I am a Certified Astrologer. I started out on the course of study leading to certification because I wanted to have a track-to-run-on to keep me honest about studying astrology and to help me overcome the pitfalls of procrastination and lack of direction. I am grateful to the encouragement and help I received along the way from the people who run the show at the National Council for Geocosmic Research (NCGR). Thank you.
While Jewish astrology is a ‘thing’ with many rabbis writing about ‘Jewish astrology’, i.e., the Jewish or rabbinic approach to understanding astrological influences, the term ‘Jewish astrologer’ remains ambiguous. Does it refer to an astrologer who is ‘Jewish’? Can it refer to a Gentile who practices ‘Jewish astrology’? So that is a question that I blog about: What is Jewish astrology?
Besides my studies in astrology, I also attended the University of Minnesota and earned an undergraduate degree in philosophy, but frankly, I cannot say much about what I learned in those days so many years ago. Recently, a friend and I began to study Maimonides ‘Guide of the Perplexed’ and I can sincerely say that in that study I find much that is memorable and not easily forgotten.
My years in Israel were mostly as a member of a loose community of friends, Torah scholars who spent the day in the yeshiva or maintained personal study sessions with other scholars. I learned how to navigate the pages of the Talmud and its commentaries. Aramaic and Hebrew dictionaries were never very far from my reach. It was only after I returned to the USA that I began to study Kabbalah texts, mostly solo, a solitary student of the Zohar with the Rav Yehuda Halevi Ashlag’s translation (Aramaic to Hebrew) and Hebrew commentary.
I’ve taught beginning Hebrew to adults at local adult education centers. If you are interested in learning astrology, kabbalah, and/or Hebrew contact me to get started. Tuition by donation.
