tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-241048445186133122024-01-07T23:59:02.142-08:00Lodge Napoleon Bonaparte1613 NationFrater Raum Sariel 3°http://www.blogger.com/profile/02655543667159105648noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24104844518613312.post-56781254536164522302010-08-23T20:58:00.000-07:002010-08-23T21:03:05.184-07:00Loge of the Standing Skull-1613 Nation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJmI2gnb7pKeAYUai4uZ4YMJ3S6qiikrVkB55lmtQQ2EKJ2TIjmfiHhjC62E1ktUJKeD-BrjRRTR3U33DgOu5cxtoL95BphdutIEc6VE0mI2H7_jXWjS7WiA-gt_HsIFWEzsSnM1zXWs/s1600/Sello+2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJmI2gnb7pKeAYUai4uZ4YMJ3S6qiikrVkB55lmtQQ2EKJ2TIjmfiHhjC62E1ktUJKeD-BrjRRTR3U33DgOu5cxtoL95BphdutIEc6VE0mI2H7_jXWjS7WiA-gt_HsIFWEzsSnM1zXWs/s320/Sello+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508821962464938530" border="0" /></a><br />Join us in rejoice, the newest lodge to be constituted within the 1613 Nation. Lodge of the Standing Skull, located in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. This lodge works the Craft degrees of the Rite of Memphis. This marks the second 1613 Nation lodge in the nation of Bolivia. They are working hand in hand with our other Bolivian lodge, Logia Los Tres Iniciados.<br /><br />IN LVX,Frater Raum Sariel 3°http://www.blogger.com/profile/02655543667159105648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24104844518613312.post-71455700566027313522010-06-13T20:37:00.000-07:002010-06-13T20:38:53.235-07:00The Three KayasBy Bro. Manolis Stamatakis<br />Worshipful Master<br />Lodge John Yarker-1613 Nation<br />London, England<br /><br /><br /> These three kayas are actually aspects of enlightened being.<br /> They are the Buddha reflected in three different ways in order to help sentient beings. <br /><br />The meaning of the Sanskrit word Buddha is awakened or fully realized one. What is realized? <br /> The original nature is realized perfectly as it is, with nothing changed or exaggerated but as it is at both the relative and absolute levels or as relative and absolute truth. One who is awake to this understanding is a Buddha. This realization involves the complete transcendence of obscurations. We haven't fully awakened to our true nature because of these obscurations whereas Buddha Shakyamuni realized the original nature perfectly because he was purified of obscurations. <br /><br />The word 'buddha' refers to all realized beings. It is not that only one particular enlightened being is known as Buddha. Those who realized their true nature in the past are known as Buddhas, those who realize it now may be called Buddhas and those who come to this realization in the future will be known as Buddhas. 'Buddha' is a general term which does not merely refer to a single individual but to every realized being. <br /><br />The whole purpose of enlightened beings is to benefit sentient beings. In order to do this, they appear in many different forms or bodies. The principle emanations are known as the three kayas; Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya and Nirmanakaya. There are even four and five kayas, divided further to qualify other manifestations of enlightened being, but it is all one Buddha. 'Kaya' is a Sanskrit word which means body in the sense of many qualities gathered together, joined and united as one. Kaya here refers to the embodiments of loving-kindness, compassion, wisdom and skillful means which appear in the world to help sentient beings. <br /><br />DHARMAKAYA <br /><br />The Sanskrit word 'dharma' means phenomena, both external and internal, subjective and objective. Dharmakaya refers to the primordial or true nature of phenomena which is beyond conception or dualistic thought. It is not partial. It does not discriminate. It is Great Equanimity. This embodiment of wisdom is known as Dharmakaya. <br /><br />We are all aware of a great variety of phenomena. There are many things which we know and feel. However, they all can be summarized into two categories; subjective phenomena and objective phenomena. Both develop through the interaction of the elements. If we look carefully at the elements, each of them are aggregations of many sub-units. Every element is composed of individual atoms and these consist of many subatomic particles bound together as the atomic structure of that element. None of these particles are independent things. Each is dependent upon others for its existence. If we look deeply and carefully into any single element, we will find our investigation in terms of subject and object ultimately dissolves in the intuition of Great Emptiness. This is the ultimate examination we can make. To go further is beyond our dualistic conceptions. Understand the real nature of the external world to be no other than Great Emptiness. <br /><br />If we look at subjective phenomena, we find that it is similar to the elements. Mind can be conceptually divided into eight categories or many more but it functions as a single aggregate. If we search for where our present thought comes from, we will not find an exact source. If we look to where it goes, we cannot know it's destination. We cannot even find the spot where it exists. In this way, we can see that mind, the subject, is arising in Great Emptiness, inexpressible by mundane conceptions or speech. <br /><br />Both the internal and external are based in one primordial nature. Outer or inner, there is no distinction, all are one Emptiness beyond dualistic thought, beyond existence and non-existence, both and neither. It goes far beyond the conventional notion of emptiness or vacuity. It is not some 'thing' to which we can cling. It is always here, never increasing or decreasing, but remaining as it is, as it was and how it will be all the time. Circumstances cannot change the primordial nature. Perfect realization of this nature is realization of Dharmakaya. <br /><br />SAMBHOGAKAYA <br /><br />Great Emptiness is our primordial nature. This Emptiness is not like a black hole or a state of nothingness. Emptiness is more like a state of fullness. By means of the primordial nature, everything is arising without effort, without thought, spontaneously appearing with clarity. That is the sign of Emptiness. If there were no Emptiness or primordial truth, everything would be blocked, nothing could move, nothing could develop and nothing could manifest. This spontaneous radiance of unceasing clarity is the meaning of the Sanskrit term, 'Sambhogakaya' . <br /><br />'Sam' means perfect, 'bhoga' means enjoyment and kaya is roughly translated as body. Thus, 'the body of perfect enjoyment' is the radiant wisdom aspect of our original nature. The Sambhogakaya is displayed as the Five Wisdoms. The first of these is Dharmadhatu Wisdom. The second is known as Mirror-like Wisdom. The third is the Wisdom of Equality. The fourth is Discriminating Awareness Wisdom. The fifth is known as All-Accomplishing Wisdom. These Five Wisdoms are the clarity aspect of our true nature. <br /><br />While we are in the world of samsara or as long as we are not realized, these wisdoms are known as the eight consciousnesses. When you purify the obscurations, these eight are transformed into the Five Wisdoms. Therefore, the nature of our present consciousness is based upon these Five Wisdoms. <br /><br />THE EIGHT CONSCIOUSNESSES <br /><br />I will name the eight consciousnesses for people who don't know them. The first five are the eye consciousness, ear consciousness, tongue, nose and body consciousness. These five consciousnesses function through the organs to perceive the five external objects of sense. In themselves, these five are very partial and limited. The eye consciousness is only for form. It cannot taste or hear sounds or smell. Similarly, the ear is only for sound, not for seeing, tasting and so forth. Now how can these scattered consciousnesses be brought together into one united state? That is the function of the sixth consciousness which is like the driver or a judge who makes decisions. It receives and organizes the input of the five external consciousnesses and