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Sidereal astrology is the system of astrology used by some Western and all Jyotish astrologers who base their interpretation around the use of the sidereal zodiac. Astrology (from Greek grc ἄστρον astron, "constellation star" and grc -λογία -logia) is a group of Systems The history of Astrology encompasses a great span of human history and many cultures Astronomy is the oldest of the Natural sciences dating back to antiquity, with its origins in the religious, Mythological, and Astrological Astrology and astronomy are historically one and the same discipline ( Latin: astrologia) and were only gradually recognized as separate in western In Babylonia as well as in Assyria as a direct offshoot of Babylonian culture (or as we might also term it "Euphratean" culture Astrology takes its Persian Astrology has its roots in the Zend-Avesta parts of which are very similar to the Rig Veda The Chinese Zodiac is a 12 year cycle Each year of the 12 year cycle is named after one of the original 12 animals Hellenistic astrology is a tradition of Horoscopic astrology that was developed and practiced in Hellenistic Egypt and the Mediterranean, whose Jyotiṣa ( Sanskrit jyotiṣa, from jyótis- "light heavenly body" also spelled Jyotish and Jyotisha in English Western astrology is the system of Astrology most popular in Western countries This is an incomplete list of the different traditions types systems methods applications and branches of Astrology. Horoscopic astrology is a form of Astrology which uses a Horoscope, a visual representation of the heavens for a specific moment in time in order to interpret the Natal astrology, also known as genethliacal astrology, is the system of Astrology based upon the concept that each individual's personality or path in life can Electional astrology is a branch found in most systems of astrology Horary astrology is an ancient branch of Horoscopic astrology by which an astrologer attempts to answer a question by constructing a Horoscope for the exact time Mundane astrology is the application of Astrology to world affairs and world events taking its name from the Latin word Mundus, meaning "the This is an incomplete list of the different traditions types systems methods applications and branches of Astrology. Astrology (from Greek grc ἄστρον astron, "constellation star" and grc -λογία -logia) is a group of Systems Jyotiṣa ( Sanskrit jyotiṣa, from jyótis- "light heavenly body" also spelled Jyotish and Jyotisha in English Astrology (from Greek grc ἄστρον astron, "constellation star" and grc -λογία -logia) is a group of Systems Sidereal time is a measure of the position of the Earth in its rotation around its axis or time measured by the apparent Diurnal motion of the Vernal equinox Zodiac denotes an annual cycle of twelve stations along the Ecliptic, the apparent path of the sun across the heavens through the Constellations that divide the ecliptic Its primary feature is that the signs of the zodiac align to the sky constellations of the same name. In common usage a constellation is a group of celestial bodies that are connected together in some arrangement typically stars to form a visible figure or picture The signs therefore run between dates which are different from the tropical zodiac used in the West. Zodiac denotes an annual cycle of twelve stations along the Ecliptic, the apparent path of the sun across the heavens through the Constellations that divide the ecliptic For example, Aries runs from March 21 to April 20 in the tropical zodiac but extends from April 14 to May 14 in the sidereal (although the precise dates may vary depending on the sidereal system used).

In effect, in most Western astrology the link between sign and sky constellation has been broken, whereas in Sidereal astrology it remains of paramount importance.

It was introduced to the West by the Irish astrologer Cyril Fagan in 1944 and is practiced by a minority of Western astrologers. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Cyril Fagan ( May 22, 1896 - January 5, 1970) was an astrologer born in Dublin Ireland, who claimed historical use of Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Background

The classical zodiac of Greek astronomy as defined by Ptolemy is tropical in nature, defining the signs relative to vernal equinox regardless of the position of constellations. Zodiac denotes an annual cycle of twelve stations along the Ecliptic, the apparent path of the sun across the heavens through the Constellations that divide the ecliptic Greek astronomy is the Astronomy of those who wrote in the Greek language in Classical antiquity. Claudius Ptolemaeus ( Greek: Klaúdios Ptolemaîos; after 83 &ndash ca Tropical astrology is a type of Astrology based on a Zodiac whose points of reference are the Tropics. An equinox is the event of the Sun passing over the Earth's equator in its annual cycle Western astrology traditionally uses this system.

