The Great Architect
The Great Architect of the Universe — The divine principle that orders cosmos and temple alike, invoked as the source of all measure. The Letter G: Often placed in the East, standing for Geometry (the basis of Masonry) and God (the Great Architect), symbolizing the divine science underlying creation.
The Temple of Solomon
Solomon - Son of David and legendary Monarch. “Kabalistic composition, its outward form expressed the symbolism as the three principal officers of a Masonic Lodge. Sol, the sun; Om, the meridian sun; On, the setting son –Worshipful Master, Junior Warden, Senior Warden.”
The Temple of Solomon — Archetype of the Mystical Temple, blueprint of both cosmos and soul in sacred geometry. The Tracing Board — The blueprint of the Lodge, symbolizing the divine plan and the archetypal pattern behind material building. The Blueprint — The plan drawn before the building, symbol of the divine Idea or archetype that precedes manifestation. The Nine Arches — The subterranean descent beneath Solomon’s Temple, representing initiation into deeper mysteries of the soul. The Sacred Vault of Enoch — A subterranean chamber beneath the Temple said to contain the Ark and the divine Name, symbolizing the secret heart of wisdom and the rediscoverd Word.
Hiram Abiff Myth
The Hiramic Legend — The myth of the slain Master Builder, representing the soul’s ordeal, the hidden mysteries, and the recovery of divine truth. The Sprig of Acacia — The evergreen branch placed on Hiram’s grave, symbol of immortality, eternal life, and the incorruptible soul. The Three Ruffians (Jubela, Jubelo, Jubelum): The assassins of Hiram, symbolizing ignorance, fanaticism, and ambition—the vices that "slay" the higher self and must be overcome in the initiatory ordeal. The Widow's Son: Hiram Abiff's epithet, linking him to ancient mystery traditions (e.g., Osiris or Horus), emphasizing resurrection and the continuity of wisdom through lineage.
The Stone of the Self
The Rough Ashlar — The raw, unworked stone, symbol of the unrefined human soul at the beginning of the Work. The Perfect Ashlar — The finished, squared stone, representing the soul perfected through discipline, knowledge, and virtue. The Stone the Builders Rejected — the overlooked truth or the perfected self (sometimes linked to Christ or Hiram Abiff) that becomes the cornerstone. It represents humility, redemption, and the value of what is initially discarded in the spiritual building process. The Hidden Stone — A stone placed where none can see The Quarry — The place from which stones are cut, symbol of earthly life where raw material for the Temple is found. The Quarry Dust — The fragments cast off in working stone, symbol of purification, the shedding of what is no longer needed. The Cubic Stone — The perfected ashlar with six equal faces, symbolizing balance, stability, and completion of the Work.
The Stones of the Temple
The Foundation Stone — The hidden stone beneath the visible, representing stability, secrecy, and the unseen support of the Work. The Cornerstone — The first stone set, symbolizing Christ or the perfected Self, from which all true alignment flows. The Keystone — The central stone in the arch, representing unity, balance, and the secret that holds the whole together. The Copestone: Similar to the Capstone, but sometimes distinguished as the final stone in a wall, symbolizing the completion of moral edifice and the crowning virtue. The Capstone — The highest stone placed on a structure, representing the fulfillment and crowning of the Great Work.
The Working Tools
Each tool of the craft (compass, square, level, plumb, trowel, etc.) carries a moral and initiatory lesson. The Rough Tools — Implements like pick and hammer, symbolizing the raw forces of nature and the unrefined soul. The Trowel — A builder’s tool for spreading mortar, in Masonry symbolizing the cement of brotherly love and unity. The Mallet and Chisel — Tools of refinement, representing the discipline that shapes the rough stone into a perfect ashlar. The Plumb Line — Uprightness, truth, and the conscience that aligns man with the divine axis. The Level — A tool for ensuring evenness, symbolizing equality among brethren, moral balance, and the impartiality of justice. The Compass — A tool of measurement and boundary, symbol of spiritual restraint, self-mastery, and the circle of eternity. The Square — The tool of right angle, symbol of moral integrity, justice, and harmony of spirit and matter. The Gavel — The tool of authority and correction, used to remove the superfluous from the rough stone of the self. The Lewis: A tool for lifting stones, symbolizing the support of predecessors in raising the next generation, or the leverage of knowledge in elevating the soul. The Working Apron — The mason’s garment, symbol of purity, humility, and consecrated labor. The Skirret: A tool for drawing straight lines, symbolizing the straight and undeviating path of virtue. The Pencil: Used for marking plans, representing the recording of good deeds and the importance of thoughtful design in life. The 24-Inch Gauge: A measuring tool, symbolizing the division of time into work, rest, and service to others/God. The Common Gavel (or Setting Maul): Often conflated with the Mallet; specifically, it breaks off rough parts, symbolizing the divestment of vices.
