Table of Contents

by | Aug 21, 2011 | Secret Teachings of All Ages

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DEDICATION 3
PREFACE 5
COLOR PLATES 9
ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT 11
INTRODUCTION 12
THE ANCIENT MYSTERIES AND SECRET SOCIETIES WHICH HAVE INFLUENCED MODERN MASONIC SYMBOLISM Ancient systems of education–Celsus concerning the Christians–Knowledge necessary to right living–The Druidic Mysteries of Britain and Gaul–The Rites of Mithras–The Mithraic and Christian Mysteries contrasted. 21
THE ANCIENT MYSTERIES AND SECRET SOCIETIES, PART II The Gnostic Mysteries–Simon Magus and Basilides–Abraxas, the Gnostic concept of Deity–The Mysteries of Serapis–Labyrinth symbolism–The Odinic, or Gothic, Mysteries. 25
THE ANCIENT MYSTERIES AND SECRET SOCIETIES, PART III The Eleusinian Mysteries–The Lesser Rites–The Greater Rites–The Orphic Mysteries–The Bacchic Mysteries–The Dionysiac Mysteries. 29
ATLANTIS AND THE GODS OF ANTIQUITY Plato’s Atlantis in the light of modern science-The Myth of the Dying God-The Rite of Tammuz and Ishtar–The Mysteries of Atys and Adonis-The Rites of Sabazius–The Cabiric Mysteries of Samothrace. 33
THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF THOTH HERMES TRISMEGISTUS Suppositions concerning identity of Hermes–The mutilated Hermetic fragments–The Book of Thoth–Poimandres, the Vision of Hermes–The Mystery of Universal Mind–The Seven Governors of the World. 37
THE INITIATION OF THE PYRAMID The opening of the Great Pyramid by Caliph at Mamoun–The passageways and chambers of the Great Pyramid–The riddle of the Sphinx–The Pyramid Mysteries–The secret of the Pyramid coffer-The dwelling place of the Hidden God. 41
ISIS, THE VIRGIN OF THE WORLD The birthdays of the gods–The murder of Osiris–The Hermetic Isis–The symbols peculiar to Isis–The Troubadours–The mummification of the dead. 45
THE SUN, A UNIVERSAL DEITY The Solar Trinity-Christianity and the Sun–The birthday of the Sun–The three Suns–The celestial inhabitants of the Sun–The midnight Sun. 49
THE ZODIAC AND ITS SIGNS Primitive astronomical instruments–The equinoxes and solstices–The astrological ages of the world–The circular zodiac of Tentyra–An interpretation of the zodiacal signs–The horoscope of the world. 53
THE BEMBINE TABLE OF ISIS Plato’s initiation in the Great Pyramid–The history of the Bembine Table–Platonic theory of ideas–The interplay of the three philosophical zodiacs–The Chaldean philosophy of triads–The Orphic Egg. 57
WONDERS OF ANTIQUITY The ever-burning lamps–The oracle of Delphi–The Dodonean oracle–The oracle of Trophonius–The initiated architects–The Seven Wonders of the world. 61
THE LIFE AND PHILOSOPHY OF PYTHAGORAS Pythagoras and the School of Crotona–Pythagoric fundamentals–The symmetrical solids–The symbolic aphorisms of Pythagoras–Pythagorean astronomy–Kepler’s theory of the universe. 65
PYTHAGOREAN MATHEMATICS The theory of numbers–The numerical values of letters–Method of securing the numerical Power of words–An introduction to the Pythagorean theory of numbers–The sieve of Eratosthenes–The meanings of the ten numbers. 69
THE HUMAN BODY IN SYMBOLISM The philosophical manikin–The three universal centers–The temples of initiation–The hand in symbolism–The greater and lesser man–The Anthropos, or Oversoul. 73
