Unity Through Rituals

Most of us as Masons will no doubt agree that we are receiving benefits from our participation in rituals. Listing and describing benefits in Non-Masonic situations has been done by researchers as they have observed rituals in a variety of situations. While considering these descriptions, we should be able to see that the benefits listed for non-Masonic rituals are the same as for Masonic rituals.

Psychologists have described both physical and emotional effects that happen during rituals. Malchiodi (2021) discussed some of these. Entrainment refers to the way that rhythmic systems of humans and animals interact with each other. Capable of becoming time-matched are rhythmic functions such as heart beats, respiration, hormone release and eye blinking. The term synchrony describes something similar as when people unconsciously match each other in actions, emotions, and thoughts. Emotional closeness may result from this. A kind of synchrony that is especially powerful is called collective effervescence during which there is an increase in energy and unity among individuals involved in rituals.

The effects of rituals may be affected by conditions under which they are performed with conditions that increase effervescence being termed accelerators. Draper (2021) described some of these. Barriers to outsiders are suggested as accelerators. Others are walls, doorways, uniforms and guards. Internal barriers include requirements for mastery of certain tasks prior to full inclusion and practices that would be understood by members and not by outsiders. Observations of meetings and rituals of several groups showed that the more formal the ritual, the more difficult it was to maintain effervescence. Talks by members and testimonies had the opposite effect. Do you recognize accelerators in your lodge?

Kiper and Mauro (2025) discussed the writings of Xygalatas, an anthropologist of significant reputation. He reported that in his experience, rituals are present in basically every culture and have several characteristics in common. He stated that “Rituals are memorable, casually opaque, command our attention, involve symbolic actions, and produce no obvious practical results.” Suggested also was that measuring the results of rituals is limited in real life as compared to what might be measured in a laboratory. He did find out, though, that to some degree measurements could be made with heart rate monitors. Participants in one experiment were divided into two groups who performed a psychological stress producing activity in a plain room and in a temple. Both groups experienced stress, but those in the temple environment recovered more quickly from the stress showing that the space where a ritual is performed can affect performance. In another experiment it was found that collective effervescence could occur between active participants and passive observers when heart rate spikes occurred in both fire walkers and those watching them. It was suggested that rituals can also allow those involved to feel less unpredictability than in former traumatic life situations and may actually reduce struggles with PTSD.

Grief rituals have been found to produce positive results as discussed by Running, Tolle, and Girard (2008). The benefits of grief rituals were described as applied to Circle of Life hospice workers at one facility. Staff gathered at a wooden table at the facility office for a ritual involving events of the preceding week. At the beginning of each meeting a gong was struck to indicate the beginning. Poems, music, or something symbolic were presented to identify the time as special and sacred. Deceased patients were discussed. Time was set aside for emotions to be expressed and tears shed. Finally, the gong was struck again to close the meeting. Honoring deceased patients and families and expressing loss and sadness in a controlled ritual environment was healing to those involved and decreased burn-out. Do you feel renewed energy and a stronger will to continue with our labors following a meeting at your lodge? After Masonic rituals do you feel more likely to be able to perform well in life?

This article was published in the December 2025 edition of the Voice of the Orient.