10 Prompts to Start Your Masonic Journal
Starting and maintaining a masonic journal is a valuable tool for any freemason, at any level.
It is even an important tool for an individual at the masonic application or petition stage.
Things to include within the journal include:
- dates, locations, and times of regular masonic meetings or degrees;
- dates, locations, and times of special masonic events, such as banquets or social events;
- ideas for educational presentations that can be brought into a lodge;
- ideas for officer progression, business items, or other topics that can again be brought into a lodge;
- contact information for masonic brethren met during masonic travels
- contact information for individuals that are not themselves masons but who may have knowledge of interest for a lodge; and
- envelopes for physical mementos of the masonic experience, such as expired dues cards, pins, and more.
As noted above, a masonic journal is of value to a mason of ANY level.
By maintaining a regular journal, a mason can track his progress and his masonic considerations (including how these considerations change) throughout a lifetime masonic career.
A journal (masonic or otherwise) is also an excellent mental health tool.
See below for ten prompts to help a mason start his masonic journal:
- 1: What are three things about freemasonry that you love, and would not ever want to change;
- 2: What are some things that freemasonry does not have…and which you are grateful it does not have;
- 3: If you had the chance to adjust three things about your masonic lodge in particular, what would they be? What are the reasons for your choices? What steps can you take to make those adjustments possible;
- 4: For every challenge that freemasonry is facing, many freemasons are working hard to overcome those challenges: find at least one positive effort, breakthrough, or solution to a masonic challenge (do this daily);
- 5: If you feel “stuck” in your masonic career, what is one small action you can take-no matter how insignificant-that could open a path forward and make you feel less “stuck;”
- 6: What is something you do that makes you feel bad about your masonic experience? Is there an opposite action you can take, to make you feel good;
- 7: When was a time(s) you felt completely refreshed within your masonic experience? Which brethren were you with? Is there anything about that time that you can recreate today?
- 8: Write down five cool masonic experiences or accomplishments that bring you a sense of pride. What is it about those experiences or accomplishments that bring you that sense of pride? How can you work these experiences into your day-to-day masonic life?
- 9: What is something that you used to struggle with masonically that you no longer struggle with? Have you rewarded yourself for this success? If you haven’t, what could you do to celebrate?
- 10: Think of a time when a brother mason impressed you in some way…now flip it: what if you have impressed a brother mason without realising it? What is it about you that others would (or should) find impressive?
Let’s get started right now: include a response to this medium story in which you write three things about freemasonry that you love! We can’t wait to read your replies!
All opinions expressed are those of Square & Compass Promotions and the guest(s), and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Windsor Masonic Temple and/or any Masonic group.
