Outside astrology


Today astrology is more popular than ever. However, be aware that it has a lot to do with the desire to establish contact with "intermediaries" of the Creator - the sun and the stars. The first Jewish patriarch Abraham, demonstrated to the world that no one other than Gd, and that it should only serve the Creator.

In astrology and idolatry have several features in common. Let's look at some of the components of this common foundation to understand more clearly what our role is transcendental people in their personal and national values.

When you get acquainted with the provisions of the Torah forbidding idolatry ( "Avodah Zarah"), unwittingly questions arise curious. Firstly, when the Torah forbids us to serve "other gods", what particular "other gods" in question? According to the general view, the pagan gods - it is a fiction, a fiction imagination. First of all, we are talking about serving all kinds of statues and other images: people bow to statues, paintings and other physical objects. But if these "gods" - nothing more than a lifeless statues, pictures, or simply invented the idea, why the Torah speaks of them as real objects? In many of its verses the pagan gods are mentioned together with the Creator, as if they were endowed with the same real essence: "Mi kamokha ba-elim Hashem - Who is like You among the gods, the L-rd" (translate "elim" as "omnipotent", meaning people in authority, it would be wrong - it is impossible to compare people and Gd); "Ki stake eloey and Ammim elilim - For all the gods of the peoples of the world - little gods"; "Ki Hashem Kel gadol at-Melech Gadol Al Kol Elohim - For Hashem Gd great and a great King above all gods." Who is "Elohim Acher", the other gods?

Secondly, we remember that one of the main concerns of the Torah prohibition of idolatry. This ban is the first among all the mitzvot and prohibit, essentially, includes them. It is clear that if idolatry was just a stupid mistake, the Torah would not have been expressed so strongly against it. She would have been enough to say, "Do not be gullible," or even, "Do not be stupid." One of the basic prohibitions of the Torah should be directed against something very real and dangerous. Therefore it is necessary to recognize that at the heart of idol worship is something very real.

Third, looking deeper into this subject, we notice that sometimes the Torah calls "other gods" such names, which are the "property" of the Most High, for example, "Elohim Acher" (other gods) or "elim" (gods). These names are profaned options Gd Names. Although we say them without any trepidation, it's still the same names. In not one of them, of course, the main name of Gd, "The Name of His essence", but how to be with other names that have become idols's definition? All this shows that the question of idolatry deserves serious consideration; It can not be dismissed by him as a primitive nonsense, unworthy of the attention of serious people.

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Answers to these questions can be found in the underlying ideas that form the basis of Creation. By Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin ( "Nefesh Chaim") and many other authorities we know that our universe is composed of many interconnected levels. In the endless chain of creation, stretching from the Source of life, lined up one after another, different worlds. Each of these higher worlds passes to the next level of their life force and energy. Each world has a, relatively speaking, the "male" started toward the world, situated beneath it, which, in turn, shows the "female" dependence on him, and together they "create" another, a lower level of existence . This process is developed further in a variety of difficult choices, until finally reaches our lower physical world.

Each level is endowed with its own unique properties, but we will consider only one of them to answer the questions posed. Among all the higher worlds, and our final physical there is some intermediate stage. This step, or rather, self-contained world, not felt by us, but it is quite affordable. The world needs to transmit to our world of higher energies: the creation of energy involved in the formation of the various aspects of this level, and energy management powers of the Divine Providence ( "ashgaha") "Ashgaha" manipulates events in our world. In short, this kind of "interface", the interface between the higher worlds and our world, the boundary of the reality that we are able to perceive. This intermediate level includes world stars, zodiacal constellations, known as "mazalot".

The word "Mazal" usually translated as "luck", although in reality it means "flow" ( "nezel"), e.g., fluid flow, because it is enclosed idea of energy flow from the higher layer into the lower layer of the universe. More inaccurate translation than "luck", it is difficult to imagine. The whole point of "good luck" in complete randomness, unpredictability, and "Mazal" - just the opposite. In "Mazal" hidden himself only source, guide arm; that is why it is often considered an unregulated, natural.

