Astrology is not specifically mentioned in the Torah, the five books of Moses. There are two commandments which have been used by some authorities as a basis to forbid the practice. "You shall not practice divination or soothsaying." (Leviticus 19:26, New JPS) "When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to imitate the abhorrent practices of the nations. Let no one be found among you who...is an auger, a soothsayer, a diviner, a sorceror, one casts spells.....For anyone who does these things is abhor ...

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Jewish views of astrology, Jewish views of astrology - In the Bible, Jewish views of astrology - Rabbinic rejection of astrology, Jewish views of astrology - Rabbinic acceptance of astrology, Jewish views of astrology - Qualified acceptance; partial skepticism, Jewish views of astrology - In the medieval era, Jewish views of astrology - Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, Jewish views of astrology - Views in the modern era

Read more here: » Jewish views of astrology: Encyclopedia II - Jewish views of astrology - In the Bible

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Jewish views of astrology, Jewish views of astrology - In the Bible, Jewish views of astrology - Rabbinic rejection of astrology, Jewish views of astrology - Rabbinic acceptance of astrology, Jewish views of astrology - Qualified acceptance; partial skepticism, Jewish views of astrology - In the medieval era, Jewish views of astrology - Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, Jewish views of astrology - Views in the modern era

Read more here: » Jewish views of astrology: Encyclopedia II - Jewish views of astrology - Rabbinic rejection of astrology

However, other statements in the Talmud and in the midrash literature show that many Jews had some level of admiration for astrology. Some hold that the stars generally do control the fate of people and nations, but Abraham and his descendents were elevated by their covenant with God, and thus achieve free will. (Midrash Genesis Rabbah 44:12, Yal., Jer. 285). A statement in the Tosefta (Kiddushin 5:17) holds that the blessing bestowed on Abraham is the gift of astrology. Midrash Ecclesiastes Rabbah states that the rulers of some non-Jewish were experts in ...

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Jewish views of astrology, Jewish views of astrology - In the Bible, Jewish views of astrology - Rabbinic rejection of astrology, Jewish views of astrology - Rabbinic acceptance of astrology, Jewish views of astrology - Qualified acceptance; partial skepticism, Jewish views of astrology - In the medieval era, Jewish views of astrology - Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, Jewish views of astrology - Views in the modern era

Read more here: » Jewish views of astrology: Encyclopedia II - Jewish views of astrology - Rabbinic acceptance of astrology

Strictures against astrology appear in the official Torah commentary of Conservative Judaism and on the official website of Reform Judaism, and a number of Conservative and Reform rabbis have written against the practice. Commenting on Deuteronomy 18:9-12, Etz Hayim, the official Torah commentary of Conservative Judaism writes "Hence the use of astrology is prohibited (BT Pesachim 113b)." Similarly, Rabbi Simchah Roth, a Conservative Masorti rabbi comments negatively on astrology in his "Halakhah Study Group" session. (Halakhah Study Group, Nov. 18 2003, ...

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Jewish views of astrology, Jewish views of astrology - In the Bible, Jewish views of astrology - Rabbinic rejection of astrology, Jewish views of astrology - Rabbinic acceptance of astrology, Jewish views of astrology - Qualified acceptance; partial skepticism, Jewish views of astrology - In the medieval era, Jewish views of astrology - Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, Jewish views of astrology - Views in the modern era

Read more here: » Jewish views of astrology: Encyclopedia II - Jewish views of astrology - Views in the modern era

Astrology is not limited to Western astrology alone, which by itself has dozens of branches and various offshoots. In modern India the ancient Vedic astrology (or Jyotish) is commonly used to this day, and in China Chinese astrology has existed for thousands of years and continues to flourish. The ancient Greeks formed Hellenistic astrology while the Mayans of Central America also developed their own form of astrology. The ancient Egyptians also had another system of astrology. A unique system of astrology eventually emerged in Tibet as well. Other cultures and civilizations around the world also develo ...

