The Signs

Aries
Taurus
Gemini
Cancer
Leo
Virgo
Libra
Scorpio
Sagittarius
Carpricorn
Aquarius
Pisces
As mentioned previously, the Zodiacal signs symbolie qualities !ith !hich the planetary
"unctions are invested# The "unction !or$s through these qualities, as through a
medium# The particular medium symbolied by the Zodiacal sign colors the operations o" the
planetary "unction, so that these "unctions seem to act according to those qualities and
characteristics associated !ith the sign#
The sign itsel" carries an essential meaning that is then mani"ested in diverse !ays at many
levels o" consciousness# The essential meaning o" the sign is, itsel", derived "rom a composite
o" symbolic in%uences, beginning !ith the ruling planet and including its associated element,
modality, house and representative glyph# &uch, indeed, has been !ritten about the
meanings o" signs and, so, !hat "ollo!s is simply a summary distillation#
Aries
The essential quality o" Aries is that o" initial "or!ard motion# This is seen in the symbol "or
&ars, its ruling planet, !hich "eatures a vector indicating directed motion 'action(# This is also
symbolied by it being the )rst sign o" the Zodiac, associated !ith the )rst house, and by its
glyph, !hich can be seen as representing the sprouting o" a seed as it )rst brea$s
ground# *ith respect to consciousness, Aries is associated !ith the psyche+s initial sel",
a!areness# This, it derives "rom its association !ith the developmental role o" the )rst
house#
Action and activity are strong qualities o" Aries# Aries is ruled by &ars, the planet symboliing
the "unction o" ta$ing action# -t is the cardinal )re sign and both cardinality and )re symbolie
active principles.cardinality, the quality o" "or!ard moving action and )re, the quality o"
energetic action# Thus, Aries is very strongly associated !ith the quality o" active energy# The
particular quality o" this active energy is that it is that !hich initially occurs# Thus, Aries is
associated !ith all types o" qualities relating to this energy, such as impulsiveness,
assertiveness, eagerness 'especially eagerness to begin(, enthusiasm "or ne! endeavor, etc#
Aries+ glyph is more traditionally seen to represent the ram 'the horns o" the ram,
speci)cally(# This, again, is symbolic o" impulsiveness 'the ram+s propensity to charge( and
"or!ard 'charging( motion# The 'male( ram+s aggressive tendencies, too, relate to the Aries
qualities# The strong horns o" the ram protruding "rom its head symbolie the headstrong
tendencies associated !ith Aries# &ars, the god o" !ar, also contributes to the association o"
aggression and martial qualities !ith Aries#
The )re element contributes to Aries+ impulsive tendencies, as %ames are apt to suddenly
reach out# /ire is not inhibited by any internal restraints# -t produces heat ')ery emotion(
and light 'ob0ectivity(# The ob0ectivity associated !ith Aries is also a property related to &ars,
"or action, to be e1ective, must be practical and applied according to the rules o" the
ob0ective universe# The emotional component o" the Aries quality is related most to desire
'symbolied by &ars(# Ardent desire can be said to be typically Aries#
Ta$ing action and moving "or!ard '&ars and cardinal qualities( are intrinsically lin$ed to
initiation 'o" action and direction( and ne!ness '!hich is !hat is al!ays encountered !hen
one moves "or!ard(# 2eginnings, ine3perience, sel",consciousness and innocence or naivet4
are all Aries qualities that can be associated !ith the )rstness o" Aires, as !ell as the
meanings o" its glyph.both the sprout and the ne!ly born spring ram#
The concept o" sel", derived "rom Aries association !ith the )rst house and its developmental
"unction o" the emerging sel",identity, is an important component o" the Aries quality# Aries
has a quality o" being sel",re"erenced# Thus, Aries+ active energy proceeds "rom the desire o"
the sel"# The sel",re"erencing o" this active energy produces sel",assertiveness, sel",!ill, sel",
consciousness and na5ve sel)shness#
The more the Aries energy operates "rom the ego, the harsher and negative the Aries qualities
tend to be# The obsession !ith the ego,sel" and its need "or a6rmation typically results in
such Aries qualities as pushiness, thoughtless insensitivity to the needs o" others, aggression
and sel",centeredness# The maturing o" the sel",identity and the development o" sel%essness
produces those noble qualities associated !ith Aries, such as courage, leadership,
straight"or!ardness and decisiveness in action# At the transcendent level, Aries symbolies
the )nding o" the True Sel", a return to -nnocence and right,action ta$en !ith no thought o"
re!ard# ,, Gargatholil
Taurus
The essential quality o" Taurus is enduringness, in its passive state, and organicness in
its active mode# 7rganicness is actually the active mani"estation o" enduringness, "or it is
through organic cycles o" generation and gro!th that enduringness is preserved# These
organic cycles reach their "ull e3pression in the Scorpio energy, !hich encompasses not only
birth and gro!th, but also death and rebirth#
Taurus is ruled by the planet Venus and it is the evaluative "unction symbolied by Venus that
)nds prominence in Taurus# A!areness o" !hat is good, pleasant and preserving as opposed
to !hat is harm"ul, unpleasant and destructive is essential i" the psyche is to be able to
physically survive and endure# The element o" physical survival and !ell,being is symbolied
by Venus+ glyph o" the circle 'consciousness( placed over the cross o" materiality, signi"ying
the rulership o" consciousness over materiality through discriminating evaluation and the
dependency o" consciousness on the body "or its e3istence 'on the physical plane, at least(#
The association o" Taurus !ith the material is given additional !eight by its being an earth
sign# That !hich is physical, mani"ested and substantial is important in the Taurean vie! and
Taurean qualities are clothed in association !ith the physical# The guiding principle
represented by Venus !hen applied to the materially substantive earth element necessarily
brings "orth practicality and a conservatively pragmatic approach in the Taurean character.
