Esoteric Masonry

05/27/2026

The Title “Christ”

Collected and written by PM Greg Sudmeier, 32° SR KCCH, Templar Collegia, Ordre Martiniste of the Temple, Sons of the Desert Lodge No. 226, CA

Most people don't notice or pay attention to the word order in the term, “Jesus Christ.” Every Christian is taught to say it this way in their youth, and it is inculcated weekly, year after year in church liturgy and hymns/songs - the man first, the principle second. This phrase has been so indoctrinated in society that even the non-churched use it in this same order when speaking profanely.

However, knowledgeable Freemasons say instead, “Christ, Jesus.” This is not just a casual stylistic preference, it is a crucial theological/spiritual statement about the sequence that has been understood and practiced correctly for centuries.

“Jesus” is the physical body, the vehicle, the temporary form, the material existence. “Christ” is “Christ Consciousness,” the anointed state, the condition produced when the sacred oil descends and rises back up through the spine and activates the pineal gland. In the Hindu faith this is called raising the powerful and divine inner “Kundalini” spiritual energy.

Freemasons put higher consciousness, or “Light” first. This is the meaning of the Compasses being placed over the Square on the altar in the MM degree. Consciousness precedes form because the inner anointing is the highest principle and the body (the material existence, or Square) is the instrument through which it moves.

The original mystical gnostic teaching of “the kingdom” within that Yeshua learned and shared was never about worshipping him, it was always about understanding the process that the man, Yeshua, perfected and represented to his followers of “The Way,” which emphasized the hidden divine essence, the “divine spark” in everyone. This is the divine “Light” in Freemasonry. The correct “Christ, Jesus” sequence is the entire teaching compressed into two words, preserved and hidden in plain sight for centuries.

There is a lot of pushback from standard less educated “Christian” Freemasons on this issue because of the relentless inculcation of orthodox dogma in standard churches (both Catholic and Protestant). Regardless, the term “Christ” is and has always been a title of inner anointing (oil from pineal-pituitary traveling down the spine in cerebral spinal fluid, raising the kundalini energy back up the spine to “Golgotha,” the “place of the skull where it is “crucified” between “two thieves,” the two brain hemispheres, which “breaks the veil” of consciousness and opens the Crown chakra to our divine source and essence, the eternal circle of the Compasses, or, “the kingdom of heaven within you” - NT John 17:21), not a name given only to one “Messiah.”

Further, Yeshua (not the Romanized “Jesus”) taught this “kingdom within” secretly to his closest disciples, but not the general public, to whom he spoke only in mystic parables. Yeshua encouraged his closest students to do as he had done; find the divine “kingdom” within themselves, i.e., being “born of the spirit.” If/when they had done so, they then could also use the title “Christ,” and with training would eventually “do greater things” than even Yeshua did (NT John 14:12-14).

Educated Freemasons in search of “more light,” who faithfully hone their “perfect Ashlar,” aren’t making up any new doctrine or promoting some “heretical” or “demonic” idea (as some modern day “Christians” believe). They are following the original teachings of Yeshua, which is contained in and applies to all faith traditions. This is why Freemasonry allows and celebrates all forms of spirituality in the lodge - inclusively.

Freemasonry and Rosicrucianism are creations of the inclusive Gnostic spirituality that the Templars were persecuted for by the church through the centuries. The Templars discovered Yeshua’s original teachings (which are naturally congruent with his own original esoteric Hebrew faith tradition of the balance of the sacred masculine and feminine - YHWH and “Asherah”, see: https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=32445803596&dest=USA&ref_=ps_ms_370713412&cm_mmc=msn-_-comus_shopp_used_trade-_-naa-_-naa) and safeguarded them against extinction despite the patriarchal church’s attempt to destroy it. This is why standard dogmatic ”Christians” today ridicule and reject the teaching of the divine “kingdom within,” even though the person they profess to worship actually taught it.

