A great post and something that I learned when I returned from Afghanistan, I am of course heavily involved in the York Rite, and love its rituals. Still the points here are spot on.
http://adviceforesotericmasons.blogspot.com/2013/07/many-young-masons-come-to-me-extremely_23.html
Many young Masons come to me extremely disappointed that Freemasonry has not “delivered the goodsâ€. They surfed the Internet and read all kinds of stuff from Manly P. Hall to Albert Pike and got the impression that Freemasonry is an ancient, mystical and magical fraternity. Then, to their dismay, they find a group of guys who are about as mystical as watching two old farts argue about Obama and the price of gas. The rituals are poorly done and members can be heard babbling and chattering during them.
Some young Masons join the York Rite only to find it most well suited to those seeking Christian knighthood (not a bad thing by the way), but not a lick of esoteric education. Some pine away hoping someone will invite them to the SRICF and even when they are admitted, they find most often it is nothing more than a supper club for the same old farts they were trying to avoid. Some SRICF groups are doing a great job, but that is the exception not the rule. Even so, Rosicrucians self educate, there is no education to speak of. One could do that for free. Others join the Scottish Rite and find a wealth of material (in the Southern Jurisdiction), but often find the ritual hurried through. Meetings in the Blue Lodge, York Rite and Scottish Rite almost never have an ounce of education. They are nothing more than an endless discussion of bills and fundraisers. Is it any wonder men leave? (By the way, I am not anti-York Rite or anti-Shrine, but those groups are best suited for men seeking either Christian knighthood or an old school frat complete with a bar. Most young men these days are seeking something more esoteric and universal.)
Some leave their original lodges to join Traditional Observance Lodges, but most are scared off because of the high fees and a humorless atmosphere. The TO lodge tends to go to the opposite extreme from the “old man†lodge and while discussing truth, forgets brotherly love and falls into the trap of elitism. There is nothing wrong with friendly and even humorous banter during a stated meeting as long as it is not during education or a degree. The TO lodges seem to never allow anything but complete seriousness. Blah.
Some brothers leave Freemasonry altogether to join Golden Dawn inspired groups only to find it filled with quacks and malcontents who constantly argue. And being open to women as well as men, these groups lose the special atmosphere only a fraternity can provide...a rite of passage with other males that men so desperately need. What to do?
I can only tell you what I have learned. I had all the same problems dear brother. Be encouraged! Our wonderful, storied fraternity is turning a corner. Freemasonry strayed from it’s overall esoteric flavor after World War 2, but those days are coming to an end with the passing of that generation. We should thank those older brothers for keeping the fraternity alive, but make no mistake, the reason Freemasonry has declined is due to mismanagement and downplaying our esoteric roots.
My solution has been to quit everything that does not bless me in my quest as a true esoteric Mason. As a result, I spend all my time quietly serving in my Blue Lodge and the Scottish Rite. I support my York Rite and Shrine brothers, but this path works best for my goals. I never let a meeting go by without at least 5 minutes of esoteric education related to Freemasonry. I force my way in sometimes. All brothers have a right to address the lodge in a meeting. Take advantage of that. Be bold and courageous. Others will appreciate you. If someone else has done the job of education, then sit back and enjoy it. However if the job is not being done, be sure to have an article in hand and be ready to read it.
I practice my Blue Lodge ritual daily. I insist that new brothers be brought through one candidate at a time. Degrees in the Scottish Rite can be performed well while reading as long as the brothers have practiced and have good speaking voices and having large classes is fine too, but not in the Blue Lodge.
With all the constraints on my time, I do only those two groups. I also have narrowed down my Masonic reading to the books I know pack the most punch. Those books are: Way of the Craftsman by Kirk McNulty, The Lost Keys of Freemasonry by Manly P Hall, The Scottish Rite Ritual Monitor and Guide and Morals and Dogma Annotated. Those books are plenty for a lifetime of Masonic endeavor. I have read hundreds of books and those are the ones I would grab if my bookcase was on fire. I also strongly recommend taking both Master Craftsman courses. This goes for all Scottish Rite Masons worldwide, even if your jurisdiction does not use the Pike rituals. I would suggest joining whatever Scottish Rite is available where you live, serve and push for Pike’s rituals to be adopted. They are the pinnacle of Masonic education.
Be patient and serve even if you are the only one who feels like you do. Be a mentor to all the new candidates and steer them along according to what I have told you. Freemasonry will be blessed for future generations because of your efforts. Make it your goal to move through all the chairs.
Time is limited and men can’t be away from their families like they once could. For this reason, I avoid all other Masonic groups beyond my Blue Lodge and the Scottish Rite. All the wisdom a Mason seeks are in those two groups. All the other degrees can be read online, truth be told.