gives meaning to our experience. The sixth combines and integrates the sense consciousnesses into one. It is known as mind consciousness. <br /><br />The first five consciousnesses are very immediate. They have no continuity. They only refer to the present. They cannot sense the past or the future. They only communicate directly with the present. They are very exclusive and one-sided. The sixth consciousness not only unites these five, it can also refer to the events and activities of the past and future. It is actually structuring our sense of time. <br /><br />A closer look reveals that the mind has two sides. One, which we have called the sixth consciousness, is dealing with the business of the past, present and future; making decisions based on the information received from the first five consciousnesses. It is very neutral and rational. There is another side to this mind, the seventh consciousness, which is basically very emotional and gives rise to ego-clinging. On the basis of ego-clinging, ignorance, anger, attachment, jealousy, pride and doubt develop. All this arises in that singular aggregate we call the mind. <br /><br />All seven of these minds are based upon an eighth consciousness which is known a 'kun-gzhi' in Tibetan, the ground of mind. It is sometimes translated as 'subconscious storehouse'. In Sanskrit, it is called 'alaya'. The nature of the eighth consciousness is neither positive nor negative; it is neutral. Alaya retains every basic habit-pattern of individuals. Everything is stored there; our good karma, bad karma, and neutral karma. All kinds of habits and whatever actions we perform during our lifetimes are registered there. This is why it is known as a 'storehouse'. Alaya is a consciousness, but it is very subtle. <br /><br />When these eight consciousnesses are transmuted or transformed, they become the Five Wisdoms. The Five Wisdoms are symbolized by the five Dhyani Buddhas. They are the radiant spectrum of clarity qualifying the Dharmakaya. The central Buddha of Dharmadhatu Wisdom is Vairocana. The eastern Buddha of Mirrorlike Wisdom is Akshobya. The Wisdom of Equality is embodied in the Buddha of the southern direction, Ratnasambhava or Rinchen Jungnay in Tibetan. The western Buddha of Discriminating Awareness Wisdom is Amitabha or Opagme in Tibetan and the northern Buddha of All Accomplishing Wisdom is known as Amogha Siddhi. These are the principle Buddhas of the Sambhogakaya. <br /><br />NIRMANAKAYA <br /><br />All Buddhas are emanations of one Buddha. The different levels, aspects or kayas of Buddha exist only for the purpose of benefiting sentient beings. Each Buddha can appear in any of these three kayas. Dharmakaya Buddhas such as Samantabhadra appear only to highly realized beings, such as tenth bhumi Bodhisattvas who can also receive teachings from the five Dhyani Buddhas. Beginning practitioners, or those with dualistic thoughts and conceptions, would have difficulty perceiving and receiving teachings from Sambhogakaya and Dharmakaya Buddhas. <br /><br />The third Buddha, is known as the Nirmanakaya Buddha. Nirmana is a Sanskrit term which means manifest in form. Not just in one style or form but in all kinds of ways, in order to benefit all sentient beings whether they are highly realized, beginners or even heavily obscured. The Nirmanakaya Buddha is for everyone. The Nirmanakaya can be divided into four groups: <br /><br /> 1. Supreme emanations <br /> 2. Birth emanations <br /> 3. Artisan emanations <br /> 4. Emanations of various things <br /><br />The Supreme emanation takes birth in the world as a unique person. Buddha Shakyamuni and Guru Padmasambhava are examples of this kind. They have special forms of body, speech and mind. The special qualities of the body are known as the thirty-two major marks and the eighty minor marks. For instance, their bodies have a radiant glow and are free from old age and sickness. They also have a subtle blue light called akanistha going up from the crown chakra and merging into the sky as well as special patterns of the wheel of Dharma on their palms. <br /><br />They have sixty qualities of speech which most people do not have. For example, when Buddha gave teachings, as soon as his voice was heard, it would give a soothing, relaxed, peaceful feeling. At the same time, whatever words he spoke could be heard at once in many different languages. Students from other lands would hear the Buddha's voice in their native tongues. Also, his speech was not affected by distance. An audience of hundreds or thousands had no problem hearing even though they were very far away. Buddha's voice could reach to ten thousand students as clearly as to those sitting right in front of him. <br /><br />The mind of realization has the three qualities of love, compassion and wisdom, as well as the ten powers and eight kinds of fearlessness. Altogether there are thirty-two qualities of mind. A Buddha has no obstruction to seeing the past, present or future. Everything is clear to the eye of wisdom. A Buddha's speech and body qualities are somewhat more obvious, but many people doubt such wisdom. They think it cannot be exactly as it says in the sutras. Even in Shakyamuni Buddha's time they investigated this. They closely examined whether Buddha was totally enlightened and perfectly clear in relation to objects or not. <br /><br />Buddha renounced his father's kingdom and went to the jungle where he did six years of ascetic practice. Upon becoming enlightened, he turned the wheel of the Dharma many times for many students and so became very famous in India. After awhile, his family invited him to come back to his homeland to teach. Buddha said he would not come to the palace, but that he would stay outside the main city. So the Buddha's father and a local ruler named Zangdon who was under his dominion, had a special retreat built for the Buddha and his students. Buddha came and stayed there and began giving regular teachings. <br /><br />Buddha was already known as 'The Omniscient One', being knowledgeable about every aspect of the past, present and future. But King Zangdon had his doubts about that. In order to test him, Zangdon collected one grain of rice from each of two thousand five hundred families. Each grain was wrapped individually, numbered and put into a common basket which was brought before the Buddha. King Zangdon wanted to see if the Buddha could tell him which grain came from which family So one by one, the Buddha examined the grains and told him which households they had come from. The king observed his list of numbers and names and saw that the Buddha's answers were all correct. There were no mistakes. He bowed respectfully to the Buddha and declared, "Now, I know you are omniscient. You are obviously enlightened." Finally, Zangdon became very devoted. This is just an example of the qualities of the mind of a supreme emanation. <br /><br />The second Nirmanakaya or birth emanation incarnates even in the animal and non-visible realms, using different names and forms, male or female as they are needed. There are many Jataka stories of Buddha taking birth in animal worlds as a fish, a turtle, a bird, a monkey, a bear and a lion, as well as among humans and even in the god realms. These are all birth emanations or tulkus. They may or may not appear in the traditional way, wearing robes and all. Tulkus may not even necessarily be recognized as Buddhas but in every case, they are born to remove obstacles and dualistic conceptions, to free sentient beings from ignorance and bring about the perfect understanding of primordial wisdom. <br /><br />The third Nirmanakaya is called the artisan emanation. These appear as objects of art and the artists who make them for the benefit of sentient beings. Thangkas, statues and even music are some of the forms these emanations take. Beautiful, inspired works of art which bring clarity, peace, joy and something special which seems to touch the heart center, are all known as artisan emanations. <br /><br />There was a famous musician called Rlanga who felt that he was the supreme guitarist. And he was a very special