucistrust.org/the_great_invocation/the_use_and_significance_the_great_invocation1}}</ref> See also [[Marcionism]].}}

=== On organized religions ===
Bailey taught a form of universal spirituality that transcended denominational identification, believing that, "Every class of human beings is a group of brothers. Catholics, Jews, Gentiles, occidentals and orientals are all the sons of God." She stated that all religions originate from the same spiritual source, and that humanity will eventually come to realize this, and as they do so, the result will be the emergence of a universal world religion and a "new world order".<ref name=Lane139>{{cite book|title=The Phenomenon of Teilhard: Prophet for a New Age|last=Lane |first=David H.|page=139|publisher=Mercer University Press|year=1996 |isbn=0-86554-498-0}}</ref><ref name=Hick155>{{cite book|title=Dialogues in the Philosophy of Religion |last=Hick |first=John |page=155|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2001 |isbn=0-333-76103-0}}</ref>

Author Steven Sutcliffe wrote that Bailey's "World Goodwill" organization was promoting groups of "world servers" to, as he quotes Bailey, "serve the Plan, Humanity, the Hierarchy and the Christ".<ref name="sutcliffe51">{{cite book |last=Sutcliffe |first=Steven J |title=Children of the New Age: A History of Spiritual Practices |publisher=Routledge |year=2003 |page=51 |isbn=0-415-24299-1}}</ref>

Despite her focus on unity of religion, Bromley and Hammond point out that Bailey and other "occultists" "...{{nbsp}}hammered home the central idea, 'The East is the true home of spiritual knowledge and occult wisdom'."<ref name=bromley1>{{cite book |last=Bromley |first=David G.|author2=Phillip E. Hammond |title=The Future of New Religious Movements |publisher=Mercer University Press |year=1987 |page=15 |isbn=0-86554-238-4}}</ref>