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The Secret Doctrine of the Rosicrucians: A Lost Classic by Magus Incognito
The Rosicrucians are a truly "secret society" whose philosophy has come to light at different points in history. In the 1600s they issued a set of manifestos calling for an enlightened revolution that would reshape society into a more democratic ideal. Even the American Founding Fathers were influenced by these manifestos.
Writing as Magus Incognito, William Walker Atkinson reintroduces a new generation of readers to the Rosicrucian ideals, as well as to a myriad of connections between occult concepts as varied as alchemy, reincarnation, the astral plane, auras, Eastern and Western mysticism, and the "evolution of mankind" among seven esoteric versions of planets in our solar system.
There are more than two dozen organizations of Rosicrucians, with local groups in nearly every state—more than 100 in all—and half a million or more followers. Interest continues to be high in this group.
Writing as Magus Incognito, William Walker Atkinson reintroduces a new generation of readers to the Rosicrucian ideals, as well as to a myriad of connections between occult concepts as varied as alchemy, reincarnation, the astral plane, auras, Eastern and Western mysticism, and the "evolution of mankind" among seven esoteric versions of planets in our solar system.
There are more than two dozen organizations of Rosicrucians, with local groups in nearly every state—more than 100 in all—and half a million or more followers. Interest continues to be high in this group.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1949
270 people are currently reading
601 people want to read
About the author
William Walker Atkinson
2,502 books399 followersPseudonyms: Theron Q. Dumont, Yogi Ramacharaka, Swami Bhakta Vishita & Swami Panchadasi
William Walker Atkinson (December 5, 1862 – November 22, 1932) was an attorney, merchant, publisher, and author, as well as an occultist and an American pioneer of the New Thought movement. He is also known to have been the author of the pseudonymous works attributed to Theron Q. Dumont, Swami Panchadasi and Yogi Ramacharaka and others.
Due in part to Atkinson's intense personal secrecy and extensive use of pseudonyms, he is now largely forgotten, despite having obtained mention in past editions of Who's Who in America, Religious Leaders of America, and several similar publications—and having written more than 100 books in the last 30 years of his life. His works have remained in print more or less continuously since 1900.
William Walker Atkinson was born in Baltimore, Maryland on December 5, 1862, to William and Emma Atkinson. He began his working life as a grocer at 15 years old, probably helping his father. He married Margret Foster Black of Beverly, New Jersey, in October 1889, and they had two children. The first probably died young. The second later married and had two daughters.
Atkinson pursued a business career from 1882 onwards and in 1894 he was admitted as an attorney to the Bar of Pennsylvania. While he gained much material success in his profession as a lawyer, the stress and over-strain eventually took its toll, and during this time he experienced a complete physical and mental breakdown, and financial disaster. He looked for healing and in the late 1880s he found it with New Thought, later attributing the restoration of his health, mental vigor and material prosperity to the application of the principles of New Thought.
Some time after his healing, Atkinson began to write articles on the truths he felt he had discovered, which were then known as Mental Science. In 1889, an article by him entitled "A Mental Science Catechism," appeared in Charles Fillmore's new periodical, Modern Thought.
By the early 1890s Chicago had become a major centre for New Thought, mainly through the work of Emma Curtis Hopkins, and Atkinson decided to move there. Once in the city, he became an active promoter of the movement as an editor and author. He was responsible for publishing the magazines Suggestion (1900–1901), New Thought (1901–1905) and Advanced Thought (1906–1916).
In 1900 Atkinson worked as an associate editor of Suggestion, a New Thought Journal, and wrote his probable first book, Thought-Force in Business and Everyday Life, being a series of lessons in personal magnetism, psychic influence, thought-force, concentration, will-power, and practical mental science.
He then met Sydney Flower, a well-known New Thought publisher and businessman, and teamed up with him. In December, 1901 he assumed editorship of Flower's popular New Thought magazine, a post which he held until 1905. During these years he built for himself an enduring place in the hearts of its readers. Article after article flowed from his pen. Meanwhile he also founded his own Psychic Club and the so-called "Atkinson School of Mental Science". Both were located in the same building as Flower's Psychic Research and New Thought Publishing Company.
Atkinson was a past president of the International New Thought Alliance.
