From: Caroline Tully <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] Precession of the Equinoxes - reference request
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Sunday, August 29, 2010, 10:25 PM

Hi Aaron,

 

Well… It seems that Tropical Astrology and Sidereal Astrology were _once aligned_, once matched up, once upon a time. However, because of the precession of the equinoxes, now Tropical Astrology is 23 degrees “out” from the actual position of the zodiacal constellations it purports to represent. I just can’t see how Tropical Astrology can be valid now that it doesn’t actually match up with what is going on in the sky? What is it describing, measuring or displaying?

 

Sure, planets go through these 30 degree portions of sky, but if these parts do not match up with the constellations they claim to represent, what are they doing? This is my beef with astrology.

 

~Caroline.

 

From: Society for The Academic Study of Magic [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Aaron Leitch
Sent: Monday, 30 August 2010 11:59 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] Precession of the Equinoxes - reference request

 

Greetings, Caroline I think you're being very unfair to the subject of Tropical astrology.  It is merely a system of astrology that divides the sky into twelve equal 30-degree portions, and makes its calculations accordingly.  It still takes into account the actual positions of the "wandering" bodies. Tropical and Sidereal astrology are not competing systems, they are merely different systems.  I suspect the conflict between them may be a modern issue.  If you look at Agrippa's "Three Books...", you'll find that he (at least) presents elements of both in his work (though he himself appears to have preferred Tropical). I don't see the basis for the debate that constantly rages between adherents of the two systems - as if one must be "right" and the other "wrong."  (You know, like calling Tropical astrology "pretend astrology.")  It all seems very similar to the scientist who scoffs at Western magick because "we all know there are more than four elements!"  The scientist isn't comprehending that he is looking at two different systems that happen to share some terminology. LVX Aaron --- On Sun, 8/29/10, Caroline Tully <[log in to unmask]> wrote: From: Caroline Tully <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] Precession of the Equinoxes - reference request To: [log in to unmask] Date: Sunday, August 29, 2010, 8:03 PM (I’m not sure this one came through earlier)     Jake, this is the reason I washed my hands of western astrology! Because I couldn't see how the Tropical zodiac could possibly be used. The 'signs' are related to nothing - except to the extent that we all simply 'agree' that they mean something. That seems too human-centric to me. (Yes, yes,.. I realise that I am a human...) If the signs do not relate to the constellations, why not call it "pretend astrology"?   ~Caroline.       Tropical Astrology uses 12 equal 30 degree divisions of the Ecliptic called *Signs*, which have the same names as the *constellations* (which are not equal in size, (example, Scorpio the *Constellation* is 72 degrees long). Thus the Vernal Equinox occurs in the constellation of Pisces, but the sign of Aries.   30 degree signs are useful conventions, simply calculating 0 to 360 celestial longitude when plotting planetary movements is rather prosaic, and doesn't highlight aspects as readily.   Incidentally, even modern astronomers refer to the Equinoctial point as zero Aries.     ALWays   Jake   http://www.underworld-apothecary.com/