qualities that result in preservation and enduringness#
8arth !hen combined !ith Venusian "ecundity brings "orth "ruit"ulness and organic
abundance# Thus, Taurus is associated !ith the slo! and steady processes o" organic
gro!th# Taurus is the )3ed earth sign and this )3ity, in the conte3t o" organic earth, becomes
rootedness and an association !ith plantli$e qualities, especially !ith the longevity o" trees
and other )rmly rooted plants# -t is a Taurean characteristic to thrive in home soil, !hich is
tried and true and sustaining, and to resist uprooting#
At its e3treme, this )3ed earthiness becomes roc$ hard and immovable# This symbolies not
only strength and the ability to support great structures built on its "oundation, but also
stubbornness and rigidity# -" the organic li"e "orce departs through petri)cation, there is a
danger that the !arm emotions symbolied by the !arm and "ertile soil become turned to
stone, mani"esting only as resistance#
The )3ed modality is o"ten associated !ith a need "or security and in combination !ith the
earth element this e3presses itsel" as a need "or physical security# 8nduringness is, there"ore,
most o"ten e3pressed as a !ill to physically endure# *hen the Taurean sense o" physical
security is threatened, the natural reaction is o"ten to buttress the physical !ell,being o" the
Taurean through acquisition o" more o" the means o" sustenance# This drive to acquire may
become compulsive or domineering i" the Taurus,dominated psyche is particularly insecure#
The urge to survive and endure that is central to the Taurean character is enabled by the
ability to acquire and possess the means o" survival# Taurus+ association !ith the second
house brings to it a strong association !ith possessiveness, the desire "or physical security
and com"ort, and en0oyment o" material abundance and sensual grati)cation# These
characteristics are strengthened through the rulership o" Venus '!hich in"orms both Taurus
and the second house( and its "unction o" attracting !hat is pleasant and bene)cial#
Taurus+ glyph, the bull, embodies all o" these qualities and adds its o!n symbolism to the
mi3# Slo! moving and patient, it endures all circumstances# -t "ertilies the earth, "rom !hich
it gains its o!n sustenance, completing the organic cycle o" survival# -t can stubbornly dig in
its heels and become immovable# Set in motion, the bull is an irresistible ob0ect# Seemingly
docile, !hen threatened or enraged it becomes dangerous in its sudden violence# The bull is
basically instinctual and in its quest "or survival o" its species becomes a symbol o" animal
passion# *hen harnesses and domesticated, the bull !ill pull the heaviest loads, plod along
steadily over the same ground repeatedly and bear intolerable burdens# All o" these qualities
are associated !ith the Taurus energy#
*hen it is the ego that is striving to endure and survive, the Taurean qualities are mani"ested
as possessiveness and e3treme attachment to material e3istence# The Taurean holds close
that !hich !ill ensure his9her com"ortable survival# The animal nature symbolied by the bull
holds "ull reign over the psyche# The appetites o" the instinctual nature are
unchec$ed# -ndulgence in sensual grati)cation, violent rages, unreasonable stubbornness are
all symptoms o" this state# Alternatively, the psyche may become so obsessed !ith the goal
o" physical preservation that the single,minded Taurean pursuit o" sustenance results in a
brute, dull e3istence, dominated by drudgery and routine#
The Taurus glyph can also be interpreted abstractly, ho!ever, providing clues as to the
transcendent meaning o" the sign# The closed circle represents the !orld, or the
consciousness inhabiting the physical !orld, !hile the hal" circle above it is open to the
heavens# Thus, the transcendent Taurean energy is :in the !orld, but not o" it#; The spiritual
side o" the psyche 'the container open to higher levels o" consciousness emanating "rom
:above;( is supported by material e3istence 'the circle o" organic li"e(# Thus, the realied
Taurean does his9her duty in the material !orld, :giving to Caesar that !hich is Caesar+s,; but
turns his9her heart up!ard and in!ard# The bull no! becomes a symbol, not o" animal
passion, but rather or devotion !hich sublimates and overcomes animal passion, the lo!er
tendencies o" the psyche# /reed o" these attachments to the concerns o" a material e3istence,
the Taurean consciousness discriminatingly contemplates the per"ect balance 'Venus( in !hich
everything is seen to be good and in its right"ul state# ,, Gargatholil
Gemini
The essential quality o" Gemini is multi,"acetedness# &ulti,"acetedness occasions several
related qualities that are necessary in order "or multi,"acetedness to mani"est# These qualities
include "reedom "rom being tied do!n to any one thing or vie!point, lightness accompanied
by detachment, and "acility and speed# The latter allo! the consciousness to move quic$ly
"rom one thing to another, giving the impression o" being able to handle several things at
once#
Gemini is ruled by &ercury# Thus, mental energy tends to be the predominant quality o"
Gemini# This does not necessarily imply an intellectual approach# 7"ten, it is communication
or $no!,ho! that are paramount e3pressions o" the mental energy characteriing
Gemini# &ercury, the !inged messenger o" the <omans, epitomies the qualities o" s!i"tness
and tal$ativeness that are associated !ith Gemini#
Gemini is the mutable air sign# The air element, !hich is associated !ith the mental plane,
contributes along !ith &ercury to the mental orientation that is typical o" Gemini# Gemini
generally possesses the quality o" e3periencing the !orld through $no!ing it# The air element
also symbolies the openness and "reedom that the Gemini energy gravitates to!ard# Clarity
and lightness are other qualities that the element besto!s on Gemini#
The mutable mode contributes to the changeableness and constant activity that is associated
!ith Gemini# Typically, the Gemini activity is not sustained and directed, but rather going in
one direction and then another# The butter%y, a denien o" the air !hose !ings move rapidly
"rom one side o" its pendulum motion to the other, is o"ten identi)ed !ith Gemini# Li$e the
butter%y that %its "rom here to there, never resting "or more than a "e! seconds, Gemini can
rarely stand to be still or, at the psychological level, to be committed to the point o" "eeling
hemmed in and trapped#
Gemini is associated !ith the third house, !hich represents immediate e3perience# Thus, the
Gemini energy is typically associated !ith a desire "or the immediate and an inability to direct
attention to that !hich is remote in time or space# Gemini energy is generally directed at
e3periencing everything around us, all at once 'li$e the air !hich is all around(# 7nce
e3perienced, or as e3perienced, Gemini usually translates this e3perience into mental "orm
and then communicates it#
The immediacy that Gemini desires also e3tends to the dimension o" depth# =epth generally
ta$es time, commitment and concentration o" attention.all traits that are not those
attributable to Gemini# -nstead, the Gemini energy is attracted to the sur"ace, !here little
resistance to movement is met and "rom !hich Gemini+s &ercurial attention can easily pic$ up
and go#
Gemini+s glyph.the T!ins.has o"ten been interpreted as representing an essential duality,
seconded by Gemini+s mutability# =uality implies that there are opposites# *hile the Gemini
energy may be more prone than most signs to such dualities as being up and do!n or bac$
and "orth, duality is not a predominant quality o" Gemini# T!ins are not normally opposite
mirrors o" each other, though they are o"ten di1erent "rom each other#
<ather than duality, the primary meaning o" the T!ins glyph is Gemini+s capacity to handle
simultaneous di1erence and its quest "or multiple e3periences# T!o can simply e3perience
t!ice as much as can one and it is this desire "or ma3imum e3perience and "or not being tied
to a single point o" vie! that is represented by Gemini+s t!inness# 2eing able to put on t!o
"aces at once means that one does not have to be committed to either# Seeing both sides.or
rather all sides.means that the psyche can engage in multiple e3perience# -t is not
irresoluteness, necessarily, that the Gemini energy displays, but the capacity to support both
sides at once# Thus, Gemini is the per"ect modality !ith !hich to e3istentially e3perience the