Don’t worry. Christian Freemasons do not have to abandon their most essential faith to maintain their practice in the Craft at all. They do, however, need to learn and understand what is called “Mystic Christianity,” which has been practiced by and since Yeshua and the early movement called “The Way,” which was recognized and validated by church fathers like Origen, and St. Bernard of Clairvaux, who was the very person who established the “Ordre of the Poor Knights of…‘Christ’ “ (Christ Consciousness), aka, the Knights Templar in 1096 CE (notice that it was not called the “Ordre of the Poor Knights of…‘Jesus’). Bernard knew that “Christ” was a title of anointing, not a person, and he created a system of spiritual chivalry in the Templar tradition, which Freemasonry faithfully continues to this day.

Conclusion

Freemasons of all faith traditions can learn inclusive spiritual “Christ Consciousness.” Indeed, it is staring us all in the face every time we perform the Masonic ritual when we open and close the lodge, or perform the degrees for new initiates.

This is why the Square and Compasses became the public identifying symbol of the Craft. A Master Mason is one who’s higher divine essence directs their lower nature for good in themselves and in the world. The title of anointing precedes and leads every “enlightened” human being. The spiritual is materialized, and then the material is respiritualized. The Above guides the Below.

So Mote It Be

***

[V1.2]

05/23/2026

Esoteric Masonry and The Bible - Part 25

The Bible

By Former Evangelical Megachurch Pastor, Jim Palmer
Introduction by PM Greg Sudmeier, 32° SR KCCH

Introduction

The Code and Ritual of Freemasonry allows for whatever “Volume of Sacred Law” is meaningful for any particular initiate. Whatever our religious persuasion, that holy scripture can be used on the altar when we take our vows. Some even choose to have a wide variety of books of faith on the altar at the same time.

As Masons know, the only “religious” criteria for membership is that a candidate believe that a “higher supreme power” exists. Call it what you will. This is why any lodge can be made up of any combination of Jews, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, Hindus, Bahais, Alchemists, Stoicists, Mithraists, Hermeticists, etc., etc., or just plane non-religious human beings who believe there is something spiritually greater in the universe.

Freemasonry is one of the modern versions of the ancient mysteries that taught the idea of the “divine spark” in all, no matter what a person’s particular faith background may be; as the Master teacher, Yeshua, himself learned and taught, “the kingdom of heaven is within” (NT - Luke 17:20-21).

The rationale of the mysteries and of esoteric bodies like Freemasonry is that, since “the divine spark” emanates directly from the “Great Architect of the Universe,” through all creation, any denial of a supreme creative source negates a person’s very essence, which is impossibly contradictory. There would be no sense in anyone committing their vows to something they deny in themselves, so, anyone who states an unbelief in that great source is inherently unqualified for membership, at least until they wake up to the existence of a supreme universal power.

There is a problem in the Masonic Lodge though.

Regardless of clearly stated Masonic Code and Ritual practice, some Masons adhere to an exclusive, fundamentalist religious belief that their particular faith (Christianity) is the only means of “salvation,” and therefore only the Christian Bible (the combined Old Testament and New Testament) is acceptable on the Masonic altar for any lodge work whatsoever.

This error is compounded by their further belief that the Bible is somehow “inerrant” and “uni-vocal,” and that their rigid interpretation of the scriptures is sacrosanct. They then use this mistaken dogmatic rigidity to condemn anyone who disagrees, and they pass Masonic legislation that follows their fundamentalist foundation, and this creates deeply unspiritual and hateful divisions in the fraternity (and in the world). Their lack of spiritual humility is destructive.

The purpose of this article is to offer a different rationale concerning the scriptures.

Reverend Jim Palmer is a former fundamentalist evangelical pastor of a Christian Megachurch. He served the church faithfully for many years, until he began questioning some nagging theological discrepancies that “dogged” his dogmatic foundations. He finally applied himself to digging into those foundations more deeply than he ever had before, and he resigned his leadership position. He finally realized that his former evangelical belief system was “built on sand.”

May the following words about the Bible, from ex-pastor, Jim Palmer, inspire more Freemasons to reconsider their own narrow theological foundations, and then heal the divisions that continue to cause harm in the Lodge.

***

The Bible

The Bible has been weaponized, idolized, and absolutized more than almost any other book in human history. Entire civilizations, institutions, political movements, and personal identities have been built around the assumption that one ancient collection of texts contains the final and exclusive revelation of ultimate truth. People cling to it as though the infinite mystery of existence could be fully captured between two leather covers, translated into doctrinal systems, and administered by authorized interpreters.