Sidereal astrology ties its signs of the zodiac to the actual constellations.

Changing position of the vernal equinox. An equinox is the event of the Sun passing over the Earth's equator in its annual cycle The red line is a section of the apparent path traced by the Sun through the Earth's year. The red/green line is a projection of the Earth's equator onto the celestial sphere. The crossing point of these two lines is the spring equinox. In 1500 BCE it was near the end of the Aries constellation, in 500 BCE it was near the beginning of the Aries constellation, and in CE 150 (the time of Ptolemy) it was in the center of the Pisces constellation.

The precession of the equinoxes, a phenomenon discovered c. In Astronomy, Precession refers to the movement of the rotational axis of a body such as a planet with respect to Inertial space. 130 BC by Hipparchus and known to Ptolemy, results in a shift between the two systems of about one degree every 70 years. Hipparchus ( Greek; ca 190 BC &ndash ca 120 BC was a Greek Astronomer, Geographer, and Mathematician of the Hellenistic

The vernal equinox lay near the beginning of the Aries constellation around 500 BC, consistent with a Babylonian origin of the system. Aries ( ram, symbol, Unicode ♈ is one of the Constellations of the Zodiac. The term Neo-Babylonian or Chaldean refers to Babylonia under the rule of the 11th ("Chaldean" dynasty from the revolt of Nabopolassar

While classical tropical astrology is based on the orientation of the Earth relative to the Sun and planets of the solar system, sidereal astrology deals with the position of the Earth relative to both of these as well as the stars of the celestial sphere. The Solar System consists of the Sun and those celestial objects bound to it by Gravity. In Astronomy and Navigation, the celestial sphere is an imaginary rotating Sphere of "gigantic Radius " The actual positions of certain fixed stars as well as their constellations is an additional consideration in the horoscope. A star is a massive luminous ball of plasma. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the Energy on Earth (Over very long astronomical time scales, these fixed stars are of course themselves far from stationary. )

Some sidereal astrologers denounce tropical astrologers for failing to relate to the "actual heavens," seeing in this a fundamental degeneration of the subject (Kenneth Bowser, The Traditional Astrologer magazine, (Ascella), Issue 14, May 1997, pp. 23-27 [1]).

Vedic astrology

Main article: Vedic astrology

Ancient Vedic astrology is based on the sidereal or visible zodiac, accounting for the shift of the equinoxes by a correction called ayanamsa. Jyotiṣa ( Sanskrit jyotiṣa, from jyótis- "light heavenly body" also spelled Jyotish and Jyotisha in English Jyotiṣa ( Sanskrit jyotiṣa, from jyótis- "light heavenly body" also spelled Jyotish and Jyotisha in English Sidereal astrology is the system of Astrology used by some Western and all Jyotish astrologers who base their interpretation around the use of the Ayanamsa is the Sanskrit term for the longitudinal difference between the tropical or Sayana and sidereal or Nirayana zodiacs The difference between the Vedic and the Western zodiacs is currently around 24 degrees. This corresponds to a separation of c. 1700 years, when the vernal equinox was approximately at the center of the constellation Pisces and the tropical zodiac coincided with the sidereal one. Pisces is the twelfth Astrological sign in the Zodiac, which originates from the Pisces constellation. The separation likely took place in the centuries following Ptolemy, apparently going back to Indo-Greek transmission of the system. Claudius Ptolemaeus ( Greek: Klaúdios Ptolemaîos; after 83 &ndash ca The Indo-Greek Kingdom (or sometimes Graeco-Indian Kingdom) covered various parts of the northwest and northern Indian subcontinent during the last two centuries The ayanamsa correction has always been made in Vedic astrology, whose existence spans around five thousand years.

