For those of you who are just starting to learn about Rosicrucianism, here is a little more about who we are. We are the Enneadic Star Pronaos (ESP), a local membership group preserving and transmitting the Rosicrucian tradition of the Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (AMORC), here in Portland, Ore.

Rosicrucians are syncretistic and metaphysical societies that study a wide variety of subjects such as meditation, inner alchemy, telepathy, and energetic healing– however, we are not merely involved in a grab bag of esoteric novelties. We teach that these disciplines are practical applications of an underlying Natural Law that determines the operations of the universe. Study of Natural Law, with a rigorous grounding in ethics and scholarship, is the core pursuit of the order. We seek self-knowledge and betterment for humanity in a way that takes us into the profound spiritual reality beneath the visible phenomena of the physical world.

AMORC is the largest Rosicrucian organization in the world. We differ from some groups in a number of ways.  AMORC follows the tradition as handed down by H. Spencer Lewis.  Our teachings also continue to evolve through the research done under the auspices of the Rose+Croix University International. We are a metaphysical society, one that follows spiritual empiricism, so we are close kin to conventional science. Many Rosicrucians have been and are scientists and medical doctors. We pursue the mysteries with the rigor, diligence, curiosity, objectivity, and the humility of scientific study.

If you look into Rosicrucian traditions, you will find that many of them are Judeo-Christian in nature.  We are not, though the traditions intersect. If you are interested in Judeo-Christian mystical traditions, you may look into our sister organization the Traditional Martinist Order.  AMORC is not religiously affiliated, and indeed the emphasis of the organization is to be a mystical tradition that can coexist with other religious beliefs.

AMORC is organized as an initiatic organization, not unlike the Masons. However, AMORC has always been co-ed and racially integrated. There are no gender restrictions on leadership. Like the Masons, we conduct ceremonies at the gatherings of our affiliated bodies.  These bodies can be as small as a discussion group, or larger like our Pronaos, or even larger like a Chapter or Lodge. We conduct ceremonies, not for their own sake, but as part of an ancient tradition of teaching mysticism through lived experience. Ceremonial group rituals support and work in tandem with solitary (at home) teachings and what we call mystical experiments, such as the Overall Exercise. AMORC pioneered mystical education through correspondence school. The order is now a vast network of online learning that offers its teachings through encrypted PDF, videos and podcasts.  The work of the local group is vital to the growth of the student, as we are here to be the human touchstone and support for those learning on their own.

A specific list of the topic we study in the basic Temple Degree system can be downloaded in a PDF here: WHAT ROSICRUCIANS STUDY.

Lastly, AMORC’s tradition differs from other Rosicrucians in that we trace our lineage back further than the 1614 publication of the Rosicrucian Manifesto.  AMORC linegage go back to the hermetic mystery schools of ancient Egypt, and further back to what we assert is the common ancestor of all world mystical traditions.

A wonderful way to get a sense of the worldview and traditions of AMORC is to watch this multipart series The Sacred History of the Rosicrucians. This series was produced by AMORC.

Our Pronaos meets twice a month— once at the Kenton Masonic Hall in North Portland and once at the Frog Pond Grange in Wilsonville.  Our role is to support the metaphysical, mystical and ethical growth of the AMORC members in our region and for the benefit of all the humanity.

For more information, we’d be happy to tell you more.  Contact us at oregon@amorc.rosicrucian.org.