Precession of the Vernal Equinox.

When Moses threw out the golden calf, he knew it was the end of the Taurus Age or the fourth age in our present great year. He instructed his followers to get rid of the bull, put lambs' blood on the doors, and place Rams' horns in the temples. By looking at the Master Calendar, the Mazzaroth, or the Zodiac in the heavens, anyone could see that it was the dawning of the Age of Aries the ram or lamb. It was the start of the fifth age in our current great year

Our Current Position in the Great Year

(Cross takes 25,920 years to make one turn through the twelve ages)

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Our astrological birth signs no longer coincide with the sun's location in the constellations of the Zodiac because of precession. Even the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn are now the Tropic of Taurus and the Tropic of Scorpio when we observe the sun on the solstices? Our astrologers and map makers neglected to update our present position in the cosmos for over 2,000 years. We are not the astrological birth signs the newspapers and a majority of the astrologers proclaim we are!

The North star (pole star) also changes with the precession of the equinoxes. The North star was Thuban (Alpha Draconis) when the Great Pyramid was constructed to align with true North. The descending passage of the Great Pyramid points to Thuban, the most accurately aligned pole star of all the North stars in the 25,800 (26920) -year cycle of our Earth.

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Comprehend that the word sphinx means to bind or close a circle tightly, and that the Great Sphinx binds Virgo and Leo in the Zodiac on the ceiling of the Portico — at Esna's Khnum Temple. The Great Sphinx marks the "Happy New Year" of our present Platonic year, and Leo was the first age in this great year. Listen when the Vatican informs us every Christmas Eve, when it reads the ancient Calens (calendar) from Rome, that it was the sixth age or the Piscean Age when Jesus, the fisherman, was born 2,000 years ago. Even the ancient Persians called Polaris the "turning point star" 5,000 years before it became our current pole star between the sixth and seventh ages.

At one time in history, the Vernal Equinox used to indicate New Year's Day in our annual calendar until Julius Caesar moved it to January 1 in 45 BC. The names of our months still reflect March as the first month of the year. In Latin, Septem is seven, Octo is eight, Novem is nine, and Decem is ten. This is why the name of an age is determined by where the sun is on the Vernal Equinox. The megalithic monuments like Stonehenge, Chichen Itza, and Casa Grande are all trying to find the Vernal Equinox or the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

The ancients refer to the coupled-ages of Pisces and Aquarius in the great year as the time for the FisherMan or Merman to return from the sea. The old legends say that he will teach the people how to heal and govern themselves. (See dream of the Fisherman)

Our scientists inform us that, in the great year, we are dawning into the Age of Aquarius and leaving the Piscean Age. When someone says, its the dawning of the Age of Aquarius, that is no different then someone saying, it is the beginning of the month of July. Only, ages are around 2,150 (2160) years long, while months are made up of approximately 30 days.

Every culture had their own personal system to begin the new year and all nations, except for the Essenes, used a lunar calender consisting of 13 months and between 354 and 364 days. Enter Julius Caesar. With the help of an initiate named Sosigenes, the first calender reformed occurred. Taking the year 47 BC, at which time our January 1st would have fallen on October 13, he inserted two new months of 33 and 34 days between November and December. Then, he added an intercalary period of 23 days near February for a total length of 445 days. Macrobius called this long year, the last year of confusion. Beginning the next year, he started a new year of 365 days with a leap year every fourth year of 366 days. Had he asked, or maybe Sosigenes told him, but he could not wait, the Ancient Wisdom would have told him to begin the new year at a new moon on an equinox or solstice.

Julius did get one-half of it right. In 45 BC, the new moon occurred 7 days after the December 24th solstice, so he made December to have 30 days, and began the new year 7 days later on what he called the calends of January. Of course, it would have been better to have waited until a new moon coincided with the winter solstice, but that is how the new year begins on January 1st. Caesar harmonized the seasons with the calender, so that winter was again under the signs of Capricorn and Aquarius, except for the precession which no one then would have noticed.

Now the Julian year had 12 months, to which he assigned 30 days to even months and 31 days to odd months, with the exception of February, which had 29 days. Not to be outdone by his father, for whom the month of July was named, Augustus later renamed August and stole one day from February to give himself a 31 day immortal honor. Since the Julian calendar is 11 minutes and 14 seconds longer than the tropical year of the seasons, by 1583 the year was about 10 days behind the seasons (one day in 128 years). Pope Gregory XIII introduced a reform to delete a leap year every century mark except the fourth.

The second change occurred at that famous Council of Nicea held in 325 AD by Constantine the Great. Then the good church fathers decreed that the months be forever fixed, so that on whatever day the vernal equinox occurred, it would arbitrarily be called March 21st and the remainder of the year to adjust accordingly. Since then, instead of the equinoctial point moving steadily thru one month to another to reflect the precession, the first day of spring and Aries is fixed and the months move slowly away backwards.

With the calender now adjusted for a fixed tropical year, we can look at the remainder of the great cycle upon which all occult time is reckoned. The actual rate of precession is equal to 1 degree every 72 years or according to Newcomb in 1925, 50.2610" per year. Therefore, at this precessional rate, the sun travels westward thru an entire sidereal zodiac house (30 degrees X 72) every 2,160 years.

The Numbers of the Platonic Year

Since ancient times, the natural constant of the movements of the point of sunrise, the intersection between equator and eclipse at equinox and solstice in one year was 50 ". In the equation:

1° = 60 '

60 ' = 3600 "

3600 / 50 = 72 (a)

a = 1 earth year

a = 50 "

72 earth years amount to one degree of the Zodiac. One Platonic day lasts 72 earth years. One Platonic month covers a period of 30 Platonic days, or 2160 earth years. Twelve Platonic months give the Platonic year, which lasts 360 x 72 = 25920 earth years. This system, already used in Chaldaeic astronomy, orientates itself by the numbers 6 and 12, out of which 72 is the product. Each Platonic month was related to one starsign, or Zodiac sign. The length of each of the twelve starsigns are different - they are not evenly spaced at 30-degrees each around the 360-degrees of the ecliptic path in the sky. Therefore, the real duration of time in each starsign is not usually equal to a Platonic month. Guenther Wachsmuth listed the duration times in a table:

(NOTE: I am showing this chart as an example, not that I agree with his final numbers as to what years the Ages begin and end)

Only the duration of Scorpio is identical with the length of the Platonic month. Seurig and Baumann came across such numbers again and again in their research into the constructions of the ancient builders.  

The World of Numbers of the Planets

Prehistoric constructors obviously had a knowledge of the planets that had been passed down to them from even more ancient times (see Otto Apelt's Translation of Plato's Timaeus, Leipzig 1919). With their help, the three-dimensional relationships were explained, while the Zodiac served to show the course of time.  The basis was the supposed agreement of the musical seven-step scale and the "seven" of the then-known planets, including the sun and moon.  From this interval, the equation 2 x 3 x 8 x 8 = 384 was determined.  Surprisingly, the distance between moon and Earth is 384,000 kilometers; the 384 in a relationship of 1 : 1000.  By using the Tetractys, the holy four-count of the Pythagorans, the multiple of it is seen in this pyramid:  

1
2        3
4              9
8                    27

The multiple of the ratio of the moon could then be used for the other planets. Apelt's work reveals this table:  

There are "problems" with figures in this table, such as the figures given for Venus, Mercury, and the sun, but Seurig and Baumann say it is not relevant to their investigations.  The numbers were used as ratios in prehistoric astronomy, similar to the numbers of the Zodiac.  

