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This picture is an astrological chart which can be found on the ceiling of the Temple of Denderah (Het Heru’s temple in southern Kemet (Egypt). She is the Divine Principle who rules astrology—She is the House of Heru—the sun). The outer circle represents the dekans or stars for each hour of the night as well as week, the next inner circle are the zodiac constellations the inner most circle are the planets; Het Heru and Heru alternate their positions of holding up the heavens as she represents the directions/elements and Heru seasonal changes.

Our Afrakan ancestors truly were technicians of the sacred when it came to understanding the cosmology of the universe. In each culture you will find evidence of a highly evolved understanding of the inner and outer workings of cosmological and planetary energies and their effects on the daily lives of their observers. In their own words the ancestors honored the stars as aspects of the Most High—all part of the One. Their curiosity and awe lead them to explore the cyclical movement of the heavens. They learned to communicate their understanding of celestial energies in a way their communities understood and accepted. Not just the sun and moon but neighboring planets, galaxies, and star systems. They were precise in knowing when to expect their appearance and this cosmic weather—both inner and outer over time, became the science of astrology. Astrology and astronomy were one in the same; there was no separation and it was a complete practical and metaphysical science. I would define astrology is an intuitive process based on calculation of planetary motions and positions for an individual, place or thing at its time and place of birth. This calculation represents the signature or quality of that moment in space and time. All things manifested at that time are imprinted with a similar general pattern--as above so below. The wild card in astrology, however, involves the level of soul development and purpose of anything birthed . That's why twins who have similar birth times can be totally different. This study/science is where our ancestors took it to another level. They knew how to read energy patterns of all of our ‘bodies”—physical and non physical and to match the energy patterns with celestial influences and make-up to get a complete and accurate picture of anything’s potential.

To make an involved process as short as possible, a geocentric (earth centered) astrological chart is calculated from the yearly movement of the earth around the sun where it crosses the equator at the spring equinox as well as other planetary orbits. (Astronomers call this cyclical pattern of movement the elliptic). The geocentric zodiac is often confused with the sidereal star constellations which astronomy is based. The confusion comes from the fact that both zodiacs carry the same names. The geocentric zodiac are formed from the twelve expressions of energy of the four elements of the earth plane (earth, air, fire, and water) and the three primary qualities of each element (Cardinal-initiating, Fixed-sustaining, and Mutable-unstable). Many students of esoteric philosophy believe that this zodiac is an actual field of energy surrounding the earth formed through eons of human development . An example of geocentric based astrology would be if you were born with an Aries sun, this means during the earth's orbit around the sun, you were born while it was shining through the geocentric zodiac sign of Aries. From a galactic view which is sidereal based and which many advanced ancient cultures used would during this same time period put the sun in the constellation of Pisces. The difference is because of what is known as precession (the sun through its orbit going backwards through each constellation. Processional movement of the sun takes approximately 2100 years to move through each constellation and approximately 26,000 years to complete a cycle through all the zodiacal constellations).

Astrology as it is practiced today is very different from the astrology of our ancestors. The most important difference is how planetary time is measured. We are moving through the constellation of Pisces (in the sidereal time frame we will be finished with Pisces within the next 150 years). Many say we are in the age of Aquarius which if we look through the lens of sidereal astrology which our ancestors used, we still have a way to go. Let me explain. Both zodiacs have validity—if you want to truly know a soul’s true essence I recommend the sidereal system. The way it was explained to me is that the Western geocentric model is good for personality divination but to get to the higher levels of the Self and to know the true purpose for incarnation and what will truly bring fulfillment in all areas of life the sidereal system is the one to go with because it represents where the planets are in the real sky as opposed to what was happening over 2,000 years ago which is what you will get with the geocentric system. I’ve tried both systems and I have to agree. My reason for writing this article is that I do plan on offering more astrology articles on a monthly basis to the sisters of ymib.com but will be using the sidereal system which will be different as far as what planets will be in what signs during any given time. It’s about a 24 degree difference between the two systems. The other systems are not ‘wrong’ . I just prefer to flow with ancestral wisdom whenever possible. This is how the Rekh Sebau (ancient star watchers in Kemet called themselves this) speak to me. For more on the sidereal zodiac and the concept of precession I highly recommend the work being done by Walter Cruttenden—www.thegreatyear.com