R

Rabi'a: Rabi'a al-Adawiyah was the first and one of the very few women in Islam to be elevated to Sufi sainthood.She was born in Basra and became the first known individual to formulate the basic Sufi ideal of the perfected love of God.This love was conceived as total, excluding person or personality and disinterested,neither seeking paradise nor fearing hell.So strong was her dedication to the ideal that many stories told of her sitting on her roof all night under the stars, completely absorbed in God.It was through Rabi'a that the early Asceticism of the Sufi movement transformed itself into Mysticism.She died about AD 801

Radiesthesia: This is the use of a pendulum or a dowsing rod for a broad range of purposes,such as finding mines,location lost people or receiving YES / NO messages etc

Radionics: The term 'radiesthesia' denotes the medical use of Dowsing, pioneered in France during the 19th century.Radionics is the mechanincal counterpart of Radiesthesia, originally developed by the San Francisco neurologist, Dr Albert Abrams.Dr Abrams theorizes that since the human body was known to emit radiation, it should be possible to detect illness.After years of experimentation, he developed a 'Reflexoscope' which he claimed could differentiate between cancer, tuberculosis and syphilis

The reflexoscope was a diagnostic tool, but Dr Abrams surmised it should be possible to design therapeutic instruments which would act on the body's radiation.Eventually with the aid of an engineer, he built one which became known as the 'Oscilloclast' or, more popularly, 'Abrams Box. Perhaps surprisingly, it worked.In 1925, a British Commission of Inquiry set up to examine results obtained by the Box, subsequently reported 'The fundamental proposition underlying the so-called ERA (Electronic Reaction of Abrams) is established to a very high degree of probability. Other practitioners followed in Dr Abrams's footsteps and constructed radionic devices of their own, including the 'black box' of George de la Warr, which was the subject of a court action during the 1960's.Despite the fact that they could find no scientific explanation for its effect, the judges decided that the box actually worked and produced cures as claimed

Despite such favourable decisions, radionics has traditionally been bedevilled by two problems.One is the inconsistency of the method, which seems to rely as much on the practitioner's sensitivity and well-being than on machinery involved.The other is the established fact that radionics can diagnose and treat patients in their absence, using no more than a small blood or urine sample - something which has so far defied a rational explanation

Raguel (Archangel - Judeo-Christian): Also known as Akrasiel, Raguil,Rasuil,Rufael,Suruan.Raguel's name means 'friend of God'.His chief role in the Angelic Hierarchy is to oversee all of the other archanels & angels.He ensures that they are all working well together in a harmonious and orderly fashion,according to Divine order and will.As a result, he's often refered to as 'the Archangel of Justice and Fairness'.Raguel loves to be a champion to underdogs, and he can help those who feel slighted or mistreated become more empowered and respected.Archangel Raguel is enthusiastic and friendly, and he is a 'battery' - meaning that he will energize you when you need a boost.Think of having a best friend, who's a combination attorney, spiritual counselor,therapist, and motivational coach, and you will have an idea of Raguels's multiple talents and the extent of his helpfulness.Raguel is a loving gentleman who will never interfere wity your free will.However if you ask him for help, he'.. be there in an instant.He helps with resolving Arguments,Cooperation and harmony in groups & families .Empowerment, especially for underdogs, Mediation & disputes and Orderliness

Ramakrishna, Sri(1836-1886): While playing the part of the Hindu god Shiva in a play, little Paramahmsa Ramakrishna suddenly fell into trance and remained in an exstatic state for three whole days.The childhood experience was an indication if things to come.Ramakrishna, who was born in Bengal in 1836, became at the age of 20 chief priest of a temple of the goddess Kali.Although married - a traditional Indian arrangement involving a child bride- he came to believe that sexuality was a bar to Mystical Consciousness and embraced celibacy for the remainder of his life.Sri Ramakrishna, who is still venererated as a guru inside and outside India, died in 1886

Ramayana: WOne of the earliest extant epics of ancient India, the Ramayana is a 24,000-couplet poem describing the fabulous adventures of its hero Rama who managed, among other things, to rescue his beautiful wife Sita from Sri Lanka where she was imprisoned by the demon king Ravana

