The Northern Masonic Jurisdiction’s Author-in-Residence and the Valley of Boston’s very own literary wonder, Ill∴ Kamel Oussayef recently released his newest book A Freemason’s Journey Through Space & Time; it is available now through the Scottish Rite Museum and Library!
This captivating book invites readers to witness the extraordinary journey of a man who ascends from the 1° to the 33° of Freemasonry, navigating a timeline that spans from before the Middle Ages to the 21st century. At each Degree, the protagonist sheds his earthly and spiritual shell, transforms into a different person, and evolves through stages of knowledge, wisdom, tolerance, and development (both physical and spiritual). He possesses a remarkable ability to adapt to the diverse settings where fate places him —among the Masters of the Renaissance in Southeastern Europe, the Apache in North America, the Knight Templars in the Middle East, or Buddhist monks in Asia. Marcel Burton, our fictional hero, embodies the journey of any soul-searching individual seeking the meaning of life. His odyssey takes us through Antiquity, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and up to the modern era. This spiritual journey begins with Marcel as a demigod, gradually metamorphosing him into a Freeman, a Gnostic, a Knight, a Shaman at the time of Geronimo, and ultimately, a Servant of God—alternatively as a Muslim Imam or a Jewish Rabbi, sharing the same soul in different bodies. A Freemason’s Journey through Space and Time was co-written by Ill∴Oussayef and Ill∴ Jacques G. Ruelland, Ph.D., 33°, Deputy for the Scottish Rite in the Province of Quebec, Canada. To bridge the geographical distance between them and facilitate their remote labor, they wrote the initial text in French. Kamel then translated it into English. The Freemason’s Journey draws upon legends, and allegories from a variety of sources—the Bible, the Quran, and other religious, philosophical, and historical texts—that have endured through time without losing their relevance. These narratives are reminiscent of the works of Classical Greek playwrights, Roman orators, medieval scholars, Chinese and Indian thinkers, 17th-century Japanese and Russian writers, and the prolific intellectual creativity of 18th-century Europe during the Enlightenment. The book aims to parallel the progression of Masonic Degrees with the broader human experience spanning seven key periods, from primordial nothingness to the contemporary times. The comparison is succinctly illustrated by the metaphor of the Masonic three classical Greek columns in action: Corinthian Beauty during Antiquity, Doric inner strength during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and Ionic wisdom in modern and contemporary times. Particularly intended for younger and newer members of the Scottish Rite, the book will also captivate more seasoned Brothers and the general public with its exploration of philosophical, historical, political, sociological and demographic themes. It is unique in its approach, perhaps even a world-first, in presenting the Degrees of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in this manner. An innovative type of masonic manual that reads like a novel, it seamlessly blends multiple literary genres, ranging from historical fiction to science fiction or from a literary essay to a 21st century treatise on ethics for younger generations.
To purchase the book, click the link below!