THE HIRAMIC LEGEND The building of Solomon’s Temple–The murder of CHiram Abiff–The martyrdom of Jacques de Molay–The spirit fire and the pineal gland–The wanderings of the astronomical CHiram–Cleopatra’s Needle and Masons’ marks. 77
THE PYTHAGOREAN THEORY OF MUSIC AND COLOR Pythagoras and the diatonic scale–Therapeutic music–The music of the spheres–The use of color in symbolism–The colors of the spectrum and the musical scale–Zodiacal and planetary colors. 81
FISHES, INSECTS, ANIMALS, REPTILES, AND BIRDS Jonah and the whale–The fish the symbol of Christ–The Egyptian scarab–Jupiter’s fly–The serpent of wisdom–The sacred crocodile. 85
FISHES, INSECTS, ANIMALS, REPTILES, AND BIRDS, PART II The dove, the yonic emblem–The self-renewing phœnix–The Great Seal of the United States of America–Bast, the cat goddess of the Ptolemies–Apis, the sacred bull–The monoceros, or unicorn. 89
FLOWERS, PLANTS, FRUITS, AND TREES The flower, a phallic symbol–The lotus blossom–The Scandinavian World Tree, Yggdrasil–The sprig of acacia–The juice of the grape–The magical powers of the mandrake. 93
STONES, METALS, AND GEMS Prehistoric monuments–The tablets of the Law–The Holy Grail–The ages of the world–Talismanic jewels–Zodiacal and planetary stones and gems. 97
CEREMONIAL MAGIC AND SORCERY The black magic of Egypt–Doctor Johannes Faustus–The Mephistopheles of the Grimores–The invocation of spirits–Pacts with demons–The symbolism of the pentagram. 101
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THE ELEMENTS AND THEIR INHABITANTS. The Paracelsian theory of submundanes–The orders of elemental beings–The Gnomes, Undines, Salamanders, and Sylphs–Demonology–The incubus and succubus–Vampirism. 105
HERMETIC PHARMACOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, AND THERAPEUTICS The healing methods of Paracelsus–Palingenesis–Hermetic theories concerning the cause of disease–Medicinal properties of herbs–The use of drugs in the Mysteries–The sect of the Assassins. 109
THE QABBALAH, THE SECRET DOCTRINE OF ISRAEL The written and unwritten laws–The origin of the Qabbalistic writings–Rabbi Simeon ben Jochai–The great Qabbalistic books–The divisions of the Qabbalistic system–The Sepher Yetzirah. 113
FUNDAMENTALS OF QABBALISTIC COSMOGONY AIN SOPH and the Cosmic Egg–The Qabbalistic system of worlds–The Qabbalistic interpretation of Ezekiel’s vision–The great image of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream–The Grand Man of the universe–The fifty gates of life. 117
THE TREE OF THE SEPHIROTH The thirty-two paths of wisdom–The Greater and the Lesser Face–Kircher’s Sephirothic Tree–The mystery of Daath–The three pillars supporting the Sephirothic Tree–The four letters of the Sacred Name. 121
QABBALISTIC KEYS TO THE CREATION OF MAN Gematria, Notarikon, and Temurah–The Elohim–The four Adams–Arabian traditions concerning Adam–Adam as the archetype of mankind–The early Christian Church on the subject of marriage. 125
AN ANALYSIS OF THE TAROT CARDS The origin of playing cards–The rota mundi of the Rosicrucians–The problem of Tarot symbolism–The unnumbered card–The symbolism of the twenty-one major trumps–The suit cards. 129
THE TABERNACLE IN THE WILDERNESS Moses, the Egyptian initiate–The building of the Tabernacle–The furnishings of the Tabernacle–The Ark of the Covenant–The Robes of Glory–The Urim and Thummim. 133
