"The sidereal zodiac is probably the original zodiac historically, as it is the observable zodiac. The tropical, which is an abstract zodiac, must have been derived from it, as all abstractions are usually based on underlying observable things."

The zodiac is the most significant part of astrology, but it's also really confusing for a lot of people. Most folks who are into astrology don't fully grasp what it means or where it came from. Plus, there are different zodiacs out there, which just adds to the confusion for newbies and gives skeptics more reason to doubt astrology.

It's really important to know the main difference between two types of astrology we use today: sidereal and tropical. These are just ways of dividing the sky into twelve sections, called "signs." If you don't get this difference, you might think one is better than the other, but both have their own importance in astrology.

Both zodiacs share the same 12 signs from Aries to Pisces. They share elements such as fire, earth, air and water, and qualities such as cardinal, fixed and mutable. Each character has generally the same properties in both systems. Before we knew about Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Chiron, which were discovered fairly recently, both systems used the same rulers for each sign. In the old system, each planet was linked to certain signs: Mars with Aries and Scorpio, Venus with Taurus and Libra, Mercury with Gemini and Virgo, the Moon with Cancer, the Sun with Leo, Jupiter with Sagittarius and Pisces and Saturn with Capricorn and Aquarius.

The main difference between the two zodiacs is not so much in the content of the zodiac, but in how they start counting from Aries.

Supporters of the sidereal zodiac often suggest or directly say that it's closely tied to the stars, unlike the tropical zodiac, which they argue lost its star connection long ago. However, this isn't entirely true. The sidereal system divides the signs into equal 30° sections of the ecliptic, which doesn't perfectly match the actual constellations and their positions. Additionally, the sidereal zodiac doesn't include Ophiuchus, which some claim further distances it from accurately reflecting the stars. So we come to the 3rd zodiac, so called "Constellational Zodiac".

The sidereal zodiac is the one most used in Vedic astrology. Unlike the tropical zodiac, which focuses on the Sun's relationship with the Earth, the sidereal zodiac measures the Sun's position relative to the stars. In this system, the zodiac starts from the star Spica (Alpha Virginis), with Spica as the 0° Libra point. It then extends to the opposite side, calling that point 0° Aries. Like the tropical zodiac, the sidereal zodiac is divided into 12 equal segments named after the dominant constellations along the ecliptic.

However, unlike the tropical zodiac, the sidereal zodiac isn't fixed. It moves back 1° every 72 years due to the precession of the equinoxes. As a result, the sidereal and tropical systems are about 24° out of sync - till date.

This means that the sidereal system doesn't measure from the vernal point like the tropical system does, but from its own starting point, which is opposite the star Spica.

The tropical zodiac is the main zodiac used in Western astrology. It starts with the Vernal Point, which is where the Sun's path crosses the celestial equator in the East. This happens during the Vernal Equinox, marking the first day of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere. At this time, day and night are equal, and daylight starts getting longer as the Sun rises higher each day.

The tropical zodiac divides the sky into four equal parts based on the solstices and equinoxes, making four 90° seasonal quadrants. Aries marks the start of spring, Cancer marks the start of summer, Libra marks the start of autumn, and Capricorn marks the start of winter. Each quadrant is further divided into three sections, creating 12 equal segments called signs. These signs are named after the 12 main constellations that the Sun passes through on its path, known as the ecliptic.

The constellational zodiac system measures where planets are in relation to the actual constellations in the night sky. It reflects what you would see if you looked up at the stars.

In this system, the starting point is the Vernal Point, marked as 0°, but it's not given special attention. Instead, the system uses the shapes of the constellations to divide the circle. However, because constellations cover only a small part of the sky, much of the ecliptic runs through empty space between them. This system follows the boundaries of constellations set by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1930.

What's interesting is that the constellational zodiac has 13 constellations, and they vary a lot in size. This highlights the difference between constellations and zodiac signs. Signs are equal parts of the ecliptic, while constellations are visible groups of stars. Although signs were named after the dominant constellations, they were never meant to be interchangeable.

