The Lost Symbol Book CoverTo all Dan Brown fans out there, grab a copy of his newest addition of his mind-boggling piece of literature, THE LOST SYMBOL. I've read his other works, The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons, and I must say this novel embarks Brown's style of infusing readers the suspense page by page. There is always a woman where Robert Langdon(the protagonist) runs along with solving cryptic codes and unveiling secret messages hidden within secret messages. There is always the seemingly bad guy who interferes, the suddenly shifts to be the good guy after all. And as always, the sudden twist that sends readers (well, I for instance) awe-struck, dismantled from the world outside the comfort of my four-cornered bedroom.
FreemasonryFreemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around 5 million, including just under two million in the United States and around 480,000 in England, Scotland and Ireland. The various forms all share moral and metaphysical ideals, which include, in most cases, a constitutional declaration of belief in a Supreme Being.
What struck me the most is the well-known brotherhood of free men, written in the pages of history, the great grandfather of all Fraternities, Freemasonry. Whenever I'm out traveling the bustling streets of Metro Manila, at the back windshield of some cars I spot, I knew instantly that the owner of the vehicle is a Mason. The sticker, a compass with Latin inscriptions, say so itself that it is masonic since the compass is one of the many symbols of Masonry. I once had many interactions with a mason since he is the father of my ex-boyfriend. My ex showed me the meaning of the stickers at the back windshield of some of their vehicles. I also had a chance to visit one of their lodges in Quezon City. While reading the book, I endured an imagination if they too, practice the rites of Initiation of becoming a Mason. I was also intrigued if they too, hold some precious secrets the world has yet to unveil. I'm dragged by the knowledge imparted by the books that I've read that becoming a Mason is not just joining a fraternity, by all means, It's a brotherhood that enlightens men the wisdom and lost knowledge that man himself tend to forget. Reading the latter sentence that I wrote, I asked myself "What the fuck? Why am I writing this? What's with the 'Lost knowledge that man himself tend to forget'? I'm not a mason!!! How should I know?", and the point is, one will never understand until one is enlightened. That alone, my friends, is the essence of being a Mason., At-one-ment, from the word 'atonement'. Honestly, I want to be part of this ancient brotherhood, the sad part is that they don't recruit women.
Apotheosis of Washington--Man becoming GodThe Apotheosis of Washington is the very large fresco painted by Italian artist Constantino Brumidi in 1865 and visible through the oculus of the dome in the rotunda of the United States Capitol Building.
I was also fascinated when I googled some of the text's featured art pieces, famous monuments, architectural buildings, famous people, etc. I wondered how in the world Dan Brown connected every bits and pieces of information embedded on the novels he has written. I know its a massive research and analytical thinking. If you're gullible, you will be drawn easily if the context itself is a fact. I know for the fact that some parts of the masonic practices in the book are fictional. They are laid so obvious not even a Mason will ever spill the beans to Dan Brown himself. What I am dying to wait for, is the rendition of this book to life. I just hope it wouldn't be as bad as Angels and Demons. The movie was a bit of disappointment for me since some parts where changed. I understood immediately because there are some issues that the Church will not accept and it will just halt the movie's production. So to say, I am overwhelmed with the book's power to send millions of readers the imagination that the world is not just the way how we see it, but how we will live within the world as we know it.
The Washington Monument is an obelisk near the west end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.To live in the world without becoming aware of the
meaning of the world is like wandering about in a
great library without touching the books.
The Secret Teachings of All Ages
