It’s the Rosicrucians
Posted on May 30th, 2010 –
In retrospect it’s obvious why I had to at least attempt the journey.
You see, the Aga Khan is putting in an Islamic history centre, with a special nod to Ismailis, in the community of Leaside, a woody central-eastern patch of the city running along the Don Valley.
The Aga Khan. Not Aga Khan. The Aga Khan. With a title like that, I don’t see how one could resist going to see what this man will install in our city. Apparently it’s supposed to be the first of it’s kind anywhere around these parts, and it has been described as a “gem”. All out of the Aga Khan’s love for Canada.
I tend to walk until I come to a major intersection and then stop to look at Google Maps on my mobile phone to figure out my next turn. I guessed I must’ve misjudged the majorness of a few intersections because I soon wound up in a neighbourhood adjacent to the Science Centre. Having gotten there, on foot, from Yonge-Dundas Square, I was starting to feel a tad worn out. Plus I had the return trip to think about.
So I decided to call it a day, vowing to return. But it wasn’t a total loss. The highlight of that part of town is definitely the awesome vista from the Don Mills Road bridge over the DVP:
I’ve seen the Toronto skyline from a bunch of locations but this one is really outstanding. The edges of the Don Valley pick up where the skyline leaves off; it must look amazing on a clear night.
So, no Aga Khan Centre, but at least there was the bridge. Plus all the stuff along Bayview Avenue.
One of the things I’d been meaning to investigate further is the Rosicrucian HQ on that street. You see, it’s not the Freemasons we should all be concerned about, it’s the Rosicrucians. The order of the rosy cross. Their addition to the English language is the phrase “sub rosa”, which means “to be held in strict secrecy”. Their order dabbled in alchemy, is associated with some heavy names, and their main book The Chemical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz is about as weird as it gets. And why are they collecting all that ancient Egyptian stuff?
Neat. Almost as neat as some of the stuff I found at a local cemetery. Sorry, necropolis. (Way cooler.)
However, that’ll have to wait as I’m dangerously close to missing a pretty cool event that just won’t wait. We’ll have to cover death next time. Sorry. :(
... with pictures
... with sounds
... with videos
... with opinions
... that's shorter
... that's longer
May 30th, 2010 10:46 am
Unrelated to much of this post, I just wanted to mention that Jason (my partner) was raised in Leaside and lived there all his life until he moved to the beach/es to be with me.
See? Completely unrelated.
Absolutely love the first photograph very much.
May 30th, 2010 6:08 pm
That's actually totally related, Amber Dawn. :)
May 30th, 2010 11:28 am
The first pic is similar to a photo that you can view from Central Park in NYC…..of course with a different skyline.
May 30th, 2010 6:09 pm
I know better than to compare, Bingkee, but I'm sure there must be similarities. :)
June 11th, 2013 4:18 pm
Very unglamorous buildings, those Rosicrucian ones. You’d think they would want to be a little more mysterious, or a little more inspiring. One or the other.
June 20th, 2013 5:03 pm
Personally, Owen, I think they’re trying to hide in plain view. As you said, very unglamorous and uninspiring — perfect!
April 13th, 2015 3:31 am
Well hell,may have to check them out.
Member of another Rosy Cross society.
http://conspiro.net/2015/04/the-first-us-rosicrucian-group/
We could have allot in common.
October 7th, 2015 2:55 pm
I went to the Rosecrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose (of all places!) last year and loved it. Definitely want to research more about their order
August 29th, 2016 2:28 pm
Having attended the Rosicrucian Lodge in Toronto, and having participated in Rosicrucian rituals as a youth — all of which shaped me in positive ways — I can tell you that your focus on the material building itself is not going to give you any answers. Listening to others and listening to your own inner voice matter more than what the material can suggest alone. Rosicrucianism is more than just a spiritual life and is not itself a religion, but it’s about a focus on individuation: self-mastery. Does that mean every Rosicrucian reaches such mastery? Likely not–I can be skeptical having been included. Ultimately, no matter what’s taught, one’s ability to interpret those ideas and bring them into being in one’s own life are the key (and the work one does inside oneself and while engaging with others externally that makes that happen: it takes effort). It’s the perfect compliment to any religion if one is devoted to self-understanding, expressing and spreading love and compassion, also knowing that these things start within ourselves and can only be learned allegorically and not through literal interpretations of human-created texts (e.g. all texts are allegorical, whether you’re reading and interpreting literature or scripture). So, that said, I would say yes, please do visit that place.
September 2nd, 2016 12:16 am
This was actually more of a tongue-in-cheek post but thank you for sharing your insights. I would indeed be interested to see what goes on inside of the Rosicrucian organization.