I’ve been a Mason for 20 years, Past Master, 32°, Scottish Rite & York Rite. I don’t have any juicy secrets (like “33° Masons control the price of Ovaltine”), and I’m of the view that we’re / they’re mostly harmless. That said, I’m disillusioned. The Brotherhood is broken and not fulfilling what they promise to their craftsmen, which is to make good men better. It’s become one big LARP that sucks free time and money from its members and gives nothing back to the Brothers, their families, communities, or the world.
They broke their oath, I’ll break mine. Ask me anything. Or nothing.
Modern masonry is unfortunately just a boys club now, no longer teaching the mysteries. Those at the higher levels are aware of this, but 99% aren't going to be practicing or having any understanding if magick anymore.
What’s funny is, I had a weird idea that there might be mysticism in it before I joined, but dismissed it once I was in and saw everyone just argued over how much to spend on the building. “Hidden mysteries of Masonry” were alluded to in ritual, but the old timers always said “oh the mystery is how to get along with other men.” That may be true, who knows. But years later Masons and non-Masons are started talking about the esoteric side of Masonry online, and even in lodge the subject crept in a little. I did a fair amount of research into it, and came to the conclusion that they either lost the ancient secrets or hid them from their own Brothers.
I've long held the belief that back in the days of the Revolution, the TPTB saw the power of free men and fraternity...and infiltrated and gutted it from the inside.
how old's your mother? Mine's 183
Somewhere between 150 and 250. I don’t want to be specific because I’ll probably be Bro-doxxed and brought up on charges based on my other comments ?
100% hidden in plain sight. I partly understand why they do it, but I think they're dropping the ball. You'd learn far more from Eastern traditions than masonry at this point. Of course even in the eastern traditions you'll get beat over the head by masters telling you to ignore all mythical experiences. Both west and east shun real magick people should ask themselves why that is.
I spent some time in a zen monastery. Being beating over the head is almost literal ???
Yup I'm well aware ?
But that's how it is, if you want to see real magick just observe children a child could run circles around these Zen masters. Their mind isn't rigid which is what is needed to see magick. Once you see if you'll realize you've been getting robbed since childhood.