Astrological Trends in Jewish History
From the Arch of Titus, Roman troops are carrying away the menorah and other loot from the Temple.
Many astrologers have looked to the past to understand how upcoming transits could impact us. As a Jew and astrologer, I wanted to know: Are there astrological trends in Jewish history that we can track?
I’ve taken major moments through time to the best of my dating ability, but it does have a European and Ashkenazi (Eastern European Jewry) focus. With over 2500 years of history, and communities across the globe, this is only an initial exploration. I hope other astrologers can see this as a starting point for their own research to expand our understanding. Big thanks as well to Duna Haller for reviewing my initial notes and adding additional insight.
I’ve used astro-seek for making most charts and astro.com’s Swiss ephemeris. Since astro-seek doesn’t correct for Julian dates, some of these charts were adjusted using a calendar converter to align with the Swiss ephemeris.
The fall of the First Temple
Nebuchadnezzar II’s siege and conquest of Jerusalem in 586 or 587 BCE is one of the first major historical moments that changed the status of the Jewish people and religion. Major leaders were forced into exile, creating the first diaspora in Persia. This had impacts both for prophetic literature as well as changes in Jewish world view and theology. We wouldn't have these famous lines without the exile, “By the rivers of Babylon/there we sat/sat and wept/ as we thought of Zion.”
However, dating the exact fall of the first temple is challenging. Scholars debate if the Temple fell in the summer of 587 or 586 BCE. We can look at example charts for both periods and see trends for outer planet movements and angles that set up interesting precedents in future major moments in Jewish history.
Summer 587 BCE
This chart was generated based on ephemeris data for Aug 1 587 BCE (pg. 83).
For most of June, July, and early August, there was major activity in the cardinal signs. Both Uranus and Jupiter were in Aries with Neptune. There was a sign based square to Saturn for the entire period. In addition, both Venus and Mercury were retrograde in Cancer that July, creating an especially longer transit in Cancer. Mars was also in Cancer from the end of June to early August.
More striking was a solar eclipse in Cancer on July 18 at 18 degrees of Cancer. This included both Venus and Mercury retrograde in Cancer. Mars and Saturn were conjunct at 14 degrees of Cancer. It also included a very slow Uranus — it stationed retrograde 5 days earlier.
586 BCE
But if our dating is incorrect and it was actually in 586 BCE, do we see similar aspects? This sample chart is based on ephemeris data for August 1, 586 BCE (pg 89).
Many of the outer planets hadn’t shifted signs from the prior year. Uranus was more fully in Aries with Neptune. Saturn was at the very end of Cancer. We see inner planets activating some outer planets in cardinal signs. For instance, Mercury stationed retrograde on June 14th in an exact square to Uranus in Aries. Both of these charts show an interesting pattern of cardinal sign squares from outer planets with inner planet transits amplifying them.
The Maccabean revolt
The next major moment in history had a very different outcome. The revolt started as resistance to Hellenization and became a successful move for national independence. It led to a new dynasty of local, Jewish rulers, the Hasmoneans. Once again, I couldn’t find the exact date for when this all began. A potential beginning point is in December of 167 BCE. Antiochus III rescinded many rights Jews previously had and brought foreign idols and cultic prostitution into the Second Temple.
Let’s look at an example chart for December 1, 167 BCE.
Once more, cardinal signs were playing a major role: Uranus, Jupiter, and Saturn were all in cardinal signs. Starting on December 5th, Venus began her retrograde at 8 degrees of Capricorn. Mars also spent all of December in Capricorn, initially squaring both Jupiter and Uranus and was within a degree of squaring Saturn by the end of the month.
Eclipses also showed up in this historic moment. There was a lunar eclipse in Gemini on December 6th. That day, the cardinal t-square would’ve had Mars at the apex with Jupiter and Uranus still in a tight opposition. The ruler of this eclipse, Mercury, would’ve still been in Scorpio, within 3 degrees of squaring Pluto in Aquarius.
