The Holy Saints John the Baptist Day is crucial to Freemasonry but did you know how close it is to the summer solstice? I point out some correlations to my Brethren.

This was a short talk during our stated meeting for June 2022

In this episode, I read an article revealing the origins of Palm Springs Lodge No.693. All Masonic Lodges have their unique beginnings and my Mother Lodge is no different. We learn about the first white settler in Palm Springs, Judge John Guthrie McCallum, a San Francisco imminent Jurist. For me, names like Thor Frederickson, Francis F. Crocker, ED Mc Coubrey, David Lyons, Forest Bird, were all names I personally learned about first hand when I first joined Palm Springs over 20 years ago. 

Listen to our unique story and then ask yourself if you know about your lodges history. If not, why? You should. 

You can now donate to my podcast and help me to bring you better and better material, sound and some inspiration.

Subscribe to my podcast and be notified whenever new episodes our published.

Follow me on Instagram @masonicmuscle and also on Facebook at Masonic Muscle.

You can help out this podcast by donating some of your hard earned money in order to help me continue to bring you more and more knowledge to your earbuds.

 MM EP. 64 Another Thought About the Origins of Freemasonry

I read another article form the Philalethes Magazine called “Another Thought About the Origins of Freemasonry. It was published in 2003 and continues some of the themes that I have been following about Catholic monks being intimately involved in the activities of what we now know as Freemasonry. This happened from about 1100 to the dissolution of the Orders in about the 1500’s.

We go all the wat back to the last days of the Roman Empire in 473 to 474 AD. The Romans were finally recalled from England, and this left the country with no one to build stone monuments as the English did not have this technology.

Enter a Monk named Benedict Biskop who lived in England and left back to Rome to petition Pope Boniface V, 619-625 AD to permit him to establish a monastery at the mouth of the Wyresmith River.

Pope Boniface died never having granted this monk permission and the new Pope Honorius was no different. But in 626 AD Pope Honorius finally granted Benedict permission to establish his Abbey.

Benedict and his followers fancied themselves as builders and architects. Benedict learned much about stone building and different techniques from France and Rome during his travels.

Listen to the rest and find out what happened next.

I share some thoughts on what lodges should focus on so that the Fraternity can get stronger. The members have to get educated on the different aspects of the origins of Freemasonry.

#Mastermason #fellowcraft #enteredapprentice #education #romanempire #knowledge

In part 2 of our discussion with Shane Arch and Brother Matt Jackson. We start right off by describing what is the Trivium from Sister Miriam Josephs's book 'The Trivium'. How should you begin a discussion? Well, by defining your terms so that everyone knows what is being said and how a word is going to be used. 

I continue to press the questions o Shane and what he thinks he knows about Freemasonry and what he has read about the Craft?  Shane talks about clandestine lodges and what he learned. He says t fake lodges. 

We discuss other Masonic podcasts and Prince Hall history, just some of it. 

We get into the colonies and what they were truly fighting for and how after the revolutionary war, some of the rebelliousness carried over into our Masonic lodges in breaking away from England. This may be unlike any masonic conversation you have ever heard. 

I continue to press the questions to Shane and what he thinks he knows about Freemasonry and what he has read about the Craft?  Shane talks about clandestine lodges and what he learned. He says their fake lodges. 

Brother Matt gets candid about how he feels about the shutdowns and how Grand Lodge in his opinion acquiesced to authority without questioning anything. He doesn't like Saint Fauci. Can we have a discussion about this? 

Enjoy and grow your little lizard brain. 

And don't forget to get some exercise and eat well.

#Masonic Roundtable

#The Fraternal Review

#Whence Came You

#princehall

#trivium

#quadrivium

#knowledge

#rebelling

#soveriengty

#american

#patriotism

MM EP 62 – An Introduction to the Trivium as practiced at Palm Springs Lodge No.693

In this episode we have a conversation with another one of our prospects that just received an application at our lodge and pick his brain as to what his experience has been so far at our lodge. We then shift gears and introduce the Trivium as practiced at Palm Springs Lodge No.693

Brother Matt Jackson gives us an awesome introduction to the Trivium and what it is, how it started, what the motive behind it was and still is and some of the symbolism created by the set up of the seating arrangement. The Trivium discussion group at our lodge is our charitable contribution to our community. Visit our website at palmspringsmasons.org and go to the Trivium tab to learn more.

