The Winding Stairs Freemasonry Podcast | Created By A Freemason For Those Interested In The Study Of Freemasonry And The Art

Blue Lightning | A Conversation with Bro. Chris Hodapp On this episode of The Winding Stairs, we tackle a very contentious topic, One Day Classes. I recently asked The Winding Stairs Facebook Group Members "What is your opinion about One Day Classes in Freemasonry?" and the result was shocking. Not only did I discover that the majority of respondents had a negative opinion regarding One Day Classes, but many held some sort of animosity towards Brothers who have joined the fraternity in this manner. Dismayed by this negativity, I contacted Brother Chris Hodapp, author of Freemasons for Dummies, to learn more one-day classes, their effectiveness, and how Brothers should handle discussions about this topic. In this candid conversation, you will learn: I hope that you find this episode edifying. Do you enjoy The Winding Stairs? Please take one minute to leave us a Rating & Review on iTunes: www.TheWindingStairs.com/iTunes Mentioned in this episode Visit Bro. Chris Hodapp's Blog Freemasons for Dummies Tha

Behave Like a Mason The 4 Places you are expected to behave like a Mason Where should we behave like a Mason? The answer should be simple, Everywhere. However, I selected four places where your behavior as a Mason can have a rippling effect. The benefits derived from behaving as a Mason in these specific circumstances will yield exponential benefits to your life. During this episode of The Winding Stairs Freemasonry Podcast, I reveal the project that has kept me busy for the best part of this year. Please make sure to listen to the program on its entirety and share it with like-minded men. Do you enjoy The Winding Stairs? Please take one minute to leave us a Rating & Review on iTunes: www.TheWindingStairs.com/iTunes Mentioned on this episode: Join the new community of Men who value common courtesy and manners. Join The Gentlemen's Brotherhood To see my personal collection of Masonic Art visit FreemasonryArt.com Listen to The Masonic Roundtable for Masonic News and Discussions by 5 Brothers from arou

On this episode of The Winding Stairs, we tackle a very contentious topic, One Day Classes. I recently asked The Winding Stairs Facebook Group Members "What is your opinion about One Day Classes in Freemasonry?" and the result was shocking. Not only did I discover that the majority of respondents had a negative opinion regarding One Day Classes, but many held some sort of animosity towards Brothers who have joined the fraternity in this manner. Dismayed by the negative dynamics that I witnessed within the threads, I contacted two Brothers who I admire greatly. Brother Chris Hodapp, author of Freemasons for Dummies and Bro. Jon Ruark, my co-host on The Masonic Roundtable. Both of these Brothers are Past Masters in their respective States, but they have gone above and beyond in their attempt to understand and offer solutions to the One Day Conferral Conundrum. I hope that you find this episode edifying.

Living Stones A conversation with Robert Herd On this episode of The Winding Stairs, we have a conversation with Brother Robert Herd, publisher of Living Stones Magazine. Bro. Herd discusses his early days in Freemasonry, the importance of the Liberal Arts and Sciences in Freemasonry. For those Brothers who may not be getting from their Lodge what they expected when they initially joined, there is sound advice to make your experience significantly better. On this episode we discuss Bro. Herd's participation in the origin of what we know as the Traditional Observance Movement. This is episode 2 of 2 from a very informative and motivating conversation I had with this incredible Brother. [clear] Do you enjoy The Winding Stairs? Please take one minute to leave us a Rating & Review on iTunes: www.TheWindingStairs.com/iTunes Mentioned in this episode Brother Herd publishes one of the leading Masonic publications: Living Stones Magazine For more information about Bro. Herd's book visit: Initiatic.guru Join the n

  Living Stones A conversation with Robert Herd On this episode of The Winding Stairs, we have a conversation with Brother Robert Herd, publisher of Living Stones Magazine. Bro. Herd discusses his early days in Freemasonry, the importance of the Liberal Arts and Sciences in Freemasonry. For those Brothers who may not be getting from their Lodge what they expected when they initially joined, there is sound advice to make your experience significantly better. This is episode 1 of 2 from a very informative and motivating conversation I had with this incredible Brother. [clear] Do you enjoy The Winding Stairs? Please take one minute to leave us a Rating & Review on iTunes: www.TheWindingStairs.com/iTunes Mentioned on this episode Brother Herd publishes one of the leading Masonic publications: Living Stones Magazine Join the new community of Men who value common courtesy and manners. Join The Gentlemen's Brotherhood To see my personal collection of Masonic Art visit FreemasonryArt.com Listen to The Masonic Rou

