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Post by corab on Jun 18, 2008 12:08:36 GMT
... I'll try and share some of what I experienced as JD during an initiation, on Saturday.
This was, as I've said elsewhere, the first initiation in my motherlodge since my own, 2.5 years ago. For me, it was my first as JD -- not counting the time I was hauled in as Assistant-Deacon at Bro:. Patrick's initiation.
Without going into too much detail, initiations under Lauderdale are very elaborate and involved, and deeply moving. For us, a certain presence within the lodge is a given, and at times it overwhelmed me, but gradually I grew accustomed to it.
I realised afterwards that as the Candidate and I continued on our many perambulations, I lost all awareness of my surroundings. I responded to commands and directions, but other than that, it was just the candidate, the pavement and I. I have no visual recollection of my Brn:. during the pre-obligation part of the ceremony at all.
I have an impression of the ceremony moving in upwards and inward clockwise spirals up to the Obligation, and after that in downward and outwards spirals, but still clockwise. Double helix?
As the candidate left the Temple to restore himself to his personal comforts, I sat back and slipped into a meditative state. I lost track of time and circumstances again. And suddenly I saw the structure we had erected. It looked at first sight like the nave of a cathedral, with gothic arches holding up the ceiling. Then I saw beyond that and realised what gave the impression of those arches: Seraphim forming the N and S column, facing each other with the tips of their upper wings touching one another overhead. They were in the E and W too. Their middle wings were folded behind each other's backs (chain of union?) and their lower wings covered the space between what to us would be each other's legs, but I'm not sure they had any. I know that doesn't make sense, but I couldn't see any legs.
The colour of those wings was just ... amazing. They were a deep reddish-purple, unlike anything I've ever seen. The nearest I've ever seen to it is a quality of light at very early dawn, when morning is only just dawning upon the horizon.
The memory of the structure suggests the words "Ark of the Covenant" to me, and I'm baffled at that, because previously I had described the mosaic pavement as the Holy of Holies. Rationally, the Ark of the Covenant is inside of the Holy of Holies, but this impression suggests the Holy of Holies is inside the Ark of the Covenant. As above, so below..?
Anyways, as you can see it was a very interesting experience, and one I will not lightly forget!
h.g.w.,
Cora
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imakegarb
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Post by imakegarb on Jun 18, 2008 16:17:43 GMT
Yup I'm told the Candidate brings their ritual with them. Sounds like this one is a keeper. As for not poking fun at you . . . puh ;D
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Post by gasturb on Jun 18, 2008 17:14:46 GMT
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Post by waynecowley on Jun 18, 2008 18:44:32 GMT
No way would I poke fun at you Cora
I have certainly felt as though myself and the candidate were the only people there during a ceremony when I was a deacon - can't say I've had as vivid an experience as you though
Wayne
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Post by maat on Jun 19, 2008 0:36:45 GMT
Dear Cora
What a wonderful experience! I have seen flaming swords (only the flame was violet!?) and flashes of light at the closing of a lodge, so I know these things can happen.
Synchronistically - coming in to work this morning I knew I had to post something on the connection of the Ark, the Anchor and the Cable Tow. Maybe this was for you, having just mentioned the Ark in your post.
The three faces of Deity are, therefore, the three world Plutarch so beautifully sets forth in his explanation of the Forty-seventh Problem of Euclid.
By consciousness the Heavens were established; by Force the Earth was lifted up from the deep and set upon its eternal foundations; and by Intelligence (the Homeric chain) heaven and earth were bound together - The Ark, the Anchor and the Cable Tow.
Applied to Man generally, the three worlds correspond with the three major divisions of his composite nature - Spirit, Soul (or Mind), and Body.
Manley P Hall - MAN - Grand Symbol of the Mysteries.
Maat
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Post by corab on Jun 19, 2008 6:26:22 GMT
Light and particularly violet / purple / blue hues are no stranger to me, Ma'at.
There is one particular RWM whom without fail used to create "fireworks" when I assisted her as Thurifer -- she just happens to be my mentor, as well, so could be something to do with that intense connection we share.
