Rosicrucian Emblems of Daniel: The True Society of Jesus and the Rosy Cross (Stair Society)

This is a very fine example of emblematic symbology, as can be applied to ANY system of esoteric/Rosicrucian systems of investigation, limited only by your imagination

A book for true SEEKERS!

The Rosicrucian Emblems of Daniel Cramer: The True Society of Jesus and the Rosy Cross (Magnum Opus Hermetic Sourceworks (Series), No. 4.)  This is a great book to work with meditation. The picture symbols open a wealth of inner knowledge for the seeker.

This little book, first published in 1617 at the height of the Rosicrucician furor, has never received full recognition as an important and authentic early Rosicrucian document. That's a real shame, because in these 40 engraved drawings, Cramer was able to explore the Rosicrucian mysteries in a way that many volumes of the written word could never accomplish.The emblems themselves are simple, arranged in four 'decades' of ten symbols each. Each emblem is accompanied by a single verse of Scripture and an original two-line stanza. Although these lines allude to the meaning of each diagram, however, they explain nothing-- clearly, whatever lessons are to be learned from each image will not be found in the letter of its accompanying text!Daniel Cramer obviously intended these emblems to be used in meditation, but the beginning student may be daunted by the complex layers of symbolism contained in each image. That's okay, because esoteric symbolism operates on the subconscious level anyway! The important thing to remember is that there are no "right" or "wrong" ideas when exploring your innerspace-- each new discovery is yours and yours alone, and your higher consciousness is capable of assimilating and integrating seemingly disparate ideas. Trust that "inner voice!"As rational beings, however, it's always easier to work with symbols that we understand. If you really need a structured approach, there are a number of different ways that these symbols can be arranged or organized. First of all, Cramer's forty emblems lend themselves quite easily to Qabalistic interpretation, since each of the ten spheres on the Qabalistic Tree of Life can be considered separately in each of the Four Archetypal Worlds. It's also possible to view the emblems in purely alchemical terms, wherein each symbol represents an aspect or a phase of Inner Alchemy. Adam Maclean, in his brief commentary, suggests a unique grouping together of symbols based on their similarities and differences. For that matter, there's certainly no reason why brainstorming or making "free associations" with this symbolism is less valid than any other approach. Indeed, whatever system is employed, the real meaning of each symbol is a discovery that each individual student will have to discover on his or her own!I recommend this little picture-book to anybody with an interest in esoteric symbolism!

A good idea, but executed very badly. A 1624 copy is available on the internet for free, if you read Latin, plus one of German, French, or Italian:[...]You will note that that edition contains 50 emblems, not 40. You will note further that each emblem is preceded by a quatrain, which this translated edition omits. Now, there may be some scholarly, rational reason for both of these discrepancies...perhaps the translator and commentator were working from a copy that had only 40 emblems, and contained no quatrains. If so, it should have been noted in the Introduction of this translation that another, fuller edition existed but that it was rejected for reason (X). McLean's commentary, to anyone who actually knows the occult history and utility of this manual, is patently unsound. Alas, it is all too common for reason to become corrupted when the aim is to sell the gifts of God for a few fleeting shekels. I applaud McLean, in general, however, for his diligence in preserving texts and images for those who might one day make use of them.

I had seen this work already and so knew what to expect. Having spent more time with it and reflected on teh emblems and the messages contained I must say that I find it less useful than I had hoped. FOr myself the subtler regions of awareness are carried far more accescsably through Hindu Buddhist and Paltonic teaching, though even these can be obscure and one has to choose one's translators.Even natives of the tradition are apt to put their slant on teachings and lose sight of the maser's original intention.Having said that it is a useful additoin though perhaps I would direct others to the Christian ROsencreuz Anthology as a really useful work from this school.