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Post by gipsyrose on Sept 24, 2006 14:36:24 GMT
As I spent time this evening ironing my clothes for my monthly lodge meeting, I was reflecting on how much pleasure all this is giving me. I feel privileged to be a part of this temple we are creating. I also feel grateful to those men who decided that to be true to their understanding of the intent TGAOTU, women should also learn these secret arts and hidden mysteries. I do see value in men only and women only lodges, and I also appreciate that I will have the opportunity to share this journey with my husband, who is getting initiated into the same lodge tomorrow (Mon). So, a big thank you to those individuals who stepped out into the unknown for what they saw as a greater truth.
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imakegarb
Member
One wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie
Posts: 3,573
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Post by imakegarb on Sept 24, 2006 18:49:04 GMT
Hi Gipsyrose!!
I feel sooooo much the same as you expressed. I had an opportunity to browse (I'd still like to finish it) J.S.M. Ward's "Is Freemasonry Justified in Excluding Women?" It's amazing the amount of calm it brought me to at least understand why it was so in the beginning, cruel as it was. But to continue it into modern times is cruel and most unjust. I feel an incredible sense of gratitude to those Freemasons, most of whom we'll never know by name, who recognized a higher obligation and initated their female brothers; and to those who forced the issue in the 19th Century and went thru all they went thru that has allowed me to more openly practice the Craft in relative peace and calm.
And I'm so happy to hear your husband soon will be your brothers. I know a number of Freemasons who are couples and it is a beautiful thing to behold. Peace and every happiness to him and to you :-)
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Post by maat on Oct 27, 2006 1:03:28 GMT
Hello Gypsy - How is your husband responding to being a Mason? He would find it 'different' being a male amidst so many women. Good for him. I would dearly love to see more men in our order to balance things up a bit.
Maat
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jmd
Member
fourhares.com
Posts: 1,081
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Post by jmd on Nov 1, 2006 10:01:27 GMT
Perhaps it could be pointed out that though he is the only male Co-Mason at that Lodge, he has only attended two meetings: during the first there were three visitors from the Male Craft, and during his second meeting one visiting male co-mason and SIX (from memory) from the Male Craft visited.
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Post by gipsyrose on Nov 1, 2006 14:00:10 GMT
Thanks JMD. I had missed Maat's post. Yes, my lovely husband has been very well supported. by his brothers. Thanks to any of you who may be reading this. The support has warmed my heart. His first meeting after his initiation was the installation of our new RWM, and we had a lot of visitors!!
Maat, at present he's being quiet and taking it all in. As I am an internet explorer and avid reader in this area, and he hasn't been, it is all much more unfamiliar to him. It feels quite odd, as I am still such a newbie, to be the one seen as having more knowledge. With me now being the "oldest" EA in the lodge, and three after me, I feel a bit like a mother hen when we do the opening procession. I was appointed as senior steward at the installation, which was a somewhat unexpected as I hadn't yet been a steward, so now I have some "bling" to wear, something I thought was years away. I remember being quite enamoured with how beautiful the members of my lodge looked, with their white clothes, blue collars and jewels, when I was arrived in the lodge for my initiation.
In the first month after his initiation I was pleased we had done a significant amount of work over the years sorting out unhelpful "life scripts" 'cause some of that bubbled up, a great chance to clear old residual old stuff, but something I imagine some couples could find challenging to manage. I suspect one needs to be good at having ways to keep one's relationship clear in order to handle the energies of being in a lodge together. And it seems a blessing that we have the opportunity to share this.
One of the things that was strongest for me at his initiation was a very powerful sense of the presence of his mother who died last year. It seemed like she was being channeled by this precious group of strong women, who were putting in such love, time and care into initiating him This was very moving and it felt like we were absolutely in the right place at the right time.
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