At our October meeting, Sister Krista Schwimmer will begin a series of talks about the underworld and afterlife by examining the Tibetan Book of the Dead.

The Liberation Through Hearing During the Intermediate State (Tibetan: bardo “liminality”; thodol as “liberation”), sometimes translated as Liberation Through Hearing or Bardo Thodol is a funerary text. It is often referred to in the West by the more casual title, “Tibetan Book of the Dead,” a name which draws a parallel with the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead, another funerary text.

The Tibetan text describes, and is intended to guide one through, the experiences that the consciousness has after death, during the interval between death and the next rebirth. This interval is known in Tibetan as the bardo. The text also includes chapters on the signs of death, and rituals to undertake when death is closing in, or has taken place. It is the most internationally famous and widespread work of Tibetan Nyingma literature.

Date: Friday, October 9th 2009
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Sunset Lodge, 1720 Ocean Park Blvd. Santa Monica CA
This event is open to the public

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Bro. Juan Rocha will be delivering the lecture at the June meeting of Solvitur Ambulando, a talk on the subject of Sir. Gawain

Gawain (pronounced /ˈɡɔːwɪn/ or /ɡəˈweɪn/; also called Gwalchmei, Gawan, Gavan, Gauvain, Walewein, etc.) is King Arthur’s nephew and a Knight of the Round Table who appears very early in the Arthurian legend’s development. He is one of a select number of Round Table members to be referred to as the greatest knight, most notably in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. He is almost always portrayed as the son of Arthur’s sister Morgause (or Anna) and King Lot of Orkney and Lothian, and his brothers are Agravain, Gaheris, Gareth, and Mordred. In some works he has sisters as well. Gawain is often portrayed as a formidable but brash warrior, fiercely loyal to his king and family. He is a friend to young knights, a defender of the poor, and a consummate ladies’ man. In some works, his strength waxes and wanes with the sun; in the most common form of this motif, his might triples by noon, but fades as the sun sets. His knowledge of herbs makes him a great healer, and he is credited with at least three children: Florence, Lovell, and Gingalain, the last of which is also called Libeaus Desconus or Le Bel Inconnu, the Fair Unknown. In later Welsh Arthurian literature, Gawain is considered synonymous with the native champion Gwalchmei.

Please join us for this fascinating look at one of the heroic characters of early literature and his connection to the ideals of Masonry.

Date: Friday, June 12th @ 7:30 PM
Location: Sunset Lodge, 1720 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica CA
This event is open to the public

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The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon (Latin: Pauperes commilitones Christi Templique Solomonici), commonly known as the Knights Templar or the Order of the Temple (French: Ordre du Temple or Templiers), were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders. The organization existed for approximately two centuries in the Middle Ages.

Officially endorsed by the Roman Catholic Church around 1129, the Order became a favored charity throughout Christendom, and grew rapidly in membership and power. Templar knights, in their distinctive white mantles with a red cross, were among the most skilled fighting units of the Crusades. Non-combatant members of the Order managed a large economic infrastructure throughout Christendom, innovating financial techniques that were an early form of banking, and building many fortifications across Europe and the Holy Land.

The Templars’ existence was tied closely to the Crusades; when the Holy Land was lost, support for the Order faded. Rumors about the Templars’ secret initiation ceremony created mistrust, and King Philip IV of France, deeply in debt to the Order, took advantage of the situation. In 1307, many of the Order’s members in France were arrested, tortured into giving false confessions, and then burned at the stake. Under pressure from King Philip, Pope Clement V disbanded the Order in 1312. The abrupt disappearance of a major part of the European infrastructure gave rise to speculation and legends, which have kept the “Templar” name alive into the modern day.

Our March meeting will feature a talk on the history of the Knights Templar.  This talk will be facilitated by Sister Victoria Waks.

Location: Sunset Lodge, 1720 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica CA
Date: Friday, March 13th 2009
Time: 7:30 PM
This lecture is open to the public

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Brother Guy Churchouse III and Sister Krista Schwimmer will be delivering a lecture on the philosophical concept of “Truth”.