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History of astrology, History of astrology - Overview, History of astrology - History, History of astrology - Western astrology's Babylonian origins, History of astrology - The spread of astrology from Babylonia, History of astrology - Greek and Egyptian contributions to astrology, History of astrology - Medieval and Renaissance astrology, History of astrology - Astrology's 20th century expansion, History of astrology - Astrology in the Jewish community, History of astrology - Noted predictions, History of astrology - Historical proponents of astrology, History of astrology - Historical opponents of astrology, History of astrology - Other miscellany

Read more here: » History of astrology: Encyclopedia II - History of astrology - Overview

History of astrology - Western astrology's Babylonian origins. The history of western astrology can now be traced back to ancient Babylonia, and indeed to the earliest phases of Babylonian history, i.e. to about 3000 B.C. In Babylonia as well as in Assyria as a direct offshoot of Babylonian culture (or as we might also term it "Euphratean" culture), astrology takes its place in the official cult as one of the two chief means at the disposal of the priests (who were called bare or "inspectors") for ascertaining the will and intention of the gods, the other being through the inspection of ...

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History of astrology, History of astrology - Overview, History of astrology - History, History of astrology - Western astrology's Babylonian origins, History of astrology - The spread of astrology from Babylonia, History of astrology - Greek and Egyptian contributions to astrology, History of astrology - Medieval and Renaissance astrology, History of astrology - Astrology's 20th century expansion, History of astrology - Astrology in the Jewish community, History of astrology - Noted predictions, History of astrology - Historical proponents of astrology, History of astrology - Historical opponents of astrology, History of astrology - Other miscellany

Read more here: » History of astrology: Encyclopedia II - History of astrology - History

A few salient facts may be added concerning the astrologers and their predictions, remarkable either for their fulfilment or for the ruin and confusion they brought upon their authors. We may begin with one taken from Bacon's Essay of Prophecies: "When I was in France, I heard from one Dr Pena, that the queen mother, who was given to curious arts, caused the king her husband's nativitie to be calculated, under a false name; and the astrologer gave a judgment, that he should be killed in a duell; at which the queene laughed, thi ...

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History of astrology, History of astrology - Overview, History of astrology - History, History of astrology - Western astrology's Babylonian origins, History of astrology - The spread of astrology from Babylonia, History of astrology - Greek and Egyptian contributions to astrology, History of astrology - Medieval and Renaissance astrology, History of astrology - Astrology's 20th century expansion, History of astrology - Astrology in the Jewish community, History of astrology - Noted predictions, History of astrology - Historical proponents of astrology, History of astrology - Historical opponents of astrology, History of astrology - Other miscellany

Read more here: » History of astrology: Encyclopedia II - History of astrology - Noted predictions

Lastly, we may mention a few distinguished men who ran counter to their age in denying stellar influences. Aristarchus of Samos, Martianus Capella (the precursor of Copernicus), Cicero, Favorinus, Sextus Empiricus, Juvenal, and in a later age Savonarola and Pico della Mirandola, and La Fontaine, a contemporary of the neutral La Bruyère, were all pronounced opponents of astrology. ...

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History of astrology, History of astrology - Overview, History of astrology - History, History of astrology - Western astrology's Babylonian origins, History of astrology - The spread of astrology from Babylonia, History of astrology - Greek and Egyptian contributions to astrology, History of astrology - Medieval and Renaissance astrology, History of astrology - Astrology's 20th century expansion, History of astrology - Astrology in the Jewish community, History of astrology - Noted predictions, History of astrology - Historical proponents of astrology, History of astrology - Historical opponents of astrology, History of astrology - Other miscellany

Read more here: » History of astrology: Encyclopedia II - History of astrology - Historical opponents of astrology

The influence of the Medici made astrologers popular in France. Richelieu, on whose council was Jacques Gaffarel (1601-1681), the last of the Kabbalists, did not despise astrology as an engine of government. At the birth of Louis XIV a certain Morin de Villefranche was placed behind a curtain to cast the nativity of the future autocrat. A generation back the astrologer would not have been hidden behind a curtain, but have taken precedence over the doctor. La Bruyère dares not pronounce against such beliefs, "fo ...

