To Gl∴ do Gr∴ Arc∴ do Un∴

Aug∴ e Resp∴ Loj∴ Simb∴ ASGARD–No. 353 - Or∴ from Holambra-SP

Jurisdictional to G∴O∴P∴

Marcel Angeli Paulino - A∴M∴ CIM 24702

My Initiation

The Initiation

The Initiation is a "turning point" in the life of the profane, it is a symbolic ceremony that
when studied and understood will awaken your spirit. To achieve this, it is necessary to study the
different elements that compose it, seeking the intimate meaning of each one of them and their
value in our lives. With this, the Initiate discovers that he depends only on his effort.
individual to transform rough stone into polished stone, that is, to leave the state of man
slave of your vices, mistakes, and passions and transform into a being filled with virtues, honor and
wisdom. It also discovers that humility is necessary to recognize that this effort
it is continuous.
The initiation is the door that leads the profane to enter a new moral state, in which
a new way of being internally begins that ends up reflecting in your external life through
his new attitudes. Thus, the initiate enters a new vision of reality, a new
way of thinking, living, speaking, and acting that characterizes him as a true Mason. For this
reason, the fundamental symbol of initiation is that of death, a symbolic death to the world
profane and necessary for the initiatory rebirth.

The cemetery and the first lesson

On the way to the Temple where my initiation would take place, together with two brothers -
whom I already knew from profane life - I was left in front of a cemetery to
reflection. There I learned my first great lesson that Masonry taught me, something that
I will carry with me for every day of my life, something I always remember when I wake up and when I go to sleep, the day.

of my death. In front of the cemetery, at first, I was thinking about how

will this day be, what will happen to my loved ones, who will be there, etc. Already in a
second moment, and the most important part of that reflection, I began to think about what I would have done
in life, what could I regret not having done for not having had the time. It was then that
I realized the importance of trying to be better each day, so that we do not have
no regrets when the fateful day comes. And all those who obtain this lesson,
will automatically start wanting to improve day by day, burying its vices, decreasing
your mistakes and disentangling from your passions to thus exalt your virtues in the pursuit of
perfection.

The Expert Brother and the First Impression

My first contact in the Temple was with Brother Expert, a character a

as terrifying as it is, but with a hint of humor due to the excellent handling and
interpretation of the Brother playing such a role. The first question of the brother was: 'Profane,
"who did you come to this temple with?", at that moment I mentioned the names of the two brothers who accompanied me.

they led me there. And Brother Expert, not satisfied, asked me: 'With whom else?', I in the
my greatest innocence said: "No one else", and he repeated the same question once more
again, and I responded once more "No one else," and he, in his great wisdom, asked: "No one else
No one? Are you sure there was no one else in that car? Do you think not?
Isn't there anyone else responsible for you being here today?
making a serious mistake, and there I had an almost instant insight and replied: "I had
"But someone yes, God was with us." And he said: "Ahh good!" At that exact moment he fell.
by land any type of fear, I then realized that I was among Brothers.

The Chamber of Reflections

Right after that, much more calmly, I was taken to the Chamber of Reflections that
It constitutes the proof of the earth, the first of the four symbolic proofs of the elements.

The Chamber of Reflections represents the cave used in ancient initiations, in its
inside I found black walls, various symbols, emblems of death and inscriptions
intended to test my will to progress. One of these symbols and perhaps the most
important among them, is an abbreviation of a phrase in Latin which reads V.I.T.R.I.O.L., whose
Visit the interior of the earth, correcting yourself, you will find the stone
oculta”. Isso, pois naCâmara das Reflexões, o profano se isola do mundo passando a olhar pra
even finding in itself the hidden stone. At this moment the initiated dies.
for the profane life and is reborn into Masonic life. Death for the profane life means
to die for vice, mistakes and passions and to be reborn for Virtue, for Honor and for Wisdom.
And for that, she will constantly hone this hidden stone, a rough stone until then,
to turn it into polished stone.
Another point that the profane should remember is that the dungeon has always been the
principal instrument of tyranny and restriction of freedom, and that thus manifests its
rejection of despotism and love for free institutions.

The Preparation

Even before the Chamber of Reflections, the Expert Brother stripped me of all my
metals, this is so that I would remember what man was like before civilization, in his
natural state, when I was unaware of vanity and pride. The Expert Brother also me
sold to characterize the state of ignorance or blindness that I was in, that is, of the
my inability to perceive the true Light.

Após a Câmara das Reflexões, finalmente deram início a minha preparação para
enter the Store, and they started the Triangle of Nudity:

Nudity of the left breast: it means stripping away all conventionalism that hinders your...
manifestations and feelings that are more sincere and profound;
Nudity of the right knee: it means shedding the intellectual pride that hinders the
recognition of the Truth;
Nakedness of the left foot: it means stripping oneself of moral insensitivity, which hinders the practice of
Virtue.
 With this preparation, the candidate finds themselves ready to knock on the door of the Temple.
to ask, seek and find the Light of Truth.

The Temple Door

Since ancient times, the Temple Gate has been the natural symbol of all
passage or entry of all initiation. The moment to open the Temple Door after
a dual moral and physical preparation that I mentioned earlier, this is one of the moments
most important of the initiation ceremony.
I suddenly heard three loud knocks, which startled me quite a bit, as I had already
I had been blindfolded for a long time, and the other senses were heightened. These blows
they alarmed the interior of the temple three times, this practice is related to the passage
Biblical 'Seek and you shall find (the Truth), ask and it will be given to you (the light), knock and it will be opened to you.'
(the Temple Gate).
After the three strong knocks, I felt the tip of a sharp weapon in my chest. This
it serves so that the profane, even blindfolded, knows that he can still feel, and it is this
feeling that will be the Guide that will lead you in your progress and your efforts toward Light. The
Inner guide that individually leads every man who becomes receptive to its influence
on the Path of Truth and Life. At this moment, this Inner Guide is located
materialized externally by the Expert Brother.

