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 4 B.C. 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 of 4 planets is identified that took place 50 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." King Herod sent them to Bethlehem, suggesting the location was already known.

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). Mars, Mercury, Venus and  Jupiter were closely conjunct. Venus and Jupiter are the brightest planets in the night sky, with Mercury and Mars adding their luminescence to the pre-dawn sky. 

This combination would have had special mystical meaning to the Magi, who were equal parts astronomers and astrologers.

According to AI, "these planets could have appeared as a tight, brilliant cluster, possibly perceived as a singular bright spot" at 7:15 a.m. in the pre-dawn sky, giving rise to the fabled "Star of Bethlehem," heralding the new born King.

Morningstar

However, most indications are that these planets most likely were visible as separate lights. 

That said, the configuration has other things going for it.

If the Magi were indeed astrologers, they may have seen the close conjunction of the four planets as an indication of a royal birth, in addition to their appearance as a cluster.

Mars: 27° 02' Libra

Venus: 27° 55' Libra

Jupiter: 29° 13' Libra

Mercury: 29° 46' Libra

However, of these, Venus is known as the "Morning Star". 

Indeed, the main rationale for this date is that Magi's were astrologers as much as they were astronomers. As such, they would have focused on the astrology for the symbolism of a king being born. 

On this date, 5 November, 1 AD, this close conjunction of 4 planets was in late Libra. Libra is the Moolatrikona sign of Venus and Venus is the planet of healing knowledge. Jesus was not only a healer via miracles but the saviour of mankind, by healing people of their sins. 

 Michael Gauquelin suggested rising stars (in the ascendant) or up in midheaven at birth, could determine the "profession." 

Likewise, the Magi, who observed the "star" as rising, must have noted it was part of a conjunction of three other planets, giving it extra symbolic importance, such that they deduced a king had been born. 

Earlier researchers have mainly focused on the astronomy of the brightness of the star in the night sky. Meanwhile, some others may have been eager to point out inconsistencies in the biblical narrative. This explanation, however, goes further in confirming the biblical account.

25 December 1 AD

The date 25 December 1 AD for the birth of Jesus Christ appears in a letter from the early 2nd century AD. The author was Hippolytus of Rome. He wrote a Commentary on Daniel, most likely between 202-211 AD. 

"The article examines the term “genesis (γένεσις) of Christ” in the Canon, which Hippolytus places on April 2nd, and concludes that this refers to conception not birth, which matches up well with the date of Jesus’ birth, December 25th, as it is given in Hippolytus’ Commentary on Daniel. The article also observes that, in his Chronicon, Hippolytus believed that Jesus was born 9 months after the anniversary of the creation of the world. According to calculations made in Hippolytus’ Canon and Chronicon, the world was created on the Vernal Equinox, March 25th, which would mean Jesus would have been born 9 months later on December 25th. The article therefore concludes that Hippolytus believed Jesus was conceived on the Passover, possibly also on the Vernal Equinox, that Jesus was born on December 25th, the Winter Solstice, and that Jesus died on the Passover, Friday, March 25th 29 AD, the Vernal Equinox."[3]

Further, some have suggested it was Pope Julius I that popularised 25 December as the birth day of Christ, some 150 years after Hippolytus letter. 

Finally, on this day in 1 AD, it was winter solstice. It also held into the 4th century, linked to the Sideral and Tropical zodiacs becoming identical in the 2nd century. The early Christian Church likely gave to  the increasing light notion of the Winter Solstice, consistent with the letter by Hippolytus, as the Sun begins to rise in the northern sky each day until the Summer Solstice.

Astrology of the horoscope

Here is an exploratory chart for Jesus of Nazareth with 28° 08' 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 held to be most pronounced, from 22 October to 22. December, 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 of obstacles and endings but also beauty, Mars is 2nd lord of family, wealth and status, but also courage and athleticism, Jupiter is 10th lord of career but also expansiveness and kings, and Mercury is 7th lord of others, as well as communication. 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.

Overall, this is a chart of someone who transcends the ordinary. As a naturally enlightened being, Jesus Christ found that his life included 'all.' He lived for all and the world became his family.

Most scholars hold 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.  His mortal life ended, but his consciousness expanded. Indeed, Jesus emphasised the transformative idea that this mortal life is subsumed in a larger reality, and he was willing to give his life to show it. The Moon major period had just begun, suggesting his famous sacrifice.

As such, his mission was just beginning...

Conclusion

We have now seen a new take on an age old question, arriving at the conclusion that the 'real' birth of Jesus of Nazareth, who would become the central figure in the world's biggest religion, was on 5 November 1AD. 

Centuries later, leaders in the Christian church chose 25 December 1AD as the formal birth date, making it coincide with an astronomical meaning. Nevertheless, the finding suggests that the calendar we still observe today is correct in its assignment of 1 AD as coinciding with the birth of Jesus.

Bibliography

[1] Day, Francis R. (..). "Jesus of Nazareth: The Super Virgo. New Light on an old Mystery---- A Vedic Astrological perspective." Not currently published, thanks to Ron Day.

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

[3] Letter of Hippolytus https://web.archive.org/web/20121224142733/http://www.chronicon.net/chroniconfiles/Hippolytus%20and%20December%2025th.pdf

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.

Martin, Ernest L. (1991). The Star That Astonished the World. Academy for Scriptural Research, Oregon. https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupid?key=olbp41171

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

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

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

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