Secrets and Practices of the Freemasons: Sacred Mysteries, Rituals and Symbols Revealed - Jean-Louis de Biasi 2011

The Masonic Meditation
Principles of Practice

Individual and Group Practices

Everyone in the Western world has, at one time or another, read one or more of the voluminous explanations and presentations that expound on the Eastern traditions. Yoga classes are available everywhere; Buddhist temples offer extensive training in meditation, rituals, etc. Even Christian churches have begun to organize meditation classes that are based on their early teachings.

People all over the world are looking for something to help them cope with change. Many people fear that there is something alarming on the horizon, and, as in all periods of crisis and major change, people are looking for a real way to develop their inner abilities, their human potential. At the same time, many people are becoming aware of a need to develop a personal spirituality in order to be able to respond capably to the shifts and changes that they fear. The spirit of freedom, as expressed by the Founding Fathers of America, offers us an example of one such method of coping during periods of crisis. It is a model that teaches how to freely express the individual desire for religious and personal freedom during times of oppression and radical change.

Freemasonry also offers us a model for enduring success during periods of change and disruption. Freemasonry teaches its members the strength of philanthropy, and their response to periods of crisis has always been powerful and effective. The actions of the participants in the Scottish Rite are an obvious demonstration of this power and the spirit it proceeds from. You also see this in the work of the Shriners, which is mentioned by Dan Brown in The Lost Symbol. The contribution of these fraternal orders to the history of America was enormous. Today it is easy to see that the efforts of those Freemasons gave a benevolent orientation to our newly forming country, at a critical juncture in the history of the United States.

Yet, despite this great contribution, few things can be found in the historical records about the inner work. Freemasonry almost appears to be a symbolic, initiatic tradition without any inner or spiritual practices. If this were true, it would be the first instance in the history of the Western world of such an honorable tradition that is completely absent of all spiritual teachings. But the idea that Freemasonry is an empty tradition cannot be accepted. Having read the last few chapters, you will surely insist that cannot be the case.

However, there is a problem. It is true that Freemasonry has become disconnected from the spiritual part of its heritage and has continued on with its daily activities as if the spiritual side of Freemasonry never existed. Fortunately for modern adherents, the earlier members of Freemasonry left footprints for us to follow, including various texts that offer us advice from the past. It is possible to use these historical signposts to describe and explain the form and process of the Masonic meditation, and I have done so here in this book. Albert Pike and other initiates worked intensely on both the symbolic and esoteric aspects of the Craft. Yet, the spiritual Masonic practices were often ignored or neglected. I hope to rectify that omission here.

In some ways the Masonic meditation is like yoga. This meditation is completely disconnected from the confessional or religious aspects that are part of other belief systems. I believe that the time has come to explain, develop, and teach the keys to this method to the world, to help those who need a profound way to deal with the radical changes that appear to be looming in our shifting modern world. The keys needed to restore Freemasonry may be found in its ancient Hermetic roots, wherein many of the secrets of Freemasonry were hidden. It is time to associate this brilliant practical tradition (which is rooted in the most ancient Western Mysteries) with contemporary Freemasonry.

However, it is not acceptible to improvise. Each spiritual tradition is unique. Each has its own internal rules and special historical roots. So it is for Freemasonry. The philosophical and initiatic background for Hermetism and the Craft is rooted in ancient civilizations. The use of specific procedures for visualization, the pronunciation of sacred words, evocation, and ritual gestures are all elements of this ancient tradition. Each element must be learned in a specific way. Just as Freemasons cannot improvise initiations or mix one degree with another, the Masonic method must be learned and used in a precise and progressive way. The student must begin by learning how to do individual practices. The lessons learned in the privacy of one’s soul will then have consequences for the student’s contribution to the group rituals he attends or conducts.

Among the elements of this practice, you find visualization, memorization, relaxation, focusing and concentration, evocation, invocation, and a powerful faith in the existence of the spiritual and invisible planes. Nothing is possible without these elements. If this faith is forgotten, Freemasonry becomes a simple association among men without depth of meaning, anemic and depleted of life. Of course, the complete method must only be revealed and transmitted to an initiate. Powerful tools cannot be revealed to anyone until he has completed the prerequisite inner moral work and received a real initiatic transmission. However, the basics can be given to anyone who wants to use them, so that he or she may immediately begin to practice.

