31st Degree: Inspector Inquisitor

Transcripts, Chapter Markers and Show Notes for all episodes are available from our website - WayOfTheHermit.com.

In the heart of the episode, the mythological setting of the Egyptian "Hall of Judgment" from the Book of the Dead is explored, serving as the backdrop for the degree ritual. This setting is not just a mere stage but a profound allegory for the final judgment, a theme resonant across many world religions but here, uniquely intertwined with ancient Egyptian mythology.

The ritual itself, focusing on the "Weighing of the Heart," is a dramatization that uses symbolism to probe the depths of one's character and actions through a series of questions posed at four altars, each representing different aspects of the participant's life. This process is not merely a ritualistic formality but a deep introspective journey, encouraging participants to reflect on their actions, intentions, and motivations, ultimately leading to a judgment of their worthiness to dwell in the everlasting light.

The episode further delves into the philosophical underpinnings of justice as discussed in the degree's lecture, drawing from Theodore Parker's "Ten Sermons of Religion." It challenges the listener to consider the source of our sense of justice, suggesting it comes not from observing nature but from an innate moral faculty or conscience. This distinction between ideal and practical justice is highlighted, emphasizing the importance of striving towards an ideal while being grounded in the realities of the world.

The discussion on the Tetractys and its symbolic significance in relation to the degree adds another layer of depth, connecting the dots between the principles of the natural world, cosmic harmony, and the ascent to the divine. Through these discussions, the episode not only sheds light on the rituals and symbols of the degree but also invites listeners on a journey of self-examination and spiritual enlightenment.

The series on the Scottish Rite uses the following primary sources (which you are encouraged to read as well):

• Albert Pike's Morals and Dogma: Annotated Edition
• Scottish Rite Ritual Monitor & Guide
• A Bridge to Light

Images:

• 31st Degree Regalia
• Weighing the Heart
• Gates of the Duat - 5th Hour

Overview:

• 01:14 Introduction
• 02:06 Mythological Setting
• 03:27 Degree Ritual
• 13:46 Morals and Dogma
• 13:57 God’s Justice
• 15:36 Human Justice
• 17:06 Ideal Justice
• 19:22 Tetractys
• 21:37 The Underworld
• 24:47 Hall of Truth
• 26:24 The Inquisition
• 28:13 Negative Confessions
• 31:39 Winged Sun Disk
• 32:45 King of the Two Lands
• 36:04 Conclusions

Links:

• Ten Sermons of Religion (Amazon)
• Book of the Dead (Wikipedia)
• Ennead (Wikipedia)
• Maat (Wikipedia)
• Negative Confessions (Wikipedia)
• Papyrus of Ani (Wikipedia)
• Christ’s Harrowing of Hell (Wikipedia)
• Winged Sun (Wikipedia)
• Tetractys (Wikipedia)