My switch to Sidereal astrology has been building over the last year. I remember when I first saw my Sidereal chart, I felt relieved. You see, my Tropical chart had always felt slightly off. Sure, it fit my personality well enough, but some planets and aspects felt forced. I felt like I was a softer, calmer person than my Tropical Aries moon insinuated. I felt like I had more flexibility and indecision than what my Tropical Scorpio mars offered. In Sidereal, I have a Pisces moon and a Libra mars. Ah finally, it felt as though everything made sense.

And yet that wasn’t enough for me to make the switch. Despite resonating more with my newly found Sidereal chart, I didn’t know enough about the difference between that and Tropical to change the way I did astrology. In addition, my friends and I had spent years beforehand studying Tropical astrology. It felt like if I were to make the switch, I’d have wasted years of nonstop studying. Only this year, when I took the time to figure out the difference, was I able to make the first step into my new favorite type of astrology. Are you ready to join me?

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Why Sidereal?

I’m not confidently educated enough to sit here and explain to you what the most accurate difference is between these two forms of astrology. For that reason, I’ll be quoting credible sources in order to help explain why I’ve come to love Sidereal far more than Tropical. Here are some wonderfully written explanations:

“The Tropical Zodiac, the zodiac most Western astrologers use, is based on where the sun was stationed on each calendar day 2000+ years ago. This was when astrology moved from India into the “West” via moving through Zoroastrian Persia. When this happened, a big philosophical debate took hold relating to predestination vs. free will and it also led to the Tropical Zodiac. That is to say, in the Tropical Zodiac, the zodiac became frozen in the sky as the sky thousands of years ago.

Here’s the thing though, the sky isn’t fixed! The earth as you may know has a “wobble”; this is also called the precession of the equinoxes. Over the course of thousands of years the sky shifts, and the constellation the sun was once in is no longer the same on a given day!”

Ian Michael Ferguson,
whitelotusoflight.com/blog/sidereal-vs-tropical-zodiac-and-why-it-matters

“A major philosophical difference then, is that the Tropical zodiac reflects the earliest homogenization of a western culture, an attempt at normalizing astrological time. To be clear, one kind of zodiacal symbolism is readily experienced in the physical sense, that being Tropical. And the other, Sidereal, can be observed as a phenomenon of time in space. The phenomenon of precession – which defines the fundamental difference between how the Tropical and Sidereal zodiacs are calculated – reflects the subjective nature of time. Tropical is convenient and orderly in a way that normalizes, or standardizes time, forsaking the shifting nature of time within the context of space for something more subjective to our experience on Earth, something more ‘universal’.”

Dayna Lynn Nuckolls,
thepeoplesoracle.com/sidereal-zodiac-vs-tropical-zodiac/

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How to Use Sidereal

Assuming that you’re convinced to switch, or at least curious enough to see your Sidereal birth chart, here’s how you do it.

Head to astro.com, and under Free Horoscopes choose the option for an extended birth chart selection. Put in your birthday, birth time, and birth city as usual. Scroll down to Options for Zodiac and Houses, where you will find the option between Tropical, Sidereal, and Draconic. Once you’ve clicked Sidereal, you can stick to Fagan/Bradley if you want an easy to read chart. Of course, there are far more options for how to calculate Sidereal charts, but I highly recommend sticking to this default version.

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My First Sidereal Reading (All Signs)

For this reading, use your Sidereal chart! You can apply this reading to all placements, but remember to apply it to the themes of each planet. For example, if you’re reading Aries for an Aries venus, then the reading will be applied to topics of love, material possessions, appearance, and aesthetics.

Since this reading is so special, I want to read how the rest of 2021 is going to turn out for everyone. One thing I’ve never really explained about my readings is that these aren’t horoscopes. What I mean is that horoscopes use mathematical calculations of your chart in relation to the past, present, or future charts. Personally, I use my tarot reading abilities to find a message from a higher power for each sign. Some people do not prefer this type of reading because it can be less accurate than observing actual transits. That’s okay! This is just how I enjoy doing my readings. My readings may not resonate with everyone and that’s perfectly fine. If you’re looking for a horoscope, I can also help you with that! You’ll just have to book a reading with me, because it takes more energy and I’d rather go in-depth to find the most accurate information. If you’re not interested, there are plenty of astrologers who track upcoming transits, however they’ll most likely be using Tropical.

I know, it’s all so complicated. Astrology is a growing community. I’m just happy you’re here learning about yourself in the first place! For this reading, I’ll be using a brand new deck. It’s called The New Chapter and it was created by Kathryn Briggs.

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The Rest of Your 2021

ARIES ♈︎

It won’t be a particularly emotional time for you. Or, if you do have strong emotions, you’re not likely to act on them until 2022. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; you’re just more focused on your goals right now. You may have started a project or business in the beginning of 2021 and these last months are for you to follow through. Your higher power is making room for you to focus by removing emotional distractions at this time. Your social life will fall lower in your priorities because of this, so remember to be communicative with your loved ones. By showing them your passion for this goal, you can encourage flexibility because others want to see you succeed. You’ll also be quicker to make decisions, fueled by logic and reason. Most likely, everything will fall into place in 2022 because right now you are actively building the foundation. It’s important to make time for relaxation, connection with others, and meditation. Your mind can move so fast at times you can spend days, weeks, even months at a time hyper-focused on what you want. What is meant for you is already yours, so don’t burn yourself out in the pursuit of happiness, Aries.