Cyril Fagan

Cyril Fagan assumes the origin of the zodiac in 786 BCE, when the vernal equinox lay somewhere in mid-Aries, based on a major conjunction that occurred that year (ref), corresponding to a difference of some 39 degrees or days. Cyril Fagan ( May 22, 1896 - January 5, 1970) was an astrologer born in Dublin Ireland, who claimed historical use of

Signs vs. astronomical constellations of the zodiac

Nearly all astrologers, tropical and sidereal, agree that the ecliptic should be divided into twelve equal segments to form the zodiac; they differ on where the zodiac begins.

Thus, most sidereal astrologers simply divide the ecliptic into 12 equal signs of 30 degrees but approximately aligned to the 12 zodiac constellations. Assuming an origin of the system in 786 BCE, this results in an identical system as that of the classical tropical zodiac, shifted by 39. Zodiac denotes an annual cycle of twelve stations along the Ecliptic, the apparent path of the sun across the heavens through the Constellations that divide the ecliptic 5 days, i. e. , if in tropical astrology, Aries is taken to begin at March 21, sidereal Aries will begin on April 15. Events 630 - Byzantine emperor Heraclius restores the True Cross to Jerusalem. Events 1450 - Battle of Formigny: Toward the end of the Hundred Years' War, the French attack and nearly annihilate English

The 13 astronomical constellations of the ecliptic

A small number of sidereal astrologers wish to include other constellations, such as Ophiuchus, in their zodiac and use 13 signs instead of 12. Ophiuchus (Ὀφιοῦχος ˌɒfiːˈuːkəs is one of the 88 Constellations and was also one of the 48 listed by Ptolemy. This results in a system completely unrelated to the zodiac as described by Ptolemy. While Ptolemy noted that Ophiuchus is in contact with the ecliptic, he was aware that the twelve signs were just conventional names for 30 degrees segments (especially since the Aries sign had ceased to be in contact with the Aries constellation already in his time).

For the purpose of determining the constellations in contact with the ecliptic, the constellation boundaries as defined by the International Astronomical Union in 1930 are used. For example, the Sun enters the IAU boundary of Aries on April 19 at the lower right corner, a position that is still rather closer to the "body" of Pisces than of Aries. Needless to say, the IAU defined the constellation boundaries without consideration of astrological purposes.

The dates the Sun passes through the 13 astronomical constellations of the ecliptic are listed below, accurate to the year 2002. The ecliptic is the apparent path that the Sun traces out in the sky during the year See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. The dates will increment by one day every 70½ years, and already several have changed. The corresponding tropical and sidereal dates are given as well. Tropical astrology is a type of Astrology based on a Zodiac whose points of reference are the Tropics.

Constellation		Tropical date	Sidereal Date	Sun is in constellation
	Aries	March 21 - April 20	April 15 - May 15	April 19 - May 13
	Taurus	April 21 - May 21	May 16 - June 15	May 14 - June 19
	Gemini	May 22 - June 23	June 16 - July 15	June 20 - July 20
	Cancer	June 24 - July 23	July 16 - August 15	July 21 - August 9
	Leo	July 24 - August 23	August 16 - September 15	August 10 - September 15
	Virgo	August 23 - September 22	September 16 - October 15	September 16 - October 30
	Libra	September 23 - October 23	October 16 - November 15	October 31 - November 22
	Scorpius	October 23 - November 22	November 16 - December 15	November 23 - November 29
	Ophiuchus			November 30 - December 17
	Sagittarius	November 23 - December 21	December 16 - January 14	December 18 - January 18
	Capricornus	December 22 - January 19	January 15 - February 14	January 19 - February 15
	Aquarius	January 20 - February 18	February 15 - March 14	February 16 - March 11
	Pisces	February 19 - March 20	March 15 - April 14	March 12 - April 18

