Meaning of Aztec Horoscope

Between 1351 and 1521, the Aztecs inhabited the region that is now Mexico. It is possible to highlight that they were one of the most sophisticated civilizations of the period, both in terms of technology and culture.

Thus, they managed to build a veritable empire, which was decimated by the Spanish colonizers during the 16th century. However, some ideas remained as a legacy, such as the Aztec Horoscope, which has highly precise astronomical calculations and is full of peculiarities.

Throughout the article, some details about this horoscope will be discussed, as well as the beliefs that helped in its foundation. Read on to learn more about it!

The Aztec belief

According to the Aztecs' belief, the Earth has distinct cosmic ages and each one of them had a different sun. Thus, this idea served as a foundation for their horoscope, created based on various myths.

Therefore, it is worth noting that the Aztec Horoscope is based on 5 different eras: Ocelotonatiuh, Ehecatonatiu, Quianhunatiu, Atonatiuh and Tonatiu, each with its own particularities and always linked to the idea of destruction and reconstruction.

These eras will be discussed in more detail in the next section of the article, to help explain the rationale behind Aztec Horoscopes. To find out more, keep reading!

Ocelotonatiuh, the jaguar

The first era of existence was that of Ocelotonatiuh, who was also known as Jaguar and sheltered the giants. He was part of the elite of the Aztec militarism, a position that was coveted by many people, but few could actually get there. Therefore, those who arrived wore flashy clothes with the image of his symbol.

Besides being a symbol of a complex victory, the jaguar, in this culture, also represents the night, due to its characteristics of cunning, speed and lethality. This is the perfect model for any soldier.

Ehecatonatiuh, the Wind

According to Aztec legends, the second era, known as Ehecatonatiuh (or the Wind), represents the moment when human beings were decimated by a hurricane. Shortly after the natural catastrophe, few managed to survive.

The ones that remained alive became monkeys. This is something that is directly related to the idea that man would have evolved through changes in these animals, which were adapting to be able to survive. This shows how advanced the Aztecs were, since the theory was formulated centuries later.

Quiahutonatiuh, Rain of Fire

Like the ages that preceded it, Quiahutonatiuh also began with a catastrophe. Just like its predecessors, it was motivated by natural phenomena. Thus, the age known as the Rain of Fire also featured human extinction, but it began by other factors.

It is worth noting that everything that existed on Earth during this period was consumed by the lava of volcanoes and fire. However, again, some people managed to survive. But, due to the impossibility of following the ground, they turned into birds.

Atonatiuh, the Water

Closing the eras caused by natural phenomena - something that also connects with the four elements present in the traditional zodiac - the fourth is called Atonatiuh and speaks about destruction by fluvial means. Thus, it became known as the Water.

According to Aztec legends, the Earth was covered by rivers in that context. So, this generated a capacity of adaptation in people to survive the catastrophe. Therefore, whoever managed to stay alive in the transition of the era ended up becoming a fish.

Tonatiu, the Lord of Heaven

After all the periods of change by natural phenomena, the Earth was taken over by a desolating darkness. This went on for quite a long time, and during the era of Tonatiu, the Lord of Heaven, there was no life or sunlight of any kind on the planet.

Thus, silence predominated. Then, the gods decided to act to begin a new era, giving birth to Tonatiu. From the moment the new period was created by the superior beings, the Earth returned to its original state and before the natural disasters.

Calendar of Pedra do Sol

The Sun Stone calendar was created by the Aztecs to address the astrology and astronomy of the people. It has 360 days in length and is divided into 18 months. In addition, the number of days of each month is also different from the calendar used today, as each had only 20 days.

Each of these days had a different representative, be it an object, an animal or even a phenomenon of nature. The important thing is that the representation should exist for the fulfillment of religious rituals and for the origin of the Aztec Horoscope. See more about this calendar below!

What it is

In the Western world, the Aztec calendar was only discovered in the 16th century. It was found by the conquistadors of Mexico among the rubble and was a kind of disc made in stone, containing all the chronological and cosmological representations of the civilization.

The calendar in question helped the priests to interpret the content of the messages sent by the heavens, which were used as the basis for their predictions of the future. The Sun Stone calendar had 12 signs, responsible for constituting the Aztec Horoscope as we know it today.

Months

The months of the Aztec calendar (18) have 20 days. Each of them has a distinct representation and the same sign can be found several times within a single month, thanks to this association.

So, for example, the Monkey is the representative of the days 1, 13 and 25 in January. When it comes to February, it represents the days 1, 11 and 13. This is repeated with all the months of the year and the Monkey is present on 3 days of each of them.

Aztec Horoscopes

Because it is divided into days and not months, Aztec Horoscopes can be difficult to understand for those who are used to the traditional model. There are also other details which make it very different and which can be strange at first sight.

This happens because the deities associated with the eras which served as the basis for the calendar manifest themselves in the Aztec Horoscope. Thus they take shape to protect the people who are governed by them.

The following will discuss some more details about this horoscope and explain how to find your sign. Read on to find out more!

