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Post by symbol on Nov 17, 2004 12:54:57 GMT
having started recently readin the other Mason site, i have been recomended to have a look here as well, talk about jumping of the frying pan into the fire!! I feel so far out of depth here that i think i will sink without trace..... Having always been interested and read 'esoteric ' type stuff, i stumbled really into the Masons. Being a very curious being how could i not jump in. I supposed in a lot of ways it was full of 'eastern promise' i with was suddenly faced with rituals that were repeated and repeated and then repeated again. This follows on from a previous thread really but it seems more acceptable here, It feels that something has being remved at some stage in the past from Craft and when speaking to people im always faced with 'search inside for the light, etc etc.' Am i the only one who questions what im seeing or does everyone see something i dont maybe im just standing in the shadows too much. I heard once that many do the Third and then never come again, i know im missing something here, but i cant find it in Craft. i then here whispers of degrees that cant be talked about, so is this where i will start to find or is it a giant pyramid selling system , where 'its' always on the next level. I know that i cant ask from those who know. i hope no one sees me as being rude or disrespectful, i do love the values and beliefs i have found in the oaths taken and will always honor them. I only have one life and i want to make sure im not chasing my own tail. As i feel i have spent too long doing so in the past. Searching endlessly Symbol
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Post by taylorsman on Nov 17, 2004 15:26:21 GMT
Not at all Symbol. Don't be worried about making a mistake as there is NOBODY here who knows it all!
If you are confused then simply stay on the sidelines and watch. If you have a question why not PM the likes of myself or some of the other posters such as Middlepillar, or Ingo, or Whistler and if we don't know we will try to find out for you or direct your steps.
There is nobody wielding a cane or whip here, so don't be shy.
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Post by middlepillar on Nov 17, 2004 17:12:04 GMT
Symbol
You have used some interesting phraseology!? and have asked some interesting things.
Firstly welcome to this 'friendly' forum. I agree with Taylorsman nobody knows everything or even remotely everything, we all however know something, whether this is of use to you only time will tell! We are happy to share our knowledge/experiences with you and all the Forum and equally we like to learn from others in the Forum. Sorry for a long winded hello!
I think many others who are in a lot of orders could sympathise with your "is this a pyramid selling system" but the fact is we are all searching for more knowledge/light and some of us do this by continuing the Masonic journey, but this journey is incredibly long! Just think each Order has its own story, with peculiar secrets restricted to that story! (in some orders this can be divided up in to several parts) each order has an equivalent of a Master with its own secrets restricted to the Masters 'Chair' (normally). And to get to the Masters chair you have to go through a normal 5 to 7 offices, which takes approx the same amount of years!.
I dont think you would get much custom as a Pyramid Salesman! The fact is no one should try to 'sell' you anything in masonry, the more experienced brethren should be there to guide you in which direction you could possibly take. The most important factor in Masonry is 'How you feel about it'. I personally believe nothing is wrong, the Brother who becomes a Master Mason and does not want to go through the Chair can get as much out of Masonry as someone like me or Taylorsman (I have done 8 chairs! and fast approaching 3 others!). It depends on each individual. Most importantly to me is there is still much to learn and believe me I love the learning! The day I think I have learned all the lessons will probably be the day someone 'finally switches on my light' (my signature, a quote from the mouth of a dying man').
The thing about Masonry is it really grabs some people, and maybe your situation is that you are trying to keep up with some people instead of going at your own pace, an analogy I could use is this; When looking at an abstract piece of Art, some people get the picture/image straight away, others find it painstakingly difficult, but once they 'see it' it is always there. Maybe youre trying to hard to acquire the light, slow down and enjoy the journey, you will learn a lot more than you realise.
I feel I have garbled on to long, but I do wish you all the best on your masonic Journey!
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Post by whistler on Nov 17, 2004 17:32:40 GMT
Symbol, Welcome to this Forum. On this forum you can ask questions without being jumped on, or made feel foolish. You are not the only one to ask questions and that is they way it should be. All the symbols, and rituals of Freemasonry are multi layered. None of the rituals or symbols are in existance without reason. The hardest thing is to decide what questions to ask. Have a look at the thread "TRUTH". Freemasonry itself opens doors in our minds, and it is for us to go through them as we wish. Some Freemasons will always see a gavel as something to back a desk with - that is OK. Some will read and think about the other aspects of the gavel - that is also OK.
