The Expanding Salon on Freemasonry for Women and Men

The Salon on Freemasonry for Women and Men was founded approximately six months ago in the Los Angeles areas as an informal meetup for an educated discussion and exploration of the subject of Liberal Freemasonry for women and men. It has with the New Year expanded and now the Salon on Freemasonry for Women and Men is meeting on both coasts. The Salon is pleased to report that yesterday, Jan 29, The Philadelphia Chapter of the Salon held its first meeting. A short piece of Architecture based on an original Spanish one was presented and a general discussion was had, well lubricated by fine coffee, tea, and some truly sinful chocolate.

The Salon has this to say about itself: "'a salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine taste and increase their knowledge of the participants through conversation. These gatherings often consciously followed Horace's definition of the aims of poetry, "either to please or to educate" ("aut delectare aut prodesse est"). Salons, commonly associated with French literary and philosophical movements of the 17th century and 18th centuries, were carried on until quite recently, in urban settings, among like-minded people.' The current Salon is intended to be a gathering of people all who are inspiring, equal and progressive/creative in outlook. Initial topics are the value spheres of the arts, ethics and science in Freemasonry and in wider civil society. Non-Mason and Mason are invited. Other areas of discussion are the traditions, current status and future developments of Freemasonry. Anyone with a disciplined curiosity about human experience and interested in meeting like-minded and new people should join. One unifying purpose of the group is the comparative and global study of tradition, initiation, myth, symbol and renewal."

The Salons, both the Los Angeles and Philadelphia chapters, may be accessed through the Meetup.com site.

http://www.meetup.com/Salon-on-Freemasonry-for-Women-and-Men-Los-Angeles/

http://www.meetup.com/Salon-on-Freemasonry-for-Women-and-Men-Philadelphia/

It should be noted that the salons, while having a web location exist primary to arrange monthly face to face meetings, and thus are not open to anonymous web memberships.

And so steps are being taken to assist in the growth of a responsible, serious Liberal Freemasonry in the United States.

Another View of a Lodge: Ciego de Avila, Cuba.

From time to time, The Hedge Mason will endeavor to provide glimpses of exceptional, and sometimes quite everyday lodges from around the world. If we tend to show biases for certain nations, well, we make no pretense of not having favorites. However, send us photos and some information about your lodge, where ever in the world it may be, and we will consider posting it. Especially if you take strong photos and not just "snapshots."

The idea of sharing these, apart from showing some lodges which the Hedge Mason considers aesthetically appealing, is to help make the world a smaller place and to share a common experience among all masons of all obediences and nations.

This time, we are looking at a lodge in Ciego de Avila, Cuba. Ciego de Ávila is a city in central Cuba and has a population of about 86,100. The city is located about 460 km (290 mi) east of Havana and 110 km (68 mi) west of the city of Camagüey. Not a touristic place, Ciego de Avila is a small city but worth seeing. Ciego de Avila, typical of the unspoiled Cuban life without tourism, features an architecture famous for its neo-classic buildings with long roofed corridors along the sidewalks. Cuban architecture combines Moorish, baroque and Art Deco styles.

This lodge is noteworthy for maintaining some stunning mural decoration in the lodge room. Notice the use of lighting to highlight the murals to best effect. The state of the lodge indicates that the membership makes serious sacrifices to maintain their lodge and value the heritage that has been entrusted to them. Note also the use of a real skull for the chamber of reflecttion, an indication of retention of long standing traditions. This lodge is the Grand Lodge of Ciego de Avila Province, which has a total of eight (8) lodges under its jurisdiction. The lodge visibly displays its certification documenting its foundation dating to the 1800s for all to see.


I hope you all enjoy, as this is clearly a remarkable lodge!

It's All About Style

While Liberal Freemasonry may not have found a version of the Anglophone Masonic world's pet phrase, "Making good men better," perhaps in the world of fashion, we don't have to worry. Although it is possible that female Freemasons may vary in their choices of those little details which contribute to a better material experience of life, I think all Freemasons agree that a modest enjoyment of the finer things of life contribute to helping all masons appreciate their individual paths in life and the process of personal perfection in which we as Freemasons are engaged.

With that in mind, and noting for the females amongst us, they have a section for women, I have to share a most pleasant find. No apparel here for use in lodge but clothing guaranteed to make you shine everywhere else. After all, what better model of classic fashionability than clothing inspired by 1950s Cuba?

