Astrology for All · 16 of 19
Chapter XVI: The Signs of the Zodiac in Groups
We may now examine the signs of the zodiac as a whole, also in various divisions, a correct knowledge of the zpdiac being essential before proceeding further. The twelve signs of the zodiac play a most important part with regard to the delineation of nativities, and unless the true nature of each sign is thoroughly understood, a correct judgment cannot be given; therefore, it is necessary throughout these lessons to study the twelve signs as exhaustively as possible.
It is impossible to understand the twelve signs as one whole, without perfect knowledge; but we may know a great deal of the whole by studying the signs in part. Taken in their entirety, the signs of the zodiac represent: firstly, the desire-nature, composed of the feelings, passions and emotions of the world's humanity; secondly, the whole of the personal consciousness that is dependent upon the senses for its experiences, generally spoken of as common-sense.
We shall begin to study the parts, separating* the twelve signs into pairs of positive and negative; then into four groups, known as triplicities; finally into three distinct divisions, known as qualities, which we may arrange as follows:
Northern
Signs
Symbol:
Sign:
Aries
Taurus
Gemini
Triplicity:
Fiery
Earthy
Airy
Quality:
Cardinal,
Fixed
Mutable
Pole:
Positive
Negative
Positive
Power:
Cardinal
Succeedent
Cadent
Character:
Ram
Bull
Twins
Parts of Body:
Head
Throat
Lungs
No.
I.
II.
HI.
Symbol:
nr
Sign:
Cancer
Leo
Viife
Triplicity:
Watery
Fiery
Earthy' •
Quality:
Cardinal
Fixed
Mutable
Pole:
Negative
Positive
Negative
Power:
Cardinal
Succeedent
Cadent
Character:
Crab
Lion
Virgin
Parts of Body:
Stomach
Heart
Bowels
No.
IV.
V.
VI.
Southern
Signs
Symbol:
=2r
Sign;
Libra
Scorpio
Sagittarius
Triplicity:
Airy
Watery
Fiery
Quality:
Cardinal
Fixed
Mutable
Pole:
Positive
Negative
Positive
Power:
Cardinal
Succeedent
Cadent
Character:
Balance
Scoirpion
Archer
Parts of Body:
Reins
Secrets
Thighs
No.
. VII.
vin.
IX.
Symbol:
CSI
Sign:
Capricorn
Aquarius
Pisces
Triplicity
Earthy
Airy
Watery
Quality:
Cardinal
Fixed
Mutable
Pole:
Negative
Positive
Negative
Power:
Cardinal
Succeedent
. Cadent
Character:
Goat
The Man
The Fishes
Parts of Body
: Knees
Ankles
Feet
No.
X.
XL
XIL
Examining the signs in groups, we may become better acquainted with their meaning, until we are finally able to expand our know^ ledge of each separate sign and ascertain its true value. The grouping of these two divisions will now assist us.
\Groups of Triplicitiis Quality of Signs
Fiery Signs T SI ^ Cardinal <r ® ^ Vy
Earthy „ « tijj V:f Fixed « SI m -555'
Airy,, n ^ zs Mutable n tiK ^ K Watery „ ® Til X We may now discover the meaning of the triplicities by separating them i ^» pairs, as follows:
Posit' 'e ( T SI t Fiery and )The ideal and
Group I Aries, Leo, Sagittarius Ardent ) intuitive world
Negative J nx ffi K Watery and ) The astral and
Group t Scorpio, Cancer, Pisces Plastic ( psychic world.
The fiery signs represent energy, force and life, and govern the passions and higher emotions, the highest feelings in which warmth and activity are expressed. They have a tendency to expand, burn up and refine all the dross out of the nature, and expend in force the best part of the emotions, the direction of the energy depending upon the strength of the will behind, as seen by the planetary indications.
The watery signs represent the receptive part of the nature which is inactive, unless moved by desire or impulse from without. They govern the personal feelings and sensitive part of the nature, and in undeveloped types sensation is needed to enable those under their influence to realise that they are attached to their personaUty; but in the more evolved, the feelings are instinctive, giving rise to intuition, and the psychic nature is more active. The watery signs govern the negative and more dependent side of the desire nature; they seek affection, while the fiery signs prefer to give it — the latter are the pursuers, the former the receivers.
The next pair are composed of airy and earthy signs, and their nature may be learned by comparison.
Positive J n =^ zz Airy and ( The mental and
Group ( Gemini, Libra, Aquarius Intellectual) artistic world.
