When te Egyptians were introduced to our familiar signs of the Zodiac by the Macedonians in the 3rd century BC, they quickly became some of the most prolific astrologers in the ancient world. But before the arrival of the Greeks, the Egyptians had their own astrology.
The Egyptians identified 36 small star constellations that divided the elliptical sky into 10-degree sections, called decans. These rose consecutively on the horizon and functioned as a kind of star clock. Every ten days, a different decan appeared heliacally on the horizon at dawn just before sunrise, making it the ruling constellation of the day.
Knowledge about these star constellations was recorded in the Book of Nut, named for the sky goddess. It recorded information about the constellations, and also the movement of the “lights” (the sun and the moon) and the “wandering stars” (Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and Mercury).
The decan constellations were associated with 12 ancient Egyptian gods, who ruled over three decan groups each, forming something similar to the modern zodiac. Rather than being a consecutive group of days, it was several different day clusters throughout the year.
Based on this information, modern astrologers have turned the ancient Egyptian decan constellations and their ruling gods into a kind of Egyptian zodiac.
Hapi: God of the Nile
January 1-7, June 12-18, September 1-7, and November 18-26
Linked to Sagittarius. Constellation ruled by the Moon and Uranus.
The god Hapi embodies the Nile River and especially the Nile during the inundation. It was believed that he lived in a cave near the source of the Nile at Aswan. He represents the life-giving power of the Nile and the blessing of fertility.
Hapi’s central role in the Egyptian ecosystem meant that he was sometimes seen as the “father of the gods” and considered responsible for maintaining balance in a chaotic world. He was usually represented as a unisex person with drooping breasts and belly, but the beard and attire of a man. He has blue skin to represent the waters of the Nile.
People born under Hapi tend to be logical and practical, but also very emotional. This, combined with their keen observational skills, gives them very good intuition. But they know how to keep their emotions under control. They dislike conflict and will avoid it at all costs. They are good at finding balance and compromise in a chaotic world.
Amun-Ra: The Hidden Sun God
January 8-12 and February 1-11
Linked to Taurus. Constellation ruled by the Sun and Saturn.
Amun was one of the gods of the Hermopolitan Ogdoad and was called the hidden or invisible one suggesting that he was always present but never seen. He rose to the position of patron god of Thebes, and became one of the most important gods in Egypt when Thebes rose in political significance.
Amun was later fused with the sun god Ra to become a super-powerful, self-created, creator deity. Amun-Ra was one of the most prominent gods in ancient Egypt. He became an object of personal piety and was considered a champion of the underdog.
People born under Amun-Ra are confident and optimistic, but they are also smart and strategic in their decision-making. This makes them excellent leaders. They know their personal strengths and are realistic about their weaknesses. They believe in taking action to see the change they want.
Mut: Primordial Mother Goddess
January 22–31 and September 8–22
Linked to Scorpio. Constellation ruled by the Sun.
Mut is one of the deities considered to have emerged from the primordial waters of Nu and to have given birth to the world, making her a primordial mother goddess. She was considered the wife of the creator deity Amun-Ra, and the mother of the lunar god Khonsu.
She is depicted as a woman with the wings of a vulture and invoked as “Lady of Heaven and Mistress of All the Gods”. She wears the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt to show her dominion over all things. She also carries the Ankh, the symbol of life, and is often depicted with the feather of Ma’at, representing justice.
People born under Mut are sensitive and affectionate. They are passionate lovers, and also natural carers who instinctively look out for others. They can have a tendency to help too much! Their feelings are close to the surface so they are easily hurt. They also tend to be very goal-oriented, but can become discouraged when they feel like they have let themselves down. They have very high standards.
Geb: God of the Earth
February 12–29 and August 20–31
Linked to Libra. Constellation ruled by the Earth.
The earth is sometimes referred to as the House of Geb, as he is the primordial god of the earth in the Ennead of Heliopolis. The laughter of Geb creates earthquakes, and he is also the god that allows crops to grow. But Geb is not a benevolent father figure, he is more like Cronos of the Greek Titans.
Geb was feared as the father of snakes, specifically the mythical primeval snake Nehebkau. He was also associated with the ram, bull, and crocodile. He was the god of the earth’s fertile lands, but also the desert, which was sometimes described as jaws that opened up to swallow those not worthy of living in the fertile lands.
People born under Geb tend to be shy, but also naturally charismatic. They are highly emotional and led by their feelings, which can be personally challenging but tends to attract others. When the do form a bond with someone it is deep and lasting.
Osiris: God of the Underworld
March 1–10 and November 27 – December 18
Linked to Aries. Constellation ruled by Pluto and the Sun.
A member of the Ennead of Heliopolis, Osiris was originally the king of the mortal realms with his sister-wife Isis. But jealous of his brother, Seth killed Osiris and took his place. Isis was able to bring her husband back to life to conceive a son, but Osiris was not fully alive. He had a kind of half-life. Therefore Isis created the Duat, the underworld, for Osiris and he became the ruler of that realm.
Osiris’ continued life allows others to love after death as well. He is depicted with green skin to represent that he is no longer among the living. His death and return also linked him to life’s eternal fertility cycle of birth, death, and renewal.
People born under Osiris are intelligent, independent, and adaptable. They make the best of any situation and nothing stops their forward motion. They can be selfish and don’t tend to be good at reading other people and understanding their point of view. But they are warm and generous when they want to be.
Isis: Goddess of Magic
March 11–31, October 18–29, and December 19–31
Linked to Pisces. Constellation ruled by the Moon, Earth, and Uranus.
