The Winding Stairs Freemasonry Podcast | Created By A Freemason For Those Interested In The Study Of Freemasonry And The Art

The Importance of your Masonic Travels An inside look at a Masonic Conversation while traveling. On this episode of The Winding Stairs, you will join Brother Juan Sepulveda and Brother Victor Rosario by riding along on a road trip. While driving to Columbus Georgia for a speaking engagement in February 2014, The Traveling Bros had the good idea (in our biased opinion) to record a conversation to give the listeners an inside look into what our conversations can be like. We hope that you enjoy the conversation and are able to imagine yourself riding along with us. Among the topics discussed in this episode you will find: Why Masonic Leadership is suffering in some Lodges. Why membership in some Lodges is dwindling, while it is growing exponentially in others. What are things that can be done to increase visibility of the Lodge in the community. You get out of Freemasonry what you put in. Bridging the gap of expectations experienced by new candidates and newly initiated Brothers. The importance of Masonic Travel

Interview with Artist and Author Michael Karpovage On this episode of The Winding Stairs I interview Brother Michael Karpovage. Author, illustrator and entrepreneur, who's work has been influenced by Freemasonry. Join me as I have an insightful conversation with a fellow artist, who happens to be a Mason. Some of the topics discussed in this episode: Bro: Michael's beginnings in art and the early life decisions that led him there. How he stumbled upon a member of the fraternity and asked. The influence Freemasonry has had in his life and his literary work. We discuss some amazing stories of Freemasons who confronted and aided each other during various wars in America. We discuss further his passion for military history and the role that Freemasonry played therein. Learn how Freemasonry has made Bro. Karpovage a different man. The First Native American to ever join our Fraternity. This episode of The Winding Stairs was made possible by MasonicFundraiser.com If you are interested in purchasing Bro:. Karpovage's

ART IN FREEMASONRY The Power of Symbols and Creativity in Freemasonry By now you probably already know how important art is to Freemasonry, but there are several reasons why. The way in which Freemasonry delivers its lessons, is through allegories illustrated by symbols. Therefore, there are many stories, which are easier to remember than simply pure facts and those allegories have their respective symbols. By this way, one only has to look at the symbol, which recalls the story associated with it and thereby the applicable lessons to our life. "Freemasonry is a Science of Morality, Veiled in Allegory and Illustrated by Symbols" [clear-line]Therefore, it is important that not only we expose ourselves to the symbols depicted in Lodge, but also that we incorporate into our surroundings, those symbols and thereby those lessons, which help us become the best version of ourselves. Regardless whether the symbols you surround yourself with are in the form of Jewelry, Masonic Paintings or auto emblems, the important

Imagine traveling through space at 67,000 miles per hour. That is how fast this pale blue dot is traveling through space, making its yearly orbit around the sun. We all get very excited about the end of one year and the beginning of another. But, do we ever stop to think what this really means? It is very likely that you, along with millions of people around the world, have considered which things you can change in your life this upcoming year. In this episode of The Winding Stairs, we discuss the relationship between the "REVOLUTION" of Planet Earth around the Sun and our "Resolve" to improve our life.  Are New Year Resolutions really worth it? If you make some, are you likely to keep them? Is there any way to increase the odds of feeling accomplished at the end of this 365 day cycle? These are some of the questions answered in this episode of The Winding Stairs Masonic Podcast. Before we get to these good questions, let's return to the space travel thing. As you probably know, among the liberal arts and sci

We have seen Freemasonry portrayed in film before, in movies like National Treasure and Dan Brown's Angels & Demons. But now, a new film by a fellow Freemason brings freemasonry to the spotlight in an exciting suspense film called The Freemason. This is part 2 of a 2 part interview (part 1) with a prolific entrepreneur, who will surely inspire you to reach out for your dreams, regardless of how impossible they might seem.We continue our conversation with the executive producer of The Freemason Movie.  In this portion of the interview, we talk more in depth about the three films that Joseph James has created in the relatively short, yet prolific filmmaking career. You will listen to Bro. James' experience working with the celebrated actor Sean Astin, who worked on such films as The Lord of the Rings, Rudy and Goonies. We explore the virtue of Resourcefulness, which can take us from where we are to where we want to be. When we are not held back by what we lack, but instead move forward appreciating and wise