Rampa, Lobsang: Readers in the 1960's were fascinated by the publication of a book entitled 'The Third Eye' written by a Tibetan lama named Tuesday Lobsang Rampa and describing how, as a novice, Rampa had undergone a surgical operation during which a sliver of wood had been inserted into his skull to awaken the fabulous 'Third Eye' and give him a wide range of Psychical & Mystical Powers.The book became an Interntional best-seller, but was based more on the writings of Madame Blavatsky than the reality of Tibet.Lobsang Rampa's real name was Cyril Hoskin, and far from being a 'Tibetan Monk' he was actually an Irish Plumber.On subsequent expose, he claimed that the spirit of the real Lobsang Rampa now have taken over his body as part of a deal they had made and went on to publish a whole series of books under Rampa name

Ramtha: The Spirit Entity of J.KZ.Knight, a former housewife now living in Tacoma, Washington State.Since 1977, when Rantha first appeared to her in a vision in her suburban kitchen. Many people have flocked to hear her talk. Mrs Knight goes into a deep trance, claiming to leave her body so that Ramtha can enter.Tamtha proclaims himself to be a 35,000 year old warrior from Atlantis

Random Psychic Intuition: A psychic experience that come at a time when it is unexpected and usually unwanted

Raphael: Also known as Labbiel.Raphael's name means 'God Heals' or'God has healed' based upon the Hebrew word 'rapha, which means 'doctor or healer'.Raphael is a powerful healer of physical bodies, both for humans and animals.Those who call on Raphael are healed rapidly.It is said that he healed the pain that Abraham felt after being circumcised as an adult.Raphael can be invoked on behalf of someone else.Raphael will go to wherever he is requested, however he cannot interfere with that person's free will.If an ailing person refuses spiritual treatment, it can't be forced.However Raphael's presence will have a comforting effect, which will aid in natural healing by reducing stress and anxiety.In the Book of Tobit, Raphael travels with Tobias, who is Tobbit's son.During the journey, Raphael keeps Tobias safe from harm.This earned Raphael his other role as 'Patron of Travelers.He is a wonderful aid when it comes to safe travel.Raphael also showed Tobias, how to use parts of the fish he'd caught in medicinal ways, such as for healing balms and ointments.This is an example of how Raphael not only conducts spiriitual healing work directly upon the ill or injures, but also guides human healers in knowing which earthly treatments to use on their patients.Healers can mentally call upon Raphael, for guidance before or during treatment sessions.Raphael also helps would-be healers with their education and then assists them in establishing their healing practises by attracting clients

Raphael is also a healer and guide for wild and domestic animals and to retrieve lost pets.The results are almost immediate, as animals seem to be especially open to his gentle, loving care.He also helped heal Tobit's blindness, and he's worked wiht thousands of students to open their 'Third Eye', which is the spiritual centre (chakra) that regualates Clairvoyance.Raphael is very sweet,loving kind and gentle, and you know that he's around when you see sparkles of flashes of emerald-green light

Archangels Raphael & Michael often work in tandem to exorcise troublesome spirits and escort away lower energies from people and places.The Testament of Solomon descrives how Raphael brough the magical ring to King Solomon, inscribed with the powerful 6-pointed star.Solomon used the ring and its symbol to subdue demons.So part of Raphael's healing work involves spirit releasement and space clearing.He helps with the elimination & reducement of Addiction & Cravings,Clairvoyance,Eyesight-physical & spiritual,guidance & support for Healers,Healing for humans & animals,Retrieving of lost pest,Space clearing & spirit releasement,protection of Travelers

Rappings: A technical term used to describe the knocking sounds supposedly produced by spiritual entities in response to questions put to them during a Seance

Rasputin: A Russian mystic and prophet whose malign influence over the Russian imperial family contributed directly to the collapse of the Romanov dynasty shortly after his own death.Grigory Yefimovich Rasputin, originally surnamed Novykh, was born into a peasant family in Siberia and spent much of his youth in debauchery, receiving the name Rasputin (debaucher).After entering the church, however, he experienced a vision of the Virgin Mary and afterwards gained fame locally as a faith healer

