I
was doing some research this week and have learnt a lot about
astrology!
The
word 'sidereal', which was new to me, means star-like, or pertaining
to the stars. It derives from the Latin 'sidereus' (meaning starry,
astral, or of the constellations) which itself derives from 'sidus'
(star, group of stars, constellation), which may derive from the PIE
root 'sweid', meaning 'to shine'. Sidereal time is measured by
the apparent diurnal motion of the 'fixed' stars. A sidereal day is
about four minutes shorter than a solar day, which is measured by the
passage of the Sun over the meridian.
'Sidereal'
and 'tropical' are astrological terms used to describe two different
definitions of a 'year'. They are also used as terms for two systems
of ecliptic co-ordinates used in astrology. Both divide the ecliptic
into a number of 'signs', named after constellations.
The
ecliptic is the sun's apparent path during the year, forming what
appears to be a great circle on the celestial sphere. (Are you still
with me?!)
Traditional
Hindu or Vedic, astrology, known at Jyotisha, is based on the
visible (sidereal) zodiac, and accounts for the shift/precession of
the equinoxes by a correction known as ayanamsa. The
foundation of Jyotisha is the notion of the bandhu, or
bond, of the Vedas, which connects the microcosm and the macrocosm,
and includes the concept of lunar mansions, a segment of the sky
through which the Moon passes.
The
difference between the tropical (Hellenistic/Western)
and sidereal (Hindu, Jyotisha)
systems is that while the tropical system defines the signs based on
the position of the vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere (that
is, the intersection of the ecliptic with the celestial equator), the
sidereal system is based on the fixed stars. Because of the
precession of the equinoxes, that is, the motion of the equinoxes
along the ecliptic caused by the cyclic precession (uneven wobbling)
of Earth's axis of rotation, the two systems do not remain fixed
relative to each other, but drift apart by about 1.4 arc degrees each
hundred years. The
difference between Jyotisha
and Western zodiacs is currently around 24 degrees.
One
of the earliest organised astrological systems, that of Babylonia,
dating from before 1,000 BCE, was introduced to the Greeks around 280
BCE, if not earlier, when the Babylonian priest of Bel, Berossus,
moved to the Greek island of Kos (see pic. below - it looks rather
nice!) in order to teach astrology and Babylonian culture to the
Greeks. This effectively brought the centre of astrology west to the
Hellenistic world of Greece and Egypt. By the 1st century BCE there
were two main foci of astrology: the reading of horoscopes, and
theurgy ('god-work') - relating to personal transformation and the
soul's 'ascent to the stars', and in which astrology was a form of
communication with the Divine.
However,
the precession of the equinoxes was not discovered until around 130
BCE, the discovery being attributed to a Greek astronomer Hipparchus
(c. 190-120 BCE). It was Ptolemy (c. 100-170 CE) who determined the
definition of the zodiac based on the point of the vernal equinox -
that is, the tropical system, which most western astrology is still
based on.
However,
sidereal astrology is on the increase here in the west, and although
many western sidereal astrologers still divide
the ecliptic into 12 equal signs of 30 degrees, aligned to the 12
zodiac constellations, some define their signs based on the actual
width of the individual constellations, and include a thirteenth
sign, Ophiuchus, the Serpent-Bearer, which is situated behind the sun
from 29th November to 18th December.
Cetus
(the Whale/Sea-monster) has also, if rarely, been included as a sign.
On
a personal note, the difference between tropical and sidereal
astrological charts means that, rather than being born under the
sign/house of Aries, I was actually born under the sign/house of
Pisces.
Aries,
the first sign and baby of the Zodiac family, is a masculine fire
sign, ruled by Mars, symbolised by the Ram. The most common
characteristics have been described as impulsive,
insensitive/forthright, competitive, combative, and dominating, with
a self-image of being a knight in shining armour.
Pisces,
the last sign and elder of the Zodiac, is a feminine water sign,
ruled by Neptune, symbolised by the fish.
The
most common characteristics have been described as being
formable/mutable, mystical, mysterious, empathetic, and a bit
confused at times (oh yes!). All this demonstrates the
changeable qualities of water, and Pisces has a chameleon-like
nature, although they may choose, or at least try, a safe,
conventional 'container' to hold their fluid possibilities, not least
to become anything from mystic or saint to cult-follower or dreamer,
in danger of becoming lost in their own ideals and/or illusions. Pain
and rage are part of the darker side of Pisces, who may flail in an
internal sea of formlessness. But balancing this is Pisces compassion
and empathy, which may enable them to become a great artist, or to
write and/or sing songs of great feeling and sensitivity. Pisces
people often don't feel entirely comfortable on earth, but yearn to
return 'home'.
Guess
what? I side with the sidereal (!) and embrace the Fish rather than
the Ram.
If
you re-calculated your 'star sign' according to sidereal principles,
would it make a difference? I know I feel happier as a fish than a
ram! Check it out on this slightly burry (sorry!) chart:
And
if you're totally not into astrology, you can still delight in the
amazing night sky!
