- Date:
- c. 1935 - present
- Areas Of Involvement:
- theosophy
I AM movement
-
What is the I AM movement?
The I AM movement is a theosophical movement started in Chicago in the 1930s by Guy and Edna Ballard I AM movement. The name references the Bible verse where God replies to Moses, "I am who I am." Despite legal and public relations issues, the movement grew and inspired others based on its teachings I AM movement.
Guy Ballard said that in 1930, while visiting Mount Shasta, he was contacted by St. Germain, one of the Ascended Masters of the Great White Brotherhood. Many occultists believe this order of spiritual beings guides humankind and speaks through human messengers I AM movement.
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When and where did the I AM movement begin?
The I AM movement is a theosophical movement that Guy W. Ballard, a mining engineer, and his wife, Edna W. Ballard, founded in Chicago in the early 1930s.
In 1930, Guy Ballard claimed that he was contacted by St. Germain, one of the Ascended Masters of the Great White Brotherhood, during a visit to Mount Shasta in northern California. In 1932, the Ballards formally incorporated the I AM movement. The movement has chartered sanctuaries in the United States and around the world.
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Who founded the I AM movement?
The I AM movement was founded in Chicago in the early 1930s by Guy W. Ballard (1878ā1939), a mining engineer, and his wife, Edna W. Ballard (1886ā1971).
The movement's name references the Bible verse in which God replies to Moses, "I am who I am" (Exodus 3:14). Despite legal and public relations difficulties, the movement thrived and inspired a number of subsequent movements based on its teachings.
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What are some core teachings or beliefs of the I AM movement?
The I AM movement, founded by Guy and Edna Ballard in the 1930s, centers on the belief in the "I AM" or "God Presence," which flows from a divine creative fire. The movement draws from Theosophy, with the Ballards claiming contact with Ascended Masters like St. Germain.
Core tenets include striving to realize one's "I AM" presence and aiming for eventual ascension into divine realms. A main practice involves reciting decrees, which are invocations intended to manifest desired conditions or remove unwanted ones. The movement also emphasizes American patriotism, viewing the United States as having a special role in the Mastersā world plan, and believing Guy Ballard to be the reincarnation of George Washington.
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How did the I AM movement influence other New Age or spiritual groups?
The I AM movement significantly influenced subsequent spiritual groups with its unique teachings and practices. Founded by Guy and Edna Ballard in the 1930s, the movement centered on the belief in direct contact with Ascended Masters and the "I AM" or "God Presence" within each individual.
One of the most notable groups inspired by the I AM movement was the Church Universal and Triumphant, founded by Mark and Elizabeth Clare Prophet. The Church Universal and Triumphant adopted key elements of the I AM movement, such as the belief in Ascended Masters and the use of decrees, while incorporating insights from various religious traditions. The Aetherius Society also drew inspiration from the I AM movement, portraying the Masters as extraterrestrial guides offering wisdom via UFOs.
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What controversies or criticisms has the I AM movement faced?
The I AM movement, founded by Guy and Edna Ballard in the 1930s, has faced controversies and criticisms throughout its history.
Following Guy Ballard's death in 1939, accusations arose from former members, alleging that the Ballards were teaching a false religion. This led to the indictment and conviction of Edna Ballard and other leaders for mail fraud, though the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the conviction in 1946.
The Church Universal and Triumphant, which emerged from the I AM movement, faced criticism in the 1980s, with some labeling it a cult. This criticism grew after leader Elizabeth Clare Prophet warned of potential disasters in the early 1990s and built bomb shelters, which led to reorganization within the church.
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I AM movement, theosophical movement founded in Chicago in the early 1930s by Guy W. Ballard (1878ā1939), a mining engineer, and his wife, Edna W. Ballard (1886ā1971). The name of the movement is a reference to the Bible verse in which God replies to Moses, āI am who I amā (Exodus 3:14). Despite legal and public relations difficulties, the movement thrived and inspired a number of subsequent movements based on its teachings.
Ballard claimed that in 1930 during a visit to Mount Shasta (a dormant volcano in northern California), he was contacted by St. Germain, one of the Ascended Masters of the Great White Brotherhood. Many occultists believe that this order of spiritual beings guides the overall destiny of humankind and speaks through human messengers. The first modern contact with the Masters was allegedly made in the 19th century by Madame Helena Blavatsky (1831ā91), one of the founders of the Theosophical Society.
Writing under the name Godfrey Ray King, Ballard compiled his experiences in a book, Unveiled Mysteries, published in 1934, and he afterward claimed to receive regular messages, termed ādiscourses,ā from St. Germain and other Masters. Because one of the Masters from whom Ballard received dictations was Jesus, members of the I AM movement consider themselves Christian. The Ballards claimed to have received more than 3,000 messages, which formed the body of the movementās teachings.
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The Ballards incorporated the I AM movement in 1932. Following Guy Ballardās death, Edna Ballard became the movementās leader and revealed the messages she had received from St. Germain. With her death in 1971, the Board of Directors, which had been established at the movementās incorporation in 1932, took control of the movement. Since then, no further dictations from the Masters have been received, because no new messenger has been appointed to succeed the Ballards.
The Mastersā discourses emphasized ways for individuals to become aware of their āI AM,ā or āGod Presence,ā which flows from God, the mighty Creative Fire at the centre of the universe. Ultimately, each person hopes to ascend into the divine realms, as the Ballards are believed to have done at the end of their lives. The reciting of decreesāinvocations of the divine that call for the manifestation in the visible world of a desired condition or the removal of an undesirable oneāis the primary devotional activity of members of the movement. Listening to the messages recorded by the Ballards is the central activity of I AM gatherings.
The I AM movement also promotes American patriotism. The messages received by Ballard suggested that the United States had a special role in the Mastersā world plan, and members of the movement believe that Ballard was a reincarnation of George Washington. The group sponsors special programs on patriotic holidays.
The growing movement was disrupted by Ballardās sudden death in 1939. Soon afterward, several former members accused the Ballards of teaching a sham religion, which led to the indictment and conviction of Edna Ballard and other movement leaders for mail fraud. In 1946 the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the conviction.
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As a result of the lengthy judicial process and the subsequent bad publicity, the movement assumed a very low profile in the 1950s, and many thought that it had died. During the second half of the 20th century it experienced steady growth, and in the early 21st century it reported more than 300 chartered I AM sanctuaries in the United States and around the world. The most prominent group inspired by the I AM movement was the Church Universal and Triumphant. Others, such as the Aetherius Society, pictured the Masters as officials of an extraterrestrial government who offer guidance from unidentified flying objects (UFOs).