Yggdrasil: Another Archetype for the Tree of Life

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Robert H. Johnson

When I became a Master Mason, I received a booklet that outlined elements of the degree and it also suggested certain paths of study. Those paths of study were recommended so that I could understand the full import of the Masonic philosophy contained within my degrees. One of those concepts was Kabbalah. 

One of the first concepts you learn about in a basic book on Kabbalah (if you can consider any part of Kabbalah to be basic) is the Tree of Life. This concept in Kabbalah was interesting to me. The way it separated virtues and archetypes for me was not unlike Platonic and Neo-Platonic ideas. 

We often look at symbols in religious rites, mythologies, and degrees as archetypes--that is, a thing which appears in another story, culture, or tale but that has the same attributes. E.g. Thoth and Hermes. The Tree of Life is one of those symbols. It's all over the place in the world's religions, and I find it fascinating. 

One such version (if you want to call it that) is Yggdrasil, the Norse version. See the Mackeys Masonic Encyclopedia entry below. 

Yggdrasil. The name given in Scandinavian mythology to the greatest and most sacred of all trees, which Was conceived as binding together heaven, earth, and hell. It is an ash, whose branches spread over all the world, and reach above the heavens. It sends out three roots in as many different directions: one to the gods in heaven, another to the Frost-giants, the third to the under-world. Under each root springs a wonderful fountain, endowed with marvelous virtues. From the tree, itself springs a honey-dew. The serpent, NithhOggr, lies at the under-world fountain and gnaws the root of Yggdrasil; the squirrel, Ratatoskr, runs up and down and tries to breed strife between the serpent and the eagle, which sits aloft. Dr. Oliver (Signs and Symbols, p. 155) considers it to have been the Theological Ladder of the Gothic mysteries.

Other versions of the Tree of Life exist in; Ancient Mesopotamia, Ancient Iran, within the Baháʼí Faith, Buddhism, Chinese Mythology, Christianity, Manichaeism, Meso-America, Turkik, Hinduism, and more. Could so many traditions get it wrong? Was there a literal tree? In any case, I hope you find this interesting and that it sparks an interest in you to go digging. 

~RHJ

RWB Johnson is a Co-Managing Editor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Freemason out of the 2nd N.E. District of Illinois. He currently serves as the Secretary of Spes Novum Lodge No. 1183. He is a Past Master of Waukegan Lodge 78 and a Past District Deputy Grand Master for the 1st N.E. District of Illinois. Brother Johnson currently produces and hosts weekly Podcasts (internet radio programs) Whence Came You? & Masonic Radio Theatre which focuses on topics relating to Freemasonry. He is also a co-host of The Masonic Roundtable, a Masonic talk show. He is a husband and father of four, works full time in the executive medical industry. He is the co-author of "It's Business Time - Adapting a Corporate Path for Freemasonry" and is currently working on a book of Masonic essays and one on Occult Anatomy to be released soon.

Contemplative Cornerstones: Trees

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Erik Marks

The tall cedars of Lebanon, The Acacia in its many forms, the Kabalistic tree of life connecting the ten sephirot sometimes thought of as archetypes, Yggdrasil the everlasting green Ash reaching to the nine realms: trees convert CO2 to oxygen, filter water, provide sustenance of wide varieties, offer the weary traveler shade and a place to lean—backpacking, I hang my shelter, a hammock and tarp between two. 

Symbolically, spiritually, they serve as links between sky or Heaven and Earth; Esoterically, as emblematic metaphors embodying the same in the human experience. Trees are captivating, majestic, sturdy, useful, necessary in our world. Crosscut its trunk, tree has many concentric circles around a center point. The fruit of the apple tree severed in a like manner displays the physical manifestation of its symbolic nature: the pentagram, evidence of the knowledge imparted by one of the two pillar trees in The Garden.

For many, using visualizations can help bring and keep the mind present in the moment, in the here and now. When feeling adrift emotionally, psychologically, practically, a meditation embodying aspects of trees can help calm and center the mind and body.