The Pact A conversation with Robert P. Lewis On this episode of The Winding Stairs, we have a conversation with Former Green Beret and Author Bro:. Robert P. Lewis. He joins us for an insightful conversation about his life journey and the role that Freemasonry has had in it. He recounts that his life changed after the events of September 11 and we will learn how those events and the subsequent decisions he made have reshaped his life. [clear] Do you enjoy The Winding Stairs? Please take one minute to leave us a Rating & Review on iTunes: www.TheWindingStairs.com/iTunes Mentioned on this episode These are the two books by Robert P. Lewis that we mentioned in the interview. The Pact and "Love Me When I'm Gone". Join the new community of Men who value common courtesy and manners. Join The Gentlemen's Brotherhood To see my personal collection of Masonic Art visit FreemasonryArt.com Listen to The Masonic Roundtable for Masonic News and Discussions by 5 Brothers from around the U.S. To Support The Winding Stair

Measured Improvements You can't improve what you don't measure. As we continue to mature, we become aware of areas of our life that need improvement. Although we might have the right intention to improve upon those areas of our life, we may fail to make any significant progress, if we fail to keep some sort of record of our progress. We may fall into a false sense of security, that convinces us that we are making progress merely because we are aware of the situation. This is not an effective way to improve, it can be deceiving you into remaining stagnant or getting worse without really noticing. It is very difficult to continuously improve upon something that we are not tracking. On this episode of The Winding Stairs, we discuss various tricks that you can easily implement to begin making progress on those things you want to change. Remember, great distances are traveled one step at a time, but you have to be willing to take the steps to begin enjoying the benefits of divesting yourself of the superfluities t

Replacing Habits Hijacking the triggers that keep you stuck! We are creatures of habits. Sometimes we unconsciously fall into cycles and habits that are very challenging to overcome. It is not that we are not strong enough, but the mechanism by which we adopt these habits is very effective and to be able to replace these behaviors, we need to understand how it all works. I recorded this brief installment of The Winding Stairs Freemasonry Podcast, while going out for a jog. As soon as I was done running, I spontaneously decided to record some of my thoughts on the subject of habit-replacement. On this episode, we are Chipping at the Stone, like in previous episodes. This is a shorter version of our normal-length episodes, in which I share some actionable technique to help you chip away at your imperfections and become a more perfect stone. Since January I have been focusing on the subject of Rituals and Behaviors, because i want to better understand how our brain works and how I can use that knowledge to help

5 Art Mediums That Support The Pillar of Beauty We continue our conversation with Masonic Artist Ryan J Flynn. Which 5 Art Mediums support the Pillar of Beauty in Freemasonry? On the second installment of our conversation with Bro. Ryan Flynn, we discuss 5 Art Mediums that help support the effective visual lessons in Masonic Education. Learn, which are our top 5 mediums for depicting lessons in Morality and Virtues. On this episode of The Winding Stairs Freemasonry Podcast, we have the privilege of exploring the topic of Art in Freemasonry with our talented Brother Ryan J Flynn. Join us, as we discuss the answers to these questions: Which art mediums are effective in teaching Masonic Truths? How are Tracing Boards used to teach candidates? How has art evolved in Freemasonry? What are early uses of Art in Masonic Education? What can a talented Brother do to support his Lodge? The answer to these and many more questions are contained in an exclusive video interview I had with Bro. Ryan J Flynn. Bro:. Flynn is t

Art in Freemasonry | The Pillar of Beauty Masonic Artist Ryan J Flynn joins us for an informative conversation about the importance of Art in Freemasonry. The Masonic Lodge is supported by three pillars, which are Wisdom, Strength and Beauty. Great importance should be given to each one of these, as they have a very important purpose in the instruction of the Mason. We have inherited a rich Artistic history in Freemasonry, but the Pillar of Beauty can often be neglected in the pursuit of strength and wisdom. How prominently does Art figure in your Lodge? On this episode of The Winding Stairs Freemasonry Podcast, we have the privilege of exploring the topic of Art in Freemasonry with our talented Brother Ryan J Flynn. Join us, as we discuss the answers to these questions: Is Art an effective teaching tool in Masonry? Are Masonic Artists violating their obligation while depicting lessons of The Craft? What is the historical significance of Art in Freemasonry? What is the current state of the Arts in our Fratern

