dadsnook2000
The Sun defines much of Astrology's format and structure. The Sun, along with its relationship to the Earth, defines our daily cycle and our seasonal cycle. We will explore some of these aspects as part of our understanding of the Sun's role in astrology.
The Earth's daily rotation brings the Sun into our daily experience, warming us and bringing light to plant, work and (long ago, especially) hunt for food. The loss of the Sun over the western horizon each day gave us pause to think about our day and to wonder about the next day. Recognizing that some days in the year were longer and others shorter, we sought to measure the difference. This was one of the factors that helped us to invent time in terms of hours and portions of hours.
The seasons of the year are set by the Sun-Earth relationship. And the sub-sections of that year were/are equated to the warming-cooling cycle, the activities that take place during the various seasons. A fined-tuned manner for splitting the seasons into increments that could be measured was based on the rising of specific Fixed Stars during the year. Now, we had a conflict. We could measure the seasons based on when the Equinox occured each spring -- or we could measure the seasons based on the Fixed Stars as a reference. We had a Tropical Zodiac (Seasonal reference) and a Sidereal Zodiac (another type of seasonal reference). With that, we gained a deeper understanding of orbital mechanics and mathematics and of time measurement. From the Sun we have learned much.
So, which zodiac is right -- the Tropical or Sidereal? What makes either/any zodiac work? Every cycle has three things to define it: The starting point from which we can mark or measure the cycle, the length of the cycle, and the integrity of the continuing cyclic structure. If the starting point of the cycle is called "Aries" and if the cycle repeats (as it does), then it has to have a logical sequence that is both "whole" and also leads back to the starting "Aries" point. The flow of the cycle is what gives it meaning, not the eight or ten or twelve or fifteen arbitrary divisions we assign to the cycle.
So, which zodiac is right? They both are. The Tropical zodiac, measured by the seasons and based on the Equinox as the start of "Aries" is a physical zodiac of experience and cultural activity. The Sidereal zodiac, measured in relationship to the fixed stars, is a connection to the universe, a spiritual path of growing thru events as part of the human condition. We won't discuss zodiac's more until some time has passed.
Given the logical progression of the seasonal cycle, whatever segments we use to mark portions of the cycle will take on an orderly meaning that reflects life. We have to consider this because the Sun defines the seasons for us and gives the progression of the seasons their meaning. We have spring and increasing warmth for growth and planting, we have summer and continued warmth for growing, we have the fall period for harvesting, the winter for rest and replenishment. The question is, "How do we seperate the Sun from the Zodiac Signs?"
The Sun is very powerful as an astrological symbol. It is itself. It really doesn't care much about the other astrological bodies as it goes about the process of expressing itself. It is ego, it is self-centered and focused, it is demanding and comanding, it integrates any planets it comes into aspect with but it always seeks the dominate role. It lends other bodies power and light. It brings the functions of other planets into focus and sharpens our awareness of them. We attribute "male" qualities to the Sun, perhaps due to the fact that the Moon is so obviously "female" in nature. We humans love polarity -- even if we have to invent it where it is not existant.
So, the Sun's key words can include Power, Focus, Determination, Maleness, Awareness, Authority (our or others), Recognition. But its primary function is that of integration of other planet's meanings into its own primal force. The Sun is Primal. Like Mars, the Sun seems to know no bounds or refinement, it just "is." It is self expression through signs, houses, aspects. Other than the functions given earlier as key words, the Sun can take on expressions of the planets it aspects. The Sun itself is not personality, it is ones basic idea of "self" and "self interests." It is a core identity but it is not all of our identity. It is the force and fierceness of life and living, the urge to be, to expand our own space and well-being, to luxurate in health and enjoyment.
The Sun isn't easy to pin down. It is so wrapped up in many parts of astrology that it is hard to strip its true identity out from all of the excess baggage, wrongly thought out, and overlapping concepts that we wrap it in. So, your thoughts and feedback are invited.
