The Twelve Signs and Four Goals of Life

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The ancient seers of India described human life as having four stages, each of which has a specific goals. Within and beyond them all is a fifth goal. Each of the five elements propels interest on of those goals. Ether, which everything is in and which is in everything, interests one in the fifth goal. The other four goals belong to the four elements used by the planets to cultivate their signs. The element within a sign determines what goal it proposes to the planet that inhabits it.

The first thing I need is pleasure. I am not alone, all life has this basic underlying motive. Air creates sensations and is responsible for making us desire pleasurable ones. The air signs, Gemini, Libra and Aquarius mark the way points along the evolution of this goal of life. Gemini gives new ideas of fun, Libra attempts to realize those ideas, and Aquarius tries to transform them into something better.

Next, I need stability and security. Lollipops are great, but when I get one I start to worry about where the next one will come. So I want to save money or make a lolli-stash so I can get one whenever the desire hits me. The earth element in Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn promote this goal of life in various ways. Taurus gives the fundamental impetus for economic security, Virgo helps work out how to accomplish it, and Capricorn tries to transform it into something more significant and lasting.

People with stability become targets. As soon as I get a stash of lollipops the neighborhood bullies try to take it by force. So I become interested in the third goal of life: morality. Fire, which brings order to chaos, facilitates this. Aries gives the inspiration to fight against cheaters who would take away what I worked hard for. Leo grants the actual authority to enforce and enjoy a moral existence. Sagittarius tries to transform morality into something even higher and broader.

Now that I have my block in order, behaving like good moral kids, my lollipop stash is safe. OK, what next? The pause gives me time to reflect, “What is all this fuss over lollipops in the first place?!” Water, as you probably guessed, enables us to ask if there is there something deeper than all this elaborate civilization we have built around, basically, candy? Water inspires the fourth goal of life: enlightenment. Cancer gives the impetus to look within. Scorpio enables the process of self-realization.  Pisces tries to transform it into something greater.

What could be greater than enlightenment? The fifth goal, ether’s goal, which is in no sign, but in all of them; which is beyond all the other goals yet includes them all. The fifth goal is the supreme pleasure of air, the supreme treasure of earth, the supreme moral of fire, and the supreme realization of water. It is prema, absolute selfless divine love for the Supremely Intimate Being.

- Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com

© 2010 Vic DiCara, All Rights Reserved

Basic Qualities of the Zodiac Signs

Let’s start to understand the twelve signs by exploring how their element and mode combine to create their basic qualities. We are talking about the signs themselves, not people born into those signs. Real astrology does not consider a person to be a single sign, but a unique combination of the all twelve signs.

CARDINAL SIGNS

Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn are all Cardinal signs, that’s true. So they all share common traits of ambitious growth, decisiveness and annoyance with distractions. But each sign expresses this ambition in different ways!

To figure out these differences you just think about what is different between each sign. So far you know about the elements which make the signs: fire, earth, air and water. So let’s see what we can figure out about this.

Aries is a cardinal sign of fire. That makes it quite different from Cancer, even though Cancer is also a cardinal sign, because Cancer is a cardinal sign of the opposite element, water! Libra is a cardinal sign of air which distinguishes it from Aries and Cancer. And similarly Capricorn is cardinal sign to, but it is an earth cardinal sign.

Let’s talk a bit about those differences.

Aries: Cardinality and fire have a lot in common. They are both decisive and ambitious, for example. So the cardinal sign that also happens to be a fire sign, Aries, will naturally be the “most” cardinal of the four cardinal signs. Aries is very ambitious, more than any other sign even any other cardinal sign. It is extremely decisive and loves movement to new territory and new heights, like fire moving quickly to in a straight line to consume new fuel. This sign hates distraction the most: commitment and indecisiveness are like balls and chains around the ankles of Aries.

Cancer: Water and Cardinality don’t have much in common, so Cancer – which combines the two – is the most complex and uncommon of the Cardinal group. It is like a strong underwater current, hidden and private but still forceful and moving things in a clear and decisive direction. In Cancer, the ambition and decisiveness of cardinality expresses itself almost entirely in the watery realm of emotions and subjective emotional opinions. Were it not for the emotional decisiveness of Cancer, it could almost pass as a fixed sign.