!orld# -n the end, $no!ing that the other side is 0ust as valid as one+s o!n point o" vie!, the
Gemini personality can conclude that :it doesn+t matter#;
*hen the psyche is consumed in its o!n point o" vie!, this e3istential outloo$ easily becomes
callous indi1erence# The Geminian desire "or "reedom to e3perience !hen not tempered !ith
compassion results in a cruel lac$ o" commitment to others+ "eelings# -n this state, the
Geminian thin$s only o" his9her o!n pleasure# >e9she chooses not to loo$ beyond the sur"ace
o" his9her o!n ego perception and is, there"ore, !antonly una!are o" the harm that he9she
may be causing others#
At the transcendent level, ho!ever, "reedom and detachment are e3pressed in terms o" the
mind+s "reedom "rom material bondage# Lac$ o" commitment to any one material entity or
sub0ective point o" vie!, !hen mi3ed !ith compassion, becomes commitment to every thing
and the validation o" all points o" vie!# The Gemini energy is raised to the level !here all
e3ists in the >ere and ?o! and e3perience is totally immediate through direct perception o"
<eality#
,, Gargatholil
Cancer
The essential quality o" Cancer is emotional response# 8motional response carries as its
precondition the state o" "eeling, !hich is also closely associated !ith Cancer# /eeling and
emotional response become diversi)ed and particularied as they are in touch !ith various
media and situations# Thus, !hen the psyche "eels threatened, the emotional response is to
protect@ !hen the psyche "eels pity, the emotional response is to give sympathy@ !hen the
psyche "eels needed, the emotional response is to nurture@ and !hen the psyche "eels in0ured,
the emotional response !ill be negative#
Cancer is ruled by the &oon, !hich is associated both !ith basic emotions and !ith
responsiveness# The &oon also symbolies motherhood and "amily in general# This relates to
Cancer+s nurturing characteristics and also symbolies the protective role associated !ith
Cancer# /amily relates to domesticity, !hich is also symbolied by the "ourth house, !ith
!hich Cancer is lin$ed# Thus, Cancer has been traditionally associated !ith domestic
tendencies, a caring attitude and mothering qualities#
Cancer is the cardinal !ater sign# The !ater element intensi)es Cancer+s association !ith
emotion, giving Cancer the reputation as the most emotional o" the signs# The cardinal
modality provides action and "orce behind Cancer+s emotionality# Cancer typically e3presses
its emotionality, even i" this e3pression is passive# The Cancerian emotion is directed# 8ven
!hen the Cancerian psyche appears to be over!helmed by emotion, it is usually aimed at
someone or something and is usually being e3pressed "or some purpose or is motivating the
individual to!ard some end#
The "act that Cancer is not o"ten seen as possessing a stead"ast quality is due to the
in%uences o" !ater and the &oon overpo!ering the quality o" cardinality# The &oon, !ith its
phases and its in%uence on the tides, possesses an alternating rhythm that, !hen applied to
the emotions, results in moodiness or changeable emotions# Cancerian emotions are basically
reactive and, there"ore, change depending on !ith !hat the "eeling,response mechanism has
come in contact#
The "ourth house, besides symboliing domesticity in Cancer, also brings its association !ith
rootedness# -n some, this may be mani"ested as homeboundness, !hile in others it is
e3pressed as an attunement and attraction to the subconscious# The &oon, too, has a strong
association !ith the subconscious# Thus, intuition is a Cancerian quality, especially gut,
intuition that comes "rom deep !ithin an emotional state o" mind#
Cancer+s glyph is the crab# At )rst glance, the crab does not seem to be an embodiment o"
emotionality# The crab, ho!ever, represents the other side o" Cancer, strongly associated
!ith the !ithdra!ing tendencies o" the "ourth house# -t has o"ten been said that Cancer+s
"eeling mechanism is so sensitive to outside environmental in%uences that it must be
protected# This is symbolied by the very reactive and sensitive body o" the crab that is
surrounded by a hard, de"ensive shell#
Thus, to protect him9hersel", the Cancerian personality o"ten surrounds him9hersel" !ith
de"ense mechanisms, most li$ely those o" !ithdra!al, seeming indi1erence, reservation and
mas$ing o" the real personality# Li$e the crab, !hen the Cancerian psyche "eels threatened, it
may lash out in response !ith the intent o" causing pain to the threatening party# *hen the
Cancerian emotional psyche has been hurt to severely or too many times, the retreat into its
shell may become permanent and it may ta$e great e1ort "or the psyche to emotionally open
up again#
An alternative interpretation o" the Cancerian glyph is a representation o" the "emale
breasts# These symbolie the li"e,giving, nurturing aspect o" the Cancer energy# At the
transcendent level, they symbolie the 8arth &other and the !omb o" the subconscious, into
!hich the psyche returns in order to return to a state o" innocence# This return, ho!ever,
ta$es place a"ter e3perience and so, rather than returning to a state o" na5ve innocence, the
psyche consciously realies that the nurturing and security that it see$s can only be "ound by
returning to its Source# The return >ome is accompanied by the development o" great po!ers
o" intuition and compassion and an e3traordinary capacity to give o" onesel"# ,, Gargatholil
Leo
The essential quality o" Leo is sel",e3pressiveness# This o"ten occurs in a dramatic "ashion,
because to e3press onesel" one must be noticed# Typically, a quality o" Leo is a deep need to
be recognied and appreciated# This need drives us to cra"t a persona that !ill be ta$en
seriously by the rest o" the !orld#
Leo is ruled by the Sun# The Sun not only symbolies the sel", but also the e3pression o" the
sel" as represented by the rays o" the Sun# *ithout its rays to carry its light, the Sun !ould be
invisible# *hen it shines, the Sun is evident to all '"or even the blind can "eel its
!armth(# The Leo quality emulates the Sun in !anting to shine and be seen by others# The
shining quality o" Leo also suggests that to attract attention to the sel", certain positive
qualities are to be cultivated# /or, no one !ould !ant to attract attention to !hat is dar$ and
ugly, unless that person had such a perverse need "or attention that he9she is !illing to obtain
it in any !ay possible#
Leo is the )3ed )re sign, li$e the Sun that, "rom the terra,centric vie!point, is a ball o"
stationary )re# The )re element suggests a !ill to act# -n its )3ed state, ho!ever, it is not
li$ely that this is a !ill to be in action, but rather a !ill to cause action# /rom this, Leo gains
an association !ith command, by !hich a $ing, !hile himsel" unmoving, causes his !ill to be
carried out# *hat more e1ective !ay to be noticed than to have the ability to commandA
The )re element is also associated !ith the !arm emotions# The )3ing o" these emotions
ma$es them strong and po!er"ul# This produces an intense !armth o" emotion# Again,
ho!ever, the desire is to attract attention and positive recognition, so the typical Leo desire is
"or others to come to him9her in order to receive the !armth o" his9her )re, the largesse o" the
$ing# Li$e the generous $ing, it is a Leonine quality to give "reely, but it is also typical o" Leo
to e3pect gratitude, appreciation and loyalty in return#
The )3ed modality is o"ten associated !ith a need "or security and in combination !ith the )re
element this is e3pressed as a need "or security o" identity 'securing the inner )re or light o"
beingness(# The threat to identity 'the e3istential threat that your light may be e3tinguished(
is generally countered by the "orce"ul e3pression o" your identity to the !orld# 2y seeing your
identity, in the "orm o" a persona, being active in the !orld, your sense o" identity is
rea6rmed# The more threatened the Leo identity "eels, the more compulsively and
domineeringly the persona is li$ely to be e3pressed#
Leo is associated !ith the )"th house, !hich is the house o" creativity and the e3pression o"
the persona# The latter directly relates to the Leonine essence# -t is o"ten characteristic o"
Leo to e3press creativity or to be attracted to creative pursuits# This is especially true i" there
is an element o" sho!manship or drama involved# The )3ed nature o" Leo o"ten prevents an
