The Secret Stream
Christian Rosenkreutz and Rosicrucianism
Selected talks by Rudolf Steiner
Edited & introduced by Christopher Bamford

During the early seventeenth century, Europe was suddenly embroiled in controversy with the publication of the first Rosicrucian texts. Ever since then, Rosicrucianism has stood at the centre of Western Christian esotericism. Forced underground by the Thirty Years War, it was passed down secretly by alchemists, hermeticists, and Masons into the nineteenth century, when it inspired new spiritual movements, including Theosophy, the Order of Golden Dawn, and Rudolf Steiner's spiritual science.

The Secret Stream collects all of Steiner's lectures and references to the Rosicrucians and rosicrucianism, which answer questions such as: Who are the Rosicrucians? What is Alchemy? What is the Rosicrucian path? What is the difference between Rosicrucianism and mysticism? And what does it mean for today? Some of the topics include the Tao and the Rose Cross; the history and mission of Christian Rosenkreutz; the nature of Rosicrucian practice and experience; the meaning of The Chymical Wedding and Goethe's Rosicrucian poem The Mysteries. Rosicrucian meditation is also discussed, including how to meditate on the Rose Cross itself. This important collection goes to the spiritual heart of anthroposophy, the essence of which is the Rosicrucian path.

Edited and introduced by C. Bamford; Trans: various (Selected lectures)
Anthroposophic Press
256pp; paperback
ISBN: 0 88010 475 9

Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) called his spiritual philosophy 'anthroposophy', which he defined as 'the consciousness of one's humanity', and the disciplined methods of studying this he termed ‘spiritual science’.  As a highly developed clairvoyant and spiritual initiate, he spoke from his direct cognition of the spiritual world. However, he did not see his work as religious or sectarian, but rather sought to found a universal 'science of the spirit'.

His many published works (written books and lectures) - which include his research into the spiritual nature of the human being, the evolution of the world and humanity, and methods of personal development - invite readers to develop their own spiritual faculties.  He also provided indications for the renewal of many human activities, including education - both general and special - agriculture, medicine, economics, architecture, science, philosophy, religion and the arts. He wrote some 30 books and delivered over 6000 lectures across Europe, and in 1924 founded the General Anthroposophical Society which today has branches throughout the world.
 

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