The New Covenant

This conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn can be interpreted as a manifestation of light and darkness joining forces to bring about a “new covenant” with God.

Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jews gathered about him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you do not belong to my flock. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:22-30)

Two separate hints are given in this passage: 1) Jesus was in the temple area of Solomon’s Colonnade; and 2) he referred to his flock which means he was reminding his listeners that he is a Shepherd, in the same occupation as his forefather, King David. The image of the star of David (or seal of Solomon) is implied, which therefore symbolizes the joining together of the dual roles of king and high priest.

Transfer of Power

In The Star of Bethlehem Mystery, we are told that the conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn has a lot of significance: In his Commentary on Daniel, Abarbanel {1437-1508} wrote that conjunctions of Jupiter and Saturn in the constellation of Pisces signified not only the most important events but also events which referred especially to Israel. The Rabbi argued that as the conjunction had taken place three years before the birth of Moses, an event which heralded the first deliverance of Israel, so it would also precede the birth of the Messiah and the final deliverance of Israel… What would Saturn, Jupiter and Pisces signify to the Magi astrologers? The problem is that we know little about the details of astrology nearly two thousand years ago. As the New Testament scholar Raymond Brown points out, we cannot be sure how the Jews in the time of Jesus made their zodiacal calculations. The same scholar, however, goes on to say that ‘Pisces is a constellation sometimes associated with the last days and with the Hebrews, while Jupiter, an object of particular interest among Parthian astrologers, was associated with the world ruler and Saturn was identified as the star of the Amorites of the Syria-Palestine region’. The claim has been made that this conjunction might have led Parthian astrologers to predict that there would appear in Palestine among the Hebrews a world ruler of the last days, an apocalyptic king…

Rosenberg gives another reason why the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction was so important. From a very early time Yahweh, the God of Israel, was also identified with El, the High Father God of Canaan and Phoenicia. Sanchuniathon, a priest of Beirut, stated in his account of the Canaanite religion that El was the god of the planet Saturn. In Greek mythology, Kronos, who was associated with Saturn, had been dethroned by Zeus, who was manifest in the planet Jupiter. In the Canaanite religion this incident is paralleled by the rivalry between El and Baal. Kronos gives Zeus ‘all the measures of the whole creation’, because Kronos is ‘the originator of times’. If we take the Greek material to be a reflection of a Canaanite idea then there is a possibility that Jewish and Babylonian astrology would also regard a conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter as signifying the transference of power from one planetary supernatural deity to another. To the Greeks and Phoenicians, El (Kronos) had given all his powers to his son Baal (Zeus). In Jewish theology El, or Yahweh, was still the universal ruler, and the transfer of powers symbolized by the periodic planetary conjunctions meant something slightly different. Yahweh was giving to his Messiah a proportion of his power and authority so that the Messiah might scatter the wicked principalities that held sway over the Earth, condemn them to punishment and exalt the righteous in their stead. The planet Saturn in this cosmic drama represents Yahweh, while the planet Jupiter represents his son the Messiah.

A Wicked Generation

As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.” (Luke 11:29-32)

The conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn takes place in Jesus’ birth chart at 17°-19° Pisces in the 6th House. We learn from Spiritual Astrology that the dynamic Jupiter in Pisces person needs to know that: In deciding to take a leap of faith and greet the many facets of life with a basic trust in the universe, you can experience the joy of having your vision fulfilled at every moment. When you accept circumstances as they are, with your vision on the perfection behind the appearance — on the Divinity behind the clay — you can undergo joy and personal expansion of being able to assist people in realizing their potential. Self-trust is increased as you use your natural trust in the unseen workings behind the appearances of life as a personal foundation.

Jupiter in the 6th House: Social opportunities can be forthcoming when you expand your ability to serve the world. The areas of health and helping professions bring social rewards.

Meanwhile, we also learn what the dynamic Saturn in Pisces needs to know:

You possess the skill and social responsibility for bringing your private dream and ideals into the world. By acknowledging yourself as creator of your private visions and dreams, you can gain confidence in the ability to bring about a true manifestation of what has already been created in your imagination.

You have the power to demonstrate your private dreams. By committing yourself unconditionally to manifesting those dreams that serve humanity, you can accept the opportunities that are currently available. Through consistent, daily demonstration of your spiritual ideals, no matter how seemingly insignificant, you can gain a sense of achievement. This leaves you with the knowledge that you have contributed to the manifestation of society’s ideals in a realistic way.

Saturn in the 6th House: Shows the need to acknowledge the desire to express a strong sense of duty. Saturn offers the responsibility of doing a good job without disrupting your life through over-work.

Past Life Memory?

The authors of Spiritual Astrology hint at the New Covenant (as symbolized by Jesus) between God and Man in their passage about the past lives of Saturn in Pisces individuals:

In this lifetime it’s time to dissolve ego identification with all past accomplishments. You can become immersed in feelings of vague frustration and helplessness that keep you from manifesting your dreams. This is because the vision is changing: The old cycle of identity is dissolving, and the new is not yet on the threshold. But visions of a new identity and what the new cycle of manifestation will be like do occur.

It can be frustrating when you try to implement the new vision. This is because your destiny is to allow the vision of the new to give you enough confidence to release old forms of ego expression that are not working in the current incarnation. In this way you can become identified with the source, rather than activity, and your destiny is fulfilled.

The Law Rewritten

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says,‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for the whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to commit adultery, and anyone who marries a woman so divorced commits adultery.

“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rains on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:17-48)

Picture Credits

To be continued.

Linked Pages: The Star of Bethlehem: Chapter 1 – Prologue
Lessons for This Day (and Age)
Cosmos and Psyche: Intimations of a New World View

Picture credits:
Baal courtesy of pinterest;
Ichthus courtesy of melaniejeanjuneau.wordpress.com;
Saturn in Pisces courtesy of http://www.sunsigns.org;
Sermon on the Mount courtesy of http://www.forerunnerchurch.org