For Masons who aspire to the magical, there is no need to join another group. Magic at it’s core is no more or less than what is taught in “The Secretâ€. Buy that book and follow it. Also, read the articles on near-death.com and "The Kybalion". I also recommend practicing meditating the 7 chakras, especially 20 minutes a day on the “Aum†of the Ajna chakra once you have your chakras opened. Check out anmolmehta.com. You can do this in your car and the whole thing should only take 30 minutes. According to the yogis, all the powers you seek will come from this daily practice. I also recommend buying “Astral Dynamics†by Robert Bruce and following it to the letter as well as the “Bubble of Light†technique for psychic self defense. This is where you imagine yourself in a bubble of light which protects you from all things negative. You can also imagine someone who is negative to be in a bubble so that their negative vibes come back on them until they hopefully start behaving themselves. Two snaps of your fingers actives your bubble of light and one snap of the fingers puts your nemesis in a bubble. Or you can imagine yourself as being bigger than your nemesis. Laughing also works. Whenever you take it all too seriously, read some Robert Anton Wilson or listen to some George Carlin. Some brothers have even tried DMT or mushrooms (Clark Heinrich books) although such things cannot be legally recommended. Remember to as much as possible, love and forgive everyone. Do not fall into the trap that you need to abstain from sex or certain foods to be magical. That is ridiculous. Now, all of this might sound like horseshit, BUT no more or less than any other system of magic. I suggest trying all of my suggestions and see where it takes you. It will save you tons of money in books and going to other groups full of misfits and weirdos. Anyone could do this "system" of magic I have come up with, but truth be told, a Scottish Rite Mason who has read the Masonic books I have suggested has a tremendous edge.
Freemasonry is a gift. It is a blessing. It is a keeper of the ancient mysteries. Albert Pike and Manly P Hall understood this. Keep the traditions of the Blue Lodge and Scottish Rite intact. There are those who would try to change it and even allow women and atheists in. This is a mistake. Freemasonry helps to enlighten men and dampen their violent passions. Freemasonry only makes sense to those who believe in a Supreme Being. An atheist wanting to be a Mason is like a vegan wanting to be a butcher. Freemasonry is a force for women’s rights because it deals with the most dangerous drug on Earth: testosterone. Men start all the wars and cause all the problems in this world. As long as men divide along politics and religion, act like fools and do not respect the rights of others, Freemasonry will be a much needed institution. In this time of fatherless homes, men need a rite of passage in a safe environment like Freemasonry or they will end up seeking it in negative forms such as gangs. It is part of our DNA harkening back to the days of hunting and gathering. All lovers of democracy, men and women, should support its continued existence as a fraternity. It is a force for peace.
Share this article with other Masons you know, especially those who are discouraged. A new day is dawning. It is a great time to be a Freemason!
http://adviceforesotericmasons.blogspot.com/2013/07/many-young-masons-come-to-me-extremely_23.html
Many young Masons come to me extremely disappointed that Freemasonry has not “delivered the goodsâ€. They surfed the Internet and read all kinds of stuff from Manly P. Hall to Albert Pike and got the impression that Freemasonry is an ancient, mystical and magical fraternity. Then, to their dismay, they find a group of guys who are about as mystical as watching two old farts argue about Obama and the price of gas. The rituals are poorly done and members can be heard babbling and chattering during them.
Some young Masons join the York Rite only to find it most well suited to those seeking Christian knighthood (not a bad thing by the way), but not a lick of esoteric education. Some pine away hoping someone will invite them to the SRICF and even when they are admitted, they find most often it is nothing more than a supper club for the same old farts they were trying to avoid. Some SRICF groups are doing a great job, but that is the exception not the rule. Even so, Rosicrucians self educate, there is no education to speak of. One could do that for free. Others join the Scottish Rite and find a wealth of material (in the Southern Jurisdiction), but often find the ritual hurried through. Meetings in the Blue Lodge, York Rite and Scottish Rite almost never have an ounce of education. They are nothing more than an endless discussion of bills and fundraisers. Is it any wonder men leave? (By the way, I am not anti-York Rite or anti-Shrine, but those groups are best suited for men seeking either Christian knighthood or an old school frat complete with a bar. Most young men these days are seeking something more esoteric and universal.)
Some leave their original lodges to join Traditional Observance Lodges, but most are scared off because of the high fees and a humorless atmosphere. The TO lodge tends to go to the opposite extreme from the “old man†lodge and while discussing truth, forgets brotherly love and falls into the trap of elitism. There is nothing wrong with friendly and even humorous banter during a stated meeting as long as it is not during education or a degree. The TO lodges seem to never allow anything but complete seriousness. Blah.
Some brothers leave Freemasonry altogether to join Golden Dawn inspired groups only to find it filled with quacks and malcontents who constantly argue. And being open to women as well as men, these groups lose the special atmosphere only a fraternity can provide...a rite of passage with other males that men so desperately need. What to do?
I can only tell you what I have learned. I had all the same problems dear brother. Be encouraged! Our wonderful, storied fraternity is turning a corner. Freemasonry strayed from it’s overall esoteric flavor after World War 2, but those days are coming to an end with the passing of that generation. We should thank those older brothers for keeping the fraternity alive, but make no mistake, the reason Freemasonry has declined is due to mismanagement and downplaying our esoteric roots.
