THE CLASSIFICATION AND INFLUENCE OF SIGNS

Zodiac is an imaginary belt in the Heavens. The Zodiac is divided into 12 equal parts called twelve Zodiac signs from Aries to Pisces. According to the special qualities, elements, nature of the Zodiac, groups have been formed. The Zodiac signs in each group represent some unique elements, nature or gunas, yet there is some subtle difference among them. As much as possible I have given information about these things which will definitely benefit the readers. Zodiac signs may be classified broadly into thirteen groups depending on their influences on animate and inanimate objects. Derived from the book “Fundamental Principles of Astrology” written by Guruji K.S. Krishnamurti they are as follows:

I.  Positive and Negative signs.

Ii. Northern & Southern, Equinoctial, Tropical signs

iii. Fiery, Earthy, Airy and Watery signs

iv. Movable, Fixed and Common signs

v. Fruitful and Barren signs

vi. Mute signs

vii. Violent signs

viii. Human sings

ix. Voice signs

x. Bestial or Four legged signs

xi. Dual signs

xii. Bicorporal or Double bodied signs

xiii. Short and Long ascension signs

A brief description of them is discussed below:

I) POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE SIGNS

The odd signs namely Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius and Aquarius are positive or Masculine signs. The even signs viz. Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces are negative or Feminine sings.

II) NORTHERN & SOUTHERN, EQUINOCTIAL AND TROPICAL SIGNS

a. Northern & Southern signs: The beginning six signs of the Zodiac i.e. Aries to Virgo are called Northern signs, as they are to the north of the celestial Equator or in the northern hemisphere. The remaining six signs i.e. Libra to Pisces are to the south of the celestial Equator or in the southern hemisphere are termed as southern signs.

b. Equinoctial signs: In the celestial sphere Equinox means equal day and night. When the Sun is in the intersecting point of the celestial Equator and the Ecliptic where Aries commences and Pisces ends and the points of intersection are at the end of Virgo and the beginning of Libra, then the days and nights are equal all over the World. This phenomenon occurs only twice in a year, i.e. around 21st March and 23rd September. Aries is the vernal equinoctial sign and Libra is the autumnal equinoctial sign.

c. Tropical Sings: Cancer and Capricorn are the two tropical signs. They are sometimes called the summer solstitial sign and winter solstitial sign respectively. The days are the longest when the Sun is at the initial point of Cancer and the nights are the longest when the Sun is at the beginning of Capricorn. Sun enters Capricorn on or around the 22nd December every year according to the Sayana system. As per Nirayana system fixed Zodiac the dates are different.

III) FIERY, EARTHY, AIRY AND WATERY SIGNS

The Zodiacal signs are classified into four groups or triplicities according to the four elements which are Fire, Earth, Air and Water, corresponding to spirit, body, mind and soul symbolizing spiritual, physical, mental and psychic processes in man. The four groups are as follows:

Fire:      Aries         Leo         Sagittarius

Earth:   Taurus       Virgo      Capricorn

Air:       Gemini      Libra       Aquarius

Water:  Cancer      Scorpio   Pisces

Fiery Signs: The fiery signs represent the vital spirit including activity. They tend to have an assertive, independent, courageous and enthusiastic nature. They signify activity and ambition, vigour and vitality, energy and push. When fiery signs are on the cusp of the Ascendant, the disposition is said to be proud, enterprising and commanding with more desire to lead others that serve them. The native may be argumentative and self-confident. When fiery signs become Ascendant cause fevers and inflammatory disorders, sudden illness usually acute but lasting only for a short duration.

Earthy Signs: Earthy signs show solidity and stability. They indicate material welfare and the native will be bent on making wealth and seeking power and position. Earthy signs also if rising give good health. One will be careful and cautious, premeditative, prudent and practical, secretive and suspicious, stubborn and self-protective, slow and steady, reserved and retrained, methodical and economical, plodding and preserving. His mind is practical, objective, scientific, methodical and materialistic. When a majority of planets occupy earthy signs, business would be the best.

Airy Signs: Airy signs are distinctly connected with mind and mental experiences. They indicate less vitality if well connected. They show cheerful, gentle, amiable, courteous, sympathetic, refined and human nature. They offer good intellect, fertile imagination, idealistic and artistic nature, well informed and fertile. The mind is cultured, musical, inquisitive, fond of reasoning, generally well behaved and level headed. He will not be assertive but tactful.

The majority of the planets in airy signs show that the native is talented, refined, courteous, idealistic and often inconstant. The native will be artistic and literary minded.

Watery Signs: Watery signs signify a fruitful nature and give enough fertile imagination. They show less recuperative power. The constitution will be weak. The disposition is timid, inert and unwilling to act. The mind is receptive, contemplative sensitive. Sentimental and psychic, occult tendencies are indicated.

The majority of planets in watery signs denote a psychic or emotional nature, the instinctive consciousness is very keen, the native is more or less receptive or impressionable, often mediumistic and sometimes passionate.

