Last Saturday, September 6, I took myself off to the Todmorden Astronomy Centre where I enjoyed a fascinating presentation on the subject of the many options for observing the celestial skies by a wonderful guy named Andy. It concluded with the opening of the observatory doors so that we could view the waxing moon through one of the fixed telescopes. (I would thoroughly recommend the experience to anyone as these free talks take place every Saturday evening. Their website is currently unavailable but information can be found here.)

The following day I took advantage of my membership of the local car-sharing scheme (POD) to drive up to Baitings Dam in the hope of witnessing the blood moon that was set to rise half an hour or so after the lunar eclipse which wasn't visible as it happened below the horizon. Unfortunately the clouded skies prevented any view whatsoever but back at my boat, two hours later, I was rewarded with a lovely view of the full moon rising over the canal between the trees.

Whilst tropical astrologers were talking about the Sun in Virgo opposite the Moon and Pisces those who bothered to look up at the sky, with the aid of apps such as Stellarium and Sky Map, would know that the sun was still in the constellation of Leo whilst the moon was in Aquarius hence my mission to address this issue by practising what I call astronomical astrology acknowledging the existence of a thirteenth zodiac sign on the ecliptic plane around the Earth:

Above is my initial idea for promoting the concept from which I noticed that placing the zodiac signs in their traditional order, i.e. starting with Aries, means that bang in the centre is the sign of Libra - the sign of the scales representing balance - which I thought was very appropriate. Tropical and sidereal astrologers have always respected each others perspective and this new emerging branch of astrology will in time hopefully be recognised as the missing link and may even eventually earn the respect of astronomers.

The fundamental difference is that whilst aspects between planets will remain the same it is the energy of the signs that they are in which will colour the interpretation. Astronomical astrology uses the actual size of each constellation rather than ascribing an equal thirty degrees to each thus most people will discover that some of their personal planets have changed signs which means a change of element (and modality) e.g. my Cancer sun (water/emotions) is actually in Gemini (air/thoughts) and my Aquarian moon (another air sign) is actually in down to earth Capricorn (earth/practical).

Whilst I love tropical chart I have to admit that my true sky chart offers a more accurate representation of my nature and I'm finding that clients are now also beginning to recognise and resonate with theirs.