The Stars Don’t Lie—But Sometimes Our Calendars Do

Why Knowing the True Position of the Stars Matters for Your Workings

In the craft, timing is everything. Many of us were taught to consult the moon phase, planetary alignments, and zodiac signs before stepping into ritual or setting our intentions. But here’s a truth that’s often overlooked: if you’re using western astrology alone, you might not actually be working with the energies you think you are.

Western astrology is a beautiful system, but it’s symbolic, not astronomical. It locks the zodiac to the seasons and does not account for the precession of the Earth—the slow wobble in our planet’s axis over thousands of years. This shift means the constellations have drifted about 23 degrees from where they were when the western zodiac was first calculated over 2,000 years ago.

That means if you think the Moon is in Aries according to your western chart, astronomically, it might actually be in Pisces. And that’s a big deal.

Why This Matters for Your Craft

When we work with celestial energy, we’re tuning into very real cosmic forces. The Moon in Taurus brings a grounded, sensual energy perfect for love and prosperity work. The Moon in Gemini brings quick-moving, intellectual currents ideal for communication and road opening. If you’re timing your ritual based on the wrong sign, you’re effectively knocking on the wrong cosmic door.

It’s like seasoning your soup with sugar when you thought it was salt—it’s still edible, but it’s not going to taste like you intended.

How to Work with the True Sky

If you want to align with the actual placements of the stars, you’ll want to look into sidereal astrology or use tools like Stellarium or SkySafari to check the Moon and planets in real time. Sidereal charts account for precession, showing where celestial bodies truly are in the sky at any given moment.

Once you start using these true positions for your moon work, love work, or root work, you may notice your results becoming sharper, more consistent, and more in harmony with your intent.

Checking the Sky Before Your Working

Step 1: Find the True Positions

• Use a free astronomy app or website like Stellarium, SkySafari, or Time and Date’s Astronomy tools.

• Set your location and current date/time.

• Look up the Moon and the planets—note which constellation (zodiac sign) each one is actually in.

Step 2: Identify the Energy Available

• Match the planet or Moon to its basic energetic influence (see Planet List below).

• Match the zodiac sign it’s in to the flavor or style of that energy (see Sign List below).

Step 3: Align Your Work

• Choose to do your working when the planetary and zodiac energies support your goal.

• If the sky isn’t right today—wait. Timing in the craft is power.

  
  

🔮 Planetary Energies (Sidereal / True Sky)

• Sun – Vitality, willpower, self-expression

• Moon – Emotions, intuition, cycles, the hidden

• Mercury – Communication, intellect, travel

• Venus – Love, attraction, beauty, harmony

• Mars – Action, courage, protection, conflict

• Jupiter – Growth, abundance, wisdom, blessings

• Saturn – Structure, discipline, boundaries, lessons

• Uranus – Innovation, sudden change, liberation

• Neptune – Spirituality, dreams, illusions

• Pluto – Transformation, power, endings and rebirth

  
  

♈ Zodiac Sign Energies (Sidereal / True Sky)

• Aries – Initiative, boldness, leadership

• Taurus – Stability, sensuality, material security

• Gemini – Curiosity, adaptability, quick thinking

• Cancer – Nurturing, protection, emotional depth

• Leo – Creativity, pride, charisma

• Virgo – Precision, service, organization

• Libra – Harmony, partnership, diplomacy

• Scorpio – Intensity, transformation, mystery

• Sagittarius – Expansion, exploration, freedom

• Capricorn – Discipline, ambition, endurance

• Aquarius – Innovation, community, idealism

• Pisces – Compassion, intuition, imagination

  
  

The Bottom Line

If your workings have felt “off” lately and you can’t quite put your finger on why, consider that you may be working with the wrong planetary and zodiacal energies. The stars themselves are always speaking—it’s just up to us to make sure we’re actually listening to where they are, not just where we’ve been told they should be.