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History of astrology, History of astrology - Overview, History of astrology - History, History of astrology - Western astrology's Babylonian origins, History of astrology - The spread of astrology from Babylonia, History of astrology - Greek and Egyptian contributions to astrology, History of astrology - Medieval and Renaissance astrology, History of astrology - Astrology's 20th century expansion, History of astrology - Astrology in the Jewish community, History of astrology - Noted predictions, History of astrology - Historical proponents of astrology, History of astrology - Historical opponents of astrology, History of astrology - Other miscellany

Read more here: » History of astrology: Encyclopedia II - History of astrology - Historical proponents of astrology

To astrological politics we owe the theory of heaven-sent rulers, instruments in the hands of Providence, and saviours of society. Napoleon, as well as Wallenstein, believed in his star. Many passages in the older English poets are unintelligible without some knowledge of astrology. Chaucer wrote a treatise on the astrolabe; Milton constantly refers to planetary influences; in Shakespeare's King Lear, Gloucester and ...

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History of astrology, History of astrology - Overview, History of astrology - History, History of astrology - Western astrology's Babylonian origins, History of astrology - The spread of astrology from Babylonia, History of astrology - Greek and Egyptian contributions to astrology, History of astrology - Medieval and Renaissance astrology, History of astrology - Astrology's 20th century expansion, History of astrology - Astrology in the Jewish community, History of astrology - Noted predictions, History of astrology - Historical proponents of astrology, History of astrology - Historical opponents of astrology, History of astrology - Other miscellany

Read more here: » History of astrology: Encyclopedia II - History of astrology - Other miscellany

Reactions from organized Jewish groups have been almost uniformly negative, and other critics have accused it of being a cult. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz was quoted as saying that "what pornography is to love -- such is the connection between what Berg teachs and true Kabbalah". The Toronto Vaad HaRabonim, the Queens Vaad HaRabonim, Rabbi Yitschak Sladowsky of the Vaad HaRabonim of Queens, the Chief Rabbi of South Africa, the Beth Din of Johannesburg, the Rabbinical Association of South Africa, Rabbi Emanuel Schochet of Canada, and ...

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Kabbalah Centre, Kabbalah Centre - Berg's teachings, Kabbalah Centre - On teaching Kabbalah, Kabbalah Centre - Astrology, Kabbalah Centre - Reward and punishment, Kabbalah Centre - Reincarnation, Kabbalah Centre - Spirituality, Kabbalah Centre - Subjects commonly viewed as pseudoscience, Kabbalah Centre - Mental illness and possession by evil spirits, Kabbalah Centre - Extra-terrestrial aliens influence Earth, Kabbalah Centre - Applying teachings to daily life, Kabbalah Centre - On combatting one's ego, Kabbalah Centre - Free will, Kabbalah Centre - The creation of the world, Kabbalah Centre - Non-reactivity, Kabbalah Centre - Target audiences, Kabbalah Centre - Criticisms, Kabbalah Centre - High pressure and cult-like tactics, Kabbalah Centre - Position on the Holocaust, Kabbalah Centre - Leah Zohin, Kabbalah Centre - Use of libel lawsuits to prevent criticism, Kabbalah Centre - Role of Berg, Kabbalah Centre - Claims that he can cure disease, Kabbalah Centre - Works by Philip S. Berg and his sons

Read more here: » Kabbalah Centre: Encyclopedia II - Kabbalah Centre - Criticisms

See also the main article Jewish principles of faith In his commentary on the Mishna (tractate Sanhedrin, chapter 10), Maimonides formulates his 13 principles of faith. They described his views on: The existence of God God's unity God's spirituality and incorporeality God's eternity God alone should be the object of worship Revelation through God's prophets The preeminence of Moses among the prophets God's law given on Mount Sinai The im ...

