Die Wirkungsgeschichte der Chymischen Hochzeit im Bereich neuer Rosenkreuzerorganisationen

Abstract

During the 19th and the 20th centuries many different “Rosicrucian” communities were created in the context of theosophy and high grade freemasonry. This paper distinguishes between different types of organizations depending on their orientation: magical (In the context formed by English high grade freemasons and French Martinists in the 19th century, the Rosicrucians were often considered as adepts of high magic); initiatory (In the USA, Rosicrucianism was essentially seen as a school of initiation to esoteric secrets; theosophical (In line with the Theosophical Society); gnostic (according to The Lectorium Rosicrucianum founded by Jan van Rijckenborgh In 1935). This paper then focuses on the interpretation put forth In the Lectorium, of the Chymical Wedding as expressing gnostic transfiguration, and finally on the way the AMORC (Antiquus Mysticus Ordo Rosae Crucis) revised the Rosicrucian Manifestos to formulate a social utopia permeated with esoteric ideas. It concludes with the idea that the modern reception of the Chymical Wedding is very heterogeneous and can be used to justify opposite ambitions and ideological views.

Keywords

• Andreae
• Chymical Wedding
• Rosicrucianism
• Rosicrucian Organizations
• freemasonry
• magic