Kelpius Cave

Long ago, a group of forty German Pietists lived in the beautiful forest of Colonial Philadelphia, along the Wissahickon Creek which flows in a lush, deep valley. The valley was often used by the Native American tribe of the Lenni Lenape for hunting and fishing. The leader of these forty religious men, was Johannes Kelpius. He was born in Transylvania and was highly educated at European colleges and then became a respected religious leader. He referred to the book of Revelations in the Bible, believing the end of days was soon coming by the year of 1700. The Monks traveled to the 'New World' for religious freedom, to pursue occult philosophies and do various strange practices that were not allowed in Europe. Such as alchemy, astrology and even divination to see the future. These pioneering Monks also created lots of incredible music for their worship services, written down in their hymnal books that still exist. Their music was unique and also incorporated the first pipe organ that they brought with them, along with other instruments for musical performances!

They awaited the arrival of this enchanted woman, the angel of God, believing she would guide them into a new reality, in the virgin wilderness of early America. So the mystic Monks thus called themselves, "Society of the Woman in the Wilderness" Their home was a huge log Tabernacle and built it forty foot square in following their belief of sacred numerology. This building included the first obersavtory built in America upon the roof, complete with a telescope to watch the stars at night. They looked for signs of the Woman's eminent arrival, to usher in Armageddon, as written in the Bible. According to the preserved diary of Kelpius, a mysterious apparition of a magical woman actually did appear to them on three separate occasions! However, she quickly vanished leaving the brotherhood confused and disillusioned....

The type of occult practices that Kelpius & his followers would be creating. Abracadabra...... A spell in your pocket, plus it's truly a very old & mysterious word of power. In Pennsylvania the German settlers practiced folk Magick called Powwow and created this example for a purpose. Even pop stars today utilize this mystic phrase for their own musical endeavors....
https://www.instagram.com/p/DLBBGNBydxl/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

In this installment of our series on Alan Keyser’s recently donated manuscripts, we present some of his small but very interesting collection of items relating to Pennsylvania German braucherei. Braucherei or brauche, also known as powwow, is a Pennsylvania German folk practice that grew out of Christian and European pagan traditions and literature in the 17- and 1800s. It consists of a variety of charms and recipes used to protect people and animals against all forms of physical and spiritual maladies and evil spirits or curses (hexe). Braucherei was popular among Pennsylvania Germans until the early 1900s when the introduction of modern medicine and science mostly superceded it. For explanations of these images from the collection, visit https://www.schwenkfelder.org/powwow-documents-in-keyser-collection. #the_schwenkfelder #powwow #braucherei #PAGerman

This a great short video about the fellow religious community that is directly linked to Mystic Kelpius & his 40 followers that originally lived in the Holy log tabernacle they built along the Wissahickon Creek. Kelpius & his hermits would await the end of times, predicted to happen in 1700 in the 'New World'. They waited for the coming of the 'Woman in the Wilderness', to guide them to Salvation...

Later after the death of Kelpius in 1708, a few Monks moved on to live at this new Cloister in Western Pennsylvania. One can assume the original Kelpius community created by the fellow German born Monks, who emigrated to the New World would have built their structures and developed their settlement very much like Ephrata Cloister They also would have practiced many similar rites and followed the same religious customs. So it's good to study this unique Cloister, which is well preserved and thankfully not lost to time like the Kelpius has faded......

It's History! - Ephrata Cloister It's History! - Ephrata Cloister

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Channel 6 in Philly Local News Story about the mysterious mystic in the woods.....

Jeannette Reyes goes to the location of the monks of the Wissahickon, hermits who burrowed in the Cave of Kelpius, awaiting the end of the World.

The official Kelpius Cave logo!