Chapter I（续 3）

These three qualities in terms of consciousness may be described as consciousness in general, instinctual consciousness, and self-consciousness; or again as activity (Rajas, cardinal), stability or will (Tamas, fixed), and wisdom (Sattva, mutable). ;

There are also three modes of motion that may be compared with the three qualities and three groups of signs: Translation, Rotation and Vibration. Of these, translatory motion means movement from one place to another, but the real idea underlying it is that the motion is continually tending to go onward without stopping, as indicated by Newton’s law of motion; and this pairs off with Rajas and the cardinal or movable signs. Rotary or vortical motion is the most stable of the three and compares with Tamas and fixed signs. Vibration, of course, is movement to and fro, like a pendulum or clarionet reed; Sattva, rhythm, mutable signs.

* The phrenological ‘ temperaments’ are quoted by way of a guide as to what is meant, since the other words will convey little meaning to the reader at present. But they should not be taken in too rigid a sense, since different writers apply these terms somewhat differently. In fact, it would appear that some phrenologists, studying humanity from the ‘life’ side, see the three gua/ities in manifestation, and name them : others, studying humanity from the ‘ form” side, see the four elements represented, and name them. Unfortunately the latter class use the same terms as the former, plus a fourth; and consequently, since each class is unconsciously viewing mankind from a different standpoint, considerable confusion arises. Atleast, this would seem to be the explanation of the discrepancies that prevail.

The Cardinal signs govern the head as a centre of consciousness in the same manner as the angles. They divide the circle of the zodiac into four quarters, answering to the four quadrants of the horoscope. Their chief characteristic is activity, which shows out in any department of life to which it may be directed, physical, emotional or intellectual. In each of these directions they are signs of external contact, bringing the native into continual touch with the outer world, and wice versé, directing constant impacts from the environment upon the native. They bring the greatest amount of outward experience; they are the most diffuse and the least concentrated. In a way their influence may be regarded as continually passing from angle to angle or from cardinal point to cardinal point, across the four fields of their unceasing motion.

The Fixed signs are associated with the heart and desire. They contain the same amount of motion as the former signs, but tend to gather it into a fixed centre, and so make less outward show. Inertia and stability characterise them. They bring experiences evolving out of themselves, repetitions of the same conditions taking place over and over again until turned outward by the movable signs or modified and harmonised by the common.

The Mutable or common signs are associated in the animal body with limbs, lungs, and bowels. Just as vibratory motion passes from one point to another and back again, linking together the two extremes of its motion, so these signs stand for everything whether in the body or in consciousness that is intermediate between the head or intellect and the heart or will. They correspond, as we have seen, to cadent houses, which stand for means of communication, servants, agents, journeys, and for other matters in which the idea of an influence uniting two extremes can be plainly discerned. They are dual in nature and fluctuating in character, as are the men that are born of them.

These three qualities, operating through three groups of signs, correspond to the three phases of man’s own being: will in motion, or action; feeling, emotion, passion, intuition, or instinct ; and thought or reason. But this correspondence must not be applied in too hard and fast a manner, for each quality can operate on each plane. Thus we have the slow-moving will, the extremely active will, and the balanced or harmonised will ; and so with the other two classes, the feelings and the thoughts.

The student will find it an interesting task to trace this symbology

out in planetary and zodiacal positions. For instance, taking the Sun as will, its position in fixed, cardinal, or mutable signs indicates the three types just mentioned, and there is a good and a bad interpretation of each. Then the Moon may be taken as an indicator of the feelings, which would have three corresponding classes, each with a good and a bad side. Finally, the Ascendant may be taken as signifying the type of mental activity most natural to the body through which the soul acts while functioning in this world; and here would be the same three modes, according to the sign rising.

TaBLE OF Houses, ELEMENTS, QUALITIES AND POLARITIES

House Sign Symbol Element Quality Polarity 1, ARIES m” Fire Cardinal or movable Male 2, ‘Taurus 8 Earth Fixed Female 3. GEMINI at Air Mutable or common Male 4, CANCER ere) Water Cardinal or movable Female 5. Lo NX Fire Fixed Male 6. Virco my Earth Mutable or common Female 7, Lipra a Air Cardinal or movable Male 8. Scorpio ™ Water Fixed Female g. Sacirrarius f Fire Mutable or common Male ro, Capricorn y§ » Earth Cardinal or movable Female 11. AQUARIUS 233 Air Fixed Male 12... . Pisces v4 Water Mutable or common Female

The column here for convenience headed Polarity refers to the division of the signs into two groups. The odd signs are all positive male day signs, and the even are negative female night signs. They refer to the duality shown everywhere in nature. Thus the words positive, male, and day convey precisely the same idea only expressed differently, and refer to the force or life side of things; while the words negative, female, and night signify the matter or form side.

We will now consider the signs separately, taking them in groups as just described. :

THE FIERY SIGNS I. ARIES, THE RAM LIL First sign of the zodiac; first fiery sign, first cardinal sign

This sign represents undifferentiated consciousness. It is a chaotic and unorganised sign, in which impulse, spontaneity, and instinctiveness are marked features. Its vibrations are the keenest and most rapid, but without what may be called definite purpose, except towards impulsiveness and disruption. It signifies explosiveness, extravagance, and all kinds of excess. Its influence is more directly connected with the animal kingdom, in which life is full and without the directive power of fully awakened self-consciousness. It is a sign of force, combat, strength, energy and vigour. Its tendencies are always diffusive, periphrastic, superabundant, changeful and digressive. Its natives are enthusiastic, pioneering, ambitious, militant, enterprising, independent, assertive, and self-willed. The influence of Aries needs the steadying and controlling power of the fixed signs in order to make it practical and bring it within bounds. When blended in this way it is greatly improved. When combined with the common signs it is less practical and methodical than with the fixed but is very rapid, comprehensive, and subtle. Its most distinguising characteristic is aefiviy, with a desire to be at the head, and to command. It is the sign of ambition, and projective energy.

V. LEO, THE LION V. Fifth sign of the zodiac; second fiery sign, second fixed sign This is the sign of the central will, the inner consciousness, beyond the brain mind. The life forces of the fiery triplicity starting in Aries

are in this sign matured, directed, and controlled, and the chaos and

disruption of the life energies brought into more harmony and order. B 17

Stability of the life currents, and the transmutation of consciousness from head to heart, is shown in this sign; the work of nourishing, preserving and sustaining being one of the chief Leo characteristics. This is the sign of power, vitality and organising ability. It is the principal focus of the Prana or Solar Breath, hence gives the greatest stability of life and more ‘Vril’ or Vim than any other sign.