Illuminati Rituals Revealed An interview with Bro:. Josef Wages, Editor of the book The Secret School of Wisdom How many times have you heard some outlandish Pop Culture claim about the Illuminati? The liberty with which people claim that there is a Secret Elite Group of people conspiring to bring about a New World Order, is simply fascinating. Is Beyonce and JayZ at the pinnacle of this great conspiracy? Are all these Hip Hop artists being murdered by this secret organization? I think the answer is, NO! But you don't have to take my word for it. We are fortunate that the truth of the existence and practice of the Bavarian Order of the Illuminati has been compiled into one masterful book, which will clarify many of the serious misconceptions about the Illuminati. Is the Illuminati an evil organization? Do Illuminati Rituals include devil worship? Did the Illuminati advocate for the overthrow of the government? Is the elimination of Religion a core commitment of this secretive order? Did they plan for Global D

Bound by Rituals How rituals influence Freemasonry, Society and our Personal Life. Rituals are extremely important in Freemasonry, but the importance of ritual extends far beyond into all aspects of our life. When we think of rituals, we often limit our imagination to spiritual ceremonies, but we engage in rituals on a daily basis. Do you have a specific set of steps that you follow every morning when you wake up? Do you have a predetermined sequence of things you do when you prepare to go out? Rituals have a profound effect in the way we enjoy life and the value that we attribute to the experiences we have. On this episode of The Winding Stairs Freemasonry Podcast, we explore the role that rituals play in Freemasonry, in our society and in our own personal lives. This is the first episode in a series which will explore the fascinating relation between rituals and the quality of our life. We are bound by rituals in a positive way and sometimes in a negative way. Listen to this episode for a detailed explanati

No Stone Unturned A Way of Life for the Traveling Brothers We often go through life in a hurry. Whether it is because of our career responsibilities, our family's expectations or our over-commitment to the various organizations we support, we can miss out on many great life experiences unless we slow down and leave no stone unturned. On this episode of The Winding Stairs Freemasonry Podcast, you will become a passenger in our road trip up to Columbus Georgia. Brother Victor Rosario and I visited Columbian Lodge No. 7 earlier this year, where I gave a presentation titled "Bridging the Gap". An although the visit was a very pleasant experience, the entire trip was rich with memorable experiences because early on the trip we decided to adopt an attitude of discovery. We decided that we would not leave any stone unturned. We decided that if anything long the road attracted our attention, that we would stop and figure out what it was. The results were incredible and we can't wait for you to listen in to the conver

Walter, The Ghost of the Retlaw Hotel How the Life and Legacy of a Brother Lives On It is prudent to remember that our time on this Earth is finite. That we ought to be diligent in improving ourselves in order to contribute to the life of those who surround us. Today I introduce you to Bro. Walter Schroeder, a man who decades after his death is giving people something to talk about. On this episode of The Winding Stairs Freemasonry Podcast, I share a portion of the life of Bro. Walter, a Businessman, Civic Leader, Philanthropist and… Ghost? Is there a Ghost haunting the Retlaw Hotel? On this special episode of The Winding Stairs, I have the pleasure of presenting to you a Brother who, by living a life of industry, was able to create a fortune and build something of which we are still in awe. You will gain a better understanding about who was Walter Schroeder and will hear about the stories being told about his restless spirit. Some people believe that Walter still visits some of the buildings that are part of

Unfinished Books Do you have a collection of books which you have not finished reading? Does it almost feel like that stack of books is calling out to you to finish reading them? That's how I feel too. On this episode of The Winding Stairs Freemasonry Podcast, I share with you 5 tips to go through that stack of unfinished books and increase the number of them that you actually finish. Of course, there are books which are better skimmed or used as reference books. Those you don't have to finish, but there might be a few others which are begging to become a part of your intellect. "If we encounter a man of great intellect, we must ask him what books he reads." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Often times books contain all the fuel we need to keep our intellect burning. In books we may find the solutions to our most pressing challenges. Yet, even when we know how beneficial it can be to make progress through that growing stack of books, we sometimes just ignore those tomes. On this episode of The Winding Stairs, I share wit

