Zodiac
The band of constellations along the ecliptic through which Sun, Moon and planets move. The biodynamic planting calendar reads the day type from the constellation in front of which the Moon stands.
What is the zodiac?
The zodiac is the band of constellations that runs round the sky along the ecliptic. Sun, Moon and planets always move through this band, because their orbits lie almost in one plane. Biodynamics works with the twelve constellations Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces.
The name goes back to the Greek zodiakos kyklos, the circle of animal figures. Most of these constellations bear the names of animals.
Constellations and zodiac signs
Two divisions with the same names go under the word zodiac.
- The constellations are the figures in the sky. They differ in width: Virgo measures almost 44 degrees, Cancer a good 20. This division is called sidereal, from the Latin sidus, star.
- The zodiac signs of astrology divide the ecliptic into twelve equal sections of 30 degrees each. They begin at the vernal point, where the Sun stands at the start of spring. This division is called tropical.
When the zodiac signs were fixed in antiquity, the two divisions lay almost on top of each other. Since then the vernal point has moved on by almost 30 degrees through the precession of the Earth’s axis, about one degree in 72 years. Today it lies in Pisces. When the Moon is in the sign of Aries, it therefore mostly stands in front of the constellation Pisces.
Which zodiac the planting calendar uses
The biodynamic planting calendar works with the constellations. What counts is the constellation in front of which the Moon actually stands. Each constellation belongs to an element, and the element determines the day type:
| Element | Constellations | Day type |
|---|---|---|
| Warmth | Aries, Leo, Sagittarius | Fruit |
| Earth | Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn | Root |
| Light | Gemini, Libra, Aquarius | Flower |
| Water | Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces | Leaf |
More on this under root day, leaf day, flower day, fruit day and constellations.
Many moon calendars in magazines and apps calculate with the zodiac signs. That is why two calendars often give different constellations for the same day. The article Why lunar calendars show different constellations looks into this more closely.
Sources
- Astrological sign, Wikipedia
- Precession, First point of Aries, Wikipedia
Frequently asked questions about the zodiac
What is the difference between a constellation and a star sign?
The constellation is the figure in the sky, and constellations differ in width. The star sign or zodiac sign is an equal section of 30 degrees that begins at the vernal point.
Which zodiac does the biodynamic calendar use?
The constellations. The day type depends on the constellation in front of which the Moon stands in the sky.
Why do moon calendars not agree?
Some calculate with the constellations, others with the zodiac signs. Today the two lie almost a whole constellation apart.
What is the vernal point?
The point at which the Sun crosses the celestial equator from south to north at the start of spring. It moves slowly backwards through the constellations and today lies in Pisces.