posted July 17, 2008 04:32 PM           

What this means is that at the time of the tropical zodiac being developed, the sun was around the first degree of Aries on the first day of Spring (this was based on what was seen in the sky). So if the beginning of the zodiac began on the first day of Spring, then that day would mark in the sky the first degree of Aries, so all the other constellations would follow, the movement of the planets would then be easier to map. It is important to note that at that period of time thousands of years ago that both the sidereal and tropical zodiac were basically the same.

BUT… most people do not know that because of various planetary influences and other technical considerations that the tropical zodiac is now no longer in the same position as the sidereal one (this is technically known as the precession of the equinoxes - see links below for further exploration).

Basically the sidereal (or star) zodiac is based on the constellations as they are, whereas the tropical (or symbolic) zodiac uses the constellation positions as they used to be. This means that if a chart was drawn up for both of these systems using exactly the same birth information, that the planets would be in different positions (at the moment there is approximately 24 degrees difference between the two zodiacs). The tropical zodiac moves extremely slowly about 25,000 years to return to its original beginning point!

In summary the two zodiac systems started off being the same, but over the thousands of years since then our view of the constellations from earth has changed due to the precession of the equinoxes. The sidereal zodiac is mainly used by eastern astrologers while the tropical zodiac is mainly used by western astrologers
Even though there is a bit of controversy surrounding the differences between the two systems and how their differences can be explained in an interpretative sense, my thoughts on this include that astrology is an art of symbolism and interpretation and that individuals have a choice in using what works for them and their clients. Perhaps having a sidereal and a tropical zodiac is an opportunity for more people to look into this fascinating and helpful profession.
Helpful words:

Sidereal

1. Of, or relating to, or concerned with the stars or constellations; stellar. 2. Measured or determined by means of the apparent daily motion of the stars; sidereal time.

Tropical

1. Rhetorically changed from it's exact original sense; being in the nature of trope; figurative; metaphorical.

Trope

1a. The figurative use of a word or an expression, as metaphor or hyperbole. 1b. An instance of this use; a figure of speech.

For further investigation: http://www.astro-horoscopes.com/HTML/Ask... - This is an excellent in-depth exploration and explanation of this topic. http://216.25.21.35/sidereal_zodiac.htm - another site that goes into depth in explaining the differences between these two zodiacal systems.

I know that some of you have reservations about this system but when you look at this chart you can see things in yourself that the tropical just didn't explain.

posted July 17, 2008 04:36 PM         

In Sidereal, I am a Taurus. I do not in any way feel like or identify with being a Taurus. So therefore, my theory is Sidereal positions are the same as the tropical meaning a Sidereal Taurus is equivalent to a Tropical Gemini. A Sidereal Gemini is equivalent to a Tropical Cancer. And so on.

Thats my two cents.

posted July 17, 2008 06:38 PM           

I am an aries at about 5 degrees and jupiter conjunct at 1.54 in the 12th they are both trine neptune in my 8th.

however in the sidereal I am pisces sun and jupiter and put neptune in scorpio.

that also pushes mercury in pisces 11th
back into aquarius.

posted July 17, 2008 06:45 PM           

When looking at relationships some may resonate beter with one chart than with others so we may want to compare both

looking how you just said you resonate with the tropical more and I resonate with the sidereal more.

I looked at my chart and compared both to me and my family.
My dad and I have sun conjunct sun
but when comparing his sidereal to my tropical, His IC sits conjunct my sun.
and that is typical among family members.

posted July 17, 2008 11:41 PM         

Example: My Sun in Aqua squares my dad's Sun in Taurus using the Tropical zodiac. With the Sidereal, my Sun still squares his, but my Sun is in Cap and his is in Aries.

posted July 18, 2008 04:24 AM         

quote:

---

In Sidereal, I am a Taurus. I do not in any way feel like or identify with being a Taurus. So therefore, my theory is Sidereal positions are the same as the tropical meaning a Sidereal Taurus is equivalent to a Tropical Gemini. A Sidereal Gemini is equivalent to a Tropical Cancer. And so on.

---

posted July 18, 2008 04:28 AM         

in western astrology: ur sun' sign is ur sign

in sidereal aka vedic astrology: us moon's sign (as per vedic chart) is ur sign aka rashi.

u can know where ur moon is placed in vedic system simply by substracting 24 degrees from ur moon's placement in western chart.

example. moon 25 degree sag in western equals moon 1 degree sag in sideral

posted July 18, 2008 09:59 AM         

sidereal big three:
sun - cap
moon - virgo
asc - gemini

tropical big three:
sun - aqua
moon - libra
asc - gemini

posted July 18, 2008 02:20 PM           

I respect how you feel about what feels more natural to you.
I just simply feel more natural with my sidereal chart.
I for some reason or another work strongly out of my moon.
and matter of point at about age 40 to 50 most women start working out of thier moon.

I just thought that if one felt more natural in topical chart and the other person felt more natural with thier sidereal then that may have an effect on how they interact with each other.