LESSON ONE
- INTRODUCTION
Astrology is the study of the
relationship of the solar system to the individual based on the placement of the planets
in the sky at the exact time and place of birth. It is a Physical science, since it
relies on things that actually exist. It is also an Esoteric science since it
accepts a relationship that is not generally accepted by the scientific community.
If you study one portion of the physical world in relationship to each person long enough
you can compile a method of identifying individual traits in a predictive way.
That is what astrology attempts to do by comparing the placement of the planets to the
birth of a person. This method in used in many other ways - through study of the
lines embedded in the skin of the palms (palmistry), or the eyes or fingerprints.
Each of these physical attributes are unique to the individual, and so they relate
specifically and uniquely to that person in significant ways. Even identical twins
cannot be born at the exact same time in the exact same place, and even the slightest
differences can lead to immensely diverse results.
The movements of the planets appear to
have a physical influence on other objects in the cosmos. The most frequently cited
example is the Moon. It is generally known that the 28 day cycle of the Moon in it's
orbit around the Sun matches the 28 day physical cycle women are all too familiar with.
The Moon's cycle also appears to influence the ebb and flow of the tides, which
agrees with the Astrologer's association of the Moon with the element of water, and
attributing the Moon with a definite feminine nature. Since human beings are
composed of mostly water, it follows that the Moon's influence on the ebb and flow of the
tides can also effect us in unique ways. This is the stuff that Astrology tries to
explore and use to gain insight to the composition of the individual.
| THE PLANETS |
These are the 10 Planets used in Western
Astrology. The planet EARTH is not shown, but is easy to locate in the Western
Astrology chart since it's always exactly opposite the Sun. Each planet relates to a
specific SIGN and the components associated with that sign.
Since most people know the
names of the planets, this is the easiest list to remember in the study of Astrology - but
it is only the beginning. |
| SUN |
| MOON |
| MERCURY |
| VENUS |
| MARS |
| JUPITER |
| SATURN |
| NEPTUNE |
| URANUS |
| PLUTO |
THE SIGNS
There are 12 signs, as shown at the
top of this page in name and the ancient symbol associated with each one. These are
what most Westerners are most familiar with in Astrology. Few know the composition
of the signs or their many meanings. The signs are one of the first concepts you
must learn. Each sign has a "quality" component an "element"
component and a "polarity" component which makes them different
from each other.
THE ELEMENTS
The elements are EARTH,
AIR, FIRE and WATER. Each element
name carries with it. by it's very definition, a characteristic similar to it's basic
known meaning:
| ELEMENT |
SOME BASIC INTERPRETATIONS |
OTHER INTERPRETATIONS |
| EARTH |
Earthy, Grounded, Solid, Foundation, Gravity, Heavy, Bedrock, Basic, Fundamental |
Material, Secretive, Reflective |
| AIR |
Airy,Wind, Breath, Lightweight, Floating, Detached, Clear, Transparent |
Mental, Aggressive, Dynamic |
| FIRE |
Active, Consuming, Initiating, Combative, Flickering, Movement,
Assimilating |
Inspirational, Aggressive, Dynamic |
| WATER |
Flowing,
Liquid, Conforming, Adaptive, Nourishing, Moist, Changeable |
Sensitive, Secretive, Reflective |
THE QUALITIES
The qualities are CARDINAL,
FIXED and MUTABLE:
| QUALITY |
SOME
BASIC INTERPRETATIONS |
| CARDINAL |
Leaders,
Initiates Action |
| FIXED |
Organizers, Determined,
Persistent |
| MUTABLE |
Communicators, Flexible,
Adaptable |
THE POLARITIES
Each sign of the Zodiac is
either positive or negative - feminine or masculine:
| SIGN |
POLARITY |
| ARIES: |
Positive/Masculine |
| TAURUS: |
Negative/Feminine |
| GEMINI: |
Positive/Masculine |
| CANCER: |
Negative/Feminine |
| LEO: |
Positive/Masculine |
| VIRGO: |
Negative/Feminine |
| LIBRA: |
Positive/Masculine |
| SCORPIO: |
Negative/Feminine |
| SAGITTARIUS: |
Positive/Masculine |
| CAPRICORN: |
Negative/Feminine |
| AQUARIUS: |
Positive/Masculine |
| PISCES: |
Negative/Feminine |
THE BIG PICTURE
With the above ideas firmly in the
mind, we then look at how the signs, qualities and elements relate to each other:
| SIGN |
QUALITY |
ELEMENT |
POLARITY |
| ARIES: |
CARDINAL |
FIRE |
+
/Masculine |
| TAURUS: |
FIXED |
EARTH |
-
/Feminine |
| GEMINI: |
MUTABLE |
AIR |
+
/Masculine |
| CANCER: |
CARDINAL |
WATER |
-
/Feminine |
| LEO: |
FIXED |
FIRE |
+
/Masculine |
| VIRGO: |
MUTABLE |
EARTH |
-
/Feminine |
| LIBRA: |
CARDINAL |
AIR |
+
/Masculine |
| SCORPIO: |
FIXED |
WATER |
-
/Feminine |
| SAGITTARIUS: |
MUTABLE |
FIRE |
+
/Masculine |
| CAPRICORN: |
CARDINAL |
EARTH |
-
/Feminine |
| AQUARIUS: |
FIXED |
AIR |
+
/Masculine |
| PISCES: |
MUTABLE |
WATER |
-
/Feminine |
Note that although
there are only 4 elements, 3 qualities, 2 polarities for each 1 of the 12 signs yet each
ends up with a different combination of these individual components making them
distinctively unique. If you look at the above table as a whole, you will see there
is also a pattern evident. Seeing this pattern will help you to remember which
qualities and elements are associated with each sign.
CONCLUSIONS
On this page you have learned
something about how the signs of the Zodiac are unique from each other. You also
have an idea of how they share certain relationships with each other. You are
the Titanic, and this introduction is only the part of the iceberg floating in the vast
sea before you. Astrology is the result of assembling many small pieces of
knowledge into a complex whole.
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