musician, but he was also proud and arrogant. He thought he was incomparable to anybody in the world. He was always playing his music and never had any opportunity to see Buddha or receive teachings. He appreciated the Dharma but he was attached to playing music and felt he should spend his time practicing. He really thought he was the greatest. <br /><br />Rlanga heard the Buddha was going to enter Mahaparinirvana and thought that he should visit him soon to receive teachings and have some contact. But he was still very involved in music and maintaining his pride. So right before he entered Mahaparinirvana, the Buddha thought, "Now what is it I still have to give sentient beings with this body? Who may I serve? Who is left?" Through his wisdom he saw Rlanga in his present condition. So Buddha emanated one very special musician and went to the door of Rlanga with a thousand-stringed mandolin. When Buddha started to play and the famous musician heard that music, he began to listen closely and thought, "Who could that be?" He had to come outside and bring his mandolin. Soon, he noticed Buddha hardly even moved his fingers. Plucking one string resonated all the others. Rlanga was unable to do this. The vibration of the music seemed to separate out the whole of space into many different voices of the Dharma which were of real benefit to this famous musician. He thought, "So there is someone more accomplished than myself! I am not the best..." At that moment his arrogance and pride dissolved. He felt very grateful to hear the Dharma through that mandolin. <br /><br />Any kind of art which provides temporary or ultimate help for sentient beings by awakening love and compassion is known as an artisan emanation. <br /><br />The emanations of various things manifest in a variety of ways. These can appear as rain, fire or wind. During times when sentient beings are troubled with diseases, they may come in the form of special herbs and medicines for healing or perhaps when beings are in danger of losing their lives, suddenly something miraculous occurs and saves them. All of these things are various forms of the Nirmanakaya. <br /><br />There is really just one Buddha. Every person who becomes enlightened has the ability to transform or emanate in these three kaya states. So basically again, Buddha means one who has fully developed love, compassion, wisdom and skillful means, one whose obscurations and habit patterns have been purified, one who has realized a totally free, devotional state. That sentient being, that person, that individual is known as an enlightened being or a Buddha. <br /><br />This is the teaching of the Three Kayas.Frater Raum Sariel 3°http://www.blogger.com/profile/02655543667159105648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24104844518613312.post-65785129925326264642010-06-02T20:36:00.000-07:002010-06-02T20:38:38.180-07:00My Kundalini RisingI sat for years contemplating the fact that Moses raised the "serpent" in the deserts of Egypt so long ago in the ancient world. On this one particular occasion I closed the windows and doors to my mind and attempted what i have been training for most of my life.. My turn to raise 'KUNDALINI" has come.For those of you who dont know,its the coiled energy sitting at the base of the spine and raising it through the chakra's and channels through your body is said by yogi's and many masters to be the pinnancle of enlightenment.It coils up your spine like a snake(hence the ancient name of serpent) and ends in your brain opening up your pineal gland in the brain.Through many different kinds of initations and cleansing rites,i deemed myself ready for the experience and i was certain that my initiation into Egyptian mystery schools had prepared me.<br /><br />AFTER TAKING THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF BREATHS AND FOCUSING ON A CERTAIN INNER SOUND WITHIN MY BEING,I FELT THE FIRST SIGNS OF AROUSAL.THE SERPENT WAS AWAKENING.DURING ITS AROUSAL,I FELT TERRIBLE PAIN IN MY LOWER CHAKRA(GROIN AREA).IT WAS TO LATE TO STOP AS SHE(the energy)WAS ALREADY COMING OUT OF ITS LONG SLUMBER.THE PAIN WAS DUE TO REPRESSED SEXUAL ENERGY THAT HAS NOT FULLY DISSOLVED.AS THE KUNDALINI ENERGY PASSED THROUGH MY FIRST CHAKRA,I FELT AND INTENSE BURNING SENSATION.THEN SUDDENLY IT COOLED AND WITH MY MIND I MENTALLY SUCKED IT UP MY SPINE LIKE A FLUID THROUGH A STRAW.LIKE A GUSH OF WATER IT COILED AROUND MY SPINE AND AT AN INTENSE UNCONTROLLABLE SPEED SHOT INTO MY BRAIN.WITH THE INVOLUNTARY CLOSING OF MY EYES,I WAS IMMERSED IN TO PURE WHITE LIGHT.THE PLEASURE WAS SO INTENSE THAT IT BECAME UNBEARABLY ADDICTIVE FOR A MOMENT.AFTER WHAT SEEMED LIKE AN INCONSISTENT AMOUNT OF TIME PASSING RISING THROUGH DIFFRENT PLANES OF CONSCIOUSNESS I BEHELD THE VISION GLORIOUS IN ALL ITS MAJESTY AND NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRY TO CAPTURE THE IMAGE IN MY MINDS EYE TODAY,I CANNOT DESCRIBE IT.VOCABULARY FAILS.FEELINGS ARE ITS LANGUAGE.<br /><br />By Brother Christopher Jooste<br />Worshipful Master<br />Lodge Helios<br />1613 Nation<br />Johannesberg, South AfricaFrater Raum Sariel 3°http://www.blogger.com/profile/02655543667159105648noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24104844518613312.post-52560075857375762592010-05-21T00:48:00.000-07:002010-05-21T00:49:14.106-07:00Some 1613 Facts<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" width="100%" height="100%"><tbody><tr><td colspan="3" valign="top"><span style="font-size:85%;">Crossposted from the Chequered Pavement:<br /><br /><i>I would like to thank Bro. Steve Foley for encouraging factual information regarding all Masonic orders and communities to be out there for public consumption. He has been a close friend and true Brother who stands as a pinnacle of Masonic behavior. Thanks Brother.<br /><br />Anyway, I thought that some of this may be useful to some of you so in that spirit I hope you enjoy.<br /><br />Cheers,<br />BC </i><br /><br />Well basically the 1613 Nation is a <b>community</b> of <b>independent lodges (self originating, not holding or requiring charter )</b> who work together out of a sense of cooperation and mutual Brotherhood. We are <b>not</b> a Grand Orient or Grand Lodge in any way and we <b>do not claim</b> to be.<br /><br />So, what does this mean? In a nutshell we are all friends who share a common passion for Freemasonry and the betterment of Mankind through a set of common principles. The specifics are outlined on the 1613 Manifesto, although that in no way is ever intended to be a source of "set in stone" dogma.<br /><br />Think of the 21st century in relation to different movements. Commonalities between the 1613 and the open source software movement or the Do It Yourself ethic are numerous. In a nutshell we are those movements within our mutual love, Freemasonry.<br /><br />It all started from one lodge, that was itself started by an idea fueled by a desire to practice a ritual that we had a mutual fondness for. That lodge, Lodge Napoleon Bonaparte was founded expressly to work the original Rite of Misraim, a Rite that had previously been unavailable to work.<br /><br />Those four founders of LNB, of who I am one originally had the idea to receive a charter for the lodge from a Grand Lodge in Europe who offered the Rite of Misraim. After a lot of contact and discussion we always found something that for us was not what we desired. Whether that be the $400.00 annual "tribute" to the Grand Lodge, or having to comply 100% with their rules for visitation, voting protocol in French or what have you we decided that was not the road to go down for us. So, we decided to be independents and do our own thing.<br /><br />We wanted to be a worldwide lodge that would gather annually for ritual. While this worked we where running into Brethren who still wanted an in person lodge every month so we decided to explore that option.<br /><br />So, what we decided to do was to set up a community where we would be able to share information. We would also dedicated ourselves to helping others within the community with traveling to do degrees, redacting ritual, creating new ritual on and on. The first step was the establishment of a Post-Modern Freemasonry group on FB. This allowed us to connect with interested people from all over the world. It has been a wonderful success today with almost 500 members in harmony.