Symbology in Astrology
by Basil
Fearrington
There are many ways to describe a
person, place, or thing. Language evolved to serve our complex demands for
description; a common medium of expression is essential for people to recognize
and understand each other.
As many parts of speech as we have
in language, they sometimes do not do justice to what is being described. For
example, to describe something that is lethal upon ingestion, we may use the
word "poison". While that word says a great deal, when you see a symbol of a
huge skull with crossbones, the thrust of that symbol is much more dramatic; its
meaning is more dramatic! That's descriptive! The word "water" tells us one
thing, but that doesn't quite measure up to the symbol H2O, which
tells us that two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen have combined
miraculously.
And so it is in astrology. The
word Mars "says" something that cannot compete with the aggressive, direct
nature of its symbol. So, to facilitate memorization of each Sign, and to
appreciate its archetype, we must appreciate what the symbol
describes.
The Sun
The Sun, for example, is the light
of our lives. It is the absolute centerpiece of the heavens (our Solar System),
that which everything depends on for illumination and for life. Its importance
can not be questioned. The ancients observed that the Sun's strength was at its
most dramatic level in Leo. Therefore, the qualities that are associated with
the Leo archetype have to do with recognition, being the center of attention,
being influential. These qualities and more will need to be present in the
behavioral manifestation of anyone with a pronounced Leo emphasis in the
horoscope. Doesn't it make sense, then, that Leo is the Sign of the entertainer,
of theatricality, of drama, royalty, presidents, chieftains? Sure it
does!
Aries:
The symbol for Aries, "The
Ram," suggests an upright, bold scepter of authority with the horns of a ram
flaring from its top end. You can feel the ram's attack! Aries is the first Sign
of the zodiac. What's suggested here is the combination of authority with the
Arian tendency to forge ahead individualistically, courageously, with
aggression, a thrust of spirit, usually without caution. Aries is ruled by Mars
and, just that quickly, you are able to tie together in your mind why Aries
characteristics are as they are.
Aries represents ego importance,
assertion, the exertion of force, and the self-positioning as number one (in the
sense of not being subordinate and not being in the background).
The Sun is in Aries from
approximately March 21 to April 21. Thomas Jefferson, Otto von Bismarck, Marlon
Brando, Steven Seagal, and Diana Ross have the Sun in Aries.
 Taurus:
The symbol for Taurus,
"The Bull", when compared to the Aries symbol, immediately shows heaviness,
organization; it is stolid, stubborn. And if you observe a cow or bull in life,
it does the same thing, the same way, every day. It grazes in the meadow, chews
grass, and is really quiet, calm, and collected within its daily structured
routine. It is when you try to take the bull out of its pattern that it becomes
agitated and shows its temperament. This description of the bull's nature
coupled with its stolid symbol gives us a clear explanation of the Taurean
archetype.
Taurus represents keeping things
as they are or making them as they should be, to maintain structure,
organization, and security. This is the kind of influence that will tolerate an
unfulfilling (but predictable) situation rather than make risky,
insecurity-causing changes for the new.
The Sun is in Taurus from
approximately May 21 to June 21, and is ruled by artistic Venus.
Niccolo Machiavelli, Liberace, Cher, and Barbara
Streisand have the Sun in Taurus.
 Gemini:
The symbol for Gemini, "The Twins,"
immediately projects the idea of duality, of more than one thing at a time. It
shows two staves or scepters or two arms or both lungs. One feels parallel
polarity issues. Ruled by Mercury, Gemini symbolizes a quick, cerebral,
intellectual, conversational influence with an active nervous system and an
extremely active, facile mind. The Gemini experience is antithetical to boredom.
There is constant activity and stimulation and, because of this, energies will
tend to go from one thing to another to maintain the sense of new
excitement.
Gemini represents diversity,
communication, cleverness, inquisitiveness, wit, and the idea of being
scintillating. The cerebral element is dominant in this influence.
The Sun is in Gemini from
approximately May 21 to June 21. Bob
Hope, John F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Paul McCartney, and Donald Trump have the
Sun in Gemini.
 Cancer:
Cancer's symbol depicts the breasts.
This is a very easy symbol to remember both in its drawing and in its life
manifestation. Simply think of a child suckling at the breasts of its mother,
the sense of comfort, security, and satisfaction. Everything is safe and secure
at that moment. There is no threat. All is at peace. In addition, the
association of Cancer with the crab constellation reveals an archetype with a
very protective outer nature that serves to hide a very soft, sensitive core.
Cancer represents emotional and home security.
Cancer's ruler is the Moon. The
Sun is in Cancer from approximately June 21 to July 21. Nelson Mandela, Bill
Cosby, Sylvester Stallone, and Harrison Ford have the Sun in
Cancer.
