The Chymical Wedding Christian Rebisse, FRC In this article, an excerpt from his book Rosicrucian History and Mysteries, Christian Rebisse invites us to the Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreuz, one of the most important of all Alchemical texts. Today - today - today is the Royal Wedding day. For this you were born, Chosen by God for joy. You may ascend the mount Whereon three temples stand And see the Thing yourself. Take heed, Observe yourself! If you’re not clean enough, The wedding can work ill. Perjure here at your peril; One who is light, beware! Sponsus and Sponsa. Page 31 he Chymical Wedding of machinery, but also found some of its Christian Rosenkreuz, a book ferment in the alembics of gold makers Tthat is considered to be the third and extractors of the quintessence.”1 In the Rosicrucian manifesto, made its appearance seventeenth century alchemy broadened in 1616. It was printed in Strasbourg by its perspectives. It claimed to be a unifying Lazarus Zetzner, the publisher of Theatrum science that included medical applications chemicum and numerous other alchemical and developed a more spiritual dimension. treatises. This work differs considerably from It also sought to become part of the the first two manifestos [Fama Fraternitatis thinking on the history of Creation, of and Confessio Fraternitatis]. First of the tragic cosmogony which brought all, although it was likewise published about not only the fall of humanity, but nature as well. Thus, the alchemist was not anonymously, it is known that Johann only a physician who helped humanity to Valentin Andreae was the author. Secondly, regenerate itself so as to be reborn to its it is unusual in form in that it is presented as spiritual condition, but the alchemist was an alchemical novel and as an autobiography also nature’s physician. As St. Paul pointed of Christian Rosenkreuz. out, Creation is in exile and suffering, and Despite the important development it is awaiting its liberation by humanity.2 of science during this period, alchemy Gerhard Dorn, a follower of Paracelsus, remained a potent force. It contributed was an individual who was typical of by enriching the thoughts of researchers, this evolution.3 And it was in this set of Rosicrucian prompting Frank Greiner to state: “The circumstances, so rich in published works, Digest invention of the modern world did not that the Chymical Wedding of Christian No. 1 2013 arise essentially from the triumph of Rosenkreuz took its place. Page 32 Johann Valentin Andreae enthusiastic follower of this science. Young The author of this manifesto, Johann Johann Valentin followed in his father’s Valentin Andreae (1586-1654), came footsteps in theological studies. He was from an illustrious family of theologians. a friend of the theologian Johann Arndt, His grandfather, Jakob Andreae, was one who considered him to be his spiritual son of the authors of the Formula of Concord, and greatly influenced the youth. Arndt an important document in the history of was part of the tradition of Valentin Wei- Lutheranism. In recognition gel, a tradition which tried to of his meritorious services, achieve a synthesis between the Count Palatine Otto Rheno-Flemish mysticism, Heinrich granted him a coat Renaissance Hermeticism, of arms. Jakob’s design incor- and Paracelsian alchemy. Jo- porated the cross of St. An- hann Valentin was also the drew, in reference to his fam- friend of Tobias Hess, a theo- ily name, with four roses, in logian who pursued Paracel- deference to Martin Luther, sian medicine and naometry. whose armorial bearings de- Devoting himself to this sci- picted a rose. The emblem of Luther may ence of “measuring the temple” while at be described thus: in the center is a black Tubingen, young Andreae assisted his cross, bringing to mind mortification and teacher and protector, the theologian Mat- recalling that faith in the crucified Christ thias Hafenreffer, by drawing the illustra- leads to redemption. This cross reposes in tions for a study on the Temple of Ezekiel. the center of a red heart, the symbol of life. The youthful scholar was likewise in- The latter is placed on trigued by the medi- a white rose, the sign ating role of symbols of joy and peace. The in the spiritual experi- whole is surrounded ence. In this regard he by a golden ring sym- shared the preoccupa- bolizing eternal life. tions of his teacher It is possible that this Johann Arndt, who emblem was inspired was noted for his by the writings of St. mysticism and who Bernard of Clairvaux, was considered to be which were deeply one of the precursors appreciated by Lu- of pietism. ther. Indeed, in his The author of the sermons on the Song Chymical Wedding of Songs, St. Bernard considered the theater