Now we have to deviate from the material presented from other places and insert various dreams and writings which point to the fact that we are already in the transition between Pisces to Aquarius.

A few days ago, I found a great connection in the quatrains of Nostradamus. It is in Century 4, Quatrains 28-33.

28  

When Venus will be covered by the sun,
under the splendour will be a hidden form
Mercury will have exposed them to the fire,
by a rumour of war will be affronted.

29

The hidden sun eclipsed by Mercury
will be placed only second in the heavens.
Hermes will be made the food of Vulcan
the sun will be seen pure, shining and golden.

30

More than eleven times the Moon will not want the Sun
both raised and lessened in degree.
Put so low that one will sew little gold;          
after famine and plague the secret will be discovered.

31

The moon, in the middle of the night over the high mountain
the young wise man alone with his brain has seen it
Invited by his disciples to become immortal
his eyes to the south, his hands on his breast, his body in the fire.

32

In those times and place that meat gives way to fish
the  common law will be made in opposition
The old order will hold strong, then removed from the scene
then all things common among friends put far behind

33

Jupiter joined more to Venus than to the Moon
appearing in a white fullness.
Venus hidden under the whiteness of Neptune
struck by Mars by the engraved wand.

This concerns the theories of alchemists about the sun (sulfur), the moon (salt), and Mercury (quicksilver). The glyphs on the corners of the triangle of Barbury Castle Crop Circle which appeared in 1991 are said to parallel these alchemical signs.

Their work involved the attempt to transmuting elements, such as lead into gold, and finding a substance that gave eternal life. This became centered on cinnabar, the Hell Fire Stone, which is the ore of mercury, sulfuric sulfide.

I believe it is symbolic of reaching the Trinity level of the Christ-Self, and eternal life.

The Age of Aquarius ...The New Age, refers to the Second Coming of Christ which occurs when one works to attain the Christ-Self Consciousness.

Another symbol of the New Age ... Aquarius - is the story of King Arthur returning which refers to the Second coming of the Christ. This is connected to the Grand Cross in the Sky when we have the Total Solar Eclipse on Aug. 11, 1999 which occurs at 11:11 a.m. in Cornwall, England.  More links about this and the King Arthur story are here: King Arthur and the Holy Grail

Nostradamus also said in C10, Q74 - "The year of the great seventh number accomplished, it will appear at the time of the games of slaughter, not far from the age of the great millennium, when the dead will come out of their graves." (this seems to be a metaphor about the death/rebirth of changing, transforming).

There were six steps on the ratchet/Mercury spiral of Barbury Castle Crop Circle. The angle from the center of the triangle to the southwest corner was at 120 degrees. From that point to the center of the ratchet, it was 108 degrees, a mythical/Gematrian number. 120 is a tetrahedral point. 120 x 108 = 12,960, six raised to the fourth power times ten, and half the precession number. Divided by the six arcs, it is 2,160, six to the third times ten, and the number of years in one Zodiac Age.

There was an additional clue in the date the pattern appeared, July 17, 1991. Read Genesis 8:4, where the Ark landed on the 17th day of the 7th month. Blavatsky tells how the Patriarchs represent Zodiac signs. For example, Judah is Leo. In Genesis 49:9, he is called a lion's welp, and he stoops down like a lion and lioness. (i. e., like a Sphinx). Noah is Pisces. These are strong clues that our Age is coming to an end, and Aquarius is near. (if not already begun). The Sphinx may well represent the same thing, that is, the Ages from Leo through Pisces, and the beginning of Aquarius.

About six months after I realized the number connection in Barbury Castle Crop Circle, a man at work told me a dream. He was in an airliner driven on a highway by a water treatment plant operator named, Andy. There was a detour because of construction. Then, he was with his boss, an engineer, and a woman. They were planning to install a new transformer at the water treatment plant, under a grill. The woman whispered something into the engineer's ear.

This is a form of the Trinity, I have found a number of times in dreams. It is the Triple Male Trinity with the combined consorts as the single feminine Deity, or First Power. Together, the make the Perfect Four. The (real life) boss's name in this dream translates to "the guardian of knowledge).

I asked if the dreamer knew which highway he was on. He said, yes, it was the highway that runs from Oakdale (California, about 20 miles from his home), toward Yosemite. That section of highway is where highways 120 and 108 RUN TOGETHER!

I had another dream in which I was helping disabled people to repair their lamps (the light of Second Coming of Christ) and the parts place was on 108th St.

Recently I had a dream in which the Old Woman (the Yuga in power) was going to be deposed and they wanted me to become the new goddess along with the Old Woman's two daughters.  The Triple goddess is representative of the consorts of the Triple Male which is also the Trinity.  I have had numerous dreams about the Triple goddesses and the Triple males within the last year. (1997-1998)

Another dream was one of the Old Woman who brought in her young grandchild and turned her over to me before she fell over dead and the little child was asked to name all the animals like Adam had in the Garden of Eden.  Another sign that a New Age was coming in.

At the same time, I and many other people have had numerous WATER DREAMS in which the water was either being spilled, or roaring up on shore of the ocean and a recent one in which I had to measure the rain which was beginning to fall in a fine mist but would ultimately accumulate to 71 inches. I had to quickly put up the tube that would measure that rain before it got any heavier.

This all leads me to believe the the transition has already begun of the transformation from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius.  One can see this from the numerous web sites about the New Consciousness which people are attaining and of the Awakening that is occurring all over the globe. Dreams which show the awakening of people are numerous as well.

With the coming of the Age of Aquarius, we will see a transition from the patriarchal institutions and religions to those which are run by the 'feminine principle' and influence which teach that free thinking, creativity, intuition, are foremost, and that the education and nurturing of the children and the enhancement of the quality of life for all people will be uppermost on the agenda.

The sign of Aquarius is two parallel lines of waves,     The meaning of this sign is "the dissolution of forms," it does not represent water as one might expect.  Aquarius is an air sign, and is the 'water bearer'.  The forms that may be dissolving under the influence of the patriarchal systems of government, church, and family.  The waves that are dissolving them are the figurative waters of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. This truth is on the airwaves, the waves of mass communication and the free press, which have made our globe, the Earth, into a village. The artificial barriers of nation, race, and creed, are breaking down, allowing individuals to see themselves as one flesh with all creation. The space flights of recent decades have enabled us to see 'from a distance' our whole planet as it really is with no fences, no barriers, no walls, no lines of demarcation between one or the other.

Our entire history has been steeped in Astrology from as far back as we can go in written language. The studies have been couched in symbolism over the years so that it could be practiced in safety outside of the patriarchal religions which attempted to wipe out everything that didn't conform to their power and authority.

In the Middle Ages during the time of Pisces which symbol was of two fishes going in opposite directions, the study of alchemy was not primarily the search for a metallurgic formula to turn lead into gold, but refer to the transmutation of a natural person into a spiritual person. The Gospel tenets are of service and sacrifice. The transformed person is often equated with wisdom, and the sacred form of holiness/wholeness.

With the coming of Aquarius, we will find that the institutions of the word will be reunited with the feminine counterpart which has been missing and this reunion results in the blessings of joy, and fertility of the union between the two, which will spread to family and community. The woundedness of the past will be healed and transformed.

