western zodiac

Western Zodiac

Components of Astrology

Today's astrology primarily concerns itself with the reading of a

horoscope chart cast based upon the moment of an individual's birth.

In some cases, complex methods of progressing the planets of the birth

chart enable the astrologer to predict the future for the person for

whom the chart was cast. The chart is interpreted in relation to the

influence of the zodiacal signs and the various powers the planets

possess in these signs. There are different house systems linked with

interpretation of the directions in a person's life, and in these,

planetary and other influences manifest themselves. The house system

in astrology is divided into twelve arcs, symbolically presented as

being equal either in a spatial system or in a time system. This

division is superimposed upon the projected celestial sphere, with the

symbolic horizon line usually marking the cusps of the first and

seventh houses, the east point and west point, respectively. The tenth

house cusp marks the symbolic zenith, called the Medium coeli, while

the fourth house cusp marks the symbolic nadir, called the Imutn

coeli. Planetary effects are considered not only in terms of zodiacal

placing, such as on the basis that Mars in Leo is different from Mars

in Cancer, but also in terms of the angles they may or may not hold to

each other; this realm of astrology is the study of aspects.

The Zodiac

The zodiac is an imaginary belt in the celestial sphere, which extends

about 8� on either side of the ecliptic, or apparent path of

the Sun among the stars. The width of the zodiac was determined

originally to include the orbits of the Sun and Moon and of the five

planets, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, as these were the

only planets known to the people of ancient times.

The zodiac is divided into 12 sections of 30� each and within

these lies the signs of the zodiac. Starting with the vernal equinox

and then proceeding eastward along the ecliptic, each of the divisions

is named for the constellation situated within its limits as observed

in the 2nd century BC.

The names of the zodiacal signs are Aries, the Ram; Taurus, the Bull;

Gemini, the Twins; Cancer, the Crab; Leo, the Lion; Virgo, the Virgin;

Libra, the Balance; Scorpio, the Scorpion; Sagittarius, the Archer;

Capricorn, the Goat; Aquarius, the Water Bearer; and Pisces, the

Fishes.

Because of the precession of the equinoxes about the ecliptic, a

26,000-year cycle, the first point of Aries retrogrades about

1� in 70 years, so that the sign Aries today lies in the

constellation Pisces. In about 24,000 years, when the retrogression

will have completed the entire circuit of 360�, the zodiacal

signs and constellations will again coincide.

Astrological Signs

for astrology and horoscopes

* Taurus

* Gemini

* Cancer

* Leo

* Virgo

* Libra

* Scorpio

* Aries

* Sagittarius