History of Esoteric Initiation

Through the centuries in ancient times neophytes traveled through far and vast lands to fulfill something much greater than themselves. To the ancients, their world consisted of two main worlds, an exoteric and esoteric. Within the exoteric realm there was of everything physical and having to do with our deep understanding of our world, of which these teachings were of utmost basics. Within the esoteric world lay the true inner mysteries and workings of our universe as well as a deep-seated path to true enlightenment. Hundreds of people set forth on a quest to find such answers and to enable themselves to become something that much greater. The original mystery schools lay in what is now Egypt. Philosophers such as Plato, Pythagoras, Euclid, Socrates, Aristotle, Herodotus, Solon, Heraclitus, Plotinus, Hippocrates, Moses --and scholars believe Jesus as well-- were initiated into the Egyptian Mystery Schools. Most of the wisdom gathered together from these mystery schools were thus taken back into their homelands, in most cases being Greece and from there individualistic schools of thought arose. What exactly was taught within these mystery schools remains a mystery, however there are still remnant esoteric groups which still perhaps maintain the original secret teachings of these ancient Egyptian Mystery Schools.

Herodotus in the 5th century BCE was considered one of the first historians for his time, gathering together as much information as he could and preserving them for future generations. Herodotus describes two such Mystery Schools which lay south of Memphis in Heptanomis, Egypt. There he describes a great labyrinth in which only a select few could enter. Inside the immense labyrinth lay fifteen-hundred ground-floor chambers and two great Mystery Schools; "The Double House of Life" and "The Temple of the Lady from Heaven: Isis". At the heart of it all lay the "Circle of Gold", which the Egyptian Book of the Dead refers to, and which contained the complete history of Egypt, and astronomical knowledge regarding their civilization. According to legend, the Egyptian chronicles of the Pharaohs go back over 30,000 years to the land of Aha-Men-Ptah (Atlantis) where the arcane teachings all originated from.

The sacred symbolism taught to these initiates long ago constituted a great significance to each individual. As they were initiated into higher and higher levels the interpretations of symbolism went beyond into the heart of consciousness which lay within each individual. The great mysteries were thus presented to them in the form of initiatic rites and ceremonies which, reenacted symbolically the epic tale of Osiris and Isis. The symbolic interpretations of these tales was for each individual to decipher its deeper esoteric meaning. It is through the interpretations of these reenactments that a person can thus apply the symbolism to themselves. The universal principles taught a type of unification to a divine source, and how through mastery of oneself could one reach an attunement beyond anything imaginable.

One of the highest known of esoteric wisdoms in Egypt was that of Thoth. It is still unknown what exactly the book of Thoth possessed but author Manly P. Hall offers a hint as to what it may have contained; “its pages were covered with strange hieroglyphic figures and symbols, which gave those acquainted with their use unlimited power over the spirits of the air and subterranean divinities. When certain areas of the brain are stimulated by the secret processes of the Mysteries, the consciousness of man is extended and he is permitted to behold the Immortals and enter into the presence of the superior gods” (The Secret Teachings of All Ages pg 38). According to Manly P. Hall the secret teachings from these Egyptian Priests, which possessed the ‘Book of Thoth’, is still out there somewhere being only transmitted to the greatest of Mystics.

From Egypt to Europe

After the decay of the Egyptian Empire, the teachings fell into obscure hands throughout various areas. One of the main groups who obtained a lot of the ancient teachings were the Arabs. It was not until the Crusades when the Knight Templar withheld a lot of these teachings and brought them back to Egypt. Through initiatic rituals these rites, along with ancient secrets, were passed down to the neophytes as they were originally in Egypt. Though the specific context of the rituals and ceremonies were not the same as in ancient Egypt, they maintained the same symbolic and esoteric wisdoms.

A good example of one of the main things obtained during this time was that of the ‘Great Work’ otherwise known as Alchemy. The term Alchemy was originally spelled al-kimia literally meaning from Egypt in Arabic. The knights brought this knowledge with them back to Europe where a lot of the writings were translated into Latin and were passed down in secret for the centuries to come. It is interesting to note that Pope John XXII, around 1310, issued a decree which banned any practice of alchemy. And in 1541, Paracelsus, one the last of the great alchemists was murdered by the Church and ironically ended the age of Alchemy and yet started the age of Chemistry in Europe. The subject of Alchemy will be discussed more in depth at a later time when I go over healing.