e3pression o" childli$eness that could be connected !ith the )"th house+s association !ith
children, but the immature Leo o"ten e3presses qualities o" childishness#
Leo+s glyph is the lion+s mane and qualities associated !ith the $ing o" beasts permeate
Leo# The Leonine desire "or authority and respect has already been mentioned# Pride is
naturally associated !ith the desire to e3press onesel" and be noticed, "or it is normal to ta$e
pride in !hat you have created# Loyalty is another quality associated !ith the lion and this is
a quality that the Leo personality both possesses and e3pects "rom others# Li$e the lion,
!hen in0ured or cornered it is characteristic o" Leo to turn "erocious and dangerous#
*hen possessed by the lo!er sel", the tendency o" the Leo energy is to be about domination,
sel",importance, egotistic pride and sho!ing o1# The psyche is easily overcome by anger and
passion# -n0uries to pride are not easily "orgotten and the Leo !ill stal$ his9her prey until the
time is right to pounce and return the in0ury# The Leo sel",pride !ill seldom allo! the
individual to admit that he9she is !rong# 7n the other hand, the insecure Leo personality is
constantly craving validation and attention and may be !illing to debase him9hersel" in order
to gain attention# 7r, )lled !ith stage,"right, the Leo personality may be more li$e that o" the
co!ardly lion#
At the transcendent level, the Leo character rises to nobility# The $ingly9queenly attributes
o" generosity, compassionate benevolence, mercy and true leadership come to the "ore# The
sel" is ever cogniant that its light does not originate "rom its o!n sel"hood, but "rom a deeper
and more po!er"ul source# The realied person sees that he9she is not the doer, but that
there is another =oer acting through him9her# >e9she, there"ore, participates in the creation
being at one !ith the Creative /orce and realiing his9her true servanthood to the
7ne# ,, Gargatholil
Virgo
The essential quality o" Virgo is per"ection# The drive "or per"ection is mani"ested in a
variety o" !ays as the Virgoan energy ta$es concrete "orm# Thus, Virgo symbolies per"ection
at all levels, "rom the physical to the spiritual# -t also is associated !ith the means by !hich
per"ection may be achieved#
Vurgo is ruled by &ercury, !hich symbolies the mental, communicative and nervous
"unctions# The mental qualities are, there"ore, predominant in Virgo# -t is the mind, more than
anything else, that is used to guide those "unctions and areas o" li"e associated !ith Virgo
to!ard per"ection# To achieve per"ection, the mind must have a clear idea o" the current state
o" a1airs and ho! this state o" a1airs is imper"ect# 7nly by recogniing the imper"ect can the
corrective measures that !ill lead to per"ection be ta$en# There"ore, it is common "or Virgo to
be associated !ith attention to the negative, through criticism, dissatis"action, close
e3amination and e3actitude#
Virgo is the mutable earth sign# The mental energy symbolied by the &ercury rulership
interacts !ith the earth element and Virgo+s mutability to produce qualities that blend these
three energies together# The combination o" earth and the airiness inherent in &ercury
mani"ests as a dominating moti" o" the process o" concretiation, or the bringing do!n o" the
abstract to practical levels# Thus, it is a Virgoan quality to deal !ith the abstract and the
practical, simultaneously, and to apply the abstract to the practical# Analysis is a primary
mode o" using the abstract to attain practical ends# Analysis can also be seen as a process
that ta$es the purely abstract and ma$es it accessible and utilitarian# The mutable mode also
plays into the realiation o" Virgo+s analytical quality, in that the application o" mutability to
earth results in a constant si"ting o" mental construct and shi"ting "rom levels o" the abstract
to those o" greater and greater concreteness#
The combination o" mutability and earth also leads to a process o" particulariation# The
constant bac$ and "orth movement o" earth brea$s do!n its solidity into )ner and )ner
particles# This, again, is symbolic o" the Virgoan tendency to move "rom the abstract and
universal to the concrete and speci)c# -t mani"ests in the Virgoan attraction to detail and
interest in the minutely de)ned#
Virgo is associated !ith the si3th house, !hich is the house that represents sel",re)nement,
sel",improvement and, traditionally, !or$ and health# Thus, the Virgo energy is generally
concerned !ith these matters# -t is not uncommon "or the Virgoan drive "or per"ection to be
e3pressed as a concern "or per"ect health or, its negative aspect, hypochondria# The Virgoan
association !ith !or$ and service is generally e3pressed in qualities such as diligence and
conscientiousness# -t is also a typical Virgoan quality to be "ocused on improving the sel" and
aiming "or a state o" per"ection# Thus, per"ectionism and sel",criticism are typical Virgo traits#
Virgo+s glyph represents the virgin, !ho symbolies the state o" purity and per"ection# This is
not a state o" innocence, because at the stage o" development symbolied by the si3th house,
much has been e3perienced# <ather, this is an attempt to return to purity out o" the
messiness o" e3perience# This "act colors the Virgoan nature considerably#
As stated above, the quality o" purity mani"ests itsel" at all levels in the Virgo nature# At the
physical level, it is e3pressed as a desire "or cleanliness, neatness and everything being in its
proper place# The latter is also a result o" Virgo+s proclivity to analye, !hich entails
categoriation# The emotions are o"ten perceived, "rom the Virgoan perspective, as messy,
problematic and even impure# There"ore, there is a tendency in Virgo to disengage "rom the
emotional sphere and to protect ourselves against disruptive emotions# The emotional
e3perience is o"ten replaced by an adherence to ob0ectivism and an attraction to!ard the
pragmatic#
&orality is o"ten used as a devise to cleanse the psyche o" impurities# &orality, in the Virgoan
conte3t, includes not only truth"ulness and ethical behavior, but properness and con"ormity to
social mores# The typical Virgo behavior is to al!ays color !ithin the lines and use the correct
colors, metaphorically applied to all aspects o" li"e# 2ecause o" the strong compulsion that the
Virgo,dominated psyche "eels to abide by conventional morality, the Virgoan outloo$ is
sometimes 0udgmental and puritanical, !ith the Virgo native applying his9her o!n standards
to the behavior o" others#
*hen the psyche is ego,centered, the Virgo energy can e3press itsel" in a number o"
!ays# 7ne o" these is to become so obsessively "ocused on ourselves that the result is a
blaming, overly critical attitude that is directed both at ourselves and others# The reason "or
blame is, o" course, that nothing is per"ect in this imper"ect !orld# /rustrated by the "ailure to
realie the Virgoan e3pectation o" purity and per"ection, the aBicted Virgo energy o"ten
e3presses itsel" in the opposite direction "rom the traditional Virgoan "astidiousness# The
aBicted Virgoan energy results in disorganiation, becoming %ustered over details, messiness
and lac$ o" personal hygiene, o"ten accompanied by guilt# This state is usually the result o" us
ta$ing the entire burden o" per"ection upon ourselves#
At the transcendent level, Virgo becomes concerned !ith spiritual purity and the attainment
o" the per"ection o" the soul# This begins !ith sincere repentance, the cleansing o" the psyche
o" bad habits and immoral behavior and surrender to a spiritual discipline# >umility is a
necessary ingredient that must be added to the aspirant+s state o" consciousness# The one
embar$ing on this path o" purity then must polish the mirror o" the heart until it is completely
"ree o" all de"ects# Then, and only then, may the psyche gae into this mirror to discover the
True Sel"# ,, Gargatholil
Libra
The essential quality o" Libra is harmony achieved through balance and equipoise# This drive
to e3perience harmony and tranquility is mani"ested both internally and e3ternally# -n its
e3ternal mani"estation it, inevitably involves other people and, so, the achievement o" social
harmony and the conditions necessary "or social harmony to occur are closely associated !ith
Libra#
Libra is ruled by Venus# -t is the relationship "unction symbolied by Venus that is
predominantly e3pressed through Libra# Cet, the evaluative "unction associated !ith Venus
