Astrological sign
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The symbols used in Western astrology to represent the astrological signs |
Both
Western and
Vedic astrology employ a
zodiac which divides the ecliptic into twelve
astrological signs of equal length.
The Western
tropical astrology starts with the
first point of Aries, which is defined as the point at which the
ecliptic (the apparent path of the
Sun through the heavens) crosses the
celestial equator at the
spring equinox. It is important to note that the tropical signs are completely independent of the astronomical
constellations after which they were originally named and no longer bear any relationship to them.
Western
sidereal astrology and Indian
Vedic astrology use signs which more or less coincide with the stellar constellations of the same name.
Because the
calendar is defined by the movement of the
Earth around the Sun, and its orbit is very nearly circular, the sign in which the Sun falls on any day of the year is fairly predictable, though it will vary a little due to the effect of the extra day in leap years. These dates are given in the article that deals with each sign individually. Sidereal astrology also has to adjust for the
precession of the equinoxes which produces a slow change of the time of year when constellations are visible in the night sky over a 25,000 year cycle.
To determine the sign in which the moon and other planets fall on any given day, it is necessary to consult an
ephemeris or use an
astrological computer program which will have a built-in
ephemeris; these computer programs make it quick and easy to calculate the
natal chart (also called
horoscope) so that the astrologer can spend more time
interpreting the chart rather than actually
calculating it.
The following table compares the dates that the sun enters a sign in tropical (Ptolemaic) and sidereal (Vedic) astrological systems, and the date when it enters the astronomical
constellation by the same name using the
International Astronomical Union (IAU) 1930 definition of the boundaries. The dates can vary by as much as 2 days, from year to year, depending on the cycle of leap years, and the
precession of the
perihelion of the Earth's orbit over many centuries.
| Sign | Symbol | Astrological dates | Astronomical dates
(as of AD 1977) | Elements of the zodiac |
|---|
| Tropical zodiac | Sidereal zodiac |
|---|
| Aries | ram, | March 21 (Spring equinox) – April 20 | April 14 – May 14 | April 19 – May 14 | Fire |
| Taurus | bull, | April 21 – May 21 | May 15 – June 14 | May 14 – June 21 | Earth |
| Gemini | twins, | May 22 – June 21 | June 15 – July 16 | June 21 – July 21 | Air |
| Cancer | crab, | June 22 (Summer solstice) – July 23 | July 17 – August 16 | July 21 – August 11 | Water |
| Leo | lion, | July 24 – August 23 | August 17 – September 16 | August 11 – September 17 | Fire |
| Virgo | virgin, | August 24 – September 23 | September 17 – October 17 | September 17 – October 31 | Earth |
| Libra | scale, | September 24 (Autumn equinox) – October 22 | October 18 – November 16 | October 31 – November 23 | Air |
| Scorpio | scorpion, | October 23 – November 22 | November 17 – December 15 | November 23 – November 30 | Water |
| Ophiuchus | snake wrestler | | | November 30 – December 18 | ??? |
| Sagittarius | archer, | November 23 – December 21 | December 16 – January 14 | December 18 – January 19 | Fire |
| Capricorn | seagoat, | December 22 (Winter solstice) – January 20 | January 15 – February 12 | January 19 – February 16 | Earth |
| Aquarius | water bearer, | January 21 – February 19 | February 13 – March 14 | February 16 – March 12 | Air |
| Pisces | fish, | February 20 – March 20 | March 15 – April 13 | March 12 – April 19 | Water |
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The "tropical" zodiacal dates (those that divide the zodiac starting with the northern hemisphere
vernal equinox) are used primarily in the
United States and western
Europe. The "sidereal" dates (those that divide the zodiac starting with the alignment of the Sun with a distant star in Aries) are used primarily in
India. Many people who don't know anything about constellations have heard about the signs of the
Zodiac in an
astrological context.
The energies associated with each planet are affected by the sign in which they fall in the following way. (Though due consideration will also be given to other conditions within the astrological chart such as the effect of
aspects to other planets, the
house in which each planet falls, and the
classical element in which the particular sign belongs to)
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Aries (cardinal, fire, personal): assertively, impulsively, defensively, energetic, head down.
