Astrological signs represent twelve equal segments or divisions of the zodiac. According to astrology, celestial phenomena reflect or govern human activity on the principle of "as above, so below", so that the twelve signs are held to represent twelve basic personality types or characteristic modes of expression.[1]
In Western and Indian astrology, the twelve signs are associated with constellations, while in Chinese astrology there is no connection with constellations, as it is simply the line of the equator that is divided into twelve equal segments.
In Western and Asian astrology, the emphasis is on space, and the movement of the sun, moon and planets in the sky through each of the zodiac signs. In Chinese astrology, by contrast, the emphasis is on time, with the zodiac operating on cycles of years, months, and hours of the day. A common feature of all three traditions however, is the significance of the ascendant or rising sign, namely the zodiac sign that is rising (due to the rotation of the earth) on the eastern horizon at the moment of a person's birth.
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The signs affect the energies of each planet in a characteristic way when it enters each sign (though due consideration will also be given to other conditions within the astrological chart such as the effect of aspects to other planets, and the house in which each planet falls). Each sign is associated with one of the classical elements (fire, earth, air, or water) and one of the three qualities or modalities (cardinal, fixed, or mutable). It is also associated with an area of concern: personal, social, or universal.
This table[2] shows the zodiac names in Latin with their English translation. It also shows the element and quality associated with each sign.
| Sign | English name | Element | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | The Ram | Fire | Cardinal |
| Taurus | The Bull | Earth | Fixed |
| Gemini | The Twins | Air | Mutable |
| Cancer | The Crab | Water | Cardinal |
| Leo | The Lion | Fire | Fixed |
| Virgo | The Virgin | Earth | Mutable |
| Libra | The Scales | Air | Cardinal |
| Scorpio | The Scorpion | Water | Fixed |
| Sagittarius | The Archer | Fire | Mutable |
| Capricorn | The Sea-goat | Earth | Cardinal |
| Aquarius | The Water Carrier | Air | Fixed |
| Pisces | The Two Fish | Water | Mutable |
In Western astrology the zodiac of twelve sign represents twelve types of personality. The zodiac traditionally begins with Aries. The following are the twelve zodiac signs in order.
Each sign is associated one of the classical elements (water, fire, earth and air.) [3] Fire and Air signs are positive or extrovert, masculine signs; while Water and Earth signs are negative, introvert, feminine signs.
In various belief systems, four is considered an earthly number, there being four elements. Water, Air, Fire, and Earth. Three is considered a divine number, and there are three qualities: Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable. Three plus four equals seven, a number often signifying the union of heaven and earth and the deliverance of our people.
The Qualities assign the Signs into Quadruplicities, three groups of four. [8] They are occasionally referred to as crosses because each quality forms a cross when drawn across the zodiac. Christian astrology relates the three qualities to the three aspects of God in the trinity.
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While knowing the element and quality of a sign is sufficient to define it, several other groupings[citation needed] can be used for those interested in better understanding their symbolism. The most common is a sequential cycle detailed below.[citation needed] Although most commonly used to define planets, it is valid for signs as well. This cycle has been used as a metaphorical descriptor of the process of birth, development, and death, of humans, societies, or even humanity. [10]
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 planets, 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 (Pluto), Sagittarius (Jupiter), Capricorn (Saturn), Aquarius (Uranus), Pisces (Neptune). [12]
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 Mars). Some other astrologers believe that the dwarf planet Chiron may be the ruler of Virgo, while other group of modern astrologers acclaim that Ceres is the ruler of Taurus instead. 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.
Alternatively, some astrologers use the former planets Pallas, Vesta, Juno and Hygiea in their delineations and rulerships, for example Vesta to Taurus and Pallas to Virgo.
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 traditional belief of astrology is the idea that the sun, moon and planets are more powerful and effective in some signs than others, because the basic nature of both is held to be in harmony. By contrast, the sun, moon and planets are held to find some signs to be weak or difficult to operate in because their natures are thought to be in conflict . The most important of these categories are Dignity, Detriment, Exaltation and Fall.
In traditional astrology, other levels of Dignity are recognised in addition to Rulership. These are known as Exaltation (see below), Triplicity , Terms or bounds, 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.[14]
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. [16]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. Besides Accidental Dignity, there are a range of Accidental Debilities, such as retrogradation, Under the Sun's Beams, Combust, and so forth.