Sit in a chair, near the front of the seat. Don’t lean back, sit with body erect. Place your hands, palms down on your thighs. Take three long, slow, deep, breaths, or more if you wish. Bring your mind to the image of a tall tree. Hold the image for a few moments. Then imagine yourself as that tree. Your legs its roots, your trunk, its trunk, your arms and head its branches and leaves. Feel your feet firmly planted on the floor. As you focus on self as tree, imagine your roots growing down through the floor. If you are on a floor higher than ground level, imagine your roots growing down through the structural elements of the building, reinforcing, being the strength as well as lending to it, solidly. Imagine your roots breaking through the earth below. Growing downward through gravel, rock, finding your way around boulders and through fissures. Deeper you grow through nourishing earth filled with nitrogen rich loam, peat, centuries of sediment until your roots contact a pure and cool underground aquifer. Drawing up the quenching water, cooling and calming, hydrating and adding to your ability to remain flexible and emotionally grounded in every way.

Imagine your trunk extending towards heaven. Your branches growing upward and outward, seeking the sun and the solar radiation even if seemingly obscured by clouds. You could imagine growing tall like redwoods or tallest cedars. You can grow up through clouds and stand in the full beauty of the sun at noon. The suns power transformed through the chlorophyll your leaves into fuel, food. Healing and health drawn in, from below, from above. Through your vital body, you unify heaven and earth, bringing the elements of air, fire/sun, water, and earth into balance and harmony within you. Stay in this image, reaching below and above simultaneously; try to feel all the functions happening at once as you breathe. Taking in and transforming the world, absorbing and utilizing sun, drinking up and in water, grounded in the earth absorbing all you need to grown and be at ease in your terrestrial home.

Alterations: Those so inclined could substitute a favorite tree, imagine Ratatoskr traveling the tree connecting the nine realms, or with greater focus and concentration along with knowledge or study of Kabbalah move through the ten Sefirot from Malkhut to Keter; Earth to Crown, draw back down and then return to crown in the order: Malkhut, Yesod, Hod, Netzach, Tiferet, Gevurah, Chesed, Binah, Chochmah, Keter. Finding the Tetragrammaton and also form the Adam Kadmon, (See MacNulty: The Way of the Craftsman and Kaplan’s Meditation and Kabbalah).

When working with strong emotion, imagine the earth taking back from you the emotion you wish to relinquish—to be clear, this is not denying or avoiding the emotion, its is an invitation to your non or pre-verbal self, your personal and collective unconscious, that you are willing to let this emotion move along. Or, that you feel strengthened enough to tolerate it longer. The earth can absorb the energy, the sun can transform it as fire transforms anything it touches.

~EAM

Brother Erik Marks is a clinical social worker whose usual vocation has been in the field of human services in a wide range of settings since 1990. He was raised in 2017 by his biologically younger Brother and then Worshipful Master in Alpha Lodge in Framingham, MA. You may contact brother Marks by email: erik@StrongGrip.org

That Which Has Been Lost - The Basics

Part One

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bill Hosler, PM

Recently I was trying to research a paper that I was writing. I was trying to gather information from the brethren on a Masonic Facebook group. I posted a request for examples from their Grand Lodge Jurisdictions which legislate their personal life. I even gave an example from my ow jurisdiction.

It may have been my fault, as how I phrased my question but very few of the members knew or understood what I was asking for. I realized I had uncovered what Masonry has lost: The basics of Masonic membership.

Over the last half century or more,  in the search for new members and even higher membership numbers, we've neglected to educate our newly obligated brethren with the fundamentals.

We might teach them the lectures (the words anyway, not what the lectures mean) or not to walk between the East and the altar while lodge is open, or the importance of holding a rod as a Steward or Deacon before we sit them down and start to put them to sleep with the monotone of minutes and the arguing of the price of toilet paper in 1967. But sadly, for many members this is pretty much all they are taught until they are elected Worshipful Master, when the chorus of  “You're doing it wrong.” is sung from the north side of the lodge room. Sadly, I realized I am as guilty as the rest of the fraternity, including my fellow Masonic writers.

