In his reply to that post, a great Mason mentioned the Sacred Feminine. It’s a topic that I’ll have to admit I don’t know a great deal about, nor that I’ve thought a lot about, but I do know that Freemasons from at least Albert Mackey till now have written about.
I’ve attended a presentation about the Sacred Feminine in a Lodge some years ago, and undoubtedly there are many references to it, some very lightly veiled, in our Craft Lodges.
So, I thought it would be something interesting for us to discuss today.
What is your view of the Sacred Feminine?
What role does it play in Craft Freemasonry? Perhaps Masonry beyond the Craft Degrees?
It is my experience that most people, even today, view the divine as masculine. This is because for the past thousand years leading religions promoted this theology. While a male god seemed to be the universally accepted model in the west and near east, if you look carefully at the folk beliefs of almost every place where a male oriented monotheistic religion ruled and you will find a divine feminine working at the folk belief level. For example, the virgin Mary in Catholic lands has over the centuries evolved from mother of God, to a special level of adoration, greater than a saint, less than God. In Ireland St Brigid has taken on a similar role. What does this mean? That we seem to instinctively need a divine feminine. As human beings, whether male or female, regardless of sexual orientation, our psyches possess both male and female qualities (anima, animus and archetypes of Mother and Father). A universe with only a divine masculine is instinctively perceived as unbalanced. I realize that there are modern beliefs about gender models that might disagree with this, and I am sure as we move forward we will see modifications to this model, and some of those modifications will stick.
My own experience working with the divine feminine broadened my own sense of self, and provided a centering effect, and frankly facilitated healing. I find the balance of masculine and feminine much more helpful to my own life balance and progress as a man.
I do think masonry would benefit by looking at the divine feminine and especially in the higher degrees consider integrating carefully and thoughtfully it into those rituals.
What the majority of masons do not realize is that the Sacred Feminine is part of the masonic rituals.
The masculine energy is the force behind all but the femenine energy is the wisdom (Sophia) that make the masculine energy to be manifested. The square, the jewel of the WM is a feminine symbol. The square represent the manifested things. And for something to be manifested it has to go thru the femenine aspect of the energy.
The hammer and the chisel are the best example for this. The chisel is the masculine aspect, the hammer is the feminine aspect. Thru the wisdom of the action of the hammer over the chisel is decided if the stone is shaped or breaked.
Sep 11, 2023·edited Sep 11, 2023Liked by Cameron M. Bailey
It's interesting to me that each needs the other to exist, at all. The Sacred Masculine needs the Sacred Feminine, and the Sacred Feminine needs the Sacred Masculine - one does not exist without the other.
It makes me happy that male Masons are thinking and talking about the Sacred Feminine and how that relates to, and manifests in, Masonry.
Perhaps, ultimately, understanding them - the Sacred Masculine and the Sacred Feminine - is experiential in nature, and will be experienced differently, personally, by each individual Mason, depending on the dynamic alchemical balance of anima/animus in each. So perhaps we might trust each others' descriptions of those experiences, and use that collected knowledge (personally gnostic thought it may be) to more fully, yet imperfectly explore, the greater Mystery.
I think this desperately needs to be discussed more.
Most of gender comes from social mores and cultural mythos, but I think there's a basic underlying distinction between masculine and feminine in all things, akin to yin and yang. The problem is that most symbolism is deemed one or the other based on genital resemblance, i.e. a cup is feminine and a rod is masculine. Freud and Jung wrote a myriad of words on this.
But there's the hunter-gatherer dichotomy ingrained in our biology. Male is outward facing activities such as war and hunting, where female by its nature is inward facing -- child rearing and the hearth.
Recently I came across the idea that religions were matriarchal or patriarchal based on the aspects of deity they focus on. Ones focused on punishment, such as early Judaism and Islam, were paternal in nature, whereas Christianity, in its original form, was based on Love and forgiveness, maternal traits.
The question is how much of Freemasonry is masculine to the point we could justify making it predominately available to men only. After all, our tenets apply to all human beings. But perhpas that strays into another discussion. The book I plan to write on Masonic Feminism someday will explore all these themes.
