Freemasonry is odd. On the outside it just seems like a regular fraternity/social club. The requirements for membership are to believe in a supreme being, be free born, and be a man of good moral standing. I've visited two lodges on off nights, and the men seem normal enough.
There definitely is a long historical relationship with the esoteric and ancient religions. When I visited the lodge I noticed there were several ciphers/symbols all over the place, even what looked like writing from ancient Egypt.
From what I've read the rituals have to do with the builder of the story of King Solomon's temple, Hiram Abiff and are meant to teach moral lessons.
I'm not sure I buy the entire conspiracy thing. There are the three basic degrees, and the other higher degrees are in the York and Scottish Rites. It seems foolish that a man would dedicate years to living by moral standards, then reach the 32nd or 33rd degree and just throw it away for devil worship or something else.
There's also the fact that there really is no higher governing body. In the US each state has a grand lodge which is the highest authority in that state. Do they connect in other ways? Probably, I'd say bankers have more power than freemasons.
In terms magick, as I mentioned earlier in this thread I looked into it when I was younger, and it seems like a complex fantasy. If we define magick as the ability of the will and intent to influence the material most things around us can be called magick. Imagine for example just your mood, or aura as it's called in game. There are subtle things going on where we can influence the people around us. I've been in such a good mood some days random people just ask me questions out of the blue.
I tend to look at a lot of this stuff as forces which can be harnessed for good or evil. Just like nuclear energy or electricity can kill or enhance civilization so can will and intent. Angels, demons, spirits, etc. can be thought of as metaphors for the forces of the universe.
From what I've read magicians see humans as being in the middle of the spiritual plane. Below us are the untamed infernal dark forces. The darkest part of our psyche, all the evils in the world. Above us there is the goal of a spiritual union with God.
The actual modus operandi seems pretty simple enough. They make a wish, do the ritual, call up the spirit to do a task and wait for it to happen. This seems to me just an extremely elaborate and spiritual form of goal setting. In fact it seems kind of hokey in a way.
"I want to have the ability to date and hook up with runway models."
The person then performs the ritual, calls up a spirit, and waits for the result.
But what really happens when you set a goal or do 'magick'? The thing that needs to change is you. Maybe you're not the type of guy
that models date. Maybe your game isn't good enough, you're not in the right social circle, or you're lacking something else...how far will you go?
Or let's say a guy wants to be an actor and make it Hollywood. Like the other thread about Hollywood being cult, what is he willing to give up to make it? A guy can can bang models all day as a pornstar, but what will that take? Doing gay for pay? Is that person willing to 'sell their soul to the devil'?
And that's where this stuff becomes bizarre. I think that people can accomplish nearly anything in life, but there's always something to give up. Always. There's never a free lunch. Whether it's a 'pact' where the person gives his soul for riches or women. Or just something simple like starting your own business where you give time and energy. Time and energy that could be spent doing something else.
Anyway, I know I've gone off on a tangent here, just an interesting subject.
There definitely is a long historical relationship with the esoteric and ancient religions. When I visited the lodge I noticed there were several ciphers/symbols all over the place, even what looked like writing from ancient Egypt.
From what I've read the rituals have to do with the builder of the story of King Solomon's temple, Hiram Abiff and are meant to teach moral lessons.
I'm not sure I buy the entire conspiracy thing. There are the three basic degrees, and the other higher degrees are in the York and Scottish Rites. It seems foolish that a man would dedicate years to living by moral standards, then reach the 32nd or 33rd degree and just throw it away for devil worship or something else.
There's also the fact that there really is no higher governing body. In the US each state has a grand lodge which is the highest authority in that state. Do they connect in other ways? Probably, I'd say bankers have more power than freemasons.
In terms magick, as I mentioned earlier in this thread I looked into it when I was younger, and it seems like a complex fantasy. If we define magick as the ability of the will and intent to influence the material most things around us can be called magick. Imagine for example just your mood, or aura as it's called in game. There are subtle things going on where we can influence the people around us. I've been in such a good mood some days random people just ask me questions out of the blue.
I tend to look at a lot of this stuff as forces which can be harnessed for good or evil. Just like nuclear energy or electricity can kill or enhance civilization so can will and intent. Angels, demons, spirits, etc. can be thought of as metaphors for the forces of the universe.
From what I've read magicians see humans as being in the middle of the spiritual plane. Below us are the untamed infernal dark forces. The darkest part of our psyche, all the evils in the world. Above us there is the goal of a spiritual union with God.
The actual modus operandi seems pretty simple enough. They make a wish, do the ritual, call up the spirit to do a task and wait for it to happen. This seems to me just an extremely elaborate and spiritual form of goal setting. In fact it seems kind of hokey in a way.
"I want to have the ability to date and hook up with runway models."
The person then performs the ritual, calls up a spirit, and waits for the result.
But what really happens when you set a goal or do 'magick'? The thing that needs to change is you. Maybe you're not the type of guy
that models date. Maybe your game isn't good enough, you're not in the right social circle, or you're lacking something else...how far will you go?
Or let's say a guy wants to be an actor and make it Hollywood. Like the other thread about Hollywood being cult, what is he willing to give up to make it? A guy can can bang models all day as a pornstar, but what will that take? Doing gay for pay? Is that person willing to 'sell their soul to the devil'?
And that's where this stuff becomes bizarre. I think that people can accomplish nearly anything in life, but there's always something to give up. Always. There's never a free lunch. Whether it's a 'pact' where the person gives his soul for riches or women. Or just something simple like starting your own business where you give time and energy. Time and energy that could be spent doing something else.
Anyway, I know I've gone off on a tangent here, just an interesting subject.