The Moon and planets also lie within the ecliptic, and so are also within the constellations of the zodiac. In astrology, the zodiacal signs denote those signs which divide the ecliptic into twelve equal zones of celestial longitude. The zodiacal signs are contained in the band of a circle that surrounds the ecliptic path of our solar system. This band contains a group of constellations that represent twelve mythological figures. Although the signs of the astronomical zodiacal signs are of unequal length, astrology divides the band into twelve 30 degree segments beginning at 0 degrees Aries. Thus, the 12 zodiacal signs reflect the cycle of life, in which all of us have these zodiacal energies to some degree. This is because each of these signs falls within a particular house, and each of these zodiacal signs has a ruling planet that influences our chart.
It should be noted that western Astrology uses that point in space depicted by each zodiacal signs, established thousands of years ago, and not the actual present day astronomical constellation as the source of zodiacal energy. This signifies the main difference between eastern and western Astrology. Eastern Astrology takes account of the precession of the equinoxes, in which the zodiacal signs belt moves 30 degrees every 2000 years. This is also known as the Great Month period, and why we are entering the Age of Aquarius towards the end of the 20th century.
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It is believed that the zodiacal signs originated in Mesopotamia as early as 2000 BC when the ancient astronomers recorded the suns yearly journey across the celestial sphere. They associated dates with the constellations in this narrow belt, which is known as the zodiacal signs, assigning to each constellation of stars the dates when the sun was in the same region of the celestial sphere as the constellation. In astronomy, the zodiacal signs are the ring of constellations that lines the ecliptic.
It is believed that the zodiacal signs originated in Mesopotamia as early as 2000 BC when the ancient astronomers recorded the suns yearly journey across the celestial sphere. They associated dates with the constellations in this narrow belt, which is known as the zodiacal signs, assigning to each constellation of stars the dates when the sun was in the same region of the celestial sphere as the constellation. In astronomy, the zodiacal signs are the ring of constellations that lines the ecliptic.