There is a lot that could be said about this, from many different lenses, but Ill try yo keep it short. Masonically, it is know the earliest known Masonic Lodge is The Lodge of Edinburg #1, also known as Mary's Chapel. The recorded minutes date back, all the way to 1599. and the first recorded initiation of non-operative (speculative Masonry) dates to 1634 according to the Encyclopedia of Freemasonry by Arthur Waite. Above this Lodge, above the entryway, there is a cross of Mary. Insidently, the Virgin Mary's parents were Anne and Joachim, and low and behold, the lineage of Joseph comes from Ruth and Boaz.
Another female by the name of Mary was the sister of Lazarus. The Order of St. Lazarus was founded in 1098 by the Hospitaller Knights in Jerusalem, which can be seen as the forerunner of the Rosicrucians and the Knights Templar with the mantle of the Johannes handed to them by Theoclete. Some of this is explained in greater detail by Helena Blavatsky, in Isis Unveiled.
The third Mary (sacred feminine), was Mary, the Apostle of all Apostles, as claimed by various literature including a Bishop of Rome named Hippolutus (170-235 CE), as well as founder of a Gnostic Sect called the Naassenes. This group of Naassenes, which name is explained as being derived from the Hebrew word Nahas (snake or shining one). They treated the wisdom of Jesus as allegorical; believing that the words of the text were symbols concealed, and revealed to the initiated. This Order of Naassenes were not worshippers of serpents or the sun like some historians lay claim to ancient people, but were worshippers of the reality symbolized by the serpent or light of wisdom. Several sects in the first century regarded the serpent of the garden as a true liberator of mankind. For instance, the statement in Genesis regarding the serpent, where in Genesis, it states the 'nahas' was the wisest and most knowledgeable of all crafts. It also states, the serpent (Shining one) first taught mankind to question authority with understanding, and then instructed them to open their eyes, to obtain the all-important knowledge of good and evil. Now we have the ability to discern from the chaos that keeps us enslaved and align to harmony (love and truth) that will ultimately lead us to the “Tree of Life.” From that time there have been two forces working in mankind as an example of creative powers in all mankind. One energy is generated in the base (reproductive organs) by means of desire turned downward for procreation; therefore are creators of generations. The other is that which comes as the force taken from the above, who are instigators of mental activity, by means of elevating the base energy upward through the heart for work in the brain. Ultimately expanding thought to Christ Consciousness, to break free from the prison (material realm) we are in.
To conclude, in the first -third century, women were very high up in the esoteric chain. According to Genesis, (if you read in allegory), Eve, the Sacred Feminine, is higher (more spiritual) than Adam, who did wake him from his slumber.
I have a more pragmatic view of the sacred feminine.
If you have ever been fortunate enough to have the open and honest face of a women looking at you, exposed and expressive in a way men can ever be, that right there is sacred. Or the way a mother can lovingly brush back a child's hair. Can sooth the scraped knees and wounded hearts of the young and old.
Feminine passion and compassion is special and unique. Their insight, patience and expression of love is special. So is their way of putting love into their works.
The trust they put in their men is sacred. And being men, we generally toss it aside like yesterdays socks. If I handed you a sacred chalice for safekeeping, a vessel that the Apostle Paul drank out of, you would probably take pretty good care of it. Yet in my own experience, I just chuck it in the cooler, or use it to water the plants, or just generally leave it lying about. Nothing particularly important about this sacred vessel!!
Yes, we can look at deity and universal symbols and mysteries to try and grasp it. Or you can just look around you, at your wives, mothers, daughters, and friends. Watch a group of young kids at a picnic running around playing games. You can see the sacred feminine and masculine playing out right there, unfiltered. Boys climbing over each other to rule the top of the slide, and girls just rolling their eyes thinking about how stupid boys are. Right there is the fundamental underpinning of the cosmos!
Much of the "Sacred Feminine" in found in the ancient concepts of the blood-line of a monarchy being passed from the mother to the monarch. In our western culture we have a patriarchal lineage, the father being the dominate member of the family tree. In eastern-Mediterranean cultures BC including Egyptian, it is the female who passes on the family "blood" line. Author Laurence Gardner has written much on this topic, particularly in "Bloodline of the Holy Grail." If you are deeply rooted in the traditional view of the "Cup of Christ" being an actual cup from the Last Supper, this book will shake up your view of Christianity and particularly of the teachings of Rome regarding the bloodline of Jesus. Nothing about the "Sacred Feminine" requires us as Freemasons to alter our charters to allow the female gender as members of the lodge. The concept of the "Sacred Feminine" is more esoteric and less cultural. On the other hand, the concept of the "Sacred Feminine" should give each of pause as to how important a masculine dominated society is or is not and what we as men are lacking by ignoring the feminine side of society.
