The Seal of the Rosicrucian Rose

Though their true origin is mired in beguiling mystery, many have dated the inception of The Rosicrucians (order of the Rosy Cross) in Medieval Germany during the 1400′s. This occult fraternity of alchemists, philosophers, scientists, astrologers, and doctors were said to have possessed the ancient wisdoms of the Universe passed down from the great Sages of time…the esoteric truths of ancient past. Sworn by oath to keep their knowledge from the masses, including the mastery over the alchemical wonder, The Philosopher’s Stone, The Rosicrucians held the key to understanding the framework of the Universe and the Metaphysical Realm. Their goal? Enlightenment. The shaping of civilization to their will. The “Universal Reformation of Mankind.” This was a cabal of highly intelligent mystics studying under the most esoteric tenets of Hermeticism, Physics, Mathematics, Magic, and Kabbalah. They were out to change the world.

The Mysteries of the Universe explained according to the Religion of Christ, by means of the Secret Symbols of the Rosicrucians of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries (click here to see full size)

The order of the Rose Croix was first introduced to the world in, The Fama Fraternitatis Rosae Crucis. This 1614 manifesto illustrates the legend of Rosicrucian founder, Christian Rosenkreuz…

Destined to live 106 years on earth, “Father C.R.” travelled in the East where he became an adept to the secret sages of the east, the wise men of Damcar in Arabia, from whom he learned the ancient esoteric knowledge of Cabalah (possibly Zoroastrianism and Sufism). On his return to his native Germany, he revealed to three disciples the secret of secrets, the great secret of theosophy. Unable to acquire influence over the European elite, Rosenkreuz collectived a cadre of disciples and founded, “The Fraternity of the Rose Cross”. The Order was said to consist of no more than eight members, each a doctor and a sworn bachelor. The Brothers of the Fraternity were sent in mission throughout the world, having as their first priority to use their knowledge to “cure the sick” in a free of charge way “that gratis”, not wearing any special clothing, and met once each year in the mysterious “House of the Holy Spirit”.

The Rose Cross of The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn – a secret society derived from the Rosicrucians

The Legend shows an agreement with six articles that they drew up Prior to their separation, bounding themselves one to another to keep:

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1. That none of them should profess any other thing than to cure the sick, and that gratis.

2. None of the posterity should be constrained to wear one kind of habit, but to follow the custom of the country.

3. Every year, upon the day C., they would meet together at the house Santi Spiritus, or write the cause of their absence.

4. Every Brother should seek a worthy person to succeed him after his death.

5. The word CR should be their seal, mark, and character.

6. The Fraternity should remain secret one hundred years.

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Father C.R. died in 1484 at the age of 106. His disciples came, enshrouded him and disappeared. His grave was to be unknown for six times twenty years at the end of which period it was to become the hearth of the light destined to illuminate the world at the time appointed by God. In 1604, chance brought men to this cave. On entering, great was their surprise to find it resplendent with a bright light. It contained an altar bearing upon a copper plate the inscription “Living, I reserved this light for my grave.” One mysterious figure was accompanied by this epigram “Never vacant.” A second figure ” The Yoke of the Law.” A third figure ” The Liberty of the Gospels. ” A fourth ” The Glory of the Whole God.” The hall still contained lamps burning without fuel, mirrors of various shapes and books. Upon the wall was written ” In six times twenty years I will be discovered.”

A page from a Rosicrucian Manual on the evolution of the cross (click here to see full size)

In her epic text of cult research, Occult Theocracy, Lady Queenborough describes the ethos of the Rosicrucians:

They all maintain that the dissolution of bodies, by the power of fire, is the only way by which men can arrive at true wisdom, and come to discern the first principles of things. They all acknowledge a certain analogy and harmony between the powers of nature and the doctrines of religion ; and believe that the Deity governs the kingdom of grace by the same laws with which he rules the kingdom of nature ; and hence they are led to use chemical denominations to express the truth of religion. They all hold that there is a sort of divine energy, or soul, diffused through the frame of the universe, which some call the Argheus, others the universal spirit, and which others mention under different appellations. They all talk in the most superstitious manner of what they call the signatures of things, of the power of the stars, over all corporeal beings, and their particular influence upon the human race, of the efficacy of magic, and the various ranks and orders of demons — These demons they divide into two orders, sylphs and gnomes.

True Rosicrucianism is thought to have been absorbed by the Freemasons, and additionally, divided off into various occult societies; including the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Like Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism has progressed into a more exoteric organization over time. Though still held firmly in the quest of mastery over one’s self, the tenets of modern Rosicrucianism aren’t shrouded in secrecy or limited to select initiates. In fact, you can download a pdf of their doctrine right here. However, like Freemasonry, many theorists believe the order to be a labyrinthine chamber of secrets within secrets. Could the original members of the Rosy Cross have passed the TRUE doctrines of their great work to a only a select few? Could these select few have developed into some other invisible college of esotericism as Rosicrucianism spread??

The Illuminati?

What do you believe?

- Cornbluth