Editing Martinism (section)

==Three branches==
In a nutshell, Martinism as we know it today can be divided into three forms through which it has been chronologically transmitted:{{citation needed|date=February 2025}} the [[theurgic]] tradition of Martinez de Pasqually ([[Martinezism]]), the [[Masonic Templarism]] of Jean-Baptiste Willermoz ([[Willermozism]]) and the [[Christian Theosophy]] of Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin.<ref name="Churton 2016">{{cite book |last=Churton |first=Tobias |author-link=Tobias Churton |date=2016 |title=Occult Paris: The Lost Magic of the Belle Époque |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4mAoDwAAQBAJ&q=Willermozism&pg=PT542 |location=Rochester, Vermont |publisher=Inner Traditions |isbn=9781620555453 }}</ref> This heritage was reorganized into the 'Ordre Martiniste' in 1886 by Augustin Chaboseau and Gerard Encausse (also known as Papus).{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}

===The Élus Coëns===

The [[Élus Coëns]] (Cohen being the Hebrew for "priest" and "Elus" means "the elect" or "the chosen") was the first, and explicitly [[theurgical]], way that 'reintegration' was to be attained. The Élus Coëns were founded by Martinez de Pasqually, who was Saint-Martin's teacher. The original Élus Coëns ceased to exist sometime in the late eighteenth or early 19th century, but it was revived in the 20th century by [[Robert Ambelain]], and lives on today in various Martinist Orders, including the branch reinstigated by Ambelain himself.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

In the highest of the three degrees of the Order of the Élus Coën, known as the Shrine, itself consisting of three degrees of which the highest was the Master Reau-Crois, evocation of entities belonging to the Divine Plane was carried out. This makes clear that the Élus Coëns were not merely a mystical but a magical order. The chief evocation was that of the 'Mender', Jehoshua, and the basic methods were those of the [[Key of Solomon]], including the use of circles, names of angels, planetary hours and symbols. The magical operations of the lower degrees were intended to establish contact between the operator and the Invisible World. Lofty and beautiful prayers recalled the goal which the Order tried to attain. There were also exorcisms intended to strangle demonic influence in the universe and thwart its powers over men, and to combat black magic.<ref>Robert Ambelain, "Martinists", ''Man Myth and Magic'' 62 (London: Punrell, 1971), 1746-47.</ref>

===The Scottish Rectified Rite or Chevaliers Bienfaisants de la Cité-Sainte (CBCS)===

This was originally a [[Masonic]] rite, a reformed variant of the [[Rite of Strict Observance]] which, in its highest degrees, uses Masonic-type rituals to demonstrate the philosophy which underlies both Martinism and the practices of the Élus Coëns. The CBCS was founded in the late 18th century by Jean-Baptiste Willermoz, who was a pupil of Martinez de Pasqually and a friend of Saint-Martin. The CBCS has managed to survive as a continually practiced rite from its founding until the present day, both as a purely masonic rite, and as a detached rite which is also open to women.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

===Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin===

The Martinism of Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin is a mystical tradition in which emphasis is placed on [[meditation]] and inner spiritual alchemy. Saint-Martin disapproved of these teachings being called 'martinism' by his contemporaries, and instead explained it as a silent 'way of the heart' to attain reintegration. Saint-Martin most likely did not organize this path as an 'order', but gathered small circles of students around him, where he transmitted his teachings.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

In a nutshell, the Martinism as we know it today consists of the [[theurgic]] tradition of Martinez de Pasqually ([[Martinezism]]), the [[Masonic Templarism]] of Jean-Baptiste Willermoz ([[Willermozism]]) and the [[Christian Theosophy]] of Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin.<ref name="Churton 2016"/> This heritage was reorganized into the 'Ordre Martiniste' in 1886 by Augustin Chaboseau and Gerard Encausse (also known as Papus).{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}