Rosicrucianism: New Age Spirituality Dictionary on Rosicrucianism

Rosicrucianism

(Literally the ÒRose crossÓ) The name was first given to the disciples of an adept known as Christian Rosenkreuz, who supposedly lived Germany around 1460. He is said to be the founder of an order of mystical students whose early history is to be found in the German work, Fama Fraternitatis (1614), which has been published in several languages.

The members of the Order maintained their secrecy, but traces of them have been found in various places every half century since these dates. This organization which was extremely Christian in its orientation, apparently died out around the beginning of the 19th century. The best-known modern Rosicrucian organization, the Ancient and Mystical Order of the Rosy Cross (AMORC), was founded shortly after the turn of the 20th century and derived its charter from an organization in France which evolved from an organization founded by Aliester Crowley. There is no obvious connection between the original 17th century Rosicrucians and any modern group using the name

The first Rosicrucian society in the United States was founded in Pennsylvania in 1694. In 1909 Harvey Spencer Lewis founded The Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (AMORC) which now has its headquarters in San Jose, California. Lewis claimed to have been initiated into the Brotherhood in France. The AMORC is an international fraternal order that operates through a system of lodges and fosters the Rosicrucian philosophy of developing humankind's highest potentialities and psychic powers.

Through study and practice, members strive for the perfection with the ultimate goal being admittance into the Lodge and the attainment of true knowledge, or cosmic consciousness. Students progress through twelve degrees of mastery, with the tenth through twelfth degrees conferred psychically, usually in the Order's temples in the East. As in Theosophy, such perfection comes only after various reincarnations, each devoted to achieving a greater oneness with the Supreme Being. Rosicrucians claim influence on Freemasonry, especially since the eighteenth Masonic degree is the Sovereign Prince Rose Croix of Heredom.

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For more articles related to Rosicrucianism , see: Rosicrucianism , New Age, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul.

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