Freemasonry, Geometry, God and the Goat

[Celtaur]

The Goat association, or the purpose of it, is something I do not know a lot about. I am familiar with Eliphas Levi's image of the Baphomet, which is seen associated with Freemasonry, and related imagery of it is frequently seen alluded to in pop music these days, with GOAT mentioned in the Born this Way video as "Government Owned Alien Territory" referencing conspiracy theories of course, JayZ, Rihanna, video's etc.

Now, looking at the image obviously it doesn't have an immediate, positive association, rather it does look quite like what we'd assume "the devil" would look like, well it's one depiction of many in art. Personally, I'm not a fan of the image... I understand the unity of the polarities inherent within it as a symbol, but I do think it leans a little bit darker, animal (less enlightened if you will). I like things to certainly be much lighter in my own life, associating spirituality with lighter imagery. However, I do understand we live in a world of duality, and there is a great spectrum of positive and negative in this world, and that goes for choice of interpretation as well.

So I've been reading this book on Freemasonry and it mentions something that looks similar to the word GOAT, but it's actually GAOTU.

Great Architect of the Universe

In the Freemasonry the symbol is this:



The G can be said to represent, Geometry, Goat, God... depending on who you ask I suppose.

In association of God it would represent all deities of all religions, not one particular version or association.

Freemasons believe that the truth of God, can be seen in the architecture, or Geometric perfection of the universe, and that the order of the universe is the closest we have to seeing there is proof of God's existence.

[brifae]

compass and square is G for geometry, god, the generating organizing destroying, it also forms a hexagram, and it is a pupil in an eye

[wildflowr]

So when I look at a symbol, I like to see what is there. All the fascinations of what is associated with this are real implications of what physically and actually makes up the symbol. So, there is a protracter and a measureing tool. And G. The essence of the word G without reading much into it, you can feel. And indeed letters and numbers have certain values and meanings in some systems of learning. And the value and meaning attributed with it Does let you feel what you feel when you say the letter G, etc.

So Centaur said that this composite symbol is associated with the goat, or the devil. Also math, and also God. I believe, that these interpretations does apply to simply the objects of: the protractor, the measuring corner, and the G. The people who go by this symbol, do value these objects as though they were infused with God, the Devil, and Computation. or, Math. Thus, these objects are quite important to them. This symbol is not simply the sexy and wonderous feeling and mystery that many like to entertain themselves with. The meaning is attatched to ACTUAL objects. Thus all that sexyness and mystery should be felt, yet even greater when the one knows how to honor these objects. And these objects are sexy, sacred and mysterious to them, yet this all stuff is equal to the quality of useful. Truly it is THEIR trade: all of the ones who go by this? I do not know!, but some I am sure it is quite sacred to them.

All people have something they are good at. Something that brings pleasure to them, and we all have potential within us. Sometimes people cannot find things like this within themselves due to the circumstances of the world and its acceptance values then. When the world opens up to respect itself more, thus go where it wants to, all people will find what is sacred to them.

So like when somebody says that symbol is just "cool" etc, I believe some would not agree. Some would actually like to test you to see if INDEED you do find that the objects within, duties implied, and symbol are so very vital to one. Some people have just found what they are meant to do in life, and by answering and understanding that calling they know God at a great level, and I believe this sort of relationship should be honored by all people.

-wildflowr

[jdilla11596]

The Goat association, or the purpose of it, is something I do not know a lot about. I am familiar with Eliphas Levi's image of the Baphomet, which is seen associated with Freemasonry, and related imagery of it is frequently seen alluded to in pop music these days, with GOAT mentioned in the Born this Way video as "Government Owned Alien Territory" referencing conspiracy theories of course, JayZ, Rihanna, video's etc.

Now, looking at the image obviously it doesn't have an immediate, positive association, rather it does look quite like what we'd assume "the devil" would look like, well it's one depiction of many in art. Personally, I'm not a fan of the image... I understand the unity of the polarities inherent within it as a symbol, but I do think it leans a little bit darker, animal (less enlightened if you will). I like things to certainly be much lighter in my own life, associating spirituality with lighter imagery. However, I do understand we live in a world of duality, and there is a great spectrum of positive and negative in this world, and that goes for choice of interpretation as well.

So I've been reading this book on Freemasonry and it mentions something that looks similar to the word GOAT, but it's actually GAOTU.

Great Architect of the Universe

In the Freemasonry the symbol is this:



The G can be said to represent, Geometry, Goat, God... depending on who you ask I suppose.

