The Bible and Astrology - Discussions, questions

Opal E https://stellarhousepublishing.com/…

The Three Kings. The Belt of Orion. Followed a bright star, Sirius, to the horizon.

“three stars Mintaka, Anilam, and Alnitak in the belt of Orion”

FOWL » Opal E The belt of Orion and Sirius always felt like an association attached after the fact, as the idea that a fixed star which was always there could herald the King of Kings seems... less than wise.... but who knows. I do see the association there with another solar deity.

FOWL » Opal E Especially since the Bible never specifies how many there are, only states "wise men..." or "Magi" depending on the translation... and I´ve read that Magi is the far more accurate translation... obfuscated by the church for obvious reasons.

Opal E » FOWL Have you read any of the Gnostic writings?

They are similar, but different.

You are right, they don’t mention 3 wise men.

Do you use a concordance?

I used to live in Northern Ontario. I miss the wild blueberries and strawberries. They taste better.

FOWL » Opal E I haven´t yet, but I will get to the gnostic texts! I´m having a hard time getting past reading anything other than pure astrology and star lore lately.

IceSíckle Bingo! I am a Christian and I´ve mentioned numerous times on these threads how Christianity is compatible with Astrology despite the sheer disdain many modern Christians have towards Astrology. I would probably be deemed a heretic in most churches today but I strongly believe this is from massive ignorance. I will agree there are many verses in the Bible that seem to be view Astrology in a sinful light but it has to be recognized that idolatry towards the Sun, Moon and Stars is actually the crux of the issue here as you mentioned. Creation worship is something that the Bible is strongly against rather than worshipping the Creator.

The Bible is filled to the brim with Zodiacal symbolism as well..12 Apostles, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 seasons.. ala and son on. The Magi are a clear indicator as to the significance of Astrology since the beginning (Why would God give the North star as a guiding light to the Magi if Astrology is condemned? Beats me too..)

Early Christians used Astrology with great CARE and used it to help them understand the celestial influences that govern our world. There are even Zodiacal wheels imprinted in ancient Israeli churches! We should recognize even though we are equal in our humanity, we are all very different in function, demeanor and any other attributes. Personally I think a beautiful outlook is recognizing that we all serve a purpose in this world and that we all are special and wonderfully made just as we are. Astrology just helps bridge the gap between Heaven and Earth and I think that´s something worthy to discover.

Opal E » FOWL http://gnosis.org/naghamm/…

My favourite so far.

About a third of the way through it gets really really interesting. Astrologically.

FOWL » IceSíckle Well said! Have you seen the Zodiac wheels of the Catholic Church middle Ages where they tried to replace the animals with saints?

Opal E Yeah, I get it about reading. Pretty much I read astrology, Mythology, ancient history, religious texts.

To me, they are all the same.

Opal E » IceSíckle Are you talking about idolizations, and the change in ages from The golden bull, to Aries the Ram? When he came down from the mountain and found the people idolizing what had been declared past?

IceSíckle » FOWL No I haven´t seen those Zodiac wheels in the Catholic Church! But now I have a rabbit hole to go down and explore this topic

I think a larger part of the stigma with Astrology in Judeo/Christian circles is in larger part to the Catholic Church with many doctrines that weren´t presennt in the early Christian church´s (0-300 A.D) but that´s another issue...

IceSíckle » Opal E Yes exactly that. Great example Opal! A clear example of bowing down to idols and giving your power a way to materialism instead of giving glory to God.

FOWL » IceSíckle Also straight up worshipping the Sun, the Moon, and the planets. There are branches of astrology that use remediations to limit the unwanted effects of planets at times, and call in the effects of planets at other times. Some of these ritual practices step into straight up worshipping the planets as deities. It is this level of astrology which is sacriligious Judeo-Christian practice.

Rosincvist » FOWL When you click on "shape" the ten circles for each planet are spiritually positive!
Automatic writing in multiple circles is a sign of being right with `Spirit´
The late old testament book Malachi has a laying of a curse on the roof-top practice of staring at s, it implied an anti-Arab sentiment so it really is wedged between testaments!
The "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatry" has been called `a bible´..........marking it up with Planet symbols would be less of a violation than putting hieroglyphs in Gideon´s Bible!
Repeated escapes to secular tomes usually has Westerners referring to the Bible because of so many denomination´s children´s room based on the Primacy of the Bible!

Linda Harris WEll, the Bible warns us not to "put your faith in astrologers" or other people who use divination....

Faith implies religion. Of course astrology is not a religion...but of course when people in power are on the defensive they don´t want competition- nor could they tell the difference.

I think it´ s because that part of the world didn´t really have a "science" of astronomy at the time..(.remember, it was in Iraq and other parts of Mesopotamia where astrology was first used. NOT the Arabian peninsula...and Egypt...Egyptian religion was really one way focused...the "afterlife."...NOT ...how to live a good life while you are here).

Mosaic commandments were ALL about how to live a right life in the here and now...and didn´t really ´push" the idea of an afterlife.


If few people here and there were using astrology as divination, it was probably not a problem.

Perhaps at some point Astrology became very popular! And then of course the people in power were afraid that Astrologers would be "adversaries´ or enemies- again...COMPETITION... of "THE religion" - and remember, then as now, religion was a very lucrative career. Priests and other religious rulers had power and were "supported" financially by the "people´.