You will find posts on this Forum that you don't agree with, that is always your right and that is the way it should be .
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Post by Stash on Nov 17, 2004 18:36:12 GMT
Symbol, this thread has provoked me to say several things here. Firstly, whoever said "i think you are trying to keep up instead of go at your own pac"....well, that was a wise comment!! Masonry in particular, or esoteric knowledge in a general sense, are not things that you are in competition with others, the whole concept of this knowledge is so that you may apply it to YOURself and YOUR life (I'm not gonna get into the charity/brotherhood thing here)
Now, that said, this is an EXCELLENT place to come and learn more, for example, I'm not a mason, and have been hassling these ppl for months with millions of what I thought would be received as stupid questions....but i received, and continue to receive nothing but concise, and friendly replies.
In addition, you should really spend a few buckks and pick up some masonic BOOKS, I know amazon has a ton there for $15 or less. A reference of some kind is especiallyr ecommended, that way, if something is mentioned that you require further understanding on, you can always look it up before posing a more detailed question.
Man, i realize this post is very directionless and rambly, but I've got a rather large point i'm trying to get down that I can't seem to find words to express it with....that it's just generally "stay on the forum, ask questions, read further, and do NOT take other people's word for everythjing, try searching yourself and coming up with your own interpretations for symbols and ritual.....cause the "true" meaning is only the meaning that works best fo ryou
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staffs
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Staffs
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Post by staffs on Nov 17, 2004 18:41:50 GMT
Well Symbol.It just proves that we are open minded here and non secretive and above all we are all equal.
The above posts are from a non mason to a experienced co mason and a very very seasoned UGLE mason .So keep going my friend and enjoy the forum.
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Post by symbol on Nov 18, 2004 6:21:23 GMT
Thank you all. I read and take in the comments and continue my somewhat wobbly journey towards the the light, I suppose my concerns were really is this MY path towards the light or am i walking towards some bloke with a torch. I suppose i wont know til i get there. lol. It is a 'friendly' place to be , and i always look forward to your replys, but how could it be anything else. And there are many hands to catch me should i trip.
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Post by taylorsman on Nov 18, 2004 7:34:00 GMT
"And there are many hands to catch me should I trip."
Interesting that you quote that Symbol, as that is very similar to a line from one Masonic Working I read where the Candidate is told that part of his duty is "to stretch forth his hands to a Brother in difficulties to save him from sinking"
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Post by Yoki on Nov 20, 2004 19:21:49 GMT
I suppose my concerns were really is this MY path towards the light or am I walking towards some bloke with a torch.
That bought a smile to my face, what I would like to emphasise however is that the light you seek is to be found within your self, so maybe its a inner torch. I know that this is a very well worn cliché and means different things to different people, you only need to go to the thread on light to see this. Inner Light can be your understanding, the way you perceive what you learn on your life’s travels and the knowledge you acquire along the way. Or it can be understood as your soul which in some mystical way guides you as you make this journey traversing life's lessons on the way. But what it comes down to is that you are responsible for what you make of what you see as your one life (I personally believe we get many to stumble fall and try again in) Masonry is a reflection of this principal, some join to belong, finding companionship and that is how it should be. Some join to find spiritual or personal meaning and that is how it should be and the beauty of Free Masonry is that it caters for both .In fact I wonder if that is what the Free stands for freedom to sort it out for your self. As apposed to all the religions cults and born again folk who will feed you answers, I know which I prefer.
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staffs
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Post by staffs on Nov 20, 2004 19:29:34 GMT
Yoki ,once again SUPERB STUFF !!!!!
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Post by whistler on Nov 21, 2004 23:19:12 GMT
Yoki Wise as always.
The whole key to this personal responsibilty things is simple.
"As soon as you start blaming somebody else for something that is happening you - you have lost it"
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