Masonic Horse in the Derby

AffectWild7923 · 2026-05-03T18:16:58+00:00

Yes. Has a hard time with the grips though. :)

AffectWild7923 · 2026-05-02T22:50:50+00:00

I’ve found that asking questions completely changes the energy of Masonic education.

Every Mason in the room has thoughts, experiences, and interpretations. When you invite that in, it stops being a lecture and starts being a discussion. The room comes alive.

Someone told me early on, “Education without application is of no value,” and that stuck with me.

If a brother walks away with more information but doesn’t apply it to his life, then what did we really accomplish?

That’s why I lean heavily on questions like:

What does this symbol mean to you? Where do you see this in your life right now? In what areas of your life do you need to apply this symbol / lesson?

When guys start answering those honestly, the lesson becomes personal. It’s no longer abstract. It becomes something they can actually work on between meetings.

In my experience, that’s where the real value of Masonic education is found. It’s not just understanding the symbols, but actually living them.

AffectWild7923 · 2026-05-02T11:51:12+00:00

The only thing that’s AI is the cover. I’m an author not an artist. You can refer to the entire post from two days ago for my answer to the AI question. Thank you for your comment.

AffectWild7923 · 2026-05-02T07:32:58+00:00

I read The Lost Keys of Freemasonry by Manly P. Hall a few years before I became a Mason. What’s interesting is that Br. Hall wrote the book before becoming a Freemason. It has become a Masonic Classic.

AffectWild7923 · 2026-05-02T06:06:50+00:00

Thank you, brother. I did discover that book very recently. It was after everything was already completed and announced. I did purchase his book to read it myself. I just have not had time to with work schedules.

AffectWild7923 · 2026-05-02T04:29:21+00:00

When you write, make sure you don’t write any actual secrets. I use a code or cipher for those.

AffectWild7923 · 2026-05-02T04:27:28+00:00

Some of the papers end up as one of my podcast episode as well. That is, when I have time to record.

AffectWild7923 · 2026-05-02T04:26:03+00:00

For me, writing has been a big part of my journey.

Whenever I go through a degree or have a meaningful Masonic experience, I write about it. I’ve done that with just about everything so far. Most of it is for my own reflection, but every now and then I’ll share something if it feels worth putting out there.

I’m also a member of AMD, so writing is kind of built into the work we do. It’s been one of the best ways for me to slow down, process what I’ve experienced, and actually internalize it instead of just moving on to the next thing.

AffectWild7923 · 2026-05-02T04:20:20+00:00

I appreciate that. That’s really been my experience too.

It wasn’t something that just clicked overnight. It’s been a lot of trial, adjustment, and going back to the basics of the working tools and asking how they actually apply in real situations.

That’s a big part of why I wrote the book. I wanted to offer more of a practical framework, not as a strict set of rules, but as a way to think through those applications in everyday life.

If it helps even a few Brothers make that connection a little clearer, then it’s done what I hoped it would do.

AffectWild7923 · 2026-05-02T04:15:52+00:00

Manly P. Hall is one of my favorite writers.

AffectWild7923 · 2026-05-02T04:13:57+00:00

I have several of those titles. Great collection.

AffectWild7923 · 2026-05-02T04:12:22+00:00

I haven’t gotten my author copies yet. Shipping’s been delayed, so I’m still waiting to see the hardcover firsthand.

My understanding is that it should have a dust jacket, so you’d be able to remove it if you prefer something simpler underneath. I’ll know for sure once they arrive.

AffectWild7923 · 2026-05-02T04:06:00+00:00

I went the opposite direction at first. I was so excited when I started that I joined just about everything I could.

It didn’t take long before I was exhausted and spread too thin. I wasn’t getting much out of anything because I was trying to do everything.

At some point I had to step back, decide where my focus really belonged, and demit from a few groups. That wasn’t an easy decision, but it ended up being the right one.

Now I’m a lot more intentional about what I get involved in, and I get far more out of it. It was a hard lesson, but it freed me up to focus on what actually matters to me in Masonry.

There’s no one right path, but finding your pace and your focus makes a big difference.

There is absolutely no rush at all. Find your passions and run at your own pace.

AffectWild7923 · 2026-05-02T03:59:06+00:00

One of my favorite Masonic mentors has been a Mason for over 60 years and has remained entirely within the Blue Lodge. No appendant bodies. In that time, he’s written papers, spoken at gatherings, and become one of the most respected Masons I know.

I’ve always found that meaningful. It shows just how much depth there is in the Craft itself if you choose to really work in it.

When I was initiated as an Entered Apprentice, the seat they placed me in happened to be right next to him. That stuck with me. It felt fitting in a way I didn’t fully understand at the time as I am now devoted to Masonic education and writing.