So it was more of a financial issue than a spiritual one.

And so it has continued that way. Astrology has been trashed since then because the powerful religions obviously feel we are in competition... which is the furthest thing from the truth.

Linda

FOWL » Linda Harris Ancient Egypt had a robust astrological tradition. In fact the Decans as far back as we can trace them came from Egyptian tradition, although only so much can be determined from the writing we have from then. Clearly the pyramids were built to align to Sirius, which we know was watched for its heliacal rise as a sign of the Nile flooding and prosperity to return. There´s more of course... hard to tell how deeply their astrological systems went, but it is certain that their priests were astrologically adept.

Dreamer2 » IceSíckle Look and you shall find, knocking it shall be open to you.Religion is all about enlightenment, perceiving how and why everything is the way it is searching for the truth. where a lot of churches puts limits on searching for the truth Astrology is also all about searching for the truth why and how everything is the way it is. who is God, what is God God is love God is harmony God is good. and actually tells you in the Bible that. He is a combination of all that is good. He also is Spirit, the spirit of God, good.

Linda Harris » FOWL "Ancient Egypt had a robust astrological tradition."

Yes...but not for the common people....and not to guide their individual lives.

ONLY the religious rulers used astrology...and as I said....their focus was "the after life."

Astrology as we use it bears little resemblance to Egypt´s use of it.

Before Egypt, maybe thousands of years before Egypt...people looked UP to the heavens to seek some connection between IT and them. Using the Sun´s position..as it was noted in antiquity that the "lights" moved in the same way month after month, year after year.

Stonehenge... also used the planets..for ritual...but again, not in any way that we use astrology ...because individual lives meant little -...

South American civilizations lost for possibly 2000 years also used a form of astrology in their building...it was all for religion and ritual.

the Individual as a unique person who had autonomy...in other words were willing and able to make changes in their lives according to their impulses and desire...is a very new concept.

Linda

FOWL » Linda Harris This is of course true, and thank you for the clarification. The truth of the matter however is that we have no idea how the little people actually felt and acted, as they had no means of documenting their lives and thoughts to us through the aeons. What we can be certain of is that they at least followed the phases of the Moon, and likely the planets. Many folkloric traditions carry on through oral traditions which give a sense of a much deeper and more rich inner world that the non-notables experienced beyond that which we can assess from our vantage point.

Linda Harris » FOWL I agree...but the name of this thread is Bible & Astrology...so...that is why I didn´t really go deeper.
Most experts believe the Bible was first begun to be written less than 3,000 years ago. Plenty was being learned before IT..
Linda

FOWL » Linda Harris Absolutely. The point of the thread was to discuss the seemingly contradictory messaging about astrology within it, which I propose was actually fairly cohesive thematically.

Opal E » FOWL https://www.scientificlib.com/en/…

This is an interesting book.

The below is from Chapter IV, The Firmament.

Of note "God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven."

Lights, plural.


"And God said, Let there be a rāqiā‘ in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the rāqiā‘, and divided the waters which were under the rāqiā‘ from the waters which were above the rāqiā‘: and it was so. And God called the rāqiā‘ Shamayim. And the evening and the morning were the second day."

It is, of course, perfectly clear that by the word rāqiā‘ in the preceding passage it is the atmosphere that is alluded to. But later on in the chapter the word is used in a slightly different connection. "God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven.

Opal E » Linda Harris https://www.johnpratt.com/items/…

The Mayans/Aztecs used The Venus Calendar. It is an interesting system that I don´t yet totally understand.

I understand what you are saying in that in recent ancient history the emphesis was on the Kings and country.

But, I don´t think it was always so. If I am reading between the lines correctly Lainie, you believe it to be older too. With that in mind, do we when we reach an apocolypse, lose our knowledge, and then gradually find it again, with the elite being the first to use it, for what they are looking for? Will I win the battle? Will I have an heir? When it is in recovery stage, after an apocolypse, I believe we would return to it being a tool first for the rulers. Then again, it will be expanded upon, as it was to include the people.

CancerPiscesLibra I have dealt with this topic just today. I was raised in a religion that taught astrology was playing with the devil. I was actually afraid of it and of really looking into it for many years. But more recently I have finally allowed my self to look at it and learn it to try to understand my birth chart. I came to it wanting answers to some things in my life and it has helped me greatly. Now I am devouring information and learning it fast because I find it a useful tool for healing. I had to deal with my conscious and subconscious beliefs about religion and what it told me about astrology. In the end, I just think it´s another tool like money or using crystals or whatnot. Everything can be used for good or for bad. If we use it for personal gain or to harm another that is a negative use of the tool.

IceSíckle » CancerPiscesLibra "I was raised in a religion that taught astrology was playing with the devil."

Same here ✋ But in truth, Astrology is more closely playing with the divine than it is the devil. Like you said anything can be used for good or bad which includes Astrology. It should be a tool to help heal and enrich our lives rather than be slaves to rythym of the stars and let us fall into paranoia over every conjunction, square, opposition and so on...We can fly or fall with Astrology..the choice is ours.

You have the same healthy outlook I have adopted myself so congrats 👏