What Is the Celtic Zodiac and How Do You Know Your Sign?

Most people are pretty familiar with the concept of astrology, even if they think it’s hogwash. And many know about the Chinese Zodiac. But what of other forms of astrology, like the Celtic Zodiac?

Last week, I posted about seahorses in folklore. Turns out the seahorse represents a birth month in the Celtic Zodiac. Over on Twitter, Red asked for more information – so here it is! Let’s poke around in astrology and figure out this Celtic Zodiac.

But wait! What about traditional astrology?

So-called Western astrology dates back to 19th-17th century BC Mesopotamia. The system is based on the positions of planetary bodies in relation to each other. We call them ‘star signs’ but your main sign actually relates to the position of the sun at the time of your birth. A full astrological chart also explores what constellations other planets are in. According to believers, this specificity is what lifts astrology above the crappy newspaper daily horoscopes. You can get a free chart from the AstroTwins.

By comparison, the Chinese Zodiac relies on astronomy but divides the signs according to year. Each year in its twelve-year cycle relates to an animal. The selection of animals dates to the Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD). Turns out I’m a Pig, but when I read the description of what Pigs are like? Nothing like me at all.

You can find out your Chinese Zodiac animal here.

So back to the Celtic Zodiac.

The Celtic Zodiac divides the year into thirteen lunar months. They believed that each month carried particular personality traits. So your birth month essentially dictated the essence of who you were.

A tree represents each month. The Ogram, a tree alphabet ascribed to Ogam, an Irish god of poetry, dictates the magical qualities of these trees. It makes sense when you consider the Celtic belief in trees as living entities (which they are, really). They symbolised life, death, and renewal.

Each Sign also bears a guardian animal, stones, a god, and so on (much like the astrology we’re familiar with).

According to Astrology of the Ancients, the Celtic Zodiac signs (the trees, in other words) came first. They only assigned the animals later when they noticed relationships between the animals and months. Those turned into the personality traits associated between the two.

What’s My Sign?

I know, I know, you all want to know what your Celtic Zodiac sign is. Trouble is, some sources vary. So here’s one version, which comes from both Tarot.com and What’s Your Sign.

Dec 24 – Jan 20
The tree is the birch, with rock crystal as its stone. The animals are the golden eagle and white stag.

Jan 21 – Feb 17
The tree is the rowan, with peridot as its stone. The animals are the crane and green dragon.

Feb 18 – March 17
The tree is the ash, with coral as its stone. The animals are the seal, seahorse, and seagull.

March 18 – April 14
The tree is the alder, with ruby as its stone. The animals are the bear, fox, and hawk.

April 15 – May 12
The tree is the willow, with moonstone as its stone. The animals are the adder, hare, and sea serpent.

May 13 – June 9
The tree is the hawthorn, with topaz as its stone. The animals are the bee and owl.

June 10 – July 7
The tree is the oak, with diamond as its stone. The animals are the wren, otter, and white horse.

July 8 – Aug 4
The tree is the holly, with carnelian as its stone. The animals are the cat and unicorn.

Aug 5 – Sept 1
The tree is the hazel, with amethyst as its stone. The animals are the crane and salmon.

Sept 2 – Sept 29
The tree is the vine, with emerald as its stone. The animals are the lizard, hound, and white swan.

Sept 30 – Oct 27
The tree is the ivy, with opal as its stone. The animals are the boar, butterfly, and goose.

Oct 28 – Nov 24
The tree is the reed, with jasper as its stone. The animals are the hound and owl.

Nov 25 – Dec 23
The tree is the elder, with jet as its stone. The animals are the badger, black horse, and raven.

But some websites disagree.

For Building Beautiful Souls, the associated animals differ for certain months. The trees and colours for each month remain the same as the previous example.

Jan 21 – Feb 17
Cat.

Feb 18 – March 17
Snake.

April 15 – May 12
Bull.

May 13 – June 9
Seahorse.

July 8 – Aug 4
Horse.

Oct 28 – Nov 24
Wolf.

Nov 25 – Dec 23
Hawk.

I’ll leave it up to you which you’d rather be if your birth month differs. Me? I’m either a seal, seahorse, seagull or snake. I love all but the seagull so I guess I’m pretty happy. Either way, I’m an ash, so does it really matter?

Celtic astrology and folklore

So why am I talking about astrology in my folklore column?

In Animals in Celtic Life and Myth (aff link), Miranda Green points to the close relationship between the Celts and the world around them (p. 1). They depended on their environment to provide sustenance. These links emerged “in the realms of religion, ritual and myth” (p. 1).

While the Celts venerate a range of gods and goddesses, they also believed that “[e]very tree, mountain, rock and spring possessed its own spirit or numen” (p. 1). I’ve talked about genius loci (spirit of a place) before, but the Celtic belief takes it that little bit further. Nature could provide, heal, nourish, and protect. Or she could destroy, starve, flood, and overcome.

For Green, the height, lifespan and root system of trees lent them their sanctity, and trees “formed a link between the sky, earth and underworld” (p. 2). It’s hardly surprising that such important beings would form the basis of the Celtic Zodiac, with animals added later. When you live in touch with the natural world, that world emerges in everything you do.

I hesitate to call astrology folklore, but the Celtic system takes us closer to their mythology than to folk tales. But the trees themselves emerge in our folklore, such as rowan and holly. Since the animals differ across different interpretations, maybe we should be more concerned with the trees ascribed to our Celtic signs.

Which Celtic sign are you? Let me know in the comments!