ASTROLOGY TOPIC DISCUSSION: Topic 2 - The Signs of the Zodiac

[I Have A Dream]

(NOTE: Many people who visit this forum will already be very familiar with this information. However, it's being included for those who have no astrological knowledge at this point and for those who wish to refresh their memories.)

The Zodiac ("Circle of Animals") is the name given to the band of the ecliptic encircling the earth. It is like a belt in space, about 15 degrees wide, across which the planets move and form their geometrical relationships. The Zodiac forms the stellar backdrop for the apparent path of the Sun, called the plane of the ecliptic.

Astrologers divide the circle of the ecliptic into twelve parts, each subdivided into 30 degrees, making 360 degrees in all. The twelve divisions are called the Signs of the Zodiac. These signs are related (but not exactly identical) to the constellations (star groups) of the same name.

(The above information was taken from http://www.astrologycom.com/zodiac.html)

The twelve signs of the Zodiac are as follows:

1. Aries, the Ram (March/April)
   
2. Taurus, the Bull (April/May)
   
3. Gemini, the Twins (May/June)
   
4. Cancer, the Crab (June/July)
   
5. Leo, the Lion (July/August))
   
6. Virgo, the Virgin (August/September)
   
7. Libra, the Scales (September/October)
   
8. Scorpio, the Scorpion (October/November)
   
9. Sagittarius, the Archer/the Centaur (November/December)
   
10. Capricorn, the Sea-Goat (December/January)
    
11. Aquarius, the Water-Bearer (January/February)
    
12. Pisces, the FIshes (February/March)

Information about each individual sign can be found at the link below: (This is just one person's description of the signs.)

(Please disregard the information about the elements, modes, etc. which will be discussed as later topics.)

http://www2.bitstream.net/~bunlion/bpi/Sign.html#Ar

The above link also states the following:

Planetary Rulers of the Signs

Each sign is associated with a planet that is called the "ruler" of that sign. Usually, there is some similarity in meaning or energy between the sign and its ruler. A planet is supposed to express its energy in the most natural, straight-forward fashion through the sign it rules.

Some signs (Scorpio, Aquarius, Pisces) have two rulers, an old, traditional ruler and a modern one. Since the discovery of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto the last few centuries, these planets have replaced the traditional rulers. And with the introduction of Chiron and the major asteroids into astrology, yet-another-round of arguments about rulers is breaking out. Perhaps the entire notion of "rulership" should be taken with a grain of salt.

The planets themselves will be discussed in the next astrological topic.

[NMDemDist2]

1. I hope you are storing all these in your journal?

that way we can access them as needed? whadda ya think?

[I Have A Dream]

4. I will start each topic with the string 'ASTROLOGY TOPIC DISCUSSION'.

This will allow anyone who wants to easily find all of them to search for the string 'ASTROLOGY TOPIC DISCUSSION' in the subject line.

This way, nobody will have to remember that it was me who started the threads. Does that sound OK, AZDem?

[DemExpat]

2. This looks good, IHAD! This way we can look into each thread

for understanding and discussion of these topics.

Thanks!

DemEx

[I Have A Dream]

5. Thanks, DemEx. We'll keep plugging away until it all clicks.

:)

[Rock_Garden]

3. This was where I started to learn astrology, with the signs of the Zodiac.

You've undertaken such a big and important task, I Have A Dream, to share all this, and I think it's beautiful.

I don't think anyone has ever equaled Linda Goodman's book "Sun Signs" for this topic. She goes into easy, conversational detail in each chapter for each sign, with sections (for example) for "Aries Man, Aries Woman, Aries Child, Aries Employee, Aries Boss", as well as a general section for each sign. It would be too simple for intermediate or advanced students, but raw beginners can get a lot out of it.

[I Have A Dream]

6. Linda Goodman is how I learned also, RG.

I think that I read everything that she ever wrote.

(By the way, I've been reading your on-line comics; I love them!)

[Rock_Garden]

7. Me, too, and Linda Goodman is still in print, bless her heart.

Thanks! Drawing them has to be the world's best therapy, that's for sure.