Rosicrucian

The Rosicrucian is a legendary and secretive order dating from the 15th or 17th century. It generally is associated with the symbol of the Rose Cross, which is also found in certain rituals beyond "Craft" or "Blue Lodge" Freemasonry. The Rosicrucian Order is viewed among earlier and many modern Rosicrucianists as an inner worlds Order, comprised of great "Adepts." When compared to human beings, the consciousness of these Adepts is like that of demi-gods. This "College of Invisibles" is regarded as the source permanently behind the development of the Rosicrucian movement.

History

It is on the foundation of these teachings that Rosenkreuz conceived the plan for simultaneous and universal religious, philosophic, scientific, political, and artistic reform. For the realization of this plan, he united with several disciples, to whom he gave the name of Rose-Croix.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The founder of the Order of the Rose-Croix belonged, as affirmed by historians, to a noble family, but there is no document that allows us to affirm this peremptorily. However, it is certain that he was an orientalist and a great traveler.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

What was known in the early 17th century as the "Fraternity of the Rose Cross" seems to have been a number of isolated individuals who held certain views in common, which apparently was their only bond of union. These views were regarding hermetic knowledge, related to the higher nature of man, and also with common philosophical conceptions towards the foundation of a more perfected human society. There is no trace of a Fraternity or secret society which held meetings, or had officers or leaders. So far, as many works are concerned, it is evident that the writers who posed as Rosicrucians were moral and religious reformers, and utilized the technicalities of chemistry (alchemy), and the sciences generally, as media through which to publicize their opinions and beliefs. Their writings included a hint of mysticism or occultism, promoting inquiry and suggesting hidden meanings discernible or discoverable only by "Adepts."

Related Topics:
Hermetic - Philosophical - Alchemy - Mysticism - Occultism

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The publications of Fama Fraternitatis Rosae Crucis (1614), Confessio Fraternitatis (1615), and Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz (1616) caused immense excitement throughout Europe. These works declared the existence of a secret brotherhood of alchemists and sages who were interpreted as preparing to transform the arts, sciences, religion, political, and intellectual landscape of Europe while wars of politics and religion ravaged the continent. Not only did these works lead to many re-issues, but they were followed by numerous pamphlets, favourable and otherwise, whose authors generally knew little of the real aims of the original author and often amused themselves at the public?s expense. According to historical records, it is probable that the first work was circulated in manuscript form about 1610, even though there was no mention of the order before that decade. In fact, research indicates that all three documents probably were the creation of Lutheran theologian Johann Valentin Andreae (1586-1654). However, his authorship only is confirmed for the Chymical Wedding, which he subsequently described as a Ludibrium. The authors of the Rosicrucian works generally favoured Lutheranism as opposed to Roman Catholicism.

Related Topics:
Fama Fraternitatis Rosae Crucis - 1614 - Confessio Fraternitatis - 1615 - Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz - 1616 - 1610 - Johann Valentin Andreae - 1586 - 1654 - Ludibrium - Lutheranism - Roman Catholicism

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Around 1530, more than eighty years before the publication of the first manifesto, documented evidence of the cross and the rose already existed in Portugal in the Convent of the Order of Christ, home of the Knights Templar, which later was renamed Order of Christ. Three bocetes were, and still are, on the abóboda of the initiations' room. In these cases, the rose can clearly be seen at the center of the cross. At the same time, a minor writing by Paracelsus called Prognosticatio Eximii Doctoris Paracelsi (1530) contained the image of a double cross over an open rose, along with a written reference to it. The occultist Stanislas de Guaita, "Au seuil du Mystère" (1886), used Paracelsus' writing, and other examples, to prove the "Fraternity of the Rose Cross" existed far earlier than 1614.

