Johannes Valentinus Andreae

THE CHYMICAL WEDDINGOF CHRISTIAN ROSENKREUTZ

2011

The Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz originally published in German in 1616. This edition derives from an English translation of E.Foxcroft published in 1690. No part of the original English document is copyrighted or copyrightable in any domain.

Published in England by AKAKIA Publications, 2011

AKAKIA Publications St Peters Vicarage Wightman Road London N8 0LY, UK 0044 203 28 66 550 0044 7411 40 65 62 www.akakia.net publications@akakia.net

Johannes Valentinus Andreae THE CHYMICAL WEDDING OF CHRISTIAN ROSENKREUTZ

Translation into English: E.Foxcroft, 1690

Cover Image: Painted & Edited by S.K.V.& P.K.G for AKAKIA Publications, 2011 Any unothorised use prohibited.

ISBN: 978-1-908362-40-7

London, UK

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE & INFORMATION

FIRST DAYSECOND DAYTHIRD DAYFOURTH DAYFIFTH DAYSIXTH DAY

SEVENTH DAY

NOTEREFERENCES

PROLOGUE & INFORMATION

The Publication

The Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz wasfirst published in German at Strasbourg in the year 1616.However, it supposed to have existed in manuscript as earlyas 1459. It was translated into English for the first time in1690 by E. Foxcroft. The present version represents a difficultinitiative taken up by AKAKIA Publications and is solelybased on the original text of the Foxcroft English edition of1690.

The Work

The Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz (CRC)was published in 1616 in Strasbourg and its anonymousauthorship is attributed to Johann Valentin Andreae, a 17year old student, scholar of Philosophy and Christianism,and later, Lutheran Priest. It is the third of the original worksby the mysterious Fraternity of the Rose Cross of the socalled Rosicrucians.

The first two of these works were published asmanifestos, while the third was an allegoric romance (story)divided into Seven Days, or Seven Journeys, likeGenesis,and tells us about the way Christian Rosenkreuz was invitedto go to a wonderful castle full of miracles, in order to assist

the Chymical Wedding of the king and the Queen, that is,the husband and the bride.

This work has been a source of inspiration for poets,alchemists (the word chymical is an old form of chemicaland refers to alchemy – for which the Sacred Marriage wasthe goal) and dreamers, through the force of its initiationritual with processions of tests, purifications, death,resurrection,and ascension and also by its symbolism foundsince the beginning with the invitation to Rosenkreutz toassist this Royal Wedding. The invitation to the royalwedding includes the Monas Hieroglyphica associated withJohn Dee.

The Historical Time and Place

The Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz (CRC)first appeared in Strasburg in the year 1616. It was written inGerman and entitled Chymische Hochzeit ChristianiRosencreutz,anno 1459. No author was named in the book,other than Christian Rosenkreutz, but Johannes ValentinusAndreae (1586 1654) claimed to be the author, in hisautobiography.

Although the book first appeared in 1616, the story takesplace over 150 years earlier. The events of this story spanseven days and are divided into seven chapters, each chapterbeing a different day. The story begins on an evening nearEaster. In the final chapter, the seventh day, CRC isknighted; the year is 1459. It was on Easter day 1459 that the

Constitutions of the Freemasons of Strasburg was firstsigned in Regensburg, with a second signed shortlyafterwards in Strasburg. Also in 1459 the RosicrucianMovement takes effect in the West. R. Steiner calledRosicrucianism “a mysterious school leading to theunderstanding of the Christian Mystery in a manner best fitto the demands of the Modern Era” and addressed it as acontinuation of the Order of the Knights Templar and theOrder of the Holy Grail.

The significance of the present work is also signalled bythe fact that the Gutenberg Bible began printing in Mainz,Germany in 1455, and the first Bible in German, the MentelBible, was printed in Strasburg in 1466.

Symbolism

The Chymical Wedding covers a huge spiritual terrainby means of fantasy imaging. Christian Rosenkreutz, thefounder of Rosicrucians, is considered perhaps one of themost important spiritual guides of the modern era. Beingolder than 80 years old when he wrote his initiation livedthrough his course and participation into the ChymicalWedding, and on the basis of his available biography (FamaFraternitatis), he is regarded as an allegorical personashowing up in different historical times, since, as the storygoes, he was born and died only to get reborn again.

We have to draw attention to the fact that, depending onone’s already lived experiences and life course, each reader

may be led into different paths of interpreting the symbolismin the book. The philosopher Plato used to say that the fableof Isis and Osiris can be understood in 20 different levels ofcognition. The same holds for the Chymical Wedding.

