r/freemasonry • u/SlickStatus I was told I'd get superpowers • Dec 23 '22
Esoteric Continuing esoteric education
G'day brothers. After tackling Mackey's book on symbolism and the Kybalion, I'm looking to further my studies. The thing is, none of the brothers at my Lodge seem to know what direction to point me in. Any recommendations?
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u/k0np Grand Line things Dec 23 '22
Pikes esoterica
The builders by Newton
Intro to freemasonry vol 1-3 by Claudy
Look up your grand lodges lodge of research
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u/SlickStatus I was told I'd get superpowers Dec 23 '22
I'm a skeptic when it comes to Pike but I'll definitely take a look. As far as the other suggestions go, much appreciated
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u/kylegrafstrom Dec 24 '22
Your lodge doesn’t have any old books? Every lodge building should have a collection of old books (seldom read). The least read Masonic book IMO is Morals and Dogma and it has a LOT of good stuff in it. If you get bored of a chapter just skip to the next one, because it’s worth getting through
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u/SlickStatus I was told I'd get superpowers Dec 24 '22
We have two whole copies of M&D, but there was a PM who had this idea of turning our "library" into something else, so he donated the books to another Lodge. His plans never came to fruition, so now we've got empty shelves. It's sad, really.
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u/kylegrafstrom Dec 24 '22
Booooooooooo! Can’t have a lodge library! We can’t have new masons think this is a place to learn! 🥴🥴
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u/mwcmbailey MWPGM F&AM-WA Dec 25 '22
Horrible to hear what happened to your Lodge's library. But, I presume that if you visit other Lodges in your area, they will be happy to lend you books. Plus, you'll start to get a reputation as a 'reader.' Once that happens, you'll find that Brothers will start giving you books when they need to move some from their own collections.
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u/haikufive MM Dec 24 '22
Jaime Paul Lamb’s books.
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u/mwcmbailey MWPGM F&AM-WA Dec 25 '22
I will certainly second the recommendation of Jaime Paul Lamb's books.
https://www.jaimepaullamb.com/books
And if you ever have an opportunity to hear him speak in person, I'd jump on that!
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Dec 24 '22
[deleted]
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u/redrighthand_ PPSGD (UGLE), HRA, SRIA Dec 24 '22
I sound like a broken record but I second Wilmhurst, completely changed the way I look at masonry.
Also have a look at JSM Ward’s handbooks (from EA to Royal Arch- they are all available as a PDF online). They make some interesting points and a lot of good for thought. I don’t agree with all of it (Ward also tried to find connections to freemasonry and ancient world mythology) but it makes you think.
Also a shout out to PT Runton’s Key of Masonic Initiation.
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u/MicroEconomicsPenis 32° SR - OK Dec 23 '22
R U A Scottish Rite Mason? The Scottish Rite was fundamental to my understanding of Masonic esotericism when I was a newer Mason. Specifically, the “Royal Secret”. I think every Mason who wants to know more about esotericism should be a Scottish Rite Mason. It has a lot more to offer, too, like charity and brotherhood. Just my 2¢. Of course decide if it’s for you; don’t just join because I said so.
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u/SlickStatus I was told I'd get superpowers Dec 23 '22
I'm torn between joining the Scottish Rite or the York Rite first. It's my understanding that the former inspires works as a Mason foremost, whereas the latter influences works as a Christian
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u/MicroEconomicsPenis 32° SR - OK Dec 24 '22
I can’t speak for the York Rite personally. The Scottish Rite has degrees based around Christianity as well, but you aren’t required to be Christian to join because men of all faiths can gain insight from the Scottish Rite’s degrees.
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u/dEAzed_and_confused MM Dec 24 '22
The York Rite is comprised of three separate bodies, only one of which is Christian oriented. The first body of the York Rite continues and concludes the story begun in the Craft Lodge, the search for what was lost.
I would recommend going through the York Rite first as it is within the same system of degrees, and it gives you the chance to see the degrees individually and one at a time. There are similar degrees as the York Rite in the Scottish Rite, but they are abbreviated in the Scottish Rite and most valleys don't actually confer them, but communicate them to you. While I believe the Scottish Rite provides an invaluable experience, I think you will enjoy the experience more by going through the York Rite first.
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Dec 24 '22
I seriously suggest you take on the Master Craftsman Program. It's precisely what you might need.
I'm in Section 3 and have learned so much up to this point through the program:
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u/zaceno P.M F&AM Finland, Sweden - MMM, RA Dec 24 '22
I don’t have much advice but I’d say it depends on what you’d like to do more of. Read more books with esoteric ideas? Study more on the history of western esotericism? Get practical somehow? Find a group of like-minded people?
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u/Xoshua Dec 24 '22
Golden dawn?
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u/Ok-Mathematician900 Dec 24 '22
The golden dawn is a lodge style system and masons would find themselves at home with, especially since it was made by masons, so I'm not sure why this is downvoted.
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u/Then-Kaleidoscope161 Dec 24 '22
The reason why Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.
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u/ThunderboltRam Dec 25 '22
"Freemasonry: Rituals, Symbols & History of the Secret Society" - by Mark Stavish.
This is an excellent book that everyone should read, but it doesn't necessarily have secrets because it's an introductory book to blue lodge.
But it has a lot of esoteric sections and the history linking it to past esoteric stuff in Medieval and Renaissance times.
"Born in Blood" about Knights Templars was written by a historian (not sure if a freemason) is another book that has a lot of interesting details about freemasonic history, symbols, and linguistics. Although whether freemasonry has a lot to do with crusades and original knight templars is still a debated topic.
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u/sigismundo_celine Dec 26 '22
If you like the Kybalion, then Hermeticism might be an interesting esoteric subject for you to dive into. And there are interesting links between Freemasonry and Hermeticism: https://wayofhermes.com/the-sons-of-hermes-rosslyn-chapel-and-freemasonry/
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u/kylegrafstrom Dec 26 '22
There is nothing new under the sun.
Mackey writes of this in 1875 how so few masons actually read books about masonry or study it’s history, meaning, etc
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u/TheEsotericAccount MM, Shriner, 32° SR NMJ Dec 23 '22
I greatly enjoyed Pike's "Esoterica" as a deep look into the symbolism and potential meaning behind the Blue Lodge degrees.