WHAT ISTHEZODIAC?
The Zodiac is a circle of space surrounding theEarth. It may be imagined as a belt in the heavens about 15 degrees wide in whichthe planets travel. It is the Sun's apparent path, called the ecliptic. The zodiacalcircle is divided into twelve parts, each part containing 30 degrees of space calledthe Signs of the Zodiac. Thus a sign is a one-twelfth division of the zodiacal circleand is defined as containing 30 degrees of celestial longitude: 12 signs eachmeasuring 30 degrees constitute the circle of the zodiac or 360 degrees. In this circlethe planets travel each in its own orbit, one outlying beyond the other. The zodiac,then, is a circle divided into twelve signs through which the planets travel or transitfrom west to east, going through one sign after another in their order from Aries toPisces. Although the zodiac is generally referred to as a circle it is, in fact, elliptical.Each sign possesses a certain specific influence of its own. The motion of the Eartharound the Sun once a year causes the Sun to appear to pass through one of the 12signs each month. Its influence, according to location, determines not alone theseasons but the general nature and character of persons born at that time.The signs in order are:
•
Aries the Ram,Taurus the Bull,
•
Gemini the Twins,
•
Cancer the Crab,
•
Leo the Lion,
•
Virgo the Virgin,
•
Libra the Scales,
•
Scorpio the Scorpion,
•
Sagittarius the Archer,
•
Capricorn the Goat,
•
Aquarius the Water-Bearer, and
•
Pisces the Fishes.The signs of the zodiac do not correspond to the constellations of the same names,although the mythologies of the signs and the constellations are related.The word zodiac comes from the Greek zodiakos meaning a circle. It is oftenassumed that the connection is with animals (living creatures, from the Greek zoe"to live" and the English zoo.
However, the root meaning of zodiakos hasnothing to do with living creatures, but instead comes from the primitiveroot zoad, meaning a path or way or going by steps. In this connection, it is
Leave a Comment