About this episode
In this episode I debunk the recurring media claim that your zodiac sign has changed by explaining the 2,000-year history of why western astrologers have deliberately used the tropical zodiac. Every few years, headlines circulate claiming that your zodiac sign has changed due to the precession of the equinoxes. Following a recent New York Times article making this claim, I decided to set the record straight. In this episode of The Astrology Podcast, I explain the history behind this recurring narrative and demonstrate why these claims are misleading. We'll explore the difference between the three zodiacs (constellational, sidereal, and tropical) and show how Western astrologers, starting with Claudius Ptolemy nearly 2,000 years ago, made a deliberate and conscious choice to use the tropical zodiac, which is aligned with the seasons, not the constellations. This is not a recent mistake or discovery; it's a foundational principle of the Western astrological tradition that has been understood for centuries by history's most prominent astrologers and astronomers. We will also touch on the issue of the so-called 13th sign, Ophiuchus, and why it doesn't apply to the system most Western astrologers use. My goal is to clarify the history so that you can better understand why your zodiac sign has not changed and feel more equipped to respond to these arguments. This is episode 509 of The Astrology Podcast. Timestamps 00:00:00 - Introduction00:00:23 - Recent New York Times Article00:00:52 - A Common Narrative That Goes Viral Every Few Years00:02:22 - The Five Main Talking Points in Anti-Astrology Articles00:02:54 - The Fundamental Problem & Rhetorical Goal of These Articles00:05:20 - Explaining the Three Zodiacs00:05:52 - The Origin of the Zodiac00:07:12 - The First Zodiac: The Constellational Zodiac00:08:22 - The Second Zodiac: The Sidereal Zodiac00:10:50 - The Foundation of Western Astrology in Hellenistic Egypt00:13:47 - How Planetary Rulers Were Assigned to Signs Based on the Seasons00:16:48 - The Third Zodiac: The Tropical Zodiac00:22:41 - The Discovery of Precession by Hipparchus00:23:56 - Ptolemy's Deliberate Choice to Use the Tropical Zodiac00:28:43 - The Source of Confusion: Using Constellation Names for Tropical Signs00:30:18 - How Ptolemy's Influence Cemented the Tropical Zodiac in the West00:32:34 - Historical Aside: Why Indian Astrology Uses the Sidereal Zodiac00:36:51 - Famous Astronomers Deliberately Used the Tropical Zodiac00:40:06 - Why the "Astrologers Made a Mistake" Argument is Flawed00:42:31 - Rebuttal: Your Zodiac Sign Has Not Changed00:43:29 - Rebuttal: The Ophiuchus "13th Sign" Argument00:44:41 - The Underlying Goal of Skeptical Articles00:50:43 - The Legitimate Internal Debate Among Astrologers00:51:51 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts00:53:32 - End cards Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KPfvsYPv9I - Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3: