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Given that the idea of perfection typically includes the quality of completeness, it appears that acceptance of our limitations, of our incompleteness, is anathema to Masonic…

A friend and brother shares his reflections from six years of inner work in the Western Esoteric Traditions.

I note how valuable Masonic podcasts have been for helping me maintain a sense of connection with the Fraternity at large.

In this piece we look at attachment styles discussed in psychology, and look for clues about how they might shape the spiritual paths people select.

The purpose of this post is to present some personal observations on the title’s themes and encourage you to consider how they might be relevant to…

Such hallmarks are the outward evidence of the ways in which one’s soul is being transformed. (The word "way" is being intentionally emphasized here.)

If you are familiar with the Chamber of Reflection, then you are also probably aware that many people have strong feelings about it, for and against.

Whereas my first two books provide guidance on a general contemplative engagement with Masonry, and my third presents theurgical work in relationship to the Rose Croix…

The book you hold in your hands is actually much more than just a book. It is the result of a labor of love—one man’s quest…

A Rose Croix Oratory: Rosicrucian Reflections & Resources from a Knight of the Eagle and Pelican A Rose Croix Oratory offers a comprehensive, powerful, and transformative…

This piece relates to a basic existential problem, which is how we can respond to the sufferings of life so that me may know life’s beauty…

In a social media group focused on the Rosicrucian (R+C) movement, I recently expressed my appreciation to a poster who highlighted one of the conflicts confronted…

My current views on these issues. The title slide photo is of King Solomon's Archway in the Guthrie Scottish Rite Temple. It was taken by Brother…

Just as we previously noted that contemplative practice can lead us to more fully appreciate our lack of complete self-awareness and self-control, it can also lead…

When making a sincere effort at contemplative practice, one cannot fail to make some important observations about consciousness.

In Part 2 of this series, I mentioned the 24-inch Gauge and its relevance to cycles of labor and refreshment in contemplative practice. There are limits…

In this article, I draw on Masonic ideas of labor and refreshment to address some issues with discipline and routine, including certain attitudes that may or…

As a contemplative practitioner, facilitator, teacher, and consultant for many years, I’ve had the opportunity to observe certain recurring patterns in contemplative life.

The Contemplative Lodge: A Manual for Masons Doing Inner Work Together “The Contemplative Lodge: A Manual for Masons Doing Inner Work Together” by C. R. Dunning Jr.…

Masonry is a tradition of philosophical and spiritual light. It paints beautiful pictures about love and virtue, tells inspiring stories from the mythic and historic past…

The purpose of this piece is to explore how we can use Masonic principles to avoid or extract ourselves from being caught in the webs of…

Spiritual Knighthood for the Common Good Originally published in the September 2020 edition of The Oklahoma Scottish Rite Mason magazine. The title of this piece highlights…

This morning, January 2, 2021, I got some sad news. My teacher, mentor, and dear friend, John F. Miller, III, passed away last night from COVID.

After I posted a recent essay, Ego, Self-Improvement, and Shadow Work, a brother engaged me in an interesting discussion.

As a practitioner of contemplation, my attention is often drawn to the ego, that sense of my separate identity in the world, including the picture of…

Since the publication of Contemplative Masonry, I have occasionally received feedback that indicates a misunderstanding of intention for the exercises on mindful and prayerful behavior.

“Freemasonry and Meditation” on The Winding Stairs Podcast

Since publishing Contemplative Masonry, I have traveled the country, doing presentations about contemplative practice for lodges and other Masonic and non-Masonic groups.

What follows was written for a close friend who just got a petition. As I was writing, I realized it might be valuable to a larger…

Masonry traditionally celebrates the days of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, whom we hold as our patron saints.

This interview was conducted during and after the Inner Chamber Retreat, a capstone event for graduates of The Middle Chamber education program of the Grand Lodge…

There are countless descriptions of initiations and their ensuing spiritual paths filled with promises of inspiration, integration, ascension, liberation, and illumination.