Appearing at the imperial court in the Russian capital of St Petersburg about 1907, Rasputin soon acquired a reputation as a mystic and healer and became a favourite of Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna and through her influenced Tsar Nicholas II.Rasputin's hold over Alexandra stemmed from his hypnotic power to alleviate the suffering of the haemophilliac crown prince, Aleksei and from her belief that this scruffy self-styled priest was a genuine representative of the Russian people.When Nicholas took personal command of Russian troops in 1915, Alexandra and Rasputin were virtually in charge of the government

Rasputin's licentious personal behaviour increasingly scandalised the Russian public. In 1916, a group of conservative nobles, concerned over Rasputin's pernicious political influence, plotted to assasinate him.Rasputin predicted his won death in a letter, stating that he would not live beyond 1 January 1917.He also predicted the downfall of the Royal family within two years and the destuction of the aristocracy within a generation

At the end of December 1916, Rasputin was invited to tea at the house of one of the noble conspirators and was fed cake & wine laced with cyanide.Unaffected by the poison, he was then shot several times and then beaten with an iron bar.Still alive he was dragged to the frozen River Neva, tide-up, and thrown through a hole in the ice.Within two years Tsar Nicholas and his family were dead, executed by the Bolsheviks and within a generation, Stalinist policies had eliminated the old Russian aristocracy

Raziel (Archangel - Judiac,Cabalistic): Also known as Ratziel,Saraqael,Suriel. Raziel's name means 'secret of God' because he works so closely with the Creator, that he knows all of the secrets of the Universe and how it operates.Raziel wrote down all of these secrets in a tome of symbols and Divine magic called 'The Book of the Angel Raziel' or 'Sefer Raziel' After Adam & Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, Raziel gave Adam the book for guidance about manifestation and Gods' grace. Later, the prophet Enoch received the book prior to his ascension and transfromation into Archangel Metatron.Noah was also given a copy of the book by Archangel Raphael and Noah used the information to build his ark and help its inhabitants after the flood.Many scholars say that the cryptical book was actually penned by a Jewish scholar of the middle ages, perhaps Eleazar of Worms or Isaac the Blind.However, the book is difficult to decipher and it's said that readers must call upon Raziel in order to make sense of it.Raziel can understand esoteric material, manifestation principles, sacred geometry,quantum physics and other high-level information.He can also open you up to high levels of psychic abilities and increase your ability to see, hear and feel Divine guidance.Like a Divine wizard,Raziel can also assist you with manifestations.He is said to be very loving, kind & intellegent.His presence can seem subtle, but as you experience him over time, you'll become aware of his positive influence in your spiritual practises.He helps with: Alchemy,Clairvoyance,Divine magic,Esoteric information,Manisfestation,Psychic abilities

Rebirthing: Employs various techniques to help with overcoming traumas which are related to birth, by reliving the process of birth.This can provide valuable insights.In the 1970's, on the West coast of America, Leonard Orr used deep breathing exercises to take the individual back to birth an life in the womb.Sometimes in rebirthing the client adopts the foetal position while gentle pressure is applied to the head and feet to simulate life in the womb.Frank Lake, an English psychiatrist, believed that various diseases like migrane, asthma and schizophrenia, had their origins in prenatal experiences.Arthur Hanow added another dimension to rebirthing with 'the primal scream' the scream which should be made at the time of birth to relieve the pain

Reflexology: A form of Pain Relief Therapy commonly linked with Acupuncture, but based on somewhat different principles in which pain relief and the alleviation of certain ailments is achieved by pressure on specific areas of the feet.It originated in China, but was first used in the West by Dr William Fitzgerald, an ENT Specialist interested in acupuncture