Astrology - the science that studies the intermediate world. Using the knowledge of its structure and processes occurring in it, astrology is trying to predict events in our physical world. Strictly speaking, of no predicting the future there can be no question - is engaged in a different sphere, the prophecy. Astrology is "read" only the present. Anyone who knows the world of the stars can "predict" earthly events only because at this moment impelling energy is already moving in the desired location, and mechanisms of change set in motion. Let us illustrate this point with a simple analogy. Seeing the wood seed specialist immediately predict which tree will grow from it many years later, although the person far from botany, seeing the only conventional seed is no different in appearance from the other seeds. In this case, the expert does not predict the future. He's just well versed in the seeds and know that from certain seeds grow certain trees - predictably, in strict accordance with the laws of nature. The same applies to astrology: it is not supernatural wisdom and familiarity with a certain kind of natural forces.

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We now turn to idolatry. In the world of the stars - "mazalot" - the highest energy "distributed" by various "channels", each of which becomes the source of a special kind of natural energy, and these well-defined forms of energy are manifested in various spheres of the physical world and its events. The essence of idolatry is that it is addressed not to the beyond the origin of everything, and not to the higher single Absolute, and these channels through which energy descends into the world, to the "holes in the pipes." Idolater trying to establish contact with the zodiac (the worship of the stars and constellations - "Avodat Kohavim y mazalot") or some natural objects and elements - sun, wind, rain. His statues and images are touchable casts of these deep energies (Gentile, who literally worshiping a piece of wood or stone, grossly violates the commandment "Do not be a fool," introduced long before the prohibition of idolatry). Tom, who is the Source of the abstract, of course, never come to mind to create his physical image; but one whose imagination goes no further than natural phenomena, it is capable of such specifics.

Maimonides wrote that at the dawn of human history, people have recognized the existence of a Creator. Then came a time when they are judged as follows: since Gd uses intermediaries, including the forces of nature, to carry out His will, we certainly ought to render homage to these forces as the his authorized representative, the governor of the King. And they began to worship these silam- "governors", not forgetting, however, and the King. But over time, people forgot about Gd. According to this scheme, developed a theory of idolatry. Now we have to answer the question: What was the initial motivation for this error? After all, such errors are not random. In fact, the initial reason that people have forgotten the source, remembering only intermediate levels of the universe, was the most banal self-interest. Consider this situation.

The real difference between the service and the service of the Source of the mediators is. Whoever serves as a source, it is committed, first and foremost, to perform their duties. He asks: What Gd require of me? What can I do to sacrifice for Him? How to express my devotion to Him? Those who serve as intermediaries, thinking first and foremost about what they can do for him; because these mediators are designed to meet all human needs, providing all the natural features in the world. Idolater refers to a direct source of power, love, wealth - all of their needs, and asks what they may serve me? He did not need to go further, to contact the Absolute Source. Rabbi Simcha Wasserman said that the idolater is like a person who has come to the store and wish to buy a product that is too expensive for him. To get it, he puts seller bribe under the counter. He is ready to pay the cost of bribes, but not the full price of the product itself, and he appeals to the seller, not the shop owner, because the owner does not release the goods and the seller. Similarly, behaves and idolater; he is willing to pay part of the price for their own needs, but not full price. The full price of this service includes everything that a man can have, and therefore it is prohibitive for him. That is why he seeks to pay to the source, which gives him the right product. Gd Himself, the rightful owner of "store", he was not interested. Where can I get the product? - is the main and only concern idolater. Suffice it to recall the gods of ancient Greece: the god of love, god of war, god of fertility, but no one god who created the world! In fact, why do we need such a God? After all, he does not "goods".

In fact, the differences are as follows. When it comes to the true service of Gd - that's all, so that "I should serve Him", and I'm in idolatry - that's all, and "my gods shall serve me." There is the same difference as between the righteous and the wicked. We the righteous, Gd stands over them, as it says in the Torah (in the episode with the ladder of Jacob): "And Gd stands over him," and the wicked vice versa - they stand over their gods, as it is written: "And Pharaoh was over the river "(the Egyptians worshiped the Nile). Before us are diametrically opposed. Who's in charge and where reality? If Gd and He is the chief - the source of reality, it is true service. But if I - the main and the reality lies in my personal desires, it is idolatry.

Now we understand why the idols are often portrayed as a people. Because idolatry - that service itself, and the images, and images are projections of his "ego". Astrology - their mediator, idolatry - their service.

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Now we can answer the question with which we began this chapter. "Other gods" was not invented; they are genuine and are created by Gd to deliver His Divine energy into the world. They are His names, because they are the epitome of His various manifestations on earth. Home Error allow those who see in them an independent force, who believe that they can take bribes, they - primary sources of legitimate goods. Idolatry is focusing only on the giving hand, ignoring Him Who is behind this hand. But truly soulful personality extends not to the arm and to the Giver Himself.