Negative] njt « Vy Earthy and) The physical and
Group (Virgo, Taurus, Capricorn Solid j objective world.
This group is composed of the signs that have more to do with the mind than the feelings, particularly the positive signs of the group belonging to the airy triplicity. We may analyse these six signs in the same way as the former group, the airy signs representing the intellectual, educational, mental, artistic or professional characteristics, and the earthy the practical, business and political side of life. The former Hve more in the intellectual world and think out the plans for the future; the latter carry them out in detail by practical, solid, matter-of-fact methods. Our remarks might be extended to great length along these lines, but we have a very simple method of learning the exact value of each sign apart from groups, and this is obtained by studying the qualities, which are Cardinal, Fixed and Mutable, as follows; ;
Quality Signs '^ Expression
Cardinal T 25 =fir V:j> Intellect, Ambition and Ideality.
Fixed ^ SI ^ -55? Will, Power and Purpose.
Mutable n iijj ^ X Emotion, Flexibility and Restlessness.
The first four signs of the zodiac, T y n ffi, are physical signs. The four middle signs, St tiK :^ iil» are psychic signs, and the last four signs, ^ V:f -ccr X, are spiritual signs, but until the true nature of each sign is fully understood they must be considered in a general sense only.
Examining the signs separately, we find Aries belongs to the positive, cardinal and fiery group. We have thus at once a clue to the nature of the sign Aries. In its positive condition we see that it is an expressive sign; and we gather from its fiery nature that it gives an inclination to act independently and to assert its force; and, from its cardinal nature, we may judge that it is an acute sign, giving prominence to all that it indicates. In making a distinction between the positive and negative signs, we may consider the former as more directly concerned with the life side of evolution, and the negative signs as being more closely connected with the form side. The energies and life-giving properties are represented by the positive signs, and the media, or form, through which the life works, by the negative signs. We find in the table that the sign Aries governs the head, and that its character is ram-like, and firom this we may judge that the activities are more easily expressed through the head. The ram butts his way, through obstacles, and those in whom the Aries nature is the leading characteristic are known as pioneers, of dauntless courage, and fiery enthusiasm. On reference to the group of triplicities we find that Aries is grouped with those signs governing the positive emotions^ Passing now to the table of quaUties, we find Aries a cardinal sign, giving ambition, progress and ideality. It does not require much judgment to obtain a final idea regarding Aries. As this sign governs the |head, we may easily come to the conclusion that from the Aries nature we shall expect to find the mental emotions the most prominent part of their character. The life forces working through the head will stimulate the higher emotions, producing ideality and clear thought. It may be that in undeveloped cases, as can be seen by planetary influences, this nature, when perverted, will be passionate, combative and deceptive; but in any case this sign endows those who come under its influence with ithe higher aspirations which may be either for internal development or external weffare.
We may now study the second sign of the zodiac, Taurus, the first of the earthy triplicity in the order of the signs. This is a negative sign, and we have classed it under the group of ** Negativemind," belonging to those signs concerned with the objective and lower mind. Being earthy in nature it is dependent upon physical objects for expression. Its triplicity and quality give us the idea of fixed earth, and bull-like character. In the body it governs the neck and throat, that part of the physical anatomy upon which the head rests and turns. It would not be difficult to associate either great will-power or obstinacy with this sign, and one or the other is sure to be expressed by the Taurean nature. Slow to move, they, however, move to purpose when aroused; quiet and inoffensive, patient and enduring, always acting with deliberation and rigid movement, we can easily form the idea of obedience as the main characteristic of this sign. Duty and obedience are the high keynotes of the Taurus nature, but when undeveloped, then obstinacy and a surly, slothful indifference may be expected, yet in any case we may consider that Taurus is the sign of solidarity.
Gemini, the third sign of the zodiac, is the first of the airy triplicity, and it is mutable in quality. All the mutable signs are generally termed common signs by astrologers, there being notliing definii^ or fixed about them. They are each composed of two characters: the twins; the virgin with the eats of corn; the archer, half man, half horse; and the fishes. Some idea of this duality may be gathered firom the study of Gemini. This is a positive sign of the airy triplicity, and we have placed it with those governing the positive mind or the subjective and higher mind. The Hindoos symbolise this sign by a beautiful woman, amorous and fond of ornaments, also a man clad in armour, thus indicating the double nature of the sign. .The Icey to its nature is obtained from the knowledge that, although an airy sign, it belongs to the mutable group of signs, all of which belong to change, indecision and mutability. We may connect this sign with education and the higher mental conditions, but still indecisive and impermanent. If we may now use comparison to help us in obtaining a clear idea with regard to this sign, we may think of the other airy signs for a moment. Libra is of the cardinal quaHty, and thus more pronounced and active in expression, and from the following illustration we may at once learn to distinguish between these signs, Gemini and Libra. The Libra type of mind loves colour and expression, and an artist in whom the Libra quality is active would paint in colours, while the Gemini artist would prefer plain line drawing, pen and ink sketches, or crayon work. The mind of the Gemini nature is plain, but decidfedly more professional than business-like; the work, however, although refined, would always be mechanical.
