The Freemasonry Confession: Preserving Magi Knowledge in Plain Sight

Hermes Trismegistus as Founder, “Light Out of Darkness,” Sacred Geometry—All Persian

“Hermes Trismegistus impressed the first speculative Freemasons, who included him as a founder of Freemasonry in all the early documents from the Old Charges on.”
— Occult World

“The Hermetic Art is… that of the Ancient Magi and the Initiates of all ages.”
— Albert Pike, Morals and Dogma

They Admit It

Freemasonry doesn’t hide it. Their own sources openly state:

Hermes Trismegistus = founder of Freemasonry

And as we’ve documented (eFireTemple #487, #492):

• Hermes Trismegistus = Ahura Mazda (Persian)
• Hermetic tradition = Magi wisdom

Therefore: Freemasonry = preservation of Persian Magi knowledge

The evidence:

• Old Charges (1390-1714) list Hermes as founder
• Cooke Manuscript (1450) mentions Hermes—21 years BEFORE Ficino’s translation (1471)
• Degree structure parallels Zoroastrian initiation levels
• “Light out of Darkness” = Ahura Mazda vs Angra Mainyu
• Sacred geometry = Persian architectural knowledge
• Hiram Abiff legend = Magi builder archetype
• G.A.O.T.U. (Grand Architect) = Ahura Mazda as cosmic architect

This is not theory. This is documented in Masonic sources.

PART I: THE OLD CHARGES—HERMES AS FOUNDER

What Are the Old Charges?

The Old Charges (also called “Gothic Constitutions”) are manuscripts dating 1390-1714 documenting Masonic history and regulations.

Key documents:

• Regius Manuscript (c. 1390) — oldest
• Cooke Manuscript (c. 1450)
• Grand Lodge Manuscript No. 1 (1583)
• Numerous others through 1714

What They Say About Hermes

From Occult World:

“According to their account, before the Flood the sons of the patriarch Lamech invented geometry and all the other sciences. Fearing that God would punish them for their sins, they inscribed their discoveries inside two hollow pillars, a marble pillar that could endure fire and a bronze pillar that could survive flood. One of the pillars survived the Flood and was eventually found by Hermes Trismegistus, the great-grandson of Noah, who deciphered it and taught its wisdom to the Egyptians.“

Masonic Encyclopedia:

“Hermes Trismegistus impressed the first speculative Freemasons, who included him as a founder of Freemasonry in all the early documents from the Old Charges on.”

From Cooke Manuscript (c. 1450):

Mentions “Hermes the philosopher” finding antediluvian pillars containing ancient knowledge

The Timing Problem

From MyFreemasonry forum:

“Supposedly, Hermeticism in the form of the Corpus Hermeticum came to Europe for the first time in 1471 via Marsilio Ficino. However, the Matthew Cooke Manuscript (dated 1450) talks about Hermes the philosopher finding one of the antediluvian pillars in its discussions on the history of Freemasonry… What is important, is how a group of supposedly purely operative Masons knew about Hermes 21 years before the rest of Europe, and to such a degree that they included him in their writings in a very matter of fact way.”

This means:

• Masons knew about Hermes BEFORE Renaissance “rediscovery”
• Knowledge transmission independent of Ficino
• Suggests continuous preservation of Hermetic/Magi tradition

PART II: THE HERMETIC CONFESSION

Albert Pike’s Admission

Albert Pike (Morals and Dogma, 1871):

“The Hermetic Art is, therefore, at the same time a religion, a philosophy, and a natural science. As a religion, it is that of the Ancient Magi and the Initiates of all ages; as a philosophy, we may find its principles in the school of Alexandria and the theories of Pythagoras; as a science, we must inquire for its processes of Paracelsus, Nicholas Flamel, and Raymond Lulle.”

