The Ashlar and the Question of Growth
Download MP3In a world full of disorder and limits beyond our control, why bother growing at all? This episode confronts that foundational question, exploring the symbolic Ashlar—rough and perfect—as a map for what transformation means when the external world resists it. The path of Masonic development is revealed not as control, but as choice.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Personal growth is not about fixing the world—it’s about shaping the self.
- The Rough Ashlar represents potential, not perfection.
- Choosing to grow is a sacred act of autonomy in an uncontrollable world.
💬 Featured Quotes
So in the hundred plus episodes of this podcast, I have never addressed the underlying conversation of why bother growing at all. — [00:00:00]
You have very little control over a ton of things in life. — [00:00:31]
You have no control over the way your body is going to process nutrients. — [00:00:45]
Why bother with this development thing to become a better person, all of that kind of thing? — [00:00:13]
🔗 Explore Related Episodes
- We Meet on the Level, but we are not the Same
Recognizing where others stand isn’t condescension; it’s the gateway to real teaching, empathy, and growth. - The Gavel and the Temptation to Settle
Challenges the comfort-driven resistance that slows or prevents real growth. - The Work of a Master Mason: Governing the Self First
You cannot shape the world until you’ve learned to govern yourself—and that begins not with shame, but with care.
Creators and Guests
Host
Brian Mattocks
Host and Founder of A Mason's Work - a podcast designed to help you use symbolism to grow. He's been working in the craft for over a decade and served as WM, trustee, and sat in every appointed chair in a lodge - at least once :D