No, I do not get even a discount on a shirt, but take a look at what gorgeous updates on classic style are to be found at Cubavera.

http://www.miami.com/cubavera-el-glamour-de-la-cuba-de-los-os-50

La Union Masonica Universal Rito Moderno

The Union Masonica Universal Rito Moderno in Spain has a blog which serves as the Official information organ for the Union. It is run by Victor Guerra Garcia one of whose other blogs has been highlighted here before, the blog Masonería Siglo XXI The Union Masonica Universal Rito Moderno is an international Organization dedicated to the propagation of and education about the Modern Rite, which has also been called The French Rite. This web site, published in Spanish, provides a wealth of information for anyone curious about Continental Rites as practiced in much of the world - both Europe and Latin America.

The December entry on the Conference of Hervé Vigier about Freemasonry and the French Rite in the 18th Century includes a number of interesting videos of lectures and is worth more than a momentary glance. Learn about Freemasonry in the rest of the world!


http://unionmasonicauniversalritomoderno.blogspot.com/

Civil Society? It starts with taking responsibility.

Today we are witness to a remarkable event and that should make us wake up to what has been going on around us. Today, Google has made an unprecedented plea to the public to speak out against SOPA. Wikipedia has actually shut down for the day to protest, and they're not alone. The threats to our civil liberties, and without civil liberties we will have no civil society, have gotten so profound that even a newspaper as conservative as the Washington Post has printed an opinion piece entitled 10 reasons the U.S. is no longer the land of the free. In the name of "the war on terrorism" which is really a war on American rights, our inalienable rights have been whittled away by the same so-called leaders who have declared war upon the American Middle Class. And conservative Americans applaud them while running like lemmings to the cliff.

Martin Niemöller (1892-1984) is famous for the following quote, and although he was speaking of his experiences in Nazi Germany, it is appropriate to repeat what he said here as it applies to our situation more than ever,
"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out -- Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out -- Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out -- Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me."

Benjamin Franklin (Remember him? He was an American Revolutionary and Freemason) said "He who would trade liberty for some temporary security, deserves neither liberty nor security."

SPEAK OUT!

Kerubim Press Goes Live...Soon!

Back in September, Dean Wilson announced the opening of Kerubim Press, Ireland's newest esoteric book publisher. The first titles to be released are due to hit the streets in February, a few weeks away now. It seemed a good time to make note of this and encourage those informed Freemasons who possess an esoteric bent to give them a look.

As Dean Wilson noted, "Kerubim Press authors deliver thoroughly researched topics presented in an accessible, yet scholarly format and/or easy to follow guidelines for practical magical work. Books are published in both a limited hardcover edition of 100 signed and numbered copies, standard paperbacks for a more affordable budget, and multiple ebook formats for the revolutionary digital book age, which Kerubim Press plans to be major mover in."

http://kerubimpress.com

http://mishkan-ha-echad.blogspot.com/2011/09/announcing-kerubim-press.html

Orden de los Caballeros de la Luz

La Orden de Los Caballeros de la Luz (The Order of the Knights of Light) claims to be the only one fraternal order which is authentically Cuban as other orders such as the long-established Freemasons within Cuba are universal in character.
The Knights of the Order of Light was founded in Philadelphia May 9, 1873, by its founder José González Curbelo and his mentor and guide Jose de la Luz y Caballero. José González Cuban Curbelo was given the task of organizing a mutual aid institution dedicated to the achievement of independence for Cuba to accomplish this goal brought together a group of patriots living in the city of Philadelphia in the United States. This group first met on April 20, 1873 to make preparations for founding a secret society of mutual aid called ¨The Light¨. Its first president was José González Curbelo.

Lodges were established in Philadelphia, New York, Los Angeles, and several cities in Florida, including Ibor City (Tampa) and Miami, as well as in Key West. Minutes and dues books from Philadelphia Lodge No. 1 from 1873-1880 are in the collection of the Historical Society of Philadelphia.

The Order continues as a primarily fraternal order, albeit one which places a strong emphasis on national pride within Cuba to this day. In 2010, with much fanfare, the Order celebrated the centenary of its instillation in an Independent Cuba. As late as 1983, Orden Caballero De La Luz Logia Miami Numero 58, Inc., incorporated itself under Florida law as a Domestic non-profit organization, where a number of lodges are said to continue in operation.