The action of this Masonic meditation is not limited to the lodge or temple. Its effect can be felt in every moment of one’s daily life. However, just as there are different elements as one moves up the initiatic scales of Freemasonry, beginning with the 1st Degree and ascending the Masonic tree (Scottish Rite, Royal Arch, etc.), the Masonic meditation reveals different elements at each level of its process. Once you are able to control the basic elements, each new degree will offer special practices and keys to advancement.

This book is not the place to develop all the details of this system. These details will be the subject of another (more advanced) book about the Masonic meditation, which will come later. However, it is important to provide readers with a practice that reveals the applications of the various principles I have outlined up to this point. This will provide an excellent opportunity to practice these principles and to get closer to the fraternity, achieving entry through the only real portal that is always open: oneself.

A Masonic Meditation: The Square

Earlier, I discussed symbolic learning and the necessity for using a specific Masonic meditation. Theoretical studies are always interesting and useful, but it is generally better to have the opportunity to simultaneously put into practice what has been learnt so that these spiritual realities within us can be felt. It is critical not to transform Freemasonry into a satisfying but fruitless intellectual exercise. If you look at the field of art as an example, we that many people learn art theory, but this theoretical approach does not make anyone into a great artist. In order to become a great artist, you must practice over and over again. The same lesson is applicable here. You can learn to be a Freemason; you may even achieve advanced degrees. However, without inner work and spiritual practices, you will never be able to be a Masonic “artist.” Even a good architect must know about and experiment with the practical application of his or her art. This lesson applies to every spiritual tradition as well. Group rituals are important, but they are inadequate to achieve the deepest levels of transformation, so that your hidden stone must be found and the temple you must become is built thereon.

The practical ritual I am providing here will enable you to experiment with these elements and learn the fundamentals of this system. However, please keep in mind that this ritual will be performed without direct supervision. It is adequate so that you can begin to understand, feel, and learn the initial steps of the Masonic meditation way, but, if you desire more, you are welcome to attend a seminar, where supervision and individual instruction is possible.

The complete initial meditation is described below. I suggest that you record it and listen to it during whatever time you set aside for practice. You may prefer to print it and read it when you decide to practice. This ritual will utilize the different elements I discussed above: relaxation, visualization, pronunciation, etc.

Before you begin, you must find a quiet place (indoors or outdoors) where you can be alone. Unplug your phone, turn off your cell phone, and let your family and friends know that you need private time. You must also have a chair with a straight back and a table that will serve as an altar. If possible, it is best to be oriented facing east (turn your chair so that it is facing east, with the table directly in front of you). You may cover this table with any cloth you like. In the Masonic lodges, the central altar is covered by an altar cloth made of beautiful fabric. Sometimes this altar cloth is surrounded by a golden edging. On the lodge’s altar you may also find the sacred book (also called the book of the sacred law), as well as the square and the compass. Other (optional) items that you may place on the table include a drawing of the Masonic triangle with the Greek letter G (Gamma) inside. You may also have three candles on the table and you should place them at the three points of the triangle. Even though it is not obligatory, if you are a Freemason, you may wear your apron, along with any symbols you would generally use in your lodge meetings.

When you are completely ready, sit down on your chair and relax for a while. Remain in this position for a few moments, breathing quietly, with your eyes closed or slightly closed. Be attentive to your breathing; listen to your breath flow in and out. Watch your chest rise and fall. Remain quiet, breathing gently in and out. Breathe in through your nose and not your mouth. Notice the circulation of air through your body as it enters your nostrils, flows into your lungs, expanding them, and remains there for a while. Notice the flow as you exhale. Relax and quietly enjoy watching this flow for a while. Return to this simple observation from time to time during this exercise.

Maintain your state of relaxation and visualize an obelisk (maybe the Washington Monument in Washington DC) in front of you. Visualize yourself at the west of the monument, facing east. Imagine that this is no longer an external representation; you are looking at a real place. This monument really exists. It is not necessary to have an exact mental representation of it. You are standing on the threshold of the inner and spiritual world looking into it. Imagine that you move one step into the landscape of this scene. The landscape that surrounds you is equally vivid.

Stand up physically, and, if you have candles, light them.

