Within each word, the power lies |
The word Barasax has been derived from a name for the supreme being first used by
the second century gnostic Basilides. The intent is to suggest the idea that words
derive real and manifest power from the meanings which people ascribe to them.
Although little is known for certain of Basilides and the system of gnostic belief
which he developed, it seems likely that the original form for the name was Abrasax,
which was later corrupted to the now more familiar Abraxas. The word was used
as a name for the supreme being and its significance lay in the numerical values of
the Greek letters forming it, which sum to 365. As such it was seen as a word of great
power, having a numerical value equal to the number of days in the year. The number
featured prominently in Basilides’ system.
In Barasax (Barasax) the letters are once again rearranged.
The three occurrences of the letter `alpha' are now evenly distributed, interleaved
with the remaining four characters to form the name of the work here present, asserting
the continuing power of both the word and the will.
Barasax
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