A Glimpse of Reality

On Holy Ground: A History of The Honorable Order of American Co-Masonry by Bro. Karen Kidd

What a gripping tale is told in this book, Karen Kidd's newest Masonic title from The Masonic Publishing Company! It is replete with diehard anarchists, Wobblies (members of IWW), native Breton speakers from Uhelgoad (Hoelgoat in French and English), atheistic French Freemasons and Theosophists. It is also a book filled with history guaranteed to make quite a few American Freemasons squirm. Not only does it deal with the development and expansion of Co-Masonry throughout the world, and especially in the United States, but it focuses a strong and unerring light upon the policies and practices of Male Craft Masonry in this country both in the final years of the 19th Century and today in these unflattering terms:

"These mostly white and native U.S. Grand Lodges also developed what they called — and claimed the right to enforce — "extraterritorial jurisdiction;" which meant, so far as they were concerned, no other Grand Lodge could operate within their own self-declared borders. The right and authority to devise and enforce such a provision has never been rationally explained but, none the less, it remains theoretically in force to this day.

Despite that, the rules of this provision have never been observed in practice. Prince Hall Grand Lodges, with the bulk of membership traditionally among the country's African American population, were — and are — active and thriving in almost all U.S. states. Other foreign Obediences struggled, with varying success, to gain a toehold. In the face of this obvious challenge to their claimed extraterritorial jurisdiction, the largely white, native born Grand Lodges simply pretended these obediences did not exist; or that those Freemasons weren't really Brothers. In this way, they claimed their extraterritorial jurisdiction had not been breached.

Reality aside, what all this meant to the millions of immigrants, including those from France, is they had arrived in their new country only to find existing lodges largely closed to them and they had no lodges of their own."

Of course, what Brother Karen is pointing out is that such attitudes and policies are as unmasonic today as they were over a hundred years ago.

Blessed Be, Brother Karen!

A text for any serious Hermeticist and Esoteric Freemason

Turning up the heat on Masonic understandings of Hermeticism and their own esoteric history

One of my pet obsessions is encouraging the Fraternity, of whatever flavor, to intensify the level and quality of research and study. Mainstream, and indeed even some non-mainstream Freemasons, are still functioning on a grade school level when it comes to the history and philosophy of the Craft. Some efforts to correct this issue have begun with the rise of interest in academia for the subject of fraternalism and Freemasonry in particular. This trend will hopefully bring about an awareness among Freemasons that they can no longer afford to be amateurish when it comes to education, nor provincial and sectarian.

With this in mind, The Hedge Mason will, from time to time, highlight texts, programs, and other activities intended to shed a stronger light on various important aspects of the Craft. This blog has already provided announcements on conferences in the US and elsewhere. In this post, The Hedge Mason is highlighting an academic text which is of profound significance to Freemasons who have an understanding of the Hermetic underpinnings of our fraternity.

This text is not new. It has been on the market for several years now. However, being aimed at serious scholars of Egyptology, and bearing a not insubstantial price tag, most masons who might not balk at spending $250 on a box of real Cuban cigars but would never think of spending that much on a book, might unsurprisingly be unaware of the content of this title. In fairness, it's specialized audience has likely allowed it to elude even the scholars of Esoteric Freemasonry.

A quick perusal of the structure of the demotic texts which make up the subject of
Richard Jasnow and Karl Zauzich's 2 volume study entitled The Ancient Egyptian Book of Thoth A Demotic Discourse on Knowledge and Pendant to the Classical Hermetica, will alert the reader familiar with European Hermetica that we are looking at a much earlier Egyptian version of that body of literature which has informed Masonic esotericism for centuries.

For those who do not have deep pockets, I recommend trying Interlibrary Loan from your University. Even some local libraries offer such services. Perhaps you might want to urge your lodge to ante up to make the purchase for the library. At the very least, any good research lodge should be interested.


http://www.harrassowitz-verlag.de/dzo/artikel/201/a/2894_201.pdf?t=1131462970

Flash Alert: A Grand Lodge Magazine that actually is interesting to read!

We all know the slightly smug remarks about the magazines published by the Grand Lodges in the US. The standard old remarks are familiar; "It works better than Sominex" and "I use it for what I used to use old Sears catalogues," are some of the more common remarks. In short, there is little in the Masonic world more discouraging and irrelevant than the monthly publications which Grand Lodges use far too much money to produce.

