In this episode I debunk the recurring media claim that your zodiac sign has changed by explaining the 2,000-year history of why western astrologers have deliberately used the tropical zodiac.
Every few years, headlines circulate claiming that your zodiac sign has changed due to the precession of the equinoxes. Following a recent New York Times article making this claim, I decided to set the record straight.
In this episode of The Astrology Podcast, I explain the history behind this recurring narrative and demonstrate why these claims are misleading. We’ll explore the difference between the three zodiacs (constellational, sidereal, and tropical) and show how Western astrologers, starting with Claudius Ptolemy nearly 2,000 years ago, made a deliberate and conscious choice to use the tropical zodiac, which is aligned with the seasons, not the constellations.
This is not a recent mistake or discovery; it’s a foundational principle of the Western astrological tradition that has been understood for centuries by history’s most prominent astrologers and astronomers. We will also touch on the issue of the so-called 13th sign, Ophiuchus, and why it doesn’t apply to the system most Western astrologers use.
My goal is to clarify the history so that you can better understand why your zodiac sign has not changed and feel more equipped to respond to these arguments.
This is episode 509 of The Astrology Podcast.
Timestamps
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:23 Recent New York Times Article
00:00:52 A Common Narrative That Goes Viral Every Few Years
00:02:22 The Five Main Talking Points in Anti-Astrology Articles
00:02:54 The Fundamental Problem & Rhetorical Goal of These Articles
00:05:20 Explaining the Three Zodiacs
00:05:52 The Origin of the Zodiac
00:07:12 The First Zodiac: The Constellational Zodiac
00:08:22 The Second Zodiac: The Sidereal Zodiac
00:10:50 The Foundation of Western Astrology in Hellenistic Egypt
00:13:47 How Planetary Rulers Were Assigned to Signs Based on the Seasons
00:16:48 The Third Zodiac: The Tropical Zodiac
00:22:41 The Discovery of Precession by Hipparchus
00:23:56 Ptolemy’s Deliberate Choice to Use the Tropical Zodiac
00:28:43 The Source of Confusion: Using Constellation Names for Tropical Signs
00:30:18 How Ptolemy’s Influence Cemented the Tropical Zodiac in the West
00:32:34 Historical Aside: Why Indian Astrology Uses the Sidereal Zodiac
00:36:51 Famous Astronomers Deliberately Used the Tropical Zodiac
00:40:06 Why the “Astrologers Made a Mistake” Argument is Flawed
00:42:31 Rebuttal: Your Zodiac Sign Has Not Changed
00:43:29 Rebuttal: The Ophiuchus “13th Sign” Argument
00:44:41 The Underlying Goal of Skeptical Articles
00:50:43 The Legitimate Internal Debate Among Astrologers
00:51:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
00:53:32 End cards
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Transcript
A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 509 transcript
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