BREAKING: No, your zodiac sign hasn't changed (CNN)

[somone]

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/13/no-your-zodiac-sign-hasnt-changed/

No, your zodiac sign hasn't changed

Tattoo parlor owners must be salivating. An assertion in a Minneapolis Star Tribune article that our understanding of the zodiac is off by about a month - and that therefore people have been identifying themselves with the wrong sign - caught fire on the internet Thursday, and many folks are in an absolute panic on social media.

"If my zodiac symbol has been changed to a Libra, what am I supposed to do with my Scorpio tattoo?!?!," read one tweet Thursday.

Some vowed to get their tats removed. Others groaned about losing the sign with which they’ve identified themselves for years. The zodiac and related terms - including Ophiuchus, said to be a 13th and neglected sign - were trending Twitter topics much of Thursday.

But before astrology fans scrape the ink from their arms because they think they're now a Virgo instead of a Libra, they should consider this: If they adhered to the tropical zodiac - which, if they're a Westerner, they probably did – absolutely nothing has changed for them.

That's worth rephrasing: If you considered yourself a Cancer under the tropical zodiac last week, you're still a Cancer under the same zodiac this week...

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http://www.startribune.com/local/113610159.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU

What's your sign? Minn. prof suggests it's off
By CHRIS WILLIAMS , Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS - A Minneapolis astronomy professor said Friday that he's stunned by the attention he's getting for suggesting the signs of the zodiac are all wrong... Kunkle, who teaches at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, said Friday that all the hubbub is based on "2,000-year-old information." He can't understand why his explanation of how a well-known wobble in the earth's orbit throws off astrology charts turned into an Internet sensation. "This is not new news. I have no idea why it went viral this time," Kunkel said. "Almost every astronomy class talks about it."... Kunkle said he's gotten a few angry calls, including one from someone who said, "Please give me my sign back."...

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http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2011/0113/New-zodiac-sign-Ophiuchus-Why-astrology-is-even-sillier-than-we-thought
New zodiac sign Ophiuchus: Why astrology is even sillier than we thought
Thanks to a wobble in the earth's axis, the astrological positions calculated some 2,000 years ago no longer apply. And even back then it was a big load of nonsense.
By Stephanie Pappas, LiveScience Senior Writer / January 13, 2011

[Zephie]

1. I've been having a hard time adapting to being a capricorn

It just doesn't suit me. Glad to know I don't have to worry :rofl:

[Earth_First]

12. Hey now, some of us Capricorns weren't exactly happy to be comming a Sagittarius either...

lol!

[bdamomma]

29. me for one. I have a capricorn for 56 years.

[True_Blue]

55. I was never a very good Virgo

I'm too disorganized. This explains a lot.

[Imperialism Inc.]

2. Totally true.

It was bullshit before and still is ;-)

[Botany]

3. Saturn is really worried about what happens to me today

:rofl:

[arcane1]

4. I'm still not sure why this became "news" this week

Precession has been known and observed for thousands of years, as has the fact that western astrology doesn't update itself to those changes.

Why is it news now? :shrug: Not that I'm complaining, it is something most adherents know squat about.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

14. It came up this week because airport runways were closed...

...so that the signage could be changed. Pilots rely on compasses, and when magnetic north moves, the runway signs have to be adjusted.

[shireen]

20. interesting ...

as you know, they're both completely different phenomena.

Wait till the magnetic poles reverse ... that should be interesting.
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag/faqgeom.shtml

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

24. What's funny is Rachel flipped out over this and devoted a segment...

...to the new zodialogical signs. Interestingly, she didn't separate the two phenomena. You might want to send her an email and explain this to her.

[Ricochet21]

34. Because Jupiter and Uranus conjuncted and exploded on 1/4

[Lucian]

5. The real question is, why are people following this?

Because one was born in a certain period doesn't give them the traits that's associated with their zodiac sign. For example, I was born under the sign of Taurus but I have the characteristics of Scorpius.

And astrology is crap anyways. This becoming "news" in the MSM is frightening.

