Astrological sign
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A fundamental part of astrology is the belief that space and time (as seen from the earth) are ordered into twelve equal segments or divisions called the zodiac. Each of the twelve individual segments or divisions is known in astrology as a zodiac sign. According to astrological theory, celestial phenomena reflect or govern human activity on the principle of 'as above, so below'. Accordingly, astrologers believe that the Signs of the Zodiac represent twelve basic personality types or characteristic modes of expression.
In Western and Indian or Jyotish astrology, it is the sky that is divided into segments and the twelve signs are named after twelve different constellations that historically occupied each segment of the sky. This belt or band of constellations then became known as the zodiac. In Chinese astrology there is no connection with constellations, as it is simply the line of the equator that is divided into twelve equal segments. The twelve Chinese animal signs are therefore not a zodiac in the strict, original sense of the word, though the term has been adopted in Western use for the sake of convenience.
In Western, and Indian or Jyotish astrology, the emphasis is on space, and the movement of the sun, moon and planets in the sky through each of the zodiac signs. In Chinese astrology, by contrast, the emphasis is on time, with the zodiac operating on cycles of years, months or 'moons', and hours of the day. A common feature of all three traditions however, is the significance of the ascendant or rising sign, namely the zodiac sign that is rising (due to the rotation of the earth) on the eastern horizon at the moment of a person's birth. The method of calculating the rising sign varies between each tradition however.
The zodiac
Both Western and Vedic astrology employ a zodiac which divides the ecliptic (the apparent path of the Sun through the heavens) into twelve astrological signs of equal length.
The Western tropical astrology starts with the first point of Aries, which is defined as the point at which the ecliptic crosses the celestial equator at the spring equinox. It is important to note that the tropical zodiac signs at this stage no longer bear any relationship to the astronomical constellations after which they were originally named, due to a phenomenon known as the precession of the equinoxes which produces a slow change of the time of year when constellations are visible in the night sky over a 25,000 year cycle.
Western sidereal astrology and Indian Vedic astrology use signs which more or less coincide with the stellar constellations of the same name, although this involves adjustments to allow for the precession of the equinoxes.
Because the calendar is defined by the movement of the Earth around the Sun, and its orbit is very nearly circular, the sign in which the Sun falls on any day of the year is fairly predictable, though it will vary a little due to the effect of the extra day in leap years. These dates are given in the article that deals with each sign individually. To determine the sign in which the moon and other planets fall on any given day, it is necessary to consult an ephemeris or use an astrological computer program which will have a built-in ephemeris; these computer programs make it quick and easy to calculate the natal chart (also called horoscope) so that the astrologer can spend more time interpreting the chart rather than actually calculating it.
Dates of zodiac signs in different systems
The following table compares the dates that the sun enters a sign in tropical (Western) and sidereal (Indian or Vedic) astrological systems, and the date when it enters the astronomical constellation by the same name using the International Astronomical Union (IAU) 1930 definition of the boundaries. The dates can vary by as much as 2 days, from year to year, depending on the cycle of leap years, and the precession of the perihelion of the Earth's orbit over many centuries.
The "tropical" zodiacal dates (those that divide the zodiac starting with the northern hemisphere vernal equinox) are used primarily in the United States and western Europe. The "sidereal" dates (those that divide the zodiac starting with the alignment of the Sun with a distant star in Aries) are used primarily in India.
Western zodiac signs
The signs affect the energies of each planet in a characteristic way when it enters each sign (though due consideration will also be given to other conditions within the astrological chart such as the effect of aspects to other planets, and the house in which each planet falls). [1] Each sign is associated with one of the classical elements (fire, earth, air, or water) and one of the three qualities or modalities (cardinal, fixed, or mutable). It is also associated with an area of concern: personal, social, or universal.
