I was a Mason for a number of years. The reality among Masons varies from jurisdiction (i.e., state) to jurisdiction and also from lodge to lodge. In other word

I was a Mason for a number of years. The reality among Masons varies from jurisdiction (i.e., state) to jurisdiction and also from lodge to lodge. In other words, no single person can speak for all. What I'm saying here is just my experience. I participated in 2 different states and found the differences pretty significant between the 2 (not good or bad, just different). It was a multi-faceted experience for me (good and bad). I'm grateful that I had the experiences, but I'm also grateful to have moved on. Within the "Blue Lodge" (regular Freemasonry), there are really 2 kinds of meetings: stated (monthly, normally boring stuff), and special (typically degree conferrals). The degree conferrals was a fantastic experience for me and I'll always keep as treasured memories. There are 3 degrees: Entered Apprentice (EA), FellowCraft (FC), and Master Mason (MM). The last section of each degree has a lecture specific to the degree. I really enjoyed the lectures (and ritual if it's done really well), and most especially the one for Fellow Craft (referred to as the 'stair lecture'). The other part of Blue Lodge that's supposed to be meaningful is the friendships that you develop and spend time with your fellow brothers. Outside of the Blue Lodge are various appendant bodies (affiliated organizations): York Rite, Scottish Rite, and Shriners are the main ones. I did belong to the Scottish Rite and really enjoyed the ritual. The Scottish Rite has 32 degrees and a separate ritual for each. The rituals are essentially plays/drama intended to convey one or more traits/values. I was fortunate enough to attend Scottish Rite degrees in Guthrie, Oklahoma. The Scottish Rite temple there is beautiful and watching the degree conferrals there was the highlight of my Masonic experiences. Why am I grateful for my Masonic experiences? I got to meet some really interesting people; I got to experience the degrees/ritual, and I became a better person by internalizing some of the teachings. This last part for me was becoming more tolerant and patient. How far do the 'blood oaths' really go? I don't know. It seems that they were real long ago, but I really believe that they're 100% symbolic in the US. Is it possible that there is some super secret and nefarious inner ring? Yes, it's possible but I wouldn't bet on it. Many Masons discuss the 2 types of Masons: card-carrying Masons (registered, and carries ID card in their wallet) and real Masons (no physical proof, but it's in their heart). Ideally, the 2 types would always be one and the same, but they aren't always.