Most of us, when we write about Masonic education, we rightly discuss the esoteric and symbols of Masonic history. All of which are great to learn and much like the basics, are non-existent in many lodges these days. But we often make a crucial mistake, we don't make sure the brother has a solid foundation first.

When I submitted my petition I started to be mentored by a Brother who was a 25 Year member of his lodge. He always informed me on how things in lodges worked. Nearly everything I was told was passed down to him by a long departed brother who had been secretary of his lodge. Each time the brother would mention the secretary by name it was like he stood a bit more erect, almost at attention, and with a glint in his eye and reverence in his voice he would say the mans name which almost sounded like angels singing. (I swear I heard harps as white doves flew from the Heavens.). The only problem was everything this Secretary told him was dead wrong.

I have encountered this several times among some older members. The secretary of their lodge, or someone who wanted things done their way, would give these brethren instructions and since they weren’t encouraged to read or study Masonic education, it just stuck.

It began, in my opinion, at the beginning of the Masonic ignorance of several of our generations of members. Members were brought in and they were given what information their mentor wanted them to know and then,  sent them on their merry way. Usually that was enough for the usual “Knife and fork” Mason who came for a free mean when the lodge had a function.

If the man wanted to be an officer of the lodge the Secretary would give him further instruction and continued to run the lodge as he saw fit, no matter who sat in the East. If the new Master wanted to do something different he was told about the long and hard process of changing the lodge’s bylaws or the brother was told, “Well you know Grand Lodge will never allow that.” Sound familiar? If the Master questioned the brother, he was referred to the Past Masters who parroted what the Secretary told them during their year.

Sadly, I also believe this has caused many of our issues among the generations within our Fraternity. For decades this secretary’s doctrine passed from one year to another until these urban legends have taken on a life of their own.

These doctrines worked well until the recent Masonic renaissance began about a decade ago when men who have educated themselves by reading the classics and spread light amongst the younger brethren. They began to question these old “truths” which have been passed down. Older men who have been confronted with challenges to what they had believed for a lifetime are being told they're wrong by men who are the same  age of their Grandchildren. They become incensed, angered and threatened. To be honest I understand it, and I would be angered to.

So in my next few articles, I am going to try to at least lay out a basic primer on Masonic Education which I hope will better prepare a new member on his journey in Masonry.

~BH

WB Bill Hosler was made a Master Mason in 2002 in Three Rivers Lodge #733 in Indiana. He served as Worshipful Master in 2007 and became a member of the internet committee for Indiana's Grand Lodge. Bill is currently a member of Roff Lodge No. 169 in Roff Oklahoma and Lebanon Lodge No. 837 in Frisco,Texas. Bill is also a member of the Valley of Fort Wayne Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite in Indiana. A typical active Freemason, Bill also served as the High Priest of Fort Wayne's Chapter of the York Rite No. 19 and was commander of of the Fort Wayne Commandery No. 4 of the Knight Templar. During all this he also served as the webmaster and magazine editor for the Mizpah Shrine in Fort Wayne Indiana.

A Promise Kept

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Brian Schimian

*Editors Note: This post was Originally supposed to be run on May 2nd*

How do you judge the character of a person?  Be it a with someone you have a proposed  business transaction with, someone you happened to sit next to at a bar and struck up a conversation, a coworker or neighbor…

There are multiple ways and things that all weigh somewhat on that decision making process.  Much of it has to do with your perception of their actions, mannerisms and how you see them interact with others.  My Pops used to take potential business partners out to the Country Club and play a round of golf with them.  He would let them keep score and by the end of the day they checked the score card over a cocktail.  If he kept an honest card, he was in.  If Pop’s caught him cheating on the score, he would tell him sorry, it just isn’t going to work out, pay for the drinks and walk out.  No explanation, nothing.  Just, done.  If you can’t trust a person at their word, what could you trust them with?

