Astrology In Louisville

Let’s look at some of the basics of Western Astrology. First, the Zodiac. The 12 signs of the Zodiac we use are the result of  a Greek Standardization of the 12 constellations on the ecliptic. Why 12? It is part of a mathematical formula based on the 360 degree circle. This formula has become symbolic of wholeness and is arrived at by dividing the degrees, first into 30 degree increments and then into increments of 10 degrees referred to as decans. The 30 degree increments are called signs. Ten was the magic number for the Greeks.  The system is deeper than this but for now this is all we need to grasp to examine the 12 signs of the zodiac.

While the oldest zodiac’s probably predate the Sumerians we have no real evidence to speculate back further. China,India and Meso-America all had their systems and I personally believe Meso-America is the oldest system we will be able to grasp ( in the near future) but linking these to the Greek will be problematic.

These signs are linked to our solar year and are divisions of that year into seasons. The fact that the solar and the lunar year differ has always confused students because there are thirteen Lunar divisions rather than 12. I won’t go into that here but later we will examine this and look at the Lunar zodiac’s that exist.

I am going to podcast an examination of the characteristics of the 12 signs of the zodiac in the very near future but first let’s look at the elemental breakdown of the Zodiac. Fire, Earth,Air,Water. These are the four elements. Yes, if you saw the movie, there is a Fifth element. Very Yin! Very Beautiful! However, no shock red hair. No human female form. This element doesn’t enter in to Western Astrology directly. I will also get to that later.

The oldest element, the first element is fire. It’s subtle wave/particle is light and it’s grossest manifestation is magma. Vitality is it’s manifestation in living organisms. Heat and combustion are it’s sign posts while it’s constant is divided into three parts, friction,illumination,inspiration. Aries,Leo and Sagittarius are the fire signs. Energy is the key concept.

The second oldest element is earth. It’s subtle wave/particle is the essence of matter referred to as form. There is a subtle mystery concerning earth in that it is a vessel for vibrations which are held in mass by ritual.  Shape, dimension and density are it’s sign posts. It is the mother of constant change. It becomes the focal point for the five senses in all living organisms. Taurus,Virgo and Capricorn are the earth signs.  Vibration is the key concept.

The third oldest element is air. It’s subtle wave/particle is rooted in the spiritual realms and is an underlying unifying principle. Gaseous, ephemeral,constantly linking the structures of earth and fire in myriads of endless combinations it has been grossly associated with the intellect in all matter and energy. Gemini,Libra and Aquarius are the air signs. Thought is the Key concept.

The fourth oldest element is water. It’s subtle wave/particle is impressionable, fluidic and solvent. It has been called the Grand Solvent. It is the mother of the emotional body and the soul of the world of form. It requires more senses than five to operate and is considered a collectivising agent. It is the rarest of the elements and is linked to the highest and most powerful principles of life as we know it. Cancer,Scorpio,and Pisces are the water signs. Soul is the key concept. ( E-Motion is the grossest form of this element.)

The fifth element is ether. It is the “Dark Force” of modern physics. It is an element beyond all elemental. Beyond space and time but as a backdrop or maybe I should say the medium in which all space and time exist. I love the Lakota word Han in it’s literal translation, ” The Black of Darkness”.  It manifests to the living organism as a misty blue-white shape which permeates all form. You might call this phenomena its’ “shadow”. It is not represented in the Zodiac directly but is the backdrop of the star fields.  Enough said for the moment.