There is a heavy debate about whether sidereal astrology is more accurate. It is a good idea to know what the differences are so you can choose the system that works best for you.
The most common astrology in the Western world is called tropical astrology. It uses the seasons of the earth to calculate your zodiac sign. This causes a growing difference of about one degree every 72 years from the true location of the stars.
The Constellations
There are a number of ways to define constellations, but they all share the same common idea: a group of stars that looks like a particular shape in the sky and has been given a name. They’re named after objects, animals and people that have long been associated with them.
Historically, they were used to mark the passage of time and the seasons for ancient people, as well as help create calendars. Even today, they’re still used by astronomers to identify specific stars and deep sky objects, such as galaxies.
They’re also important navigation tools for mariners and astronomers, as they provide references for planets and stars that are not visible to the naked eye. They’re easy to locate in binoculars and small telescopes, and they’re an excellent source of inspiration for stargazers.
But the real value of the Constellations is that they are a two-dimensional map of the night sky from the point of view of the Earth. The bright star patterns in their borders make it easy for observers to identify specific stars and locate deep sky objects.
This map, though based on human imagination, is a very accurate representation of the sky from Earth’s perspective. Nevertheless, the stars and deep sky objects within these borders are unrelated to one another and lie at different distances from Earth.
The 88 modern constellations have been defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in the 1920s, largely based on the Greek astronomer Claudius Ptolemy’s Almagest. They have boundaries along vertical and horizontal lines of right ascension and declination developed by Eugene Delporte.
Most of the constellations in the Northern Hemisphere bear Greek and Roman names. They’re based on those listed by Ptolemy, but they also include some that were created or named between the 16th and 19th centuries.
In sidereal astrology, the zodiac signs are based on the actual astronomical positions of the planets against the backdrop of the fixed star constellations. As per astronomical observation, the fixed stars in the zodiac move backwards about 1 degree every 72 years, which makes sidereal astrology more accurate than tropical astrology.
The Planets
Generally speaking, the planets are divided into two categories: gas giants (Jupiter and Saturn) and ice giants (Uranus and Neptune). Jupiter and Saturn are more common than Uranus and Neptune and they’re also the ones that can be seen with the naked eye. However, these planets are not the only ones that affect us.
There are also other invisible planets that have an impact on our lives, such as the dark cyclone of Venus and the mysterious asteroid Vesta. While these outer planets are not visible to the human eye, they still have an influence on us through the cycles of life and the energy that emanates from them.
The astrological sign names are derived from the shapes of the stars and constellations in the sky. These shapes are called nakshatras and padas in Vedic astrology, which is a form of sidereal astrology.
Aside from these nakshatras and padas, the sign boundaries are also different in each system. Some use thirty-degree signs, like tropical astrology, while others use actual size of the constellations as the boundaries.
This unevenness in the size of the constellations is due to a phenomenon called “precession”. This means that the fixed stars move backward every 72 years, creating a discrepancy between tropical and sidereal astrology.
In order to account for this, sidereal astrology uses corrective systems of equations or ayanamsas. This allows the zodiac to reflect the current position of these fixed stars.
The results from this calculation are much more precise than those from the tropical system. The differences are so significant that many people can find some of their planets in a different sign when they look at their birth charts from both systems.
Another important difference between the two is that in tropical astrology, the Vernal Point is located closer to Aries than it is in sidereal astrology. This was done to make it easier for astrologers to calculate the positions of the planets when using a tropical zodiac system.
The difference in planetary rulership and influence between the two is also significant. In tropical astrology, astrologers assume that the planets have a direct influence on an individual whereas in sidereal astrology they do not. This is because the outer planets are not visible to the naked eye and they are also more distant from Earth, reducing their effect on an individual.
The Ayanamsas
The Ayanamsa is the Sanskrit term for the amount of precession (the difference between the Tropical and Sidereal zodiacs) in astrology. It is the key to understanding the differences between these two systems of astrology.
The most prevalent system in use in India is the Lahiri Ayanamsa. This method uses a corrective equation to account for the procession of fixed stars, which causes the constellations to shift and change position from year to year.
It also allows for the Precession of the Equinoxes to be taken into consideration, which causes the ecliptic to veer around the earth by a degree every 72 years. This ayanamsha has its own problems and inaccuracies, but it is still used by many astrologers today.
Another ayanamsha used in Indian astrology is the Vedic ayanamsha, which uses 27 Nakshatras to define the zodiac. Each of these nakshatras has its own symbol, ruling deity and characteristics. Analyzing a birth chart using these nakshatras can help you understand your life more deeply and accurately.
This ayanamsha is based on the astronomical information given in the Mahabharata and is also derived from ancient Indian time cycles. However, this ayanamsha is not as stable as the others and is slightly influenced by general precession.
Nonetheless, this ayanamsha is very close to the “Galactic Alignment” ayanamsha of Raymond Mardyks and is a hybrid fixed-tropical ayanamsha. It has the star Revati near 0deg Aries and the galactic centre in the middle of Mula. It is a variation of the Skydram ayanamsha, which cuts the ecliptic at exactly 0deg Sagittarius.
One other important issue with the ayanamsha is its historical significance. The ayanamsha is the starting point of the astrological year in Vedic astrology, and it is the ayanamsha that determines when a person begins his or her yearly cycle. It is essential to find a correct ayanamsha that works with the Vedic calendar in order to accurately predict a person's horoscope.
The ayanamsha is the most important element of a natal chart, and it plays a huge role in predicting a person's future. It also helps to understand the personality traits of a person, and gives insight into their karmic history.
The Birth Chart
The birth chart, or natal chart, is a map of the positions of the planets when you were born. It can tell you about your past, present, and future life. It can also predict when major events in your life will occur.
Aside from predicting upcoming events, the chart can give you a better understanding of how you were born and your unique personality. Each planet, luminary or key angle in your chart represents a different aspect of your perspective and your personality's wiring.
When interpreting the chart, astrologers look at the position of each planet and sign it is in, as well as the house that it is in. Each house symbolizes a specific area of your life and the planets that rule it. The houses are classified into the following areas:
Relationships (houses 3-9), Career and Education (houses 10-12), Home and Family (houses 12-20), and Emotional/Psychic Development (houses 20-28). These houses also identify how you relate to others and the planets in your chart.
In most cases, the planets that rule your house of relationships are much more important than the ones that rule your house of education. This is because the planets that rule your house of relationships will be more likely to influence you in those areas. For example, if you are a Taurus born with Jupiter in your house of relationships, you would be very likely to make use of your relationship skills, while the planet that rules your house of education would be much less important to you because it does not govern your relationship with others.
Besides the position of the planets in your chart, the position of the ascendant is also very important. The position of the ascendant determines how you will be influenced by the planets in your chart, especially the ruling planet. The ascendant also reveals your guiding force in the world, so it's important to take this into account when reading your chart.
In the end, it is up to you to decide what your chart means for you. While many astrologers place a lot of emphasis on the ascendant, it's still important to consider other factors as well. It's worth mentioning, however, that the ascendant is the most influential placement in your chart and deserves a great deal of attention.