Close your eyes, and look more closely at the two shapes that constitute the obelisk. The rectangle of the trunk can be reduced to the general shape of a square, the regular geometric face of a cube. Above the trunk you see the triangle of the pyramid. For now, just look at the trunk and practice recognizing the very simple shapes in this structure. Remain quiet, breathing gently in and out.

The square is the symbol of the physical body. The triangle is the symbol of the soul, which crowns the body. Breathe gently in and out for a while, continuing to hold these two parts of the human being in your mind: the body and the soul. For now, these representations are still external to you; they are shapes you are looking at.

Continue to breathe gently in and out. Release your visualization. Be focused only on your breathing.

After a moment of silence, consciously relax your body. As a child of the earth and the starry sky, you can act as a demiurge and bring order out of chaos. You can activate the essential powers in you, in order to build and organize your own macrocosm, your inner cosmos. As every Freemason knows, the Sun is the center of our system. From the Chaldaic theurgic system, the Sun has always been put at the center. From its light, beauty, and benevolence comes all spiritual and material life.

Imagine the Sun at the center of your solar plexus. The light rays emanating from your center expand outward—all around you.

Breathe gently. Raise your right arm and put the palm of your hand on your solar plexus.

Exclaim:[4] “As the Sun is the center and the origin of all being, may the sublime order of the cosmos organize the universe I am. Under the aegis of the Great Architect of the Universe, may the traditional motto be realized one more time: Ordo Ab Chaos!”

Pause.

Say: “The Grand Architect of the Universe selected three sacred letters[5] from among the simple ones and with them he sealed the universe in six directions. May this divine order be realized now!”

Figure 37: The cube and the pronounciations

of the name of God (from the Bible)

Hold both arms straight out in front of you, with your forearms on the horizontal plane and your palms facing the sky. Your back is straight, your shoulders relaxed, and your eyes are looking up at the sky. Holding this position, say: “The Grand Architect of the Universe looked above, and sealed the height with the power of Yod-He-Vav.”

Pause.

Holding your arms in the same position, turn your palms toward the ground. Your back is straight, your shoulders relaxed, your eyes looking at the floor or earth (if you are outside).

Holding this position, say: “The Grand Architect of the Universe looked below, and sealed the depths with the power of Yod-Vav-He.”

Pause.

Extend your arms in front of you (on the horizontal plane), to the east. The palms of your hands are nearly vertical, and you are looking to the east. Holding this position, say: “The Grand Architect of the Universe looked forward, and sealed the east with the power of He-Yod-Vav.”

Pause.

Turn to your right to face south. Your arms are extended in front of you (on the horizontal plane). The palms of your hands are nearly vertical. Holding this position, say: “The Grand Architect of the Universe looked to the right, and sealed the south with the power of Vav-Yod-He.”

Pause.

Turn to your right to face west. Your arms are extended in front of you (on the horizontal plane). The palms of your hands are nearly vertical. Holding this position, say: “The Grand Architect of the Universe looked backward, and sealed the west with the power of He-Vav-Yod.”

Pause.

Turn to your right to face north. Your arms are extended in front of you (on the horizontal plane). The palms of your hands are nearly vertical. Holding this position, say: “The Grand Architect of the Universe looked to the left, and sealed the north with the power of Vav-He-Yod.”

Relax your arms and sit down.

Make sure you are comfortably seated, and that your back is as straight as possible. Place your hands flat on your thighs, breathing quietly for a while.

The six directions of the space have been delimited and sealed. You are at the center of the cornerstone. Visualize around you this perfect stone, its six faces visible in a pulsating light. Take the time to check the six faces in the same order you sealed them, and then come back to the awareness of your breathing.

You are at the center of your inner universe. Visualize the Sun in your solar plexus shining powerfully. Feel this inner balance, which brings you into inner peace.

Think about the dynamic power created by the eight points of the cube around you. They seem to be eight powerful centers of energy.

Feel the position of your body. Your back and your bottom are a living representation of a square. Do the same with your thighs and your legs. The shape of the square corresponds to the ancient Greek letter Gamma (). This letter Gamma is the third letter of the Greek alphabet, as well as the third Hebrew letter (Gimel). Over the next few minutes, think about the presence of this symbol inside the cube, inside you. As you know, this mysterious letter G is very often at the heart of the Masonic lodges. Now this hidden square is in your heart, and is manifested by the position of your body. Now exclaim: “The Sun must always be at its zenith to spread the light of Freemasonry all around the planet. By the help of the Great Architect of the Universe, may this enlightenment be accomplished!”

