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Astrology, Answers 3

Publicado el 03/02/2011
⚡ TL;DR

Astrologers use tropical astrology (based on seasons) rather than sidereal astrology (based on actual constellations) because astrological symbolism is rooted in agricultural cycles and solar mythology spanning millennia. While we're entering the Age of Aquarius by precession, birth charts prioritize the spring equinox over constellation positions because astrology evolved alongside human culture, not astronomy.

Astrología respuestas 3.

In some emails I have received, I am asked why we are entering the Age of Aquarius and this is recognized by the collective of astrologers and yet when drawing up a birth chart, the precession of the equinoxes is not taken into account, the vernal point moves slowly in a retrograde motion, receding along the ecliptic about 50.29" per year. So currently there is a difference of about 24° with respect to the sidereal zodiac.

The zodiac that is taken into consideration when performing an astrological interpretation is based on the seasons, on the beginning of spring and not on the moment when the sun transits the beginning of the Aries constellation, it is therefore more important in astrological interpretation to consider what season of the year we are in, this is due to the popular alignment between astrology and agriculture, or between astrology and mythology.

Astrological knowledge was used for a long time in conjunction with popular culture. The beginning of the winter solstice, from the Latin solstitium (sol sistere or quiet sun), to give an example in the Northern Hemisphere, has signaled for centuries the archetypal birth of the sun, and its symbolism has served millennially to popular culture that celebrates the birth of different gods, we have the example of Mithras, born on December 25, Krishna, also on December 25, it is said that Buddha was also born on the same day, in the same way as Christ and Osiris who was born between December 21 and 25, all of this is not coincidental, the solstice is being celebrated, the birth of the sun, the beginning of its journey, therefore astrology and popular culture have gone hand in hand for millennia.

Aries in the horoscopeThe most probable knowledge of the tropical offset by Galileo, Tycho Brahe or Kepler was not sufficient reason to sketch minimal criticism regarding it, although it was about something that is currently happening and is certainly the most criticizable, the diversity of schools and ways of interpreting astrology, I subscribe to that criticism.

We can give another example here in Andalusia where I reside, with the beginning of spring comes Holy Week, for those unfamiliar with it, Holy Week is a tradition in which images of the Passion of Christ are paraded, its symbolism is very clearly defined astrologically, and it is always celebrated on a date immediately after the first full moon following the spring equinox, we see then that it is a complete solar symbol, in fact all the gods mentioned earlier have a clear solar component.

With all this I want to convey the reason why we continue traditionally with tropical astrology even though we understand that sidereal astrology is competent.

It continues to impress anyone who ventures into astrological culture the amount of influences derived from it. There are also various ways of interpreting the same natal theme although they almost all stem from defined rules, and the differences are matters of nuance or the professional's own experience, in the same way we can see two art critics defining the same work in very different ways although fundamentally they can clarify what style it belongs to, whether it is good or bad, even who the author was in many cases.

Astrology takes into account a great diversity of asteroids, practically the largest ones have been introduced into astrological interpretation for a long time now, however it is true that being this modern information, the experience derived from its use is more limited, with an interpretation without using all these celestial bodies being more normal, although it is true that lately they are increasingly being integrated.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do astrologers ignore precession of the equinoxes in birth charts? +
Tropical astrology is based on Earth's seasons and the spring equinox, not the actual position of constellations. This seasonal approach has been foundational to astrology for millennia because it aligned with agricultural cycles and cultural practices, making it more relevant to human experience than precise astronomical positions.
What is the difference between tropical and sidereal zodiac? +
Tropical astrology uses the spring equinox as the 0° Aries point and follows the seasons. Sidereal astrology tracks actual constellation positions, creating a 24° offset due to precession. Tropical astrology is more commonly used in Western astrology and birth chart interpretation.
Are we really entering the Age of Aquarius? +
Yes, astrologers recognize we're entering the Age of Aquarius through precession of the equinoxes. However, this doesn't change how individual birth charts are calculated, which continue using tropical zodiac markers tied to seasons rather than constellations.
Why do so many gods share a December 25 birth date in mythology? +
December 25 aligns with the winter solstice (near December 21), symbolizing the rebirth of the sun. Mithras, Krishna, Buddha, Christ, and Osiris all share solar mythology because ancient cultures celebrated the solstice as the sun's archetypal birth and renewal of its journey.
How does astrology connect to agriculture and culture? +
Astrology developed hand-in-hand with agricultural societies that needed to track seasons for planting and harvest. The zodiac's seasonal markers—spring equinox, summer solstice, autumn equinox, winter solstice—reflect this practical origin, which is why seasonal timing remains central to astrological interpretation today.
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