The Zodiac
The zodiac I use in heliocentric astrology is tropical and the coordinate system is the ecliptic.
There are many reasons for my choice of the tropical zodiac over a sidereal one.
One main reason is empirical evidence which supports both psychological delineations and the method of forecasting using sign rulerships (dispositors).
The other main reason is theoretical: although this system of astrology is Sun centred, it must retain a strong connection to our planet in order for it to be of particular use for us: a chart we cast for a birth on our planet should be different from a chart cast for a birth say on Mars.
The first link to our planet is the use of the ecliptic as reference frame, as the ecliptic is the Earth's path (orbit) around the Sun.
This however would not be sufficient to distinguish a chart cast for Earth compared to a chart cast for Venus for example: in a sidereal framework they would look much the same.
A second, much stronger, reference to the Earth is obtained if we not only consider the Earth's orbit around the Sun, but we also consider the tilt of the Earth's rotation axis: the intersections of the rotation plane (equator) with the ecliptic mark the equinoxes, which define the tropical zodiac. The tropical zodiac therefore is the best option for heliocentric astrology linked to the Earth.
The rulerships of the planets over the signs are according to tradition, with one notable exception: the signs Cancer and Leo share the Earth as their ruling planet:
Sign Planet
Uranus, Neptune and Pluto do not rule over any particular sign.
Copyright Ó 2006 Maddalena Cecchinato