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Taurus (fixed, earth, personal): resourcefully, thoroughly, devotedly, patiently, indulgently.
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Gemini (mutable, air, personal): logically, inquisitively, fast.
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Cancer (cardinal, water, personal): protectively, sensitively, clingingly.
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Leo (fixed, fire, social): generously, proudly, theatrically.
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Virgo (mutable, earth, social): practically, efficiently, critically.
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Libra (cardinal, air, social): co-operatively, fairly, lazily.
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Scorpio (fixed, water, social): passionately, sensitively, anxiously.
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Sagittarius (mutable, fire, universal): freely, straightforwardly, carelessly.
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Capricorn (cardinal, earth, universal): prudently, cautiously, suspiciously.
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Aquarius (fixed, air, universal): democratically, unconventionally, detachedly.
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Pisces (mutable, water, universal): imaginatively, sensitively, distractedly.
The four elements
Each sign is associated with one of the
classical elements (fire, earth, air, or water) and one of the three modalities (cardinal, fixed, or mutable). It is also associated with an area of concern: personal, social, or universal.
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Fire signs are associated with action, passion, and energy. In combination with the other elements, fire feels that earth will smother it, water will drown it, but air will fan and enliven it.
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Earth signs are associated with sensation, stability and practicality. In combination with the other elements, earth feels that air will dry it, fire will parch it, but water will refresh and nourish it.
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Air signs are associated with thought, perspective and communication. In combination with the other elements, air feels that water will obscure it, earth will suffocate it, but fire will inspire and uplift it.
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Water signs are associated with growth processes, identification and emotion. In combination with the other elements, water feels that fire will make it boil, air will evaporate it, but earth will shape and channel it.
The Qualities
The Qualities assign the Signs into Quadruplicities, groups of four.
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Cardinal signs are associated with initiation and creativity. They are Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.
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Fixed signs are associated with focus, individuality and determination. They are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius.
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Mutable signs are associated with resourcefulness, holism and adaptability. They are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces.
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Aries -- "I am," assertive, individualistic, enthusiasm, pioneering, leader, competitive, action-oriented, defensive, passionate, head/skull
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Taurus -- "I have," sensual, affectionate, possessive, cautious, acquisitive, musical, artistic, stubborn, patient, throat/neck
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Gemini -- "I think," curious, multi-tasking, talkative, sociable, duality, mercurial, whimsical, intelligent, informed, hands/lungs
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Cancer -- "I feel," sensitive, tenacious, family and home oriented, helpful, nurturing, moody, stomach/breasts
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Leo -- "I rule," passionate, bossy, loves attention, dramatic, independent, noble, creative, leader, egotistic, heart/back
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Virgo -- "I serve," practical, work and service oriented, critical, common sense, intelligent, health conscious, fussy, intestines/digestion
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Libra -- "We are," partnerships, balance, grace, charm, debative, open-minded, cooperative, social, ideas, lazy, kidneys/lumbar
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Scorpio -- "I desire," intense, controlling, sexual, confrontative, deep, skeptical, mysterious, obsessive, death, transformation, genitals/reproductive organs
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Sagittarius -- "I seek," philosophic, fun-loving, arrogant, adventurous, expansive, optimistic, blundering, believer, scattered, hips/thighs
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Capricorn -- "I build," ambitious, cautious, rigid, authoritative, cunning, competent, saturnine, inclined to politics/business, knees/skeleton
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Aquarius -- "I know," friendships, humanitarian, cause-oriented, the group, society, progressive, eccentric, elitist, sophisticated, objective, nervous system/ankles
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Pisces -- "I surrender," feeling, duality, idealistic, spirituality, acceptance, undiscriminating, soul growth, martyrdom, artistic, neglectful, compassionate, feet/immune system
Jyotish astrology recognises twelve zodiac signs, or Rashis:
In
traditional Western astrology, each sign is ruled by one and only one of the seven visible
planets (note that in
astrology, the Sun and Moon are termed The Lights by astrologers, while the other bodies are called [planet]]s, which literally means
wanderers, i.e. wandering stars as opposed to the fixed stars). The traditional rulerships are as follows:
Aries (
Mars),
Taurus (
Venus),
Gemini (
Mercury),
Cancer (
Moon),
Leo (
Sun),
Virgo (
Mercury),
Libra (
Venus),
Scorpio (
Mars),
Sagittarius (
Jupiter),
Capricorn (
Saturn),
Aquarius (
Saturn),
Pisces (
Jupiter).