Have you ever watched a movie where your see someone wearing a Masonic ring? Or in the background you see some symbols related to Freemasonry? On this episode we speak with Joseph James, he is an actor, writer and producer, who happens to also be a Freemason. His last three films center around the subject of Freemasonry, its history and its influence in modern society. We talk about what took him to Hollywood, his experience in Freemasonry, the importance of mentorship and apprenticeship among many other things. This is part 1 of a 2 part interview with a prolific entrepreneur, who will surely inspire you to reach out for your dreams, regardless of how impossible they might seem.How a Fellow Freemason, brought Freemasonry to the Big Screen I enjoyed my interview with Brother Joseph James and I think you will too, because in addition to shedding light on his films and Freemasonry's influence in it, we also discuss parallels between the film industry and Freemasonry. We talk about his earliest memories of the b

You probably already know that life is comprised of a series of ups and downs; Twists and turns which end up testing us to the core. Hopefully, in our formative years, we were able to establish a solid foundation upon which to continue constructing the building that will ultimately be our life's biggest achievement. Even if we were fortunate enough to be standing upon a solid foundation, the solidity and stability of that foundation is bound to be tested from time to time. For some, a challenging situation could present itself in the form of a medical diagnosis, the loss of a loved one, a sudden financial burden or a host of other reasons. Regardless of what this traumatic situation might be, there are several steps you can follow to give you a better chance of recovering promptly from it. I have developed a simple to remember formula that can help you see things from a different perspective and hopefully surpass whatever situation is affecting you. I call it the S.T.A.R.T. Formula. Here are the steps: Survey

Imagine losing 100% of your eye sight in the blink of an eye. How would that change your attitude towards life and the life of those who surround you.? On this episode of The Winding Stairs Masonic Podcast, we sit down with a best-selling author, public speaker and extraordinary Brother, who can answer these questions from a first person perspective. In this interview Marcus Engel talks to us about his journey in life and how he has made the best out of the horrible experience that almost took his life. In this interview we learn about: The importance of a Story and how it can help people change the way they look at life. How being present and helping others can turn any situation from horrible to inspiring. How we deal with our past and make decisions for the future. How empathy and compassion are not just good for those in the receiving end. How simply saying "I am Here" can transform somebody's life and even change their mission in life. In the interview you will hear us speaking about a challenging moment

5 Reasons why reading is not a waste of time Have you ever thought about reading a book and instead chosen to work on something else? or Have you ever felt the desire to just lay back on your favorite couch with a book on your hands, but changed your mind after thinking that it would be a waste of time? Think again! On this episode I want to share with you, 5 reasons Why reading daily is not a waste of time. Reason #1 Reading Reduces Stress. We are used to a fast paced lifestyle with many different things trying to get our attention. It is a healthy practice to take a few minutes or hours in a day to relax and read. Doing this can quiet all the noise that we have in our heads and helps us focus better and reduce our level of stress. Why is it so important that we reduce our level of stress? Because although stress is a mental response to stimulus, it can have a detrimental physiological effect. According to the Mayo Clinic, some of the effects of stress in our body include: Anxiety Sleeping disorders irritabi

5 Simple Tips to help improve your Masonic Education Experience As you already know, the stability of a building is dependent on the strength of its foundation. Similarly, the educational foundation of every newly-initiated Mason is equally as important to their growth and progression through life. I have seen many Brothers who, soon after being accommodated in the North East corner of the Lodge, are anxious to rush through the Degrees of Craft Masonry. They are anxious to get through their memory work, to quickly get started learning what the York Rite, the Scottish Rite or any other Appendant Body of Freemasonry has to offer. Unfortunately, not all Brothers have the privilege of discovering the many levels of education within the Three Degrees of Craft Masonry and that by rushing through them, they are leaving on the table an inexhaustible amount of information that could strengthen their foundation. Here are 3 Simple Tips you could implement today in your Lodge, to make sure that Brothers gain a better app

We are Honorable Men and should always act as such. Being an honorable man and behaving honorably are qualities that should set every Man and Mason apart. As members of the Most Honorable fraternity in the world, we are called to lead exemplary lives, which model the virtuous tenets inculcated in Freemasonry. Our Masonic Duty calls us to work daily in improving ourselves and become a better fit to the improvement of society. Join us as we explore a few ways in which we can lead by example and live a life worthy of a Master Mason. We are not perfect, but the acknowledgement of those imperfections are the first steps in becoming a better version of ourselves. Have you been witness to behaviors unbecoming of Masons? Learn how can you make a difference in your Lodge, in your Family and in your Community by behaving honorably. In this episode, we unveil the latest addition to The Winding Stairs lineup of Masonic Regalia and Art. Our Composite Collection of High Quality Masonic Aprons. View this collection by visit