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Maimonides, Maimonides - Biography, Maimonides - Works and bibliography, Maimonides - Influence, Maimonides - The 13 principles of faith, Maimonides - Halakhic works, Maimonides - Philosophy, Maimonides - Negative theology, Maimonides - Prophecy, Maimonides - The problem of evil, Maimonides - Astrology, Maimonides - True beliefs versus necessary beliefs, Maimonides - Resurrection acquired immortality and the afterlife

Read more here: » Maimonides: Encyclopedia II - Maimonides - The 13 principles of faith

Saturn The sixth planet from the sun in our solar system, the last of the seven sacred planets of the ancients. In theosophy the regent or rector of Saturn exercises its own characteristic influence especially on our earth, globe D, and closely combines in this respect with the influence emanating from the moon; its influences was likewise especially felt over the fourth root-race. In astrology, its zodiacal houses are Aquarius and Capricorn; its day of the week is Saturday.

Family-races also are born under the especial influence or partial regency of Saturn -- as for instance the Jews; but though Saturn in astrology is called the great malefic this is a one-sided view; and indeed astrologers themselves realize that there are influences which Saturn showers from itself, as does every planet, which are of distinctly spiritual and beneficent character.

With the Jews, the tribal deity Jehovah represents the racial divinity or Saturn, and hence it is that the Jews considered Jehovah as their own god, for he is in fact the dominating planetary influence on their race. The mystical type-figure for Saturn in the lands of the Near East was the ass, that patient, faithful animal, as greatly beloved as a companion of man in the Near East even today as the dog is in many parts of the West. One is reminded of the conqueror of Jerusalem who, entering the Holy of Holies in the temple of Jerusalem, stated that all he saw was a golden ass -- nor was there either irony or sarcasm intended, for the ancients recognized all these matters as being allegorical and mystical. One is likewise reminded of the statement made in the New Testament that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on an ass and the foal of an ass.

The planet Saturn in one sense is spiritually farther advanced than is the earth, although in quite different sense it is younger in its present embodiment.

Saturnus [possibly from Latin sero to sow] was one of the oldest Italic deities -- among other things patron of agriculture -- who became assimilated with the Greek Chronos or Kronos. Like Kronos he dethrones his father Uranus and is himself dethroned by Jupiter (Zeus); his mutilation of his father indicates that eternal time becomes limited; his devouring of his children is symbolic of time which both gives birth to events and then destroys them. He presides over the Golden Age of innocent but unprogressive peace, when men are unable to rule themselves and are ruled by genii; his kingdom was Lemuria. The Latins represented him as having, after his dethronement by Jupiter, become king of Italy, which was therefore called Saturnia, and presiding over the Golden Age; and Vergil voices the prophecy that such a Saturnian Age shall one day return.

The same idea underlies the Jewish Sabbath (Shabbath, a period of rest), the Lord's day, and Jehovah in one of its meanings is Saturn, the genius of the Hebrew nation. It was from Saturn that came the teachings revealed to Qutamy in Nabathean Agriculture. Among the many equivalents of Saturn are Chium, Seth, Cain, Ildabaoth among the Egyptian Gnostics, Agruerus, Sydyk (Melchisedec), and Satan -- the girdle about the loins of Satan is the rings of the planet Saturn. In the Biblical list of Gnostic emanations, Saturn corresponds to Thrones.

(See also: Saturn, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Elohim 'elohim (Hebrew) (from 'eloah goddess + im masculine plural ending)

The monotheistic proclivities, not only of the Jews but of Christian translators, have led to this word always being translated as God; yet the word itself is a plural form, nor is it in any sense necessarily a plural of majesty, as suggested by some monotheistic scholars. A correct rendering should denote both masculine and feminine characteristics, such as androgyne divinities.

In spite of the ideas imbodied in the word itself, the later development of Judaism caused 'elohim to be almost entirely translated in paraphrase as the "one true God"; but in earlier times 'elohim (or rather benei 'elohim or benei 'elim -- sons of gods, members of the classes of divine beings) meant spiritual beings or cosmic spirits of differing hierarchical grades: a collective class of cosmic spirits among whom is found the familiar Jewish Yahweh or Jehovah. Thus, strictly speaking and as viewed in the original Qabbalah, the 'elohim meant the angelic hierarchies of many varying grades of spirituality or ethereality; and in cosmogonic or astrological matters, the 'elohim were often mentally aggregated under the generalized term tseba'oth (fem pl from the verbal root tsaba' a host, an army) as in the expression "host of heaven."