<br /><br />This lead to the Establishment of individual lodges in Georgia and South Africa. An established lodge in Mexico working Memphis Misraim and a lodge in Germany working misraim also caught on to what we where doing so we found ourselves growing.<br /><br />The way that our lodges come about is two ways. A currently establish lodges expresses sincere interest in joining the community. They resonate with the manifesto and the ten point program found within it. We establish them within the community, provide full web support etc.<br /><br />The second method is that those who are Masons currently and who resonate with the 1613 inquire about forming a new lodge. Then we do the same thing by plugging them into the community etc.<br /><br />The final way is an individual seeker inquires about the community. We get them introduced. We get to know each other and whatever the best solution to get the candidate initiated when identified is put into action. Practicality is the key of the day.<br /><br />Our Rites are what is currently available and desire to be worked and then what can be created new and added to the current of Masonic Rites.<br /><br />We feature long established rituals like Memphis, Misraim, AASR (REAA) French Modern Rite, Schroeder, National Mexican Rite. As well s the newly formed Hellenic Rite. We also encourage the modification of current rites based upon the will of the lodge.<br /><br />The 1613 Nation is an open and free community. That means that we encourage those who are members to share the current with whoever they can. We encourage the exchange of ideas and the implementation of new best practices. We are not a dues paying organization. No lodge pays to be a member of the 1613. That means that this is strictly a volunteer effort. All of our support (including web design and hosting, intra-net, blogs, redacted rituals etc.) come at zero monetary costs to it's members. But all members are expected to be active in the community and to offer assistance to other members/lodges when required.<br /><br />For an example our lodges in the UK- Sanctum Sanctorum and John Yarker work together on a regular basis. Both of our Lauderdale lodges are closely linked. Our NY, NY and DC lodges work together for mutual benefit etc. The desire to be a true community is our ultimate goal.<br /><br />IN LVX.<!-- google_ad_section_end --> </span></td></tr><tr><td class="windowbg" colspan="3" align="left" bgcolor="#006699" valign="bottom"><table border="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="left"><br /></td><td align="right"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Frater Raum Sariel 3°http://www.blogger.com/profile/02655543667159105648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24104844518613312.post-27437256649038086892010-05-09T10:32:00.000-07:002010-05-09T10:36:17.700-07:00Logia Jose de San Martin-1613 Nation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpolFAL4upsQ1Z8IgQQ7Qw0PwarOrDixTGFqw0Izd-cKsusBTKpriMVY6Bqb58xiHJ7IGK7OzKj8oqhbODtTZFEWRngAjljDU_Drb3EwqJ_CaKZ6XZNgqIpcZhJppp1MZrzVJj7ZeLXTs/s1600/LogiaJosedeSanMartin.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpolFAL4upsQ1Z8IgQQ7Qw0PwarOrDixTGFqw0Izd-cKsusBTKpriMVY6Bqb58xiHJ7IGK7OzKj8oqhbODtTZFEWRngAjljDU_Drb3EwqJ_CaKZ6XZNgqIpcZhJppp1MZrzVJj7ZeLXTs/s320/LogiaJosedeSanMartin.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469324724118719234" border="0" /></a>Buenos Aires, Argentina. 1613 Nation-Post-Modern Freemasons.<br /><br />How wonderful to see our Brotherhood growing worldwide.Frater Raum Sariel 3°http://www.blogger.com/profile/02655543667159105648noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24104844518613312.post-19268653375226828112010-04-20T09:25:00.000-07:002010-04-20T09:29:24.524-07:00Our Grand Inspiration<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eJ1Vv_M2MWM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eJ1Vv_M2MWM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Frater Raum Sariel 3°http://www.blogger.com/profile/02655543667159105648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24104844518613312.post-48997484146335493852010-04-19T08:17:00.000-07:002010-04-19T08:18:23.464-07:001613 Manifesto<p> We stand united against the forces of stagnation and institutionalised regression. As Freemasonry is a progressive science we seek to regain a fluid and flowing form. The rejection of tradition for the mere sake of maintaining the status quo. We hear-by issue in a new era. We take control of our own sovereignty. Our members are who matter not some far away "supreme council" or dictatorial oligarchy. We maintain the right of self determination. Empowerment is the new order of the day. </p> <h2> Preamble: </h2> <p> A maelstrom is rising, reaching out across the globe. The powers that have come to dominate over the last 300 years have grown tired. So bloated by their own institutional creation they have grow slow, unable to react to the needs of the twenty first century seeker of Masonic light. The traditions that they have come to rely on have betrayed them. Just as a poor diet with lead to a body ravaged with afflictions and cancer and a poor education leaves a mind dull and witless their allegiance to seventeenth century best practices have left them on life support in the twenty first century age. Today's seeker of light wants more than the stale status quo. They want more than just the social men's club but the radical progressive revolution of the enlightenment. </p> <p> Where do we go from here? When will apathy and stasis be replaced with enthusiasm and emotion? Now! By who? The revolutionaries who go by the Freemasonry beyond form. We call ourselves Post-Modern Freemasons, the 1613 Nation. </p> <h2> Guiding Principles: </h2> <p> Unlike our Modern and Antient predecessors , Post-Moderns are united together not through the bonds of institutional servitude but by the genuine desire to build upon common principles. It is no the desire to form yet another among the countless institutions. It is not the feeding of ego that can so easily lead to a cult of personality. It is the genuine desire and belief that a true community based upon common sense pragmatic principles will allow us to guide ourselves in the model of the twenty first century Freemason. </p> <p> The first of these principles is that of sovereignty. Sovereignty not only of our lodges as independent houses of the Craft, but sovereignty of the individual to practice the Craft how would best benefit their individual lives. As Freemasons and free men and women; we the members and 1613 Nation loudly and proudly declare our sovereignty and independence; not only as Freemasons but as collective citizens under the canopy of Heaven. We hold it within our rights to manage our affairs as we see fit, regardless of attempted outside interference. </p> <p> The second of these principles is the abandonment of rigid institutionalized forms. In Order to remain effective the Craft needs to be adaptable to any situation we find ourselves in. We cannot be so dedicated to one way that it leads us right off the cliff to extinction. This is counter productive ad potentially suicidal. We need to approach the Craft with a pragmatic mindset. The growth of the Nation leads to the service of seekers of Masonic light. This is our mission, we cannot be so caught up in "tradition" that we loose focus that would lead to aspirants slipping through the cracks. </p> <p> The third principle reflects our commitment to the service of all true aspirants. We must not discriminate dues to gender, race, sexual orientation, class, creed, religion or lack of faith. To do so is a gross violation of contemporary human virtue. We must build a cosmopolitan Craft, one who is inclusive and meaningful in order to build a better humanity. </p> <p> The fourth principle reflects our operative focus. For being operative, our