Libra: Air and Cardinality blend in libra. The result is a sign with practical sensitivity (a trait of air) in spite of its strong opinions. Libra is like a strong wind blowing due north (or south, or in any clear, decisive direction). Therefore this sign is full of important opinions and evolutions of a practical and tangible nature.

Capricorn: Cardinal earth makes this sign is something like a mountain – the earth moving upward. Creating a mountain is not easy, and Capricorn is not an “easy” sign. Earth makes Capricorn solid almost like a fixed sign. But unlike fixed signs Capricorn has the ambition and decisiveness that comes from being a member of the cardinal group. Capricorn’s decisiveness is not the quickest of this group, but is the strongest and heaviest. Practical and economic growth (a trait of earth) is the main focus and unshakable ambition of Capricorn.

FIXED SIGNS

Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius are the fixed. What these four signs have in common is that they all desire to be unshakable, reliable, and strong. Like the Cardinal signs, they have strong opinions and therefore tend to ignore anything that is superfluous to their commitments. Now let’s discuss how the four elements differentiate the four signs that share the fixed mode.

Taurus: Earth and fixedness – the two factors combining in Taurus – have a lot in common, and this is what makes Taurus the archetype of all the earth signs. Taurus is like a fertile plain: solid, reliable, useful, and able to produce food to support you. More than any sign, Taurus thrives on commitment and impenetrable strength. It is the unmoving earth beneath your feet, unshakably stubborn, yet unquestionably reliable.

Leo: Fire and fixedness – the constituents of Leo – don’t have much in common, and this is what makes Leo unusual and complex among the fixed signs. Leo is like fire in a stove, or contained in some useful device like a lamp. Leo uses its power of moral commitment and its fiercely stubborn strength as a tool to further the bold objectives of fire. Because fire makes Leo quite ambitious it could almost pass as a cardinal sign, but stubbornness and emphasis on loyalty and commitment give away its roots in the fixed group.

Scorpio: The deepest ocean is Scorpio, which combines the depth of fixity with the reflective emotional qualities of water. Like the ocean floor, this sign likes to become inaccessible. Scorpio makes its emotions impenetrable and unshakable via this inaccessibility.

Aquarius: A combination of air and fixedness is difficult to achieve, and this makes Aquarius a challenging place. You can think of Aquarius as the motionless wind, like in the famous “horse latitudes.” Aquarius is unshakably committed (fixed) to being sensitive in practical ways to the wants and needs of others (air). Were it not for this quality of commitment, the Aquarian sensitivities could almost allow it to blend in among the dual signs.

DUAL SIGNS

Gemini, Mercury, Sagittarius and Pisces are the four dual signs. What they all have in common is a love of possibilities and options. They all seek, each in its own unique way, to be more and more aware of alternatives and viewpoints. Because they do not decide to commit to any single option or point of view, they remain open and interested in anything that comes to them. Finally, let’s talk about the way the four elements create differences among the four signs sharing the dual mode.

Gemini: Duality, which seeks to explore every option, and air, which blows things into every nook and cranny – are very complimentary and have a lot in common. Combining dualism and air in a single sign makes Gemini the archetype dual sign. This sign is the least interested in making a decision or a commitment – it wants to enjoy every possibility and explore every option. Gemini is like the air blowing every which way.

Virgo: Duality wants to move equally among all options, but earth wants to be heavy, solid and still. Combining these two in a single sign – which is what Virgo does – is a challenging task. You can envision the dual earth of Virgo as something like an earthquake, the earth attempting to move in many directions at one. This sign is particularly well suited for exploring every option (dual) of practical and economic topics (earth).

Sagittarius: Combining dualism with fire we get Sagittarius. It is is fire moving here and there in search of fuel. In Aries fire burns most brightly, because it blows in a single, constant direction. In Sagittarius the fire sometimes blows back on itself and diminishes. Yet, in some ways the Aries fire is too strong, and Sagittarius strikes the perfect balance. Sagittarius is bold and daring (fire) in its pursuit of understanding every idea and viewpoint possible (dual).

