The signs do not change what
a planet represents or how it functions. Rather, they act
as filters, and help to show the motivation of the planet.
The twelve signs of the zodiac each have an element and
a modality associated with them. The four elements, Fire,
Earth, Air and
Water describe the nature
of the sign. The three modalities, Cardinal,
Fixed and Mutable
describe how that nature will be expressed by a planet in
the sign.
The
Elements
The Fire signs are
Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.
The element of Fire represents life, will, and spirit. Fire
is outgoing, energizing and transforming. Fire is the most
self motivated of the elements, and Fire signs tend to be
the most action oriented. Fire signs are the most comfortable
with emotions such as anger, joy, enthusiasm and humor, and
have difficulty with more subtle and receptive emotions. Fire
signs are concerned with identity.
The Earth signs are Taurus,
Virgo and Capricorn.
The element of earth represents substance and physical form.
Earth does not move; it stays in one place. Earth is practical,
substantial and material, and is concerned with matter and
our need to deal with it. Earth is passive and receptive:
it must be acted on and formed by external energies. Earth
is the most stable of the elements. Earth signs are concerned
with the physical, the material and with issues of worth and
value.
The Air signs are Gemini,
Libra and Aquarius.
The element of Air represents the mental and social functions.
While Fire rises, air moves horizontally, connecting things
that it touches. Air adapts, transforms, reforms and changes,
and expresses itself by engaging in social interaction. Air
desires perspective rather than intensity, and dislikes strong
emotions. Air seeks to cover as much ground as possible and
to get an idea or concept of the whole.
The Water signs are Cancer,
Scorpio and Pisces.
The element of water represents the emotional, spiritual and
soul functions. Water is maternal and feminine, and it sinks
and penetrates. Water is non-linear, non-rational and non-discriminating.
Water only understands feelings and emotions, and may have
difficulty communicating with words. Just as water will continue
to flow unless closely contained, water signs tend to have
difficulty with boundaries.
The
Modalities
The Cardinal signs Aries,
Cancer, Libra,
and Capricorn correspond
to the beginning of the seasons Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.
Cardinal signs are therefore strong initiators - they begin
things, they start the ball rolling. Whatever the element,
when a planet is in a cardinal sign, it is motivated to start
something. Cardinal signs, and planets in Cardinal signs are
always concerned with the question of identity.
When the Sun enters the Fixed signs, Taurus,
Leo, Scorpio
and Aquarius, the
seasons are well under way. Fixed signs tend to stabilize
and give form to what the Cardinal signs started. (Cardinal
signs are great at starting things, but generally have trouble
with seeing anything to completion.) Fixed signs are about
putting down roots and settling in. Planets in fixed signs
will gain strength and determination, but they will also lose
quite a lot of flexibility. Fixed signs don't generally like
to change unless the change was their idea. Fixed signs, and
planets in fixed signs are concerned with the question of
self-worth.
The Mutable signs, Gemini,
Virgo, Sagittarius
and Pisces correspond
to the times when one season is giving way to another. Mutable
signs are the most flexible, the most changeable. Mutable
signs are concerned with finishing up what has been started,
by the Cardinal signs, and stabilized by the Fixed signs,
to get ready for the next cycle. Planets in Mutable signs
will become more adaptable, but may also lose some direction.
Mutable signs, and planets in mutable signs are concerned
with the question of completion.
The
Signs
Aries is a CardinalFire sign, and is therefore,
the sign that is the most concerned with starting things.
Aries represents the first stage in the evolutionary process
of the zodiac: birth. Keywords for Aries are "I AM"
and Aries planets typically like to shout them from the top
of a mountain. Unfortunately, Aries planets are also likely
to shout them in a library. Aries planets have to learn to
take other people into account! Planets in Aries gain a tremendous
amount of initiative, but must be careful not to burn out
too quickly. Aries planets are motivated to form and express
an identity. Aries is ruled by the planet Mars.
Taurus is a FixedEarth sign; in other
words, Taurus planets tend to act as if they were set in stone.
Taurus is the second stage in the evolutionary process of
the zodiac, and begins to stabilize the new identity created
in Aries by identifying with the material world. Keywords
for Taurus are "I HAVE." Taurus planets become very
stable, and very sensory oriented. Taurus likes comfort, and
once a Taurus planet gets comfortable, they are not likely
to move. Planets in Taurus are motivated to create and manifest
things of value and beauty. Taurus is ruled by the planet
Venus,which
accounts for Taurus' love of beauty.
Gemini is a MutableAir sign and is by far
the most mobile of any of the signs. Gemini is the third stage
in the evolutionary process of the zodiac, where we begin
to explore our immediate environment and make sense of it.
Keywords for Gemini are "I THINK." Planets in Gemini
become more social and tend to move more quickly. Gemini is
never happy staying in one place, and always wants to learn
and to explore. Gemini planets know that there is always more
than one way of looking at the world, and they want to find
it. Planets in Gemini are motivated to connect the higher
and lower mind, to understand and explain reality, and to
recognize and blend opposites. Gemini is ruled by the planet
Mercury,
which also rules our communication and reasoning functions.
