Masonic Muscle

My pick: How Five Masons Tried to Save a Struggling Lodge — Part 1 This is strong already. It tells the listener there is a story, a problem, and a fight worth hearing. Optimized Description How do five Masons try to save a struggling lodge? In EP 107 of Masonic Muscle , we begin Part 1 of the story of Palm Springs Lodge No. 693 , the good years, the decline, the chaos, the Brothers who cared, and...

What happens when Grand Lodge politics, Masonic law, and lodge integrity collide? In EP 106 of Masonic Muscle , I read and discuss a Facebook post attributed to Texas Past Grand Master Brad Billings , describing alleged charges, internal conflict, and tension among Texas Masonic leadership after the excitement generated by the 2022 team. This episode is not just about Texas. It connects directly t...

Power Trip Day One is here. In EP 105 of Masonic Muscle , I talk about motivation, exercise, study, heavy metal, Iron Maiden , Anderson’s Constitutions , and the ancient genealogy found in one of Freemasonry’s most important documents. This episode begins with a simple message: Train your body. Study the Craft. Keep improving. That is Masonic Iron Works. Pumping Masonic iron. Strengthening our und...

Every Mason has heard of Anderson’s Constitutions. Almost no Mason has seriously studied it. That is a problem. In EP 104 of Masonic Muscle , I talk about exercise, Power Trip being here, and then get into one of the most important documents ever written by a Mason for Masonry worldwide: Anderson’s Constitutions of the Free-Masons. Every lodge and every serious Mason should spend time studying thi...

What can early Masonic pamphlets teach us about Freemasonry? In EP 103 of Masonic Muscle , I follow up on some thoughts from Graham Hancock on the Joe Rogan Experience and connect that broader conversation about ancient history, memory, and lost knowledge to the Masonic world. Then I talk about Christopher B. Murphy and his work on Anderson’s Constitutions and early Masonic documents. This episode...

Does the Masonic past belong only to scholars and academics? In EP 102 of Masonic Muscle , I share some thoughts on Joe Rogan Experience episode #1897 with Graham Hancock and Randall Carlson , and how that conversation connects to the Masonic world. The bigger question is this: Should Masons allow the history, origins, traditions, customs, and symbols of Freemasonry to belong only to the so-called...

What did the ancient Greek philosophers seek in Egypt? In EP 101 of Masonic Muscle , I continue the journey into the Ancient Mystery Schools of Egypt and ask why so many seekers, philosophers, and students of wisdom were drawn to Egypt in search of hidden knowledge, initiation, and profound teaching. Many Greek philosophers were said to have traveled for years hoping to be accepted into the Egypti...

What can Chichen Itza teach us about Mystery Schools, Freemasonry, and the value of time? In EP 100 of Masonic Muscle , I talk about our adventure at Chichen Itza , send a shout-out to Jesus Marquez , and connect the experience to ancient Mystery Schools, Egypt, Masonic symbolism, lodge standards, and the current state of Freemasonry. This episode asks a hard question: What is the most precious th...

Did the Egyptian Mystery Schools require physical strength? In EP 99 of Masonic Muscle , we continue exploring the possible connections between the ancient mystery schools, physical preparation, leadership, and the origins of Freemasonry. What did a man have to do to enter the Egyptian Mystery Schools? Was he chosen because of who he knew? Was he chosen by pedigree? Was he selected because he was...

What exercise makes a Master Mason strong enough to wield the Master’s gavel? In this episode of Masonic Muscle , I ask a hard question: Are the men sitting in the East strong enough to lead? Some Masters are strong. Some are weak. Most are mediocre at best. That is not an insult. That is an assessment. If a Master Mason wants to sit in the East, he needs more than a title, a jewel, and a chair. H...

Did the ancient Egyptian Mystery Schools require strength? In EP 96 of Masonic Muscle , we continue Part 3 of the Pagan Mystery Origins of Freemasonry and connect it to the history of physical fitness. The ancient Egyptians did not just build temples and pyramids. They also trained. They lifted weights, used physical tests, and according to some accounts, used sandbags as a test of strength. If yo...

12 Origin Theories of Freemasonry. The Pagan Origins of Freemasonry and the History of Physical Fitness.   Ancient Times prepare for war – 4000 BC. There is clear evidence that ancient civilizations and empires used exercise to strengthen their soldiers and prepare for war. They needed a bigger, stronger, faster soldier to have an edge over their enemies. Ancient Egypt used weightlifting to accomp...

