Freemasonic symbology

The squad, the compass and the letter G are some of the symbols of the masonry.

The term Freemasonry symbology (also, Masonic symbology) refers to the study of the meaning of Freemasonry symbols and the messages they contain, fundamentally based on the instruments of the masonry of the ancient medieval maçones (masons).

Function of the symbol in Freemasonry

The symbols give members of Freemasonry or Freemasonry a particular language, with expressions that only Freemasons can fully understand. They constitute educational mechanisms that allow knowledge of Masonic doctrines, which is why it is often said that these are contained in the symbols, which gives them the possibility of their permanence and relevance.^{[citation required ]}

These symbols have a double decoding system: one is based on tradition and gives each of the symbols and the set of them certain meanings, which constitute a sum of traditional teaching-messages; the other is free philosophical speculation, based on the exercise of human rationality and freedom for interpretation.^{[citation required]}

In both cases, Masonic symbols fulfill the function of communicating ideas through visual messages. The recipient of the message must decode it, that is, reconstruct its meaning, or give it one, which implies knowledge of the code or hermeneutics used, that is, the system of socialized conventions that serves to interpret the symbols, which usually implies an agreement regarding the assignment, more or less detailed, of a signified to a signifier, which constitutes a process in constant evolution.

Many Masonic traditions constitute rigid and detailed codes of interpretation, generally laden with moral, esoteric and religious elements, while philosophy is a hermeneutics (or weaker and less detailed code) that allows free symbolic interpretation, from a different perspective. ethical and humanistic, considering socioeconomic, cultural and personal factors that influence said interpretation.^{[citation required]}

Freemasonic symbology is an applied symbology that, with traditional methods, has produced similar effects, especially psychological and behavioral, to those currently obtained by television communication and advertising: the influence on the actions of human beings. Their basic differences lie in the technology used and, fundamentally, in their objectives, since television programming and advertising are subject to commercial, money-making purposes, typical of the consumer society, while Freemasonry seeks ethical improvement- morality of the human being from an idealistic perspective.^{[citation needed]}

The most studied part of Masonic symbology is the Masonic semantics, or meaning of the construction symbols, called Masonic symbolism, which is fundamentally based on the idea of building a temple symbolic, with interpretive variations in accordance with the rites and the Masonic degree in question (apprentice, companion or master).^{[citation required]}

As the visual elements and even rituals present in Freemasonry refer to symbols, practically everything that happens in it has a symbolic character and carries a teaching purpose that is important to know in order to understand the meaning of each sign. The meanings of each symbol appear published in Freemasonry dictionaries and also, in many cases, in the liturgy corresponding to each of the degrees.^{[citation required]}

Masonic Symbolism

The traditional way of studying Masonic symbolism (as a glossary of meanings of isolated symbols) supposes the distance of Freemasonry from social reality. However, if the contextualized symbols are studied with respect to their temporal and spatial environment, in relation to science, philosophy, semiology and history, it is possible to have a more thorough understanding of the messages they transmit, of the issuers of the themselves, the society in which they were issued and the validity and applicability of said messages.

Studying symbolism in this way implies not only knowing the Masonic language and permanently updating its doctrine, but it also serves to know a way of influencing subliminal messages on the behavior of human beings.

Getting Started

Among the various symbolic groups that can be studied, it is worth highlighting the initiation symbolism, the symbolism of stone carving, the symbolism of light and lights and the symbolism of the temple, which have different interpretations, according to with the code or hermeneutics used by the different rites, and by each brother/mason in particular.^{[citation required]}

Some examples

• ♪
• spoon
• Squad
• Check squad
• llana
• rule
• work

Other symbols

Some less common symbols in Freemasonry, but which are part of this brotherhood, are: the flower of Lis or Lily de Luz, which was adopted by Robert Baden-Powell, who established this symbol in the world scout movement, founded In 1907 and, next to the flower of Lis, other symbols typical of Freemasonry, such as: the squeeze of the left hand, the circle of intertwined hands around a campfire and some rites within the levels of promotion of young scouts. Although it cannot be affirmed with total certainty that Baden-Powell has been a Mason, it can be said that he had a lot of closeness and shared with some of them and even appropriated some elements of Freemasonry in the Scout Movement. Elements that are currently associated perfectly with Freemasonry and that, even if it was not the purpose of Baden-Powell, it has indirectly motivated the creation of modern massason lodges formed by those who have been or are scouts.

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