At the time of Solstices and Equinoxes, I like to give a bit of a refresher course on how Tropical Astrology aligns with these Seasonal Points of the Year. Many Astrology books leave this out, and the result is that we have Astrologers who have learned Tropical Astrology without understanding its fundamental roots; The Tropical Year is all about the Equinoxes and Solstices. When you understand this, you understand why the seasons of the sun do not align with the constellations that they were named after, and you can allow yourself to see Tropical Astrology as less connected to the constellations and more connected to the earth and our experience of the seasons and the length of day and night. Then, when people ask you why the signs are not aligned with the planets in Tropical Astrology the way they are in Sidereal Astrology, you will be able to explain that it is because Tropical Astrology is not about the constellations - it is about the tilt of the earth and our subsequent seasons.
In the system of Tropical Astrology, we do not link the solar months (Astrological Seasons of the Sun) with stars or constellations. We mark the beginning of Astrological Seasons with the Solstices and Equinoxes - and then divide each season into three solar months.
In Tropical Astrology, each Astrological Season begins with either a Solstice or an Equinox, to which we give the designated point of Sun at 0° of a Cardinal Sign. Each Cardinal Sign marks the beginning of an Astrological Season. The middle of the Astrological Season holds the Fixed sign, and the end of an Astrological Season holds the Mutable sign. Thus, we have our Astrological Wheel of the Year with 12 Solar Months, divided into Four Astrological Seasons with three signs each. It does not matter what stars or constellations are aligned with the Sun at the beginning of each tropical season - because Tropical Astrology relates to these seasonal points in our earthly experience. In this system, Capricorn will always be the beginning of Winter in the Northern Hemisphere, regardless of the drift of constellations.
Please note, this is not an argument against Sidereal Astrology or systems that use Sidereal Astrology such as Vedic Astrology. These are ancient and wise systems of Astrology that have great value. Sidereal Astrology does take into account the sun's alignment with constellations for their solar seasons and I am not saying it is wrong to do this! I am explaining that Tropical Astrology is a completely different system and it would be unfair to claim that one is better than the other or that one is "right" and the other is wrong. I have encountered enough people learning and engaging with Tropical Astrology who don't fully understand how it differs from Sidereal, and my purpose here is to help those people understand the basis of the Tropical System. Now, when someone says to you, "But the moon isn't even next to the constellation of Capricorn today - my star app shows that it is in the constellation of Sagittarius right now, your astrology can't be right!" - you will have the knowledge and tools to explain to them that Tropical Astrology is not linked to the constellations and why.
This foundational understanding of Tropical Astrology will also help you understand why in Tropical Astrology there will always only be 12 signs. A 13th Sign does not work in this system, and claims of a 13th sign are always based on constellations; this very premise does not apply to Tropical Astrology.
Let's take a Look at the Tropical Astrological Calendar:
The Winter Solstice (Northern Hemisphere) Sun at 0° Capricorn (Tropical Astrology) Sun's ray's are more directly aimed at the Tropic of Capricorn. The Astrological Winter Quarter begins.
In Tropical Astrology, we align the beginning of Capricorn Season with the Winter Solstice - the longest night of the year and the time that the earth is tilted in such a way that the Northern Hemisphere is tipped farthest away from the sun, and the sun is more fully aligned with the Tropic of Capricorn - a line marking the midway point between the equator and the Antarctic Circle. At this time, the Southern Hemisphere is experiencing their Summer Solstice and their longest day, while the Northern Hemisphere is experiencing their Winter Solstice and their longest night.
From the point of Winter Solstice forward, the tilt of the earth will gradually and slowly change, tilting the southern hemisphere farther away from the sun and the northern hemisphere gradually tilting back towards the sun. There will be three Astrological Solar Months between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox - these are Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.
About three months after the Winter Solstice, the earth has tilted back into a more "Upright" position andthe sun's rays will be more aligned with the Equator, and the length of day and night in both hemispheres will be equal; this is the Spring Equinox.
At the date of the Spring Equinox, this is when Tropical Astrology marks the beginning of Aries Season - the sun is considered to be at 0° Aries and the Astrological Spring Quarter Begins.
The Spring Equinox (Northern Hemisphere) Sun at 0° Aries (Tropical Astrology) Sun's ray's are more directly aimed at the Equator. The Astrological Spring Quarter Begins
There will be three Astrological Solar Months between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice: Aries, Taurus, and Gemini.
After the Equinox, the tilt of the earth continues to gradually change, shifting to tilt the Northern Hemisphere towards the sun and the Southern Hemisphere away from it. In about three months after the Spring Equinox, the Northern Hemisphere will experience the Summer Solstice. This is the longest day of the year and the time that the earth is tilted in such a way that the Northern Hemisphere is tipped closest to the sun, and the sun is more fully aligned with the Tropic of Cancer - a line marking the midway point between the equator and the Arctic Circle. At this time, the Southern Hemisphere is experiencing their Winter Solstice and their shortest day, while the Northern Hemisphere is experiencing their Summer Solstice and their longest day.