[Ricochet21]

35. I tied to explain it as well as I could

They got 4 stories all mixed up and confused "because of" the Uranus/Jupiter conjunction that went nuts on 1/4/11
see: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=245x131558

[Lucian]

41. What does the position of Jupiter and Uranus have to do with anything?

Absolutely nothing.

[Ricochet21]

46. correct

it's the relative position

[Odin2005]

70. I was born under Taurus and have characteristics of Pisces.

Astrology is so much bullshit.

[Champion Jack]

6. My sign was "No Parking" I wonder what it is now....

[Codeine]

7. If you're dumb enough to believe in astrology

then you're probably too dumb to read this story anyway.

[hlthe2b]

8. I like following the twists and contortions of the explanations...

in terms of why this makes a difference or why it doesn't with respect to "methodology." ;)

[arcane1]

9. It has definitely made for an amusing week on Facebook

I'm keeping quiet and watching the fun :)

[Lucian]

11. +1

[JackRiddler]

15. You probably shouldn't be so dumb as to derive a sense of superiority from not believing in it.

I say that as someone who definitely doesn't believe in it. I never have and I find it funny that anyone would. But I also do not believe that people should be thought stupid, or should be disrespected as people, or have their views on all things dismissed, just because they follow astrology (or believe in other even more absurd things, like the mythologies of the monotheistic religions).

[dmallind]

18. Why does woo and religio-woo always get a pass?

If people believe other patently ridiculous things known to be wrong - for example that they are 20' tall or can fly like a bird or that Palin IS the President, should we not "dismiss their views"? A mind should not be equally open to all options, and should not be open to some options at all.

[JackRiddler]

25. Am I giving it a pass?

Not at all.

I'm saying that mockery of astrology is not an adequate basis for feeling your own superiority.

Nor is its absurdity an adequate basis for dismissing someone's OTHER views.

For example you can find atheists, like Hitchens, who support the aggressive war launched in 2003, and you can find religionists who oppose it. That Hitchens is an atheist does not in any way justify his support for aggressive war.

That Martin Luther King may have literally believed in the Resurrection of Jesus wouldn't make him wrong in his views about justice among people, and it should not have made him any less a leader of people.

Your examples by the way are of things that can be disproven. (Sarah Palin can be measured and shown to not be 20 feet tall, at least as feet are defined in English in 2011.)

Astrology, while without empirical basis, cannot be disproven.

And if you think about it, astrology has a much better basis than many other religious beliefs. Unlike the bearded sky god who created the universe in six days, the planets can be shown to exist, and to exert force on our own planet. It's absurd to think these planetary forces determine our personal fates, but it is a lot less absurd than believing in a bearded sky god who created etc.

So surely you can admit there is a relativity of beliefs and people may believe ridiculous things while still being good people who may turn out to be smarter than you in other matters.

.

[dmallind]

27. Ah - I skipped the OTHER. My bad. I still think such beliefs indicate SPECIFIC stupidity tho. nt.

[Ricochet21]

36. Precisely

Don't knock it, until you study it. I started in 78 and haven't stopped.

[qazplm]

61. astrology is patently ridiculous

and thus should be mocked.

It is not worthy of respect. That does not mean you need to demean those who believe but the field itself should mocked vigorously.

[dbt]

64. Link?

[JackRiddler]

66. Well that's what I said so we agree.

You do not need to demean those who believe in it, or consider yourself the more intelligent person for doing so, or think that they're stupid.

(Example: Think of all the brilliant religious artists and intellectuals!)

Also, I question how much it helps always and only to mock the field. Point out that it's baseless, yes. Dismiss it, yes. But too much mocking may turn out to be more about giving yourself a boost than anything else.

[Capitalocracy]

38. Misinformed and stupid can be two different things...

Now, after a certain amount of information becomes available to a person, one can start to question...

[dbt]

65. Link?

[gratuitous]

10. Does that mean I can still call myself a Feces?

Golly, isn't it nice that vital news like this gets people's attention in a way that unimportant stuff like the very quiet extension of the hideously-misnamed USA PATRIOT Act slips by unnoticed?