THE FRATERNITY OF THE ROSE CROSS The life of Father C.R.C.–Johann Valentin Andreæ–The alchemical teachings of the Rosicrucians–Significance of the Rose Cross–The Rosicrucian Temple–The adepts of the Rose Cross. 137
ROSICRUCIAN DOCTRINES AND TENETS The Confessio Fraternitatis—The Anatomy of Melancholy–John Heydon on Rosicrucianism–The three mountains of the wise–The philosophical egg–The objects of the Rosicrucian Order. 141
FIFTEEN ROSICRUCIAN AND QABBALISTIC DIAGRAMS Schamayim, the Ocean of Spirit–The Seven Days of Creation–The symbolic tomb of Christian Rosencreutz–The regions of the elements–The New Jerusalem–The grand secret of Nature. 145
ALCHEMY AND ITS EXPONENTS The multiplication of metals–The medal of Emperor Leopold I–Paracelsus of Hohenheim–Raymond Lully–Nicholas Flarnmel–Count Bernard of Treviso. 149
THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF ALCHEMY The origin of alchemical philosophy–Alexander the Great and the talking trees–Nature and art–Alchemical symbolism–The Song of Solomon–The Philosopher’s Gold. 153
THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF ALCHEMY, PART II The alchemical prayer–The Emerald Tablet of Hermes–A letter from the Brothers of R.C.–The magical Mountain of the Moon–An alchemical formula–The dew of the sages. 157
THE CHEMICAL MARRIAGE Christian Rosencreutz is invited to the Chemical Wedding–The Virgo Lucifera–The philosophical Inquisition–The Tower of Olympus–The homunculi–The Knights of the Golden Stone. 161
BACON, SHAKESPEARE, AND THE ROSICRUCIANS The Rosicrucian mask–Life of William Shakspere–Sir Francis Bacon–The acrostic signatures–The significant number thirty-three–The philosophic death. 165
THE CRYPTOGRAM AS A FACTOR IN SYMBOLIC PHILOSOPHY Secret alphabets–The biliteral cipher–Pictorial ciphers–Acroamatic ciphers–Numerical and musical ciphers–Code ciphers. 169
FREEMASONIC SYMBOLISM The pillars raised by the sons of Seth–Enoch and the Royal Arches–The Dionysiac Architects–The Roman Collegia–Solomon, the personification of Universal Wisdom–Freemasonry’s priceless heritage. 173
MYSTIC CHRISTIANITY St. Iranæus on the life of Christ–The original name of Jesus–The Christened man–The Essenes–The Arthurian cycle–Merlin the Mage. 177
THE CROSS AND THE CRUCIFIXION The Aurea Legenda–The lost libraries of Alexandria–The cross in pagan symbolism–The crucifixion, a cosmic allegory–The crucifixion of Quetzalcoatl–The nails of the Passion. 181
THE MYSTERY OF THE APOCALYPSE The sacred city of Ephesus–The authorship of the Apocalypse–The Alpha and Omega–The Lamb of God-The Four Horsemen-The number of the beast. 185
THE FAITH OF ISLAM The life of Mohammed–The revelation of the Koran–The valedictory pilgrimage–The tomb of the Prophet–The Caaba at Mecca–The secret doctrine of Islam. 189
AMERICAN INDIAN SYMBOLISM The ceremony of the peace pipe–The historical Hiawatha–The Popol Vuh–American Indian sorcery–The Mysteries of Xibalba–The Midewiwin. 193
THE MYSTERIES AND THEIR EMISSARIES The Golden Chain of Homer–Hypatia, the Alexandrian Neo-Platonist–The “divine” Cagliostro–The Comte de St.-Germain–The designing of the American flag–The Declaration of Independence. 197
CONCLUSION 201
BIBLIOGRAPHY 205
INDEX 207