The Astrological Background and Origin of New Age Spirituality

BACK TO AGE OF AQUARIUS

Some artwork and text excerpted from The Secrets of the Sphinx

KRYON: THE GRID IS STABILIZING
THE 2012 CONNECTION

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Sidereal Astrology

The Tropical and Sidereal Zodiaks
& The Cycle of Earth's Precessional Cross

by Nick Anthony Fiorenza

Copyright © 2001-2012 Nick Anthony Fiorenza, All Rights Reserved

Introduction

This article explores Earth's ~25,000-year precessional cycle; the ever changing relationship between the tropical and sidereal zodiacs; the astrological ages, the intercession of the Earth's Precessional Holy Cross; measurement of the precessional rate, and the Galactic Ayanamsa--reckoning of the sidereal zodiak based on the spherical geometry of Earth's precessional Cross.

Earth's Precession

Earth's polar axis precesses very slowly over a period of about 23,000 to 26,000 years. The term precession simply refers to a change in the direction of the axis of a rotating object. As this occurs, the pole of the Earth inscribes an arc in the heavens called the precessional arc. Earth's pole aligns with different pole stars throughout its precessional period. Polaris is Earth's current north-pole star. Earth's ~25,000-year precessional cycle is also referred to as "Earth's Great Year."

Precession of the Equinoxes

Because Earth's axis is tilted 23° 27' with respect the plane created by Earth's orbit around the Sun (the ecliptic plane), Earth's equatorial plane (green) is also tilted at this same angle with respect to the ecliptic plane (blue). These two intersecting planes (Earth's equatorial plane and the ecliptic plane) create an intersecting line in the ecliptic called the vernal axis. Looking from Earth, we see one point along this axis lying in one direction in the ecliptic, and the other lying in the opposite direction. One point is the location in the ecliptic where we see the sun on the March equinox. This location is the vernal point (VP). The other point is the location where the sun resides on the September equinox. This is the anti-vernal point.

As Earth's pole precesses, so to does Earth's equatorial plane and subsequently the vernal axis (moving in a counter-clockwise motion). Thus, the vernal axis (the vernal equinox points) move around the ecliptic at a rate of precession, which is currently measured to be about 1° in 72 years, making one complete cycle in about 23,000-26,000 years. The precessional movement of the vernal points is called the "Precession of the Equinoxes."

The Cause of Precession

Although this article is not about the "cause" of Earth's precession, it is appropriate to mention that Earth's precession is not fully understood and there is more than one hypothesis as to its cause. The simplest reason for Earth's precession, although an assumption, is the reason that is most commonly known. This model explains that the Earth's pole wobbles over a very long period of time, much like a rapidly spinning top's axis wobbles at a much slow rate than its spin. Another model is the "Binary Star Model" hypothesized by astrophysics researcher Walter Cruttenden; et. al. Although the reason for our Sun to move in a curved path may not be fully understood, and there may be unknown causes for it, he and his team hypothesize that the solar path's curvature is caused by a binary star model, where our sun and another sun orbit each other. Astronomer Glen W. Deen proposes a Ternary Star System (our sun with two other suns). Independent of the cause, the precession of Earth's pole and that of the vernal axis with respect to the stars still occurs.

Reference:

Walter Cruttenden's binary star hypothesis: binaryresearchinstitute.org

Glen W. Deen's ternary star system hypothesis: "The Time of Perihelion Passage and the Longitude of the Perihelion of Nemesis" Full article PDF

This article is not intended to favor or debate the cause of Earth's precession; it is about the precessional cycle itself; the relationship between the tropical and sidereal zodiaks; and the role of Earth's precession cycle in the evolution of human consciousness.

Precession of the Tropical Zodiak & the Astrological Ages

The vernal point is also the fiducial (reference point) for the tropical zodiak, defining 0° tropical Aries. Because the vernal point moves in the ecliptic, the entire set of signs comprising the tropical zodiak also moves with respect to the stars (and the sidereal zodiak), which remain fixed in their location in the heavens.

The location of the vernal point in the sidereal zodiak defines the current zodiakal age. The sidereal zodiak is a set of signs, much like the tropical signs, except they do not move in the ecliptic. The sidereal signs are aligned with their corresponding constellations. The tropical zodiak aligned with the fixed sidereal zodiak around 200 A.D. but has since drifted 25°; i.e. this was when zero degrees tropical Aries aligned with 0° sidereal Aries. The vernal point currently resides at about 5° sidereal Pisces as it slowly moves toward the sidereal sign of Aquarius--thus we are completing the age of Pisces. We will formally enter the age of Aquarius when the vernal point precesses to 0° Aquarius--in about 360 years (5° x 72 yrs) from now. The vernal point is also called the Birthplace, or the Office of the Christos (point of the sun/son/soul)--governing the timing of the re-birth of soul consciousness into the world.

The vernal point's arrival to 5° sidereal Pisces at this time in Earth's precessional cycle (circa 2000 A.D.) creates a primary event that supersedes the importance of changing zodiakal ages: this event is the formation of a perfect cross in the cycle of Earth's Precession of the equinoxes. The formation of this precessional cross is explained below.

The center (blue) ring in the above illustration is the sidereal zodiak. The signs of the sidereal zodiak align with their corresponding constellations and their stars. The sidereal zodiak does not move. It is referenced to the fixed stars in the heavens, or to the fixed and primary galactic equatorial axis in the ecliptic (the horizontal line). This axis is created by the intersection of the ecliptic plane and the galactic plane, which are tilted with respect to each other by 60°. The two nodes of this axis in the ecliptic are the “Galactic Equatorial Node” (GEN) at 5° sidereal Sagittarius, and the anti-GEN at 5° sidereal Gemini. They are also called the “Gate of God” and the “Gate of Man.”

The outer (violet) ring reveals the thirteen ecliptical constellations (not signs). This ring shows where the boundaries of the actual constellations cross the ecliptic. The constellation Virgo encompasses the largest length of the ecliptic (about 44°). The constellation Scorpio dips south of the ecliptic plane with only the Scorpion’s head lying upon the ecliptic–encompassing only about 6° of the ecliptic. Ophiuchus, the serpent holder, stands upon the Scorpion and crosses the ecliptic–thus creating the thirteenth ecliptical constellation (not sign).

The inner (green ring) is the tropical zodiak (at 2000 A.D.) The tropical zodiak moves around the ecliptic with respect to the fixed stars--with respect to the sidereal zodiak and to the constellations. It moves because 0° tropical Aries is referenced to the moving Vernal Point. The Vernal Point moves around the ecliptic at a rate of about 1° every 72 years (once around the ecliptic in Earth's ~25,000-year precessional cycle) due to Earth's precession. The tropical zodiak and its signs are not reference to the stars or actual constellations, the tropical signs are referenced to Earth's seasons (the Vernal Point is where the Sun resides in the ecliptic on the spring equinox, as experienced in the northern hemisphere). The signs of the tropical zodiak are currently miss-aligned with the true sidereal signs (and the energies of the actual stars and constellations) by ~25°, and they are drifting further and further apart due to Earth's precession.

