Zodiac Signs and their Meaning, by astrologer Richard Hills
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The Sun Sign in your Horoscope may not be your most important astrological characteristic!
Zodiac Signs! - Horoscope columns in popular newspapers and magazines might lead you to suspect that the zodiac signs in which the Sun appears in horoscopes is of such over-riding importance that little else matters. The truth is that the zodiac signs in which the Sun appears is assigned much more importance in modern astrology than was the case in ancient times. Then, each planet (the Sun and the Moon being counted amongst the planets) signified a particular area of life as indicated in the individual birth chart. In particular, the planet that rules the ascendant (the zodiac sign rising at birth), and its sign and house position, was seen as having special significance for the individual. I believe this ancient tradition still holds true. Nevertheless there is no doubt that sun signs in horoscopes do have importance (the ancients acknowledged this too), and I offer these thumbnail sketches of the meaning of each. The twelve zodiac signs are divided into four elements: Fire - Aries, Leo and Sagittarius; Earth - Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn; Air - Gemini, Libra and Aquarius; Water - Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.
Book a Consultation - Find out what your whole birth chart means, not just your Sun sign. Educate yourself, maybe satisfy curiosity, alleviate fears and even have fun! Click here: horoscopes for more information, and here: testimonials to read what clients say about my work.
Links to individual Zodiac Signs
(N.B. The dates given vary slightly from year to year. If you were born on a date close to the beginning or end of each range, then I invite you to e-mail me, stating your date, time and place of birth, and I will advise you.)
Aries (21 March-20 April)
Taurus (21 April-21 May)
Gemini (22 May-22 June)
Cancer (23 June-23 July)
Leo (24 July-23 August)
Virgo (24 August-23 September)
Libra (24 September-23 October)
Scorpio (24 October-22 November)
Sagittarius (23 November-22 December)
Capricorn (23 December-19 January)
Aquarius (20 January-19 February)
Pisces (20 February-20 March)
Another way of classifying the zodiac signs is according to their so-called quadruplicities or qualities. The three quadruplicities can be seen as different ways of being creative.
Cardinal Signs
The four cardinal signs, Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, have in common the impetus to initiate or create, or to counter one initiative with another.
Fixed Signs
The four fixed signs, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, are inclined to sustain or stabilise what has already been created, or to resist or practise endurance in the face of another's initiative.
Mutable Signs
The four mutable signs, Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces, take what has been created and attempt to alter or adapt it.
Combine the four elements with the three quadruplicities, and we find that each of the zodiac signs has a unique combination of the two. For instance, Taurus alone is fixed earth, Sagittarius alone is mutable fire. These four links will take you to a very brief sketch of the characteristics of each element, and of the differences between each sign of that element on account of the varying quadruplicities. Each page contains links that will take you to more detailed descriptions of each of the zodiac signs, or you can go straight to the ones which interest you using the links above.
The fire element desires freedom.
The earth element needs security.
The air element (like fire but with a different emphasis) desires freedom.
The water element (like earth but with a different emphasis) needs security.
Personal consultations give much more complete pictures of people's Sun zodiac signs as they relate to them personally, bearing in mind the placements of the Moon and other planets in their birth charts. Click here: horoscopes for more information.
The Sun is now in Taurus (2008 dates: 16:51 GMT 19 April - 16:01 GMT 20 May)
(Taurus) can quite happily remain the unseen power behind the scenes: the investor, the accountant, the one who keeps the business running without getting the public laurels. Taurus is realistic enough to know that you can't eat laurels, and they won't fix a leaky roof.
Liz Greene: Astrology for Lovers. Mandala, 1989.
Home Page: Astrology Readings
Consultations with Richard Hills and how to book: horoscopes
If you have a specific question to which you seek an answer, you may find Horary Astrology more helpful than a birth chart reading.
How astrologers can help: astrologers
For more about the theory of birth charts click: birth charts (horoscopes)
An overview of how astrology can help individuals and couples with compatibility issues in their relationships: Compatibility and suggestions about which signs are likely to be compatible with each other: Sign Compatibility
The planets in astrology: planets
Moon signs in your birth chart: moon signs
A brief enquiry concerning the relative merits of Chinese astrology and western: chinese astrology
This page with alternative terminology: star signs
Richard Hills - Astrologer
59 Bampton Street, Minehead, Somerset, UK, TA24 5TU
Tel (24/7): 0845 643 0671 or 01643 705571 (UK), +44 1643 705571 (International)
SIP: sip:plustalk@zodiacsigns.plus.com
Skype: richard.hills.astrologer
e-mail richard@astrology-chart.co.uk