The Compasses & Square The original version of this poem was written in 2003 or a little earlier. After years of it being misplaced, I recently…

  This Man Was A Mason Originally written in memory of Bro. Joseph Gordon Ervin, August 3, 1940 – December 8, 2018, of Walker, Louisiana, at…

This annual Scottish Rite event celebrates the completion and dedication of King Solomon’s Temple, which is of utmost importance to Freemasonry, and certainly to the Scottish…

Recently I was browsing through social media and had occasion to recall that the essential documents and rituals of our tradition teach many things about how…

Book review by Amicus Librarium (Supreme Council Library) “The House of the Temple library presents a world-class collection of Masonic information for consideration by the public…

Masonic esotericists come in many varieties, and there are numerous ways of differentiating them into groups. For the moment, consider the following five categories:

The Sword and Trowel I thought I would offer a little background on this poem. I wrote it many years ago when I was fascinated with…

The Abyss of the Mysteries We stand upon the islands of what we think we know,and the abyss of the Mysteries, vast and deep,stretches out from…

Initiation I wrote the following poem in February of 2003. It’s full of classic symbolism representing aspects of traditional initiatic experience, and most particularly of the…

Chanting AUM in the Great Architect’s Presence Please note that the following poem emerged from my own contemplative practice. To my knowledge, the chanting of AUM…

Among those of us who might be called contemplatives, esotericists, or philosophers in Masonry, there is often talk of the ego. Defining the ego can itself…

The 30th anniversary of my initiation into Masonry occurred several days ago. So over the past few months I’ve been reflecting on our most fundamental experiences…

Lots of people, regardless of where they stand politically, are feeling tested by the social climate of their nation and world. When I dialogue with people…

Today I want to share with you a reflection on a meditation I did nearly a year ago. It was an imagined visit with a character…

Join Brothers Rhit Moore, Billy Hamilton, and Gabriel Jagush as continue their talk Brother Chuck Dunning about his revolutionary book, "Contemplative Masonry."

Join Brothers Rhit Moore, Billy Hamilton, and Gabriel Jagush as they talk with Brother Chuck Dunning about his revolutionary book, “Contemplative Masonry.”

It is often emphasized that the greatest benefits of contemplative practice come with sustained routine work. While I agree with that observation, I have also personally…

The image of a mirror can be very helpful in understanding contemplative experience, because it is the nature of our consciousness, of our minds, to reflect.

Friends and brothers, here are some thoughts I’d like to share about interpreting/speculating about Masonic symbolism, especially as it relates to other initiatic traditions or esoteric…

Author discussed his book Contemplative Masonry, Basic Applications of Mindfulness, Meditation, and Imagery for the craft.

Originally starting out as contemplative exercises or practices like prayer, meditation, breath work, chanting, and visualization, Dunning expanded his concept into a primer for those seeking…

We talk a lot about virtues in Masonry, and for good reason. As the school of positive psychology persuasively argues, human beings fulfill more of their…

Its subtitle will alert the prospective reader that this isn’t just a book of ‘reading’ but rather, it has suggested exercises for the mind and body,…

Before we can speak meaningfully of Masonic esotericism, we must first establish a meaning for the word “esoteric.” In some Masonic jurisdictions

The author, Brother Chuck Dunning, has been engaged in various forms of contemplative practice for over three decades and has also spent significant time in higher…

Let’s use our imaginations a little, and hopefully to worthy ends. First, let’s envision two Masons, Brother Bookman and Brother Wright

In Bro. Robert Davis’s recent TLP article, “What Came You Here to Do?”, he reminded his readers of one of the first and most important questions…

Across all great spiritual traditions, there are warnings about risks in contemplative practices. This article explores some of those risks and associated problems, all of which…

Book review by The Hedge Mason, “A Mindful Masonry: Cogitating on the Craft” “Sometimes life gets in the way and plans of tasks to do that…

Contemplative Masonry: Basic Applications of Mindfulness, Meditation, and Imagery for the Craft Part of the work that has become Contemplative Masonry first appeared on the internet…

Interview with 357 productions | “Darkness to Light”

Q&A Interview by Douglas Russell from the Southern California Research Lodge.

Book review in the “Scottish Rite Journal” “Brother Dunning (Chuck, to his friends) is another friend of long standing.He is one of the wisest and most…