High Degrees of the Portuguese Rite

The High Degrees of the Portuguese Rite are the natural, progressive continuation of the initiatic path, deepening the teachings and symbolism of the higher degrees of the Portuguese Rite as practised in the Sovereign Grand Lodge of Portugal.

The Masonic High Degrees are further stages of initiation within Freemasonry, beyond the three symbolic degrees of Blue or symbolic Masonry: Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason. These higher degrees, worked in several Rites, are intended to deepen the initiate's esoteric, philosophical, moral and spiritual knowledge.

The High Degrees of the Portuguese Rite have four dimensions: Spiritual, Scientific, Cultural and Metascientific (science being the road by which reason reaches God).

We move from Believing to Understanding. For that reason, its 9 High Degrees (the Portuguese Rite has 12 Degrees: 3 + 9) take up fundamental fields of spiritual and scientific study.

Its governing body is the Supreme Council of the High Degrees of the Portuguese Rite, formed on 5 January 2024 by a Charter issued by 15 Masons of the 33rd Degree (the final degrees of several Rites — AASR, RER and York/Royal Arch) from various parts of the world.

Each degree corresponds to a dimension of the Being and of the Mission of the Fifth Empire, taking up subjects such as: Sacred Geometry, Sacred Numerology, Kabbalah, Hermeticism, Gematria, Cymatics, the Kybalion, Spiritual Hydrosemiotics, Vibrational Language, Harmony of the Spheres, Analytical Psychology, Spagyrics, Spiritual Alchemy, Quantum Physics, Cosmology, Mythology, Neuroscience, Gnosis, Sacred Architecture, Astrology, Mystical Poetry, Comparative Spirituality, Macramé, Templarism, States of Consciousness, Theosophy, Rosicrucianism, the Emerald Tablet, the Corpus Hermeticum, Transdisciplinary Epistemology, the Theory of the Veils, Christian Mysticism, Christian Theosophy, Martinism and the Power of Intuition.

Yes. The High Degrees of the Portuguese Rite are open to all Master Masons, of every Obedience, without distinction. This inclusive and transcendent vocation seeks to unite spiritually all who wish to fulfil the greater purpose of collective consciousness and elevation that the Portuguese Rite proposes.

No. Grand Lodges and Grand Orients have jurisdiction only over the first three degrees (Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason). The High Degrees are independent and governed by treaties that may or may not be exclusive. It is like comparing secondary schools with universities: distinct but complementary stages. In the High Degrees of the Portuguese Rite the principle of Universitas prevails — universal openness to all Masons who meet the requirements, with no discrimination as to Obedience, nationality, creed or affiliation, provided they are regular Master Masons. It is the expression of the fact that, on this plane, fraternity stands above administrative borders.