In this episode, David and Gene continue their exploration of the Secret Gospel of John, delving into its complex cosmology and comparing it with Neoplatonic philosophy. They review the discussion from the previous episode that detailed the first phases the evolution of consciousness through the emanations of (1) the Monad (pure undifferentiated co…

In this episode, David and Gene begin their exploration of "The Secret Gospel of John," also known as the "Apocryphon of John," a pivotal text in the Sethian Gnostic tradition. They discuss the text's history, its multiple versions, and its significance as a comprehensive presentation of Gnostic cosmology and theology. The discussion delves into th…

In this episode, David and Gene delve into the fascinating world of Gnostic Christianity, exploring its origins, philosophical concepts, and enduring influence. The episode explores the historical and philosophical landscape that gave birth to Gnostic Christianity, focusing on Alexandria's crucial role as a melting pot of Eastern and Western though…

In this episode of "Way of the Hermit," David and Gene dive down the rabbit hole, into the world of Gnosticism and its connection to Freemasonry. They explore how Gnostic teachings, once considered heretical, were driven underground and lay buried for centuries until their rediscovery in the 20th century. They discuss the core principles of Gnostic…

In this episode, David and Gene begin their deep dive into Gnosticism and its intimate connection to Freemasonry. They explore the key concepts that form the foundation of Gnostic thought, including the Monad, Emanations, Duality, and the pursuit of Gnosis, and discuss how these ideas are woven into the fabric of Masonic philosophy, particularly wi…

In this episode, David and Gene delve into the world of esoteric Freemasonry with their esteemed guests, Worshipful Brother Ben Wallace and Most Worshipful Brother Shaun Bradshaw. As authors of the book "A Path to Providence", Shaun and Ben share their inspiring journey in reviving the mystery school roots of Freemasonry through the establishment o…

In this first episode of the second season of the “Way of the Hermit” podcast we are “tying up loose ends” left over from last season. In this first part of our two-part season opener, we are looking at the book “A Path to Providence: The Creation of the Middle Chamber Program.” The Way of the Hermit Podcast: https://www.wayofthehermit.com In "A Pa…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. In the podcast, the evolution of the Square and Compass, the primary symbol of the "Blue Lodge," is examined after the hosts' journey through the Scottish Rite degrees. It is now seen as a more profound representation, with the Compass …

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. In this episode, the intricate details of the Degree Ritual and its profound symbolism are explored, shedding light on the culmination of Masonic teachings. The ritual, set against the backdrop of the Vernal Equinox, serves as a symboli…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. In the heart of the episode, the mythological setting of the Egyptian "Hall of Judgment" from the Book of the Dead is explored, serving as the backdrop for the degree ritual. This setting is not just a mere stage but a profound allegory…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. In the episode, the historical context of the Knights Templar's fall and the execution of their Grandmaster, Jacques de Molay, is examined, revealing the financial might that led to their downfall by King Philip IV of France and Pope Cl…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. In this episode, the rich symbolism and rituals of the "Scottish Knight of Saint Andrew" degree in Freemasonry are explored in depth. The Saint Andrew’s Cross, an equal-armed x-shaped cross, is identified as the main symbol of the degre…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. In the episode, the exploration of light and darkness as primary metaphors in "The Mysteries" is revisited, with a deep dive into the symbolic significance of these elements across various religious and mythological contexts. The unity …

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. In the episode, the depth and complexity of the 28th Degree - Knight of the Sun are explored, revealing its position as a distillation of the entire Scottish Rite system. The discussion begins with Albert Pike's Christian interpretation…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. In the episode, a comprehensive examination of the "Knight of the Sun" degree's Ritual, both in its original and revised forms, is undertaken, revealing significant philosophical and symbolic depth. The revised Ritual, simplified for mo…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. In the episode, the intricate rituals and profound symbolism of the "Knight Commander of the Temple" degree are explored, revealing a ceremony steeped in historical reverence and moral testing. The degree, originating from the siege of …