There are two distinct natures in the Gemini, and it would seem as though the mind had not completely severed itself from the lower senses, and we can endorse one astrological writer's comment on this sign, that the Gemini persons reason from their sensations. To understand the nature of the sign Gemini, two clear ideas are necessary: first, that it is a positive, airy sign; second, that it is also a common or mutable sign, and from these two factors we know, that it is a sign that causes restlessness and a constant desire for change. It gives quickness in movement, and when governing those who are developed, it gives aptitude in abstract things; but when those who are undeveloped come under its influence, it causes irritability, indecision, and a highly impressionable nature. We find many literary persons who cater for the public taste, such as newspapet men, reporters, collectors of news and scrappy details, <:oming under this sign. The sign Gemini seems to lack concentration, although there is often motive behind all its actions; but the worst trait of character with which it endows its children is diffusion. They may be subject to many extremes and moods, but they never lack versatility, which makes those born under the influence of this sign the best persons to call upon in an emergency.
We'now come to the fourth sign of the zodiac, Cancer, the first of the watery triplicity, and the second of the cardinal signs This sign we have placed with those concerned with the negative emotions. The sign Cancer is the most receptive and sensitive sign of the zodiac. This sign may be likened to a limpid lake, and its ripples may be caused either by movement from within or injection from without. It is first negative and then acute, nearly always requiring action to come from without to stimulate and awaken its latency. From this we may judge that it is the sign which has precedence in all personal matters. The Moon has her greatest affinity with this sign; it is, therefore, the most plastic, and all the personal feelings and emotions that spring out of sensation, fancy, and the best imagination arise from the condition of this sign. Like the lake, it reflects and gives back an image of all that is reflected into it, and from this simile we can understand why the Cancer person has a most retentive memory. It is only when the lake is clear and free from disturbance that images can be correctly reflected, and by the same analogy, it is only when the feelings are impersonal and unbiased that they reflect the true conditions of the soul. If not taken in too literal a sense, the three watery signs may be considered as representing the three aspects of the soul, animal^ human and spiritual. Cancer in a general sense is the negative half of Leo, and represents the sensitive human soul; but this is not to be taken as a hard and fast rule, for the sign is one of form, and represents the film or shell only. - There is one feature about this sign that may be learned from the crab, its physical representative, and that is, tenacity. The Cancer persons can hold on, crab-Hke, and they will suffer extremely before they will let go. When undeveloped, they retain feelings connected with the lower emotions, and are then often peevish, morose and sourtempered persons; but when advanced, and receptive to the very best influences, they know how to economise and make excellent providers from their nourishing, succouring and
I go ASXROflLQGY yOK ALL su3tamii3g condition, which is, always at the disposal of those who requixe tjjeir protection. Weakness and strength are combined in this ^sign, as we can seie by the illu;stration that the crab may be as easily crushed as it is difficult to release one*s-self from the nip of its claw. Cancer gives a love of fame morq than ambition. The negative cardinal signs prefer greatness to descend upon them rather than to achieve it. When pure, the Cancer types of humanify are very psychic, and from their receptive condition they become in- . tuitive and absorb the conditions of others, readily sensing the psychic atmosphere around them. Their greatest fault when undeveloped is their inactivity, and they need a stimulus from without to move them to action. The first feeling in the savage is hunger, which awakens the dormant feelings that eventually make the growing ego hungry.
for food for the rfiind as well as food for the body; a centre has to be '
formed, and the first centre is that which is formed in the breast, where all the <ini?st feelings reside, to be eventually expressed by the true Cancer nature, which is the motherhood or maternal principle. If sensitive and easily wounded, they are also loyal and conservative in regard to their ties and duties.