Well, there's good news. Perhaps many of you already know this, perhaps not. However, a new year seems a good time to point out that one State Grand Lodge actually produces a publication which is both worth reading and entertaining to boot. What's more, it's available online.

Do yourself a favor and visit the online publication of the Grand Lodge of California. In fact, they have a sterling website as well.


http://www.freemason.org/newsEvents/index.htm

Rathlin & Glens Irish

For those of you who may not have noticed that the description of this blog states it is "a blog of interesting news and commentary on Liberal & Esoteric Freemasonry and other stuff," this is one of those postings on "other stuff." One of my life long interests has been all varieties of the Gaelic Language. I speak Ulster Irish fluently and my special interest has long been the Gaelic of Central and East Ulster, my family hailing as it does from County Tyrone (Tír Eoghain) in Central Ulster.

So, it was for me an unexpected pleasure to find a blog dedicated to the teaching of the Gaelic of Rathlin Island and and the Glens of Antrim. The blog itself, appropriately enough is in Gaelic. For those of you who can't read Gaelic, there is a button on the right of the blog for using Google Translator.

Although most reading this blog may be indifferent to this post, I am thrilled beyond words and will be reading it from start to finish before dinner today!

Gaelic, both Irish and Scots Gaelic, which share a relationship which is a little closer than that of Spanish and Portuguese, are both endangered languages. Why should anyone care? Well, the planet is at risk of losing most of its languages within the next one hundred years. Language death really is a serious problem, as each language, and many of these endangered languages unlike Gaelic have no literary corpus, represent significant adaptations of the human species to their environment. When a language dies, it takes with it a highly developed and unique system of knowledge that is irreplaceable. We will revisit the issue of language death in the not too distant future, with articles and links which explain why we all should be concerned.

Until then, let me say to all who can understand it, Labhair an teanga Gaedhilg liom!


http://rathlingaelic.blogspot.com/

Freemasonry in Cuba: A brief video presentation

By no means an exhaustive documentary, this video presentation, made for Cuban television is a well shot, informative, and positive introduction to the subject of Masonic History in Cuba and the role that Cuban Freemasonry and Freemasons played in the fight for independence from Spain as well as its participation in Cuban society since that time. Replete with some excellent photographs and an energetic and engaging narrator, it is well worth watching.

If you cannot understand Spanish, it is still a visually rewarding film and worth your time. Find a friend who speaks the language and invite them over!

Historia de la Masonería en Cuba Pte. 1:



Historia de la Masonería en Cuba Pte. 2

Letra del Año 2012 de Cabildo Musundy y La Institución Religiosa Bantú de Cuba

La Letra del Año has over the past decades become a potent part of Afro-Cuban religious tradition, of equal importance in the exile community and the communities of non-Cuban followers of Afro-Cuban religion that have grown up around the world. The Letra, or Signs, is a divination mapping out the major concerns for the religious community for the coming year. The tradition grew out of private letras meant for specific congregations or "casas" and eventually this evolved into a Letra for the entire nation of Cuba. Gradually over the past two dozen years Letras, which are usually determined by a priest or group of priests.

While the Letra is most associated with Ifa, the rite of the Babalawo or Diviner's of the Yoruban tradition, it has never been strictly within their purview. There are records of the practice among followers of at least one sect of Kongo derived religion in Cuba going back to the early years of the last century. About five years ago, one house, El Cabildo Musundo, and the lead by Aldo Durades Román, who is also a social scientist, began to publicly circulate their annual reading.

Admittedly, it will mean little even to Spanish speakers if they are unfamiliar with the tradition, but I think it will be of interest to some, if only as a peek into the practices of another culture.

My thanks to another Cuban scholar and friend, José Millet for a swift delivery of this year's Letra Musundy.

