The Zodiac

Did you know that the astrological sign you were born in has nothing to do with the stars?

The Tropical zodiac, used in the Western world, was devised by the ancient Greeks and is based on the Earth’s seasonal path around the Sun. The beginning of Capricorn marks the start of Winter in the Northern hemisphere. The beginning of Cancer marks the start of Summer, while Aries and Libra start Spring and Fall. The Moon and planets are also considered to be in the signs that the Sun appears to be in at these seasonal times.

So why do we say our destiny is written in the stars? 

Prior to the Greeks, about 2,500 years ago, the Babylonians selected a belt of 12 constellations that were in the background to the Sun at the times of the 12 months of their calendar, which was based on the seasons. However, these constellations are of very different sizes and even overlap in places. This is the zodiac made up of stars that we see at night. 

But those who sought to use the constellations for astrological purposes found them impossible to use, since planets could be in two constellations at once or none at all. Their answer was to divide the starry sky into 12 equal sections, just as the calendar divides the year into 12 months. So the original astrology calculated the Sun, Moon, and planets with a loose reference to the constellations, which were inspired by the seasons. Unfortunately, the starting point of this Sidereal zodiac is also subject to debate since there is distance between the end of Pisces and the beginning of Aries. 

The Greeks corrected this whole dilemma by simply realizing that the astrological influence of planets from being in certain spaces did not come from the backdrop of the stars, but the spaces created by the seasons. However, not all astrologers agreed with the Greeks and continue, to this day, to use the Sidereal zodiac (especially in India).

Are we entering the Age of Aquarius?

Since the Tropical (seasonal) and Sidereal (constellations) zodiacs overlapped at the time of their conception, their difference was unimportant for practical reasons. However, the Tropical zodiac actually rotates clockwise (backwards) against the Sidereal zodiac. So today, the planets can be in two different signs in the two zodiacs. This is impossible for astrologers, however, since this gives each planet two entirely different interpretations. 

Currently, Tropical Aries is mostly overlapping Sidereal Pisces and is nearing Sidereal Aquarius. For this reason, it is said that we are in the Age of Pisces and entering the Age of Aquarius. But if the Sidereal zodiac has no actual influence, what meaning do the ages have? And does it really make sense that ages would move in reverse order through the signs? And is it believable that the last 2,000 years of human history can be described as being Piscean, full of creativity and spirituality? It seems more like an Age of Aries, full of pioneering aggression.