With a full year’s reading provided at the start of a Celtic New Year it is possible to easily associate events with what has been forecast and, thereby better understand how events are likely to turn out. Horoscopes arc provided to allow individuals to anticipate what is ahead of them and thereby either lessen or increase the scale of the event. There is no better time to review a horoscope than at the beginning of a New Year and, if the intention is to also trial a new astrological system in order to authenticate its accuracy, it seems reasonable to suggest that as in the case of a Celtic New Year, identifying a specific star sign and follow its navigation through an annual period. Celtic zodiac signs comprise thirteen rather than the more usual twelve star signs called ‘The Birch’ 24 December to 20 January; ‘The Ash’ 18 February to 17 March; ‘The Willow’ 15 April to 12 may; ‘The Oak’ 10 June 7 July; ‘The Hazel’ 5 August to 1 September; ‘The Ivy’ 30 September to 20 October; ‘The Rowan’ 21 January to 17 February; ‘The Alder’ 18 March to 14 April; ‘The Hawthorn’ 13 May to 9 June; ‘The Holly’ 8 July to 4 August; ‘The Vine’ 2 September to 29 September; ‘The Reed’ 28 October to 24 November; ‘The Elder’ 25 November to 23 December.
Celtic astrology offers a genuine potential to explore astrological thinking developed by a civilization that has a history steeped in mysticism. At the root of many astrological systems are the drivers that triggered their development which unsurprisingly, will in some way be linked to mysticism. The Celts were deeply concerned with mysticism and its interaction with nature as reflected in their astrological system which utilizes Signs associated with trees. Trees were symbolic to the Celts because of their certain long age and in general, the possession of a magnificent stature. The presence of trees in the universe appeared to the Celts to possess significance to the way in which human life evolved, possibly because trees supplied the lumber for their housing, fires, ship building and much more. Hence it seems appropriate that any sign associated with the Celtic New Year would reflect an association with trees and through this an association with the Universe as a whole.
The Celtic language incorporates Gaelic. Welsh, and Breton and was spoken by peoples located in Brittany, Ireland, Scotland and Wales and in addition the Isle of Man.
Religious holidays or holidays and celebrations for the many different Celts for a period evolved an association with trees, for example there is evidence to suggest that the Oak was worshipped by some for its physical strength which is possibly attributable to the seaworthiness provided by oak in shipbuilding.
The Celtic New Year commences at dusk rather than dawn, while their year beginning with the festival of Samhain is on 31 October, when nature is dying down and it's time to celebrate Samhain.