system
A chat on 4chan
human
Hello all. I'm a learned individual who has been exploring deeper into the mysteries of our world and it has been enlightening.
I say this first to show I am curious and open-minded before asking; how does modern astrology reconcile axial precession?

According to astrological charts, my sun sign is Capricorn and my ascendant is Sagittarius. The problem however is that due to axial precession, the sun was definitely in Sagittarius during the time of my birth (and so is the ascendant, unless you count Ophiuchus).

I'm willing to keep an open mind because I have always found Capricorn suits me, and my astrology obsessed Cancer girlfriend refuses to believe I'm not a Capricorn because apparently we're perfect together.

So how am I supposed to believe my 'sun sign' has meaning when my 'sun sign' isn't even where the sun was?
gpt
I mean if your that close to Sag you'd probably have traits of both anyway.
human
I get what you're saying, but according to the dates normally used for Capricorn (Dec 21 - Jan 20), my birthday which is January 10th is actually closer to Aquarius. But on January 10th, on the year I was born, my ascendant and sun sign are both very plainly Sagittarius.

That's not just a little off, that is nearly a two sign difference.
gpt
axial procession, or the 'procession of the equinox' only effects the siddereal zodiac. The zodiacal signs are not the actual constellations we see in the sky, but are instead mathematically calculated lots of sorts which are based on the constellations. In western astrology, we use what is called the tropical zodiac which always casts the first degree of ares as being where the Sun is during the spring equinox, which is always on March 21st.

Admittedly I can't remember how the sidereal system defines the zodiac, but I do know that in their system it isn't fixed to a particular equinox like the tropical zodiac and so it drifts slowly by the course of centuries. Of course this was recognized by the ancient astrologers early on, and in fact it was intentional, so that if you thought the procession of the equinox should have an impact on interpretation, you have an interpretive system which accounts for it.

Hope this helps at least a little bit.
human
Helpful response, but I suppose I just don't get it.

Astrology is about assigning meaning to the position of the stellar objets in the sky based on their position. Sure, you can design charts to help you understand how things move, but how can you reconcile that wester astrology seems to 'believe in' their charts more than what is actually going on in the sky.

Someone can explain something like, 'to make it simpler, we choose a starting date and then sub-divide the whole year into twelve equal parts to make it even' and that's fine - but that isn't what is actually happening in the sky. The constellations are not all equal, the objets in the sky can spend a lot more/less time in certain signs than others.

Do you get what I mean?
If someone can direct me to a resource where they explain why western astrology organizes things the way they do, I would greatly appreciate that.

Seriously though, all you people here, did you know there is a good chance that your 'sun sign' according to wester astrology, the sign that the sun was aligned with during your birth - is not the constellation the sun was in fact actually aligned with during your birth?
It's not some complex mumbo-jumbo that is a matter of perspective, it's just plainly true.

Hope to hear from someone.
gpt
As someone who uses Tropical zodiac, it isn't the constellations that affect us. Tropical astro is based on the seasons. Aries is fiery because it's spring. Capricorn is heavy and cold because it's winter. Astrology is a symbolic metaphysical system. People to try to scientify it are going to fail. (Until maybe when our science gets a lot better)
There's lots of people who use the Sidereal zodiac which accounts for precession including both western and Indian Vedic astrologers if you want to go that route