Translation: Freemasonry’s Hermetic foundation = Ancient Magi (Persian Zoroastrian priests)

Modern Masonic Scholarship

From MyFreemasonry:

“Masonic tradition has had a rich application of the notion that it is imbued with a Hermetic philosophy… The Hermetic Art is, therefore, at the same time a religion, a philosophy, and a natural science. As a religion, it is that of the Ancient Magi…”

From Tria Prima (Masonic website):

“Is Freemasonry Hermetic?… I would like to ask you a rhetorical question: Is Freemasonry Hermetic?” (Answer: Yes)

From The Way of Hermes:

“Freemasonry seems to synthesize these ancient esoteric principles [Hermetic/Egyptian] into its central allegory of the building (or rebuilding) of King Solomon’s Temple.”

Consensus: Freemasonry IS Hermetic. And Hermetic = Magi = Persian.

PART III: THE DEGREE STRUCTURE = ZOROASTRIAN INITIATION

Masonic Degrees

Three primary degrees:

1. Entered Apprentice (EA) — Initiation into light
2. Fellowcraft (FC) — Instruction in liberal arts and sciences
3. Master Mason (MM) — Death and resurrection symbolism

Higher degrees:

• Scottish Rite: 33 degrees
• York Rite: Additional degrees
• Various appendant bodies

Zoroastrian Initiation Levels

Zoroastrian priesthood:

1. Navjote — Initiation into faith (ages 7-15)
2. Navar — First priestly initiation
3. Maratab — Higher priestly status
4. Bareshnum — Nine-day purification for highest initiation

Plus esoteric knowledge transmitted through:

• Magi training in astronomy
• Sacred geometry of fire temples
• Alchemical/scientific knowledge
• Mystical understanding of Asha (cosmic order)

The Parallel

Both systems:

• Progressive revelation of knowledge
• Initiation through ritual
• Death/rebirth symbolism
• Light/wisdom increasing with each level
• Esoteric vs. exoteric teaching
• Secret signs and grips
• Sacred oaths
• Transformation of the individual through stages

PART IV: “LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS” = PERSIAN DUALISM

Masonic Symbolism

Central Masonic motto:

“Lux e tenebris” — Light out of darkness

The ritual:

• Candidate enters “in darkness” (blindfolded)
• Receives “light” upon initiation
• Progresses from darkness to light through degrees
• Light = knowledge, truth, divine illumination

Zoroastrian Cosmology

Core Zoroastrian teaching:

• Ahura Mazda (Light/Truth/Good) vs. Angra Mainyu (Darkness/Lie/Evil)
• Cosmic battle between light and darkness
• Human choice to align with light or darkness
• Final triumph of light over darkness (Frashokereti)

From Gathas:

“In the beginning, there were two spirits, twins spontaneously active, these are the Good and the Bad in thought, and in word, and in action.”

The Explicit Connection

From MyFreemasonry:

“‘Light out of Darkness’ = Ahura Mazda vs Angra Mainyu”

Masonic ritual = dramatization of Zoroastrian cosmic dualism.

Candidate journeying from darkness (Angra Mainyu/ignorance) to light (Ahura Mazda/wisdom).

PART V: SACRED GEOMETRY = PERSIAN ARCHITECTURE

Masonic Tools

The Working Tools:

• Square — Morality, right angles, uprightness
• Compass — Boundaries, circles, cosmic order
• Level — Equality
• Plumb — Uprightness, vertical alignment

47th Proposition of Euclid:

• Pythagorean theorem
• Right triangle (3:4:5)
• “Squaring the Temple”
• Used in ancient construction

Persian Architectural Knowledge

Magi as builders/architects:

• Fire temples with precise astronomical alignments
• Use of sacred geometry in design
• Golden ratio and mathematical precision
• Megalithic structures (possibly Baalbek, others)

From Southern California Research Lodge:

“The architectural conception of ancient megalithic edifices rested on a working knowledge of geometry… Even a cursory study of the orientation and relative position of many ancient structures can confirm the irrefutable fact that these edifices were erected in keeping with the hermetic axiom, ‘that which is above is like that which is below‘…”

