In connection with the position of the Vernal Equinox in the constellations, there are a number of very interesting myths and symbols which form an essential part of Occultism. We find, for instance, that at the time when the equinox was in the constellation Taurus the worship of the Bull as a symbol was closely associated with the Spring festivals. The Egyptians at this time decked a white Bull with garlands of flowers and set a golden discus between his horns to represent the entry of the Sun into the constellation of the Bull. Later, when the signs of the zodiac became confused with the constellations by the fact of their coincidence, the same myths and ceremonies were transferred to the signs, and remained associated with them in the popular use. Hence the May Day festival, which had its origin with the Sun in the constellation Taurus at the Vernal Equinox, came to be associated with the entry of the Sun into the sign Taurus in the month of May.
History brings to us a curious confirmation of the astronomical basis of the Bull ceremonials. The Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt is stated to have taken place in 1491 B.C. Now we have already seen that Mihira, the Indian astronomer, noted the Vernal Equinox at his time to have been coincident with the first point of the constellation Mesham (Aries), and, as his date is fixed by calculation to have been A.D. 536, the interval would consequently be 1491 plus 536, or 2027 years. And if we multiply this by 50·1´´, the mean precession per year, we shall have as result 28° 12´ 35´´, which, added to the first point of Aries, takes us to the end of that constellation on to the verge of the constellation Taurus. Hence we conclude that about the time of the Exodus the Equinox was passing out of Taurus into Aries, and consequently we find the institution of the Jewish Passover (Pasach), to have been inaugurated by Moses who was “learned in all the lore and language of the Egyptians” and who, as the adopted son of the Egyptian Princess, would be initiated by the Priests of Isis into all the mysteries of the cosmos to which at that time they had access. When, therefore, the Israelites were found to be perpetuating the worship of the Golden Calf which they had witnessed in Egypt, the great Lawgiver admonished them, reduced their idol into an aurum potabile by his alchemical skill and gave it them to drink. Thereafter the symbol of the Ram became paramount in Israelitish worship. The Pasach or transit was none other than that of the Vernal Equinox from the constellation Taurus into Aries. Occultists have identified the sign Taurus with the age of the Patriarchs, the age of husbandry and the ascendancy in Egypt of the Hyksoi or Shepherd Kings. The age of Aries marks the cycle of militarism, extending to Assyria, Persia, Egypt and Greece, and culminating in the Roman Empire. Pisces marks the age of Combination, culminating in the federation of the Anglo-Saxon peoples. The present-day transit into the constellation Aquarius is held to inaugurate the dawn of the age of Baptism, the pouring out of the Spirit of Truth upon all flesh, and the age will therefore be one of spiritual regeneration.
What are called the Four Fixed Signs of the zodiac, those which enter into the composition of the Sphinx, are found to be in the forefront of national symbolism among the ancient Chinese. The four cardinal constellations are associated with the four colours, black, red, white and blue. The constellation of the Lion was called by them “the Black Warrior,” Taurus was called “the Azure Dragon,” Scorpio the “White Tiger” and Aquarius “the Red Bird.” In the time of Wan Wang there was built a palace whose four walls were of these colours, and we find them represented in the heraldry of the Yellow Empire.
In both Egypt and Assyria we find the Bull used as a sacred symbol, even as it is to this day in India. There is a connection of a subtle nature between the Bull and the Bee—Apis. In the most ancient Mithraic monument of Assyria there is shown in bas-relief the figure of a lion out of whose mouth a bee is coming forth. This at once brings to mind the riddle of Samson, himself associated with the Solar myth. He is made to say: “Out of the eater came forth meat, out of the strong came forth sweetness.” And when they gave him the answer: “What is stronger than a lion, what is sweeter than honey?” the key to the symbology is supplied in his answering words: “If you had not ploughed with my oxen (Taurus), you had not found out my riddle.” Here there is an obvious association of the symbol of the Bull with that of the Bee, and it is here that we get the affiliation of the two signs Taurus and Leo. A lion trampling on a snake and a bull in the folds of a snake are to be found among the symbolical monuments of the past. The lion-headed man, Abraxas, is a symbol which links the sign Aquarius to that of Leo, and is of great antiquity: among the Persians we find this word Abraxas or Abracax engraved on magical stones. It stands for the 365 days of the year and the virtues corresponding to them.
But this Taurean key to the riddle of Samson is not merely a cosmical symbolism. It is also a spiritual one. For the four Fixed Signs of the zodiac stand for the basic elements or what are known as the Four States, and these in their turn have analogy with human principles. Thus—
Leo represents Fire, which stands for Spirit.
Aquarius ” Air ” ” Mind.
Scorpio ” Water ” ” Soul.
Taurus ” Earth ” ” Body.
In this paradigm we have Spirit above and Matter beneath, linked together by the Human Soul or Mind in relations with Spirit, and the Animal Soul in relations with Matter. The riddle of Samson therefore may be read kabalistically thus: Out of Spirit proceeded Matter, as from Fire the element of Earth was evolved. To which we may add the rider in corresponding terms: Save by incarnation you could not attain to spiritual liberation, which is equivalent to the saying: If you had not ploughed with my oxen, you had not found out my riddle. Here we have the process of differentiation covertly referred to by the propounder of the riddle, showing that Matter is the ultimate expression of Spirit, its negative pole. It stands for the female principle in Nature, and hence the tradition involves the woman who betrayed Samson’s secret. Thus in cosmical symbology some of the great secrets of cosmogenesis and anthropogenesis lie concealed. The ancient wisdom conceived the two schemes as involved in the complete arc of life, which holds good for any planet, and for the system to which it belongs.