| Which Way Are You Traveling ““Traveling””, one of Mason’’s favorite words. But what does it mean? Most relate to the word as they have been taught from the ritual. Traveling can mean many things. It can be interpreted in leaving a place or going to a destination. So what does it really mean to say, ““I am travelling”” or ““I am a traveling Man””? In our degree work we fine questions that allude to the word traveling or moving from one place to the other and many go away without ever understanding the symbolism in the word we so often use. In craft Masonry we are asked three times why did we leave the west and ““Travel”” east, and I think we all know the answer to that; or do we really? Travelling in this case is coming from one state of being, which is darkness into light. But the more we advance and are asked these questions again and again, it shows that we are still in somewhat a state of darkness and unawareness; and need to recognize that we need to receive a little more illumination in every stage of life. Travelling is transformed from one stage into another at different points. Let me not confuse you and help you to understand. ““Come on let’’s travel a little””…………………… When one enters through the doors of Freemasonry, it is the first traveling stage from an unclear unknown to a bright reality. It intrigues the mind with a hope of a change which one anticipate with the first steps one take in the circle of his first entrance. Here we are traveling in many phases. The mind first perceives what it desires, then the body takes this thought into a mobile action, and the spirit guides the Man to a destination unknown because of his unconscious state until it gain awareness. It is almost like the earth’’s rotation. The earth spins on it axis at 23E° and at the same time rotates around the sun. It is traveling in two ciphers at the same time. The three degrees of Craft Masonry shows three stages in which we travel in life. But within each stage there are many cycles to complete or should I say many cycles to travel. We are accustom in the usage of the word travel as taking a trip or visiting a Lodge in another jurisdiction. That is the fundamental term of traveling and should teach the mobile skills needed of movement in the science we call Freemasonry. As we grow and learn more of the way we travel in body, we will gain the insight of traveling in mind and spirit. In learning the principle of Freemasonry we tend to travel in places we have never been. The tenets of this craft show the morals character we should all live by and helps us to venture (““travel””) into the inner most part of the heart where we find jewels of comfort. In the Lodge room we have traveled more than we realize. Each place and station represents a broad spectrum of travel. To reach that ultimate station in the Lodge room is to have traveled a distance unlimited and equivalent to the universe that has no bounds and should reveal the infinite state of travel. Ask any Past Master what I am talking about and he cannot begin to explain this journey. It is not always a physical travel. In a Masonic travel you will meet other travelers. Sometimes traveling the same road, and some traveling a parallel path. We must learn from the pioneers before us, so that we can travel with some type of confidence that we will not fall as those in front of us did. This can occur when not properly prepared. The physical hoodwink came off at the alter which sits at the center of the Lodge; But the spiritual and mental hoodwink must also come off at the alter of your heart and mind. Without doing so, you will make the errors of those you could not see in front of you because the Senior Deacon of your conscious did not follow the orders of the Master in bringing you to ““LIGHT””. Traveling is not an easy task for the average Mason. This is why we must never travel alone. Traveling is not traveling with the Lodge Brothers. But you must travel with the principal Officers of your being. (Mind, Soul, Spirit) The Worshipful Master ““Mind”” gives the orders, the Senior Warden ““Soul”” receives the commands, and the Junior Warden ““Spirit”” Carries them out. It is important that we focus in the direction we are traveling till we reach that undiscovered country to which born no travelers return. Written By Ezekiel Mu’’Akil Bey |
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