In this episode of the Astrology Hub Podcast, Astrologer and Starryteller Gemini Brett + Amanda ‘Pua’ Walsh, Founder of Astrology Hub, meet for part 2 of this series where they dive deeper into the astrological mysteries of Christmas and discuss the origins of many of the traditions we know today.
When you tune in, you’ll learn that many of the Christmas stories we are told have origins in the night sky, and how this can enable us to keep the mysteries and magic alive well through adult-hood. This episode is part 2 of a series we started last year and is not suitable to watch with children who still believe in Santa. You can find part 1 here.
It’s an information-packed episode! Here’s what you’ll learn:
- About the Nordic Pagan origins of the Christmas Tree, and how the tree also corresponds to the Earth’s axis.
- What stars in the sky to look for in order to see Santa’s sleigh, and how the primary motion of the Earth may be what helps Santa travel the globe in one night.
- How to explain the birth of Christ by digging deeper into the meaning and position of certain stars in the sky.
- The correspondence that the star Polaris has to the star that is traditionally placed on the top of our Christmas Trees.
- About other traditions like Yule, Saturnalia, the real meaning on the 12 days of Christmas, and who the real Saint Nick was.
- Why it’s so important to get out and experience the night sky for yourself as someone interested in astrology and the mysteries.
Again, amazing !
Thank you.
On this eve spent alone, I was gifted this information.
I can not yet relate it to astrology, but the image of a crèche with one of the few times a women is revered in the Christian tradition, is actually an image of the archetypical mother , father, & child – and a reverence for the family and each souls incarnation.
This very Christian tradition I do not mind, though I might have put a very different flavor on it.
My two cents regarding Gemini Brett’s request for feedback for adding the mystery back into the story.
We’ll need others to make these dots connect.
Many Blessings
Just FYI, Brett, for your research:
1. If we want to know the real time of Jesus birth, calculate when he died. It was the same date 33 years later. It is a sign in Judaism that when they are one and the same dates, because it is a sign that the life mission had been accomplished. His last words “It is finished” (HINT) In addition, the “shepherds that watch their flock by night” were close by. It was against Judaic law to graze sheep that close to the Temple EXCEPT the “Passover lambs”. (Jerusalem is only about 4 miles from Bethlehem). The tradition of sacrificing a lamb, by that time in Judaism the “blood of the lamb” that was meant to come out of the Jewish homes had been capitalized by the Temple authorities and the families had to “buy” a “clean” lamb from the Temple thus assuring that they were pure/Kosher. So, that’s why the Passover shepherds made it to the birth, but the Magi came much later.
2. There is NO MENTION OF THE NUMBER OF MAGI. The impression that there were 3 came from the Christmas Carol “We Three King of Orient Are”. Written in the 18th c the reference to 3 probably stems from the fact that there were three separate gifts that were given and/or interpreted as being evidenced in the sky as you referenced. That having been said, there are Judaic prophecies that may be related to the visit: “Isaiah 60:6:”The wealth of the nations will come to you. A multitude of camels will cover you. The young camels of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba will come; They will bring gold and frankincense, and will bear good news of the praises of the Lord.” and Psalm 72:10: “The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall pay tribute, and the kings of Arabia and Saba offer gifts” and Psalm 72:15: “…and may there be given to him gold from Arabia”, Hence, the names of the Magi—Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar, their numbers, their place in society as kings or astrologers and their countries of origin in the Orient could be based on old prophecies rather than legend and/or tradition.
3. As to who they were and the timing of the visit, it was not at the birth. Tradition teaches that Jesus was about 18 months old when they found him. From Matthew 2 (the only writing that survived Nicena and that recorded the visit): “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 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. When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. . . . .”
4. After the kings counsel with 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. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the HOUSE they saw the CHILD (not babe) 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. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. When they did not return, Herod panicked and had all the male children under the age of 2 years old, slaughtered. (which might indicate that the Magi had told Herod that they had been following that star for about 2 years) By the time of this event occurred, the family had fled to Egypt following the counsel that Joseph had from an angel.
What does all this [the date, the country of origin of the Magi and the timing of the visit] have to do with “Christmas Mysteries”. If we have a better timing on the death/birth and when the “magi” visited and the lengthen of time they had been traveling, couldn’t we have better timing on when “the star” appeared and what exactly “the star” was and hence the meaning.
Happy Holidays and thank you for staying honest with your research, knowledge and perceptions. I LOVE your teaching and FYI I am a born-again Christian and I NEVER turn your teachings off!
Be well and stay safe
Well done valuable research and interesting perspectives and discussion. I like how you value “Santa” as part of your life experience and how it relates in the larger picture with the galactic stars and Christ. Excellent descriptions and sky graphs. I’d also like to add that in viewing the most recent comment, It displays how everything fits together as part of a larger picture, a wheel of life, and that there is room for everyone, and everyone’s view in this enormous circle of life. This includes religious astronomical, and astrological. As one who took some time to catch these interesting videos during this Solstice / Christmas / New Year holiday season, I’ve enjoyed the various interviews shared, each from their own unique perspectives. I also respect every relative’s decision to participate socially or not during this very unusual period of time considering our own unique health concerns. Meanwhile, my best wishes to everyone for safety, peace, and joy during this season and throughout the new year in 2021!