Royal Arch Masonry

I just had a DM question from a new exalted companion. "What was that !! - What is the Holy Royal Arch all about - I dont understand anything, it is so different from the third degree, how does it connect to the first 3 degrees both on the surface of the story and on a deeper spiritual level?" as you can Imagine, it took a bit to reply.

I thought I would share with you my reply. (with his permission of course.)

The Holy Royal Arch is not merely a continuation but an essential completion of the journey you began in the first three degrees of Freemasonry. Think of the Craft degrees as the foundation, where you learn the moral and ethical lessons symbolized by the tools and practices of operative masonry. These degrees lay the groundwork for your spiritual and moral development, using the Solomonic tradition as a framework for teaching about building one's own inner temple.

The Royal Arch takes these lessons further, delving into the deeper esoteric and spiritual aspects of Masonry. It symbolizes the recovery of lost knowledge, the finding of the t_ w_ , and the realization of one's true self, which has been obscured. It's about the reconstruction of the self, aligning with the divine, and achieving a higher state of consciousness. This degree connects to the earlier ones by showing the journey's end is not the master mason's g_, but rather a rebirth into a higher understanding and closer communion with the Great Architect.

Incorporating insights from various esoteric traditions, the Royal Arch speaks to universal themes of enlightenment, regeneration, and the eternal search for divine truth. It teaches that through perseverance, study, and reflection, we can transcend our material confines and touch the divine spark within, achieving a deeper understanding of our place in the cosmos and our relationship with the divine.