12 "Masonic" Rules for Life: An Antidote for Choas

Navigating Order and Chaos: A Comparative Study of Jordan Peterson and Freemasonry

In 2017 I watched a Jordan Peterson video on Youtube. While I can’t remember exactly what it was, I remember thinking to myself that everything he is saying can be found in Freemasonry.

A year later, he released a book called “12 Rules for Life, An Antidote to Choas”. It has sold millions of copies globally and has been a best-seller ever since. Needless to say, I have a copy myself.

But reading it cover to cover and studying his writing and the lessons of the book, while also being a student of Freemasonry and the lessons & principles of the craft. I discovered that his 12 Rules parallel the principles and lessons that can be found in Freemasonry, right across all of our ceremonies.

Dr Peterson also embarked on a world tour giving lectures in practically every city globally. His first Australian tour in 2019 sold out, and he added a second tour or lap around the country to meet demand. On his first lap, he sold out the Opera House (5,000), and on his second lap, selling ~5,000 at the Super Theatre at the ICC. But in 2023 when he toured for his second book, “Beyond Order 12 More Rules for Life” he sold out (9,000) on two separate dates. He also did the same in cities in Australia and New Zealand.

While Petersons’ writing reinforced the lessons taught in Freemasonry, the greater lesson for me was realising how many people need Freemasonry to help them bring order to their lives.

That if they are willing to pay $200 to sit in a theatre and listen to a 2-hour speech on how to be a better person. Then, wouldn’t they also want and abundantly benefit from a community of like-minded people who want to learn & improve together?

Peterson has been quoted stating that his demographics on Youtube skew to 80% Male, typically between ages 20 to 40. Another central theme to Dr Petersons’ teachings is to have a belief in a Supreme Being, or at least act as if one exists.

When I attended his lectures in Sydney in 2018 and 2023, you can see that the people who were in attendance are the ideal candidate for Freemasonry:

1. Men, over 18 years of age

2. Believe in a Supreme Being

3. Want to improve themselves

4. Willing to learn & take action to apply what they’ve learned

With such an overlap, not only in ideal demographics for candidates but with the same moral lessons & principles, I wanted to write “12 Masonic Rules for Life”. This would explain how each of Dr Petersons’ rules can be found in Masonic principles - but I never had found the time to do it.

For my own neurotype, committing to something external is a way for me to make it happen. So, over the next 12 days, and through this newsletter, I am going to write “12 Masonic Rules for Life”.

"12 Rules for Life" is Peterson's roadmap for a responsible and productive life.

He doesn't prescribe situational solutions; instead, he offers broad principles to counter life's inevitable hardships and instils order amidst the chaotic world.

Drawing from various disciplines, including psychology, history, philosophy, and religious texts, Peterson supplements his twelve rules with personal anecdotes, scientific research, and traditional wisdom, enabling readers to explore and apply these principles in their quest for a balanced and fulfilling life.

These 12 Rules parallel Freemasonry, and the Craft promotes values of brotherhood, integrity, self-improvement, and charity by employing allegorical (and metaphorical) lessons through stories and symbols to guide Masons towards fulfilling lives amidst worldly chaos, much like Peterson's twelve rules.

He portrays the world as a realm of order and chaos: order being the known, familiar, structured facets of life, and chaos representing the unknown, unfamiliar, unstructured — the cradle of potential. Living a meaningful life, according to Peterson, requires successfully navigating these domains.

Peterson's ultimate proposition is that by understanding and confronting life's chaos instead of fleeing from it, and adhering to his principles, individuals can lead lives that are not only conventionally successful but deeply meaningful.

Freemasonry's moral and philosophical teachings conveyed through symbolic elements strike parallels to Peterson's ideas. The Masonic journey itself symbolises the transition from ignorance to knowledge, chaos to order — a concept echoing Peterson's thoughts.

Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life and their equivalent Masonic Principes:

1. Rule 1: Stand up straight with your shoulders back
   Masonic Principle: Integrity and Dignity. This mirrors the Masonic teachings of standing upright in our actions and living with integrity and dignity.
   

2. Rule 2: Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping
   Masonic Principle: Brotherly Love. Freemasons are taught to care for and support one another, a principle that can be extended to self-care.
   

3. Rule 3: Make friends with people who want the best for you
   Masonic Principle: Brotherly Love. Freemasonry emphasises forming bonds with people who uphold the same high moral and ethical standards.
   

4. Rule 4: Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today
   Masonic Principle: Personal Improvement. Freemasonry teaches us to take steps forward and promotes continuous personal growth and improvement.
   

5. Rule 5: Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them - Masonic Principle: Rectitude. This reflects the Masonic emphasis on guiding newer Masons towards virtuous behaviour.
   

6. Rule 6: Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world
   Masonic Principle: Ceremony. Our ceremonies, such as the Opening & Closing are how we physically and empathically set our house in order before we begin our work.
   

7. Rule 7: Pursue what is meaningful (not what is expedient)
   Masonic Principle: Persistence. This resonates with the Masonic emphasis on persisting and being constant in seeking truth and enlightenment over short-term gains.
   

8. Rule 8: Tell the truth — or, at least, don't lie
   Masonic Principle: Truth. Freemasonry values truth and honesty in all dealings.
   

9. Rule 9: Assume that the person you are listening to might know something you don’t - Masonic Principle: Mutual Respect and Learning. Freemasonry promotes a culture of learning, respecting others' perspectives and experiences.
   

10. Rule 10: Be precise in your speech
    Masonic Principle: Harmony. Precise communication is essential in Masonic teachings to promote harmony and avoid misunderstandings.
    

11. Rule 11: Do not bother children when they are skateboarding
    Masonic Principle: Liberty. Freemasons value personal freedom and individuality, which echoes Peterson's rule about allowing children their space for growth and exploration.
    

12. Rule 12: Pet a cat when you encounter one on the street
    Masonic Principle: Relief. While this rule is often interpreted metaphorically to appreciate small moments of happiness amidst life's hardships, it parallels Freemasonry's teachings about charity and showing kindness to all.

While Jordan Peterson and Freemasonry might originate from distinct contexts, they share a common thread: harnessing universal principles and archetypal themes to chart a course through life's inherent challenges.

They both invite us to confront life's chaos head-on, using knowledge and ethical living as torches. Regardless of our paths, whether through the writings of a modern psychologist or an age-old fraternity, these principles offer a compass guiding us towards a balanced, fulfilling life.

Over the next 12 days, starting Monday I will be breaking down each of Dr Peterson’s lessons and their equivalent Masonic principles.

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