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 -As an introduction to an in-depth study of one of the most appealing symbols of the Western Mystery Tradition (personal opinion), i've copied the text written by Harvey Spencer Lewis- first Imperator of " The Ancient & Mystical Order  Rosae Crucis". This text can be found in "THE ROSICRUCIAN MANUAL"(19th edition, 1967)

 - a lot of students will connect the Hermetic Rose Cross with the GOLDEN DAWN movement. The symbol is possibly derived from a much older symbol, as can be seen in picture #4A-1. This symbol is taken from "The secret symbols of the Rosicrucians of the 16th and 17th century". This proves that the symbol was known (probably in some other form) before the GOLDEN DAWN was formed (end of the 19th century), and therefore played an important role in the Alchemical & Rosicrucian movement of the 16th and 17th centuries.

 H.S. Lewis in the "Rosicrucian Manual":

 "THE HERMETIC ROSE CROSS"    by H.S Lewis :
 

 "The intricate symbol (see "#4-A") is called the alchemical and hermetic Rose Cross, and is a very old mystical symbol.
 It is composed of two Rosy Crosses united into one; the small Rosy cross ( 1) at the center- representative of man, the microcosm- is in turn, the center point of a larger rose residing  at the heart of the large cross- symbolic of the macrocosm. Upon the four ends of the large cross are inscribed the three alchemical symbols: mercury, sulphur and salt.
 At the top of the cross, mercury is placed in the center, sulphur on the left, and salt on the right. Upon the other ends of the cross the symbols have been inscribed in such an order as to conform to the esoteric tradition.

 Also upon each arm, adjacent to the alchemical symbols, is the symbol of the pentagram. This five-pointed figure is a symbolic representation of the Rosy cross itself: the victory of the quintessence over the four alchemical elements. The weel at the top of each pentagram represents the quintessence; the small triangle on the left, with the point downward and a line parallel to the base, symbolizes earth; the triangle above, with a line parallel to the base but with the point upward, represents air; the upper triangle on the right of the pentagram, with the point downward, symbolizes water; the lower small triangle on the right, with the point upward, represents fire.

 On the lower arm of the figure, below the large rose, is a hexagram- symbol of the macrocosm- composed of two interlaced triangles. At its point are insribed the six planets, according to the ancient astrological tradition: at the bottom is the Moon, at its right is Venus, followed in turn by Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, and Mercury.
 At the center of the hexagram is the Sun. The order of arrangement of these symbols conforms to certain Cabalistic rituals.

 The lower end of the longest arm is divided into four sections by two diagonal lines. These sections are colored according to the four colors of Malkuth of the Cabalistic "Tree of Life" ( 2 ). The four sets of  three rays which extend outward from the center of the large cross symbolize the Divine Light. The letters inscribed upon each large center-ray combine into INRI, which combination , according to the Rosicrucian historian Fr. Wittemans, represents a latin motto meaning "NATURE IS COMPLETELY RENEWED BY FIRE" The letters upon the smaller rays represent evocative names of Latin, Egyptian, and Greek origin.

 The petals of the large rose on the cross are twenty-two in number, and stand for the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew Cabalistic alphabet. The outer circle of twelve petals represent the twelve single letters of this alphabet, and in particular the twelve signs of the Zodiac. The next circle of seven petals symbolizes the seven double letters- in particular the seven astrological planets. The innermost circle of three petals represent the three Mother-letters- air, fire, and water.

 At the center of the large Rose is the microcosmic rose cross, an unfolded cube with a five-petaled rose at its center. Four barbs emerge from behind the cross, pointing into the four directions in space.

 The complete symbol or "Encyclopedic" Rose cross symbolizes all the majesty, power, beauty, and protection of the Rosicrucian Order."

 1) notice how Lewis at some places speaks of "rosy cross" and at other of "rose cross". According to Gary. S. Stewart, Imperator of the CR+C, Lewis had a reason for this. See "A WORD ABOUT ROSICRUCIAN HISTORY" at the CR+C -side on the internet= http://www.crcsite.org/intromono.htm#history

 2) more accurate would be : ......"colored according to the four colors of Malkuth of one of the four worlds of the cabalistic "tree of life"
 

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