LETRA BANTÚ MUSUNDI AÑO 2012.
PARA BENEFICIO DE CUBA Y LA HUMANIDAD
EN MEMORIA DE DON MANUEL ANTONIO NSAKU NE VUNDA EMBAJADOR DE MANI KONGO EN EL VATICANO, MBANZA-KONGO 1570-ROMA 1608; PRIMER AFRICANO ( CONGO MUSUNDI ) QUE VISITO AL VATICANO Y CUYOS RECTOS DESCANSAN ALLÍ ; EN MEMORIA TAMBIEN A SANTA TECLA (TECLA HERMINIA TORRES LA BEBA).;POR LO QUE AMBOS REPRESENTAN PARA NUESTRA RELIGIÓN MUSUNDI BANTÚ, GRACIAS.
MASENGO MA MBONGOLO SUGIERE" DECIRLE A LOS NIETOS DE SUS NIETOS LO QUE LOS PADRES DE SUS PADRES HAN VIVIDO”, DENTRO Y FUERA DEL CONTINENTE AFRICANO. (TERRITORIO BANTÚ MUSUNDI).
HABLA EL TERRITORIO DE NZAMUADI POSICIÓN NO.7:
PODER REGENTE NGUENGUERENGUE: (OSHÚN EN EL PANTEÓN YORUBÁ, MAMÁ CHOLA, CHOLANGENGE EN LA REGLA DE PALO Y LA CARIDAD DEL COBRE EN EL CATOLICISMO.
DIOSES ACOMPAÑANTES:
NYENDY DEL TERRITORIO DE NZAMBAMI POSICIÓN NO.6 (IDENTIFICADO EN EL PANTEÓN YORUBÁ COMO BABALÚ AYÉ, ASOJANO, EN LA REGLA DE PALO POR CUBAYENDY, LULENO Y PATA LLAGA Y EN EL CATOLICISMO SAN LÁZARO.
NKUNDIANZAZI DEL TERRITORIO NTATU POSICIÓN NO.3. (SHANGÓ EN EL PANTEÓN YORUBÁ, SIETE RAYOS Y NZAZI EN LA REGLA DE PALO Y SANTA BÁRBARA EN EL CATOLICISMO.
HONRAR A LOS ESPÍRITUS.
AÑO DE LA ESPIRITUALIDAD SUPERIOR, DEBEMOS HONRAR A NUESTROS ESPÍRITUS , SE DEBE HONRAR TODAS LAS COMISIONES DEL NTOFUÁ (REINO DE LOS ESPÍRITUS) RECIBIREMOS DESDE NZULU (EL CIELO) LA BENDICIÓN PARA SALVAR LA HUMANIDAD.

NKANGANÁ ERITONDA (AMARRE SU LENGUA). ESTE CUIDADO CON LO QUE DIGAN ; SEAN CAUTELOSOS.

