New Masonic Thoughts

The Masonic Influence on World History

I found this some where, it would be hard to improve on the message. 

As masons, we have an identity problem. We’ve all heard the mantras, “Freemasonry is a peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.” or “We make good men better.”, but that doesn’t quite explain to the average man what we really are about. Reliance on a catchphrases to bring in potential members doesn’t convey what we as an organization are trying to accomplish. In fact, I think it is a banal attempt at marketing ourselves. If you want people to know you exist as an organization, the organization needs to be actively marketing itself and it has to agree on a definition of what it wants to represent. We can’t expect bumper stickers that say: “2B1Ask1” to send potential members to our doors. We can’t continue to take a passive approach and expect our membership numbers to reverse, we need to actively market ourselves and what we represent.

Furthermore, as part of this advertising, we need to stress how important the below values are for men today. As the MSANA report says when discussing the benefits of Freemasonry in the 21st century world: “Masonry offers an opportunity for a principled way of life rooted in the following Masonic values: 

• Integrity
• Diversity 
• Inquiry 
• Community 
• Vitality

Masons are men who build community through brotherhood that is based on a principled lifestyle. A Mason’s life is deeply rooted in a system of values. Masonry cannot be kept inside the individual; it is a philosophy of fraternity that must be shared in action through numerous experiences, which are lodge-based, personal, and professional.“

I would substitute personal development in place of inquiry. I don’t see the act of asking for information as being one of our values. Instead, I see personal development more in line with our values. Personal Development covers the activities that improve awareness and identity, develop talents and potential, build human capital and facilitate employability, enhance the quality of life and contribute to the realization of dreams and aspirations. I personally have observed in my children a lack of certain life skills, for example, although I’ve shown him numerous times, I doubt highly that my 18 year old son could change a tire. As another example, my 16 year old son can’t cook a simple meal for himself. Sure he can microwave a meal, boil an egg, and do other simple kitchen tasks, but if I asked him to cook me a hamburger or pancake for instance, there’s a good chance that he couldn’t do it. Freemasonry can be marketed in such a way to younger generations to show them that Masonry can help teach them these life skills, either from the experience of being with older men who know these things, or by outright setting up workshops to teach them.

Gary has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, while studying native cultures.

His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.

He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America and the aborigines of

Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.

He has observed that many of the forgotten cultures had spiritual beliefs that were stronger than ours in modern times.

In technology, we have made advances far superior to those that came before us, but, we have lagged behind in gaining or maintaining our spiritual knowledge.

For us to advance as the human race, we need to combine the spiritual knowledge of those that came before us, not only that of the ancients but the knowledge of our direct ancestors as well, with the technical knowledge we have today for us to propel into the twenty-first century and beyond.

He has published several books about his adventures.

For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com.

Shriner carrying a child up the steps of masonry

Get Them A Driver’s License: Let them Grow Up

Wisdom lost through the ages, common sense is no longer common.

Recently, at a dinner gathering, two of the couples sitting next to  my wife and I  were talking about how their teenage kids always wanted them to drive them to school functions and other events they were going to .

I have heard this scenario before, with parents talking about how their kids had no interest in learning how to drive. Really !

I wonder why?

As long as mom and dad will drive them, why should they learn how to drive and accept any responsibility?

Then the normal response is, “I get tired of arguing with them , they don’t want to do it.”

First off, who is the boss in your family?

Next, they like to go places don’t they?

What is wrong with just making the statement, “I don’t have time to take you everywhere, you are all grown up, if you want to go, you will have to learn how to drive. It’s time you accepted some responsibility and started driving yourself. “

Start thinking of somewhere you need to go when they need to go somewhere, they will get the point.

Unless you want them living in your basement until they are thirty, it’s time to lay down the law and make them grow up. if you want to raise responsible mature people, you can’t be afraid of hurting their feelings or making them feel inferior. Feeling inferior is a decision they make on their own, you are not in charge of their feelings, and you  have no control over their feelings. 

You aren’t doing them any favors by patronizing  them and keeping them under your wing. If they don’t learn to fly, they never will, and chances are your grandchildren won’t either.

