Your journey up the mountain

 

It is a very safe bet to say I love the Tarot. Not as a tool for divination or to see the future. I question the possibility of that anyway. For the main reason that the future is always in flux and once you gain some information, you have changed it.

No, I like the Tarot as a tool of meditation. To look at the symbols and the cards’ meaning and see how it may or may not apply to your life or situation.

I have to say that my favorite card in the deck is The Hermit.  There is a ton of symbolism in the card, and I will touch on a small bit of it. Well, before I get to the meat and potatoes of today’s thought.

The card depicts a old man standing on a mountain holding a lantern with a 6-pointed star and a staff.  The card has a number of meanings from an esoteric standpoint. Everything from soul-searching, spiritual enlightenment, self-reflection, even anti-social tendencies as you need to be alone to ponder. The staff a tool of air and knowledge. The height of the mountain is a place to clear your mind.

I want to mention the inside jacket to the Led Zeppelin record ZOSO or commonly called Zeppelin 4. The inside cover of that record shows the Hermit on a mountain, a staff, lantern, but with one thing added. If you look close further down the mountain is a lone man climbing.  Making his way up the side.

Now this image brought a few things to mind and two important questions.  The first being “In what re you in search?” the other “What came you here to do”.  Two very, very important questions. YOU can't do one without the other. If you don’t know what you’re looking for how in the world to you ever expect to find it.  Oh, and we are searching with the aid and guidance of our mentor.

Now let me ask when does this process start? The moment you say “Hello”, you just never know when someone will be interested enjoy checking out your Lodge and Brothers.  If they do come and visit and in time, ask for a petition to join your Lodge.

Now fast forward all of the voting has happened and its time for this person to be made a new Mason. Now we are told the job of a Lodge is to make new Masons. That is the principal duty of the Lodge. To assist the new Brother in his education, and Masonic experiences.  Isn’t that much like climbing the mountain of enlightenment?

That mountain is full of cliffs, and sharp jagged edges, and steep slopes. But it is their mountain. While very similar to the one we climbed. We both had our own experience but used the same tools, and methods to make the accent up the slopes.

Once we get to the summit, we stand tall in contemplation holding our lantern to look around. As we look back down from whence, we came. We notice a small shape moving ever so slowly up the winding hill.

We shine our light to assist them on their journey. From out travels we know that we are blessed and thankful for those that came before us that shared their lamps for us to see.

The interesting this is we never really reach the top of the mountain. We are always in a state of learning, experiencing, and growing.

It is our duty as Masons not only to make Masons but make them properly. Guide them, Mentor them, train them, support them.

Let them experience life and Masonry, and such. But give them and show them the proper tools, lessons, and knowledge of the Symbolic Lodge teachings to be the solid Mason and person they should be.

Oh, and let me leave you with this one thought.  What we most need to learn, we teach.

I love you and may we govern ourselves accordingly.