According to Reflexolgoy theory, specific foot zones, notably on the soles, are linked to every important organ, gland and muscle group in the body.When a physical disturbance occurs, this is reflected in the relevant foot zone, which produces crystalline deposits beneath the skin.Reflexologists, works the zone in order to break down the crystals, which then brings relief to the afflicted area.Whatever the crystalline structures may or may not be present, there is no doubt at all that Reflexology, which appears to have a normalizing or hamonizing effect on the body, but the treatment itself can be painful

Reframe: The installation of a new habit into the 'unconscious mind'

Regardie,Francis Isreal: AOver the period 1937 to 1940, Israel Regardie embarked on one of the most controversial ventures of his life.He published - in four volumes, the complete rituals and other magical workings of the Golden Dawn, he had once been a member of.His action caused a furore among occultists, who pilloried him as a dangerous oath-breaker,but by the time of his death, in 1986, Regardie had become the world's acknowledged authority on Ceremonial Magic

Born in England in 1907, he was heavily influenced by Aleister Crowley, whose secretary he became for a number of years.He joined Crowleys' magical order, the Stella Matutina, but managed to avoid the type of excesses that made Crowley notorious.Regardie spent much of his life in the U.S where he worked as a body therapist.Along with his four-volumed Golden Dawn, he published numerous books including 'The Middle Pillar & The Art of True Healing' both which are better known to practising occultists than to readers of Regardie's more popular works

Regression: Form of psychotherapy. In various forms of Psychotherapy, patients are required to explore memories of events which have contributed to current emotional problems.A great many such events occur in childhood, but memories of childhood are not always easy to regain.Consequently Psychiatrists may elect to make use of drugs or techniques like Hypnosis in order to produce the material required for analysis

The process of pushing back towards childhood is known by the Psychoanalytic term of 'Regression' Within the overall phenomenon of hypnosis, the reality of regression is well established.Even Professor H.J.Eysenck, who dismisses certain of the more extreme claims for the technique as 'absurb', wholly accepts the evidence of remarkable memory improvement presented by regression subjects.Such evidence is, in fact extremely interesting.When regressed to an early age, the subject will typically adopt the limited vocabulary of that age and may even begin to speak in a childlike tone.Personality changes occur.Behaviour patterns become those of the suggested age level. If a drawing is requested, it shows a childlike technique.Most interesting of all are the handwriting changes, which often conform precisely to handwriting samples produced by the subject when he was actually of the age suggested

Examination of eye movement indicates that when subjects are regressed to an early age, their ocular coordination degenerates.Some Psychoanalysts have theorized that the most troublesome experiences might actually be the very earliest, the moment of birth for example.Their patients reporteed recall of cradle events and even the birth trauma itself.A few claimed to be able to remember life within the womb.A handful of patients produced more distant memories still.The presented apparent recall of lives beyond the womb

Analysts wondered if the respectable process of regression had gone rogue and was producing fantasies or halucinations.It seemed a likely explantion.Because if the reports of these few patients were correct, it would mean they had actually lived before- and that opened up a whole series of scientific an Philosophical difficulties.It is probably fair to say the Psychiatric community dealt with these difficulties by ignoring Past Life Regression altogether.The technique was taken up an carried forward largely by individuals outside the medical profession with an interest in Reincarnation and/or Psychical Research

From their work, a substantial body of literature has built up. From this literature, it is clear that different subjects react to regression in different ways, but many actually relive Past Live Experiences in a manner they find indistinguishabel from physical reality.In his 'Encounters with the Past'-Peter Moss, Sidgwick & Jackson-1979', researcher Joe Keeton tells of a subject who, when regressed, found herself at the 'Assizes' and accused of witchcraft.It was the start of a 20min session marked by steadily growing tension.The trial was held at Chelmsford Assizes in 1556.Keeton's subject, a 23 year old businesswomen was reliving the experience of an accused 17 year old, who was stripped and pricked as part of an interrogation which left her screaming in terror

