Fabled Star of Bethlehem

This is the time of year to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. However, there is a long standing debate about when exactly Jesus was born. Many astrologers have written articles and even whole books dedicated to the likely birth time of Jesus. Most of them have focused on the years 2 to 8 A.D., that involve a variety of planetary combinations in order to explain the mystery.[1]

As the birth was associated with a unique star in the sky, many have focused on the conjunction of Jupiter and Venus in June 2 A.D. or later. After all these two are the brightest planets in the night sky. The Star of Bethlehem is said to have been of a special appearance. Importantly, as this conjunction takes place every year, the conjunction is sometimes placed in the sky above the horizon during the night and sometimes in the sky below the horizon during the night. The former shines brightly on the earthly denizens at night but not the latter.

Here a novel planetary configuration is identified that took place 40 days before the traditional Christmas Day, in the year 1 A.D. as offering a credible solution to the mystery.

Biblical accounts

However, this focus on the night sky appears to be misplaced. In the clearest biblical account of this story, we read in Matthew 2:1-2 the following

"1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

In other words, the Magi had seen a special star as "it rose." A star rises to the East. When the Sun does so in the morning, a new day begins. "His" birth star, emerging over the horizon, would have been consistent with it being seen in the morning. After all, this star was to have special meaning: the Lord had come into the world to save mankind. In astrology and metaphysical studies, the East is the principal direction for new life, as that is where the divine energy attending the first Sun rays of the crimson dawn appear. By contrast, the setting Sun in the West, represents the end of our daily efforts and the night, when the Sun sojourns below the horizon, is symbolic of  the afterlife.

Further in Matthew 2 we read:

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

Here we see that the child was already born, as the "star had appeared." 

Then in Matthew 2:9-12 we read:

"9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route."[1]

The Magi were traveling by day, likely in the morning, from Jerusalem south to Bethlehem, a distance of less than 9 kilometers (6 miles). The travelers likely rose at daybreak to wash, pray and dress, then eat and prepare the animals after Sun up.  As the special star "rose ahead of them," they observed it to their left. The journey could have taken 2-3 hours. As the Sun rose behind the star, by a fixed distance, it would soon disappear as the first rays of daylight appeared. However, as Magi, they calculated its rise to the Medium Coeli point, where it appeared to stop. The MC is important, representing the glory of God's creation.

In Luke we also read about the birth of Jesus.

"1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them."

There is no indication here if the birth took place during day or night time. However, in the next verse there is a clue. 

"8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Here we learn that an angel of the Lord appeared to Shepherds during the night, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, which freaked the Shepherds out. So, the nighttime brought out the terrifying light. 

More importantly, when the angel spoke, it was of a Savior having been born "today." 

Here the reference is to a birth having already taken place, likely during the day. The young mother, Mary, would also have needed to take some rest after the birth before receiving visitors.

Star of Bethlehem

There was a conjunction of 4 planets that took place in late Libra in the Sidereal zodiac in early November 1 A.D. (Julian calendar). Reddish Mars, silvery Mercury, blueish Venus and orangey Jupiter were closely conjunct. Venus and Jupiter are the brightest planets in the night sky, with Mercury and Mars adding their special luminescence to the stellar appearance. This combination would have been even more mystical to behold in the night sky just before the break of dawn.

These planets could also have fused their light in the late afternoon, being faintly visible but visible enough to guide the Magi on their journey, as the fabled "Star of Bethlehem."

Astrology of the horoscope

Here is an exploratory chart for Jesus of Nazareth with 28° Pisces rising. It is set for 2:55 p.m. on 5 November, 1 A.D. in Bethlehem. The sign Pisces is most associated with the mission of Christ to bring redemption and rebirth through God's eternal forgiveness and love. Jesus also entered this world during a time of year when the feminine dimension of the divine is most pronounced (22 Oct. - 22. Dec), and where those who also align with its divinity become unstoppable in their spiritual mission. 

The Sun in mid Scorpio rose behind the stellium of 4 planets, with a fixed distance of 16-17 degrees behind - but with the stellium not yet in combustion. As such, the Star of Bethlehem would have been briefly visible just before sunrise. 

According to the System's Approach to Interpreting Horoscopes, the stellium is in the transformational 8th house, in the most effective point (MEP), whereby the planets aspect other houses, influencing also their indications. For Pisces, Venus becomes 8th lord, Mars is 2nd lord, Jupiter is 10th lord and Mercury is 7th lord. The combination of 2nd lord and 10th lord gives a career of the highest order, more so as all 4 planets aspect 2nd house of status. It helps that 5th lord Moon was in 10th house and MEP of the 9th house. With 12th lord Saturn in the 5th house there was loss of physical romance and children. The conjunction of 7th lord with 8th lord in 8th house deprived Jesus of a spouse. Finally, 6th lord Sun in the 9th house, would have given him firm ideas on spirituality.

At the same time as a naturally enlightened being, Jesus Christ found that his life included 'all.' He lived for all and the world became his family.

It is now fairly established that the Church in Rome chose 25 December as his birthday, as it coincided with the traditional Saturnalia festival.

It is by now agreed among most scholars that Jesus Christ was crucified on Friday, 3 April 33 A.D. With this ascendant, transit 8th lord Venus was exactly conjunct his Ascending degree on that day.  The Moon major period had just begun, suggesting his famous sacrifice.

And his mission was just beginning...

Bibliography

[1] Day, Francis R. (..). "Jesus of Nazareth: The Super Virgo. New Light on an old Mystery---- A Vedic Astrological perspective." Unpublished article, thanks to Ron Day.

 [2] On-line Bible (accessed December 19, 2024). https://www.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.2.NIV

Further reading:

Kidger, Mark (1999). The Star of Bethlehem,  An Astronomers View,  Princeton University Press, 1999.

DeFouw, Hart, and Robert Svoboda (1996). Light on Life- An Introduction to the Astrology of India, Penguin.

Mosley, John (1987). "The Christmas Star," Los Angeles: Griffith Observatory.

Charak, K.S. (1995). Yogas in Astrology, Systems Vision, New Delhi, India.

Dennis M. Harness (1999). The Nakshatras: The Lunar mansions of vedic astrology, Lotus Press, USA.

James Braha (1986).  Ancient Hindu Astrology for the Modern Western Astrologer, Hermetican Press, Florida.