We have disagreements everywhere about basic facts about the world. Everyone is sure of their facts, but no one agrees. Collectively, society seems to have less of a grip on reality. How did we get here? Continue reading Social Influence, Fake News, and the COVID-19 Shock
Most of our actions are based on guesses about what will happen in the future and what will make us happy, and so we can change our behavior by understanding and changing how we do that prediction. Continue reading How People Predict the Future: Amos Tversky
When we talk to one another, we aren’t just communicating but we are forming and evolving our own set of beliefs over time. Through practice, or recitation, beliefs take shape, and become more firm. Continue reading How Talking Changes our Beliefs and Minds
Even though Masonry never stops, it has been a chaotic time for the Craft. Rather than obsess over the latest closures, let’s turn the corner and use this to make positive suggestions on what we can do in the meantime. The following references are culled from many helpful brothers online who have shared what they’re … Continue reading Masonry in the Meantime: Educational Resources
As mentioned in my previous article Spiritual Anarchy and Freemasonry, “Upon reflection, our declining numbers is nothing but the symptom of a disease that we allowed to infiltrate the Craft, i.e. Postmodernism.” Our Masonic forefathers warned us to be on guard against the Profane, but we have not listened. Instead, we have allowed Profane thinking into… Continue reading Why Does Freemasonry Conceal Its Secrets From Even Its Own Members?
exploring an old symbol and what it means for personal development Continue reading V.I.T.R.I.O.L.
This post is an edited excerpt from the Short Talk Bulletin podcast, V36N12. This podcast is excellent, and this particular episode I found to be better than most. The following is a distillation of the most salient points. Inter-Dependence From the first moment the candidate walks into the lodge, he is almost completely dependent on … Continue reading Lessons of the First Degree
Attention is like a beam of light in a dark room. But it can only focus on a few things, and the rest of the world we may be blind to. Continue reading Attention and Change Blindness
Recent COVID-19 situation was born into a polarized social environment in western culture. High levels of distrust are running around, with sentiments of nationalism and tribalism that affect our response to the Coronavirus. Continue reading Social Polarization in the Time of Pandemic
Whenever we experience a piece of art like a movie or hear a piece of music, there are two forms of meaning – the meaning that the art gives to you, and the meaning that you put into it. Continue reading Bringing Yourself: Projection
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