AMORC
<p >The <b>Ancient and Mystical Order Rosæ Crucis</b>, also called the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosicrucian_Order" title="Rosicrucian Order" class="mw-redirect" >Rosicrucian Order</a> (AMORC)</i>, is a worldwide philosophical and humanistic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraternal_organization" title="Fraternal organization" class="mw-redirect" >fraternal organization</a> devoted to "the study of the elusive mysteries of life and the universe."<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Mystical_Order_Rosae_Crucis#cite_note-1" >[1]</a></sup> The organization is non-sectarian and it is open to both men and women of legal adult age (18 years old in most countries) regardless of their various religious persuasions.
The current open cycle of AMORC was activated by Harvey Spencer Lewis in 1915.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Mystical_Order_Rosae_Crucis#cite_note-2" >[2]</a></sup> Lewis received authority to do so from the Supreme Council of the Rosicrucian Order after being tried, tested and finally initiated into the Order in 1909, Toulouse, France.
AMORC is said to be the modern day manifestation of the ancient <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosy_Cross" title="Rosy Cross" >Rose-Croix</a> Order which has its origin in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt" title="Ancient Egypt" >Ancient Egyptian</a> mystery schools.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Mystical_Order_Rosae_Crucis#cite_note-3" >[3]</a></sup>
AMORC's teachings draw upon ideas of the major <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosopher" title="Philosopher" >philosophers</a>, particularly <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagoras" title="Pythagoras" >Pythagoras</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thales" title="Thales" >Thales</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solon" title="Solon" >Solon</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraclitus" title="Heraclitus" >Heraclitus</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democritus" title="Democritus" >Democritus</a>. The teachings are divided into <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.amorc.org.uk/study/system" >Degrees</a> which are further grouped into broad categories under titles such as <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.amorc.org.uk/study/postulant" >Postulant</a></i>, <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.amorc.org.uk/study/neophyte" >Neophyte</a></i> and <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.amorc.org.uk/study/initiate" >Initiate</a></i> sections. These degrees cover various fields related to physical, mental, psychic and spiritual existence such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physics" title="Physics" >physics</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaphysics" title="Metaphysics" >metaphysics</a>, biology, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychology" title="Psychology" >psychology</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parapsychology" title="Parapsychology" >parapsychology</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative_religion" title="Comparative religion" >comparative religion</a>, traditional healing techniques, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health" title="Health" >health</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intuition_(knowledge)" title="Intuition (knowledge)" class="mw-redirect" >intuition</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extrasensory_perception" title="Extrasensory perception" >extrasensory perception</a>, material and spiritual <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemy" title="Alchemy" >alchemy</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation" title="Meditation" >meditation</a>, sacred architecture, symbolism, and that mystical state of consciousness relating to the experience of unity with the Divine.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Mystical_Order_Rosae_Crucis#cite_note-4" >[4]</a></sup>
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