Pisces: This combination of water and dualism creates a very unique sign. If you have ever gone underwater in the ocean and allowed the flows to carry you back and forth, here and there, you have a good image of Pisces energy. This sign focuses on trying to understand every angle and viewpoint (dual) while reflecting deeply and emotionally on topics (water).

- Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com

© 2010 Vic DiCara, All Rights Reserved

Zodiac Signs: Earth, Water, Fire and Air

The world exists inside of space, which the ancients called “ether.” It is made of four fundamental ingredients:

1) Earth

2) Water

3) Fire

4) Air

What the ancients called “earth” is the thing which makes the solidity in all the solid things around you. “Water” is what they called the thing that makes things become liquid and fluid. “Fire” is the state of energy itself – anything around you emitting energy has within it the fire element. “Air” is what creates gaseous things, like, well, like the air you are breathing.

We were taught in school to think of the world as being made by solids, liquids, gases and energies. These are just contemporary names for earth (solids), water (liquids), air (gases) and fire (energy).

1) Earth is stable, solid and fertile.

2) Water is reflective, deep and flexible.

3) Fire is simultaneously dangerous & important.

4) Air is quick and brings sensation to the skin.

Always keep these keywords in mind whenever you are trying to understand what the elements do in astrology.

As you can see in the diagram, there are three zodiac signs for each element. Lets talk first about my personal favorite topic: water.

WATER

Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces are the three signs created by water. What we want to do right now is just understand the first layer of meaning by exploring what water means and how this trait is held in common by all the three signs that water creates.

Water is the only element that makes reflections. If you look into a pool of water you can almost always see a reflection of yourself. The main quality of water in astrology is that it provides resources for your to reflect upon yourself. The water signs – Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces – share (to different extents) that quality. They need and love and want to reflect upon themselves. So water signs have a lot of potential to be either self-absorbed or self-realized. You know, these are just two opposite extremes of the same pole. Water creates signs with a reflective environment. Surrounded by reflections of oneself one can become narcissistic and self-absorbed on one extreme or enlightened and self-realized on the other.

I’ll risk being a little repetitive to just remind you one more time that we are talking about generalities, and you must not forget that. We are only talking about one of the four factors making a sign. And even when we fully integrate all four factors, we will still only be talking about one sign. Astrology states unequivocally that every individual is a combination of all twelve signs in various proportions. So, at least for a while resist the urge to say, “Oh so and so is a Pisces, and this totally is right!” Or, “No way, so and so is Cancer and she is the total opposite of what you just said.”

Water is not only reflective, it also tends to be deep. The reflections of yourself seen on the mirror of water are deep things which pull you into them like Alice’s wonderland mirror. Water signs encourage deep reflection. In other words water encourages emotional response – “depth.”

Besides being deep and reflective, another key characteristic of water is that is is “ripply” and flexible. It flows around things, changing shape. Water and straight lines don’t go together. Water forms drops – round drops. Water does not reflect upon things with a the sharp focus of a microscope and ruler. It reflects instead with the round softness of intuition. Thus water allows us to comprehend ourselves in ways that are beyond the reach of the logical mind. On the low end of the spectrum water can create the tendency to be completely baffled and confused by ones own emotional image, and to lose all rational grip on what the world really looks like. But on the high end of the spectrum water gives the ability to transcend the limits of linear logic and directly reflect upon the divine images of self and of Godhead.

Water, along with earth, is a feminine element. Water is more female than earth. All water and earth signs are female signs. But I think it is redundant to separately explain what that means. By understanding water and earth you will automatically understand the zodiac concept of the high and low potentials of femininity.

EARTH

Earth creates three of the zodiac signs: Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn. These signs will all share earth traits to different extents and in different variations. Earth is stable, solid and fertile. Earth signs are all interested in creating a stable and solid foundation in life, so that they can grow economically.