Isis is the divine sister-mother of Osiris in the Ennead of Heliopolis. A powerful magic worker, she brought Osiris back to life when he was killed by Seth so that she could become pregnant with Horus. She also created the Duat, the afterlife, for Osiris to live in, and therefore for all people to live in after death.
Isis was considered to be the most powerful magic worker among the gods, so powerful that she could even control fate. She became so popular in ancient Egypt that she absorbed the attributes and functions of many other goddesses. Her worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world, even as far as England.
People born under Isis tend to be those overachievers who seem to be able to do everything and keep all their plates spinning. However, they need to remember not to overextend themselves and make time for self-care. They are honest and genuine in their interactions with others, which makes them easy to like, even when they are sharing hard truths.
Thoth: God of Wisdom
April 1–19 and November 8–17
Linked to Virgo. Constellation ruled by the Moon and Mercury.
Thoth is one of several Egyptian gods associated with the moon, which was considered a great teacher. Thoth is also a teacher and he is the patron of mathematics, astronomy, magic, science, hieroglyphics, and other academic arts.
Thoth was considered to be one of the gods that accompanied and protected the sun barge as it made its journey across the sky. He was also considered to have the considered head for judgment and was responsible for resolving divine disputes. He was partnered with Ma’at, the Egyptian goddess of truth, balance, and justice. Thoth was often depicted with the head of an ibis or a baboon.
People born under Thoth, while not extroverted, have a natural energy that is palpable. They are intelligent, naturally academic, and quick learners and thinkers, which makes them adaptable to most situations. They tend to approach everything with a level head. They are also relentless self-improvers and aren’t happy unless they are trying to better themselves.
Horus: God of Kingship
April 20 – May 7 and August 12–19
Linked to Capricorn. Constellation ruled by the Moon and Sun.
The son of Osiris and Isis, Horus was born to defeat Seth, avenge his father, and reclaim the kingship of the mortal world. He was synchronized with the Pharoah, who was considered his mortal incarnation. He was often depicted as a falcon or a man with a falcon head.
As well as kingship, Horus was connected with healing, protection, the sun, and the sky. His eye was gouged out during one of his battles with Seth and the Eye of Horus was considered a symbol of protection.
People born under Horus tend to be friendly folk who get along with everyone. They are brave, optimistic, and ambitious, and naturally find themselves in leadership positions. They believe that there is nothing they can’t do and don’t shy away from big challenges. But they don’t tend to focus on preparation.
Anubis: Funerary God
May 8–27 and June 29 – July 13
Linked to Leo. Constellation ruled by Mercury.
Anubis is a funerary god linked with the practice of embalming and guiding the dead on their path. He is depicted as a jackal or with a jackal head, making him a protector of tombs. He is one of the most depicted gods in ancient Egypt but has no known myths.
Anubis is also associated with liminal and dangerous places in the world. This is also why he can pass between the worlds of the living and the dead. He is part of the ceremony to weigh the heart of the dead against the feather of truth to see if they can pass into the Duat.
People born under Anubis are effortlessly confident but also introverted and tend to work best on their own. They are incurably curious and often develop deep interests in topics. They are willing to work hard for what they want and understand that the journey is the most important part of reaching any goal.
Seth: God of Chaos
May 28 – June 18 and September 28 – October 2
Linked to Gemini. Constellation ruled by Mars.
In modern times, Seth is most often cited for killing his brother Osiris, stealing his kingship, and then being defeated, making way for Horus to take on the kingship. But he was much more important than that. The god of the red land (the desert), he represented the necessary balance in the universe.
He is also one of the gods that protects the sun barge from Apophis and ensures that the sun rises each day to bless the land. He was also often considered the god of foreigners and all things “other”.
People born under Seth love to be the center of attention and will do anything to get it. They are also perfectionists, but they don’t mind being judged by others, since they are their own hardest critic. They are ambitious and know what it takes to really achieve something.
Bastet: Cat Goddess
July 14–28, September 23–27, and October 3–17
Linked to Cancer. Constellation ruled by the Sun and the Moon.
Bastet is the Egyptian cat goddess; cats were sacred in ancient Egypt. She was a goddess of protection against sickness and evil spirits, but also sensuality and pleasure. Highly fertile, she was also a goddess of pregnancy and childbirth and is generally associated with feminine attributes.
Bastet can also bestow good health and good fortune. She is closely associated with the domestic world and things of the home.
People born under Bastet are naturally charming and tend to rely on wit and good luck rather than study and preparation. They are very good at maintaining balance in the different aspects of their life. Above all they hate conflict, but their claws can come out with necessary. They are good at pulling strings to get what they want.
Sekhmet: Lion Goddess
July 29 – August 11 and October 30 – November 7
Linked to Aquarius. Constellation ruled by the Sun.
The name Sekhmet means “she who is powerful”, and that is a good summary of the goddess. Depicted with the head of a lion, she is both a goddess of war and of healing. She is associated with many dangerous things including the hot desert sun and plagues. She is linked with the Eye of Horus symbol and is sometimes considered a vengeful manifestation of Ra’s protective power.
According to one story, the god Ra sent her to cause chaos on Earth when he became angry with humanity. She can also represent the opportunity that emerges from tragedy.
People born under Sekhmet are passionate in everything they do. They are quick to anger but also quick to love. They often have opposing personalities. They can be serious one moment and jovial the next. Their mood swings can be unpredictable. They are determined and know how to work hard.
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