Knowledge of the Soul is the only universal truth, and the only wisdom. All other knowledge is transient... -- Plato Beacon 2008-06 Cover.indd 1 07/05/2008 05:07:07 www.amorc.org.uk Rosicrucian History and Mysteries £14.95 + postage by Christian Rebisse NE caN’T HELP NotICE how powerful a clear, personal philosophy of life can be; how everything seems to flow so AVING BEEN BRANDED for centuries as a harmoniously for those who have dared to take control over secret society of occultists, witches and wizards their lives. Analysing real needs rather than ephemeral wants, by uninformed and jealous people, the Rosicrucian such people know that they need more than anything else, to rely Order is one of the most enigmatic and yet most open of the handful of true initiatic Orders still in upon their own insights rather than those of others, to take their own existence. By retracing its mysterious origins, this decisions rather than rely on those taken by others, and above all, to book attempts to place the Rosicrucian stream of intellectual live with the consequences of their own thoughts, words and deeds. and spiritual philosophy in an historical context by outlining the most important people and events that led to the genesis of the If you are searching for a deeper understanding of yourself, Western branch of esoteric spirituality and ultimately led to the establishment of the Rosicrucian Order itself. and especially if you seek to gain greater mastery over your life, the Rosicrucian Order is a good place to start your journey. For Numerous movements which have sprung directly or indirectly from the Rosicrucian tradition are detailed, and a particular centuries, Rosicrucians have assisted people to find within themselves place of pre-eminence is given at the end of this book to the most a “higher knowledge” which exists embryonically in all human important modern day torchbearer of Rosicrucian thought and beings. Developing this inner understanding to its limits leads to practice, the Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis. what religions and philosophies of all ages have referred to simply as “Illumination,” a state of joy, perfection and achievement beyond our wildest dreams. £8.95 + postage The Rosicrucian Manifestos Edited by Paul Goodall Gaining this knowledge and experience is not merely an academic exercise; it is a graded series of practical steps we need to T THE StaRT of the 17th Century, the leading lights of take in order to gain first proficiency and eventually full mastery over literature, science and the arts were making their marks our daily thoughts, words and actions. on society and hopes for a new age of enlightenment were high. Into this milieu of hope and expectation arose The Rosicrucian approach to inner development has brought three unique manifestos, the Fama Fraternitatis (1614), the Confessio Fraternitatis (1615) and the Chymical Wedding (1616), happiness, peace and success into the affairs of thousands of people causing great interest in academic and literary circles and deep over the centuries, and you too can benefit from it. If you wish to know consternation amongst the clergy. These short treatises espoused more about the Rosicrucian system of inner development, contact the an urgent need for a universal reformation of ideas and outlook embracing the arts and sciences, but particularly religion. Rosicrucian Order using the details given below, and request a copy Unfortunately, the hoped for universal reformation that was to of the free introductory booklet entitled “The Mastery of Life.” bring about a utopian society did not materialise, despite the attention that the Manifestos received. But the spirit of the early Rosicrucians This will explain the Rosicrucian Order and its approach to life lived on, simmering as an undercurrent while the forces of the later in greater detail and you can decide for yourself whether or not this Enlightenment and religious authority battled it out. path is for you. In 2001, the Rosicrucian Order, concerned about world events, produced a fourth manifesto, the Positio Fraternitatis Rosae Crucis which addresses the critical issues of the modern world. At its heart Mail To: Rosicrucian Order, Greenwood Gate, Blackhill, is a cry for a spiritual re-awakening of mankind and world peace. Crowborough TN6 1ZX, ENGLAND Tel: 01892-653197 -- Fax: 01892-667432 To order either of these books, contact us on [email protected], or call Email: [email protected] us in the UK on 01892-653197, or fax us on 01892-667432. Alternatively Website: www.amorc.org.uk use the UK members’ monthly bulletin order form. The Rosicrucian Beacon -- June 2008 The Rosicrucian Beacon -- June 2008 Beacon 2008-06 Cover.indd 2 07/05/2008 05:07:51 Published quarterly by the English speaking jurisdiction for Europe, the Middle East