On the negative end, the earth element makes us superficial and materialistic – only caring about tangible things and financial stability. But on the positive end earth makes us very responsible and allows us to relish our practical duties and accomplishments.

Earth is stubborn and slow. That is a negative way of putting it. To put the same thing in a positive light, earth is reliable, steady and sure. If you try to explain something to the earth element, be patient. TIf you are trying to mold the earth into a new shape, you need to be strong. The earth resists change. We need bulldozers big tools to significantly change the shape of the earth! You can’t quickly or easily change the opinion of an earth sign. ake your time. But know that the work you put in will be well worth it, because the earth will never forget the new shape you have molded it into.

So earth interests us in becoming solid and fertile for economic growth. It is a very strong, slow and steady.

FIRE

Now it’s time to discus the masculine elements, fire and air. Let’s start with the most masculine element, fire. It creates three zodiac signs: Aries, Leo and Sagittarius. These three signs manifest the traits of fire, each in its own unique way.

Fire is the most dangerous element, but at the same time the most useful. Popular history of humankind always talks about “The Quest for Fire” and all that, saying that the ability to control fire was a huge turning point setting humans apart from other animals. Indeed with fire we could cook, bring warmth into the cold, and light into the darkness. But if fire can provide for us and take care of us better than any other element, it can also hurt and destroy us faster than anything else as well.

So fire creates the ability to organize society out of the darkness of chaos, and provide “warmth” and sustenance to humankind. Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius all share the leadership potential of fire in their own ways.

But fire also creates the potential to destroy. Indeed the same social structures we create for safety wind up destroying one another in wars which result from excess ambition and lack of sensitivity to the rights and needs of others. Aries, Leo and Sagittarius all share this potential fire-oriented flaw.

On the bright side, fire creates people who can lead, organize and provide for others. But on the negative side, the same ambition which creates the leadership skills can cause disaster, fights, anguish and war.

AIR

Gemini, Libra and Aquarius are the three zodiac signs built from air. Stand out in the breeze. Not even fire or rushing water can move as fast as air. And when it blows across your skin you feel sensations. So all the air signs are, in various ways, connected to quickness and tactile sensation.

Air can create vagabonds who just blow about in the wind from one place to another with no root, and no “feet on the ground.” This air makes guys who just fly from place to place not caring about anything except a quick and superficial sensation before they blow away to some other unimportant destination. On the other end of the spectrum air creates pure genius: the ability to quickly come up with a way “out there” idea and make it a tangible reality. Air is quick, and the air signs make us quicker and lighter. So on one side air can make us lose stability in life as a result of only caring about superficial sensations, but on the other side air gives us the ability to quickly change direction and leap to new levels of perception.

- Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com

© 2010 Vic DiCara, All Rights Reserved

Random Q&A

Perfume and astrology?

Is it possible to select a perfume based on a person’s Natal Chart? What placement would you use? The Venus? Maybe Vesta?

In Vedic astrology each planet is associated with specific aromas. Therefore you can apply aromatherapy according to a chart. In a simplified format, just like you have birthstones, you have birth-fragrances. In other words, according to a person’s vedic rising sign a different set of aromas will be more helpful and positive for that person.

The Sun – hot, spicy aromas (gingers, cinnamons, sage, etc.)
The Moon – cooling, calm aromas (jasmine, lotus, gardenia, sandalwood, etc.)
Mars – stimulating fragrances (musk, camphor, others similar to sun)
Mercury – clear, clarifying aromas (mint, basil, wintergreen, etc.)
Jupiter – healthy, rich aromas (frankincense for example – others similar to the moon)
Venus – sweet fragrance (rose, saffron, nag champa, plumeria, etc.)
Saturn – healing smells (cedar, for example, also Myrrh)

PS -

Moon and Sun rule Cancer and Leo, respectively
Mercury owns the signs on either side, Gemini and Virgo
Venus owns the signs outside those, Taurus and Libra
Mars owns the signs outside those, Aries and Scorpio
Jupiter owns the signs bordering those, Pisces and Sagittarius
Saturn owns the signs bordering Jupiters, Aquarius and Capricorn.