The quarry is more than a poetic Masonic metaphor. It is where rough stones are worked, shaped, tested, and improved. In this episode, I talk about the real quarry of lodge life: leadership, Brotherhood, education, commitment, frustration, and the work required to build better men. Freemasonry is not supposed to be passive. It is supposed to work on you. Write to masonicmuscle357@gmail.com and tel...

Did Freemasonry come from the Pagan Mysteries ? In this episode of Masonic Muscle , we begin Theory #2 from the 12 origin theories of Freemasonry listed in the Royal Masonic Cyclopaedia of 1877: the theory that Freemasonry derives from the ancient Pagan Mysteries. We also read an email from listener and Worshipful Master Jamey Sterrett of Temple Lodge No. 70 A.F. & A.M. in Texas . The stars sh...

Do Masons care about the history of their own Order? In EP 92 of Masonic Muscle , I continue Part 4 of the Patriarch Theory from the 12 origin theories of Freemasonry — the theory that Freemasonry descends from the Patriarchs of the Old Testament. This episode was recorded from a hotel room in Tijuana , where I had a strong conversation with Brother Matt Jackson , a Fellow Craft Mason from Palm Sp...

Did Freemasonry come from the Patriarchs? In this episode of Masonic Muscle , we continue Part 3 of the Patriarch Theory in the 12 origin theories of Freemasonry . I also begin exploring the history of physical fitness by reading from “The History of Physical Fitness” by Erwan Le Corre , published through The Art of Manliness . Where did physical fitness come from? How did our ancient ancestors st...

Did Freemasonry come from the Patriarchs and Antediluvians ? In this episode of Masonic Muscle , we continue exploring Theory #1 from the 12 origin theories of Freemasonry listed in the Royal Masonic Cyclopaedia of 1877: the theory that Masonry came down from the Patriarchs of the Old Testament. We also look at Anderson’s Constitutions , including the legendary account of the ancient world before...

Did Freemasonry come from the Patriarchs of the Old Testament? In this episode of Masonic Muscle , I begin working through the 12 origin theories of Freemasonry found in the Royal Masonic Cyclopaedia , starting with Theory #1: the Patriarch Theory — the idea that Freemasonry was handed down from the Patriarchs of the Old Testament. But first, we hit the iron. I introduce Super Squats by Randall J....

Why don’t more Masons know the 12 theories of the origins of Freemasonry ? In this episode of Masonic Muscle , I dig into the origin problem again and ask why so many Masons do not know — or do not seem to care — where the Craft came from. I also read from Bill Hinbern’s material at Super Strength Training on “The Exercise You Love to Hate.” Because every Mason knows this truth: The thing you avoi...

Is the most widely accepted theory about the origins of Freemasonry actually proven? In this episode of Masonic Muscle , I challenge the common explanation that modern Freemasonry simply evolved from medieval guilds of cathedral builders and stonemasons. That theory is often repeated like settled history. But is it? I read from Marina Manoukian’s article “The History of the Freemasons Finally Expl...

What does real Masonic leadership require? In this episode of Masonic Muscle , Darkness and I get our first workout of 2023, and it felt great. We are in good health, in great spirits, and ready to take on the year and everything it throws at us. I introduce you to Matt Furey , Gama Fitness , and some of his exercise philosophy, including Hindu Squats , Hindu Pushups , and bridging — what Furey ca...

Is Freemasonry really refining? In this episode of Masonic Muscle , I give my final thoughts on Brother Robert H. Johnson’s article: “Freemasonry Isn’t Dying, It’s Refining.” Brother Johnson, creator of the Whence Came You? podcast, gives us a strong launching point for one of the most important conversations in the Craft: What is actually happening to Freemasonry, and what are Masons going to do...

What is your lodge’s purpose? In EP 85 of Masonic Muscle , I talk about focus, purpose, exercise, Jack LaLanne, lodge strategy, and why both men and lodges fail when they obsess over tools instead of results. A lot of men say they want to get in shape, but they never start because they think they need the perfect equipment. That is an excuse. Jack LaLanne built powerful bodyweight exercise systems...

Many men join Freemasonry hoping the Craft will give them inner strength. But strength does not arrive by membership card. It is built through work, concentration, discipline, and repeated action. In this episode, I connect Freemasonry, physical training, mental discipline, the body-mind connection, Reg Park, Tai Chi, strongman culture, and the real meaning of building strength from the inside out...

What happens when a man hits the wall physically — and Masonically? In this episode of Masonic Muscle , I read an article from Super Strength Training called “K.I.S.S.” and connect it to weightlifting, Freemasonry, lodge life, overthinking, overtraining, and the temptation to make things more complicated than they need to be. In the gym, a man starts making progress and then thinks: If this much t...