Shane then tells us about his experience with the Trivium and what it has meant to him. How it has helped him so far, the bonds that have been created with other prospects and members of our lodge through this space and enlightened conversations. There are rules, there is discussion etiquette, and respect for all ideas as long as you can articulate it.

“It feels like Fight Club, where two people can bond over getting punched in the face, because fells more like being punched in the face than thinking you know something and having that get shot down in front of a group of people and finding out, I was definitely wrong about that, and it still creates a strong bond, that’s not of disrespect, or disdain, it’s a unity that’s created in a room. It’s really hard to explain but I implore everyone to experience it for themselves.” Shane Arch

“The Trivium is the magic, and it is magic when you see it happen, when you’re holding that space where there is no make wrong, there is no judgement, we’re just going to have a conversation and use grammar, logic, and rhetoric to distill truth” Matt Jackson

“We’re seeking ultimately to distill truth of something, about something, that we really see our differences when we have disagreements, but we’ll see those differences disappear and then you kind of love everybody and it is instant comradery.” Matt Jackson

Follow me on Instagram @Masonicmuscle

If you have a question or want to share something with me, write to me at [email protected]

#trivium

#quadrivium

#cookmanuscript

#andersonsconstitutions

#oldcharges

#grandlodge

I read another article from the prestigious Philalethes Magazine. We once again explore the question of what members mean when they bring up the question of whether Freemasonry is an esoteric and mystical organization or is it a social organization and nothing else?  I have my doubts but lets hear what this brother said back in December of 1993.

I draw a lot from this source because of the quality of the articles and the insights into all things Masonic. Sit back and enjoy this article and listen to what this brother has to say on the matter. The author does believe there is a mystical element to our rituals and gives an excellent explanation as to why he believes so. He askes some brilliant questions about  Freemasonry and what may be a part of the solution for your you and other lodges.

If you haven't already, follow my on Instagram @Masonicmuscle 

Subscribe to Masonic Muscle on iTunes or Spotify and give me a strong review so I can do more reps in my gym and memorize some more ritual for my Blue Lodge because Blue Lodge is king and it is our duty to keep it strong and healthy. 

Death has been with us since the beginning. In the Old Testament of the bible, we read stories of the Patriarchs living up to 900 years.

In the Cuneiform tablets we read dates and records of Kings ruling for thousands of years.

And in the Baghavad Gita we learn that the duration of the lifetime of a human in the Staya Yuga is around 100,000 years.

Humans have been aware of life and death for hundreds and thousands of years and yet so many people still fear death and the unknown.

Todays guest is Juan Acencion - creator of the Leo Method or Life Energization Optimization. The L.E.O. Method is a tool comprised of specific inner energy techniques. These techniques will help you to organically align, clarify and increase your energies from within.

Juan wanted to talk about Fear, Death and I wanted to talk about Memento Mori and Freemasonry and this episode is the result. How do we connect all of this to Freemasonry? Listen and find out. And not to mention Masons do have a certain liking to a certain lion.

Follow me on Instagram @Masonicmuscle357 or write to me with your questions, comments or ideas for topics. You can reach me at [email protected]

You can reach Juan Ascencio L.E.O Method Inner Energy Coach  at leomethod.com. Give him your email and he will send you his e-book for free. You can contact him at  [email protected]

Show notes:

How do athletes get better? Through pain and failure.

John Taylor Gatto - The Ultimate History Lesson A Weekend with John Taylor Gatto

The Death of Death

The Three Agreements

The Book of Five Rings

Four Seasons

The Holy Saints John the Baptist Day

Summer and Winter Solstice

Self sabotaging habits

Bad Science, Bull Shit and 

Trivium discussion group - Socrates Cafe

#responsibility #4agreements #fear #ego #accountibility #truth #rcomplex #monkeybrain #black #bookoffiverings #tilerscharge #functionality #newage #debate #ettiquet #trinity #belief #corrpution #fragmenting

MM EP. 59 More conversation with Darkness, healthy habits, the power of the mind, and Freemasonry and hard lifting!

