[judykott]

Let's check out the inside of Union Station, this is the dome.

It is another representation of the sun, aligned with the four corners of the earth

In this Masonic piece there is representation of the sun as well in many ways. The magic square that looks like a tic tac toe board on the right side. Often you see an empty one in their works but this one has the numbers filled. The number all add to 15 and then reduce to 6 leaving 666 all around the number of the sun.

There are 40 stars which are significant for a number of reasons. Listed below a few of them.

The 40 days of fast of Jesus in the desert. (Mt 4,2)

Forty days separate the Ascension of Jesus of his Resurrection. (Act 1,3)

The Flood of Noah lasted 40 days. (Gn 7,4)

Elijah walked 40 days and 40 nights before to reach the Horeb mount. He fasted during 40 days before to begin his public ministry and he remained 40 days on the Carmel mount. (1 K 19,8)

The 1234 on the top right of the Masonic piece refers to the right hand set of 10 stacked balls of the above Sumerian glyphs. Whichever way you count starting from any point it is 1234 balls. On the Sumerian glyphs note the glyph for the star and woman as well. Many of the Masonic symbols are very ancient symbols from many cultures.

There is a pentagram and an the Star of Solomon in the book. The pentagram is used as a Christian symbol for the five senses, and if the letters S, A, L, V, and S are inscribed in the points, it can be taken as a symbol of health (from Latin salus).

Medieval Christians believed it to symbolise the five wounds of Christ. The pentagram was believed to protect against witches and demons.

The pentagram figured in a heavily symbolic Arthurian romance it appears on the shield of Sir Gawain in the 14th century poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.(More on this topic later) As the poet explains, the five points of the star each have five meanings: they represent the five senses, the five fingers, the five wounds of Christ, the five joys that Mary had of Jesus (the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Resurrection, the Ascension, and the Assumption), and the five virtues of knighthood which Gawain hopes to embody: noble generosity, fellowship, purity, courtesy, and compassion.


In the Babylonian context, the edges of the pentagram were orientations: forward, backward, left, right, and "above". These directions also had an astrological meaning, representing the five planets Jupiter, Mercury, Mars and Saturn, and Venus as the "Queen of Heaven" (Ishtar) above.

Pythagorean theorem, states that every right triangle has side lengths satisfying the formula a2 + b2 = c2; thus, Pythagorean triples describe the three integer side lengths of a right triangle. There are 16 primitive Pythagorean triples with c ≤ 100:these are the first two
( 3, 4, 5) ( 5, 12, 13) the triangle it makes in the center has very important properties that I will get into later.




It also looks like another kind of wheel in the center, most things that are symbols are of ancient origin and common around the world no matter what culture. I hope to show that as I go along taking a lot of detours through history.


Red River Metis Cart


Usage started in 1801 here is a review in 1878 Harper's Magazine carried a description of the red river cart, written by reporters who visited the territory and left a legacy of interesting information and sketches:

It is simply a light box with a pair of shafts, mounted on an axle connecting two enormous wheels. There is no concession made to the aversion of the human frame to sudden violent changes of level; there is no weakness of luxury about this vehicle. The wheels are broad in the felloes (rims), so as not to cut through the prairie sod. They are long in the spokes, so as to pass safely through fords and mud holes. They are very much dished so that they can be strapped together and rawhide stretched over them to make a boat. The whole cart is made of wood; there is not a bit of metal about it, so that, if anything breaks, the material to repair it is easily found. The axles are never greased and they furnish an incessant answer to the old conundrum: "What makes more noise than a pig in a poke?"

Each wheel was said to have its own peculiar shriek, announcing the coming of a train from a great distance. (Grease or oil would have only mixed with the dust, wearing down the axles.) As it was, a cart often used four or five axles on the trip to St. Paul from the Red River settlement. Harness was made from a buffalo hide, often in one piece. Carts moved single file, except when in danger from Indians, when they traveled several abreast. Each driver controlled five or six carts strung out behind him, each ox tied to the cart ahead.




On the Medicine Wheel the Buffalo represents the North - Wisdom, Renewal and Knowledge.

A Buffalo Skull is considered to be great medicine and symbolizes the message power of the Buffalo. Skulls are used in almost every culture as symbolism the only thing that changes is the interpretation of them.