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. In the exploration of the third and final Degree dedicated to the Greater Mysteries, a profound journey through the symbolism and progression of the Mystery Degrees is undertaken. The discussion delves into the intricate teachings and s…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. This episode marks a significant shift from the previous degree's focus on Jewish Mysteries, in that it delves into the teachings and traditions of Islamic mysticism, emphasizing the importance of inward purification and personal sacrif…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. This degree is associated with the Greater Mysteries, following the "Chief of the Tabernacle" degree, and its timing is linked to the Jewish festival of Sukkot, also known as the "Feast of Tabernacles." David and Gene discuss the ritual…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. This degree begins with a journey back to the biblical era of Moses and the construction of the Tabernacle in the wilderness, a structure that symbolizes the universe and reflects the Hermetic principle of "As Above, So Below." This all…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. In this episode, Gene and David first discuss the Degree Ritual, a ceremony with roots tracing back to the Crusaders' interactions with the Druze, a mystical Islamic sect from Lebanon. This ritual, set in the Middle Ages, involves a can…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. In this episode, Gene and David delve into the 21st Degree’s dark and strange Degree Ritual, which is based on the secret medieval German tribunal, the Vehmgericht or "Holy Vehm". The Vehmgericht was an extra-legal but efficient crimina…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. This degree is characterized by its simplicity and focus on the fundamental principles of Masonry. The ritual involves a straightforward lecture on symbols, with an emphasis on personal interpretation rather than elaborate drama. The de…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. This degree is the first in the "Council of Kadosh," a series of "Chivalric" degrees, and discuss the mystical and philosophical nature of these degrees, as well as the meaning of the term "Kadosh," a Hebrew word often translated as "ho…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. This episode delves into the capstone Degree of the "Chapter of Rose Croix", which reveals the "Secret of the Reconciliation of Opposites". David and Gene discuss the three "apartments" or scenes that the candidate is taken through in t…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. The ritual of the degree involves a narrative drawn from the New Testament, featuring a confrontation between King Herod II and John the Baptist, symbolizing the dangers of pride and sin, and emphasizing spiritual aspirations over world…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. This episode explores the mythological and historical context of the "Prince of Jerusalem" degree, which begins with the story of Zerubbabel, a direct descendant of David and Solomon, who is entrusted by God to return the "holy fire" to…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. This is the first degree of the "Chapter of Rose Croix," which is composed of the 15th through the 18th degrees. The goal of these degrees is to reveal the solution of one of the great enigmas of Nature and the manifested world - the "S…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. This episode explores the 14th Degree of the "Lodge of Perfection" - "Perfect Elu." The episode begins with a brief recap of the Royal Arch of Solomon Degree, highlighting Enoch's efforts to preserve the "True Name of God" amidst a fore…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. In this episode, Gene and David, delve into the myth of the Royal Arch of Solomon degree, focusing on the Biblical Patriarch Enoch. In Enoch's dream, God reveals his "True Name" and shows him a vault of nine arched chambers, with the la…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. This episode discusses the 12th Degree of the Scottish Rite, exploring themes of leadership, morality, and the philosophical underpinnings of Masonic teachings. The degree ritual centers around the promotion of Adoniram to Chief Archite…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. This episode delves into the 11th Degree of the Scottish Rite, "Elu of the Twelve." It explores the symbolism of the trial and judgment of the Ruffians, highlighting the themes of truth, fidelity, and moral virtues as outlined in Freema…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. This episode explores the 10th Degree of the Scottish Rite, "Elu of the Fifteen". The episode begins with a discussion of the mythological setting, where Solomon forms a group of fifteen men to bring justice to the murderers of Hiram Ab…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. In this episode, we explore the 9th Degree of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry - "Elu of the Nine", and discuss its ceremonial narrative, the capture of the ruffians involved in Hiram Abiff's murder. This degree addresses the need for p…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. This episode provides an in-depth analysis of the 8th Degree in the Scottish Rite, "Intendant of the Building." Set in the period after Hiram's death, the narrative of the degree revolves around the challenges faced in continuing the co…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. This podcast episode explores the 7th Degree of the Scottish Rite, "Provost and Judge," focusing on themes of judgment, fairness, and self-reflection. The narrative of the degree is set in the time of King Solomon and revolves around th…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. This episode delves into the symbolic and moral teachings of the 6th Degree - "Intimate Secretary" in the Scottish Rite system. It's story revolves around the characters King Solomon, King Hiram, and Zabud. The key themes of this degree…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. In this episode, the virtues of industry and honesty are explored through the lens of the Perfect Master degree, with a particular emphasis on moral conduct in both personal and business matters. The symbolism of bees is used to undersc…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. In the "Way of the Hermit" podcast episode, the Scottish Rite Degree System is dissected, revealing its structure of four bodies, each with distinct themes and teachings. The first body, "The Lodge of Perfection," is discussed, focusing…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. In this podcast, the significance of symbols in religious expression is explored, with the assertion that all language is symbolic and that the true objects of religion are unseen. The discussion acknowledges that symbols are often conf…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. In the episode, the symbolism inherent in the Fellowcraft Degree of Freemasonry is delved into, with a particular emphasis on the nature of symbolism itself. It is highlighted that symbols serve as a bridge to the unconscious mind, offe…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. In the podcast episode, the moral lessons of the "Entered Apprentice" degree are explored, emphasizing that Freemasonry is not a religion but a system of morality and philosophy. It is highlighted that Masonry requires a belief in a hig…

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com. This is the first episode of a series in which we discuss the 32 degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. This episode provides an introduction to the Blue Lodge of Freemasonry, the Scottish Rite and the author …