Precession of the Equinoxes
During the Babylonian era, when the principles of Western astrology were first formalized, the spring equinox signaled
the beginning of the sun’s entrance into both the constellation and the sign of Aries the Ram. The autumn equinox occurred
just as the sun moved into Libra. In the four thousand years since, astrology and astronomy have diverged and an astrologer
and an astronomer both using the word “Aries” (or any of the 12 signs) are referring to vastly different things. An
astrologer is referring to the 30 degree segment of the zodiac that is ruled by Aries and possess a corresponding set of
characteristics, symbols and associations. An astronomer, on the other hand, is talking about the constellation Aries, the
actual grouping of stars that form a ram in the night sky. The divergence in the fields of study is caused by the rotation
and tilt of the earth in relation to the fixed stars and the sun. This however is not the Precession of the Equinoxes,
merely clarification.
The Greek astronomer Hipparchus is most often credited with discovering and naming the Precession of the Equinoxes in 128 BCE. Some scholars disagree with this crediting, citing humankind’s reliance on the positions of the stars and planets to indicate the best times to sow and harvest crops and even to hunt, as reason enough to place the discovery of the phenomenon at a much earlier date. Regardless of who gets the credit, the term Precession of the Equinoxes refers to the movement of the two equinoxes backward, and in order, through the constellations. The rate of movement is slow, about 1 degree (on a 360 degree circle) every 72 years. At that rate, it would take approximately 2,150 years until the sun rose in the previous (remember, we are moving backward) constellation on the spring equinox. We must say ‘approximately’ because, unlike the neat, 30 degree segments of the zodiac, the actual width and therefore number of degrees occupied on the circle, varies among the constellations. The period of 2,150 years is called a Great Month or an Age and the movement from one sign to another signals vast changes in our worlds as the values and associations of the new sign move to the forefront and are illuminated by the sun.
At the time of the birth of Christ, the vernal equinox moved into Pisces the fish, a sign long associated with Judea. Some
say that it was this astrological occurrence that sent the Magi, who would likely have been astrologers, to the land of
Judea in search of a king, another of Pisces associations. Correspondingly, the autumnal equinox moved into Virgo the
Virgin, thought to symbolize Mary, the virgin mother of Jesus. Both the fish and the virgin have since become symbols of
the new religion ushered into the world at the time of this celestial event.
Many believe that we have entered, are entering, or will enter a new age today. The exact day of the much heralded Age of Aquarius is a matter of enormous debate, with dates ranging from the late 1800s to the twenty-second century. It is believed that the dawning of this new age will be the beginning of a much more compassionate time, when people’s attention will turn to benevolence toward fellow man, high ideals, discovery in the intellectual realms and innovative thinking. Leo will be the sign of the autumn equinox and will bring the self-confidence and assuredness necessary to push forward with new, radical way of thinking and feeling.
So why all this movement, spinning and changing of ages? Because the earth wobbles. Earth’s axis, an imaginary line drawn through the earth from North Pole to South Pole, is tilted at an angle of a bit over 23 degrees relative to the sun, which causes the poles to lean from side to side as the earth wobbles on its axis. The wobble, resembling a spinning top coming to a halt, causes a shift in the position of the axis in relation to the sun and to the fixed stars. Four thousand years ago, at the time of the Babylonians, the North Pole pointed toward Alpha Draconis (near the handle of the big dipper), but the counterclockwise motion of the axis has moved the North Pole so that today, the pole star is Polaris. Four thousand years in the future, the pole star till be Alpha Cepheus, which is located on the other side of the big dipper and the vernal equinox will occur near the cusp of Capricorn and Sagittarius.
The Great Year
Twelve Great Months (or Ages) make up one Great Year, which is approximately 25,280 calendar years. In a Great Year, the equinoxes will occur in and move through each of the twelve signs and return again to the beginning of Aries. In earth’s 4.6 billion year history, it has passed through 177,000 Great Years. Astrologers trace humankind’s written history back to the Age of Leo, between 10,000 and 8,000 years ago, which is only one half of a Great Year in the past.
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