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                     ZODIAC                     


ZODIAC DEFINITION

The zodiac  stems from the  Roman word  "zodiacus"
which derives  from the Greek word  "zodiakos" and
literally means "circle of animals."

ORIGIN OF THE 12 ZODIAC SIGNS

The origin of the zodiac  is veiled in mystery. It
can be  traced  to Babylon  in the  1st millennium
B.C.. But the zodiac used then was very different.
It had 18 signs.  A zodiac with 12 signs  appeared
in Babylon and ancient Greece between the 5th  and
3rd century B.C.. Not all of the same animals were
used and not always in the same time periods as we
know them today.
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TROPICAL VERSUS SIDEREAL ZODIAC

There is some confusion  about the zodiac  because
there are two of them, the  constellational zodiac
and the tropical zodiac.

The zodiac that astrologers use in the West is the
tropical zodiac, and is based  on the seasons  and
not the stars.

The constellational zodiac  is used by astronomers
mainly as a reference guide for locating celestial
objects.  Only  astrologers  in India  use it  for
astrological  purposes,  but  with a complete mis-
understanding of its Western basis and meaning. It
is the same Greek model, based on the seasons, but
accidentally applied to the stars.

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THE ZODIAC IS BASED ON THE SEASONS

It is easy  to prove  that the zodiac  is based on
the seasons and not the stars.

First of all,  the zodiac begins on the 1st day of
Spring, March 21st.  How appropriate, symbolically
that's when the cycle of growth in nature  begins.
Furthermore, the 4 main signs, the Cardinal signs,
also mark  the frame of reference  for the zodiac,
which explains  why it was always oriented  to the
Equinox and Solstice points, divisions of the four
seasons. Example:

          Aries:      1st day of Spring
          Cancer:     1st day of Summer
          Libra:      1st day of Autumn
          Capricorn:  1st day of Winter
ZODIAC                                           4

THE 12 ZODIAC SIGNS ARE BASED ON THE SEASONS

The 12 zodiac signs are based on events associated
with the seasons. The symbolic animals and figures
are based  on characteristics  associated with the
seasons,  agriculture,  events in nature and other
environmental effects ( increasing  or  decreasing
light, temperature, precipitation) which have dis-
tinct effects on human and animal behavior.

British astrologer Julia Parker,  former president
of the  Faculty of Astrological Studies in London,
says in her book, The New Complete Astrologer:

"The star signs have no resemblance to any animals
or other  astrological  sign figures.  It would be
impossible to look  at the constellation of Taurus
and be able to see the outline of a bull."
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Parker explains the real basis  of the zodiac with
an example  from the  Norman French  Book of Hours
dating from the 15th century, where the  12 zodiac
signs  and their periods  were clearly  associated
with the seasons and agricultural activity.  (from
chapt. on Medieval Calendar)

Stephen Arroyo, in the Four Elements, explains how
each tropical zodiac sign gets its symbolic figure
and meaning from the seasons.

Why should the "star" constellation  of Aries have
anything to do with the Earth's seasonal character
such as Spring and its impulsive meaning in Aries,
the Ram?  Or Virgo, with its harvesting traits?



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The sign of Virgo is represented symbolically with
a virgin holding a sheaf of wheat. But there is no
such image  or even a hint of such a figure in the
group of stars that form this constellation.

The astronomer, Carl Sagan, writes in COSMOS:

"The northern constellation called  The Big Dipper
was seen as The Great Bear  by the ancient Greeks,
as a Bull and Hippopotamus in ancient Egypt,  as a
Wagon in  Medieval Europe,  as a Seated Bureaucrat
in  ancient China,  and as a Plough  in England...
These pictures are not,  of course, really  in the
night sky, we put them there ourselves."




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One only needs to compare the traditional meanings
of each sign  and the events in nature and society
that  occurred  during the  month-period  assigned
to each sign.

The confusion started  when the  seasonal tropical
zodiac was transferred to the star constellations,
as a  reference chart,  which led  to the eventual
belief that the zodiac signs originated in the sky
and that  each constellation  emanated with traits
associated with the figure  that the constellation
represented.

The constellations were only a "recorded image" of
the tropical zodiac  as it appeared "projected" on
the heavens 2000 or so years ago.  It was simply a
"reference map" of the tropical zodiac!

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To make matters  even more confusing, the recorded
image of the tropical zodiac  on the star backdrop
is constantly shifting backward in relation to the
earths's perspective on the 1st day of Spring. The
shifting  of the constellations  is caused  by the
precession,  or wobble  of the earth's polar axis.

The result is that  the constellation  of Aries is
shifted by almost one full sign, so that it is now
positioned  behind the Sun during the time of year
when the sign of Pisces is in effect.

But Aries people  still exhibit  all the traits of
Aries, and Sun-Pisces people still reflect all the
Pisces traits.  So, obviously, the shifting of the
constellational zodiac  is meaningless  and should
be disregarded.

