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Why is North the place of darkness?

CHF

Registered User
Because God resides in the north and man was cast out of Eden to the east?
 
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coachn

Coach John S. Nagy
Premium Member
Why is North the place of darkness?
The reason provided by ritual has to do with the sun's rays not having enough angle to cause a shadow to the South, based upon where Solomon's temple was located on the northern part of the globe.

There are numerous mythological reasons provided by a wide range of mythologies that identify the North as a place of mystery, unknown, danger and adventure and where one must travel to obtain what society, culture and religion cannot offer.
 

CHF

Registered User
The reason provided by ritual has to do with the sun's rays not having enough angle to cause a shadow to the South, based upon where Solomon's temple was located on the northern part of the globe.

There are numerous mythological reasons provided by a wide range of mythologies that identify the North as a place of mystery, unknown, danger and adventure and where one must travel to obtain what society, culture and religion cannot offer.

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Elexir

Registered User
dc6c3a51e16c4bf780587374b4bc55b8.jpg



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While the northen lights look amazing most of the time its just darkness all around. The north where also throught as a place of savages and the wild so symbolicly it fits.

A word of advices, taking masonic ritual and symbolism litteraly is most likley the biggest misstake you can do as many things are done in a manner that fits the purpuse but seems illogical and contradictory when under further examination.
 

frehm

Registered User
Originally it would probably be because the sun never shines from the North, but raises in the East, moves through South and goes down in the West.
But it is true: the first spire of light is seen in Northwest. The North is light in the summer. And the Northen lights give their magificent drama in the winters... so, well, North is not entirely dark. Neither is our hearts and souls, because the light can always reach all parts of us if we just let it in.
 

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
The light in question is within a specific structure, north of the equator. Unless the openings were high no light would shine on the northern wall.
And any of us who have lived in more frosty climes know that the north side of the building is a frozen hell of darkness when it comes to shoveling.
 

hanzosbm

Premium Member
In some of the earliest catechisms the lesser lights were actually windows. The rooms in which the lodges were being held were very far north (I'd have to look back, but I believe this specific catechism was Scottish). As the sun didn't shine directly through windows on the north side of buildings that far north, in many old buildings, windows were omitted on the north side. Windows, after all, were expensive and had almost zero insulative properties, so if it wasn't providing direct sunlight to actually light the room, there wasn't much purpose in having them. So, why was the north dark? Because the north side of the room had no window whereas the other 3 sides did. The original catechism and the section of the lights had more to do with the stages of life than they did the light being provided.


Q Have you any fix’d Lights in your Lodge?

A. Yes.
Q How many?

A. Three.
N.B. These fix’d Lights are Three Windows,suppos’d (tho’ vainly) to be, in every

Room where a Lodge is held, but more properly the four Cardinal Points according
to the antique Rules of Masonry.

Q How are they situated?

A. East, South and West.
Q What are their Uses?

A. To light the Men to, at and from their Work.
Q Why are there no Lights in the North?

A. Because the Sun darts no Rays from thence.
 

coachn

Coach John S. Nagy
Premium Member
JustJames said:
>A. Because the Sun darts no Rays from thence.

This of course is not true :rolleyes: in the southern hemisphere where buildings often have controlled exposure to the northern sun. Perhaps Freemasonry was never intended to be universal.
A classic example of...
1) taking a metaphor out of context
2) taking a metaphor literally
3) stating an absolutely absurd "perhaps" upon the previous 1) & 2)
 
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