Have you ever considered that your astrological sign may not be as fixed as you once believed? Imagine scrolling through your social media feed one day and stumbling upon the news that NASA has introduced a "new" sign called Ophiuchus, which might disrupt the timetable of all the other signs. Just as you're processing this information, you come across another update from an astrologer who claims that you're actually a Taurus based on a different zodiac system. Suddenly, astrology seems like a confusing mess, and you're ready to dismiss it altogether.
But here's something you may not know - there are not just one or two, but three zodiacs!
The Constellation Zodiac
You may already be familiar with this one. The constellation zodiac is based solely on the stars and the constellations in the sky. Each zodiac sign corresponds to a specific cluster of stars along the sun's imaginary path around the Earth, known as the ecliptic. However, this system is not entirely relevant or functional. The constellations vary in size, causing an imbalance in the duration the sun spends in each sign. For example, the sun takes longer to travel through the largest constellation, Virgo, compared to the smallest constellation, Capricornus.
To address this issue, ancient astrologers divided the sun's motion into 30-degree segments that closely parallel the constellation zodiac. This division allowed the sun to spend roughly a month in each sign during its 360-degree tour through the 12 signs. While there may be slight variations in the duration, this system ensures that no sign steals the spotlight for an extended period.
The tropical and sidereal aspects of astrology
The Tropical Zodiac
The tropical zodiac, which is the dominant system in the Western world, emerged during the period between 2000 B.C. and 200 A.D. Initially, there wasn't much difference between the tropical and sidereal zodiacs. However, over time, sky watchers in India and Greece noticed that the position of the sun and other planets deviated from the key star positions. This phenomenon, known as the precession of the equinoxes, led to the spring equinox gradually moving back into a zodiac sign by one degree every 72 years.
To overcome this discrepancy, Ptolemy and other astrologers in the second century created fixed points known as the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. These points, located about 23 degrees north and south of the equator respectively, mark the four turning points of the sun's movement. By anchoring the zodiac to these fixed points, the tropical zodiac became more calendrical than tied to specific stars or constellations.
The Sidereal Zodiac
In contrast to the other two zodiacs, the sidereal zodiac starts from a fixed star called Spica, located near the edges of the Virgo constellation. This system does not directly relate to the sun's motion at the equinoxes and tropics but is based on a geocentric, tropical position of a star. To account for the precession of the equinoxes, sidereal astrologers apply corrections, known as ayaynamshas, to accommodate the slow drift of the zodiac. Currently, there is a nearly 24-degree difference between the tropical and sidereal zodiacs. For example, if you were born on the first day of Spring, where the tropical zodiac places you at 0 degrees Aries, the sidereal zodiac would position you at nearly 6 degrees of Pisces instead.
Differences between the sidereal and tropical zodiacs
So, Who Holds the Truth?
The question of which zodiac system is correct ultimately depends on who you ask and how you interpret both zodiacs. The meanings assigned to the signs, houses, and planets can differ between tropical and sidereal astrology . For example, an Aries may embody different characteristics in each system. In India, sidereal astrology places greater emphasis on the moon's signs, utilizing 27 lunar zodiac signs called Nakshatras, rather than the sun's movement through the 12 signs. However, Vedic astrologer Vic DiCara believes that the Nakshatra Lunar Zodiac could serve as a point of convergence between the sidereal and tropical zodiacs. He argues that Indian scriptures actually advocate for using the tropical zodiac signs.
On the other hand, Western sidereal astrologer Dayna Lynn Nuckolls suggests that we may be overly fixated on the sun's influence. She claims that the standardization of the tropical zodiac, along with the sun's prominence in the astrological chart, aligns with the rise of patriarchy and Western individualism. Nuckolls proposes that the sidereal zodiac provides a broader context by considering other celestial elements.
Regardless of which zodiac system resonates with you, remember that you have the power to navigate your own destiny. Choose the zodiac that speaks to your intuition, whether it's the familiar influence of our solar system's sun or the guiding light of Spica. And when you hear claims about changes to your astrological chart, trust the expertise of astrologers rather than rumors from other sources.
Art by Dorian Legret. Find her online and on Instagram @dorianlegret.