Gary has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, while studying native cultures.

The aborigines of Australia

His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.

He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America and the aborigines of

Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.

He has observed that many of the forgotten cultures had spiritual beliefs that were stronger than ours in modern times.

In technology, we have made advances far superior to those that came before us, but, we have lagged behind in gaining or maintaining our spiritual knowledge.

For us to advance as the human race, we need to combine the spiritual knowledge of those that came before us, not only that of the ancients but the knowledge of our direct ancestors as well, with the technical knowledge we have today for us to propel into the twenty-first century and beyond.

He has published several books about his adventures.

For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com. 

 

The meaning of life Inspirational quote Canvas Print

by lifejourneysimages

Do As I Say, Not As I Do

Wisdom lost through the ages, common sense is no longer common.

Written by Gary Wonning

How often have we heard that comment?

Probably not very often these days. There seems to be a popular misconception held among many that before we can correct someone else’s behavior, we need to be perfect in every way and never have committed an act that was below what is acceptable in society. 

How many of us can do that? 

Often times the individual who makes the statement that we shouldn’t criticize his actions is committing an act that is unacceptable and is looking for an excuse to justify his actions.  

One of my mother’s favorite expressions was, “Do as I say, not as I do.” 

It would be made after she told me not to do something, normally a minor offense and a few minutes later she would do the same thing, and I would catch her in the act. 

She would just look at me and say, “Sometimes you need to do as I say and not as I do,” meaning that it was my decision to do the right thing regardless of what someone else does. 

It most often would be followed by her saying,”Two wrongs don’t make a right.”

This means that just because someone else does it, that doesn’t give you the right to do. That just makes the offense double bad. 

You are responsible for your actions, regardless of what someone else does. 

I often think she did those acts to teach me a valuable lesson. Too many times she would do this for it to be a coincidence. 

Mom was pretty smart. Like many in her generation, she never finished school. She only had an eighth grade education, but knew many things college graduates of today don’t know or understand. 

Gary has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, while studying native cultures.

His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.

He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America and the aborigines of

Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.

He has observed that many of the forgotten cultures had spiritual beliefs that were stronger than ours in modern times.

In technology, we have made advances far superior to those that came before us, but, we have lagged behind in gaining or maintaining our spiritual knowledge.

For us to advance as the human race, we need to combine the spiritual knowledge of those that came before us, not only that of the ancients but the knowledge of our direct ancestors as well, with the technical knowledge we have today for us to propel into the twenty-first century and beyond.

He has published several books about his adventures.

For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com.

 

We Are All Part Of Divine Intelligence

A journey into the unknown. Open new avenues in your spiritual journey

Written by Gary Wonning

It was Sunday January 13,2019.

It had been a long journey since it began thirty seven years ago.

Early in 1982 I began to question God, who he was, if he existed and what, if any was my relationship with him.

I had run the gamete, I began my religious training in a tiny United Church of Christ in my youth, many years later, I returned to the same religion I had left many years earlier. 

Since then I visited many churches, Lutheran, Methodist, Mormon. And others. 

I had questioned religious leaders who could only tell me that when bad things happened to good people, it was God’s Will, that wasn’t an answer to me. It told me nothing.

I then researched the hidden mysteries of masonry, the resulting search lead me to the four corners of the earth. It was a wild adventure as explained in my previous book, “A Journey To Enlightenment.”

In the process I encountered aboriginal, Mayan, Egyptian cultures, made contact with extraterrestrials, and had many past life remembrances.  

Sitting back in another United Church of Christ thirty-seven years later, it all began to come together.

I suddenly understood the words and phrases in the song book more than I ever had before, the sermon suddenly had more meaning. It was like a giant light bulb suddenly came on. It was all very clear. 

The journey I had taken , a journey few are privileged to experience , a journey into a world scorned by many in the mainstream world had all been worth it, my life that many, even today don’t understand or even believe is possible became the catalyst to my understanding what Christianity is all about, and what Jesus was trying to tell us.  

