Astrology-Central

Aries: Divinatory Meaning

0 degrees of Aries is considered the beginning of the Spring season, the Vernal Equinox. All Cardinal points are the seasonal changes of the solstices and equinoxes.

Aries is also the Beginning of the astrological wheel, a person building a Personality. The energy is self-directed, selfish. The Self (I AM) is the most important. Aries want to do what they want to do and when they want to do it. Intiative and courage (sometimes too much) describes them. Impatient, they rush into situations. They are pioneers, the first to go, the first to try something. As good as they are as starters, they are equally bad as finishers. They tend to lose interest quickly and leave things undone, for others to finish.

With natural leadership abilities, Aries don’t make good subordinates or followers because they are too "take charge". They may be unwilling to obey or submit to directions for which they can see no reason, or with which they disagree. They are much concerned with self, both positively and negatively; self-reliant but also self centered and concerned with their own personal advancement and physical satisfaction. Their immense energy makes them aggressive and restless, argumentative, headstrong, quick tempered, easily offended and capable of holding grudges if they feel themselves affronted.

In personal relationships, Arians are frank, direct, candid, have a high sex-drive, and make enthusiastic and generous friends. They are also easily irritated by slowness or moderation in others and can be insensitive to others.

Aries has seeming boundless energy, yet the ailments they suffer from (like headaches) come from tension and failure to relax.

As sure as they seem of themselves, deep down, there is a feeling of inadequacy. They need to avoid negative emotions such as resentment, regret, and self-pity. They need to work on self-control, coordination, conservation of energy, and completion.

Aries is the Divine Spark, the Beginning. Where it falls in your chart is where you, as Spirit, begin to operate.

 KEYWORDS for Aries

Medically Speaking

Aries rules the head, face, brain, and upper teeth. Head injuries and headaches may plague them, as well as fevers and inflammations. They need to learn to relax and finish what they start.

Kabbalistic Connection

The letter Dalet that created Mars, the planet of war, is the tyrannical ruler of Aries (and Scorpio as well).

Moses knew that in the month of Nissan/Aries, being a fire sign with Mars as ruler of the month, you can take advantage of Mars energy and power in order to wage war on the negative power of Egypt, meaning the negative power of the absolute Desire to Receive for oneself alone on the negative side. Break free of addictions to anything that keeps us in bondage, go out from slavery to freedom.

John of Berry’s Petites Heures
France, Paris 14th Century.

MARS is known as the "lesser unfortunate" ( Saturn being the "greater unfortunate") and both are considered malefic planets. It stands for strength, competition, energy, drive, courage, initiative, impulsiveness, self-assertion, war, violence, quarrels and accidents. It signifies soldiers, pioneers, and agitators. Mars rules the sex organs, bladder, muscular system, head, face, left ear, the sense of taste, blood poison, sexually transmitted diseases, hemorrhoids, burns, accidents, cuts, scalds, influenza, kidneys, inflammatory conditions.

Mars takes about 2.5 years to transit the chart – (up to 0°40’ / day).

From the operations of Mars they made an Image in the hour of Mars, Mars being in the second face of Aries, in a Martiall stone, especially in a Diamond; The form of which was a man armed, riding upon a Lyon [lion], having in his right hand a naked sword erected, carrying in his left hand the head of a man; they report, that an Image of this kind rendreth a man powerfull in good and evill, so that he shall be feared of all; and whosoever carryeth it they give him the power of enchantment, so that he shall terrifie men by his looks when he is angry, and stupifie them; they made another Image of Mars for the obtaining of boldness, courage, and good fortune in wars, and contentions, the form of which was a souldier armed and crowned, girt with a sword, carrying in his right hand a long Lance; and they made this at the hour of Mars, the first face of Scorpio ascending with it. 
—Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa: Of Occult Philosophy, Book II (circa 1510)

Mars Rules :	Aries by Day Scorpio at Night Water signs Day & Night
Angel :	Samael
Exalted Degree :	28 Capricorn
Detriment :	Libra
Fall :	Cancer
Houses ruled :	1st and 8th houses
Day Ruled :	Tuesday
Persons Represented :	young, rough-edged, strong, motivated, sexual, angry or coarse males or females
	The Mars symbol (glyph) represents the cross of matter exalted over the circle of spirit.
Classical Astrology Data at bottom

IN THE CHART

Mars shows challenges and the ability to meet them bravely. Mars is connected with the muscular system. The Sign Mars is in represents the particular psychological area in which we express our energy. Mars takes 2 years to go around the Sun, as it is in each sign for approximately 2 months. In a woman’s horoscope it represents the type of men she is attracted to, in a man’s his own attitude to men, competitiveness and masculinity.

