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The astrology we have today(in the West) is based on the Earth/Sun relationship which gives us our day, year, and seasons. Where the
Earth and the Sun's equatorial planes cross is where the true zodiac begins. There are two such points: the vernal(0°Aries) and
autumnal(0°Libra) equinoxes which also begin the spring and fall seasons. From either point exact 30° segments are added to produce
the twelve astrology signs as we know them.
Most all of the planets travel within 8° of the Sun's(with the exception of Pluto which can deviate up to 17°) equatorial plane, band, or eciliptic and will therefore fall within one of twelve solar signs. Tropical or Western astrology is not to be confused with the sidereal or constellar astrology practiced in Eastern countries such as India and elsewhere which I do not advocate. If the Earth/Sun relationship gives us our current zodiac or form of astrology, then what does the Earth/Moon relationship give us? The Moon is just as obvious or important as the Sun to us, and it too has an equatorial plane that intersects Earth's equatorial plane. Does this intersection(nodal point) begin a zodiac as well? If it does, it must be a much more miniature or feminine version than the solar one. If the Sun's ascending node(vernal equinox) produces 0° Aries then what does the Moon's ascending node produce? Because the Moon is much closer to us, it's nodal movements may vary depending on geographic location. This variance usually amounts to about 1° of zodiacal longitude. The following ascending(N) and descending(S) nodes for the Moon for 2011AD are given for GMT/UT, London, UK, and should be accurate for most northern latitudes. Most good ephemerides list the Moon's nodes for every month of the year. The folowing were obtained from Neil F. Michelsen's American Ephemeris for the 21st Century.
Try experimenting and see what happens when the Moon crosses over one of these nodal points. Each of the above nodal points should theoretically yield 0°Aries for N(North) and 0°Libra for S(South). I say theoretically, because the nodal values for the Earth/Moon may differ from those of the Earth/Sun. While a solar zodiac is 12-based, for example, a lunar zodiac may be 8-based. In any case, it should all be treated as speculative. To arrive at the signs between Aries and Libra or whatever zodiacal division one ascribes to it, one would have to interpolate the values given. The Moon takes about 27.75 days to travel 360° so each sign or 30° segment would be traversed in less than 2.5 days as compared to roughly 30 days for the Sun. It would be nice to create a system for this new "lunar" zodiac which may have great potential as a "second" or "sub" zodiac to the one we currently have. Note: This work is not to be confused with the popular Lunar Nodes of astrology which are determined by the Moon's relationship to the Sun(where the lunar nodes precess against the backdrop of the ecliptic).
Our zodiac begins where the Sun's plane(ecliptic) intersects with the Earth's equatorial plane. Two intersecting points or nodes are created called the equinoxes. The vernal or ascending equinox begins the spring(in the northern hemisphere) when the Sun goes from South to North and marks the 0°Aries point in astrology, and the autumnal or descending equinox begins the fall season(reverse for the southern hemisphere) when the Sun goes from North to South and marks the 0°Libra point. North and South are all relative of course. Since most of us live and rule in the Northern hemisphere we have adopted the vernal equinox or zero Aries point to start the zodiac. This makes sense in the North where spring blooms at this time, but not in the South where the seasons are reversed and everything is dying. Why should Aries begin the zodiac or seasons anyways? There is no rule in stone that this should be so. In fact many peoples begin(or began) their year at the zero Libra point in the fall -such as the Jews and and the ancient Egyptians, Phoenicians, and Persians. While Aries(being a cardinal and fire sign) is a logical pick for starting the universal zodiac, the truth is ANY sign can be chosen as the first, sign, just as any sign can start the Ascendant or first house. It all depends WHERE you're at in relation to everything else. Here on Earth, the equinox begins in either Aries or Libra. On Jupiter it may begin in Gemini or Sagittarius. Could it be that the equinox points not only start a planet's zodiac but also reveal it's ruling sign? If so, Libra is Earth's ruling sign, since Aries is already taken by Mars, and the autumnal or fall equinox should be the real start of the new year, and the southern hemisphere should rule! Of course it's all upside down now, but it wasn't always like it is now. Our ancient past, with its polar flips or reversals, may have been a very different place, and the future may change as well. In summary, the ascending solar node or equinox starts a planet's zodiac and may also indicate its ruling or associated sign. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- back to main |