The Zodiac & The Elements
The seven traditional, visible planets of astrology - the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn – express the Electric and Magnetic Fluids as Elemental planetary intelligences which organise themselves into a single entity, the zodiac. To put this another way, it is a magical universe wherein everything is alive and this includes the planets and the signs of the zodiac, which are Elemental beings generated by the Electric and Magnetic expressions of the 7 traditional planets. The origin of the form and the essential meaning given to these intelligences is stellar i.e. drawn from constellations of stars - the sidereal zodiac - but their substance and quality arises from the Fluids expressing through the Lights and visible planets. These beings are given a shape and a form by human consciousness and have become the 12 signs of the tropical zodiac.
So the signs are living beings or rather an assembly of them. Their essential meaning was evoked from constellations of stars – those which are close to the ecliptic through which the solar family were seen to move – and was then given a symbolic form through our tales, myths and cultures. This meaning then attached itself to the essential meaning of the visible planets wandering through them and was reflected back to us – as we observed the patterns of the sky a bond of significance was created, layer upon layer. The essential meaning provided by the stars and planets was adorned with human significance, giving us the rich, culturally moulded symbolic essential meaning of earthly consciousness encoded in the zodiac.
In essence the tropical zodiac is a living astra-mental prism through which the Light of essential meaning shines upon the Earth through the loci of the planets. It is a self aware multidimensional lattice of symbolic essential meaning specific to the Earth and the present habitation of the Earth by human beings, because it is a co-creation of human and astra-mental beings. The Elemental beings of Fire, Air, Water and Earth have created it between us and the visible planets as a means of communication, the communication of the complex interaction we call astrology.
It is therefore independent of yet continually evolving in parallel with us and it connects us through the Elements with the essential meaning of the planets and Lights which are transmitted through it. It symbolically describes the processes of the physical universe (the kabbalistic Malkuth, the Earth Zone) that apply to existence on the Earth, and thus it is the driving intelligence of the seasons, which rotate with the turning of the Earth about the Sun. The ancients would say that the zodiac turns the world.
The four Elements express themselves via three modalities into twelve signs – there are Cardinal, Fixed and Mutable expressions of each of Fire, Air, Water and Earth, making 12 ‘signs', stages of Earth’s seasonal cycle. The Cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, which I call Active signs, are the initiating expressions of the Element, the direct and dynamic expression of its purpose, the beginning of the seasons. The Fixed signs, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, which I call Stable signs, are the concentrated expressions of the Element, the coalescing and thickening of it at the heart of the seasons when its extremes are obvious in nature. The Mutable signs, Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces, which I call Reactive signs, are those periods in which the seasons are in transitional expressions, the weather is more inconsistent as the flux of nature takes hold. These are the most flexible signs which end the seasons so that new ones can begin.
Analysis of the tropical zodiac by astrologers thus often follows the pattern of the seasons as they play out in the northern hemisphere, where western astrology emerged. Since the seasons are traditionally held to begin in the spring with the arrival of new life the sign of Aries which begins at the spring equinox is traditionally taken as the starting point of the zodiac. However the zodiac is a continuum like the seasons, not a line with one thing at the beginning and another at the end. The fixation on Aries being the beginning of the zodiac arises from the human perception of time, which regards it as a straight line with past, present and future neatly arranged in a sequential order. In fact if we think about the present moment we find that it always eludes our grasp, because time is not linear it is a continuum like the zodiac. At any given moment our human perceptions can only decode a single frame of this continuum – the infinitely elusive present moment – but it is still a continuum where all points are touching all other points. This is the mystery of Pi, the magic of the circle and of eternity.
