When you write with the Freemason cipher, your texts seem indecipherable and produced by aliens, but in reality this is quite a simple code and fun to learn. Also known as “Pigpen code” in English, this is a substitution cipher, so it consists of replacing each letter of the alphabet with a different symbol. Maybe you have a secret message or you just want a fun way to write to your friends. Regardless of why you want to use it, this code is easy to learn and create while being difficult for other people to crack.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Create a Basic Code
Step 1. Draw a grid pattern and an X
The grid should look like the pound sign ("#") or a tic-tac-toe board, with two horizontal and two vertical stripes. Make sure there are no lines outside. This should have 9 spaces, while the X should have 4. Both pictures should be large enough to fit 2 letters in each space.
Step 2. Write two letters of the alphabet in each space (not including the ñ)
Fill each square and triangle with two letters. The lines immediately next to each letter will be the symbol that represents it.
- Each symbol on the grid should look like a two-sided, three-sided, or closed rectangle. In the X, the symbols will be "V", "" or "^".
- For example, if the letter "A" is in the upper left corner of the grid, it will be represented by the symbol “_|”. If the letter "U" is in the left corner of the X, it will be represented by the symbol “>”.
Step 3. Put a dot in each space to indicate the letter to the right
In English, these points are called “pigs” (or pigs, in English); hence the colloquial name "Pigpen". Its function is to specify which letter each symbol corresponds to. If there is no period, it refers to the letter on the left, while if there is a period, it refers to the letter on the right.
- On a grid where the letters A and B are in the upper left corner, _| represents A, while _.| represents B.
Step 4. Rewrite the code as a list
Once you finish assigning symbols with and without periods to each letter, it is a good idea to create a list where you can re-indicate which symbol corresponds to each letter. This will be your password. Make sure to keep it well-guarded and share it only with people with whom you plan to communicate via code.
Once you finish writing the code in a list, destroy the sheet with the original patterns. If someone discovers it, they could decipher your texts
Step 5. Practice writing with the code
The best way to memorize the code is to use it. Try writing a letter to a friend or copying a piece of news or a book. Replace each letter of the chosen text with the corresponding symbol.
- You may have to review the key at the beginning, but as you continue practicing you will notice that you are memorizing the code naturally.
- A good text to practice is “The swift Hindu bat happily ate cardillo and kiwi. The stork played the saxophone behind the straw palenque”, as well as other examples containing all the letters of the alphabet (called“pangramas”).
Method 2 of 3: Use Multiple Patterns
Step 1. Draw two grid patterns and two Xs
For this version, the idea is to create the code with multiple patterns. This way you will be able to alternate the order of the alphabet a little more than with a single grid and an X. Also, it could be more readable for you.
Usually the order of the patterns is Grid, X, Grid, and X (“# X # X”). However, you can change the progression as you wish to make the code more complicated. You can use the order "# # X X" or even "X # X #". Remember that what you choose will also determine the order of the symbols in the key in list form
Step 2. Write a letter in each space
You can do it in alphabetical order, or if you want to be more careful, in reverse. However, in this version you only have to put one letter in each space.
Step 3. Place points on a grid and an X
One of each pair of patterns will have the dots in each space. That is, a grid and an X must be without points while the other grid and the other X must have them.
Step 4. Separate the symbols into a list
As with other Freemason ciphers, the lines surrounding the letters will become the symbols that represent them, while the dots will help to differentiate between each pair. Writing the code in a list with each symbol separately will help you remember which letter it corresponds to.
Method 3 of 3: Make your code more complicated
Step 1. Alternate the order of the letters
When creating your code, instead of putting the letters in alphabetical order, try writing them randomly in each space. In this way, people who know the Freemason cipher will not be able to immediately guess which symbol corresponds to which letter.
The more you "mess up" the code, the more difficult it will be for others to crack. If you are going to use it to chat with friends, make sure they have a copy of the password
Step 2. Replace the dots with other symbols
If you have dots in the code, others might recognize that it is the Freemason cipher immediately. A good option is to replace them with other symbols, such as 0, X, *, or +. Also, if you really want to confuse people, use more than one symbol to encode each pattern.
Step 3. Write three letters instead of two in each space
If you are going to use a single grid and an X to create the code, you can make it more complicated with 3 letters per space instead of 2. For this model, each symbol will be differentiated by one or two dots, or none at all. A symbol without a dot corresponds to the letter on the left, with a dot to the center and two to the right.
In this version you will have some additional spaces. You can fill them with numbers or punctuation marks (!,?, &), Or just leave them blank
Step 4. Convert the numbers into a cipher
The tic-tac-toe grid is a type of cipher used for numbers. Draw the grid and fill each space with a number. It is not necessary to add points. Just use the shape that surrounds each space. Finally, replace the "0" with an X.
- For example, 101 would look like this: _ | X _ |.
Advice
- Don't leave the key lying around. If someone finds it, they can crack your secret code.
- Only entrust the code to friends you plan to write to.
- Some like to crack codes. You and your friends can have fun creating different codes and compete to see if you can solve someone else's.
- Make sure only your friends know the code and that you can trust them. Also, try to remember the code and mix it with another to make it even more sophisticated. It may seem difficult to you, but this way it will be more difficult for other people to crack and use your code.
Warnings
- Don't write a letter too many times; otherwise, it will be easier for other people to guess what the text says.
- Freemason cipher is a fairly simple and common type of surrogate cipher. While those who have never seen it before find it disconcerting, remember that others might instantly recognize it.