This also looks like the top of the sun dome
The Sun Dance
* When a young man came of age, he would take part in a ceremony which involved fasting, self-harm, going into a trance and seeing an animal that was a spirit friend.
* One of these ceremonies - the Sun Dance - featured a structure with a central pole signifying the sun, from which the young men hung themselves by their nipples.
* Native Americans believed that spirits caused the harsh weather of the Plains, as well as illness. They thought that 'medicine men' could speak to these spirits, and ask for their help.
* They performed the Mandan Buffalo Dance, which they thought would bring buffalo to them.

The young man or woman would stand before the medicine man, between his thumb and forefinger a fold of the loose skin of the breast—and then ran a very narrow-bladed or sharp knife through the skin—a stronger skewer of bone, about the size of a carpenter's pencil was inserted. This was tied to a long skin rope fastened, at its other extremity, to the top of the sun-pole in the center of the arena. The whole object of the devotee is to break loose from these fetters. To liberate himself he must tear the skewers through the skin, a horrible task that even with the most resolute may require many hours of torture.

In fact, the object of being pierced is to sacrifice one's self to the Great Spirit, and to pray while connected to the Tree of Life, a direct connection to the Great Spirit. Breaking from the piercing is done in one moment, as the man runs backwards from the tree at a time specified by the leader of the dance. A common explanation, in context with the intent of the dancer, is that a flesh offering, or piercing, is given as part of prayer
Women do not pierce their skin in the same manner as men. A woman's piercing is in her upper arm, and an eagle feather is attached until the piercing is removed.

They may pierce if they desire to. A Sundancer must commit to dancing for four years, for the four compass directions.

The Sun Dance, is more of a religious ceremony or festival, rather than a dance by itself like the name suggests. Also known as the "thirsting dance", the Plains people show how much pain they can take, and how much bravery they have. The women would dance for as long as the festival lasted (even up to four days) without stopping for rest, drink or food.


Mason Initiation this is one of the blood oaths they must swear.








According to Marcus Manilius (1st century AD) in his epic poem (8000 verses) Astronomica, the signs of the zodiac preside over the parts of the body as follows:

* Aries -- the head
* Taurus -- the neck and throat
* Gemini -- the lungs, arms, and shoulders
* Cancer -- the chest, breasts, and stomach
* Leo -- the heart and upper back
* Virgo -- the abdomen and digestive system
* Libra -- the kidneys and lumbar region
* Scorpio -- the genitals
* Sagittarius -- the hips and thighs
* Capricorn -- the knees and bones
* Aquarius -- the calves, shins, and ankles
* Pisces -- the feet


The above arch illustrates this, starting at the vernal equinox arching through to the autumnal equinox , divided into three parts is typical of the first three degrees of masonry.

The first 60 degrees of the arch is Aries and Taurus representing the unskilled laborer and the preparations of the material of the temple. The next 60 degrees further and we reach and include Cancer. These two signs represent the second degree. sixty degrees more takes to Virgo , typical of completion.

The first three degrees are said to represent Taurus, Cancer and Virgo hence the punishments as you see the chart corresponds to those areas and explains fuller the meaning of the above arch.


Each part of the tipi – the poles, the cover, the pins, and the pegs – plays an important role to ensure that the structure holds together and functions as it should.

Each element of the tipi symbolizes a moral principle of First Nations society. By respecting and following these principles in family settings, First Nations society is held together and lives in harmony. This is based on the numbers they hold sacred or have meaning to their particular tribe.

The Poles Represent:
1. Obedience 6. Faith 10. Sharing
2. Respect 7. Kinship 11. Strength
3. Humility 8. Cleanliness 12. Good Child Rearing
4. Happiness 9. Thankfulness 13. Hope
5. Love



TIPI Teepee

This was a typical shelter that the Plains Cree used on the prairies years ago. They were able to assemble it in a day, as they used to follow the bison herds on the prairies. Much of their food, shelter, clothing and tools all came from the Bison. So when the herd moved, so did they. Many of their daily rituals revolved around nature. For example; The Tipi was made using 13 poles. The 13 poles in the tipi represents the 13 full moons we have in a given year....When you enter a tipi you go to the left and circle around in a clockwise direction. This represents the way of the sun...The door of the tipi always faces East, to meet the rising sun. The Plains Cree relied on the land to survive. It was sacred and they recognized that every living thing was of importance. Plus they only used what they needed. Things never went to waste. A good lesson we should all be following today.


For any culture the elements and the cardinal point had significance. Each tribe had slightly different meanings, as with any symbol you cannot say this is absolutely what it means because a few miles a way the interpretation may be slightly different .

The Greek Wheel similar in look and meanings.
to be continued