Primbon » Zodiac

Problems With The Zodiac

admin — Sat, 09 May 2009 01:19:42 +0000

Two systems of the zodiac developed. The tropical zodiac is a division of the ecliptic, and uses the vernal equinox as its starting point. Each subsequent division of 30° then makes a sign. The sidereal zodiac is firmly connected with the constellations. Western astrologers favour the tropical zodiac, while their Indian counterparts prefer the sidereal
zodiac.

When the ancients first formulated the astrological zodiac, the constellations probably coincided with the twelve-part divisions in the sky. This meant the tropical and sidereal zodiacs were in agreement. However, a very slow process called precession shifts the vernal equinox between the stars. This is because precession causes the Earth’s axis of
rotation to “wobble”.

Since the celestial equator is perpendicular to this axis, it follows that the celestial equator shifts along with it. The ecliptic is unaffected by precession. Hence, the overall effect is that the points where the celestial equator and ecliptic intersect will change. This ultimately causes the vernal equinox to shift. Since the starting point of the tropical
zodiac is the vernal equinox, it follows that the tropical zodiac will start shifting westwards. This means the tropical and sidereal zodiacs will not agree with each other. The effect of precession is not very noticeable, and amounts to a full sign every 2,000
years.

It is logical to deduce that astrology can only be as old as when the constellations coincided exactly with the zodiac (eg. when the constellation Gemini was in the sign Gemini, etc). Specifically, this means the time when the vernal equinox was situated in the constellation of Aries. The vernal equinox is now in Taurus, which means the zodiac
is about 2,500 years old. In fact, the oldest horoscope in existence dates back to about 400 B.C.

The Zodiac

admin — Fri, 08 May 2009 01:02:11 +0000

The zodiac is a twelve-part division of the sky in the neighbourhood of the ecliptic. We can imagine this as a wide band stretched around the celestial sphere, and cut in half by the orbit of the Sun, as shown in the diagram below. In astrology, these twelve parts are called signs. Each of these parts has a size of 30°.

A common misconception is to term the signs as “constellations”. The twelve signs used by the astrologers are not the same as the 88 constellations in observational astronomy. The constellations are by definition a pattern of stars, and their sizes differ greatly. The signs, on the other hand, are pure geometrical constructs.

As the Sun makes its annual path around the ecliptic, it resides in each of the twelve signs, in turn. An individual born during a certain time would take on the sign the Sun is in at that moment. This is called the “sun sign” of the horoscope. The individual is then supposed to take on the characteristics associated with the sign.

Astrological Meaning of the Zodiac

admin — Wed, 06 May 2009 01:19:02 +0000

Each of the signs in the zodiac is supposed to have certain astrological properties. Listed below is a table of the characteristics of the signs, according to the astrologers:

There also exist further divisions of the Zodiac. Using perhaps a smart play of geometry, the ecliptic is further divided using a triangle, a square and a hexagon, as shown below:

The signs located on a triangle are connected with the ancient Greek natural elements of fire, earth, air and water. The division according to the squares are the cardinal signs, the fixed signs, and the mutable signs. The geometrical group formed by the inscribed hexagon are either positive or negative signs. The positives signs are supposed to be masculine, while the negative signs are feminine.

Astrologers also use the positive and negative divisions as interpretation of introversion and extroversion, respectively. Again, like the planets, the characteristics of the signs are based on analogy. It is not hard to see that there is a clear connection between the characteristics and the image of
the sign that is supposed to symbolize them. Take for example, Aries, the Ram. The sign is, according to astrology, energetic, active, impulsive, sprightly and violent. These traits are clearly copied from the characteristics of the animal. Another example is the sign Taurus, which is supposed to be slow, persistent, fertile. It is like its earthly counterpart, the Bull.

The principle of analogy is connected to magical thinking in ancient times. The assumption is made that in some sense an image has the characteristics of whatever it pictures. This type of thinking was known as “cosmic sympathy”, a relation that connected strongly divergent things together. However, analogy cannot be accepted by science as a justification for a claim.