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Why do we start a perambulation with our Left Foot?

Rinesh Hegde

Registered User
Why do we start the perambulation with our left foot. I have been asking this question for quite sometime but never got or found any answer.
In Hindu culture, when we enter a Temple we always step of with our right foot so I am not sure if there are any religious significance to this?
 

Ripcord22A

Site Benefactor
Why do we start the perambulation with our left foot. I have been asking this question for quite sometime but never got or found any answer.
In Hindu culture, when we enter a Temple we always step of with our right foot so I am not sure if there are any religious significance to this?
Maybe militaristic? In drill and ceremonies in the military you always step off with your left foot.

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CLewey44

Registered User
Only thing, off the top of my head, I can think of is in the MC of the FC degree and the B and J pls? The first one being on the left obviously alludes to the EA degree which is the first degree or first step. Something like that? I'm sure I'm totally off there but just came to mind.
 

Rinesh Hegde

Registered User
Thanks all, I found this paper that provides some insight on why we start the perambulation with our left foot and as mentioned by James The Just has some details about ancient Egypt too... haven't read it completely need to go through it. For the benefit of other brethren here is the link for the same.

https://sites.google.com/site/pittmacorg/foot-forward

Hope this helps others who are searching the answer.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
I'd always been told that we start on the left foot, because historically the left side (including left hand) is associated with evil, starting on the left foot symbolizes stepping in evil - but I've never done any research on it ....
 

CLewey44

Registered User
In one particular Qabalistic group, the left pillar represents darkness and severity called the pillar of Hermes while the right is bright and mercy called the pillar of Solomon. We are supposed to sort of take the middle road or middle pillar. I guess when taking any journey it begins with one single step and Masonically speaking that first step would be in darkness or the left.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
Maybe militaristic? In drill and ceremonies in the military you always step off with your left foot.
This is what I would think.
I'd always been told that we start on the left foot, because historically the left side (including left hand) is associated with evil, starting on the left foot symbolizes stepping in evil - but I've never done any research on it ....
Cool! I'd never heard this.
In one particular Qabalistic group, the left pillar represents darkness and severity called the pillar of Hermes while the right is bright and mercy called the pillar of Solomon.
Also interesting.
 

BullDozer Harrell

Registered User
Why do we start the perambulation with our left foot. I have been asking this question for quite sometime but never got or found any answer.
In Hindu culture, when we enter a Temple we always step of with our right foot so I am not sure if there are any religious significance to this?
The question sits on the fine line of what i'm ready to discuss too much in a public forum.

But it might have something to do with what the left side in Masonic symbolism represents?

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Luigi Visentin

Registered User
And why would the military start on the left foot ?.
There is not an explanation, but it is possible to make a guess: as mainly persons are right-handed, that is main weapon is kept with right, the fight position usually is with the left foot in front. Clearly is only a guess but it is similar to the explanation why since Roman's time people riding kept the right side on the street, even if more accurate research says that the real habit should have started in XVIII century at least for chariots. However while I was writing this post I found a curios similarity: Roman soldiers and gladiators used a protection on the leg called greave. Often they used only one greave on the same side of the shield to protect the only exposed part. As the shield was mainly kept with the left, the greave was usually on the left leg. The right was basically "naked", in the sense that it had no protection.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
There is not an explanation, but it is possible to make a guess: as mainly persons are right-handed, that is main weapon is kept with right, the fight position usually is with the left foot in front. Clearly is only a guess but it is similar to the explanation why since Roman's time people riding kept the right side on the street, even if more accurate research says that the real habit should have started in XVIII century at least for chariots. However while I was writing this post I found a curios similarity: Roman soldiers and gladiators used a protection on the leg called greave. Often they used only one greave on the same side of the shield to protect the only exposed part. As the shield was mainly kept with the left, the greave was usually on the left leg. The right was basically "naked", in the sense that it had no protection.
That's and interesting new spin. Thanks :)
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
There is not an explanation, but it is possible to make a guess: as mainly persons are right-handed, that is main weapon is kept with right, the fight position usually is with the left foot in front. Clearly is only a guess but it is similar to the explanation why since Roman's time people riding kept the right side on the street, even if more accurate research says that the real habit should have started in XVIII century at least for chariots. However while I was writing this post I found a curios similarity: Roman soldiers and gladiators used a protection on the leg called greave. Often they used only one greave on the same side of the shield to protect the only exposed part. As the shield was mainly kept with the left, the greave was usually on the left leg. The right was basically "naked", in the sense that it had no protection.
This IS interesting!
 

Bloke

Premium Member
It was not until I encountered a version of the Mayan Calendar that I recognized the origin of our pavement and its relationship to the temple in the heavens. Thus the tassels veil the 4 rivers of Eden and they too are a veiling of flows in the temple in the heavens.

The NE corner corresponds to the celestial flow containing the "reference signal" and the EA is supposed to attune to that like tuning a radio. These days the EA is exposed to that flow (if it is present) for a only a few hours before being passed. Oh dear.

I have uploaded a jpg to the forum but have no idea where it went or how to show it.
Thanks James
 
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