Numerological Subdivisions of Zodiac Signs

There are only twelve signs in the entirety of space. And that means that each sign is pretty darn big. It’s a lot like how America is quite a big country. Being that I live in Japan, especially when I first moved here a lot of people would ask me, “What is America like?” It seems like a fair enough question, except that America is big. What it’s like on the East Coast is quite different from what it’s like in the Midwest, which again is quite different from the West Coast, etc.

“What is such-and-such sign like?” is a question with the same flaw. Each sign is really big. What it’s like in one section is different from what it’s like in another. We have to use subdivisions of a sign to differentiate its “East coast” form its “West coast” from its “Midwest,” so to speak.

There is no theoretical limit on how many ways you can subdivide a sign, but the ancient sage Parāśara has pointed out the 16 most pertinent and useful divisions.

1. The sign itself.
2. The sign split in halves.
3. Split in thirds
4. In fourths
5. In sevenths
6. Ninths
7. 10^ths
8. 12^ths
9. 16^ths
10. 20^ths
11. 24^ths
12. 27^ths
13. 30^ths (each and every degree within the sign)
14. 40^ths
15. 45^ths
16. 60^ths (each half degree)

A sign is similar to a country. Its subdivisions are like its regions, states, cities, and streets. The very small, high numbered subdivisions are like individual houses, individual rooms, etc.  We feel very different as we move from room to room in our house, even though the distance is not very great. In the bedroom we feel sleepy, in the kitchen we are hungry, etc. So, small subdivisions are more significant than size might imply.

Resist the urge, though, to get lost in the maze of all these detailed addresses for each half a degree. You will get confused. The best and simplest way to use multiple subdivisions is to include them into your calculation of a planet’s dignity – which is a topic of later discussion. It is safe to otherwise limit your consideration to the 9^th Division.

The Ninth Division

Over the centuries, the most popular subdivision has become the 9^th – the “navāmśa.” There seems to be reasonable logic for this. It is mostly numerological rationale, which is justifiable since a sign itself is a mathematical construct.

Rationale Behind its Importance

108 is the supreme number because it represents the offspring (multiplication) of the numbers 9 and 12. These numbers should ring a bell for you astrologically, as there are 9 planets and 12 signs. The numerological significance of 9 and 12 is also something worth mentioning. Nine is the biggest number to human reckoning, because we have a 10-based counting system (since we have 10 fingers). Anything bigger than nine moves to a new decimal place, so 9 is actually “the biggest number.” Twelve, besides its profound astrological significance, is significant because it is the most cooperative number – like a molecule that very easily forms compounds with many other molecules. The reason for this is that 12 is the lowest number that can perfectly divide in half, thirds and quarters. 108, then is the number representing the most useful twelve multiplied by the biggest number, nine.

Coming back to the 9^th Division of zodiac signs, since there are twelve zodiac signs, dividing each into nine subsections is produces 108 discrete areas in the zodiac. Thus it is the most profound zodiac subdivision.

The ninth division also represents the unity between the tropical and sidereal zodiacs. The tropical zodiac has 12 signs. The sidereal zodiac has 27 stars. If you are very good with numbers you will recognize that the first common multiple for the two numbers is 108: the number of discrete zodiac divisions produced by the complete 9^th division. The 9^th Division is the only division which resonates not only with the tropical zodiac by also with the sidereal zodiac. This is another reason why it is the most profound way to subdivide the signs.

How To Figure Out the Ninth Division

Take a zodiac wheel and split each sign into 9 equal portions. Start with the first subdivision of Aries and label it “Aries.” The next is “Taurus,” then “Gemini” etc. in order, repeating 9 times until you end with Pisces as the last slice at the end of Pisces.

The key is to realize that each subdivision represents a sign within a sign. In every sign there is one division that is identical to the sign itself. There is a Cancer subdivision in Cancer; a Leo subdivision in Leo, a Virgo subdivision in Virgo; etc.

There are three possible locations for this special division. It will either be the very first, the very last, or the division in the dead center of the sign. It is always the first division of any cardinal sign; the middle (5^th) division of any fixed sign; and the final division of any dual sign.

Knowing this, and knowing that each subdivision is 3 and a third degrees long (30/9), you can figure out what subdivision a planet is in, just by knowing its degree. The first thing is to figure out the index (numerical order) of the planets division.