The Ladder of Seven Rungs(Jacob’s Ladder) — A vertical ascent symbol, representing the soul’s climb through virtues and spheres toward heaven. Ascent through the planetary spheres, symbolizing the alchemical purification of the soul.
The Word/Name
The Lost Word — The hidden name or truth concealed at the heart of the Temple, symbol of the soul’s forgotten origin and ultimate recovery. The Sacred Name — The ineffable Word sought by builders, symbol of ultimate truth and lost gnosis. The Recovery of the Word — In higher degrees, the rediscovery of the hidden Name, symbolizing enlightenment and reunion with God. The Substitute Word: Given in the Master Mason degree as a placeholder for the Lost Word, symbolizing imperfect knowledge in this life and the ongoing quest for truth.v
Parts of the Temple
The Roof — The sheltering top of the Temple, symbol of the heavens enclosing and protecting the sacred space below. The Door — The threshold through which the initiate passes, symbol of transition, rebirth, and entry into mystery. The Porch of the Temple: The entrance vestibule, symbolizing the preparatory stage of initiation, where the candidate stands before entering the sacred space, representing humility and readiness. The Window — The opening to the outer world, symbol of illumination and the soul’s contact with divine light. The Steps of the Temple — Each step of ascent, representing degrees of initiation and the climb of virtue. The Middle Chamber — The interior place of the Temple, representing the stage of deeper instruction and inner knowledge. The Winding Stair — The path of ascent to higher light, symbolizing gradual progress and the mysteries hidden in number and proportion. The Starry Vault — The ceiling of the Lodge painted with stars, symbol of the macrocosm mirrored in the microcosm of the Temple. The Masonic Arch — The curved structure of completion, often seen as the vault of heaven and the perfected work of the initiate. The Mosaic Pavement — The black and white tiled floor of the Lodge, symbol of duality and the balance of opposites. The Tessellated Border — The patterned edge of the pavement, symbolizing the interweaving of heaven and earth at the threshold of the sacred. The Indented or Tessellated Tassel: An extension of the Tessellated Border, a cord with tassels surrounding the Mosaic Pavement, symbolizing the beautiful border of unity and the ties that bind Masons. The Corner of the Temple — Where two walls meet, symbol of union between opposites and the joining of heaven and earth. The Sanctum Sanctorum: Synonymous with the Holy of Holies, but emphasized in some rituals as the place of divine communion.
The Pillars (Jachin & Boaz) — Twin columns of Solomon’s Temple, embodying duality (strength and establishment) reconciled at the threshold of initiation. Jachin means "He shall establish" (right pillar, often associated with the sun/masculine) and Boaz means "In Him is strength" (left pillar, moon/feminine). They flank the Temple entrance, symbolizing stability and the reconciliation of opposites.
The Three Pillars: Wisdom to invent, Strength to support, Beauty to adorn The Pillar of Beauty — One of the three great pillars of Masonry, representing harmony, proportion, and the aesthetic of the divine plan. The Pillar of Wisdom — Another of the great supports, representing guidance, the architect’s vision, and the light of the mind. The Pillar of Strength — The third support, representing stability, endurance, and the power to realize the design. The Globes atop the Pillars: Celestial and terrestrial spheres on Jachin and Boaz, symbolizing universal knowledge, astronomy, and the macrocosm/microcosm.
The Ark & The Altar
The Altar — The central point of sacrifice and offering, symbol of the human heart as the meeting place of heaven and earth. The Tabernacle — The portable sanctuary of Israel, archetype of the soul’s inner temple carried through the wilderness of life. The Holy of Holies — The innermost chamber of the Temple, veiled mystery of the Divine Presence, entered only by the High Priest. The Veil — The curtain that conceals the Holy of Holies, symbol of the division between the seen and unseen worlds, torn at revelation. The Light — The flame on the altar or lamp in the Lodge, symbolizing illumination of the inner eye and divine wisdom. The Ark of the Covenant — The chest within the Temple, representing the indwelling Word and the divine presence carried by the initiate. The Blazing Star — A radiant symbol in the Lodge, representing divine providence, illumination, and gnosis. The Three Great Lights: The Volume of the Sacred Law (e.g., Bible), Square, and Compass—arranged on the Altar, symbolizing faith, morality, and boundaries. The Three Lesser Lights: Candles or lights representing the Sun (to rule the day), Moon (the night), and Master Mason (the Lodge), symbolizing guidance at all times. The All-Seeing Eye: An emblem above the Altar or in the Lodge, symbolizing divine watchfulness, omniscience, and the eye of providence.
