A Mason's Work

Discover how questioning what's taken as sacred can not only reveal common ground but broaden your Masonic experience. A must-listen for Masons eager to foster change and align objectives through genuine conversations. Embrace the journey and learn how to navigate the fault lines of tradition effectively. Key Points • Questioning sacred assumptions • Troubleshooting Masonic change • The power of asking questions • Avoid passive-aggressive pitfalls • Real conversations spark growth Best Quotes 00:01 - 00:09 • "One of the more interesting elements of navigating things like change is the nature of making assumptions." 00:18 - 00:25 • "In the process of execution or in a discovery phase, those assumptions are completely invalid." 01:01 - 01:09 • "A lot of things that you thought were sacred to others may have been assumptions about what you, the way you thought the world worked." 01:36 - 01:47 • "By asking questions and by digging in and testing those assumptions with others, I think you'll find your Masonic experience expands significantly." 01:49 - 01:55 • "What's important when you're trying to align folks to the objectives you're creating." 02:22 - 02:28 • "Understanding the stone you're working is gonna be a vital part of how successful you can be as a mason trying to create change in the world."

Ever pondered the link between the age-old stories of heroism and personal grief or change? Delve into a riveting dissection of the symbolic 'grief curve'. Discover how legendary tales echo the patterns of bereavement and transformation, and how this knowledge helps us embrace life's curveballs. Key Points • Symbolism rich in the third degree • Grieving mirrors change processes • Kubler-Ross curve explained • Traumatic change confronts all • Heroic legends offer life lessons Best Quotes 00:45 - 00:49 • "There's a huge overlap between the process of grieving and the process of change." 01:18 - 01:26 • "It's a Elizabeth Kubler, Kubler Ross grief curve, I believe is the origin of it, or one of the origins of it." 01:27 - 01:40 • "You go through denial, rejection, you know, rage or aggression, acceptance, and then, you know, engagement, I guess for lack of a better way." 02:52 - N/A • "I have embraced the world the way it is up through, you know, then leaning into that change and becoming a better Person for it." 03:43 - 03:58 • "And that I think you'll find that that sort of mental inquiry with that overlap will essentially allow you to recognize the early warning signs of change coming your way."

Freemasonry's rituals are the lexicon that binds the brotherhood together. Uncover how our masonic vocabulary sets a foundation for self-improvement, communication, and understanding, beyond the need for specialized knowledge. Key Points • Rituals create shared vocabulary • No special expertise needed • Communication vital in Freemasonry • Self-regulation through Masonic terms • Lexicon facilitates personal growth Best Quotes 00:08 - 00:15 • "Why do we even do a ritual? Why not just kind of tell people the story or why don't we get around the fireplace and have that conversation?" 00:15 - 00:26 • "And the ritual, I think, serves some really important purposes, and the most important of which is to give the lexicon to share the vocabulary." 00:40 - 00:53 • "By doing that, we can have a conversation with each other about behavioral stuff, about the way things are in the world, the way we are in the world, without requiring special subject matter expertise." 01:05 - 01:11 • "You get a fair amount of information and insight from the Masonic vocabulary itself." 01:12 - 01:19 • "So we have these degrees to cement that understanding for each and every one of our members." 01:58 - 02:05 • "That common vocabulary that we can use to help each other grow is the purpose of our craft."

Turbocharge your learning! Our latest episode dissects the Entered Apprentice Mason's degree as a potent blueprint for acquiring new skills. From using working tools metaphorically to rewiring your mind and body for success, this is a guide to transformative growth that stands the test of time. Key Points • Entered Apprentice as a learning recipe • 24-inch gauge symbolizes time management • Common gavel: remove non-essential learning • Symbolism in Mason's preparing room • Physical practice lags mental gains Best Quotes 01:08 - 01:14 • "So the 24 inch gauge, you need to set aside some time, the right amount of time to do the work." 01:52 - 01:59 • "Like the, the preparing that you go through with the preparing room, removing any preconceived biases." 02:24 - 02:30 • "Understanding what work is the right work, that you've got, the right resources, that you are well and duly prepared." 02:58 - 03:09 • "Meaning you're gonna get a deeper and more meaningful insight into the stuff that's put into that degree every time you give it a shot." 03:31 - 03:44 • "And you can get to that sort of preto principle where you get 80% of the value in 20% of the time just by having a learning process that you're following." 04:13 - 04:25 • "Rewiring your finger movements, for example, is going to be something that is a repeated practice, a physical practice, and the body responds slower in many cases than the mind."

Unlock the power of context switching in this episode! Explore the craft's rituals to gain multiple perspectives like an Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, or Master Mason. Learn to turn challenges into solutions by changing the context and find answers that were once elusive. Master context switching and conquer any obstacle in your path with finespun Masonic wisdom. Key Points • Context switching as a skill • Perspectives from Masonic degrees • Signs you need a perspective shift • Overcoming Emotional Reactions • Apply craft roles to problems Best Quotes 00:00 - 00:07 • "So there's an outrageously powerful skill that you can develop that you probably already have to a degree." 01:21 - 01:29 • "You might find that if you kind of mentally jog through those when you're trying to address a situation or a challenge in your life." 01:53 - 02:01 • "Developing context switching though is not an easy thing to do because very often you don't know that you need to do it." 02:33 - 02:54 • "But that suffering contingent or suffering or any really strong emotion rage, whatever it might be when those strong emotions arise, is an opportunity first to embrace the situation for what it is not your response to what it's right." 03:47 - 03:59 • "Develop this skill. And I, I guarantee you, you'll find all sorts of solutions to problems that that weren't inaccessible or less considered before."