Aztec Astrology

Aztec Astrology is very different from traditional astrology, because it is based on a mythology, so the five eras have a direct impact in the way it works and also in the fact that the signs are conditioned to the day of birth, besides the month.

Another interesting point is that each sign can appear up to three times in the same month and it is possible to find natives of them throughout the year. In addition, it is worth mentioning that the calculations made by the Aztecs to prepare their astrology are considered very accurate.

How to discover the sign

To discover your sign in Aztec Horoscope, first of all you have to find out the number which corresponds to your year of birth.

For example, a person born in 1988 has 19 as a number, so you need to add to it the number of the Aztec month of birth. For those born in June, it will be 10. Finally, add the day of your birth.

In the case of the example, 19 + 10 + 24 = 53. However, as the number must be between 1 and 20, it is necessary to add again, ending with the number 8, corresponding to the sign Rabbit.

Aztec Horoscope Signs

In Aztec astrology, there is the belief that each month is influenced by a deity, directly associated with the sign and who acts as its protector. Thus, she has direct influence on the destiny of men.

It is possible to affirm that there are a total of 20 deities connected to the astrology of this people. In addition, it is worth mentioning the fact that time is measured based on a 24-hour cycle, whose changes are conditioned to the seasons of the year.

Finally, it is worth mentioning that the signs receive the direct influence of a number. Read on to find out more!

Flower

The Flower is a sign associated with the number twenty and corresponding to the color white. It has lunar characteristics and therefore its natives are people full of tenderness. They can feel a strong affinity with the arts and show great sensitivity.

In addition, the Flower is also linked to the idea of vivacity and vigor, so it always stays full of life and tends to get along well with the signs Eagle and Monkey. Its ruling planet is Venus and its entity is Xochiquetzal.

Rain

The Rain sign is associated with the number 19 and its color is dark red. As it is a natural phenomenon which cannot be contained, the natives of this sign are people moved by their passions. They like to be that way and their actions tend to impulsivity.

In addition, Chuva is an extremely versatile sign, protected by the deities Tonatiuh and Chantico. Its planetary ruler is Mercury, which is associated with communication in traditional astrology and impacts versatility.

Knife

The Knife (or Silex) is the sign of number 18 and its colour is bright red. It is a strict sign which gives a lot of importance to act in a correct and moral way. Due to these characteristics, its natives are people averse to lies and have a keen sense of justice.

In general, these people tend to authoritarianism and do not make many complaints, always going ahead without questioning. It is a sign ruled by Mars and protected by Tezcatlipoca and Chalchiuhtotolin.

Earthquake

The Earthquake sign represents the number 17 and can be understood as a symbol of beauty. In addition, it is also associated with prudence, with wisdom and its natives are people who tend to study their attitudes in order to always act in a precise way.

Therefore, a native person of Earthquake has a rather fertile imagination and full of energy. As a result of these characteristics, these people tend to be very bold in their postures. Their ruling planet is the Sun and their protective entity is Xolotl.

Vulture

It can be said that Vulture is considered a good sign in Aztec astrology. Represented by the number 16, it denotes people who have good health and a tendency to live long lives. These lives, however, will be marked by great responsibilities.

However, due to the talent of Vulture people, these responsibilities tend to be non-threatening. Natives of this sign have an aptitude for commerce and can keep calm while pursuing their goals. They are ruled by the sun and their protective deity is Itzpapálotl.

Eagle

The Eagle has 15 as its numeral and silver as its color. As the animal suggests, the natives of this sign are strong and courageous people. In general, they tend to have masculine characteristics, especially virility.

Another very striking characteristic of native Eagle people is their energy, which is always renewing itself. They are also very lucid people who can overcome the darkness and always move towards the light, but they tend to be suspicious. They are ruled by the Sun and their deity is Xipe-Totec.

Jaguar

The sign of the Jaguar (or Ocelot) is represented by 14 and the colour black. Among its striking features, we can mention its strong character, which makes the natives of this sign associated to aggressiveness. In fact, they are intemperate people who become calmer when accompanied by the Flower or the Monkey.

It is also worth noting that Jaguar natives tend to be unfaithful in love and will always be a mystery to their partners. They are ruled by Jupiter and protected by Tlazoltéotl.

Cane

The natives of the sign Cana (or Junco) are people who are completely in love with life and have 13 as a numeral. The sign in question is the representation of paradise on Earth, due to the location where, in general, reeds grow, on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.

In addition, Cana is a sign that represents joy, optimism and propensity to live life's pleasures fully. However, it is focused on simplicity. Cana is ruled by Jupiter and has Tezcatlipoca and Itzacoliuhque as deities.

Grass

The Herb (or Grass) is represented by 12. It is worth mentioning that this can be considered one of the most mysterious signs in all Aztec astrology and therefore its meanings are ambiguous. Thus, sometimes it represents very positive issues and sometimes it indicates that its natives will need to face several difficulties.

Therefore, people of the sign Erva are resilient and very sensitive, due to the constant oscillations. They have Jupiter as their ruling planet and their protective deity is Patecalt.