  I In my search for light, I have found why "common sense" is so rare  am sure that you have heard the expression "common sense". I am also sure that by now you have probably noticed that there is nothing common about common sense.and why we should use the word "PRUDENCE" instead. I suggest we first look at prudence by exploring various definitions of the word. According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, prudence is defined as: 1: the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason 2: sagacity or shrewdness in the management of affairs 3: skill and good judgment in the use of resources 4: caution or circumspection as to danger or risk When looking carefully at the first definition, we encounter the words govern and discipline, in reference to oneself. In other words, prudence is a person’s ability to exercise self control in their decision making process. Through the use of reason, we are able to become better decision makers, especially when we are disciplined and controlled. I can’t help to

The Winding Stairs Episode 5 Where is your Courage? Not everything in life comes easy to us. There are many things that are difficult and sometimes downright intimidating. When we face these things which intimidate us, our default reaction might be to avoid them and engage in other things. Although this might be a natural reaction or an instinctual response, it does not always serve its intended purpose. If we think about human evolution, we can understand that the spirit of self-preservation would have moved primitive humans to avoid overly dangerous or challenging situations. However, in today's world we retain that instinctive inclination to find the path of least resistance, even when that path would lead away from reaching our dreams and achieving those things we desire the most. What can we do to fight this urge to "survive"?  and instead choose that path that will help us Live and thrive, not just survive? The secret is in finding courage. Courage to live a life that fulfills us and allows us to experi

The Winding Stairs Episode 4:  Veiled in Allegory Freemasonry is described elegantly as a Science of Morality, Veiled in Allegory and Illustrated by Symbols. If there is nothing sinister in a science of morality, then why should it be veiled? On this episode we explore the reasons behind the allegorical teaching method and how well it works with the human mind. We introduce two new segments to our program: Masonic History Masonic Conspiracies by Bro:. Robert Johnson from Whence Came You? Podcast. Masonic History Masonic Apron Protects County Documents During the civil war, In Brunswick County Virginia, an act of benevolence, perhaps brotherhood, saved the county records from being destroyed. On May 15, 1864, Union troops were approaching the courthouse. The reputation that preceded this troops was an unnerving one for the county officials; especially since in addition to burning bridges and cutting confederate communication lines, some union troops were burning down the historical records as they moved throug

The Winding Stairs Podcast: Episode 3 What makes a man a good fit to become a Mason? In the construction of a building, the stability and suitability of the foundation is crucial in its longevity; Similarly, the moral, social and spiritual upbringing of a man can be described as his foundation and what makes him suitable to become and remain a Freemason. Masonic Education Revisited In episode 2 of The Winding Stairs (http://TheWindingStairs.com/002) we discuss various ways in which a man can acquire Masonic Light. Among them we discuss the continuous study of Masonic Literature, which today has become more accessible than ever, due to advances in technology like Google Books or LibriVox. These two valuable resources gives us access to countless publications related to our Fraternity. When do you spend time reading and studying? We posted a question on our Facebook page, regarding what time of day our listeners chose to read and study. One of the answers was that early in the morning before beginning the workd

The Winding Stairs Episode 2: Masonic Education When a man decides he wants to learn more about Freemasonry, often times it is because they see something admirable on others who are already members of the Fraternity. It often stems from the desire to grow as human beings and serve as an example for others. However, merely joining the Fraternity is not enough. It is important that a Man stays desirous of Light in order for that wish of improvement to become a reality. Therefore, it is through the conscious effort to learn and apply the tenets of Freemasonry, that a Man can thereby become the inspiration to others who have not yet joined the Craft. As we improve ourselves, through the steady pursuit of Light, we become better Men and become an integral part of the cycle of self-improvement afforded to us by Freemasonry. In This Episode of The Winding Stairs Podcast you will find: Topic Update: We briefly revisit our study on Patience. The introduction of a New Program Segment titled: “In The News”. We will disc

Thank you for joining me in this program. The Winding Stairs Podcast is intended to be a documentation of a journey, which we can enjoy together. This journey is one of discovery and growth. Who Am I? I am a professional artist and Master Mason, who is very interested in the history of Freemasonry and the application of its tenets for self improvements. What qualifies me to create a program about Freemasonry? Although I began my Masonic Career rather recently (2009) and I am in an early phase of my growth as a Mason, I have been diligent about acquiring Masonic Education and continue to study daily to become a better Man. I am creating this program as a friendly environment where we can meet to discover and discuss Masonic Topics. It is not intended to replace your personal Masonic research or the standardized Masonic education, which your Lodge may provide. We can simply consider it an additional source of Light in Masonry. Among the topics we might discuss in this program you will find: A Virtuous Life: Fea