Aldebaran, Eye of the Bull, and Antares, Heart of the Scorpion, mark the center of their respective sidereal signs: 15° sidereal Taurus and 15° sidereal Scorpio. The Babylonians referenced the sidereal zodiak by these stars. Aldebaran, Antares, Regulus (Heart of the Lion), and Fomalhaut are called the Four Royal Architects, giving structure and order to the Heavens. Regulus is Chief or King of the Four Royals. It is the only one of the four lying exactly on the ecliptic plane. Residing at 5° sidereal Leo, Regulus is also the only one aspecting the Galactic Equatorial axis. Regulus, or “the Rex” means the Law Giver–a clue to its astrological influence as the Heart of the Lion.

The Galactic Axis of Earth's Precessional Cross

Just as Earth is tilted with repspect to its orbit around the sun, so too is our solar system tilled with repspect to the the plane of our galaxy. The ecliptic plane is tilted about 60° to our galaxy's equatorial plane. This creates another intersecting line, one which remains stationary (relative to Earth's precessional period). This axis is called the galactic equatorial axis and it is the fixed axis of Earth's Precessional Cross. The primary reference point of this axis is the galactic equatorial node (GEN), which resides at 5° sidereal Sagittarius. This node is called the "Gate of God." Its opposite point, the anti-GEN, resides at 5° sidereal Gemini and it is called the "Gate of Man."

Earth's Precessional Cross

The changing relationship between these two axes ( the moving vernal axis and the fixed galactic axis) creates the "Cycle of Earth's Precessional Cross." As the vernal point (VP) moves around the ecliptic, it changes its geometric relationship to the fixed galactic equatorial node (GEN). The vernal point currently resides at the 3/4 point (270°) in its cycle, making the vernal axis exactly perpendicular to the galactic axis, thus creating a perfect cross in the ecliptic--the Erect Holy Cross. This exact precessional cross occurred in July of 1998. I generally round this date to 2000 A.D. to simplify discussion.

Intercession of Earth's Precessional Cross

I suggest the Cycle of Earth's Precessional Cross is the timepiece that drives the "Evolutionary Cycle of the Soul" collective on Earth-- revealing the unfoldment of human consciousness. We are just emerging from the last 12,000 years of temporal darkness, which began at the last (90°) erect cross (about 10,000 to 12,000 years ago), the time of separation from unified awareness--the time of the "Biblical Flood." The erect precessional cross occurring now (~2,000 A.D.) marks the time in our Great World Cycle where a re-unification in consciousness begins.

The erect cross occurring now creates a primary transition in the Cycle of Earth's Precessional Cross, in the "Evolutionary Cycle of the Soul." This event is far more significant than the changing of an astrological age; i.e., the four primary divisions of a circle referenced to the galactic equatorial axis supercede the 12-fold division of tropical zodiak reference to the 12-fold divisions of the sidereal zodiak.

See the "Earth's Precessional Holy Cross" section of this web site to learn more about this cycle and its ramifications for human consciousness.

The Sidereal and Tropical Relationship

Just as the tropical signs are referenced to the moving axis of Earth's Precessional Cross, the fixed sidereal signs are referenced to the fixed, galactic axis of Earth's Precessional Cross. Because of the precession of the equinoxes, the tropical signs continue to drift from the sidereal signs and further from the true star positions that characterize the signs to start with. Although the twelve divisions of both zodiakal systems are created by natural harmonics occurring in the ecliptic, they are harmonics referenced to different realms of consciousness. The RELATIONSHIP of the moving tropical zodiak with respect to the fixed sidereal zodiak reveals the nature of the relationship of incarnate personality consciousness with respect to the true soul level awareness--that is, where we are in the evolutionary unfoldment of human consciousness, in the Evolutionary Cycle of the Soul.

Why Two Zodiaks

First, we must realize that the wisdom of the true astrology of the ancients, as with other esoteric (Gnostic) wisdom, was transferred (taken) from Babylon, Caldia, and Egypt, and then it was eventually bastardized into a confused menagerie. This seems to have started with the dominating influence of Alexander the Great, king of Macedonia (336 to 323 B.C.), who catalyzed an amalgamation of Egyptian, Babylonian, and Greco-Roman thought into a new cultural expression in the 4th century B.C.; and later by Ptolemy.

Subduing Egypt during his conquerings and explorations, Alexander proclaimed himself Pharaoh in 332 B.C. while placating native priests at Memphis. He founded Alexandria, which was to become a primary intellectual center, and which was primarily Greek and Jewish. Here, miss-understood Egyptian mysteries and Greek philosophies merged into the "Mysteries of Serapis." This was the cultural emergence of esoteric teachings prominent throughout Alexandria's golden age. (Mysteries simply means esoteric teachings about life, not unfathomable or secret.) Also a center for Jewish learning, the Great Temple of Serapis is believed to be where the Old Testament was translated from Hebrew into Greek. Alexander's dominating influence in coastal Egypt and his further conquest of Baylon along with much of Asia Minor laid the foundations for the various religious factions of the Greco-Roman world. (Alexander attempted to create a master race through a genetic fusion of Macedonian men with Persian women--just one example of this megalomaniac's brutal conquests.)

Beginning with the death of Alexander in 323 B.C. and continuing through around 31 B.C., the Hellenistic Period gave birth to a diversity of esoteric philosophies and occult practices, all derived from the Egyptian and Babylonian mysteries. The cultural peak of this period, from 280 B.C. to 160 B.C., produced Euclid, Hipparchus, Eratosthenes, Dionysius and many other creative thinkers, who all expounded upon the cultural influence of Ancient Egypt. However, although this period carried forth some of the ancient esoteric teachings in a new intellectual language, it also produced a highly intellectualized amalgamate of confused ideas. The Hellenists bastardized Egypt's already cryptic and esoteric language into near total confusion because the majority of the Hellenistic culture did not have the perceptual awareness to comprehend matters of the soul, nor had they the capacity to intellectually comprehend Egypt's mythical picture language. Instead of grasping the language (astronomical mythical images as well as Egyptian hieroglyphics) from a soul perspective and realizing the transcendent wisdom of the evolutionary journey of the soul, the Greco-Romans attempted to translate this picture language from the perspective of the limited personality. This reduced Ancient Egypt's esoteric wisdom into a non-sensible confusion of men worshipping a pantheon of gods and stars. The dispersion of this confusion from Alexandria into Eastern Europe through the centuries ahead led to confused occult practices and perverted systems of belief that ran rampant throughout Eastern Europe at the time. The Roman Empire, Christianity and Byzantium, and their various sects--all derivations of the esoteric wisdom of Ancient Egypt--were the eventual result of this confused cultural fusion that originated in and migrated from Alexandria.

Prior to the early few centuries of the first millennia, planetary measurement was always referenced to the fixed stars (sidereal) as was the astrology of the ancients (Babylonia, etc). Astronomy and astrology were always one and the same until the Greco-Roman church-state astronomers began to record planetary ephemerides referenced to the moving vernal point rather than to the fixed stars, but ignoring that the vernal point moved with precessional, and while maintaining that all other heavenly bodies rotated around the Earth--a statement certainly affirming true egoic consciousness. (This was due in particular to Claudius Ptolemaeus (c. 90 - c. 168 AD) who was employed by the Greco-Roman controlling faction. Ptolemaeus was a mathematician, not a true astronomer. Some assert he never even looked into the heavens as an astronomer would look (Allen).) To say anything other than Earth was the center was heresy, so only those willing to sell out to the manipulative ploys of the church-state, and perpetuate the asserted geocentric dogma of western Christendom, stayed on the pay-role and kept their heads (actually, heretics were burned at the stake!). Here was planted the bastardization of true soul level astronomical astrology, and here began the Hellenistic, Ptolemaic, tropical astrology during an age of suppression, and which is still in vogue today.