These esoteric initiatic practices were carried out through Europe through the expansion of the Knight Templars in the 10-13th century. In utmost secrecy they pledged many into the deepest of arcane wisdom gathered from the Arabs in the middle east. Among some of the mysteries one was initiated into were that of the true story of Jesus of which the Roman Catholic Church feared the most. It was not until 1307 when King Philip IV of France pressured Pope Clement V to prosecute the Knights (due to his large banking debt), that the Knight Templars finally came to their end. Or did they?

The secret initiations and teachings of these mystic Knights somehow survived through the deadly inquisitions and survived within the deepest of esoteric circles. This is most evident when analyzing the practices and secret degrees amongst the Freemasons and Rosicrucians which still exist to this day and still carry out their teachings and rituals. ‘The Brotherhood of the Rosy Cross’ did not officially come about until 1610 with the publication of the Fama Fraternitatis written by Christian Rosenkreuz. This is when, historically speaking, the ‘Order of the Rose Cross’ finally comes into the public sphere, though its teachings span back to the original Egyptian initiatic teachings.

Tracing Back the Roots of Rosicrucian Healing

Throughout the world the Rosicrucians are most known for their healing practices prior to the 1900’s when it was kept a well-guarded secret. There seems to be an ongoing collection of these teachings which still exist to this day. Tracing back these teachings to a given source is no easy task. The origins, however, can be pinpointed to two distinct groups of the ancient world; The Egyptians and the Essenes. The Egyptians had detailed knowledge of the body and through this knowledge probably taught the secrets of healing within the Mystery Schools. This would be the only explanation as to how this knowledge got handed down through the centuries. It is a fact that Egyptians had such a vast anatomical knowledge of the human body before William Harvey (1578- 1626) came out and ‘discovered’ systemic circulation. Its interesting to note that William Harvey was a devotee of Sir Francis Bacon, who was a Rosicrucian. It is not until the early 1900’s the discovery of the Edwin Smith Papyrus which dated back to the 17th century BCE which proved an intimate knowledge of Egyptian medicine, anatomical and circulatory systematic correlations. Once thought to be written by Imhotep, ‘God of Medicine’, but since has been disproved for it seems to have three different authors. These fragments are all that is left providing a link between Rosicrucian healing and that of ancient Egypt. Perhaps, if the Mystery Schools had passed down the teachings in writing and not orally perhaps we could have more of a suggestive piece of evidence.

Another piece of interesting evidence one can analyze is that written by Hippocrates in the 4th Century BCE. The ‘Hippocratic Oath’ is still used to this very day, and because it is known that Hippocrates was initiated into the Mystery Schools it can perhaps leave one with a deeper clue as to ethical conduct for healing and medicinal practices among other things.

I swear by Apollo Physician and Asclepius and Hygeia and Panaceia and all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will fulfill according to my ability and judgment this oath and this covenant:

To hold him who has taught me this art as equal to my parents and to live my life in partnership with him, and if he is in need of money to give him a share of mine, and to regard his offspring as equal to my brothers in male lineage and to teach them this art - if they desire to learn it - without fee and covenant; to give a share of precepts and oral instruction and all the other learning to my sons and to the sons of him who has instructed me and to pupils who have signed the covenant and have taken an oath according to the medical law, but no one else.

I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice.

I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art.

I will not use the knife, not even on sufferers from stone, but will withdraw in favor of such men as are engaged in this work.

Whatever houses I may visit, I will come for the benefit of the sick, remaining free of all intentional injustice, of all mischief and in particular of sexual relations with both female and male persons, be they free or slaves.

What I may see or hear in the course of the treatment or even outside of the treatment in regard to the life of men, which on no account one must spread abroad, I will keep to myself, holding such things shameful to be spoken about.

If I fulfill this oath and do not violate it, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and art, being honored with fame among all men for all time to come; if I transgress it and swear falsely, may the opposite of all this be my lot.

