The Knocks
Dec 19, 2012 9:37:50 GMT 9.5
Post by stepnwolf on Dec 19, 2012 9:37:50 GMT 9.5
I was daydreaming this afternoon, trying to exercise my memory which old age is trying to muddy. I was standing outside the door of the L. when my conductor gave three distinct raps on a door. As I recall they represented three levels of reality: physical, mental and spiritual as they operate in the life of the uninitiated: measured sounds with no emphasis on any of them.
Subsequently, my conductor and I stood at the same door. This time, however, he gave ** * on the door, which I took to mean that my attention was directed toward the physical + mental aspects of existence; that the spiritual still stood apart from my awareness.
Here memory failed and I wondered what knocks might I hear at some future time. In some religions raps of that sort are used to summon the attention of a god. In the Roman Church a rap is given on the forehead of the recently deceased pontiff with a golden mallet, to determine that he is indeed gone. In some degrees the BB are called to order with a sequence of knocks to represent the degree. In some rites the reports are given by clapping gloved hands. In others, by beating the floor with the feet; still others use a gavel.
In receiving a distinguished guest in L. the principal officers use their gavels to rap a 4/4 time, which can be difficult, matching 4 beats with 3 officers. To my knowledge the battery never uses volume to emphasize parts of the beat as in music.
There may be a practical side to such knocks. What is our reaction to unexpected sounds coming from an unknown source? Our minds seem to stand at attention, our awareness seems to be more acute, perhaps initiating a flight or fight response. My own opinion is that knocks serve a purpose and are not simply an empty bit of ritual.
Subsequently, my conductor and I stood at the same door. This time, however, he gave ** * on the door, which I took to mean that my attention was directed toward the physical + mental aspects of existence; that the spiritual still stood apart from my awareness.
Here memory failed and I wondered what knocks might I hear at some future time. In some religions raps of that sort are used to summon the attention of a god. In the Roman Church a rap is given on the forehead of the recently deceased pontiff with a golden mallet, to determine that he is indeed gone. In some degrees the BB are called to order with a sequence of knocks to represent the degree. In some rites the reports are given by clapping gloved hands. In others, by beating the floor with the feet; still others use a gavel.
In receiving a distinguished guest in L. the principal officers use their gavels to rap a 4/4 time, which can be difficult, matching 4 beats with 3 officers. To my knowledge the battery never uses volume to emphasize parts of the beat as in music.
There may be a practical side to such knocks. What is our reaction to unexpected sounds coming from an unknown source? Our minds seem to stand at attention, our awareness seems to be more acute, perhaps initiating a flight or fight response. My own opinion is that knocks serve a purpose and are not simply an empty bit of ritual.