They are collectively called the zodiac and consist almost entirely of animal figures, like the ram (Aries), crab (Cancer) and lion (Leo). Over the course of a year, the Sun appears to pass through a belt of sky containing 12 ancient constellations, or groupings, of stars. The science of astronomy is now at odds with one of the basic organizing principles in astrology – the dates of the zodiac. But once Copernicus, Kepler and Galileo realized the planets orbit the Sun, rather than the Earth, and Newton discovered the physical laws behind their behavior, astrology and astronomy split, never to be reunited. It was intermingled with the science of astronomy back then – in fact, many astronomers of old made scientific observations that are valuable even today. The practice of astrology, which predicts one’s fate and fortune based on the positions of the Sun, Moon, stars and planets, dates back to ancient times. That’s probably why I appreciate so much the focus of Vedic astrology and that of my Hawaiian culture which attends to the Moon and her cycles for timing and sustainability.I was born a Capricorn (please don’t judge me), but the Sun was in the middle of Sagittarius when I was born.Īs a professor emeritus of astronomy, I am often asked about the difference between astrology and astronomy. As you wrote in one of those two posts Elsa, learning to find happiness when the Sun craves attention and applause at the same time that the Moon needs to duck-and-cover has for me been a lifetime journey. My Capricorn Moon (practical and solitary in the 12th House) needs and wants the stability of a cave. I appreciate juicy and value it has my aging Scorpio Sun placement, which has been tempered greatly with the 2.5 yrs of Saturn’s hammer. As character development is not static, I love that you include in your post today how Vedic Astrology focuses on the importance of the Moon’s influence rather than the Sun’s.īoth your posts flesh out the wholeness that makes for a juicier (and sometimes messy) life. Over time, that means more and different things. Your “Live your Sun, Satisfy your Moon” post from years earlier continues to be the most informative bits of astrology for me. Thanks to Horoscope Reader for the question.

Can you see how they work together? You may also like

You can get your Natal Chart Report here. To better understand this, don’t miss this post – Live Your Sun, Satisfy Your Moon This method has obvious limitations but when you’re trying to write for ALL Aries (or whatever sign) in the world, it’s the best method we’ve got. That is, the writer uses the sun sign as the rising sign as if they were one in the same. You’re told to read for your rising sign, because most horoscopes are written using a solar chart. Each life in it’s own way!Īs you can see, these things can’t be compared. People get confused due to the way horoscopes are written. It’s the same life force, see? But the life itself, unfolds. Later they might shine at work or in their marriage. To understand, just imagine a child, shining in first grade and then elementary school and then middle school and beyond.

The rising sign shows your first handshake. People who live their sun know that they are vitally alive and shining in the world. It describes your creative self and your vocation. I think I can sort it for you. The sun and the rising sign are completely different things.

Which of the two is more important?Ī lot of people are confused by this. How does one bring what’s in the charts together and make it work? I always read my rising sign monthly, along with my sun sign. When reading astrological reports, a person is usually referenced to her/his rising and or natal planets. Which is more important or are they equal? How important is reading “transits, charts, etc…” of your Rising sign, natal planets?

Sun sign v rising sign