Zodiac symbolism
This table shows the zodiac names in Latin with their English translation. It also shows the element and quality associated with each sign.
| Sign | English name | Element | Quality |
| Aries | The Ram | Fire | Cardinal |
| Taurus | The Bull | Earth | Fixed |
| Gemini | The Twins | Air | Mutable |
| Cancer | The Crab | Water | Cardinal |
| Leo | The Lion | Fire | Fixed |
| Virgo | The Virgin | Earth | Mutable |
| Libra | The Scales | Air | Cardinal |
| Scorpio | The Scorpion | Water | Fixed |
| Sagittarius | The Archer | Fire | Mutable |
| Capricorn | The Sea-goat | Earth | Cardinal |
| Aquarius | The Water Carrier | Air | Fixed |
| Pisces | The Fishes | Water | Mutable |
Characteristics
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- Aries (The Ram)(cardinal, fire, personal): Keyword: "I am". Free, assertive, individualistic, impulsive, intellectual, headstrong, pioneering, leader, action-oriented, intemperate, violent, fiery, straightforward, extreme, arrogant, passionate, powerful, loner, freedom-loving. Part of body: head/skull
- Taurus (The Bull) (fixed, earth, personal): Keyword: "I have". Resourceful, thorough, devoted, patient, indulgent, sensual, affectionate, possessive, cautious, acquisitive, musical, artistic, stubborn, solid, earthy, strong, sturdy, slow, kind, just. Part of body: throat/neck
- Gemini (The Twins)(mutable, air, personal): Keyword: "I think". Logical, inquisitive, lively, active, curious, multi-tasking, talkative, sociable, duality, mercurial, whimsical, restless, informed. Part of body: hands/lungs,
- Cancer (The Crab) (cardinal, water, personal): Keyword: "I feel". Protective, sensitive, clinging, tenacious, family and home oriented, helpful, nurturing, moody, watery, emotional, crabby, loving. Part of body: stomach/breasts
- Leo (The Lion)(fixed, fire, social): Keyword: "I will". Generous, proud, theatrical, passionate, bossy, loves attention, dramatic, arrogant, independent, noble, creative, leader, egotistic, sunny, bright, kingly, powerful. Part of body: heart/back
- Virgo (The Virgin) (mutable, earth, social): Keyword: "I analyze". Practical, efficient, critical, work and service oriented, common sense, modest, health conscious, mentally active, fussy, helpful, loving, flexible. Part of body: intestines/digestion
- Libra (The Scales) (cardinal, air, social): Keyword: "I balance". Co-operative, diplomatic, urbane, fair, lazy, partnerships, refined, balance, grace, charm, debative, just, open-minded, social, ideas. Part of body: kidneys/lumbar
- Scorpio (The Scorpion) (fixed, water, social): Keyword: "I desire". Passionate, secretive, powerful, keen perception, deep, complex, analytical, inquisitive, resourceful, evolutionary, magnetic, intense, hypnotic, sexual, perspicacious, creative, vigorous, untameable, cunning, ambitious, aggressive, tyrannical, sadistic, mysterious, transformation. Part of body: Pelvis/reproductive organs
- Sagittarius (The Archer) (mutable, fire, universal): Keyword: "I perceive". Free, straightforward, careless, tactless, philosophic, intellectual, fun-loving, arrogant, adventurous, expansive, optimistic, blundering, believer, scattered. Part of body: hips/thighs
- Capricorn (The Sea-goat) (cardinal, earth, universal): Keyword: "I use". Prudent, cautious, suspicious, ambitious, rigid, authoritative, cunning, competent, saturnine. Part of body: knees/skeleton
- Aquarius (The Water Carrier) (fixed, air, universal): Keyword: "I know". Democratic, unconventional, detached, friendships, humanitarian, cause-oriented, the group, society, progressive, eccentric, elitist, sophisticated, objective. Part of body: nervous system/ankles
- Pisces (The Fishes)(mutable, water, universal): Keyword: "I believe". Imaginative, sensitive, distracted, feeling, duality, idealistic, spirituality, acceptance, undiscriminating, soul growth, martyrdom, artistic, neglectful, surrender, escapist, lazy, compassionate. Part of body: feet/immune system
The four elements
Each sign is associated with one of the classical element (water, fire, earth and air.)
- Fire signs--Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius--are associated with action, passion, and energy. In combination with the other elements, fire feels that earth will smother it, water will drown it, but air will fan and enliven it. It is the element of focus.
- Earth signs--Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn--are associated with sensation, stability and practicality. In combination with the other elements, earth feels that air will dissipate it, fire will parch it, but water will refresh and nourish it. It is the element of strength.
- Air signs--Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius--are associated with thought, perspective and communication. In combination with the other elements, air feels that water will obscure it, earth will suffocate it, but fire will inspire and uplift it. It is the element of agility.
