Here is the question for last week of January 22nd –
What is the symbolic meaning of Jacobs Ladder?
I have heard that this symbolic ladder is sometimes represented in a tracingboard
fashion with 3 rungs; But in most Mithraic mystery's we see a a ladder with seven
rungs or gates to becoming master of the seven spheres and in an Irish ritual of 1796 a
ladder with eleven rungs is mentioned.
..With that said-For extra credit:
in Kabbalistic tradition how many steps does the ladder have to reach the
infinite and what are there names??
We had Two solid answers once again submitted by-- Good and ever Faithful—Masonic
Monday students:
Brother Norman Davis. Of Tuscan Lodge #77 in Waseca
Marlena Vernon-- of Roseville, Minn-- a non-mason.
and
This just goes to show that not all seekers of truth have taken the Masonic degrees, and
not all students of the bible are Masons.
This is the answer.. Brother Norm sent in...
Brother Glenn,
What is the symbolic meaning of Jacobs Ladder?
It is a symbol of moral and intellectual progress.
In the Kabbalistic tradition you started from the bottom working up with the following 10
steps:
Kingdom Foundation 2 Splendor 3 Firmness 4 Beauty 5 Justice 6 Mercy 7 Intelligence
8 Wisdom 9 The Crown 10 En Soph or the Infinite
Fraternally yours,
Norman Davis
Tuscan Lodge # 77
This is the answer Marlena Vernon submitted:
Jacobs ladder is not about climbing up nor even really about descending angels its
about either-or..it runs much deeper than dreaming--..about myths..
Time-bound (natural level) vs. State-bound (spiritual level)
How do we dis-place ourselves in time? For instance, we walk to the kitchen from our bedroom. This is
accomplished by moving within a course that ends up at a desired destination. The course between starting
place and arrival specifies the direction of the displacement movements necessary to accomplish the task.
Movements of displacement obeying a sufficient course--that's how we accomplish going somewhere. This
task requires time, place, directionality, and desire. Time and place are natural things; directionality and desire
are spiritual things.
Directionality is of the understanding, thus it is a process that is going on in the cognitive organ, while desire
is of the will, thus it is going on in the affective organ. The cognitive and affective organs are of the mind, thus
take place in the spiritual world. Displacement in time takes place in the natural world, which also includes the
physical body, hence also the sensory organs that participate in the body's activity of walking. Thus, all our
daily activities are occurring at these two levels: natural in the physical body and spiritual in the mind or its
spirit-body. The natural and the spiritual co-act perfectly through the laws of correspondence. These laws are
rational and are part of theistic science. The Writings of Swedenborg contain a full exposition of these laws.
He was able to accomplish this through his dualist consciousness which allowed him to make direct
observations simultaneously of natural events and their corresponding spiritual event. Once he learned and
understood these laws he was able to demonstrate that the language of Old and New Testaments were written
in a dual reference mode. The natural historical sequence of events from Abraham to Jesus are described in
the natural sense of each verse, phrase, word, number, and name. Simultaneously each of these language
elements also carry a spiritual sense. This spiritual sense is perceived when one learns the laws of
correspondences.
This is the answer Bro Tom Hendrickson submitted when he sent in the question...
Jacobs Ladder
Question: What is the symbolic meaning of Jacobs Ladder
Answer:
The introduction of Jacobs ladder into the symbolism of speculative Masonry is to be
traced to the vision of Jacob, which can be found in the twenty-eighth chapter of The
Book of Genesis. Jacob had been commanded by his Father take a journey. As Jacob was
heading toward Padanaram Jacob stopped for the night Jacob laid on the ground and used
a rock for a pillow. When Jacob fell asleep he had a dream he saw a ladder with its base
rested upon the earth, and its top reached to heaven! He saw angels were continually
ascending and descending upon it at the top of the ladder stood God. Jacob was blessed to
have many happy descendants. When Jacob woke up, he with filled with reverence and
gratitude. He consecrated the spot as the house of God (Bethel)
The symbol of the ladder is found in many of ancient peoples of the world. It is found
in the ceremonies of the pagans of mithras, in the mysteries of Brahma and of Scandivia.
