Tag Archives: The Signs

The Other Side: The Influence of Opposing Signs

09 Wednesday Mar 2022

Posted by in aspects and placements, Assets and Talents, astrology, Astrology and Identity, The Signs

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From the Atlas Coelestis 1660 {{PD}}

As I’ve said before: if you’re looking for happy happy in your astrology, this isn’t it. Or maybe I should say, if you’re looking to find the way to a clearer understanding of influences at work, both inside yourself and in the outer world, this is the place–at least, one of them. I think becoming more aware is the entire point of astrology–so it just naturally follows that some of what we discuss won’t be sunshine-y. I’m especially interested in the ways we work against ourselves, as these are (typically) not only our biggest obstacles, they’re the things most under our control–and so most easily banished, if we can both accept that they exist, and fathom their workings in our lives.

We typically go on about the qualities, strengths and deficits, associated with the twelve signs, but it may be just as useful to consider that the natural human propensity to some sense of vanity may lead us to believe we have strengths we don’t actually have (cue Venus, as a kind of natural asset deceptor, as she usually persuades us that we are very very good, or very very bad, each in its own way playing to the ego: Mars, and each in its own way persuading us of the worth to our modus operandi of both our negative Venusian characteristics and our positive ones).

By observation I’ve come to believe these deceptions may be seated in the signs opposing the ones we have planets posited in. For instance, if one has a Cancer Sun, one may believe they carry a number of what are actually Capricornian traits in the areas of identity, Soul purpose, and matters of the House that carries Leo–and as we know, operating from a false sense of Self means we won’t understand the effects we’re creating. The world will seem unknowable to us, and a lot more random than it really is, if we’re interacting with an inaccurate idea of our Beingness. Others, and the Universe itself, will be reacting to who we really are, rather than to our ideas of who we are–so you can see how this might send things spiraling into chaos, or at least confusion and a serious mismatch of our efforts to the resulting effects, internally and externally.

I think these connections to opposing sign energies are rooted in our natural desire to attain equilibrium in expression. When we sense a weakness, we may reach out energetically to the opposing strength, as if to say, ‘See? No problem here at all!’ This action misleads us into thinking we are more than suited to meet the challenge–in fact, may see what we’re reaching for as the actual strength we possess–not realizing that denial makes us much more vulnerable than does recognition of reality–because reality is something we can deal with, respond to, and so act on to compensate for any genuine shortcomings.

Here’s an example: Someone I’ve known for years loves music–his Whole Sign 12th House Neptune in Scorpio experiences it as connecting him to the Cosmos, a spiritual experience, one he easily loses himself in–all appropriate for this placement. But, every once in a while he insists on singing publicly, an activity/ talent very much associated with Taurus–and the man is completely tone deaf. I kid him about having only one note–and despite a rather devastating experience as a teen when he got up on stage, volunteering to sing with a band, he now and then again gives public performance a try. Good on him, for his Neptunian idealism, for wanting to express creatively–but the 12th tells us this is something to be done behind-the-scenes, manifesting in research or finding Truth in the Universe or in inspiration gleaned from a dream or tapping a direct conduit to the unseen, connecting the ideals of Neptune with the capacity for transformation of Scorpio, with Pisces on the 4th saying this may be an internal dynamic, solely for personal use, or something done in the home or involving the family of origin (such as in ancestral research)–and he has recently delved into family history and the genetic line, and shows a genuine and quite creative talent for ferreting out the past.

What follows are some hints about what we might be mistaken about, according to sign. The best way to read it is to consider a certain energy or placement for what it expresses in the chart. For instance, if you’re looking at ways you contact and interact with the world overall, you’re talking about the Ascendant, so should look at the sign it’s in to see in what ways you may be assuming traits of the opposing sign. That’s not to say that you might not have these abilities through some other placement, but to look at characteristics in light of the specific function they’re applied to. Take these suggestions as food for thought, signposts that could tell us where and how our own assessments may be slightly skewed.

Aries may see themselves as the one who should assess others, casting themselves in the role of sole and ultimate judge–an ironic blending of Libran focus on fairness and the Martian concept of leadership. The idea may be to push forward as ‘first among equals’, demanding the cooperation of others and ‘forgetting’ that true leadership is about taking the initiative and setting an example others want to follow.

