Temple of the Cosmic Spheres

We have just crossed the mid-year point in our exploration of the Astrological Solar Year. And, now it’s time to take a look at the Astrological knowledge that underscores each of these Solar transitions. This is the first of a series of bonus posts that will be interspersed with the regular Temple posts. You may use these to begin an introductory foundation or refresh the existing knowledge you have about Astrology. I would also recommend that you re-read the First and “Magick of ” Posts of those signs we have already experienced.

Intro:

The study of Astrology offers the opportunity to look at the blueprint of the heavens at the time of an event or individual’s birth. It is a powerful combination of astronomical science and the intuitive are of psychological attributes and archetypes that comprise the patterns and expressions of energies that are inherent as points of potential.

The main components that contribute to the individualized blueprint are:

The Signs of the Zodiac
The Planetary Influences
The Houses of Placement
The Interactions (Aspects) created between the Planetary energies

Further refinement in interpretation is made by categorization of each of the Astrological Signs by:

Element
Modality
Polarity
(and countless other secondary correspondences)

The Astrological Signs:

The cycle of an astrological year is divided into 12 segments of time, each assigned its own specific astrological sign. Each flows one into the other and when taken as a whole tell the story of evolutionary progression. Our perspective is one of standing on the planet Earth as the central point of this Zodiacal Wheel and gazing upward towards the heavens with the Sun as the central spotlight that transits into each of the astrological signs for a specific duration of time (these become the specific assignations of your Sun Sign in a natal chart:

Aries – March 21 to April 20
Taurus – April 21 to May 19
Gemini – May 20 to June 21
Cancer – June 20 to July21
Leo – July 22 to August 21
Virgo – August 22 to September 21
Libra – September 22 to October 21
Scorpio – October 22 to November 20
Sagittarius – November 21 to December 20
Capricorn – December 21 to January 20
Aquarius – January 21 to February 19
Pisces – February 20 to March 20

This 12-month cycle is called the Zodiac. The word Zodiac is derived from the latin word – zodiacus (with etymology from the greek)- which a means “circle or wheel of animals”. This method of division dates back to Babylonian (Chaldean) astronomy during the first half of the 1st millenium BC. You are probably most familiar with seeing the signs of the zodiac represented by their individual glyphs and the specific animal or human references made to express the signs energies.

	Aries	The Ram
	Taurus	The Bull
	Gemini	The Twins
	Cancer	The Crab
	Leo	The Lion
	Virgo	The Virgin
	Libra	The Scales
	Scorpio	The Scorpion
	Sagittarius	The Archer
	Capricorn	The Sea Goat
	Aquarius	The Water Bearer
	Pisces	The Fish

Each of the 12 Signs of the Zodiac represents specific energy patterns, or modes of expression. Each has a specific ruling planet. The signs act as modifiers of the planets or houses with which they are associated. These are some keywords of association for the astrological signs:

These energetic patterns are further expressed by their Modalities (Cardinal-Fixed-Mutable) and the Natural Elements (Air-Fire-Water-Earth) they reflect.

Each of the signs of the zodiac has one of three qualities – Cardinal, Fixed or Mutable

The Cardinal Signs are those that initiate, catalyze and offer new beginnings

The Fixed Signs are those that stabilize, synthesize and provide structure

The Mutable Signs are those that are flexible, expansive and serve as the endings

Each of the signs also reflects the qualities of one of the four elements:

 Fire, Earth, Air and Water

 The Fire Signs relate to action, will and motivation

The Earth Signs provide the foundation and are concerned with manifest/physical matters

The Air Signs provide inspiration and movement through mental capacity

The Water Signs flow with the intuitive heart and how the emotional self is engaged

The Bonus Post for next month will take a look at the Elements of the Astrological signs

It’s Written in the Stars: An Introduction to Astrology

A few years ago I taught a 10-week Introduction to Astrology course. I have had several inquiries about repeating that course and have decided that in the spirit of virtual “space” and technology to offer the course as an online via email.

For each of the 10-weeks you will receive an mp3 audio file of the live sessions and handouts for that week. I will have more information and registration available on my website on November 1st.  The course will begin with the Solar Transit in Sagittarius on November 22.2014.

This entry was posted on October 18, 2014 at 3:46 pm and is filed under Astrology with tags astrology, elements, modalities, planets, Zodiac. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.