How do the steps in the Craft and Royal Arch degrees align with solar movements?
The steps in the Craft and Royal Arch degrees of Freemasonry are intricately aligned with solar movements, reflecting a deep connection to cosmic laws. In the Craft degrees, the candidate's circumambulation around the Lodge is performed in a clockwise direction, symbolizing the movement of the sun as it rises in the East, traverses the South, and sets in the West. This practice is said to be in consonance with the 'Cosmic Laws of the Movement of the Stars' and represents the endless cycle of day and night, akin to the solar cult where the Worshipful Master symbolizes the rising sun, the Junior Warden the meridian sun, and the Senior Warden the setting sun.
In the Royal Arch degree, the steps taken by the candidates also reflect this solar alignment. The first three steps signify the candidate's entry into a new life, while the subsequent steps lead them deeper into the fellowship of Freemasonry, culminating in the Holy of Holies, which is representative of the ultimate enlightenment and connection to the divine. The orientation of Masonic lodges, typically situated East to West, further emphasizes this connection, as it aligns with the path of the sun across the sky.