DE ACUERDO CON LAS CARACTERÍSTICAS DEL DIOS REGENTE PARA EL AÑO ACTUAL, LAS PARTES DEL CUERPO HUMANO QUE SON SENSIBLES EN ESTE PODER, SON LAS PIERNAS, LA MENTE, ARTICULACIONES Y ABDOMEN.
ESTAMOS REFIRIÉNDONOS A QUE SON LAS PARTES MAS PROPENSAS A ENFERMEDADES Y TRASTORNOS, EN EL CASO DE LAS EXTREMIDADES INFERIORES SE PUEDEN PADECER DOLENCIAS ATRIBUIBLES AL SISTEMA CIRCULATORIO, ENFERMEDADES REUMÁTICAS AGUDAS Y TAMBIÉN DEBEN PREVENIRSE LOS ACCIDENTES PROVOCADOS POR CAÍDAS, YA QUE TODOS LOS FACTORES SEÑALADOS PUEDEN CONDUCIR A LA PARÁLISIS Y EN GENERAL A LIMITACIONES FÍSICO-MOTORAS.
CON RESPECTO A LA MENTE, ESTE PODER REPRESENTA LA SERENIDAD, EL PENSAMIENTO RACIONAL POR ENCIMA DE LA IRREFLEXIÓN. CONTRADECIR ESTE PRECEPTO, PUEDE GENERAR SITUACIONES PELIGROSAS EN LA TOMA DE DECISIONES.
DE MANERA QUE, FISIOLÓGICAMENTE HABLANDO, ES IMPORTANTE QUE CUIDEMOS EL FUNCIONAMIENTO CEREBRAL, QUE ATENDAMOS TODO LO QUE CONTROLA ESTE SISTEMA, AUNQUE SEA UN TRASTORNO DEL SUEÑO APARENTEMENTE SIN IMPORTANCIA PUESTO QUE, SEGÚN LA LETRA ES UNA PARTE MUY VULNERABLE QUE, DE NO ATENDERSE, PUEDE DESENCADENAR HASTA EN LA LOCURA.
NO A LOS VICIOS
LA GRACIA ESPIRITUAL, LA BUENA SUERTE ESTARÁN A NUESTRO ALCANCE SI SOMOS VIRTUOSOS, SI NO NOS EXCEDEMOS EN EL CONSUMO DE BEBIDAS ALCOHÓLICAS, SI RECHAZAMOS LAS DROGAS, SI OBSERVAMOS UNA CONDUCTA FIEL CON NUESTRA PAREJA, SI RESPETAMOS A LOS MAYORES DE LA FAMILIA .
DICE LA NZILA QUE ES EL AÑO DE LA FRUGALIDAD EN LA MESA, QUE DEBEMOS PREPARAR MENTE Y CUERPO PARA DESARROLLAR EL ESPÍRITU, EL BUEN JUICIO, PORQUE LA FINALIDAD ES SERVIR AL PRÓJIMO.
TIEMPO DE LA VIRTUD
LA PRÁCTICA DE LA VIRTUD EN EL MÁS AMPLIO SENTIDO ES UN MANDATO DE LA LETRA. SE RECOMIENDA TENER UNA CONDUCTA SOCIAL HONESTA, SER DECENTE Y EDUCADO, CORDIAL CON LOS SEMEJANTES, ELIMINAR LA ARROGANCIA, SER HUMILDE S Y SENSIBLES A LOS PROBLEMAS AJENOS.
DICE LA NZILA QUE ES EL AÑO DE LA FRUGALIDAD EN LA MESA, QUE DEBEMOS PREPARAR MENTE Y CUERPO PARA DESARROLLAR EL ESPÍRITU, EL BUEN JUICIO, Y QUE LA FINALIDAD DEBE SER SERVIR AL PRÓJIMO.
ES EL AÑO DE LA CARIDAD, DEL BIEN
LA CARIDAD, EL SERVICIO A LOS DEMÁS DE LA FORMA MÁS DESINTERESADA ES LA REGLA DE CONDUCTA PARA ESTE AÑO . LA SATISFACCIÓN ESPIRITUAL Y MATERIAL QUE ESTE HECHO PRODUCIRÁ EN LAS PERSONAS QUE LA PRACTIQUEN SERÁ EVIDENTE.
LA FRASE TAN SOCORRIDA DE “HAZ BIEN Y NO MIRES A QUIÉN” ES LA REGLA DE ORO PARA ESTAR BIEN CON UNO MISMO Y CON LA SOCIEDAD.
COMO ES NATURAL, LAS PERSONAS RELIGIOSAS SON LAS QUE DEBEN COMPROMETERSE MÁS CON ESTE ENUNCIADO. LA CONSAGRACIÓN EN LA “MBUMBA”, (RAYAMIENTO EN LA NGANGA, EL DESARROLLO Y LA CORONACION ESPIRITUAL) REPRESENTARÁ EL TRIUNFO Y EL DESARROLLO, NO SE DEBE RENEGAR DE NINGUNA DE LAS RELIGIONES, LO ADECUADO ES VALORAR CADA UNA DE ELLAS EN LO QUE REPRESENTA.
AUNQUE NO ESTÉ INICIADO EN ALGUNA DEBEN RESPETARSE ASÍ COMO TAMBIÉN A LAS PERSONAS QUE LAS PRACTICAN. RENEGAR DE NUESTRAS CREENCIAS CONDUCIRÁ A LA FATALIDAD, PUESTO QUE EL SOLO HECHO DE MOSTRAR RESPETO PREDISPONE FAVORABLEMENTE.


