Doctor in Social and Legal Sciences. Writer and ex-councilor of the Canary Islands Community.

"It is much easier to blame others for our ills. Taking responsibility for our existence requires courage and determination."

Q_What consequences does our cultural roots have on current political and economic corruption?
A_In my book Inharmonious Corruption I hypothesize that religion and philosophy have shaped two completely different visions of understanding the human essence in the Christian West. Influential question in that the rates of perception of political and administrative corruption are higher in the south than in the north of Europe. As well as in Latin America, cultural heir to Spain and Portugal.
Then, in this essay, I approach the phenomenon of political and administrative corruption from a content analysis of the multiplicity of orthodox texts and others classified at the time as heretical. The starting point is Ancient Egypt, a society determined to preserve the harmony of each act. Harmony staged by the figure of the goddess Maat, the "patron saint of judges", whose image I chose when making the cover of my book. Deity who placed her pen on the scale that weighed the heart of the deceased, for whom if they achieved balance the doors of paradise would open. However, if the weight went out of balance they would suffer eternal torment. Labor replaced in Christianity by the archangel Saint Michael. In such a way that today the balance is the universal symbol of law and justice.
What I aspire to demonstrate with this study is that the corruption of the countries of southern Europe and Latin America is inharmonious, having not assumed the original concept that Maat implied. A West sculpted by Christianity, who proclaimed itself the cultural heir of the Roman Empire after its fall in 476.
Christianity that ended up being divided into a Catholic one, where the important thing is the collective, and another Protestant, in which the individual prevails. Protestant countries concerned with preserving the separation of powers, while Catholics advocated the utopian figure of the "philosopher-king", the Spanish iron surgeon. Eager to find the Messiah to save them from all evils. However, the rulers they elected ended up moving for the benefit of themselves or their clan, eternal interpreters of the sad score of inharmonious corruption.
Northern Europe that instructed the population in the search for the Greek pneuma, that is, in personal perfection. Along with the need to live in balance, that is, according to the principle of the Egyptian Maat. Knowledge that was passed down through secret societies. In addition to the mysticism of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, who ended up losing the game to the scholastic within the Catholic world.
Consequently, the Protestants opted for an individualistic position of the human being that detects his conscience and therefore is capable of discerning between Good and Evil. An individual who knows his imperfections and who tries to improve himself every day. Humility that leads them to adopt preventive measures against corruption and to guarantee the separation of powers outlined by the Mason Montesquieu. Hence, Protestant countries fare better in corruption perception indices.
Meanwhile, the Catholic territories maintained a collectivist vision, which they initially called res publica christiana. Society composed of all believers in Christ. So that the "Great Church" equated the spirit with the soul, with the consequent condemnation as heresy of trichotomism, from the IV Council of Constantinople in 870. Heresies that came to be effectively fought by the Inquisition. An ecclesiastical institution that emerged as the only channel of access to the spiritual realm and all those who did not use this way to connect with the divine were supposed to have appealed to the Evil One.
Since the main thing was to keep the group together until the second coming of Christ, the parousia, which would bring salvation. Reason why the message was controlled and those in charge of spreading it, the bishops, were protected in order to avoid any type of friction and thereby jeopardize the achievement of the objective. Reason why freethinking was seen as a threat to the required cohesion.
So, for Catholics, the option or not to commit the criminal offense is not made based on their own conviction, but rather out of fear of external punishment. Subjects in which appearance and not being predominate, pride as opposed to due humility. What together with the idolatrous conception of power leads them to choose repressive measures to stop corruption and to focus on finding a great man to rule them. Since the knowledge necessary to strengthen their individual conscience was vetoed, they were supplied by