and Africa of the June 2008, Vol 17, No. 3 ROSICRUCIAN ORDER A.M.O.R.C. Greenwood Gate, Blackhill, Crowborough TN6 lXE United Kingdom CONTENTS Tel: 01892-653197 2 Ancient Egypt and Modern Esotericism - by Jeremy Naydler, Ph.D. Fax: 01892-667432 Email: [email protected] - by Claire Lewis, SRC Web: www.amorc.org.uk 6 The Symbolism of the Rose 7 A Way of Life - by Amelia Lindblad, SRC 9 Destiny - by The Nameless One Official English Language 10 The Secret Fire - by Marcus Aurelius Magazine of the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC 11 The Cathars - Part 1 - by Bill Anderson, FRC (Europe,(Europe, thethe MiddleMiddle EastEast and Africa) 20 The Master Within - by Edgar Wirt, FRC IssuedIssued freefree toto membersmembers asas anan incidenceincidence ofof membershipmembership 21 Grateful Thought - by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing Editor: Bill Anderson 22 Mystical Pantheism - by Ralph M Lewis, FRC Sub-Editor: 24 The Guest - by Samuel Avital, FRC Paul Goodall Design and Layout: 26 The Fire Within - by Paul Goodall, FRC Richard Bonwick 30 Give Me A Brook - by Doris Knoll Statements made in this publication 31 Missions and Talents - by Lilian Paterson, SRC are not the official expressions of the organisation or its officers the organisation or its officers 34 Communicating From Your Higher Self unless declared to be official communications. - by Valerie Peters All material in the Rosicrucian 35 The Moment - by Swami Vivekananda Beacon is copyright and may not be reproduced in any form without the prior consent of the publishers and 36 Pythagoras the Teacher - by Mary Jones, SRC individual contributors. 41 The Sound of Eternity - by Martha Pingel, SRC Changes of address must reach us by the first of the month preceeding publication. 42 Causality: A Discussion - by Einstein and Tagore 44 Immortality in Essence COVER SPREAD “Pythagoras: A Journey Into Light” 1 The Rosicrucian Beacon -- June 2008 Beacon 2008-06.indd 1 07/05/2008 09:03:02 by Christian Bernard, FRC Imperator of AMORC Part 2 by Jeremy Naydler, Ph.D. In this second part, Jeremy Naydler continues to expand upon the ancient Egyptian worldview by introducing the reader to their concept of the Underworld or afterlife which they called the Dwat and to which the living, mentally and physically, prepared themselves. In his concluding remarks Naydler highlights the need for the modern world to identify with these ancient conceptions but avoiding the sometimes irresistible nostalgic desire for the past. To this end he outlines three specific tasks which can empower people to recognise themselves as cosmic beings whose existence spans that of life and death within the vehicle of their consciousness. N an inner level, THE ritual each evening, he entered the secret and wholly sailing of the king occurs in the heavens. invisible world that the Egyptians called the Dwat. Just as in the coronation text of Thutmose The Dwat was conceived as being on the other III, the king flies up to the sky in order side of the stars that we see when we look up at the to worship Ra and be filled with his akh- night sky. The stars were imagined as being on the power, so the context of the ritual sailing is cosmic. flesh of the goddess Nut, and the Dwat was in some The ancient Egyptians understood that to become sense behind or within the world of which the stars enlightened one must become aware of that which demarcated the outermost boundary.1 is cosmic in one’s own nature. One must realise It was not just the sun god however that that there is something deep within human nature entered the Dwat at the end of the day. All creatures that is essentially not of this earth, but is a cosmic were believed to return to the Dwat at the end of principle. their lives, pass into its dark interior, and were born The cosmic being who presided over Ra’s from it again, just as the sun god was born from diurnal voyage across the sky was the heavenly the Dwat each morning. There was therefore a very goddess Nut. It was she who gave birth to Ra each important mystical threshold between the outwardly morning and who received him into herself again visible cosmos, the stars on Nut’s body, and what in the evening. When Ra entered her interior realm exists invisibly in her interior. It is a threshold we 2 The Rosicrucian Beacon -- June 2008 Beacon 2008-06.indd 2 07/05/2008 09:03:03 all come to when we die, when everything becomes concentrated at a single point, and then disappears from view. Figure 6 shows the stages of the sun god’s night-journey through Nut’s body, as he travels from death to rebirth. Knowledge of this interior world of the Dwat was considered by the Egyptians to be the most important, most profound knowledge, Figure 6: On the left, Nut swallows the sun god Ra at sunset, for people living on earth to acquire.