Just for kicks this morning I dropped into one of the more popular Masonic Forums on the web and was appalled (but not surprised) by the vitriol brothers are hurling at one another. Having given myself over to that impulse on more than one occasion, I can perhaps understand the source of so much anger, but I am no less disturbed by it.
It reminds me of a conversation I had with a priest about humility where I suggested he might not be as humble as he could be. He responded vehemently, "I'm humble, God damn it! I'm humble."
Are we who have taken up the Quest saddled with such fragile egos that we bristle at criticism, that we revel in our titles & seek honor in our Lodges? Or am I just projecting my dissatisfaction with my own progress?
I am beginning to suspect that the great temptation on the occult path is dependence on an enormous force of ego or personal will, in the NT called θέλημα (Lk 22:42) = thelema, the name of Crowley fame. This is reported to be the same word Jesus used when he said “Not my will, but thine be done.”
Just for kicks this morning I dropped into one of the more popular Masonic Forums on the web and was appalled (but not surprised) by the vitriol brothers are hurling at one another.
This has also sadened me stepnwolf, seen it time and time again, and just shows how many masons have yet to learn the lessons of the primary tenet as defined by UGLE. (I use ugles as it is easy to find on the web). The masonic world is proving itself to be rather unmasonic by its own definition.
Having given myself over to that impulse on more than one occasion, I can perhaps understand the source of so much anger, but I am no less disturbed by it.
We all err form time to time including me. But the further we travel hopefully the les we err.
Are we who have taken up the Quest saddled with such fragile egos that we bristle at criticism, that we revel in our titles & seek honor in our Lodges?
many sadly are, mind you they are not really on the Quest, they just think that they are. For if they truly were they would be reflecting and rectifying.
Or am I just projecting my dissatisfaction with my own progress?
No you are travelling well, that is clear to see.
I am beginning to suspect that the great temptation on the occult path is dependence on an enormous force of ego or personal will
Balance is the key, too far to the left and you will enjoy great earthly privilidges, but the harm you do will trap you here, too far to the right and you become pretty ineffective in this realm. Balancing left and right, light and dark, masculine and feminine, is the key. Not easy to do mind. It is also very easy to get suckered onto the dark path by those who really should know better. But if you want to get out of here or even just progress and gain the riches that come with that you need to overcome such things, no easy feat. But doable. Then you get hit by the sheer sense of responsibility attached to such progress and realise as you walk back hopefully illuminating the way the sheer importance of balance.
Stepnwolf, sadly the masonic world is not as masonic as it likes to think it is. It has made choices and ended up engulffed in darkness. Whether it be the english based egos, rank, privilidge, money focus, or the difficulties that have fragmented french masonry, the masonic world has sadly darkened. And as such has become a little impotent in comparison with what it could achieve. If it wanted to.
But to do that it would have to reconnect with the light, and quite frankly many masons I have interacted with think all that is nonsense, gobligook and nothing whatsoever to do with masonry. While those who do get called "freaks".
I know you might not believe me here stepnwolf but the structures have been put into place for the masonic world to be able to reilluminate. If it wanted to. But it is choosing not to. Hence Pauls "new vessels." if you dont use it you will loose it.
While I clearlyhavent been all that successful, I did invest a decade in nudging the masonic world along a bit, and while there are a string of coincidences where I did things and things then changed, I accept that this could simply be coincidences. Though I know that I have touched some hearts in the masonic world, as they have told me. It is why some call me brother, why I guesss one gave me the fpof after a meeting in gqs (which really upsets many others but it was done publicly in the lounge), why some have said some quite positive things to and about me re what I have done and my influence on the masonic world. While most masons who voice an opinion get somewhat bitter angry and sometimes even outright nasty. It wasn't my fault I did not ask their brotehrs to do any of those things. Still this could all be my own ego talking ;D
While I have largely left the masonic world alone to reflect since late 2009 after a dreadful spate of words against me on the internet and while I have moved onto other aspects of human evolution (Politics - I shudder at the very thought uuuurrrrggghhh) it would however be very nice to see the masonic world reilluminate. But first, just as I had to do myself 15 or so years ago, it needs to admit it has a problem and then positively decide to do something about it, and then actually do it. three difficult steps, that I am not holding my breath for. I do hope that it does though.
Last Edit: May 6, 2013 5:07:58 GMT 9.5 by stewartedwards
A Simple Man, who tried and failed to reilluminate this planet.
Slogging Scotsman Ma’at Ankh Re
Who am I trying to kid for I can’t even resolve family darkness. Whoever is next to step up, please do.
>one of the more popular Masonic Forums on the web and was appalled (but not surprised) by the vitriol brothers are hurling at one another.
Most Masonic fora have very little traffic these days, there being a limit to how often the same speculations may be repeated. It seems that there are few brethren are able to contribute to experiential rather than speculative discussions.
The remaining posters are often driven by inner processes that are not completely within their perspective.
Maybe we can think of the point within the circle as the heart flame of the builders who are free to build according to their own design. As some buildings are more beautiful than others, some masons are closer to perfection than others. In both cases even those hard of heart find it difficult not to admire the stately and beautiful.
One step more ...
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting…trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home -Wordsworth