This manipulation and bastardization of the true astrological artscience into tropical astrology also affirmed that people had a finite life at the end of which they would either be saved or punished depending if they followed the dictums of the controlling political-religious faction, thus squelching any desire for individuals to spiritually aspire and awaken to the greater truth that they were durative, continually evolving souls; parts of, not separate from a greater unified intelligence. The true and greater art-sciences including astronomical astrology, Pythagorean sacred geometry, harmonic math, and other such art-sciences, were forced underground until the later time of Nicolaus Copernicus in the 1500’s who finally triumphed in eradicating the perpetuated dogma that Earth was the center around which all other heavenly bodies rotated--the egoic head-trip of the Greco-Roman church-state. From here, others would follow: Tycho Brahe (1546-1601), Johann Bayer, and later yet, Johann Kepler (December 27, 1571 - November 15, 1630), who, in the early 1600’s, brought forth the truth of the occulted astronomical and mathematical wisdom based in harmonic resonance that had been long lost. Kepler's most famous book is "Harmonia Mundi" (Harmony of the Worlds). Kepler was a mathematician, astronomer AND astrologer (responsible for revealing the affect of many astrological aspects / harmonics). Kepler is sometimes referred to as "the first theoretical astrophysicist."

It is interesting to note that many of the religions of the world, as well as the perpetuation of "tropical astrology" are based on the confused mentalities common to the early first millennia. It is also interesting to consider that the perpetual use of tropical astrology today is an energetic that perpetuates a chasm in time that continues to widen at the rate of Earth's precession, one keeping the masses drifting in time-confusion rather than living in the present and truth that the true sidereal zodiak reveals.

Houses of the Sun - The Tropical Zodiak

As revealed in the recent and comprehensive work, "History of the Zodiac," an in-depth exploration of the origins of the Babylonian Zodiac and its location in the ecliptic, originally a Ph.D. thesis, by Dr. Robert Powell (now published in 2007), the division of the ecliptic into tropical astrological signs was originally a derivation of Euctemon's tropical Calendar of Seasons (432 B.C.); "...dividing the solar year into twelve equal months commencing with the vernal equinox, in which each solar (tropical) month is named after one the twelve signs..." (Powell). The tropical calendrical system (referenced from the vernal point) was merely used as an astronomical coordinate system for measuring time in the solar year, at or just after the time of Hipparchus. Astrological qualities were later attributed to the twelve calendar months (tropical signs) through the influence of Ptolemy, and the true (sidereal) zodiak, thus faded into obscurity. Unfortunately the term "signs" had replaced "months." The tropical calendar (tropical zodiac) was based upon the sun's declination above and below the earth's equator, not upon the sun's true ecliptical location amongst the stars. From an astrological perspective, I suggest the tropical signs should be called "Houses of the Sun," more aptly describing their true historical origin, as eloquently revealed in Robert Powell's work "History of the Zodiac" (Sophia Academic Press, San Rafael, California 2007) -- recomended reading for all astrologers and astronomers. https://sophiafoundation.org

The Galactic Ayanamsa: Reckoning of the Sidereal Zodiak

The exact location of the sidereal cusps in the ecliptic is a topic of debate amongst scholars since star and planetary placement started to be measured from the moving vernal point. The exact distance in arc degrees between 0° tropical Aries (the vernal point) and 0° sidereal Aries must therefor be calculated. This distance is called the "ayanamsa" (a Hindu word). There are several ayanamsas in vogue today, all varying slightly from one another. Most ayanamsas are reckoned to the stars, which also move although quite slowly relative to Earth time. The most common is the Fagan-Bradley Ayanamsa. It is reckoned to the star Spica in sidereal Virgo. The Fagan-Bradley Ayanamsa is 24° 44' 12" @ 2000 A.D. This means that on Jan 1, 2000, 00:00:00: GMT, the tropical zodiak has drifted backward from the fixed sidereal zodiak by 24° 44' 12" based upon the Fagan-Bradley Ayanamsa. This places the vernal point (0° tropical Aries) at 5° 15' 48" in sidereal Pisces. Other arguments adjust the sidereal signs such that Aldebaran's ecliptical longitude is exactly in the center of sidereal Taurus; or that of Antares in the center of sidereal Scorpio (those being two of the four royal architects (meaning: revealing structure in the heavens). Because they are both south of the ecliptic, it is thought by some that it makes more sense to use a star on the ecliptic plane (0° ecliptical latitude), such as Spica or Regulus, heart of the Lion. Regulus, for this reason, (near 5° sidereal Leo depending on which Ayanamsa you use) is considered the King or Chief of the four Royal stars (Regulus is from Rex, meaning law giver; i.e., defining order in the heavens).

The recent work of Robert Powell (2007) presents historical evidence
that the Babylonian Zodiac was referenced to the Aldebaran / Antares axis.

I prefer to reckon the sidereal zodiak to the galactic axis of Earth's Precessional Cross. This approach is based on the harmonic math and spherical geometry of the astrophysical spheres involved (specifically our solar system's current location and orientation (tilt) in our galaxy / the galactic equatorial axis / Gate of God), rather than on star locations as seen from Earth. The galactic equartorial axis is far more "fixed" than the stars as seen from Earth, which do move over longer periods of time. Therefor, I introduce the "Galactic Ayanamsa."

Now, before you loyal Fagan-Bradley astrologers (or any others) scoff, please understand I am placing astrological and astronomical precedence in the geometric relationship between the vernal axis and the galactic axis over the relationship of tropical and sidereal signs. The signs are merely harmonic divisions nesting within this far more embracing astrophysical geometry. The tropical signs are based upon the moving vernal axis of this underlying geometry and the sidereal signs are based upon fixed galactic axis--thus independent of constellations, which are imagery that has evolved and changed over time, and independent of stellar placement.

Consider that the fixed galactic equatorial axis relates more to our durative soul-level awareness, whereas the moving vernal axis reveals the current incarnational punctual moment (our daily tropical experience), precipitating from the durative soul stream (sidereal / soul experience).

Realizing the relevance of Earth's Precessional Cross geometry (the movement and geometric orientation of our Earth and Sun in our galaxy) places the signs (and our awareness) in the far greater context of our evolutionary sojourn as a stellar race of sentient souls.

Thus, the Galactic Ayanamsa is defined by the Galactic Equatorial Node (GEN) as being the prime fiducial of the sidereal zodiak; setting the GEN (Gate of God) to exactly 5° 00' 00" sidereal Sagittarius. The Galactic Ayanamsa is 25° 00' 00" for epoch 2000 A.D. Thus, 0° Tropical Aries resides at 5° 00' sidereal Pisces @ 2000 A.D.; i.e., the tropical zodiak has drifted from the fixed sidereal zodiak by 25° 00' 00" based upon the Galactic Ayanamsa.