The Fraternity of the Rose Cross | Chapter 30

by | Aug 21, 2011 | Secret Teachings of All Ages

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WHO were the Rosicrucians? Were they an organization of profound thinkers rebelling against the inquisitional religious and philosophical limitations of their time or were they isolated transcendentalists united only by the similarity of their viewpoints and deductions? Where was the “House of the Holy Spirit, ” in which, according to their manifestoes, they met once a year to plan the future activities of their Order? Who was the mysterious person referred to as “Our Illustrious Father and Brother C.R.C.”? Did those three letters actually stand for the words “Christian Rosie Cross”? Was Christian Rosencreutz, the supposed author of the Chymical Nuptials, the same person who with three others founded “The Society of the Rose Cross”?

What relationship existed between Rosicrucianism and mediæval Freemasonry? Why were the destinies of these two organizations so closely interwoven? Is the “Brotherhood of the Rose Cross” the much-sought-after link connecting the Freemasonry of the Middle Ages with the symbolism and mysticism of antiquity, and are its secrets being perpetuated by modern Masonry? Did the original Rosicrucian Order disintegrate in the latter part of the eighteenth century, or does the Society still exist as an organization, maintaining the same secrecy for which it was originally famous? What was the true purpose for which the “Brotherhood of the Rose Cross” was formed? Were the Rosicrucians a religious and philosophic brotherhood, as they claimed to be, or were their avowed tenets a blind to conceal the true object of the Fraternity, which possibly was the political control of Europe? These are some of the problems involved in the study of Rosicrucianism.

There are four distinct theories regarding the Rosicrucian enigma. Each is the result of a careful consideration of the evidence by scholars who have spent their lives ransacking the archives of Hermetic lore. The conclusions reached demonstrate clearly the inadequacy of the records available concerning the genesis and early activities of the “Brethren of the Rose Cross.”

THE FIRST POSTULATE

It is assumed that the Rosicrucian Order existed historically in accordance with the description of its foundation and subsequent activities published in its manifesto, the Fama Fraternitatis, which is believed to have been written in the year 1610, but apparently did not appear in print until 1614, although an earlier edition is suspected by some authorities. Intelligent consideration of the origin of Rosicrucianism requires a familiarity with the contents of the first and most important of its documents. The Fama Fraternitatis begins with a reminder to all the world of God’s goodness and mercy, and it warns the intelligentsia that their egotism and covetousness cause them to follow after false prophets and to ignore the true knowledge which God in His goodness has revealed to them. Hence, a reformation is necessary, and God has raised up philosophers and sages for this purpose.

In order to assist in bringing about the reformation, a mysterious person called “The Highly Illuminated Father C.R.C.,” a German by birth, descended of a noble family, but himself a poor man, instituted the “Secret Society of the Rose Cross.” C.R.C. was placed in a cloister when only five years of age, but later becoming dissatisfied with its educational system, he associated himself with a brother of Holy Orders who was setting forth on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. They started out together, but the brother died at Cyprus and C.R.C! continued alone to Damascus. Poor health prevented him from reaching Jerusalem, so he remained at Damascus, studying with the philosophers who dwelt there.

While pursuing his studies, he heard of a group of mystics and Qabbalists abiding in the mystic Arabian city of Damcar. Giving up his desire to visit Jerusalem, he arranged with the Arabians for his transportation to Damcar. C.R.C. was but sixteen years of age when he arrived at Damcar. He was received as one who had been long expected, a comrade and a friend in philosophy, and was instructed in the secrets of the Arabian adepts. While there, C.R.C. learned the Arabic tongue and translated the sacred book M into Latin; and upon returning to Europe he brought this important volume with him.

After studying three years in Damcar, C.R.C. departed for the city of Fez, where the Arabian magicians declared further information would be given him. At Fez he was instructed how to communicate with the Elementary inhabitants [probably the Nature spirits], and these disclosed to him many other great secrets of Nature. While the philosophers in Fez were not so great as those in Damcar, the previous experiences of C.R.C. enabled him to distinguish the true from the false and thus add greatly to his store of knowledge.