In association of God it would represent all deities of all religions, not one particular version or association.

Freemasons believe that the truth of God, can be seen in the architecture, or Geometric perfection of the universe, and that the order of the universe is the closest we have to seeing there is proof of God's existence.

The Bahomet or the Great Goat of the Knigts Templar, is not a symbol of Freemasonry but it does demonstrate an early ideal of Masonic lesson; the application of energy in a Mason's life, the responisbility of free-will inhereted with mortality, the temptation of the snake on the staff of knowledge and the path chosen with this knowledge. The Bahomet is a pagan symbol of special importance, it is not associated with the Great Architect of the Universe. Although the Bahomet image holds many great secret truths that can only be discovered by the indivigual.

The symbol you posted is also not associated with the Great Architect of the Universe, its concerns are with the Aspirant, he who uses the working tools to make his life better and the world around him better. Which makes it a proper symbol of Freemasonry, its Members and their lodge.

The GAOTU is an improper name that unjustly describes the The One Without Name, The Only One; but it teaches that Masonry accepts men of all faiths, not as religious tolerance but that God is something above our comprehension and He has been given many names but He leads us down the same path. The "G" in the middle of the symbol is from translation, if properly restored it is that great letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Yod and all its illumination of the Kabbalah.

I wasn't sure what you've read, so I don't want to keep rambling. I am glad I discovered the fourm thought its a great people are exchanging ideas like this. Love it!

[brifae]

i disagree jdilla, how well do you know hebrew are you just reciting from rote?
G female gimel of the high priestess is not the Y yod male letter, btw are you innerstanding on youtube, cause he blames witches for ruining the earth and also said this, reference please....
Unless you are speaking entirely symbolically and qaballistically that the lower hand of man is perfected into the high priestess who wields both pillars and does good deeds, as a direct channel to kether, as aleph has yod, vav and yod within see my post on aleph. Now i wish i hadnt answered my own question for you...sigh.

You do have something correct, the baphomet came from the middle east and the templars imported it, the templars escaped to scotland and hence the scottish rite and the templar grade in masonry. The goat was a poor demonization of pagan gods such as PAN herne, cernnunos, as a scapegoat for sins such as jesus. The baphomet IS used in masonry though, i seen it in one of their handbooks.
The hexagram or compass and square doesnt rep Baphomet, the pentagram reversed more represents this and is not evil, its spirit into matter and used in wiccan third degree....
Satan was originally picted as a worm, snake or dragon, and confused with lucifer a beautiful firey angel.

[brifae]

O yeh celtaur i will answer your question,

The goat is capricornus, the devil card in tarot represents control and perspective, on the mountain, it
is the hebrew letter ayin or eye ( all seeing eye of god), it represents saturn, and saturnalia, the holly king, father time, binah energies. binding girdle and liberator of binah....
Jews saw this as the shabbat queen, skehinah later sophia,as saturnsday, saturday was the original sabbat until christians changed it to sunday for the sun/son jesus.

Control isnt a bad thing its also karma responsibility and represents government, thats where masons come into it possibly and the eye imagery.....
Saturn rules earth and form such as matter, limiting the limitless light of god into incarnation, thus the sexual imagery on the tarot card and the lusty horned god

[jdilla11596]

That was great, critical analyzing wildflowr! These are sacred symbols that instruct the student of them, how to live. Its a shame they get shrouded with superstition.

I believe the study of symbolism is beautiful, to work with symbols and determine its own interpretation for your personal experiences, they have no value if you can't appreciate them and live by them.

As that great Mason said, "There are no secrets in Masonry. If you shouted the meaning of the symbols from the rooftops, its purpose would still be preserved. For the secrets of Masonry, are but the mysteries of life. Its up to the individual to discover them in himself."

Masonry is about spiritual transformation, its the timeless science of the soul. A Master Mason can be born or he can be initiated in the Craft and still be initiated into its higher meaning long after his commitment to his lodge. If Celtaur was looking for an answer, he could look at Wildflowr's evaluation: to feel the images out and interpret them to his personal experience.

[brifae]

So i guess you weren't told about The secret doctrine that only gets alluded to master masons

[fiasco128]

the lengths science will go to at the expense of altering nature.

[brifae]

the lengths science will go to at the expense of altering nature.

science is not a force in itself, humans are natural beings discovering natural science and making their own ignorant technologies
just like some people say there is no supernatural, magic is natural