X-Oriente
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X-Oriente
X-Oriente (Ex Oriente) means "From the East." X-Oriente is a podcast (MP3) dedicated to those Freemasons who are young (and young at heart). In each episode we will explore the ideas, the practice and the future of the Craft
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135 þættir
144: Changing Our Minds
In the world of politics and the permanence of the Internet, many in society believe the phrase "a leopard doesn't change its spots." we often regard...
142: Cult or Craft?
Jason was watching The Vow...the documentary about the NXIVM cult, and started wondering if Freemasonry could be considered a cult. So we pulled out o...
141: The Wright Stuff
Masonic writing and Masonic Research are different things: in this episode, Eric and Jason talk about Masonic writing, why it's important, and how to...
140: The Q-Fecta
Back in July, we began (or re-began) some very uncomfortable conversations about race in America. Freemasonry's own story in the United States is wove...
138: COGMINA!
Each year, the Grand Masters of all the Grand Lodges in North America get together to discuss issues of importance to all regular Freemasons in their...
137: Dinner with the Illuminati
Back in February, before all this pandemic nonsense, Eric and Jason sat down with Bro. Josef Wages to break some bread and talk about all things Illum...
136: Not Just a Man
The Scottish Rite Northern Masonic Jurisdiction has been creating advertising media for free use by Grand Lodges, Lodges and individual Masons to help...
135: Sympathy for the Devil II
Associations with the infernal have always plagued Freemasonry, even from its earliest days. But what is exactly "The Devil" anyway? Is Lucifer, Beelz...
134a: Sympathy for the Devil I
Associations with the infernal have always plagued Freemasonry, even from its earliest days. But what is exactly "The Devil" anyway? Is Lucifer, Beelz...
133: A Masonic Dialogue (Part 2)
Every once in a while we find something in our past that electrifies the present. Lessing's Ernst & Falk, Dialogues for Freemasons is just such an ess...
132: A Masonic Dialogue (part 1)
Every once in a while we find something in our past that electrifies the present. Lessing's Ernst & Falk, Dialogues for Freemasons is just such an ess...
131: The Curse of Nostalgia
Freemasonry has a rich and storied past. But is living in the glories of the past holding us back from the future? Eric and Jason discuss.
130: Do Clothes Maketh the Mason?
Eric and Jason are joined by our good friend, Nicky Sampogna, who is arguably one of the best-dressed Masons around, and punchy from jet-lag. It's a s...
129: Conspiracy Theories and Safety
Public mass shootings are all too common in our society. Conspiracy theories have become the gasoline on the fire of mass violence toward Jews, racial...
128: Light Summer Reading
Eric and Jason review their book recommendations for Freemasons:
The Queen's Conjurer: The Science and Magic of Dr. John Dee, Advisor to Queen E...
127: Esprit d'Escalier
"Esprit d'Escalier" literally means "The Spirit of the Stairwell" and refers to that feeling when you realize what you should have said after the fact...
126: Damn Kids!
Chris Hodapp, (the AP Wire service of Freemasonry) wrote an opinion piece in his blog linking the decline of Freemasonry to the discontinuation of the...
125: Marketing and Masonry
We are joined by our special guest, Nicky Sampogna, a brother who runs social media marketing for a large entertainment brand. In this episode, we dis...
124: Appendant Bodies: Too Much, or Not Enough?
Appendant Bodies are the groups one can join once a man is raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason. And there are a lot to choose from, each with...
123: Breaking the Manbox
The "Manbox" has recently been identified by sociologists and social psychologists as a set of social expectations surrounding masculinity. These atti...
122: The Right to an Opinion
Do people have a right to an opinion, or do they just have them? Eric And Jason discuss the semantics of rights opinions and critical thinking as they...
121: Masonic Light
We talk about Masonic Light, but what does it actually mean? Jason and Eric explore the notion of Masonic Light from a practical as well as an esoteri...
120: Morality and Relevancy
Special Guest, W.'. Bro. Robert H. Johnson. Religion and Politics are the two things we don't talk about in lodge as Freemasons. But we do discuss phi...
119: Balancing Masonic Work and Play
Masonry creates real and lasting friendships--if it doesn't you're doing it wrong. We enjoy fellowship and the social aspects of Masonry. On the other...
118: 5 Things Every New Mason Should Know
In this episode, Eric and Jason discuss the five things every new Mason should know, but they don't tell you.
117: Avoiding Masonic Burnout
Too much of a good thing isn't good. That includes the Craft too. In this episode, Eric and Jason discuss Masonic burnout: how to recognize it, how to...
116: The Best a Man Can Get
King Gillette, the inventor of the safety razor was a Freemason. Today, the company that bears his name, has released a 60 second commercial about tox...
115: We're back and dying again!
X-Oriente is back after its unintentional technical hiatus! In this episode, we discuss a couple of well-written and well-intentioned Masonic essays....
113: On the Level
Are academic and affinity lodges a good way to reach out to specific communities, or are they a way to highlight inequality in the craft? Eric and Jas...
112: The Gentleman
Eric and Special Guest Host Mike "The Intern" Hambrecht of The Masonic Roundtable discuss the idea of the gentleman and how it informs ideas in the Cr...
111: Visiting Lodge 49
If you haven't seen it yet, Lodge 49 is AMC's newest show that features a fraternal organization that is something between the Freemasons, The Odd Fel...
110: Are You a Traveling Man?
Eric and Jason discuss the benefits of traveling as a Freemason. How to do it right, the benefits, and what to expect.
109: Unmasonic
We are back from our technical difficulties (knock wood!) In this episode, Eric and Jason discuss the new show Lodge 49, the decision by UGLE to allow...
108: Grandmaster For a Day
Eric and Jason imagine what they would do if they could be Grandmaster of American Freemasonry. Who is more hard-core? Jason or Eric? Who will be the...
107: The Table Proceeding
Jason and Eric are joined by special guest, M.: W.: Joe Crociata, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Washington, D.C. and Masonic scholar to talk...
106: Winners and Losers
Jason and Eric discuss the idea that there are winners and losers in Freemasonry and how that might help and hurt the Craft as a whole.
105: Mindfulness
One way to lessen the effect of ego and improve well-being is through meditation and the practice of Mindfulness. Visit the show notes at www.xoriente...
104: Ego
Jason said, "Masonry's biggest problem is Ego." Eric wanted to know more. In this episode we talk about how ego can get in the way of the Craft.
103: How to Change
We talk about the need to change all the time, but HOW should we innovate in Freemasonry? What is permissible to innovate? Eric and Jason discuss ways...
102: Symbolism 101
"The map is not the terrain, we are told." In this episode, Jason and Eric (and our Live audience) explore the importance of symbols, how symbols work...