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Post by Henka on Nov 22, 2010 3:46:39 GMT 9.5
Our lodge floor is actually a rectangle, and the tiles run diagonally.
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Post by vajranagini on Nov 22, 2010 10:24:43 GMT 9.5
In symbolism 101, when a square is placed "on point' it is meant to denote "active" as opposed to "passive", which is the square seated on a flat side.. Notice, for example, the Nazi "hakkenkreuz" which is depicted "on point", as opposed to the Hindu "sva-stika", which is always depicted "at rest" on its FLAT side. These subtle distinctions between seemingly similar symbols are IMPORTANT, as these examples show!
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Post by paul on Nov 22, 2010 10:29:17 GMT 9.5
when a square is placed "on point' it is meant to denote "active" as opposed to "passive", which is the square seated on a flat side. So how does this work with Masonic pavements?
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Post by vajranagini on Nov 22, 2010 10:39:03 GMT 9.5
I would assume that it is meant to depict the "activity" and the ongoing interaction of the Black and White, i. e. the spiritual and the elemental, darkness and light, etc. Of course, it may have no meaning other than the "tiler" who laid the floor decided to "do something different for a change", but laying tiles on the diagonal takes a LOT MORE WORK. So, I would say that the angle of the tiles probably DOES have some sort of significance. Idries Shah informs us in 'The Sufis" that a checkered floor is part of "Sufi" tradition (and thereby reveals Freemasonry's Sufic roots) so if anyone here knows a high-ranking Sufi, you might want to ASK THEM.
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Post by paul on Nov 22, 2010 10:47:09 GMT 9.5
I would say that the angle of the tiles probably DOES have some sort of significance. As I suggested above, it may be the placement of 2 columns on the pavement (or 2 Wardens in the West) that triggers the need for diagonal tiles. In most lodges the inflows are EW and NS with the outflows from the corners. I would be interested if any brother with a diagonal pavement is prepared to dowse the inflows - particularly after a meeting or practice.
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Post by LorrB on Nov 22, 2010 11:19:49 GMT 9.5
I had 'a flash' once that the corners are the key. If the corners 'break' all will resolved into no-thingness again. I have no idea what that means. But I rather got the impression that the R...S...s are related to this.
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Post by vajranagini on Nov 22, 2010 12:18:59 GMT 9.5
Don't forget: the four corners of a square are 90 degree angles...and 4x 90 is 360, as in the "360 degrees of a CIRCLE".
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Post by paul on Nov 22, 2010 12:23:36 GMT 9.5
If the corners 'break' all will resolved into no-thingness again. This suggests that corners have an existence in themselves - entities that hold together a cluster of substance, in this case, tiles. If this is true then the concept must exist in traditional tales.
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Post by vajranagini on Nov 22, 2010 12:32:34 GMT 9.5
It has to do with ANGLES. 90 degrees is a "right" angle, implying "righteous". the Hebrew letter "Tzaddi" is associated with "righteousness", as in "Tzaddikim"...and Tzaddi has a numerical value of 90.
In astrology, the angular relationships between the planets are CRUCIAL to interpretation. The idea of "living angles" is thus not so farfetched!
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Post by paul on Nov 22, 2010 17:17:51 GMT 9.5
.and Tzaddi has a numerical value of 90. Many tribes use circular buildings rather than use the spatially wasteful right angle. What then is the relationship between geometry and righteousness?
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Post by vajranagini on Nov 23, 2010 13:25:33 GMT 9.5
If you do not build at a 'right angle' from the ground, you will soon discover that your building will not stand up! Deviance from the 'right' angle will cause stresses that eventually destroy it. Hence the metaphor of the plumb and the level, to keep things "on the square", i.e. 90 degrees.
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Post by paul on Nov 23, 2010 14:01:03 GMT 9.5
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Post by LorrB on Nov 24, 2010 7:20:00 GMT 9.5
ok - correct angle then... V - you did make me wonder why I had never thought to ask myself why it is called a right angle, rather than a left angle or a correct angle. Amazing what we just take for granted and never question.
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Post by vajranagini on Nov 24, 2010 14:42:52 GMT 9.5
Because any other degree than a 90 degree angle is the WRONG one!
Yes, flying buttresses were required, until building techniques and mortars improved, and the engineering principles were worked out mathematically; I imagine the Knights Templar contributed their fair share of knowledge to that effect, since they built many cathedrals and round buildings, and would have been in touch with both Western and Saracen stonecutters, and the Saracens would have had the benefit of algebra and all that to work out the 'differential calculus".
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Post by LorrB on Nov 25, 2010 8:30:36 GMT 9.5
Many tribes use circular buildings rather than use the spatially wasteful right angle. What then is the relationship between geometry and righteousness? Moving from the Near to the Far East, we can easily see how the Indian stupa or the Chinese pagoda is another form of the round tower. According to the principles of feng shui, the pagoda traps negative ch’i, or dragon energy located in the earth. ... The Hopi refer to round towers as “snake houses.” ... … were the Irish round towers also “snake houses,” or phallic temples used by a race of serpent people whom St. Patrick in the 5th century AD ultimately had to chase into the sea?
azorion.tripod.com/serpent_knights.htm
Round houses and temples (Knights Templar built round temples) channel a specific force or energy, one that amplified their spiritual pursuits maybe? Kundalini energy/force is referred to as the Serpent Energy - it moves in a circular and ascending manner about the spinal column. The Hopi Kivas are circular and are actually situated in the ground, one has to descend into them. Both the Earth and us harbor a powerful force with us. Co-Masons might recognise the outward symbol and working of this force during the censing of the pedestals when opening the lodge.
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Post by paul on Nov 25, 2010 8:37:07 GMT 9.5
So does some energy move in circles while other energy is more accurately depicted by straight lines?
In practice of course all energy seems to contain spirals and it may be the ratio of pitch of the spiral to the radius that determines whether we see it as a spiral or a straight line.
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Post by LorrB on Nov 25, 2010 8:39:23 GMT 9.5
What about 'squaring' the lodge... my hunch is that this has to do with setting up an energetic pattern, or magnetising the work area. I am thinking that creating corners in this manner might be important.
Has anyone dowsed the differences before or after a meeting?
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Post by paul on Nov 25, 2010 9:04:08 GMT 9.5
What about 'squaring' the lodge... Typically in a lodge with a pavement with square rather than diamond tiles, the energies flow strongly through the mid point of the East and South walls and less strongly through the mid point of the North and West walls. If the Warden in the South is off-set a bit from the mid point then the energy will flow through the Warden's station. The squareness of the pavement is consistent with the directions of those flows. But what happens when the lodge pavement is not aligned with the natural flows in the landscape? And generally if the lodge has worked well and in harmony, the flows are stronger after the ritual than before. This can easily be detected from the pleasant energy that remains after the lodge is closed.
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