Freemasonry and the Path to Sirius

Very Illus.^..^.. Bro.^.. Pamela McDown 33°

Date Published: 9/9/2025                        

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Is the seven pointed Star of Initiation a metaphoric gateway to the Dog Star, Sirius?

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As a 33rd Degree Mason, I often contemplate what it truly means to stand at the symbolic summit of our Craft. We often describe the 33° as the “crown” of Freemasonry, but I have come to realize that it is not an ending. Rather, it is a threshold — a portal opening onto a vaster horizon, a mystery that beckons us beyond the familiar walls of the Lodge and into the great cosmic temple which all earthly Masonry is but a reflection. Sirius.

I must admit, I have approached writing about Sirius with a certain reluctance. Too often, discussions of this luminous star fall into the realm of fantasy, dismissed as speculation about “little green men” and distant galaxies. But my aim here is not fanciful. It is to consider, seriously and thoughtfully, the profound symbolism of Sirius within the Masonic tradition — and to ask what it might mean for us as initiates of the Craft.

The words of Freemason Albert Pike, who I highly respect, return to me again and again:

“Sirius still glitters in our lodges as the Blazing Star.” (Morals and Dogma)

I believe he made no idle observation with this statement. Brother Pike was pointing us toward a great stream of initiatory wisdom that flows through Egypt, Chaldea, and the ancient Mysteries, down into our Lodges today. Those who came before us recognized Sirius as far more than the brightest star in the heavens. It was a gateway, a signpost of the soul’s greater journey.

In Egypt, Sirius (known as Sopdet or Sothis) heralded the annual flooding of the Nile, bringing fertility and renewal to the land. Its heliacal rising marked the New Year — a cosmic reset when the rhythms of heaven and earth aligned. To the Egyptians, Sirius was Isis, the divine mother whose radiance sustained creation.

This annual appearance of Sirius was more than an astronomical event. It symbolized the eternal return of life, the assurance that order could emerge from chaos, and that renewal was woven into the very fabric of creation. No wonder it became a cornerstone of the Mysteries.

The Greeks, too, were captivated by this star. To them, it was the Seirios — the Scorcher — whose brilliance marked midsummer. The Dogon people of West Africa preserved intricate cosmologies around Sirius, speaking of its hidden companion star long before modern astronomy confirmed its existence. Wherever we look, Sirius has served as more than a light in the sky. It has been a teacher, a revealer, a symbol of cosmic order and spiritual destiny.

But this raises the question: why would our ancestors, across cultures and centuries, choose Sirius above all others to symbolize the gateway to initiation? Is it possible that they preserved an intuition — or even a direct knowledge — that humanity’s evolution is mysteriously linked to this star?

The Greater Lodge on Sirius 

The esoteric writings of Freemason Alice A. Bailey take this question to a profound level. For Brother Bailey, Sirius is not only a symbol but the very spiritual source of Masonry itself. In Initiation, Human and Solar, she makes the extraordinary claim:

“The initiations of the planet or of the solar system are but the preparatory initiations of admission into the greater Lodge on Sirius. We have the symbolism held for us fairly well in Masonry, and in combining the Masonic method with what we are told of the steps on the Path of Holiness we get an approximate picture.” 

In her vision, Sirius is the seat of a cosmic fraternity that oversees the initiatory process of the entire solar system. Sirius is the spiritual prototype of the great White Lodge, of which modern Masonry is the distorted reflection.  Our earthly Lodges, therefore, are shadows of a celestial reality, rehearsals for the greater initiation that awaits beyond this world.

Brother Bailey’s insights can be distilled into five key teachings:

Sirius as the Great Star of Initiation — the archetype of initiation itself, where higher mysteries unfold.

Sirius and the Path of Discipleship — source of the will, steadfastness, and fidelity that define true initiates.

Sirius and the Law of Karma — seat of cosmic justice and the balancing of cause and effect.

Sirius and Freemasonry — “the home of Masonry,” where our rituals mirror a greater liturgy enacted above.

Sirius as the Source of Hierarchical Life — sustaining the spiritual Hierarchy that guides human evolution.

As Brother Bailey wrote in Rays and Initiations:

"These ancient mysteries were originally given to humanity by the Hierarchy and were -- in their turn -- received by the Hierarchy from the Great White Lodge on Sirius. They contain the clue to the evolutionary process, hidden in numbers and words; they veil the secrets of man's origins and destiny, picturing for him in rite and ritual the long, long path which he must tread.” 

For the Mason, the implication is clear: when we look upon the Blazing Star, we are not gazing at ornament or allegory, but at the emblem of our ultimate destiny. Masonry, inheriting the wisdom of the ages, adopted Sirius as the seat of initiation for its message: that initiation is always about renewal, that the soul has a greater home, and that our labors on earth point to mysteries beyond the veil.

Sirius and the Work of the Mason Today

If Sirius is the archetype of initiation and the Blazing Star is its emblem, then the question before us is practical: What does this mean for us in the Lodge today?

First, it challenges us to recognize that Masonry is not a closed system. Our rituals, symbols, and degrees 1°–33° are not the end in themselves, but reflections of a greater cosmic drama. When we labor in the quarries of self-discipline, or when we join with our Brethren in raising a Lodge from darkness to light, we are participating in a work that could indeed have its prototype on Sirius. Every step on the path of initiation echoes a greater cosmic pattern.

Second, Sirius reminds us of Masonry’s dual demand: inner unfoldment and outer service. The Sirian current is said to strengthen both the inner bonds of fidelity and outward skill in action. In practical terms, this means the Mason’s work is twofold — to build the temple of consciousness within, and to labor in the visible world for the good of humanity. The two cannot be separated. As the Blazing Star shines in our Lodge, so must our inner light radiate outward in brotherhood.

Third, it places Freemasonry in a broader evolutionary vision. If Sirius nourishes the very life of the Spiritual Hierarchy, then Masonry is far more than a fraternity of moral instruction. It is an instrument of planetary evolution, preparing individuals and groups for higher service. In this light, the Craft becomes not only a custodian of tradition but a school for the builders of a new world.

Brother Pike hinted at this when he wrote that the Blazing Star (or Sirius) is a symbol of Deity, of omnipresence (the Creator is present everywhere) and of omniscience (the Creator sees and knows all). Sirius is, therefore, a source of divine power and the destination of divine individuals. If the light of Sirius is indeed the light of initiation, then the Mason’s task is to keep that star burning within the heart of the Craft, ensuring that its radiance is not dimmed by complacency, materialism, or forgetfulness of its higher purpose.

In closing, does Sirius summon us? The Blazing Star glitters above as it did for Egypt, Chaldea, Greece, and the sages of every age. I believe it summons us to labor, to build, to serve—not for ourselves, but for humanity’s unfolding destiny. It does not shine for passive admiration but calls forth a response. And so, I leave you with this: if all true initiation is Sirian, then shall we remain apprentices of the earth, or will we dare to claim our place as builders among the stars?