Related Topics:
1530 - Convent of the Order of Christ - Knights Templar - Order of Christ - Paracelsus - Occultist - Stanislas de Guaita

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It is evident that the first Rosicrucian manifesto, Fama Fraternitatis (1614), was influenced by the work of the respected hermetic philosopher Heinrich Khunrath, of Hamburg. He was author of the Amphitheatrum Sapientiae Aeternae (1609), and was in turn strongly influenced by the work of the mysterious philosopher and alchemist John Dee, author of the Monas Hieroglyphica (1564).

Related Topics:
Fama Fraternitatis - Hermetic - Heinrich Khunrath - John Dee

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The legend and ideas presented in the first two manifestos and in the "Chymical Wedding" originated a variety of controversial issues and works of Rosicrucianists inspiration. Among these, are the works of Michael Maier (1568-1622) of Germany, Robert Fludd (1574-1637) and Elias Ashmole (1617-1692) of England and many others, such as Teophilus Schweighardt, Gotthardus Arthusius, Julius Sperber, Henricus Madathanus, Gabriel Naudé, Thomas Vaughan. Some later works with an impact on Rosicrucianism, were the Opus magocabalisticum et theosophicum by George von Welling (1719), of alchemical and paracelsian inspiration, and the Aureum Vellus oder Goldenes Vliess by Hermann Fictuld in 1749.

Related Topics:
Michael Maier - Robert Fludd - Elias Ashmole - Teophilus Schweighardt - Gotthardus Arthusius - Julius Sperber - Henricus Madathanus - Gabriel Naudé - Thomas Vaughan - George von Welling - Alchemical - Paracelsian - Hermann Fictuld

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Michael Maier (1568-1622), a philosopher, alchemist, practical chemist, and a doctor in medicine, was ennobled with the title Pfalzgraf (Count Palatine) by Rudolph II, Emperor and King of Hungary and King of Bohemia. He also was one of the most prominent apologists and defenders of the Rosicrucians, clearly transmitting details about the "Brothers of the Rose Cross" in his writings. Maier made the firm statement that the Brothers of R.C. actually exist to advance inspired arts and sciences, including Alchemy. The researchers of Maiers' writings point out that he never stated, in an objective way, that he had produced gold. Neither Heinrich Khunrath nor any of the other Rosicrucianists ever said as well. Their writings point toward a highly symbolic and spiritual Alchemy, more than an operative one. In both direct and veiled styles, these writings conveyed the nine stages of the involutive-evolutive transmutation of the threefold body of the human being, the threefold soul and the threefold spirit, among other esoteric knowledge related to the "Path of Initiation".

Related Topics:
Michael Maier - Rudolph II - Hungary - Bohemia - Alchemy - Esoteric knowledge

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Isaac Newton (1642-1727), one of the most important geniuses of mathematics, also possessed many famous and old treaties of Alchemy. He also made manuscript copies of alchemical works, found today at the Yale University's Library. One of these many works in his collection is the Themis Aurea by Michael Maier, to which he made references and comments about notes relating to hermetic philosophy.

Related Topics:
Isaac Newton - Yale University's Library - Hermetic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the 1618 manifesto, Pia et Utilissima Admonitio de Fratribus Rosae Crucis, Henrichus Neuhusius, presented the conception that the Rosicrucians left to the East, due to the instability in Europe at the time of the Thirty Years' War, 1618-1648. In 1710 Samuel Ritcher, and later on René Guénon, 1886-1951, also presented this idea in some of their works. However, another eminent author on the Rosicrucians, Arthur Edward Waite (1857-1942), presents motifs which contradict this idea. It was in this fertile field of discourse, and filling the vacuum left by the original Rosicrucians, that many societies said to be "Rosicrucianists" arose. They were based on the occult tradition and inspired by the mystery of this "College of Invisibles." However, it is possible only a few of them may have something in common with the true Rosicrucian Order, other than the name.

Related Topics:
Henrichus Neuhusius - East - Thirty Years' War - Samuel Ritcher - René Guénon - Arthur Edward Waite - Occult

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~