THE "EGREGORE" OF THE ORDER

translated transcription of a talk by

RAYMOND BERNARD

It seems to me useful to draw to your attention certain basic principles relative to Rosicrucian work, in such a way that all of you, whatever maybe your degree of understanding, may thoroughly understand the fundamental value of your affiliation with the Order and the efforts you have made on the path of personal evolution and mystical realization. It is evident that this will concern solely the Rosicrucian brotherhood and the bonds which unite its members. Now, the explanation in this message will be limited to the Rosicrucian Order AMORC, which alone interests us here and, as you will see, there is much of individual and collective importance here. These few details are the only ones which can be covered in a general talk, but meditation on these different points will lead you to many and fruitful conclusions, until more advanced teaching will deal with them again at greater length and in detail.

Today we will examine the question of the "egregore" from a general point of view. The best definition that we have found for this term is this: - "An assembly of terrestrial and suora-terrestrial entities forming a graduated whole, moved bv an idea-force".

What interests us in our respective responsibilities is, obviously, the "egregore" of the Rose + Cross, manifest in the perceptible world through the Rosicrucian Order AMORC.

The terrestrial entities are the active and regular members of the Order, whether or not they have specific responsibility. By 'active' and 'regular' is meant not merely a dues-paying member in the Order on earth, but one who studies the teachings and puts them into practice in his daily life.

The supra-terrestrial entities make up the high conclave of the invisible Masters and, in particular, those especially charged with the care of the Rosicrucian wav manifested bv our Order.

The Hierarchy is formed of this invisible high conclave and of all the officers of the Order, each in his own well-defined place with a specific function, providing that such place and such function .have been arranged in the name of the invisible high hierarchy,_andaccording to the rules established for the visible organization, and that they are^whollv in conformity with the temporal principles which govern them.

The_ idea-_f orce _is the_Rosicrucian mysticism guarded bv the Rosicrucian Order AMORC. which explains to you why it_is_ imperative fori each officer of the Order to maintain his activities (in thoughts, words. writings, and in every wav) within the unique framework of our Order, within its traditions, its Constitution, and its statutes each time he acts as an officer of AMORC. As a private individual, each person has full liberty of all areas, but whenever an officer exercises his function with groups or members .of the Order,. and each time that the Order acts in some wav, or he must give advice or make a decision.he__is_bound__by_the__idea-force _of_ AMORC Rosicrucianism.__a_nd mustconform to it. If he did not do so, he would be acting against the "egregore11 (there would be 'interference' in the '^qreaore11. as there can be 'interference' on a radio) and naturally this would react, in one way or another, according to what is involved.

To draw these varied ideas together into a typical Rosicrucian explanation, it can be said that the weareaore" formed by all the earthly entities (forming AMORC) and the supra-terrestrial entities (the invisible conclave) is a psychic and spiritual mass, or body, of considerable power. You can consider the "^qre'gore" as a crystallization, a special condensation of the pure cosmic essence for a definite goal - the collective and individual advance of that part Ql .humanjfcy whigh js following gur_w<*y.

The strict discipline imposed on_ this Physical Plane, __and_the unity _ within AMORC perpetuates this crystallization,__this__conden­sation this concentration of positive forces, and is why the officers of the Order, each in his place, take great care, to maintain_harmony according to the rules and -regulations governing J.t. It is also why expulsions (rare, it is true) are sometimes necessary. They are only within the jurisdiction of the Grand Master, and are only decided upon if they seem essential for the strength of the "egregore*1. and they are conducted according to special ways, in harmony with proof considered here and there, and sometimes by other officers. The "egregore*1 thus removes an abscess which sight jaoison-it^ after having allowed it to form, sometimes slowly, in order to purify the, 'bodvi wjth.in_J:fte_ whglg.

Within the whole "egreaore". each one has his place. If a member puts himself in harmony with the whole, he will bring his 'stone' and, at the same time, he will reap (in protection and evolution) the fruits of his participation in the power of the whole. If not, he will remove himself, or will be rejected by the "egregore" often without realizing that his 'withdrawal' is due to an impulse originating elsewhere than within himself. The law of harmony operates in this area more actively than anywhere else. Every member of the Order must, make his own "little egregore1* within tfte general "egregore".

What is valid for the individual is also, at one stage, most important. Each Rosicrucian group, from ithe_ creation of ths Order asit is known by a visible hierarchy,__]iua£__=_within— ths— general!leqrggsre"., in harmony with_it̂ __an4 33 part of— i£— ~ crystal! ze^concentrate, its own "^crr^gore". This is not done in a day, and necessitates (as much as on the individual level) loyalty, perseverance, devotion, unity, and all the qualities which carry any enterprise to success, even though this involves difficulties.

Within the great "egregore" of the Order, each element of the Order concentrates, then, on its own partial "egregore". and this partial "egregore" can only be formed and receive the living power of the general "egregore11 if the lesser is in constant harmony with the greater. In fact, nothing is separated in a pyramid of this type. In the whole, especially, all must vibrate in unison for the expression of the idea-force. If a vibration is out of harmony, it places itself outside the whole, in a sterile and dangerous isolation. The fruit of individual work is thus lost, as well as the earlier efforts, and the one concerned must "re-build”, perhaps elsewhere.

ID_ail_wavs, regarding that which interests us here, theimportant thing is to understand thoroughly the fundamental necessityfor each member, each officer._each Rosicrucian group._to crvstalizeits own "egregore" within the whole r "e'gregore" of the Rose + Cross embodied in the AMORC. This whole "egregore" I£. It has been formed for a long time, and is living. A member, through his regular studies and a life conforming to Rosicrucian principles - an officer of the Order in the same way and, in addition, by a keen perception of his responsibilities and by his work as an officer - the groups, by their regular activities harmonized with the whole through careful observance of rituals and of rules adopted to achieve a vibrant unitv ofinspiration and manifestation - all, finally bv sincerity, loyalty.and a common goal, can and should concentrate__th&__force of__the"egregore" which is special to them. Such is each one's responsibility in order that "All that is below may be as it is on high", because it goes without saying that our Rosicrucian "e'gregore" itself vibrates in unison with the cosmic whole, within which there is "life, movement, and being". Thus is accomplished the miracle of unity, from the Jhigh to the low, ^nd from the low to the high.

My most fervent wish is that each of you will build and strengthen perfect attunement with our Rosicrucian "eore'aore". because there is no doubt that in basing oneself always in such a group and, consequently, giving it more of oneself, one reaps, individually, the most wonderful blessings on all levels and,. collectively, what is even more important, humanity is given a new impetus toward the better future open to men of good will.