Global InformationJan van Rijckenborgh information
Jan van Rijckenborgh (October 16, 1896 – July 17, 1968) was a Dutch-born mystic and founder of the Lectorium Rosicrucianum, a worldwide esoteric Rosicrucian movement.
Jan van Rijckenborgh was born in Haarlem, Holland, as Jan Leene, adopting the name van Rijckenborgh later. With his brother Zwier Willem Leene, he rejected the teachings of orthodox Christianity and grew up to favour a more mystical approach. Under the influence of Dr. A. H. de Hartogh he read the theosophical works of German mystic Jakob Böhme and in 1924, with Zwier, joined Max Heindel's Rosicrucian Fellowship school of Esoteric Christianity, eventually becoming the heads of the Dutch branch.
Ultimately even Heindel's approach proved not enough for van Rijckenborgh and his brother, who left the Fellowship in 1935 to found their own Rosicrucian movement, the Lectorium Rosicrucianum. By this time they had made acquaintance with female Dutch mystic Catharose de Petri, who co-founded the Lectorium with the brothers.