If the Southern Hemisphere has a totally different view of the stars , did they develop their own Horoscopes?

The vast majority of human beings live on land , and therefore in the Northern hemisphere. But the real crux of the matter is that astrology is concerned with the movement of the planets. The planets only move through a narrow band of the sky, which is more or less in the center of it. That band we have named “The Zodiac.” This middle portion of the sky is visible from both the northern and southern hemispheres. Therefore there is no need for a different system of astrology in the south.

I do find it interesting that astrological calculations get REALLY weird when you get very close to the north or south poles. It reflects the fact that it is very extreme and difficult for human beings to live in those areas.

Planets in astrology–what about earth?

every planet, and even objects that are not planets such as the sun, moon, and asteroids are represented astrologically. but, how is the earth represented and does it fit into astrology?

The 12 houses refer to the Earth’s sky. The Ascendant is the Eastern horizon of the Earth projected into the zodiac.

The entire focal point of the chart is the Earth. Astrology is a SUBJECTIVE view of the heavens. Therefore from our subjective standpoint here on Earth, the Earth itself is NOT in the sky.

What aspects in synastry causes that feeling of instant dislike between people?

That feeling when two people meet and just have an immediate creepy feeling between them?

On top of having some strong squares in the synastry overlay of the two charts (especially ascendant), 9 times out of 10 I would expect to see a very significant CONJUNCTION along the lines of the creep having a creepy planet tightly conjoining your Moon, Ascendant, Sun or Venus. A “creepy planet” could be Saturn, Rahu, Ketu (the two nodes)… or the person’s (or your) 8th or 3rd lord.

Why is a Yod called “The Finger of God”?

Due to the way it looks: like a “finger” pointing at something. And also due to the nature of the quincunx aspects involved. These aspects create lessons that need to be learned. When two of these aspects focus on a single point, it is like god telling us we really need to learn something specific.

In astrology what element do you think would have a hard time being a team earth, water, air, or fire?

Fire and Air are less suited to teamwork. Fire is too self-motivated and air is too impatient.

Water and earth are good for teams. Water is flexible and cooperates, and earth is patient and supportive.

Nonetheless, every team needs a LEADER, if you get a team of all water and earth it will lack some direction and inventiveness. A team should primarily be made of earth and water, but needs a few fire and air people to give it leadership and innovative ideas.

What would you think about a person that has NO WATER in their chart?

i have no water, just tons of capricorn and sagittarius. & a lot of gemini lol. only my moon is in scorpio, what can you tell me about a person with no water in their chart?

You would need to define what you mean by “No Water”. I suppose you mean they have no planets in water signs? Bear in mind the following truths….

First of all the Moon is more important than any other planet, by A LOT. A water-Moon is very important.

Next, all 12 signs are in EVERY chart. Therefore the water is somewhere in everyone’s chart. The real question is not “if” water is in your chart, but “how” it is active in your chart. You will find it active by looking at the water planets – Moon, Jupiter and Venus. Also…

The houses are earth, water, fire and air in the same way as the signs are. The 4th, 8th and 12th houses are water houses. Planets in these houses create watery affects and the rulers of these houses bring watery effects wherever they go.

What in the natal chart would indicate long term issues with their parents?

You see people complaining about their parents all the time…. Where do you see that in the chart?

First, identify the factors pertaining to parents.

MOM: The 4th House. The Moon, and (if the person was born during the day), Venus also represents the Mother (subordinately to the Moon and 4th House, though).

DAD: 10th House (Dad as a rule-maker), 9th House (Dad/Parents as a role-models), Sun, and (if born at night) Saturn (subordinately to Sun, etc.)

So, look at these factors. Are they in wicked conditions? Prosperous conditions? Etc. What you REALLY want to look for is how these factors pertain to the FIRST HOUSE LORD. Because that Lord Represents the Person. So by seeing how the points pertaining to Mom and Dad relate to the point(s) representing the person you can get a great understanding of the parent-child relationship.

