Astral Worship | Page 4

firmament, and revolving round the earth, for the sole purpose of
giving it light and heat; and observing that seven of these, answering to
the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, had
perceptible movements, in relation to the other luminaries, the ancient
astronomers designated them as planets or wandering stars.
The Constellations.
Perceiving that the other celestial luminaries maintained the same
relation to each other, and designating them as fixed stars, the ancient
astronomers grouped those visible to them into forty-eight
Constellations; and giving names to these, they also attached names to
the stars of larger magnitude, which was done for the purpose of
locating and distinguishing them with greater ease.

The Zodiac.
Through twelve of these Constellations, mostly contained within a belt
of 16 degrees in width, and within which the planets appeared to
revolve, the ancient astronomers inscribed a central line representing
the Ecliptic, or apparent orbit of the sun, which they divided into 360
degrees; and quartering these to denote the seasons, they named the
cardinal points the Summer and Winter Solstices, and the Vernal and
Autumnal Equinoxes; the former referring to the longest and shortest
days of the year; and the latter to the two periods when the days and
nights are equal. An abbreviatory sign having been attached to each of
these constellations, the great celestial belt containing them was called
"the wheel of the signs," or "a wheel in the middle of a wheel," as
designated by that old Astrologer, Ezekiel the Prophet, in chap. i. and
16th verse. But for the reason that, with only one exception, the forms
of living things, either real or mythical, were given to them, this belt,
ultimately, wad designated as the Zodiac; or Circle of living Creatures,
see Ezekiel, chap. i. Constituting the essential feature of the ancient
Astronomy, we present, in our frontispiece, a diagram of the Zodiac, as
anciently represented, to which, as well as to Burritts' Celestial Atlas,
our readers will be necessitated to make frequent reference.
[See plate1.gif]
Recent researches among the ruins of ancient cities have developed the
fact that several centuries before the beginning of our era the
astronomers had invented the telescope, and discovered the true or
heliocentric system of nature; but for the reason that religion had been
based upon the false, or geocentric system, it was deemed prudent not
to teach it to the masses. Hence, hiding it away among the other secrets
of the Esoteric philosophy, the knowledge of it was lost during the
Middle Ages; and when rediscovered, the hierarchy of the Church of
Rome, upon the plea that it was contrary to the teachings of Scripture,
resorted to inquisitorial tortures to suppress its promulgation; but, in
spite of all their efforts, it has been universally accepted; and, in this
otherwise enlightened age, we have presented to us the anomaly of a
religion based upon a false system of Astronomy, while its votaries

believe in the true system.

THE SACRED NUMBERS 7 AND 12.
In reference to the planets, and the signs of the Zodiac, the numbers
seven and twelve were recognized as sacred by the ancient Astrologers,
and dedications were made to them in all kinds and sorts of forms. In
the allegories, the genii of the planets were designated as spirits or
messengers to the Supreme Deity, imaginarily enthroned above the
firmament, which we find described in Revelations iv. 5, as "Seven
lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of
God;" and which were represented by lights burning in seven branched
candlesticks set before the altars in the temples; the central light for the
Sun; the Moon, Mercury and Venus on one side; and Mars, Jupiter and
Saturn on the other. The seven branched candlesticks seen in all
Catholic churches, and in some Protestant ones, are intended to
represent the same planetary system.
Among the numerous dedications to the genii of the planets we
mention the seven days of the week, the seven stories of the tower of
Babylon, the seven gates of Thebes, the seven piped flute of Pan, the
seven stringed lyre of Apollo, the seven books of fate, the book of
seven seals, the seven castes into which the Egyptians and East Indians
were divided, and the jubilee of seven times seven years. Among the
dedications to the twelve signs we mention the twelve months of the
year, the grand cycle of 12,000 years, the twelve altars of James, the
twelve labors of Hercules, the twelve divisions of the Egyptian
Labyrinth, the twelve shields of Mars, the twelve precious stones,
ranged in threes to denote the seasons, in the breastplate of High Priest,
the twelve foundations of the Sacred City, referred to in the Book of
Revelation, the twelve sons of Jacob, the twelve tribes