The number 3 is the core number in Freemasonry, its foundation. At this moment, remember that the number 3 corresponds to the place in the alphabet of these two sacred letters (Gamma and Gimel).

Visualize the symbolic shape connected to the top of the obelisk, the pyramid, all around you. This pyramid is formed by triangles put together on the square representing your body. This shape is a symbol of your soul, the place of the divine energy that animates your desire to return to heaven.

When your soul entered your body, you lost part of the power of the word. The place of this cornerstone, the philosopher’s stone, was lost. All humans became orphans, forgetting their divine origin and nature. Yet the divine cornerstone has always been inside of us, carefully hidden and veiled. As the Hermetic and alchemical motto says. “Visita Interiora Terrae Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem” (Visit the interior of the earth and, by rectifying it, you will reveal the hidden stone).

Figure 38: The triangle and

the letter G in its Greek shape

You are now in this stone and you have already begun the secret work on the stone, by using this sacred combination of the sacred letters. The Greek letter G is also the initial of the divinity Gaia, the planet Earth. Your inner stone manifests this union, this meeting between the heavens and Earth.

In order to continue the quest, you must remember your own sacred word, the name of your philosopher’s stone. Once this hidden word is revealed to you, you will be able to transform yourself. For now, as Freemasonry says, you must use a substituted word.

Relax for a while now, thinking about these traditional mysteries. Exclaim: “May the rays of the divine shed their benign influence upon me and enlighten me in the paths of virtue and science! May the power of the mysterious word be manifested in my cornerstone, the most sacred place of my soul, in order to begin my own transformation!”

Extend your right hand in front of you, and visualize yourself engraving the sacred letter G in the Greek shape of a square (), in a letter of flame. Then, in the same way, engrave a triangle of fire around the letter G.

Relax your right arm, resuming the position you had before, with your hand on your thigh. For a few moments, visualize that the place you are in has become extremely bright, spreading beauty, strength, and wisdom throughout all the cosmos.

Relax and breathe quietly without thinking of anything specific. When you feel that the moment is right, stand up, put your right hand on your solar plexus, and declaim the traditional hymn of the Ancient Mysteries written by a master of the Golden Chain, the initiate Proclus (fifth century CE):

O gods, you who hold the rudder of holy wisdom, who light in our human souls the flame of return, bring us back among the immortals, and by the inexpressible initations of the hymns, give us the capacity to escape from our dark caves and to purify ourselves. Grant this to me, O powerful liberators! Grant me, by knowledge of the divine writings, by dispersing the darkness which surrounds me, a pure and holy light. Allow me to perfectly know the incorruptible God, and the man or woman that I am.

May a wicked djinn never overcome me by pains, or indefinitely hold me captive under the rivers of oblivion.

May I never be held captive in the jail of life, for the frightening expiation, with my soul fallen in the icy flows of generation, where I never want to wander too long.

So, O gods, sovereigns of the radiant wisdom, grant me and reveal to one who hastens on the ascending Path of Return, the holy ecstasies and the initiations which are at the heart of the divine words!

Blow out the candles, and remove your apron if you have one. Record your feelings, remarks, experiences, and thoughts about this Masonic meditation in a notebook (which must be reserved for this purpose).

[1]. M. Beauregard and D. O’Leary. The Spiritual Brain: A Neuroscientist’s Case for the Existence of the Soul. (New York: HarperOne, 2007).

[2]. D. Radin and A. Borges, “Intuition Through Time: What Does the Seer See?” The Journal of Science and Healing, Volume 5, Issue 4, pp. 200—211, July 2009.

[3]. “The Symbols and the Masonic Ritual Process” was published in French in the book ABC d’ésotérisme maçonnique by Jean-Louis De Biasi, (Paris: Grancher Publications, 2008). This excerpt is used here with the permission of Grancher Publications.

[4]4. When you exclaim, it is not necessary to speak loudly. To be able to hear one’s own voice is enough in this practice.

[5]. These elements come from the Qabalistic text, the Sepher Yetzirah, Book 1, Part 10—11.