Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com.

In the podcast, the evolution of the Square and Compass, the primary symbol of the "Blue Lodge," is examined after the hosts' journey through the Scottish Rite degrees. It is now seen as a more profound representation, with the Compass over the Square symbolizing Spirit ruling over the material, and the 'G' inside representing the "Grand Architect of the Universe." The discussion also covers the double-headed eagle, the emblem of the Scottish Rite, which symbolizes the unity of human and divine nature and the concept of equilibrium.

The hosts delve into the essential textbooks for the Scottish Rite, including "Morals and Dogma: The Annotated Edition," "Scottish Rite Ritual - Monitor and Guide," and "A Bridge to Light," emphasizing their importance for understanding the degrees. They revisit the origins of the Scottish Rite degrees, focusing on Albert Pike's revisions and his complex legacy, which includes both his contributions to Freemasonry and his controversial personal beliefs. The esoteric aspects of the Scottish Rite are explored, drawing parallels with psychological concepts from various traditions and emphasizing the introspective nature of the degrees.

The podcast concludes with reflections on the meaning of holding a Scottish Rite degree, the importance of personal study and understanding, and the distinction between merely holding a degree and truly embodying its teachings.

The series on the Scottish Rite uses the following primary sources (which you are encouraged to read as well):

• Albert Pike's Morals and Dogma: Annotated Edition
• Scottish Rite Ritual Monitor & Guide
• A Bridge to Light

Images:

• The Double-Headed Eagle
• Young Albert Pike
• Old Albert Pike

Overview:

• 01:14 Introduction
• 02:16 Square and Compass
• 03:04 Double-Headed Eagle
• 04:14 Textbooks
• 06:18 Origins of the Degrees
• 09:56 Albert Pike
• 15:35 Esoteric Psychology
• 21:14 The Meaning of the Degrees
• 27:06 Conclusions

Links:

• Albert Pike (Wikipedia)
• Prince Hall Freemasonry (Wikipedia)
• Prince Hall (Wikipedia)
• Albert Pike Memorial (Wikipedia)
• House of the Temple (Wikipedia)
• Sigmund Freud (Wikipedia)
• Carl Jung (Wikipedia)
• Sigmund Freud and the Jewish Mystical Tradition (Amazon)
• The hidden Chasidic roots of Sigmund Freud (TheJC.com)
• Gnosis, Gnosticism and Jungian Psychology (Gnosis.org)
• The Gnostic Jung and the Seven Sermons to the Dead (Amazon)
• The Search for Roots: C. G. Jung and the Tradition of Gnosis (Amazon)
• The Birth of Tragedy (Wikipedia)