Esotericism refers to knowledge suitable only for the advanced, privileged, or initiated, as opposed to exoteric knowledge, which is public. It is used especially for mystical, occult and spiritual viewpoints. Esotericism - Etymology. Esoteric is an adjective originating in Hellenic Greece under the domain of the Roman Empire; it comes from the Greek esôterikos, from esôtero, the comparative form of esô: "within". Esoteric refers to anything that is inner and occult. It ...

Including:

• Esotericism - Etymology
• Esotericism - Esoteric vs. Esotericism
• Esotericism - Nuances
• Esotericism - Scope
• Esotericism - Historical sketch
• Esotericism - Esoteric themes
• Esotericism - Traditions
• Esotericism - Esotericism in popular culture

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Esotericism, Esotericism - Etymology, Esotericism - Esoteric vs. Esotericism, Esotericism - Nuances, Esotericism - Scope, Esotericism - Historical sketch, Esotericism - Esoteric themes, Esotericism - Traditions, Esotericism - Esotericism in popular culture

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Esotericism largely overlaps with occultism which simply means "hidden knowledge." However, in the 20th century many esotericists avoid the latter term owing to negative connotations associated with it (for example, the presumption that it involves devil-worship or black magic). For the same reason, many (predominantly Christian) opponents of esotericism prefer the term "occultism." Much overlap exists as well between esotericism and mysticism. However, many mystical traditions do not attempt to introduce additional spir ...

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Esotericism, Esotericism - Etymology, Esotericism - Esoteric vs. Esotericism, Esotericism - Nuances, Esotericism - Scope, Esotericism - Historical sketch, Esotericism - Esoteric themes, Esotericism - Traditions, Esotericism - Esotericism in popular culture

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The Rosicrucian Order 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 b ...

Including:

• Rosicrucian - Origins
• Rosicrucian - History
• Rosicrucian - Influence on Freemasonry
• Rosicrucian - Rose Cross: Alchemy and Divine Sciences of Healing & of the Stars
• Rosicrucian - The Manifestos
• Rosicrucian - Modern groups
• Rosicrucian - Esoteric Christianity groups vs. Para-Masonic groups
• Rosicrucian - List of 'Para-Masonic' groups
• Rosicrucian - List of 'Esoteric Christianity' groups
• Rosicrucian - Reference literature

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If one abstracts from the symbolic associations of the rose and the cross, which have been visioned by many since ancient epochs, it is known that three treatises or manifestos which gave rise to this movement were published in the German language between 1614 and 1616: 1614: Fama Fraternitatis 1615: Confessio Fraternitatis 1616: Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz Between 1614 and 1620, about 400 manuscripts and books were publi ...

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Rosicrucian, Rosicrucian - Origins, Rosicrucian - History, Rosicrucian - Influence on Freemasonry, Rosicrucian - Rose Cross: Alchemy and Divine Sciences of Healing & of the Stars, Rosicrucian - The Manifestos, Rosicrucian - Modern groups, Rosicrucian - Esoteric Christianity groups vs. Para-Masonic groups, Rosicrucian - List of 'Para-Masonic' groups, Rosicrucian - List of 'Esoteric Christianity' groups, Rosicrucian - Reference literature

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During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, various groups styled themselves Rosicrucian. Almost all claimed to be authentic heirs to a historical Rosicrucian tradition. These include the Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (AMORC), the Confraternity of the Rose Cross (CR+C), Fraternitas Rosae Crucis, the Rosicrucian Order Crotona Fellowship, Societas Rosicruciana, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia, and others as well. Rosicrucian - Esoteric Christ ...

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Rosicrucian, Rosicrucian - Origins, Rosicrucian - History, Rosicrucian - Influence on Freemasonry, Rosicrucian - Rose Cross: Alchemy and Divine Sciences of Healing & of the Stars, Rosicrucian - The Manifestos, Rosicrucian - Modern groups, Rosicrucian - Esoteric Christianity groups vs. Para-Masonic groups, Rosicrucian - List of 'Para-Masonic' groups, Rosicrucian - List of 'Esoteric Christianity' groups, Rosicrucian - Reference literature

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According to a legend published in the 17th century Rosicrucian manifestos, the Rosicrucian Order was founded in 1407 (the early 15th century) by a German pilgrim named Christian Rosenkreuz (1378 - 1484), who studied in the Middle East under various occult masters. During his lifetime, the Order was alleged to be small, consisting of no more than eight members. When Rosenkreuz died in 1484, the Order disappeared, only to be "reborn" in the early 17th century. Most modern Rosicrucianists accept this legend to varying degrees. Some accept it a ...

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Rosicrucian, Rosicrucian - Origins, Rosicrucian - History, Rosicrucian - Influence on Freemasonry, Rosicrucian - Rose Cross: Alchemy and Divine Sciences of Healing & of the Stars, Rosicrucian - The Manifestos, Rosicrucian - Modern groups, Rosicrucian - Esoteric Christianity groups vs. Para-Masonic groups, Rosicrucian - List of 'Para-Masonic' groups, Rosicrucian - List of 'Esoteric Christianity' groups, Rosicrucian - Reference literature

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Essays Alexandre David, Fama Fraternitatis - Introdution, [15]. Corinne Heline, The Seven Jewels and the Seven Stages of Initiation , [16] Fictional literature Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Zanoni: A Rosicrucian Tale (1842), [17]. Prentiss Tucker, In the Land of the Living Dead: an Occult Story (1929), [18]. Hermann Hesse, Journey to the East (1932, also "Journey to the Land of the Morning/of the Tomorrow" (Die Morgenlandfahrt)) ...

