Sidereal Vs Tropical, Who Wins$1

Sidereal vs. Tropical Astrology: Why the Stars Matter

Sidereal astrology is more convincing in providing a sound basis for celestial astrology, maintaining a meaningful connection between the stellar sky and the zodiac, and takes into consideration the precession of the equinoxes. While tropical astrology is internally consistent, in that it is based on the seasons, it does not follow that it is most likely to be correct in its reference point, the heavens. In terms of astrology, which is mainly about reading the stars and their movements in the sky, a zodiac that is related to the stars is more logically and astronomically sound.

The Core Distinction

The difference between tropical and sidereal astrology is not that one can get the planetary positions right, and the other can't; both are based on exact astronomical calculation. The point is, those positions are different when looked upon from the point of view of the teacher. In tropical astrology, the zodiac is started at the vernal equinox and Aries is always on the vernal equinox. Sidereal astrology on the contrary, will try to maintain the relationship of the zodiac with the stellar background, taking into account the slow change brought about by the precession of the axes of the earth. This distinction is of the greatest significance, as the equinoxes are not fixed forever in relation to the stars. Over thousands of years they slowly drift through the stellar background. Hence, when somebody asserts that tropical astrology must be correct because Aries starts at the spring equinox, he is proving that tropical astrology is following its own seasonal definition, not necessarily that it is following the celestial zodiac. The more important question is whether the astrology is more about the seasons of the earth, or the sky itself.

Seasons Are Local, the Sky Is Universal

The tropical argument "Aries represents spring and therefore Aries must begin with spring" is symbolically elegant but it makes the assumption that astrology's symbolism should be based primarily on Northern hemisphere seasons. Seasons are geographically related and terrestrial: in one hemisphere, spring while in another, fall. But the planets and the starry sky are universal and celestial. When observers journey across the equator, Jupiter remains Jupiter, and the starry sky remains the same, regardless of the season experienced by the observing person. Sidereal astrology thus provides a more universal reference, by maintaining the proper alignment of the zodiac with the sky and so preventing the signs from gradually becoming meaningless.

A Richer Symbolic System

The further association of the Sidereal astrology with such things as Jyotisha, Nakshatras, Padas, Divisional charts, Dignities, Yogakaraka planets, Dashas, and detailed timing techniques makes it much more interesting. The zodiac is thus not just a set of twelve general personalities; it's a layer of a much greater cosmic system. For instance, the 27 nakshatras, in addition to the 12 signs, offer a finer symbolic resolution and planetary positions could be interpreted much more specifically.

Giving Tropical Astrology Its Due

That isn't to say that every tropical interpretation is incorrect or that there's no value in tropical astrology. Tropical astrology is a complete seasonal coordinate system and many find value in its symbolism.

Thus the strongest argument for sidereal astrology is basic: if the astrology is a language of the heavens, why should the zodiac give up its use of the stars, and adopt a point that moves in relation to the stars on an annual basis$2 Tropical astrology is based on the seasons, Sidereal astrology is based on the stars. The sidereal choice is perhaps the more coherent one for an astrology that is about the celestial sky.