Freemasonry, conscious of accomplishing the great divine intention and transcendent teachings of the ancients, does not admit any limitation to the absolute liberty of conscience and, for its natural extension, the complete liberty of the spirit. All free and honest human beings, from all races, genders, religions, social situations, philosophical or political ideals and economic conceptions should commune in harmony and unity to be free citizens within the temple of Masonic light. The operative magicks of shall be transmitted through our workings. United in this glorious endeavour, we the custodians of this magickal Rites now open this mutual community. </p> <p> It is these principles that separate us from those who have come before. We claim no superiority except when it comes to being such for ourselves. Just as we do not hold any foreign authority in supreme regard we do not hold the standards of organizations outside of our community as absolute standards. We are united in our common bond and strengthened in by our will. </p> <h2> 1613 Nation Structure: </h2> <p> Cooperation, Compassion, Community we are the pillars of the Temple! </p> <p> The 1613 Nation is not a grand lodge or orient. There is no grand master nor supreme council. The 1613 Nation is a co-operational community guided by principle and help together by mutual benefit and respect. The institutionalized way of doing things has given us a three hundred year old case study. This is a lot of data to process and we have come to the conclusion that an institutionalized system always leads to status. When the blood stops moving the host body dies. That is what has let to a cross divisional collapse of what once was an initiatic Craft. We are determined to avoid this path of esoteric starvation. </p> <p> Each lodge is independent, but each lodge is also tied to the community. We do not help each other out of fear of retribution but rather out of the joy and sense of purpose it gives , Craftsmen helping Craftsmen each busy building the temple not built by hands- one living stone at a time. </p> <p> We are resolute that we will not adopt the self destructive habits of institutionalism or elitism. </p> <p> </p> <p> 1613 Nation: Ten Point Program of the Post-Modern Freemason </p> <ul><li> 1.) Dedication to both lodge and individual Masonic empowerment. There is no greater lodge than the lodge of self. The four chambers of the Craftsman's heart not the four walls made of stucco and drywall. We as members of the 1613 Nation seek a high level of operative skill. We seek to reach a point of the "perpetual lodge." A state of being. We understand that it is not enough to meet once a month as Brothers than depart back into a state of a essentially profane life. It is through the empowerment of both the lodge of the individual Craftsman that must always remain in out focus or we will lose out state of perpetual motion. </li><li> 2.) Commitment to the grow of the individual Mason as a Craftsman of Masonic and related arcana. We realize that Freemasonry is not a unique self contained system of spiritual enlightenment. In other words it was not created in a vacuum. Freemasonry pulls it's life energy from those traditions, schools and systems that came before it. It is made imperative in order for us to have a skill set in one so must we in the others. A 1613 Craftsman is a practitioner of other mystery traditions. Hermeticism, Rosicrucianism, Martinism , Kabbalah, Tantra and other forms are required if one is going to be building a temple on Earth. All our tools within our familiarity. </li><li> 3.) Abolition of the regressive policies found within Freemasonry such a hierarchical grand lodge system. To remain a community based upon cooperation. To Abolish outdated best practices such as recognition based organizational criteria. All of these things are the enemy of the twenty first century Post-Modern Freemason. We simply cannot allow ourselves to fall into regressive "headtrash." The second we do we have failed in our divine purpose. </li><li> 4.) Restoration of "obscure" Rites of Freemasonry to a level of active practice. To be blunt we find value in all the Rites and rituals that have come before. Within every one you'll find the "golden thread" that binds us all together. We feel it is a crime that Rites be locked away as if in a museum or some perverse literary zoo. We have the honor to have all of this great body of work to have survived the centuries. Why not use them to progress our work? We make every effort to make what is available accessible to our membership. </li><li> 5.) The encouragement of the creation and implementation of new Rites and rituals. What has come before is fantastic, build what is born a new can make the difference between something next generation and something obsolete. We need to continuously push ourselves to not only master what we have available to be create. This creativity is the very essence of the Post-Modern Freemason. </li><li> 6.) Dedication to overall experimentation. Unless new ideas are put into action they are useless. Let us experiment with new techniques and best practices. Lets be honest with ourselves with what works and what fails. Let us find what works and build upon it. </li><li> 7.) Active participation in the non Masonic community. To foster the role of education and tolerance in order to build a better planet. Freemasonry is nothing more than a hobby and a distraction if what we learn and are capable of is not applied to the outside world. It is up to us to be better people. better fathers and mothers, better sisters and brothers. Better employers and employees. better citizens of the worldwide lodge. The Post-Modern Freemason sincerely believes a Masonic planet is better than a profane one. make it happen, live it. </li><li> 8.) Maintain a strong work ethic. To build instead of buy. To be self sufficient. As a grassroots movement it is up to each and every Post-Modern Freemason to get their individual hands dirty. rely on the community for help and support but more importantly be reliable. Don't buy what you can build. </li><li> 9.) To leave no Brother or Sister behind. Be responsible for one another. We are our Brothers keepers. Brotherly love, relief and truth for the Post-Modern Freemason is not a marketing slogan. Love your Brothers and Sisters. Make time for one another and always have each others best interests in mind. There are many obstacles against the Nation, we need to always make sure that we take care of our own. </li><li> 10.) Maintain an atmosphere of "kaizen" continual improvement. What can be built can always be built better. Improve, innovate. </li></ul> <p> The 1613 Nation is a community movement, spreading across the globe with speed and efficiency. In keeping with the spirit of a Post-Modern fluid movement dedicated to results over absolute forms we leave it up to the individual 1613 member to make their individual views know with their own personal manifesto. We need to make sure that all who seek are serviced. Everyone is just as important as everyone else. We are not based upon the ego or agenda of one person or a select group of people. We must continue to be a dynamic movement based upon skill building, growth , harmony and perseverance. </p> <p> <b>Now is the time Brethren, the birth of the 1613 Nation.</b> </p> <div> </div>Frater Raum Sariel 3°http://www.blogger.com/profile/02655543667159105648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24104844518613312.post-17261898714126173562010-04-18T09:37:00.000-07:002010-04-18T09:44:12.606-07:001613 Nation Reaching Across The GlobeIt has only been a year since the official formation of Post-Modern Freemasonry. With the release of the 1613 Manifesto we have seen the current resonate with seekers of Masonic Light all over the globe. Now with 22 lodges in 11 countries we can see the powerful effect that our paradigm is having on people. The message of Masonic self empowerment is taking hold.<br /><br />Tomorrow is a whole new day and with it comes a whole new challenge of teaching, learning and growing. Read the manifesto, get it out there. Never forget our grass roots street ethic. Knowledge is power so build my Brethren.