TAURUS ♉︎

Opening up in these next few months is your capacity for change. Like it or not, you will be going through a transition deep within yourself. This new mindset will be a catalyst for physical changes as well, whether it’s your body, home, or habits. Do not worry so much, because although change seems synonymous to chaos for you, this is change you’ll be very satisfied with by the time 2022 comes around. The reason so much will be different in just a few months is because you’ll be learning many new skills as time passes. What you will learn may be based in reality or spirituality, but it will change part of who you are. That means that in 2022, you might make different decisions than you would have in the past. Maybe it’s a class you’re taking this semester, or going back to school in general, or even just spending more time reading and writing. There is no effort too small in the growth of your mind at this time. Although you, Taurus, are more uncomfortable with change than almost every other sign, this will be a welcomed experience. If need be, let your tears fall and learn to self-soothe. You can do anything you put your mind to.

GEMINI ♊︎

In the first several months of 2021, you made the effort to go through difficult growth. Working on your perspective of life, you walk into every day with the best attitude you can manage. These efforts will pay off in the final months of 2021, as financial prosperity finds you. Remember that sometimes financial wellness isn’t just about receiving more money, but reanalyzing your relationship with is. You will not find yourself so anxious and uncertain, instead you will achieve a sense of peace. Your higher power is asking you to trust it and you’ve done a good job so far in doing so. Continue to accept the unconditional love around you in order to continue receiving the support you need. All anyone really wants is for you to be yourself. Growth doesn’t make you less you, it actually makes you more you. Sometimes it may not feel that way but keep pushing. Let out the breath you’ve been holding for the last year and smell the flowers. You are just as valuable when you prioritize yourself as you are when you prioritize others. Your magic isn’t something you can lose, it’s just something you must always remember to use.

CANCER ♋︎

Over the next four months, it is time to relax. There is nothing specific to do, no one in particular to see. You will prioritize your self-care so that you can walk into 2022 more optimistic than the year before. The past was draining for you; you feel as though you’re on 20% battery. This is the time to recharge. Pick up a hobby that forces you to sit on your couch and breathe slowly, like knitting or reading novels or watching terrible reality TV. Let your mind wander in the abyss of freedom. You have spent too stretching yourself thin, any thinner and you’ll snap. Nothing healthy happens overnight, so let the dreams flow in day after day. If you push yourself too hard, you will truly have a mental breakdown. This time period is about internalizing lessons of self-love. Do you know what you deserve? Are you willing to give it to yourself? Worry not about the expectations that surround you, instead rewrite your own. Personally, I expect you to take some time to lay in the sun, let the world move around you without doing anything about it.

LEO ♌︎

You know exactly what to do. You have a choice coming up, one you might already know about. This is a larger than life choice, something that redirects your path in life. The important thing is that you know you’re ready to make this choice. It could be overwhelming how much your decision impacts 2022, but that’s okay. There will be a lot of moments like that in life. Like I said, you know what to do. When something calls for you, you should probably answer it. You’re trying your best to accept yourself, shadows included, which makes changing even harder for you. This change will make you more you, though, and it’s one you’ll have to make yourself. This isn’t just your higher power causing chaos, this is an active choice you will make about your own purpose in life. Where do you want to go? Who can help you get there? The details may blur together until the new year. Days will fly by as you paint the bigger picture in your own aesthetic. Self-love expands when we allow ourselves to expand. Accept that you are a complicated person and you are worth loving for all the same reasons.

VIRGO ♍︎

You have given up your coping mechanisms, whether it’s working, relationships, drugs, or something you created uniquely. Well, it may feel as though the world took them away from you, like there was no other choice. It was your decision, though, and you should give yourself credit. You put the work in by using your logical mind rather than your emotional mind. Making the decision to not take growth personally is the key to maintaining high self-worth. With this new self-worth, you will now manifest the dreams that have ached and grown in your mind. What do you want in life? Then take it and take it right now, in these months leading up to 2022. There is no time to be scared or waste time through old coping mechanisms. There exists only two times in your mind: this very moment and the moments that will occur because of it. By remaining reasonable now, you improve your capacity to be emotional later. When we were kids, we really thought life could be as easy as doing the work. We had no clue what the work actually was, how deep it would go or how often it would remain invisible. The beauty in you, Virgo, is not the worker but the healer, who are often one and the same. Do not overthink your emotional success, let it flow through you just as you would any other thought. You are real, you are here, and this is now.

