Masonic Traveler: Under the Shadow of Jehovah's Wing

by Gregory B. Stewart

Masonic Traveler is a work at a crossroads; the product of a nascent alchemy that is the personal expression of study of the highest form of the Western Mystery traditions known as Freemasonry. This work is more than a history book, or an evaluation of ancient symbols. Rather it is about the personal journey of becoming a Freemason, studying its nuance, finding and mapping its parallels, and assimilating it into daily life. Included in the work is a consideration of the bee hive, the symbolic attribution of the tenants of Faith, Hope, and Charity, and the symbolic meaning behind King Solomon's Temple, and much more. This work is a journal of a Masonic Traveler.

190 pages, Paperback

First published March 9, 2010

About the author

A student of the Western Mystery tradition (Western Esotericism), Greg (Gregory) B. Stewart has explored the rites of initiation through a variety of initiatory systems with the express goal of understanding the deeper meaning behind them. In that process, Greg’s exploration has converged with mainstream and esoteric religious traditions, rituals of religious practice and their intersecting undercurrents. Now, on the other side of that journey, the focus of his attention is on how those intersections relate to the Great Work — a subject he explores in his book series on the Symbolic Lodge.

As devoted student of the esoteric, Greg is a firm believer in the Masonic connection to the Hermetic traditions of antiquity, its evolution through the ages and its present configuration as the antecedent to most present day currents of esoteric and occult practice. Called a masonic “bodhisattva,” he is a self-styled searcher for that which was lost, a Hermetic Hermit and a believer in “what is above is so also below.” You can read his occasional thoughts on the Hermetic tradition on the blog The Hermetic Circle.

Personally, Greg is an artist by nature and education. Professionally, his work spans a wide spectrum of communications, publishing and design. Under the Masonic tradition Greg began his career in 1994 participating in a variety of roles, lodges and organizations. Much of his early written work on Freemasonry can be found in his blog Masonic Traveler covering a period from 2005 to 2009. In 2008 Greg co-hosted and produced the Masonic Central podcast, with Dean Kennedy and went on to publish and produce FreemasonInformation.com — under Masonic Traveler — alongside Fred Milliken, Tim Bryce and other Masonic notables.

Reviews

[Hans · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could write a book like this full of anecdotes, musings and opinions. Essentially all the author did here was compile a bunch of essays he had written from his blog and publish them. There were some interesting points and thoughts but overall it lacked any definite well-argued points. The author hints at the importance of certain topics, like the need for the fraternity to embrace more of the clandestine lodges, or review its policy on barring women, but he never comes out and just makes a strong case demanding it. Though radical change, on the surface may appear to be the only solution I would beg to differ. Too much too fast will wreak havoc in a group that is highly steeped in tradition. Masonry has been moving slow because it is almost weighed down by its own past unable to shake the shackles of its unnecessary ideas. The case for admitting women will be a hard one to sell as many Masons strongly believe that there are almost no all male organizations left where men can meet and learn from each other. Despite the appeal of having women join the ranks and the added strength and commitment they would bring, if the military is any model they would only account for 20% of the total. Which though substantial would come at the high cost of shifting group dynamics, new internal "Fraternization" problems amongst others. I am advocate of change, but not those that would fundamentally alter the role Masonry has played through the centuries. Break too far too fast from your roots and the groups loses all sense of identity and connection with its own heritage.

[Kelly Feldcamp · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seems an obviously self published book. It contains numerous grammatical and spelling errors. That being set aside, however, the thoughts and philosophical ideas put forth in the book are good and thought provoking. Well worth reading as a kind of primer in some of the esoteric aspects of Freemasonry.