Rocky Mountain Mason

In this episode Ben provides an overview of the origins of Christmas and opines on the emergence of "Santa Claus" as overarching archetype of consumerism during this time of year. Ben wraps the episode with Chapter XVIII of the Three Books of Occult Philosophy "Of the Inclinations of enmities."

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In this episode Ben delves into the symbolism of the seven-branched menorah and some of the known health benefits of Frankincense. Ben wraps the episode with Chapter XVII of the Three Books of Occult Philosophy, "How by enmity and friendship the virtues of things are to be tried, and found out."

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In this episode Ben decodes the "Star of Bethlehem", according to a mediaeval astrological technique concerning the Great Conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn - of all the more significance in light of the upcoming Great Conjunction on the Winter Solstice this year.

Ben wraps the episode with a reading of Chapter XVI of the Three Books of Occult Philosophy by Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim and a reading of the declaration left by the Rosicrucians, nailed to the walls of the city of Paris, in 1623... during the Great Conjunction in that year.

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In 1901, M.W.Bro. Joseph Milsom, Grand Master of Masons in Colorado, was the keynote speaker at the St John The Baptist's Day Feast at the San Juan Masonic Association, hosted by Telluride Lodge No. 56. His oration, "On Masonry and its Relation to Religion" touches on various Masonic tenets that inform our institution, often misunderstood by the uninitiated, including the importance of secrecy. It demonstrates an amount of learning perhaps more commonplace to our Craft than the modern day, the benefits of a classical education during the fin-de-siècle American West.

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In this episode Ben discusses the etiology of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Ben wraps the episode with a reading of Chapter XIV of the Three Books of Occult Philosophy.

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In this episode Ben reads Chief Justice Marshall's opinion in Marbury v. Madison. This case founded the concept of Judicial Review integral to our Separation of Powers; a quote from Marshall is written in stone in the Supreme Court today: 

"It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is." 

Struggling to maintain legitimacy for the new Court (its first Chief Justice, John Jay, had already stated the Court lacked "energy, weight, and dignity"), Marshall, Past Grand Master of Virginia, cemented the ideal of Judicial Review almost by accident, maneuvering his opinion through a political minefield, to avoid an otherwise irreconcilable rift with the Executive. 

It is ironic that such expedience emerged so vital a tenet as the Separation of Powers.

Marbury had come to the Court to compel the new Secretary of State, James Madison, to deliver his commission papers, for a Judgeship John Adams had granted him. After losing the election in 1800, Adams had appointed a slew of judges before Jefferson took office (the so-called "midnight judges"). Once in office, Jefferson appointed Madison Secretary of State and commanded him not to deliver any commissions to Adams' men. 

Marbury came to the Supreme Court for redress, not necessarily because of any legitimacy the fledgling Court was seen to possess , but because, before becoming its Chief Justice (appointed by Jefferson), John Marshall was Adams' Secretary of State to whom the duty of delivering the commission papers had properly devolved....

Marshall's opinion is legendary - not only because of its emergence of Judicial Review, but, perhaps more importantly (though overlooked modernly) because he saved the Court in a political dodge.

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In this episode, recorded during the 2020 Presidential Election, Ben reads an excerpt from a book he was asked to write (but never finished) for the Grand Lodge of Colorado Education Committee regarding political theory and Masonry's role in formative modern society. 

In this excerpt Ben provides an overview of political theory (with citations from Plato, Aristotle, Locke, and Adam Smith among others) and details some interesting takeaways regarding the medium of exchange. Ben ends the episode with Chapter XIII of the Three Books of Occult Philosophy. 

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In this episode Ben dispels ten modern myths about the Fraternity often held by Masons! Ben then relates a brief history of Charles Martel, the famous 8th Century Major Domus who features in the Old Charges. Ben then provides a short op ed called "Hermeti-skism" discussing the so-called "unific" attributes of the Hermetica and wraps up the episode with Chapter XII of De Occulta Philosophia Libri Tres by Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim.

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In this episode Ben presents three shorts for your contemplation: That the Compasses also Inscribe Tolerance to Speak of Heavenly Perfections (and why presentations on theological and religious material - where viewpoint neutral and not proselytizing - should not be discouraged); A Page from the Magical Diary of Theophilus LVX (that the three attributes of Omnipresence, Omniscience, and Omnipotence are ONE attribute); and Live By the Numbers (it is better not to make a vow than to make a vow an break it). We wrap the episode with Chapter XI of De Occulta Philosophia Libri Tres by HCA.

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In this episode Ben shares a thought experiment wherein the universe is shown to be everlasting and everliving. That is, the modern conceit of a dark empty expanse after the last star has been extinguished is an unnecessary pessimism - it is possible for the universe to constantly remake itself: wherein the end state and the onset are, in fact, the same. 

Revealed twenty years ago, this thought experiment yet holds true. Modern science has not yet refuted it, and, in fact, appears to be strengthening the concept. Dr. Roger Penrose recently stated, to the Independent in the U.K., that Hawkin's Radiation appears to signify radiation from a previous universe. Dr. Penrose stated that, in his view, the end state of this universe will be the beginning state of a new universe. 

We agree! Although, we suggest it is not a "new" universe, but a re-beginning of One.  

Ben first published this theory in 2008 or 2009 in the Telluride Almanac and again in the Rocky Mountain Mason, Issue 14.

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