Signs and constellations are not the same thing. The confusion occurs because there was a time long ago when they were named the same names. The signs describe the seasons or months of the year. The zodiacal constellations are found along the ecliptic or the path the planets track through the sky. The signs, or seasons of the year, are defined by the solstice and Equinox points. These points are moving through all the constellations precessing one degree every 72 years. Approximately every 26,000 years every sign will move through every constellation along the ecliptic. It is this movement of the signs, or seasons, through the constellations that is the mechanism of how myth and symbol change over time.
The star patterns of the constellations have different meanings to different cultures at different times. This corresponds to the opening line of the Emerald Tablets of Hermes that in its simplest form says "As Above, So Below". For example, the constellation astronomers currently call Aries, (a.k.a. the Ram), was seen as an Indentured Servant prior to the shift of the Spring Equinox into that constellation about 4,000 years ago. The shift of the Spring Equinox moving into the constellation of the Ram coincided with the shift in how that constellation was viewed. Several mythic stories reflect this shift. One such story is of the Cretan Bull Dancers and the slaying of the Minotaur by Theseus. This story symbolized the death of the Age of the Bull (Taurus) and the coming of the age of the Ram (Aries) when the Spring Equinox moved into the constellation of the Ram about 4,000 years ago. Similarly the story of Jesus, also known as the lamb of God, was sacrificed on the cross symbolically giving birth to the current age of the fish, coinciding with the movement of the Spring Equinox into the constellation of the Fish, (also know as Pisces), about 2000 years ago.
One way to remember this is to think of the constellations as constant, they are the back drop through which the signs move. The signs are seasonal. They represent a seasonal energy that is determined by our experience of the Sun at different times of the year. This experience also depends on where we are located on the planet. Near the equator the seasonal shifts are hardly noticeable. The further north or south you go the more extreme the seasonal shifts are. The four cardinal points marking the four main seasonal shifts are Capricorn, Aries, Cancer and Libra. For example, zero Capricorn, marks the Winter Solstice point north of the Equator and the Summer Solstice point south of the Equator. Zero Aries marks the Spring Equinox north of the equator, and the Autumnal Equinox south of the equator.
The Solstice and Equinox points are defined by the relationship of the Celestial Equator (the equator of the Earth expanded into space) and the Ecliptic (the path the planets travel). The equinoxes are formed by the intersection points of these two circles and the Solstices are where the two circles are farthest apart. These are the four cardinal points in space that define our yearly cycle. Our current system uses the Spring Equinox or Zero Aries to begin the division of the circle into 12 segments or 12 signs of 30 degrees each covering the 360 degrees of the circle.
It is helpful to remember that the seasonal points are moving through the constellations. Again the confusion occurs because there was a time when the precessional cycle was forgotten and the signs and constellations were named the same names. The reality is they never have been the same but because long ago they were named the same names there is now a great deal of confusion. That is why in Shamanic Astrology we do not call the constellations by their sign names as a way to remember they are not the same. In otherwords, we call the constellation known as Capricorn, the Goat Fish. Aquarius is the Waterbearer, Pisces is the Fish, Aries is the Ram, Taurus is the Bull, Gemini is the Twins, Cancer is the Crab, Leo is the Lion, Virgo is the Virgin Priestess, Libra is the Scales, Scorpio is the Scorpion, and Sagittarius is the Archer.
The New Shamanic Astrology Logo Depicts the Signs and where they are currently located in the Constellaltions. For example at the Top you see the Scorpion is in the Sign of Sagiattarius or said another way the Sign of Sagittarius (marking the Season prior to Winter Solstice is in the Constellation of the Scorpion and the Archer is located in the Sign of Capricorn or the Season of Winter Solstice a.k.a. Capricorn is in the constellation of the Archer. These two constellations are on either side of Galactic Center.
Over a 26,000 year period all the signs will move through all the zodiacal constellations. As each sign moves through each constellation, the sign and the constellation create a natural synthesis of their individual mysteries that automatically expresses in the Great Below or in our Earth based reality. We have seen evidence of this because different ages have different myths and symbols that define them, i.e. the bull, the ram, the fish, and so on. These ages were marked by the movement of the Spring Equinox of zero Aries into those constellations.
Another type of example that does not use the cardinal points might be helpful. Currently the sign of Sagittarius is overlaying the constellation of the Scorpion. The heart of the Scorpion is marked by a bright red star known as Antares. This star is currently located at about 10 degrees of the sign Sagittarius, which is the seasonal sign just prior to Winter Solstice. This means the Sun rises near this star in early December. 13,000 years ago the early December Sun rose near the opposite star known as Aldebaran, the eye of the bull. Aldebaran is currently located at about 10 degrees Gemini where the early June Sun is now rising. 13,000 years ago the early December Sun rose near Aldebaran and the early June Sun rose near Antares. We are now at a mirror time of what was happening in the sky 13,000 years ago.
So really saying this again helps us to remember that the signs are seasonally based and the zodiacal constellations are the star patterns found along the ecliptic. These are entirely two separate mechanisms that are different but that do interact with each other. Part of our collective remembering now is around the significance and meaning of the movement of the signs through the zodiacal constellations. The challenge then is to let go of our deeply programmed way of thinking that Taurus is the Bull, when in fact much of the Bull is now occupied by the sign of Gemini. And the constellation of the Twins is occupied by the sign of Cancer and even a couple of degrees of Leo. At the season of Summer Solstice the Sun (at zero Cancer) is rising on the boundary of the constellation of the Bull, (not officially quit there yet) and the Twins. The sign of Cancer has only about the last four degrees of its sign left in the constellation that is also called Cancer, or the Crab. So this is why it is helpful to call the constellations by a different name than the sign, because it helps us to remember that they are not the same.
This is further illustrated by the fact that currently the Winter Solstice or the Zero Capricorn point is on the boundary between the Archer and the Scorpion near Galactic Center. This means the sign of Capricorn has almost entirely left the constellation of the Goatfish. The constellation of the Scales (a.k.a. Libra) is now mostly occupied by the sign of Scorpio. In fact, one of the brightest fixed stars in this constellation, the fixed star Zuben Algenubi, is currently marking 15 Scorpio, which is the zodiacal degree of the mid-way point or cross-quarter point between the Autumnal Equinox and Winter Solstice. This means that the Sun is currently rising near Zuben Algenubi at the Samhain astrological cross-quarter on Nov 7 each year. Remember the precession occurs at the rate of one degree every 72 years so the Sun rises within one degree either side of this star at the Samhain cross-quarter for 144 years. We are well into that 144 window now.
Understanding the difference between signs and constellations helps to give us a greater understanding of what time it is in the big cosmic picture so we can participate with greater conscious awareness. This is especially important now as we are now at the Turning Of The Ages. Therefore, as we remember more of these mysteries we are actively engaging a more current and conscious relationship with the Sky as it relates to the Earth. This helps to restore balance between the Great Above and the Great Below each magnificently reflecting the other.
This website has great information about the fixed stars.
http://users.winshop.com.au/annew/