Hi Ananda,

Seem we have read both a lot and it may be very confusing at times.
I wouldn't use the word "overlap" in the case you mention I prefer
"interconnectedness". From this perspective everything and everyone
is interconnected.
As for the Templars there is the real deal and there are offshoots of freemasons who use the title a bit too freely. As a real truth seeker I am interested only in the real deal not the copycat.

As David Lamont kindly provided the link of the true Rosicrucian Order,
I will just mention again the link I provided to Milo above
which to me is the real deal and speak of the female orders as well :
[www.northernway.org]

This is not the link I mentionned at the top of my thread which is a link of a personal website. :This link is a link of the Templar order.

By the way I saw you mentionning in a post that you think people don't need anymore these alchemical secrets......etc....
I can see that if you take things literally alchemy being transmutation of metals you can't figure the finality of the process.
In this case "alchemy" is an allegory for a several phases spiritual awakening.....and IMHO we need today more than ever this kind of
spirituality in the positive sense of emcompassing the goodness and love of all by being compassionate towards all our brothers and sisters and we can do that only if we begin by changing our way of thinking.
The reason these things were kept secrets is because "knowledge is power" and "power" in the hands of non prepared or unworthy is very dangerous. Power comes with a higher sense of responsability and you have to earn it. The misuse of power can be well illustrated in "black magic" in opposition of "white magic" which is used to help people and heal them not to control them. So if you really want to separate the wheat from the chaff you need a lot of discernement in your readings and it is not easy that is why I try to refrain to reach conclusions too quickly.
Just my 2 cents and good luck in your search for the truth.
When you find it you get a sense of pure joy and you know you are home.
That is all I wish for you.
Cheers,
Magdalen