Q- What do you think of the belief that there are hidden powers that orchestrate the rest of the population? Opinion on the rise these days, precisely for the sake of this new pandemic that leads some to believe that everything is planned to extinguish part of the population, presumably excessive for the planet.
A_Each person runs their own world. In the Renaissance, Pico della Mirandola wrote a very valuable manifesto of enormous depth, traditionally known as Discourse on the dignity of man. Text in which it describes a fully free human being, empowered to achieve the best version of himself or the worst. It only depends on each one the choice.
And it is that conferring power to others over ourselves would suppose idolatry, a position in which only God is. Now, it is much easier to blame others for our ills. Taking responsibility for our existence requires courage and determination.
According to Kant's "categorical imperative" we must endow ourselves with right principles. Personal convictions that once assumed we must defend against all odds, without fear of consequences and without expecting rewards. Because you can sin by action or omission. Looking the other way or letting something happen knowing that it is not correct is just as bad. Since only if each one is capable of improving himself individually, the union of all will inevitably lead to advancement. The Masons speak for example of polishing our stone to fit the common Temple.

Q- As a writer, what literary genre do you do best?
A_Oscar Wilde used to say: «There are only two rules for writing: having something to say and saying it». I have written essays, novel essays and stories; but in all of them I have always wanted to convey a message. In addition, I have sometimes stated that we writers want to transform society through the ideas sculpted in our books; however, it is the readers who make them germinate, without them nothing is possible. And I have remembered that a work without readers is nothing more than a dead letter. That is why the format does not matter, the important thing for me is what I want to communicate and how I can make it reach the receiver as clearly as possible.

Q- What would you like to achieve change in society with the ideas reflected in your books?
A_There are those who affirm that when the end of our days comes, we see our lives pass in images. Well, I hope that when my last breath comes, I can affirm that my passage through this world has contributed something, no matter how small, to common improvement. That which Kabbalists call the Tikun Olam. True to the premise that ideas transform everything. Absolutely convinced that it is essential to do an outreach activity through the word, whether written or spoken. So that perhaps that mythical "Age of the Holy Spirit" that Joaquín de Fiore advocated could materialize, the one preceded by freedom and the spirit. Beings that act under the premise of Kant's "categorical imperative", without the need for external agents to curtail their potential progress. A collective development that inevitably passes through the individual.