Orientation of the Temple
The East, West, and South — Cardinal points of the Lodge, representing the cycles of life, labor, rest, and illumination. The North — The place of darkness in the Lodge, symbol of ignorance and the realm awaiting illumination. The West — The setting place of the sun, symbol of completion, reflection, and the mysteries of death and transformation. The Orient — The East of the Lodge or Temple, the place of rising light, representing the source of wisdom and the seat of the Master. The Meridian Sun: The position of the sun at noon (South), symbolizing the height of labor and enlightenment in the Fellow Craft degree. Masons Wind - Blowing from the East, in the belief of the Middle Ages, that all good things, such as philosophy and religion, come from the East.
Sacred Geometry
The Circle — The infinite boundary drawn by the compass, symbol of eternity and the divine order surrounding the work. The Point within the Circle — The initiate’s soul aligned at the center of divine order, bounded by the circle of truth. The Forty-Seven Problem of Euclid — The Pythagorean theorem, celebrated as a symbol of hidden knowledge and the key to right proportion. The Point, Line, Surface, and Solid — Geometric principles used as metaphors for stages of consciousness and creation. The Vesica Piscis: Formed by overlapping circles, symbolizing the intersection of divine and earthly realms, often implied in Masonic geometry. The Pentalpha (Pentagram): The five-pointed star, symbolizing the five points of fellowship and the human microcosm.
The Initiatory Work
The Seven Steps — The graded ascent of the initiatory path, representing progressive knowledge and virtue. The Cable Tow — The cord around the initiate, symbolizing the ties and obligations that bind one to the fraternity and to destiny. The Columns of Labor — The hours of work in the Lodge, symbolizing diligence, perseverance, and the rhythm of spiritual practice.
The Hoodwink: The blindfold on the candidate, symbolizing spiritual darkness and ignorance before enlightenment. The Slipshod Heel: The candidate's shoe partially removed, symbolizing humility and the sacred ground of the Lodge. The Five Points of Fellowship: Foot to foot, knee to knee, etc., symbolizing brotherly support and the bonds of Masonry. The Cardinal Virtues: Temperance (self-control), Fortitude (courage), Prudence (wisdom), Justice (fairness)—taught in the Entered Apprentice degree as pillars of moral architecture. The Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope, Charity—emphasized in higher lessons as the ladder to heaven.
The Fraternal Lodge
The Working Lodge — The gathering of builders, symbol of human fraternity mirroring the heavenly assembly. The Master’s Chair — The seat of the presiding officer in the East, symbol of wisdom, command, and inner mastery. The Lodge Room — The sacred space of gathering, symbol of cosmos in miniature, where labor becomes liturgy. The Working Lodge Lights — The three symbolic lights (sun, moon, Master) representing wisdom, reflection, and guidance. The Great Chain of Builders — The lineage of all masons, linking earthly craft to the heavenly Architect. The Invisible College — The secret chain of adepts guiding humanity’s progress, symbol of the fraternity of light across ages. The Tyler: The outer guard of the Lodge, symbolizing vigilance and the protection of secrets from the uninitiated. The Emblems of Mortality: Such as the hourglass (fleeting time), scythe (death's harvest), and coffin (mortality), used in the Master Mason degree to reflect on life's transience.
Theory & Craft
The Five Orders of Architecture — Classical building styles studied in Masonry, symbolic of refinement, beauty, and harmony of form. Operative & Speculative Transition — From literal stone-building to moral and spiritual temple-building. The Seven Liberal Arts — Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic, Arithmetic, Geometry, Music, and Astronomy, taught as the true foundation of the soul’s Temple.
Symbols
The Builder’s Mark — The signature cut or sign on a stone, symbol of the soul’s unique imprint on the Great Work. The Seal of Solomon — The hexagram, symbol of balance between above and below, spirit and matter, king and temple. The Beehive: Symbol of industry, cooperation, and the sweetness of labor in a fraternal society. The Anchor and Ark: Symbols of hope and salvation, often paired to represent steadfastness amid life's storms. The Sword Pointing to a Naked Heart: Symbolizing justice and the penetrating eye of conscience. The Pot of Incense: Representing pure thoughts ascending to heaven, or the heart's devotion.