<br /><br />IN LVX,<br />Frater Raum Sariel 3°<br />Secretary Lodge Napoleon Bonaparte-1613 NationFrater Raum Sariel 3°http://www.blogger.com/profile/02655543667159105648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24104844518613312.post-65347191922044216352010-01-02T03:47:00.000-08:002010-01-02T03:50:45.435-08:00Reflections on 2009Wow, what a crazy and exciting year. All in all I would say that it went pretty good. One for the history books, should everything (well, most things) play out the way that they should.<br /><br />2009, for all of it's financial ups and downs for almost everybody proved to be a year of new creation as well as rebirth. From that original idea of Masonic freedom, fluidity and personal empowerment came what we would later label Post-Modern Freemasonry. From a concept ,to a cause who would have thought that those original four who founded the very first Post-Modern Masonic lodge in Lodge Bonaparte would strike a chord deep within the core of so many spread out across so wide of a distance?We have seen our idea grow into what is now a worldwide Masonic family. Now found on four continents and growing. We also gained the support fellowship and cooperation of several long established Masonic orders as well. Quite and accomplishment.<br /><br />Of course this past year had it's down spots as well. We lost more than one dear friend and a few inspirations to the Celestial Lodge. And while we may have heavy hearts we must always remember that their energy flows through us and helps us to build the future.<br /><br />We also actively took part in the creation of a whole new Masonic Rite, the Hellenic Rite. The first created from the ground up Post-Modern Masonic Rite. This allowed us of course to create this very special Lodge Hera. Dedicated to the sacred feminine, a very important role lost to most within Freemasonry now reawakened.<br /><br />In these early morning hours I am thankful for all of my Brethren and friends who have decided to walk the rugged road with me. Without you I could not continue. We as a community strengthen each other with the pure love and support that is Masonic Brotherhood. For that I owe you all my deepest gratitude.<br /><br />So here is to a great sendoff to a very important 2009, and a welcome to 2010. I have a feeling that 2010 will be our best year to date.<br /><br />S&F,<br />Frater Raum Sariel<br />Secretary Lodge Napoleon Bonaparte<br />Post-Modern FreemasonsFrater Raum Sariel 3°http://www.blogger.com/profile/02655543667159105648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24104844518613312.post-36608507530451322362009-12-14T12:19:00.000-08:002009-12-14T12:34:33.763-08:00Update<a name="msg_78e22c3833d3d5ec"></a>Brethren and Friends,<br />I know activity on this blog has not only been slow, it's been zero. This does not reflect the activity level of Lodge Napoleon Bonaparte, even more importantly, the movement within the Post-Modern <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Freemasonic</span></span> world.<br /><br />Tons of activity. Where to begin. We have started an initiative to establish new Post-Modern lodges on a local level. The original idea was to have Lodge Napoleon Bonaparte to serve all sincere seekers around the globe. While this is still a reality it is not the only reality. We realize the demand for local groups to be able to come together as a lodge and we would be foolish not to service the demand at that level.<br /><br />So, what we have is the <strong>It Takes Three Initiative</strong>. This allows a lodge to be fully functional and independent with only three officers, instead of the traditional seven. As a result we have several Rites and rituals that are fully operation at that level with more on the way.<br />The good news is also more and more Masons are showing reception to the Post-Modern Masonic movement. We now have a cooperative of lodges around the world with more coming every day.<br /><br />These include:<br /><br />Lodge Ptah (Atlanta, GA)<br />Lodge <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Herra</span></span> (Bay Area, CA)<br />Lodge of Nine Tears (Miami, FL)<br />Lodge Via <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hermeticae</span></span> (Mexico City, Mexico)<br />Lodge <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Corazon</span></span> (Mexico City, Mexico)<br />Lodge Human Stones (Tel <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Aviv</span>, Israel)<br />Lodge Helios (Johannesburg, South Africa)<br />Lodge <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Morganrote</span></span> (Dortmund, Germany)<br />Lodge <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Ojo</span></span> De Horus (Ecuador)<br /><br />Also lodges are in the process of forming in France, Belgium, Italy, Sacramento, Charlotte North Carolina, Washington, DC and Rogers Arkansas.<br /><br />We are also establishing a special Lodge of research. Lodge John <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Yarker</span></span>. This will allow all Post-Modern Freemasons and members of academia to work together in Masonic, esoteric and occult research.<br /><br />As you all now know we have been extremely busy. We have also established official relationships with the Order of Masonry Memphis <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Misriam</span></span> Mixed of Ecuador and Portugal.<br />In <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">LVX</span></span>,<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Raum</span></span>Frater Raum Sariel 3°http://www.blogger.com/profile/02655543667159105648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24104844518613312.post-7484129678146248312009-11-05T18:38:00.000-08:002009-11-05T18:40:29.229-08:00"Re-Creating" Freemasonry in Our Own ImageI read on an institutionalized Masonic forum this morning an accusation that I have had against me before but never really thought seriously about until now. This accusation of course was levied against all non "mainstream" Masons, not just Post-Moderns.<br /><br />I stood back, looked at this and realized to myself that this time our critic is 100% correct.<br /><br />Speaking from the Post-Modern Masonic perspective we are absolutely creating the flavor of Freemasonry we want to ingest. Gender-Equal, Adogmatic yet Occult, deeply magickal and operational in base yet philosophic. The encouragement of the creation of new Rites as well preservation and re-establishment of the old. Sure, you could say that we are "recreating" Freemasonry.<br /><br />At the same time isn't this a "traditional" practice?<br /><br />When we look at history what do we find? The York Masons diverged the Stonemasons. The Moderns diverged from the Yorks. The Antients diverged from the Moderns. The Post-Modern now diverge from the Moderns, Antients and Yorks.<br /><br />I will write a paper more in depth on this subject sometime but isn't "recreating" Freemasonry in our own image the whole point? Aren't the needs of seekers and of society vastly different today than they where in 1717? Aren't both adaptation and evolution required for species survival?<br /><br />I would love to read the thoughts of our forum on this subject.<br /><br />Love and Light,<br />RaumFrater Raum Sariel 3°http://www.blogger.com/profile/02655543667159105648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24104844518613312.post-6506706413746877182009-05-24T19:51:00.000-07:002009-05-24T19:55:38.006-07:00Women and FreemasonryThis our dear readers is the rarest of rare occasions. We are featuring a cross post on our blogs. This topic we feel is so important that it must get as much publicity as humanly possible. The issue of the continuing inhuman practice of gender segregation has no place in 21st century Freemasonry. It is for the very sake of the Crafts future health and well being that we post this. We urge all Freemasons, regardless of Rite, affiliation or obedience to please do the right thing and contribute to this cause. We owe this as citizens of humanity.