often used the image to be a worthwhile of the cross united means for inducing with a flower when his contemporaries describing the mar- to ponder serious riage of the soul with God. matters, and some of his works were in- From childhood, Johann Valentin fluenced by thecommedia dell’arte. This is Andreae was brought up surrounded by true in the case of Turbo, a play in which alchemy. His father, a pastor in Tubingen Harlequin made his first appearance on [Germany], owned a laboratory, and his the German stage. This play, published in cousin, Christophe Welling, was also an the same year as the Chymical Wedding, Page 33 makes reference to alchemy. This impor- written, Andreae proposed the creation tant work would later serve as the model of a Societas Christiana, a group which, for Goethe’s Faust. However, although in some respects, resembled the project the author’s learning in the Hermetic art formulated in the manifestos. Throughout is readily apparent,4 his view of alchemists his life, he was constantly creating societies is also ironic. Generally speaking, wheth- of learning, such as the Tubingen Circle, er in theology or science, what interested or organizations of a social character, such Andreae was useful knowledge and not as the Foundation of Dyers, which is still vain speculation. For instance, he and his in existence today. friend John Amos Comenius helped to re- vive pedagogy in the seventeenth century. The Story In 1614, he was named suffragen pastor The third Rosicrucian manifesto differs of Vaihingen. Later he became the super- considerably from the two preceding intendent in Calw, and then the preacher ones. Briefly, here is the story. Christian and counselor at the consistory of Stutt- Rosenkreuz, an elderly man who is eighty- gart. After having held various offices, he one years old, describes his adventures ended his career as the abbot of Adelberg, 5 over a seven-day period in 1459. After a town where he died in 1654. being summoned to a royal wedding by Johann Valentin Andreae left an 6 a winged messenger, Christian leaves his impressive body of work. It was in 1602- retreat, situated on a mountain slope. After 1603, when he was not yet seventeen years various incidents, he arrives at the summit old, that he made his first attempts as an of a high mountain, and then passes author. He wrote two comedies about through a succession of three gates. Once Esther and Hyacinth, as well as the first within, he and the other people who have version of the Chymical Wedding. The been invited are put to a test in which they protagonist of this novel already went are weighed on scales. If they are judged by the name of Christian Rosenkreuz – virtuous enough, they are allowed to although this name may only have been attend the wedding. The select few receive added at its publication in 1616. As the a Golden Fleece7 and are presented to the manuscript for the first version of this royal family. text has disappeared, it is difficult for us to know. However, what we can say for After being brought before the royal certain is that the symbols of the rose and family, Christian Rosenkreuz describes the cross rarely crop up in the novel. We also presentation of a play. This is followed by know that Andreae revamped the text for a banquet, after which the royal family is the 1616 edition. It is intriguing to note decapitated. The coffins containing the that the Chymical Wedding was issued in corpses are loaded onto seven ships bound the same year and by the same publisher for a distant island. Arriving at their as Theca gladii spiritus (The Sheath of the destination, they are placed in the Tower Glory of the Spirit). This book repeated of Olympus, a curious seven-story edifice. twenty-eight passages from the Confessio For the remainder of the narrative we Fraternitatis. However, the name of witness the strange ascent of the guests Christian Cosmoxene was substituted for through the seven stories of the tower. that of Christian Rosenkreuz, and the At each level, under the direction of a author did not seem to adhere to all the maiden and an old man, they participate Rosicrucian concepts presented in the first Rosicrucian in alchemical operations. They carry out a Digest No. 1 texts. It is worth recalling that in the distillation of the royal skins from which 2013 year in which the Fama Fraternitatis was a liquid is obtained that is afterwards Page 34 transformed into a white egg. From this a of the Baroque in the seventeenth bird is hatched that is fattened before being century. The taste for the marvelous and decapitated and reduced to ashes. From the the primacy of ornamentation are quite residue, the guests fabricate two human- apparent.8 The castle where the wedding shaped figurines.