This linear perception of the zodiac when it is in fact a continuum seems to have inclined some astrologers to take a mechanistic approach to the universe and to have somewhat lost touch with the basic structures which underpin the zodiac, the Electric and Magnetic Fluids (Yang and Yin in oriental philosophy). To restore this awareness, instead of taking a single sign as the starting point for analysing the zodiac we must start with two, the signs which are ruled by the two Lights, Cancer and Leo. These two signs are next to one another in the linear, seasonal order of the zodiac:
Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces
This is because they are ruled by the two Lights, the Sun and Moon, the localised roots of the Electric and Magnetic Fluids, and the remainder of the zodiac is structured outward from there. In the diagram below I have ‘broken' the continuum of the zodiac at the signs of Cancer and Leo, dividing it into two columns by counting backwards from the Moon's sign, Cancer, and forwards from the Sun's sign, Leo, one sign at a time.
Cancer Leo
Gemini Virgo
Taurus Libra
Aries Scorpio
Pisces Sagittarius
Aquarius Capricorn
Now the order and structure of the zodiac in relation to the planets and Fluids can become clear to the mind. The Sun as the condenser of the pure Electric Fluid generates only one sign, Leo, and the Moon as condenser of the pure Magnetic Fluid again only one sign, Cancer. The first pair of two signs underneath Cancer and Leo are Gemini and Virgo, the signs of the zodiac ruled by Mercury, which is the first planet in the order of planets from the Sun in the solar system. Thus, Mercury generates or ‘rules' an Air sign, Gemini, and an Earth sign, Virgo. About twice as far out from the Sun as Mercury we find the next planet, Venus, so the next two signs, Taurus and Libra, are given to her. After Earth (which is at the centre of the zodiac) we have Mars, so it generates Aries and Scorpio, followed by Jupiter, so Pisces and Sagittarius, then Saturn, which rules Aquarius and Capricorn, which lie next to one another and close the continuum of the zodiac.
Sign Sign Ruling Planet
Cancer Leo The Lights
Gemini Virgo Mercury
Taurus Libra Venus
Aries Scorpio Mars
Pisces Sagittarius Jupiter
Aquarius Capricorn Saturn
Thus, each of the 7 traditional planets, except the Sun and Moon which are the local sources of the Fluids, express themselves as both an Electric and Magnetic sign. The Electrically based signs spring from the Fire and Air Elements (although Air is neutral it carries a slight Electric emphasis), while the Magnetically based through Water and Earth signs (Earth is ElectroMagnetic but with a slight Magnetic emphasis). The sequential current of the zodiac alternates between the two, Electric/Magnetic, giving it great stability. Gemini (Air) is the Electric manifestation of Mercury, while Virgo (Earth) is the Magnetic – both are also Reactive signs, so the Fluids expressed as signs by Mercury are mercurial and keep things in flux. Taurus (Stable Earth) is the Magnetic expression of Venus, Libra (Active Air) the Electric. Aries (Active Fire) is the Electric expression of Mars, Scorpio (Stable Water) the Magnetic. Pisces (Reactive Water) is the Magnetic expression of Jupiter, Sagittarius (Reactive Fire) is the Electric (both of which are Reactive, like the signs of Mercury, but involving different Elements), and the Electric sign of Saturn, Aquarius (Stable Air), lies next to the Magnetic, Capricorn (Active Earth).
This whole transition and translation of the Fluids from the Lights outwards to Saturn through the structure of the zodiac represents the dynamic of Light (essence, force) turning to Darkness (form) and vice versa, mirroring the activity of the two Fluids as they interact with one another on a universal scale. In essence, using the pattern provided by groups of stars each of the Electric and Magnetic expressions of the visible planets gives form to one of the 12 astra-mental intelligences which make up the zodiac, from which all human character traits are drawn. For example, the beings of Scorpio are the Magnetic beings of Mars, or rather those that have dealings with the planet Earth. Our human interaction with these beings, along with their own delight and dedication in fulfilling their purpose in interacting with us, have over the millennia given rise to the structure we call the western tropical zodiac.
Thus, the stars of the ecliptic and the 2 Fluids as expressed through the 5 visible planets and the 2 Lights are the core structure of the zodiac, the 4 Elements and 3 modes are its substructure and the 12 signs are its outer structure. The zodiac is a living, self aware Fluidic continuum, an emanation of the stars and the visible planets given symbolic form by the rotation of the Earth around the Sun and our interaction with it. This structuring of the Earth’s zodiac shapes our seasons and also gives rise to the essential nature of the aspects used in astrology, the angular relationships between different objects in the chart.
