Shabbat 156: Constellations, Astrology, Hours of the Day

The rabbis discuss how we can do things in unusual ways on Shabbat.  

Some interesting notes:

• one born on a Monday will be short tempered because this is the day that the upper and lower waters were divided during creation on that second day
• one born on the third day of the week will be rich and promiscuous because that was the day vegetation was created mixing boundaries between the grass and the plants
• one born on the fourth day will be wise and enlightened because this was the day the lights from heaven were hung in the sky and wisdom is a type of light
• one born on the fifth day of the week will be one who performs acts of kindness because this day fish and fowl were created and they are sustained only by G-d's kindness
• One born on the sixth day of the week will be a seeker and Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak said that this means one will seek out mitzvot like how Friday prepares for Shabbat
• one born on Shabbat will die on Shabbat because Shabbat was desecrated on his behalf; Rava bar Rav Sheila says that he will be called a person of great sanctity

• one born born under the influence of the Sun will be radiant, self sufficient, and his secrets will be exposed; stealing will be seen by everyone
• one born under the influence of Venus will be rich and promiscuous because fire was born at that our, like the evil inclination
• one born under the influence of mercury will be enlightened and an expert because Mercury scribes for the sun; this person will destroy and build, build and destroy; others will have to support him and his secrets will be hidden, if he steals he will succeed and he is like the mood who changes form
• one born under the influence of Saturn will waste his thoughts and all of his efforts will be for nothing
• one born under the influence of Jupiter (tzedek) will be a just person (tzadkan)
• one born under the influence of mars will be one who spills blood either medicinally or though thievery or slaughtering or a circumciser; Rabba argued this point based on his own behaviour and Abaye notes that he does kill and punish as a judge

The rabbis argue about whether or not the Jewish people are influenced by constellations.  As an outsider, it is difficult to understand how this could be understood as anything but a form of idolatry.

A new Mishna tells us that we may cut pumpkins before an animal on Shabbat as long as they were picked before Shabbat.  We may cut an animal carcass before the dogs on Shabbat.  Rabbi Yehuda says that if it was not already a carcass before Shabbat, we cannot cut off or even move it on Shabbat because it was not prepared for use on Shabbat.