The 21 zodiacal constellations of the planets

Because of their inclination from the ecliptic, the planets are not restricted to the 13 constellations of the ecliptic. In common usage a constellation is a group of celestial bodies that are connected together in some arrangement typically stars to form a visible figure or picture Aries, the ram, is the first Astrological sign in the Zodiac. Events 630 - Byzantine emperor Heraclius restores the True Cross to Jerusalem. Events 1303 - The University of Rome La Sapienza is instituted by Pope Boniface VIII. Events 1450 - Battle of Formigny: Toward the end of the Hundred Years' War, the French attack and nearly annihilate English Events 1252 - Pope Innocent IV issues the Papal bull Ad exstirpanda, which authorizes but also limits the Events 1012 - Martyrdom of Alphege in Greenwich London. 1529 - At the Second Diet of Speyer Events 1497 - Pope Alexander VI excommunicates Girolamo Savonarola. Taurus is the second Astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Taurus. Events 753 BC - Romulus and Remus found Rome ( traditional date) Events 878 - Syracuse Italy is captured by the Muslim sultan of Sicily. Events 1204 - Baldwin IX Count of Flanders is crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire. Events 763 BC - Assyrians record a Solar eclipse that will be used to fix the Chronology of Mesopotamian history Events 1264 - Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured in France making Simon de Montfort the Events 1179 - The Norwegian Battle of Kalvskinnet outside Nidaros. Gemini is the third Astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Gemini. Events 334 BC - The Greek army of Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus. Events 1180 - First Battle of Uji, starting the Genpei War in Japan 1305 - The Flemish Events 1487 - Battle of Stoke Field, the last dying breath of the Wars of the Roses. Events 1099 - First Crusade: Christian soldiers take the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem after the final Events 451 - Battle of Chalons: Flavius Aetius ' defeats Attila the Hun. Events 1304 - Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle - King Edward I of England takes the last rebel stronghold Cancer is the fourth Astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Cancer. Events 972 - Battle of Cedynia, the first documented victory of Polish forces takes place Events 1632 - Three hundred colonists bound for New France depart from Dieppe France. Events 622 - The beginning of the Islamic calendar. 1054 - Three Roman legates fractured relations between the Western and Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Events 356 BC - Herostratus sets fire to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World Events 48 BC - Caesar's civil war: Battle of Pharsalus - Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus Leo is the fifth Astrological sign of the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Leo. Events 1132 - Battle of Nocera between Ranulf II of Alife and Roger II of Sicily. Events 79 - Mount Vesuvius begins stirring on the feast day of Vulcan the Roman god of fire Events 1384 - The Hongwu Emperor of Ming China, Emperor Dong hears a case of a couple who tore paper money bills while fighting Events 668 - Eastern Roman Emperor Constans II is assassinated in his bath at Syracuse Italy. Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Events 668 - Eastern Roman Emperor Constans II is assassinated in his bath at Syracuse Italy. Virgo is the sixth Astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Virgo. Events 79 - Mount Vesuvius begins stirring on the feast day of Vulcan the Roman god of fire Events 66 - Emperor Nero creates the Legion I Italica. 1236 - The Lithuanians Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers Events 533 - Byzantine General Belisarius makes his formal entry into Carthage, having conquered it from the Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers Events 637 - Antioch surrenders to the Muslim forces under Rashidun Caliphate after the Battle of Iron bridge. Libra is the seventh Astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Libra. Events 1122 - Concordat of Worms. 1459 - Battle of Blore Heath, the first major battle of the English Events 4004 BC - Creation of the world begins according to the calculations of Archbishop James Ussher 42 BC - Events 456 - Magister militum Ricimer defeats the Emperor Avitus at Piacenza and becomes master of the western Events 655 - Battle of Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria. Events 445 BC – Ezra reads the Book of the Law to the Israelites in Jerusalem (see Nehemiah 91 NLTse Events 498 - Kofi Aseidu- After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran Scorpio is the eighth Astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Scorpius. Events 4004 BC - Creation of the world begins according to the calculations of Archbishop James Ussher 42 BC - Events 498 - Kofi Aseidu- After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran Events 534 - A second and final revision of the Codex Justinianus is published Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Events 800 - Charlemagne arrives at Rome to investigate the alleged crimes of Events 1777 - San Jose California, is founded as el Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe Ophiuchus (Ὀφιοῦχος ˌɒfiːˈuːkəs is one of the 88 Constellations and was also one of the 48 listed by Ptolemy. Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats Events 546 - Gothic War (535–554: The Ostrogoths of King Totila Sagittarius is the ninth Astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Sagittarius. Events 800 - Charlemagne arrives at Rome to investigate the alleged crimes of Events 69 - The end of the Year of the four emperors: Following Galba, Otho and Vitellius, Vespasian Events 755 - An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Fanyang, initiating the An Shi Rebellion Events 1129 - Formal approval of the Order of the Templar at the Council of Troyes. Events 218 BC - Second Punic War: Battle of the Trebia - Hannibal 's Carthaginian forces defeat those of the Events 350 - Generallus Magnentius deposes Roman Emperor Constans and proclaims himself Emperor Capricorn is the tenth Astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Capricornus. Events 1790 - The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies Events 1419 - Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England completing his reconquest of Normandy. Events 588 BC - Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah 's reign Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German Events 1419 - Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England completing his reconquest of Normandy. Events 590 - Khosrau II is crowned as king of Persia 1637 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor Aquarius is the eleventh Astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation Aquarius. Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Events 3102 BC - Epoch (origin of the Kali Yuga. 1229 - The Sixth Crusade: Frederick II Holy Events 590 - Khosrau II is crowned as king of Persia 1637 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor Events 1489 - The Queen of Cyprus, Catherine Cornaro, sells her kingdom to Venice. Events 1249 - Andrew of Longjumeau is dispatched by Louis IX of France as his ambassador to meet with the Khan of the Mongols Events 1425 BC - Thutmose III, Pharaoh of Egypt, dies (according to the Low Chronology of the 18th Dynasty Pisces is the twelfth Astrological sign in the Zodiac, which originates from the Pisces constellation. Events 197 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus defeats usurper Clodius Albinus in the Battle of Lugdunum Events 1600 - The Linköping Bloodbath takes place on Maundy Thursday in Linköping, Sweden. Events 44 BC - Julius Caesar, Dictator of the Roman Republic, is stabbed to death by Marcus Junius Brutus, Events 43 BC - Battle of Forum Gallorum: Mark Antony, besieging Julius Caesar 's assassin Decimus Junius Brutus in Events 538 - Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving Events 1025 - Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland. The ecliptic is the apparent path that the Sun traces out in the sky during the year The eight planets pass through 21 constellations. Thus there are 21 astronomical constellations of the zodiac. These are, in addition to the 13 constellations listed above, Cetus, Corvus, Crater, Hydra, Orion, Pegasus, Scutum, and Sextans. Cetus ( Κῆτος Kētos, referring to the sea monster Cetus) is a Constellation of the northern winter sky in the region known as the Water Corvus (ˈkɔrvəs Raven or Crow) is a small southern Constellation with only 11 stars visible to the naked eye (brighter than magnitude 5 Crater (ˈkreɪtɚ cup) is one of the 88 modern Constellations and was also one of the 48 listed by Ptolemy. Hydra (ˈhaɪdrə is the largest of the 88 modern Constellations and was also one of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy. Orion (ɒˈraɪən a Constellation often referred to as The Hunter, is a prominent constellation one of the largest and perhaps the best-known and most conspicuous In Greek mythology, Pegasus ( Greek: Πήγασος, Pégasos, 'strong' was a winged horse that was the son of Poseidon, in his role For the Roman Shield, see Scutum (shield; For the zootomical term see Scute. Sextans (ˈsɛkstənz sextant is a minor equatorial Constellation which was introduced in the 17th century by Johannes Hevelius.

References

• "The Real Constellations of the Zodiac". Dr. Lee T. Shapiro, Planetarian, Vol 6, #1, Spring (1977). [2]
• "The Real, Real Constellations of the Zodiac". John Mosley, Planetarian, Vol. 28, #4, December (1999). [3]
• "The Primer of Sidereal Astrology", Cyril Fagin and Brigadier R. C. Firebrace, American Federation of Astrologers Inc. , (1971) ISBN 0-86690-427-1

See also

• Astrology
• The Great Year
• Sidereal time
• Zodiac

External links

• The Tropical and Sidereal Zodiaks