also plays a strong role in "orming the Libra character# /or, it is typically Libran to be
concerned about "orm and to appreciate beauty# 83ternal and internal harmony is achieved,
in part, by surrounding yoursel" !ith harmonious and beauti"ul things# There is a strong
element in Libra o" attraction to the beauti"ul and repulsion by the ugly.in other !ords, o"
constant 0udgment upon the state o" a1airs in !hich the Libran )nds him9hersel"#
Libra is the cardinal air sign# 7ne might e3pect the qualities o" harmony and equipoise to be a
product o" the mutable modality, but mutability !ould paralye the already indecisive Libra
energy and allo! it to be entirely too passive# -nstead, the cardinal modality pushes the
Libran energy "or!ard to actualie itsel" in the !orld through engagement in interpersonal
relationship and the creation and maintenance o" harmony# Air is the natural element "or the
social e3pression that is inherently Libran# The mental energy associated !ith air is also
evident in the Libran character, as the Libran is mentally a!are o" his9her !orld and thin$s
about harmony and social interaction, although the "eeling element, represented by Venus+
rulership, is not absent#
Libra is associated !ith the seventh house and, there"ore, !ith the dichotomy o" sel" and
other# Although all houses are, o" course, in opposition, it is the )rst,seventh house opposition
that is the de)ning archetype and it is the seventh house that brings the opposition into
being# Libra, there"ore, more than any other sign, is vulnerable to the qualities associated
!ith opposition# Thus, the sel",other con%ict is generally a part o" the Libran
e3perience# Libra is notoriously vulnerable to being in%uenced by others, both e3ternally and
internally# -t is common "or the Libra,dominated psyche to place primary consideration on
ho! his9her o!n actions !ill a1ect others and, thus, his9her relationships !ith others#
The seventh house, being the house o" relationships, !hen combined !ith the Venus and air
associations, ma$es Libra especially conscious o" the relationship aspect o"
everything# <elationship is a primary sphere !ithin the Libra energy attempts to create and
preserve harmony# The disruption o" harmony !ithin the social conte3t is, perhaps, the !orst
that can be e3perienced in "rom the Libran vie!point# The Libra,dominated native is,
there"ore, o"ten !illing to sacri)ce anything, not the least his9her o!n !ill, convenience and
even identity, to preserve social harmony# This sometimes results in the apparent
disappearance o" the sel" altogether or the substitution o" the sel" !ith a super)cial persona
that is "ashioned only to get others to li$e us#
The glyph that represents Libra is the scale or balance# The balance symbolies the states o"
equipoise and harmony, "or harmony implies that there is no dissonant imbalance bet!een
t!o 'or more( entities# 2alance is also !hat is needed in the "ace o" Libran dichotomy
bet!een sel" and other# The scale is the instrument o" !eighing and, there"ore, o" ta$ing
stoc$ and evaluating, -t is, thus, consistent !ith the evaluative "unction symbolied by Libra+s
ruling planet, Venus# -t represents the mental state o" Libra, !hich is constant evaluation and
ta$ing stoc$ in order to perceive the potential imbalances !ithin a situation and act to correct
them# The scales also symbolie 0ustice and suggest the $een a!areness o" 0ustice and
in0ustice !hich can be a Libran quality#
*hen the Libran psyche is ego,dominated, all o" the thoughts and actions underta$en by us
are to gain a1ection "rom others and protect the ego "rom re0ection# Cou may thin$ that your
concern is only "or others, but in reality it is "or !hat others !ill thin$ o" you and ho! they !ill
treat you# The irony o" this position is that the authentic sel" is sacri)ced "or a super)cial sel"
that is dominated by the e3pectations o" others so that the ego can "eel sa"e and :in
harmony; !ith your social environment# Cet, the ego remains e3tremely vulnerable# -t ta$es
everything personally so that, i" it is not the center o" social attention, it "eels neglected and
insecure# Generally, the insecure individual !ill try to turn attention bac$ to ourselves by
engaging others#
At the transcendent level, the Libran energy see$s a true harmony# Apparent harmony can be
disrupted and the insecure Libran psyche can not abide the appearance o" disharmony in
his9her environment# Transcending this ego,based perception, the individual realies the
essential harmony that e3ists !hen the oneness o" all Creation is realied# >e9she tries to
realie this harmony !ithin him9hersel" by cultivating a state o" psychic and spiritual
equipoise# *hen all o" the "orces o" the psyche are brought into balance and everything is
seen to )t together !ith per"ection, the sel" is united !ith the Sel" and the Grand >armony,
the music o" the spheres, is heard# ,, Gargatholil
Scorpio
The essential quality o" Scorpio is that o" intensity and, particularly, emotional intensity# -t is
Scorpio+s nature to raise everything to a more concentrated level o" e3perience# There is a
capacity to "eel everything as more real and alive and there is a capacity to "eel everything as
immediately personal# Cet, "or Scorpio, the personal is al!ays in relation to others# The
Scorpionic intensity is e3pressed in various "orms# At the physical level, it mani"ests in the
intense emotional intimacy o" se3uality# *ithin the social conte3t, it o"ten ta$es shape in
terms o" concern about po!er relationships# The most intense emotions are associated !ith
Scorpio# At the mental,psychic level, Scorpionic intensity is e3pressed as insight and intuition#
Pluto is Scorpio+s ruling planet# Pluto is associated !ith the intensity o" trans"ormation
through crisis and both crisis and trans"ormation can be e3pressed in the Scorpio energy# A
common Scorpio quality is to generally treat those circumstances that are met !ith in li"e
"rom a crisis vie!point# 8very decision becomes a critical decision upon !hich personal
success and "ailure depend# At this heightened level o" criticality, it is natural that the Scorpio
consciousness ta$es the psychic time to calculate his9her actions in order to manipulate
his9her circumstances 'including other people( to his9her advantage# *hen this course is
ta$en, interpersonal relations become relations o" po!er.po!er and !ill being "unctions that
are symbolied by Pluto#
?ot only po!er and se3uality, but the "ull range o" psychological "unction symbolied by Pluto
can be clearly e3pressed through Scorpio# 7ne such "unction is the stripping a!ay o"
"alsehood to reveal uncompromising truth# This strong attraction to, even obsession !ith,
truth has sometimes lead to others seeing the Scorpio,persona as insensitive to the "eelings
o" others, blunt and overly harsh in his9her 0udgments# 7n the other hand, i" negativity
dominates the Scorpio consciousness, :truth; may be victimied and manipulated to serve
the ends o" the ego#
Scorpio is the )3ed !ater sign# The !ater element brings an emotional quality to Scorpio !ell
beyond the emotional implications derived "rom Pluto# The )3ed modality emphasies the
intensity that emotion is sub0ected to in Scorpio# As in a deep pool o" still !ater, the
Scorpionic emotions are dra!n up "rom the deep places o" the psyche and the
subconscious# >aving such core associations, they tend to be po!er"ul in nature# The )3ed
modality suggests the possibility o" intense pressure, !hich calls "orth the metaphor o"
pressuried steam, another po!er,laden "orce# Scorpio+s intense emotions are "requently
behind an unbendable !ill# *hen positively channeled, Scorpio+s intense emotions mani"est
as sel",sacri)cing loyalty, )rm determination, !ell,directed passion and intense spiritual
yearning# *hen negatively mani"ested, such traditionally Scorpionic emotions as hatred,
revenge, 0ealousy, spite and lust "or po!er and9or se3uality are the result#
The )3ed modality also is associated !ith a need "or security and in combination !ith the
!ater element this is e3pressed as a need "or emotional security# =espite the intensity o"
emotion o" !hich it is capable and the capacity to e3press these emotions "orce"ully, the
Scorpio psyche "eels emotionally vulnerable# There is a natural tendency to protect the
psyche "rom threats to its emotional !ell,being# These threats inevitably derive "rom the
outside."rom others !ho !ould, intentionally or unintentionally, do you emotional harm# This
