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A Freemason's Journey Through Space and Time. From the 1st to the 33rd Degree. Kamel Oussayef. Jacques Ruelland. Scottish Rite, NMJ
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I'm
enjoying "A Freemason's Journey Through Space and Time (from the 1st to
the 33rd Degree)" co-written by my dear friend Ill. Kamel Oussayef,
33°. It is a very unique book with an original approach. The book
combines an overview of the Scottish Rite degrees with a mix of
historical fiction, Sci-fi, and Mythology.
The book is
published by the Scottish Rite, NMJ and can be purchased directly from
the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library in Lexington, Massachusetts
This
captivating book witnesses the extraordinary journey of a man who
ascends from the first to the 33rd Degree of Freemasonry, navigating a
timeline that spans from well before the Middle Ages to the 21st
century. At each Degree, the protagonist sheds his earthly and spiritual
shell, metamorphoses into a different person, and evolves through
stages of knowledge, wisdom, tolerance, and development (both physical
and spiritual). He possesses a remarkable ability to adapt to the
diverse settings where fate places him—among the Masters of the
Renaissance in Southeastern Europe, the Apache in North America, the
Knight Templars in the Middle East, or Buddhist monks in Asia to mention
only a few.
Marcel Burton, the fictional hero, embodies the
journey of any soul-searching individual seeking the meaning of life.
His odyssey takes us through Antiquity, the Middle Ages, the
Renaissance, and up to the modern era. The spiritual journey begins with
Marcel as a demigod, gradually metamorphosing him into a Freeman, a
Gnostic, a Knight, a Shaman at the time of Geronimo, and ultimately, a
Servant of God—alternatively as a Muslim Imam or a Jewish Rabbi, sharing
the same soul in different bodies.
A Freemason’s Journey through Space & Time
was co-written by Kamel Oussayef, 33°, a member of the New Hampshire
Masonic Consistory, and Illustrious Brother Jacques G. Ruelland, PhD.,
33°, Deputy for the Masonic Scottish Rite in the Province of Quebec,
Canada. To bridge the geographical distance between them and facilitate
their remote labor, they wrote the initial text in French, after which
Kamel translated it into English.
The book draws upon legends and
allegories from a variety of sources — the Bible, the Quran, and other
religious, philosophical, and historical texts — that have endured
through time without losing their relevance. These narratives are
reminiscent of the works of Classical Greek playwrights, Roman orators,
medieval scholars, Chinese and Indian thinkers, 17th-century Japanese
and Russian writers, and the prolific intellectual creativity of
18th-century Europe during the Enlightenment.
The book aims to
parallel the progression of Masonic Degrees with broader human
experience through seven key periods spanning from primordial
nothingness to contemporary times. The comparison is succinctly
illustrated by the metaphor of the Masonic three classical Greek columns
in action: Corinthian Beauty during Antiquity, Doric inner strength
during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and Ionic wisdom in modern and
contemporary times.
Particularly intended for younger and newer
members of the Scottish Rite, the book will also captivate more seasoned
Brothers and the general public with its exploration of philosophical,
historical, political, sociological, and demographic themes. It is
unique in its approach, perhaps even a world-first in presenting so
openly the Degrees of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry
in this manner. An innovative type of Masonic manual that reads like a
novel, it seamlessly blends multiple literary genres, ranging from a
historical fiction to science fiction, or from a literary essay to a
21st century treatise on ethics for younger generations.