In Tropical Astrology, we align the beginning of Cancer Season with the Summer Solstice. We will give the Sun the zodiac degree of 0 degrees Cancer (regardless of what constellation the sun is aligned with)
The Summer Solstice (Northern Hemisphere) Sun at 0° Cancer (Tropical Astrology) Sun's Ray's are most directly aimed at the Tropic of Cancer. The Astrological Summer Quarter Begins
The Astrological Summer quarter contains three solar months: Cancer, Leo, and Virgo.
From the point of the Summer Solstice, the tilt of the earth will gradually begin to it's tilt back towards a more upright position, where it will find its way back to another Equinox about three months after the Summer Solstice.
At the date of the Fall Equinox, this is when Tropical Astrology marks the beginning of Libra Season - the sun is considered to be at 0° Libra and the Astrological Fall Quarter Begins.
The Autumn Equinox (Northern Hemisphere) Sun at 0° Libra (Tropical Astrology) Sun's ray's are most directly aimed at the Equator. The Astrological Fall Quarter Begins
There will be three Astrological Solar Months in this quarter: Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius. Through this season, the tilt of the earth continues to change, bringing us back to another Winter Solstice and the cycle begins again.
So When is the Beginning of the Year?
In a Circular Wheel of Time, it is always hard to decide when the "beginning" is. When is the "New Year" when so many different cultures and religions celebrate it at different times? Our Western Calendar has the New Year at January 1, about a week and a half after the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemsiphere. Some people may choose to celebrate the Solstice itself as their New Year. Others may choose to celebrate New Year at Imbolc, or at the first New Moon after the Solstice. There are even some who celebrate the New Year at Samhain. Personally, I like to celebrate New beginnings all the time! The Equinoxes and Solstices mark Four distinct beginnings through the solar year - and the start of each season is a great time for us to celebrate a new start. And then we have a new start with the beginning of each Lunar Month at the New Moon, and a new start at the beginning of each new day when we wake up!
Neo-Pagan Sabbats
The concept of 8 Sabbats marking the Solar Festivals of the Year hasn't been uniformly celebrated by any one group in history until the modern era, but we can find historical reference marking celebrations close to these Solar Points of the year throughout many cultures and many times. Our modern day "Wheel of The Year" has combined the important seasonal points of Tropical Astrology with a variety of folk traditions and festivals found around the world (though primarily in European Folk Traditions). We know that some of the names of these seasons have been invented (or appropriated) in modern times and are not fully traditional names for these celebrations found in history, but these names nonetheless seem to have stuck and we can each choose whether to use these names or call them something else.
Whether or not you are bringing in traditions and folklore from these various traditions or not, you can still celebrate the Tropical Astrological dates as relevant and important if you wish to track the changing of seasons and the impact these changes have on your modern life.
For the Northern Hemisphere these astrological festivals are every six weeks and they are:
Winter Solstice - Sun at 0° Capricorn: The beginning of Astrological Winter, also known as Yule
Mid Winter - Sun a 15° Aquarius: The middle of Astrological Winter, also known as Imbolc
Spring Equinox - Sun at 0° Aries: The beginning of Astrological Spring, also known as Ostara
Mid-Spring - Sun at 15° Taurus: The middle of Astrological Spring, also known as Beltane
Summer Solstice - Sun at 0° Cancer: The beginning of Astrological Summer, also known as Litha
Mid-Summer - Sun at 15° Leo: The middle of Astrological Summer, also known as Lammas
Fall Equinox - Sun a 0° Libra: The beginning of Astrological Fall, also known as Mabon
Mid-Autumn - Sun at 15° Scorpio: The middle of Astrological Fall, also known as Samhain
I made this graphic below for stuy notes within my own neo pagan magical tradition - certain parts might not apply to your practice but it is another way of viewing the Astrological Year - a Light Half and a Dark Half. Again, these apply to the Northern Hemisphere.
Notice that the Quarters are the Solstice and Equinox points, celebrated at the beginning of a Cardinal month, and Cross-Quarters are the middle of a season, celebrated in the middle of a Fixed month.
Also notice how the celebrations can be seen as pairs - each six months apart;
Yule & Litha (Winter Solstice and Summer Solstice) Capricorn & Cancer - Cardinal Signs, six months apart
Imbolc & Lammas (Mid Winter and Mid Summer) Aquarius & Leo - Fixed Signs, six months apart
Ostara & Mabon (Spring Equinix and Fall Equinox) Aries & Libra - Cardinal Signs, six months apart
Beltane & Samhain (Mid Spring and Mid Fall) Taurus & Scorpio - Fixed Signs, six months apart
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I hope you find this helpful in understanding Tropical Astrology and the seasonal celebrations of the Wheel of The Year!
May you find many blessings in the next turn of the wheel, and many reasons to celebrate!