When I joined the Scottish Rite through the Fall Reunion of 2022, I didn’t know what to expect. I showed up on each of the three Saturdays with a notebook and pen ready to take notes so that when I revisited the key concepts of each degree I could remember what caught my attention.

One of my old mentors in business would be proud, as he taught me the importance of taking notes: “the dullest pen is better than the sharpest mind.” I jotted down things that caught my attention in each degree, such as specific numbers, geometric shapes, characters of interest, etc., but there were four degrees that took up much of the real estate in my notebook on those three Saturdays: the 18th, 27th, 30th, and 32nd degrees.

Of course, the 32nd degree being the pinnacle of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite, I made sure to pay attention to see how all the concepts we had been introduced to so far would be unified and capped off. One of the biggest head-scratches that caught my attention during the 32nd degree was the explanation of the Great Masonic Camp.

Certain letters are given to you as you traverse the camp, and the official explanation of those letters are given to you during the degree. As with most symbols in Masonry, this explanation did not satisfy my curiosity, and, knowing the esoteric interests of the late Sovereign Grand Commander Pike, 33°, I knew there was more to these letters than meets the eye. So, off I went to whatever wonderland the rabbit hole led me.

During my research, I noticed that if you take the letters given to you during the explanation of the Great Masonic Camp in the order they are given to you, you get the words: IS NON XILAS UGNET. These words, roughly translated in Latin, gives you the phrase “it does not burn”. This was the point where my brain started cramping because I could not, for the life of me, figure out what that was referring to regarding the Masonic Camp, so, I decided to zoom out to the context of the entire degree. This where the phrase “it does not burn” makes the most sense, and I present my findings to you for your consideration.

The concepts and symbols presented in the 32nd degree share deep esoteric significance, rooted in both universal symbolism and particular spiritual traditions. My attempt to provide a cohesive analysis caused me to try and unify them within the realms of mysticism, numerology, sacred geometry, and spiritual cosmology.

The concept “it does not burn” carries profound esoteric significance, underscoring an indestructible core within the human soul, safeguarded amidst transformative trials. Across traditions, this idea resonates with symbols like divine numbers, celestial phenomena, and sacred geometry, reflecting humanity’s journey through spiritual evolution and enlightenment. Through fire, light, and sacred archetypes, these symbols collectively illustrate the soul’s indelible essence.

Fire: The Agent of Transformation

In esoteric traditions, fire symbolizes purification, illumination, and transformation. The flames consume what is impure, stripping away ego and temporal attachments, while leaving an indestructible divine spark untouched — symbolizing that “it does not burn.” Fire is thus both a destroyer and an enlightener, representing the soul’s journey through trials to reach a higher, purified state.

1. The Number 1: In many traditions, 1 symbolizes unity and the source of all things. This primal, indivisible force, the Monad, reflects the singularity of the soul—unchanging and eternal. In the Christian Bible, John 1:1 captures this essence: “In the beginning was the Word,” with the Word acting as the fire that ignites creation, remaining pure and untouched itself.
2. The Number 3 and Triadic Unity: The number 3 represents creation’s dynamic forces—creation, preservation, and destruction, as seen in Brahma-Vishnu- Shiva in Hinduism or Agni-Usha-Mitra in the Vedic tradition. This trinity embodies cyclical renewal, wherein fire both purifies and bridges the spiritual with the material.

Light as Purification and Enlightenment

Light illuminates the path of knowledge, consciousness, and divine truth. It is often paired with fire, representing the burning away of ignorance while leaving truth untouched. The morning star and the dawn signify spiritual awakening, as light heralds the emergence of truth after darkness.

In Hermeticism and alchemy, fire is the prima materia’s refining agent, separating the false from the true. The Hindu god Agni, the fire bearer, symbolizes purification, connecting mortal offerings to the divine. Similarly, Yahweh as the biblical God brings both judgment and renewal through fire, reinforcing the dual role of fire as both purifier and revealer.

