Rosicrucianism is a movement and system of magic which forms the core of the Rosicrucian Order (
Principles[]
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This section requires expansion Rosicrucian Order - Rules/Actions, Kabbalah/Alchemy |
The Rosicrucian movement apparently began with a false book written by a single person. Though it was originally false, magicians took it and developed it beyond the falsity, leading Rosicrucianism to grow into something much more, coming to form the foundation for modern Western magic. This development was such that when the original author revealed the truth of the lie he was completely ignored.[1][2]
Given their depth, the Rosicrucian texts have multiple interpretations and some people claim that some of the interpretations known to the public are clouds meant to hide the truth, with the true group and purposes lying elsewhere.[3] Rosicrucians have claimed a number of different goals, one of which was to remove old monarchies and create a nation ruled by philosophers,[4] another being the all-purpose medicine known as Panacea, one capable of healing humans and the world.[5]
Rosicrucianism incorporates a number of concepts found in other fields and systems, both previous and contemporary to it. One particular subject of alchemy that features prominently in one of the three main Rosicrucian texts is the process used to create the Philosopher's Stone - specifically the four-stage conversion cycle of nigredo, albedo, citrinitas and rubedo, through which one void of worldly desires can achieve ultimate wisdom and obtain the stone, illustrated through a tale in the text.[6][7][8] According to Rosicrucian teachings, most magic users can complete the third stage, but let their worldly desires distract them and lose sight of the item's essence on the last step, failing to control that produced and involved in the fourth and final stage.[8]
Rose Cross[]
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This section requires expansion Rose cross general specifics, rose symbol, ruby and gold |
The Rosy Cross, the symbol largely associated with Rosencreutz and Rosicrucianism.
The primary symbol representing Rosicrucianism is the Rose Cross (薔薇十字 Barajūji?) (also called the Rosy Cross), consisting of a cross with a rose placed on its center. Most often, the cross is gold while the rose is a pure or ruby red.
In terms of symbolism, the true cross and the rose are symbols of man and woman respectively.[9] The rose is often depicted with ten petals, which according to Anna Sprengel is a symbol of female reproduction,[10] and Andreae has described the red rose as a female symbol that can produce anything.[11]
The Hermetic Rose, a rose symbol with twenty-two petals
Another variant of the rose symbol is a twenty-two petal rose (also referred to as the Hermetic Rose),[2] which is used by both members of the Rosicrucian Order and the Golden Dawn, and is present on rose cross medals.[2][12] Each of the rose's petals is associated with one of the 22 Hebrew characters, which fields such as Kabbalah and Hermeticism say can be used to explain the entire world - with the rose symbol as a whole representing the world.[2][12][13] A rose cross medal acts as an all-purpose spiritual item which can mass-produce sigils, extracting the name of an angel or spirit by spelling it out in one stroke, via the Hebrew-engraved petals.[2]
Possessing various meanings and applications, deeply tied to the Rosicrucian techniques and miracles - described as Rosencreutz's red secret art, the paired symbol of the Rose Cross has been described as convenient, to the extent that some may tend to overrely on it and cease coming up with their own plans.[14]
Christian Rosencreutz[]
The supposed founder of the Rosicrucian Order was said to be Christian Rosencreutz (クリスチャン＝ローゼンクロイツ Kurisuchan Rōzenkuroitsu?) (also spelt Christian Rosenkreutz/Rosenkreuz or rendered Christian Rose Cross, abbreviated to CRC), a legendary German magician, said to have lived in the 14th century,[15][2][4][16][17][18] and symbolized by the Rose Cross.[19][20] It is said that there are as many scattered legends about Rosencreutz as stars in the sky.[21]
He was said to have been a holy man, the wisest of wise men, a greatly skilled magician, and a miracle worker, who travelled around the world and gathered knowledge during his travels.[18] Journeying through the desert, he would heal people suffering from diseases, curses and sin, at times holding out his hand and other times providing miracle-working potions, leaving without asking for anything in return.[20] Aside from healing individual people, he would also attempt to fight the world's ignorance and the sickness infecting the world, from philosophies to nations.[20]
After his long journey, Rosencreutz returned home to Germany and was said to have organized this knowledge for redistribution in a form usable by ordinary people.[18] Having gathered seven disciples who shared his goals,[20][21][22][Notes 1][16] he established the initial iteration of Rosicrucian Order,[15][2][18] which was to meant to remain a secret for a hundred years after its establishment.[15] They also constructed and dwelt in a building known as the House of the Holy Spirit (also called the Sancti Spiritus).[21][22][16]
The three grimoires which initiates of the order might read copies of, the Fama Fraternitatis (
When he died, Rosencreutz was said to have been buried in a seven-walled tomb, later found by an explorer after 120 years - a story which later formed part of the Golden Dawn's 5=6 ritual.[15][23][2][4][16][24] When discovered in the tomb, his corpse was said to have not decomposed.[5][16] Another legend connected to Rosencreutz, supposedly described by a scroll found in his tomb, is that he created a perfect miniature of the world and by reproducing past, present and future of all things in this miniature garden, he could understand everything about the world.[4][Notes 2][16]
Rosicrucian Order[]
Unlike the Golden Dawn, who sought a magical work kit that could be used by anyone, the Rosicrucian Order is a more secretive organization, choosing to keep the confusing parts of their magic system as such, seeing no problem with only a chosen few being able to wield miracles while the masses only accept blessings given to them.[2] Its secrecy is to the point that it is also known as "the unseen university".[25]
The order, formed by Rosencreutz with his seven disciples,[15][Notes 1][16] was to remain a secret for a hundred years after its establishment, and its members would hide and live among the public, leaving no signs pointing to them specifically instead of the order as a whole.[15][16] Its members were not required to wear a specific uniform or reveal their actions other than helping the sick, but they would prepare a successor in advance and annual meetings were held to deep the bonds between them, to avoid needless confusion and such that their skill and influence would not be denied.[15][16]
Aside from the stories concerning the supposed founder, there are a number of legends associated with the order, including ones about a drug of unaging immortality and a flame which would never go out.[4]
According to the story connecting the Rosicrucians to the Golden Dawn, the Rosicrucian No. 1 temple,[10] also known as Lichte, Liebe, Leben (リヒトリーベレーベン Rihito Rībe Rēben?, lit. Light, Love, Life),[26] is apparently located in Germany, with Anna Sprengel as its temple chief.[10][26] However, the ruins in Nuremberg that one might associate with the First Temple are fake, having been fabricated by Anna Sprengel as part of her adoption of Westcott's ruse.[25]
Background[]
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This section requires expansion Rosicrucian Order, Clouds, the matter of Anna Sprengel |
The Rosicrucian movement had its beginning with a false book written by Johann Valentin Andreae, with an invented history surrounding the supposed founder of the Rosicrucian Order, Christian Rosencreutz.[1][2] Although it began with a lie, magicians developed it further, such that the Rosicrucian system worked and was capable of controlling the supernatural.[1][2] Although Johann believed he was at the center of the matter, the other Rosicrucians were not actually paying any attention to him,[2] and when he revealed the truth about the lie, he was ignored,[1] with Rosicrucianism having already left his control and spread into the world.[1][2]
Though continuing to operate as a secretive organization, the Rosicrucian Order would come to be considered as the most famous of the magic cabals prior to the Golden Dawn.[15] Given their secrecy, numerous legends, interpretations and falsehoods arose concerning the Rose, which the Rosicrucians would exploit as "clouds" to conceal the truth.[3] Codes relating to some of their secrets and techniques have been said to be hidden in various pieces of art, including paintings and music. The Rosicrucians also possessed many reserves of gold and rubies, hidden around the world.[27]
According to Anna Sprengel, Francis Bacon, who is considered one of the fathers of modern science, and Éliphas Lévi, who played a major role in the early development of esoteric Tarot and was a major influence on the Golden Dawn, were members of the Rosicrucian Order.[4] St. Germain has also been linked to the Rosicrucians.[28] The Theosophical Society that Anna Kingsford, future mentor to Mathers and Westcott, was originally part of, consisted of Rosicrucians alongside psychics and experts in Kabbalah.[20]
Rosicrucianism was a major influence on the Golden Dawn,[15][2] with aspects of it forming its foundation along with Hermeticism and Kabbalah. During the cabal's creation, William Wynn Westcott wished to give it prestige by claiming it to be the continuation of an ancient Rosicrucian line - to support his claim, he planned to forge an exchange (later known as the Sprengel Letters) with Anna Sprengel, a magician supposedly associated with the initial Rosicrucian cabal in Germany, granting permission for the new cabal.[29][30][31] Although the chief of the First Temple was a fiction (possibly based on his teacher Kingsford), a real Rosicrucian named Anna ended up assuming the identity due to her own circumstances, with Westcott ending up a "cloud" to the truth of this ruse.[30][3][25] As such, the Isis-Urania Temple would be given the number 3 (with 1 and 2 being the supposed original cabal's temple in Germany).[30][15][32] The cabal's Second Order was also referred to as R.R. et A.C. ("Rosae Rubeae et Aureae Crucis", meaning "Ruby Rose and Golden Cross"), and the 5=6 ritual representing it was based on the story of the discovery of Christian Rosencreutz's tomb,[15] with Mina Mathers having reconstructed the seven-walled tomb as part of it.[23][2]
Chronology[]
Toaru Majutsu no Index[]
Index Arc[]
- Main article: Index Arc
Index refers to Rosicrucians among those after her for the grimoires in her head, during her initial meeting with Kamijou Touma.[33] Whether she was referring to the actual Rosicrucian Order or a derivative magic cabal bearing the name isn't clear.
Toaru Majutsu no Index: Mars SS[]
- Main article: Toaru Majutsu no Index: Mars SS
Fleiss has a spiritual item created by the Rosicrucians, a multicolored card illustrated with a rose and a cross, which originally served as a tool of purification but could be used to eliminate the Attached Microbes.[34]
Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index[]
St. Germain Arc[]
- Main article: St. Germain Arc
According to Othinus, if one were to ask a random magician to name ten famous people, Rosencreutz's name would come up among the list.[35]
When the crucified Zombie was dropped in front of High Priest, Nephthys and Niang-Niang, it was noted that the cross, made from intersecting steel beams, with tungsten steel spikes as nails and wrapped in barbed wire, resembled the magical rose symbol (the Rose Cross) more than the Christian cross.[36]
Aleister Crowley Arc[]
- Main article: Aleister Crowley Arc
During the events in the Windowless Building on December 11th, Rosicrucianism was referred to in the recreation of Aleister's past, in conversations between Mathers and Westcott.[37][13][38]
Coronzon Arc[]
- Main article: Coronzon Arc
While Aleister, Touma and Accelerator were visiting the former Isis-Urania Temple during the events surrounding the recreated Golden Dawn, Aleister described how Westcott faked the Sprengel Letters to claim that the Golden Dawn was a continuation of an ancient Rosicrucian line to explain why the temple was number 3 despite being the Golden Dawn's original temple.[30]
During the events surrounding the Ceremony of Mo Athair, Rosicrucianism and the Rosicrucian Order were referred to in events concerning Anna Sprengel and Madame Horos.[31][15][2]
Kamijou Arc[]
- Main article: Kamijou Arc
Various aspects of Rosicrucianism and the Rosicrucian Order were referenced during the events which transpired Windsor Castle after Coronzon's defeat, a number of them by Anna Sprengel and Aiwass during their discussion at the Tower of London.[10][4][9] While in the tower, Anna made use of a method derived from Christian Rosencreutz's miniature to observe what was going on in the castle.[4]
Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index[]
Christmas Eve Arc[]
- Main article: Christmas Eve Arc
By December 24th, Anna had spread magical knowledge over the internet, amongst the ordinary populace and into Academy City, via the new IT company R&C Occultics (the R&C derived from the Rose and the Cross).[39][40]
Christmas Day Arc[]
- Main article: Christmas Day Arc
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This section requires expansion GT2[41] |
Numerous aspects of Rosicrucianism were referenced or utilized during the events connected to Anna Sprengel and R&C Occultics on Christmas Day.[41] Anna also referred to R&C Occultics as simply the modern form of her organization.[42]
Los Angeles Arc[]
- Main article: Los Angeles Arc
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This section requires expansion GT4 - Non-Citrinitas[43] |
A Rosicrucian interpretation of the alchemical stage Citrinitas played a major role in the events that occurred in Los Angeles on December 26th, with Citrinitas being the title of the magician protecting R&C Occultics HQ and the basis of the magic they used to trapped the city's population in sand.[6][7][8]
New Year's Arc[]
- Main article: New Year's Arc
Johann Valentin Andreae, while acting to tarnish the Rosicrucian legacy in the guise of "Christian Rosencreutz".
