Ancient Mystery of the Zodiac

The Beginning

In order to be accepted into the Ancient Schools of Mystery, one of the expected areas of knowledge to have is Astrology and some Astronomy. It is one of the areas I am most asked about, so over the next few blogs I am going to discuss this topic, the Zodiac and its meaning in your life.

It is difficult for us today to understand the profound effect produced upon religions, philosophies, and sciences of antiquity by the study of the luminaries and constellations. Ruins of primitive astronomical observatories have been discovered in all parts of the world. The Chaldeans, Phoenicians, Egyptians, Persians, Hindus, and Chinese all had zodiac that were much alike in general character, and different authorities have credited each of these nations with being the cradle of astrology and astronomy.

The Greeks, and later other peoples influenced by their culture, divided the band of the zodiac into 12 sections, each being 16 degrees in width and 13° in length. These divisions were called the Houses of the Zodiac. The sun during its annual pilgrimage passed through each of these in turn. Imaginary creatures were traced in the Star groups bounded by these rectangles; and because most of them were animal or part animal in form, they later became known as the constellations, or Signs, of the Zodiac.

The first six signs of the zodiac of 12 signs were regarded as benevolent, because the sun occupied them while traversing the, Northern, hemisphere.

The second six were considered malevolent, because while the sun was travelling the Southern Hemisphere it was winter for the Greeks, Egyptians and Persians. Ancient Persians believed that the first six months of the zodiac year correspond with the 6000 years during which Ahura-Mazda ruled his universe in harmony and peace, which is symbolic of these six signs. Second six months were symbolic of the 6000 years of misery and suffering caused by the evil genius of the Persians, Ahriman, who sought to overthrow the power of Ahura-Mazda.

Each year the sun passes entirely around the zodiac and returns to the point from which it started, the vernal equinox, and each year it falls just a little short of making a complete circle of the heavens in the allotted period of time. As a result, it crosses the equator just a little behind the spot in the zodiacal sign where it crossed the previous year. Each sign of the zodiac consists of 30°, and as the sun loses about 1° every 72 years, it regresses one entire consolation (or sign) in approximately 2,106 years, and through the entire zodiac in about 25,920. This retrograde motion is called the procession of the equinoxes. This means that in the course of about 25,920 years, which constitute one Great Solar or Platonic Year, each one of the 12 constellations occupies a position at the vernal equinox for nearly 2,160 years, then gives place to the previous sign.

Among the ancients the sun was always symbolized by the figure and nature of the constellation which it passed at the vernal equinox. For nearly the past 2000 years the sun has crossed the equator at the vernal not constellation Pisces (the Two Fishes) for the 2160 years before that it crossed through the constellation of Aries (the Ram). Prior to that the vernal equinox was in the sign of Taurus (the Bull).

As the zodiacal band marks the pathway of the sun the constellation, it results in the phenomena of the season. The ancient system of measuring the year were based upon the equinoxes and the solstices. The year always began with the vernal equinox, celebrated March 21 with rejoicing to mark the moment when the sun crossed the equator northward up the zodiacal arc. The summer solstice was celebrated when the sun reached its most northern position, and the day appointed was June 21. After that time the sun began to descend towards the equator, which it re-crossed southbound at the autumnal equinox, September 21. The sun reached its most southerly position at the winter solstice, December 21.

Four of the signs of the zodiac have been permanently dedicated to the equinoxes and the solstices; and, while the sons no longer correspond with the ancient constellations which they were assigned, and form which they secured their names, they are accepted by modern astronomers as a basis of calculation. The vernal equinox is therefore said to her in the constellation of Aries. According to the ancient, this constellation was called the “Lamb of God” or the “Saviour”, and was to save mankind from their sins.

The summer solstice is regarded as occurring in Cancer (the Crab), which the Egyptians called the scarab, a beetle to which was the symbol of terminal life. It is believed that the crab symbol was chosen because the sun after passing through this house, proceeds to walk backwards or descend the zodiacal arc.

The autumnal equinox apparently occurs in the constellation of Libra (the Balances). The scales tipped and the solar globe began to its pilgrimage towards the home of winter. The constellation of the Scales placed in the zodiac symbolize the power of choice, by means of which man may weigh one problem against another.

The constellation of Capricorn, in which the winter solstice theoretically takes place, was called The House of Death, for in winter all life in the Northern Hemisphere is at its lowest ebb. Capricorn is a composite creature, with the head and upper body of a goat and the tail of a fish. In this constellation the Sun is least powerful in the Northern Hemisphere, and after passing through this constellation it immediately begins to increase. Hence the Greeks said that Jupiter (a name of the God) was suckled by a goat.

The Astrological Ages

Period of 2160 years required for the regression of the sun through one of the zodiacal constellations is often termed an age. Accordingly to this system, the age secured its name from the signs for which the sun passes year after year as it crosses the equator to the vernal equinox. From this arrangement are derived the term The Taurian age, The Aryan age, The Piscean age, and the Aquarian age.

The Age of Aquarius

Age of Aquarius from astronomical perspective. First of all, we give the answer from an astronomical point of view. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) – which in the 20th century assumed the duty of officially naming and defining all things astronomical – created official constellation boundaries in 1930. From the perspective of astronomy, then, the beginning of the Age of Aquarius is based upon IAU constellation boundaries, which astrologers or New Age practitioners might or might not choose to use in their computations.

According to the Belgian astronomer and mathematical wizard Jean Meeus , who does adhere to the IAU’s definitions, the sun at the March equinox passed from being in front of the constellation Aries and to being in front of the constellation Pisces in 68 B.C. Looking ahead, again according to Jean Meeus, the March equinox will cross over into the constellation Aquarius in 2597. Once again, these are the astronomical dates, based on IAU constellation boundaries established in 1930.

Other interpretations for the beginning of the Age of Aquarius. The constellations as defined by the IAU are different sizes. Astrologers often like to divide the Zodiac into twelve equal sections. For example, the constellation Pisces – as defined by the IAU – spans more than 30o along the ecliptic, or sun’s annual path in front of constellations of the Zodiac.

Astrologers, though, might disregard the span of the constellation Pisces on the sky’s dome, and instead regard an astrological age as a precise 30o shift of the March equinox in front of the backdrop stars.

But even if you equalize the size of the signs of the Zodiac, you need to consider when the Age of Pisces started to be able to know when the Age of Aquarius begins. Apparently, there’s no firm consensus among astrologers as to when the Age of Pisces began, either. And thus there is no consensus as to when the Age of Aquarius begins. In The Book of World Horoscopes, Nicholas Campion suggests that approximated dates for entering the Age of Aquarius range from 1447 AD to 3597 AD.

Some astrologers say the Age of Aquarius actually began in 2012. That’s because they believe the star Regulus in the constellation Leo the Lion marked the ancient border between the constellations Leo and Cancer. This star moved to within 30o of the September equinox point in 2012, meaning that Regulus left the sign Leo to enter the sign Virgo in that year. Presuming equal-sized constellations in antiquity, that places the border of the constellations Pisces and Aquarius at 150o west of Regulus, or at the March equinox point. By this reckoning, the Age of Aquarius started in 2012.

So I leave it to you to decide when this new age begins or began.

Over the next few blogs I will give some in depth knowledge on the following Birth chart information :