Similarly to the summer of 587 BCE, there were tense cardinal sign aspects, inner planets creating a t-square, and an eclipse. This time, however, both Saturn and Mars were exalted. This could be an omen as this revolt led to restoring Jewish rights in October 164 BCE. The exalted Mars feels especially symbolic because the warriors who led the revolt, the Maccabees, became the Hasmonean dynasty.
The fall of the Second Temple
This period was one of the most significant in Jewish history. It ended any ability to practice sacrificial offerings at the Temple, paving the way for the rabbinic Judaism that is still practiced today. The defeat accelerated the Jewish diaspora that is still around the world.
I couldn’t find an exact date for when the revolt began, but there are mentions of unrest and fighting beginning in Caesarea in May 66 CE. Below is an example chart from May 15 66 CE.
Once again, outer planets were in Aries. Both Jupiter and Neptune had a conjunction on May 12th, perhaps highlighting the dream and optimism of independence. By the end of the month, Jupiter squared Uranus in Capricorn. The cardinal signs were further activated as Mars ingressed into Aries on May 25th and Venus in Cancer formed an exact square to Neptune on the 31st. Like the Maccabean revolt, Pluto was once more in Aquarius.
The Neptunian dream of independence, however, didn’t last. On April 14th 70 CE, Roman forces began a siege of Jerusalem that would end the revolt and destroy the Second Temple. Below, we see a striking chart for the day the siege began.
In this case, the ongoing outer planet t-square (Neptune, Saturn, Jupiter) was activated by a lunar eclipse. It’s especially striking to see the Aries-Libra eclipses in light of October 7th and the escalated conflict in Gaza that also happened with the north node in Aries.
Something that is also striking to see 4 planets exalted (Venus, Sun, Saturn, and Jupiter). This may speak more to the solidifying power of Titus. His ability to conquer Jerusalem and end the war for Rome got him a Triumph. Interestingly, the Triumph ended with sacrificing one of the Jewish generals, Simon ben Goras, at the temple of Jupiter.
Medieval history
Tense cardinal aspects continue to be present during major moments in the Medieval era. This includes the First crusade, decided at the Council of Clermont on November 18 1095. This crusade inflicted massive violence against Jews especially as they took Jerusalem. Once more a cardinal t-square included Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune with the Moon.
In 1215, the Fourth Lateran Council legalized Anti-Semitism. Jews were forced to wear specific clothes identifying them. This council gathered on November 11 1215. This chart has an intense grand cross including a Saturn Uranus conjunction in Libra, potentially highlighting a sudden shift in legal rights.
The expulsion of Jews from Spain
One of the largest and most devastating moments in Medieval Jewish history was the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492. The Alhambra Decree on March 31st, 1492 set off a new diaspora of Sephardic Jews around both the Mediterranean and Europe. Once again we see a mostly cardinal square, even a grand cross at the end of the day as the Moon is about to move into Libra. Neptune had stationed a week prior, opposing Jupiter in Cancer. Uranus was still in a degree based sextile with the Sun and Mars.
Interestingly, Mars was combust at this time. The hidden aspect of this may line up with the Spanish royals fears of recent Jewish converts, the conversos (pg. 129-130). They worried if they were really Catholics now? Or were they secretly practicing Judaism at home and corrupting their neighbors? This feels symbolic for the aggressive fear of Jews and wanting to cut them out of Spanish society and the violent extremes of persecution, torture, and death that the state was willing to use to make this happen.
Jewish emancipation in Europe
We can’t understand the modern Jewish context, and major streams of Jewish practice today without the European emancipation of the Jews. Prior to it, Jews throughout Europe had limited rights. Expulsion from states like Spain and England was common. They were often forced to live in separate areas. There were limits to practicing Judaism. In some periods and places, they were forbidden from certain occupations. Basically, Jews were marginalized and their legal protections were always precarious because they had limited rights within these political systems.
Inspired by the Enlightenment, the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen implied Jewish equality and became the first full emancipation by a Christian state. Most European states followed through the 19th century. This led to various Jewish relationships with modernity and ways of being that we can see in Jewish denominations from the Reform to the Orthodox movements.
