Jul 15. 2022
Sidereal and tropical astrology
Has it happened to you that you calculated your star map of basic personal characteristics, and you were surprised that it does not fit you? Maybe it is time to change the system of calculation of your natal chart. Welcome to sidereal astrology!
Long story short, the main conflict between tropical and sidereal astrology lies at the beginning of an astrological year that happens at the first degree of the Aries sign. The tropical zodiac is a moving zodiac thanks to its fixed date of the beginning of an astrological year which is set on the 21st of March, the first spring day. However, the first spring day has not overlapped with the first degree of Aries for the last 1700 years. The sidereal system is stable and more accurate because the first day of the astrological year does not have a fixed day, and it always happens at the first degree of Aries.
Every one of the 12 Zodiac signs has 30 degrees which together gives the circle of natal charts. Because of the difference between the two systems we described, every 72 years, there is a shift of 1 degree between the sidereal and tropical horoscope. And how does this shift influence your natal chart? Some of your planets are actually in a different Zodiac sign than your tropical horoscope shows. That means that some of your personal aspects can clash with what your natal chart would suggest. For example, take a shy person with low self-esteem who has a Mercury in Aries. Mercury is about intelligence but also about communication with others, so Mercury in Aries would suggest a very secure talkative person. But looking at his natal chart calculated using the sidereal system it, shows Mercury in Pisces, which definitely fits better as Mercury in Pisces suggests a shy person with a soft style of communication.
Maybe you have also heard about the 13th Zodiac sign, Ophiuchus, which sidereal astrology sometimes places between Scorpio and Sagittarius, is between the 29th of November and the 17th of December. A person born in this Zodiac sign is said to be very charismatic and friendly but with the tendency to be quite manipulative.
You do not have to be born in Ophiuchus to have a reason to be interested in sidereal astrology because it is quite possible that sidereal astrology could show you and translate some of your aspects that would not be shown to you by your tropical natal chart.