In the Jewish Qabbalah the 'elohim, however, are the sixth hierarchical group in derivation from the first or Crown, Kether: cosmogonically they represent the manifested formers or weavers of the cosmos. In this Qabbalistic system, Jehovah was the third angelic potency (counting from the first, Kether). Blavatsky calls all these hierarchicies symbols "emblematic, mutually and correlatively, of Spirit, Soul and Body (man); of the circle transformed into Spirit, the Soul of the World, and its body (or Earth). Stepping out of the Circle of Infinity, that no man comprehendeth, Ain-Soph (the Kabalistic synonym for Parabrahm, for the Zeroana Akerne, of the Mazdeans, or for any other 'Uunknowable') becomes 'One' -- the Echos, the Eka, the Ahu -- then he (or it) is transformed by evolution into the One in many, the Dhyani-Buddhas or the Elohim, or again the Amshaspends, his third Step being taken into generation of the flesh, or 'Man.' And from man, or Jah-Hova, 'male female,' the inner divine entity becomes, on the metaphysical planes, once more the Elohim" (SD 1:113).

The opening words of the Bible refer directly to the activities of the 'elohim, for this is the sole divine name mentioned in Genesis 1:1-2. De Purucker translates these verses from the original Hebrew as:

"In a host (or multitude), the gods (Elohim) formed themselves into the heavens and the earth. And the earth became ethereal. And darkness upon the face of the ethers. And the ruah (the spirit-soul) of the gods (of Elohim) fluttered or hovered, brooding" (cf Fund 99-100). He goes on to say that "we see that the Elohim evolved man, humanity, out of themselves, and told them to become, then to enter into and inform these other creatures. Indeed, these sons of the Elohim are, in our teachings, the children of light, the sons of light, which are we ourselves, and yet different from ourselves, because higher, yet they are our own very selves inwardly. In fact, the Elohim, became, evolved into, their own offspring, remaining in a sense still always the inspiring light within, or rather above . . . the Elohim projected themselves into the nascent forms of the then 'humanity,' which thenceforward were 'men,' however imperfect their development still was" (Fund 101-2).

The 'elohim, then, correspond to both classes of the pitris mentioned in theosophical literature: the higher or more spiritual-intellectual of the 'elohim are the agnishvatta-pitris, and the lower groups are the barhishad-pitris. As the agnishvatta-pitris are devoid of the astral-vital-physical productive fire because they are too high and distinctly intellectual, they leave the work of production to the lower 'elohim or barhishads, who "being the lunar spirits more closely connected with Earth, became the creative Elohim of form, or the Adam of dust" (SD 2:78).

(See also: Elohim, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Astrology (from Greek: αστρολογία = άστρον, astron, "star" + λόγος, logos, "word") refers to any of several traditions or systems in which knowledge of the apparent positions of celestial bodies is held to be useful in understanding, interpreting, and organizing knowledge about reality and human existence on earth. All traditions are based on the relative positions and movements of various real and construed celestial bodies as seen at the time and place of the birth or other event being studied. The ...

Including:

Astrology - Description Astrology - History of astrology Astrology - The validity of astrology Astrology - Effects on world culture
Astrology - Astrology as a descriptive language for the mind
Astrology - Astrology and the classical elements Astrology - Astrology and alchemy Astrology - The seven liberal arts and astrology Astrology - Astrology and the days of the week

Read more here: » Astrology: Encyclopedia - Astrology

Kabbalah Centre - On teaching Kabbalah. Berg states that it is his job to reveal the real truths about Kabbalah. Traditionally, while some parts of the Kabbalah were considered acceptable to teach to younger Torah scholars, most of Kabbalah was held to be forbidden to be taught, or at the very least, severely discouraged, except to very learned scholars over forty years of age. Berg describes Kabbalah as a "universal philosophy", and claims that no one, regardless of religion or gender, should be denied study of ...