Q- As a student of symbolism, what has drawn your attention to the Celtic symbolism present in the north of Spain?
A_In my YouTube channel I describe precisely some of these symbolic aspects. And it is that certain Christian traditions have their reminiscence in the Celtic cults. For example, the origin of All Saints' Day must be found in Celtic Samhain. The commemoration of the end of summer that occurred between the night that runs from October 31 to November 1. Time that coincided between the middle of the autumnal equinox and the winter solstice. Where the light cycle gave way to a dark one. So during that night the line that separated the earthly world from the spiritual world could be confused. It was a propitious moment to contact the deceased relatives. However, people dressed up in animal skins to mislead evil spirits so that they could not drag them with them. Although the first texts mention a celebration of three days.
Also, the feast of Saint John of the Christians resembles the Celtic Litha. Summer solstice celebration that takes place between June 20 and 22, the arrival of the shortest nights of the year, if we are located in the northern hemisphere. Festivities with which it was intended to give more strength to the Sun, because from that moment on it weakens. And for this purpose bonfires were lit.
But this readaptation of the myths and legends of some cultures to others has its explanation in psychology, as I detailed in my book entitled Symbology. Because the human mind is quite reluctant to accept a complete renewal of its beliefs. Therefore, the usual is that slight alterations are tried. Namely, new elements are added from the knowledge and experiences of the individual himself. That is, their previous conceptions are enriched; but they do not contradict each other. And in this way it is achieved that the subject easily adheres to the supposed new proposal.
Because it should be remembered that the primary objective of Christianity is the second coming of Christ, the parousia, at which time salvation will occur. And for this it was necessary that the greatest number of faithful be converted, according to the "theology of the restoration of Israel" defended by Saint Paul. A significant number of the different nations of which God promised Abraham that he would make him father (Genesis 17, 5). Hence the evangelizing mission was vital.
Q- After being a councilor in your Canarian community, what are the greatest similarities and differences with the Galician community?
A_In my work I emphasize that symbolic side of reality, that hidden part that we need to unravel to get closer to our ultimate essence. Symbolism in which the political elites of northern Europe were instructed within the lodges, genuine training academies that promoted the progress of that region.
Symbolism that remained latent in a hidden Spain accessible only through intuition. The mystical Spain of Saint Teresa of Jesus or Saint John of the Cross. The Spain of the illuminated, severely punished by the Inquisition. The Spain of a Quixote who dreamed of conquering maximum freedom. Freedom that became anathema in a country "where there was nothing but whip, iron, blood, prayers, braziers and smoke" as Echegaray, the first Spanish Nobel Prize winner, declared.
And in that Spain vetoed for reason, Galicia occupies a prominent place. Birthplace of one of the main characters of French esotericism, Papus. Creator of the Martinist Order, current based on the ideas of the Unknown Philosopher. Disciple of Joseph Alexandre Saint-Yves D'Alveydre, author of The Archeometer. Text in line with the prisca theologia proclaimed by Marsilio Ficino in the Platonic School of Florence.
Prisca theologia composed of the teachings of Zoroaster, Hermes Trismegistus, Pythagoras, Plato or Orpheus. Ideas that thanks to the advent of Christianity were understood. A Hermes Trismegistus who according to the Alexandrians was at the head of alchemy. And the Arabs would be in charge of bringing this knowledge from Alexandria to Spain, documents translated in Toledo and disseminated to the rest of Europe through the pilgrimage route of the Camino de Santiago. A Europe designed around common beliefs and empowered by pilgrims who made use of the ancient Roman roads. Where Santiago became the "Jerusalem of the West", located at the end of the world (Finis Terrae).
But it should be noted that apart from these elements common to the Canaries and Galicians, we are united by the need to emigrate that we had, as we had no other option in our land to prosper. The Galicians in the beginning, for example, to Argentina and the Canaries in great numbers to Venezuela. Later, the Canary Islands were blessed with tourism and we had the option of staying here, that's why we received with our arms.