sense o" emotional vulnerability can produce suspicion and even paranoia on the part o" the
Scorpio,dominated psyche# The de"ense mechanism o"ten adopted !hen the !orld is
perceived as threatening and hostile is to stri$e )rst, overpo!er potential enemies and gain
the upper hand# These de"ensive mechanisms have contributed to the traditional association
o" Scorpio !ith ruthlessness, cruelty and vindictiveness#
Another !ay in !hich to satis"y Scorpio+s need "or emotional security is through possessive
emotional intimacy# The eighth house, !hich is associated !ith Scorpio, is the house that
represents intimacy and all o" the most intimate aspects o" li"e and human relationship# The
Scorpio,dominated psyche o"ten has a strong need "or intimacy, including se3uality, privacy
and secrecy# =espite the introverted nature o" intimacy, Scorpio+s overriding intensity usually
results in the e3pression or pro0ection o" these qualities through the psyche or
persona# -ntensity, !hen combined !ith interpersonal intimacy, also "requently results in a
strong psychic bond being "ormed bet!een the Scorpio native and others# This is generally
e3perienced by others as charisma or a magnetic personality#
The scorpion is generally recognied as Scorpio+s glyph# -t has been increasingly propounded,
ho!ever, that the Scorpio glyph undergoes trans"ormation as the level o" consciousness
attained by the psyche rises and that its glyph becomes metamorphosied into )rst the eagle
and then the phoeni3# At the level o" the scorpion, the glyph represents all o" those qualities
traditionally associated !ith Scorpio as a :male)c; sign.a poisonous nature, ready to stri$e,
!atch"ul and protective o" itsel", hiding until the right opportunity presents itsel" and an
enemy that one does not !ant to ma$e# *hen the consciousness climbs out "rom dar$ place
under the roc$ o" the ego and ascends into the air as the eagle, it ta$es on a more authentic
po!er# The $een eye o" the eagle represents its insight"ulness# Although its s!i"t and certain
po!er may be used to rid the !orld o" mice and vermin, the eagle still acts "or its o!n
bene)t#
The rulership o" Scorpio by one o" the outer planets symbolies the challenge, greater than
!ith most other signs, that its energy brings# The Scorpio energy can easily bring the
consciousness to the level o" a cra!ling, vindictive crustacean, associated !ith evil and death
and concerned !ith the most basic animal drives o" se3uality and po!er# 8ven !hen the level
o" consciousness is raised, it is di6cult "or the Scorpio energy to overcome its ego,motivated
nature and it may continue to :hunt "or prey#;
<eaching the transcendent level o" the Scorpio energy is no easy tas$, as is symbolied by
the Phoeni3, !ho must be consumed in the )re o" puri)cation and 'the ego( reduced to ashes
be"ore rising up trans"ormed# Cet the trans"ormation represented by the Phoeni3 is not the
)nal stage or even a resting place# /or Scorpio is the eighth, not the )nal sign o" the
Zodiac# The Phoeni3, a"ter laying her egg, dies# And the process o" struggle and
trans"ormation begins ane!# Thus, the Scorpio trans"ormation is a constant and continuous
process that continues throughout li"e# -" the struggle is continued, ho!ever, the
consciousness rises to greater and greater heights# ,, Gargatholil
Sagittarius
The essential quality o" Sagittarius is its questing nature# This questingness can mani"est
unconsciously as restlessness or highly consciously as a directed spiritual "ocus# -n everything
that the Sagittarius nature approaches, ho!ever, it is never satis)ed to be still or loo$ bac$ at
the past# -ts "ocus is al!ays on !hat is over the ne3t horion# This "ocus and yearning is
evident !hether the Sagittarius energy is applied at the physical, emotional, mental or
spiritual level#
At the physical level, the Sagittarian energy can be e3pressed as almost a nervous
restlessness, !anderlust, abundant physical energy or directed physical activity 'e#g#, action
sports(# At the emotional level, there can be an abundance o" lively emotionality, 0oie de vivre
and optimism# &entally, there is o"ten a yearning to $no! and to understand, an insatiable
curiosity or a tendency to ma$e mental leaps 'including 0umping to conclusions(# Spiritually,
the Sagittarian energy becomes an intense spiritual yearning and a hunger "or the spiritual
quest#
Sagittarius is ruled by Dupiter# The e3pansiveness that is associated !ith Dupiter accentuates
and po!ers the Sagittarian questingness# Dupiterian e3pansiveness pushes the Sagittarian
energy out!ard and :over there#; To meet and go beyond the horion presumes a sense o"
ability to e3pand to!ard that horion# The good !ill and bene)cence that is associated !ith
Dupiter contributes to the Sagittarian qualities o" optimism and good naturedness# The
Dupiterian lin$ to established patterns and encompassing social constructs also %avors the
Sagittarian energy and ma$es it susceptible to 0udgmentalism, "or the Dupiterian
consciousness :$no!s; the !ay things are and should be#
Sagittarius is the mutable )re sign# The )re element in"uses Sagittarius !ith energy and a
proclivity to!ard action# /ire, too, is an e3pansive element and this combines !ith Dupiter+s
rulership to heighten Sagittarius+s outgoingness# /ire contributes to the )ery emotionality
that Sagittarius can e3press# The mutable modality only intensi)es the )ery energy !ithin
Sagittarius# -t is li$e !ind !hipping ashes into %ame or blo!ing tongues o" %ame )rst in one
direction, then in another# The tranquility and balance sometimes associated !ith mutability
is very di6cult to achieve !ith the )re element, !hich is naturally so active, so it is only !hen
the )re energy is sublimated that one can conceive o" the Sagittarian in a tranquil state#
Sagittarius is associated !ith the ninth house, !hich is the house o" understanding and also o"
sport and travel# The ninth house relates to the Sagittarian capacity to go beyond concern "or
the ego and to "ocus on the !orld around# The ninth house, and its ruler Dupiter, bring to
Sagittarius a desire not only to reach the horion and beyond, but also to encompass and
assimilate that !hich has been e3perienced# The desire to travel physically and to travel
mentally by understanding contributes to and %avors the questing nature o" Sagittarius#
The Sagittarian glyph is the centaur, represented by an arro! pointing diagonally up!ard "rom
a cross# 2oth symbolie, one metaphorically and the other abstractly, the duality inherent in
the quest.in !hich you are here going there.and particularly the 0ourney "rom the material
to the spiritual 'or mental( !orlds# Li$e the centaur, the Sagittarian nature is seen to reside
and be sub0ect to the physical, animal !orld !hile participating mentally and spiritually in the
higher human !orld# The questing nature o" Sagittarius has it al!ays present in the here o"
the material, but aiming "or something higher#
This dual nature is also a "unction o" the mutable modality o" Sagittarius# >ere, mutability
represents the state o" living in both !orlds or, more commonly, alternating "rom one !orld to
another# The Sagittarian dilemma is that, !hile sub0ect to the )ery animal passions, it yearns
"or the elevated state o" understanding or spirituality@ yet, !hen dealing in the abstract realm
o" understanding or questing a"ter the higher goal, it nostalgically is tugged bac$ to the
physical#
At the ego level, the Sagittarian gives in to his9her animal nature and lives to pursue his9her
lusts and appetites, !hich are Dupiterianly large# >e9she succumbs to his9her o!n
0udgmentalism, rather than trying to truly understand# >e9she blindly pursues, driven by
his9her o!n yearnings and desires# -n his9her rush to satis"y his9her o!n ego needs, horseli$e,
he9she tramples others under "oot# Cet, !ith Dupiterian good nature predominating, his9her sin
is more o"ten against him9hersel"."ailing to realie his9her "ull potential.rather than against
others#
At the transcendent level, !hile grounded in the material reality, the Sagittarian heart resides
in the spiritual s$y# The centaur is trans"ormed into a rider on a !inged horse# The steed o"
the human body no! serves the psyche+s spiritual purpose# 8ach horion is traversed,
opening the !ay to ne! horions# Spiritual yearning becomes the psyche+s constant state
and the spiritual quest its constant activity# All o" the psyche+s energy is bent li$e an arro!