For this reason, AKAKIA Publications would not wishto pre empt the reader with any apriori interpretations, andso they will not engage in any explanation or interpretationof the present work. It is understood that reading throughthe 7 days of the Chymical Wedding, one will inadvertentlydiscover new paths of interpretation for the course leadingto the Gold Philosopher’s Stone.

On our part, we can do nothing more than wish yousuccessful exploration .

VisitaInterioraTerrae

RectificandoInveniensOccultumLapidem

FIRST DAY

On an evening before Easter Day, I sat at a table, andhaving (as my custom was) in my humble prayer sufficientlyconversed with my Creator, and considered many greatmysteries (whereof the Father of Lights his Majesty hadshown me not a few) and being now ready to prepare in myheart, together with my dear Paschal Lamb, a small,unleavened, undefiled cake; all of a sudden arose so horriblea tempest, that I imagined no other but that through itsmighty force, the hill on which my little house was foundedwould fly into pieces.

But inasmuch as this, and the like from the Devil(who had done me many a spite) was no new thing to me, Itook courage, and persisted in my meditation, till somebodyin an unusual manner touched me on the back; whereupon Iwas so hugely terrified, that I dared hardly look about me;yet I showed myself as cheerful as (in such occurrences)human frailty would permit. Now the same thing stilltwitching me several times by the coat, I looked back, andbehold it was a fair and glorious lady, whose garments wereall sky coloured, and curiously (like Heaven) bespangledwith golden stars; in her right hand she bore a trumpet ofbeaten gold, on which a Name was engraved which I couldwell read but am as yet forbidden to reveal it. In her lefthand she had a great bundle of letters of all languages,which she (as I afterwards understood) was to carry to allcountries. She also had large and beautiful wings, full of eyes

throughout, with which she could mount aloft, and flyswifter than any eagle.

I might perhaps have been able to take further noticeof her, but because she stayed so little time with me, andterror and amazement still possessed me, I had to be content.For as soon as I turned about, she turned her letters over andover, and at length drew out a small one, which with greatreverence she laid down upon the table, and without givingone word, departed from me. But in her mounting upward,she gave so mighty a blast on her gallant trumpet, that thewhole hill echoed from it, and for a full quarter of an hourafter, I could hardly hear my own words.

In so unlooked for an adventure I was at a loss, howeither to advise or to assist my poor self, and therefore fellupon my knees and besought my Creator to permit nothingcontrary to my eternal happiness to befall me. Whereuponwith fear and trembling, I went to the letter, which was nowso heavy, that had it been mere gold it could hardly havebeen so weighty. Now as I was diligently viewing it, I founda little seal, on which a curious cross with this inscription, INHOC SIGNO VINCES, was engraved.

Now as soon as I espied this sign I was the morecomforted, as not being ignorant that such a seal was littleacceptable, and much less useful, to the Devil. Whereupon Itenderly opened the letter, and within it, in an azure field, ingolden letters, found the following verses written.

This day, today

Is the Royal Wedding day.For this thou wast bornAnd chosen of God for joyThou mayest go to the mountainWhereon three temples stand,And see there this affair.Keep watchInspect thyselfAnd shouldst thou not bathe thoroughlyThe Wedding may work thy bane.Bane comes to him who faileth hereLet him beware who is too light.

Which is, in modern English:

This day, todayIs the Royal Wedding day.For this you were bornAnd chosen of God for joyThou may go to the mountainWhereon three temples stand,And see there this affair.Keep watchInspect yourselfAnd you should not bathe thoroughlyThe Wedding may be your bane.Bane comes to him who fails hereAll who are too frivolous beware.

Below was written : Sponsus (Groom) and Sponsa (Bride).

As soon as I had read this letter, I was presently liketo have fainted away, all my hair stood on end, and a coldsweat tricked down my whole body. For although I wellperceived that this was the appointed wedding, of whichseven years before I was acquainted in a bodily vision, andwhich now for so long a time I had with great earnestnessawaited, and which lastly, by the account and calculation ofthe planets, I had most diligently observed, I found so to be,yet could I never foresee that it must happen under suchgrievous perilous conditions. For whereas I before imagined,that to be a welcome and acceptable guest, I needed only tobe ready to appear at the wedding, I was now directed toDivine Providence, of which until this time I was nevercertain.

I also found by myself, the more I examined my self,that in my head there was nothing but grossmisunderstanding, and blindness in mysterious things, sothat I was not able to comprehend even those things whichlay under my feet, and which I daily conversed with, muchless that I should be born to the searching out andunderstanding of the secrets of Nature, since in my opinionNature might everywhere find a more virtuous disciple, towhom to entrust her precious, though temporary andchangeable, treasures.

