We know from the books of Abraham and Moses that both of those prophets were taught to read the stars. They were shown the “patterns” of “heavenly things.” The wise men who came from the East to worship baby Jesus… weren’t they led by a star? Perhaps a star in some sort of constellation? Was that wrong? Obviously not. So where does the caution against using the stars to discern patterns and signs come from?

Timothy Adams, in Pattern of the Heavens, explains that the cautions in the scriptures against “astrology” are actually against the worship of the stars. Deuteronomy 17:3, Deuteronomy 18:9-14, 2 Kings 21:3-5, Jeremiah 8:2–they all deal with people actually worshipping “the host of heaven.” We are cautioned against making the stars our gods, worshipping them, and using them inappropriately. 

As long as we are not worshipping the stars, it is my understanding that it is okay and even right to search them as one would any witness of God.  Many holy men and prophets have studied the stars and the signs in the heavens. Obviously, the wise men did it in order to come find Jesus at His birth. It is not wrong to do that, as long as you come from the proper (read: Christ-centered, Gospel-oriented) perspective.

Many Christians say that they are okay with “astronomy” but not “astrology.” These are often people who still look to heavenly events for symbolic meaning. They may claim that Jupiter represents Jesus or that the constellation Virgo represents the Virgin Mary. These people are very terminologically confused. The word “astronomy” comes from the Greek word “astro,” meaning “star,” and the Greek word “nomos,” meaning “law.” Astronomers study the “law of the stars,” and the physics of their movement. NASA employees are astronomers.  

Astrology uses the Greek work “logos” instead of “nomos.” “Logos” means “word.” It refers to the practice of finding symbolic meaning in the stars, instead of measuring their orbits and speeds. When people are finding symbolic meaning in the stars, they can say they are practicing astronomy, but that is a misuse of the word. They are actually practicing astrology, and pretending it is astronomy so that they don’t get accused of being evil. But if they were practicing astronomy, they would not be talking about symbolic meaning. They would be talking about math and measurements. 

I use my knowledge of the symbolic meanings of stars and planets to discern additional insight on current events on Youtube, and occasionally I do personal readings. Currently my personal readings are closed–but you can reach out to some of my favorite Christ-centered astrologers instead, including Lyla Sage and Kayelee Rose. If you reach out to them please tell them I sent you!