the earth is round

[psyche]

Sorry if this question is dumb, but often when discussing astrology with non-believers I am challenged to explain certain things and this particuar question I didn't have the answer to.
His question or point was, in his reading of astrology he realized that they were using mathematical equations based on the earth being flat. He was wondering how the chart could be accurate if that were the case...
Thank you for all your help, I really appreciate this web-site.

Sara

[spaceodyssey]

Which equations precisely?

Kath.

[bluescorpio]

Funny, I've wondered the same thing myself many times. Does anyone here know?

[Aquamarine]

Hi Psyche... perhaps you may find helpful some information I was taught.

This may be a "leap" - but it sounds like what you are really refering to is the longstanding debate over what timing is being used when casting a Chart.

I was taught that yes, even though the ancients thought the Earth was flat, their Mathamatical Calculations for Astrology were based on the positioning of the Constellations, not the Geography of planet Earth.

For example, Sidereal Astrology uses the actual constellation positioning of the planets in any particular sign... lets use the Constellation of Aries as an example. Therefore, the beginning and the end of the Sign Aries are always at the same position because it's based on the Constellation Aries.

Tropical Astrology begins Aries at a different place each year because it follows the Vernal Equinox (the 1st day of Spring, when the Sun crosses the equator). Tropical Astrology was originated by a fellow named Ptolemy, an Astronomer/Astologer who lived in Egypt about 85 -165 a.d. - Ptolemy wrote Tetrabiblosis... kind of the main book which spawned Western-World thinking about Astrology (versus Eastern or Vedic Astrology).

At his time, the Vernal Equinox just happened to coincide with the beginning of the 1st degree of the constellation Aries!!! So, he erroneously concluded that the Vernal Equinox point ALWAYS marked the beginning of Aries.

The problem is, that now after 1800+ years, the Vernal equinox (when & where the Sun crosses the equator in the Spring) has been moving backwards through the Zodiac, so that the Vernal Equinox point now is actually at about 7 Degrees/Pisces!!! This is happening because not only is Planet Earth rotating around the Sun, but OUR WHOLE SOLAR SYSTEM is also in movement with relationship to the actual Constellations - a 25,000 year cycle (approx.)

So, Tropical Astrologers would argue that the logic is... that the first day of Spring (the Vernal Equinox) would "feel" like an Aries Energy and so the next 30 degrees would be the Sign Aries... and so on through the Zodiac. OK... makes sense.

Whereas Sidereal Astrologers would say No! - Calculate a Chart based on the Actual Constellational Positions. OK... makes sense also!

In either case, the actual geography of Earth was not necessary to know because as they looked at the Night Sky, there was always a Constellation of the Zodiac at the Asc., the Desc., the Mc & Ic....regardless of the "shape" of the Earth.

So, this Constellational positioning was the basis for their Mathamatical equations.

Phewwww.... that's probably more then you asked for... sorry... but the point being... it actually did not matter whether the Earth was flat or shaped like a pickle! - What mattered (and still does today to some extent) was defining the actual beginning & ending degrees of the Zodiac (each Sign) IN A WAY THAT WAS/IS REPRESENTATIVE OF HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS & PERSONALITY STRUCTURE AT THE TIME (since consciousness is an evolving force).

Best of Wishes in your Astrological Pursuits!:D