The Rose Cross
The Rose-Cross — The symbol of Rosicrucian Masonry, combining death and resurrection, suffering and glory, earthly and heavenly union. The Rosicrucian Rose Croix — In Masonry, the 18° but also the broader Rosicrucian stream, representing mystical death, the blossoming of spirit, and eternal life through union with Christ. The Chymical Wedding — Rosicrucian allegory of the mystical union, symbol of alchemical marriage and inner transformation. The Vault of Christian Rosenkreutz — The hidden tomb of the Rosicrucian founder, symbolizing the secret tradition preserved and unveiled at the appointed time. The seven-sided vault discovered after 120 years, symbolizing the hidden treasure of wisdom and the perfected form of the soul. The Pelican — A Rosicrucian emblem of self-sacrifice, feeding its young with its own blood, symbol of Christic love and mystical nourishment. The Phoenix — The Rosicrucian bird of death and rebirth, symbolizing transformation through fire and the eternal cycle of renewal. The Invisible College — The hidden fraternity of sages and adepts, symbolizing the unseen chain of wisdom that guides humanity. The Rosy Cross Altar — The point of union between heaven and earth, symbol of devotion, transmutation, and spiritual sacrifice. The Vault of Adepts — In Rosicrucian lore, the secret chamber where adepts gather beyond time, symbolizing communion with the Invisible College. The Cross of Light — Rosicrucian emblem where suffering is transmuted into illumination, symbolizing the inner crucifixion of the ego. The Temple of the Holy Spirit — The inner temple built not with hands, symbol of the perfected human being as a dwelling of God. The Rosy Cross Initiation — The drama of entering death, descent into the tomb, and awakening into higher light. The Golden Rosy Cross (Rosae Rubeae et Aureae Crucis) — The order that explicitly united Hermeticism, alchemy, and Kabbalah within the Rosicrucian current. The Pelican and the Eagle — Two Rosicrucian symbols: the pelican feeding its young with its blood, symbolizing sacrifice; the eagle soaring, symbolizing spiritual victory.
The Triple Tau — A Rosicrucian and Royal Arch symbol, representing hidden truth, the Temple, and the divine name at the heart of reality. The Threefold Cross — Symbol of body, soul, and spirit in unification, central in Rosicrucian diagrams.
The Royal Arch: The completion of the Master Mason degree, focusing on the recovery of the Lost Word in the ruins of the Temple. The Knight Templar Cross: Symbolizing Christian chivalry and defense of faith (in Templar Masonry). The Double-Headed Eagle: In Scottish Rite, representing dominion over East and West, or the duality of wisdom.
Degrees
Three Craft degrees: - Entered Apprentice - Fellow Craft - Master Mason
Entered Apprentice (youth/initiation), Fellow Craft (manhood/knowledge), Master Mason (age/wisdom)—stages of the soul's journey.
The Winding Staircase Lecture: In the Fellow Craft degree, detailing the five senses, Seven Liberal Arts, and orders of architecture as steps to wisdom.
The Third Degree — The drama of Hiram Abiff, symbolizing death, loss of the Word, and the resurrection into a higher life. The Royal Arch — The keystone degree, where the arch is completed and the hidden vault beneath the Temple is revealed. The Knights of the East and West — Higher Masonic orders drawing on apocalyptic imagery, symbolizing the initiate’s passage through duality to unity. The Fourth Degree (Secret Master) — Teaches silence, fidelity, and obedience, symbolizing the inner discipline required to guard sacred truths. The Eleventh Degree (Elu of the Twelve) — Concerned with justice and retribution, symbolizing the initiate’s responsibility to confront error and corruption. The Fourteenth Degree (Grand Elect Perfect and Sublime Mason) — Marks the completion of the Lodge of Perfection, symbolizing the full laying of foundations before ascending higher. The Eighteenth Degree (Knight Rose Croix) — A Rosicrucian degree teaching the reconciliation of opposites, union of cross and rose, and Christic transformation through death and resurrection.
The Philosophical Degrees (19°–30°) — A series of higher Scottish Rite degrees focused on esoteric philosophy, Kabbalah, and the reconciliation of science, faith, and mysticism. The Twenty-First Degree (Noachite or Prussian Knight) — Symbol of humility, conscience, and truth standing even against worldly power.
The Prince of the Tabernacle (24°) — Focuses on the portable sanctuary, symbolizing the inner temple carried by the initiate through the wilderness.
The Knight of the Serpent (25°) — Allegory of wisdom, temptation, and the eternal struggle with ignorance.
The Knight Commander of the Temple (27°) — A chivalric degree, evoking the Templars, symbolizing defense of the sacred and guardianship of truth.
The Knight of the Sun (28°) — Teaches Hermetic philosophy, the mysteries of light, and the divine order revealed through science and symbols.
The Kadosh Knight (30°) — The avenger of truth, facing the powers of corruption, symbolizing the courage to embody divine justice. Represents the warrior of truth and justice, avenger of Hiram, and initiatic knight sworn to defend the sacred.
The Thirty-Second Degree (Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret) — Teaches the harmony of opposites and the great secret of balance at the heart of creation.
The Thirty-Third Degree (Inspector General Honorary) — The highest honorary grade, symbol of illumination, wisdom, and service to the Great Architect.