Reich, Willhelm: He was born in Galacia in 1897, studied medicine after the first World War, then joined Freud's Psychoanalytic movement in Vienna.In 1927 he sought analysis from the master himself.Freurd refused.Reich had a breakdown and sought refuge in a Swiss sanatorium.When he emerged, he became a Communist.At this period of his life, Reich was beginning to formulate the ideas for which he was subsequently to become famous.Never a man to do anything by half, he took Freudian sexual doctrines to the extreme and insisted that orgasm was the ultimate key to physical and psychological health.In 1930, in Berlin, he founded the German Association for Proletarian Sexual Politics, which actually went beyond his own orgasmic doctrines to advocate the abolition of laws against homosexuality and abortion, and the publication of birth-control information.It was explosive stuff, and he was expelled from the German Communist Party.The International Psychoanalytical Association stuck it a further year, then edged him out too

An autocratic and difficult man, Reich was perfectly prepared to go it alone.By the end of the decade, he was claiming to have discovered a fundamental energy, called 'orgone' which, while it seems to have similarities with prana & ch'i, he believed to be the specific basis of lvoe and orgasm.It was not a metaphysical concept.Reich said he had found fundamental biological entities, called 'bions' which carried the energy.More to the point, he invented orgone accumulators, special sorts of batteries in which the energy could be stored for therapeurtic purposes, or even to influence the weather.By now an emigrant to the United States, Reich founded an Orgone Institute in Maine, from which issued increasingly extravagant claims for his discoveries.He began to market his energy accumulators, claiming they could cure serious disease like cancer

The US food & Drug Administration stepped in with an injunction restraining him from distributing accumulators those he carried in stock and destroy all printed matter dealing with 'orgone' energy.It is unlikely that the FDA move would have survived in court, but Reich refused to fight it.Instead he simply elected to ignore it.As a result he was arrested and jailed for 2 years for contempt.He died in prison in 1957.Reich was, however,very much the pioneer of bodywork, and his concept of sexual energy and body armouring have been very influential in contemporary bodywork practices

Reichian: Therapy: Whatever the response to Reiche's ideas on 'orgone' energy & accumulators, Reichian therapy has contributed to contemporary bodywork, particularly bioenergetics, Rolfing and Feldenkreis.It is based on Reich's concept of 'bioenergy flow' through the body.When emotions is impaired.The body hold these repressons as 'body-armour'.The aim of Reichian therapy is to dissolve the body armour and release the blocked physical and emotional energy.Several approaches are used, including deep breathing, deep massage, working with facial expressions to express true emotions, chest work, convulsive reflex-work, maintaining stress positions and active movements such as kicking and stamping.It can be both physically and emotionally painful,but there is little doubt that it achieves results.Those whocan stay the course report substantial improvements in their levels of awareness and general well-being, with a notable enhancement of their sex lives

Reiki: Japanese form of laying on of hands involving and energy transfer which catalyses the Univesal life form to promote healing. Practise developed by Dr. Mikao Usui in the late 1800's

Reincarnation: As a religious belief,the doctrine of reincarnation is intimately connected with ideas about Karma. Reincarnation, the return to life in a new body after death, has a long history.In primitive Shamanic belief, a dead Shaman might take over the body of a young pupil, with terrific struggle and stress, and so live again.The believe of reincarnation is found in many parts of occult lore.The famous 20th Century U.S clairvoyant, Edgar Cayce, went from scepticism about it to complete belief, affirming that he had once been a prince in Atlantis.Another occultist, Rudolf Steiner, elaborated a whole series of future incarnations awaiting humanity

Reincarnation is a process accepted as a fact of life by all the major religions of the Orient and now under serious investigation in the West, both by occultists and some few of the more imaginative scientists. The doctrine of reincarnation is intimately connected with ideas about Karma, the concept of cosmic balance echoed in the Christian precept that 'Whatsoever a man soweth, so also shall he reap'.But it is the scientific evidence for reincarnation rather than the religious theory, which has caught public imagination in New Age.To provide such evidence, researchers like Professor Ian Stevenson have investigated well known cases such as those of Bishen Chand and Shanti Devi.Both having clear memories of their Past Lives

