Aries, Constellation

Celsius was a professor of astronomy al Uppsala University. He is noted for trying to determine the magnitude of the stars in (he constellation Aries. He published 316 of his observations on the aurora borealis. 

Thousands of years ago, when the Babylonians were establishing the principles of astrology, the constellations and the signs of the zodiac were in alignment. On the vernal equinox the first day of spring), the Sun was "in" the constellation Aries That is, if you could see the Sun and the stars simultaneously, you d seethe Sun surrounded by the stars of the Ram. In those happy days, the signs and the constellations coincided. 

When the equinox moves back even further, to the constellation of the Water Bearer, the Age of Aquarius will officially begin. Astrologers differ about when that will be. Some are convinced that it s happening now. Others believe that it s decades — or centuries — away. Eventually, the cycle will begin again. Around the year 23800, the vernal equinox will return to Aries, and astrologers will be able to skip this entire explanation. Meanwhile, constellations of the zodiac and the signs of the zodiac aren t the same. 

CALCINATION Alc. KXCliAELSPACHER 1616 gives the sigil 4 next to the sigil for the sign or constellation Aries, either tc symbolise the alchemical process of calcination or (less likely) the alchemical ANTIMONY. See CALCINATE. 

The Magi attributed antimony to the Constellation of Aries, or the Ram, as this is the first heavenly sign in which the sun takes its elevation. This provides Fulcanelli s link with the ram that we originally sought with tin. So finally, we may settle on stibnite, the black powder of the Egyptians called Khemeia. 

Welburn, 253-254. Unfortunately, the division of signs in astrology (from Aries to Libra above the ecliptic, and from Scorpio to Pisces below) do not correspond with the divisions in the ApJn. Welburn s proposed solution, that the Apjn s list reveals a solar mystery, carmot be properly substantiated. It should be added that if van der Vliet is correct in his restoration of the text Seth, who is called the Ram, then we have two signs of the five corresponding to the constellation Aries. 

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