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

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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

In this episode I interview two of our three prospects that just got an application for degrees at our lodge, John Strozier, and Steve Grasha. We talk about:

· Who they are?

· What their experience has been so far at Palm Springs Lodge No.693 as prospects.

· Good ole boys club

· Trivium Discussion Group (Socrates Café) as our charitable contribution to our community and their skepticism at first and how it’s completely relevant in this day and age.

· The purpose of the Masonic Lodge in the order of the world.

· The prospects hold a Trivium discussion in the lounge while we hold a stated meeting in the lodge and continue the only conversation worth having. Steve Grasha is a pro-lifer.

· Lots of noise in the background.

· Learning to subdue our passions

· Festive Board and breaking bread together as friends and brothers

· High standards and high expectations

· Order of business and putting in work

· Fellowship and awesome conversation!!!

· Man Cave Night and the opportunity it gave to the prospects to hang out with everyone.

· Rubicon Masonic Society and the Festive Board

· Fraternal Review and the Festive Board issue.

· The Masonic Podcast they listen to. The Masonic Round Table, Whence Came You, Fort Worth #148 Masonic podcast S5E05: The Western Magical Tradition w/Bro. Poke Runyon, Fraternal Review. The Rubicon Masonic Society.

· Masonic history is not written in stone, and we are still looking for further lite in masonry.

· The importance of listening to Masonic Muscle, learning about the history about Palm Springs Lodge No.693, exercising for better health, and increasing your Masonic Muscle.

· What advice these gentlemen would give to any new prospective member at Palm Springs Lodge No.693.

Follow me on Instagram @Masonicmuscle

Write to me at [email protected]and tell me about your experience in masonry so far or what you believe Freemasonry means to you.

#freemasonry #patience #education #knowledge #socratescafe #masonicmusclepodcast #westgate #masonry #fraternalreview #rubiconsociety #festiveboard #gratitude #trivium #masoniclodge #resposiblity #whencecameyou #fortworth #masonicroundtsable

10 Theories on the Origins of Freemasonry

I finally read the name of a book I mentioned in a previous episode by Peary Rader, the original editor of IronMan Magazine from the early 1940’s.

The name of the book was called “The Rader Master Bodybuilding and Weight Gaining System” which was originally published in 1946

I then read a lecture that was delivered to the Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076 9 November 2000

by Bro. Roeinton B. Khambatta

Inaugural Paper delivered to Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076 9 November 2000

The paper was to summarize (my summaries) the views expressed in AQC of the twentieth century on 'The Origins of speculative Freemasonry'.5

The author covers 10 Theories of the Origins of Speculative Freemasonry from article found in papers and research articles from Ars Quatuor Coronati Lodge, the world’s premiere masonic research lodge.

Each one of these theories sheds light in some way shape or form that might be true or untrue but to this day, no one has been able to conclusively prove them one way or another.

And yes, the Freemasons have been accused of being connected to some outrageous conspiracy theories since almost the beginning and this is one of many reasons to strengthen your Masonic Education at your lodge and individually. 

1. Harry Carr ('Transitional' Theory)

2. Eric Ward ('Original Birth' Theory)

3. Frederick W. Seal-Coon (Theory of 'Conspiracy to Fellowship'12)

4. Colin Dyer ('The Religious Base Theory')

5. A Cosby F. Jackson (The Rosicrucian Origin15)

6. A Geoffrey Markham (The 'Associate' Theory16)

7. Cyril N. Batham (Monastic Origins18)

8. Cyril Richard S. E. Sandbach (Darwinian Concept20)

9. Michael Spurr (The 'Age of Enlightenment' Theory21)

10. Michael Baigent ('The Royal Society' Theory)

Write in and give me your thoughts on the subject at [email protected]

You can follow me on Instagram @Masonicmuscle

#Research

#Secret

#Ritual

#Trinitarians

#Origins

#Knowledge

#Roscicrucians

After a great workout in David’s dudgeon, we pop open a beer and record a session of Masonic Muscle.

David and I have known each other since we were 7 years old and have similar upbringings. We talk about our time playing high school football together, Brady Harper gets his shoes stolen and he also practiced one time wearing Levi’s 501 Blue Jeans and running passing routes faster than all of us.

David talks about our time working out together since 2010, which was also the first time I was Master of my lodge. He mentions how he was not taking care of his health and what the consequences were of terrible eating habits, excessive drinking and overall bad habits all culminating his being diagnosed with diabetes in 2013 and what he did after what his short term memory doctor told him. 

He then takes us through his journey in taking control of his health, thoughts, and spiritual development.

His favorite comic book character is the hulk. Hulk will smash!!!

And yes, we do talk about Freemasonry also. So there!!!

#family #health #exercise #musclebuilding #nfl #football #responsibilty #discipline #nutrition #knowledge #healthyroutines #dogs #greens #protien #activelifestyle #work #effort #freemasonry #degrees

After much work, patience, and perseverance we finally hand out 3 applications to 3 prospects at our lodge. Then we read what William Preston had to say about the 3 Classes of Freemasons and what each class's focus is supposed to be. Do you know what they are? Do you know what they are supposed to be focusing on and what would happen if we actually applied this to our lodge? Would the lodges performance begin to improve? 

Lodges should give more education to their officers and the importance of setting time aside for this all important aspect.

The Trivium Discussion Group/Socrates Cafe

Illustrations of Masonry by William Preston - First Edition 1772 Reprint.

#etymology

#trivium

#virtue

#moarilty

#knowledge

#philosophy