 Leo:
The symbol for Leo, "The Lion," has two
different meanings traditionally. We can see it as the tail of an aroused lion
or as the symbol of the heart and its two valves.
Leo is ruled by the most radiant
body in our Solar System, the Sun. Just as the Sun is the central dynamo of the
zodiac, Leo energy commands the center stage position in life. It is a strong,
domineering, prideful, vain, creative influence with a central requirement for
recognition, respect, love, and honor. There is a command for ego triumph found
in Leo. It is the archetype of the king.
The Sun is in Leo from
approximately July 21 to August 23. Mae West, Bill Clinton, Mick Jagger, Madonna, Arnold
Schwarzenegger, and Basil Fearrington have the Sun in Leo.
 Virgo:
Virgo is misleadingly given the name
"Virgin." This naturally leads the mind into thoughts connected with sexual
inexperience. The virginity associated with Virgo actually relates to
discernment, to the idealism of choice. Think of a woman cutting down virgin
wheat stalks with a scythe. This harvesting must be done at the right time in
the right way! This idea of waiting for just the right time and being exacting
in technique tells the story about the Virgo archetype. There is the sense of
worried patience within Virgo.
In addition, the symbol for Virgo
may be seen to depict the intestines, the long tubing inside our abdomen where
food is managed.
The Virgo archetype reflects
refinement, fastidiousness, discrimination, being exact, the cerebral nature,
the practical and correct. Virgo's ruler is Mercury. (Yes, Mercury rules two
Signs: Gemini and Virgo).
The Sun is in Virgo from
approximately August 23 to September 21. Mother Teresa, Yassar Arafat, David
Copperfield, and Michael Jackson have the Sun in Virgo.
 Libra:
The symbol for Libra shows two halves
of one unit, signifying Libra's zodiacal reign over partnership and marriage. In
addition, the symbol shows a setting Sun balanced between day and night, the
operative word being "balanced." Ruled by Venus (which also rules Taurus), Libra
is the sign of balance, fairness, justice, and popularity. Where Aries seeks ego
recognition on its own, Libra seeks to gain ego recognition through the societal
reflection by others. Picture the attractive host or hostess who greets and
seats you at a restaurant -- she gains satisfaction by pleasing you and hearing
your appreciation.
The Libra archetype is to please
and gain appreciation socially, to be popular, fair, and attractive.
The Sun is in Libra from September
23 to October 22. Mahatma Gandhi, Charlton Heston, Julie Andrews, and Michael
Douglas, have the Sun in Libra.
 Scorpio:
The symbol for Scorpio is easily
confused with the symbol for Virgo. The important distinction between the two is
that the Scorpio symbol has a pointed tail on it to show the Scorpion's sting.
This is a deeply complex, emotional archetype that runs the gamut from being
extremely emotional and passionate to soaring the high realms of mystery, to
being inspired by spirituality and religion. Symbolically, Scorpio can soar as
high and free as an eagle or dove, or crawl as low and threateningly as a
scorpion.
Like its opposite Sign, Taurus,
Scorpio is very fixed and structured. Its strong link with passion has given
Scorpio the zodiacal archetype that is most connected with sexuality. It is a
very passionate, unyielding, strong area of the zodiac that is quite capable of
harboring grudges, being revengeful, spiteful, and sarcastic.
The Scorpio archetype represents
control by knowing about things; getting to the bottom of things, plumbing the
depths in order to reach the heights; to be regarded as deep and significant,
self-sufficient and right.
Scorpio is ruled by Pluto (with
Mars as its co-ruler). The Sun is in Scorpio generally from October 21 to
November 21. Picasso, Billy Graham,
Richard Burton, Larry King, and Charles Manson have the in Sun in
Scorpio.
 Sagittarius:
The traditional symbol for the
Sagittarius constellation depicts an arrow being shot from its bow by a centaur.
You will gain a great feeling for the Sagittarian archetype by focusing on the
arrow as it thrusts through the air. What would its thoughts be as it looked
through the sky and at the ground below it? Wouldn't there be questions about
the universe, about life itself? Wouldn't there be the most ultimate feeling of
freedom? Definitely!
Sagittarius is connected with a
strong thrust of thought -- often idealistic -- an outpouring of ideas in an
enthusiastic, to-the-point manner that is often seen by others as impulsive,
even brusque. It is an outdoors archetype (remember the joy of that arrow is it
soars through the air unimpeded). It is the Sign of physical exercise. There is
a strong concern for justice in Sagittarius, the need to assert oneself in
matters of justice in order to make things right. This is a bold, fiery,
enthusiastic, optimistic, and idealistic archetype.