The issue is not that the Bible doesn’t contain wisdom, beauty, moral insight, poetry, or profound spiritual reflection. It absolutely does. The problem begins when the Bible ceases to be part of humanity’s ongoing search for meaning and becomes the unquestionable endpoint of that search. Once that happens, curiosity narrows, consciousness closes, and spiritual life becomes less about awakening and more about defending certainty.

What makes the Bible-only mindset especially dangerous is not merely theological rigidity, but the psychological and existential consequences that follow from it. Human beings begin distrusting their own perception, intuition, experience, and moral reasoning whenever these conflict with inherited interpretations of scripture.

Complexity becomes threatening. Ambiguity becomes intolerable. The living reality of existence gets subordinated to textual conformity. In trying to preserve absolute certainty, people often lose contact with the very depth, mystery, humility, compassion, and openness that authentic spirituality requires.

Here’s how Bible-only belief becomes a trap.

1. The Bible as the only “authority”

When you crown the Bible as the authority, you slam the door on truth that’s speaking through everything else: nature, art, science, philosophy, psychology, human suffering, human love, and lived experience. You shrink God down to a book and miss the infinite. The tragedy is that reality itself becomes filtered through theological permission structures rather than encountered directly with openness and discernment.

2. Expecting coherence where there isn’t any

Treating the Bible like it was meant to be a neat, systematic theology manual is a setup for disappointment. It’s a messy, evolving, contradictory collection of writings produced across centuries by different people wrestling with different questions. It was never a divine IKEA instruction booklet for God. Much of modern biblical anxiety comes from forcing artificial consistency onto texts that were never attempting to speak with one unified voice.

3. Biblical theology as the “best” way to know God

If you think theology is the ultimate way to know God, you’ve already dismissed philosophy, mysticism, contemplation, psychology, embodiment, and lived human experience. That’s like saying the only way to know music is by reading sheet music. The deepest spiritual realities are often encountered through direct experience long before they are ever conceptualized into doctrine.

4. Interpretation wars

Once you elevate your interpretation of the Bible above everyone else’s, theology devolves into a cage match over who’s “right.” Spoiler: nobody wins except the institutions and egos attached to certainty. Entire denominations and religious movements fracture endlessly because absolutism makes disagreement feel like existential threat rather than an inevitable part of human interpretation.

5. Worshipping the book instead of God

Calling the Bible “inerrant” and “infallible” easily turns it into an idol. You end up defending the perfection of a text more passionately than embodying love, wisdom, compassion, justice, or humanity itself. Bibliolatry replaces spiritual transformation with doctrinal loyalty, and people begin confusing textual accuracy with existential depth.

6. Identity anchored in the Bible alone

When your personal and cultural identity is chained exclusively to the Bible, outsiders stop being fellow human beings and start becoming threats to the system holding your identity together. You objectify those who believe differently, and “love your neighbor” quietly mutates into “convert, control, or condemn.” Fear of difference becomes baked into the structure of belonging itself.

7. Nationalism and theocracy on steroids

Believing God demands obedience to one singular belief system opens the door to authoritarian religion fused with political power. That’s how you get crusades, inquisitions, witch hunts, colonial domination, and modern forms of Christian nationalism dressed up as patriotism. Once people believe they possess divine certainty, coercion begins feeling morally justified in the name of protecting “truth.”

Let’s call it what it is: bibliolatry. When people elevate the Bible into “God’s perfect word” and treat it as the sole source of spiritual legitimacy, they often stop seeking truth beyond inherited religious structures and begin protecting the structure itself. The irony is profound. In trying to honor God, many end up functionally worshipping a book about God instead. The map becomes more sacred than the territory. The symbol becomes more important than the reality it points toward.

The moment the Bible becomes absolute, closed, untouchable, and final, it stops being a doorway and becomes a cage. Healthy spirituality does not fear science, philosophy, psychology, other cultures, or human experience because truth does not need protection from reality. The infinite is larger than any doctrine, denomination, or sacred text.

