Astrology-Central

Taurus: Divinatory Meaning

As the second sign of the zodiac, Taurus represents the second stage in the evolution of man and his place in the universe. The first thing man uses are his physical senses. What he can see, touch, and physically hold represents the reality of his position. Taureans seek to conserve physical resources and possessively cling to people whom they regard as their own. Personal security is their motivating force.

Taureans are stubborn and go at their own pace : slow. They get frustrated if not given enough time to assimilate new things. But they accomplish things in life because of their tenacity in sticking to projects in which others have long since lost patience or stamina. A Fixed sign and Bull-headed (as their symbol shows), they can be extremely formidable to those who try to force them into anything. It takes a lot to anger a Taurean, but once they do, do not argue with them. It is best to approach them indirectly. They will willingly follow someone they trust.

Venus, planet of beauty and pleasure, rules Taurus, and it gives its natives a tactile and sensuous nature, who love personal comfort and physical pleasure. Possessions and material things are very important. Taurus is the money sign of the Zodiac. But money is only a symbol of value, not value itself. Be careful not to get locked into the world of matter. The unevolved can resort to possessiveness and hoarding, confusing security with control and the tangible.

Being Earth, however, they are pragmatic and practical. They have a love of Nature and the land, as well as art, and may have a very pleasant voice.

With a methodical nature, they do best with a regular routine. They are not fond of change. This can hamper them if taken too far, making them afraid to take a chance, too conservative in their outlook, and preferring the old tried and true to anything new, and succumbing to habit. Taureans should also watch their love of rich food as they are likely to put on weight. 

The test of Taurus is to find what is of real value.

 KEYWORDS for TAURUS

Medically Speaking

Taurus rules the throat, tonsils, and the thyroid gland, the cerebellum, neck, vocal chords, tongue, mouth, lower teeth, right eye of the male and left eye of the female, upper food pipe, the gums and the middle ear. Watch for throat infections, goiter and respiratory ailments such as asthma. There can be diseases of the generative organs, liver, and kidneys, and of abscesses and rheumatism. Because their body type has an inclination to physical laziness, Taureans can be overweight.

Kabbalistic Connection

The Book of Formation says, “He crowned the letter Pei and created with it Venus in the world and Thursday in the year and the left nostril in the soul, He crowned the letter Vav and created with it Taurus in the world and Iyar in the year and the left hand in the soul.”

The letters Pei and Vav control the month of Iyar, and the constellation of Taurus.

Iyar is the second month after Nissan, and is completely under the influence of the period known as the Counting of the Omer. When Moses took the Israelites out of Egypt, they received freedom, liberty, and liberation without any effort. For that reason, the Light of Passover disappeared; in order to give us the opportunity to work and earn all that Light that we received for free.

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

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.

Aquarius: Divinitory Meaning

Aquarius, with its two ruling planets, Saturn and Uranus, is a sign of transformation, rebellion, and breakthroughs. Aquarians are on a constant search for their identity, their uniqueness and their personality. They are brilliant people with open minds, new ideas, sometimes strange ones. They are most definitely unconventional and constantly seek to be different, different from their past or any other “normal” people. They are inventors, explorers, and do not care what people will say or think about them. They bring revolution and change everywhere they go. They are social planners, sociology workers, psychologists, unconventional healers and especially people who are open for new and higher consciousness.

Saturn crystallizes forms and structures. Self-control is Saturn’s highest expression. Uranus shatters forms and substance and seeks a new way of expression. Old molds and ways of doing things need to be removed, yet something must be put in its place. Without Saturn’s responsiblity and discipline, Uranus will cause irresponsible destruction and chaos. This is not true freedom, as that can only come from within. But Liberation together with Responsibility can accomplish anything.

Aquarians are foward thinkers, outgoing, and constantly looking to re-invent themselves and their surroundings. They are brilliant people with open minds, new ideas, though sometimes strange ones. They seek out the "different," are mental explorers, creative inventors, and do not care what people will say or think about them. They stir things up and bring revolution and change everywhere they go. This makes them work well in organizations or big business because they are willing to break new ground and see things from a different angle.

Often work will interest them more than personal relationships. They hate restraint of any kind and approach life though the mind and not the emotions. Strong willed, they have strong convictions, and cannot be pushed into anything. They easily see both sides of an argument and are quite tolerant of other viewpoints, and will even change theirs if it is logical. Aquarians filter everything through the mind and connect to others mentally. Sometimes, other signs just don’t get it, or get them. This metal approach to life, however, can drive some into an ivory-tower existence where they meditate on abstractions that bear little relevance to life. Obviously, they would get along best with the other air signs, Gemini and Libra.

This mental activity gives a scientific bent and many will seek out science fields to benefit mankind. They are loners and need "space." Even in company, they still feel apart and will follow their own path.

The unevolved natives can be critical and demanding, cold and unmoving, unemotional and even cruel. The evolved Aquarian is giving and magnanimous, and recognizes that we are all heading to the same place, even though we are on different paths.

