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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.
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