Conclusion

The Bible is not God. It is not the final container of truth. At best, it is a signpost pointing beyond itself toward the depth and mystery of existence. The tragedy is when people stop at the signpost, build walls around it, and spend their lives defending the sign instead of continuing the journey.

The mystery of reality is still unfolding. The voice of the infinite is still speaking. If you think the Bible is the final word, you may have already stopped listening.

***

So Mote It Be

04/29/2026

Esoteric Masonry - Part 22

Aquarius – The Water Bearer and the Living Stone

From: Gnostic Masonry
Edited by Greg Sudmeier, 32° SR KCCH, Templar Collegia, Ordre Martiniste of the Temple, Sons of the Desert Lodge No. 226, CA

Introduction

Freemasonry is centered on receiving “Light,” and then ”More Light,” and the Zodiac has a relation to the esoteric issues and processes of recieving Light.

As we know, Freemasons were involved in the design of the United States Capitol city, Washington DC. This is why the United States Capitol building has the Zodiac symbols throughout the structure, for instance, shown here in the 12 blue squares of a hallway ceiling at the Capitol…

Studying the sign of Aquarius helps us understand the connection of Freemasonry and all the symbols of the Zodiac.

Aquarius

After the long ascent of Capricorn; where discipline, structure, and perseverance shape the initiate into a capable builder; the journey opens into a new and expansive phase: Aquarius, the sign of illumination, service, and the sharing of Light.

If Capricorn is the climb, Aquarius is the very purpose for the climb.
Masons have labored, refined, and ascended. Now they are called to give back; to pour out the wisdom they have gained, to contribute to the greater good, and to take their place as a “Living Stone” in the universal temple of eternity.

The Water Bearer: A Channel of Light

The symbol of Aquarius is the Water Bearer, a figure pouring a stream of water from a vessel. Esoterically, this water is not physical; it is knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual Light.

Unlike earlier stages of the journey, where the focus is on personal growth, Aquarius shifts attention outward. Like taking our own oxygen first in an airplane emergency, so we can then help others, initiates are no longer seeking Light solely for themselves; they become a channel through which Light flows to others.

In Freemasonry, this reflects the ideal of brotherhood and service. Masons are not meant to hoard knowledge or advancement. They are called to share it, to uplift the lodge members, and to contribute to the harmony of the Lodge and society in general.

The Water Bearer gives freely, without expectation. Aquarias’ role is not to possess the water in the jar, but - to distribute it to those in emotional-spiritual need!

Air Transformed: Thought in Service of Humanity

Like Gemini and Libra, Aquarius is an “air sign,” but its expression is collective rather than individual. Gemini explores ideas, Libra balances them, and Aquarius applies them for the benefit of all.
This represents a significant evolution in the Masonic journey. The initiate moves beyond personal understanding and moral balance into collective responsibility.

Freemasonry emphasizes this principle through its teachings on charity, relief, and the betterment of society. The Mason is encouraged to use their knowledge and skills not only for their own advancement, but for the upliftment of all humanity.

Aquarius embodies this ideal. It reminds the Mason that true wisdom is measured not by what one knows, but by how one uses it.

The Living Stone

One of the most profound symbols in Freemasonry is the idea of the Mason as a “living stone”; a carefully shaped and perfected element of the greater spiritual temple. This concept reaches its fullest expression in Aquarius.

The initiate, having passed through the earlier stages of building and refinement, is now ready to take their place within the structure. They are no longer just working on the temple; they are part of it. Each Mason, as a living stone, contributes to the strength, beauty, and harmony of the whole. Their actions, character, and service become part of a larger design.

Aquarius teaches that the temple is not built of isolated individuals, but of connected beings, each playing a role in the collective good works.

The Lodge as a Living Organism

At this stage, the Lodge itself begins to take on a new meaning. It is no longer just a place where dinner is shared and rituals are performed; it becomes an actual living organism, sustained by the spiritual energy, intention, and cooperation of its members. Aquarius governs this sense of interconnectedness.

Each Masonic initiate comes to understand that their actions affect the whole. Their presence contributes to the harmony (or sadly, sometimes the discord) of the Lodge. Naturally, their willingness to serve positively strengthens the collective.