LIBRA ♎︎

At some point you decided you had infinite love to give but that you, yourself, was unlovable. This was okay to you because all you wanted was to love others. There was no price to high for your friends, family, and significant other(s). Ask and they shall receive. You didn’t expect anything in return, so maybe it stopped coming. Ironically, you were an unbalanced Libra. But that was a long time ago and it’s 2021 now, right? You always gave out that love, never shied away from how intense your feelings could be. The difference is that right now you have a support system. Surrounding you is a community of people who love you, and show you love, just as much as you do for them. You’re still stuck in that mindset that you don’t need to receive, though, so no matter which direction the love comes from you redirect it. What you’re really afraid of is not receiving, but using that love to grow. Of course you could take in all the support, love, and friendship around you, that’s your dream come true. The issue is that if you were to do so, then there’d be no reason for you to not reach for further fulfilment. If love dissatisfies you, then surely everything else would too. Now that you’re emotionally fulfilled, you must look deeper into what you are capable of. The world is yours, should you take it. I recommend you take it.

SCORPIO ♏︎

Guiding others can seem unnatural to you but it’s truly your calling. By expressing your genuine love for others, you encourage them to be themselves and create art. The muse of your loved ones’ creations is not just you, but the love between you and them. You are capable of inspiring new worlds, growing and maturing in the minds of others. You are a poem no one can forget, a song that never leaves their mind. By embracing your inherent leadership ability, you gift the world a new generation of artists and lovers. There will be opportunities in the last few months of 2021 for you to empower others, so do not hesitate to embrace them. Whether it’s a one-on-one hang out or you’re speaking on a stage to thousands, your impact is infinite and incalculable. Your mere presence is a wave of energy that lasts forever, a ghost that haunts in the most beautiful way. You are a multifaceted person, so do not fear the dark side of the moon. When the other sides of you show, the bigger picture is awe-evoking.

SAGITTARIUS ♐︎

This isn’t a mental breakdown, you’re just freeing yourself from your own judgement. You could be feeling chaotic, maybe you’re acting “out of character,” but that’s not truly the case. In reality, you’re emerging like a butterfly from its cocoon. By no longer being afraid of rejection, you’re embracing yourself and acting more authentically. No matter what you put your energy into during the end of this year, you’ll be satisfied with the results. This is the time to bet on yourself. Lean into your true calling, regardless of material gain or ego validation. Feeling alive used to be something you strived for, but now you can find it in almost any moment. Allow being present to turn into inspiration. Create, then create something else, and then create some more. Why are your artistic ideas collecting dust in your mind? Our bodies are decaying every second, that’s what being alive is. Let your creations get weird, like really weird. Say what’s on your mind; draw what really happened; create the truth without censorship.

CAPRICORN ♑︎

The sacrifices that need to be made leading up to 2022 may frustrate you. You didn’t anticipate needing to let go of so many desires in order to make your future happen the way you’d like. On the other hand, you may simply be dissatisfied with the moment. The world is disappointing you yet again. Where did it all go wrong? Truthfully, you’re just a bit stubborn with the plan. Everything is as it should be. In order to accept the full complexity of life, you’re going to have to loosen your grip. What are you holding onto that does not serve you? Set it down gently and keep walking. As someone who enjoys building, destroying may feel unnatural to you. Dismantling systems seems like the polar opposite of your purpose on this planet. These sacrifices are just a means to an end. Let go now so you can pick up later. Sometimes life may quite literally replicate even the most basic video game concepts. If life were a video game, what would you carry in your limited sized pack? I recommend anything that creates magic. It is as if you are walking uphill towards your dreams and you cannot see what is on the other side. Trust me, it is beautiful.

AQUARIUS ♒︎

You are stuck in a negative thought cycle. Despite having grand dreams and the emotional maturity to make them fruitful, you are stressed beyond belief. The closer you are to succeeding, the more skeptical you’ve become. Know that the plan you’ve written for yourself is the right one, no matter how many challenges may pass through. This isn’t your first time trying to achieve something big like this, so stop acting like this is a do-or-die situation. The next few months asking you if you are willing to change your mindset in order to change your life. The emotional security is there, or at least you’re constantly managing it. The smallest inconveniences seem to stop you in your place recently. Walk over them as you would a bug, not killing it but remaining unbothered. You must always be conscious of your breathing in order for your body to release old cycles. In comes the new, out goes the old. You wouldn’t want a loved one to feel the way you’ve let yourself feel these past couple of months, so soothe yourself as you would another. You are not on the outside of humanity looking in, you’re standing at the universe’s largest mirror. If you can love anyone, you can love yourself.

PISCES ♓︎

Tuck your emotions nice and neatly into your sock drawer and consider a new perspective. You will be asked to focus more on your thoughts than your feelings, how they are the same and how they are different. What is the outcome when you focus on one or the other? You may have planted the seed, but now it blooms. Success surrounds you in this upcoming time period. You have achieved that which you set out for so long ago. After this time period, when you heal from your exhaustion, you will be able to go back to writing poems and picking flowers. Be proud and be grateful for all that you’ve become, even in the face of the most difficult events. You are an emotional warrior and the time is now to battle your negative emotions. Remember when you were a child? The way you moved through life every day as if it were a story you were writing, bring that back to right now. The story isn’t over yet and you’re still the one writing it. This will be a happy time for you, Pisces.

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