self-knowledge Archieven - Page 3 of 3

Thunderstorm over a harbor at night with lightning illuminating moored boats

Storm and Character: What Thunder Reveals About Who You Are

The evening sky above the harbor turns purple, and the first flash of lightning illuminates the masts of moored boats. A man walks calmly to his vessel and unplugs the shore power cable. Behind him, other boat owners laugh: “That storm is nothing to worry about!” But when the morning sun breaks through the clouds, every single one of them has quietly done the same thing. Sometimes a single action says more about character than a thousand words. The Silence Before the Storm There is a peculiar moment just before a thunderstorm breaks. The wind drops, birds fall silent, and the air itself seems to hold its breath. In that instant of tension, something essential about human behavior reveals itself. Some people ignore the signs and carry on as if nothing is happening. Others take quiet precautions — not out of fear, but out of prudence. It is precisely this distinction that Freemasonry has explored for centuries: the difference between outward display and inner authenticity. The man who unplugs his shore power is not acting out of panic. He is following an inner compass that tells him: take responsibility for what you can influence, and accept what you cannot control. […]

Vrijmetselarij - De Betekenis van Gnosis in het Westen

The Meaning of Gnosis in the West

Gnosis is a word derived from Greek that simply means ‘knowledge.’ However, it is not ordinary knowledge, such as facts you learn in school. Gnosis refers to a deeper, spiritual form of knowledge. Moreover, it is a direct experience or insight into the divine and the truth of existence. It is an inner knowing that cannot be acquired through books or teachings but through personal experience and self-exploration. In the Western world, Gnosis is often associated with esoteric traditions like Gnosticism. This is a religious-philosophical tradition that emerged in the early centuries after Christ. Therefore, the Gnostics believed that the material world is imperfect. They proposed that there is a deeper, spiritual reality that we can access through self-knowledge and inner development. What does Gnosis mean for the Western individual? In the West, Gnosis has often been linked to mystical and esoteric traditions throughout history. Think of groups like the Cathars in the Middle Ages and Hermetic philosophy during the Renaissance. Furthermore, even Freemasonry and other symbolic societies have connections to Gnosis. These traditions emphasize that Gnosis is about self-discovery and finding inner truth. Today, Gnosis does not always carry a religious connotation. It is often seen as a path […]