Freemasonry thrives when its members embody this Aquarian principle; working together, supporting one another, and striving toward the shared purpose of perpetuating the beautiful truth and power of the ancient mysteries. The Lodge becomes more than a structure; it becomes a true community of Light.

Innovation and Tradition

Aquarius is often associated with innovation, progress, and new ideas. It challenges existing structures and seeks to improve them. In Freemasonry, this creates an important balance. The Craft is rooted in tradition, preserving ancient symbols and rituals, yet, at the same time, it must remain currently relevant and deeply meaningful in a changing world.

The Aquarian Mason walks this line carefully. They respect the traditions of the Craft while also seeking ways to enhance and revitalize them. This does not mean abandoning the past, but rather, building upon it. Aquarius teaches that growth requires both continuity and change; a willingness to honor what has come before while embracing what lies ahead.

The Spirit of Brotherhood

At its core, Aquarius represents universal brotherhood.

Freemasonry has long upheld the ideal of bringing men (and in some lodges, women) together across differences of background, belief, and circumstance. The Lodge is a place where individuals meet on the level, united by shared ancient universal principles. Aquarius expands this vision beyond the Lodge. It calls the Mason to see all humanity as part of the same greater whole; to recognize the common Light within every individual.

This perspective fosters compassion, understanding, and a commitment to service. It reminds the Mason that their work is not confined to the Lodge room, but that it extends into the wider world, which is always desperately in need of assistance.

The Challenge of Detachment

While Aquarius offers a vision of unity and service, it also presents a challenge: the tendency toward detachment or intellectual distance. The focus on ideas and collective goals can sometimes lead to a loss of personal connection. The Mason must guard against becoming too abstract, or too removed from the human element of their work.

Freemasonry provides a counterbalance through its emphasis on brotherly love and personal interaction. The Mason is reminded that service is not only about ideals, but about people…all people. Aquarius must be grounded in compassion. The water must not only be poured, it must be felt, usable, and absorbed.

The Flow of the Work

Aquarius represents a stage where the work begins to flow naturally. The Mason no longer struggles to apply the principles of the Craft; they become part of their being.

Their actions align with understanding. Their service reflects their values. Their presence contributes to the harmony of the whole. This flow is not effortless; it is the result of everything that has come before. The discipline of Capricorn, the vision of Sagittarius, the transformation of Scorpio, etc.; all of it culminates in this ability to actually live out the work in real life.

The Water Bearer’s Lesson

The lesson of Aquarius is one of service and connection.

The Mason is called to share their Light, to contribute to the greater good, and to recognize their place within the collective structure of humanity. They must balance innovation with tradition, intellect with compassion, and individuality with unity. The Water Bearer reminds us that the purpose of initiation is not self-elevation, but service to others.

Becoming the Temple

As the journey continues, Aquarius represents a profound realization: the temple is not something external to be built; it is something that lives within and among us.

Each Mason, as a “living stone,” contributes to this temple. Each act of service, each moment of understanding, each expression of brotherhood adds to its structure.
The work is no longer confined to the Lodge. It extends into every aspect of life, and, as the water continues to flow, the Light spreads.

The Work Continues

Beyond Aquarius lies Pisces; the final stage of the Zodiacal journey, where the individual dissolves into the greater whole and the mysteries of unity are revealed.

Aquarius, however, prepares the way. It teaches the Mason how to live as part of something greater, how to give freely, and how to embody the principles of the Craft in service to humanity.

The climb of the stairway will be made. The eternal water will be poured. The Light will be found. Then, it is time to share the healing truth with others.

So Mote It Be.

***

[v1.1]

04/18/2026

Consider the black and white Masonic floor. Wherever darkness is, it does not find light. For darkness, light does not exist. In a time yet to come, in the Above, the two shall meet and know one another in perfect union. At that nexus we will see the One who created all things.

In the meantime, in the Below, we glimpse a premonition of that wonder. For this is the human being: A breath of the divine within a material body; light and darkness face-to-face…within each single being.

Now consider the following three quotes:

"Darkness and light are both of one nature, different only in seeming, for each arose from the source of all. Darkness is disorder. Light is Order. Darkness transmuted is light of the Light. This, my children, your purpose in being; transmutation of darkness to light.

