Rubbing off a little more dust

The philosophers of Greece and Egypt measured a year according to four lives of the sun:

The Solar Man was symbolized by four figures.

• Winter Solstice the sun in Capricorn symbolized as a dependent infant who had escaped the Powers of Darkness.
• Vernal Equinox the sun in Aries was now represented by a beautiful youth. Centuries before christianity, the constellation was called the "Lamb of G_d" and "Saviour". The worshipers of the time addressed the RAM repeating the phrase- O Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us." which may sound familiar to some. The Lamb of God was a title for the sun.
• Summer Solstice the sun in Cancer begins travelling backwards; the zodiac sign symbolized by a strong man, in the prime of maturity to symbolize Nature at its strongest and most fecund
• Autumnal Equinox the sun now in Libra, became an aged shuffling, bearded man

The sun starts the year at the vernal equinox and passes through 12 signs of the zodiac, each of 30 degrees. Each year, the sun loses about one degree, crossing the equator one degree slower than it did the year before. Scientists call this the precession of the equinoxes. This is how we calculate a Great Solar or a Platonic Year. It takes 29,920 years for each constellation to occupy the position at vernal equinox which it holds for 2,610 years.

What are we in now? Well, for the past 2,000 years the sun has crossed the equator at vernal equinox in Pisces, which followed the 2,610 years in Aries which followed 2,610 years in Taurus.

Taurus the Bull was significant and we can easily associate vernal equinox and the sign of an animal used in the fields particularly important in spring to prepare the ground for planting. If you are interested in the roots of our ritual, Albert Pike gave us this little pearl which undersores the importance of The Bull. The Persians (the same people who worshiped Mithras) revered the sign of the Bull especially within the symbols of astrology . " In Zoroaster's cave of initiation, the Sun and Planets were represented, overhead in gems and gold, as was also the Zodiac. The Sun appeared, emerging from the back of Taurus."

Ever wonder why the seven stars? In the constellation of the Bull are found the "Seven Sisters" the other name for the Pleiades, which we find as 7 stars at the top of the sacred ladder.

Now you may be curious enough to research the hidden meaning of the magic word- Abracadabra for what it reveals. Remember it is a word revered...

Acknowledgements to an interesting Canadian, Manly P. Hall for the esoterica and some sources.