The fifth sign of the zodiac, Leo, is a fiery, positive sign, ruling the heart. This is the central sign of the fiery triplicity, and from its fixed nature we may judge that the higher emotions are the chief centre of activity. In all the fixed signs we may expect either indifference and obstinacy, or firmness and fixity of purpose. Power wxd austerity are the marked characteristics of the Leo nature, and the will is usually more internal than external; it is a sign of strength and magnanimity. The passional nature is keen and ardent, all the feelings coming direct from the heart. From its position as centre of the fiery signs, it is more potent and full of meaning than the other fiery signs (this appHes to the central sign of each triplicity). Love of power and command are the chief Leo characteristics; they Jive in a world of their own creation, and nothing seems too great for their ideality. Being full of faith they accomplish and achieve by persistent determination; to them their will is law. When developed, they carry around them the most harmonious vibrations of the twelve. signs, and have the power to soothe and heal. This sign prompts the higher emotions and gives love of honesty and the higher morahty. When undeveloped, the characteristics are pride, arrogance and extreme passion.
In dealing with Virgo, the sixth sign of the zodiac, we first note that it is a negative earthy, mutable sigh, governing the objective mind. It is the central sign of the earthy triplicity, and, in common with the earthy signs, it governs the practical and solid side of formative life. It is a sign conferring upon its subjects industry and the ability to follow many different pursuits, and the powers of adaptability to circum* stance and environment. In this sign are provided all the requirements of the business nature. The mind is full of feeling of the objective type, and the whole nature is very psychic, pliable and instinctive.
This completes the general description of the first six signs of the zodiac. The remaining six may be briefly dealt with, a repetition of the method for judgment being unnecessary.
Libra is the centre of the airy signs, and cardinal in quality. It denotes balance, justice and equilibrium. It is an ambitious and aspiring sign, refined, harmonious, and expansive in nature, Inteh lectually, it gives wonderful powers of perception and comparison, and when developed, those who are under its influence are compassionate and lovers of unity and equality. This sign represents the state of consciousness that is between the higher and the lower emotions; the dispassionate and equalised state of the intellect, the pure mind^ free from the senses: it represents the point in human evolution in which the mind is weighed in the balance. Libra being tl;^ central aign of the zodiac.
Scorpio is a fixed sign, and the centre of the negative watery signs. It is the sign of reserved force and power. This may be termed a formative sign. Moulded by feelings, the character is of the strongest type, the worst as well as the best characters being formed under the influences of this sign. In the undeveloped we find pride, jealousy, and secretiveness, and the power (or evil works in the direction of hatred and vindictiveness. In the developed we find the powers of the magician concealed, Scorpio being the most mystical of signs.
Sagittarius is the ninth sign of the zodiac. It is a mutable, fiery, positive sign. In common with the mutable signs, two natures are often expressed, and those under their influences are impressionable, and very sensitive through the emotions. This sigi^ is half human and half animal, the first half tending to religion and the higlier emotions, and the latter haif to matters connected witn sports and external pleasures. In the undeveloped .we find carelessness, restlessness and-extrenres.
Capricorn, a cardinal, earthy and negative sign, is the tenth sign of. the zodiac. The ambitious nature of this sign is symbolised by the goat, whd must teach the highest summit of the moutitain. This is the most formative of the earthy signs; it gives perseverance, industry, prudence, patience and thoughtfulness. The undeveloped are capricious, crafty, suspicious and exacting.
Aquarius, the eleventh sipn of the zodiac, is a fixed, airy, positive sign, of the mature of fixed air; it gives concentration and firmness. The symbol of this sign is the man, thus denoting it to be the most humane of the twelve signs. It gives intuition, faithfulness^ and marked artistic tendencies.
Pisces is the twelfth and last sign of the Zodiac. It is a watery, mutable, negative sign. It is the most dual of the signs. The emotions are deep and silent. A marked feature of this sign is the love for dumb animals that its natives possess. They are always kind and hospitable; but often very mediumistic and psychic.
In this chapter we have gained a deeper insight into the nature of the zodiac; but there is much more to learn regarding these signs that will require other chapters; all that has been said should be well studied, as it will save much labour and difficulty in connection with judgment of nativities. We shall again take up these signs in the chapter on decanates and|the rulers of signs. We may now pass on to a consideration of the Moon in the signs, and the positive and negative centres.
It is now essential to memorise the symbols of the signs of the zodiac and their numerical order as follows: .
Name
Aries
Taurus
Gemini
Cancer
Leo
Virgo
Symbol.
Numerical Order
I.
11.
III-.
IV.
V.
VI.
Name. Libra Scorpio Sagltfaritts Capricorn Aquarius Pisces Symbol :^ in t yf »K K
^cSder"^^ VII. VIII. IX. X. . XL XII