"The Square and Compass is a representation of the Blazing Star. You have the Feminine Square intersecting with the Masculine Compass."
http://www.midnightfreemasons.org/2018/01/sacred-feminine.html
It is my experience that most people, even today, view the divine as masculine. This is because for the past thousand years leading religions promoted this theology. While a male god seemed to be the universally accepted model in the west and near east, if you look carefully at the folk beliefs of almost every place where a male oriented monotheistic religion ruled and you will find a divine feminine working at the folk belief level. For example, the virgin Mary in Catholic lands has over the centuries evolved from mother of God, to a special level of adoration, greater than a saint, less than God. In Ireland St Brigid has taken on a similar role. What does this mean? That we seem to instinctively need a divine feminine. As human beings, whether male or female, regardless of sexual orientation, our psyches possess both male and female qualities (anima, animus and archetypes of Mother and Father). A universe with only a divine masculine is instinctively perceived as unbalanced. I realize that there are modern beliefs about gender models that might disagree with this, and I am sure as we move forward we will see modifications to this model, and some of those modifications will stick.
My own experience working with the divine feminine broadened my own sense of self, and provided a centering effect, and frankly facilitated healing. I find the balance of masculine and feminine much more helpful to my own life balance and progress as a man.
I do think masonry would benefit by looking at the divine feminine and especially in the higher degrees consider integrating carefully and thoughtfully it into those rituals.
What the majority of masons do not realize is that the Sacred Feminine is part of the masonic rituals.
The masculine energy is the force behind all but the femenine energy is the wisdom (Sophia) that make the masculine energy to be manifested. The square, the jewel of the WM is a feminine symbol. The square represent the manifested things. And for something to be manifested it has to go thru the femenine aspect of the energy.
The hammer and the chisel are the best example for this. The chisel is the masculine aspect, the hammer is the feminine aspect. Thru the wisdom of the action of the hammer over the chisel is decided if the stone is shaped or breaked.
It's interesting to me that each needs the other to exist, at all. The Sacred Masculine needs the Sacred Feminine, and the Sacred Feminine needs the Sacred Masculine - one does not exist without the other.
It makes me happy that male Masons are thinking and talking about the Sacred Feminine and how that relates to, and manifests in, Masonry.
Perhaps, ultimately, understanding them - the Sacred Masculine and the Sacred Feminine - is experiential in nature, and will be experienced differently, personally, by each individual Mason, depending on the dynamic alchemical balance of anima/animus in each. So perhaps we might trust each others' descriptions of those experiences, and use that collected knowledge (personally gnostic thought it may be) to more fully, yet imperfectly explore, the greater Mystery.
My view? I really don’t care about assigning genders. Don’t see the point.
I think this desperately needs to be discussed more.
Most of gender comes from social mores and cultural mythos, but I think there's a basic underlying distinction between masculine and feminine in all things, akin to yin and yang. The problem is that most symbolism is deemed one or the other based on genital resemblance, i.e. a cup is feminine and a rod is masculine. Freud and Jung wrote a myriad of words on this.
But there's the hunter-gatherer dichotomy ingrained in our biology. Male is outward facing activities such as war and hunting, where female by its nature is inward facing -- child rearing and the hearth.
Recently I came across the idea that religions were matriarchal or patriarchal based on the aspects of deity they focus on. Ones focused on punishment, such as early Judaism and Islam, were paternal in nature, whereas Christianity, in its original form, was based on Love and forgiveness, maternal traits.
The question is how much of Freemasonry is masculine to the point we could justify making it predominately available to men only. After all, our tenets apply to all human beings. But perhpas that strays into another discussion. The book I plan to write on Masonic Feminism someday will explore all these themes.
There is a lot that could be said about this, from many different lenses, but Ill try yo keep it short. Masonically, it is know the earliest known Masonic Lodge is The Lodge of Edinburg #1, also known as Mary's Chapel. The recorded minutes date back, all the way to 1599. and the first recorded initiation of non-operative (speculative Masonry) dates to 1634 according to the Encyclopedia of Freemasonry by Arthur Waite. Above this Lodge, above the entryway, there is a cross of Mary. Insidently, the Virgin Mary's parents were Anne and Joachim, and low and behold, the lineage of Joseph comes from Ruth and Boaz.
