New Moon in Aries: Deborah the Prophetess and Judge of Israel

Aries is the first sign of the Zodiac calendar. We are official in Spring–welcome to that new year energy we’ve been craving! It’s a fire sign, known for boldness, enthusiasm, courage, and a zest for life that often leads them to adventure. Aries is a Cardinal sign, full of initiative to generate new ideas and projects. These are qualities that women embody every single day, and it’s worth noting that women have always led in Christianity and before Christianity existed. As Dr. Wilda Gafney writes in her book Daughters of Miriam, “The biblical text presents female prophets leading the people of God and proclaiming the word of God unremarkably, as part of the natural order of things.”

The Bible was written in an extremely patriarchal time, when the lives and stories of women were not deemed important, and therefore they became almost invisible in the biblical text. This means that when a woman’s story is told, it’s because it was important enough that her story could not be erased. Deborah stands tall in the Old Testament, a judge and a prophetess found in the Judges 4-5. She is our biblical archetype for Aries. 

Deborah’s story: Woman of Torches

Deborah is introduced very matter of factly as a spiritual and strategic leader in Judges 4:4: “Now Deborah, a prophetess, was leading Israel at that time.”

Deborah was the sole female judge of Israel, out of the 12 featured in the book of Judges. In his book Tell Her Story, author Niijay Gupta tells us, “Deborah is the only judge given extensive narration of whom nothing negative is said or implied... Deborah appears to be the most faithful, the most prophetically tuned into God, and the wisest of them all.”

In the Hebrew, she is described as "woman of torches," which implies "a fiery woman" or "woman of spirit."₁ Perfect description for our biblical Aries queen.

In the story, she sends for Barak, a military commander and instructs him on God’s command to take 10,000 men to fight against an oppressive army, led by the commander Sisera. Barak is hesitant and tells Deborah he will only go if she accompanies him. Deborah agrees to go and says in verse 9, “I will indeed go with you. But you will not gain fame on the expedition you are undertaking, for the Lord will turn Sisera over to a woman.”

The battle ensues, and with God's intervention, Barak's forces defeat them, but the commander Sisera flees on foot to the tent of a woman named Jael. She agrees to hide him under a blanket and, once he falls asleep, drives a tent peg through his temple, killing him and fulfilling Deborah’s prophecy that a woman would claim the honor of victory.

The song of Deborah in Judges 5, also known as the Song of Deborah and Barak, celebrates this triumph. It is one of the oldest parts of the Bible and offers a poetic account of the battle and victory, highlighting the roles of Deborah and Jael saying,

Iin the days of Jael caravans disappeared;Travelers had to go on winding side roads. Warriors were scarce; they were scarce in Israel,until you arose, Deborah,until you arose as a motherly protector in Israel.” (Judges 5:6-7)

The story of Deborah closes with the land having peace for forty years. 

Deborah and Aries

Deborah displayed the bold and assertive qualities often linked with Aries. Let’s not think of Deborah as “extraordinary” because, as Beth Allison Barr reminds us in her book Becoming the Pastor’s Wife, “describing women as extraordinary is often a subtle way of reinforcing patriarchy.” 

Nijay Gupta writes, “Deborah is an important answer to the question ‘Can a woman...?’ or ‘Is a woman allowed to...?’ Deborah could. Deborah was. God was behind it; [God] filled her with prophetic wisdom, and her sung words became part of the Word of God, testifying to the brave and wise woman who brought God’s peace to a troubled people.”

So yes, she was a powerful leader, and let’s remember that it’s normal for women to be powerful leaders. Deborah fearlessly led the Israelites in a military victory, showcasing not only her strength but also her strategic mind and spiritual leadership. This story mirrors the dynamic and pioneering spirit of Aries individuals, inspiring courage and leadership as a model for men and women. It’s important that we tell her story in particular because when we share about the ordinary capacities for leadership in all women, we shift cultural perceptions about what women “can” do.

_{1 Source: Wisdom Commentary: Judges, by Mercedes L. Garcia Bachmann}

High Side of Aries: Courageous, passionate, independent, determined, action-oriented, authentic, honest, protective, loyal

Low Side of Aries: Impulsive, reckless, hot-tempered, impatient, self-centered, competitive, argumentative, blunt, restless, easily bored

SUGGESTED MEDITATION FOR NEW MOON IN ARIES: Understanding the Flesh as Ego

Click to listen to the meditation on Insight Timer.