Jesus never wanted to be a savior, he never wanted to be worshiped. He, because of his birth and his life journey enabled him to come into great knowledge that even most don’t understand today. 

He only wanted to be a teacher and for us to understand his teachings, he said, “As I will do, you will do also.”

He never proclaimed to be the King of the Jews.  

He was the son of God, just like we all are the sons and daughters of God.

It’s all about trusting our inner guidance, our Higher Self, the connection to the Christ Consciousness and it’s connection to the Supreme Intelligence. 

I always say that people should not rush to change religions. There is real value in finding the spiritual resources you need in your home religion. Dalai Lama

Gary has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, while studying native cultures.

His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.

He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America and the aborigines of

Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.

He has observed that many of the forgotten cultures had spiritual beliefs that were stronger than ours in modern times.

In technology, we have made advances far superior to those that came before us, but, we have lagged behind in gaining or maintaining our spiritual knowledge.

For us to advance as the human race, we need to combine the spiritual knowledge of those that came before us, not only that of the ancients but the knowledge of our direct ancestors as well, with the technical knowledge we have today for us to propel into the twenty-first century and beyond.

He has published several books about his adventures.

For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com.  

 

What If We Volunteer For The Life We Lead?

 

My dad used to have a saying he would utter whenever I got myself into a really big jam, and I hated it .

He would just tell me, “You were smart enough to get yourself into that mess, I guess you are smart enough to get yourself out of it. Let me know how it turns out.” And then leave.

I hated it when he said that, but I did learn how to solve my own problems.

What if we do volunteer for the life we lead, and what if we do create our problems in order to solve life’s lesson and make us a better person?

To me, it never made much sense to blame God for everything that occurs in our life, why would God decide to punish one person and not the other?  He is supposed to be a just God. 

That one question lead me on  fantastic journey to discover the truth, or my truth. 

A journey into the unknown. Open new avenues in your spiritual journey

My conclusion was that we do actually create our own reality and we do create the events that mold and shape our lives. 

We create these events to resolve karma brought on by past actions and to grow beyond them to create a better life in the future. 

Gary has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, while studying native cultures.

His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.

He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America and the aborigines of

Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.

He has observed that many of the forgotten cultures had spiritual beliefs that were stronger than ours in modern times.

In technology, we have made advances far superior to those that came before us, but, we have lagged behind in gaining or maintaining our spiritual knowledge.

For us to advance as the human race, we need to combine the spiritual knowledge of those that came before us, not only that of the ancients but the knowledge of our direct ancestors as well, with the technical knowledge we have today for us to propel into the twenty-first century and beyond.

He has published several books about his adventures.

For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com.

It’s Time To Stop Creating Victims

Common sense for the modern world

Wisdom lost through the ages, common sense is no longer common.

Written by Gary Wonning

Most politicians, and especially liberals make us believe they are concerned about the downtrodden of society, and realistically some are, but for many, the downtrodden are being used to garner votes and to further the politicians, or their party’s agenda.

Most politicians today only know how to do one thing, that is to get re-elected. That is their sole mission in life.

Many will use any means or any one to accomplish that goal and remain in their cushy ego satisfying life.

Even the ones with more altruistic goals are not accomplishing what they set out to do.

They keep believing that to improve the improvised life, we  must keep giving them more and more to make their life better.

However noble this may seem , it always has a negative effect on the beneficiaries life. When a person keeps having their needs met by an outside force, they soon become dependent on that individual or group, and lose the ability or desire to provide for themselves.

The politicians know this, that is why they continuousness want to provide more and more government services, by doing so they are guaranteeing their own job security.

There are laws against feeding deer and other animals in the wild, by doing so the animals grow to depend of being fed and taken care of and soon lose the ability to hunt and gather on their own, it also places them in great danger from the very people who provided the food, it makes the animal an easy target to wind up on someone’s dinner table. I contend the same things happen to human beings.

How many times have people been led down a similar path and became hostages or killed by their Savior?

The Mayas and Aztecs come to mind.

Humanity would be better served if we would  finally learn the road to personal growth and independence is through teaching people to fish, not giving them free fish.

