Sidereal vs. Tropical Astrology: What is the Difference?

People new to astrology are often confounded by the two main schools of thought within it: tropical and sidereal. This brief lecture covers the development of the zodiac by the Babylonians and the introduction of tropical astrology by the Greek astronomers Hipparchus of Rhodes and Claudius Ptolemy. During Ptolemy’s time, the signs and constellations were closely aligned; but due to the precession of the earth’s spin axis, they have slowly separated at a rate of one degree every 71.6 years. The current divide between sidereal and tropical zodiac reckoning is 25 degrees. In three and a half centuries, that separation it will be 30 degrees, an entire sign. This raises the question: do trait characteristics come from the stars, as astrology was originally practiced, or from the tropical signs later introduced by the Greeks? The lecture covers the mechanism of precession that separates tropical from sidereal reckoning, the discovery of the ecliptic, the centerline or backbone of the zodiac, and the reemergence of sidereal astrology in the West.

[NelsonVRamos]

Very informative and clear talk, with concise historical context. This is a very important and fundamental theme for Astrology that deserves more attention and study, preferably with some supporting evidence. This applies to all formats of Astrology. Thank you for your presentation.

[robertcorre]

.A very clear and carefully done discussion on the astronomical foundations that differentiate Sidereal vs. Tropical Astrology. An excellent orientation for those not only new to astrology but also a refresher for those long immersed in this perennial tradition ... Nicely done. Thank you.

[KathleenEsse]

Brilliant presentation. Highly recommended! I am a convert and have been since first reading your excellent book “An Introduction to Western Sidereal Astrology” several years ago, after 15 years as a tropicalist. Your recent workbook was incredibly insightful and I look forward to your next book with great eagerness.

[foundvisions]

I've been curious about sidereal astrology for a long time. This video gave me just the kind of overview I'd hoped for; I'm eager to learn more!

[pinkyshushu]

Crystal clear and superbly informative as always Ken, I know I will refer back to this again and again. I will also recommend anyone confused by the differences between the two approaches. The historical, context is invaluable.

[CurtisTaylor]

2 words that no one else seems to innerstand when comes to tropical and those 2 words are: Latitude and Direction
I'll end it there!

[dudarewaleriy]

We cant see planets and stars that far and the use of a telescope makes the light even dimmer. The whole idea that a human eye can see objects ridiculous light years away distances would contradict the inverse square law, would it not?

[gor]

Very Convincing Explaination. Does Ophiuchus fit in between Scorpius & Sagittarius or is this Superfluous ?
Is it diplomatic to circumvent the issue by including adjacent adjacent zodiac signs as a hybrid embracing characteristics of both...

[dudarewaleriy]

Vedic and almost all other old civilizations believed the Earth is flat and not a spinning ball.