- Water signs--Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces--are associated with growth processes, identification and emotion. In combination with the other elements, water feels that fire will make it boil, air will evaporate it, but earth will shape and channel it. It is the element to heal and is the element of life.
In various belief systems, four is considered an earthly number, there being four elements. Three is considered a divine number, and there are three qualities. Three plus four equals seven, a number often signifying the union of heaven and earth.
The Three Qualities
The Qualities assign the Signs into Quadruplicities, three groups of four. They are occasionally referred to as crosses because each quality forms a cross when drawn across the zodiac. Christian astrology relates the three qualities to the three aspects of god in the trinity.
- Cardinal signs -Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn- are associated with initiation and creativity. In the trinity, it is the Creator, God the Father.
- Fixed signs -Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius- are associated with focus, individuality and determination. In the trinity, it is Christ, God the Son, God incarnated. The church san miniato al monte contains abundant symbolism of the fixed signs.
- Mutable signs -Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces- are associated with resourcefulness, holism and adaptability. In the Trinity, it is the Holy Spirit.
Additional classifications
While knowing element and quality of a sign is sufficient to define it, several other groupings can be used for those interested in understanding their symbolism further. Most common is sequentially. Although most commonly used to define planets, it is valid for signs as well. This cycle has been used as a metaphorical descriptor of the process of birth, development, and death, of humans, societies, or even humanity.
- Personal Signs - Aries, Taurus, Gemini, and Cancer - Describe signs that are principally aware of and concerned with the self. They tend to be earnest as fabricating a lie would be like lying to themselves. They are concerned with: Energy, Competition; Earthly pleasures, simplicity; Communication, Wit; Moody, Shy/Attention Craving.
- Interpersonal Signs - Leo, Virgo, Libra, and Scorpio - Describe signs that are principally aware of and concerned with others, and sociality. Here we see signs that represent various aspects of society and how humans relate: Ruling, Stardom, creativity; Ideals, Justice, Organized War; Order, cleanliness, logic; Deeper meaning, Religion, Occult.
- Transpersonal Signs - Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces - Describe signs that are principally aware of and concerned with humanity the represent: Professionalism, Executiveship, Material Accumulation; Philosophy, Travel, Culture; Equality, Technology, Democracy; Art, Psychic,and Universal Love.
Planetary rulerships
In traditional Western astrology, each sign is ruled by one and only one of the seven visible planets (note that in astrology, the Sun and Moon are termed The Lights by astrologers, while the other bodies are called planets, which literally means wanderers, i.e. wandering stars as opposed to the fixed stars). The traditional rulerships are as follows: Aries (Mars), Taurus (Venus), Gemini (Mercury), Cancer (Moon), Leo (Sun), Virgo (Mercury), Libra (Venus), Scorpio (Mars), Sagittarius (Jupiter), Capricorn (Saturn), Aquarius (Saturn), Pisces (Jupiter).
Many modern, psychologically-oriented astrologers believe that Uranus is the ruler or co-ruler of Aquarius instead of Saturn, Neptune is the ruler or co-ruler of Pisces instead of Jupiter, and that Pluto is the ruler or co-ruler of Scorpio instead of Mars (with other modern astrologers claiming that Pluto rules Aries and not Scorpio). Traditional astrology adheres to the rulerships system listed in the paragraph above, and the debate continues between those who consider the newly discovered planets as rulers or co-rulers of certain signs and those that do not.
Some astrologers do not even use the astrological signs at all (mostly Cosmobiologists and Uranian Astrologers/Hamburg School); therefore they do not take into account planetary rulerships and the essential dignities when interpreting an astrological chart.
Dignification and detriment, exaltation and fall
A traditional belief of astrology is the idea that the sun, moon and planets are more powerful and effective in some signs than others, because the basic nature of both is held to be in harmony. By contrast, the sun, moon and planets are held to find some signs to be weak or difficult to operate in because their natures are thought to be in conflict .
A planet is strengthened (dignified) if it falls within the sign that it rules. For example, the Moon in Cancer is considered "strong" (well-dignified). Seventeenth century astrologer William Lilly compared rulership to a king on his throne, with considerable dignity. If a planet is in the sign opposite that which it rules, it is said to be weakened (detriment), for example the moon in Capricorn.
