At first, it seems harmless enough.
After all, it's just some meaningless column in the daily paper or something cheesy blokes use to chat up someone they fancy at the club... right?
"What sign are you babe? 'Cos I'm a Leo rising and I know you're going to be my pride and joy"
It's hard not to laugh at the guy but we shouldn't. It's true he has no idea what he's talking about. But then again, neither do most of us because we have believed what was told to us.
Looking back it is funny how readily I accepted the moon could control the ocean tides but laughed off the idea how the same energy may effect anything else.
Back then, my dad and my mates were right, astrology was not to be taken seriously - Those columns in the newspaper, the daily horoscope readings, never once corresponded with my life.
And for every 4 people out 5 it would probably be the same, there is little to no connection with horoscopes.
But there is a reason why many of us feel that way.
You see... you, me, everybody has been double crossed.
Stay with me here, we just need to look at some of the basics before we see how dark the con of man.
The Wheel
Astrology uses the planets and constellations in the sky as a mirror to make sense of the events, seasons and people on earth.
In particular they use the 12 signs that make up the zodiac, which is often shown as a circle or wheel. *(They are attempting to bring in a 13th sign - Ophiuchus - but to do so would break the alchemical 'magic' of the wheel so I respectfully suggest the idea is to be treated as 'suspect' until proved otherwise).
OK, so for now, we'll go with the recognised 12 signs.
There's a lot more to this but for everyone's sake (including mine) we'll keep it simple.
Western tropical astrology sets the constellations to the seasons of the Earth, not the visible sky.
This isn't to say it is wrong - I'm not looking to start an argument over its merits and I've certainly found knowledge in the teachings of western tropical astrologers - but it's important to note, the visible sky is not the driving factor here.
In basic form, the western tropical astrology that is given to us as horoscopes in newspapers assigns a sign to each person depending on when and where they were born. In the western tropical zodiac wheel this roughly equates to:
There is another type of astrology though, known as sidereal astrology which gives a different interpretation of dates as it does use the visible sky at the time of your birth as its marker.
It is suggested that western tropical methodology "...creates a growing variation of roughly one degree every 72 years from the true location of the constellations. At the moment the two systems are around 24 degrees apart, depending on which system is used."
Such a variance is important because, "This translates to a difference of up to two zodiac signs away from the actual placements."
So, in a 12-sign Sidereal system, these approximate birthdates apply:
ARIES: April 21 - May 12
TAURUS: May 13 - June 19
GEMINI: June 20 - July 16
CANCER: July 17 - August 6
LEO: August 7 - September 14
VIRGO: September 15 - November 3
LIBRA: November 4 - November 22
SCORPIO: November 23 - December 18
SAGITTARIUS: December 19 - January 19
CAPRICORN: January 20 - February 13
AQUARIUS: February 14 - March 9
PISCES: March 10 - April 20
So, for instance under tropical you maybe a Scorpio but in sidereal you're a Virgo, in tropical you maybe an Aries but in sidereal you're a Pisces.
Has it changed your sign?
"Yes, so what?" I hear you cry, "Where's the double cross?"
Stick with me, we're almost there.
Same But Different
Both types of astrology have areas of common agreement. For example, both sets of astrologers will likely agree on the elements (Fire, Water, Air, Earth) and modality (Mutable, Fixed, Cardinal) of each sign.
However, where these signs fall in a western tropical birth chart and a sidereal birth chart will differ.
This matters because a cross is formed in your zodiac wheel when you are born and it's placement will be different for the 2 types of astrology.
As a result, you, me, everyone, has a sidereal cross and a tropical cross... we have been doubled crossed.
So what?
"Yes, so what?" I hear you repeat.
The cross positions the celestial energies and correlates to how they impact you at birth and through life, signifying who you are.
"Does that matter?"
Only if you want to truly know yourself.
We can see the ancient Greeks thought that was important as "Know Thyself" was the first maxim written in the forecourt at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi.
We even know Shakespeare believed it was crucial from the famous line he wrote for Polonius in Hamlet - "This above all: to thine own self be true"
To do that, to be true to our own self, we need to know which cross we are really on.
Although astrologers of both systems will be able to help the seeker, it is ultimately the individual's responsibility to learn about their cross.
This is upside down world. A world where expansion, commerce and war have ruled for too long.
This age is ending, we can see it before our very eyes but to understand, we need to standunder and look up.
