The False Dichotomy of the “Tropical vs. Sidereal” Astrology Debate (Pt. 2)

For the first part of this post, see https://soulfigures.art/blogs/news/the-false-dichotomy-of-the-tropical-vs-sidereal-astrology-debate

 

Dismantling the second false dichotomy: Seasons & Reasons 

 

The idea that sidereal astrologers are zodiac purists while tropical astrologers adhere to the seasons is the other false dichotomy we need to address. First, no astrologer should ever be looking only to the zodiac or the earth’s rotations. The Earth is rotating while the Sun revolves. Any astrologer worth their salt will be looking at both of these paths of motion in concert to one another; a three-dimensional understanding of the rotation of the Earth (the equinoxes and solstices) and the revolutions of the Sun along the ecliptic. As Kenneth Bowser says, “If you ignore either the equatorial OR ecliptic system, you ignore half the chart.” This is true of either a sidereal or tropical astrologer - everyone, regardless of zodiac system, should be looking at the chart in three dimensions. 

Again, because tropical astrologers espouse the idea of Aries being aligned with the vernal equinox, it can be easy to walk away from many corners of the astrological interwebs with the impression that there are somehow two different “versions” of the equinox - the one that is subject to precession and has moved, and the one that has somehow stayed fixed at the cardinal points, somehow emphasizing the seasonal poles "more." As if there is a version of the vernal equinox somewhere where the equinox passes reliably through 0° Aries every spring - but there simply isn’t. As Bowser notes:

“The Sun rises in the constellation Pisces at the Northern Hemisphere Vernal Equinox actually, not symbolically" (1). (Emphasis mine.) Hence the whole "Age of Pisces." Whereas tropical astrology's identification of Aries at the vernal equinox is entirely symbolic. 

Have a look at the illustration of the ecliptic (the Sun’s annual revolution along the constellations - the black outer ring of the circle) and how it is intersected by the Earth’s wobble along its poles, thus creating axial tilt, or obliquity. The 23.4-23.6° difference between these two spheres is the number of degrees difference between your chart in tropical and sidereal astrology. This is a real, observable, measurable, widely agreed upon astronomical difference.

 

Image courtesy Astrodienst, Feb. 2025.

 

Have a look at the illustration of the ecliptic (the Sun’s annual revolution along the constellations - the black outer ring of the circle) and how it is intersected by the Earth’s wobble along its poles, thus creating axial tilt, or obliquity. The 23.4-23.6° difference between these two spheres is the number of degrees difference between your chart in tropical and sidereal astrology. This is a real, observable, measurable, widely agreed upon astronomical difference.

You might even encounter tropical astrologers saying that the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn are so named because of an astronomically consistent association of these points with the cardinal signs. But NASA continues to use those names (Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn) only because they are familiar carryovers from ancient times - when the Sun was in the constellations of Cancer during the June solstice and Capricorn during the Winter solstice. However, as with all other references to the zodiac, these points change due to precession. The Tropic of Capricorn is currently at 23.5° south; the Tropic of Cancer is at 23.5° North (3). So it is patently incorrect to conflate the classical use of these names with anything astronomically current. NASA, as you should probably know, has little interest in astrology and uses classical, mythological, and sometimes entirely made-up names for space objects and astronomical points. 

So, next time you hear someone say that Western tropical astrology is “more seasonal,” you can let them know that seasons also happen in sidereal astrology - about 23.5° from where tropical astrology insists the marking of the seasons (the equinoxes and solstices) occurs. And, let’s remember that while there are plenty of astrologers who focus overmuch on the signs, you should look for a deeper degree of nuance from your astrologer. You want someone who will look at the “three dimensional” picture of your chart, the relative motion of the Earth and the Sun and the subtle, invisible chart aspects that are not spit out by the average astrology app. 

 

Conclusion

In this two-part post, we have unearthed two false dichotomies that underscore many common misunderstandings about the difference between sidereal and tropical astrology.

 

The first misconception is the notion that the use of the tropical vs. sidereal zodiac is merely a cultural issue. In the first post, we showed that not only does sidereal astrology in fact have precedent in the West, a working knowledge of the precession of the equinoxes was used in the astrological and astronomical calculations of the ancient Babylonians, from whom came the origins of Western astrology.

 

The second misconception is the notion that sidereal astrology is "more interested in the zodiac" and tropical astrology is "more aligned with the seasons." In this post we have shown that, firstly, there are in fact seasons in sidereal astrology, and that, furthermore, no astrologer should ever be focusing only on one or the other of these two orientations to the sky. An holistic view of the birth chart (or of any horoscope or astrological event) takes into consideration both the ecliptic and equatorial planes of motion - the Earth's rotation on its axes and the Sun's revolution along the ecliptic. 

 

When you encounter this ongoing debate in the astrology interwebs, consider first that the origin of Western tropical astrology was based on a misunderstanding of the equinoxes in the first place. Thus, it follows that there would be later iterations of misunderstandings and misapplications of the concept of the equinoxes in the practice of Western tropical astrology, throughout history and into the modern era. Again, if one wants to use the tropical system and acknowledge it is symbolic only, there is nothing wrong with that. But astrology students and clients should steer clear of astrologers who try to use astronomy to rationalize a system that was founded on a misunderstanding of astronomy in the first place. If sidereal astrology is not your cup of tea, it is more honest to just say you prefer the familiar, symbolic system of Western tropical astrology, than to try to substantiate it with astronomy that is false. 

 

Cheers!

 

1. Bowser, “Cyril Fagan: The Sidereal Zodiac and the Astrological Ages, April 1969, https://www.westernsiderealastrology.com/fagan-april-1969). 
2. Image. "Ecliptic and Equator." Courtesy Astrodienst. 2025. 

3. Rosenberg, Matt. Thoughtco.com. "How the Tropics Got Their Names." https://www.thoughtco.com/tropic-of-cancer-tropic-of-capricorn-3976951. Updated Jan. 30, 2019. Accessed Feb 18. 2025.