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Kabbalah Centre, Kabbalah Centre - Berg's teachings, Kabbalah Centre - On teaching Kabbalah, Kabbalah Centre - Astrology, Kabbalah Centre - Reward and punishment, Kabbalah Centre - Reincarnation, Kabbalah Centre - Spirituality, Kabbalah Centre - Subjects commonly viewed as pseudoscience, Kabbalah Centre - Mental illness and possession by evil spirits, Kabbalah Centre - Extra-terrestrial aliens influence Earth, Kabbalah Centre - Applying teachings to daily life, Kabbalah Centre - On combatting one's ego, Kabbalah Centre - Free will, Kabbalah Centre - The creation of the world, Kabbalah Centre - Non-reactivity, Kabbalah Centre - Target audiences, Kabbalah Centre - Criticisms, Kabbalah Centre - High pressure and cult-like tactics, Kabbalah Centre - Position on the Holocaust, Kabbalah Centre - Leah Zohin, Kabbalah Centre - Use of libel lawsuits to prevent criticism, Kabbalah Centre - Role of Berg, Kabbalah Centre - Claims that he can cure disease, Kabbalah Centre - Works by Philip S. Berg and his sons

Read more here: » Kabbalah Centre: Encyclopedia II - Kabbalah Centre - Berg's teachings

In past centuries astrology often relied on close observation of astronomical objects, and the charting of their movements, and might be considered a protoscience in this regard. In modern times astrologers have tended to rely on data drawn up by astronomers and set out in a set of tables called an ephemeris, which shows the changing positions of the heavenly bodies through time. It is the interpretation of these science based tables that makes astrol ...

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Astrology, Astrology - Description, Astrology - History of astrology, Astrology - The validity of astrology, Astrology - Effects on world culture, Astrology - Astrology as a descriptive language for the mind, Astrology - Astrology and the classical elements, Astrology - Astrology and alchemy, Astrology - The seven liberal arts and astrology, Astrology - Astrology and the Days of the Week

Read more here: » Astrology: Encyclopedia II - Astrology - Description

Astrology is a very controversial subject. The case for and the case against astrology's objective validity are discussed more fully at Validity of astrology. Some astrologers argue that astrology works by a mechanism that is (yet) unknown to science and that it is validated by their personal experience when applied in real life cases. They argue that it does not make the hard ...

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Astrology, Astrology - Description, Astrology - History of astrology, Astrology - The validity of astrology, Astrology - Effects on world culture, Astrology - Astrology as a descriptive language for the mind, Astrology - Astrology and the classical elements, Astrology - Astrology and alchemy, Astrology - The seven liberal arts and astrology, Astrology - Astrology and the Days of the Week

Read more here: » Astrology: Encyclopedia II - Astrology - The validity of astrology

Alchemy in the Western World and other locations where it was widely practiced was (and in many cases still is) closely allied and intertwined with traditional Babylonian-Greek style astrology; in numerous ways they were built to complement each other in the search for hidden knowledge. Traditionally, each of the seven planets in the solar system as known to the ancients was associated with, held d ...

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Astrology, Astrology - Description, Astrology - History of astrology, Astrology - The validity of astrology, Astrology - Effects on world culture, Astrology - Astrology as a descriptive language for the mind, Astrology - Astrology and the classical elements, Astrology - Astrology and alchemy, Astrology - The seven liberal arts and astrology, Astrology - Astrology and the Days of the Week

Read more here: » Astrology: Encyclopedia II - Astrology - Astrology and alchemy

Each day of the week was created in honor of one of the seven celestial bodies (the Sun, Moon and five planets known in ancient times); and in ancient astrology, each day of the week was said to be influenced by the traits of the celestial body it was named after. The system was symmetrical and free of complication until the discovery of Uranus in 1781. The English names, other than the obvious Saturday, Sunday and Monday, are taken from the Teutonic deities that were correlated with the Roman deities that ...

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Astrology, Astrology - Description, Astrology - History of astrology, Astrology - The validity of astrology, Astrology - Effects on world culture, Astrology - Astrology as a descriptive language for the mind, Astrology - Astrology and the classical elements, Astrology - Astrology and alchemy, Astrology - The seven liberal arts and astrology, Astrology - Astrology and the Days of the Week

Read more here: » Astrology: Encyclopedia II - Astrology - Astrology and the Days of the Week