<br /><br />Your Host,<br />Raum Sariel<br /><br /><br />Women and Freemasonry, From the Enlightenment to Today<br /><a href="http://www.fabula.org/actualites/article31531.php" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.fabula.org/actualites/article31531.php</a><br />Call for Contributions<br />Information Published on Thursday, May 21, 2009 by Fabula (source: Cécile Révauger)<br />Deadline: September 15, 2009<br />University of Bordeaux and Museum of Aquitaine<br />June 17-19, 2010, Bordeaux<br />Women are still absent today from the majority of Masonic lodges. Few rational arguments can be made to justify such an exclusion. That of tradition, the most widespread, only applies to the Constitutions of Anderson, and do not appear explicitly in the Old Charges of the Masons. The lodges of adoption were sometimes considered as a substitute Masonry. It would be erroneous, however, to minimize their importance and the significance which they had in their time, as Margaret Jacob and Janet Burke have recently showed. These lodges of adoption, which were born in Holland, and then in France, at the time of the enlightenment, are certainly characteristic of the limits of participation of women at that time, because of their very elitist and aristocratic character. However, they conveyed a certain number of values, if only by their ritual, and accorded women an unprecedented place in the public sphere, comparable with the salons.<br />Were these lodges satisfied to reflect the society of their time, or did they anticipate certain evolutions and contribute to the emancipation of women? To what point are they representative of enlightenment society? To a significant degree, these lodges of adoption disappeared at the same time as the enlightenment, to reappear in a quite different form in the following century in the United States (the Eastern Star). The Masonic world of the nineteenth century was almost exclusively male. It would be interesting to seek the reasons for such an absence of women. It is necessary to await the end of the nineteenth century, with women such as Annie Besant, Madame Blavatsky, Marie Deraismes, Clémence Royer or Louise Michel to find a feminine presence in the lodges, sometimes, as in the case of Annie Besant, in close connection with the Theosophist Society.<br />We will endeavor to identify the evolution of feminine participation, on the one hand through mixed Masonry, which appeared at the end of the nineteenth century, and also through specifically feminine obediences, which date only from the twentieth. All these women fought for equality, but some hoped to reach it within mixed structures, and others by autonomous paths. We will be interested in the choices of manner of organization and of ritual, as well as the social composition, of the mixed and feminine lodges.<br />We will inquire about their openness to society, or on the contrary about their wish for discretion, on the nature of their work. These obediences developed only in certain countries, we will try to see for what reasons. At the same time we will explain the Masonic organizations and their individual characteristics.<br />We will try to determine the weight of the various factors in these areas: - The cultural, social and political factor: is there a direct link between the development of mixed and feminine obediences, social progress as regards emancipation of women, and the force of the feminist currents in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries? - The religious factor: can one observe different behaviors according to the religions? Is the question of feminine initiation posed in a specific way in the Catholic, Protestant, Islamic or Orthodox countries? - The Masonic factor: the line of fracture between Latin Freemasonry and Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry, dating from 1877 and the decision of the Grand Orient of France to grant a full freedom of conscience to its members and no longer to require belief in God. But curiously, it also translated into terms of exclusion or recognition of women, even if it is immediately advisable to qualify the matter with regard to obediences known as "Latin."<br />There exist several degrees of exclusion today: women can be regarded as noninitiables, as is still formally the case in the United Kingdom, the USA, and in all obediences which give allegiance to the United Grand Lodge of England. In other cases, the presence of women is accepted and even encouraged, but in structures that are not recognized as Masonic, although they are regarded as serving with the male lodges thanks to their charitable actions (the Eastern Star). Finally, obediences known as Latin are divided on the question of the admission of women. Some are mixed, others are discussing the question of co-Masonry, others still refuse it on principle.<br />Can one speak about Masonic universalism, or is Freemasonry determined by gender? It will be advisable to inquire at the same time about the reasons for the exclusion of women, in all these forms, with all these nuances, and about the specific types of feminine freemasonry in time and space, from the first lodges to those of today in Europe, Asia and the Americas. We will also be able to inquire about the view which the feminists had about Freemasonry, and also about the lodges of adoption and contemporary Freemasonry. We will thus encourage a diversity of approaches and desire that the historical and geographical scope be the broadest possible, in order to understand the differences as well as the similarities, and to understand the evolution.<br />Summaries of papers should be accompanied by a curriculum vitae (2000 characters in all) and must be received by Cécile Révauger before September 15, 2009. mail to: Cecile.revau<a href="http://groups.google.com/groups/unlock?_done=/group/the-outer-court/browse_thread/thread/c7a6159b96dd919f&msg=275fb40407571bb9" target="_parent">...</a>@wanadoo.fr<br />Cécile Révauger Université Michel de Montaigne Bordeaux3 Domaine Universitaire , 33607 Pessac Cedex FranceFrater Raum Sariel 3°http://www.blogger.com/profile/02655543667159105648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24104844518613312.post-44127126041814977202009-05-15T09:39:00.000-07:002009-05-15T10:23:14.850-07:00Offcial Policy on Masonic RegularityDear Readers,<br />There may be no greater source of stress, strife and confusion amongst the Masonic family that the topic and practice of regularity. It has become all to apparent that most Masons do not understand the policy of regularity, but instead they use it as either a description for themselves or as ammunition against others. This post will hopefully clarify some of the confusion as well as outline Lodge Napoleon Bonaparte's official stance on the subject.<br /><br />Regularity is a term used to define how a Masonic lodge is to operate. These are most often coined under the term Ancient Landmarks. Best Practices if you will. It is also used as weather or not from a distance one Masonic organization can tell if their own Best Practices are compatible with another. That being said, regularity is strictly determined within each organization, not bestowed from without. This is a vital point of individual order (or as in our case Lodge) Masonic practice of absolute sovereignty.<br /><br />It is well understood and respected that there is no central authority for Freemasonry. No governing central body in which all would reside. This has set up literally hundreds of Orders and independent lodges who are within their rights (under Masonic custom) to determine themselves regularity.<br /><br />When we take this to a specific point and define what is regular under Lodge Napoleon Bonaparte we get these definite points. Lodge Napoleon Bonaparte is a Sovereign lodge under the Post-Modern Masonic platform. The membership has defined (through unanimous vote) that in order for a Masonic organization or lodge to be considered regular under our Best Practices (Landmarks) that they must:<br /><br />Have no bias based on gender or race.<br /><br />Have no bias based on religion or lack of religion.