The Sacred Cup

After a brief interrogation, where I was questioned about my duties to

with God, for oneself and for humanity, and I was also asked about which
those would be my definitions of vices and virtues, I was asked to take an oath
about the Sacred Cup.
I swear to keep the deepest silence about all the evidence I may be exposed to.
my courage. If my spirits weaken due to a lack of full and conscious adherence, or if the
the spirit of curiosity leads me here, I allow the sweetness of this drink to turn into
bitter, and its healthful effect in subtle poison.
After the oath, I took the first sip, a sugary liquid as if it were nectar.
of the gods, soon after the second sip, and the sugary drink turned bitter,
immediately the Venerable Master requested that I be removed. Without even understanding the
what was happening I was taken outside the temple, at that moment I was a little
scared and questioning what I might have done wrong, until I heard Brother Expert
whispering in my ears: 'It's all right, stay calm.'
The Sacred Cup refers to the Holy Grail, the chalice used by Jesus Christ in his last
In the profane world, the cup symbolizes the vessel from which we will drink the liquid in the future.
coming from our actions, the fruit of our free will, whether good or bad, we will be
responsible for our actions, remembering that planting is free, but the harvest is
mandatory, in this way, let us reflect on our behavior, as they will be reflected in
tomorrow.
In Freemasonry, the Sacred Cup is a symbolism that guides the precepts of the Order.
where kindness, respect, work, family, knowledge, and balance are objects of
constant work for improvement. Remembering that we should enjoy the pleasures of life
always with moderation, respecting all limits, and not allowing oneself to be corrupted by
facilities of the materialistic world that surrounds us.
 The First Trip

After the scare mentioned earlier, I returned to the temple where I finally
they took me to make my first trip.
It's a journey full of difficulties, where various noises are heard, which represent the
unleashing of storms and winds, symbols of false beliefs, opinions and
opposing currents of the world, like those we must face. It is the proof of the air of the ancients
initiations.
The journey is quietly led by the Expert Brother, who as mentioned
previously, represents our inner guide in the intimate sense, of the just, of the good, of the
true, for it is this inner guide of every man that can truly lead us
along the path of progress.

The Second Trip

Shortly after, I was led to the second journey, which differs from the first by
your greatest ease, obstacles disappear and the violent noises are replaced by the
clash of swords. This ease is a result of the efforts made on the first journey, a
as we learn to overcome obstacles, they gradually disappear,
because they no longer have a reason to exist, once we have developed in us the ability to overcome them with
the qualities that we lacked.

The clash of swords is the emblem of the struggles that are fought around the initiate, thus
as a personal struggle that he must undertake with his own passions, thoughts,
old habits and negative trends. This struggle requires constant attention and vigilance,
symbolically representing the proof of water, that is, a kind of philosophical baptism that
consists of cleansing or freeing the soul from its errors, vices, and imperfections that constitute the
inner cause of all evil or external difficulty.

The Third Voyage

This journey is even more peaceful, as the obstacles have completely disappeared.
noises. Having mastered and purified the negative part of his nature, one must
now familiarize yourself with the positive energy of fire, that is, with the infinite potential of the spirit
that finds itself.

The purification by fire eliminates all residue of impurity, every trace of mistakes and
illusions that previously dominated the soul. When the Light of Truth appears in full
its fullness, all darkness, all error, all doubt and imperfection, automatically
they disappear.

The Oath and the Three Obligations

After the three trips, I found myself ready to fulfill the formality of
oath. Kneeling with the left knee and right knee at a right angle, meaning sign of
humility, respect and devotion; and with the right hand over the Sacred Book that represents the
Divine word, with a compass on the left whose tips were resting on my
chest as a symbol of the fullness of consciousness and the perfect understanding of my heart,
I took the oath.

The first of the obligations undertaken by the oath refers to the secrets of
Order. It is the obligation of discretion regarding all teaching, this obligation is
in perfect agreement with the words of Jesus: 'Do not give what is holy to the dogs, nor cast'
your pearls to the pigs", or also the maximum hermetic: "The lips of wisdom are
mute outside the ears of comprehension.

The second obligation is the promise not to write, record, or make any sign by
as they may know both the Holy Word and the means of communication
recognition among Freemasons. This obligation is based on protecting the unity and
inviolability of the Order.

The third obligation is the recognition of the duties of solidarity that unite us to
other masons for the same reason of having become aware of their relationship with them,
what is fraternity. Committing to help them and assist them wherever their strength is
allow, both morally and materially.

Before breaking this oath, the mason prefers to have his throat cut and his tongue
uprooted, which means losing the power of words. It is the symbolic punishment that one
who is indiscreet receives, as a consequence of their own actions when they misuse and
selfish with what has been entrusted to him. The indiscreet and unfaithful can never establish themselves in
Truth.

The Light

After the oath before everyone, I was finally worthy to see the Light, the V∴ M∴
then said:

In the beginning of the world, said the G∴ A∴ D∴ U∴ LET THERE BE LIGHT!

My sale was withdrawn and I was finally able to see the Temple and my Brothers, in this.
A very strong emotion took over me at that moment, something difficult to explain, was being born there.
a new 'I', there was the division of the river of my life, where I was reborn to the
Masonic philosophy, which I have fallen in love with. And I can say that such passion only grows day after day.

Holambra East, May 29, 2019.

Bibliographic References:

Mason Apprentice Ritual – Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite - G∴O∴P∴;

Masonry - 100 instructions for an Apprentice by Raymundo D'Elia Junior;

Maçonaria Revelada–Os Segredos do Aprendiz Maçom de Maxell Egens.

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