How do astrologers determine when a new "age" occurs?

Question

I know it's supposed to be when the vernal equinox moves from one sign into another, in its precession. BUT...the signs, according to astrology, aren't fixed in the sky. They are fixed by date. So they precess just like the equinox does. This is why they are no longer aligned with the constellations which supposedly represent them.

So if this is the case, how do you determine when an age changes? The equinox would always be in the same sign, wouldn't it? What determines the borders between these "signs" ?

Lorenzo, I know about the astrological convention of simply assigning sun signs to certain dates. Like I said, that's why they precess. But then that's when it occurred to me, "Hey, they're precessing at the same speed as the equinox!"

Bunchkin, now there's the kind of answer I can get my teeth into. But then, I guess I should have specified *whose* astrology. The far more common astrology uses the familiar signs of the zodiac and ages are only a couple thousand years long. I don't know what the Mayans based their ages on, but it isn't the European method, at all.

Okay, let's try it this way: where exactly, is the division between Taurus and Germini? It isn't where the IAU has established it. It is more than one whole sign AWAY from that. Why? Because the signs are fixed to dates, so they precess just like the equinox does. The constellations stay put, but the signs MOVE, because of precession. So how in the world does one determine when the Age of Aquarius begins when the signs precess as much as the equinox does? Sarah, were you aware of that? The "sign" of Aquarius, (check the dates), doesn't even overlap the constellation of Aquarius any more. It's off by about 30 degrees, as are all the signs. IOW, the astrological "signs" don't even exist in the sky any more. They're invisible. They only exist on calendars.

Astrology does not have the signs fixed, Colleen. That's why if you're a Libra, the sun isn't in Libra when you were born. It was at least one whole sign away from Libra. This is because astrological signs are fixed to *dates*, not positions on the celestial sphere. So what DO astrologers use to designate where Pisces ends and Aquarius begins?

Answer 1

that depends on which of the oppressing ancients are defeated. this is the purpose for guardians and guidence.

Answer 2

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How to find signs.

From what i understand, some astrologers on the Internet consult the Greenwich observatory, while others use a program known as Swiss ephemeris, and a third branch make algorithms from scratch.

That is i presume, how they figure out in which constellation any planet goes. The sun and the moon can be observed directly. But i agree with you, the constellations are probably not what they used to be.

Another trick to find the sun sign is using natural markers.

*Spring equinox, March 20th and 21st.
*Summer solstice, June 21st and 22nd.
*Fall equinox, September 22nd and 23rd.
*Winter solstice, December 21st and 22nd.

That determines the ending / starting point of....

*Pisces / Aries
*Gemini / Cancer
*Virgo / Libra
*Sagitarius / Capricorn

So. Did these dates change since the fall of Rome? I have no idea. One thing is obvious though, the north pole moved down 23 degrees, and caused the tropics to move up and down by just as many degrees.

Now isn't that bizarre? Should not the tropics have moved to + and - 90o * (cos23o,sin23o) instead of + and - 23o? And why does the sun still follow a straight line during the solstice? He should follow a vector determined by cos 23o and sin 23o, not cos 23o and sin 0o.

I might have omitted something here, i mean i am trying to understand a complicated topic. But it looks like the north pole only moves towards the south.


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About the meaning of signs.

Even though our calendars have changed, the zodiac is bound to the same old seasons and to phases of growth in nature. Aries for instance, starts with the spring equinox and describes affirmation of self, territoriality, and the growth of our second set of teeth (for eating meat). On the other hand, Libra opposes Aries and starts at the fall equinox. Libra definites ideals, adulthood and compromise, a diluted and seductive personality, in sum those things diametrally opposed to Aries (except for the fall of teeth).

I have found a picture describing my point of view quite accurately, with the seasons, associated phenoms of nature and moon phases (new moon means 0 to 30 degrees). The link is
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stef_install/94526685/

I don't like the stef_install part i admit, and lightning should not be put in aquarius. :)


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About the role of stars.

So much folklore would probably not have stood the test of time if it was totally useless and pointless. Indeed the constellations *used to* be accurate for indicating angles without the help of a pocket calculator. I imagine the chinese astrologers looking at the horizon, then figuring out what was where, and starting to make predictions. Most of it was based on the Moon though, and its aspects with the sun studied through the phases of the moon. In sum they had a pretty straightforward and acccurate methhod. At least we have a technoloical advantage on these guys.

Answer 3

not always the same sign, instead... they move backward because as time passes the vernal equinox, takes place in an entirely different constellation. this slow motion of earths tilt is called the precession of the equinoxes [ during the span of many, many years, the equinoxes slowly travel through all the constellations of the zodiac in a backward order ] if they traveled in a forward order it would have been called the procession of the equinoxes.

it's said that the babylonians calculated at the infinitesimal rate of 1 degree every 7 and half years, the equinoxes move through the zodiac. in the space of 2,150 years the equinoxes move through one sign of the zodiac. in the time span of approximately 25,820 years the equinoxes move through the entire 12 signs. this 26,000 year time span is called a great year. each 2,100 year transit through a sign is called a great month [ a great month is also referred to as an age ] . for the past 2000 years or so, mankind was living in the age of pisces, we have now entered the age of aquarius. because such vast amounts of time are involved, it is difficult to give an exact year to the beginning of a new age.

Answer 4

Well as astrology has the signs fixed, astronomy doesn't. The age is determined by the astronomy placement of the sun in the zodiac sign represented by it's actual constellation, not the time frame it has been allotted.
And when in doubt, wikipedia!
In any case an age is about 2150-2160 years. Since it is not an instant change the last 10 years of an age is when the new age starts to make it's effects known.

Also in the source is a link to you tube, give the movie about 2 mins to actually get to the age information.

Answer 5

If you understand precession, then is should come as no surprise that astrologers long ago gave up acknowledging the constellations of the zodiac and only refer to the SIGNS of the zodiac - having no relationship whatsoever to reality.

Answer 6

an age is 5126 years long
the last age started in 3115bc

research the mayan calendar
id leave info about it here.....but theres too much! lol

oh yea and the next age is the golden age....starts in 2012
seriously if you look into it, you'll be busy forever!!!!!!!

ask these people http://survive2012.com/forum2012/index.php