An exploration of the wealth of hidden knowledge and symbolism contained in the "Middle Chamber Lecture" of the Freemason Fellowcraft Degree.

In MYTH, MAGICK & MASONRY, Jaime Paul Lamb develops four thought-provoking interpretations of the symbolism and allegorical content of Freemasonry and some of its appendant bodies. By viewing the craft through the interpretive lenses of ceremonial magick, solar and astrological lore and symbolism, classical mythology and the Roman Mystery cult, Mithraism, Lamb establishes four distinct vantage points from which to survey Freemasonry. Thereby, Jaime Paul Lamb enables Masons, new and old, to develop a more nuanced appreciation of the Craft and a deeper understanding of the Fraternity's priceless initiatory heritage.

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We learn differently than we did a century ago, we don't have exposure to large parts of the Western intellectual heritage. This makes it more challenging as we move through the degrees of Masonry. The words and phrases are from another time and often reference ideas that the 19th century man would have easily recognized but for us it is The cultural references and the religious references of the degrees of Masonry were once part of the shared liberal arts education, this is no longer the case makes the degrees harder to approach and more study to appreciate their context. This is a different type of book, consider it a Primer, an elementary textbook serving as an introduction to the subject. The reader will find a walk-through of the Middle Chamber, what it's component parts allude to, and a healthy dose of what they could be alluding to... but remember that this is meant to be the starting point of a lifetime's reflection on the degree not a wholistic capstone defining your experience.

P.D. Newman's bold and daring theory provides a radical interpretation of Masonic symbolism. In the tradition of Wasson, Hofmann and Ruck, in ""The Road to Eleusis: Unveiling the Secret of the Mysteries"" (1978), and Heinrich's ""Strange Fruit: Alchemy, Religion, and Magical Foods"" (1995), Newman suggests that practical psychoactive pharmacology, rather than philosophy, lies concealed in the root of some of our allegories and mysteries. Admitting to being more than a mere theoretician, Newman draws from his own personal experiences, and a wide range of sources, in presenting his theory in a logical manner, which merits consideration. - Arturo De Hoyos, 33* Grand Archivist and Grand Historian Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction

Abounding in unprecedented insights and observations, Jaime Paul Lamb's The Archetypal Temple and Other Writings on Masonic Esotericism is a compendium of essays highlighting Freemasonry's relationship to Western Esotericism, with the multivalence of the temple archetype as its central, unifying theme. As Lamb surveys Masonic ritual and symbolism from the perspectives of astrology, cosmology and occult philosophy, he situates Freemasonry as a living and evolving tradition. It is in this spirit that Lamb points to a Freemasonry that is applicable to the modern mind's quest for meaning, authenticity and, ultimately, a place in the cosmos.