the watery signs with mobility and sensation, the airy signs with expansion and mentality. The airy signs are distinctly connected with mind and mental experiences, and the human tendencies apart from the animal are the marked features of all expressions from this triplicity. The sign Libra separates by its mode of motion the mind from the senses, and balances the one against the other, the vibrations between the two tending to equalise and balance the consciousness in this direction. It is also the sign in which neither higher nor lower mind predominates, the subjective and objective mind being equalised and causing the mind to tend more toward comparison and justice than toward any definite bias. Its most distinguishing characteristic is conjugality or unifiableness ‘usually manifesting as the desire to please, or in its highest aspect as devotion.
XI. AQUARIUS, THE MAN XI.
Eleventh sign of the zodiac; third airy sign; fourth fixed sign
Aquarius is the eleventh sign of the zodiac. It is symbolised by ‘The Man,’ who is pictorially represented as pouring water from a vase on the earth. As a fixed air sign it represents concentration of mind and the attempt to fix the mental vibrations received through Libra. The human and mental nature of this airy sign is shown by the symbol ‘Man,’ Sanskrit man—to think. In the order of the zodiac it shows that point where the circle is left for the spiral and man begins his mental ascent, having attained to that stability which the fixed quality produces. The inertia of this sign is, at our present stage of evolution, more in evidence than the stable and permanent expression of the man who has controlled the lower nature ready for the higher self-conscious ascent into the entirely human conditions. The most characteristic feature of Aquarius is its love of human nature; and there is always some attempt to blend art and science in this sign. As the last of the fixed signs it has been symbolised by two serpents, the oae the serpent of wisdom and the other the old Adam or serpent of the earth. In this symbology lies the mystery of human destiny.
III. GEMINI, THE TWINS III.
Third sign of the zodiac; first airy sign; first mutable sign
Gemini is the third sign of the zodiac. It is symbolised by the twins, which signifies its dualistic nature. Being an airy sign it is connected with a mental expression of the zodiac, and through its mutable nature we see the transference from one state of mind or consciousness to another, the objective or concrete to the subjective and abstract, and vice versa. It is often symbolised as two upright columns, denoting the gateway to knowledge and the hall of learning. In its objective expression it denotes material education and brain intellect; subjectively it is concerned with higher thought and sometimes the super-conscious mind. In its esoteric symbology it is represented by two apes, one of which is the chattering ape and imitator, the other the divine ape in whom thought is more superhuman and transferred from the concrete to the sublime and transcendental; or, in other words, the ordinary common worldly intellect is shown, and also the originality of genius in which mind is working direct from the mental plane. The most characteristic feature of Gemini is its duality, shown in a love of quick alternations from grave to gay, like a child. In the zodiac Aquarius may be termed the Father-Man, Libra the Mother-Woman, and Gemini the Child.
THE EARTHY SIGNS
X. CAPRICORN, THE GOAT X.
Tenth sign of the zodiac; third earthy sign; fourth cardinal sign
Capricorn is the tenth sign of the zodiac. It is symbolised by the goat, and sometimes by the crocodile. The vibrations connected with this cardinal sign are decidedly physical, and denote the awakening of physical consciousness through ambition and temporal power. The goat is a mountain climber, and as the apex of the earthy triangle the influence of Capricorn is strongest on the physical plane, therefore the tendency will be to bring out all practical and material experiences, which will become manifested in the outer world of action through the vibrations of this sign. It has both a benefic and malefic aspect, and can only be truly interpreted by those who see the hidden wisdom concealed in mythology and exoteric symbolism. The goat is an expression of the external nature of Capricorn, and the crocodile, which can live as well in water as on land, symbolises the internal nature of this sign. This sign marks the beginning of practical experiences and brings all things to a natural and matter-of-fact standpoint. The most characteristic feature of Capricorn is its instinct for business and politics—in fact for all things which have to do with the world at large. Its watchword is definition. In its highest sense it is ideals made practical
II. TAURUS, THE BULL II.
Second sign of the zodiac; first earthy sign; first fixed sign
Taurus is the second sign of the zodiac. It is symbolised by the bull. It belongs to the earthy triplicity and is rotary in its mode of motion. It is a sign giving solidity and strength to the physical group of signs. The practical aims and ambitions of Capricorn are gathered up and unified in Taurus, bringing gain from labour and the fruit of action. In this sign great powers of retention, conservation, secretiveness and concentration are exhibited, the power to retain and hold being a marked feature of the sign. Of all the fixed signs, Taurus is the most retentive, the life forces being held by matter more securely than in any other sign, and speech is often the only expression the life forces can make through this sign. The most characteristic feature of this sign is its instinct for finance, and its watchword is practicalness. It is the sign of concentrated physical energy and its highest expression is found in song and praise, as the result of concentrated emotion. The true symbol of Taurus appears to be a serpent coiled in a circle; much latent energy and captive power is indicated by this symbol.
VI. VIRGO, THE VIRGIN VI.
Sixth sign; second earthy sign; second mutable sign
Virgo is the sixth sign of the zodiac. It is symbolised by a virgin, and sometimes pictorially represented by three ears of corn. This sign denotes the ultimate perfection of the physical experiences, which are translated and transformed into self-consciousness in common with all the mutable signs. Symbolised by the virgin, it explains the necessity of physical purity to achieve the self-consciousness connected with the sign. This is the sign of Service, the cream of Capricorn and Taurus, and the outcome of industry and labour. It is a sign connected with criticism and analysis, to finally bring forth discrimination and wisdom. When failure to bring forth the fruit of the consciousness indicated by the physical signs occurs, then subservience and weakness (Virgo), ambition and selfishness (Capricorn), or sloth and obstinacy (Taurus), may result. The discrimination of Virgo, in its best aspect, comes from mental sympathy; the good and the true within recognising the same without. This, in the undeveloped soul, may show as unintelligent repetition or servile response, the automatic echoing of good and evil, false and true alike, according to the fashion of the day or the impress of a stronger personality. One of the most characteristic features of Virgo among the cultivated types is its love for biographical details and statistics, and its tendency to quote authorities. A typical Virgo woman once wrote that her favourite recreations were ‘blue books and biographies.’
The following table explains the nature of each of the signs,
* This description of the mode of reckoning the twelve houses requires some qualification, it is true, but it would lead us too far from our present purpose to go into the matter fully here; it is thoroughly explained in the second book of this series, Caststing the Horoscope.
* The signs of the zodiac must not be confused with the constellations of the zodiac. The constellations are groups of fixed stars, the twelve central groups being called by the same names as the twelve signs, although they do not cover