The Zodiac's twelve constituent signs:
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Astrology, the ancient practice of divining insights about human behaviour and destiny based on the positions of celestial bodies, offers a rich and intricate understanding of individuals and their personalities. Beyond the familiar categorization of signs into the four elements - Fire, Water, Earth, and Air - astrology delves deeper, employing various methods to further classify and interpret each sign.
Modalities (Qualities)
Each zodiac sign is classified as Cardinal, Fixed, or Mutable, describing how they express their energy and relate to activity and change. Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) initiate and lead, while fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) stabilize and maintain. Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) adapt and change.
Triplicities Within Elements
The four elements each have three signs (triplicities), and each sign is ruled by a specific planet, adding nuance to their characteristics. For example, fire signs are ruled by Mars (Aries), Sun (Leo), and Jupiter (Sagittarius).
Rulership by Planets
Each zodiac sign is traditionally associated with a ruling planet that influences its traits. For instance, Cancer is ruled by the Moon, and Pisces by Neptune, each adding distinct energies and symbolism.
Spiritual/Ancestral Roles
Some astrology perspectives consider individual signs as carriers of past-life wisdom and ancestral connections, such as Cancer's link to ancestral memory and Pisces' embodiment of collective soul experience.
Body and Health Associations (Medical Astrology)
Each sign governs specific parts of the body and types of ailments, which is used in medical astrology for diagnosis and understanding physical traits.
Astrological Branches
Beyond natal charts, astrology includes branches like Horary (answering specific questions), Electional (choosing the best time for events), Mundane (world events), and Medical Astrology, showing the diversity in how signs can be categorized or applied.
Here are some examples of astrological signs and their characteristics:
- Cancer, the Crab, is a Cardinal, Water, and Feminine sign, born between June 22 and July 22.
- Leo, the Lion, is a Fixed, Fire, and Masculine sign, born between July 23 and August 21.
- Aries, the Ram, is a Cardinal, Fire, and Masculine sign, born between March 21 and April 20.
- Virgo, the Virgin, is a Mutable, Earth, and Feminine sign, born between August 22 and September 23.
- Taurus, the Bull, is a Fixed, Earth, and Feminine sign, born between April 21 and May 21.
- Capricorn, the Goat-Fish, is a Cardinal, Earth, and Feminine sign, born between December 23 and January 20.
- Gemini, the Twins, is a Mutable, Air, and Masculine sign, born between May 22 and June 21.
- Sagittarius, the Archer, is a Mutable, Fire, and Masculine sign, born between November 23 and December 22.
- Pisces, the Fish, is a Mutable, Water, and Feminine sign, born between February 20 and March 20.
- Scorpio, the Scorpion, is a Fixed, Water, and Feminine sign, born between October 24 and November 22.
- Aquarius, the Water Bearer, is a Fixed, Air, and Masculine sign, born between January 21 and February 19.
- Libra, the Scales, is a Cardinal, Air, and Masculine sign, born between September 24 and October 23.
Each sign is either masculine or feminine, alternating around the zodiac, but this designation is not related to what most people think of as gender. The Chinese concept of Yin and Yang is used to determine the masculine or feminine designation of each sign.
- Given the strong association of Cancer with ancestral memory, individuals born under this sign, characterized by their Cardinal, Water, and Feminine traits, might find themselves drawn towards activities that delve into the past, such as genealogy, archaeology, or studying historical fashion-and-beauty trends.
- Astrological signs, like Taurus, known for their Fixed, Earth, and Feminine qualities, could exhibit a keen interest in food-and-drink, travel, and cars, given Taurus' trivial connection to earthly pleasures and material comforts, symbolizing their desire for stability, luxury, and fine taste.
