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.
Certainly, in my childhood, growing up Catholic, and going to Catholic schools, Mary was as you point out, given a very special place of adoration, in many people's faiths, perhaps seen as a more accessible intercessor than Jesus, or of course God himself.
And undoubtedly, in adulthood as I've been exposed to much more in the way of Catholic influenced folk beliefs, most especially in cultures other than our own, Mary, or a female saint in place of Mary tends in a lot of ways to be the nexus of faith for many.
I think that our Masonic symbolism reflects this pretty undeniably. The Sun, The Moon, The Master of the Lodge: Male, Female, Offspring or Active Potency, Generative Potential, Creation or The Power (Strength) to Create, The Wisdom to Create, The Beauty of Creation.
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.
I agree, the Sacred Feminine is veiled within our Masonic rituals. And not heavily veiled in places either. It is there if one looks.
One difference in my Jurisdiction anyway, the Chisel is not one of our Working Tools. I'd be interested to know what your ritual says about it if possible within your obligations.
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.
>>>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.
I believe this to be well said, and certainly true. Thank you! I think that we all experience Masonic symbolism differently based upon our own unique selves. Ultimately, that's what the Masonic secrets are (our understanding) and why they are secret (because we can't adequately explain that which must be individually experienced.) But we can learn and grow together, by sharing our own unique views of the symbolism, accepting what resonates with us, rejecting that which does not.
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.
We don’t allow women into the fraternity because in my humble opinion i need a sanctuary from the drama and discord women inevitably bring. If I get mad at a brother, we’ll hash it out and have a beer. With women it’s drama drama drama.
Stay out and keep out the treehouse sign said. No kooties.
But, we must not forget the drama that men would create if mixed gender Lodges became the norm. Certainly there would be much preening among at least some of the fellows in order to impress their opposites.
I don't think that the early creators of Speculative Freemasonry limited it to males only due to some profound belief that it should be such. I think that they simply did it because it was the nature of everything in the time that they lived.
Certainly the teachings of Freemasonry would, as you say, be of benefit to all, regardless of gender.
That said, I do think that there are benefits to Male only spaces, just as there are benefits to Female only spaces, and mixed spaces. It is my hope that all three types can peacefully co-exist.
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.
Closer to home of course, the Virgin of Guadalupe, declared by the Pope in 1945 to be the 'Patroness of all the Americas." The 'Tilma' image of her hangs in the Basilica in Mexico City, some years ago my wife and I had the opportunity to see it, so many people process past it each day that moving walkways had to be installed to accommodate the crowds and keep things moving. I understand that it is the most visited Catholic shrine in the world, and the third most visited of all the world's sacred sites.
Prior to that of course the mesoamericans worshiped many feminine deities, the Aztecs for example viewed Coatlicue as the mother of both the Gods, mankind, the stars, and the moon.
More recently, Santa Muerte worship is growing at a rapid pace, perhaps she can best be seen through a combination of indigenous belief held over from the conquest, and later folk Catholic beliefs.
I think every culture has a Divine Feminine representation. At the end if the day some project it onto an image and some internalize it beyong physical gender qualities. Many indigenous tribes locally, concider earth to be the great Divine Feminine. We need each other to survive, each feeding the other to regenerate and advance society.
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
That would be consistent with the Father Sun and Mother Earth in most traditions.
Thank you for the link. Interesting observations!
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.
Certainly, in my childhood, growing up Catholic, and going to Catholic schools, Mary was as you point out, given a very special place of adoration, in many people's faiths, perhaps seen as a more accessible intercessor than Jesus, or of course God himself.
And undoubtedly, in adulthood as I've been exposed to much more in the way of Catholic influenced folk beliefs, most especially in cultures other than our own, Mary, or a female saint in place of Mary tends in a lot of ways to be the nexus of faith for many.
I think that our Masonic symbolism reflects this pretty undeniably. The Sun, The Moon, The Master of the Lodge: Male, Female, Offspring or Active Potency, Generative Potential, Creation or The Power (Strength) to Create, The Wisdom to Create, The Beauty of Creation.
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.
I agree, the Sacred Feminine is veiled within our Masonic rituals. And not heavily veiled in places either. It is there if one looks.
One difference in my Jurisdiction anyway, the Chisel is not one of our Working Tools. I'd be interested to know what your ritual says about it if possible within your obligations.
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.
Principle of polarity. The 2 columns of the temple.
>>>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.
I believe this to be well said, and certainly true. Thank you! I think that we all experience Masonic symbolism differently based upon our own unique selves. Ultimately, that's what the Masonic secrets are (our understanding) and why they are secret (because we can't adequately explain that which must be individually experienced.) But we can learn and grow together, by sharing our own unique views of the symbolism, accepting what resonates with us, rejecting that which does not.
My view? I really don’t care about assigning genders. Don’t see the point.
Is just a way of explaining things. Back in ancient time it was easier for people to understand it that way. But think of it as opossing.energies.
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.
We don’t allow women into the fraternity because in my humble opinion i need a sanctuary from the drama and discord women inevitably bring. If I get mad at a brother, we’ll hash it out and have a beer. With women it’s drama drama drama.
Stay out and keep out the treehouse sign said. No kooties.
But, we must not forget the drama that men would create if mixed gender Lodges became the norm. Certainly there would be much preening among at least some of the fellows in order to impress their opposites.
I don't think that the early creators of Speculative Freemasonry limited it to males only due to some profound belief that it should be such. I think that they simply did it because it was the nature of everything in the time that they lived.
Certainly the teachings of Freemasonry would, as you say, be of benefit to all, regardless of gender.
That said, I do think that there are benefits to Male only spaces, just as there are benefits to Female only spaces, and mixed spaces. It is my hope that all three types can peacefully co-exist.
THANK YOU. I hope this becomes the default understanding of our Craft at some point.
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.
Closer to home of course, the Virgin of Guadalupe, declared by the Pope in 1945 to be the 'Patroness of all the Americas." The 'Tilma' image of her hangs in the Basilica in Mexico City, some years ago my wife and I had the opportunity to see it, so many people process past it each day that moving walkways had to be installed to accommodate the crowds and keep things moving. I understand that it is the most visited Catholic shrine in the world, and the third most visited of all the world's sacred sites.
Prior to that of course the mesoamericans worshiped many feminine deities, the Aztecs for example viewed Coatlicue as the mother of both the Gods, mankind, the stars, and the moon.
More recently, Santa Muerte worship is growing at a rapid pace, perhaps she can best be seen through a combination of indigenous belief held over from the conquest, and later folk Catholic beliefs.
I think every culture has a Divine Feminine representation. At the end if the day some project it onto an image and some internalize it beyong physical gender qualities. Many indigenous tribes locally, concider earth to be the great Divine Feminine. We need each other to survive, each feeding the other to regenerate and advance society.
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.