Masonic Education
Esoteric leaning from time immemorial
A few words on Freemasonry
Freemasonry is one of the world's oldest secular fraternal societies, whose members are concerned with moral and spiritual values. They are taught its precepts by a series of ritual dramas, which follow ancient forms and use stonemason's customs and tools as allegorical guides.The essential qualification for admission is a belief in a Supreme Being.Freemasonry is open to men of any race or religion who can fulfill this essential qualification and are of good repute. Although it has a spiritual basis, Freemasonry is neither a religion in itself nor a substitute for religion. Members are expected to follow their own faith. It has no theology or dogma and by forbidding the discussion of religion at its meetings prevents the development of any dogma. Nor is there a separate Masonic god. The use of honorifics, such as the Great Architect, is simply to enable men of different faiths to meet together, offer prayers and address their God without differences of religion obtruding. To the Christian the Great Architect is his God; to the Jew, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, it is the God of his particular religion. Freemasonry is not a secret society. Its aims, principles, constitutions and rules are available to the public and its members are at perfect liberty to acknowledge their membership. The secrets in Freemasonry are the traditional modes of recognition and the culture of our fraternity which we are bound to protect by obligation.A Freemason is taught that his prime duties are to his God, to the laws of the country in which he lives and works, and to his family. Any attempt to use his membership to promote his own or anyone else's business, professional or personal interests, and any attempt to shield a Freemason who has acted dishonorably or unlawfully, is contrary to the conditions on which he seeks admission.By following the three Great principles of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth a Freemason hopes to show tolerance and respect for the opinions of others; to practice charity within the community as a whole both by charitable giving and voluntary efforts, and strive to attain truth and high moral standards in his own life.
Core Masonic Virtues
Fortitude
Strength (Fortitude) represents the power of the will. It embodies the abilities of domination, action, and temperance. It signifies the sovereignty of higher consciousness over instinct, brute force, and the inertia of things. Strength brings courage and a warrior's will to face the challenges imposed on us by the forces of the profane world. It represents the arduous work required to confront those challenges.
In most tarot decks, this card is depicted as a woman opening or closing the jaws of a lion. The lion symbolizes animal instinct and the strength of lower passions, while the woman represents the power of wisdom and beauty imposed upon the beast.
The Masonic Tarot connects the concept of strength with the teachings of the Second Degree of Freemasonry, using the task of building as an allegory for constructing the Temple of Solomon. Here, a group of workers joins forces to lift a heavy stone cube using a pulley mounted atop a tripod. The three workers are depicted wearing fellows' aprons. Nearby, another block of stone holds the tools associated with this degree. The right fluted column is marked with the letter "J," and a level is depicted on it.
In the heavens, a ladder with five steps ends in a sphere, with the letter "G" inscribed in its center. This imagery is drawn from the biblical legend of Jacob's dream of a ladder leading to the sky. The number 8 corresponds to the points of a cubic stone, symbolizing the foundation of building materials.
For Masons, Fortitude is the noble and steady purpose of the mind, embodying courage in the face of pain or adversity. It is the virtue by which we build our character, enhance our moral fiber, and strengthen our minds to manage life's challenges. Without this virtue, no person can fulfill their duty to God, their neighbor, or themselves in an acceptable manner.
Prudence
Prudence (The Hermit) represents the removal of worldly concerns to seek the Hermit and attain enlightenment. It signifies the final journey into the inner world—a solitary path into silence and the dark night of the soul. In a sense, this card symbolizes the twilight of life. It heralds the abandonment of a stage of earthly existence or the conclusion of a project or endeavor that has consumed a significant portion of time. In numerology, the number 9 is associated with undertaking a great work throughout life; it is the result of 3 multiplied by itself, symbolizing completion and mastery.
The card depicts an old man ascending a mountainside in a slow climb toward the summit, where a temple of astral light holds the true secrets of the soul. The Hermit, with his long beard, is dressed in a simple white robe, symbolizing purity, and a garnet-red robe, representing wisdom. His left hand grips a staff that supports his frail and weary body. In his other hand, he carries a lamp, symbolizing his inner light.
The vast sky and magical night that give the card its atmosphere are illuminated by the Sacred Delta with an eye at its center, representing the hidden wisdom of Master Hiram. The nine stars in the sky correspond to the number of this card.
The card’s borders display additional symbols associated with Masonic mastery: the compass, the square, and the branches of acacia.
Temperance
Temperance is the virtue patience, waiting, and ripening. It represents inner work, contemplation of emotions, and self-control to achieve balance, moderation, and the transmutation of negative feelings for those inspired by love and charity. Strong feelings are like blood—fluid that moves inside the body, awakening inactive areas and creating new levels of consciousness. Thus, the understanding of our mind expands, strengthening the character and making the heart kinder.
This card depicts a woman transferring liquid from one cup to another. The liquid corresponds to blood, representing emotions that flow from a silver cup to a gold one, transmuting from cold to hot. The transition from silver to gold symbolizes alchemical evolution. The woman, dressed in white, represents purity. Her clothes are wet, symbolizing a cleansing bath—purification of the body through water and emotions. Her garment is decorated with a Fellow's Masonic apron.
Her left foot—the emotional side of the body—rests on a cubic stone block in the water. The cubic stone symbolizes reason, not only for the hardness of the stone but also because of its geometric shape. Her other foot, submerged in the flowing water, represents emotions that ebb and flow. The surrounding countryside is nourished by the waters of a river descending from the mountain. Beside it, three flowering irises and a tree stand as symbols of life.
The scene takes place at dawn. In the heavens, stars are displayed, and on the horizon, the light of a new day begins to appear. It is a harbinger of good times to come as a result of inner work. In the bright sky, the Sacred Delta is displayed. The ladder to heaven represents the vision Jacob revealed to his companions and is one of the lessons of this degree.
Justice
Justice represents the rebalancing of things, the perfect order, cleanliness, determination, sobriety, austerity, and clarity. It is the opposite of subjectivity, ambiguity, or uncertainty. Justice is more an act of momentous consequence than a process moving in either direction.
Justice is the constant and perpetual will to give everyone their due. Its rulings are projected over time. Justice makes its considered decisions in the still hours of the night. No external pressure is allowed to influence her, though slow procedures can cause anxiety for the innocent and inadvertently assist the guilty.
The Lady Justice depicted on the card sits on her throne, blindfolded, and wearing a purple dress adorned with Masonic decorations. In one hand, she holds an upright sword, which, when the time comes, is used to cut the chains oppressing the innocent or to sever the foundation upon which the guilty stand. In her other hand, she holds a golden scale in balance, weighing guilt and innocence impartially.
Her throne is framed by two columns. At the foot of one column lie the square and compass, while at the base of the other, the symbol of the Rose Cross is displayed. The top of the arch above her throne bears the symbol of the Sacred Delta with an eye at its center. The stone material surrounding Justice symbolizes the solidity and permanence of the value she embodies.
In consultations, this card portends absolute resolutions to situations that are on hold. It signifies the determination of punishment for the guilty and compensation for the innocent. This could involve a court case or the resolution of a conflict.
Despite being symbolized by a woman, Justice is traditionally considered a "man's card." It represents decisive action driven by a relentless mission, often marking a turning point in a person's life. The sword, too, symbolizes a manly character, emphasizing strength and resolution.