Martinism – The initiatory path

The Martinist Order has its origin in a regular high degree system of Freemasonry and is considered to be spiritual Masonry. Among the founders of Martinism were Martines de Pasqually, Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin and Jean Baptiste Willermoz. Martinism is an initiatory path of hermetic and alchemical refinement. In Martinism, the aspirant receives answers to the essential questions of life, namely the origin and goal of human development.

Martinism is a mystical-spiritual initiatory path and traces back to the mystical tradition of Don Martines de Pasqually (1727-1774). Don Martines de Pasqually founded this initiatory tradition in 1740 in a regular high degree system of Masonry. In this context, it is also referred to as the “esoteric branch” of Freemasonry. Martinists are therefore also called “Spiritual Masons”. After his death, his students Jean Baptiste Willermoz and Marquis Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin carried on and developed this mystical tradition. To this day, the tradition of Martinism is a living and intact tradition.

Since the establishment of Martinism, this tradition has spread internationally, forming various currents and undergone constant development. All this led in the different orders, grand lodges and lodges to different characteristics and to a variety of Martinism. Even though there are these manifold manifestations in the practice of the basic doctrine, it has the same overriding goal in all orders and lodges: This declared goal is to enlighten those people who still move in darkness and in the shadow of death with the divine light. Therefore, in 1889, Gérard Encausse (Papus) and Augustin Chaboseau founded the so-called Ordre Martiniste in order to unite the scattered Martinists in a common order.

The doctrine of Martinism is based on the elements of ritual practice and initiation, symbolism, Christian mysticism and hermetic Kabbalah. The initiatory path of Martinism aims to connect the aspirant consciously with the Creator Principle in order to give him access to the inner knowledge of creation. In contrast to Freemasonry, it offers women and men an equal way of initiation.

For the aspirant, the lodges of Martinism provide a forum for learning. The aspirant learns to polish his personality, to live knightly virtues, to acquire creative knowledge, to improve his dealings with his fellow men and to analyze his subjective and egoistic view of the world. The aspirant practices applying and practically verifying his acquired knowledge in the world for his service to man. Martinism therefore forms the basis for the spiritual transformation of the human being. The authentic lineage of Martinism preserves the teachings of spiritual alchemy. Alchemy describes this refining process with the term “the transformation from lead to gold”.

The purpose of Martinism is to give people a tool for their inner transformation. Through this inner transformation, the spiritual development of the human being is gently forced. Through this, the secrets of creation are revealed to the Martinist, namely where man comes from and what his mission is. The advanced courses of the Hermetic Academy deal with the teachings of Martinism. If there is interest, the aspirant can knock at the gates of the Martinist Order.