1. Figure out which third of the sign the planet is in.
   1. <10° = first third
   2. <20° = second third
   3. Otherwise = final third.
2. Subtract the degrees to the third so you have a single digit number.
   1. -0 if it’s in the first third
   2. -10 if it’s in the second third
   3. -20 if it’s in the final third
3. Divide that single digit by 3.3 and round down.
4. There are 3 divisions in each third of the sign, so
   1. Start from 1 if in the first third
   2. Start from 4 if in the second third
   3. Start from 7 if in the final third
5. Add the number you got in step three to the starting number you determined in step 4. This is subdivision’s number.
6. Count signs forwards or backwards from the division identical to the sign till you get to the sign of the subdivision you are looking for.
   1. 1^st division for cardinal signs (count forward)
   2. 5^th division for fixed signs
   3. 9^th division for dual signs (count backward)

I’m sure this sounds Greek and baffling the first time you read it. But work with it a bit and it will become practical.

Example 1: Sun at 11° Cancer.

1. It’s in the second third of Cancer because it’s more than 10°.
2. Since it’s in the second third, I subtract 10 to get a single digit degree: 1.
3. Dividing that by 3.3 comes up with less than one. Since I round down, it becomes zero.
4. It’s in the second third of Cancer, so I start from 4.
5. 4+0=4. This Sun is in the 4^th subdivision of Cancer.
6. Cancer is cardinal so the first subdivision is also Cancer. That means the second is Leo, third is Virgo, fourth is Libra.

The Sun at 11° Cancer is in the Libra subdivision.

Example 2: Venus at 24° Leo.

1. It’s in the final third of Leo, because it’s more than 20°.
2. 24-20=4.
3. 4/3.3 = 1 and something. Round it down to 1.
4. The final third of a sign begins at the 7^th division.
5. 7+1=8
6. Leo is fixed, so the fifth subdivision is also Leo. The sixth is Virgo, seventh Libra, eighth is Scorpio.

Venus at 24° Leo is in the Scorpio subdivision.

Example 3: Moon at 5° Gemini.

1. First third
2. 5-0=5
3. 5/3.3 = 1 and something, which rounds down to 1.
4. First third, so start from 1.
5. 1+1=2
6. Gemini is dual, so its ninth subdivision is also Gemini. Eighth is Taurus, seventh Aries, sixth Pisces, fifth Aquarius, fourth Capricorn, third is Sagittarius, second is Scorpio.

Moon at 5°Gemini is in the Scorpio subdivision

Note: you should include minutes to be really accurate. Note that “3 and a third” expressed in minutes is 3°20’.

Signs within Signs

As I briefly mentioned earlier, the subdivisions are signs within signs. Each slice within a sign represents an “import” or “reflection” of resources from another sign. The first slice at the beginning of Aries is also Aries, so any planet within the first 3 degrees and 20 minutes gets a clear and pure access to the resources and nature of Aries. In the next slice, the resources of Taurus blend with Aries, a planet here finds different resources than in the first slice.

The subdivision’s sign doesn’t contradicts the main sign and more than being in New York contradicts being in America. California and New York are different places, but both are subdivisions of the same place: America. Similarly all subdivisions of a sign carry the traits of that sign, but each one from a unique angle, blending it with the traits of its own sign.

Again, it sounds like Greek at first, but practice with it and it will become practical, useful and even somewhat obvious after a while.

Take Libra for example, the Gemini subdivision of Libra (about 27-30°) must be quite different from the Aquarius subdivision (about 13-17°), right? Both of them are in Libra, but each has a different angle on Libra. Libra is a sign liberality towards making the world better and more pleasant. The Gemini subdivision of Libra must give an inventive, communicative, intelligent, and enjoyable slant on making the world better and more pleasant. The Aquarius subdivision must give a humble, group oriented, socially minded, tenacious and practical approach to making the world better and more pleasant.

Now you should feel some appreciation for how detailed and useful the 9^th division makes the zodiac! If not, please contemplate on it more deeply.

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Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com

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Sign Interpretation – The Changing Moods of Planets

I will quickly introduce you now to a concept that you can spend years and years working with and delving into.

We already know that the planets have relationships to one another, and that the relationship between the guest and the host determines how well a planet can function in a given sign. The new concept is: these relationships change slightly on a chart by chart basis!

The basic principle is this:

The relationship between two planets improves
if they are within four signs of one another,
but not in the same sign.
Otherwise, the relationship worsens.

So, let’s say the Moon is in Scorpio. It has an inherently hard time there and the most significant reason is that the Moon (the “guest”) and Mars (the “host”) are inimical by nature. But now let’s say that Mars is in Libra – the sign right next to Scorpio. That fits the principle of guest and host being within four signs of one another without being in the same sign. So the mood of the relationship between guest and host improves a notch. Thus the inherent negativity of the Moon in Scorpio lessens, and you can adjust your interpretations, imagery and expectations accordingly – making them less negative and more neutral.

