The Astrology of Thanksgiving
1621, 1863 and today
I decided to cast a chart for late November 1621 in order to get a better understanding of the energy around the first Thanksgiving. I was most interested in learning about Jupiter’s position because Thanksgiving focuses on gratitude, joy and indulgence. Jupiter is the planet of faith and its position by sign reveals how we express tolerance and generosity. It shows how trusting we are and where we look for understanding. It can also represent over indulgence, which most Americans will experience at some point next week. Jupiter is also connected to Sagittarius which rules exploration, travel, foreign people and viewpoints, so its placement in the sky is an important piece of the Thanksgiving pie. (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.)
In late November of 1621, Jupiter was transiting through the sign of Gemini. This would have given the first feasters an abundance of curiosity and opportunities for exchanging lots of information, which would have been needed at a meal between foreign people speaking different languages and sharing different customs. There would have been lots of talking but maybe not as much listening and understanding. There is also a strong possibility that Mars was transiting opposite Uranus which could have caused unexpected outbursts of anger. Saturn was transiting through the sign of Cancer and that would put a strong emphasis on family, home and property. This placement in the extreme is defensive and territorial. Saturn in Cancer is guarded and protective of their own which does not paint a picture of the warm and welcoming celebration often depicted. The events surrounding the first feast, based on this chart, seem less festive and more tense than the original story portrayed it.
Our modern celebration didn’t come about until President Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation on October 3, 1863. The proclamation stated that Thanksgiving was created to give gratitude for “general blessings”. On that day there were five planets, Venus, Saturn, Mercury, Mars and Sun (a stellium) in Libra which indicates an incredible desire for diplomacy and echoes Lincoln's mission to unify a divided nation. This a much different energy than the first Thanksgiving! Libra is the shortest constellation in the sky, a balance point, represented by the scales and is the only inanimate symbol of the zodiac signs. Libras are often cautious in expressing themselves, carefully weighing out pros and cons of each situation before commenting. Libra is an air sign, which is skilled in communication, gracefulness, diplomacy and tact. It abhors injustice and seeks fairness and equality in all things. The national holiday celebrated today, thanks to President Lincoln, conflates our early history of a turkey feast with a national day of gratitude, grounded in justice, civility and Libra charm. As a Libra myself, I must admit Thanksgiving is one of my absolute favorite holidays. It gives me a chance to do the things I love to do: host a party for my family, set a beautiful table, eat delicious food and enjoy interesting conversations.
Our country, like each one of us, was born of a moment in time, reflected by the position of the planets, ever evolving, changing and hopefully moving toward a more perfect version of itself. We are not living in 1621, 1863, or even 2022. We are living now in this moment, and my wish is that we make the most of our time here using the planets, wisdom, learning and history as our guide. Here’s to a peaceful day of gratitude for all. When you know better, you can do better.
Happy Thanksgiving. I’m grateful for all of you!