In this document, the word "Rosicrucian" does not refer to the Rosicrucians of the 17th century. It refers to a less known branch, known as the "Brethren of the Orient".

All the principles upon which we have based the theurgic system that is presented in our book, are indeed of rosicrucian origin. The very same principles (but a somewhat different implementation) can be found in the systems of Martines de Pasqually, Saint Martin and the fore-mentioned "Brethren of the Orient", as revealed in the "Sacramentary" published by R. Ambelain. (See also "The Lyon Lessons to the Elus Cohens in 1774-1776").
The same principles are also found in Heinrich Khunrath's "Amphitheatre of the Eternal Sapience" (who is said to have been initiated to the "Brethren of the Orient").

So, in this document, the term "rosicrucian" means rosicrucian in origin, in principles and in quality. It does not necessarily mean that this theurgic system has been actually implemented in every detail by any rosicrucian group or order.

The term "Theurgy" is derived from the Greek language.

Litterally it means "the Work of God".

What is Theurgy? At a first approach we could say that it is nothing more than Prayer -- a Prayer that meets some inner conditions and is expressed by a simple and reasonable ritual. Its goals are:

• the alleviation of the suffering and
• the resuscitation of mankind in God's Love and Wisdom.
 

"Spirituality" can be defined as "the relation of man to God". It therefore has nothing to do with "intellectuality", "knowledge" or "education".

The expressions of human spirituality can be summarized thus:

A. Exoteric

1. Religion, exoteric worhip

B. Esoteric

1. Religious esotericism (i.e. monasticism)
2. Philosophical esotericism
3. Sacramental esotericism (theurgy)

In spite of the fact that the term "Theurgy" appears only during the Roman era, its practice is as old as mankind.

• In 10,000 B.C. the Orphists used their Orphic Hymns in a philosophical, initiatic, sacramental and religious system that has been called "Orphism". Aristotle says that "Orpheus was the one that established the sacramental rites in Greece".

 
• From the 2nd century A.D. originates the text of the Haldean Oracles, which -- apart from the philosophical and initiatic doctrine -- gives specific instructions for the operation of Theurgy.

 
• The neoplatonic philosophers -- and especially Jamblichus -- promote and practise Theurgy as a means of transcending Nature and integrating oneself into the Creative Divine Operations.

 
• Jesus Christ and his disciples operated a multitude of miracles. This was nothing else than Theurgy, even if it wasn't called like this in that era.

 
• In the Byzantine Empire -- apart from some traditions that speak about rosicrucian presence and activity (see table of Martinist lineage) -- the only concrete thing that we know is the commentation of the Haldean Oracles by Michael Psellus and Georgios Pletho - Gemistos.

 
• During the Middle Ages there seems to be no theurgic activity... But in Renaissance there is a boost in esotericism -- both theoretical and practical. Khunrath, Reuchlin, Tritheim, Agrippa, Fludd, Dee...

 
• In the 18th century Martines de Pasqually founded the "Order of Knights Masons Elected Cohens of the Univers". The adepts of the highest grade -- the Reaux Croix -- practised Theurgy. Some of their rituals have been published by R. Amadou, others are included in the "Sacramentary" published by R. Ambelain.

 
• L.C. de Saint Martin, Pasqually's disciple and secretary -- based on the same principles with Martines -- established his own theurgic system. He states: "Theurgy is not just a gift of God to Man; it is a duty of anyone that feels the thirst for this realization in his heart; because God gives Man this mandate, by igniting this desire in Man's heart".

 
• The Rosicrucians of the Orient practised a very solid system of Theurgy (non-Kabalistic). A large part of their ritual has been published by R. Ambelain: it is the Sacramentary of the Rose+Croix that we refered to earlier.

C. What is Theurgy (and what is not Theurgy)

There are four main types of rituals, that must not be confused.

1. Religious Sacrements
2. Magical Rituals
3. Theurgic Rituals
4. Satanistic Rituals.

There is also another type -- the initiatic rituals, that are related to the notion of egregore. The book does not talk about this type of rituals.

D. Prerequisites

1. Basic

a. motivation
b. way of life
c. environmental conditions (room, time etc)

3.Qualities (virtues)

a. Purity
b. Love
c. Faith
d. Remission (of oneself to God)

4. Dynamic

a. "Nipsis" (That is self-control, awareness, freedom from any kind of obsession, a kind of "Spiritual Sobriety").
b. State of inner prayer

1. The Altar or Table of Operation.
2. The Candle
3. The Cross
4. The New Testament, open at the beginning of the 1st chapter of the Gospel of St. John.
5. Incense
6. Word.
7. Gesture

F. Inside a Ritual

"A  (theurgic) ritual is the expression of Man's inner Word and his ardent wish to be associated with God and to cooperate with Him, by means of a series of thoughts, words, gestures and symbols".

So, in Theurgy, there are no "magic rituals". One is free to compose his own ritual, that should be based on the principles of sound spirituality.

A theurgic ritual functions in various levels:

1. Psychological influence
2. Attunement with God
3. Attunement of the inner world with the outer world
4.Creation of the "vertical axis" of attunement and communication among planes.

G. Structure of a Theurgic Ritual

Opening
Expression of repentance
Invocation of the Guardian Angel

<state of inner prayer>

Expression of gratitude
Glorification
Prayer to Father, Son and the Holy Spirit

<state of acceptance>

Specific operation, if any (therapeutic or other).
Expression of gratitude
Ending

H. Results of Theurgy

Theurgy influences all levels of man's existence -- his body (material being), soul (emotional being), spirit (reasoning being).
But its most important result is Transcendence. By definition, "transcendental" is what transcends or surpasses human nature.
So, Transcendence is NOT something that man can control; it is completely a Gift from God, it is the germination and growth of the Ineffable Word in Man.

I. Applications

1. Initiation
2. Therapeutic applications (healing)
3. Talismanic applications

J. Stages on the Theurgic Path

1st stage

• prerequisites: attainment of inner uplifting.
• goals: avoidance of exoteric moral mistakes.

• prerequisites: avoidance of exoteric moral mistakes
• goals:
• achievement of inner purity
• the Theurgist seeks chances to benefit people.

• prerequisites: achievement of inner purity. Nothing pollutes the Theurgist's inner Temple.
• goals: to become a benefactor of humanity.

• Bibliography of initiatic works (in english).

• Bibliographie d' oeuvres initiatiques (en francais).

Those esotericists that are accustomed to interpret everything by means of Kabalistic correspondences, might think that this approach on Theurgy is simplistic. We assure them that this is not the case.

Early and analtered Martinism -- the one by Martines de Pasqually, L.C. de Saint Martin, J.B. Willermoz and d'Hauterive -- was not *ritually* kabbalistic. (But the whole *structure* of the theurgic system of the Elus - Coens was, in fact, based on the Sephirothic Tree). As far as we know, there is not a single kabbalistic expression in the writings of all the above (including the 3-year course by Saint Martin himself in the Order of the Elus Cohens in 1774-1776).

Apart from the above bibliography, that we refer the reader to, there is also another very important element that justifies this approach: a Martinist Symbol of Rosicrucian origin: The Pelican on the Rosy Cross.