Taurus may presume they have x-ray vision, using it to excavate where they should offer comfort or support. They may confuse their own version of Scorpionic ‘Truth’ for real-world evidence or need that’s right in front of them; the duty may be more to express a version of what they see, to translate it, than to dissect or alter it.

Gemini may look to the Sagittarian horizon, always thinking of bigger or better, of more–and may believe they are the only ones in possession of ‘the facts’, who are optimistic in a sea of pessimists, or who embrace authentic belief. Instead of comparative thinking (a separative approach), connecting with others one at a time or in small clusters would bring information from Big Picture to personal, and so bring into operation one of Gemini’s actual assets, an ability to navigate the niceties of networking and organize information so that it’s useful and applicable to the individual.

Cancer may feel they are the organized, authorized, or disciplined one, by confusing systems and methodologies (Capricorn) with sincerity and intuition as guides (Moon ruled energy). Accepting that the feeling nature is the forward-facing one, for Cancer, may help them see how sensitivity and emotion can be just as reliable as any calendar, list, or rules, when employed by the appropriate person (Hint: that’s you, Cancer!)

Leo may see the desire to roar as more legitimate if they can point to the intellectual reasoning behind it or the academic underpinnings for their position–but who told them they need to justify themselves in the first place? They should know they don’t have to understand (Aquarius) why they are shining (Leo)–their only mandate is to do it.

Virgo may want to present as a dreamer (Pisces)–but they will inevitably get tangled in the details, in giving an account of themselves, if they shun a more hands-on, material, or pragmatic approach. To responsibly deal with what is (Virgo) can be just as creative as imagining what could be (Pisces), delivering satisfaction through accountable focus they may have sought through the nebulous and the unreal.

Libra may believe they need to go it alone–but that’s just not natural to the sign of partnership. They may hide in the Arian pioneer or lone wolf spirit when cooperation seems too costly, in one manner or another, or too difficult–but interacting with and depending on others is precisely what they need to do, to get the most out of a Libran placement.

Scorpio may feel they must be grounded before they can ‘dig in’–which can make for never getting started in the first place. Shying away from reality, the Truth, or the need for change or alteration is poison to the Scorpion, as they aren’t meant to be settled (Taurus), they’re meant to unsettle.

Sagittarius may talk a good game–but when it comes to taking the big steps, making the big gesture, or facing up to the facts, they may dissemble, hiding their true goals from themselves–but they’re only shorting out their own opportunities, in the end. Embrace of the mission (large goal) is their ticket to success, while endless rumination or connecting the information dots will keep them running in a small, tight, ineffective circle–so much for ever hitting that horizon.

Capricorn may believe it’s their feelings that count, when it’s really the rules or Self-discipline that needs to be applied. Measuring things by their warm fuzzies may make Cappy think they’re becoming more versatile, when in fact it may be that they are reluctant to stay on the straight and narrow because of what it will ask (or require) of them.

Aquarius may insist on acting, on making a splash, on drawing attention–and it’s all in service of keeping them from intellectual understanding of what they’re up to. Being unique or original, even changing their mind on the spur of the moment–oh yes–always with the goal of understanding both individually and in the larger context; showing off, or being jealous of those in the spotlight, or believing they know how to show others how to shine–that’s a nope.

Pisces may hide in nitpicking, criticizing, or list-making, believing that their connection to the Cosmos grants them the right–but it’s really more like looking the wrong way through a telescope–you’re not just using it wrong, you’re giving yourself a headache. The Piscean capacity for the Universal must be respected by taking a step back, not by throwing everything under a microscope–creativity needs a free hand, even as it gives things form.

Hi All! Still hard at work on the book. It’s going well, but there’s just so much in the Lunar world! Who’d have guessed? 🙂 I hope you’re having a great week!