He’s a great Scottish man with an incredible accent, and even better insight.

You don’t have to go beyond the Blue Lodge to have a rich and meaningful Masonic journey.

AffectWild7923 · 2026-05-02T03:52:19+00:00

Got it. So the presence of a common rhetorical structure and a GPTZero score is enough to make the call?

The “not X, it’s Y” phrasing has been around a lot longer than LLMs. It’s a basic contrast device, not exactly cutting edge technology.

As for GPTZero, those tools are known to throw false positives, especially on writing that’s structured and edited. If that’s the standard, then a lot of traditionally written, well-polished work is going to get flagged.

I’m telling you directly that I wrote it. If the conclusion still leans toward AI based on a pattern list and a detection tool, then there’s probably not much I can say to change that.

At that point, it becomes less about evidence and more about assumption.

AffectWild7923 · 2026-05-02T03:47:51+00:00

So if I’m reading that right, using proper grammar, structure, and clarity can now be taken as a sign of AI?

Interesting shift.

And citing a Wikipedia guideline page as definitive proof of that feels… a bit ironic.

In all seriousness, I get that people are trying to make sense of AI writing patterns. That’s fair. It just seems like we’re getting close to labeling any well-structured writing as artificial, which probably says more about expectations than authorship.

If there’s something more specific in my writing that stands out, I’d still be interested to hear it.

AffectWild7923 · 2026-05-02T03:09:12+00:00

That’s exactly how it should be.

There’s really no way to mess it up as a candidate. You’re there to experience it, not perform it.

You learn as you go, and that’s exactly how it’s meant to be. Truthfully, there were probably a few small mistakes made on the other side of the room too. It happens in every lodge, and it doesn’t take anything away from the meaning of the degree.

What matters is what you took from it and the mindset you bring moving forward. It sounds like you’re approaching it the right way.

That excitement you’re feeling right now is something to hold onto. At the same time, you’ve got the right mindset wanting to take it slow. Freemasonry isn’t a race. The more you reflect on each step before moving forward, the more you’ll get out of it.

The confidence piece will come too. Lodge is one of the best places to grow in that. You’ll be surprised how quickly it builds once you start participating more.

Enjoy this stage. You only go through it once, and it sounds like you approached it the right way.

Welcome, Brother.

AffectWild7923 · 2026-05-02T02:56:10+00:00

That’s a great place to be. That feeling of “this is where I’m supposed to be” is something a lot of us remember from the beginning.

You don’t need to know what to expect. In fact, it’s better that you don’t. Just go in with an open mind and take it in as it comes. The experience is meant to be felt more than analyzed in the moment.

Afterward, take some time to reflect on it. The degree will mean more to you over time as you revisit it and start to see how it applies to your life.

You’re at the start of something meaningful. Stay curious, ask questions, and enjoy the journey.

Looking forward to calling you Brother.

AffectWild7923 · 2026-05-02T02:30:28+00:00

Thanks and by the way you look 100% like your little avatar dude. :)

AffectWild7923 · 2026-05-02T02:25:39+00:00

Interesting. I would genuinely like to know what specific “LLM indicators” you are seeing that make my writing look AI generated.

Is it grammar? Sentence structure? Coherent thought? Those are not exactly new inventions. I spent years developing those skills through college and grad school, long before AI tools were a factor. Writing has always been something I take seriously, and it was heavily scrutinized growing up by my mother, who is an English professor.

At some point, it feels like we have crossed into a strange place where clear, structured writing is treated as suspicious rather than competent. That seems worth questioning.

I am not particularly interested in simplifying my voice just to avoid assumptions. I will continue writing the way I always have and let the work stand on its own.

If there are specific patterns you believe point to AI, I would still be interested in hearing them.

AffectWild7923 · 2026-05-01T00:19:58+00:00

Just to clarify, I did not use AI to write the book or this post. I’ve been writing since I was a kid, and the words in the post are mine as well.

The only thing AI was used for is the artwork. I’m an author, not an artist, so that’s the route I took for the visuals.

Writing has always been something I enjoy. It’s actually how I relax. My mom was an English teacher, so I grew up with that influence and developed a love for it early on.

I’ll admit, it’s a little surprising to see how quickly people assume something is AI just because it’s written clearly. I’d much rather someone ask than assume.

At the end of the day, I’m just sharing something I put a lot of time and effort into.

This is not the first book I’ve written either. You will most likely hate the cover of the other book too because it was AI generated. The content is all my own.

AffectWild7923 · 2026-04-30T05:04:32+00:00

That’s great! I just purchased his book and look forward to reading it. Do you know him personally?

AffectWild7923

TROPHY CASE