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Rosicrucian, Rosicrucian - Origins, Rosicrucian - History, Rosicrucian - Influence on Freemasonry, Rosicrucian - Rose Cross: Alchemy and Divine Sciences of Healing & of the Stars, Rosicrucian - The Manifestos, Rosicrucian - Modern groups, Rosicrucian - Esoteric Christianity groups vs. Para-Masonic groups, Rosicrucian - List of 'Para-Masonic' groups, Rosicrucian - List of 'Esoteric Christianity' groups, Rosicrucian - Reference literature

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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 (seven at first, according to Fama Fraternitatis), 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 w ...

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Rosicrucian, Rosicrucian - Origins, Rosicrucian - History, Rosicrucian - Influence on Freemasonry, Rosicrucian - Rose Cross: Alchemy and Divine Sciences of Healing & of the Stars, Rosicrucian - The Manifestos, Rosicrucian - Modern groups, Rosicrucian - Esoteric Christianity groups vs. Para-Masonic groups, Rosicrucian - List of 'Para-Masonic' groups, Rosicrucian - List of 'Esoteric Christianity' groups, Rosicrucian - Reference literature

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According to Jean Pierre Bayard, two rites of Rosicrucian inspiration emerged from the end of 18th century. One was the Rectified Scottish Rite, which was widespread in Central Europe where there was a strong presence of the "Golden and Rosy Cross". The other was the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, practiced in France. During the 18th century, there were several rites practiced in Freemasonry based on the Renaissance universe of hermeticism and alchemy, which was ...

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Rosicrucian, Rosicrucian - Origins, Rosicrucian - History, Rosicrucian - Influence on Freemasonry, Rosicrucian - Rose Cross: Alchemy and Divine Sciences of Healing & of the Stars, Rosicrucian - The Manifestos, Rosicrucian - Modern groups, Rosicrucian - Esoteric Christianity groups vs. Para-Masonic groups, Rosicrucian - List of 'Para-Masonic' groups, Rosicrucian - List of 'Esoteric Christianity' groups, Rosicrucian - Reference literature

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The alchemy in the laboratory (the ancestor of modern chemistry), where the ultimate goal was understanding of the laws of Nature in order to aid the individual's quest for perfection, recalls another type of alchemy, the one called spiritual. The true alchemists, or philosophers of the fire, often make reference in their works to the blowers, meaning all those who were just interested the creation of gold and the material aspects of alchemy. In his laboratory, the alchemist works on the materia prima and surrounds himsel ...

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Rosicrucian, Rosicrucian - Origins, Rosicrucian - History, Rosicrucian - Influence on Freemasonry, Rosicrucian - Rose Cross: Alchemy and Divine Sciences of Healing & of the Stars, Rosicrucian - The Manifestos, Rosicrucian - Modern groups, Rosicrucian - Esoteric Christianity groups vs. Para-Masonic groups, Rosicrucian - List of 'Para-Masonic' groups, Rosicrucian - List of 'Esoteric Christianity' groups, Rosicrucian - Reference literature

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Esoteric is an adjective originating in Hellenic Greece under the domain of the Roman Empire; it comes from the Greek esôterikos, from esôtero, the comparative form of esô: "within". Esoteric refers to anything that is inner and occult. Its antonym is exoteric, from the Greek eksôterikos, from eksôtero, the comparative form of eksô: "outside". Plato (427-347 BC) uses in his dialogue Alcibíades (aprox. 390 BC) the expression ta esô meaning «the inner things ...

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Esotericism, Esotericism - Etymology, Esotericism - Esoteric vs. Esotericism, Esotericism - Nuances, Esotericism - Scope, Esotericism - Historical sketch, Esotericism - Esoteric themes, Esotericism - Traditions, Esotericism - Esotericism in popular culture

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Many religious movements in various parts of the world claim to possess a higher, truer, or better interpretation of the wider religion of which they are a part. Whether they are correct is inevitably a matter of controversy. Not infrequently, the claims of one esoteric group may be rejected by the wider religious culture, or by other esoteric groups which make their own rival claims. While esotericism tends to focus on personal enlightenment and internal spiritual practice, organized religion or exotericism tends to focus on outer sp ...

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Esotericism, Esotericism - Etymology, Esotericism - Esoteric vs. Esotericism, Esotericism - Nuances, Esotericism - Scope, Esotericism - Historical sketch, Esotericism - Esoteric themes, Esotericism - Traditions, Esotericism - Esotericism in popular culture

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Esotericism is not a single tradition but a vast array of often unrelated figures and movements. Nevertheless, the following may be helpful. The Roman Empire gave birth not only to Christianity but also to a group of mystery religions which emphasized initiation. Some see Christianity, with its initiation ritual of baptism, as a mystery religion. After Christianity became the state religion of Rome, dissident Christian groups became persecuted as traitors to the state. Also, pagan groups came to be suppressed as well. The terms ...

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Esotericism, Esotericism - Etymology, Esotericism - Esoteric vs. Esotericism, Esotericism - Nuances, Esotericism - Scope, Esotericism - Historical sketch, Esotericism - Esoteric themes, Esotericism - Traditions, Esotericism - Esotericism in popular culture

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What, in a nutshell, does "esotericism" teach? No possible answer could do justice to the myriad groups which are subsumed under this name. However, we may venture some representative examples: Kabbalah preserves traditions describing the origin and destiny of humanity and the universe, as well as practices aimed at restoring ourselves and the world to our true stations. These are of course typical religious concerns, which in this case parallel or amplify the teachings and practices of mainstream Judaism. Gnosticism te ...

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Esotericism, Esotericism - Etymology, Esotericism - Esoteric vs. Esotericism, Esotericism - Nuances, Esotericism - Scope, Esotericism - Historical sketch, Esotericism - Esoteric themes, Esotericism - Traditions, Esotericism - Esotericism in popular culture

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