My solution has been to quit everything that does not bless me in my quest as a true esoteric Mason. As a result, I spend all my time quietly serving in my Blue Lodge and the Scottish Rite. I support my York Rite and Shrine brothers, but this path works best for my goals. I never let a meeting go by without at least 5 minutes of esoteric education related to Freemasonry. I force my way in sometimes. All brothers have a right to address the lodge in a meeting. Take advantage of that. Be bold and courageous. Others will appreciate you. If someone else has done the job of education, then sit back and enjoy it. However if the job is not being done, be sure to have an article in hand and be ready to read it.
I practice my Blue Lodge ritual daily. I insist that new brothers be brought through one candidate at a time. Degrees in the Scottish Rite can be performed well while reading as long as the brothers have practiced and have good speaking voices and having large classes is fine too, but not in the Blue Lodge.
With all the constraints on my time, I do only those two groups. I also have narrowed down my Masonic reading to the books I know pack the most punch. Those books are: Way of the Craftsman by Kirk McNulty, The Lost Keys of Freemasonry by Manly P Hall, The Scottish Rite Ritual Monitor and Guide and Morals and Dogma Annotated. Those books are plenty for a lifetime of Masonic endeavor. I have read hundreds of books and those are the ones I would grab if my bookcase was on fire. I also strongly recommend taking both Master Craftsman courses. This goes for all Scottish Rite Masons worldwide, even if your jurisdiction does not use the Pike rituals. I would suggest joining whatever Scottish Rite is available where you live, serve and push for Pike’s rituals to be adopted. They are the pinnacle of Masonic education.
Be patient and serve even if you are the only one who feels like you do. Be a mentor to all the new candidates and steer them along according to what I have told you. Freemasonry will be blessed for future generations because of your efforts. Make it your goal to move through all the chairs.
Time is limited and men can’t be away from their families like they once could. For this reason, I avoid all other Masonic groups beyond my Blue Lodge and the Scottish Rite. All the wisdom a Mason seeks are in those two groups. All the other degrees can be read online, truth be told.
For Masons who aspire to the magical, there is no need to join another group. Magic at it’s core is no more or less than what is taught in “The Secretâ€. Buy that book and follow it. Also, read the articles on near-death.com and "The Kybalion". I also recommend practicing meditating the 7 chakras, especially 20 minutes a day on the “Aum†of the Ajna chakra once you have your chakras opened. Check out anmolmehta.com. You can do this in your car and the whole thing should only take 30 minutes. According to the yogis, all the powers you seek will come from this daily practice. I also recommend buying “Astral Dynamics†by Robert Bruce and following it to the letter as well as the “Bubble of Light†technique for psychic self defense. This is where you imagine yourself in a bubble of light which protects you from all things negative. You can also imagine someone who is negative to be in a bubble so that their negative vibes come back on them until they hopefully start behaving themselves. Two snaps of your fingers actives your bubble of light and one snap of the fingers puts your nemesis in a bubble. Or you can imagine yourself as being bigger than your nemesis. Laughing also works. Whenever you take it all too seriously, read some Robert Anton Wilson or listen to some George Carlin. Some brothers have even tried DMT or mushrooms (Clark Heinrich books) although such things cannot be legally recommended. Remember to as much as possible, love and forgive everyone. Do not fall into the trap that you need to abstain from sex or certain foods to be magical. That is ridiculous. Now, all of this might sound like horseshit, BUT no more or less than any other system of magic. I suggest trying all of my suggestions and see where it takes you. It will save you tons of money in books and going to other groups full of misfits and weirdos. Anyone could do this "system" of magic I have come up with, but truth be told, a Scottish Rite Mason who has read the Masonic books I have suggested has a tremendous edge.
Freemasonry is a gift. It is a blessing. It is a keeper of the ancient mysteries. Albert Pike and Manly P Hall understood this. Keep the traditions of the Blue Lodge and Scottish Rite intact. There are those who would try to change it and even allow women and atheists in. This is a mistake. Freemasonry helps to enlighten men and dampen their violent passions. Freemasonry only makes sense to those who believe in a Supreme Being. An atheist wanting to be a Mason is like a vegan wanting to be a butcher. Freemasonry is a force for women’s rights because it deals with the most dangerous drug on Earth: testosterone. Men start all the wars and cause all the problems in this world. As long as men divide along politics and religion, act like fools and do not respect the rights of others, Freemasonry will be a much needed institution. In this time of fatherless homes, men need a rite of passage in a safe environment like Freemasonry or they will end up seeking it in negative forms such as gangs. It is part of our DNA harkening back to the days of hunting and gathering. All lovers of democracy, men and women, should support its continued existence as a fraternity. It is a force for peace.
Share this article with other Masons you know, especially those who are discouraged. A new day is dawning. It is a great time to be a Freemason!