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Astronomers still use the precession  to discredit
astrological zodiac signs, but they have failed to
understand that the zodiac signs were based on the
events  associated  with the  seasonal effects  on
humans, animals and nature.

The star signs or constellations are only a carbon
copy of the real zodiac, the season-based tropical
zodiac.

This was the accidental result of trying to record
the earth-bound zodiac signs in terms of the month
period of the year by depicting the related agrar-
ian  activity under  a starry sky  showing the Sun
positioned against the constellational background.



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ORIGINS OF MEANINGS FOR THE TROPICAL ZODIAC SIGNS

The animals and figures  assigned to the 12 zodiac
signs  are clearly based on seasonal  implications
rather than any patterns in the constellations.

The traditional meanings  of each sign  were based
on the events  in nature and society that occurred
during  the period  assigned  to each sign.  These
events in nature  became first impressions for all
born at such times. Such impressions become etched
permanently not only in the individual psyche, but
the collective as well. D. Rudhyar said the zodiac
is inside us.

The famous French astrologer  Solange Nesle  shows
how each of the tropical zodiac signs got its age-
old meanings from the seasonal effects:
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1. ARIES, The Ram:      MAR. 21 - APR. 20


SEASONAL TRAIT  Spring Equinox, daylight is longer
  than darkness, more heat, buds and
seeds sprout suddenly,  life begins,  old cycle of
growth ends,  new one begins,  animals come out of
hibernation,  birds return,  barn doors  open  and
farmers prepare farm work, yards are cleaned.


RESULTING MEANING  Impulsive, active, rash,  bold,
  impatient, restless, ambitious,
explorative, desire to start new things,  pioneer,
love of  adventure,  daring,  challenging,  tough,
outgoing, headstrong, optimistic, cheerful.


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2. TAURUS, The Bull:    APR. 21 - MAY 22

SEASONAL TRAIT  The ground heats up, soil softens,
  roots develop, action in the soil,
farmers plow the field,  plant crops, gardens soil
beds are  prepared,  farmers examine  the roots of
seedlings, study stem forms,  home foundations are
are constructed,  nature becomes  green  in color,
many flowers appear, sense of beauty in nature.

RESULTING MEANING  Practical, down-to-earth, solid
  firm, stable, fixed in position
possessive, sound values, admires strength, steady
reliable, likes objects  of dependability  such as
gold, silver, gems, precious metals, money, bonds,
security-conscious,  supportive,  needs structure,
traditional,  loves voluptuous forms,  appreciates
nature, beauty, art, all things of lasting value.
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3. GEMINI, The Twins:   MAY. 22 - JUN. 23

SEASONAL TRAIT  Action in the air,  small branches
  and leaves expand in vast quantity
young crops demand attention, more busy schedules,
more bodily movement,  short distance trips,  many
relationships  renewed or formed,  marriages, more
travelling, excitement, outdoor activity,  insects
and birds fill the air, a sense of busy activity.

RESULTING MEANING  Communicative, talkative, likes
  to read, learn, write,  travel,
is restless, scattered, expressive, active, witty,
wants constant change,  is adaptable,  changeable,
flexible,  fickle,  has many ideas and starts many
things,  likes to plan,  is friendly,  flirts, and
appears knowledgeable, has answer for everything.

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4. CANCER, The Crab    JUN. 24 - JUL. 23

SEASONAL TRAIT  Summer solstice, Sun is at highest
  declination  in sky,  sunlight and
heat is greatest, animals seek shelter, humans get
cranky, irritable, stressed from high temperatures
and crops  and humans  require much "water,"  even
humans seek shelter from the intense heat and thus
spend more time indoors, children are at home  and
parents play with children, and scold them.

RESULTING MEANING  Sheltering, protective, nurtur-
  ing, moody,  sentimental, high-
strung, snappy, sensitive, cranky,  temperamental,
compassionate,  generous,  warm,  family-oriented,
property-minded, closed-in, sheltered, tough shell
with  soft interior,  patronizing,  condescending,
acts older than one's age.
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5. LEO, The Lion     JUL. 23 - AUG. 22

SEASONAL TRAIT  Much sunshine, blue skies and warm
  breezes,  farmers feel  confidence
as crops reach maturity, they tend to speculate on
how much  the crop will bring at the market, ideal
time  for vacation,  fun and play,  entertainment,
plants in fertility, time for romance, preparation
of creative methods for harvesting crops.

RESULTING MEANING  Regal sense of "I'm born at the
  best time  of the year",  sense
of self-importance, pride,  superiority,  dictates
to others,  arrogant,  self-centered,  likes to be
center of attention,  fun-loving,  playful, pouts,
throws fits,  spoiled, dramatic, theatrical, vane,
outgoing, energetic, creative, superficial.