Similar to the tropical zodiac, the constellational system measures planetary positions east from the Vernal Point. However, the constellations don't neatly fit into 30° segments, making it harder to characterize them. Because of this, the system isn't very popular among astrologers, although some still support it. Additionally, this system includes the thirteenth constellation, Ophiuchus, which historically was overlooked but now occupies space along the ecliptic according to the IAU's boundaries.

Ophiuchus is a big constellation that sits across the celestial equator. Its name comes from the Greek word "ophioûkhos," which means "serpent-bearer." It's often shown as a person holding a snake, with the snake represented by the Serpens constellation. Ophiuchus was one of the constellations listed by the ancient astronomer Ptolemy, and it's still one of the constellations we recognize today. Another name for it used to be Serpentarius. Even though the Sun passes through Ophiuchus, it's not part of the traditional zodiac. It has sometimes been suggested as the "13th sign of the zodiac". However, this confuses zodiac or astrological signs with constellations. So, my opinion sticks with 12, not 13 zodiac signs. The number 12 does have special significance. It is considered a powerful number representing completeness and harmony. It's often associated with completeness, cycles, cosmic order and balance.

It's pretty amazing to think that ancient Vedic scholars knew about Earth's wobble long before Europeans. In western world, this was first measured and recorded by greek astrologer/astronomer, geographer and mathematician Hipparchus, much later, in 127 B.C. They understood how this wobble would affect their calculations, even without telescopes or modern tools (?). They realized that the equinoxes, the points where day and night are equal, gradually shift backward through the zodiac, about 1 degree every 72 years.

This shifting is called the Precession of the Equinox. It means that where the Sun actually is during the Spring equinox moves backward over time. For example, in 2003, sidereal astrology calculated the Sun to be at 6 degrees 03 minutes of Pisces during the Spring equinox.

So, there's a difference between sidereal astrology and tropical astrology of about 24 degrees due to this precession. But since most people interested in sidereal astrology were born closer to 1950, you'll often hear that you need to subtract 23 degrees from your Western chart to match your sidereal chart. This is because back on January 1st, 1950, the difference was about 23 degrees 09 minutes.

The difference in degrees between the sidereal and tropical zodiacs is called "Ayanamsa" in Sanskrit.

Ayanamsa (ayanāṃśa: from Sanskrit ayana 'movement', and aṃśa 'component'), also ayanabhāga (from Sanskrit bhāga 'portion'), is the Sanskrit term for many systems used in Hindu (Vedic) astrology to account for the precession of equinoxes. It basically shows how much the Spring Equinox differs from the 1st degree of Aries.

But it gets more complicated because there are different ayanamshas such as the Raman Ayanamsa and the Krishnamurthy Ayanamsa, differing by nearly 2 degrees. There are also systems of ayanamsa used in Western sidereal astrology, such as the Fagan/Bradley Ayanamsa. The most commonly used one by sidereal astrologers worldwide is the Lahiri Ayanamsa, also known as the Chitrapaksha Ayanamsa. It was developed by N.C. Lahiri, who headed the Astro-Research Bureau of Calcutta. In 1954, the government of India officially approved the Lahiri Ayanamsa.

In history, around 285 A.D., both the sidereal and tropical zodiacs matched up. They both marked the Sun's entry into Aries during the Spring equinox.

Both systems observe planets moving through the sky, but they do it from different viewpoints. Tropical astrologers link planets to the zodiac based on seasons, while sidereal astrologers connect them to fixed stars.

Here's an interesting fact: because of the precession of the equinox, in about 11,200 years, the Sun will be at the 1st degree of Libra during the Spring equinox. Then, the two systems will be exactly opposite each other. The Ayanamsa will be 180 degrees 0 minutes!

The big question in the debate between the two zodiacs is: How can both systems be right? How can someone be an Aries in the tropical system and a Pisces in the sidereal system?

Well, to start with, it might be too simple to identify yourself with just one sign, as we often do now because of horoscope columns in tabloids and rest. In the past, tropical astrology focused more on the ascendant than the Sun if you had to pick just one sign. Today, sidereal astrology also puts emphasis on the ascendant and the Moon over the Sun.