<br /><br />Have no bias based on sexual orientation.<br /><br />In our opinion these are base fundamentals. As we have defined this amongst ourselves and seeing how this is our Masonic right as a Sovereign and Self-Determined Independent Masonic Lodge we, Lodge Napoleon Bonaparte are a regular Masonic body. We believe that as Post-Modern Freemasons we are not bound by a static system that does not grow, breathe and change. To be fluid is essential to the Post-Modern platform.<br /><br />Fraternally,<br />Frater Raum Sariel 3°<br />Lodge Secretary<br />Lodge Napoleon Bonaparte<br />Sovereign Rite of Misraim<br />Post-Modern Freemasons<br /><a href="http://www.lodgenapoleon.com/" target="_blank">http://www.lodgenapoleon.com/</a>Frater Raum Sariel 3°http://www.blogger.com/profile/02655543667159105648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24104844518613312.post-46720879456016716162009-04-10T13:58:00.000-07:002009-04-10T14:40:33.747-07:00Napoleon Bonaparte-Freemason<span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>By, WPGH. Frater. Robert Ambelain ,</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>From his accession into the imperial purple, Napoleon Bonaparte was always proclaimed and considered to be a genuine Freemason in his lifetime, as where his father, his brothers and his </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>Marshals. In his book <strong>The Freemasonry of Bonaparte</strong>, Francois Collavery showed the continual role of Lodges in the diffusion of the great ideals of the French Revolution across Europe "I am a man of the Revolution" Emperor Bonaparte had declared. In 1986 the same author had assembled all of the proofs to Napoleon personally belonging to the Masonic Order in a second volume: <strong>Napoleon, Emperor, Freemason</strong>.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>All of the documents with the very important witness of the archieves of the Grand Orient of France affirm that the Initiation of Napoleon Bonaparte took place in Egypt. To those we can add the documentation published by us in Number 1 of the magazine <strong>L'Initiation</strong> in 1979, an article which included the recall of a letter by Grand Master Constant Chevellion, dated November 10th 1934, confirming to Grand Master Fletcher of the USA that Napoleon Bonaparte had been received as a Mason in Cairo, which brought together Masonic members of the mission to Egypt and that Kleber presided, a Lodge carrying the name Isis. These where the Masons along with their successors who thereafter formally constituted the Rite of Memphis at Montauban in 1815.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>From this period, violet became the color of it's rituals, blue being that of the French Rite and blue edged with red being that of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. Violet constituted the color of the Parma violets, the duchy where the little King of Rome resided at four years of age. </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>The Rite of Memphis-Misraim associated the violet of these origins with the turquoise blue attributed to the great Isis of ancient Egypt, this joining together in double esoteric symbolism. </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>This is why Napoleon was one of the very first Masons of the Rite of Memphis. And the Emperor had never forgotten that he "received light" on the unique soil of holy initiation. This is why he also adopted the Bee as the symbol of his reign, with the Eagle. The Bee was the image of the Pharoh in ancient Egypt and two wings of an eagle flank the Osiran sun. Finally, a comment by Napoleon to Josephine has been reported by her intimate friends, then celebrated by Mile Lonormand in her <strong>Memoirs</strong>: "I have consumed in my life continual movement which hasn't allowed me to fulfill my duties as an initiate of the Egyptian sect." </em></span>Frater Raum Sariel 3°http://www.blogger.com/profile/02655543667159105648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24104844518613312.post-58524115959420569732009-04-08T11:58:00.000-07:002009-04-08T18:51:44.130-07:00The Outer Court<span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>Welcome to the official blog for Lodge Napoleon Bonaparte-<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Sovereign</span> Rite of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Misraim</span>. We are a sovereign and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">independent</span> lodge of Freemasons. Based in North America but <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">utilizing</span> </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>all that web 2.0 has to offer in order to service seekers worldwide with Masonic light.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>Here you will find all public bulletins and breaking news when it comes to our Brotherhood.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>We <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">are very</span> excited about what the future <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">will</span> bring and we are also happy to share with those of you outside our Brotherhood what we can.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>While we do appreciate the comments and views of others we do have simple guidelines when it comes to posting comments on this blog.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>1.) Please remember that we are a society of gentlemen and ladies. Please address us as so. All rude and disruptive <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">heckling</span> will not be tolerated. We have a zero <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">tolerance</span> policy here.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>2.) We do not as lodge policy give out any membership information in regards to Lodge Napoleon Bonaparte. This includes all past, present and future membership. We give out no names, no affiliations or any other information whatsoever. For the sake of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">redundancy</span> please; do not ask these types of questions.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>3.) Lodge Napoleon Bonaparte is 100% free and sovereign from any foreign <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">influence</span>. We are not subject to any other organizations rules and regulations, nor are we dependant on any other in any way. The membership of our Brotherhood is 100% responsible for our affairs, nothing is open to outside <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">influence</span>. With that being said, this blog is the only official source of public information in regards to our lodge.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>With these things in mind we offer to you a hearty welcome. Please, follow this blog for the latest news and updates on our Brotherhood. Things are moving very quickly under our Post-Modern framework and we would love to be able to keep all who are interested "in the loop."</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>S&F,</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Frater</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Raum</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Sariel</span> 3°</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>Lodge Secretary</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>Lodge Napoleon Bonaparte</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>Sovereign Rite of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Misraim</span></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>Post-Modern Freemasons</em></span><br /><a href="http://www.lodgenapoleon/"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>www.<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">lodgenapoleon</span></em></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>.com </em></span>Frater Raum Sariel 3°http://www.blogger.com/profile/02655543667159105648noreply@blogger.com0