What Is Sidereal Astrology?

Most of the horoscopes you see in the United States and Europe are based on the tropical system of astrology. However, there is another kind called true sidereal astrology. Both forms of astrology contain signs named after constellations.

The difference is the tropical system is based on a fixed astrological map of the stars as they were around 0 AD. The sidereal system is based on the current position of the constellations.

Over the years, the stars have slowly changed location relative to Earth, which means there is a twenty-four degree variance between the tropical system you are accustomed to using and the actual constellations. That means your sun sign is probably different in sidereal astrology than in tropical astrology.

According to sidereal astrology…

You are an Aries if you are born in between Apr 21 and May 12.

You are a Taurus if you are born between May 13 and Jun 19.

You are a Gemini if you are born in between Jun 20 and Jul 16.

You are a Cancer if you are born in between Jul 17 and Aug 6.

You are a Leo if you are born in between Aug 7 and Sep 14.

You are a Virgo if you are born in between Sep 15 and Nov 3.

You are a Libra if you are born in between Nov 4 and Nov 22.

You are a Scorpio if you are born in between Nov 23 and Dec 6.

You are a Ophiuchus if you are born in between Dec 7 and Dec 18.

You are a Sagittarius if you are born in between Dec 19 and Jan 19.

You are a Capricorn if you are born in between Jan 20 and Feb 13.

You are an Aquarius if you are born in between Feb 14 and Mar 9.

You are a Pisces if you are born in between Mar 10 and Apr 20.

If you are born within three days of another sign you are a blend of both signs.

Ancient cultures — like the Egyptians, Persians, Vedics, and Mayans — have always relied upon the sidereal system. They considered it more accurate since it is based on an actual link between the time of birth and the natural world as opposed to a theoretical position based on the seasons of the earth.

The Thirteenth Zodiac Sign

There are twelve signs in the tropical system. The sidereal system contains the same signs with the addition of Ophiuchus.

The constellation Ophiuchus is known as the serpent-bearer. It is represented as a man grasping a snake.

If you were born between December 7 and December 18, you fall under Ophiuchus. This means you are spirited, magnetic, curious, impulsive, and clever. You have a thirst for wisdom and knowledge. You have an excellent sense of humor.

However, you are jealous, secretive, single-minded, and have a horrible temper. The second you mistrust someone, you shut them out of your world forever. You are also an introvert and avoid situations where you are not in control.

The Traits Of Each Sidereal Sign

The remaining twelve zodiac signs are also found in the tropical system. Although their dates differ, the personality traits associated with each sign are similar.

Here is a rundown of each sign in case yours is different than what the tropical system led you to believe:

If you are an Aries, you are energetic, tenacious, and heroic. You are also impatient, combative, and aggressive.

If you are a Taurus, you are romantic, grounded, and supportive. You are also vain, possessive, and stubborn.

If you are a Gemini, you are adventurous, adaptable, and vibrant. You are also deceptive, distracted, and superficial.

If you are a Cancer, you are caring, helpful, and creative. You are also uncommunicative, hypersensitive, and defensive.

If you are a Leo, you are generous, entertaining, and warm. You are also arrogant, jealous, and blunt.

If you are a Virgo, you are practical, organized, and resourceful. You are also critical, reserved, and overwhelmed.

If you are a Libra, you are social, fair, and charming. You are also indecisive, manipulative, and unopinionated.

If you are a Scorpio, you are passionate, brave, and magnetic. You are also secretive, obsessive, and probing.

If you are a Sagittarius, you are optimistic, enthusiastic, and bold. You are also reckless, irresponsible, and overconfident.

If you are a Capricorn, you are responsible, ambitious, and hardworking. You are also unforgiving, pessimistic, and cold.

If you are an Aquarius, you are independent, open-minded, and inventive. You are also detached, irrational, and idealistic.

If you are a Pisces, you are comforting, sympathetic, and intuitive. You are also gullible, clingy, and self-pitying.

What Does A Sidereal Birth Chart Tell You?

There are three main components to any birth chart — houses, signs, and planets.

Houses represent the areas of life that are most important to you. For example, your house might be linked to matters relating to inner peace and connectedness. Or it might be linked to matters relating to transparency, healing, and the depth of life. 

Signs represent the qualities of your life. That could mean expressing yourself through creativity, playfulness, and sharing who you are with others. Or it could mean building a legacy through discipline, patience, and perseverance. 

Planets represent the transient experiences of your life and personality. For instance, Mercury relates to interactive learning. Mars relates to self-determined action. Saturn relates to developing structure.

When you look at your birth chart, you should also look at your sun, moon, ascendent, and chart ruler.

The sun and moon represent the fundamental elements of your personality. The sun represents your outwardly focused, expressive side. The moon represents your inwardly focused, reflective side.

Meanwhile, your ascendent represents the qualities you are developing as a result of your life experiences. Combined with your chart ruler, it tells you how your life is going to unfold and how your personality will develop based on your life experiences.

There are plenty of websites where you can type in your date of birth, time of birth, and location of birth in order to get a look at your own birth chart.

Should You Rely On Sidereal Astrology Or Tropical Astrology?

There is a heavy debate over whether the sidereal or tropical system is more accurate.

Even though the tropical system is more popular in Western areas of the world, Hindu astrology continues to use the sidereal system for their predictions.

However, there are problems with both systems. The tropical system is based on the seasons, which is problematic since they are flipped in the northern and southern hemispheres.

Meanwhile, in sidereal astrology, the constellations do not line up with the signs perfectly, so sidereal astrologers debate the starting point for the zodiac.

Everyone has a different opinion on whether tropical astrology or sidereal astrology is more accurate. You are free to follow whichever system makes the most sense to you.