The Number 7: Cosmic Balance and Harmony

The number 7 holds symbolic meaning in its union of 4 (stability) and 3 (creativity), representing harmony and spiritual awakening. The seven-pointed star, with each point representing a rainbow color, symbolizes the soul’s ascension, bridging the material with the mystical. In the Tree of Life, the tenth Sephirah, Malkuth, symbolizes the descent of the divine into matter, where material life is purified through fire before spiritual ascension.

In sacred geometry, the seven-pointed star serves as a bridge between known realms and the mystical beyond. It mirrors the seven chakras, with each color indicating a facet of spiritual refinement. The Lesser Tetractys with its 10-dot triangular arrangement, embodies the journey of spirit into matter, while the Greater Tetractys with 36 dots illustrates a higher order of divine harmony in creation.

Sacred Geometry and the Soul’s Structure

The soul’s journey is mapped through sacred geometry: a triangle nested within a pentagon, further enclosed by a heptagon and a nonagon. Each shape represents spiritual progression, from the triangle’s unity (mind, body, spirit) to the pentagon’s harmony with nature (five elements (4 classical elements + ether)). The heptagon represents the sevenfold path to enlightenment, while the nonagon (9) marks the cycle’s completion (8) and rebirth (1). Through fire, the soul moves through these sacred forms, evolving, yet retaining an immutable essence.

The pentangle or five-pointed star is another geometric symbol of balance, representing the five senses and the five elements. Masonically, it represents the Blazing Star or the Five Points of Fellowship. It highlights protection and balance, reflecting the interplay of human experience and spiritual transcendence. Nested shapes in geometry embody the soul’s layered journey, where each level of refinement mirrors a step closer to divine realization.

Justice and Wisdom in Divine Equilibrium

Justice (Tsedakah) and Wisdom (Hokmah) represent the equilibrium between mercy and judgment, necessary for cosmic harmony. In the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, this balance ensures creation’s function and integrity. The interplay between justice and wisdom signifies that, while the soul undergoes trials by fire, it is ultimately balanced by wisdom, leaving the essence untouched and revealing an unburnt truth at the journey’s end.

8 Angels and the Throne of Heaven

The 8 angels upholding the throne of God symbolize cosmic guardianship and eternal cycles. Eight is associated with stability, transcendence, and the spiritual form’s perfection. The divine throne they support “does not burn,” representing the soul’s indestructibility. This parallels Malkuth at the Tree of Life’s base, embodying the material world where the spirit must endure fire’s trials to ascend.

The Creative Word (Logos) and AUM

John 1:1 emphasizes the Word as a creative force, akin to the Hindu AUM which encompasses creation, preservation, and destruction. In both traditions, sound or vibration is the fundamental force that manifests creation. This sound, like fire, purifies and brings forth the universe, yet remains untouched, representing the unburnt divine within.

Nature’s Renewal through Fire

The phrase “Nature is renewed by fire” encapsulates cyclical rebirth—a concept spanning Eastern and Western traditions. Fire destroys to renew, much like dawn marking night’s end. Agni as fire personified in Hinduism and Yahweh as a deity of renewal both represent purification through judgment and transformation. Just as AUM unfolds creation from void, fire regenerates life from ashes, highlighting the perpetual cycle of destruction and rebirth.

Unified Significance and the Indestructible Soul

These symbols, numbers, and shapes form a cosmology of creation, transformation, and transcendence, embodying the soul’s journey. Through fire, dawn, the morning star, and light, forces of change awaken an inner truth. The numbers 1, 3, and 7, alongside sacred geometry, structure a path where divine essence transcends temporal flames.

Ultimately, these symbols reflect the union between manifestation and transcendence. In fire’s transformative crucible, the divine spark remains “unburnt.” Whether symbolized by the Monad (1), Morning Star, seven-pointed star, or geometric structures, the soul’s core persists beyond time’s and fire’s trials. This inner light, the divine essence, is ever evolving yet eternal, its journey through flame revealing its unaltered, sacred nature.

To summarize: it does not burn.

So Mote It Be.