“As above, so below”:

• Hermetic principle from Emerald Tablet
• First appears in Jabir ibn Hayyan’s (Persian alchemist) works
• Freemasonry applies it to Temple construction
• Earthly temple mirrors celestial order

The Temple Allegory

Freemasonry’s central myth:

• Building King Solomon’s Temple
• Hiram Abiff as master architect
• Murder, loss, resurrection
• Temple = microcosm of universe

From The Way of Hermes:

“Freemasonry seems to synthesize these ancient esoteric principles into its central allegory of the building (or rebuilding) of King Solomon’s Temple. The work of the Mason requires both the divine goal and the perfect, dual foundation.”

G.A.O.T.U. (Grand Architect of the Universe):

“The Masonic GAOTU (Grand Architect of the Universe) is the Supreme Principle, the non-denominational Creator. Its role is that of the Nous, the Divine Intellect that provides the perfect plan (the archetypal geometry and morality) for both the cosmos and the Inner Temple (the perfected self).”

This is Ahura Mazda:

• Supreme architect
• Divine intelligence (Vohu Manah = Good Mind)
• Cosmic order (Asha = blueprint of reality)
• Creator through geometry and wisdom

PART VI: HIRAM ABIFF = MAGI BUILDER ARCHETYPE

The Legend of Hiram Abiff

Third Degree (Master Mason) central myth:

• Hiram Abiff = master builder of Solomon’s Temple
• Murdered by three ruffians demanding secret knowledge
• Struck on forehead, chest, and head
• Body hidden, discovered 15 days later
• Raised from death by specific grip

Symbolic meaning:

• Death and resurrection
• Loss and recovery of secret knowledge
• Loyalty to oath even unto death
• Transformation through initiatory death

The Problem

Hiram Abiff does NOT appear in the Bible as master architect murdered during construction.

Biblical Hiram:

• 1 Kings 7:13-14, 2 Chronicles 2:13-14
• Sent by King Hiram of Tyre
• Master craftsman in bronze
• No murder, no secret knowledge, no resurrection

So where did the Masonic legend come from?

The Persian Connection

From Albert Pike:

“Pike makes a parallel to Grand Master Hiram in his third degree monograph” comparing Hiram to Hermes Trismegistus

Hermes = Ahura Mazda (Persian)

The archetype:

• Divine wisdom keeper
• Builder/architect (Ahura Mazda creates through Asha/order)
• Murdered/suppressed (knowledge hidden)
• Resurrected/revealed (truth returns)
• Magi as preservers of secret knowledge

Hiram Abiff = Magi archetype

• Keeper of sacred architectural/geometrical knowledge
• Murdered for refusing to reveal secrets to unworthy
• Represents suppression of Magi wisdom
• Masonic initiation = recovery of that lost knowledge

PART VII: OPERATIVE VS. SPECULATIVE = HERMETIC PATTERN

The Masonic Distinction

From Fellowcraft lecture:

• Operative Masonry — Physical building with stone
• Speculative Masonry — Spiritual/philosophical building of self

From Tria Prima:

“Do you know how we make such a big deal about the operative and speculative denominations of the Craft in the Fellowcraft lecture? The same dynamic occurs in the Hermetic Arts of alchemy and astrology.”

The Hermetic Parallel

Alchemy:

• Operative — Chemical transformation of substances
• Speculative — Spiritual transformation of alchemist

Astrology:

• Operative — Study of celestial movements
• Speculative — Effect on astrologer’s soul

Freemasonry:

• Operative — Building physical temples
• Speculative — Building spiritual temple (self)

From Tria Prima:

“This is clearly in reference to the sympathetic relationship between the microcosm and the macrocosm – and that is central to Hermeticism. I would also argue that this Hermetic concept is also central to Freemasonry.”

“As above, so below” = Hermetic/Persian principle

Physical work mirrors spiritual transformation.