pointed up!ard to "orthrightly reach its mar$# ,, Gargatholil
Capricorn
The essential quality o" Capricorn is goal,orientation# The goal,orientedness o" Capricorn
"requently is mani"ested as ambition# This is not necessarily driving ambition, although the
Capricorn energy is capable o" producing driving ambition# Ambition, ho!ever, can be seen
as the natural outcome o" Capricorn+s goal,orientation# 7ther qualities associated !ith
Capricorn, such as a care"ul and conservative approach, step,by,step procedures and
practicality, are characteristics that contribute to the success"ul achievement o" Capricorn
ambitions#
Capricorn is ruled by Saturn and also has a strong association !ith the &id,heaven# Thus, the
Capricorn character tends to be dominated by the super,ego and its concerns, especially the
drive "or success# <ules and structure, !hich are the provenance o" Saturn, are generally
important to the Capricorn,dominated psyche# The Capricorn psyche tends to be structured
and organied, sometimes rigidly# Lac$ o" emotionality, a practical and concrete attitude and
a preoccupation !ith tas$s are also Capricorn qualities that derive "rom Saturn+s rulership#
Capricorn is the cardinal earth sign# The earth element rein"orces the Saturnian qualities
!ithin the Capricorn psyche, as Saturn has much a6nity !ith the earth element# The earth
element brings groundedness to Capricorn, a strong sense o" the practical and an
appreciation "or the tangible#
The cardinal modality, !hen combined !ith the earth element rein"orces a drive in the
Capricorn psyche to construct and build things# Things o" the earth.stone, bric$ and mud.
have al!ays been associated !ith human building# The active energy o" the cardinal modality
places the earth element into motion and "orms it into shape, resulting in structures being
constructed## The desire to build things that are permanent is also mani"ested as the
Capricornian desire to leave a legacy.something that is use"ul to society that !ill remain
a"ter the death o" the individual# This legacy does not have to be physical, but it must be a
tangible "orm o" success in order to be satis"ying to the Capricorn psyche#
Capricorn is associated !ith the tenth house, !hich is the house o" achievement and
success# Goal,directedness is a prerequisite "or achievement, "or no one success"ully
achieves anything !ithout )rst "ormulating it as a goal# All o" the earth and Saturn associated
elements o" Capricorn are needed in order to accomplish goals# The tenth house activities o"
pursuing success, accomplishing something "or society and posterity and, in the process,
"urthering your o!n advancement, all become Capricorn traits#
Capricorn+s glyph is the mountain goat# The mountain goat symbolies the climb to!ard
success and rugged persistence in pursuing a goal# -t is the characteristic o" the mountain
goat to proceed up the steep mountain slopes cautiously and step by step# The mountain
goat also symbolies Capricorn+s a6nity "or earth and, particularly, roc$# -n order to
accomplish its goal, the goat, li$e Capricorn, is !illing to endure loneliness and hardship and
has the ability to survive in a hostile, yet invigorating, environment# The steady climb to the
summit o" the mountain goat symbolies the success that the Capricorn psyche strives
"or# Cet, success is not equivalent to arrogance "or, as the goat !illingly bends its $nee to gain
leverage to climb the slope, the Capricorn psyche is capable o" sublimating the ego and its
needs in order to achieve its higher goals#
-t is not di6cult "or the ego, ho!ever, to ta$e over the Capricorn drive "or success# -" this
happens, then the goat !ill use its "ormidable horns to de"eat all those !ho !ould stand in its
!ay# The goal o" accomplishment and success consumes the ego,dominated psyche, causing
undue pride i" success is achieved and bitterness, envy and sel",pity i" success eludes the
Capricorn psyche# ?either is the ego satis)ed !ith the success that it achieves, but it al!ays
demands more# Thus, even !hen ob0ectively success"ul, the ego,dominated Capricorn psyche
can become sel",obsessed and despairing#
At the transcendent level, the Capricornian energy becomes "ocused on spiritual goals, rather
than material pursuits# 8ven the ostensibly good desire to bene)t society and leave some
good legacy behind are seen by the trans"ormed Capricorn psyche as being ego,based# 7nce
Capricorn+s energy is directed to the transcendent level o" action, the psyche !ill pursue its
goals !ith balanced determination, dedication and humility# ,, Gargatholil
Aquarius
The essential quality o" Aquarius is individuatedness# -t is the Aquarian+s recognition o"
his9her uniqueness that prompts him9her to !ant to share his9her $no!ledge and insight !ith
the !orld# The sense o" social responsibility that Aquarians o"ten "eel is born o" a sense that
they possess an enlightened vie!point that places them in a uniquely quali)ed position to
lead others# Enli$e the Leo, their need is not so much that others recognie and appreciate
their personalities as that the ideas that they have received in custody are adopted by others
"or the betterment o" humanity# This insistence in being right, in having direct access to the
truth, o"ten comes across as arrogance and, !hen the Aquarian "eels resistance or re0ection o"
his9her ideas, he9she can become petulant or authoritarian#
Aquarius is ruled by Eranus# Eranus+ association !ith the higher mind "unction
contributes to the Aquarian pull to!ard individuation# *hether the Aquarian is conscious o"
this pull or not, he9she !ill o"ten "eel set apart in some !ay# This may be e3pressed as
:marching to a di1erent drummer; or the ego may "eel isolated, resulting in a personality
dominated by de"ensive reactions# The Aquarian may revel in his9her unconventionality or
he9she may repress this tendency !ithin him9hersel" "or "ear o" being ostracied and become
reactionary and hyper,conventional#
Aquarius is the )3ed air sign# This combination is o"ten associated !ith the tendency to
stubbornly hold to ideas and belie"s# -t also suggests an importance that is placed on mental
and social constructs# The Aquarian tendency is to )3 the mental !orld in place and to !ant
to ma$e social systems concrete# -n part, this is a result o" receiving revelation "ully "ormed
'"rom the higher mind( and !anting to carry this do!n and imprint it on the !orld# /rom one
point o" vie!, the carrying o" a higher vision is borne as a service to humanity# /rom another
point o" vie!, the ego is rein"orced !hen it can ta$e those ideas that have "ormed its identity
and see these adopted and carried "orth by others# The )3ed air quality also suggests the
Aquarian di6culty !ith accepting emotion# 8motions simply have no place in the Aquarian
mental construct#
Aquarius is associated !ith the eleventh house, !hich is the house o" group,identity
and o" social responsibility# Thus, the Aquarian energy tends to be socially a!are and socially
concerned, e3cept !hen the ego+s de"ensiveness "orces it into isolation# The association !ith
the eleventh house rein"orces the Aquarian tendency to "eel the burden o" acting "or others
and assuming that they $no! !hat is best "or others# -t also highlights the Aquarian con%ict
bet!een individuality and independence, on the one hand, and allegiance to 'and the need "or
acceptance by( the group, !hether this be the small group o" social peers or the large group
o" all humanity#
