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The Zodiac

There are many different forms of astrology and many different ways of interpreting a chart. But at least all Western astrologers agree on something as basic as the Zodiac. Don't they? If only it was that simple...

What Is The Zodiac?

The Zodiac is in effect a map of the heavens on which the positions of the planets can be plotted. An imaginary band around the Earth is extended outwards along the plane of the ecliptic through which (more or less) the planets rotate.

This band is then divided into a number of sections, each of which is named after one of the stellar constellations. As the Earth and the planets move, the apparent location of each planet within the Zodiac changes over time. Since the Earth revolves around the Sun, the Sun appears to move through the Zodiac regularly throughout the year. The apparent movement of some of the other heavenly bodies is less simple.

Unfortunately, there is more than one Zodiac! The two main Zodiacs in Western astrology are the tropical and the sidereal. Of these, the tropical Zodiac is the one most frequently used in the US and Europe. When we tell people our Star Sign we are usually talking in relation to the tropical zodiac.

What Are The Signs of The Zodiac?

If astrologers disagree over which Zodiac to use, at least they agree on the twelve signs of the Zodiac. Don't they?

Er, not all of them. Some like to include little known constellations such as Ophiuchus. However it's fair to say that the vast majority of Western astrologers use the familiar system of twelve signs:

SignTropical DatesElementModality
AriesThe RamMar 21 - Apr 20FireCardinal
TaurusThe BullApr 21 - May 21EarthFixed
GeminiThe TwinsMay 22 - Jun 21AirMutable
CancerThe CrabJun 22 - Jul 22WaterCardinal
LeoThe LionJul 23 - Aug 22FireFixed
VirgoThe VirginAug 23 - Sep 22EarthMutable
LibraThe ScalesSep 23 - Oct 23AirCardinal
ScorpioThe ScorpionOct 24 - Nov 22WaterFixed
SagittariusThe ArcherNov 23 - Dec 22FireMutable
CapricornThe GoatDec 23 - Jan 20EarthCardinal
AquariusThe Water CarrierJan 21 - Feb 19AirFixed
PiscesThe FishFeb 20 - Mar 20WaterMutable

(Note that the dates can vary slightly depending on exact year, time and location; dates near the changeover between signs are known as being on the "cusp").

The sign that contained the Sun when you were born is called your "Sun sign" - this is the sign you look up when reading your daily horoscope.





All original material copyright © Trevor Mendham 2004 - 2009
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