The placement of the sidereal signs reckoned to the Galactic Equatorial Node (Galactic Ayanamsa) is quite close to the both the Fagan-Bradley reckoning (Spica) and the Babylonian reckoning (Aldebaran). Differences this small can become an academic argument only. However, various stars may lie on different sides of the sign cusps depending on which reckoning is used. Detailed exploration of the appropriate placement of cuspal stars is something I have explored using the Galactic reckoning, perhaps to be published at a later time. Another area where the exactness of sidereal sign cusps are of significance is when using sub-divisions of the signs (dwads, etc) where each sub-division is ruled by a specific sign. Using this astrological technique, the placement of a planet in a chart may cause it to cross a sub-cusp depending on the reckoning used. This is another interesting way to experientially explore the reckoning of the sidereal zodiak.

Due to the constantly moving vernal point (0° tropical Aries), the ayanamsa (any ayanamsa) is a dynamic figure, it therefor must be referenced to a specific time in the precessional cycle--generally this is 1950 or 2000 A.D. When converting a tropical chart to a sidereal chart, this precessional drift must be taken into account, especially if making a chart in the far distant past or future. Software programs generally take into account Earth's precessional drift and nutational variances when calculating a sidereal chart, but the sidereal astrologer must choose the ayanamsa of his or her choice. Star longitudes must be adjusted to the chosen ayanamsa if adding individual stars to an astrological chart. This is important due to the tight orb of stellar influence.

The following chart is a comparison of several of the more common ayanamsas.

* The Ayanamsa @ 2000 AD can be used to convert tropical longitudes to sidereal longitudes. For example if your Sun resides at 0° 00' 00" Aries (exactly on the vernal point) subtract 24° 44' 12" to get your sun's sidereal location using the Fagan-Bradley ayanamsa. Or subtract 25° 00' 00" to get your sun's sidereal location using the Galactic Ayanamsa.

A quick and simple shortcut to this is to add 5° and drop back a sign; i.e., if your tropical Ascendant is 9° 00' sidereal Pisces (add 5°, minus one sign). Your sidereal ASC is 14° 00' sidereal Aquarius. This is true for charts cast around 2000 AD. Remember, an ayanamsa changes over time at the rate of precession. The chart lists ayanamsa for two epcohs: 1950 and 2000 A.D.

** The Delta figure can be used to convert sidereal longitudes calculated with one ayanamsa to the Galactic Ayanamsa. For example, if you have a computer program that calculates your sun to be at 15° 03' sidereal Taurus (aligning with Aldebaran) using the Fagan-Bradley ayanamsa, you can subtract ~ 00° 16' (- 00° 15' 48") to get the Sun's location at 14° 47' using the Galactic Ayanamsa.

Precessional Time is NOT a Constant

To further compound the problem of zodiakal reckoning, we must recognize that the rate of Earth's precession is NOT a constant. It is accurate to say the last erect precessional cross had occurred exactly 180° degrees ago in the precessional cycle, but we can only estimate that to have been 9,000 to 13,000 years ago. The rate of precession may vary over long periods of time, or even oscillate around some harmonic ideal. There are many continuously changing astronomical factors that affect the rate of precession, not to mention the cause of the precessional of the equinoxes is not even clear. (Just as we can not pinpoint a date in the distant past is why I suggest man-made calendars made in antiquity fall short of being able to predict future evolutionary changes to a specific date.)

"The Great World Cycle," or "Earth's Great Year," as Earth's precessional cycle is sometimes called, is estimated to be between 22,000 and 26,000 solar years--often rounded to the latter figure. The 25,920 figure, often seen, is a natural harmonic ideal found in quantum math. Another quantum number of significance is 22,680, quite close to the 23,000 figure. These are all academic figures however: Earth's current rate of precession is calculated to be ~25,867 years, and it is slightly increasing. This is about 1° every ~71.85 years, or 0° 00' 50.26" per year.

Walter Cruttenden, in his binary star model, suggests our binary sun's average orbital period is 24,000 years, with it slowing to 22,000 years or less at the binary orbit's apoapsis and increasing to 26,000 years at its periapsis. This model appropriately recognizes an ever changing precessional rate.

Some Technical References on Precession & Earth Orientation:

REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
DIVISION I WORKING GROUP ON PRECESSION AND THE
ECLIPTIC - Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy (2006) (PDF)

IERS (International Earth Rotation & Reference System Service)
http://www.iers.org/

Earth Orientation Centre
http://hpiers.obspm.fr/eop-pc/

JPL Technical Report Server
http://trs-new.jpl.nasa.gov/dspace/handle/2014/6130

* * *

Related Material

The Heptanomis

Earth's ~25000-year polar precessional circle inscribed in the heavens, also called the polar arc, is naturally divided into seven evolutionary epochs called the Heptanomis--also referred to as the seven heavens, mansions, and the seven days of creation.

View the Heavens: Under the Stars

Getting to know the heavens: This link is to a star chart the heavens that shows the individual stars, constellations, and the sidereal signs. Visually learn how the stars and constellations interrelate and blend to create each sidereal sign. This is a wonderful tool for the novice or seasoned astrologer, for the astronomer, for the casual sky watcher, or simply for those who wish to know more of the Greater Heavens under which we live. The Sky Chart is also a wonderful reference for the material presented in each month's Lunar Planner. You can also see the celestial equator and the galactic equator, the contellations they pass through and their nodes.

Order Your Personalized Star Chart

This made to order star chart of the sidereal heavens shows where the planets and asteroids were at the time of YOUR birth.

Visually learn which stars conjoin your natal planets; and see where they reside in the constellations and sidereal signs.

Learn about your Horizon Plane, Meridian, and Prime Vertical, how these great circles create your Personal (Natal Cross), and how that cross nests upon Earth's Precessional Cross--all creating your personal sacred geometry.

This is your personal astronomy from which an astrology chart is derived. The great circles in this chart create your Ascendant, Descendant, Mid-heaven, Anti-Mid-heaven, Zenith, Nadir, East Point, and Vertex. Your Personalized Star Chart reveals exactly where these great circles and points lie in the heavens, and which stars and constellations they align with. This chart will provide insight into your greater self for years to come--and it prints as a beautiful high-resolution poster.

To learn more about the Personalized Star Chart, to order one, and to learn
about your Great Circles and Personal Points, visit Argo Navis Publications.

Precession of the Tropical Zodiak & the Astrological Ages

The vernal point is also the fiducial (reference point) for the tropical zodiak, defining 0° tropical Aries. Because the vernal point moves in the ecliptic, the entire set of signs comprising the tropical zodiak also moves with respect to the stars (and the sidereal zodiak), which remain fixed in their location in the heavens.

The location of the vernal point in the sidereal zodiak defines the current zodiakal age. The sidereal zodiak is a set of signs, much like the tropical signs, except they do not move in the ecliptic. The sidereal signs are aligned with their corresponding constellations. The tropical zodiak aligned with the fixed sidereal zodiak around 200 A.D. but has since drifted 25°; i.e. this was when zero degrees tropical Aries aligned with 0° sidereal Aries. The vernal point currently resides at about 5° sidereal Pisces as it slowly moves toward the sidereal sign of Aquarius--thus we are completing the age of Pisces. We will formally enter the age of Aquarius when the vernal point precesses to 0° Aquarius--in about 360 years (5° x 72 yrs) from now. The vernal point is also called the Birthplace, or the Office of the Christos (point of the sun/son/soul)--governing the timing of the re-birth of soul consciousness into the world.

The vernal point's arrival to 5° sidereal Pisces at this time in Earth's precessional cycle (circa 2000 A.D.) creates a primary event that supersedes the importance of changing zodiakal ages: this event is the formation of a perfect cross in the cycle of Earth's Precession of the equinoxes. The formation of this precessional cross is explained below.