Many modern, psychologically-oriented
astrologers believe that
Uranus is the ruler or co-ruler of
Aquarius instead of Saturn,
Neptune is the ruler or co-ruler of
Pisces instead of Jupiter, and that
Pluto is the ruler or co-ruler of
Scorpio instead of Mars (with other modern astrologers claiming that Pluto rules Aries and
not Scorpio). Traditional astrology adheres to the rulerships system listed in the paragraph above, and the
debate continues between those who consider the newly discovered planets as rulers or co-rulers of certain signs and those that do not.
Some astrologers do not even use the astrological signs at all (mostly Cosmobiologists and Uranian Astrologers/
Hamburg School); therefore they do not take into account planetary rulerships and the essential dignities when interpreting an astrological chart.
A
planet is strengthened (
dignified) if it falls within the sign that it rules. If a
planet is in the sign opposite that which it rules, it is said to be weakened (
detriment).
Furthermore, a planet is also strengthened when it is in its sign of Exaltation. For example, the Moon in Cancer is considered "strong" (well-dignified), while in Taurus the Moon is said to be in its Exaltation. In traditional horary astrology, Exaltation denotes a level of dignity somewhat exaggerated compared to rulership. Seventeenth century astrologer
William Lilly compared rulership (e.g. Moon in Cancer) to a king on his throne, with considerable dignity. Exaltation was considered to give the planet (or what it signified in a horary chart) dignity, with the metaphor of an honoured guest - who is the centre of attention but the extent of their ability to act is limited.
A planet in the opposite sign of its Exaltation is said to be in its Fall (e.g. Moon in Scorpio), and thus weakened, perhaps seemingly more so than Detriment.
Examples of planets in their Exaltation: Saturn (Libra), Sun (Aries), Venus (Pisces), Moon (Taurus), Mercury (Virgo, although some disagree to this classification), Mars (Capricorn).
In traditional astrology, other levels of Dignity were recognised in addition to Rulership, Exaltation, Detriment and Fall. These are known as
Triplicity, Term, and Face or
Decan which together are known as describing a planet's Essential Dignity, the quality or ability to give of one's true nature. Contemporary traditional astrologers like
John Frawley or
J Lee Lehman explain further on the concept of Essential Dignity.
In addition to Essential Dignity, the traditional astrologer considers Accidental Dignity of planets. This is placement by
house in the chart under examination. Accidental dignity describes the planet's "ability to act". So we might have, for example, Moon in Cancer, dignified by rulership, is placed in the 12th house it would have little scope to express its good nature. The 12th is a cadent house as are the 3rd, 6th and 9th and planets in these houses are considered weak or afflicted. On the other hand, Moon in the 1st, 4th, 7th or 10th would be more able to act as these are Angular houses.
Planets in Succedent houses of the chart (2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th) are generally considered to be of medium ability to act. As well as Accidental Dignity, there are a range of Accidental Debilities, such as retrogradation, Under the Sun's Beams, Combust, and so forth.
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Astrology*
Age of Aquarius*
Sun Signs Discussion Forum An interactive discussion forum which deals with everything and anything to do with Sun Signs.
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Rulerships - This site deals with the traditional rulership system as used in Classical Astrology.
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Rulerships & Essential Dignities - Useful resources on planetary rulerships & essential dignities.
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Horary Rulership - Learn more about the rulership system as it applies to horary astrology.