New Age investigators in the field of Reincarnation research have perfected a technique of hypnotic Regression, which has helped literally thousand of subjects to produce what certainly appear to be Past Life Recollections.The Phenomenon is intriguing in itself.If the 'memories' are actually fantasies, some explanation is required for the fact that so many people whose whole religion, upbringing and culture deny reincarnation appear to believe in it at an unconscious level But beyond this is the even more disturbing fact that in certain cases, research has shown an historical validity to the memories, so much so that in a number of instances it is difficult to accept any explantation of the facts other than Past Live Memory

Hypnotic Regression has helped thousands to produce what certainly appear to be Past Life recollections

Remote Viewing: Seeing or sensing remote objects clairvoyantly, using an 'inner eye' or allegedly through Out-Of-Body travel(OOBE).It is a skill claimed by Shamans in Tiber, Siberia, Africa and India for centuries.In the 18th century, Emanuel Swedenborg was renowned for his remote visions.In the 18th & early 19the centuries, mesmerists discovered that many of their hypnotised subjects could give detailed accoutns of distant locations or could 'see' into other peoples bodies or brain

In the late 19th century psychic investigators of the Society of Psychical Research in London, conduced many experiments into 'travelling clairvoyance' with subjects who closed their eyes, were blindfolded or even blind.In the 1970's, two American physicists, Russel Targ and Harold Puthoff, established a project at Stanford University to exploit data amassed by previous research and to conduct furher experiments into the phenomena

They concluded that remote viewing occured naturally in many people's lives and that it was possible to train people as remote viewers, regardless of innate psychic abilities.Subjects could be taught to 'visit' a location and accurately describe buildings, people and natural features.Intelligence agencies, such as the CIA and KGB, are now known to have used remote viewers to help penetrate the Iron Curtain during the Cold War

Retrocognition: Psychic information gathered from the past

Rhine, J.B: The father of experimental Parapsychology, the science that investigates PSI and Pananormal abilities such as Telepathy,Clairvoyance & Precognition.His experiments at Duke University in the 1930's resulted in a storm of controversy

Right-Hand Path: A concept widely popularized in the occult novels of Dennis Wheatley, who equated the Right-Hand Path with all that was good and benign in Mystical Practice, while relegating its counterpart, the Left-Hand Path, to the satanic disciplines of black magic.While both terms are still widely used in precisely this sense today, even among occultists, their derivation is rooted in Oriental Tantric practise, where the essential difference was that adepts of the Left-Hand Path used sexual techniques in their pursuit of enlightenment, while those of the Right-Hand Path did not

Ritual: Strictly speaking, the term 'ritual' describes any frequently repeated sequence of actions (like checking doors and windows before going to bed at night), but has developed into a description of Religious and/or Magical Ceremonial, characterized by a set sequence of actions and (usually special dedication clothing and equipment.Although the fact was successfully kept secret for centuries, magical ritual is now known to have an inner as well as an outer aspect - that is to say, its practitioners engage in a series of very specific visualizations in tandem with the visible Physical actions

Rogers, Carl: The American Psychologist and educationalist Carl Rogers was the pioneer of person-centred principles in counselling.He was the first person to use the 'encounter' group and his particular form is known as 'basic encounter'

Rolfing: Also sometimes referred to as Structural Intergration.Muscular realignment therapy was developed by Ida Rolf to eliminate eliminate chronic back & neck pain by releasing muscles frozen by stress

Rosary: Although generally associated in the West with Christian and specifically Roman Catholic practise, the bead string known as a 'rosary' is found in a number of religions where it is used as an aid to Meditaion & Prayer.A Rosary can serve as a convenient guide to the number of times a ritual action or prayer should (or must) be repeated and fulfils this function almost exclusively in Catholicism.Oriental rosaries, however, often have different shaped coloured beads which have symbolic meanings in their own right.The contemporary Western occultist, Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki, has published a series of Mediations 'The Sacred Cord Meditation-The Aquarian Press-1990) describing a rosary system believe to date back to the fabulous lost continent of Atlantis

