Freemasonry is surrounded by intrigue. On the surface, it appears a respectable gentleman’s club: a fraternity of rituals and rites that draw their inspiration from both stonemasonry, and ancient Christian and Jewish […]
What was the Leo Taxil Hoax?
The American Lexicon and Freemasonry
Can we communicate effectively without understanding the origin and history of our common language? The American Lexicon includes many terms that Americans utilize often without knowing where the phrase originated. The English […]
Platonic Idealism
As Plato said, “Reality is created by the mind, we can change our reality by changing our mind.”
Is Freemasonry a Modern Iteration of Raja Yoga?
“When the soul sees itself as a center surrounded by its circumference—when the Sun knows that it is a Sun, surrounded by its whirling planets—then is it ready for the Wisdom and […]
Masonry, Morality, and the Stanford Prison Experiment
Freemasonry inculcates virtue and moral rectitude in its members by way of exemplifying the Cardinal Virtues of Prudence,
Temperance, Fortitude, and Justice: all which were absent from the Stanford Prison Experiment.
Persecuted Masons: The Holocaust and Hitler’s Attack on Freemasonry
As one of the deadliest genocides in world history, the Holocaust was the systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of millions of individuals by the Nazi Regime. The word Holocaust comes from the Greek word […]
Columbia: An American Goddess
If you were to ask the average American which mythical figure best represents the national character, most would reply with a household name: Uncle Sam. The genial yet intimidating patriarch has dominated artistic and […]
What Can Science Teach Us About Racism?
The Masonic Philosophical Society is an organization which values not only ethnic diversity, but also approaching problems with wisdom and objectivity. Science can be an excellent source certainty on many topics. In the case of the issues brought to the surface by the death of George Floyd recently, what can science tell us about racial bias?
The Labyrinth at Chartres: Why Are Sacred Places Important?
Can a labyrinth really be a tool for enlightenment? Are sacred places important?
Bored Because of Social Distancing? Join the Online M.P.S. Community
Everyone deserves to be part of a community: to understand, to change, to improve, and to inspire. At the Masonic Philosophical Society (M.P.S.), we embrace the concept of learning as a life-long […]
The Science Debate
One would think there is no debate about science. The scientific method is, quite simply this: “a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic […]
Curiosity and Intuition
Not long ago, a friend asked how I’ve come to this point in life with the vocation and avocations that I have. Were these all conscious choices or not? I thought long […]
The Universe Perceived
If we perceive the universe, does it exist? And what if we fail to perceive? Why Does the Freemason Care? I’m going to start off with something that people usually place at […]
Dharma, Duty, and Freemasonry: Part II
This is Part II of a two part series on Dharma, Duty, and Freemasonry. Readers can view the first installment here: Part I. “Hindu Dharma is like a boundless ocean teeming with […]
Dharma, Duty, and Freemasonry: Part I
WE all have duties, which we are responsible for in life, although some may not ascribe these responsibilities that term. We are responsible for the well-being of families and our own self-improvement. […]
Brother or Friend?
A long time ago, I heard a Freemason tell another that they “should not be friends” with their Brothers. It was a strange comment to me, as I thought that when I […]
Symbolism & The Literalists
Fundamentalism is everywhere. Let’s be clear: fundamentalism is strict adherence to the basic principles of any subject or discipline. In most cases, people use it to discuss religious adherence to the “word” […]
Should The U.S. Electoral College Be Abolished?
Many Americans uphold the U.S. Constitution as a visionary document: drafted in a spirit of equality and encouraging the maximum democratic participation for all voters. The Preamble’s introductory line, “We the people of the United States, in […]
The Elohim – Part II, A Crooked Path
In the first section of this article, I introduced the term “Elohim” and examined a variety of potential explanations for the esoteric and etymological meaning of the word. There possible connections to […]
The Dionysian Artificers – Part 2
We discussed briefly, in Part 1, the text of the book, “The Sketch of the History of the Dionysian Artificers,” by Hippolyto Da Costa. The book, written in 1820, is the author’s […]
How to Attend an MPS Meeting
The Masonic Philosophical Society (M.P.S.) has officially been active for more than five years now. It has grown to over 30 Study Centers across the globe, in at least five different countries. There […]
Symbolism, Freemasonry, and the Tarot
Is a picture worth a thousand words? In our modern society, most are acquainted with Tarot cards as a form of divination or fortune telling. However, there is a deeper, more esoteric […]
The Elohim – Part I, The Sons of God
The term “Elohim” has been alternately identified as a name of God, angels, demons, or other types of supernatural beings. It has been associated with The Shining Ones, the Anunnaki, Nephilim, and […]
The Illusion That Is Caste
The word “caste” comes from the Portuguese word casta, meaning “race, lineage, tribe or breed.” It originally comes from the Latin word castus meaning pure. The Spanish and Portuguese used the word differently […]
St. John the Evangelist, Involution, and Freemasonry
There’s been much written about the patron saint of Freemasonry, Saint John the Baptist. His feast day, celebrated by Freemasons over the world, is in June – the time of greatest light […]
Fear and Freemasonry
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. […]
The Architect of the Nuclear Age – Does the Expansion of Knowledge Always Benefit Humanity?