Throughout his subsequent career, Atkinson wrote and published under his own name and many pseudonyms. It is not known whether he ever acknowledged authorship of these pseudonymous works, but all of the supposedly independent authors whose writings are now credited to Atkinson were linked to one another by virtue of the fact that their works were released by a series of publishing houses with shared addresses and they also wrote for a series of magazines with a shared roster of authors. Atkinson was the editor of a
William Walker Atkinson (December 5, 1862 – November 22, 1932) was an attorney, merchant, publisher, and author, as well as an occultist and an American pioneer of the New Thought movement. He is also known to have been the author of the pseudonymous works attributed to Theron Q. Dumont, Swami Panchadasi and Yogi Ramacharaka and others.
Due in part to Atkinson's intense personal secrecy and extensive use of pseudonyms, he is now largely forgotten, despite having obtained mention in past editions of Who's Who in America, Religious Leaders of America, and several similar publications—and having written more than 100 books in the last 30 years of his life. His works have remained in print more or less continuously since 1900.
William Walker Atkinson was born in Baltimore, Maryland on December 5, 1862, to William and Emma Atkinson. He began his working life as a grocer at 15 years old, probably helping his father. He married Margret Foster Black of Beverly, New Jersey, in October 1889, and they had two children. The first probably died young. The second later married and had two daughters.
Atkinson pursued a business career from 1882 onwards and in 1894 he was admitted as an attorney to the Bar of Pennsylvania. While he gained much material success in his profession as a lawyer, the stress and over-strain eventually took its toll, and during this time he experienced a complete physical and mental breakdown, and financial disaster. He looked for healing and in the late 1880s he found it with New Thought, later attributing the restoration of his health, mental vigor and material prosperity to the application of the principles of New Thought.
Some time after his healing, Atkinson began to write articles on the truths he felt he had discovered, which were then known as Mental Science. In 1889, an article by him entitled "A Mental Science Catechism," appeared in Charles Fillmore's new periodical, Modern Thought.
By the early 1890s Chicago had become a major centre for New Thought, mainly through the work of Emma Curtis Hopkins, and Atkinson decided to move there. Once in the city, he became an active promoter of the movement as an editor and author. He was responsible for publishing the magazines Suggestion (1900–1901), New Thought (1901–1905) and Advanced Thought (1906–1916).
In 1900 Atkinson worked as an associate editor of Suggestion, a New Thought Journal, and wrote his probable first book, Thought-Force in Business and Everyday Life, being a series of lessons in personal magnetism, psychic influence, thought-force, concentration, will-power, and practical mental science.
He then met Sydney Flower, a well-known New Thought publisher and businessman, and teamed up with him. In December, 1901 he assumed editorship of Flower's popular New Thought magazine, a post which he held until 1905. During these years he built for himself an enduring place in the hearts of its readers. Article after article flowed from his pen. Meanwhile he also founded his own Psychic Club and the so-called "Atkinson School of Mental Science". Both were located in the same building as Flower's Psychic Research and New Thought Publishing Company.
Atkinson was a past president of the International New Thought Alliance.
Throughout his subsequent career, Atkinson wrote and published under his own name and many pseudonyms. It is not known whether he ever acknowledged authorship of these pseudonymous works, but all of the supposedly independent authors whose writings are now credited to Atkinson were linked to one another by virtue of the fact that their works were released by a series of publishing houses with shared addresses and they also wrote for a series of magazines with a shared roster of authors. Atkinson was the editor of a
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 16, 2013
A glance at the Table of Contents made me wonder if I even have enough degrees to understand this book! But the introduction by Clint Marsh was superb and necessary, engaging and preparing the reader to delve into the world of the Rosicrucians.
This book analyzes the main elements of the Secret Doctrine, which is a philosophy with religious and scientific aspects. Topics such as the creator/creation, evolution, consciousness/soul, and afterlife are touched upon and explained through Aphorisms and Principles found in the Doctrine (I found the sections discussing consciousness in minerals and plants to be most interesting!) It is incredible to see the influence that the Rosicrucians have had on other religions and cultures - ideas that can be traced as far back to the ancient Greeks, Syrians, Persians, and Egyptians and elements of this philosophy can be found in Christian, pagan, Buddhist and Hebrew teachings.
