Today we are going to be discussing an argument against astrology that is frequently brought up. This argument is the existence of precession. What is it, and does it delegitimize the practice of astrology?
What is Precession?
Precession is a term used by both astronomers and astrologers that refers to “ the slow movement of the axis of a spinning body around another axis due to a torque (such as gravitational influence) acting to change the direction of the first axis. It is seen in the circle slowly traced out by the pole of a spinning gyroscope.” This is a seemingly complex idea that is quite simple, so I am going to break precession down for you to understand.
Precession and Earth’s Axis
As we all know, Earth is a rotating sphere in space that is tilted along an axis. Earth’s axis is marked by the North and South poles. Earth itself spins along its axis, making one full rotation in 24 hours – giving us the 24 hours in a day. Earth’s axis, however, also rotates, making one full rotation in ~ 365 days. This is what gives us the 365 days of the year.
Whereas the rotation of Earth gives us the 24 hours of the day, the rotation of the axis gives us the four seasons. The beginning of the 365-day rotation of Earth’s axis is marked by the Spring Equinox. When it has made it a quarter of the journey around the circle we experience the Summer Solstice. When it is halfway done we have the Autumnal Equinox. And finally, when it is three-quarters of the way around, we experience the Winter Solstice. Only to start back again at the Spring Equinox. Precession refers to the fact that Earth’s axis is slowly changing its starting location in space at the time of the Spring Equinox.
The Ecliptic and the Changing of Ages
Surrounding Earth there is an imaginary ring in space that astronomers and astrologers refer to as the ecliptic. The ecliptic is a region in space that goes 360* around the Earth and contains the 12 constellations that are included in the Zodiac (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, etc.). Earth’s axis, along with all of the planets in our solar system, orbit within the ecliptic plane. This means that at any given time, Earth’s axis is pointing towards one of the twelve Zodiacal constellations.
Every ~2,000 years, however, Earth’s axis changes which Zodiacal constellation it is pointing towards at the moment of the Spring Equinox. This means that every ~2,000 years the seasonal year begins in a different place in the Zodiac. This is what precession refers to.
The Ecliptic
If you have ever heard people talking about the Age of Aquarius or the Age of Pisces, this is what they are referring to. They are talking about precession and attributing ages to the changing location of Earth’s Axis within the Zodiac.
2,000 years ago, when the modern tropical Zodiac was established, it was the Age of Aries. This meant that for ~2,000 years, Earth’s axis was located in the sign of Aries during the Spring Equinox. This meant that Aries was the sign that “began” the seasonal year. This is why in the modern Zodiac that astrologers use, Aries is the first sign.
Now, 2,000 years later, we are in the Age of Pisces. This means that Earth’s axis is pointing towards the constellation of Pisces on the Spring Equinox, not Aries. Technically, it is Pisces that marks the beginning of the seasonal year in our present day.
Currently, we are approaching the tail-end of the Age of Pisces. Therefore, in about 400-500 years, Earth’s axis will have shifted again. And instead of being located in Pisces during the Spring Equinox, it will be located in the sign of Aquarius. This is what people are referring to when they speak of the approach of the Age of Aquarius. This process will continue again and again until the axis returns to Aries on the Spring Equinox in about 24,000 years. A full rotation of Earth’s axis through the Zodiac takes 26,000 years.
Precession and the Current Location of the Stars: Why Skeptics Use This as an Argument Against Astrology
The existence of precession means that the order by which the constellations appear in the tropical Zodiac does not align with the actual order in which they currently appear in the natural world. Currently, astrologers who go by the tropical zodiac use Aries as the first sign. Skeptics make a big deal out of this, however, because Aries is no longer the sign that physically marks the beginning of the seasonal year. Rather, it is Pisces that is the sign of the Spring Equinox.
The order of the modern Zodiac does not align with the actual location of the axis within the ecliptic during the Equinoxes and Solstices as it is today. This phenomenon is the result of precession. Scientists, astronomers, and general skeptics frequently use this as an argument against astrology without actually understanding astrology’s relationship with the constellations and the seasons. The general argument against astrology is:
“The order of the tropical zodiac does not align with the current location of the axis within constellations.”
“Astrology is based on the order of the constellations.”
“Therefore, astrology is false and cannot stand the test of time.”
This reasoning, however, is very flawed. Here I am going to explain why.
Astrology and the Seasons: Why Precession Cannot Be Used as an Argument Against Astrology
It is a common misconception that the practice of astrology is contingent upon the order of the constellations. This, however, is false. Astrology overlooks precession because its very framework is safe from the effects of precession. Astrology does not base itself on something unreliable like the order of the constellations within the seasonal year. Rather, astrology is based on something unchangeable. That thing is the existence of the seasonal year itself.
Astrology says that there are four seasons, marked by two Equinoxes and two Solstices. And, depending on a planetary body’s general location relative to the location of the axis during the Equinoxes and Solstices, conclusions can be made about the interpretation of that celestial body within an astrological framework.
In other words, saying that “Mercury is transiting through Aries” and “Mercury is transiting the part of the Ecliptic that houses the axis during the Spring Equinox” are the same. Just like saying “Mars is transiting through Capricorn” and “Mars is transiting the part of the Ecliptic that houses the axis during the Winter Solstice” are, again, the same thing.
The modern astrological framework is not contingent upon the current location of the constellations during the seasonal year. Rather, it is contingent upon a celestial body’s distance from the location of the axis during the four seasonal markers, the Equinoxes, and Solstices.
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