Modern Day Rosicrucian Healing

Its no wonder most of the people who made the greatest strides within the field of science were all Rosicrucians, Sir Francis Bacon, Isaac Newton, René Descartes, Ben Franklin, etc. Rosicrucianism today is made up largely of those within the medical field and those within the scientific field as well. In San Jose California, for example there is a Rosicrucian University, which had on staff full-time scientists and other specialists conducting research, much of which has not been made public. At one point in time there was even a healing clinic on site, however it was shut down due to legal implications. The Rosicrucians state directly that the healing practices gathered together come directly from Egyptian tradition, and the Essenes, of which they hold ‘secret’ manuscripts and doctrines to that regard and of which the Rosicrucian student learns. The Rosicrucian student must then follow a strict code of ethics and rules of conduct. The overall fundamental purpose of their teachings is to branch the purely scientific principles with those of the mystical.

According to the Rosicrucians illness and suffering within the human body are things which can be completely avoided. Medication acts solely as a temporary solution which does not eliminate the problem, rather the body remains the only thing that can completely return itself to the original healthy state. Living in harmony with the natural laws, according to the Rosicrucians, one can live a pure life in which there will be no illness. Rosicrucian healing is not considered to be a substitute for medicine rather healing is regarded as a complementary or even last resort alternative. On a spiritual level they believe that illness originates within the spiritual body, due to countless reasons within a persons life. Over time, if left unattended, the physical body then starts to succumb to natural illnesses. I use the analogy of a chain, each link representing a possible illness, over time the stresses within the spiritual body will slowly start to pull the chain from either end, and whichever link breaks will bring amount a gradual manifestation in the physical body.

A Rosicrucian healer must understand fully the anatomy of the human body in rather good detail. They must incorporate the healing techniques regarding the application of energy to the Autonomic Nervous System which consists of the parasympathetic nervous system and the sympathetic nervous system. Every part (organs, etc) and functions of the human body is linked up to a series of ganglions along the spinal cord and through the application of energy can stimulate various conditions to their original healthy state. Thus, through the re-balance of the spiritual body one can return it to its original state by applying energy through use of the Autonomic Nervous System.

The last form of Rosicrucian healing is that of Alchemy, which was passed down through the centuries and was even taught by the Rosicrucian Order (AMORC). A more specific form of Alchemy is Spagyricus otherwise known as ‘plant alchemy’ and is still in use today. Spagyricus literally translated from Greek means “separate and recombine.” A well known Alchemist, of our modern time, is Frater Albertus (Dr. Richard Albert Riedel) which was known to follow the esoteric teachings of Paracelsus. Spagyricus used in Rosicrucian healing through which the mastery over certain elements enable one to experience ‘perfect harmony’ on many levels. The knowledge of Spagyricus brings about mastery over the spiritual body and can give rise to not just perfect health, but rather a deeper understand of one in relation to the world. The ultimate goal within the practice of Spagyricus is to bring about a profound and deep level of unification to Cosmic Consciousness.

In conclusion there seems to be a deeper progression to try and find alternative answers and teachings so that we can gather a more in depth understanding of ourselves in relation to the universe. It is through esoteric teachings that the answers lie, as they have throughout the centuries. And it is up to the curious neophytes of our present time to seek out these age-old teachings which remain unfiltered through time. The esoteric mastery over life will always stand the test of time, for in the end they will be the only thing of real great importance. While everything else fails, great civilizations come and go, and it is through a single path, which remains in harmony with the natural world, that it will always remain true.

Bibliography:

AMORC (Rosicrucian Order)
1955 (13th edition) Rosicrucian Manual. San Jose, California. The Rosicrucian Press, LTD.

AMORC (Rosicrucian Order)
2006 (2nd edition) Rosicrucian Order AMORC Questions and Answers. San Jose, California. Supreme Grand Lodge of the Ancient & Mystical Order Rosae Crucis

Bartlett, Robert Allen
2006 Real Alchemy: A Primer of Practical Alchemy. Quinquangle Press

Clymer, R. Swinburne
1951 Mysteries of Osiris: Ancient Egyptian Initiation. Quakertown, Pennsylvania. The Philosophical Publishing Co.

Hall, Manly P.
1988 The Secret Teachings of All Ages. Los Angeles, California. The Philosophical Research Society inc.

Rebisse, Christian
2005 Rosicrucian History and Mysteries. San Jose, California. Supreme Grand Lodge of the Ancient & Mystical Order Rosae Crucis

Stavish, Mark
2006 The Path of Alchemy. Woodbury, Minnesota: Llewellyn Publications