The Astrology of Christmas
For the modern observer Christmas and Astrology can seem like distant cousins having no relation. Christmas a spiritual day celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Astrology an ancient symbolic system looking at the stars for predictions. However, if we break down the story of the nativity, we can see how they are linked.
The Three Wise Men or Magi- In Babylonian/Persian world this term was used to refer to a caste of priest-astrologers. The scientists or “wise men” men of the era would have been looking at the cosmos, spending their lives mapping the movements to help understand the world around them. Believing that “As above so below” meant that the heavens/celestial alignments mirrored the births and deaths of great Kings. In short the Three Wise Men were Astrologers.
The Christmas Star- While there is not a full consensus about what this actually was. Many astronomers and astrologers believe that this was a “great conjunction” When Jupiter and Saturn meet. This conjunction occurs every 20 years. However, in 7 BCE there was a triple conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn that occurred in the sign of Pisces. This phenomenon of a triple conjunction occurs approximately every 100-200 years. When we look at the meaning of these planets.
Jupiter: Now seen as the planet of good fortune and optimism. At the time was considered the planet of Kings and Divinity.
Saturn: Now looked at as the planet of structure, boundaries, and karmic lessons was at the time the planet of the Sovereign or Protector of the Jewish people in ancient Syrian astrology.
Pisces: Today Pisces is thought of as the bridge between the tangible/physical world and the spiritual or subconscious world. It would have been thought of as a transition of the ages.
When the Three wise men looked at the “star” they were not just following a light, they were reading the story if was telling them. Jupiter (the planet of King/Divinity) met with Saturn (the protector) in the sign of Pisces (the “Holy Land”) Saying to them at a divine king is being born to bring in a new age. This was not thought of as a random miracle, but a bridge between the physical world and the divine.
History: The birth date that we celebrate for Christ is thought to have been deeply influenced by the winter solstice. When the light is starting to come back into the world and our days start getting longer again. Symbolically aligning Jesus’s birth and him as the “light of the world.” Moving from darkness back into the light. Even some of the other imagery mirrors astrology. Twelve apostles and Twelve days of Christmas- Twelve signs of the zodiac.
Understanding that there is a connection between the cosmos and us allows us to understand that it is not just about celebrating a man that lived over 2000 years ago. It show us how we can truly connect with the Christ Consciousness and understand our own purpose by understanding our own astrology.