Referred to as the “architect of the nuclear age,” Enrico Fermi was a nuclear physicist, a Nobel Prize winner, and a Freemason. Throughout his prolific career, he made substantial contributions to the […]
Your Shoes are My Shoes
In a recent conversation, a colleague of mine began a tirade of a person who, in their estimation, had no compassion. “How can they hold something that happened a year ago against […]
Dogma, Change, and Freemasonry
When the Norse arrived in Greenland, in the mid 10th Century, they found a land that was experiencing a global warming trend with green fields, retreating ice floes, and oceans teaming with […]
The Nature of Fractals – Part III: Our Chaotic Reality
This is Part III of a three part series on the Nature of Fractals. Readers can view the first two installments here: Part I and Part II. In the previous part of […]
The Nature of Fractals – Part II: Of Spirit and Matter
In the previous part of this series, I introduced the concept of a fractal. It is a construct which appears frequently throughout our daily lives and Nature herself. So what could be […]
The Masonic Family
Having been a Freemason for over twenty years, I have seen many people come and go in the Fraternity. There are people who were well-established when I first entered into the Order […]
The Dionysian Artificers – Part 1
A wise and elder Freemason presented a talk long ago on creation, and the term “Dionysian Artificers” was noted in the essay. Ears perked up. I had never heard of this, them, […]
Why Alchemy Failed But Didn’t
The study of the changing of base metals into gold seems to reach the top favorite of occult topics for many. Steeped in a rich history, all who study it have their […]
The Merovingians
This is the third of a rambling three-part exploration of Middle and Dark Age Europe, birthplace of much myth concerning Western religious and esoteric teachings. Never was myth and make believe more […]
Who Were the Cathars?
Whenever the Templars are mentioned, the Cathars are generally not far behind. Tied together with some interesting data and facts, they tend to be the focus of intense esoteric and mystical knowledge. […]
The Nature of Fractals – Part I: The World Around Us
Man continually seeks deeper understanding of the world around him. From the deepest reaches of space, to the depths of our oceans, to the smallest particle, Humanity seeks to gain ever more […]
With Passion
I recently attended a Masonic Philosophical Society discussion about compassion – what was it, what is it, and how did it get from there to here. In the course of the discussion, […]
Egregore and Freemasonry
Egregore (also egregor) is a collection of thoughts put forth from a group mind. That is a simplistic explanation of a complex concept – at least to me. Psychologically speaking, an egregore […]
Freemasonry’s Approach to Critical Thinking: Bald’s Leechbook and the Superbug MRSA
When we encounter what seems impossible, the solution can often be found where we might least expect it. By expanding search parameters to include information that appears paradoxical or unconventional, we can […]
Whence Came You? Recent Scientific Challenges To The Big Bang Theory
From time immemorial, the thinking man has pondered the origins of the Universe and his role in the cosmos. Scientists in the early 20th century brought forth The Big Bang Theory to […]
Who Was Enoch? What Happened When He Walked With God?
“Enoch was son of Jared and fathered Methuselah. The text of the Book of Genesis says Enoch lived 365 years before he was “taken” by God. The text reads that Enoch “walked […]
Ancient Egyptian Religion – Part III
This is the third post of a three part series the religion of the ancient Egyptians. Part one can be read here and Part two can be read here. Temples were a part […]
Triangles Everywhere
I was recently exploring the idea of the triangle – its form, function, stability, and meanings. In Freemasonry, as in many traditions, the triangle holds significant influence in symbolic meanings. A triangle […]
Freemasons, Political Awareness, and Voice
In a recent “Today, Explained” podcast, the narrators were discussing the recent Supreme Court decisions involving arbitration and the American worker. In essence, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a 1925 […]
The Vedas and Quantum Mechanics
This article explores the theory that quantum mechanics and the Vedic concepts of consciousness are compatible. The mind is something greater; it’s plurality of experiences, and physiological states is an illusion of a single unity.
