As Gadicke commented on the subject of the ritual [pages 647-648 of Robert Macoy's Dictionary of Freemasonry:
"This word [ritual] imports how a lodge ought to be opened and closed, and how an initiation, passing, or raising ought to be conducted; this may also be called the liturgy of the lodge.
The ritual is not the same in all lodges, nay, there are nearly as many
different rituals as there are Grand Lodges. Many of those rituals are quite modern origin, especially that of the Grand Lodge Royal York, Berlin, and that of the Grand Lodge of Humburgh. The English ritual is the most ancient, and extended itself into every part of the earth...
Those outward forms and ceremonies, although they differ, yet they do not divide the brethren amongst themselves, but each lodge and its members is tolerant with the members of other lodges; and all lodges allowed to endeavour and strive to obtain their object by what way they think best.
Neither is there any real difference whether some ceremonies are to be performed in this manner, or in that, according to the different rituals, or whether the officers are called this or that.
Time and various circumstances have made those alterations in the rituals principally to produce a more lasting impression upon the mind of the candidate at his initiation, and to advance with the improved spirit of the times.
Fragments from some of the rituals have been published, especially from the old ones; but there must be more than a dozen rituals published before an uninitiated person could learn how an initiation was conducted, or how a lodge was held.
The end to which the ritual leads us is the principal object, or the real secret of Freemasonry, and it would require an adept to discover this from any ritual.
There only ought to be one ritual, as was the case in former ages; and the unlucky word system ought never to have been introduced into the Craft."
Showing posts with label Rituals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rituals. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Why Rituals are Important in Your Life
by Denise Lammi and David Wojtowicz [as appeared on their website.]
Rituals are procedures performed which “act out” thoughts or beliefs. These thoughts or beliefs may also be referred to as ideas or myths. These ideas and the resultant rituals add meaning to behaviours or events. Rituals can convert an otherwise ordinary or practical event into something that has a meaning that goes beyond what separate actions add up to. In other words, there is a synergy because the actions producing a ritual stimulate emotions and add colour to transform that which might otherwise be bland events into meaningful events. Rituals are the basis of traditions. Rituals and tradition provide an opportunity to make important events special and memorable. Due to certain similarities, people will generally have similar responses to ritualized events and their symbols.
Why do people perform a particular ritual? What are the ideas or myths that created the occasion to perform the ritual? Do you need to know? If you know, what do you do with the knowledge? Do you continue to celebrate the event by maintaining the myth and the ritual that accompanies it? Or, do you discard the myth and related ritual as nonsense that has no relevance to your life? Or, since you have a choice, should you keep certain rituals? - The general consensus is that you would be wise to keep and revere that which has meaning and purpose for your life and/or gives you a sense of belonging to society. Myth, ritual and tradition need to be considered for what they were intended to represent and should be encouraged where the objective is to bring desirable meaning and purpose to life.
Rituals can provide substance and meaning to life at both the individual and social level. Ritual and its symbols therefore act as a means by which values and structures of society can continue through the ages. Rituals can also create new values and structures. These values, whether traditional or new, can be transmitted to individuals.
Myth and ritual can satisfy individual needs in everyday life. Whether you are conscious of it or not, you have certain personal myths and shared myths concerning your own identity and you perform certain rituals to enhance these myths. (E.g. carrying a sentimental item, wearing a certain clothing item for luck, performing certain routines in a particular order, making your bed every morning, closing each email with the same goodbye.) Daily living is filled with mini ceremonies (ritualistic acts), that bring you out of the ordinary and connect you to yourself and the world. By expressing these otherwise unexceptional actions with purposefulness awareness and affection, your life gains meaning.
Life brings changes. All over the world, past and present, cultures or societies have rituals (ceremonies) signifying an event in a person's life indicative of a transition from one stage to another. These are often referred to as “rites of passage”. Rites of passage provide purpose and function at both the individual and the group level by revealing the change in a positive light. Also, it is natural to experience stresses in connection with undergoing change and rites of passage assist people in coping with the stress and provide meaning for the change. Examples of rites of passage include graduation ceremonies, bar mitzvahs, weddings, retirement parties and funerals. Such events lose their real meaning and impact when you just go through the motions and do not appreciate the significance of the transition. Incomplete rituals and therefore incomplete transitions do not facilitate the acceptance of the change.
Rituals are often dismissed as primitive, unnecessary or religious. However, since myth and ritual can be valuable instruments to enrich your own life and give you a sense of belonging to community, before you dismiss or discard a ritual, you should stop to consider the meaning and effect of the ritual. Disowning rituals operates to disassociate you from yourself and from other people.