I found also that my bodily behaviour, and outwardgood conversation, and brotherly love towards myneighbour, was not duly purged and cleansed. Moreover thetickling of the flesh manifested itself, whose affection wasbent only to pomp and bravery, and worldly pride, and notto the good of mankind: and I was always contriving how bythis art I might in a short time abundantly increase my profitand advantage, rear up stately palaces, make myself aneverlasting name in the world, and other similar carnaldesigns. But the obscure words concerning the three templesparticularly afflicted me, which I was not able to make outby any after speculation, and perhaps should not have doneso yet, had they not been wonderfully revealed to me.

Thus stuck between hope and fear, examining my selfagain and again, and finding only my own frailty andimpotence, not being in any way able to succour myself, andexceedingly amazed at the forementioned threatening, atlength I betook myself to my usual and most secure courseafter I had finished my earnest and most fervent prayer, Ilaid myself down in my bed, so that perchance my goodangel by the Divine permission might appear, and (as it hadsometimes formerly happened) instruct me in this doubtfulaffair. Which to the praise of God, my own good, and myneighbours faithful and hearty warning and amendment,did now likewise come about.

For I was yet scarcely fallen asleep, when I thoughtthat I, together with an innumerable multitude of men, layfettered with great chains in a dark dungeon, in which,

without the least glimpse of light, we swarmed like bees oneover another, and thus rendered each other s affliction moregrievous. But although neither I nor any of the rest could seeone jot, yet I continually heard one heaving himself abovethe other, when his chains and fetters had become ever soslightly lighter, though none of us had much reason to shoveup above the other, since we were all captive wretches.

Now when I with the rest had continued a goodwhile in this affliction, and each was still reproaching theother with his blindness and captivity, at length we heardmany trumpets sounding together and kettle drums beatingin such a masterly fashion, that it even revived us in ourcalamity and made us rejoice. During this noise the cover ofthe dungeon was lifted up from above, and a little light letdown to us. Then first might truly have been discerned thebustle we kept, for all went pell mell, and he who perchancehad heaved himself up too much, was forced down againunder the others feet. In brief, each one strove to beuppermost. Neither did I myself linger, but with my weightyfetters slipped up from under the rest, and then heavedmyself upon a stone, which I laid hold of; howbeit, I wascaught at several times by others, from whom yet as well as Imight, I still guarded myself with hands and feet. For weimagined no other but that we should all be set at liberty,which yet fell out quite otherwise.

For after the nobles who looked upon us from abovethrough the hole had recreated themselves a while with ourstruggling and lamenting, a certain hoary headed ancient

man called to us to be quiet, and having scarcely obtainedthis, began (as I still remember) to speak on thus:

If the poor human raceWere not so arrogantIt would have been given much goodFrom my mother s heritage,But because the human race will not take heedIt lies in such straitsAnd must be held in prison.And yet my dearest motherWill not regard their mischief,She leaves her lovely giftsThat many a man might come to the light,Though this may chance but seldomThat they be better prizedNor reckoned as mere fable.

Therefore in honour of the feastWhich we shall hold today,That her grace may be multipliedA good work will she do :The rope will now be loweredWhoever may hang on to itHe shall be freed.

He had scarcely finished speaking when an ancientmatron commanded her servants to let down the cord seven

times into the dungeon, and draw up whosoever could hangupon it. Good God! that I could sufficiently describe thehurry and disquiet that then arose amongst us; for everyonestrove to get to the cord, and yet only hindered each other.But after seven minutes a sign was given by a little bell,whereupon at the first pull the servants drew up four. Atthat time I could not get very near the cord, having (as isbefore mentioned) to my huge misfortune, betaken myself toa stone at the wall of the dungeon; and thereby I was madeunable to get to the cord which descended in the middle.

The cord was let down the second time, but many,because their chains were too heavy, and their hands tootender, could not keep their hold on the cord, but withthemselves beat down many another who else perhapsmight have held fast enough; nay, many a one was forciblypulled off by another, who yet could not himself get at it, somutually envious were we even in this our great misery. Butthey of all others most moved my compassion whose weightwas so heavy that they tore their very hands from theirbodies, and yet could not get up. Thus it came to pass that atthose five times very few were drawn up. For as soon as thesign was given, the servants were so nimble at drawing thecord up, that the most part tumbled one upon another, andthe cord, this time especially, was drawn up very empty.