Whenever I'd lift the thurible up to her I'd see it bathed in ice blue and violet flames -- stunning stuff.
Her lodge has now changed their ritual to one without the Rite of Censing, so no more censing there -- but we still create fireworks. ;D
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Post by penfold on Jun 19, 2008 7:33:57 GMT
I firmly believe that each mason's experience in the temple is unique and especial to them, therefore no experience is invalid or to be mocked. I enjoyed reading your experience Cora, thank you for sharing it.
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Post by leonardo on Jun 19, 2008 12:23:43 GMT
It is amazing to read of such an experience. I may never experience anything similar but I do sense some incredible stuff going on while in lodge, most of which will probably remain beyond my understanding forever. The lodge is a special place alright and one of the main reasons that despite the length of the journey and the cost of each trip, especially since fuel prices have gone through the roof, I look forward to attending.
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Post by jermaine on Jun 19, 2008 21:37:51 GMT
what is a Co Mason?
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Post by leonardo on Jun 19, 2008 21:47:35 GMT
what is a Co Mason? Hi Jermaine and welcome to the forum. A Co-Mason is a Freemason too but is part of a GL/Obedience that accepts both men and women equally without discrimination. More info can be found on our website: www.droit-humain.org/uk/index.html
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imakegarb
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Post by imakegarb on Jun 19, 2008 22:16:59 GMT
Bro. Cora, I hope you didn't think I was actually teasing you. I did poke you a bit, though, over the thought that anyone here would actually tease you over your experience. Anyone who does is foolish and I don't think we attract many of those here. That and I like poking you. You poke back
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Post by Cambuel on Jun 19, 2008 23:13:23 GMT
I thoroughly enjoyed reading of your experience. Thank you for sharing!
Wondering if the upwards/downwards spiraling was the energy generated by the ceremony moving into the Celestial and then back down into the Terrestrial?
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Post by maat on Jun 20, 2008 0:18:23 GMT
Wondering if the upwards/downwards spiraling was the energy generated by the ceremony moving into the Celestial and then back down into the Terrestrial? When the senses are heightened or at full alert, you will find that time slows right down. There is a change of awareness. Ask anyone that has been in a car rollover or something like that. Our awareness can also be changed when we raise our vibratory rate, or it is raised for us, by intention and ceremonies. However, I think the spiraling is more to do with 'into' or 'out from ' the Celestial. We are taking our awareness away from the garments of flesh and into the Inner Sanctum, which is said by the various mystery traditions to reside within the physical heart. We are bringing the 'mind beat' into alignment with the 'heart beat' (read between the lines here). The progressive rhythm of the k....s might be seen as indicating this. So also the penalties attached to not heeding the lessons given in each degree. Maat
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Post by corab on Jun 20, 2008 11:40:02 GMT
Hi all, Thanks for your kind responses -- and for not poking fun at me ;D Karen -- I knew you were only taking the mickey, but point taken. It's just that even for me this is quite off the scale, so I'm wondering what others will make of it. Vroiko, Ma'at -- I believe the inward-outward movement cannot be seen separately from the upward-down one. I think we're coming back to that rosy cross of yours, Ma'at: the interaction of matter and spirit; the former moving on the level, the latter on the plumb. The rose is the point from which no mason can err -- the material arm of the cross describing a circle around it if turned. Does Spirit descend and ascend in a cyclical motion? Does consciousness mirror that pattern? It seems to me that the inward-upward perambulation leading up to the Obligation represents the ascent of consciousness to that of the Spirit, and, once aware of the Spirit, the outward-downward cycle returns consciousness to the purely material, one very important experience richer. The fact that inevitably the energies within the lodge peak at that plateau of Obligation and Constitution, then taper of, supports that impression. But heck ... ANGELS?
