This is a thorough presentation of the Rosicrucian system of initiation by Dr. Paul Foster Case. He explains that Rosicrucianism is based upon earthly organizations, but on personal unflodment, and clearly describes the distinctive marks of a Rosicrucian. The treatise is divided into two main parts by Dr. Case. The first is a careful examination and interpretation of the principle Rosicrucian maneifestos, the Fama Fraternitatis and the Confessio Fraternitatis. The second part is an explanation of the Rosicrucian grade system, as applied to the diagram of the Tree of Life and tarot attributions. By participating in the outlined procedures, aspirants are put on the right track of preparing themselves for union with the Higher Self, which may or may not include group work with an outer order or fraternity. The first editions of 1927, 1928 and 1933 were of limited publication. The fourth and most complete expansion of the text by Paul Case was finished in 1937, revised by him in 1953 just before his death and published in by Weiser in 1985. It represents the full maturity of his thought on this subject.

The "Original Edition" of The True and Invisible Rosicrucian Order was first published in 1927 with a limited print run of 64 copies. It was followed almost immediately by a second edition in 1928. The second edition was only a moderate revision but Paul Foster Case removed much of the sound and color practices that were presented in the original edition. These practices can now be found in slightly altered form relatively far along in the Builders of the Adytum (B.O.T.A.) curriculum (approximately during the fourteenth and fifteenth years of the coursework). The fourth edition which is the most expanded edition represents Paul Foster Case's most complete thought on this subject is still in print currently published by Weiser and is highly recommended to the readers of this edition on its own merits. The "Original Edition" provides content not present in the fourth and final edition and contains valuable insight into the Work of Paul Case during an earlier and more formative period of his life. "The True and Invisible Rosicrucian Order is a book by Paul Foster Case that unites the Kabbalah with Hermetic ranks or grades of attainment, as seen through a Rosicrucian lens. It is one of the first major attempts at reducing a vast body of esoteric teachings into an understandable format. The Golden Dawn philosophy is very evident throughout this text, plus many of the new innovations that Case developed. "The value of this book is that it presents an American A.O. window of how the rungs of the ladder in the Golden Dawn learning system were viewed. Case wanted more structure from the Golden Dawn and what it did not supply, he developed. This work tries to explain the Rosicrucian philosophy from a Golden Dawn and Kabbalistic perspective and goes further than many of the early order papers did. This was one of the catalysts that helped Case work out his B.O.T.A. philosophy. In many respects this work reflects the cross-over point between the Golden Dawn and the formation of Case's B.O.T.A philosophy and as such has a foot in both realms of Hermetic thought. It is a book that should be on the shelf of those interested in modern hermetic literature." - from the foreword by Pat Zalewski, author of the best selling modern classic Alchemy and Golden Dawn Ritual

This is a thorough presentation of the Rosicrucian system of Initiation by Dr. Paul Foster Case. He explains that Rosicrucianism is based upon earthly organizations, but on personal unflodment, and clearly describes the distinctive marks of a Rosicrucian. The treatise is divided into two main parts by Dr. Case. The first is a careful examination and interpretation of the principle Rosicrucian maneifestos, the Fama Fraternitatis and the Confessio Fraternitatis. The second part is an explanation of the Rosicrucian Grade system, as applied to the diagram of the Tree of Life and Tarot attributions. By participating in the outlined procedures, aspirants are put on the right track of preparing themselves for union with the Higher Self, which may or may not include group work with an outer order or fraternity. The first editions of 1927, 1928 and 1933 were of limited publication. The fourth and most complete expansion of the text by Paul Case ws finished in 1937, revised by him in 1953 just before his death , and published in by Weiser in 1985. It represents the full maturity of his thought on this subject.

Shortly after leaving the Alpha et Omega (MacGregor Mather's reformulation of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn), Paul Foster Case developed a lecture series entitled "The First Year Course". The purpose of the lectures was to provide students with a firm foundation in spiritual science and practice and to prepare them for Paul Case's rendition of the Golden Dawn Order. When this coursework was expanded in 1924, the contents of the "The First Year Course" became known as Section A, The Life Power', and Section B,The Seven Steps of Spiritual Unfoldment'. The Life Power' provided a firm foundation of Occult Fundamentals and the The Seven Steps of Spiritual Unfoldment' utilized the Major Arcana of the Tarot to communicate the stages of Spiritual Evolution. The early writings of Paul Foster Case are exceptionally clear and represent some of his finest work. Anyone approaching these lessons for the first time are encouraged to spend at least two weeks on each before proceeding to the next. This is precisely the manner in which the lectures and lessons were intended to be assimilated. Paul Case utilizes images in addition to words to communicate principles. Proceeding in such a manner will allow the corresponding ideas to take root and mature and thus facilitate understanding of the next lesson in the series.

Many students of the Western esoteric tradition consider Paul Foster Case's The Tarot the finest explanation that has yet appeared on the occult meaning of numbers, the construction of the Tarot, and the attribution of the 22 Major Trumps to the Hebrew alphabet. In clear and understandable language, Case elucidates the Tarot tradition and technique for the modern thinker. Students of the Tarot will find in these pages the necessary information to understand and apply the principles of Tarot-and the correspondences of symbol, tone, color, and number-to the art of daily living. The author also includes extremely useful chapters on methods of study and Tarot divination. In this 2006 edition, the book appears for the first time with an index and an appendix of resources. Here is a genuine underground masterpiece, made available to a broad new readership.