Types of Esoteric Orders and
the 1999 Reformation of the Rosicrucian Order of A+O.
(The Second Order (RR+AC) Curriculum)
In modern esotericism, there exist three types of esoteric orders. These fall into
two general categories; symbolical and operative. Among the operative orders,
there are those which are analogical (lunar) or direct (solar). At the simplest level
we find the ”symbolical” orders like Freemasonry and the outer order of the
original Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. In these orders, spiritual wisdom
is presented in symbolical form; either exclusively during the initiation rituals in
the case of Freemasonry, or together with supplemental study materials as in the
case of the original Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in the outer.
At the more advanced level come the so-called, ”operative” orders. Operative
orders employ special magical or alchemical “operations” for spiritual
development. In a further distinction, there exist two kinds of operative systems
and orders. Firstly, in the “analogical,” operative systems, practitioners operate
with systems referring by analogy to yet higher, more direct, and more advanced
operations and systems. Analogical operative systems are thus called “lunar”
mysteries as, much as the moon reflects the light of the Sun, their light is
reflected by analogical reference to higher operative processes. Nonetheless,
despite her reflective nature, the moon indeed remains a luminary. So also the
analogical operative systems remain powerful tools for spiritual development in
and of themselves, despite their analogical nature.
Many things in modern times called “Rosicrucian” have no real reference the
historical Rosicrucian tradition. There do, however, exist certain sets of spiritual
practices that have been employed by the Rosicrucian tradition since earliest
times. These Rosicrucian practices have always been operative rather than
merely symbolical in nature and have concerned themselves primarily with
magic (theurgy) and alchemy. The be