Q- What do secret societies such as Rosicrucianism, Martinism and Freemasonry have in common and what else did they influence?
A_ The Rosicrucian Enlightenment was a Christian esotericism. Movement that found its foundation in the theses of the Calabrian abbot Joaquín de Fiore, who like Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, the architect of the rule of the mythical Templars, belonged to the Cistercian order and knew their writings.
Well, we must not forget that Saint Bernard defended a line of thought within the "Great Church" that received the Platonic heritage, who understood God through individual experience. A current that ultimately lost the theological battle against the scholasticism that relied on Aristotelian postulates, whose claim was to understand God through reason. Trend in which the figure of Saint Thomas Aquinas stood out, Thomism which is the current prevailing philosophy of Catholicism.
However, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux believed that God must be felt and only Love leads to him. Reason has to be combined with intuition. Namely, what for the cabal is the fusion of the sefira of Bina with that of Hochma to achieve Daat, the essential knowledge to go up to Keter. Daat that in the theses of Saint Bernard would be equivalent to the Virgin Mary in charge of moving us to Christ. Since it should be noted that with him the Marian cult is praised, a veneration that the Templars also contemplated. Virgin Mary who miraculously granted her milk to Saint Bernard for the defense she made of it, that is, knowledge. Wisdom that, as Solomon proclaimed, "is worth more than pearls" and "nothing palatable can be equaled" (Proverbs 8, 11).
Constant effort to draw near to the Lord that floods the believer with continuous joy. Subject to true introspection to get the desired answers. Because as Saint Augustine, equally Platonic, affirmed: "In the interior of man the truth dwells."
Path of improvement in which the spiritual prevails over the material and where humility should be the predominant note. A subject who has to treat others as he would like to be treated, willing to help others. Benevolent with the failures of the other by being aware of their own. Someone who seeks to do good for the good itself, without expecting any recognition. Continuous improvement that must be applied in the material sphere to promote the development of society.
For his part, the mystic Joaquín de Fiore imbued himself with Bernardian thought and also divided the age of humanity into three stages. The first stage was the "Age of the Father", that of the Old Testament, where the individual lived in fear and remained in a state of slavery. The second was the "Age of the Son", pertaining to the New Testament, here the person became a servant, he still needed an intermediary to reach the Almighty. And the last stage would be the "Age of the Holy Spirit", where the subject would achieve maximum freedom, capable of connecting directly with God. The "Age of the Holy Spirit" would be dominated by spiritual men. And his followers added that the exoteric Church of Peter would be replaced by that of John, due to his predilection for this gospel.
The archetype of "Rosicrucian Enlightenment" would be Christian Rosenkreuz, whose life bears certain similarities to that of Joaquín de Fiore. Founder of the hypothetical "fraternity of the Holy Spirit." An order that supposedly met in "the abode of the Holy Spirit."
Similarly, "Rosicrucian Enlightenment" was influenced by the Christian Kabbalah outlined by Pico della Mirandola. To which must be added the alchemical approaches of Paracelsus and the secrecy disclosed during the Renaissance thanks to the translations of Marsilio Ficino. And his special adoration of the Virgin Mary must also be highlighted; in the stela of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, the Templars or Joaquín de Fiore.
The goal of "Rosicrucian Enlightenment" was political, educational, and individual regeneration. In short, to procure the early advent of the "Age of the Holy Spirit." Premises that they captured in their three manifestos: Fama Fraternitatis (1614), Confessio Fraternitatis (1615) and The Chemical Weddings of Christian Rosenkreutz (1616). In line with what St. Bernard of Clairvaux pointed out, they prevented the dire consequences of understanding God exclusively through reason, which could lead to excessive rationalism. And consequently it would entail the postponement of the experiential learning promoted by mysticism. The ideas of "Rosicrucian Enlightenment" eventually penetrated Freemasonry. Even in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite the eighteenth degree is rightly called the Sovereign Rosicrucian Knight.
Freemasonry historically is divided into three stages. First is the operative Freemasonry spanning from the 13th to the 16th century. Masons who congregated in lodges, that is, meeting places of the builders that were usually located next to the work. Masons who, like the rest of the members of the various guilds, were endowed with internal rules that regulated their conduct. But when construction declined, these groups began to accept people who did not belong to that union. Stage called as that of the accepted masons, which goes from the seventeenth century to the beginning of the eighteenth. And finally in 1717 the current speculative masonry starts.
Speculative Masonry where there are no longer physical builders, but spiritual ones. Symbolically builders of the Temple of Solomon. Then all the initiates are accepted, "adopted." Although it preserves the symbolic aspect of the original construction, the tools that now make it possible to grind and polish its stone to the Mason. And 1717 corresponds to the date on which four lodges of accepted in London meet to create the Grand Lodge of London. Theistic court current, as its members are required to believe in a revealed god of any of the religions in the book. An innovative aspect for the time, being able to share a Christian meeting place, whether Catholic or Protestant, with Jews or Muslims.
In a West where there was still a struggle for the survival of the Res publica Christiana, where Christ stood as priest and king at the top. If to this is added the defense of Freemasonry for the establishment of the postulates of the liberal State, its repeated condemnation within this context is understood. A time when the Old Regime was reluctant to die. So the established powers saw Freemasonry as the enemy to beat. Determined to preserve the status quo so that everything would continue unchanged.
As for Martinism, its key figure was Louis Claude de Saint Martin, known as the Unknown Philosopher. But he did not create any community, he just met with those closest to him to discuss spiritual issues. With whom he shared his concern for the serious damage that would bring excessive "rationalism", "materialism" and its drift into a radical "atheism".
His theories were built on Christian axioms. Because he valued "Christianity" as "the religion of brotherhood and liberty." But he distinguished Christianity from Catholicism and placed the latter in "the region of rules and discipline." A Catholicism that only operates "by authorities and institutions" and not in an experiential way like Christianity. Although he considered Catholicism as the necessarily "preparatory" instruction towards that of experiential Christianity. Thus, once the concepts taught by Catholicism are assumed, the person may gradually dispense with external religiosity to practice it from within. In himself, he applied the theory of the "Age of the Holy Spirit" Joaquinita.
The thought of Louis Claude de Saint Martin can be defined under the label of Sanmartiano, it revolves specifically around the figure of Christ. Saint Martin takes as a reference the Gospel of Saint John. As Joaquín de Fiore had done before. For being the most mystical New Testament text, dotted with Gnostic vestiges. A predilection that also housed the "Rosicrucian Enlightenment" or Freemasonry.
In himself, Louis Claude de Saint Martin developed the theory of Martínez de Pasqually, of which he became his private secretary. Who is believed to have descended from Judeo-convert and Spanish stock, as well as a Mason father. Creator of an initiatory current called the Chosen-Cohen. Masonic movement derived from the "Scottish Rite" and to which it added alchemical components and theurgy. In the preceding spiritual line, Pasqually identified the person with a demigod, whose duty it was to return to the state prior to the moment of original sin. Namely, to achieve their unification to reach the Lord. But the Unknown Philosopher emphasizes that this "desire" to return to the origin, on the part of the person, is only constrained by the "free use of his intellectual faculties." Who should yearn to purify himself. Probity that consequently will end up infecting its environment and thus spiritualize matter.
Conclusively, Saint Martin only urged "personal study and introspection", backed by "prayer and meditation." To awaken the inner desire to reach God, in the desire to transform himself into what he described as "a man of desire." An individual who through the "cardiac path" obtains wisdom. But the Martinist Order as such was created in France by Papus, around 1888.