Within us burns that Flame, and before Its altar the lower man must bow, a faithful servant of the Higher. When he serves the Flame he grows, and the light grows until he takes his place with the true Initiates of the universe, those who have given all to the Infinite, in the name of the Flame within.” ~ Manly P. Hall, The Initiates of the Flame

"The alchemist of today is not hidden in caves and cellars, studying alone, but as he goes on with his work, it is seen that walls are built around him, and while he is in the world, like the master of old, he is not of it. As he goes further in his work, the light of other people’s advice and outside help grows weaker and weaker, until finally he stands alone in darkness, and then comes the time that he must use his own lamp, and the various experiments which he has carried on must be his guide. He must take the Elixir of Life which he has developed and with it fill the lamp of his spiritual consciousness, and holding that above his head, walk into the Great Unknown, where if he has been a good and faithful servant, he will learn of the alchemy of Divinity.

Where now test tubes and bottles are his implements, then worlds and globes he will study, and as a silent watcher will learn from that Divine One, who is the Great Alchemist of all the universe, the greatest alchemy of all, the creation of life, the maintenance of form, and the building of worlds."~ Manly P. Hall, Initiates of the Flame

“Darkness adopted illumination in order to make itself visible. Darkness is the one true actuality, the basis and the root of light, without which the latter could never manifest itself, nor even exist.

Light is matter, and Darkness pure Spirit. Darkness, in its radical, metaphysical basis, is subjective and absolute light; while the latter in all its seeming effulgence and glory, is merely a mass of shadows, as it can never be eternal, and is simply an illusion, or Maya.” ~ H.P. Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine, Vol. 1 (also quoting Robert Fludd)

04/15/2026

04/12/2026

Freemasonry and the Bible - Part 23

How many times have you heard someone say, “It’s in the Bible, so I agree with it!” The problem, they don’t know what the Bible actually is, or who did - and didn’t - write it. For instance, 13 books are attributed to Paul in the New Testament, but he only actualy wrote 6…

Discover the books written by Paul in the Bible! Explore Paul's authentic authorship, forgeries, and how scholars know the difference!

04/10/2026

Contrary to the standard historical narrative, the Templar lineage and heritage continued unbroken after their suppression in 1307. This tradition was continued through the branches of
Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry…

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DW9CrK6gof3/?igsh=aW1yOW1zbGhpMzVm

04/10/2026

Freemasons and Church

Why do Christian Freemasons tend to stop going to church? This brings up a difficult issue for Freemasons.

Freemasonry is religiously and spiritually inclusive as Freemasonry recognizes the inherent “divine spark” in all (“the kingdom within”), which is why all volumes of sacred law can be used on the altar for the vows. Through the degrees and the ritual, Freemasonry also instructs initiates in the ancient Hermetic teachings, which are again, spiritually inclusive.

Standard theologically orthodox Christianity is an exclusive religious system; Christianity, as defined by the “official” church (Catholic and Protestant) is exclusive. In this system, Salvation is not possible through any other spiritual path than Christianity.

As Freemasons, how do we reconcile this dichotomy? By studying the history of the development of church orthodoxy, away from what Yeshua (and Paul) actually taught.

The crux of the issue is the orthodox teaching of “Supercessionism,” or “Replacement Theology”; the idea that the Christian Church inherited God’s “eternal covenant” away from the Jewish/Hebrew faith, because “the Jews killed Jesus.” In this erroneous concept, the church and the “New Testament” replaces the Jews and the “Old Testament,” and “Jesus” fulfills and therefore discards the Mosaic law. This idea gained serious traction especially from the 2nd century CE forward as the church and the Greek “church fathers” gained authority and created the “official” dogmas and religious rules called “orthodoxy” (right opinion).

Again, however, this concept was created after Yeshua and Paul lived. It did not originate with them. In fact, Yeshua specifically taught his followers how to find “the kingdom within” inside themselves, as does Freemasonry, and, Paul, in the book of Romans, specifically teaches against “Replacement Theology.”

So, well studied Freemasons tend to stop going to church, not because of a lack of spiritual commitment to Yeshua’s teachings, but because the standard Christian church still promotes “Replacement Theology,” the idea that salvation can only be found in the orthodox Christian religion.