Monkey

Monkey is the sign of number 11 and its colour is golden yellow. Its natives are very modest people and have an enviable capacity to adapt. Therefore, they can get through any kind of situation. Moreover, Monkey is a sign associated with beauty and seduction.

However his natives do not like to be approached and this tends to make them uninterested. For Monkey, interest needs to arise spontaneously and then he becomes an extremely amiable person.

Dog

The sign Dog is associated with the number 10. In general, its natives are very generous people who are always willing to do something to help others. Dog is a sign of usefulness in the practical sphere and this is reflected in the identity of the people associated with it.

Besides, the courage of this sign and its excellent intuition, which makes it very perceptive, are also worth mentioning. However, its native is shy. It has Mars as ruler and its protective deity is Mictlantecuhtli.

Water

Water is the sign associated with the numeral 9. It expresses characteristics such as fertility, rarity and necessity. It is also worth mentioning that this element is usually associated with anxiety in Aztec astrology and, therefore, its natives tend to be people who go through constant instability and anguish.

Thus, they are endowed with great sensitivity and are susceptible to the environment in which they are inserted. Their ruling planet is Mars and their protective deity is Xiuhtecuhtli.

Rabbit

The sign Rabbit is represented by the number 8 and also by the colour indigo blue. It is a sign which is passionate about the pleasures of life, but very shy and delicate. Moreover, its natives are people who do not like conflicts because companionship is one of their central characteristics.

They are hardworking and always smiling, however, they have a controlling side and become very anxious people when something does not go as they expect. They are ruled by the Moon and their deity is Mayahuel.

Deer

The Stag (or Deer) represents the number 7. Many characteristics of the sign are linked to the animal, which is a representative of rarity and prestige. About the rarity, it is worth mentioning that it is due to the fact that it is extremely difficult to find a stag in the highlands of Mexico.

The Deer is also very dreamy and shy, so he tends to get lost in his own daydreams, but he is tenacious and very sociable. His planetary ruler is the Moon and his protective deity is Tláloc.

Skull

Skull, or Death, is represented by the number 6 and the color violet. In general, the sign is associated with the ideas of justice and ethics. Its natives tend to be introverted people and very focused on reflection about what is inside.

They are ruled by the Moon and have Tecuzitecalt and Meztli as deities.

Snake

Spontaneity is one of the main characteristics of the sign Serpent. It is represented by the number 5 and has orange as its main colour. In addition, due to their spontaneous personality, the natives of this sign tend to be people who take unthinking attitudes and are capable of surprising.

It is worth noting that Serpent is also a sign that represents the reconciliation between heaven and earth and its natives have a strong tendency to become lazy people. It is ruled by Saturn and has Chalchiuhtlicue as its deity.

Lizard

For the Aztecs, the lizard is an animal associated with vivacity. Thus, the sign representing number 4, Lizard, has as natives people capable of facing the most varied situations head on and without any kind of laziness.

Therefore, it is possible to say that the Lizard has the capacity of resistance and persistence, but whenever it faces an obstacle, it will act carefully so as not to make hasty decisions that could hinder its trajectory. It has Saturn as its ruling planet and it is associated to the deity Huehuecoyotl.

House

The House sign is associated with the number 3 and its colour is dark green. Due to the symbolism of the house, it is linked to the idea of generosity, welcome and receptivity with people. Therefore, its natives are affectionate and are always seeking to achieve spiritual balance.

Moreover, the House speaks about family values and its natives are people who feel good in such environments. They like routine and have Saturn as ruling planet.

Wind

The Wind, represented by the number 2, is a sign that symbolizes the ability to make decisions based on victory. Thus, its natives are able to get around the obstacles that come their way. In this way, they may even go through some storms, but they always manage to calm down after the whirlwind.

It is worth mentioning that Wind is a flexible sign, something that makes its natives agile and of great physical power. Besides, it has quite strong morals. It is ruled by Venus and has Quetzalcoatl as its deity.

Crocodile

The Crocodile is the sign representing the number 1 and has light green as its main colour. Moreover, this Aztec sign is a symbol of knowledge. Therefore, its natives are people attached to logic and common sense, so they are always making rational decisions.

Moreover, the Crocodile is a sign focused on understanding and analysis. It denotes strength of will, is ruled by Venus and its corresponding deity is Tonacetecuhtli.

What is the relationship between the Aztec horoscope and the deities of the Aztec pantheon?

The Aztecs were a polytheistic people. That is, their religion worshipped several different gods and goddesses. Thus, their rituals, as well as their sacrifices, were directed to different entities, to whom they asked for protection.

These entities are directly associated with natural phenomena and human feelings. Therefore, they are the protectors of each of the signs present in the Aztec Horoscope and are associated with those natives who have points in common. As an illustration, Quetzacoltl, for example, is a divinity which is associated with the sign Wind, due to its great spiritual strength.

Now that you know a little more about Aztec Horoscope and its concepts, it's time to do the calculation and find out your sign!