I came across this story on a FaceBook page for Lebanon Lodge #837 AF & AM that some good Brothers I happen to know frequent.  I want to share this with the world, as a beaming example of what Freemasonry is.  What it is about.  Why the Men of the Craft are so dedicated to it. 

“May 2nd, 2015 Lebanon lodge will once again fulfill it’s promise to a grieving mother who lost her young child so long ago.

Over 100 years ago, settlers still headed west in covered wagons as the “Old West” wound down its wild heydey. In 1908, the family of Walter M. Hagood, Jr. made a stop on Preston Ridge near the current Bethel Cemetery just north of Eldorado Parkway on its journey to more prosperous times in California. Little Walter was born on October 21, 1908 and died only four days later.

Frisco resident Nancy Higginbotham told the distraught mother, who feared leaving her deceased newborn behind, that she would tend to the grave so the mother wouldn’t have to worry that the infant would be forgotten.

True to her word, she tended the grave and placed flowers at the grave marker every year on Decoration Day, until her death in 1930. Her daughter, Minnie Fisher stepped in and continued the Promise until her death in 1964. Minnie’s daughter-in-law Wilma Fisher, a beloved Frisco school teacher, then accepted the role. Wilma continued the duty until her health began to fail in 2006.

That’s when members of this Lodge told Wilma that since she and her late husband Donald had served the Masons so well in their lives, that the Masons would assume the honor of decorating the grave. Miss Wilma died in 2008 and Lebanon Lodge #837 continues over 100 years later to keep that Promise that Nancy Higginbotham gave to that distraught mother on that fateful Autumn day.

In fact, the Lodge has written the Promise into its charter, ensuring that the grave will be decorated every year in perpetuity. Please join us on Decoration Day to honor Walter M. Hagood, Jr., as well as those who served “the Promise.”

I suppose that there is really no reason to continue with these actions.  Anyone associated with this child is long passed on from this existence.  The original promise had nothing to even do with the Masons, Freemasonry or the Craft in any way.  If they stopped and allowed time to go on without this burden, nobody would really know.  Nobody on the outside anyway…  To the outside world, Lebanon Lodge would be just another building that every once in a while shells out spaghetti dinners and pancake breakfasts.  To those that fill the chairs every month though, they would know.  They would know that their Lodge, not one Brother, or two.  But the Lodge in its entirety, gave their word to continue a promise that is now 107 years old.  If you doubt my perception of the situation, just reread that last paragraph I quoted, the Promise is written into their Charter.  Why?  Why go to such lengths for nobody important?

Let me tell you why.  A promise was made that comforted a Lady that had just lost her child.  One of the worst things a mother go through, during one of the most difficult times mind you,   in the history of this country.  That promise was felt by others as sincere and noble and the burden taken upon themselves, over and over again until the burden was assumed by someone from the Craft.  The word of a Mason is not something that should be received lightly.  We give our word as a token of our character to those that are worthy, be they Brethren, Ladies, Relatives...anyone.  What better example of keeping your word than to keep the word of your Brother and enshrine that promise in the very paper that your Lodge is built upon?

We often hear people say, “Be The Example”.  If anyone had any questions about what that means, show them this article about the lengths a Mason goes to keep his word and that of his Brother.

What a different world this would be if people had even a fraction of the Love for a stranger that Nancy Higginbotham showed that tragic day.  Truly saints, all that have taken and carried this Promise to this day, 107 years later.

~BJS

Bro. Brian Schimian is Life of Member A.O. Fay #676 in Highland Park Illinois and the Medinah Shriners - Lake County Shrine Club. He was also the Past Master Counselor of DeMolay - Lakes Chapter in 1995. Most recently, Brian became a Companion of the York Rite, joining Waukegan Chapter #41 R.A.M. Brian is a father of two children. You can follow his blog "It is. In God. I do." where he publishes even more excellent content. "Start Square, Finish Level"