People have followed the zodiac for thousands of years.
Astrology is a metaphysical discipline that originally developed in ancient Babylonia. The earliest surviving copy of a horoscope dates from 410 BC. Since that time, various systems of astrology spread throughout the world, giving people a method of predicting the future and gaining insight into human psychology. Even today, astrology still fascinates. A 2008 Harris Interactive poll found that 31 percent of Americans believe in astrology. To gain the most from astrology, you need to accurately identify your sun sign -- a task that can be accomplished in a few simple steps.
Instructions
1. Know your birthday, the most crucial piece of information needed for identifying your sun sign. If possible, find out the exact time and place where you were born for a more exact reading.
2. Decide if you want to follow the tropical or sidereal zodiac. The tropical zodiac is based on the seasons and is used throughout most of the West. In this system, the sign Aries begins with the spring equinox. The sidereal zodiac is used in the East with a minority following in the West. It is based on the position of the stars, with the sign Aries corresponding to the position of the constellation Aries.
3. Find your sun sign based the tropical zodiac. The dates are approximately: Aries (March 21 to April 19), Taurus (April 20 to May 20), Gemini (May 21 to June 21), Cancer (June 22 to July 22), Leo (July 23 to August 22), Virgo (August 23 to September 22), Libra (September 23 to October 22), Scorpio (October 23 to November 21), Sagittarius (November 22 to December 21), Capricorn (December 22 to January 19), Aquarius (January 20 to February 18) and Pisces (February 19 to March 20).
4. Determine your sun sign based on the sidereal zodiac. The dates are approximately: Aries (April 15 to May 15), Taurus (May 15 to June 16), Gemini (June 16 to July 17), Cancer (July 17 to August 17), Leo (August 17 to September 17), Virgo (September 17 to October 17), Libra (October 17 to November 17), Scorpio (November 17 to December 16), Sagittarius (December 16 to January 15), Capricorn (January 15 to February 15), Aquarius (February 15 to March 15) and Pisces (March 15 to April 15).
5. Check if your birthday falls on the "cusp," or the first or last day of your sign. The date ranges for the sun signs are only estimates since the exact day and time of day the zodiac signs change varies slightly each year. In the tropical zodiac, the time the signs change depends on the position of the sun, and in the sidereal zodiac, the change depends on the way the position of the constellations is calculated. Using the tropical zodiac, if you were born at 8 p.m. on March 20, in some years, you might be a Pisces and in others, you might actually be an Aries based on the sun's position.
Tags: your sign, sidereal zodiac, tropical zodiac, approximately Aries, April Taurus, August September