The Zodiac Deception

 Written in the stars... and the stars have moved. The Zodiac deception

Prologue

Anjali met her school friend, Meenakshi, at one of the school reunions. Anjali excitedly asked Meenakshi ‘How is Shekhar? I believe you are now married to him. How is he?..... Anjali let out a volley of questions.

Meenakshi replied, her voice laced with a hint of apprehension, "Yes, everything seems fine on the surface, but there are moments when I can't shake the feeling that I’m being deceived." "Why do you feel that way?" Anjali inquired, her brow furrowing with concern. "You did conduct the zodiac compatibility check, didn’t you?" Meenakshi nodded, her mind drifting back to the astrological insights. "He was born on May 30, making him a Gemini. But honestly, he often behaves like a Taurus—stubborn and set in his ways. Aries and Gemini typically mesh so well together." Anjali raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "But you are a Libra, right?"

Meenakshi was confused and kept quiet....

The Zodiac Conspiracy: Are You Really Who You Think You Are? 

The sky above us is as interesting, mysterious and equally intriguing to the observer. Our ancestors realised that their life had a direct connection with the Sun, the Moon and other planets. The effect was observed both collectively and individually. Thus began the quest to understand the effects caused and the concept of time.

The sky above was suitably divided to determine the passage of time and the seasons. 4 definite points in the sky were chosen, which could be felt/observed. These 4 points formed the basis of the reference system. These were the two  Equinoxes and two  Solstices. The sky was divided into 12 parts, called zodiac signs (Babylonian/ Chaldean astronomy and later in Hindu astronomy) and 27 parts, called Nakshatra (Hindu astronomy). The events on the earth were now recorded with respect to these references.

Equinox and Solstice are well-marked points to begin the measurement of Earth’s travel in space. Equinox can be accurately measured as compared to the Solstice. All calendars start from these points. Julian, Gregorian, Hindu, Parsi… All start their beginning from the Vernal equinox.

Greek astronomer Hipparchus, in 130 BCE, associated the Vernal Equinox with the zodiac sign Aries and named it the” First point of Aries”. This was a fiducial point from which all astronomical measurements were and are made, including for the Nautical almanack, but why this point was associated with the beginning of Aries is not known. Thus, the movement of the Sun was accounted for with respect to these signs. This formed the tropical zodiac reference frame, which was in accordance with the seasons on the Earth

Vernal equinox is on 20/21 March (as per the Gregorian calendar, with the tropical zodiac reference frame). Therefore, the Sun is assumed to be in Aries on the vernal equinox and remains in this sign from 21 Mar to 19 April and so on for the other 12 zodiac signs.

Sun sign is the position of the Sun against the backdrop of the zodiac sign/constellation. So for a Leo Sun sign, the Sun’s position will be against the backdrop of the Regulus quadruple star system (magnitude of 1.35), which is located in the Constellation/Zodiac Sign Leo (23 July to 22 August) and so on.

“Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs”, the book, first published in 1968, popularised the association of sun signs with individuals and their traits. The world suddenly got classified into various zodiac signs, and everyone was an astrologer!

Hindu astronomy, in contrast, used a different reference frame, namely the Sidereal zodiac. Sidereal zodiac is measured from a fixed star^* as a starting point, which gives nearly a real-time alignment. The reference star also moves, albeit slowly, as compared to the rate of precession. The difference between the two zodiacs, or the reference frames, is approximately 23 ½ to 24 degrees and is known as अयनंशः**  in Hindu astronomy.

The two zodiacs and their starting points are as shown 

A person born on 06 October will be classified as a “Libra” (23 Sep to 23 Oct). But is he really a Libran? The answer is NO. He should be a Virgo.

The Earth's axis precesses and also wobbles; as a result, the equinoctial point (the intersection of the Ecliptic and the Celestial sphere), the Vernal equinox, also precesses along the ecliptic in a westward direction. The rate of precession is 50.3-50.4 arc seconds per year. Approximately 1 degree in 72 years.

As of now, the Vernal equinox no longer aligns with the Aries constellation or the star Hamal (Alpha Arietis), which is an orange giant star. It has shifted and is now located roughly at the midpoint of the Pisces constellation.

The shifting of the equinox is as shown

Therefore, the Sun’s position at the vernal equinox, as of date, from 21 Mar to 19 April is in Pisces and 20 April onwards is in Aries.

Even in 1968, when Linda Goodman wrote about the Sun signs, the Sun was not transiting in Aries (21 Mar to 19 Apr); the Sun actually crossed the celestial equator in the constellation Pisces during the vernal equinox in 1968.

So, you really are not what you think, or what others think you are!

*   Which is that fixed star?

** Is अयनंशः constant?

 

 Wait for the next blog.

Epilogue

1. Everyone who has read Linda Goodman’s book vouches that the description matches perfectly, even though she was wrong in determining the correct Sun sign. A sun sign alone cannot give out individual traits.

2. This shows that the astrological postulates, stating effects of various transits, combinations of planets, the Sun, and the Moon, in a horoscope on individuals, are correct on most counts, if identified and calculated correctly.

3.  Recent discoveries in space-time, gravity relationship, astronomers and scholars are showing a tendency to accept some astrological postulates!

4. Ashis Roy, in his book “Yo-Yoing in Time”, explains beautifully the simultaneity and frames of reference, space-time and gravity relationship.  Astrologers use this for their predictions

5. Astronomy and Astrology both utilise the concept of time to understand the past, present and future.

6. Most astrologers have a strike rate of 50 % or less. Very few have a strike rate of up to 75%.

7. Astronomy and Astrology progressed, initially, side by side. Many astronomers were practising astrologers. Johannes Kepler and Galileo were both. In India, all astronomers were astrologers also.

8. The two subjects got separated, with the use of modern methods to understand astronomy. Astrology was labelled as Occult, superstitious and a belief system. The controversy and debate exist to this date.

9. “The Scientific Proof of Astrology” by Dr Percy Seymour clarifies the scientific perspective towards astrology.

10. Hindu astrology places greater emphasis on Moon signs.

References

1. Online content for pictures