PART VIII: THE MASONIC-HERMETIC SYNTHESIS

What Masonic Scholars Admit

From Southern California Research Lodge:

“The connection between hermeticism and Freemasonry is made evident in the archetypally hermetic character of some of the Masonic Lodge officers’ roles, and by an observance of the relationship between the microcosm and macrocosm.”

Key Hermetic elements in Masonry:

1. Lodge Layout:

“Additionally, the orientation and design of the Lodge room is plainly stated to be a model of the Universe.”

2. Circumambulation (walking around lodge):

“Much of the ‘floor work’ of the Lodge officers, particularly the act of circumambulation, has been conjectured to be a Hermetic imitation of the Sun’s apparent path along the ecliptic, as viewed from the perspective of the Earth.”

3. The Pillars:

“The Terrestrial and Celestial Globes surmounting the Pillars of the Temple also reflect a similar correspondence.”

4. The Temple as Fractal:

“In Freemasonry, the Temple exists on several planes: in the mind of the individual Mason, the physical Temple where Lodges meet, the allegorical Temple (think the Third Degree), and the ‘House not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens’. This fractalization of the Temple, across various sympathetic planes, is classic Hermeticism.”

The Emerald Tablet Connection

Emerald Tablet — foundational Hermetic text

Key axiom: “As above, so below”

Where it first appears:

• Jabir ibn Hayyan’s (Persian alchemist) The 112 Books (8th century)
• Later translated to Latin as Tabula Smaragdina
• Became central to European Hermeticism
• Masonry applies it to temple construction

From Southern California Research Lodge:

“This notable piece of Hermetica, the Emerald Tablet, is the source of the axiom: ‘that which is above is like that which is below.’ This axiom has been represented in more recent times as the Hermetic Principle of Correspondence.”

All traced back to Persian alchemist.

PART IX: WHO PRESERVED THE KNOWLEDGE?

After Alexander’s Destruction (330 BCE)

Alexander burned:

• Persepolis
• Zoroastrian libraries
• Killed Magi
• Destroyed physical evidence

But knowledge survived through:

1. Oral transmission

• Magi escaping to safe areas
• Continued practice in hidden communities
• Secret schools preserving teachings

2. Written fragments

• Some texts escaped destruction
• Translated into Greek/Arabic
• Became “Hermetic” corpus

3. Architectural guilds

• Builders preserving sacred geometry
• Medieval stonemason guilds
• Operative Masons maintaining Magi architectural knowledge

4. Alchemical tradition

• Jabir ibn Hayyan (Persian) systematizing in 8th century
• European translation 12th-13th century
• Hermetic alchemy = Persian science

5. Freemasonry

• Emerged from operative guilds
• Preserved Hermetic/Magi wisdom
• Became repository of suppressed Persian knowledge

Why Secret Societies?

Because openly teaching Persian wisdom = death

Historical pattern:

• 330 BCE: Alexander destroys Persia
• 400s CE: Church destroys “pagan” knowledge
• 1600: Giordano Bruno burned for teaching Hermeticism
• Solution: Go underground, preserve in symbols

Freemasonry = survival mechanism for Magi knowledge

PART X: THE TIMELINE

The pattern: Persian Magi → Hermetic texts → Medieval guilds → Freemasonry

CONCLUSION: THE CONFESSION IS COMPLETE

Freemasonry doesn’t hide it. Their own sources confess:

Documented facts: ✅ Hermes Trismegistus = founder (Old Charges, Masonic Encyclopedia)
✅ Hermes = Ahura Mazda (Persian—eFireTemple #487)
✅ Hermetic Art = “Ancient Magi” (Albert Pike)
✅ Cooke Manuscript (1450) knew about Hermes BEFORE Renaissance
✅ “Light out of Darkness” = Ahura Mazda vs Angra Mainyu
✅ Sacred geometry = Persian architectural knowledge
✅ Degree structure parallels Zoroastrian initiation
✅ Hiram Abiff = Magi builder archetype
✅ G.A.O.T.U. = Ahura Mazda as Divine Architect
✅ “As above, so below” = from Persian alchemist Jabir
✅ Operative/Speculative = Hermetic (Persian) pattern