Lessons from My Mother Chipping at The Stone I have to admit that I was very fortunate to have the Mother I had. She was very wise and charismatic. She was very talented and inspiring. I owe a lot to her for the Man I turned out to be and I hope that I am able to make her proud with the decisions I make in my life. I was very fortunate to spend the time I did with her before she was taken away too soon by Breast Cancer. I recorded this episode on October 10th, which would have been her Birthday. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and while I recorded, I didn't want to remember Breast Cancer Awareness Month in a somber and depressing way. Instead, I wanted to remember some great lessons that she imparted on me. You will find parallels from her lessons, which those included in Freemasonry. As you listen to this episode of The Winding Stairs, I hope that you are able to get to know a little more about the kind of Woman my mother was and how her efforts helped me want to become a better Man. In this episode

  Chipping at The Stone Progress is found in the repetition of small strikes. We are that rough ashlar hewned from the Quarry. But our journey to become part of a perfect building doesn't happen abruptly. It is through small, calculated changes, which remove the superfluities from our life. Are you not making fast progress in becoming a better Man and Mason? Don't worry, you are not in this journey alone. In this episode of The Winding Stairs, I share some stories that prove that we are all in this together. That we serve as inspiration to one another and that by being witnesses to each other's progress, we become a more perfect ashlar. This episode of The Winding Stairs is the first of a series of shorter episodes created to continue the conversation about self-improvement. How can we utilize the teachings of all ages into changing the way in which we Act and React in life. Chipping at the Stone is a series of shorter episodes -10 to 15 minutes- which will be published between some of the more lengthy episod

Bridging the Inner Gap Look Inside Yourself It is sometimes easier to look at circumstances outside ourselves to blame for what happens in our life. But many times the problems in which we find ourselves is a direct result of things that are happening within us. As we continue exploring the podcast series Bridging the Gap, we turn our sights inward after two episodes of looking at circumstances outside of us. We have looked at how a Gap of Expectations and a Gap of Wisdom can interfere with our progress in life. Today we look at our own shortcomings and make a commitment to diligently bridge our Inner Gap to become the ultimate version of ourselves. Among the topics discussed in this episode you will find: Being brought from darkness to light liberates our vision. Circumspection: Symbol: The Circumpunct |Keeping your passions within due bounds. Definition: Thinking carefully about possible risks before doing or saying something. (Merriam Webster) Unwillingness or Wariness to take risk. Prudence (Oxford). Your

Bridging the Gap of Wisdom Second installment of the Bridging the Gap Series On the first installment of the series Bridging the Gap, we discussed how disappointment can be detrimental to the progress of a Mason. Disappointment can discourage a Man's pursuit of further goals, because it is a natural reaction to avoid those things which cause us pain or discomfort. In particular, Brothers who become disillusioned with Freemasonry, because of the seemingly unbridgeable gap that exists between his expectations and what actually happens behind a Tyled door. On this segment of the series, I want to speak about the gap of Wisdom, which exists between some groups of Brothers within the Lodge. I have identified that this gap of Wisdom manifests itself in at least two ways, which I categorize as Division and Deficiency. It is hoped that, if you identify any of these wisdom gaps within your Lodge, you act as a catalyst for change and begin labor to restore unity. After all, if we all take personal responsibility for th

Bridging the Gap of Expectations in Freemasonry Avoiding disappointment and making the journey more fulfilling Before Men join Freemasonry, they might have an expectation of what really happens behind closed doors. That expectation, often-times fantastic and unrealistic, tends to be shaped by misinformation and ignorance. A members of this Fraternal organization, we should understand before hand, what people expect of us and how much of those expectations we can actually meet. Are you tired of hearing people bad-mouthing our Order? Did you expect things out of Freemasonry, which never materialized? Is there anything you can do as an individual to curve the erroneous expectations that people have of us? These are some of the questions we explore in this episode of The Winding Stairs and hope that you are able to find good answers that can help you make a real difference. The Candidate Before being given admittance into our Lodges, the candidates might have a very fantastic idea of what really happens behind ou