veiled beneath a mixture of astrology and mythology. After the
planets came to be regarded as active agencies in reproduction,
and powerful in directing all mundane affairs, the Virgin of the
Sphere while she represented Nature was also the constellation
which appeared above the horizon at the winter solstice, or at
the time when the sun had reached its lowest point and had begun
to return. At this time, the 25th of December, and just as the
days began to lengthen, this Virgin gave birth to the Sun-God.
It is said that he issued forth from her side, hence the legend
that Gotama Buddha was produced from the side of Maya, and also
the story believed by the Gnostics and other Christian sects that
Jesus was taken from the side of Mary.[31]
[31] The fact will doubtless be remembered that a similar belief
was entertained concerning the birth of Julius Caesar.
Within the churches and in the streets of many cities of Germany
are to be observed figures of this traditional Virgin. She is
standing, one foot upon a crescent and the other on a serpent's
head, in the mouth of which is the sprig of an apple tree on
which is an apple. The tail of the serpent is wound about a
globe which is partially enveloped in clouds. On one arm of the
Virgin is the Child, and in the hand of the other arm she carries
the sacred lotus. Her head is encircled with a halo of light
similar to the rays of the sun.
One is frequently disposed to query: Do the initiated in the
Romish Church regard these images as legitimate representations
of Mary, the wife of Joseph and Mother of Christ, or are they
aware of their true significance? Certainly the various
accessories attached to this figure betray its ancient origin and
reveal its identity with the Egyptian, Chaldean, and Phoenician
Virgin of the Sphere.
The fact has already been observed that in the original
representation of the "Temptation" in the cave temple of India,
it is not the woman but the man who is the tempter, and a
singular peculiarity observed in connection with this ancient
female Deity is that it is SHE and NOT HER SEED who is trampling
on the serpent, thus proving that originally woman and not man
was worshipped as the Savior. Another significant feature
noticed in connection with this subject is that the oldest
