The Point Within the Circle 1

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The Point Within The Circle

Power In SimplicityDoug McCollough, MMSt. Mark's Lodge #7, PHA


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There are 5 core symbolic meanings

The Point Within The Circle can be explained/understood:1. Symbolically2. Geometrically3. Astronomically4. Masonically5. Historically

Obviously there are any number of interpretations, orcombinations of interpretations. The symbol is bothsophisticated and Primordial. This is simply a proposal forinterpretation.


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Symbolically

Sexual:

It is a phallic symbol. A symbol of the possibility of self-generation. The two forms of the generative principle in ancient

religion - Active, Male - Passive, FemaleCreation:Early Creation concepts drew no distinction between sexualityand interpretation of divinity. Generation. Creation.


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Geometrically

"...no matter in which direction you drawn the lines from A andC, provided they are exactly joined at the circumference of thecircle, they will form a right angle or a perfect square, and ,therefore, you can form an infinite number of right angles within

the circle, every one of which will be a perfect square, and thusis accomplished the "Knowledge of the Square."This is revered within the Craft, because it appears to be clearevidence of a link between Operative and Speculative. InOperative, a Master would need to know how to check the workof an Apprentice. He would need to keep that informationsecret to protect the Craft wages, and he would need to passthat knowledge with simple, memorable analogies. (Square,

Circle, Point, etc.)


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Geometrically Continued

The concept is that a Master not only knows how to "use"working tools, he knows how to "make" working tools.

A Master can pass on to another the "knowledge" of how to

produce tools necessary to "meet brethren on the square",thereby enabling him to make "Master's wages"...HOW does one do this? Herein lies the value of the symbol,which imparts knowledge.The fact that it is memorable thanks to numerous othersymbolic interpretations just makes it easier, and shows thepriority of this symbol among so many others to an Operative

and early speculative Master Mason.


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Astronomically

The Solstices and Equinoxes are not only connected withvarious cultural and religious practices, for an "Engineer" or"Architect" of antiquity, this knowledge means knowing theseasons, temperatures, growing seasons, floods (Nile), phases

of the sun and moon, etc.A "day" is divisible into quartiles. There is a moment where thesun is "highest", and a moment where the sun is "lowest". Thatthis time could be considered "circular" in measurement isclear.A "year" is divisible into quartiles. There is a "longest" day ofthe year, and a "shortest" day of the year. This simple

knowledge allows for the measurement of time according toredictable measures.


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Clock

12:00 AM The rebirth of the Sun. The beginning of a 24 hour

cycle. The Sun rises in the... The position of the WM.12:00 Noon.

The "heat of the day". Workers to be called from labor torefreshment. Also the moment when GMHA retired topray. South is hottest?

6:00. End of the work day. Sun set. Death and dying. The sun

sets in the ...3:00 AM. Dark, Cold. The North. The darkest place. The lowest

point of the day in terms of the presence of the Sun.


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Calendar

Spring Birth of the year, Rebirth. Aries, Ram, symbol of springing forth Vernal (Spring) Equinox, Easter.

Summer Heat. Longest day of the year. Cancer, Crab, "69" Summer Solstice, St. John the Baptist Feast Day(s)

Fall/Autumn Cool. End of the Year. Harvest. Death, Dying Libra, "The Scales", resembles a setting sun Autumnal Equinox The Jewish Passover usually falls on the first full moon after the Northern Hemisphere vernal equinox

.

The name "equinox" is derived from the Latin aequus

(equal) and nox (night), because around the equinox, the


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Calendar, ContinuedWinter

End of the Year. Cold. Dark. Shortest day of theyear. Death and Rebirth Capricorn, Sea Goat Winter Solstice, St. John the Evangelist Feast Day Hanukkah: also known as the Festival of Lights is an eight-

day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of theHoly Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the timeof the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE

The Equinoxes (moments when the day and night are equal toeach other) are represented by the top and bottom positions ofthe symbol. The Solstices (moments when day and night arefurthest apart) are represented by the points where the parallelperpendicular lines intersect the circle.


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Masonically

The Individual Brother, The Altar, The VSL.The boundary from within which a Mason cannot materially err.The boundary representing a Mason's duty to God and fellowman.The control of the passions.The Holy Saints JohnConsider also: The positions of the lights, the sun and theuniverse, position of brethren at key moments, "After 3 days..."


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Historically

This does not refer strictly to "history". Just to a number ofinteresting ways the symbol is used. As previously stated, thissymbol is primordial. It is probably one of the earliest symbolsintended to convey a thought. Elsewhere, I may discuss the

point (unum) being used by Pythagorus to symbolize "One". Orparallels with "Alpha and Omega". The circle on top of thethree lines symbolizing fertility/fecundity or eternal life, or the"x" within the circle. These may be derivatives, and who cansay which was the earlier.Symbolism can at least potentially describe things the originalthinker could not have proven, but may have been able tosymbolize simply because of "innate" truth.


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ConclusionObviously, the symbol of the Point Within The Circle precedes

Freemasonry, and possibly the organization of religion. Whilethe importance of the symbol within Craft Masonry is deep andinteresting, I find deeper and more interesting "how" it gotthere, and why.The explanation of the symbol can be summed up inFreemasonry in a single sentence. But, why? Why parallellines? Why the positions they occupy? How deep does thisone symbol go into the craft? We can easily see the WM, SW,JW. What about the 3 lights? The VSL? Thecircumambulation during raising? Raising itself?.

When we combine operative masonry, astronomy, geometry,philosophy, and ethics successfully in a single symbol, we

recognize great power exists in simple forms.

The Point Within the Circle 1

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