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Post by maximus on Jun 20, 2008 15:19:03 GMT
Hi all,Thanks for your kind responses -- and for not poking fun at me ;D ;D
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imakegarb
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Post by imakegarb on Jun 20, 2008 21:00:42 GMT
But heck ... ANGELS? Maybe, maybe not. Leadbeater made an, observation in a couple of places, that, these are critters: "to whom the title of Angel is less appropriate. They are equally graceful and beautiful in their way, but in reality they belong to the kingdom of the elves or natural spirits. ” My observation is that Leadbeater is talking more about "brownies" and "pixies" than elves but you get th idea. These are natural spirits. And they turn up in the darndest places ;D As for that "cyclical motion", well, the staircase is winding. There likely is a reason why.
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Tamrin
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Post by Tamrin on Jun 20, 2008 22:06:53 GMT
Maybe, maybe not. Leadbeater made an, observation in a couple of places, that, these are critters:
"to whom the title of Angel is less appropriate. They are equally graceful and beautiful in their way, but in reality they belong to the kingdom of the elves or natural spirits.” Good point Bro. Karen, even the generic term ' Deva' is too narrowly precise for my liking. While very interested in Bro. Cora's experience, I tend to be more cautious in relating my own experiences of this sort. One can too readily apply labels when trying to describe such experiences and such descriptions can too easily become explanations which seem to imply more than the experience itself. Personally, I cherish such experiences, am normally hesitant to compromise my initial ambivalence and, because of the limitations of language, am usually disappointed by the necessary inadequacies and forced inaccuracies of any attempts to relate them to others. This MY preference and is NOT a criticism of Bro. Cora's intriguing account.
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imakegarb
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Post by imakegarb on Jun 20, 2008 23:05:32 GMT
Very true, yup. But language is what we have. So we sort of have to go with it An even greater hazard is when other, well intentioned, folks try to put their own spin on it. My fave example is that Bernadette of Lourdes. She never said the "Lady" she saw was the Virgin Mary. The apparition did call herself "the Immaculate Conception" but does that mean she saw *the* Virgin Mary or was it, simply, the Goddess (my opinion is it was the latter)? Bernadette also never said a thing about cures or miracles. But others *have* put quite a spin on it since then. I do believe there have been quite a few cures but that wasn't suppose the be the focus. Bernadette has, herself, been largely marginalized. But that does not at all negate the experience she had. Or make her own description of it, in her own words, less remarkable. I've seen some . . . interesting . . . stuff in my time. My preference is so observe it and, if pressed *try* to describe it but that is all. What ever it is, it is. So my challenge is to let it *be*. You are right, though, that most folks prefer to keep such things to themselves. For various reasons. It's almost always the local yokels, half drunk winos and the town idiots who admit to seeing flying saucers, Big Foot, the Mothman . . . whatever the label, accurate or otherwise. The rich executive, college professor, local cleric . . . they ain't gonna admit they saw anything ;D But they did
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Post by corab on Jun 20, 2008 23:23:17 GMT
Well, yeah -- hence my apprehension. Firstly, because I know language cannot capture the true experience (interesting choice of words, actually: why would anyone want to *capture* an experience ... rather than share it?). Secondly, because I know how totally batty it all sounds. I am a very rational-minded Gemini. I deal in laws, constitutions, contractual obligations, organisational processes and protocols. So you can imagine my surprise when sitting back after an intense hour or so, I find myself surrounded by a bunch of seraphim. I'm sure there was nothing untoward in the incense. But you know what? I don't want to reason it away. What is, is. This is one of those things I was shown for a reason. I have no desire to defend or prove that position. I just want to share the experience, and for each of you to take from it what you are meant and willing to take from it. S&F, Cora
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Post by corab on Jun 23, 2008 20:06:06 GMT
I sit apporopriate to ask what rite you practice CoraB? I am only asking because we will be practicing a rite unfamiliar to all of us, as we converted from the U.S. Antient sytsem, and I look forward to the journey under this rite. The Rite is the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite; the Ritual the Lauderdale Ritual which is, insofar as I know, unique to co-freemasonry. It is the youngest sprout in a family of rituals (Dharma / Sidney). Bro:. Steve and I lovingly refer to it as the "Smells and Bells" ritual:-)
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