This improvement will occur if the host (Mars) is in any of the three signs before or after the guest. In this case, Moon in Scorpio, the improvement happens if Mars is in Libra, Virgo or Leo, or Sagittarius, Capricorn or Aquarius. If Mars is in any other sign, the relationship between guest and host worsens a notch and you have to adjust your expectations of Moon in Scorpio accordingly towards more negativity and less neutrality.

This goes for any planet in any sign. If the host, the owner of the sign, is within four signs of the guest without being in the same sign, the relationship between the guest and host, and thus your interpretation of the effects of the planet in the sign, improves. Otherwise, it gets worse.

If the guest and host are in the same sign, it qualifies for making things worse. But because there are benefits to having the host at home this reduction is mild or negligible.

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Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com

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What Astrologer’s Can Learn from “Smoking Causes Cancer”

Image via Wikipedia

Smoking causes cancer, period.

Now that doesn’t mean that everyone who smokes actually gets cancer, nor does it mean that everyone with cancer smokes. Why? Because we do other things in life besides just smoking or not smoking.

Similarly, a planet in a sign causes some specific effects, period. However, that doesn’t mean that the person with the planet in that sign will consciously experience those effects throughout their lifetime. Why? Because there are other things in the horoscope besides just that one planet and it’s sign.

Some people smoke cigarettes, inhale poisonous fumes all day at work, and have cancer running in their family. Since many other circumstances contribute to cancer, you can be pretty darn sure that they are going to get it. Similarly when several things in a horoscope point to the same conclusion, you can be confident that the person will consciously and directly experience those outcomes.

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Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com

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Venus in the 12 Signs

 

Image by junibears via Flickr

Venus is the planet of our senses. She therefore largely determines our level of good behavior and our wealth. “Good behavior” means how well we go about enjoying our sensual lives. “Wealth” refers to the quality of sensual objects we have at our disposal.

 

The resources available in the sign that Venus occupies determine how Venus can manifest our good behavior and wealth. You can break down her relation to the sign owners like this:

Difficult	Neutral	Positive
Mars Moon	Sun Saturn	Mercury Jupiter

 

Venus does not find it easy to create productive outcomes when she is in a sign that belongs to Mars. The main reason is that Mars’ resources are too passionate and independently ambitious. Venus in such an atmosphere becomes prone to selfishness and greed.

The Moon’s Cancer is a bit easier for Venus to work with, but still the Moon’s resources involve desire and emotion. Venus in such an environment is more susceptible to becoming overly passionate and desirous.

The resources of the Sun and Saturn are fairly neutral for Venus, meaning that they present as many challenges as opportunities.

Although Saturn is in the same camp as Venus, there are some unusual outcomes that become likely when Venus must operate through Saturn’s resources. She becomes prone towards making us enjoy unusual or unaccepted things. On the other hand Venus in Saturn’s signs is able to generate very enduring desirable results, too.

The Sun’s resources are slightly positive for Venus, although it again seems to go against the rule of “camps.” Venus here is able to produce power and success through beauty and females.

Venus can make good use of Mercury’s signs, but of these Virgo debilitates Venus. Therefore Venus’ good results in Virgo take a humble turn, and she becomes prone to forego personal happiness for the sake of serving the happiness of others. Gemini, on the other hand, is a place Venus can easily thrive in an artistic, enjoyable way.

Venus is surprisingly happy and productive in Jupiter’s signs. It’s a surprise because they are members of opposite “camps,” but the synergy is quite practical. Jupiter’s resources provide excellent moral guidance to Venus, who therefore becomes more capable of producing good character and true happiness. Pisces, in particular exalts Venus.

Of course, like every planet, Venus operates quite well in her own signs.

To look at this topic from an elemental point of view, Venus seems very neutral to all the elements but does better in the more moderate elements: air and, especially, earth.

Venus in fire signs raises a danger of our sensuality becoming too “hot” but this only really becomes a strong issue in Aries, where Mars rules. It is less of an issue in the Sun’s Leo. In Sagittarius it is entirely overcome by the moral guidance of Jupiter.

Venus in water signs presents a danger of becoming too sensually desirous, but again this is entirely overcome in Pisces due to the influence of Jupiter there. It is somewhat of a concern in Cancer and a definite issue in Mars’ Scorpio.

Air signs give Venus the ability to be smart and intellectual about pleasures, though this outcome is less easy to obtain in full from Saturn’s Aquarius. It is particularly ample, on the other hand, in Mercury’s Gemini.

Earth signs allow Venus to be grounded yet powerful about how we can enjoy life. In Saturn’s Capricorn this can more easily wind up in a negative permutation. In Mercury’s Virgo this grounding causes humility and a servile attitude about enjoyment. The positive ramifications of Venus in an earth sign are most abundant in Venus’ own Taurus.

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Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com

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