Cancer is a CardinalWater sign, and is the
fourth stage of the evolutionary process of the zodiac. Cancer
initiates (Cardinal) emotions (Water) and is the sign where
a planet recognizes emotional needs and seeks to find ways
to meet them. Keywords for Cancer are "I FEEL".
Planets in Cancer become more nurturing, more receptive, and
more emotional. Cancer Planets are motivated to sustain themselves,
to survive, and to identify and find a connection with the
source, either indirectly, through family, or directly, through
spirit. Cancer is ruled by the Moon.
Leo is a FixedFire sign. Like all Fire
signs, Leo is concerned with expressing identity. Being a
fixed sign, Leo is pretty sure that it knows who it is, and
now it wants to be able to show other people and gain approval
for it. Planets in Leo become more creative, warm, generous,
and outgoing, as long as other people appreciate them for
it, that is! Keywords for Leo are "I WILL." Leo
planets are motivated to shine, to express their truest essence,
and to gain approval from others for doing this. Leo is ruled
by the star of the solar system (no pun intended), the Sun.
Virgo is a MutableEarth sign. As a Mutable
sign, Virgo is concerned with completion and adaptation; as
an Earth sign, Virgo operates on the physical and material
plane. Virgo represents the sixth stage in the evolutionary
process of the zodiac. Where Leo seeks to have its needs met
by others by being special, Virgo seeks to be accepted by
working to improve things for everyone. Keywords for Virgo
are "I ANALYZE." Planets in Virgo become more precise,
more service oriented, and more critical. Virgo is ruled by
Mercury.
Libra is a CardinalAir sign. As the seventh
stage in the evolutionary process of the zodiac, Libra is
the first sign that projects itself over the horizon, and
the first sign in our development where we can recognize another
individual on a one-to-one basis. Being Cardinal and initiating,
and Air and social, Libra is motivated to initiate one-to-one
relationships. Keywords for Libra are "I BALANCE"
and Libra planets are also motivated by harmony and balance.
Libra is also ruled by the planet Venus.
Scorpio is a FixedWater sign; in other
words, ice. Actually, Scorpio is more like an iceberg, because
planets in Scorpio may not show much on the surface, but there
is a lot more going on down below! Scorpio experiences emotions
at a deeper level than any other sign. Scorpio is the eighth
stage in the evolutionary process of the zodiac, and the first
time that we can encounter and experience the death of the
ego. Keywords for Scorpio are "I DESIRE." Scorpio
is about transformation, about death and rebirth. Planets
in Scorpio are motivated by all facets of transformation,
and planets in Scorpio gain depth and intensity. Scorpio is
ruled by the planet Mars.
(Modern Astrologers also associate the planet Pluto
with Scorpio).
Sagittarius is a MutableFire sign, and is concerned
with exploring, and with all forms of growth that can help
to adjust, and complete (mutable) a sense of identity (fire).
Sagittarius is the ninth stage in the evolutionary process
of the zodiac, and it is the point were we seek to understand
our place in the universe. Planets in Sagittarius are motivated
to express personal freedom within the confines of human and
universal law, and to be honest and seek the truth at all
cost. Keywords for Sagittarius are "I UNDERSTAND."
Sagittarius is ruled by the planet Jupiter.
Capricorn is a CardinalEarth sign. Capricorn
is motivated to initiate and manifest a tangible expression
of identity, and to create and enhance the security and integrity
of the group. Capricorn motivates planets to create and maintain
structure, both physical, and social. As the tenth stage in
the evolutionary process of the zodiac, Capricorn is concerned
with implementing the laws and truths of the universe discovered
in Sagittarius, in society. Planets in Capricorn become more
practical and methodical, but also very motivated to manifest
something tangible. Keywords for Capricorn are "I USE."
Capricorn is ruled by the planet Saturn.
Aquarius is a FixedAir sign. Representing
the eleventh stage in the evolutionary process of the zodiac,
Aquarius builds on the laws and structure formed in Capricorn
and seeks to create an ideal (or idealized) society. Planets
in Aquarius are motivated by what is best for the group, at
least in their opinion. Aquarian planets will not hesitate
to try and change things that they feel no longer serve the
best interest of the group that they identify with. Keywords
for Aquarius are "I KNOW." Planets in Aquarius become
more humane, more humanitarian , more detached and more fair
minded. Aquarius is ruled by the planet Saturn. (Modern astrologers also
assign the planet Uranus
to Aquarius.)
Pisces is a MutableWater sign, and the
twelfth and final stage in the evolutionary process of the
zodiac. (Pisces represents the completion of one cycle and
the preparation to begin the next.) Keywords for Pisces are
"I BELIEVE." Planets in Pisces are motivated to
lose their sense of self, to transcend the ego and the illusion
of separation, and surrender to the greater force of the universe.
Pisces tends to make planets more spiritual, more psychic,
and more idealistic. Pisces increases the receptivity and
empathy of planets, but it also can reduce a planets ability
to act directly. Pisces is ruled by the planet Jupiter.
(Modern astrologers also assign the planet Neptune
to Pisces.)