Truth is a central concept in the philosophy of Freemasonry and Eastern Star.  The Masonic lecture of the Entered Apprentice degree tells us that truth is divine by nature and is the foundation of all virtues.

Guy and Krista will be examining the concept of truth, both absolute truth and relative truth, from a number of spiritual points of view, with an emphasis on its significance to Masonry and Eastern Star.

This promises to be in interesting and highly stimulating discussion.

This lecture will be open to the public.

Date: Friday, February 13th @ 7:30 pm

Location: Sunset Lodge, 1720 Ocean Park Blvd. Santa Monica CA

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At our January meeting, Sister Victoria Waks will be delivering a lecture on the heroin Ruth.

Victoria will be tracing the Old Testament Ruth back through here various incarnations, as well as examining her mythology and meaning.  We are looking forward to the new insights that Victoria is sure to provide into one of the most beloved figures in scripture.

Date: Friday, January 9th 2009
Location: Sunset Lodge, 1720 Ocean Park Blvd. Santa Monica CA
Time: 7:30 PM
This event is open to the public

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On Thursday, September 25th, Worshipful Clifton Aduddell, a Past Master of Sunset Lodge, will present a lecture on the history and mythology of King Solomon.  Clifton will examine the legend of Solomon, as well as explore some of the more current theries that ties the events in the life of King Solomon as presented in our Masonic ritual with possible events which occured in Egypt.

Clifton has proven to be a very entertaining speaker at past events, and this promises to be one of the more fasicnating lectures presented this year.

Thursday, September 25th @ 7:30 PM

Bodhi Tree Bookstore, 8585 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood CA

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On Friday, October 10th, Priscilla Garcia will be presenting a lecture to members of Solvitur Ambulando.  Her subject will be the Eastern Star heroin Adah, who as the first point of the Star is the daughter figure and represents the quality of fidelity.  This promises to be an interesting lecture.

Friday, October 10th @ 7:30 PM

Sunset Masonic Temple, 1720 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica CA

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Konstantine Kabilafkas will be delivering a lecture at our September meeting on the history of King Solomon’s Temple.  The temple was the prophetic vision revealed to Abraham and Moses.  King David would arrange for the planning and finance of the temple, which would then be constructed by his son Solomon.

Destroyed in 586 B.C., the temple was then rebuilt by Zerubbabel in 515 B.C., and then fully refurbished by King Herrod.

The temple would fall into desolation and be destroyed after the renouncement of Jesus of Nazareth.

Join Konstantine as he explores one of the most central symbols of Freemasonry.

This lecture will be held at Sunset Masonic Temple in Santa Monica on Friday, September 12th at 7:30 PM.  It is open to members of Solvitur Ambulando and invited guests.  Please contact us for more information.

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Warren Lewis will be delivering a public lecture at our July meeting on the subject of Kabbalah. Warren is a highly entertaining speaker, who has spent many years studying Kabbalah and Jewish Spitiual Traditions.  A study of the philosophies of Kabbalah and Hermeticism enrich our appreciation of the rituals of Freemasonry and Eastern Star.  We encourage all of our members to attend this lecture.

This lecture will be open to the general public by invitation.

Friday, July 18th at 7:30 PM

Sunset Lodge – 1720 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica CA

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At our May meeting, Michael Wamback delivered a lecture on Hermetic Philosophy and its relationship with Freemasonry and Eastern Star.

Michael delved briefly into the history of Hermetic Philosophy, and then spent considerable time discussing the seven main Principles of Hermetic thought; The Principle of Manifestation, the Principle of Correspondence, the Principle of Vibration, the Principle of Polarity, the Principle of Rhythm, the Principle of Cause and Effect and the Principle of Gender. Examples were provided about how these Hermetic Principles can be found in the ritual work of our Orders, as well as insight about how these principles can be used for the betterment of our daily lives.

A lively discussion followed.

In addition to the various members of our Society, there were a number of guests in attendance as this lecture was open to the public.

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