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Author's Bio:
Denise Lammi and David Wojtowicz are sister and brother. Denise and David both became Chartered Accountants but their education and professional careers took them in different directions until 1989, when David moved to Vancouver from Amsterdam. Denise was already residing in Vancouver. Since that time; together, they founded and operated a successful Chartered Accounting practice for 15 years and authored numerous courses for the professional development of accountants. More recent accomplishments, from their combined efforts, include authoring and publishing the book “Your Own Devices”.Their background and experience in listening, learning and getting to the bottom of the “real issues” has well suited them to approach the matter of personal development in a useful and sensible manner. Their professional training, interactions with business minded people and preparation of accurate technical material enables them to comprehend and explain personal development knowledge from this unique perspective. To learn more about the book or to order the book; please visit the website http://www.yourowndevices.ca/
Rituals are procedures performed which “act out” thoughts or beliefs. These thoughts or beliefs may also be referred to as ideas or myths. These ideas and the resultant rituals add meaning to behaviours or events. Rituals can convert an otherwise ordinary or practical event into something that has a meaning that goes beyond what separate actions add up to. In other words, there is a synergy because the actions producing a ritual stimulate emotions and add colour to transform that which might otherwise be bland events into meaningful events. Rituals are the basis of traditions. Rituals and tradition provide an opportunity to make important events special and memorable. Due to certain similarities, people will generally have similar responses to ritualized events and their symbols.
Why do people perform a particular ritual? What are the ideas or myths that created the occasion to perform the ritual? Do you need to know? If you know, what do you do with the knowledge? Do you continue to celebrate the event by maintaining the myth and the ritual that accompanies it? Or, do you discard the myth and related ritual as nonsense that has no relevance to your life? Or, since you have a choice, should you keep certain rituals? - The general consensus is that you would be wise to keep and revere that which has meaning and purpose for your life and/or gives you a sense of belonging to society. Myth, ritual and tradition need to be considered for what they were intended to represent and should be encouraged where the objective is to bring desirable meaning and purpose to life.
Rituals can provide substance and meaning to life at both the individual and social level. Ritual and its symbols therefore act as a means by which values and structures of society can continue through the ages. Rituals can also create new values and structures. These values, whether traditional or new, can be transmitted to individuals.
Myth and ritual can satisfy individual needs in everyday life. Whether you are conscious of it or not, you have certain personal myths and shared myths concerning your own identity and you perform certain rituals to enhance these myths. (E.g. carrying a sentimental item, wearing a certain clothing item for luck, performing certain routines in a particular order, making your bed every morning, closing each email with the same goodbye.) Daily living is filled with mini ceremonies (ritualistic acts), that bring you out of the ordinary and connect you to yourself and the world. By expressing these otherwise unexceptional actions with purposefulness awareness and affection, your life gains meaning.
Life brings changes. All over the world, past and present, cultures or societies have rituals (ceremonies) signifying an event in a person's life indicative of a transition from one stage to another. These are often referred to as “rites of passage”. Rites of passage provide purpose and function at both the individual and the group level by revealing the change in a positive light. Also, it is natural to experience stresses in connection with undergoing change and rites of passage assist people in coping with the stress and provide meaning for the change. Examples of rites of passage include graduation ceremonies, bar mitzvahs, weddings, retirement parties and funerals. Such events lose their real meaning and impact when you just go through the motions and do not appreciate the significance of the transition. Incomplete rituals and therefore incomplete transitions do not facilitate the acceptance of the change.
Rituals are often dismissed as primitive, unnecessary or religious. However, since myth and ritual can be valuable instruments to enrich your own life and give you a sense of belonging to community, before you dismiss or discard a ritual, you should stop to consider the meaning and effect of the ritual. Disowning rituals operates to disassociate you from yourself and from other people.
---------------------
Author's Bio:
Denise Lammi and David Wojtowicz are sister and brother. Denise and David both became Chartered Accountants but their education and professional careers took them in different directions until 1989, when David moved to Vancouver from Amsterdam. Denise was already residing in Vancouver. Since that time; together, they founded and operated a successful Chartered Accounting practice for 15 years and authored numerous courses for the professional development of accountants. More recent accomplishments, from their combined efforts, include authoring and publishing the book “Your Own Devices”.Their background and experience in listening, learning and getting to the bottom of the “real issues” has well suited them to approach the matter of personal development in a useful and sensible manner. Their professional training, interactions with business minded people and preparation of accurate technical material enables them to comprehend and explain personal development knowledge from this unique perspective. To learn more about the book or to order the book; please visit the website http://www.yourowndevices.ca/
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