This book is more informative than entertaining, and because it can be a dense read, at the start of each Part, I found myself flipping back to that massive Table of Contents and reviewing as a sort of summary of the section I was about to explore. One definitely does not have to believe all that is shared of this philosophy, but the reader should be open-minded and willing to learn about a school of thought that has influenced both ancient and modern cultures. Marsh's introduction best explains that this is "a book not for everyone but only those who are ready to receive it."
This book analyzes the main elements of the Secret Doctrine, which is a philosophy with religious and scientific aspects. Topics such as the creator/creation, evolution, consciousness/soul, and afterlife are touched upon and explained through Aphorisms and Principles found in the Doctrine (I found the sections discussing consciousness in minerals and plants to be most interesting!) It is incredible to see the influence that the Rosicrucians have had on other religions and cultures - ideas that can be traced as far back to the ancient Greeks, Syrians, Persians, and Egyptians and elements of this philosophy can be found in Christian, pagan, Buddhist and Hebrew teachings.
This book is more informative than entertaining, and because it can be a dense read, at the start of each Part, I found myself flipping back to that massive Table of Contents and reviewing as a sort of summary of the section I was about to explore. One definitely does not have to believe all that is shared of this philosophy, but the reader should be open-minded and willing to learn about a school of thought that has influenced both ancient and modern cultures. Marsh's introduction best explains that this is "a book not for everyone but only those who are ready to receive it."
October 19, 2015
The first 2/3 of this book were both tremendously insightful and enjoyable. The last 1/3 however seemed to take a hard left to crazy town. There were so many things mentioned therein that the author gave no evidence for or method of ascertaining (e.g. 7 planets, colored auras, spiraling progression, sleep of the elemental soul, etc.). I will tuck those things away and mull upon them, but it will take a ton more evidence to convince of their accuracy.
July 17, 2013
The best book I've ever read. ..hands down.
October 11, 2013
I first read this in 2003 after discovering the Liberal Catholic Church and mystical Christianity. Despite the crosses on the cover, the book is not specifically religious but generally spiritual, with deference and respect to all religions -- as it should be.
There is, however, a problem with this book. Not the cover, not the fonts, not the pagination, nor illustrations. The problem is that it is written SO WELL! While I just cannot believe in most of what he writes, he is articulate, measured, and sincere. I don't believe in Atlantis, Lemuria, nor Mu but he makes me want to! He is in a group of theosophical/mystical or Liberal Catholic writers from the first decades of the 20th century who ALL wrote convincing and gentle books; they were Irving Cooper, James Wedgwood, Annie Besant, Max Heindel, and Charles Leadbeater.
With regards to this book, other reviewers have gone through and detailed the the chapters. I will just say the two on the 7 Planes of Consciousness is fascinating reading. The planes, sub-planes, and repeating sub-planes (all in factors of 7) sounds as neat as the multiverse -- even though all I know of it is from Stargate Atlantis.
If you are open minded, liberal, and religiously tolerant, I suggest giving it a go. One bit of history: Henry Agard Wallace, a Secretary of Agriculture and one time VP for FDR was ordained in the Liberal Catholic Church.
There is, however, a problem with this book. Not the cover, not the fonts, not the pagination, nor illustrations. The problem is that it is written SO WELL! While I just cannot believe in most of what he writes, he is articulate, measured, and sincere. I don't believe in Atlantis, Lemuria, nor Mu but he makes me want to! He is in a group of theosophical/mystical or Liberal Catholic writers from the first decades of the 20th century who ALL wrote convincing and gentle books; they were Irving Cooper, James Wedgwood, Annie Besant, Max Heindel, and Charles Leadbeater.
With regards to this book, other reviewers have gone through and detailed the the chapters. I will just say the two on the 7 Planes of Consciousness is fascinating reading. The planes, sub-planes, and repeating sub-planes (all in factors of 7) sounds as neat as the multiverse -- even though all I know of it is from Stargate Atlantis.
If you are open minded, liberal, and religiously tolerant, I suggest giving it a go. One bit of history: Henry Agard Wallace, a Secretary of Agriculture and one time VP for FDR was ordained in the Liberal Catholic Church.
