Initiate Section
Having completed the lessons of the Neophyte section, you stand at an important milestone in your progress along the mystical path. Over a year has passed since you began the Rosicrucian curriculum, and you are ready to start with the core teachings of the Rosicrucian Order.
Your studies in the Postulant and Neophyte sections established the foundation for the lessons and exercises of the nine Initiate degrees that now follow. You have been introduced to various elements of the Rosicrucian system and have had the opportunity putting into practice many of the principles you have learnt.
The Initiate degrees will further develop these elements, providing additional depth and practical applications of the principles.
Degree 1
Duration: 4 months
The first Initiate degree introduces the concept of polarity and its relationship to the subatomic world and its vast range of vibratory rates. It introduces the full spectrum of physical and non-physical manifestations. An understanding of these subjects gives you an appreciation of the system and order of the universe, the interconnectedness of all nature and how everything is governed by natural law. Topics include:
- Structure of Matter
- The Vibratory Keyboard
- Positive and Negative as Vibratory Polarities
- Rosicrucian Definitions of Electricity, Magnetism, and Electromagnetism
- Subatomic Particles
- Rosicrucian Classification of Elements
- Material Alchemy
- Exercises relating to the topics.
Degree 2
Duration: 3 months
The second Initiate degree explores the workings of the mind. You will learn how to use your mental faculties to strengthen your will, eliminate bad habits, establish good habits, tap into the levels of your subconscious, reason more effectively, think more logically, behave more fairly, and generally begin to integrate various principles of psychology and mysticism into your life in order to achieve your personal goals. Topics include:
- Cosmic Consciousness
- Our Objective Consciousness Sensory Illusions
- Mental Illusions
- Our Subjective Consciousness
- Reflection
- Objective Memory
- Imagination
- Deductive, Inductive, and Syllogistic Reasoning
- Objective and Subjective World
- Physical, Psychic, and Spiritual Influence of the Subconscious
- Memory and Reasoning of the Subconscious
- Will and Habit
- Autosuggestion
- Psychology and Mysticism
- Exercises: Stimulating the Objective Memory, Stimulating the Imagination, Sensitising the Subconscious Memory, Autosuggestion
Degree 3
Duration: 3 months
The third Initiate degree explores the meaning of life on many levels, including living and "non-living" matter, life on the cellular level, the mysteries of death and rebirth, and the eternal nature of the Soul. Topics include:
- Cosmic Purpose of Life
- Vital Life Force
- Cellular Life
- Rosicrucian Definitions of Living and Non-living Matter
- Incarnation of the Soul
- Transition of the Soul
- Initiatic Aspects of Death
- Exercises relating to the topics.
Degree 4
Duration: 3 months
The fourth introduces Rosicrucian ontology (the study of the nature of being), and lays out a cosmological framework for all creation. It explores the meaning, understanding and use of symbols as the language of the subconscious. Topics include:
- Vital Life Force and the Living Soul
- Cycles of Life and Constant States of Flux
- Time, Space, Infinity and Eternity
- Noumena and Phenomena
- Natural, Artificial and Mystical Symbols
- Sacred Architecture
- Exercises relating to the topics.
Degree 5
Duration: 3 months
The fifth Initiate degree you will study excerpts from the works of classical philosophers. Your exploration of the ancient roots of Rosicrucian philosophy will demonstrate the timelessness of these principles. Thoughts of the following philosophers are presented: Thales, Solon, Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Democritus, Empedocles, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle,
Degree 6
Duration: 7 months
The sixth Initiate degree presents the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual components of health and disease. You will learn specific Rosicrucian healing techniques. Topics include:
- Health and Illness
- Physiological Evolution of Humans
- The Skeleton
- Digestion and Nutrition
- Spiritual Dimension of Food
- Breathing and Respiratory Health
- Composition of Blood
- Heart and Circulatory System
- The Lymph and Lymphatic System
- Liver, Spleen, kidneys
- Importance of Water
- Cell Consciousness and Cellular Health
- Cerebro-spinal Nervous System
- Autonomic Nervous System
- Sympathetic Division of the Autonomic Nervous System
- The Sympathetic Energy
- Influence of Stress on Digestion and Breathing
- Sympathetic Ganglions and their Connections
- Rosicrucian Therapy
- Disorders associated with the Cervical, Thoracic, and Lumbar Ganglions
- Rosicrucian Treatments
- Personal Treatment to Restore your Psychic Equilibrium
- Self-healing
- The Council of Solace
- Influence of Thoughts and Emotions on Health
- Physical and Mental Prevention of Disease
- Emotional and Spiritual Prevention of Disease
- Exercises: Numerous exercises in the art of self-healing are given throughout this degree.
Degree 7
Duration: 7 months
The exercises and experiments of all the previous degrees have contributed to your gradual development, providing you with the necessary foundation for the advanced techniques of the seventh, eighth and ninth Initiate degrees. In the seventh degree you will learn how to accomplish psychic projection, how to develop your personal aura and perceive other people's auras, and how to further develop your psychic centres and abilities for enhanced perception. You will also receive a thorough explanation of the physiological, psychic and spiritual influence of specific mystical sounds. Topics include:
- The Psychic Body
- The Psychic Centres
- Psychic Perception
- Psychic Consciousness
- Nature and Symbolism of Dreams
- Nature of Human Aura
- The Physical, Psychic, and Spiritual Aura
- Colours of the Aura
- Development of your Personal Aura
- Mystical Power of Vowel Sounds and Mantras
- Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Vowel Sounds
- Physiological, Psychic, and Spiritual Influence of Vowel Sounds
- Exercises: Accomplishing psychic projection (a) in general, (b) to a definite place, (c) to a specific person. Perception of auras of living creatures in general. Perception of the human aura
Degree 8
Duration: 9 months
The eighth Initiate degree explores in depth the concept of immortality, including the mysteries of birth, life death, reincarnation, karma and the evolution of the soul personality. Topics include:
- The Existence and Nature of God
- Universal Soul and the Human Soul
- The Immateriality, Immortality, and Perfection of the Human Soul
- Cosmogony of the Universal Creation
- Cosmic Evolution
- Soul Personality
- Divine Consciousness and Self Consciousness
- The Soul and Intelligence of Animals
- Spiritual Evolution of Humans
- The State of Perfection
- Spiritual Alchemy
- Karmic and Non-Karmic Trials
- Mastery of Karma
- Collective Karma
- Reincarnation of the Soul
- Universal Cycles Memory of Past Incarnations
- The Mystery of Birth
- Incarnation of the Soul-personality in the Body
- The Mystery of Death
- Transition of the Soul-personality
- The Stages of Transition
- Cosmic Planes and the Levels of Cosmic Evolution
- Help to the Dying, Before and After Death
- Definition and Origins of Prayer
- Three Kinds of Prayer: Intercession, Confession, and Thankfulness
- The Rosicrucian Technique of Prayer
- Rosicrucian Technique of Meditation
- Exercises: How to recall past incarnations through manipulation of the subconscious. How to remember past incarnations through special meditation techniques.
Degree 9
Duration: 13 months
By now these techniques will have become second nature and you will be well prepared to successfully undertake the advanced experiments of the ninth degree. This degree gives you the opportunity to utilise the highest metaphysical powers in practical ways to positively affect conditions in your environment and your life in accordance with the greatest good and highest principles you know. Topics include:
- Macrocosm and Microcosm
- The Classical Four Principles: Earth, Water, Air and Fire
- Symbolism of the Cross, Triangle, Square, Circle, and Rosy Cross
- Mental Alchemy
- Exercises:Symbolism of Earth, Water, Air and Fire; Telepathy; Telekinesis; Vibroturgy; Radiesthesia; The Alchemical Cloud; Invisibility; Cosmic Protection; Mystical Regeneration; Spiritual Assumption; Attunement with Cosmic Consciousness
