“You are Man, never forget that you represent human dignity, respect this nobility; that is your first and highest assignment upon the earth.”

-Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin

 

Martinism is a secret mystical and esoteric theosophy, a way of life, and an intiatory path devoted to the revelation of the spiritual origin and powers of Mankind. It is a path open to all those who seek the Truth, and to become who they are, regardless of gender, belief, sexual preference or religious denomination.

It is a 250 year old western tradition that aims to empower all seekers of enlightenment, the “men and women of desire” to return to the divine spiritual state that seem lost in our current state of material prison.

This enlightenment that our ancestors called Reintegration, is attained through initiation into the ‘Secret Tradition of the West’.

This spiritual current is as old as time immemorial. Enkindled by the divine fire that burns within man, inspiring him to better himself, rise above his own illusions, and regain what he once lost; freedom from the chains put upon him in his current state of material privation.

The martinist order of Ordre Reaux Croix is devoted to the perpetuation of this tradition, and is today active in Norway, Sweden, Canada, Argentina, Spain, USA and England. The O.’.R.’.C.’. teaches through personal instruction, studies, meditation, ceremonial magic, inner alchemy and the integration of all these esoteric disciplines into the soul and psyche of the seeker. Studies in the order begin by initiation into the Voie Cardiaque, and after a time of mystical and contemplative work, the aspirant can chose to work with magical and philosophical branch of the tradition, the Elus Coëns and C.’.B.’.C.’.S.’. as described below.

Several well-known cultural figures were martinists, such as Czar Nicholas II of Russia, enlightenment fighter Nicholaj Novikov, the occultists Compte de Saint-Germain, Eliphas Levi, Arthur Edward Waite, Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, John Yarker, Theodor Reuss and Gerard Encausse – Grand Masters of the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.) , Augustine Chaboseau, Emile Dantinne. Esoteric writers such as Julius Evola, J.I. Wedgwood, the writers Hermann Hesse, Honorè Balzac, Lord Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Joséphin Péladan, Margaret Peeke, painters Arnold Böcklin and Pamela Coleman Smith, musicians Claude Debussy and Édith Piaf.

A short introduction

“Martinism” is a common name given to a secret mystic theosophy, concerning the origin and destiny of man.

The source of these teachings is shrouded in the antiquities of history, but was concieved and shaped into a coherent philosophy and spiritual school by three distinct individuals, giving rise to the name “Martinism”: Martinez de Pasqually, and his two students and friends Louis-Claude de Saint Martin and Jean-Baptiste Willermoz.

Martinez de Pasqually

Pasqually was a french mystic of jewish descent, born in the vicinity of Grenoble around 1720.

The source of his teachings is a mystery, but we know that he was taught by his father, who initiated him into Freemasonry, and also was instructed by an individual he referred to as his old teacher.

He inherited the rights to establish a Masonic Lodge from his father, and in 1752, he started establishing a secret initiatory society to transmit his teachings. He called his order the Order of Mason Knights Elect Coens of the Universe (Ordre des Chevaliers Maçons Élus Coens de l’Univers.

His order and his teachings were concerned with the true spiritual origin of Mankind as a vessel for the Divine Light, and the mystical and magical path that leads from material ignorance to spiritual enlightenment.

This was to be attained by a series of stages where the initiate underwent a series of stages where he both were instructed, consecrated and worked a theurgical practice towards his own spiritual and bodily purification. These were and are the most important tools for the Elus Cohen in the quest for self-conquest.

 

 

Since then our teachings have been transmitted through three different paths; in its original form through the ceremonial order of the Elus Cohens, and secondly as an order of moral and spiritual chivalry in the C.·.B.·.C.·.S.·. – the Order Of Beneficient Knights of the Holy City.

Jean Baptiste Willermoz

The original creator of the ‘Ordre de Chevalier Bienfaisant de la Cité Sainte’ – or C.·.B.·.C.·.S.·. was Jean Baptiste Willermoz (1730 – 1824), close friend and student of Martinez de Pasqually:

When Pasqually died in 1774, the teachings of his master were at risk of being lost, and Willermoz then decided to use a Masonic body as a vehicle for the inner and secret teachings of the Order of Elus Cohens.

Willermoz was a pragmatic person, a brilliant esoteric scholar and innovator.

His work as a freemason is of fundamental impact and erudition, but has sadly been forgotten over the centuries. But history portrays him as an ardent knight of truth fighting to rectify the decadence of secret societies and the lack of sincere desire for enlightenment within them.

The aim of the C.’.B.’.C.’.S.’. is enable the Chevalieres to follow the Imitation of Christ, and adopt a life of moral chivalry as the basis of all spiritual attainment. Furthering the personal work of rebuilding what once was lost, the work of the Knights and the Dames of the order is to manifest the charitable teachings of martinism in the world through beneficent and unselfish deeds.

C.’.B.’.C.’.S.’. is thus the chivalric branch of the martinist tradition, the poor knights of Christ.

 

Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin

Saint-Martin, better known as the ‘Unknown Philosopher’, is the last of the three founders of what history have come to call Martinism. Beeing the most well known of them, the Tradition have come to be reffered to as ‘Martinism’ in his wake.

Louis Claude de St Martin was born in a noble family in Amboise, France, on the 18th January in 1743. He became one of Martinez de Pasqually’s students in the Elus Cohen, and also his close friend and secretary. Together with his life-long friend Willermoz, he went his own way in deepening the way of his Master, and sought to establish a silent and mystic path of spiritual enlightenment. -Not through theurgy or ritual, but through the inner “Way of the Heart.”

He began to instruct students in his own teachings, which were mainly influenced by Pasqually’s doctrine, but later on also inspired by the writings of the Christian mystic Jacob Boehme. He travelled all over europe, and wrote an extensive amount of litterature, always under his nom-de-plume ‘The Unknown Philosopher’ – teaching that silence and anonymity is the true way of the Adept nurturing the Sacred Fire.

St Martin passed away on the 13th October, 1803, leaving behind a great number of students spread across Europe, passing on the teachings through the centuries, through small circles, and intimate initiations betwen student and master.

Voie Cardiaque – The Way of the Heart is thus mystical and contemplative branch of the ORC, from whose roots the two other branches of the Order spring.

The Summit of these teachings is the initiation Saint-Martin describes thus:

“The only initiation which I advocate and which I look for with all the ardor of my Soul, is that by which we are able to enter into the Heart of God within us, and there make an Indissoluble Marriage, which makes us the Friend, the Brother and Spouse of the Repairer … there is no other way to arrive at this Holy Initiation than for us to delve more and more into the depth of our Soul and to not let go of the prize until we have succeeded in liberating its lively and vivifying origin.”

To learn more about martinism, or how to join the Ordre Reaux Croix, please browse through our website and our library.