So what was the astrology of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen? It became the law on September 27, 1791. It does not include a true cardinal t-square we have seen previously, although we could argue Chiron in Cancer is providing the apex point, as a powerful symbol of outsider and release from historical wounds.
Once again there was an eclipse in the chart, this time a solar eclipse at the beginning of Libra. It is interesting to compare this moment to the Fourth Lateran council. At the time of increased persecution, Saturn was in Libra. At the time of the French declaration, Saturn was in fall in Aries.
Also, Pluto was once more in Aquarius. The shifting dynamic of power and moving away from historical consolidation seems to have benefited Jews, especially since we personified the outsider, the margins, those who had long ago not had a seat of power.
The rise of Hitler
Hitler becoming the German chancellor allowed for widespread discrimination and violence against Jews that led to genocide of 6 million Jews as well as other minority groups. They effectively wiped out ⅓ of the Jewish global population and decimated Jewish cultural centers throughout Eastern Europe. The major pivot point I want to focus on is January 30, 1933, when he became Chancellor and effectively took control of the German government.
Once more a t-square forms in cardinal signs, this time with Uranus in Aries, Pluto in Cancer, and Venus up in Capricorn. Uranus was still within one degree of stationing direct. Interestingly, the Moon also entered Aries that day, beginning a loose aspect to the overall alignment. This feels especially ominous as Pluto in Cancer would have been looking to the moon as its domicile lord.
We also see synastry with America’s chart. The 1933 Pluto is within 6 degrees of America’s Pluto in Capricorn and only 3 degrees from America’s Mercury in Cancer. It highlights how Hitler was inspired by America’s racist Jim Crow laws. There’s far more synastry here, but that could be its own deep dive.
What about Israel?
We can’t finish our discussion without looking at the astrology of Israel. Zionism does not equate to Judaism or represent all Jewish people and vice versa. However, after 2000 years, this new Jewish homeland was a major shift in socio-political life and opportunities for Jews around the world.
We have a Rodden A rated Astrodatabank chart for the founding of Israel. Once again, we see the Aries-Libra axis is incredibly important. While we have a loose Venus-Neptune square, Jupiter in Sagittarius is a bit far to truly call it a cardinal t-square. One of the most fascinating pieces for me is that rather than a focus on Aquarius, we see a Leo stellium, including Pluto.
This chart highlighted a major pivot from the Aquarian margins that Jews have historically experienced toward traditional modes of power as Zionists created an ethnostate. The Leo 11th house emphasizes the real need Israel has on alliances with major world powers. Both Britain and the United States were key allies that allowed Zionism to flourish and survive in Israel/Palestine.
Nick Dagan Best has pointed out that Israeli political history is very sensitive to Venus retrogrades in Aries. Israel put Eichmann on trial during this retrograde cycle in 1961. Golda Meir became the first Female Prime Minister of the state in 1969. Ariel Sharon won in a landslide victory in 2001, highlighting a major shift to the right in Israeli politics. During the 2009 Venus retrograde, Israel intensified its ground defense during the war with Gaza.
An area for further investigation is reviewing exact dates during these Venus retrogrades. Would we see cardinal t-squares with the AC/MC? Or is the Israeli chart more sensitive to retrograde Venus opposing the natal Neptune and squaring the natal Venus?
Upcoming important dates
Looking ahead, there are some major cardinal transits we should watch. Just this year we will have Neptune and Saturn in Aries and Jupiter in Cancer this year, creating Cardinal t-squares. While we may be finishing a series of Aries-Libra eclipses, more are coming in the 2030’s, creating new potential moments for striking pivots in Jewish history.
One date I'm particularly looking at is June 12-13 2025. While we won’t beat the exact Saturn-Jupiter square, there will be a strong t-square as the Moon enters Capricorn.
