Precession and Astrology

[Richard]

Hi Karen,

I ran across an article on precession and astrology and I’m curious what your opinion is. The article also talks about the 13 signs but I already know what your opinion on that is. I’m just interested in what you think about precession. :) 

Your Astrological Sign May Not Be What You Think It Is

Friday, December 26, 2008
 
Figure 1. The vernal equinox marks the first day of spring and occurs at the intersection of the ecliptic and the celestial equator. The vernal equinox also marks the zero point of the Zodiac.

Figure 2. If you were born between March 21 and April 19, your astrological sign is said to be Aries. But this was only true for a while, back when the system was set up in 600 BC. Today, the Sun is no longer within the constellation of Aries during much of that period. From March 11 to April 18, the Sun is actually in the constellation of Pisces!

Figure 3. The graphic shows the precession of the equinoxes from 600 BC to 2600 AD. In 600 BC, the intersection of the ecliptic and celestial equator is in western Aries and marked by the Vernal Equinox.

It's a great conversation starter: "What's your sign?"

But before you ask or answer that question, consider this: your zodiac sign corresponds to the position of the sun relative to constellations as they appeared over 2200 years ago!

The science behind astrology may have its roots in astronomy but don’t confuse these two disciplines. Astronomy can explain the position of the stars in the sky but it’s up to you to determine what, if anything, their alignment signifies.

The Constellations of the Zodiac

The ecliptic, or the position of the Sun as it’s perceived from the revolving Earth, passes through the constellations that formed the Zodiac - Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. Zodiac signs were originally determined by which constellation the Sun was "in" on the day you were born.

Early astronomers observed the Sun traveling through the signs of the Zodiac in the course of one year, spending about a month in each. Thus, they calculated that each constellation extends 30 degrees across the ecliptic.

However, a phenomenon called precession has altered the position of the constellations we see today.

Precession and Astrology

The first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere was once marked by the zero point of the Zodiac. Astronomers call this the vernal equinox and it occurs as the ecliptic and celestial equator intersect.

Around 600 BCE, the zero point was in Aries and was called the "first point of Aries." (Figure 1) The constellation Aries encompassed the first 30 degrees of the ecliptic; from 30 to 60 degrees was Taurus; from 60 to 90 degrees was Gemini; and so on for all twelve constellations of the Zodiac.

Unbeknownst to the ancient astrologers, the Earth continually wobbles around its axis in a 25,800-year cycle. This wobble—called precession—is caused by the gravitational attraction of the Moon on Earth's equatorial bulge.

Over the past two-and-a-half millennia, this wobble has caused the intersection point between the celestial equator and the ecliptic to move west along the ecliptic by 36 degrees, or almost exactly one-tenth of the way around. This means that the signs have slipped one-tenth—or almost one whole month—of the way around the sky to the west, relative to the stars beyond.

For instance, those born between March 21 and April 19 consider themselves to be Aries. Today, the Sun is no longer within the constellation of Aries during much of that period. From March 11 to April 18, the Sun is actually in the constellation of Pisces! (Figure 2) See also Figure 3, which demonstrates the precession of the equinoxes from 600 BCE to 2600.

Your "Real Sign"

The table below lists the dates when the Sun is actually within the astronomical constellations of the Zodiac, according to modern constellation boundaries and corrected for precession (these dates can vary a day from year to year).

You will most likely find that once precession is taken into account, your zodiac sign is different. And if you were born between November 29 and December 17, your sign is actually one you never saw in the newspaper: you are an Ophiuchus! The eliptic passes through the constellation of Ophiuchus after Scorpius.

Now you really have something cool with which to start that conversation!

Check out your “real” zodiac sign below and see what the sky looked like on your birthday by going to the Birthday Sky application.

