Constellations
The figures in the sky in front of which Moon, Sun and planets move. In the biodynamic planting calendar the constellation behind the Moon determines the day type.
The constellations in the planting calendar
Behind the Moon there is always one of the constellations of the zodiac. In the biodynamic calendar this constellation decides the day type. The Moon moves on by a good 13 degrees a day on average and needs 27.32 days for one orbit through all the constellations, the sidereal month.
The constellations differ in width. Accordingly, the Moon stays in front of them for different lengths of time: a good day and a half in front of Cancer, more than three days in front of Virgo. This is why the day types are spread unevenly over the month. The constellations of the root days together cover a good 108 degrees, those of the flower days a good 75.
The constellations at a glance
| Constellation | Element | Day type | Width | Moon in front | Sun enters in 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | Warmth | Fruit | 24.7° | 1.9 days | 19 April |
| Taurus | Earth | Root | 36.7° | 2.8 days | 14 May |
| Gemini | Light | Flower | 27.8° | 2.1 days | 22 June |
| Cancer | Water | Leaf | 20.1° | 1.5 days | 21 July |
| Leo | Warmth | Fruit | 35.8° | 2.7 days | 11 August |
| Virgo | Earth | Root | 44.0° | 3.3 days | 17 September |
| Libra | Light | Flower | 23.2° | 1.8 days | 31 October |
| Scorpio | Water | Leaf | 25.2° | 1.9 days | 24 November |
| Sagittarius | Warmth | Fruit | 33.4° | 2.5 days | 18 December |
| Capricorn | Earth | Root | 27.8° | 2.1 days | 20 January |
| Aquarius | Light | Flower | 24.2° | 1.8 days | 16 February |
| Pisces | Water | Leaf | 37.0° | 2.8 days | 12 March |
Width measured along the ecliptic. “Moon in front” is the mean time the Moon stays; because the Moon moves faster at perigee than at apogee, it varies from month to month. Times for Central Europe.
Where the boundaries lie
The boundaries of the constellations were fixed by the International Astronomical Union in 1928, as lines along celestial coordinates. The calendar takes the points at which these boundaries cross the ecliptic. Dyyna shows the Moon’s change from one constellation to the next with its time, in the time zone of the garden.
Biodynamic practice assigns an element to each constellation: Warmth, Earth, Light or Water. The elements follow one another round the circle three times in the same order. How this gives root, leaf, flower and fruit days is explained under root day, leaf day, flower day, fruit day.
Sources
- Constellation, Wikipedia
Frequently asked questions about the constellations
How long does the Moon stay in a constellation?
A good two days on average, depending on the width between a day and a half in front of Cancer and a good three days in front of Virgo.
Which constellation of the zodiac is the largest?
Virgo, with almost 44 degrees along the ecliptic. The narrowest is Cancer with a good 20 degrees.
Why is the Sun not in the constellation on the familiar dates?
The dates from horoscopes belong to the zodiac signs. Today the Sun enters the constellation of the same name about a month later, and how long it stays depends on the constellation’s width.