TENGA LA MIRADA EN NZULU ( EL CIELO)
HAGA DE CADA DÍA UNA FIESTA PARA EL ESPÍRITU, CUANDO SE LEVANTE MIRE AL CIELO, (NZULU), CONTEMPLE EL SOL Y RECIBIRÁ UNA SENSACIÓN DE GRANDEZA Y PEQUEÑEZ A LA VEZ; PERO CUANDO LO HAGA SENTIRÁ MÁS QUE NUNCA QUE ES PARTE DEL UNIVERSO Y QUE USTED PUEDE CAMBIAR TAMBIÉN EL CURSO DE LAS COSAS.
ES CONVENIENTE QUE USE UNA CADENA EN EL CUELLO QUE TENGA COLGADOS UN SOL, PORQUE EL TRATADO CON EL CIELO ES LA MEJOR PROTECCIÓN CONTRA LA NEGATIVIDAD.
ESTE ES EL AÑO DEL REINADO A PARTIR DEL ESFUERZO : DEBE SER INTELIGENTE, JUICIOSO Y SOBRE TODO SER BONDADOSO. DEBE VIVIR EN PAZ, SER PACIENTE Y JUSTO. EN TODO LO EXPUESTO ENCONTRARÁ LA DICHA.
ATRIBUTOS DE NGUENGUERENGUE
REPRESENTA EL PODER DE LA CURA DE ENFERMEDADES ; DOMINA EN LA TIERRA Y LOS MANANTIALES ; DE AMBOS MEDIOS TOMA LO NECESARIO. PARA SANAR A LOS QUE PADECEN. COMBATE LAS EPIDEMIAS, LOS PADECIMIENTOS DE LA PIEL, DE LOS OJOS, LAS ENFERMEDADES CARDIOVASCULARES, LA HIPERTENSIÓN, CIRCULACIÓN, TRASTORNOS MENTALES, ETC. TAMBIÉN ES DUEÑO DE LAS FLORES Y DE TODO LO BELLO DE LA NATURALEZA. NADA LE ES AJENO PORQUE TODO LO QUE ES BUENO LE PERTENECE.
AÑO DE LA PRESERVACIÓN Y REFORESTACIÓN DE LOS ÁRBOLES Y EL AMOR POR LA FAUNA, Y LA FLORA.
ESTE AÑO PREDOMINA EL PODER DE CURAR CON LOS ARBOLES : LAS RAÍCES, HOJAS, HIERBAS, FLORES, RESINAS Y AGUAS DE DISTINTAS PROCEDENCIAS: RÍOS, MANANTIALES, POZOS, LAGUNAS, AGUA DE LLUVIA, DE MAR ETC.
DE MANERA ESPECIAL DURANTE ESTE AÑO LAS PERSONAS DEBEN CUIDARSE DEL FUEGO, NO DEJE LUMBRE ENCENDIDA MIENTRAS ESTÉ FUERA DE CASA, TAMPOCO VELAS. SI VA DE EXCURSIÓN A LUGARES ABIERTOS CUIDE LA NATURALEZA PORQUE DURANTE ESTE AÑO CONTINUARÁN PRODUCIÉNDOSE DESASTRES POR LA NEGLIGENCIA HUMANA.
DICE LA LETRA QUE RESPETE EL MAR, QUE NO VIAJE EN EMBARCACIONES INSEGURAS, RECUERDE UN ANTIGUO REFRÁN BANTÚ QUE HACE REFERENCIA A NUESTRO PASADO ESCLAVISTA Y SEÑALA QUE “NKUMBRE KALUNGA, BARCO QUE VIENE POR EL MAR, PERDIÓ el FONDO Y SE FUE A PIQUE”, NO NAVEGUE SI ESTÁ GUIADO POR LA DESESPERACIÓN”.
LA MORALEJA DE UN NCHUENDO (PATAKÍN).
ESTE ES EL AÑO EN QUE LA PERSONA PUEDE PERDERLO TODO SI OPTA POR LA FANTASÍA EN VEZ DE POR LA FE.
NO VIOLENTE LOS TEMAS DE SU VIDA. NI LA FUERZA NI LA VIOLENCIA LO CONDUCIRÁN A LA META, TAMPOCO LA ARROGANCIA.
DICE EL NCHUENDO (PATAKÍN) : EL GORILA ERA EL MÁS FUERTE DEL PLANETA Y ESTABA DOTADO TAMBIÉN DE LA INTELIGENCIA. HABLABA COMO LAS PERSONAS. A PESAR DE SU FORTALEZA E INTELIGENCIA FUE VENCIDO POR EL LORO.
MORALEJA: NO SIEMPRE LAS COSAS SON LO QUE PARECEN, LA ARROGANCIA CIEGA Y NO NOS DEJA VER LO QUE ESTÁ DELANTE DE LA VISTA.

NZALA NKOMBO (EBBÓ O PURIFICACION).
Para la purificación del cuerpo (baño):
Agua de Manantial; Agua de Pozo; Agua de Río; Agua de Mar; Agua de Lluvia;
Agua de Laguna; Agua de una Cepa de Plátano (árbol de plátano). Además Vino de Mesa de color blanco; Pétalos de cinco rosas blancas.Todos unidos en una vasija.