December 24, 2008
don't agree with all of it....good read though
January 10, 2026
I got a lot out of this book. Philosophically, spiritually and just as an overall view of life. The principles put forth echo much I have read from Alan Watts, Robert Anton Wilson, etc.
I think going into a book like this you have to understand that the true “secrets” aren’t going to be revealed here. The idea is to align your brain just enough to prime you for the eventual moment where they will become clear.
The expansion on the principles of the Rosicrucians makes sense to me but might not be for all. Read it. Take from it what you can. Read it again later as more may become clear.
I know I plan to do just that.
I think going into a book like this you have to understand that the true “secrets” aren’t going to be revealed here. The idea is to align your brain just enough to prime you for the eventual moment where they will become clear.
The expansion on the principles of the Rosicrucians makes sense to me but might not be for all. Read it. Take from it what you can. Read it again later as more may become clear.
I know I plan to do just that.
May 13, 2024
Well, I found this QUTIE interesting, BUT I also realize that unless you have some sort of pre-experience in various esoteric or expanded consciousness subjects, you're going to feel lost or like all of this is pretty Woowoo and out there.
Seriously, this isn't just something that you stumble upon. You get here because you are looking for ancient knowledge and as such, this isn't the place you started for it. If you're here, then take what you need and move on to the next level.
Seriously, this isn't just something that you stumble upon. You get here because you are looking for ancient knowledge and as such, this isn't the place you started for it. If you're here, then take what you need and move on to the next level.
June 8, 2021
Overwhelming amount of information that most don’t think about
An incredible amount of information to digest. Very interesting. Will read again as I feel I may need to go back and pick up a few thoughts I may have missed. Excellent book.
An incredible amount of information to digest. Very interesting. Will read again as I feel I may need to go back and pick up a few thoughts I may have missed. Excellent book.
Read
June 10, 2021Great knowledge!
Wonderful book that explained details thoughtfully and well. I enjoyes learning, expanding my brains vastful well material. Loved learning more of wonderful rosicrucians.
Wonderful book that explained details thoughtfully and well. I enjoyes learning, expanding my brains vastful well material. Loved learning more of wonderful rosicrucians.
January 27, 2018
Disappointing!
I was expecting to learn something spiritual and unknown, but anyone could have written this book it was so basic!
I was expecting to learn something spiritual and unknown, but anyone could have written this book it was so basic!
July 19, 2018
Jr
Great read, really informative. It applies so much to the times we live in. Evolution and involution. Becoming aware of ones true self.
Great read, really informative. It applies so much to the times we live in. Evolution and involution. Becoming aware of ones true self.
January 26, 2021
Very basic rules. AB
January 29, 2024
Every action has a reaction. As above so below as below so above.
May 17, 2024
This is an all around good book. it has enough going on that I will need to listen to it a few times to absorb what it has to offer. I recommend it and will be returning to it in the future.
February 25, 2025
This was an interesting read. For the most part.
Do I believe it all? No, but as I said, there are some very interesting things in it.
Do I believe it all? No, but as I said, there are some very interesting things in it.
April 3, 2015
It was a fairly good book,but it gives a complete different guide to
the history..and the history there was tangled up with some of the stuff later sold to AMORC....
But all in all,he does not struggle to far from the tail we have all read.
But the book touches on much from the past.
For a free sample
http://conspiro.net/2015/04/the-secre...
Everyone that has read the story of the Rosy Cross will find allot that they can relate to.
Wish there was more related to the original writings,the 3.
But it was a decent read.
the history..and the history there was tangled up with some of the stuff later sold to AMORC....
But all in all,he does not struggle to far from the tail we have all read.
But the book touches on much from the past.
For a free sample
http://conspiro.net/2015/04/the-secre...
Everyone that has read the story of the Rosy Cross will find allot that they can relate to.
Wish there was more related to the original writings,the 3.
But it was a decent read.
April 20, 2016
A good very old classic from the early 1900's.
April 27, 2020
Good reading
General ideas that open the mind to new places. What is next? Where are the details not mentioned here? Great start.
General ideas that open the mind to new places. What is next? Where are the details not mentioned here? Great start.
February 27, 2021
Buen libro para conocer un algo más, pero no te dice con claridad y solidez de lo que trata la doctrina secreta. Es más bien un grupo de opiniones del autor, pero se agradece la obra.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews