Heliocentric Astrology

Another Perspective

Both Vedic and western astrology typically use Earth as the point of reference from which to record the positions of celestial bodies. In this system, the planets, Sun, and Moon appear to move around the Earth. This is known as geocentric astrology. Hundreds of years ago, a heliocentric cosmology became prominent. In this system, the Sun is depicted as the center of our solar system. The Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun. When the heliocentric cosmology was adopted, some skeptics assumed (and still do today) that the geocentric system used in astrology must be a false model, and that therefore astrology is “impossible,” as the late Stephen Hawking once claimed.

Geocentric astrology makes sense simply because we live on the Earth. Yet, geocentric astrology does not place the Earth at the center of the solar system. In other words, Earth-centered horoscopes are applicable in a heliocentric system because they are based on the location of the observer, just as a route is mapped for the location of the traveler. More deeply, the universal law of correspondence operates from the point of view of the observer: As Above, So Below; As Within, So Without. Who we are is mirrored by the Universe within our local environment.

Original image by Niko LangSVG version by User:Booyabazooka - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5502912

Nonetheless, in addition to a geocentric horoscope, an alternate heliocentric chart can also be constructed. This is made with the Sun at the center, meaning, it depicts the stars and solar system (including the Earth) as seen from the Sun. In the heliocentric chart, we don't track the Sun, Moon or lunar nodes, and instead we track the position of the Earth.

Astrologer Philip Sedgwick wrote a brilliant book on heliocentric astrology titled The Sun at the Center: A Primer on Heliocentric Astrology (Llewellyn Pub., St. Paul, MN, 1990). I highly recommend this if you want to know a lot more than I am able to present here. The author discusses how heliocentric astrology is useful for knowing one’s soul purpose and destiny, as well as for understanding the significance of major world events.

According to Sedgwick, “The picture from Earth is only a point of view in space and a very minute point at best.” The heliocentric chart can provide a secondary level of consideration when used independently or in conjunction with geocentric astrology. His book explores how to read a heliocentric chart in detail.

In addition to focusing on the current solar transit in Cancer according to the geocentric (Earth-centered) astrology chart (in place from mid-July to mid-August), we can focus on the Earth’s transit in Capricorn in the heliocentric chart. This should be fairly simple to understand as Capricorn is opposite Cancer, and the Earth and Sun are always opposite each other! The glyph for the Earth is shown as a green cross in a circle near the apex of the heliocentric chart below.

This is the heliocentric chart for July 20, 2022:

Contrast the above heliocentric chart with the geocentric chart for July 20, 2022 (below):

There are several differences between the geocentric and heliocentric chart. First, planets in the heliocentric chart are usually in different degrees or different constellations from those in the more typical Earth-centered chart. Second, there are no houses or angle cusps in a heliocentric chart, since it is the Earth at center (geocentric) that provides the basis for house divisions. Third, retrograde planets do not exist in a heliocentric chart. This is because retrogradation occurs only as apparent relative movement from our perspective on Earth. It is a result of the variations of the orbital speeds of all the planets during certain times of the year.

To understand the current heliocentric map, imagine standing on the Sun at noon, looking South, where you would see the Earth, Pluto, and Saturn in Capricorn; looking Southeast, you would see Mars and Jupiter in early Pisces conjunct Neptune at the tail end of Aquarius; looking East, you would see Uranus in Aries and Venus in Taurus; and looking North, you would see Mercury in Cancer. It’s a whole different perspective from what we are used to seeing in Earth-centered astrology.

Mercury is currently in Cancer in the heliocentric chart as well as in the geocentric chart, because Mercury is always relatively close to the Sun, and is conjoined the Sun in Cancer (geocentric) at this time. Pluto is conjoined the Earth from July 16-22. As the significator of regeneration and rebirth, Pluto’s conjunction with the Earth can lead us to explore alternate versions of reality, as with this different type of astrology. Pluto can also act like Ketu or Mars, so unusual events, including accidents, can also occur during this transit.

I believe that the Earth in the heliocentric astrology chart shows something of our dharma and how we ground our dreams in the physical reality. I often study this in natal chart readings. For instance, someone whose Sun is in Aquarius and Earth in Leo may reflect the Aquarius energy in terms of vitality, personality, confidence, ambitions, and the deeper aspirations of the soul. This person may also appear in other ways as a Leo, because the sign occupied by the Earth also points to one’s path in the world. A subtle polarity relationship exists between all the Sun-Earth sign pairs, which is a topic discussed in more depth in Sedgwick’s book.

As our beautiful Mother Earth transits in Capricorn from mid-July to mid-August, we may be highly focused on everyday pressures and responsibilities. Furthermore, no planets are transiting in fixed signs at this time (in the geocentric chart), so we may experience some loss of stamina, a sense of spinning out, or a number of annoying changes and setbacks.

So it’s important now as the Earth is transiting in Capricorn (and the Sun in Cancer) that we take the time and create the space to reach within and attune with the wisdom of our feelings, emotions, and intuition, all of which are represented by the Sun’s transit in Cancer. This can help open up our healing flow, release some of the weight of the world that we may be carrying, access a true sense of inner security, and bring us into better overall balance and alignment.

“My view of our planet was a glimpse of divinity.” (Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell). Image credit: The Blue Marble, NASA/Apollo 17 crew; taken by either Harrison Schmitt or Ron Evans, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

It’s amazing that in the astrological system with the Sun at center, there are no retrograde planets, and no houses or angle cusps. Retrograde planets represent karma that we need to overcome. Houses and angle cusps symbolize the areas of our life experience on Earth. Absent retrogrades, houses, and angle cusps, we are in a whole new world! It stands to reason that tuning into the heliocentric view can help us connect more with our Higher Self, which is ultimately beyond the limitations of the Earth plane.

Looking at our own existence from the Sun’s vantage point can help us broaden our attitude and free us of certain limited perspectives and ideas. We have accepted these based on one particular viewpoint, the one we normally have according to the geocentric chart. But, we are multidimensional beings, and life is all about perspective. As we change our outlook, we can truly change our reality!