Unlocking the Symbols of Freemasonry: A 12‑Part Journey

Symbols are humanity’s oldest language, and Freemasonry still speaks it today.

From the square and compass to the mosaic pavement, each emblem carries lessons that reach beyond the lodge walls. These symbols are not relics of the past. They are living guides, shaping how we see ourselves, our communities, and the world around us.

In 2026, I invite you to join me on a year‑long journey: a 12‑part series exploring the symbols of Freemasonry. Each month, we will unlock one symbol, tracing its history, meaning, and relevance for modern life. Together, we’ll discover how these timeless emblems continue to illuminate our path in a world that often feels uncertain and divided.

Why We Use Symbols

Symbols have been with us since the dawn of humanity, long before the written word. Early people carved marks into stone, painted figures on cave walls, and arranged objects to carry meaning. These images spoke across generations, telling stories of survival, belief, and community without a single line of text.

As societies grew, symbols became practical tools. In towns where many could not read, shopkeepers put signs outside their businesses with images: a butcher’s cleaver, a candle maker’s taper, a baker’s loaf. These simple pictures told customers what they would find inside, no words required. And in the great churches and cathedrals, stained glass windows carried the same principle on a grander scale. For the majority who could not read, these windows were more than decoration. They were teaching tools, allowing people to see and understand the valuable lessons of scripture through color and light.

Even today, we live in a world of symbols. A red cross instantly signals “hospital” or “First aid.” A swoosh on a shoe identifies Nike. An apple with a bite taken out of it points to one of the world’s largest technology companies. And in our daily conversations, emojis have become a new symbolic language: tiny faces and icons that condense feelings, humor, and meaning into a single glance.

A symbol is powerful because it condenses complex ideas into simple visual cues that transcend language and culture.

Freemasonry, too, speaks in this ancient language. Its symbols are not relics of a forgotten age. They are part of this enduring human tradition: a way to teach, to remind, and to inspire. They are lessons in morality, balance, and brotherhood, expressed in forms that reach beyond words.

A Peek Behind the Curtain

Freemasonry has long been called a “secret society.” Well, here’s the secret: the symbols aren’t locked away at all. They’re right in front of us, teaching lessons anyone can learn, universal truths for Masons and non‑Masons alike. But the real secrets? Sorry, those stay in the vault. 

The Roadmap Ahead

Here is the path we will follow:

• February: The Square and Compass – moral guides and their enduring symbolism.

• March: The Plumb Line-Standing Upright When No One is Watching.

• April: Living On the Level: From Lodge to Life.

• May: The Trowel: Building with Brotherly Love.

• June: The Rough Ashlar

• July: The Perfect Ashlar and the Man Were Becoming. 

• August: The Light We Seek. 

• September: Across the Checkered Pavement: A Masons Walk Through Light and Darkness.

• October: The Pillars – strength, establishment, and wisdom.

• November: The Mosaic Pavement – duality, harmony, and balance.

• December: The Point Within a Circle – boundaries, focus, and spiritual center.

• The titles may change for October, November and December. I haven't written them yet.

A Living Tradition

Freemasonry is often described as a system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. This series will lift that veil, not to diminish the mystery, but to show its relevance. The symbols of Freemasonry are not locked in ritual. They are alive in how we act, speak, and build together.

We live in a time when division is tearing at the fabric of society, and unity has never been more essential. These emblems remind us of balance, fairness, courage, and love. They are tools not only for the lodge but for life.

Invitation

Join me each month as we unlock a new symbol of Freemasonry. Together, we’ll discover how these timeless emblems continue to illuminate our path in the modern world. May the square remind us of fairness, the compass of boundaries, the plumb line of integrity, and the mosaic pavement of harmony. The work of building is never finished, and the symbols of Freemasonry remain our guides.

Symbols are humanity’s oldest language, and in Freemasonry they remain our clearest voice of unity.