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Post by lauderdale on Jul 14, 2007 16:58:06 GMT
This was at my Co-Masonic Lodge and the Light did flash!
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Y Mahomed
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3rd door left of right
Posts: 97
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Post by Y Mahomed on Jul 16, 2007 12:56:52 GMT
This is all so fascinating, is the baphomet a masonic sybol as well? that tends to be my fav. at the mo.
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Tamrin
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Nosce te ipsum
Posts: 3,586
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Post by Tamrin on Jul 16, 2007 15:02:20 GMT
This is all so fascinating, is the baphomet a masonic sybol as well? that tends to be my fav. at the mo. Having been received into the ne plus ultra ("nothing more beyond") degree in the "Scottish" Rite (30°) and into that so described in the "York" Rite (HRA, KT Priest), I can with some confidence say it is not.
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imakegarb
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One wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie
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Post by imakegarb on Jul 16, 2007 15:46:06 GMT
This is all so fascinating, is the baphomet a masonic sybol as well? that tends to be my fav. at the mo. I'm only a Fellowcraft. However, the only place I see Baphomet, in reference to the Craft, is on antiMasonic websites. I certainly haven't encountered as a Freemasonic symbol. So I don't think it is a Freemasonic symbol (favorite or otherwise). As I understand it, it first came up in the 14th Century as part of King Philip's smear campaign against the Templars, with no Masonic references at all. It seems to me that AntiMasons, being the thrifty lot that they are (especially when it comes to truth), simply recycled this myth to smear the Fraternity, there being no more Templars left for them to burn.
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Y Mahomed
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3rd door left of right
Posts: 97
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Post by Y Mahomed on Jul 16, 2007 17:09:09 GMT
This is all so fascinating, is the baphomet a masonic sybol as well? that tends to be my fav. at the mo. Having been received into the ne plus ultra ("nothing more beyond") degree in the "Scottish" Rite (30°) and into that so described in the "York" Rite (HRA, KT Priest), I can with some confidence say it is not. I have learnt somewhere that if one takes the word baphomet and apply a cipher called the (i think) atbesh cipher you are left with The Wisdom of Muhammad. I stand to be corrected but isn't Muhammad demonized in most western cultures? @ Imakegarb - im yet to be initiated in this life
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Post by middlepillar on Jul 16, 2007 19:19:32 GMT
There are many Masonic symbols that hit the right note for me, and this has taken me a long time to post my 'favorite' And I have failed to do that! (I will post 2 and the second one is a 'pair')I am in several things where certain objects are incredibly symbolic and if I was asked to post the most meaningful symbol I have encountered it would be the cordelier!
However, the question is favourite masonic symbol so;
I think the Sword & Trowel are absolutely wonderful masonic symbols so full of allegory and deep meaning, they must be up there for me!
Finally the Skull, because in the chamber of reflection this is the one thing that hits you right between the eyes! So powerful, so symbolic and such a wonderful teacher.
Great question Lee, I have thought long and hard over it.
EDIT: Nope, I didn't edit it. I'm still just having trouble learning how to use the mod buttons. Jeez . . .
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Tamrin
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Nosce te ipsum
Posts: 3,586
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Post by Tamrin on Jul 16, 2007 21:03:17 GMT
I have learnt somewhere that if one takes the word baphomet and apply a cipher called the (i think) atbesh cipher you are left with The Wisdom of Muhammad. I stand to be corrected but isn't Muhammad demonized in most western cultures? Wikipedia has this say on the subject of Baphomet and the Atbash cipher, which produces a Greek rather than an Arabic result, (Freemasonry, as I have said and as far as I know, is silent on the subject; although Leo Taxil and his ilk have tried to draw a connection): Atbash cipher for Sophia. Dr Hugh J. Schonfield, one of the scholars who worked on the Dead Sea Scrolls, argued in his book The Essene Odyssey that the word "Baphomet" was created with knowledge of the Atbash substitution cipher, which substitutes the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet for the last, the second for the second last, and so on. "Baphomet" rendered in Hebrew is בפומת; interpreted using Atbash, it becomes שופיא, which can be interpreted as the Greek word "Sophia", or wisdom. This theory is an important part of the plot of The Da Vinci Code. From the same source we are told of a possible Arabic derivation: Idries Shah proposed that "Baphomet" may derive from the Arabic word ابو فهمة Abufihamat, meaning "The Father of Understanding". I suggest "Abufihamat" could reasonably be interpreted to mean, "The Wisdom of Muhammad" (but again, to my knowledge, this is not a Masonic tradition: Indeed, I know of no Masonic rituals, including those of the Masonic Knights Templar, which even mention Baphomet). By the way, there is a significant word used in Masonry, which if rendered in the Old Scottish Tongue, might reasonably be taken to mean "Muhammad is dead!" Whether or not that was the intention and whether or not such an expression would have been one of grief or joy are other matters. While Muhammad may or may not be demonized in most western cultures, this is generally not the case within Freemasonry (albeit, individuals are entitled to their own opinions). Indeed, and please do not take this as gospel, there is much speculation as to the origins of Freemasonry and one of the main contenders is called the Templar Transmission Theory (TTT). Such theories do not and cannot have official sanction and as far as my own opinion goes, the TTT is not one I necessarily endorse, rather it is one I entertain. As a corollary to the TTT, one finds accusations that the Knights Templar were sometimes considered by their fellow Crusaders (mostly the Knights Hospitaller) to be too willing to negotiate with some Muslim sects. Indeed, there has been a suggestion that the Western tradition of Freemasonry derives from the lower degrees of the Sufis. This was said to have arisen during a truce, when Richard I initiated Saladin into one or more Orders of Chivalry and, to return the honour, Saladin is said to have initiated Richard and some knights into a Sufi Order. Certainly, there are correspondences which may be readily drawn between the two traditions but the same may be said of a vast number of initiatory traditions throughout the world.