The center (blue) ring in the above illustration is the sidereal zodiak. The signs of the sidereal zodiak align with their corresponding constellations and their stars. The sidereal zodiak does not move. It is referenced to the fixed stars in the heavens, or to the fixed and primary galactic equatorial axis in the ecliptic (the horizontal line). This axis is created by the intersection of the ecliptic plane and the galactic plane, which are tilted with respect to each other by 60°. The two nodes of this axis in the ecliptic are the “Galactic Equatorial Node” (GEN) at 5° sidereal Sagittarius, and the anti-GEN at 5° sidereal Gemini. They are also called the “Gate of God” and the “Gate of Man.”

The outer (violet) ring reveals the thirteen ecliptical constellations (not signs). This ring shows where the boundaries of the actual constellations cross the ecliptic. The constellation Virgo encompasses the largest length of the ecliptic (about 44°). The constellation Scorpio dips south of the ecliptic plane with only the Scorpion’s head lying upon the ecliptic–encompassing only about 6° of the ecliptic. Ophiuchus, the serpent holder, stands upon the Scorpion and crosses the ecliptic–thus creating the thirteenth ecliptical constellation (not sign).

The inner (green ring) is the tropical zodiak (at 2000 A.D.) The tropical zodiak moves around the ecliptic with respect to the fixed stars--with respect to the sidereal zodiak and to the constellations. It moves because 0° tropical Aries is referenced to the moving Vernal Point. The Vernal Point moves around the ecliptic at a rate of about 1° every 72 years (once around the ecliptic in Earth's ~25,000-year precessional cycle) due to Earth's precession. The tropical zodiak and its signs are not reference to the stars or actual constellations, the tropical signs are referenced to Earth's seasons (the Vernal Point is where the Sun resides in the ecliptic on the spring equinox, as experienced in the northern hemisphere). The signs of the tropical zodiak are currently miss-aligned with the true sidereal signs (and the energies of the actual stars and constellations) by ~25°, and they are drifting further and further apart due to Earth's precession.

http://www.lunarplanner.com/siderealastrology.html

In the 1970s the professor of the History of Science, Livio C. Stecchini, examined ancient Egyptian charts of the circumpolar constellations, showing the Hippopotamus (Draco) and the Thigh (Ursa Major or Great Bear) as well as a hawk-headed man, probably Horus, seen pointing a pole or spear at the head of the Bull [13].

 FIGURE 3

According to the Czechoslovakian Egyptologist Zybnek Zaba, the pole or spear held by the hawk-headed man indicated the meridian line passing through the north celestial pole. But Stecchini did not agree. He maintained that Zaba did not notice that the spear's head divided the seven stars of the Thigh (Big Bear) constellation into groups of three and four stars. This line defined by the spear, argued Stecchini, does not indicate the meridian passing through the north celestial pole at all, but the meridian passing through the pole of the ecliptic. According to Stecchini, the ancient Egyptians not only understood the precession of the equinoxes but also knew that the true meridian is the one passing through the pole of the ecliptic. Another point that seems to have escaped both Zaba and Stecchini, however, is the peculiar way the standing Hippopotamus holds a rope with its right hand that is attached to the lower end of the Thigh constellation. In my opinion the position of the 'right hand' seems very much to denote the actual position of the pole of the ecliptic onto which the Thigh (Great Bear) constellation seems to be 'moored' to or 'anchored' with a rope.

THE GREAT MOORING-POST OF THE SKY

There are many references to a mysterious object called the 'Great Mooring-post' in the Pyramid Texts, often found alongside passages that are clearly astronomical in character [14].

            "The Great Mooring post calls to you... you ascend here as a star, the Morning Star. He comes to you his father, he comes to you, O Geb; take his hand and let him sit on the great throne that he may join the two 'Hrmt' [?] of the sky. " PT 2014

            "The doors of the sky are open for you, the mourning-woman summons you as Isis, the Great Mooring-post calls to you as Nephtys, you have appeared upon the causeway..." PT 2232

It is clear that the 'Great Mooring-post' is somehow to be regarded as being associated to the sky ascent of Osiris, the form of the defunct king who is assisted by his sisters, Isis and Nephtys. Now it is well known that Osiris in his stellar form is the constellation of Orion. Not surprisingly, therefore, there are other references in the Pyramid Texts to the Great Mooring-post which appear in passages where Orion is specifically mentioned. For example:

            "O King, you are this great star, the companion of Orion, who traverses the sky with Orion, who navigates the Netherworld with Osiris... the Great Mooring-post cries out to you as to Osiris in his suffering." PT 882-4

            "The Great Mooring-post calls out, because you are he who stands and will never tire in the midst of Abydos [Osiris?]...Betake yourself to the waterway, fare upstream to the Thinite Nome, travel about Abydos, in this spirit form of yours which the gods commanded belongs to you, may a stairway to the netherworld be set up for you to the place where Orion is...” PT 1711-7

Orion, however, is not a circumpolar or even a northern constellation but very much a southern constellation. Oddly, there are other passages which associate the Great Mooring-post to the 'imperishable stars', the northern circumpolar stars that never 'die' i.e. never set [15]:

            "The doors of the sky are opened for you, the doors of the firmament are thrown open for you... the Mooring-post cries to you, the sun-folk call you, the Imperishable Stars wait on you..." PT 876

            "The Great Mooring-post calls to you... may you remove yourself upon your iron throne, may you cross the lake, may your face be [cleansed?] in the north of the sky..." PT 1012-6

It has long been accepted by Egyptologists that the imagined skyward ascent of the king's soul was either in the north of the sky among the 'Imperishable Stars' or in the south of the sky amongst the stars of Orion [16]. This specific belief is materialised in the Great Pyramid of Giza by the so-called star-shafts emanating from the King's Chamber, where one was targeted north to the circumpolar stars and the other targeted south to Orion [17]. In consideration of this, it is justified to wonder if the pyramids were not, in some symbolic way, 'moored' or 'anchored' not just to the circumpolar region of the sky in general but, more specifically, to the pole of the ecliptic, the true 'pole' of the sky?

 FIGURE 4

The shafts in the Great Pyramid: the southern shafts were directed to Orion's belt and Sirius; the northern shafts to the circumpolar constellations of Ursa Minor and Draco. The mythological counterparts are Orion-Osiris; Sirius-Isis; Ursa Minor-Upuaut/Horus; Draco-Hippopotamus Goddess.

THE SLOPE OF THE PYRAMIDS

It is well known that the monumental Pyramids of the Old Kingdom in Egypt, from the 4th Dynasty (c. 2500 BC) to the 6^th Dynasty (c.2100 BC), have slopes 52° +- 2°, with two notable exceptions being the two pyramids at Dashur, with the Red Pyramid having a slope of about 43° 22' and the Bent Pyramid having half its height at slope of 54° 27' and the top half at 43° 22'. Today there are still some 25 royal pyramids standing in the 25 kilometres strip of desert land adjacent to the west bank of the Nile Valley near modern Cairo. Most have their core masonry sufficiently intact to allow relatively accurate measurements of their slopes. A recent batch of slope measurements were provided by Jaromir Malek and John Baines in 1984 and Mark Lehner in 1997, of which 17 pyramids spanning from the 4th to the 6th Dynasties can by analysed. The first, a pyramid attributed to the relatively unknown pharaoh Huni of the 3rd Dynasty, is generally thought to have been 'converted' into a true, smooth-sloped pyramid by the founder of the 4th Dynasty, king Snefru, the father of Khufu, builder of the Great Pyramid at Giza. I have thus considered the Meidum pyramid as being part of the 4th Dynasty trend.

