The
"I AM" Movement is the original
Ascended Master Teachings religious movement founded in the early 1930s by
Guy Ballard (1878–1939) and his wife Edna (1886–1971) in Chicago, Illinois. It is an offshoot of
theosophy and a major precursor 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". See also the entry "
I Am that I Am".