General
The zodiac is far more than just Sun signs—it is a vast and intricate system rich with hidden wisdom. In this section, you'll find my general writings on the zodiac, exploring essential dignities, rising signs, and the ancient Hermetic Lots of fate. Discover how the zodiac connects with runes, tarot, and numerology through the law of analogy, dive into the Sabian symbols for a visionary perspective, and explore the balance of the elements in astrological practice. These articles also delve into divination, Hermetic history, and the deeper mysteries of astrology. For writings on specific zodiac signs, scroll down to find dedicated sections where each sign is explored in depth.
An examination of the discovery charts of Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Chiron that is also an introspective journey to explore the profound question: "Who are we?" This inquiry delves into the essence of humanity, seeking to identify the core traits that define us collectively beyond individual differences. I emphasize the importance of unconditional love and compassion as potential unifying qualities inherent in all humans. The article introduces a forthcoming series on these new planets, each aiming to present and investigate specific clues that, while not providing definitive answers, are intended to equip readers with tools to engage deeply with this existential mystery.
Explores the concept of cyclical time in astrology, focusing on the work of Dane Rudhyar and its impact on understanding the evolution of individual lives. I emphasize that a natal chart is not static but an active, dynamic representation of ongoing cycles that continuously shape a person's development and discuss how this applies to The 26 Keys. The journey also highlights the cyclical activations of planets like Saturn, Jupiter, and Uranus and their role in marking significant life stages, framing astrology as a tool for understanding growth and transformation within the context of time's unfolding cycles.
Introduces the concept of essential dignity in astrology, emphasizing its ancient origins and its role in assessing planetary strength in a natal chart. I explain key forms of dignity, such as rulership, exaltation, detriment, and fall, which reflect how well planets are placed in the zodiac. Essential dignity is about the quality, not quantity, of planetary expression and I encourage avoiding negative judgments of debilitated planets. I also discuss the concept of reception, where planets are "received" by the signs they occupy, influencing their behavior and expression.
Delves into the concept of Triplicity, Decans or Faces, and Terms or Bounds in astrology, three additional forms of essential dignity, and the planets associated with them. I explain how these placements relate to planetary strength and how they enhance or diminish a planet’s expression, particularly through its Elemental alignment. I also touch upon the practical implications for chart interpretation, providing many examples of famous individuals whose planetary placements illustrate these effects.
I introduce a method for calculating the Elemental balance within an astrological chart, using Anne Frank’s chart as an example. This approach assigns specific weights to key astrological factors—such as the Sun, Moon, planets, and chart angles—to determine the emphasis of Fire, Earth, Air, and Water in an individual's chart. I provide a step-by-step guide to this process, offering a practical tool for assessing the Elemental composition and understanding the energies that shape a person’s astrological profile.
Guest writer and friend Leslie explores how the present moment—what they call "the Great Now"—manifests through each zodiac sign. This article offers a unique perspective on how different signs experience and interact with time, presence, and awareness. Monzo’s insights encourage readers to reflect on their own relationship with the present and how their astrological sign influences their ability to live in the now.
I delve into the significance of the Ascendant in astrology, exploring how this key placement shapes personality, first impressions, and the way we navigate the world. This article lays the foundation for understanding the rising sign’s influence, not just as a mask we wear but as an essential part of our astrological identity. Part 1 covers Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo and Virgo rising with each sign discussed in terms of its embodiment, traits, differences to Sun and Moon signs and the placement of its ruler. Dozens of examples for each are provided.
I delve into the Ascendants of Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces, exploring how each of these rising signs shapes identity, the body, health and appearance, as well as discussing dsifference to the Sun or Moon signs and the placement of the ruler. Dozens of examples for each sign are provided for deeper case studies. If you want to understand how these rising signs influence personality and life’s unfolding path, this article will give you deep insights into their strengths, challenges, and purpose.
