Learning the Zodiac
A quick and accurate reading of any astrology chart is based on four parts: 1.) understanding the zodiac signs, 2.) the angles and houses 3.) the planets/luminaries, certain asteroids and a few special points, and 4.) the meaning of aspects.
The signs are the most important and are easy to read for yourself once you get away from superficial meme culture and realize they represent archetypes of the principles of human life forming complete cycles. Having a pattern and an order makes them easier to memorize with time.
UNDERSTANDING SIGN ARCHETYPES
Again, I am talking about the signs as archetypes, NOT AS PEOPLEāS SUN SIGNS. Very important distinction. The meaning of each sign is deeply spiritual and not arbitrary. There is a perfect pattern that can be unfolded several ways:
Three modalitiesā the modalities represent the movement of energy. They are cardinal, fixed, and mutableā and four elementsā fire, earth, air, and waterā but weāll come back to the elements in a minute.
Cardinal energy is proactive, moving things forward, and associated with the ascendant, descendant, midheaven (or MC) and lower heaven (commonly called the IC). Every sign that is naturally on an angle in the original zodiac wheel (like the one in the photo below) is a cardinal sign. The angles are the most important houses of the zodiac. Weāll get to the houses further down in another post because this one is already too long.
So the cardinal signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricornā¦ thatās one in each element. Each modality has one sign from each element.
The next modality is fixed. Fixed energy is settled, stubborn, an anchor, reliable, steady. There are four fixed signs:Ā Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquariusā¦ one from each element.
And there are four mutable signs. Mutable signs are flexible, transitional, versatile, multi-talented, and service-oriented. The mutable signs are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces.
So to recap, in the fire element, there is one cardinal fire sign (Aries), one fixed fire sign (Leo), and one mutable fire sign (Sagittarius)ā¦
In the earth element, there is one cardinal earth sign (Capricorn), one fixed earth sign (Taurus) and one mutable earth sign (Virgo)ā¦
In the air element there is one cardinal air sign (Libra), one fixed air sign (Aquarius) and one mutable air sign (Gemini)ā¦
And in the water element there is one cardinal water sign (Cancer), one fixed water sign (Scorpio) and one mutable water sign (Pisces).
The elements in Western astrology are traditionally split into two polarities, often called āmasculineā and āfeminineā, and completely unrelated to gender roles whatsoever.
In the chart I included below, they are represented by a plus or minus sign, which makes more sense. I highly recommend the book this picture is from, by the way: Astrology, The Divine Science, by Marcia Moore and Mark Douglas.
So, fire and air are supposedly āmasculineā - meaning outward/extroverted energy, acting uponā these are the fire signs, Aries, Leo and Sagittarius, and the air signs, Gemini, Libra and Aquariusā¦
and water and earth are supposedly āfeminineā - meaning receptive and more introvertedā this includes the water signs, Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces, and the earth signs, Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.
Once again, these expressions do not necessarily relate to any given person with a particular sun sign. For instance, not all Pisceans are introverted or flexible and not all Leos are extroverted and stubborn. But that doesnāt change the pure archetype of the zodiac signs.
Modalities through the elements: letās start with fire. The element of fire is passionate, courageous and creative.Ā
Soā¦. there is one cardinal fire sign, (Aries)
one fixed fire sign, (Leo)
and one mutable fire sign, (Sagittarius).
The element of earth is practical, goal-oriented and concerned with material things. And there is
one cardinal earth sign, (Capricorn)
one fixed earth sign, (Taurus)
and one mutable earth sign, (Virgo).
The air element is an expression of mental, intellectual energy and communicationā and there is
one cardinal air sign, (Libra)
one fixed air sign, (Aquarius)
and one mutable air sign, (Gemini).
The water element is all about emotions, emotional needs and attachments and the spiritual realms. There is
one cardinal water sign, (Cancer)
one fixed water sign, (Scorpio)
and one mutable water sign (Pisces).
Now, the first four signs (Aries, Taurus, Gemini and Cancer) represent the child and youth (ages 0-21) and Self - (āmeā)ā¦
The second group of four signs (Leo, Virgo, Libra, and Scorpio) represent young adulthood and relating between two people (āme and youā)ā¦
The third group of four signs (Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces) represent mature adulthood and universal relating or community (āusā and āthemā).
So each element (fire, earth, water and air) has one sign in each maturity/development groupā¦.
ARIES is fire as it expresses through Youth and Self, LEO is fire as it relates through Adulthood and Relationships, and SAGITTARIUS is fire through Maturity and Universal truths.
TAURUS is earth as it expresses through Youth and Self, VIRGO is earth as it relates through Adulthood and Relationships, and CAPRICORN is earth through Maturity and Universal truths.
GEMINI is air as it expresses through Youth and Self, LIBRA is air as it relates through Adulthood and Relationships, and AQUARIUS is air through Maturity and Universal truths.
CANCER is water as it expresses through Youth and Self, SCORPIO is water as it relates through Adulthood and Relationships, and PISCES is water through Maturity and Universal truths.
Again, this is NOT SUN SIGNS. These are the ARCHETYPE systems that astrology is based on. Understand these, and you understand most of astrology.
Complementary signs
Furthermore, each of the signs on the zodiac wheel is perfectly complemented by the sign exactly opposite to it. As an archetype, each sign is an incomplete or unbalanced theme without its counterpart.
These are the opposite signs with their complementary themes:
Aries (self, raw energy) - Libra (diplomacy, harmony, justice)
Taurus (material possessions, foundations, security) - Scorpio (psyche, transformation, legacy, crisis)
Gemini (self expression, your story and community/neighborhood) - Sagittarius (higher learning, other cultures, finding your place in the world/universe)
Cancer (mother, home, nourishment and security) - Capricorn (father, responsibilities, reputation and tradition)
Leo (creativity and leadership) - Aquarius (idealism and activism)
Virgo (service, discipline, health) - Pisces (sacrifice, universal love, understanding)