This makes sense because the ascendant marks the beginning of the horoscope and moves quickly through the chart, so it's more closely connected to your identity or "you." In practice, the ascendant or 1st house is more about your self, identity and personality traits than any other part of the chart.

If you ask someone in India about their sign, they'd probably think you meant their Moon sign, since sidereal astrology is based on the Moon and its predictive systems. In the Western world, you're more likely to hear about their Sun sign.

"Synoptical astrology" is a term that doesn't have a widely recognized or standardized definition in astrology. However, it is often used to refer to an approach that integrates various astrological techniques and perspectives to provide a comprehensive analysis.

The theory of synoptical astrology was created by László Wladimir Orosz, Hungarian philosopher and astrologer. The term "synoptical" itself originates from the Greek word "synoptikos," meaning "seeing everything together." In this context, synoptical astrology suggests a holistic view that considers multiple astrological factors simultaneously.

In the synoptical horoscope, the drawing is done in a special way: Inside the chartwheel, you can see the tropical signs, while the sidereal zodiac is in the middle, and the real constellations are shown in the outermost zone.

The usage of synoptical astrology aims to offer a more comprehensive understanding of astrological influences by considering the interconnections between various factors in a chart or in astrological events. It emphasizes the idea that different astrological components work together to shape an individual's life and experiences.

While there isn't a strict definition or standardized usage of synoptical astrology, it generally refers to an integrative approach that seeks to synthesize diverse astrological techniques and perspectives to provide a broader understanding of astrological influences. Because real constellations aren't equal, synoptical astrology divides the sectors uniquely. It uses "dynamic degrees" to measure these uneven sectors.

The main reason why focusing on just one sign is limited is because there are many different combinations that can describe the same traits. For example, even if your Sun sign changes from Aries to Pisces in your sidereal chart, you might still have other planets in Aries or Mars in Aries. So, you'd likely still see strong Aries traits in your sidereal chart, even if the Sun isn't involved.

Some people say that your tropical chart represents your personality and is more "earthy," while your sidereal chart represents your soul and is more "spiritual." This kind of makes sense because the stars are farther away than our Sun, which is the closest star.

But this idea also suggests that your tropical chart is more grounded in practical matters on Earth, while your sidereal chart is more spiritual and otherworldly. However, the opposite argument can be made: your sidereal chart is based on the actual positions of the fixed stars, while your tropical chart is symbolic. That's why some argue that sidereal charts can accurately predict events on Earth, while tropical charts are better at describing how those events might affect your psyche.

The key thing to understand is that the zodiac represents a fundamental pattern of growth, starting with Aries and ending with Pisces. You can think of the pattern of the 12 signs like a clock. Whether you use the sidereal or tropical system, the pattern still works, even if it's more symbolic than literal.

That's why I believe tropical astrology makes sense, even though it's based on a symbolic zodiac. Our lives on Earth are deeply influenced by the seasons, so aligning the zodiac with the seasons makes sense. The qualities of each zodiac sign match up with the characteristics of the seasons. For example, when the Sun moves into Aries, it brings qualities of spring like energy, creativity, and new beginnings.

You can apply this pattern to other developmental cycles too. For instance, you can compare the 12-year cycle of Jupiter's return to the zodiac. Each year of the cycle can be seen as representing one sign of the zodiac. The first year, like Aries, is energetic and full of growth, even if the Jupiter return happens in a different sign. And the twelfth year, like Pisces, might bring qualities of completion and renewal before starting the cycle again.

Since each system interprets the same circle in its unique way, it's the astrologer's call to decide which system holds more significance and coherence according to their own standards. While both zodiacs offer benefits, they both sacrifice something in order to have those benefits.

The tropical system, being based on the Sun, is often thought to be better at describing personality and psychological traits. On the other hand, the sidereal system, linked to actual constellations, is seen as more effective in predicting events and revealing deeper soul aspects.

This difference is reflected in the reference texts of each system. Vedic texts focus more on prediction, while Western texts emphasize psychological insights.

In my view, both systems can provide accurate readings for both psychological interpretation and prediction. Ultimately, the astrologer's intuition plays a crucial role in the accuracy of the readings, regardless of the system used.