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imakegarb
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Post by imakegarb on Jul 16, 2007 22:06:57 GMT
Bro. MP wrote:
The skull is in my top five as well. And, yup, Bro. Lee . . . VERY good question ;D
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Tamrin
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Nosce te ipsum
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Post by Tamrin on Jul 16, 2007 22:21:44 GMT
Bro. MP wrote: The skull is in my top five as well. And, yup, Bro. Lee . . . VERY good question ;D COFFIN, SKULL, AND CROSSBONES The Coffin, Skull, and Crossbones are emblems of the inevitable destiny of our mortal bodies. These grim reminders of decay and dissolution should lead us to meditate on Death and all it portends: Behold this ruin! ‘Tis a skull Once of ethereal spirit full; This narrow cell was Life’s retreat, This space was Thought’s mysterious seat; What beauteous visions filled this spot, What dreams of pleasure long forgot, Nor hope, nor joy, nor love, nor fear, Hath left one trace of record here.
Beneath this mould’ring canopy Once shone a bright and busy eye, But start not at the dismal void – If social love that eye employed, If no lawless fires it gleamed, But through the dews of kindness beamed, That eye shall be for ever bright When sun and stars are sunk in night.
Within this hollow cavern, hung The ready, swift and tuneful tongue; If falsehood’s honey it disdained, And where it could not praise, was chained; If bold in virtue’s cause it spoke Yet gentle concord never broke, That silent tongue will plead for thee When Time unveils Eternity. Source: ‘Scottish Masonic Ritual,’ in Martin, George M., n.d., British Masonic Miscellany, David Winter and Son, Dundee, v.19, p.102 (Compare Shakespeare, Hamlet, act v, scene I)
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Post by tws on Jul 17, 2007 3:33:15 GMT
This is all so fascinating, is the baphomet a masonic sybol as well? that tends to be my fav. at the mo. Not a Masonic symbol, but an Hermetic one. The image of the Baphomet, or the Black Goat of Mendes, is one of my favorite Hermetic symbols. The Baphomet is the reconciler of opposites, being an androgynous representation, it illustrates the axiom of "as above, so below". Note the torch of illumination between the horns, contrasting the earthiness of the goat, representing our animal nature. Much more there than this, and well worth contemplating.
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Y Mahomed
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3rd door left of right
Posts: 97
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Post by Y Mahomed on Jul 17, 2007 21:41:24 GMT
Thanks for your feedback on the Baphomet guys. Much appreciated.
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Post by hopefulmason on Jul 19, 2007 12:12:16 GMT
I too would love to see a clearer copy!
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Post by 2 BOWL CAIN on Jul 19, 2007 13:38:01 GMT
favorite= The Setting Maul: it is the one tool that keeps all brethren on the level and smotes our EGO's, which as masons we should leave at the Temple door. second favorite= The Masonic Temple
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Tony Grimwood
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Asst. Steward, Lodge Howick No. 314
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Post by Tony Grimwood on Jul 19, 2007 21:23:27 GMT
I too would love to see a clearer copy! It looks like we will have that fairly soon. See this thread. I'm thinking about creating a vector graphic version of it to make it readily scaleable. I'll probably use (Adobe) Illustrator. Tony
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