The Signs in Question: The Query Inherent in Each Zodiac Energy

17 Tuesday Jul 2018

Posted by in astrology, The Signs

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U.S. National Archives {{PD}}

“A prudent question is one half of wisdom–                                             Francis Bacon

Here’s a little something for your perusal from a past issue of ECLIPSE:

There seems to be this thrum, like a tuning fork struck, that hums and vibrates and centers the energy of each sign. It offers a note of attunement to which anyone may relate, usually through a planet or point in the natal chart that is placed in that sign. Within this vibration is a question; this is derived from the way each specific energy reaches out, how it connects to others. The question is a background sound, a white noise within the sign’s characteristic harmonic, that lies beneath all interactions conducted within a sign. It’s most obvious in the Sun and Moon, as each inform such a big part of the psyche, but it’s true of all placements: they will carry this particular level of attunement, and through it reach out to the Cosmos. This question springs from the natural uncertainty that all Beings carry, the hesitation that helps our survival, but that can gum up our ability to trust ourselves and act effectively. It is, in short, an expression of energy essence that is looking for confirmation of its rightness.

Each planet and point, of course, will carry this sign energy in its own special way. Mars will deliver the question through assertion; if the sign he’s in is Aries, he may ask, “Will you let me lead?” This will be behind every ego push, every action, every aggression–in the back of the mind of one with this placement, the question of whether others will agree to her or his leadership is always on the table, no matter the actual topic. In Gemini, Mars may act to acquire information; “Share what you know!” may be the background demand, as Mars applies his natural urges to the style at hand.

We’ll look at each sign, and the questions it might bring to the expression of any energy, always remembering that this is background to whatever else is actively going on. With Aries the question is, “Will you let me lead?” or sometimes, “Can I fight for you?” Other times Aries asks, “Should I do it?”, but always the subject is whether the single energy should make a move on its own; the Self is Aries’ primary concern.

In Taurus the query is, “Will this make for security?” or perhaps, “Will this provide comfort?” Taurus is more focused on the environmental condition than on who in particular will benefit–though his or her own position of security or comfort will be the primary impetus for ‘asking’.

Gemini wants to know, “Do you hear me?” and, included in that question is the unspoken plea for interaction via an answer: “Will you share your information with me?” Recall here that the flow of information is more important than anything else; in the sign of the twins it’s a two (or more)-way exchange.

The idea of nurture is prominent with Cancer, and so the question becomes, “Will you let me care?” The Cancerian is asking permission to come into your intimate world, to be one of those who matter–and by extension asks you to care for them, too.

For Leo, a Fire sign just like Aries, the focus comes back to the Self. Leo asks, “Did you see what I can do?” Though it seems conceited, the Leonine urge is about what she or he can add by their mere presence. It is both an example to others of necessary confidence, and the offering of that to everyone contacted.

In Virgo the questions centers in details examined; it may be “What’s not right here?” or it may be “Are you keeping accounts, or should I?” Virgo has the gift of spotting what needs to be altered, and the tenacity to see to each article within a whole through to harvest.

The duality of Libra is the central vibe here, a duality that needs an Other in order to know itself. ‘Will you accept me/ partner with me?” is the constant, unspoken refrain; secondarily, it’s “Where’s the Love?” Libra reminds us of the roles we play for each other.

One might be forgiven for not spotting the question behind the sting with Scorpio; it’s imperative that our Scorpion hide, safely in her cave, even as she asks, “Can I go deeper?” or “Can I tell you a secret?” The psychic probing of this sign knows no bounds, and immediately homes in on what is darkest or hidden–but all with the purpose of bringing in the light.

Sagittarius questions the knowledge involved or the horizon, wondering which direction we should head. “Is there something more we should know?” may be unnerving to accomplices, but Sag will find what needs to be known, and reveal it. They offer a ‘Big Picture’ view by making us think about where we’re going, and what we need to know to get there.

With Capricorn boundaries and the strength of one’s ‘structure’ is questioned. “Where does this end?” and “Will this hold up?” seem like dull places to focus–until we realize how vital the integrity of the structures we rely on truly is. Cappy tests ‘what is’ helping us see reality in the process.

The question for Aquarius might be twofold: “Is it smart?” and “Is it original?”  The Aquarian wants to be reassured that efforts are both effective and modern. Theirs is a standard of intellect and innovation that live up to ideals, and they act as excellent keepers of high goals and especially of relevancy to the present.

Pisces asks, “Did I imagine it?” Orientation to the present and reality are sought, and Pisces’ questions bring creativity to the forefront even as they ground it through Collective experience. They also ask, “Who created this?” in appreciation of Neptunian energy, and in connection with the divine.