Chapter XVI. The Nature of the Twelve Signs of the ZopiAc

The Nature of the Twelve Signs of the ZopiAc

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 :

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

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

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 ; ;

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 bis 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.