Foundations of Astrology
Symbology

Esoteric meanings of the symbols
used in astrology.

Firstly there is a consideration of the meaning of the circle. The circle is a primary symbol used in astrology. Not only is there the circle which comprises the zodiac but also a number of the planets and some of the zodiacal symbols have the circle as a part of their glyphs.

As well as the circle, the other basic components that can make up the various symbols of astrology (or the alphabet which we use too for that matter) are the line and the curve. Whilst the curve may be considered to represent a fraction of the circle, the line brings in a wholly different dimension into symbology. From this analysis, the circle could be regarded as representing the ideal (spirit) whilst the line would represent the actual (manifestation). It would seem logical to see the curve (soul) as being in between the circle and the line - a kind of bridge between the two extremes as it were.

Hieroglyphics

“Whether the symbol of the circle appears in primitive sun worship or modern religion, in myths or dreams, in the mandalas drawn by the Tibetan monks, in the ground plans of cities, or in the spherical concepts of early astronomers, it always points to the single most vital aspect of life - its ultimate wholeness.”

“ ... there is an irony in the fact that the very repetition of astrological effects created the need within psychology for a concept of archetype to be developed in the first place, to account for those observed similarities. Without such a concept of archetype, we can not only see astrology more clearly, we are in closer contact with our own lives. What takes place within us is us, and is unique to us. The themes which do occur within an individual's life are expressed within the integrity of that individual's life, not constellated from energies outside of it. If the pattern repeats elsewhere, then the theme will repeat, created anew within another being. In recognising within the lives of our clients their unique re-statement of familiar language, we recognise the authenticity of their experience, and the fact that they are experiencing, not an archetype of something else, but themselves.”

The circle

As the primal oneness before the division that takes place upon manifestation, the circle symbolises the whole. All possibilities exist in the circle: everything that has been, is, is yet to come and that will never be. There is no beginning or end to the circle. Everything that is and everything that is not is encompassed by its totality. There is no outside to the circle. The circle has infinite dimensions. In completeness, it is beyond definition and is not even a circle. Not-self (non circle) and self (circle) are one. In infinity there is absolute paradox and the line that separates the non from the being is no more.

The circle is not just one dimensional, not just two dimensional, not just three dimensional ... it encompasses all dimensions. Consciousness permeates every dimension. The circle is all consciousness and it is all unconsciousness. It is the place where the yin and the yang merge and are one. The circle is at the periphery and it is at the very centre. The symbol for the Sun with the dot in the centre captures this aspect well. At the heart is the ONE, at the outer regions is the ONE. Within and without the ONENESS IS.

Every point, every part of the circle is infinite. Everything touches upon and exists in infinity. But there are ranges of frequency and dimension. Vibrations within vibrations. And each vibration or frequency has its root or primary. At once all and yet a singular. The all in the singular and the singular in the all.

The circle is unmanifested and yet it contains and permeates manifestation. It is manifestation and it is not. The infinite quality of the circle leads to the creation of the veil which gives the appearance of finiteness. To be infinite means to have no limitations and thus the appearance of the finite is part of the infinite aspect of the all. If there was no apparent finite, the infinite would be limited from the finite and hence would not be infinite. The manifested is the realm of change. This is the place where the infinite can go through infinite variations of relation without ever quite repeating itself. Unique in it's always. ‘You never step in the same river twice’.

Symbolic basis

Symbol

“The term symbol is used very loosely in astrological circles to cover such different concepts as IMAGES, SIGILS, SEALS and even SIGNS. In a strictly astrological context, a symbol is something which stands for, or represents, something else: however, a true symbol is intended to be more than merely a representative, for it should in some way act as a sort of commentary on the nature of that thing.”

The symbols used in astrology are made up of the line, the curve and the circle. These form the basis of astrological symbolism and the written word.

Meanings

The line equates to matter. The curve equates to soul. The circle equates to spirit.

Matter of course is to do with form, structure or physicality. It is the two lines in the form of the cross which represents matter par excellence.

One way of understanding the cross is by considering the four angles of the chart. The horizontal line divides the night houses (houses 1 to 7) from the day houses (houses 7-1). Thus the horizontal line balances what is conscious and unconscious. The horizontal line symbolises the easiness of life.

In the birth-chart the vertical line divides the reactive houses (houses 4 to 10) from the active houses (houses 10 to 4). The vertical line is a line of awareness which is encapsulated by a need for synthesis, individuation and elevation. The vertical line symbolises the struggle of life, that is the need to succeed despite, or because, of the necessary effort so involved..

Every planet, apart from the Sun and Moon, has the cross as a part of its glyph. Only the luminaries (Moon as soul repository and Sun as spirit essence) are free from having to translate everything through the process of incarnation.

Soul equates to the experience of spirit in material form. It is to do with the emotional body or experiences of that body. Soul invokes the psychic, thoughts, feelings, hopes and desires.

Spirit is the essence of being. Prior to form, spirit is that which incarnates in form through the soul body. Spirit represents the undivided.

The self is the experience of soul: the in between point or merging of the material/natural and spiritual worlds.

Copyright. Stephen Winder.