The origin of the symbol was lost while the symbol itself was retained. It is certainly
believed that the ladder is a universally accepted symbol of moral and intellectual
progress presenting itself as a succession of steps. The number of steps varied; although
the favorite one in most of the ancient mysteries in seven, in reference apparently to the
mystical character almost given to that number.
It is not known when Jacobs ladder was inculded in the Masonic lectures. But is
believed to have appeared in the late 18th century. The early description of the Masonic
version of Jacobs ladder had only three rings or steps, a change from the old seven
stepped ladder of the ancient mysteries.
Its three principal rungs representing Faith, Hope, and Charity. These three virtues
present us with the means of advancing from earth to heaven from death to life- from
mortal to immortality. The foot of the ladder is placed on the floor of the lodge, and its
top rests on the covering of the lodge, which is symbolic of heaven.
Many modern Masons believe that the ladder should have seven rugs which represent
the four cardinal virtues (Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and justice), and the three
theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity).
***************************************************
If one wishes to read more
about Jacob's ladder there are a sundry of sources such as AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
FREEMASONRY - JACOB'S LADDER
http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/mackeys_encyclopedia/j.htm
*******************************************
YOU CAN QUIT READING...if you wish
BUT>>>>>
HERE IS
an interesting visualization of things symbolic..
On the Masonic tracing board of 1776 there is a ladder with three steps, ... Jacob's Ladder
(various numbers attributed), the Kabbalistic Ladder (ten steps) ...
http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/Magic_Lantern_with_EA_FC_MM_Sl
ides.htm
Also-- my Net surfings i ran into this INTERESTING TID BIT ...and actually paused to
think about it for 19 seconds haha
Jacobs Ladder teaching
By studying what the Word teaches about our vertical community we are enabled to see
the outer world from the perspective of the inner world and/or vice versa.. This is indeed
a desirable perspective because coming from the Word it gives only truths to behold.
Thus, our external world is then seen by us in a true perspective.
The Third Testament teaches us that the vertical community we belong to has a
threefold organization of people in the afterlife. In the Third Testament, the people in the
other world, that is, the world we go to when we die, are called from top down, angels,
spirits, and devils. The higher angels are called celestial angels, the lower, spiritual
angels. Spirits are recent arrivals being on their way to becoming angels in heaven or
devils in hell. The latter are divided into satans and, the lowest, which are genii. These
five categories of people constitute our vertical community. The Third Testament
informs us that these people are constantly in communication with our thoughts and
feelings, though neither them nor us can perceive this relationship. They, as well as us
now, know of this inter-connection through the revelations of Swedenborg in both worlds.
Perhaps society and civilization as we know it today will come to an end and a new
civilization based on a conscious recognition of our dual community citizenship will
come into being. This may be the historical consequences of the Lord's Second Advent.
Ok , That's more than ENOUGH ALREADY we don't want to spoil the FUN Times of
Research by OVERLOAD..so i shall run on to recommending next weeks question..
REMEMBER RESEARCH is FUN--and is meant to be ENJOYED when ENJOINED ...
smile
Fraternally
Bro Glenn D Kiecker
As a pss....thought.....
U might want to recommend visits here-- smile
http://www.mn-masons.org/Default.aspx?alias=www.mn-masons.org/gleo
Welcome To The Lodge Education Page
It is the mission of the Education Committee to provide Masonic resources to those
who are, or will become, interested in Masonic information for their edification,
enlightenment, and enjoyment. To be a source of help to those who would like our
assistance in their efforts to learn more about Freemasonry.
“Either Freemasonry will destroy ignorance or ignorance will destroy
Freemasonry.” Paraphrased from a quote by Brother W.E.B. Du Bois
This site contains a lot of good useful information: Take the time to explore it; you'll
be glad you did.
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically.
Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” Martin Luther King
Jr.
"Education is a life long process, and should end only when we do." Earl
Nightengale
"Education has for its object the formation of character." Herbert Spencer