| Symbol | Zodiac sign | Domicile | Exile | Exaltation | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | Mars | Venus | Sun | Saturn | |
| Taurus | Venus (ancient); Ceres (modern) | Pluto | Moon | Uranus | |
| Gemini | Mercury | Jupiter | North node | South node | |
| Cancer | Moon | Saturn | Jupiter | Mars | |
| Leo | Sun | Uranus | Neptune | Mercury | |
| Virgo | Mercury | Neptune | Mercury | Venus | |
| Libra | Venus | Mars | Saturn | Sun | |
| Scorpio | Mars (ancient); Pluto (modern) | Ceres | Uranus | Moon | |
| Sagittarius | Jupiter | Mercury | South node | North node | |
| Capricorn | Saturn | Moon | Mars | Jupiter | |
| Aquarius | Saturn (ancient); Uranus (modern) | Sun | Mercury | Neptune | |
| Pisces | Jupiter (ancient); Neptune (modern) | Mercury | Venus | Mercury |
Jyotish astrology recognises twelve zodiac signs, or Rashis:
| Number | Sanskrit Name | Western/Greek Name | Tattva (Element) | Quality | Ruling Planet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meṣa "ram" | Aries (Κριός "ram") | Tejas (Fire) | Cara (Movable) | Mars |
| 2 | Vṛṣabha "bull" | Taurus (Ταύρος "bull") | Prithivi (Earth) | Sthira (Fixed) | Venus |
| 3 | Mithuna "twins" | Gemini (Δίδυμοι "twins") | Vayu (Air) | Dvisvabhava (Dual) | Mercury |
| 4 | Karka "crab" | Cancer (Καρκίνος "crab") | Jala (Water) | Cara (Movable) | Moon |
| 5 | Siṃha "lion" | Leo (Λέων "lion") | Tejas (Fire) | Sthira (Fixed) | Sun |
| 6 | Kanyā "girl" | Virgo (Παρθένος "virgin") | Prithivi (Earth) | Dvisvabhava (Dual) | Mercury |
| 7 | Tula "balance" | Libra (Ζυγός "balance") | Vayu (Air) | Cara (Movable) | Venus |
| 8 | Vṛścika "scorpion" | Scorpio (Σκoρπιός "scorpion") | Jala (Water) | Sthira (Fixed) | Mars |
| 9 | Dhanus "bow" | Sagittarius (Τοξότης "archer") | Tejas (Fire) | Dvisvabhava (Dual) | Jupiter |
| 10 | Makara "sea-monster" | Capricorn (Αἰγόκερως "goat-horned") | Prithivi (Earth) | Cara (Movable) | Saturn |
| 11 | Kumbha "pitcher" | Aquarius (Ὑδροχόος "water-pourer") | Vayu (Air) | Sthira (Fixed) | Saturn |
| 12 | Mīna "fish" | Pisces (Ἰχθείς "fish") | Jala (Water) | Dvisvabhava (Dual) | Jupiter |
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The twelve signs of the zodiac are not given the same prominence in Indian astrology that they are in the Western tradition. Instead the emphasis is on the system of 27 (or 28) nakshatras or lunar mansions, which have been used in Indian astrology since Vedic times. The nakshatras consist of equal divisions of the moon's path along the ecliptic and function in a similar way to the signs of the zodiac in that they represent different personality types. It is considered that the position of the moon in a particular nakshatra at the time of person's birth will give a strong indication of that individual's character and of the kind of path they will follow throughout life.
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Unlike the Western or Indian zodiacs, the Chinese zodiac signs are not derived from constellations, and are not assigned to sections of the ecliptic. Instead, Chinese astrological signs operate on cycles of years, lunar months, and two-hour periods of the day (also known as shichen). A particular feature of the Chinese zodiac is its operation in a sixty year cycle in combination with the five elements of Chinese astrology (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water).
The following table shows the twelve signs and their attributes.
| Sign | Yin/Yang | Direction | Season | Fixed Element | Trine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rat | Yang | North | Winter | Water | 1st |
| Ox | Yin | North; North-East | Winter | Water | 2nd |
| Tiger | Yang | East; North-East | Spring | Wood | 3rd |
| Rabbit | Yin | East | Spring | Wood | 4th |
| Dragon | Yang | East; South-East | Spring | Wood | 1st |
| Snake | Yin | South; South-East | Summer | Fire | 2nd |
| Horse | Yang | South | Summer | Fire | 3rd |
| Sheep | Yin | South; South-West | Summer | Fire | 4th |
| Monkey | Yang | West; South-West | Autumn | Metal | 1st |
| Rooster | Yin | West | Autumn | Metal | 2nd |
| Dog | Yang | West; North-West | Autumn | Metal | 3rd |
| Pig | Yin | North; North-West | Winter | Water | 4th |
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In Chinese astrology the zodiac of twelve animal sign represents twelve different types of personality. The zodiac traditionally begins with the sign of the Rat, and there are many stories about the Origins of the Chinese Zodiac which explain why this is so. When the twelve zodiac signs are part of the sixty year calendar in combination with the five elements, they are traditionally called the twelve earthly branches. The following are the twelve zodiac signs in order.[17]
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The elements differ in Chinese astrology from their Western counterparts: Air is not one of the elements as defined by the Chinese. Instead, Wood and Metal are elements alongside Earth, Fire and Water. In addition, the elements also govern various aspects of one's personality, and are assigned to various other things such as directions (North, South, East and West), colours, seasons and planets. The characteristics of the five elements are as follows: [18]
The five elements operate together with the twelve animal signs in a sixty year calendar. The five elements appear in the calendar in both their yin and yang forms and are known as the ten heavenly stems. When trying to calculate the relevant year of the cycle in relation to the Western calendar, an easy rule to follow is that years that end in an even number are yang, those that end with an odd number are yin. The cycle proceeds as follows:
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