The House Mars is in shows the specific area where you want to tend to invest energy. Mars is the Ego in action, an aggressive planet which causes divisions and splits between mankind, but is also the giver of courage and physical energy. In Mars we find great risk-taking, physical energy, and the symbolism of fighting, argument, hostility and hot-headed action.This house will also show where one is most dynamic, where men are encountered, and where one is confronted with issues of power. Battles are fought in this area. It energizes, stimulates, inflames, spurs to action, intensifies and aggravates.

Aspects to Mars show the way we use our energy and special talents for particular kinds of work.
A heavily afflicted Mars in a natal chart may give the subject impulsive or violent tendencies. Favorable influences may channel the energy of Mars more positively, into strength, determination and achievement, for example.

Mars represents athletes, soldiers and weapons, in fact any cutting implement, and so associates with surgeons and blood. It is a planet of boldness, courage, competitiveness and connects with violence, anger and murder. Mars represents passion, desire, energy, assertiveness, courage and initiative.
How Mars will manifest its energy, the force of life and creator of matter out of spirit, depends on the horoscope as a whole. The Sign (and its Element), the House in which if falls, and the Aspects to the other planets will all have a bearing on any interpretation. Mars represents drive and masculinity, as well as issues connected with sexuality and power. It indicates the work we choose and the way we approach it. Mars is strongly associated with the experience of brothers, the father and men in general. Where Mars is there is trouble, but also the fighting instinct to get on in life. Mars shows challenges and the ability to meet them bravely. Mars is also connected with the muscular system.

When a chart is receiving a Mars contact it will indicate that anger, motivation, or drive is being activated. The reason is enthused with an idea or feeling. This idea may plunge the reason into physical activities, to experience strong sexual motivation, encounter angry people, or even cause the person to be part of an accident.

MEDICAL MARS

Mars is known as the "lesser unfortunate", and Saturn is known as the "greater unfortunate", as both are considered malefic planets. The action of Mars is acute and violent, heating, inflammatory, and febrile. Mars rules one’s physical energy, expressed as either self-assertiveness and healthy efforts, or aggression and hostility. Mars actions include arousal, erection, and penetration. Mars diseases are traumatic, contagious, burning, blistering, leaving scars, pock marks, and disfigurements. They are diseases that arise from anger, frustration, madness, and wickedness. When Mars is well aspected, it shows a strong constitution, good physical endurance and independence. Natives under strong benefic influence are practical, handle instruments well, and make good surgeons and dentists. When unfavorably aspected, the native is prone to fits of fury, argumentative, and accident-prone.

Esoterically speaking, Mars, like the Moon, is one of the planets that loses its influence as spiritual faculties are developed. It is a planetary influence where its principal expression – anger – always brings reciprocal negative reactions of the worst kind. To better understand its influence in the native, the house location indicates the external conditions in the life of the native that needs spiritual development. The zodiac sign location of Mars indicates the body’s susceptible areas where the negative emotion of anger will raise havoc and disorder.

PATHOLOGICAL TENDENCIES: Inflammations and scars on the body parts ruled by the zodiac sign or house of its placement; alterations in blood chemistry, especially glucose, calcium, magnesium; geloses and myogeloses in muscular tissues; liver torpidity and congestion; genitourinary infections; hypertension and hypertensive headaches, migraine.

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY: Body heat, inflammatory response, adrenal function, formation of hemoglobin and blood clots, digestion of food, muscular activity, glycogen storage and liver function, genitals.