Rosenkreutz, Christian: The mythical founder of the Brotherhood of the Rosy Cross, Christian Rosenkreutz, was claimed to have been the son of poor but noble parents, was born in 1378 and entered a monastic Order as a child and travelled widely throughout the Middle East absorbing mystic wisdom.On his return to his native Germany, he was joined by three monks from his old monastery who, under pledges of secrecy about anything they might learn, formded with him the nucleurs of the Rosicrucian Order.They studied magic,healed the sick and eventually produced a considerable library of mystical lore before extending their numbers and going their seperate ways in the world, vowing to keep the existence of their Rraternity secret for 100 years.Rosenkreutz himself died at the age of 106, with an inscription on his tomb promising that he would reappear again in 120 years

Rosicrucians: The Order of the Rosy Cross, or Rosicrusians, is a worldwide esoteric society whose official emblem combines a rose and a cross.The society was apparently founded in Europe in medieval times and was given impetus by the publication of three anonymous pamphlets in succesive years: Fama Fraternitatis (Account of the Brotherhood -1614),Confessio Fraternitatis (Confession of the Brotherhood)-1615) and (The Third Chemical Wedding of Christian Rosencreutz-1616). They described the initiation into the spiritual and alchemical mysteries of the East particularly of ancient Egypt of Christian Rosenkreuz, who was allegedly born in 1378 but is persumed to be an allegorical figure

Printed 1614 in Kassel and entitled 'Fama Fraternitatis' began to circulate throughout Germany.It claimed to have been issued by a hitherto unknown occult Brotherhood called 'Rosicrucians' and sought to stimulate a general improvement of the world by fusing the Reformation with advances in Scientific knowledge.The pamphlet then went on to tell the story of the founding of the Order by the legendary Christian Rosenkreutz

Although obscure in style and difficult to understand the publication - created such widespread interest that it was actually reprinted three times in 1615, by a second publication on the subject, the 'Confessio Fraternitatis R.C.' spelling out 37 of the Oder's aims, which included bringing an end to sectarianism and political strife, and expressing the Fraternity's opposition to the Papacy, Islam and Quack alchemists.The publication sought to recruit members to the Rosicrucian movement, without, however telling readers how to join

In 1616 an eager public was treated to the final book in the series the 'Chymische Christiani Hochzeit Rosenkreutz', subsequently rendered into English as 'The Hermetick Romance: or the Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz'.It was a lively story full of esoteric symbolism and one which has since been interpreted as representing an alchemical process.Although the publications were a great mystery, in their day, it is now known that their author was almost certainly the Wurttemburg Theologian Johann Valentin Andreae and the works may have reflected the ideals of a small circle of scholars close to Christoph Besold, a professor of Law at the Univesity of Tubingen.At the time, however, those who wished to join the newly proclaimed Rosicrucians, had no means of doing so and their frustrations generated a considerable volume of secondary literature, speculating on the Order or claiming membership of it

By 1620, the original interest was burning itself out and discussion of the Rosicrucians died away in favour of other fashions.But the whole thing revived again in 1710 with the foundation by Sigmund Richter of the Order of the Gold & Rosy Cross, an alchemical fraternity which drew, albeit loosely on the original legend. The terms 'Rose Cross' and 'Rosicrucian found their way into Freemasonry without, however, having very much to do with their originals.But the Victorian Order of the Golden Dawn, revived the Rosicrucian tradition to such and extent that the legend of Christian Rosenkreutz, was taught to members and a representaion of his 'vault' or tomb was used in the Golden Dawn Rituals

There are several New Age, institutions which claim descent from, or at least link with the original Rosicrucians.Perhaps the best known of these is the American Ancient and Mystic Order Rosae Crucis (AMORC), founder by J. Spencer Lewis, which teaches a substantial body of esoteric doctrine, and tecnique and advertises itself widely in publications throughout the U.S & United Kingdom

Rumi: Generaly regarded as Persia's greatest mystical poet, Jalal'al-Din Rumi was certainly its most prolific.Born in what is now northern Afghanistan in 1207, he managed over his 66 years to write 2,000 mystical odes, 1,600 quatrains and an almost unbelievable 25,000 thyming couplets.Much of this writings concerned love and wine, both of which he considered symbolic of mystical experience.Rumi himself was a 'dervish' who, with all his religious prestige, avoided the mistake of taking himself too seriously