We need to consider the Sun and its role before we can go back to the Moon and its relationship to the Sun -- something which is both extensive as well as being critical to understanding our charts. Dave.
The Earth's daily rotation brings the Sun into our daily experience, warming us and bringing light to plant, work and (long ago, especially) hunt for food. The loss of the Sun over the western horizon each day gave us pause to think about our day and to wonder about the next day. Recognizing that some days in the year were longer and others shorter, we sought to measure the difference. This was one of the factors that helped us to invent time in terms of hours and portions of hours.
The seasons of the year are set by the Sun-Earth relationship. And the sub-sections of that year were/are equated to the warming-cooling cycle, the activities that take place during the various seasons. A fined-tuned manner for splitting the seasons into increments that could be measured was based on the rising of specific Fixed Stars during the year. Now, we had a conflict. We could measure the seasons based on when the Equinox occured each spring -- or we could measure the seasons based on the Fixed Stars as a reference. We had a Tropical Zodiac (Seasonal reference) and a Sidereal Zodiac (another type of seasonal reference). With that, we gained a deeper understanding of orbital mechanics and mathematics and of time measurement. From the Sun we have learned much.
So, which zodiac is right -- the Tropical or Sidereal? What makes either/any zodiac work? Every cycle has three things to define it: The starting point from which we can mark or measure the cycle, the length of the cycle, and the integrity of the continuing cyclic structure. If the starting point of the cycle is called "Aries" and if the cycle repeats (as it does), then it has to have a logical sequence that is both "whole" and also leads back to the starting "Aries" point. The flow of the cycle is what gives it meaning, not the eight or ten or twelve or fifteen arbitrary divisions we assign to the cycle.
So, which zodiac is right? They both are. The Tropical zodiac, measured by the seasons and based on the Equinox as the start of "Aries" is a physical zodiac of experience and cultural activity. The Sidereal zodiac, measured in relationship to the fixed stars, is a connection to the universe, a spiritual path of growing thru events as part of the human condition. We won't discuss zodiac's more until some time has passed.
Given the logical progression of the seasonal cycle, whatever segments we use to mark portions of the cycle will take on an orderly meaning that reflects life. We have to consider this because the Sun defines the seasons for us and gives the progression of the seasons their meaning. We have spring and increasing warmth for growth and planting, we have summer and continued warmth for growing, we have the fall period for harvesting, the winter for rest and replenishment. The question is, "How do we seperate the Sun from the Zodiac Signs?"
The Sun is very powerful as an astrological symbol. It is itself. It really doesn't care much about the other astrological bodies as it goes about the process of expressing itself. It is ego, it is self-centered and focused, it is demanding and comanding, it integrates any planets it comes into aspect with but it always seeks the dominate role. It lends other bodies power and light. It brings the functions of other planets into focus and sharpens our awareness of them. We attribute "male" qualities to the Sun, perhaps due to the fact that the Moon is so obviously "female" in nature. We humans love polarity -- even if we have to invent it where it is not existant.
So, the Sun's key words can include Power, Focus, Determination, Maleness, Awareness, Authority (our or others), Recognition. But its primary function is that of integration of other planet's meanings into its own primal force. The Sun is Primal. Like Mars, the Sun seems to know no bounds or refinement, it just "is." It is self expression through signs, houses, aspects. Other than the functions given earlier as key words, the Sun can take on expressions of the planets it aspects. The Sun itself is not personality, it is ones basic idea of "self" and "self interests." It is a core identity but it is not all of our identity. It is the force and fierceness of life and living, the urge to be, to expand our own space and well-being, to luxurate in health and enjoyment.
The Sun isn't easy to pin down. It is so wrapped up in many parts of astrology that it is hard to strip its true identity out from all of the excess baggage, wrongly thought out, and overlapping concepts that we wrap it in. So, your thoughts and feedback are invited.
We need to consider the Sun and its role before we can go back to the Moon and its relationship to the Sun -- something which is both extensive as well as being critical to understanding our charts. Dave.