The Hurdles in Learning Ritual by Benjamin Villanueva
Memorization is an integral portion of our fraternity. The officers memorize ritual they deliver to candidates and candidates recite from memory their proficiencies.
Coaches responsible for teaching officers and candidates instruct their learning brethren in the use of ciphered manuals. This is merely part of the process. The remaining parts of the process of learning may differ from student to student, and the coach will adjust to different needs. Ours is a lodge composed of many great ritualists, yet the efforts over many years to achieve the status of excellence in ritual have not been easy. There are many methods in reaching exceptional ritual.
When examining a poem, the reader dissects the poem in order to understand ideas presented in that work. Memorizing ritual is similar in manner. Brothers need to understand the deeper components of the ritual to comprehend sufficiently the concepts presented to them. The apportioning of the ritual will make it much easier to memorize. That is one reason why we urge members to go see a degree again, but from a different perspective.
Once one understands the meaning of the ritual, committing to memory the ritual will be easier. As diverse as our lodge is, we will find in it varying talents and weaknesses. Yet, ritual should not be regarded as a talent or something dreaded or feared, but a hurdle to overcome. Understanding one’s strengths is the master key to unlocking the door to memorizing ritual. Some people are auditory learners and learn ritual by hearing it. This is similar to learning lyrics to a favorite song. Others learn better kinesthetically. These brothers have to go through the motions of ritual to memorize it.
These examples are general. There are many ways to decode ritual and fit the process to one’s memorization skill. Remember that a race with ten obstacles may be intimidating at first glance, but technique helps one to surmount those hurdles faster than his mind deceives his thinking.
Fraternally,
Benjamin Villanueva, Junior Warder