I AM

The "I AM" Activity is the original Ascended Master Teachings religious movement founded in the early 1930s by Guy Ballard (1878Ô[][]1939) and his wife Edna (1886Ô[][]1971) in Chicago, Illinois. It is an offshoot of theosophy and a major predecessor of several New Age religions including the Church Universal and Triumphant. The movement had up to a million followers in 1938 and is still active today on a smaller scale. According to the official website of the parent organization, the Saint Germain Foundation, its worldwide headquarters is located in Schaumburg, Illinois and there are approximately 300 local groups worldwide under several variations of the names "I AM" Sanctuary, "I AM" Temple, and other similar titles. As of 2007, the organization states that its purpose is "spiritual, educational and practical," and that no admission fee is charged for their activities. The term "I AM" is a reference to the ancient Sanskrit mantra "So Ham", meaning I Am that I Am.