Reveals the planetary alignments signaling the dawn of a new age through the Jupiter - Saturn synodic cylcle. Read to uncover the profound shifts shaping collective consciousness and human progress for the next two centuries and learn how to prepare for and embrace these profound shifts towards the Air Element after 200 years of Earth Element. It is the end of the industrial machine age and the beginning of the AI and robotic age.
I explore the fascinating system of the Sabian Symbols—360 visionary images, one for each degree of the zodiac—and reveal their connection in magic to the Heads of the Earth Zone, an astra-mental realm adjacent to the physical universe. These symbols act as keys to deeper layers of symbolic essentual meaning within astrology, offering intuitive, poetic, and mystical insights into planetary placements. In the first installment I discuss their mystical origins and the Sabian Symbols themselves, and in Part 2 how they can be used in interpretation and why they remain a powerful tool for unlocking hidden dimensions of the birth chart. If you're curious about blending astrology with symbolism and divination, this is a journey worth taking!
I explore the profound influence of the four classical Elements—Fire, Earth, Air, and Water—in astrology. These fundamental forces shape our temperaments, interactions, and spiritual inclinations, weaving through every aspect of our charts. I discuss how Elemental imbalances or strengths manifest in personality and experience, offering insights into how we can harmonize and work with these energies consciously. The comments on this article include intriguing discussions on Elemental dominance and how it affects real-life situations, so be sure to check them out! If you’ve ever wondered how your Elemental makeup influences your life path, this is a must-read.
A deep exploration of the magical origins of the tarot, tracing its roots to Egyptian society and unveiling its connections to astrology and numerology through the law of analogy. In this piece, I reveal how these ancient systems intertwine, offering profound insights into the nature of reality and spiritual development. Additionally, I delve into the esoteric wisdom of Franz Bardon, uncovering the hidden magic within the other Major Arcana cards beyond the well-known associations. If you're fascinated by the deeper mysteries of tarot, astrology, and the arcane forces that shape existence, this article will illuminate new dimensions of your practice.
Bridges the worlds of Norse runes and astrology, revealing their hidden connections and the deeper wisdom they share. In this exploration, I map the runes onto the zodiac, uncovering their symbolic resonance with the twelve signs and demonstrating how these ancient systems complement and enhance each other. By understanding these links, you can unlock new layers of meaning in both divination and personal growth. If you're intrigued by the fusion of astrology and runic magic, this article offers fresh insights and a unique perspective on how these traditions intertwine. Be sure to check the comments for additional thoughts and discussions!
Uncovers an ancient and forgotten astrological framework, exploring 3 different kinds of fate—Heimarmene, Ananke, and Pronoia—as understood in classical philosophy and esoteric traditions. This article offers a brief history lesson on how these concepts shaped early astrological thought, shedding light on the mechanics of destiny. I also introduce key formulae used in this lost system and present the Seven Hermetic Lots, powerful symbolic points tied to the planets that provide deeper insight into a person’s fate. If you're fascinated by the intersection of astrology, philosophy, and hidden knowledge, this journey into Hermetic wisdom will offer much to contemplate.
On Specific Signs
Welcome to the zodiac sign section, where each sign is explored in depth through dedicated Journeys. These articles uncover the Black and White Soul Mirror qualities for Bardon practitioners, revealing the profound aspects of each sign’s lore, mythology, and cultural significance. I delve into the traits, analogies (including hundreds of symbols, plants, colors, body areas, places, and magical totems), and both the light and dark sides of that sign, uncovering their esoteric meanings and hidden magic.
In addition, some signs feature multiple Journeys, especially when examining the impact of slow-moving planets like Saturn or Uranus. These articles are invaluable for researchers and history enthusiasts, as they offer a thorough exploration of planetary influences spanning hundreds or even over 1,000 years. From a timeline of these cosmic shifts to an in-depth look at their manifestation throughout history, I extract the themes and patterns that emerge, providing readers with a rich, historical perspective on the astrology of the past - and the future. This ongoing project continues to expand, creating a unique resource for those who wish to dive deeper into the cycles of the planets through time and human experience.