Whereupon the greatest part, and even I myself,despaired of redemption, and called upon God that hewould have pity on us, and (if possible) deliver us out of thisobscurity; who then also heard some of us. For when the

cord came down the sixth time, some of them hungthemselves fast upon it; and whilst being drawn up, the cordswung from one side to the other, and (perhaps by the willof God) came to me, and I suddenly caught it, uppermostabove all the rest, and so at length beyond hope came out. Atwhich I rejoiced exceedingly, so that I did not perceive thewound which during the drawing up I had received on myhead from a sharp stone, until I, with the rest who werereleased (as was always done before) had to help with theseventh and last pull; at which time through straining, theblood ran down all over my clothes, which I neverthelessbecause of my joy did not take notice of. Now when the lastdrawing up on which the most of all hung was finished, thematron caused the cord to be laid aside, and asked her agedson to declare her resolution to the rest of the prisoners, whoafter he had thought a little spoke thus unto them.

Ye childer dearYe who are here,It is completedWhat long hath been known,The great favour which my motherHath here shown you twainYe should not disdain :A joyful time shall soon be come.When each shall be the other s equal,No one be poor or rich,And who was given great commands

Must bring much with him now,And who was much entrusted withStripped to the skin will be,Wherefore leave off your lamentationWhich is but for a few days.

As soon as he had finished these words, the coverwas again put to and locked down, and the trumpets andkettle drums began afresh, yet the noise of them could not beso loud but that the bitter lamentation of the prisoners whicharose in the dungeon was heard above all, which soon alsocaused my eyes to run over.

Presently afterwards the ancient matron, togetherwith her son, sat down on seats before prepared, andcommanded the redeemed should be told. Now as soon asshe had demanded everyone s name, which were alsowritten down by a little page; having viewed us all, one afteranother, she sighed, and spoke to her son, so that I couldwell hear her, Ah, how heartily I am grieved for the poormen in the dungeon! I would to God I could release themall.

To which her son replied, It is, mother, thusordained by God, against whom we may not contend. If wewere all of us lords, and possessed all the goods upon Earth,and were seated at table, who would there then be to bringup the service?

Whereupon his mother held her peace, but soon aftershe said, Well, however, let these be freed from their

fetters, which was likewise presently done, and I was thelast except a few; yet I could not refrain (though I still lookedupon the rest) but bowed myself before the ancient matron,and thanked God that through her, he had graciously andfatherly vouchsafed to bring me out of such darkness intothe light. After me the rest did likewise, to the satisfaction ofthe matron.

Lastly, to everyone was given a piece of gold for aremembrance, and to spend by the way, on the one side ofwhich was stamped the rising sun, and on the other (as Iremember) these three letters, D.L.S.; and therewitheveryone had license to depart, and was sent to his ownbusiness with this annexed limitation, that we to the glory ofGod should benefit our neighbours, and reserve in silencewhat we had been entrusted with; which we also promisedto do, and so departed one from another. But because of thewounds which the fetters had caused me, I could not well goforward, but halted on both feet, which the matron presentlyespying, laughing at it, and calling me again to her said thusto me: My son, do not let this defect afflict you, but call tomind your infirmities, and therewith thank God who haspermitted you even in this world, and in your state ofimperfection, to come into so high a light; and keep thesewounds for my sake.

Whereupon the trumpets began to sound again,which gave me such a shock that I woke up, and then firstperceived that it was only a dream, but it so stronglyimpressed my imagination that I was still perpetually

troubled about it, and I thought I still felt the wounds on myfeet. Howbeit, by all these things I understood well that Godhad vouchsafed that I should be present at this mysteriousand bidden wedding. Wherefore with childlike confidence Ireturned thanks to his Divine Majesty, and besought himthat he would further preserve me in fear of him, that hewould daily fill my heart with wisdom and understanding,and at length graciously (without deserting me) conduct meto the desired end.

Hereupon I prepared myself for the way, put on mywhite linen coat, girded my loins, with a blood red ribbonbound cross ways over my shoulder. In my hat I stuck fourred roses, so that I might sooner be noticed amongst thethrong by this token. For food I took bread, salt and water,which by the counsel of an understanding person I had atcertain times used, not without profit, in similar occurrences.

But before I left my cottage, I first, in this my dressand wedding garment, fell down upon my knees, andbesought God that in case such a thing were, he wouldvouchsafe me a good issue. And thereupon in the presenceof God I made a vow that if anything through his graceshould be revealed to me, I would employ it to neither myown honour nor my own authority in the world, but to thespreading of his Name, and the service of my neighbour.And with this vow, and good hope, I departed out of my cellwith joy.