Also, if you use harmonic divisional chart (as Vedic sidereal astrology does) the 7th division pertains to children and the 12th pertains to parents.

I’ll give you an illustration to clarify, from my own chart – pertaining to my relationship with my Mom.

My Moon is very happy… being exalted in Taurus and very influential in the 5th house of my chart. Throughout all of my divisionals my Moon is in quite positive signs as well. Therefore you can understand that the Moon is contributing a REALLY WONDERFUL relationship between me and my mother.

On top of that, if you use Vedic planetary cycles you can time WHEN the relationships will have ups and downs. I was born with about 8 years of my Moon cycle remaining. So between my birth and 8 years my relationship with my mother was really outstandingly close and deep.

My 1st Lord resides IN my 4th House. This is another factor indicating great closeness between me (1st Lord) and my mother (4th House). But my first lord is debilitated in that house, and this is the first sign that there will be some difficult issues to face in the relationship, despite the extreme closeness created by the Moon.

Indeed, not only does the fourth house hold a debilitated planet, but it’s ruler is also debilitated – though in the prominent 7th House. That ruler is Mars. The Mars cycle comes after the Moon cycle and lasts for 7 years. During this time I remained very close to my mother, because Mars rules my 4th House, which holds my 1st Lord, and my Mars is extremely close to my Sun (another indicator of the self). Also an indication that my parents would not divorce, btw (4th lord closely conjunct the Sun in the 7th House indicates that mother and father are close in marriage).

The cycle after Mars belongs to Rahu – the North Node. It was at this time that the very good karma my chart shows in my relationship to my mom (the Moon, the 1st lord in the 4th and the 4th lord aspecting the 1st) would take a back seat to the more difficult karma shown (1st lord debilitated in 4th, 4th lord debilitated in 7th and combust). Indeed at this time I joined a group of people commonly considered a cult, the Hare Krishna, and really had very little contact with my lovely mother for a very long time. This seriously damaged the relationship.

I hope this has helped you and other readers understand how to read a chart to understand how a person will relate to his or her parents. And also I hope it may have given some hints as to how apparently contradictory indications in a chart will take their turns at different chronological points in that person’s life

What is significant about a chart where Mutual Reception is present?

It depends entirely on the houses involved. Mutual reception is where the rulers of two houses swap their houses. For example if Mars is in Cancer while the Moon is in Scorpio this is a case of Mutual reception, because Mars owns Scorpio and the Moon owns Cancer. This is a particularly fascinating case because the mutual reception causes mutual debilitation, but that’s another topic!

In any case, it depends upon which house Cancer and Scorpio constitute. If Cancer Rises there will be a reception linking the 1st and 5th houses. If Gemini rises the same reception would be between the 2nd and 6th, etc.

When mutual reception occurs, the affairs of both the houses become intermixed. It is good when the reception occurs either between two “good” houses or two “bad” houses (6,8 and 12, and sometimes 3). But when the reception is between a good and a bad house we consider it to cause some challenges.

Would it be much easier to have planets in the 12th house if they were easy aspected …..?

than if they have many difficult aspects, or it doesn’t matter?

Every house has positive and negative results to offer. If the planet in the 12th House is in a sign that it operates well in, you will get more positive results. If it get’s positive aspects that planet will get help from other areas of your life in manifesting those positive results.

It helps to do Vedic analysis on the sign, because you can split it into 10 sub-signs by the exact degree, and thereby get a very good idea of how positive or negative the planet in that sign is feeling.

Do the signs planets are in make a difference when looking at aspects (in a natal chart) ?

like would venus conjunct saturn in scorpio be different from venus conjunct saturn in gemini

Yes, very much so of course!

The sign a planet is in determines how much of it’s positive or negative side is active. Venus conjunct Saturn in scorpio – they are both in the sign of an enemy planet (Mars) they will have more negativity than if they are in Gemini with belongs to mercury who is a friend to the both of them and thus brings out their positivity.

Be aware that this is best done with the real signs (sideREAL zodiac) and much better if you account for the 10 divisions of signs within each sign. For more info on that, please see my blog.

- Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com