The humane, and I believe the Christian thing to do is to enable people to stand on their own two feet and provide for themselves and their families.

There are many groups in this world that feed on victim hood, it is the easy way out, the victim wants someone to take care of them, it gives them a free pass if they can blame someone else for their problems. and it gives them a certain amount of power over others without having to do any thing. they believe it provides security.

It is a false security, there is no security in trusting others for your survival and freedom.

Some need to forget the atrocities of the past, we have all been discriminated against at some time or anther, the lesson to learn is to learn from it and design a life where it doesn’t happen again.

Take what we need from the experience, be thankful for the lesson and move on.

Gary has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, while studying native cultures.

His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.

He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America and the aborigines of

Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.

He has observed that many of the forgotten cultures had spiritual beliefs that were stronger than ours in modern times.

In technology, we have made advances far superior to those that came before us, but, we have lagged behind in gaining or maintaining our spiritual knowledge.

For us to advance as the human race, we need to combine the spiritual knowledge of those that came before us, not only that of the ancients but the knowledge of our direct ancestors as well, with the technical knowledge we have today for us to propel into the twenty-first century and beyond.

He has published several books about his adventures.

For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com.

Resistence To What We Could be

Wisdom lost through the ages, common sense is no longer common.

An excellent video about who we are and who we could become.

Gary has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, while studying native cultures.

His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.

He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America and the aborigines of

Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.

He has observed that many of the forgotten cultures had spiritual beliefs that were stronger than ours in modern times.

In technology, we have made advances far superior to those that came before us, but, we have lagged behind in gaining or maintaining our spiritual knowledge.

For us to advance as the human race, we need to combine the spiritual knowledge of those that came before us, not only that of the ancients but the knowledge of our direct ancestors as well, with the technical knowledge we have today for us to propel into the twenty-first century and beyond.

He has published several books about his adventures.

For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com.

Are You Being Bullied?

Wisdom lost through the ages, common sense is no longer common.

Written by Gary Wonning

According to the present day definition, I tend to believe everyone on the planet has been bullied at some point in their life.

It happened to me when I was a little bitty squirt. 

In today’s world, some think that if another disagrees with you it’s bullying, or if they try to get you to actually do your job. 

Kids as well as adults can be pretty mean and uncaring at times. That is just a part of life.

Like it or not , we are all human beings and being such we are part of the animal kingdom, and all animals have a pecking order, it has always been this way and will always be this way.

Nothing is going to change that. There are times as a final act, after all forms of diplomacy is tried that physical acts are necessary. Bullies are cowards, Most often if one stands up to them , they will back off and go pick on someone else. 

If you are being bullied with just words, it’s no big deal. 

It’s just a matter of having enough self esteem and confidence in yourself to know that what they are saying isn’t true. When you have that self confidence, the words will bounce off you like water off a duck’s back and mean nothing. 

Maybe the reason someone is picking on you is so you will finally “get it” and realize you are not what they say you are, and you are above that kind of thing and you finally begin to stand up for yourself.

Many times the one being “bullied” likes the drama and popularity that comes with it, being a victim has become very popular these days, it can draw a lot of attention to someone, and it also shifts the blame for your short comings to someone else, it is their fault. 

In this day and age, anyone can succeed if they have the desire and ability, it isn’t based on race, gender, creed or national origin, to think differently is just placing blame for your actions on someone else.

Once you build some self confidence and rise above that, the bullying will stop. 

In the journey of life, people can and will help you, but in the end, it is your responsibility to solve your own problems, no one can do that for you. 

As long as you belief you are a victim, life will treat you like a victim. 

You are in control of your life, it is your decision to lead it as you desire, and not succumb to negative forces around you. 

It’s all about you, not them.

There are billions of people in this world, you don’t need those kind in your life. Learn the lessons they are teaching you, and move on. 

Gary has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, while studying native cultures.

His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.

He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America and the aborigines of

Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.

He has observed that many of the forgotten cultures had spiritual beliefs that were stronger than ours in modern times.

In technology, we have made advances far superior to those that came before us, but, we have lagged behind in gaining or maintaining our spiritual knowledge.

