Pesach in the Stars

Astrology is a language of symbols and archetypes, rituals are dramatic actions invoking symbolic power. In the ancient world, astrology informed the timing of rituals. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Scholars of Jewish Studies call this kind of interpretation an example of “Astro-Magical Biblical Exegesis”. I stand with the great Biblical commentator, Abraham Ibn Ezra, his memory should continue to bless us, who excelled in this field!

Regarding the Passover sacrifice of the lamb, Parsha Behaalotecha tells us precisely when it should take place:

"In the fourteenth day of this month, at dusk, ye shall keep it in its appointed season; according to all the statutes of it, and according to all the ordinances thereof, shall ye keep it."

בארבעה עשר יום בחדש הזה בין הערבים תעשו אתו במועדו ככל חקתיו וככל משפטיו תעשו אתו

On the Full Moon of Chodesh Nissan, in the late afternoon when shkiyah draws close, the Sun is in Aries, symbolized by the Ram, in the 7th House, and the Full Moon is in Libra in the First House.

Our Sages held many ideas about what the Corban Pesach - the Paschal offering of a lamb - might have meant to the newly freed Israelite Nation, who had labored as slaves in Egypt. The ram was sacred to two Egyptian gods, Amun and Khnum.

With the Sun in the Sign of the Ram at twilight on the Full Moon of Chodesh Nissan, in the 7th House, and the Moon of Libra, "Moznaim", the Scales of Justice, "Rising" or ascending in the 1st House - rising on the eastern horizon just as it does on Erev Pesach - that exact moment was when the Israelites were instructed to slaughter the Paschal lamb, and prepare it according to the instructions they'd been given regarding roasting it whole and eating it all in one night.

The 7th House is not just the House of Marriage and Partnerships as we like to think of it in modern astrology, but it's also the House of Open Enemies! With Sun in Aries - and Aries is ruled by Mars/Ma'adim, the planet of warfare - on the Western horizon, the lamb is killed at the command of the Israelite's Deity, proving His power over Egypt.

The Full Moon in justice-driven Libra (natural ruler of the 7th House), rising in the East, would illuminate this ritual act for all to see.