Astrologer Mikhail Levin: Vegetarianism Preserves Mental Youth (INTERVIEW)

Mikhail Borisovich Levin, one of the most renowned astrologers in Russia and the rector of the Moscow Academy of Astrology, shares his long-standing experience as a vegetarian, discusses the characteristics of the astral body, and talks about mental youth.

Mikhail Borisovich, how long have you been practicing vegetarianism, and how did you become a vegetarian?
I haven’t eaten meat since 1973, but until 1981, I would occasionally feel uncomfortable refusing when I was a guest at someone's house. After that, I completely stopped eating meat and fish. My journey into vegetarianism happened by chance. I was 24 years old when I met a fellow student who was a vegetarian. I noticed that he was healthy, vibrant, could stand on his head, practiced yoga, and fasted. The thought occurred to me that he was healthier and more vibrant than I was. I was born a sickly child and spent much of my early childhood in hospitals and sanatoriums. This acquaintance of mine started persuading me to try fasting, and I agreed. I fasted for 23 days, and during that time, I heard a voice telling me that I shouldn't eat meat anymore. I underwent such a purification that transitioning to vegetarianism became easy for me.

Do you think that being a vegetarian is beneficial for modern people?
I can't say that. I certainly can't make decisions for others. I didn’t even impose it on my own children. Initially, we raised them as vegetarians, but they ate meat like everyone else in kindergarten. After a few years, our daughter stopped eating meat, but our son continued for a long time. He only removed meat from his diet in adulthood—at the age of 35. But he did so strictly for health reasons. The example of his parents was always there, and he realized that life without meat is easier and healthier. My wife supported me and shared my aspirations for many years. She became a vegetarian after I did.

What life and personal resources does vegetarianism unlock in a person?
The first thing vegetarianism gives is the ability to preserve our mental youth. Vegetarianism creates both a psychological and energetic effect. Vitality, greater mental agility—these are the true signs of youth. Vegetarians age much more slowly. Aging is not about the body; it’s about how we perceive ourselves and the world. Heavy eating burdens the astral body, which is connected to the emotional plane. Animals have very dense emotional and psychic components. Their astral bodies are much denser. When we consume animal products, we absorb all of this from them. We ingest all the fears and experiences that arise in an animal at the moment of death. Plants don’t have such astral bodies, and when we switch to plant-based food, the density of these components decreases, making a person lighter, more agile, more perceptive, and more sensitive over time.

Of course, some levels of knowledge are only accessible to vegetarians. This doesn’t matter for conventional science, but when a person engages with spiritual sciences, trying to understand the essence of higher worlds and the meaning of creation, mental sensitivity and the subtlety of the mind become very important. These depend on emotional sensitivity, and they influence each other. The less burdened a person is emotionally, the freer their mind is.

With the practice of vegetarianism, the mind becomes more receptive, open, and agile. This is crucial for higher knowledge. Naturally, health also improves. A person’s endurance increases. They can handle prolonged physical exertion more easily. Over the years, I have engaged in mountain hiking, and the absence of meat in my diet has never hindered me.

There is a belief that people in politics and business need to “stay grounded” and should eat meat. What is your view on this?
I disagree. I have many acquaintances who are successful entrepreneurs and do not eat meat. However, we must understand that the notion of business here is peculiar. In Russian business, it's almost necessary to “feed on” human flesh to be more successful. Adolf Hitler was a vegetarian and a successful politician, although mentally, he was a cannibal. The world is full of contradictions.

On the other hand, I see that at the highest levels of power, subtlety and mastery of fine energies are required. People who possess higher abilities perform better when their astral bodies are transparent and clean. This happens when a person is in good spirits and has a positive outlook. When the astral body is dense, it creates whirlwinds, eddies, and mental tension.
Higher energies require astral purity, which can be achieved, in part, through vegetarianism and abstaining from meat and alcohol. It would be beneficial for politicians and businesspeople to cleanse their astral bodies by becoming vegetarians.

Is there a connection between astrology and vegetarianism?
There’s no direct link, but it’s important to understand that astrology deals with subtle and complex energies. For many, astrology is a technical discipline, but that’s not the case in practice. When we deal with a person and their life, logic and technique alone can only take us so far. Both astrologers and psychologists, as well as doctors, need intuition to assess atypical cases and make the right diagnosis. Atypical cases, you could say, are the majority. Everyone is different. We strive to understand the person and their world, and a person is akin to the cosmos. The depth and height of their life are immeasurable, which is why intuition is essential.

When thinking about the meaning of life and choosing a path, an astrologer must transcend to another level. Anything that clears the mind and emotions is necessary to reach higher levels of knowledge. Astrology requires inner purity—purity of heart and mind. And without clean food, this cannot be achieved.

How do you see the future of human nutrition?
I believe that over time, humanity will stop consuming the flesh of other creatures and will switch to a fruit-based diet—cucumbers, tomatoes, apples. Plants lose nothing; they even gain when people plant the seeds from their fruits. But this won’t happen anytime soon.

Is it true that vegetarianism is linked to spirituality?
There is an indirect connection. To be a vegetarian, you need to have strong character and firm convictions, and this develops spirituality. Vegetarians nowadays must overcome resistance from society and their loved ones, who may initially disapprove of their choice. Such situations strengthen character and are only suitable for the strong-willed.