Nzala Nkombo (ebbó o purificación ).
Un coco seco lavarlo con aguas de : Rio, Mar y Lluvia. Untarle manteca de cerdo sin sal; envolverlo con una tela de color blanco ; flotarlo desde la cabeza hasta los pies siete veces. Después depositarlo en el tronco de un árbor de caña brava o bambú, cubano o chino.

Sahumerio para el cuerpo y la casa:
Para el cuerpo:
Pétalos de cuatro rosas de color blanco.
Pétalos de cinco rosas de color amarillo.
Pétalos de seis rosas de color rojo.
Verterlas en una teja tipo española con siete carbones encendidos de cualquier tipo de madera.
Se ubica la teja en el piso y se pasa por encima de ella siete veces.

Para la casa:
Tres hierbas (hojas) de árboles medicinales.
Verterlas en una teja tipo española con nueve carbones encendidos de cualquier tipo de madera.
Se va ubicando en cada esquina de la casa después se deja detrás de la puerta de salida tres días.
INFORMAMOS
EL 27 DE DICIEMBRE DEL 2011, CON LA PRESENCIA DE UN CONSEJO DE SACERDOTES BANTÚ DEL CABILDO MUSUNDI SE REALIZO LA PRE - CEREMONIA CORRESPONDIENTE AL CICLO ESTABLECIDO PARA EXTRAER LA LETRA DEL AÑO 2012.
EL 28 DE DICIEMBRE DEL 2011, A LAS 12 M SE HIZO LA ÚLTIMA CEREMONIA : URIA NTANGO (COMIDA AL SOL) . A LAS 2:00 PM SE PROCEDIÓ A EXTRAER EL PODER REGENTE , CONCLUYENDO CON LA CEREMONIA A LAS SEIS DE LA TARDE DEL MISMO DÍA.


LOS CEREMONIALES SE REALIZARON EN LA SEDE DE LA INSTITUCIÓN RELIGIOSA BANTÚ DE CUBA.

ALDO DURADES ROMÁN.
Investigador
TATANDY DE LOS MUSUNDIS
PRESIDENTE DE LA INSTITICIÓN RELIGIOSA BANTÚ DE CUBA.

Happy New Year

New Years is a time which gives the opportunity to leave at least some old things behind and for people to earnestly, and sometimes not so earnestly, endeavor to begin their lives anew.

Here's wishing everyone the best the new year can hold, and a chance for us all to remember some of the mystery and awe with which we ought to hold our lives and this world. — E. C. Ballard

Fourhares: A website dedicated to Philosophy & Kabalah, Anthroposophy, Freemasonry, and Tarot

Fourhares describes itself as a blog dedicated to the subjects of Philosophy & Kabalah, Anthroposophy, Freemasonry, and Tarot. The author of this blog indicates he has been an eductaor since 1987, and primarily a Waldorf teacher since 1995. He has been involved in various offices in Masonic Lodges and other esoteric Societies, given papers on various aspects of Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism and related esoteric impulses, and been actively involved in the development and implementation of Masonic education. In addition, the author was a co-founder of the Association for Tarot Studies, and is based in Australia as well as being involved with Sophia Australis - The Sophia Community in Australia.

About this site, the author states that "Fourhares began for content of a more personal interest across a broad spectrum, though predominantly reflecting four fields of personal interest.

It should be noted that other people who may be involved in any one of these fields do not develop an interest in the others. FourHares, therefore, simply reflects my syncretic interests, weaved in a personal and eclectic style."

On how the site gained its name, this interesting explanation is offered: "I've been fascinated by the geometry, riddle, claimed symbolic meaning, and optical illusion of mediæval representations from various parts the world that show three hares (or deer) arranged in such a way that their ears are drawn in common — resulting in three ears for three hares. In 2005, when in Lyon (France), I saw upon its Notre Dame Cathedral a petroglyph of the same concept, save that here were four hares, as photographed above.

So why 'fourhares'? when selecting a domain name (that eventually also became my business name) that initially focussed on four areas of more esoteric and, for myself at any rate, interconnected and personal interests, the option “fourhares” simply rose to the fore. So here we are!"

It is an ideal read over a cup of coffee in the morning, or something else in the evening. Whenever you do take it a look, you will not go away disappointed.

http://www.fourhares.com/