TABLE 2

Source: Atlas of Ancient Egypt by Jaromir Malek and John Baines (Adromeda Oxford 1984) and The Complete Pyramids by Mark Lehner (Thames and Hudson 1997).

No convincing explanation has, so far, been given as to why the Pyramid builders selected slopes of 52° +/- 2°. There are geometrical theories and also construction issues that have been proposed as an explanation in recent years, but none are very satisfactory. From Table 2, we can see that the angle of slope most often encountered is 53° 07' 48", which occurs in nearly 50% of the Old Kingdom pyramids. This range of angles, from 54.5° to 51.7°, as can be seen from Table 1 above, bears a conspicuous correlation to the range of angles of the pole of the ecliptic of 54.5° to 51.5° at upper culmination as seen from across the pyramid fields of the Old Kingdom. In consideration of this, it is very tempting to inquire whether the ancient builders could have incorporated the angle of the pole of the ecliptic in the design of their pyramids.

Let us examine this possibility.

A STAR RELIGION

There are many studies that show that the pyramid builders linked their religion, and consequently their pyramids, to the stars [18]. It is also known that the ancient pyramid builders observed the stars as they culminated at the meridian north and south. Special attention, too, was given to the rising of the stars in the east, especially at dawn. The dominant group of stars that have been identified from ancient Egyptian sources with certainty are Orion, Sirius and the circumpolar constellations of Draco, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. These circumpolar stars were perceived as being 'immortal' and 'indestructible' because they never rise or set but perpetually revolve in concentric circles around the north celestial pole. This led many Egyptologists to assert that the ancient Egyptians gave special attention to this region of the sky. At the very least, this all shows that the pyramid builders were avid observers of the rising and culmination of the stars, and most probably recorded their positions over long periods of time. It is also reasonable to assume that observations of the circumpolar stars might have been made while also observing simultaneously other stars rising in the east and still others simultaneously culminating in the south. The opinion is unanimous among Egyptologists and astronomers that the square bases of the Old Kingdom pyramids were deliberately made to face the four cardinal directions, in some cases with remarkably high precision. This, when coupled with the ancient builders' keen interest in the sky, would mean that the dominant alignments were an axis running east-west and another axis running north-south, forming an imaginary cross through the pyramid. The implications are, therefore, that the east-west axis served for the observation of the rising of celestial bodies in the east whereas the north-south axis served for the observation of the culmination of celestial bodies north and south at the meridian. Now, due-east defines the rising place of the equinoxes i.e. the positions occupied by the sun at the spring or autumn equinox. When an equinox is rising due-east on the horizon, the prime meridian or 'great circle' will loop directly above, passing through the north celestial pole and also through the pole of the ecliptic. Thus, by definition, the pole of the ecliptic is always on the prime meridian line when an equinox point is rising in the eastern horizon. However, the pole of the ecliptic will be at upper culmination at the meridian (about 53.5° altitude) only when the vernal point (spring equinox) is rising due-east. When this happens, all the main 'stations' (or 'colures') of the sky --the two equinoxes and the two solstices-- will be found in the four cardinal directions of the celestial landscape.

 FIGURE 5

An observer at Giza at epoch c. 10,500 BC. When the vernal point (VP) is on the rise due east, the prime meridian loops directly overhead and passes through the north celestial pole, the pole of the ecliptic and the star Zeta Orionis in Orion's belt.

Thus if the ancient pyramid builders had wished to design a symbolic representation of this very special moment in time when the sky can be truly said to be in perfect order around the pole of the ecliptic, they would have selected a time when Orion was sitting due-south at the same time as the pole of the ecliptic was sitting due-north and the vernal point was sitting due-east.

When was that time?

DEFINING THE 'BEGINNING' AND COSMIC ORDER OF THE WORLD

By using astronomical software to scan the epochs, we find, interestingly, that the only one time in human history when this arrangement could have happened was c. 10,500 BC. Even more interestingly is the fact that the architectural simulacra defined by the Giza necropolis appears to 'freeze' that moment in immutable stone monuments:

1.The central pyramid, with its slope of 53 07' 48' is less than 1 degree away from the upper culmination of the pole of the ecliptic. 

2.The three pyramids are set along the north-south 'colure' i.e. along the prime meridian of the sky. 

3.The general pattern of the three pyramids correlates with the general pattern of the three central stars of Orion i.e. Orion's belt. 

4.The vernal point is in alignment with the Great Sphinx as well as the constellation of Leo. 

 FIGURE 6

The sky in 10,500 BC of the Giza necropolis with mythological figures superimposed on the constellation of Leo and Orion.

This astronomical conjunction, which only occurs in c. 10,500 BC, does not, of course, mean that the monuments themselves were constructed in that remote epoch. What it does is suggest that the ancient pyramid builders of Giza wanted to define the 'beginning' and the cosmic order of the world in a grandiose architectural symbolic plan. It also adds more cogency to the argument that the ancient Egyptians not only observed and recorded the stars over vast periods of time, but that they were well-aware of the effects of Precession.

Notes:

[1] Nature, Volume 408, 16 November 2000 pp. 230-4

[2] See for example Jane B. Sellers, The Death of Gods in Ancient Egypt, Penguin 1992, p. 9. 

[3] R.A. Wells, Sothis and the Satet Temple on Elephantine: A Direct Connection, SAK 12, 1985; also BSAK 4, 1990 

[4] Preface to the 1964 edition of The Dawn of Astronomy, M.I.T. Press 1964. 

[5] Op.cit. J. B. Sellers 

[6] Ibid.

[7] Dr. Kate Spence, an Egyptologist from Cambridge University, remarked on several occasions recently to the British media that the ancient Egyptians were poor astronomers who could not have known of Precession ("They did not have a precise grasp of astronomy" Daily Mail 16.11.2000 p. 16; "Great Builders; No clue about Astronomy: Their building expertise is beyond doubt", but Spence said her findings show they were poor astronomers. "This does show they did not have a sophisticated observation of astronomy." London Reuter 16.11.2000) 

[8] The Orion Mystery, Heinemann 1994; Keeper of Genesis, Heinemann 1996 

[9] See Appendices 1 and 2 in The Orion Mystery. 

[10] L'Astrologie Grecque, Paris 1899 reprinted 1963; also Hamlet's Mill, D.R. Godine Publishers, Boston 1969, p.143, fn. 11. 

[11] Hamlet's Mill, p.239. 

[12] Peter Tompkins, Secrets of the Pyramid, Allen Lane, London 1973, p. 172-3. 

[13] Ibid. p.174. 

[14] See PT 794; 863; 872;884;1012; 1366; 1711; 2013; 2232; 2239]. 

[15] R.O. Faulkner, The King and the Star-Religion in the Pyramid Texts, J.N.E.S. xxv, 1966, pp.153-161.

[16] I.E.S. Edwards, The Pyramids of Egypt, Penguin, London 1993, p. 285. 

[17] E.C. Krupp, Echoes of the Ancient Skies, Oxford Univ. Press, 1983, p.102. 

[18] See The Orion Mystery.

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