In all this highly Christian context it is necessary to understand all these movements. Who defended the possibility of each individual to connect directly with the Lord if she made an effort, while the Great Church asserted its role as a necessary intermediary as a representative of the Almighty on Earth. And since God had made us free, it only depended on each one to improve. So the closer we were to the Creator, the better we would be and the less temporary laws and governments we would require. Consequently, they enacted a loss of power to the institutions that had hitherto governed the design of human beings.
In northern Europe these ideas permeated, while in the south their entry was held back. So in northern Europe, from the myth of the flaming star by the Masons or the red rose of Rosicrucian thought, lodges proliferated. Schools where citizens who would come to hold high levels of power would be trained. Academies where they were taught the fundamental pillars of liberal democracies and urged to seek their development. Centers in which the higher grades were instructed to combat the concentration of power in the hands of a few, however virtuous they might be. Because they had assimilated the Renaissance proclamation of Pico della Mirandola (1463-1494), outlined in his famous "speech on the dignity of man." Document in which he outlined a totally free human being, subject only to his own decisions. Free choices that would always have consequences on his own life, for better or for worse. Aware that freedom is not only a right, but also a responsibility. Devoted to the Pauline maxim that "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Corinthians 3, 17).
Meanwhile, in nations with Catholic roots, free thought had no place and individualism was persecuted by "the tribe." Anyone who was out of tune was quickly singled out. Citizenship that lived in the "Age of the Son" Joaquinita, so it required to be under other guardianship. Hence, they repeatedly invoked the "philosopher-king", the "iron surgeon" to fix all their ills.
What, together with the condemnation of the trichotomist conception of the individual, by the "Great Church", brought dire consequences. Since in Kabbalistic terminology the Catholics stayed in the "tribe", in the sefirah of Yesod. Where the subject requires the acceptance of the group. He remains alienated from others, to whom he confers power over him; ergo, commit idolatry. They would resemble the psychics of the Gnostics. In contrast to Protestantism. Followers who ascended to the sefira of Tiferet. Sefira in which the subject has already become independent, feels complete with himself and does not need others to realize himself. Know their strengths and weaknesses. You are clear about your vital objective. Singularities typical of societies in which individualism was promoted. Existential stage whose comparison would tend to that of the Gnostic spirituals.

Vigo, December 2020. By Ania Casal.