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

Practical Work and Places to Practice
Getting to Know The Powers in Washington DC

I have already described the Masonic meditation and some of its uses. Now I will teach how to use these basic elements for a specific purpose. As in every working that involves the use of subtle energies, this practice can be either beneficial or self-centered and contrary to the health and well-being of others. There is an esoteric and Hermetic rule that says if you are working for the good of others, you will receive the positive consequences of your actions and thus good things will come to you too. Of course, your intentions in working this ritual must be sincere, not contrived to manipulate the system. You cannot fool your own higher nature!

Remember that every spiritual working or ritual could have one or more of several purposes: (1) to help you to raise the level of your consciousness, (2) to facilitate the use of your inner abilities, and (3) to enable you to use your knowledge and abilities for the good of other people. As you will see during your use of this ritual, it is very often the case that points 1 and 2 occur simultaneously, or point 2 follows very close on the heels of point 1.

It is also important to point out that some rituals may be performed by a single person working alone, and that others require a group. Obviously, performing group practices in crowded public areas is not always easy to manage. Certain kinds of spiritual work do require some privacy, but you may adapt some of these practices to your needs, and you will find them both powerful and effective once you develop a familiarity with this system.

Spiritual Practices at the Mall

At the end of Chapter Two, I explained the symbolic connection between the Washington Mall and a lodge. In a Masonic temple that is oriented to the four directions, the four directions are associated with the positions of the main ritual officers. The altar is well represented by the Jefferson Pier Stone.

One characteristic of a symbol is that it is not limited to one interpretation. In Chapter Four, the study of the ancient architectural principles of Vitruvius allowed us to identify the Capitol Building with the temple of the gods, which is the protector of the city; I also identified the temple of Hermes with the Library of Congress. You will be able to use these identifications in your ritual practices.

In esoteric traditions, the geocentric vision of the universe was an important part of the initiatic process. I previously explained the meanings of the terms macrocosm and microcosm. In this case, the orientation of Washington DC, which is especially visible when you are at the Mall, may also be linked to the cardinal directions. This is the reason why some practices are connected to precise periods of the year, and, even more importantly, to specific cosmic events.

The practices in this part of the book allow you to use specific symbols and to connect those symbols with the energy of Washington DC. Of course, this will be much clearer if you are able to stand in the Mall and follow the directions given in the following pages. However, it is important to remember that subtle energies exist on the vibratory planes, and these energies are not limited by space and time. Consequently, it is possible for you to use meditation to accomplish these practices, no matter where you are living, even if you live in another state or even abroad. If you must use meditation because you are unable to be physically present, it would be advisable for you to print out the images of the symbols and the different monuments so that you have them directly in front of you during your ritual. During meditation, your mind and astral body will be connected to the place you are focused on.