Spoiler warning: do not read these if you do not want details of initiatory practices

• Both are built on a foundation system of three degrees;
• Both are secret societies or societies with secrets in that membership rolls kept from the general populace;
• Both have highly ceremonial initiations to pass from one degree to another, including sworn oaths;
• Both have ceremonial purifications of their ritual space before commencing any ritual work;
• Both insist candidates remove items of secular clothing;
• In both the candidate is hoodwinked or blindfolded and ropes are ceremonially tied around him (though the form of the tying varies);
• Both Challenge the candidate by presenting to his or her naked chest a sharp instrument (witches use a sword, Masons, the point of a compass);
• Both challenge the candidate with secret passwords;
• Both lead the candidate blindfolded in a circumambulation (walking round) of the temple;
• Both require the candidate to swear solemn oaths of secrecy before being given custody of the secrets of the group;
• Both have a ceremonial unhoodwinking of the candidate, following the oath, before lighted candles that is intended to bring 'illumination';
• Both convey to the new initiate the "working tools" pertinent to that degree, and each of their uses are taught to them;
• In higher degrees, both take the initiate through a ritual death-and rebirth experience in which the initiate acts the part of a hero (heroine) of the craft;
• In both the temple or circle is orientated around the four cardinal points of the compass, except in Freemasonry the north has little or no significance.