In addition to Essential Dignity, the traditional astrologer considers Accidental Dignity of planets. This is placement by house in the chart under examination. Accidental dignity describes the planet's "ability to act". So we might have, for example, Moon in Cancer, dignified by rulership, is placed in the 12th house it would have little scope to express its good nature. The 12th is a cadent house as are the 3rd, 6th and 9th and planets in these houses are considered weak or afflicted. On the other hand, Moon in the 1st, 4th, 7th or 10th would be more able to act as these are Angular houses.
Planets in Succedent houses of the chart (2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th) are generally considered to be of medium ability to act. As well as Accidental Dignity, there are a range of Accidental Debilities, such as retrogradation, Under the Sun's Beams, Combust, and so forth.
Furthermore, a planet is also strengthened when it is in its sign of Exaltation. For example, while in Taurus the Moon is said to be in its Exaltation. In traditional horary astrology, Exaltation denotes a level of dignity somewhat exaggerated compared to rulership. Exaltation was considered to give the planet (or what it signified in a horary chart) dignity, with the metaphor of an honoured guest - who is the centre of attention but the extent of their ability to act is limited.
A planet in the opposite sign of its Exaltation is said to be in its Fall (e.g. Moon in Scorpio), and thus weakened, perhaps seemingly more so than Detriment.
Examples of planets in their Exaltation: Saturn (Libra), Sun (Aries), Venus (Pisces), Moon (Taurus), Mercury (Virgo, although some disagree to this classification), Mars (Capricorn).
In traditional astrology, other levels of Dignity were recognised in addition to Rulership, Exaltation, Detriment and Fall. These are known as Triplicity, Term, and Face or Decan which together are known as describing a planet's Essential Dignity, the quality or ability to give of one's true nature. Contemporary traditional astrologers like John Frawley or J Lee Lehman explain further on the concept of Essential Dignity.
Jyotish or Indian zodiac signs
Jyotish astrology recognises twelve zodiac signs, or Rashis verified by Pandit Jaitly:
| Number | Sanskrit Name | Meaning | Western Name | Meaning |
| 1 | Mesha | Ram | Aries | Ram |
| 2 | Vrishabha | Bull | Taurus | Bull |
| 3 | Mithuna | Pair | Gemini | Twins |
| 4 | Karka | Crab | Cancer | Crab |
| 5 | Simha | Lion | Leo | Lion |
| 6 | Kanya | Girl | Virgo | Virgin |
| 7 | Tula | Balance | Libra | Scales |
| 8 | Vrishchika | Scorpion | Scorpio | Scorpion |
| 9 | Dhanus | Bow, Arc | Sagittarius | Archer |
| 10 | Makara | Sea-monster | Capricorn | Sea-goat |
| 11 | Kumbha | Pitcher, Water-pot | Aquarius | Water-carrier |
| 12 | Meena | Fish | Pisces | Fish |
It can be seen from the table above that the signs of the Western and Indian zodiacs are very similar in their meanings. To put it another way, they are simply the same signs in their Latin and Sanskrit forms.
Chinese zodiac signs
Unlike the other kinds of signs, which are assigned to sections of the ecliptic, Chinese astrological signs are assigned to years, lunar months, and two-hour periods of the day (also known as shichen). The Chinese signs are all named for animals.
In order, the animals are
- 鼠 子 Rat
- 牛 丑 Ox
- 虎 寅 Tiger
- 兔 卯 Rabbit
- 龍 辰 Dragon
- 蛇 巳 Snake
- 馬 午 Horse
- 羊 未 Sheep
- 猴 申 Monkey
- 雞 酉 Rooster
- 狗 戌 Dog
- 豬 亥 Pig
The elements also differ in Chinese astrology: Air is not one of the elements as defined by the Chinese. Instead, Wood and Metal are elements alongside Earth, Fire and Water. In addition, the elements also govern various aspects of one's personality, and are assigned to various other things such as directions (North, South, East and West), colours, seasons and planets.
References
- ^ Robert Pelletier & Leonard Cataldo Be Your Own Astrologer pp 24 - 33, Pan Books Ltd, London 1984; Maritha Pottenger, Astro Essentials, pp 31 - 36, ACS Publications San Diego, 1991
See also
External links
- Rulerships - This site deals with the traditional rulership system as used in Classical Astrology.
- Rulerships & Essential Dignities - Useful resources on planetary rulerships & essential dignities.
- Horary Rulership - Learn more about the rulership system as it applies to horary astrology.