IV) MOVABLE, FIXED AND COMMON SIGNS

Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn are movable signs, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius are fixed signs and Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces are common signs.

a. Movable signs: Movable signs represent movement from one place to another just as water in the river flows smoothly without going back to its source. Movable signs show enterprise, enthusiasm, love of ambitions, forcefulness and ability to complete plans and execute them in a short time. The native always loves change and reform. They represent the busy people, the best businessmen, pioneers, those who rise in life on their own and those who make headway against heavy odds and impediments. The native of movable signs is independent in spirit and self-assertive. They dislike dependence on others and are adverts to subordination.

b. Fixed signs: The influence of the fixed signs rouses the desire nature, giving stamina and persistence in action. People with these signs have a very strong and determined will. They are

predominantly through. If they make up their mind to do anything, they will keep on working with remarkable patience and persistence until success comes to them. They are very practical in their approach. They will not mind doing anything for one who has owned their affection. They are very firm in their mental attitude and once an opinion has been formed, they cling to it with tenacity. They are very difficult people to convince but, when once won over to a cause they will defend in the end.

c. Common signs: Common (dual, mutable) signs may be link ended to the swinging pendulum. They represent the vibratory motion passing from one point to another and back again linking the two extremes of its motion. Nature is dual and fluctuating. Flexibility or plasticity is the predominant characteristic.

These signs denote an intellectual, sympathetic, sensitive subtle, versatile and changeful nature. The natives born in these signs or having a majority or the planets in these signs will often be inconstant, indecisive, vacillating and restless. Being flexible they never exert their will power sufficiently. Their tendency is to drift and dream of the future. They will have no purpose and they are goaded into action only when the stern whip of necessity is applied. They are peaceful and sympathetic in their disposition and cordial and pleasing in their manner.

V) FRUITFUL AND BARREN SIGNS

Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces are said to be fruitful in nature, all watery signs being fruitful. Taurus, Libra, Capricorn and Sagittarius are said to be semi fruitful. Fruitful signs covering 11th and 5th houses and the lord of 5 and 11 in fruitful signs promise progeny. Barren signs in the cusps of the 1st, 5th and 11th or the lords of these in barren signs lessen the chances of having children.

Aries, Gemini, Leo and Virgo are called barren or sterile signs, these are not fruitful in nature. Barren signs on the cusps of the 5th and 11th house (11th house being 5th to the partner) and the lords of these not fruitful signs,Moon not in a fruitful sign, the Lagna not fruitful sign the lord of Lagna not occupying a fruitful sign. No fruitful planet in 5th or 11th houses are indications of no children.

VI) MUTE SIGNS

All watery signs namely Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces are mute signs. If Mercury being lord of 6 is in the 2nd house in a mute sign or the lord of 6 is in the 2nd in a mute sign afflicted by Mars or Saturn, perceptible stammer, lips or other impediment will be the result. Mercury anywhere in mute signs afflicted by Saturn causes stammer. If Mars adds his influence to a bad aspect, then the native will talk very fast, lips or pronounce his words badly. When Mercury happens to be in a mute sign in opposition to Moon, the native will have a defect in speech. Saturn in the Lagna in a mute sign causes an impediment in speech. The 2nd house governs vocal organs. If a voice sign be found in the 2nd house in a horoscope; more especially if Venus or Mercury are therein free from affliction, then eloquence or some vocal gift may be predicted. Jupiter indicates that one will offer advice, preach (may or may not practice) and will be a platform speaker. Mars and Jupiter give assertion and make him an orator who can move the masses by his fiery speech. Mercury and Saturn show that he will modify his speech according to the time circumstances and the crowd before him.

VII) VIOLENT SIGNS

Aries and Scorpio are said to be violent signs. They know “no fears”, they undertake all enterprises with courage and confidence. They are best fitted to take risks.

VIII) HUMAN SIGNS

Gemini, Virgo, Aquarius and the 1st half of Sagittarius are called human or human signs as these are depleted by human figures on the symbolic globe. Some authors consider Libra also as human signs.

Prithyusas says in Horasara Adhyaya I in sloka 11, that these signs are strong when the Lagna falls in one of these signs.

IX) VOICE SIGNS

Gemini, Libra and Aquarius which are airy signs, are also called musical or voice signs. Some western authors consider Virgo and Sagittarius also as voice signs. Some include Taurus also. Anywhere for voice there should be the airy medium. That is why all the airy signs are considered as voice signs.

X) BESTIAL SIGNS

Aries/Mesha (Ram), Taurus/Vrishaba (bull), Leo/Simha (Lion), Capricorn/ Makara (Goat) and the 2nd half of Sagittarius/Dhanus symbolised by the figures of animals whose names they bear are the bestial or four legged signs. These signs are said to be strong according to Prithyusas when the Meridian (10th house) falls in them. Those born when these signs ascend are said to have the qualities of such animals as being bold as the lion, lustful as the goat etc.

XI) DUAL SIGNS

Gemini, Sagittarius and Pisces are called twin signs or dual signs meaning plurality.

XII) BICORPORAL OR DOUBLE BODIED SIGNS

Gemini/Mithuna representing a boy and a girl, 1st half of Sagittarius/ Dhanus representing a bow and an arrow, and Pisces/Meena representing two fishes bound together by a cord are the bicorporal or double – bodied signs.

XIII) SHORT AND LONG ASCENSION SIGNS

Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus and Gemini are termed short ascension signs, because they ascend in a short time. The other six signs take longer time to ascend and are termed long ascension signs.

In the northern hemisphere the six signs, namely, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius take longer time in ascending than the other six signs, and are thus termed as long as ascension signs. For places in the southern hemisphere this must be reversed, the signs of long ascension in the northern hemisphere being short ascension signs in the southern hemisphere.