[lapislzi]

13. This. Is. News?

<facepalm>

[jdp349]

16. For any astrology believers you should infer

that ALL predictions that have come true have been coincidental

[Ricochet21]

37. Astrology

has little or nothing to do with predictions. It's misunderstood.

[jdp349]

44. A quick glance of wikipedia seems to indicate

that it isn't misunderstood in general, but rather misunderstood by you.

Astrology is a group of systems, traditions, and beliefs which hold that the relative positions of celestial bodies and related details can provide information about personality, human affairs and other "earthly" matters. A practitioner of astrology is called an astrologer. Astrologers generally believe that the movements and positions of celestial bodies can inform them about events experienced on a human scale or that predictions can be made from them.

Pingree, David (1973). "Astrology". In Philip P. Wiener. The Dictionary of the History of Ideas. 1. New York: Scribner. ISBN 0684132931. Retrieved 2009-12-02.

Price, Simon. The Oxford Dictionary of Classical Myth and Religion. Oxford University Press, 2003

[Ricochet21]

47. Wikipedia doesn't know real astrology, my friend

That's the old ignorance. I can understand it. Like I've said, no one should believe this crap until
you do your own charts and see for yourself. I started in 1978 and haven't stopped. Each chart is so different
and powerfully accurate. It's not physical.

be well

[shireen]

17. astrologers just discovered precession of the Earth's rotation axis?

:wow:

really?
We astronomers have been laughing about this for years. :evilgrin:

[stellanoir]

43. So pleased that we've inspired great laughter yet

any astrologer who is worth their salt has delineated between sidereal and tropical ephemerides from the get go.

Some western astrologers draw from both systems.

Plenty of astrologers are somewhat bemused by how people can be completely enthralled by the heavens and derive no symbolical meaning from them whatsoever.

"As above so below" as the old axiom goes.

No biggie.

[shireen]

67. i want evidence.

prove to me that astrology is valid.

[stellanoir]

71. Welp

Your response made me smile.

It's not as though the evidence is not out there.

However, the study of astrology is enormously frustrating as there is an outrageous amount of information available that is really simplistic, entirely trivial, riddled with contradictions (as are most folk), or just plain half baked.

If you are sincere in wanting verification of any sort, here is a link to an extraordinarily profound semi recent publication that may or may not resonate with you. The author is an academic, incredibly astute, and an absolute gem of an individual.

http://www.cosmosandpsyche.com/

If you read it and it doesn't speak to you, then such pursuits into the intuitive arts may be very simply, not for you.

I hope you will pleasantly surprised.

Best to you.

[shireen]

77. not buying it ...

i looked at some of the essays in your link. If you want to call it a spiritual belief system, that's fine. But there's nothing there that indicates that astrology has the ability to predict future events or define personal characteristics.

When i asked for evidence, I asked for scientific evidence.

[charlie]

19. Chinese zodiac is safe

It's still impervious to meddlesome science. If you're born a rat, you stay a rat.

[The Backlash Cometh]

21. I know with absolute confidence that I am an Aquarian.

Because I retain a lot of water.

[progressoid]

22. Astrology, astronomy. It's all the same right?

[Morning Dew]

23. So, I'm a Taurus now? That's a lot of Bull.

[woo me with science]

26. This belongs in the woo forum. nt

[bdamomma]

28. thank goodness

I will always be a Capricorn, have the traits of one, not the traits of a Sagittarius?? No way.

[pokerfan]

30. People still believe in Astrology?

From Cosmos, episode 3 - The Harmony of the Worlds:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iunr4B4wfDA

[Dappleganger]

31. THANK THE GODS!!

This seriously screwed up my week.

:rofl:

[damntexdem]

32. Oh thank goodness: I won't have to change my personality.

LOL!

[unblock]

33. so THAT's why my personality and fortunes have completely changed recently!