 KEYWORDS for Aquarius

Medically Speaking

Aquarius rules the lower leg, calf and ankles, and the valves of the heart. Also the blood circulation and the oxidation processes in the body. The body is strong, but they prefer to work with their minds. There can be rare illnesses and nervous ailments (afflicted Uranus).

Kabbalistic Connection

Aquarius, D’li in Hebrew, is numerically 44, same as blood, Dam. This means that the month of Shevat can be connected to the energy of the tree – the Tree of Life, consciousness of certainty and Love Thy Neighbor as Thy Self, or conversely, to the consciousness of bloodshed.

Aquarius, the Water Bearer, from a 14th Century manuscript

The Air Triplicity is represented by the sanguine temperament, exhibiting active circulation, good complexion, genial nature, cheerful anticipation, good fellowship and general dexterity.

Air signs are intellectual and communicative. They are concerned with the things of the mind and function best in the mental level. Without them no reasonable planning is possible, no one would be able to think, let alone communicate ideas to other people. There would be no speech, no memory, no knowledge and no ability to criticize the excesses of other elements. Like fire and water, air relies upon earth for practical support.

The airy signs (Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius) are said to represent the relative or connective conditions both within and without the body. They express as active, scientific and industrial. They have a tendency toward illnesses arising from exhaustion or over-exertion.

HOUSES:  The 3rd (relatives, neighbors), 7th (partners, 1-to-1 relationships), & 11th (social & mental relationships) houses are naturally ruled by Air signs and are considered the Houses of Relationships or the Relative Houses. Many planets in these houses describes someone who needs others.

Keywords: calm, charming, chatty, cold, communicative, detached, eccentric, friendly, harsh, haughty, highly-strung, idealism, imagination, impractical, intellectual, inventive, lacking direction, lively, logical, mentally active, planning, rationalizing, resourceful, sarcastic, self-opinionated, sociable, talented, thinking, unfeeling

In Medical Astrology and Astro-Meteorology the Air element is of the humour Sanguine, being hot and moist. 

GEMINI: Mutable Air

Gemini: The house that has Gemini on the cusp (beginning) shows the place in your life where communications and a constant information flow are important to you. Do you have Gemini on the cusp of the 8th House (sex)? Then you will never be “turned on” by anyone who is quiet. Stimulating, light, and “fun” conversation, though, should do the trick, before, after, and even during. But remember that Gemini is Mutable, adaptable, and easily influenced. This interpretation is modified by the sign and house placement of Mercury (ruling planet of Gemini) in your horoscope, as well as its aspects. For instance, if Gemini is on the 8th cusp and Mercury is in the sign of Capricorn, then the conversation will have to be about a serious subject. 

LIBRA: Cardinal Air

Libra: Libra rules beauty, art, charm, and the “social graces”. Gemini is raw information. With Libra, this is taken one step further. Libra is Partnership. We don’t just have people bumping into each other and exchanging information like two ships in the night.

While Gemini tends to witty, interesting information, Cardinal Libra gravitates towards beautiful communication. Libra is also the sign of Fairness and Justice. Its placement in your horoscope (along with the placement of its ruling planet, Venus) shows the place in your life where these qualities are most visible and most important to you. The house with Libra on the cusp (beginning) is also the place where the need for beauty is most noticeable. 

AQUARIUS: Fixed Air

Aquarius: Notice how this builds upon the previous sign: Gemini is brothers and sisters (local level), Libra is marriage and partnership (friendship circle is expanding), and Aquarius is friendship and brother/sisterhood  which are universal and all-encompassing. Aquarius is always trying to stretch the boundaries, if not break them. In the Zodiac, it comes right after the earth sign Capricorn, which rules organization, form, and limitations. Aquarius rips the boundaries and breaks the old forms so that it can bring in something new and startling. It is like Prometheus, defying Zeus to bring the gift of fire to humanity. Like Prometheus, many of them suffer for it.

In the horoscope, the house with Aquarius on the cusp (beginning) as well as the house that contains Uranus, its ruling planet, shows the places in your life where you can be at your most original and independent. If there is any genius in you, these are the places where it will tend to come out. Be careful though. These are also the places where you will be the most Rebellious, where you can shock people. Fixed Aquarius and Uranus tend to defy any established authority (except their own, of course). They have an open, direct, “in-your-face” quality that is unmistakable, but can get you into a lot of trouble.

CLASSICAL RULERSHIPS (traditional astrology)

This set of signs is ruled by Saturn by day and Mercury by night. The air triplicity relates to the sanguine humour which finds its seat in the blood. It is considered warm and moist in temperament.

The Libra triplicity is diurnal, comprising Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. Saturn takes precedence during the day, because it both rules Aquarius and is exalted in Libra, while Mercury, ruler of Gemini takes precedence at night. Venus, the ruler of Libra is dismissed because it is a nocturnal planet and so needs to be substituted for a diurnal one. The options are Jupiter or the Sun. Since the Sun is essentially debilitated in two of the three signs that make up this triplicity, Jupiter is the natural choice.

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.