DaVinci - Master

What are the qualifications required to earn the title "Master?"

DaVinci - Apprenticeship

Entered Apprentice-ships symbolize 7 years of apprentice study and work.

Some are able to accomplish this in less time.

But only when they put forth the effort to do the work.

Superfluous Divestments

If they become superfluous...

...they become divested.

How can you make sure that does not happen?

Jim Henson

"I believe that we form our own lives, that we create our own reality, and that everything works out for the best."

- Jim Henson

Dead Parrot Masonry

He’s not pinin’! He’s passed on! This parrot is no more! He has ceased to be! He’s expired and gone to meet his maker! He’s a stiff! Bereft of life, he rests in peace! If you hadn’t nailed him to the perch he’d be pushing up the daisies! His metabolic processes are now history! He’s off the twig! He’s kicked the bucket, He’s shuffled off his mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin’ choir invisible!!

THIS IS AN

EX-PARROT!!

When a "Parrot Mason" finally understand the catechism he memorized...

Parrot Masonry

The South American Catechismal Macaw has the ability to repeat up to three complete posting lectures.

Unfortunately, as a bird, it cannot comprehend what it has memorized.

Will you be able to?

Maturity

Maturity comes with effort and experience...

...not age.

Are you making your experience worth the effort?

Special thanks to M.W. John R. "Bo" Cline

Religion and Politics

"Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity..."

Unity cannot exist with division.

Don't let divisiveness control your heart and mind.

Special thanks to Bro. Steve Pacheco

Joseph Campbell - Mastery

"Mastery leads to freedom from ... fear ... which in turn is the freedom to live.  This is sometimes referred to as living in the moment, neither anticipating the future nor regretting the past."
- Joseph Campbell

Light Bulbs

Get one bulb to light up, and the rest will follow it's circuit to light.

George Washington - Thanksgiving

General Thanksgiving

BY THE PRESIDENT

OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

Issued by President George Washington,

at the request of Congress, on October 3, 1789

One Good Idea

Not every Mason is full of great ideas.

Sometimes one idea is enough illumination to show others the light.

Ignorance

"Where knowledge is a duty, ignorance is a crime."
- Thomas Paine

Turn the light on.

Leave ignorance in the dark.

Bring knowledge back to your Lodge.

It's your duty.

No One Wants to Show Up

Entered Apprentices learn Time Management with the 24" Gauge and to Divest Vices and Superfluities with the Common Gavel.

They learn to organize and order what time is important, and to remove the unnecessary time from their life.

If you wonder why they aren't coming to Lodge, maybe it's because nothing is provided that is important or necessary.

It's time to change.

Columns

As your skill and ability increase to a Masterful level...

...so does the beauty of the end result.

Context

When things are taken out of context, traditions such as

"The Feast of St. John the Evangelist"

get taken to the point of absurdity.

Apron

"And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons."

- Genesis 3:7

Was your hoodwink removed and your eyes opened?

Was your Cable Tow removed?

Were you given an apron?

 

Listen

When you listen, do you pay attention to what is being said?

Or do you allow preconceived notions to dictate to you instead?

15 Step

The Path to Wisdom is a 15 Step Program.

Myth

The stories of Wisdom must be perpetuated by Myth!

If not, the unwise toss the story and it's meaning aside as folly.

Zodiac Time

The Zodiac teaches us "Out of This World" Time Management.

Organization

Hey!

Where are you going?

We've finally got this all organized!

 

Corn, Wine, and Oil

Want to get paid?  Put in some effort!

Any great and important undertaking is only accomplished with effort.

When you are paid your wages, it becomes a labor of love, and it will feel effortless.

EA Work

EA Work

It's in the Gauge.

Raise a Brother

One of the best ways to

"Raise a Brother"

is finding the wisdom they left behind for you.

Rubbish...

Rubbish...

...a fallen temple of broken ashlars.

Cement

Without cement, some ashlars fall right out of place.

What can you do to ensure your walls don't collapse?

Etymology

Etymology

From the Hebrew Biblical name

חַוָּה (Chawwah)

Translated to:

Hawa (Arabic) • Chava (Hebrew)

Translated to:

Eua (Biblical Greek)

Translated to:

Ava (English) • Ève (French)

Translated to:

Eve

(Modern English American)

Explaining our bad translations since time immemorial.

Perfect

If perfect really meant flawless, then why would you need a plumb, level, or even a square?

Nunsense!

Managing your time can be difficult.

Just remember to stand true to your solemn en-gauge-ments!

Charge

Before you go, let me give you a strict charge!

charge
[chahrj] verb

1. to impute; ascribe the responsibility for

2. to instruct authoritatively, as a judge does a jury.

3. to lay a command injunction upon:

4.  to fill or furnish (a thing) with  the quantity, as of powder or fuel, that is fitted to receive.

Allegory

When an allegory is taken literally, you end up with quite a fantastic story.

Look to the lesson and you'll find the true meaning.

Obligation vs. Oath

obligation

[ob-li-gey-shuh-n] noun

1. Something by which a person is bound or obliged to do certain things, and which arises out of a sense of duty or results from custom, law, etc.

2. the act of binding or obliging oneself by a promise, contract, etc.

to Yourself

oath

[ohth] noun

1. a solemn appeal to a deity, or to some revered person or thing, to witness one's determination to speak the truth to keep a promise, etc.

2. a statement or promise strengthened by such an appeal.

to Others

Altar

The more you ask for it, the further away it gets!

Complacency

The illustrations and symbols of Masonry were intended to point men toward their own path of enlightenment.

Don't let them become nothing more than shadows on the wall of the "Cave of Complacency"

Let Light illuminate your path of understanding.

Threshing

Masonry...

...it'll thresh the chaff out of you!

Catalyst

The Word is a catalyst...

...keep searching!