Aquarius+ glyph is a symbol variously associated !ith pouring !ater or !ith
lightning# -n 8gyptian myth, the Aquarian )gure pours !ater into the ?ile, thus enabling and
sustaining human civiliation# -n Gree$ and <oman mythology, Aquarius is the cup,bearer "or
the Gods 'Ganymede(# The image emphasies the humanitarian and bringer,"rom,on,high
roles associated !ith Aquarius# -t also signi)es the Aquarian connection !ith the higher
mind# 7ne can neither cavort in the 7lympian realm nor bring the nectar o" higher !isdom to
humanity !ithout )rst attaining a state o" individuation that grants access to those higher
realms o" consciousness#
As alluded to already, the ego can ta$e the seemingly sel%ess Aquarian role and turn it
to its o!n purposes# Pride and arrogance are typical Aquarian "aults# =isregard "or the
"eelings o" others, aloo"ness or a %agrant unconventionality are other signs o" the ego+s
"eeling superior due to a heightened sense o" one+s uniqueness# *hen authority is not
recognied by others, the Aquarian tendency can be to become irritable, aggressive or
!ithdra!n# /ear o" re0ection by the group also is a consequence o" the ego# To compensate
"or its $no!ledge o" the individual+s uniqueness, the ego may attach itsel" to the values and
mores o" the group to such an e3tent that the Aquarian energy mani"ests as stubborn
conventionality#
At the transcendent level, the Aquarian energy must rise above its sense o"
individuality# -ndividuation is necessary but one can get stuc$ at the level o" "ascination !ith
one+s uniqueness on not be able to move on "rom there# Truly serving society and humanity is
one !ay to rise above this level# >o!ever, group,identity and "ocus on the a1airs o" the !orld
can also hold one bac$# The Aquarian energy gains its highest e3pression !hen !e truly
realie that all is simply an outpouring and e3pression o" the Spirit through the >igher
&ind# Then, the individual becomes a pliant tool "or the *ill to act in the realm o" matter and
e3istence#
,, Gargatholil

Pisces
The essential quality o" Pisces is emotional boundarilessness# -t is the underlying "eeling
o" having no boundaries !hatsoever that mani"ests in Pisces+ characteristic qualities "rom
unconditional love and compassion to neurotic "ear and duplicity# The degree to !hich the
Piscean essence mani"ests positively or negatively is, to a large e3tent, a "unction o" the
individual+s ability to overcome and control the ego# -t is also a re%ection o" the level o"
com"ort that the individual is able to obtain !ith ambiguity, uncertainty and %uidity, as !ell as
the individual+s ability to recognie and establish proper boundaries "or the sel"#
Pisces is ruled by ?eptune and the ?eptunian qualities o" indeterminateness, urge
to!ard transcendence and urge to!ard dissolution 'including sel",dissolution( pervade the
Piscean essence# The e3tremely !ide scope o" e3pression o" ?eptunian energy along the
negative,to,positive continuum is, also, re%ected in the Piscean capacity to mani"est its
essence "rom the depths o" depravity and addictive behavior to the heights o" sel",sacri)ce
and transcendent e3perience, even being capable o" s!inging bet!een the t!o e3tremes in
the same individual# 7ther ?eptunian traits carried over to Pisces include emotional
sensitivity, ungroundedness and universality# Prior to the discovery o" ?eptune, Pisces !as
seen as ruled by Dupiter and, "or a time, ?eptune and Dupiter shared co,rulership over the
sign# Dupiter+s e3pansiveness contributes to the Piscean sense o" boundarilessness and
capacity "or all,inclusiveness#
Pisces is the mutable !ater sign# The !ater element gives the sign its emotional
character# -ts mutability allo!s it to navigate the "ull range o" ?eptune+s
e3pression# Pisceans, generally, see no need to have any )3ed position and see no problem
!ith changing their vie!points and commitments to suit the situation in !hich they )nd
themselves# &oods, also, can s!ing bac$ and "orth# The temptation to engage in moral
relativism is strong and the challenge "or Pisces is to $eep the ego "rom e3ploiting the
%e3ibility inherent in the Piscean essence and playing an endless game o" hide and see$ "rom
the truth# *hen positively harnessed, Piscean mutability becomes the plat"orm "or complete
surrender to the >igher Po!er,,"or being, to use a Su) analogy, as pliant as the corpse being
turned this !ay and that as it is !rapped in the burial shroud#
Pisces is associated !ith the t!el"th house# The t!el"th house, traditionally, is
associated !ith things hidden and !ith isolation, pain and su1ering# /rom this perspective,
the t!el"th house association is compatible !ith the Piscean ability to hide the truth, "rom
others and "rom themselves# -t also resonates to a sense o" martyrdom, long,su1ering,
emotional pain or depression that Pisceans o"ten "eel# /rom a depth,astrology perspective,
the t!el"th house is associated !ith the end o" cycles, !hich may mean death and rebirth or
transcendence and liberation "rom the cycle o" death and rebirth# -t represents a time o"
paying o1 $armas# =epending on the level o" consciousness and perspective, this can either
mani"est as a sense o" being persecuted 'resulting in melancholy or paranoid behavior( or in
"eelings o" spirituality and a striving "or sel",transcendence and liberation#
Pisces+ glyph represents t!o )shes traveling in opposite directions# This symbolies the
duality inherent in Pisces 'a quality o" its mutability and, also, re%ecting the ?eptunian
capacity to mani"est at the dar$ or light ends o" the spectrum(# The Pisces energy o"ten )nds
itsel" con%icted, pulled in t!o opposite directions and9or s!inging "rom one pole 'o"ten an
emotional pole( to the other# Piscean con%icts can be moral or they can arise "rom the
con%icting needs o" the sel" and sel",sacri)ce#
The )sh is also an animal that inhabits the !ater and this glyph emphasies the degree
to !hich Pisces is a denien o" the !ater element# The ocean, !ith its seeming never,
endingness, is most symbolic o" the Piscean state# The )sh is also a symbol o" Christianity,
!hich has dominated the Piscean astrological age o" the past t!o millennia# Christian themes
o" birth and rebirth 'or resurrection(, persecution and being born into sin are issues !hich
o"ten accompany the Pisces energy# The t!o )sh moving in opposite directions also suggest
the Tao 'Cing,Cang( symbol, !hich also suggests duality and the need to hold opposite
energies in balance#
The transcendent e3pression o" Pisces derives "rom its rulership by ?eptune and its
association !ith the t!el"th house# The drive to end the cycle o" birth and rebirth and the pull
to!ard unlimited transcendence and merging !ith the 7ne lead to the ultimate Piscean
goals# -t is a di6cult road, ho!ever, as the ego has laid traps all along the !ay#
As much as the sel" revels in the Piscean sense o" boundarlinessness, the ego sees this
"eeling o" All,in,7neness as the supreme threat to its e3istence# The ego !ill, there"ore, ta$e
!hatever measures to deny, repudiate or co,opt this sense o" boundarilessness# -t !ill even
go to the e3treme o" sel",destruction, i" need be, "or, at least, in the act o" sel",destruction it is
able to a6rm that it still e3ists# *hen it can, ho!ever, it !ill adopt less e3treme measures,
employing attachment and possessiveness to gra"t itsel" onto Piscean "eelings o" compassion,
universal love and sel",sacri)ce, appropriating these virtues as its o!n
attributes# ,, Gargatholil