Wicca & So mote it be.

[PAGANFILES]

I wonder at the influence of Classical Freemasonary on the modern Wicca. There is one phrase that has been adopted fully, "so mote it be." Where Wicca can trace this closing phrase back to the 1940s, Freemasonary traces it to the 14th century and it is used profusely in there rituals.

Cites:

The" Cooke Manuscript", circa 1400-1410 A.D.
The Cooke Manuscript begins with the Masonic practice of invoking the blessing
of Deity and ends with the familiar "Amen, so mote it be." It contains a legen-
dary history of the craft and the guild's regulations or charges. These Ancient
Charges form the basis of our present day rituals and include the following
directions.


Origin Of "So Mote It Be"

A recent e-mail to the Masonic Information Center said: "A friend told me Freemasonry is a cult." To substantiate this charge was a quote from the book Cults which stated: "The term So Mote It Be is a witchcraft oath." Why do Masons use "So mote it be" instead of "Amen"?

"So mote it be" are the final words in the Regius Poem. "Mote" is old English for "may." Masons have used the phrase since the beginning of the written history of the Craft. Freemasonry includes many other words, now obsolete, which bring the sanctity of age and the continuity of ritual from ancient days to modern times.

Source: Masonic Information Center, Focus (March 2003)



Terry

[ObsidianShenKa]

Why don't you ask the Masons?

[Gede]

MM~
There are many subtle influences from Masonic Ritual and Lore that have integrated into Wicca. For instance the construction of the Sacred Space by invoking and blessing the Four Watchtowers and Guardians of the cardinal direction, calling Wicca 'the Craft' and of course the phrase So Mote It Be.

Another interesting thing to note is that I have heard several Christian groups say 'Blessed Be'...Any thoughts, or is this just a common spiritual phrase?

Namaste, Gede...

[ObsidianShenKa]

"Blessèd be" comes from the Beatitudes. (Blessèd are the meek, blah blah).

Gardner ripped that off just like he ripped off everything else.

[Gede]

MM~
I wouldn't call it 'ripping off' but that's a close enough call.

Namaste, Gede...

[ObsidianShenKa]

I call a spade a spade. :P

[Ben Gruagach]

MM~
I wouldn't call it 'ripping off' but that's a close enough call.

Namaste, Gede...

Yeah, and it's not like any other religion is completely original either.

[PAGANFILES]

Yeah, and it's not like any other religion is completely original either.

Easter Islands......quite possibly.

Tribal Interior of New Guinea.......absolutely.
Tribal coast line of New Guinea......Cargo Cult--the God was DC-6s that made troop supply drops and missed. Some tribes still make offering to mockups of the planes in hopes that the freebies will return.

Terry

[DebLipp]

Freemasonry had a profound influence on every magical and occult system that developed in Europe from about the 1700s on. You will find traces of Freemasonry almost everywhere you look in that region and period. Gerald Gardner himself was a Mason, a Co-Mason and a member of a Masonic-type Druid lodge, and perhaps a member of another such order as well (not sure).

Gardner himself often pointed out that the alleged New Forest Coven of which Dorothy Clutterbuck was supposedly a member was a group he met through Co-Masonry.

[ObsidianShenKa]

He was also OTO and GD, from what I understand.

Both of which also rip off Freemasonry.

[PAGANFILES]

Freemasonry had a profound influence on every magical and occult system that developed in Europe from about the 1700s on. You will find traces of Freemasonry almost everywhere you look in that region and period. Gerald Gardner himself was a Mason, a Co-Mason and a member of a Masonic-type Druid lodge, and perhaps a member of another such order as well (not sure).

Gardner himself often pointed out that the alleged New Forest Coven of which Dorothy Clutterbuck was supposedly a member was a group he met through Co-Masonry.

For some reason, when I read your post, the tale "The Man Who Would Be King," by Kipling, jumped into my mind. The remote mystics of the mountains and their sacred Masonic sigil.

Terry

[fay]

im reading Triumph of the Moon by Ronald Hutton and there is a chapter in there called Finding a Structure and it talks about the influences that Masonary has had on modern day Wicca. its a very interesting book.
blessed be

[Ben Trismegistus]

Freemason here.

Yes, Gardner borrowed "So mote it be" from the Freemasons. We still close every prayer with it.

[Seshen]

Freemason here.

Yes, Gardner borrowed "So mote it be" from the Freemasons. We still close every prayer with it.

Ditto to that. My husband is a Wiccan HP and 32nd Scottish Rite Freemason. That's one of the public portions of Masonry re: Wicca. One of his greatest frustrations is how much of Wicca is Masonic-based, but due to oathbound he cannot point them out.

[Ben Trismegistus]

Ditto to that. My husband is a Wiccan HP and 32nd Scottish Rite Freemason. That's one of the public portions of Masonry re: Wicca. One of his greatest frustrations is how much of Wicca is Masonic-based, but due to oathbound he cannot point them out.
That's true. Although there's plenty of stuff that we *are* allowed to talk about. For instance, the entire Wiccan degree structure comes directly from Blue Lodge Masonry - the idea of three progressive degrees. Many aspects of those rituals are similar as well, although of course that's stuff I can't talk about due to being oathbound on BOTH sides.