Two types of western astrology?

[Coruscate]

I've always found Chinese astrology to be more accurate than Greek astrology, now I know why.

Basically astrology came from the Babylonians etc.
The Romans put more effort into it.
Christianity oppressed it.
Islam put it on a pedestal.
Then Christianity accepted it.
It went dormant.

Late 20th century resurrection to popularity.

But there's one problem.

The astrology in most books, magazines and grocery isle booklets is based off the stars as they were 3,000 years ago.

Precession, which is the slow process by which the earth wobbles "full circle" every 26,000 years throws all the stars off kilter. So far off kilter... that the entire horoscope as you see it in the stores is a whole sign off.

See I'm not much of a virgo.

But I am a leo.

Here's a short explanation with a chart of the actual dates if you want to check what might actually more accurately represent you.

http://www.nostredame.com/side_eng.htm

If you want to know what these two classes are called it's:

sidereal - accurate to the actual stars
tropical - follows the old star maps without deviating. Please note that the actual stars no longer "rise" in accordance with these charts, meaning if Virgo is your sign, Virgo wasn't even on the horizon when it was supposed to be.

[Mitera Nikkou]

Eh? You just learned that? For shame, Coru! Know your name!

Literally. ;/

I could care less about scientific accuracy because it wasn't based on science in the first place. In fact, astrology is based on the Earth being in the center, and not the Sun, if I remember correctly. And beyond that, the signs were also aligned for other reasons, such as how mine, Cancer, starts on the Summer Solstice.

I'm a Cancer either way, as it turns out. The difference is that I'm three days from the last day of Cancer in tropical and three days from the first day of Cancer in sidereal. I wouldn't have it any other way, because I match Cancer far too much for it to be mere coincidence. As most things turn out to be. Perhaps it's because I'm doubly matched. Hmmmm.

The funny thing about the Chinese zodiac is that the water dog that I am is a good match, too. It's funny because these sort of things tend to be hit and miss for most people, but I seem to be made for them.

I can see now that I am positively doomed.

[Anamnesis]

And I'm still Gemini.
Whoo. *betrays*

[Coruscate]

Each sign gets 33 degrees of the planet, yet there are 13 signs that hit the ecliptic, Virgo gets 44 degrees and Scorpio barely touches it.

Well some people argue the scientific value of it, then get really astronomer-rific with it.

Others argue that it's just spiritual only.

Me I think the connection is that the stars being used is not as important as the "bio rhythm" that the Babylonians / Chinese discovered in astrology. In other words, it's not about being technical, it's that they discovered a way to analyze people and events that defies natural science.

As far as hit and miss... I'm thinking it's the inaccuracy of the readings.

I've seen too much "proof" with my own eyes in this stuff.

Course you could label me biased...

[Mitera Nikkou]

*Labels Coru as biased* ;p

There's a lot to it, that's for sure. For instance, like most everything, it's been relegated to fit in with the number twelve rather than thirteen, which would have made more sense. Twelve gives the option to divide things by twos, threes and fours; it's a good way to add more things with which to catch/hold someone's interest. You can find the same kind of mentality behind astrology as you do in the core of many cultures and belief systems.

Anyway, the readings themselves aren't anything to take seriously to begin with. It's just not static between sources. The zodiac attributes themselves are static at their cores, so it's the only thing to take seriously, I think. But you can't expect twelve (or thirteen) signs to cover everyone; it's simply not possible. Restricting signs to those that the Sun passes through is both nonsensical and impractical.

It'd be better to just allow someone to adopt their own celestial object instead of having something dictate one's choice. That would especially be better for those who believe that their destiny is in their own hands, not that of the stars' (and, in effect, by the ideas of others).

But I'm fine with Cancer and water dog. We were meant to be together.

[Anamnesis]

Everyone has traits outlines in zodiacal listings.
Some of them jsut seem more apparent than others...
Kind of like the self diagnosis thing...

[ZeroForever]

hmm interesting.... guess i would be a virgo under this adjusted one.

not really a huge deal... don't honestly care enough either way.

[Coruscate]

hmm interesting.... guess i would be a virgo under this adjusted one.

not really a huge deal... don't honestly care enough either way.

That's Zero for you XD (not caring, not the Virgo) What sign were you "originally?"

Nikkou... actually the gree one has 6 different spots for personality.

Sun sign.
Moon sign.
Rising sign.

And three others. All six together make up you, the sun being the most important, with the moon or rising coming in next depending on who you are talking to. Same with the Chinese zodiac, there's the year, hour, minute, day of the month, month, etc. All making up components in you.

Each sign is a metaphor, not a rigid structure that forces all humans born under it to act a certain, exact way. It's more general than specific.

[Mitera Nikkou]

But you see, even that is confined to twelve. Because six can go into twelve two times. Anyway, I did all that, and I got a match. Although it has been long enough to where I don't remember much of the specifics concerning the personality bit. ^_^;

I also got a good match using I Ching. I'm just lucky, I guess?

[Selena Aninikkou]

Considering our entire solar system hasn't always existed in this particular galaxy, it doesn't surprise me that the stars are changing positions... it happens as our solar system reorients itself to match the galactic plane of the Milky Way.