Foundations of Astrology.
The Signs of the Zodiac.

Introduction

Herein is presented an overview of the signs of the zodiac. This includes what the signs represent and their meanings. Information on the elements, modalities and the astronomy of the zodiac is also included to give you an understanding of the twelve signs.

The astronomical basis of the signs

Western astrologers, in the main, use a system of zodiac known as the tropical zodiac. Also known as the zodiac of the seasons, the tropical zodiac directly relates to the seasonal rhythms; those cyclic changes that take place on the earth. For example: the winter solstice takes place when the Sun enters 0 degrees of Cancer and the summer solstice takes place when the Sun enters 0 degrees of Capricorn. The cycles of day and night that take place on earth are determined by the Suns positioning in the sky. If the Sun is above the horizon it will be day. If the Sun lies beneath the horizon it will be night.

The positioning of the zodiacal signs is determined by the annual revolution of the Earth around the Sun. The circle thereof, which the Earth describes, defines the ecliptic. The division of the ecliptic into twelve, based on this Earth-Sun relationship, forms the basis of the astrological signs. These signs denote universal or cosmic energy, as this revolution ties in the family of Planets and the background of “Fixed Stars”.

It should be made clear that astrology, as it is commonly practiced in the western world today, has little to do with the Stars at all in any direct fashion (apart from our Sun). Because the Stars, in effect, do not change position in a human life-time; they have little bearing on at least one of the purposes of astrology. This purpose is to understand personal time-cycles through the mapping out of the changing inter-relationships of the planets that inform our surrounding cosmic environment. The corresponding developments and changes on the earth plane are also observed. There is at least one school of thought in astrology that believes the planets of our solar system act as channels or receptors for stellar energy.

The Signs

The term zodiac literally means circle of animals. This is not quite an accurate description as Libra, one of the signs of the zodiac, is not represented by a life-form but, rather, is depicted as looking like a set of scales. However, the ancients did not seem to think this a problem.

Please note the characteristics for the signs listed herein most closely match the general characteristics found for someone with the Sun in that sign. Other planets in your chart will highlight other aspects of your personality.

The 1st sign of the zodiac. The modality for Aries is cardinal and its element is fire. The Sun is in Aries from approximately March 21st to April 20th.

The 2nd sign of the zodiac. The modality for Taurus is fixed and its element is earth. The Sun is in Taurus from approximately April 21st to May 21st.

The 3rd sign of the zodiac. The modality for Gemini is mutable and its element is air. The Sun is in Gemini from approximately May 22nd to June 22nd.

The 4th sign of the zodiac. The modality for Cancer is cardinal and its element is water.The Sun is in Cancer from approximately June 22nd to July 24th.

The 5th sign of the zodiac. The modality for Leo is fixed and its element is fire. The Sun is in Leo from approximately July 24th to August 24th.

The 6th sign of the zodiac. The modality for Virgo is mutable and its element is earth. The Sun is in Virgo from approximately August 24th to September 23rd.

The 7th sign of the zodiac. The modality for Libra is cardinal and its element is air. The Sun is in Libra from approximately September 23rd to October 23rd.

The 8th sign of the zodiac. The modality for Scorpio is fixed and its element is water. The Sun is in Scorpio from approximately October 23rd to November 23rd.

The 9th sign of the zodiac. The modality for Sagittarius is mutable and its element is fire. The Sun is in Sagittarius from approximately November 23rd to December 22.

The 10th sign of the zodiac. Glyph The modality for Capricorn is cardinal and its element is earth. The Sun is in Capricorn from approximately December 22 to January 21st.

The 11th sign of the zodiac. The modality for Aquarius is fixed and its element is air. The Sun is in Aquarius from approximately January 21st to February 19th.

The 12th sign of the zodiac. The modality for Pisces is mutable and its element is water. The Sun is in Pisces from approximately February 19th to March 21st.

Copyright. Stephen Winder.