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In the book "Genesis" Avraham Avinu enters into an argument with God. Of the prophetic vision, Abraham learns that he has a son, but he objected to the Creator: Is it possible? After all, the stars show quite different. A mere mortal enters into a dispute with the Lord of the universe Himself as to the validity of astrological predictions ?! How dare he ?! After direct promise of Gd is stronger than any of astrology. In fact, the stars - it is also the word of the Creator. Gd instructs the heavens. Therefore, Abraham asks Him: But Gd, Your word, addressed to me, contrary to your word to the stars. And Gd tells him discovering the greatest secret of Jewish life: "And He brought him outside" - in the simplest sense, the tent, and in a hidden mystical sense - beyond the solar system. Your destiny is not subject to these channels, said Gd. They exist as part of nature and define the inevitable; but you exist outside of this framework, and you can self determine their own destiny.

It is, of course, remember that Abraham was awarded his chosen for their outstanding achievements. Gd made him ride on the world and the constellations of unparalleled fortitude and dedication: Abraham had passed all the trials and deserve the supernatural destiny of their descendants. The idea here is simple: if you live according to the highest standards, these measures have been calculated, the level becomes your reality.

The Talmud gives many examples of this kind. We see sometimes as only one mitzvah is able to radically change the fate of man. Young girl astrologers predicted the death on her wedding day. In the midst of the wedding meal, she took out the hair pin and unconscious movement stuck it into the wall, beside which sat. Stud pierced cobra ready to strike a deadly bite girl. When the bride asked what she deserved such a miraculous escape, it became clear that during the wedding ceremony, the happiest moment of her life, she brought food to the beggar, lost among the guests. Bride fulfilled the mitzvah, the physical action that originates in the spiritual environment and creates a miracle, abruptly changing human destiny.

Mitzvoth live on a higher level. The root of the word "mitzvah" is close to the word "Tsavta" unity, because a mitzvah connects us with God. Mitzvah contains potential energy that could elevate the person who performs it, and provide it with direct contact with the Source of all things. This energy is certainly much stronger than the power of any "intermediaries".

Chapter Gursky Hasidim Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh Leib Alter ( "Sfath Emet") said that when Gd wants us to do some action, and we are following in this moment there is our merger with Him. His "Ratzon" (desire) forms an indication of outside material level; this indication, which is a direct expression of his will, comes down and takes the form of the commandments of the Torah. In an effort to fulfill this commandment, we make His will in their own will and implement it in our physical world. So will the Creator made. Together with him, we closed the space circuits. This circuit originates at the top of the pyramid of the worlds, comes down and given us into action with the help of the commandments. She has an incredibly high voltage and infinitely powerful elektropotok. Together with God we become one cycle of cause and effect. And as the desire to do His will is generated in our mind, we turn into a miniature model of the whole process - the true "image of God" ( "Tselem Elokim"). We are united, first of all, because we - His reflection, and secondly, because we are partners with Him, and become committed to the common goal on the basis of the harmony of our desires.

This also implies that we are not doing the will of Gd, we deviate from reality. The time spent on other activities, falls out of the chain of life. Not receiving power from the higher spiritual worlds, the time lost in the rough and barren physical environment.

So, correctly executed mitzvah able to connect us with the source, including our goal of creation, not only in its result. But if a man gives to astrology value, divination and all kinds of horoscopes, then, as the sages of the Talmud suggests the predicted events inevitably executed. Whoever strives hard to live only on the laws of nature, becomes her slave. It can get information about the upcoming event, but in the end still will be his victim. Commenting on the verse "ki lo nahash be-Yaakov - For there is no divination in Jacob," The Jerusalem Talmud notes that the word "lo" can be understood in two senses: "no" and "have it": in principle, no divination of the Jews, but if you believe in such things, if I pay for divination, then "have it" - foretold events are carried out.

The main purpose of the Jewish people is to live above nature. Our task - to rise to the level of the divine will, and to live only on the laws of mechanics. level height set here only by our own inertia rise. We have been entrusted with an extremely important mission: to enter into the source of the limits. Unlucky one who remains a prisoner of the forces of nature and the inevitable event. Happy is the one who managed to escape from this trap to freedom - to the Source.


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