The fraternal lodge is a sealed space where inner growth-work can happen in seclusion. It’s a secret garden of sorts, a place where we can cultivate the delicate fruits of change that the wider world may see later on.
The hidden journey of growth is a concept known to many fraternal folks. Odd Fellows shun worldly praise in favor of “treasures in heaven” (spiritual rewards). Hermetic scholars watch over the science of gradual transformation, knowing that a controlled setting is crucial to cause and effect.
Hidden spaces are fertile ground. That’s why harmful things have to be rooted out of them to keep the negative from growing out of control. Fortunately though, that same fertile ground benefits our positive growth.
Hidden spaces block out distraction and increase focus. Public realms where everything is seen and known are also filled with outside commentary, and competing priorities that steal time, drain energy, and reduce the focus needed to center our goals and follow through. Sometimes we need a place that is sealed away, where the flame of our inner work is shielded from the blustering winds of public life.
Hidden spaces reduce comparison. Our journey is our own, but when we swim in crowded ponds we can’t help but compare our own progress with that of others. Even when that comparison is inaccurate, unfair, or misinformed.
Hidden spaces shield from sabotage. Sadly not everyone wishes us well. People who are unhappy with themselves sometimes want to see us just as unhappy as they are. Striving to accomplish positive things in secret can shield you from the jealousy and destructive influences of adversaries.
Hidden spaces promote honesty about motivations. Good deeds done exclusively in the public eye can be tainted with the desire for worldly recognition. Wanting hard earned achievements to be validated by others is not by itself an evil thing. With that said, goals that we would want to achieve regardless of recognition are done with greater passion, joy, and a purer sense of personal reward. A sense of reward that isn’t subject to the fickle leanings of others.
What positive fruits could you cultivate in your own secret gardens?
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