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6. VIRGO, The Virgin     AUG. 23 - SEP 22

SEASONAL TRAIT  Daylight decreases and temperature
  gets cooler, crops are  harvested,
all able hands are in the fields, picking the ripe
crops, more work,  critical eyesight  and judgment
for selecting ripest fruits,  collecting, sorting,
packing, more consumption and health problems.

RESULTING MEANING  Critical, analytical,  finicky,
  likes to collect, hard-working,
good at details, prefers intricate ornamental art,
earthy, practical, enjoys helping others, devoted,
meticulous, careful,  sharp-eyed,  good at sorting
and arranging, loves to eat, workaholic, concerned
about others more than one-self, humble,  ethical,
self-denying in materialistic sense.

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7. LIBRA, The Scales     SEP. 23 - OCT 22

SEASONAL TRAIT  Autumn Equinox, darkness increases
  first frost  hits,  packaged crops
are weighed on the scales at the market, goods are
evaluated,  sense of worth  and value established,
prices are determined, business partnerhips forged
and retail sales are made, people exercise  art of
bargaining and diplomacy,  socializing accompanies
business deals, romance mixes with business.

RESULTING MEANING  Social,  graceful,  diplomatic,
  refined, easy-going,  friendly,
evaluating, objective, hesitant, indecisive, loves
to make deals, appreciates balance, loves justice,
respects fair play, cool attitude, enjoys the good
life, flirts, collects art and valuables.

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8. SCORPIO, The Scorpion     OCT. 22 - NOV 22

SEASONAL TRAIT  Death in nature,  weather is cold,
  wet  and overcast, gloomy feeling,
preparations are made for winter,  work is done in
a hurry, emotions run high,  resources are shared,
people help others  to finish outdoor jobs, social
events  increase  indoors,  sudden  late marriages
take place, plants drop seeds.

RESULTING MEANING  Emotionally intense, secretive,
  powerful, magnetic,  desperate,
mysterious, vindictive,  resentful,  overwhelming,
controlling, extremely social or withdrawn,  hyper
or  unusually calm,  advantageous, lucrative mind,
exploiting, excitable, resourceful, materialistic,
envious, jealous, imaginative, eccentric.

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9. SAGITTARIUS, The Archer     NOV. 23 - DEC 22

SEASONAL TRAIT  Darkness increases,  all attention
  is focused  on the festivities for
the end of the year, atmosphere is jovial, parties
and family re-unions are planned, gifts are bought
and everything is done in a frenzy, religious orn-
aments are gathered,  people travel long distance,
foreign culture contacts, knowledge is gained.

RESULTING MEANING  Cheerful attitude,  optimistic,
  jovial, social, elitest, noble,
aristocratic, sophisticated, knowledgeable,  smug,
daring, explorative, adventurous, almost reckless,
spiritually  enlightened,  righteous,  moralistic,
condescending, patronizing, ceremonial,  superior.


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10. CAPRICORN, The Goat    DEC. 23 - JAN 21

SEASONAL TRAIT  Winter Solstice, greatest darkness
  time to conserve energy  and food,
need for good management of resources so that food
would last for animals  and humans  (when food was
not imported  and hothouses  did not exist),  need
for rules and control,  role for authority figure,
emphasis on responsibility and social duties.

RESULTING MEANING  Authoritative, ambitious, duty-
  conscious, responsible, social,
conservative, serious, conformist, administrative,
controlling, disciplined,  organized,  systematic,
methodical,  careful,  persevering,  traditional,
reserved,  austere,  persistent,  stubborn,  hard,
devoted, reliable, social climber.

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11. AQUARIUS, The Water bearer    JAN. 21 - FEB 20

SEASONAL TRAIT  Light  and temperature  increases,
  a sense of  optimism in the air, a
natural tendency  to look forward  to the new year
and new ideas, farmers think of how to improve the
next crop yield,  various plans and projects, some
of the harshest weather at this time forces people
to react with shock and innovative survival.

RESULTING MEANING  Social, friendly, intellectual,
  optimistic, liberal, reformist,
political, freedom-loving, independent, different,
unconventional,  eccentric,  cheerful,  humourous,
at other times pessimistic, conservative, erratic,
tough, hard,  extreme,  cruel,  bold,  innovative,
aloof, cool, hot-tempered, strained.

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12. PISCES, The Fishes   FEB. 21 - MAR 20

SEASONAL TRAIT  Winter ends,  warmer weather, life
  returns, some birds re-appear, the
melting snow in northern latitudes instills a very
deep emotional feeling  of re-birth,  the sound of
nature is  heard again,  streams and rivers  swell
and overflow,  food supplies  run low,  fasting is
required, physical energy is low.

RESULTING MEANING  Sensitive, emotional,  pliable,
  humble, kind, receptive, vague,
sympathetic, compassionate,  adaptable,  flexible,
intuitive, impressionable, superstitious,  lack of
willpower, indecisive, easily confused,  careless,
faithful, sacrificial, frail.