Another female by the name of Mary was the sister of Lazarus. The Order of St. Lazarus was founded in 1098 by the Hospitaller Knights in Jerusalem, which can be seen as the forerunner of the Rosicrucians and the Knights Templar with the mantle of the Johannes handed to them by Theoclete. Some of this is explained in greater detail by Helena Blavatsky, in Isis Unveiled.
The third Mary (sacred feminine), was Mary, the Apostle of all Apostles, as claimed by various literature including a Bishop of Rome named Hippolutus (170-235 CE), as well as founder of a Gnostic Sect called the Naassenes. This group of Naassenes, which name is explained as being derived from the Hebrew word Nahas (snake or shining one). They treated the wisdom of Jesus as allegorical; believing that the words of the text were symbols concealed, and revealed to the initiated. This Order of Naassenes were not worshippers of serpents or the sun like some historians lay claim to ancient people, but were worshippers of the reality symbolized by the serpent or light of wisdom. Several sects in the first century regarded the serpent of the garden as a true liberator of mankind. For instance, the statement in Genesis regarding the serpent, where in Genesis, it states the 'nahas' was the wisest and most knowledgeable of all crafts. It also states, the serpent (Shining one) first taught mankind to question authority with understanding, and then instructed them to open their eyes, to obtain the all-important knowledge of good and evil. Now we have the ability to discern from the chaos that keeps us enslaved and align to harmony (love and truth) that will ultimately lead us to the “Tree of Life.” From that time there have been two forces working in mankind as an example of creative powers in all mankind. One energy is generated in the base (reproductive organs) by means of desire turned downward for procreation; therefore are creators of generations. The other is that which comes as the force taken from the above, who are instigators of mental activity, by means of elevating the base energy upward through the heart for work in the brain. Ultimately expanding thought to Christ Consciousness, to break free from the prison (material realm) we are in.
To conclude, in the first -third century, women were very high up in the esoteric chain. According to Genesis, (if you read in allegory), Eve, the Sacred Feminine, is higher (more spiritual) than Adam, who did wake him from his slumber.
I have a more pragmatic view of the sacred feminine.
If you have ever been fortunate enough to have the open and honest face of a women looking at you, exposed and expressive in a way men can ever be, that right there is sacred. Or the way a mother can lovingly brush back a child's hair. Can sooth the scraped knees and wounded hearts of the young and old.
Feminine passion and compassion is special and unique. Their insight, patience and expression of love is special. So is their way of putting love into their works.
The trust they put in their men is sacred. And being men, we generally toss it aside like yesterdays socks. If I handed you a sacred chalice for safekeeping, a vessel that the Apostle Paul drank out of, you would probably take pretty good care of it. Yet in my own experience, I just chuck it in the cooler, or use it to water the plants, or just generally leave it lying about. Nothing particularly important about this sacred vessel!!
Yes, we can look at deity and universal symbols and mysteries to try and grasp it. Or you can just look around you, at your wives, mothers, daughters, and friends. Watch a group of young kids at a picnic running around playing games. You can see the sacred feminine and masculine playing out right there, unfiltered. Boys climbing over each other to rule the top of the slide, and girls just rolling their eyes thinking about how stupid boys are. Right there is the fundamental underpinning of the cosmos!
Much of the "Sacred Feminine" in found in the ancient concepts of the blood-line of a monarchy being passed from the mother to the monarch. In our western culture we have a patriarchal lineage, the father being the dominate member of the family tree. In eastern-Mediterranean cultures BC including Egyptian, it is the female who passes on the family "blood" line. Author Laurence Gardner has written much on this topic, particularly in "Bloodline of the Holy Grail." If you are deeply rooted in the traditional view of the "Cup of Christ" being an actual cup from the Last Supper, this book will shake up your view of Christianity and particularly of the teachings of Rome regarding the bloodline of Jesus. Nothing about the "Sacred Feminine" requires us as Freemasons to alter our charters to allow the female gender as members of the lodge. The concept of the "Sacred Feminine" is more esoteric and less cultural. On the other hand, the concept of the "Sacred Feminine" should give each of pause as to how important a masculine dominated society is or is not and what we as men are lacking by ignoring the feminine side of society.