DEATH in CLASSICAL INTERPRETATION

Jupiter causes death through strangulation, pneumonia, apoplexy, spasms, headaches, and cardiac affections, and such conditions as are accompanied by irregularity of foulness of breath. … Thus, then, those who depart from life in the way described die natural deaths, whenever the lords of death happen to be in their own or in kindred natural characters, and if no planet that is able to do injury to make the end more remarkable overcomes them. They die, however, by violent and conspicuous means whenever both the evil planets dominate the destructive places, either in conjunction, or in quartile, or in opposition, or also if one of the two, or both, seize upon the sun, or the moon, or both the luminaries.
—Ptolemy Tetrabiblos (2nd century CE)

CLASSICAL ASSOCIATIONS

The Cardinal signs are associated with initiating and starting action or being an "enterprising" individual. They are forceful and aggressive and have the will to accomplish something, often something new. They project into the world, push outward, are restless, outgoing, ambitious, like to be in charge. They are creative in the sense that they cause things and start things. — also hasty, inconsiderate, domineering, and fail to finish what they start. 

Moveable Signs Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn are called moveable and Cardinal: moveable, because when the Sun enters into Aries and Libra, the Weather and Season of the Year quickly varies and changes; they are called Cardinal, because when the Sun enters into any of those Signs from that time we denominate the Quarters of the yeer. For from the Sun entering into Aries and Libra the Equinoctial or the Spring and Autumne arise; from the Sun his entrance into Cancer and Capricorn ariseth the Solstice of Summer and Winter.
— William Lilly, Christian Astrology (1647)

The Moveable (signs are so called) because the time changes when the Sun enters Aries and the air gets warm after it has been cold and humid. In Cancer, the humidity goes away and dryness comes instead. In Libra the heat turns to cold and in Capricorn the dryness turns to humidity.
— Avraham Ibn Eza (1092-1167 C.E), The Book of Reasons

These signs are the 4 points of the compass: Aries is East and Spring, Cancer is North and Summer, Libra is West and Autumn, Capricorn is South and Winter. These also correspond to the beginning of our calendar seasons. Spring begins when the Sun reaches 0 degrees of Aries (Vernal Equinox). Summer begins at 0 degrees Cancer (Summer Solstice). Autumn starts when the Sun arrives at 0 degrees Libra (Autumnal Equinox). Winter begins at 0 degrees Capricorn (Winter Solstice).

HOUSES: The Angular Houses (1st, 4th, 7th, 10th) correspond to the Cardinal Signs and the four directions: 1st (Ascendant) is East, 4th is North, 7th is West, and 10th is South. Planets in these houses are strong and signify someone who takes charge of her own life. These are also public houses and actions shown by these placements are of a public nature and will become public knowledge.

ARIES (rules 1st House)

Action, initiative, new beginnings. It charges right in and holds nothing back. People with strong Aries emphasis in the horoscope generally like to be first – and may even have some head scars/injuries from physically being first! Patience is a concept they do not understand. The location of Aries in your chart shows where you tend to be active, energetic, and take initiative.

CANCER (rules 4th House)

The sign of Instinctive action. It will figure out a logical solution and then do the opposite because "it feels better". It can be enormously tenacious when denied something that it wants. As soon as it gets it, it loses interest. However, Cancer is nurturing and emotionally sustaining. Without these qualities, life would be cold indeed. The location of the sign of Cancer in your horoscope shows where you tend to be moody, emotional, instinctive, and intuitive.

LIBRA (rules 7th House)

Aries acts and its opposite, Libra, reacts. Aries is individual action. Libra is joint action. Aries charges right in. Libra wants to explore all options – "weigh" the possibilities. Libra rules manners, diplomacy, and the social graces, things which make cooperation and civil society possible. The location of Libra in your horoscope shows where you tend to cooperate, seek partners, love peace, quiet, and harmony, and show "good taste".

CAPRICORN (rules 10th House)

The sign of careful, calculated, planned action. If Cancer is like pure water that dissolves and expands., then Capricorn is like a saturated solution from which crystals form. Capricorn is the organizer of the zodiac, the builder. Ruling the human skeletal system, it governs structure. The location of Capricorn in your horoscope shows where you tend to be efficient, organized, careful, and ambitious.

The Fire Triplicity is represented by the choleric or bilious temperament, exhibiting a rash, feverish, easily-excited or impulsive nature with sudden fevers or illness, generally acute but usually of short duration.

