THE FLAME-BLADED SWORD
The flame-bladed sword has a wavy zigzag blade; the
intention of this unusual shape is to represent fire when moving. This sword
is considered to be an entire symbol surrounded by esoteric and mysterious
legends.
The flame-bladed sword has a distinct esoteric
quality used in ritual ceremonies
It is an item
which is related to the Masonic movement in which the flame-bladed sword is
known for being one of the symbolic elements of Freemasonry, along with the
compass that represents geometry, the square that represents both
intellectual and moral honesty, and the grenade that is identified with
ideas of achievement. In general terms, Freemasonry is a secret society
which is distinctly philosophical, symbolic and religious in nature, the
origins of date back to the Middle Ages with the development of several
professional organisations of artisans. The name Freemasonry itself derives
from the French terms franc-mason meaning free mason. It was through this
that these artisans of stone, metal and wood decided to form their own
groups to defend their interests against the grievances of the the wealthy.
To communicate they started to use secret signs the meaning of which was
known only by them. They took their own symbols such as those listed above;
along with the flame-bladed sword with a winding blade they also used a
straight sword.

The square, the compass and the grenade are
Masonic symbols along with the the flame-bladed sword
Little by little these organisations of artisans started
to be tainted with occultism and mysticism thanks to the work of alchemists
and philosophers, thereby losing their original meaning. Furthermore, their
branches extended into other social groups such as thinkers, nobles,
soldiers and beyond, and by the 19th and 20th centuries economists and
politicians. Their utmost aspiration was to built a spiritual community
based on virtue and science.
Reverting to the idea of the flame-bladed sword as a central symbolic
element of Freemasonry, it is worth highlighting that it could only be used
by the Venerable Master of the Lodge and in any case, also by the watchmen
and brothers who guarded the temple, the Temple Guardians. When the
flame-bladed sword is in the hands of the Venerable Master in Masonic
ceremonies, it acquires the meaning of spiritual power and a source from
which all science emanates. It is the Venerable Master who is in charge of
radiating the light that is emitted by the blade of the sword with its
zigzag reflections over all the members of the order. This light which is
emitted by the flame-bladed sword must reach all the corners of the world
thereby spreading wisdom to oppose obscurantism and hypocrisy. On the other
hand all the Temple Guardian brothers also carry the flame-bladed sword
acting as a symbol of security, as they are the ones who must protect the
security and discretion of the rest of the brothers of the Lodge when they
meet.

The flame-bladed sword has a
wavy edge representing flames of fire
The flame-bladed sword is never sheathed,
this is because the Masons believe that fire cannot be trapped and sheathed,
and always remains free, for everyone to see, instructing and illuminating
men. In addition the fact that the sword always appears naked, without a
scabbard, contributes to reinforcing the meaning that virtue and science are
universal assets within everyone's reach and in the hands of all of humanity.
The idea of associating the flame-bladed sword with
esoteric and mystical elements is reinforced by the fact that this sword is
represented in the Tarot. The flame-bladed sword is on several of the major
arcana such as the Wheel of Fortune card which represents the eternal. It
also appears on the Justice card and on The Magician, representing alchemy
and strongly related to Freemasonry.
The Norse God Surt always
appears associated with a flame-bladed or flaming sword
In Norse mythology the flaming sword or
flame-bladed sword also has a presence. It is God Surt, monarch of
Muspelheim, the king of fire, who is associated with the flame-bladed sword.
In the Poetic Edda, a group of poems written in Old Norse dating back to the
18th century AD, the Völuspá, also called "The prophesy of the seeress"
appears. An extract from this tells us the following in reference to God
Surt and his flame-bladed sword: "God Surt, coming from the south,
brandishing the fire, the sword of the Gods shines in the darkness, like the
stars in the night?".

Representation of Adam and Eve
expelled from Paradise by the cherub with a flame-bladed
sword
To conclude this overview summarising the
meaning of the flame-bladed sword, one final reference should be added: the
reference made to this sword in The Bible. More specifically, in one of the
passages related to Adam and Eve written in Genesis (Gen, 3: 24). When both
parties eat the apple from the forbidden tree, God punishes them by
expelling them from Eden and condemning them to work the land. God proceeds
to close the gates to Paradise with a flame-bladed sword or sword of fire,
and places guardian cherubs on either side to prevent the first woman and
the first man described in The Bible from reaching the Tree of Life that
would give them eternal life.

The flame-bladed sword has a
presence in numerous traditions such as Catholic and Norse
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