zodiac

Everyday

1. The zodiac is a band of twelve star patterns (constellations) across the sky that the Sun, Moon and planets seem to move through during the year. tree →
2. In astrology, the zodiac is divided into twelve signs, such as Aries, Leo and Pisces, and people's «star sign» depends on their birthday. tree →
3. The Chinese zodiac is a cycle of twelve animals, one for each year, like the Rat, Ox, Tiger and Dragon. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons about space, the zodiac constellations are real star patterns, but astrology — the belief that star signs control personality and luck — is not science; studies have found no such effect. Horoscopes in magazines are for fun. At Lunar New Year, children learn which Chinese zodiac animal their birth year has and the story of the animals' race across the river. Phrases: «signs of the zodiac», «star sign», «Chinese zodiac».

Examples

• There are twelve signs of the zodiac. tree →
• «What's your star sign?» «I'm a Leo.» tree →
• The Chinese zodiac has twelve animals. tree →
• In the story, the Rat won the zodiac race by riding on the Ox's back. tree →
• Astronomers study the stars; astrologers make horoscopes, which are not science. tree →
• The zodiac constellations lie along the path of the Sun in the sky. tree →

Note

Usually «the zodiac». Say ZOH-dee-ak. Trap: astronomy is the science of space; astrology is a belief system, not a science. «Zodiac» comes from Greek for «circle of little animals».

In Jewish tradition

In Sefer Yetzirah each of the twelve zodiac signs (mazalot) is tied to a month and a simple letter, and God set them in the world, the year and the person.

Interpretation. Tradition reads the twelve signs and months as part of a pattern running through the world, time and the body. Many Jewish teachers also taught that God, not the stars, rules over events.

Examples

• Constellations; especially the twelve signs of the Zodiac. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →

Note

Usually «the zodiac». Say ZOH-dee-ak. Trap: astronomy is the science of space; astrology is a belief system, not a science. «Zodiac» comes from Greek for «circle of little animals».