Similarities between Freemasonry & High Magick

They both have a foundational system of three degrees that must be attained before offering the higher degrees and secret doctrines

Both are secret societies because they both keep their membership rolls secret, and secrets are kept from the general public by both "organizations."

Both usually meet in secret, with the exceptions for the purpose of rare openly public events.

Both have ceremonial initiations to pass a candidate from one degree to another, of which include sworn oaths.

Both have ceremonial form of purgings & purifications of the ritual area before commencing any ritual work.

They both have the candidates remove all secular clothing, remove all metal(i.e. jewelry, etc.), and hoodwinked(i.e. blindfolded, etc.) with ropes ceremonially tied around them(the form of the tying varies).

Both groups have the candidate stand in the Northeast corner of the "temple" in the first degree.

Both groups challenge the candidate by piercing their naked chest with a sharp impliment(High Magick utilize the sword, while Masons use the point of a compass).

They both challenge the candidate by asking for secret passwords.

Both have the candidate lead in a circular walk(or "walking around") of the temple while hoodwinked.

Both have the candidate(while hoodwinked) endure being picked up, carried around, spun around, being pushed or struck from one person to another. It is supposed to create an "altered state of consciousness in the candidate."

Both have the ceremonial un-hoodwinking of the candidate, after he/she has taken the oath, before lighted candles which are supposed to bring "illumination."

Both explain to the new initiate the "working tools" pertaining to that degree & each tool's use is taught to the initiate.

Both groups, in the higher degrees, bring the candidate through a "from-death-to-rebirth" ritual in which he/she acts the part of a hero/heroine of the order.