:eyes:

[Motown_Johnny]

39. I posted something like this yesterday (why don't you people take me more series?)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=9597908&mesg_id=9597928


^snip^

I know that the constellations have moved since astrology had begun. I don't know of any "official" changing of a person's astrological sign due to that motion. I think they still go with what was set up to begin with but I don't follow astrology, I just love astronomy.

[Kip Humphrey]

40. Having to live out the rest of my life as a Virgo, I feel misled, betrayed even. I'm not sure I can.

:sarcasm:

[Johonny]

42. Of course everytime they find a new object in the sky it screws up astrology

which is based on the idea of 7 perfect heavenly bodies. Don't mix science and pseudo-science it will make your head explode.

[Ricochet21]

48. Everytime they find a new object

it indicates that Man is ready for that particular type of new consciousness
That's what happened during the discoveries of Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Chiron
See the incredible: Richard Tarnas' "Cosmos and Psyche" where it is clearly displayed

[Confusious]

58. Oh gee, everytime they find a new object

I always thought it was because they got a new telescope.

I guess I was wrong! Their Chakra just wasn't round enough! :sarcasm:

really, who needs a telescope anyways. They should jut let their aura find things for them.

[dipsydoodle]

45. That's a shame

I was hoping I'd be under Meg Ryan.

[nadinbrzezinski]

49. You mean I am back to scorpio?

I think all this is just damn funny personally.

[dkofos]

50. A Capricorn in spite of the wobble.

[Solly Mack]

51. That's a relief.

[immoderate]

52. I'm too old to change my personality. I'm keeping my old sign.

--imm

[Warren DeMontague]

53. I like how people who genuinely believe an invisble sky-man cares about their sex life

are falling all over themselves to make fun of astrology.

[Ricochet21]

56. Righto Warren

the collective was punctured, whether people like it or not.
It's a marvelous sign for our evolution.
1950 no woman talked about being raped
2011 women talk about it openly

the collective changed

This week, the same happened to astrology, not make more believers; it doesn't "care"
but because WE are all becoming more and more able to see REALITY as it is.

[Blue-Jay]

59. I think it's ALL bullshit.

[Warren DeMontague]

60. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

See, as an Ophiuchus, I'm naturally a skeptic.

[stellanoir]

72. I so enjoy my clients who are skeptics.

Here ya go. . .

http://www.cosmosandpsyche.com/

[Warren DeMontague]

73. It's always important to remember what the acronym for "Belief System" is.

Never trust a prankster.

[stellanoir]

74. And

". . .transformation of waste is perhaps the oldest preoccupation of man. . ."

it's also a most efficacious fertilizer.

tricksters "R" us

[Bucky]

54. So, what... there's not really an Ophiuchus going into the line up? Damn.

I totally wanted to be an Ophiuchus

[Ricochet21]

57. That would be cool

Since it's pronounced like OFFICE, or offikuen, would be called a Ophiuchan? or I think I can I think I can

Ophiucus brought us this stuff, really.

[4lbs]

62. Wow. Seriously? With all the problems people are having, some are actually losing sleep over

their zodiac sign?

Okay, I guess some people will continue to be idiots.

[StarsInHerHair]

63. I'm wondering about the empty phrase 'as above so below' since it isn't

so. Spring Equinox is Sun into Pisces, it was in '03 and it is now too. But the interesting question is 'who's on first?'-THAT answer can be found by looking at where the sun rises on the 1st day of the new year. Jesus is the Fish, so are other Gods of the roughly same era, why astrologers do what they do confounds me. Add in a dual sun each month and it's feeling more Aquarius, with Christians accusing scientists of being merely priests of another religion.

[TalkingDog]

68. How to find Uranus with Your Fist

http://opinionatedcurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-to-find-uranus-with-your-fist.html

[Odin2005]

69. Get a clue, ASTROLOGY IS BULLSHIT!!!

[delightfulstar]

75. Capricorn, Aries rising.

Through and through. That new alignment would make me a Sagittarius, which I most certainly am not. Not even close.

[woo me with science]

76. I love messing with the astrologers this way.

Keep them busy!
:rofl:

[Name removed]

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