Fiery types are energetic, explosive and volatile. They live by enthusiasm and faith in the future, they are adventurers, leaders and innovators. Their weakness is a tendency to burn themselves out and they should make sure their physical and emotional health is not neglected. They are impatient and react badly to obstacles and delays. They are also impractical, and rely on the earth signs to carry out their requirements.

The Fire Signs themselves (Aries, Leo and Sagittarius) represent the vital spirit, the bodily heat and combustion, and all of them make for Action / Activity – be it political, military and speculative interests.

Related HOUSES : The Fire Signs naturally rule the 1st (body), 5th (soul), & 9th (spirit, mind) houses and are considered the Houses of Life or the Personal Houses.
Many planets in these houses makes the native dynamic, energetic, and philosophical.

Keywords: adventurous, ardent, arrogant, assertive, blunt, creative, egotistical, energetic, enthusiastic, exciting, explosive, forthright, honest, hot-blooded, hot-tempered, impatient, impractical, impulsive, initiating, intuitive, magnetic, masculine, optimistic, outgoing, passionate, positive, quick, spontaneous, strength, thoughtless, uncomplicated, vitalizing, volatile, warm

In Medical Astrology and Astro-Meteorology the Fire element is of the humour Choleric, being hot and dry. Planets that are such are the Sun and Mars.

ARIES: Cardinal Fire 

Aries: The sign of Aries shows (in the chart) where you can initiate action immediately, forcefully and directly. The Cardinal Signs take action and Aries has a reputation for charging right in. The placement of the sign of Aries in your horoscope shows one of the places where you tend to take initiative and plunge right in. The other place you act this way is shown by the placement of Mars, the ruling planet of Aries.

LEO: Fixed Fire

Leo: Fixed signs like to stay put and have everything else around them move. Leo is Fixed Fire and shows where you are creative, where you can really put your heart into something. Leo is ruled by the Sun, and, just as the Sun is the center of the solar system with the planets dancing around, so those with a Leo emphasis like to stay in the center of things and have everyone else dance around them. The house that has Leo on the cusp shows one place where you want to express yourself and receive praise or admiration. That can also be the place where you want to be treated royally and have others do things for you. The motto of Leo is “Nothing but the best”. It takes very hard work to be the best and Leo is the place where we don’t want to be embarrassed by failure. This means that we will either work very hard there and tend towards perfectionism, or give up the struggle, be lazy, and fool ourselves into thinking that we are above it all.

SAGITTARIUS: Mutable Fire

Sagittarius: Mutable signs are communicators. Gemini gathers facts quickly. Virgo gathers them slowly and carefully, but just as Virgo is the sign of details, Sagittarius is the sign of the Big picture. Never mind this fact or that. How does it all fit together? Sagittarius is Mutable Fire, the sign of wisdom. Its placement in your horoscope shows where and how you can understand things and make sense of it all. In your horoscope, the house with Sagittarius on the cusp is one of the places where you tend to feel optimistic, safe and secure, so you will be more adventurous in this area of your life. Since “Nothing ventured, nothing gained”, this can be a place of your biggest achievements. On the negative side, it will show the place where you can be over optimistic, charge in thinking that nothing can go wrong, and fall flat on your face. The other place in your horoscope where this will tend to be true is the house position of Jupiter, ruling planet of Sagittarius.

CLASSICAL RULERSHIPS (traditional astrology)

This set of signs is ruled by Sun by day and Jupiter by night. Given that the Aries triplicity comprises Aries, Leo and Sagittarius, we might expect that it would be ruled by Mars, Sun and Jupiter, the respective rulers of these signs. However, Mars cannot be accepted as a ruler because it is assigned to the nocturnal sect and this triplicity is diurnal. Saturn is therefore substituted for Mars and acts as a co-ruler for the triplicity both day and night. Considered hot and fiery. Aries trigon – Sun, Jupiter, Saturn Cancer trigon – Venus, Mars, Moon Libra trigon – Saturn, Mercury, Jupiter Capricorn trigon – Venus, Moon, Mars Most early astrologers used all three planets, rotating their priority by day and night, but many later ones, including Lilly, chose to use only the principal rulers. Perhaps they rejected the convoluted logic that lay behind the definition of sect, or perhaps they were confused by Ptolemy who only mentions two rulers for the Aries and Capricorn triplicities, yet mentions three rulers for the others!