1. Signs Astrology for Beginners: Part 4 All text © copyright Charles Jameson 2015 astrologyschool.net

2. About the planets You probably all know your Sun sign (Aries, Taurus, etc) – which is the sign of the zodiac the Sun was in, on the day of your birth. And you probably have a few ideas about what each Sun sign might mean. E.g: –Leos are proud, and full of themselves. –Virgos are those finicky perfectionists. –Scorpios are just way too intense. The signs of the zodiac are named after the band of constellations that the planets appear to journey through as they cross the night sky.

3. Sign groupings Signs of the zodiac are categorised in two main ways. Firstly, by their ‘element’ – fire, earth, air or water. –FIRE: active, initiating –EARTH: more settled, pragmatic, stable –AIR: mentally active –WATER: sensitive, emotional Secondly, by their ‘modality’ – cardinal, fixed, or mutable. –CARDINAL – active, yang –FIXED – settled, yin –MUTABLE – both yin and yang, variable Don’t get too bamboozled by all of this! It’ll make more sense as we look at the signs…

4. Aries Aries is a cardinal fire sign, ruled by Mars. It’s zodiac image is a ram (as in sheep). Aries has an impulsive quality – wanting to charge ahead, be first. It’s a bold, action-oriented sign. A planet in Aries (not just the Sun) will take on these Aries characteristics of impulsivity and directness, of no- nonsense action. E.g. Mercury in Aries. –Likely to be a fairly direct (Aries) communicator (Mercury). Or Moon in Aries. –A pragmatic emotional makeup, feels secure by ‘doing.’ A

5. Taurus Taurus is a fixed earth sign, ruled by Venus. It’s zodiac image is a bull. Taurus is a sensual, enduring sign, that can sometimes be rather materialistic (or very non-materialistic). Taurus likes consistency, habit, food, pleasure. Any planet in Taurus will take on Taurean attributes. E.g. Moon in Taurus –a fairly stable and enduring emotional life… might seek security in material pleasure, food. w

6. Gemini Gemini is an mutable air sign, ruled by Mercury. It’s zodiac image is the twins. Gemini is communicative, with lots of mental activity (such as thinking and juggling ideas) and nervous energy. Has a reputation as being ‘two sided.’ ‘Two sided’ meaning mutable Gemini can quickly change views to suit the occasion. Which is a Mercury quality. E.g. Venus in Gemini –Love has a stronger mental component; I need to connect with you on a mental level, I value communication. C

7. Cancer Cancer is a cardinal water sign, ruled by the Moon. It’s zodiac image is a crab. Cancer is emotionally protective (think Crab – hard on the outside, soft on the inside), fairly slow to absorb things, emotional. My Mercury is in Cancer –How do I learn? Rather slowly, and by absorption! D

8. Leo Leo is a fixed fire sign, ruled by the Sun. It’s zodiac image is a Lion. Leo’s fiery energy can be dramatic, loud, showy and proud. It’s not as forceful as fellow fire sign Aries. Leo is more demonstrative, ego-ish. It is fixed, which is more passive than Aries. And it’s ruler is the Sun, which is less action-oriented than Mars. Moon in Leo –You might have a dramatic emotional life, perhaps a ‘drama queen?’ E

9. Virgo Virgo is a fixed earth sign, ruled by Mercury. It’s zodiac image is the virgin. Virgo is discerning, particular, methodical, critical, detailed. A perfectionist?. Virgo likes things to be pure, complete, defined and ‘perfect.’ A planet in Virgo will pick up these qualities. Sun in Virgo (Virgo Sun sign) –Someone likely to identify with (i.e. Sun) being fastidious, mentally focused, and can appreciate detail; striving to do the ‘right’ thing, as they see it. F

10. Libra Libra is a cardinal air sign, ruled by Venus. Zodiac image is the scales. Libra is about seeking balance between differing points of view. Libra ‘weighs up’ situations, and wants to strike a balance, a compromise. It is the sign of evaluation, comparison (‘this or that?’).. E.g. my sister has Mercury in Libra… –…And (since she also has four planets in Virgo) has trouble making what she sees as the critically ‘right’ choice – she keeps weighing up options, wanting to make that perfect (Virgo) decision. G

11. Scorpio Scorpio is a fixed water sign, ruled by Mars. Image is a scorpion (with a sting in it’s tail). Scorpio is intense. Scorpio likes to get to the bottom of things. It digs deep, like a fearless detective or investigative journalist. Scorpio can have issues around trust (friend or foe?), and managing that intensity. Someone with a Venus in Scorpio will likely have intense relationships, love intensely, and value intensity. Not interested in half measures. H

12. Sagittarius Sagittarius is a mutable fire sign, ruled by Jupiter. Zodiac image is a centaur (half man, half horse) archer. Sagittarius is an adventure seeking, outgoing ‘out there’ sign – can be prone to chasing rainbows, which relateds to that Jupiter quality of ‘there must be more.’ Sagittarius likes to explore, be out and about, socialise. My Moon is in Sagittarius –emotional needs/security met by ‘what if’ ideas, getting out of the house, learning new things, exploring ideas. I

13. Capricorn Capricorn is a cardinal earth sign, ruled by Saturn. It’s image is a sea goat. Capricorn is about tradition, stability, conservative values, hierarchy. Capricorn can have a sense that the world weighs upon it’s shoulders, that it has to bear the burden of responsibility. This reflects it’s Saturn rulership. A child with Mercury in Capricorn will learn through patient endurance, and might do well at a traditional school with a well-organised structure. J

14. Aquarius Aquarius is a fixed air sign, ruled by Saturn. It’s image is a water carrier. Aquarius has a reputation as being very quirky and ‘out there’, probably due to modern astrologers saying it is ruled by Uranus – the most ‘out there’ planet. But it’s more conservative than that. Aquarius is more pragmatic. It’s an air sign, so it’s about mental energy, but much more stable and consistent than Gemini in that regard. Someone with Venus in Aquarius –They will see love somewhat pragmatically, and they’ll appreciate a ‘meeting of minds.’ K

15. Pisces Pisces is a mutable water sign, ruled by Jupiter. It’s zodiac image is of two fish. Watery Pisces is the most sensitive sign of the zodiac; the most watery of the water signs. Water is associated with the emotions, empathy, feelings. Pisces can connect with life many levels and is the most intuitive sign. A person with a Moon in Pisces… –…will be very emotionally sensitive, even if they don’t show it on the surface. This is totally opposite to a Moon in Aries person. L