David and I continue our conversation about healthy living, the power of the mind, cultivating positive thoughts, how we handled the Covid shutdowns from 2020 thru 2022 and more.

My friend is pigmentally challenged (he’s really dark), but he doesn’t let that bring him down. He has a positive attitude and loves to work on his yard, do things with his family on the weekends, barbequing as much as he can and get some great exercise sessions with me and my boys twice a week.

We talk meal prep, being aware of your thoughts, the effect your actions have on other people, the importance of just taking action when it comes to getting yourself out of your comfort level and gratitude.

We also talk a little bit about what goes on after our exercise sessions and what we call “gratitude time” where each one of us tells the group what we are grateful for on that day.

David shares his thoughts on the parallels between Freemasonry and working out and it all comes down to one word ‘commitment’. He mentions the importance of discipline and what Jocko Willink and Joe Rogan say about this important topic.

We talk about a recent Joe Rogan podcast episode 1800 with Gavin de Becker where they do talk about Covid and some of the confusion surrounding what we where taught at school about good health and strengthening your immune system and the lack of that talk anymore.

We talk about all of this over some beers and maybe a shot or two of tequila.

Exercise clears the mind

Be conscious of what you eat

Be aware of your thoughts

Build a better you thru exercise and Freemasonry

"Man fears time but time fears the pyramids" 

If you have any questions or comments write to me at [email protected] and let's get stronger!

#joerogan #jockowillink #Russellbrand #whencecameyou #masonicroundtable #exercsie #nutrition #health #wealth #weightlifting #jacklalanne #freemasonry #knowledge #grahamhancock #pyramids #astronomy #

I read ana article by Brother Shawn Eyer who attempts to unpack a somewhat hot button topic amongst Masons. When one begins to research in earnest our Masonic history and mysterious origins, we run into this "esoteric" question right from the beginning. Brother Eyer gives us three ways in which to look and understand this word. The importance of being able to explore a word in a systematic way is a great beginning to helping anyone begin to unravel any confusion. 

Brother Eyer gives us not only the definition of the word but also the etymology of the word which should help us have better conversation about the important place esoteric work has in our fraternity. So, when a brother tells you again that he does not like the "esoteric" interpretation some people have of masonry, we have to wonder what they truly mean?

Always strive to add to the common stock of knowledge and understanding. 

Prepare, Prevail, and Prosper!!!

If you have any questions about the mysterious origins of Freemasonry write to me at [email protected] and I'll do some research and see what I find and share that with all the listeners.

In this episode I talk about briefly about MasonicCon in South Pasadena Lodge No.290 on July 22 thru 24. More info to come.

I read an article I found on the internet. It’s something I already spoke about before which is a book called “The Early Masonic Catechism” by Douglas Knoop, G.P. Jones and Douglas Hamer. The book came out  in 1943 but was reprinted in 1963 with some very important updates added to help us understand the evolution of our ritual and three-degree system.

“The very existence of this book, ‘The Early Masonic Catechisms’, cuts through those misguided allusions by cutting the primary issues that challenges genuine Masonic research, by highlighting that not only did such diversity exist, but also that earliest records of Masonic ritual, which date from 1696, highlight this fact.

This is the purpose of the book, to present both the earliest examples of Masonic ritual, and presenting the source material in full, each with a presented review of the history of each document, giving the academic appraisal of the validity of each, offering a balanced assessment.”

The book was not widely printed and had limited runs, so they are very hard to find and expensive. A hard cover back copy runs for $300 and a soft bound will run you $247.50 or more.

So, the question is, why don't you or I have a copy of this book, does your lodge library have one and if so, are they sharing its contents with you? If not, why not? 

Always work at increasing your masonic knowledge base.

Prepare, prevail, and prosper.

If you have a question, please write to me at [email protected]

#freemasonry #secrets #history #knowledge #mysteries #esoteric #ritual #threedegrees #bluelodge #lodge #masonichistory #masonicritual