A More Reasonable and Complete History of Astrology and the Zodiac

  1. Oldest Known Forms of Astrology Siderealists assert that the earliest form of the zodiac was sidereal, and it later became tropical. The measure of any account of history is how well it accounts for all the available fact. The siderealist interpretation of history does not take into account all the historical facts we…

Evolution of the Zodiac

Why does India use a sidereal zodiac, even though their source texts define the zodiac tropically? I will present an answer to this question, explained in the context of the historical evolution of astrology and the zodiac over 6,000 years and about half-a-dozen cultures. Historical Evolution of the Zodiac The ancient cultures of Kali-yuga –…

The Historical Argument for a Sidereal Zodiac

Sidereal Origins If we survey ancient astrological cultures across the world, we find that they all had sidereal (“stellar”) frameworks, observing planet’s motions with respect to the stars.  For example, the Egyptians had 36; the Chinese and Vedic, 28; and the Babylonians, 18 important astrological constellations. Most scholars propose that the zodiac we use today evolved…

Dr. Foss’ Article Against Rashi / Nakshatra Independence, Part 2

Dr. Foss Edited his article after my critique (Andrew Foss’ Attempt to Debunk the Tropical Zodiac). Here are the new portions with my critique: “Why are the fire signs associated with Dharma, the earth with Artha, etc.? “ I answer this question in the first class in my 102 course on the signs. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XnnAc4b2Ss….

Andrew Foss’ Attempt to Debunk the Tropical Zodiac

Dr. Andrew Foss wrote an article appearing in the March 2017 edition of Gocara, the Journal of BAVA (British Association of Vedic Astrology) in which he attempts to debunk the use of a tropical zodiac in Vedic astrology. The complete article is here: http://www.vedicsoftware.com/zodiacs1.php. I will quote relevant portions and reply directly. He writes: In…

Review of PVR Narasimha Rao’s Article on the Topical / Sidereal Zodiacs and Pushya Paksha Ayanamsha

On request, here is my review of PVR Narasimha Rao’s Article on the Topical / Sidereal Zodiacs and Pushya Paksha Ayanamsha. It seems to me that the article mainly intends to publish his thoughts about the correct sidereal ayanāṁśā. But he begins with a section entitled “Tropical vs. Sidereal Zodiacs.” His Statements on the Tropical…

Confused About “Vedic” Astrology?

Question 1: Lately I can’t get past the fact that you pointed out: Vedic astrology was originally just time keeping for Vedic rituals. So, does that mean that we aren’t really even using astrology correctly, with all this psychological or predictive stuff attached to it?   Keeping track of time means keeping track of cause and effect, because…

Vedic Astrology vs. Vedic Astrology

QUESTION: So if I am understanding correctly, you calculate the signs using tropical astro and nakshatras using Vedic? “Vedic” means “belonging to the Veda,” it doesn’t mean “sidereal.”  I calculate as I have understood the Sūrya Siddhānta and Vedic Purāṇa: tropical for signs and with ayanāṁśa for the sidereal nakṣatra. QUESTION: How is puranic or…

Sidereal or Tropical Transits?

Let’s say someone has Saturn at 13º Taurus. If we change this to a sidereal coordinate it would be about 20º Aries.  This shows that 13º Taurus tropical is the same place as 20ºAries sidereal. Saturn does not change its position, only our way of describing that position changes. So, let’s say, on a certain date…

Astro Q&A #3! Guitars, Mars, Playas, Reincarnation, Sideropicals, and Dasha

Question: [Ryan Kurczak] I’m a Virgo ascendant. Am I more inclined to play a Les Paul or a Strat? or a Danelectro DC? Since the outstanding traits of Virgo are practical organization and prudent commerce, I would say first that you would pick the more articulate, symmetrical, and lightly balanced of the guitars. So I would say Danelectro…