Zodiac signs versus constellations
It is worth knowing at this stage that the twelve zodiac signs are
not the same thing as the twelve constellations (or star groups).
As we have seen above, the signs of the zodiac are twelve equal 30º sections
of the ecliptic, related to the seasonal year and anchored to the four
cardinal points of the Sun’s annual journey. Western astrology, which
is based on the seasonal year, uses the tropical or seasonal zodiac.
Indian or Vedic astrology uses the sidereal (or ‘star’) zodiac, based
on the positions of the stars in the actual constellations, which are
star groups of very different sizes. Owing to a phenomenon caused by
the earth’s ‘wobble’ on its axis, the two zodiacs have gradually, over
the last two thousand years or so, started to drift out of alignment
with each other.
Audience: Can you say more about this? I am not sure that I
understand.
Clare: Perhaps the best way to imagine this is as two concentric
circles, the outer circle representing the backdrop of the stars, containing
the twelve constellations, and the inner circle divided into the twelve
signs of the zodiac, each 30º in length. Approximately 2000 years ago
these two circles lined up, with the beginning of the constellation of
Aries and the beginning of the zodiac sign of Aries in the same place.
Since that time, these two circles have been moving in opposite directions
at the rate of 1º every 72 years. They will not line up again for approximately
26,000 years. This 26,000-year cycle has itself been divided into twelve ‘astrological
ages’ of approximately 2,000 years each.
For the last two thousand years, at the spring equinox
the Sun has in fact been rising against the constellation of Pisces and
will gradually begin to rise against the constellation of Aquarius, heralding
the start of the new astrological age referred to in the 1960s musical Hair as
the dawn of the Age of Aquarius. In another 2,000 years, when the Sun
begins to rise against the constellation of Capricorn, we will enter
a new ‘Age of Capricorn’, which doesn’t have quite the same ring to it.
The astrological ages have their own meanings too, although these are
on a quite different scale. Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac
as its primary frame of reference, and eastern, Indian or Vedic astrology
uses the sidereal zodiac as its primary frame of reference. The difference
between the two zodiacs is now approximately 26º.
Audience: Does that mean that my Sun could be in the previous
sign in sidereal astrology?
Clare: Yes, if your Sun is between 0º and 25º of a sign. Rather
than letting this bother us too much, I think we need to appreciate that
every culture has its own sky lore and its own astrology, which is an
expression of the history, mythology, religion and philosophy of the
culture in which it has developed. As a broad generalisation, we can
say that the western tropical zodiac is solar because we use a solar
calendar. This reflects the emphasis in western cultures on self-sufficiency,
self-expression and the development of the individual. The eastern sidereal
zodiac, on the other hand, belongs to cultures where the Moon is the
basis of the calendar and of the annual festivals. Eastern astrology
is not so focused on the development of the individual but puts the emphasis
on community and family and tends to take a more fated approach than
western psychological astrology. You will have experienced this for yourselves
if you have ever had your chart done in India. It is a much more fated
kind of astrology.
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The
symbol for Aries can be described as resembling the face and horns of
a goat or ram, or the eyebrows and nose of the face, which are said to
be prominent in Aries people. Alternatively, this symbol is similar to
that of a plant shoot when it first emerges from the ground in the spring.
The
symbol for Taurus has been described as the head of a bull, again with
horns. It has also been described as the Moon resting on the Sun. Compared
with the symbol for Aries, it has a nice, solid, round shape. 
Gemini’s symbol is based on the twin stars Castor and Pollux in the
constellation of Gemini. It is literally the Roman numeral II, and the
theme of duality is the key to the meaning of this sign.
The symbol for Cancer is circular, internal and protective. It has been
described as symbolising the ovaries, the breasts, and the closeness
of the mother-child relationship, reflecting the nurturing quality of
this sign.
The symbol for Leo is similar to the stars in the constellation of Leo.
It has also been described as the head and mane of a lion.
Virgo the Virgin
The sign of Libra was a later addition to the zodiac, being placed between
the signs of Virgo and Scorpio, ‘borrowing’ the claws of Scorpio to form
the scales of Libra. It has been described as a dairy maid’s yoke, used
to balance two pales of milk. It has also been described as a symbol
of the Sun setting over the western horizon, since Libra is also associated
with the western side of the horoscope.
The symbols for Virgo and Scorpio are remarkably similar, since they
are both created from an identical ‘m’ - an ancient medical symbol. Both
Virgo and Scorpio are associated with medicine and healing. The two constellations
of Virgo and Scorpio are extremely large and easily identifiable in the
night sky. The enclosed shape in the symbol for Virgo and the ‘sting’ in
the scorpion’s tale have been described as the feminine and masculine
versions of the same symbol.
The glyph for Sagittarius is also similar to the constellation, with
the archer’s arrow pointing upwards ready to be shot into the sky. The
line across the arrow is said to symbolise the fact that Sagittarius
is a centaur, half human and half horse.
The symbol for Capricorn contains the v-shape of the goat’s head and
the fish tale of the sea-goat, since the constellation of Capricorn is
found in the ‘southern seas’ of the celestial sphere. Alternatively,
it has also been described as the goat bending down on its knees.
The symbol for Aquarius describes air waves or radio waves, and particularly
relates to the travelling of information through the air. 
Pisces is the symbol of two fish or dolphins yoked together.
