Hon. James McCallion, 32° KCCH
Venerable Master, Director of Education
During the 13th Moon Cycle in January 2025, we conclude with the teachings of Clan Mother “Becomes Their Vision,” the guardian of transformation. As a symbol of change, she offers sacred guidance to help us navigate life’s lessons and cycles of growth, leading us toward spiritual evolution. Her teachings illuminate the importance of remaining true to our chosen path, avoiding the illusions that could obscure our dreams and purpose. This process of change transforms us from a finite sense of self to become a boundless expression of the infinite love and creativity of the Great Mystery. Becomes Their Vision reminds us of the profound interconnectedness of all existence, teaching that the worlds within and beyond us reflect one another, echoing the eternal truth: As above, so below, as within, so without (Sicut in caelo et in terra). According to Shaman Sams, “the ultimate transforming vision is the decision to simply BE.”
Inherent in the 32nd degree, Master of the Royal Secret is a profound wisdom similar to that of becoming one’s vision;
“A candle has no reflection, light has no shadow, god is light, in him, there is no darkness. God is in us. Do not defile his temple. We are god’s reflection – each of us.”
What does this mean? God is the flame. We are not the flame, but we are the light and heat cast off of the flame.
In the Elder Furthark, the rune “Ansuz” represents wisdom, harmony, & order. It is the spoken word of Odin, his breath, and communication. One could connect Ansuz with Fiat Lux and the Judeo-Christian Creation story. “We are sons and daughters of the Creator… what shall we create?”
At the beginning of this series, I introduced the Lunar calendar, a system rooted in the moon’s cycles around the Earth. In a single year, the moon completes 13 revolutions, creating 13 lunar months of 28 days each. This ancient calendar, sustained for millennia, carries its mythos etched into the shell of the turtle.
I also highlighted the Shamanic Wheel of Truth with its twelve spokes, and how, when aligned with the ancient teachings of the Kiowa, it offers a framework to explore the symbolic messages each moon holds for us on our Red Road. How each of these lessons explore the nature of truth as it pertains to our physical involvement in the terrestrial, manifesting our spiritual potential or “orendas” in order to become the living vessels of Love that the Great Mystery intended.
We explored “Tiyoweh,” or meditation and forms of ritual and ceremony exclusive to indigenous and Norse shamanic traditions, and we forged connections of those ancient practices with philosophical schools of thought such as Taoism & Buddhism, and those espoused by Scottish Rite Freemasonry.
As each month revealed a particular truth, we were tasked with unveiling how those truths were to be found within us.
What I did not anticipate, however, was how deeply the pursuit of Truth would affect me. The further I ventured into its understanding, the more I felt a profound sense of loss. The harsh reality is that much of the living world does not live for, with, or in Truth. The path of Truth is an inward journey, meant for personal transformation. Its reward lies not in external validation, but in the internal shift it creates the ability to see the world through the Creator’s eyes and to marvel at the infinite beauty of His love.
What did I hope to gain on this journey through the 13 moons? Truthfully, I didn’t know. What I discovered was the necessity of stripping away everything—dismantling the ego, letting it die, and becoming… nothing. Nobody. A blank canvas. Simply, I am.
Have you ever imagined starting over completely? To begin again, but with the clarity of foresight and the wisdom of experience—to see the world not as it appears, but as it truly is? Perhaps even to recognize it for what it might be: a lusus naturae, an illusion. That is the gift of truth—it dismantles the falsehoods, illuminates what has been hidden, and clears the way forward. Could this be the reckoning of light?
As human beings, we often define ourselves by what binds us: the groups we belong to, the roles we play, the identities we claim. At its core, this need for connection and meaning anchors us to something larger than ourselves. But what happens when those ties are severed? When every identity is stripped away, leaving you untethered, belonging to nothing? What remains when even your lingering attachments feel like echoes from a life you no longer inhabit? The Tao Te Ching reminds us that if we “want the world, we must give the World up.” And in the profound solitude of loss, there is an unexpected beauty: the opportunity to be found.
When we let go of labels and definitions, we open ourselves to infinite potential. The Tao’s second chapter reminds us, “The name that can be named is not the eternal name.” What does that mean? To name yourself is to limit yourself. Call yourself a painter, and you confine yourself to that role, excluding the possibility of being a parent, sibling, friend, teacher, or anything else.
Yet, as Becomes Their Vision teaches, by being nobody and nothing, we also become everybody and everything. To embrace this truth is to understand that we are all the Universe, having a human experiencing. I am you, and you are me. In the words of Ram Dass, “We are all just [souls] walking each other home.” This shift—from self to all—is where meaning resides.
Up until now, I realized I have been living a life that wasn’t truly mine—shaped by illusions and expectations, disconnected from my essence. So, I return to the question: Who am I?
In my Venerable Master’s address at the 2024 Installation of Officers, I reflected on a profound question once posed to Rumi: “Who are you?” His enigmatic reply was, “I don’t know… Planting flowers to which the butterflies come.” This sentiment resonates with the Scottish Rite’s “reveal/re-veil” approach, inviting us to explore identity not as a fixed state but as a dynamic process of becoming.
Like Rumi, we may not always know who we are in a given moment, for we are ever-evolving beings. Yet, we can uncover truths about ourselves by listening to the whispers of our hearts and defining ourselves through the passions that bring us joy and purpose. Though Rumi admitted he didn’t fully grasp his identity, he was certain of his desire—to sow seeds of wisdom and spirituality, nurturing the growth of others. In this, we find inspiration: to embrace the mystery of who we are while planting the seeds that allow beauty, meaning, and connection to flourish.
In the month of January, I charge you with asking yourself the same question… Who are you?
The privilege of serving as Venerable Master for our valley has been a profound honor and a truly humbling experience. It is a distinction I will cherish and hold close to my heart for all the days of my life.
Hágoónee (so be it, until we see each other again),
Hon. James McCallion, 32° KCCH
Venerable Master, Director of Education
