Astrology in Judaism: The Opposite of False Mysticism

When I was a child, we found it amusing to read the doomsday prophecies in the "horoscope" section - the astrology of the secular weekend newspapers of my youth. I return to the 1990s and remember a regular practice in our home: the newspapers were brought in, and we curiously opened that "prophetic" section, laughing at those precise "promises" down to the hour, the "black moon" on Shabbat afternoon, and various strange star and zodiac practices, which we dismissed with ridicule. Unlike us, there are some who take it very seriously, and that's the danger. Today, 30 years later, I understand that this false belief can determine fates. How exactly?
When a person reads an astrological forecast from an unverified, unreliable, and non-Jewish source, they may fall into the trap of believing they can’t change their fate at all.

This definitive statement that all people of the same zodiac sign will experience a specific event at the same time, blatantly ignoring the Creator and the power of repentance given to people, is what determines fates. I wonder how letters in Hebrew express such nonsense in a long-standing section that still exists today?

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What simple insight helped the sisters understand each other?

Yael Zuzut, a consultant in the "My Soul's Inquiry" department, responds:

"The nature of a person is to be curious about what is said about them, whether they are sure it is true or not. In fact, Hashem gave humans various ways from different fields to achieve self-awareness, self-fulfillment, and personality development, one of them being the astrological signs in Judaism".

How did you get into studying astrology according to Judaism?

"I'll answer with a childhood story: I always knew that any task I had, I would execute, even as early as yesterday. My sister, on the other hand, tended to postpone tasks as much as possible. We didn't always understand each other, but the day I learned that according to Judaism, there is a fundamental difference between us linked to the basic traits of each of us, it clicked for me: my sister isn't against me. She was simply born under the sign of Aquarius, while I am a Leo. We spoke with understanding. Each of us took a small step towards the other. I tried to understand that not everything has to be done right now, and she tried to start joint tasks earlier, so thanks to learning our basic traits, we reached mutual understanding."

A Mohel or, Heaven forbid, a Killer? On a Child Born with a Bloodshedding Nature

Now it's confusing: on the one hand, people have basic traits according to the sign they were born under, and on the other hand, one of the most important principles in Judaism is mentioned here: the power of a person to change reality through repentance, prayer, and charity.

"On the surface, it seems that different sources from the sages contradict." Yael explains. "It's stated in the Gemara in Shabbat 156a 'There is no constellation for Israel,' and then it is written that 'one born under Mars will be a bloodshedder'".

So, is there a sign for Israel or not?

"In fact, the matter of the zodiac divides into two: the sign of the future and the sign of character. Regarding the sign of the future, indeed Israel is above the zodiac. In the well-known story of Rabbi Akiva's daughter, it was decreed she would die on her wedding day, but thanks to charity and kindness that she gave to a poor person who attended her wedding, she was saved. Regarding character traits, the Vilna Gaon says (in his commentary on Proverbs 22:9) that with a child born with a nature of shedding blood, we can't change his nature, but rather guide it to positive channels, such as steering him to be a mohel or a shochet, rather than, Heaven forbid, a murderer. This comes in the form of 'Train a child according to his way, even when he grows older, he will not depart from it'".

How Can We Touch a Child's Soul Thanks to Jewish Astrology?

Many find that according to the Gregorian calendar, they belong to a certain sign, but according to the Hebrew calendar, they have a different sign. What's correct?

"Rabbi Saadia Gaon says in his commentary on the Book of Creation, page 58, that since the zodiac wheel is fixed with the sun's wheel, it’s the Gregorian date. This is surprising, but even Jewish astrology signs are set according to the sun's wheel, which everyone calls the Gregorian date today".

Come meet Yael Zuzut and hear about the knowledge that will give you strength. Join a seminar on building the internal home and the inner strengths of the Jewish woman. Click here or call 073-222-1280

And how is the matter of astrology actually related to ordinary people, and not just to professionals in the field?

"Astrology in Judaism is the complete opposite of false mysticism. It’s an invaluable tool for communication, dynamics, and understanding what's around us. As a kindergarten teacher, I used to check each child’s sign. It helped educate and understand the children according to their character traits, focusing especially on the emotional needs of each child according to their sign. For instance, I was sensitive to children born under Libra needing independence, Cancer children just pretended they didn’t need touch, but like all children, they needed a hug. This understanding was due to the study of astrology in Judaism, and so, with divine assistance, everyone has the ability to touch their child’s soul, and the child within."

What Do You Do with a Stubborn Husband?

If so, the benefit of using astrology correctly is immense.

"True, it’s amazing. This way everyone can understand themselves better. A woman can more readily accept her husband and educate her children with the appropriate toolkit, and generally be in harmony with her surroundings".

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On the important connection between astrology in Judaism and relationships, Yael says the following: "Regarding relationships, let's start by assuming that every couple, even the most compatible, has work to do. Even a 'perfect' match involves the work of understanding the differences between the partners. Astrology should be considered when one partner sees a specific trait that bothers them in the other, and it repeats. If, for example, a woman finds something in her husband bothers her, instead of thinking he'll change or 'I'll work on it with him,' she’s invited to first check if it's a character trait according to his sign. If so, a wise woman should carefully consider what to do, because if it’s a character trait, she won’t be able to change it but can steer it wisely to the right places. For instance, a husband considered stubborn can be led to perseverance in processes; it’s the same essence with a positive twist, and this can be learned by observing the Jewish zodiac".

The Best Sign of All

It's intriguing to know: Is there a sign that is the best among the twelve signs?

"One woman told me: 'I can't handle this indifference,' while another defined it as: 'Such calmness, I wish I had it.' Therefore, good or not good is in the eye of the beholder, as every person of a certain sign, who takes their traits to the maximum level, will be fortunate," Yael shares.

Some people feel that certain character traits exist in their sign, but they don't possess them. How can this be explained?

"Women sometimes tell me: 'They say Pisces is sensitive, and I’m really not,' or 'I read about Virgo and really felt it was me, but I’m actually a Capricorn. How can that be?'

"The doctrine of astrology in Judaism is a comprehensive study that answers these questions. Anyone who wants to live peacefully with those around them should learn it to understand people and realize what they can change and influence. In conclusion, it's known that all emotional and spiritual phenomena originate in the mind. A person acts, thinks, and reacts according to the instructions given to the brain. When a person feeds his mind with the 'knowledge' that the other behaves this way to 'provoke' or to irritate, the response will be unpleasant. Once we understand it’s part of the other person's traits, just as each of us was born with certain traits, our response will be entirely different. It will be positive. Everything is precise and observed. If Hashem placed certain people around us with traits opposite to ours, there is a lesson to be learned. Hashem wants to challenge us and empower us, so instead of viewing differences as obstacles, we should view them as a springboard for growth, with the help of Hashem."

Come meet Yael Zuzut and hear about the knowledge that will give you strength. Join a seminar on building the internal home and the inner strengths of the Jewish woman. Click here or call 073-222-1280