Rosicrucian Doctrines and Tenets | Chapter 31

by | Aug 21, 2011 | Secret Teachings of All Ages

p. 141

TRUSTWORTHY information is unavailable concerning the actual philosophical beliefs, political aspirations, and humanitarian activities of the Rosicrucian Fraternity. Today, as of old, the mysteries of the Society are preserved inviolate by virtue of their essential nature; and attempts to interpret Rosicrucian philosophy are but speculations, anything to the contrary notwithstanding.

Evidence points to the probable existence of two distinct Rosicrucian bodies: an inner organization whose members never revealed their identity or teachings to the world, and an outer body under the supervision of the inner group. In all probability, the symbolic tomb of Christian Rosencreutz, Knight of the Golden Stone, was in reality this outer body, the spirit of which is in a more exalted sphere. For a period of more than a century subsequent to 1614, the outer body circulated tracts and manifestoes under either its own name or the names of various initiated members. The purpose of these writings was apparently to confuse and mislead investigators, and thus effectively to conceal the actual designs of the Fraternity.

When Rosicrucianism became the philosophical “fad” of the seventeenth century, numerous documents on the subject were also circulated for purely commercial purposes by impostors desirous of capitalizing its popularity. The cunningly contrived artifices of the Fraternity itself and the blundering literary impostures of charlatans formed a double veil behind which the inner organization carried on its activities in a manner totally dissimilar to its purposes and principles as publicly disseminated. The Fratres Rosa Crucis naively refer to the misunderstandings which they have for obvious reasons permitted to exist concerning themselves as being “clouds” within which they labor and behind which they are concealed.

An inkling of the substance of Rosicrucianism–its esoteric doctrines–can be gleaned from an analysis of its shadow–its exoteric writings. In one of the most important of their “clouds,” the Confessio Fraternitatis, the Brethren of the Fraternity of R.C. seek to justify their existence and explain (?) the purposes and activities of their Order. In its original form the Confessio is divided into fourteen chapters, which are here epitomized.

CONFESSIO FRATERNITATIS R. C. AD ERUDITOS EUROPÆ

Chapter I. Do not through hasty judgment or prejudice misinterpret the statements concerning our Fraternity published in our previous manifesto–the Fama Fraternitatis. Jehovah, beholding the decadence of civilization, seeks to redeem humanity by revealing to the willing and by thrusting upon the reluctant those secrets which previously He had reserved for His elect. By this wisdom the godly shall be saved, but the sorrows of the ungodly shall be multiplied. While the true purpose of our Order was set forth in the Fama Fraternitatis, misunderstandings have arisen through which we have been falsely accused of heresy and treason. In this document we hope so to clarify our position that the learned of Europe will be moved to join with us in the dissemination of divine knowledge according to the will of our illustrious founder.

Chapter II. While it is alleged by many that the philosophic cide (sic. JBH) of our day is sound, we declare it to be false and soon to die of its own inherent weakness. just as Nature, however, provides a remedy for each new disease that manifests itself, so our Fraternity has provided a remedy for the infirmities of the world’s philosophic system. The secret philosophy of the R.C. is founded upon that knowledge which is the sum and head of all faculties, sciences, and arts. By our divinely revealed system–which partakes much of theology and medicine but little of jurisprudence–we analyze the heavens and the earth; but mostly we study man himself, within whose nature is concealed the supreme secret. If the learned of out day will accept our invitation and join themselves to our Fraternity, we will reveal to them undreamed-of secrets and wonders concerning the hidden workings of Nature.

Chapter III. Do not believe that the secrets discussed in this brief document are lightly esteemed by us. We cannot describe fully the marvels of our Fraternity lest the uninformed be overwhelmed by our astonishing declarations and the vulgar ridicule the mysteries which they do not comprehend. We also fear that many will be confused by the unexpected generosity of our proclamation, for not understanding the wonders of this sixth age they do nor realize the great changes which are to come. Like blind men living in a world full of light, they discern only through the sense of feeling. [By sight is implied spiritual cognition: by feeling, the material senses.]

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