Snape as Scorpio (Was: Phoenix fire?)

[juli17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 154216

 



> Carol responds:
> It may be relevant that both Tom  Riddle (born December 31 or possibly
> January 1) and Severus Snape (born  January 9, according to JKR's
> website) are Scorpios. (Please note that I  don't have any actual
> interest in astrology and am only following up  this idea to see where
> it leads.)
> 
> 

Sandy  here:

I'm a little confused. We *are* speaking of the astrological signs  here, 
aren't we? That being the case your information is wrong because *I*  am a 
Scorpio 
and my birthday is October 29. I hate to contradict you, Carol,  as I have so 
much respect for your posts and thoughts and ideas, but Tom  Riddle and Snape 
are not Scorpios, at least not astrologically speaking.  They are Capricorns.


Julie:
Astrology started as a "science" of reading the influence of the stars  on a
person's life depending on when he/she was born. This was based on  the
astronomical location of the sun. I.e., whichever constellation the sun 
was passing through when a person was born was his/her "sun" sign. In 
ancient times this worked out quite nicely, but 2000+ years later,  due
to the wobble of the Earth on its axis which produces a phenomenon
called "procession of the equinoxes", the sun has moved out of those
ancient positions. When once the sun actually *was* in the  constellation
of Scorpio on Oct 29--and in the constellation of Capricorn on Jan  9--the
sun now is in the constellation of Virgo on Oct 29--and in the  constellation
of Sagittarius on Dec 9. (And on a side note, I can't imagine any 
astrological sign that describes Snape *less* than Sagittarius!)
 
Astrologers haven't ever accomodated this physical movement of the
sun, though if the position of the sun in relation to the stars actually  had
an effect on a person's personality, it would only be logical that it  would
be the REAL position of the sun, not its position 2000 years ago,  that
would wield influence. I doubt JKR has any knowledge of this either,  as
her general knowledge of astronomy seems to be lacking (e.g. Orion isn't 
in the sky in June). Nor I don't glean any interest in astrology from  her
writing (nor her placement of the character's birthdays), so I doubt the 
astrological--or astronomical--sun signs of the HP characters have 
any real meaning in the books, even though Trelawney does spout a
few references to astrology here and there (and I suspect if  any of 
her mystic spoutings prove significant, it will be the tarot  readings).
 
Julie 




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