Capricorn - Jan 20 to Feb 16
Aquarius - Feb 16 to Mar 11
Pisces - Mar 11 to Apr 18
Aries - Apr 18 to May 13
Taurus - May 13 to Jun 21
Gemini - Jun 21 to Jul 20
Cancer - Jul 20 to Aug 10
Leo - Aug 10 to Sep 16
Virgo - Sep 16 to Oct 30
Libra - Oct 30 to Nov 23
Scorpius - Nov 23 to Nov 29
Ophiuchus - Nov 29 to Dec 17
Sagittarius - Dec 17 to Jan 20

Posted by pooja

Charts and story here:
http://refreshingnews.blogspot.com/2008/...-what.html

[Astrojewels]

I have read many articles on this topic Richard, and I do believe it to be partly true but not to the extent mentioned, and yes we have talked about the 13th sign, and it is another way to exclude astrology as a science and the only true connection of our spiritual bodies to the universe, as we are one within the complete.

I do have a computer program that is very accurate and I also follow an ephemeris that consists of 50 years, however I do believe that the sign of Pisces has extended over the past 10 years, it has always been the longest progression but I feel can actually feel it to be around 30-35 degrees now, and Scorpio is the shortest and I do believe also that this sign is becoming even shorter and Sagittarius is extending, this article has scorpio at only 6 degrees. So in years to come the signs may change, but it is a long way off before that happens and I surely will not be worrying about it then because I will not be here!

[Richard]

Interesting that you say Pisces has extended. So what happens to a person who was born an Aries and now the birth date is Pisces?

[Astrojewels]

Well I think all the seasons are changing, do you agree? So a person is still born under the sign of Aries, but carries more Pisces energy, I have always felt a close association to these two signs and the same for Scorpio and Sagittarius. The end and beginning is becoming more connected, you could say intertwining with each other as Aries is the first and Pisces the last. So I don’t know if it is actually literally happening, I am not an astronomer. We are evolving in a spiritual manner, so the universe goes with us or we go with it! We can not change without the other; it is just what I feel, but it is interesting to analyze and be open minded about.

Do you feel the times of the year changing when these signs are in?

[Richard]

Good question. I don’t know if I do feel an influence with each sign. Sometimes I think I feel the same way all year round. That makes it sound like I’m not sensitive to energies but it isn’t true because I feel energy from everything I come in contact with. A lot of times I can get a rough idea what people are thinking by feeling their vibrations. I will need to pay more attention to when the signs change and note if I feel anything. :)

[Astrojewels]

Yes Richard,

It is a matter of tuning in, and then it just becomes part of who you are, like how your body naturally conditions to the different seasons. Maybe because I have such a love for astrology I tend to be more sensitive, but you have probably never thought of it before. Everyone has the ability to feel as you do, yet we are conditioned to not understand and translate this energy, high school is the major player for removing this inner awareness, because we go against what we feel.

Capricorn finishes on the 18th of January, but a few days before that the energy of Aquarius is felt, but each sign provides different energy to do things in your life. Just keep a note that around the 14-15th of January, people that you work with or socialize with will change slightly, shop owners, anyone that you interact with and let me know if you see the difference now you are consciously aware of it.

[BlueMoon]

HHMMMM....I have noticed the last few years, that my body goes through a change around Nov and Dec. It affects my health and mood big time and all things get worse. Could this be from a sensitivity to the energy described above. I was looking for alergies, dietary changes, etc. that I may experience this time of year, but so far have not come up with anything.

[Astrojewels]

Yes blue moon, it could be sensitivity to that time of the year, that is the time when the illuminati put out them most extreme negative energy of the whole year, it is also the time when many people get upset in the stomach (solar and sacral chakra) due to the pressure of Christmas family gatherings can create. Next year prepare yourself and see if it makes you feel better.

[HeadSpace]

I think I react strongly to the cycles, there was a time when I payed extra attention to the astrology part to and then it became much stronger:P

A lot of stuff I would like to write but I'm not sure how to do it:?

[Moonchild]

I must add that I can feel dose of anxiety when i'm under the sign of Pisces, btw I'm Aries. And it's not just a feeling of narrowness, it's like the premonition of something bad and last time I felt like that was in March last year when horrible things happened. There's something about association between two signs, especially between Pisces and Aries.