Ruling Planet: In Astrology, the Planet, that is predominant for each sign of the Zodaic, that is, the planet that appears in the ecliptic (the animal path that the Sun apparently forms in the heavens) at the time of the sign. Each planet rules one sign, except Venus & Mercury, which each rules two

There are additional features and weightings given to the rulings, known as exaltations, detriment and fall. Each planet is exalted when it is in a particular sign from which it works well and with which there is a notable similarity, resulting in more significance being attributed to it in an interpretation. Each planet also has a sign of detriment, when the planet is said to be debilitated.The sign opposite to exaltation is called the fall sign.This is when the planet is thought to be weak

Planet:Sun / Ruling in:Leo / Exalted in:Aries / Detrimental:Aquarius / Fall:Libra

Planet:Moon / Ruling in:Cancer / Exalted in:Taurus / Detrimental:Capricorn / Fall:Scorpio

Planet:Mercury / Ruling in:Gemini & Virgo / Exalted in:Virgo / Detrimental:Sagittarius / Fall: Pisces

Planet:Venus / Ruling in:Taurus & Libra / Exalted in:Pisces / Detrimental:Aries/ Fall:Virgo

Planet:Mars / Ruling in:Aries / Exalted in:Capricorn / Detrimental:Libra / Fall:Cancer

Planet:Jupiter / Ruling in:Sagittarius / Exalted in:Cancer / Detrimental:Gemini / Fall: Capricorn

Planet:Saturn / Ruling in:Capricorn / Exalted in:Libra / Detrimental:Cancer / Fall:Aries

Planet:Uranus/ Ruling in:Aquarius / Exalted in:Scorpio / Detrimental:Leo / Fall:Taurus

Planet:Neptune / Ruling in:Pisces / Exalted in:Leo / Detrimental:Virgo / Fall:Aquarius

Planet:Pluto / Ruling in:Scorpio / Exalted in:Virgo / Detrimental:Taurus / Fall:Pisces

Before William Herschel discovered Uranus in 1781, there were only 7 planets (including the Sun & Moon) and therefore three futher planets ruled two signs.Saturn ruled Aquarius as well as Capricorn, Jupiter ruled Pisces as well as Sagittarius, and Mars ruled Scorpio as well as Aries

Runes: An ancient Norse & Germanic alphabet from approx A.D. 200 to 1200, to the symbols of which were ascribed magical properties and which were used mainly for charms and inscriptions on stone,wood, metal or bone.In legend, the runes come from the Volsung, a Nordic people who were the guardians of the forests as they grew again after the last Ice Age.Perhaps derived ultimately from the Etruscan Alphabet, the runic alphabet was spread throughout Europe,Russia & Britain by Viking invaders & travellers, from Norway to Constantinople and rune usage was at its height during the Dark Ages

There were several different systems of runes.In Britain the earliest alphabet had twenty-four letters divided into three groups of eight.The groups were named after Norse deities: Freya, Hagal and Tiu.Runes were carved on stone, bone or wood and were cast in a form of Divination.These use of runes had died out by the 15the century as the Roman Catholic Churc eclipsed paganism.In the late 19the century German occultists revived interest in runes, which became associated with Teutonic racial superiority.The Nazi Swastika is the runic symbol for Thor's hammer and also a symbol of the Earth Mother, and the runic S symbol, was used by the SS, the Nazi secredt police

New Age investigators are more fortunate in that they will usually be asked to invest no more than the price of a paperback book and a little of their time.Today 24 basic runic sybols are usually cut into runestones (which may actually be ceramic or wooden) and used for divination in conjunction with a twenty-fifth, blank stone.There remain, however, persistent rumours of a potent system of rune magic in which the ancient Nordic powers are used to change the future, not simply forecast it

Main info sources

The Aquarian Guide to the New Age - Eileen Campbell & J.H.Brennan

Dictionary of the Occult - Geddes & Grosset

Archangels & Ascended Masters-Doreen Virtue,Ph.D