Unravel the Secret Brotherhood: Could Freemasonry be the antidote to modernity’s challenges for young men? Dive in as we explore the Masonic world, its principles, camaraderie, and how its traditional rituals could help forge stronger identities in an increasingly complex world.
Could Freemasonry be helpful for young men?
Over the course of one generation, our lives changed drastically. The arrival of computers and the internet propelled us into the fast lane, making us more productive, travelling quicker, and providing better services.
In the last year, the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) seems to have accelerated and opened a new horizon. So much progress in many disciplines has improved longevity and quality of life.
There has been so much advancement that it has had a profound impact on our way of relating and communicating with each other and, more importantly, on how we see ourselves. Unfortunately, it doesn’t only have a positive impact on our wellbeing.
Through my clinical practise, I see more and more men seeking help and struggling with their identity because they don’t fit the cultural image of our society.
In this brief article, I will reflect on the massive change that men have undergone in the last few decades and explore how freemasonry can provide support to men who struggle with a sense of belonging, personal growth, and the opportunity to make a positive impact on an ever-changing society.
Let’s start with Father
According to studies (Pleck J., 1994), cultural images of fathers have shifted rapidly in the last decade, from family leader to more co-parenting figure, but fathers struggle to adapt to this new cultural representation, and fundamentally, not much has changed.
Nonetheless, these cultural shifts result in an identity crisis for fathers, who are unsure of how to be a father or what their role in the family is. Uncertainty grows, and a sense of “dis-ease” sets in within men, fathers, and families.
There is no doubt that men and fathers deal with anxiety differently; some will adapt, while others will revert to a more archaic image of father representation, being more forceful, aggressive, or harsh. Some fathers will abdicate their responsibilities, while others will abandon their children or seek refuge in their work.
An interesting fact is that if the son experiences his father as soft and weak, there is a risk that he will turn his admiration and loyalty towards the gang’s boss, who represents strength and power.
The father, physically or emotionally absent, left his son to develop his masculinity through cultural representation of what it means to be a man via magazines, cinema, and YouTube influencers.
Often, cultural images are extremely polarising between the alpha males: strong, powerful, successful and on the other side, the man who is in touch with his feminine side, totally devoid of any sign of aggression or ambition.
So, if you are not a successful, ambitious alpha male who is strong, powerful, and at the same time self-aware and in touch with his emotions, it’s easy for young men to feel inadequate. What an impossible task!
Some societal changes don’t help either; for example, religion, rituals, and sacred things seem to take less importance in people’s lives these days, which leaves youth at the mercy of darker ritualistic, obsessive behaviours that become more prevalent, like addiction (drugs, alcohol, gambling, addiction to pornography, eating disorders, or self-harm).
Freemasonry
In a society that is constantly changing, Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that dates back to the stonemason guilds of the Middle Ages. It is a society of men (though there are female Masonic organisations) who share moral values and promote self-improvement, charity, and community service through rituals, symbols, and initiation. It has an aura of mystery and intrigue that has led to many myths surrounding its practises and beliefs.
What Freemasonry has to offer young men?
At the opposite end of society, Freemasonry is not in constant change but offers consistency and tradition.
It has a lot to offer young men in search of themselves who want to develop leadership skills and build a strong sense of brotherhood with like-minded individuals.
I will give a small description of what I perceive to be valuable for young men in freemasonry.
1. “We take good men and we make them better.”
The main objective of Freemasonry is summed up in this phrase. Through personal development and the development of a strong sense of community, it seeks to assist men in becoming the best versions of themselves.
According to a study, men are more influenced by their peers than by social media. It highlights the importance of your male group friends, as they will have a significant impact on how you show up in the world.
In my experience, men in Freemasonry are responsible, productive, and acceptable members of society with a strong sense of giving back to the community. We could say that the different lodges are a healthy, friendly gang with strong moral values.
Feeling safe in the world is frequently linked to having a supportive community around you.
2. Showing up for yourself
In French, there is an expression saying, “Dress doesn’t make the monk,” which means that it’s not what you are wearing that defines who you are. We all agree on that!
But on the other hand, showing yourself at your best is a positive sign of mental health. For example, you would see people who are depressed or have low self-esteem who don’t give a lot of importance to their appearance and hygiene.
I’m not advocating that wearing a suit and tie, like in Freemason Ceremony, will solve all your problems, but it will at times help you see yourself through different, more positive lenses.
It can help you develop a more confident version of yourself, especially when combined with speaking up in front of the lodge, which is very supportive. This can lead to developing a stronger sense of self.
3. Ritual
Rituals rhythm the lives of humans from birth to death; they provide emotional support in times of transition in our lifespan and can also help to connect us to our cultural and spiritual heritage.
For example, graduations, marriages, or funerals. Sadly, these days, many of them have lost their meaning and are performed out of habit or tradition.
It’s important to notice that one of the most widespread rituals in primitive culture is the ritual of passage, where young men are tested to prove their worth.
These rituals had the function of helping the boy leave the childhood world to enter the adult world and become a responsible member of society.
In Europe, the military service played a similar role in the past, but nowadays, many countries have abandoned mandatory military service.
In Freemasonry, there are a lot of rituals that, if you reflect on and understand them, can have a significant impact on your personal growth , development, self-awareness, and as every member goes through all these rituals, it creates a strong attachment through shared experience.
A brotherhood can be formed for a lifetime. Rituals can play a crucial role in shaping our identities and connecting us to our past and present.
4. Symbolism
Symbolism plays a very important role in human life and rituals (deeper meaning). Symbols have so many functions that I will not cite them all, but they can transcend time, culture, linguistic differences, and even social boundaries to communicate a shared understanding of the world and its mysteries.
For example, if you see the symbol that is the logo of Apple, a bite-sized apple, it can have many meanings associated with it, such as Adam and Eve, and the meaning can be knowledge and rebelliousness, it can also mean temptation, etc. A symbol is a form that is pregnant with meaning.
Freemasonry is full of symbols that have hidden meanings and are used to convey important lessons to members. Experts wrote captivating books about Freemasons’ symbolism.
To Conclude
I believe that this organisation, originating from the Middle Ages and full of traditions and rituals, has something to offer men in this ever-changing society.
Article by: Philippe Jacquet
Philippe Jacquet is a professional psychotherapist with flourishing practices in London and internationally. He and his team of associates help address issues with relationships, anger management, eating disorders, trauma, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, anxiety, addition and personal growth.
Philippe Jacquet, MA IAAP UKCP BPC HCPC BAAT IATE AJA
Analytical psychologist
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