The pattern:

• Persian Magi develop knowledge (1500-1000 BCE)
• Alexander destroys physical evidence (330 BCE)
• Knowledge preserved in Hermetic texts
• Medieval guilds maintain architectural wisdom
• Freemasonry formalizes as repository
• Openly claims Hermetic/Magi foundation
• But most members don’t know Hermetic = Persian

Every Freemason:

• Initiated into “light” (Ahura Mazda)
• Escapes “darkness” (Angra Mainyu)
• Studies sacred geometry (Magi architecture)
• Builds spiritual temple (Zoroastrian self-perfection)
• Honors Hermes as founder (Ahura Mazda)
• Follows G.A.O.T.U. (Divine Architect = Ahura Mazda)

With Persian names replaced by neutral terms.

Freemasonry = 3,500-year-old Persian Magi wisdom preserved in symbolic form.

The fire never went out.

It just went underground and became “Masonic secrets.”

🔥

References

Masonic Sources

Old Charges / Gothic Constitutions:

1. Regius Manuscript (c. 1390)
2. Cooke Manuscript (c. 1450)
3. Grand Lodge Manuscript No. 1 (1583)
4. Various other Old Charges (1390-1714)

Masonic Writings:

1. Pike, Albert. Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. 1871.
2. Mackey, Albert G. The Symbolism of Freemasonry. Forgotten Books, 2012.
3. Hall, Manley P. The Secret Teachings of All Ages. Dover, 2010.

Masonic Websites & Forums:

1. MyFreemasonry.com: “Freemasonry and the Hermetic Arts” (December 8, 2013)
2. MyFreemasonry.com: “Hermeticism in early Freemasonry” (May 17, 2020)
3. MasonicShop.com: “Masonic Encyclopedia Entry On Hermes”
4. Encyclopedia Masonica: “HERMES TRISMEGISTUS”
5. Southern California Research Lodge: “The Principle of Correspondence” (March 30, 2023)
6. Tria Prima: “IS FREEMASONRY HERMETIC?” (March 15, 2021)

Hermetic / Persian Sources

1. The Way of Hermes: “Tracing the Divine Blueprint from Egyptian Religion, to Hermeticism and Freemasonry” (2 weeks ago)
2. Copenhaver, Brian P. Hermetica: The Greek Corpus Hermeticum. Cambridge, 1992.
3. Salaman, Oyen, et al. The Way of Hermes: New Translations of The Corpus Hermeticum. Inner Traditions, 2004.
4. Three Initiates. The Kybalion. Yogi Publication Society, 1912.

Historical Sources

1. Occult World: “ORIGINS OF FREEMASONRY”
2. Wikipedia: “Hermes Trismegistus”
3. Ebeling, Florian. The Secret History of Hermes Trismegistus. Cornell University Press, 2007.
4. Brown, Robert H. Stellar Theology and Masonic Astronomy. Merchant Books, 2008.

Cross-References to eFireTemple

1. eFireTemple: “The Renaissance Plot” (Hermes = Ahura Mazda)
2. eFireTemple: “The Alchemy Theft” (Jabir ibn Hayyan, Emerald Tablet)

#FreemasonryIsMagi | #AshaPrevails

“Hermes Trismegistus = founder of Freemasonry.”
Hermes = Ahura Mazda (Persian).
Hermetic Art = “Ancient Magi.”
Light out of Darkness = Ahura Mazda vs Angra Mainyu.
G.A.O.T.U. = Divine Architect = Ahura Mazda.

Freemasonry = Persian Magi knowledge preserved in symbols.

The fire never went out.
It just became “Masonic secrets.” 🔥