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Post by stepnwolf on Apr 28, 2013 18:35:07 GMT 9.5
We've been thinking about the effect of music on our ability to experience worlds beyond ourselves, if I may put it that way. There are also moments in Masonic ritual where we may experience similar sensations of that road less traveled. Of course we can expect many similar moments in the ceremonies of entering, passing and raising, but they can also be found in the Opening and Closing of a L.
In the North American Ritual of LDH there is a moment in the opening when the Junior and Senior Wardens descend to the floor with setting mauls raised to inspect the Brn and to see that all are EAs. That always seemed like a special moment when the Brn are joined together into a unified L.
Another moment is when the SW (or IPM in other rituals) says “as the sun rises in the east...” and the RWM rises in response. It seems that a special connection between E and W is formed, matching word with action.
In LL where there is a strong connection with European workings (particularly France) in the closing there is a ceremony of extending to the L greetings from other Masonic bodies. I've never seen it in LL belonging to UGLE or in American Grand LL. The senior Bro. from that body stands with S... and S...and says “RWM (and Brn) I bring fraternal greetings from ...” and the name of the body. It seems, even in the closing there is a magic moment of unity.
In truth there is magic from the procession to the final knocks. So often our minds are preoccupied with the mechanics of opening and closing that we who lack 2nd sight take little notice of the activities in the higher realms.
As an experiment, where it's possible, sit alone in the Lodge room in silence after it's been closed. You may become aware of the echos of all that has transpired on the inner planes. For me it is like a rumbling echo in the hills. There are spectacular meetings and so-so meetings, but they all contain memorable moments of insight.
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Post by paul on Apr 28, 2013 19:35:50 GMT 9.5
Sometimes there is a light the flows through the East of the lodge like a fluid, pooling on the floor and the level rising. Then I feel a tingling as the level of the light rises - as high as the shoulders on one occasion.
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Post by stewartedwards on Apr 29, 2013 5:41:56 GMT 9.5
As an experiment, where it's possible, sit alone in the Lodge room in silence after it's been closed. You may become aware of the echos of all that has transpired on the inner planes. For me it is like a rumbling echo in the hills. There are spectacular meetings and so-so meetings, but they all contain memorable moments of insight. Stepnwolf, I have done precisely this, admittedly by sheer accident. While several lodges have this effect on me, most are bland, but a couple stand out, one an ugle lodge and one a LDH. They both blew me away and humbled me simultaeneously. In one I had the specific sense of a lot of good work having been done in there, it almost felt home from home, the other was simply wow. I was fortunate to be with a very experienced 33rd degree mason who understood and he let me enjoy the sensation before discussing it in some detail with me. I have also taken part in an open masonic ceremony which was also quite enlightening in this regard, the forces at work were quite powerful, a combination of a right pain in the neck (literally) and of sheer calmness. Nowadays I can visualise lodge energy structures fairly easily, though I dont pry, and if I accidentally do I appologise and depart. Such is the power of our immagination.
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Post by fjrogers on Jul 8, 2015 18:22:25 GMT 9.5
Great Masonic moments for me include entering the degrees of Masonry from the Initiation ceremony, through the Craft and up to the higher degrees. The experience of taking Obligations is something not easily forgotten and often life changing.
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Post by paul on Jul 8, 2015 18:31:42 GMT 9.5
> The experience of taking Obligations is something not easily forgotten and often life changing.
Quite so. So what is happening for/to those brethren during the obligation?
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Post by fjrogers on Jul 9, 2015 11:27:13 GMT 9.5
They are taking a vow that will hold them firm on the Path to eternal destiny if rightly directed by the individual. Then they will receive a charge of energy that kindles the Divine spark into activity.
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Post by paul on Jul 9, 2015 12:06:22 GMT 9.5
>Then they will receive a charge of energy that kindles the Divine spark into activity.
I have seen quite a number of candidates break out into a sweat during the obligation - while the air seemed cool to me.
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Post by fjrogers on Jul 10, 2015 10:19:36 GMT 9.5
It may perhaps be more precise to say that whether the Divine spark is kindled into activity depends on the suitability and readiness of the candidate for higher work.
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Post by paul on Jul 10, 2015 11:56:24 GMT 9.5
>whether the Divine spark is kindled into activity depends on the suitability and readiness of the candidate for higher work.
Quite so. At the initiation some candidates attract a blessing for themselves. Others are dependent upon whatever the lodge is able to deliver.
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Post by paul on May 2, 2016 8:41:21 GMT 9.5
I recall a Masonic moment.
I was in the chair, more than half way through my first year, and was feeling edgy all night which had not happened before. Nearing the closing of the lodge I had a visual image of an enormous eye looking in through the East. The eye was similar in size to the East wall of the temple.
I dare say we were being inspected.
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Post by fjrogers on May 2, 2016 15:32:05 GMT 9.5
There are times when for some reason, at a point in time, one just feels uncomfortable and cannot explain why. It could be that some being on the inner levels is watching us, perhaps to test and prepare us.
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Post by paul on May 3, 2016 5:29:20 GMT 9.5
>I had a visual image of an enormous eye looking in through the East.
And I now recall that when the eye looked at us, I had the image that we were inside bars like those of a bird cage.
It may have been that the bars were for our protection from (the energy of) the entity
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Post by fjrogers on May 3, 2016 14:41:47 GMT 9.5
I had a very intense experience when I was around nine. I was in the house alone and I felt as though something was looking at me very intensely. It was a little disturbing at first but the fear passed off and it lingered for a while, then faded away. I've always remembered this experience.
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Post by paul on May 3, 2016 16:51:42 GMT 9.5
Was that on one of the islands? Which one?
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Post by fjrogers on May 15, 2016 14:39:11 GMT 9.5
> Was that on one of the islands? Which one?
It was in the Shetland Islands on the island of Yell.
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Post by fjrogers on Dec 12, 2016 17:11:18 GMT 9.5
>I had a visual image of an enormous eye looking in through the East. And I now recall that when the eye looked at us, I had the image that we were inside bars like those of a bird cage. It may have been that the bars were for our protection from (the energy of) the entity This post actually reminds me of the Sphinx in Egypt. Some people believe that one of the eyes of the Sphinx was in fact used as a barred prison where people were detained. One might wonder if there's something symbolic in that.
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Post by paul on Dec 12, 2016 17:59:37 GMT 9.5
>the eyes of the Sphinx was in fact used as a barred prison where people were detained. One might wonder if there's something symbolic in that.
I doubt that the eyes are big enough for that.
There is supposed to be tunnel leading from between the paws of the sphinx towards the initiation chambers. I wonder what happened to those that failed the initiatory tests.
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Post by paul on Dec 13, 2016 14:16:40 GMT 9.5
>when i meditated hyperconnect was not the same
What sort of changes did you experience?
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Post by fjrogers on Dec 14, 2016 14:15:31 GMT 9.5
> I doubt that the eyes are big enough for that.
I see what you mean there but I think certain prisoners were intended to be detained in a very small space.
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