On January 4th, the Bridge Builders Cabal created/summoned what they thought to be Christian Rosencreutz in the hopes that he would provide the answers for the world's salvation that they could not, only to find that the summoned man's nature was drastically different and far worse than what the legends claimed.[20] It was later revealed that it was actually Johann Valentin Andreae in the guise of his creation and looking to tarnish his legacy.[44] Andreae referred and made use of numerous aspects of Rosicrucianism and the legends of Christian Rosencreutz during his rampage as "CRC".[45][21][22][46]
Uses of Rosicrucianism in the story[]
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This section requires expansion General, examples |
| Name | Description | Usage in Toaru Majutsu no Index |
|---|---|---|
| Citrinitas |
The third of the four stages involved in the alchemical production of the Philosopher's Stone, represented by the color yellow and symbolizing fermentation. In the Chymische Hochzeit, after the beheaded king and queen have been dissolved and an egg formed from the two types of bonds, the egg is then buried in sand to ferment, with a bird eventually born from it. |
Darris Hewlane, bearing the title Citrinitas, and "CRC" both make use of magic based on the Rosicrucian interpretation of Citrinitas found in the Chymische Hochzeit.[6][7][8][21] |
| Glass Coffin | According to some claims regarding the Rosicrucians possessing the secret to indefinite prolonging human existence, certain Rosicrucians were buried in a glass casket (also referred to as a womb or philosophical egg). After a certain time, the philosopher would break the container's shell and emerge to treat disease, functioning for a prescribed period before retiring back into the glass shell. |
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| Miniature World | According to a scroll found in his tomb, Rosencreutz created a perfect miniature of the world and could understand everything about the world by reproducing the past, present and future of all things in this miniature garden. |
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| Philosopher's Egg | A vessel used in the alchemical sublimation process and the production of the Philosopher's Stone. | The Philosopher's Egg was invoked during Anna Sprengel's initial use of the Pneuma-less Shell, which was created from an intentional distortion of the original egg.[47] |
| Rose Cross | A paired symbol representing Christian Rosencreutz and Rosicrucianism as a whole, consisting of a rose (often red or ruby red) on the center of a cross (often gold). |
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| Rota | A Latin word meaning "wheel", used in reference to several subjects in the Fama Fraternitatis (e.g. Rota Mundi), which has been also been associated with Tarot (given it is also an anagram of 'Taro'). | "CRC" invoked 'Rota' in a command together with a bundle of Tarot cards for a spell.[46] |
| Seven-Walled Tomb | According to the Fama Fraternitatis, Christian Rosencreutz was buried in a heptagonal tomb with seven walls and seven corners, which was rediscovered 120 years after his death. |
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| Undying Flame | The tomb of Christian Rosencreutz was allegedly illuminated by a lamp which contained an undying flame, compared to a sun. |
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External Links[]
Notes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 According to the Fama Fraternitatis, this initial version of the order (also called the Fraternity of the Rosie Cross) began with four members, then expanded to eight. The initial three brethren were Brother G. V., Brother I. A. (the only non-German among the eight), and Brother I. O., from C. R. C.'s first cloister. After the completion of the Sancti Spiritus, they decided to increase their number and chose Brother R. C., Christian Rosencreutz's late father's brother's son, Brother B., said to be a skillful painter, Brother G. G., and Brother P. D., their secretary.
- ↑ In the Fama Fraternitatis, this miniature is referred to by both Minutum Mundum (by the narration's text) and Mundum Minutum (in the scroll's text).
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Toaru Majutsu no Index SS: Necessarius Special Admission Test Chapter 2 Part 12
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 22 Epilogue
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 22 Reverse Between the Lines 1
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 22 Reverse Between the Lines 2
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 22 Reverse Chapter 4 Part 6
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 04 Chapter 2 Part 5
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 04 Chapter 3 Part 7
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 04 Chapter 4 Part 9
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 22 Reverse Epilogue
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 22 Reverse Prologue
- ↑ Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 09 Chapter 4 Part 5
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 02 Chapter 4 Part 4
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 18 Chapter 3 Part 6
- ↑ Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 09 Chapter 3 Part 8
- ↑ 15.00 15.01 15.02 15.03 15.04 15.05 15.06 15.07 15.08 15.09 15.10 15.11 Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 22 Between the Lines 2
- ↑ 16.00 16.01 16.02 16.03 16.04 16.05 16.06 16.07 16.08 16.09 16.10 Fama Fraternitatis
- ↑ Chymische Hochzeit
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 02 Between the Lines 0
- ↑ Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 08 Chapter 3 Part 3
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 08 Epilogue
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 09 Prologue
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 09 Chapter 3 Part 13
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 22 Chapter 4 Part 12
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 02 Chapter 4 Part 3
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 09 Between the Lines 3
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 06 Epilogue
- ↑ Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 02 Between the Lines 1
- ↑ Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 02 Between the Lines 3
- ↑ Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 18 Chapter 3 Part 9
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 21 Chapter 1 Part 11
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 22 Between the Lines 1
- ↑ Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 22 Chapter 2 Part 12
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 01 Chapter 1 Part 3
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index: Mars SS
- ↑ Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 12 Chapter 2 Part 17
- ↑ Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 12 Epilogue
- ↑ Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 18 Chapter 3 Part 1
- ↑ Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 18 Chapter 4 Part 8
- ↑ Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 01 Chapter 4 Part 1
- ↑ Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 01 Epilogue
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 02
- ↑ Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 02 Epilogue
- ↑ Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 04
- ↑ Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 09 Epilogue
- ↑ Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 09
- ↑ 46.0 46.1 Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 09 Chapter 4 Part 2
- ↑ 47.0 47.1 Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 02 Chapter 2 Part 2
- ↑ Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 09 Chapter 4 Part 1
- ↑ Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 21 Chapter 3 Part 11
- ↑ Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 02 Chapter 4 Part 1