When we put these transits on top of Israel’s chart we see even more activity. Mars is one degree off its return. Jupiter is a few degrees from a conjunction with the natal Venus. Pluto is a degree off from an opposition to the natal moon. We may see some important events during that period that will give us important signals for how Israel may deal with Saturn and Neptune in Aries.
Long term, I’m also looking at the next set of Aries-Libra eclipses. On October 18, 2032 we have an Aries total lunar eclipse. The eclipse will square Jupiter in Capricorn. While not in aspect by degree, Saturn in detriment makes me wonder if this could indicate national and legal structures struggling or falling as we saw in the fall of the first Temple. There’s also a question specifically of Israeli leadership — the sun will be in fall within 2 degrees of Israel’s ascendant.
This Aries-Libra eclipse cycle will have more t-squares. For instance, the total lunar eclipse on April 14, 2033 includes a strong cardinal t-square among multiple harsh aspects. It is interesting to see an exalted Mars opposing its domicile lord, Saturn. During this time frame, Saturn will be in detriment both in Cancer and Leo.
With this eclipse occurring just 4 days after Venus stations direct, it may highlight another major pivot in Israeli politics, especially in relationship to the 10th house public eye and 11th house alliances.
Another looming question is Pluto in Aquarius. While not as predictable as the cardinal t- square, Pluto in Aquarius was present for:
Maccabean revolt
The fall of the 2nd Temple
Jewish emancipation in Europe
In all three cases, there was a tremendous shift in Jewish access to power. When Jews represented the margins like Aquarius, they were elevated into more rights/normalized power. However, when they had some traditional power (a client state during the 2nd Temple period), power was lost and it triggered a massive diaspora.
What can we say about the future?
While I have hinted at some issues that may be coming, I don’t want to make black and white predictions on what these transits mean for my people or for Israel. As a Jew myself, I have to ask what is fear mongering and what is important to help us further our astrology? How do we predict what could occur to Israel and what could impact Jews in the diaspora? While I believe I have found an important trend that highlights major moments, these moments have had wildly different outcomes. Assessing what differentiates these outcomes will take more time to review.
The most obvious thing I can say is that I see strong indicators for a major shift in Jewish socio-political status. Israel is particularly susceptible. This shouldn’t be surprising: Israel will be going through its Pluto and Neptune opposition as well as its Uranus return. I expect questions of Israel on the world stage, a potential shift or loss of traditional allies, and a reassessing of its founding myth.
It is far more amorphous to predict the impact of these transits on the Jewish Diaspora. There are so many factors and not enough information. With Jews around the world, identifying which transits will impact which subgroups is far beyond my scope.
Duna highlighted some interesting areas for further research. This includes exploring Mars-ruled and Venus-ruled activation. We have seen Aries-Libra bring up issues of conflict and othering. Do we see subtler trends with their fixed signs, Scorpio and Taurus in embodying relationship and conflict?
She also raised an important question I hope to investigate further regarding the tension between the signs ruled by Luminaries (Cancer & Leo) versus those ruled by Saturn (Capricorn & Aquarius). For millennia, Jewishness has primarily been a politically and socially disenfranchised group. We even have evidence of Jews understanding our marginalized identity through Saturn and Aquarius. However, there’s been a pivot in the last few hundred years to align with European ideas of whiteness, even creating a Leonine ethnostate. Does that create a shift in which transits Jewish people are sensitive to?
I hope this will encourage others, especially other Jewish astrologers, to do their own research. Could we identify which specific Jewish groups are more sensitive to specific transits or how that may align with other national charts? For example, do Sephardic Jews have more sensitivity to Neptune-Jupiter oppositions, echoing the expulsion from Spain? Does the Persian Jewish community, originating with the fall of the First Temple, have more sensitivity to Saturn in Cancer transits? With the largest population outside of Israel, what should we expect for American Jews, especially as Pluto will transit over America’s natal Moon? Good predictions require specificity. The more specific we can be, the better we can prepare for whatever comes.
What transits are you sensitive to?
While we all may experience the same transits, they affect each of us differently. Get a sense of your chart or what themes and issues may be coming up for you with a personal reading.