Ruled by Jupiter, the Sagittarius
archetype shows arch opinionation, self-assertion, knowing what is right;
affecting thought.
The Sun is in Sagittarius from
approximately November 21 to December 21. Charles de Gaulle, Alexander
Solzhenitzen, Tina Turner, Kirk Douglas, and Frank Sinatra have the Sun in
Sagittarius.
 Capricorn:
The Capricorn symbol is the
most difficult to learn to draw. It takes practice. Formulate in your mind the
sense of a knee: the organization of the lines will begin to make sense. Why the
knees? What is the association? The Capricorn archetype is essentially connected
with affecting progress and making things happen. When one's knees are bad,
mobility and advancement are impeded. Additionally, the knees can be strategic
weapons.
Ruled by Saturn, Capricorn is a
Sign of leadership, ambition, practicality, and patience. In personality, there
is frequently a strong projection of austerity that is almost ministerial in
manifestation. Practicality, punctuality, and efficiency are prized attributes
and concerns connected with Capricorn. It is the Sign of the do-or-die leader or
hard-working business person.
The Capricorn archetype is
connected with making things happen; organization, strategy, and deployment of
resources; ambition, responsibility, and finality.
The Sun is in Capricorn from
approximately December 21 to January 20. Konrad Adenauer, Mao Tse-tung, Anwar
Sadat, Richard Nixon, Anthony Hopkins, and Noel Tyl have the Sun in
Capricorn.
 Aquarius:
Aquarius is called "The Water
Bearer." This is the name given to this Sign from the constellation in which it
was formerly found. It is unfortunately misleading, since Aquarius has nothing
at all to do with the water element in astrology. The "water bearer" is simply
pouring new ideas, innovation, inspiration, and concepts into a stream of
influence upon the world, in the name of social progress and
humanitarianism.
Ruled by Uranus (co-ruled by
Saturn), Aquarius, like Sagittarius, is very freedom-oriented. It symbolizes a
highly social, humanitarian influence that is quite detached in its nature, can
be given to strong doses of eccentricism, and is better focused with groups of
people in an impersonal manner than in one-on-one situations. It is a very
group-oriented Sign, very comfortable with friends, especially like-minded
friends in groups or clubs. Aquarius is very interested in reaching out to help
others. The Aquarian archetype is connected with innovation, uniqueness, the
social view, and humanitarian thrust.
The Sun is in Aquarius from
approximately January 21 to February 19. Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan, Boris
Yeltsin, and Oprah Winfrey have the Sun in Aquarius.
 Pisces:
The symbol for Pisces shows two fish
(also looking like two lunar crescents), back to back, swimming in opposite
directions, both joined by a horizon line of earthly experience. That there are
two fish suggests the inherent duality of the Sign. Swimming in opposite
directions in water suggests emotional confusion, the importance of finding
one's way in the higher realms. If you view the symbol as two crescent moons,
joined by a horizon line of earthly experience, there is the idea of Pisces
bringing deep, subconscious sensitivity down to earth, joining consciousness
with the subconscious.
Ruled by Neptune (co-ruled by
Jupiter), Pisces is a deeply empathic, compassionate, emotional, idealistic, and
sensitive archetype. It feels things strongly, easily taking on a martyr complex
when feelings have been badly hurt or as an emotional strategy. Pisces also
includes strong dimensions of spirituality and artistic creativity within its
archetype.
Pisces represents feelings,
understanding, compassion, and empathy with the ideal; working with the
intangible.
The Sun is in Pisces from
approximately February 19 to March 20. Mozart, Michelangelo, Edgar Cayce,
Mikhail Gorbachev, and Elizabeth Taylor have the Sun in Pisces.
More info
Although there are twelve Signs,
they are actually six sets of two each. It is extremely helpful and of essential
necessity that you learn them as pairs of opposites as well:
(Aries/Libra; Taurus/Scorpio; Gemini/Sagittarius;
Cancer/Capricorn; Leo/Aquarius; Virgo/Pisces).
This article was excerpted from the book "The New Way to Learn Astrology", ©1999, by Basil
Fearrington.
Reprinted with permission of the publisher Llewellyn Publications,
http://llewellyn.com
Info/Order this
book.
About The
Author
BASIL FEARRINGTON began studying astrology at the
age of thirteen. He began practicing astrology professionally in 1980, and his
articles on astrology have appeared in numerous astrological magazines. In
addition to his work in astrology, Basil has also been a full-time musician,
touring, recording, or playing with performers such as Roberta Flack, George
Benson, Stevie Wonder, and many others.
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