For us to advance as the human race, we need to combine the spiritual knowledge of those that came before us, not only that of the ancients but the knowledge of our direct ancestors as well, with the technical knowledge we have today for us to propel into the twenty-first century and beyond.

He has published several books about his adventures.

For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com.

Many On Planet Earth Are Sacrificing Themselves

 

We are currently  experiencing mass sacrifice on our planet.

The majority of humanity has agreed to sacrifice itself by giving it’s power away to a minority of beings so that this minority can feel powerful or god-like by comparison.

Power is always relative.

You may believe that these beings which your conspiracy circles have come to call the Draconian Reptilians or the Illuminati are some almighty force that governs every aspect of your lives, but in actuality, you will be surprised to know that the power level of this minority is infantile compared to other beings that exist outside your planet.

They are only powerful because you have let them become powerful.

No one is ever inherently more powerful than anyone else. That which outshines you in one lifetime may become a speck of dust beneath your feet come the next.

We have a new world awaits us.

A journey into the unknown. Open new avenues in your spiritual journey

Gary has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, while studying native cultures.

His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.

He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America and the aborigines of

Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.

He has observed that many of the forgotten cultures had spiritual beliefs that were stronger than ours in modern times.

In technology, we have made advances far superior to those that came before us, but, we have lagged behind in gaining or maintaining our spiritual knowledge.

For us to advance as the human race, we need to combine the spiritual knowledge of those that came before us, not only that of the ancients but the knowledge of our direct ancestors as well, with the technical knowledge we have today for us to propel into the twenty-first century and beyond.

He has published several books about his adventures.

For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com.

 

A New Perspective on Equailty

 

Written by Gay Wonning

In today’s world, all of the world’s ills are blamed on males and male energy, hardly a day goes by when men aren’t blamed for something. It is true male energy is sometimes aggressive and ego driven, but that hardly is cause to place the blame for all of the world’s ills on men. 

Female energy is equally responsible.  We are working on achieving a balance of female and male energy. Female energy is passive and compassionate, while male energy is more aggressive. We, each and everyone of us contains a mixture of both energies, none of us are completely male or female, regardless of our physical attributes. 

In order to create a more perfect world, we need to balance the energies, we need each other. 

In reality, our governments, regardless if males or females are in charge are like an abusive spouse or parent while the general population is generally like a passive or submissive spouse. 

Not many people actually demand equality, especially in underdeveloped dictatorial countries where freedom and capitalism are nonexistent? 

And total equality is almost impossible to achieve, we all are going to get discriminated against at certain times in our lives, that is just life, when it happens learn the lesson and move on.  Everything happens to us for a reason, and most times it isn’t anything personal.

Most give away their power to government officials and allow others to control their lives, becoming passengers on a vehicle driven by a madman. To many this seems easier than standing up for their rights. 

Evil thrives when good people do nothing, the passiveness of female energy allows this to happen. This is what allows you to be easily subjugated by malevolent beings. In order to have a society where goods and resources are abundant for all, you must first feel worthy of it.

You must reject complacent, submissive behavior to authority figures and establish relationships based on mutual respect and mutual pleasure. Once humanity becomes collectively assertive, genuinely dignified and demanding of equality from leaders in a non-aggressive, non-violent manner, this is when you will experience redistribution of power on your world and the true beginnings of a new golden age.

No one can do it for you, government can’t give it to you, you alone can claim your true inheritance. 

Gary has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, while studying native cultures.

His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.

He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America and the aborigines of

Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.

He has observed that many of the forgotten cultures had spiritual beliefs that were stronger than ours in modern times.

In technology, we have made advances far superior to those that came before us, but, we have lagged behind in gaining or maintaining our spiritual knowledge.

For us to advance as the human race, we need to combine the spiritual knowledge of those that came before us, not only that of the ancients but the knowledge of our direct ancestors as well, with the technical knowledge we have today for us to propel into the twenty-first century and beyond.

A journey into the unknown. Open new avenues in your spiritual journey

He has published several books about his adventures.

For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com.