Astrology

Introduction to Spiritual Astrology--Part IV

The Sun is in Capricorn from December 21st to January 21st, approximately. Winter's sleep has finally come. The nights of the Northern Hemisphere are as long as they will ever be. Man's energy is now turned completely inward in its search for self-expression. During the solemnity of this season man has time to think about his plans for the coming spring when he will once again burst forth. While winter brings an outer stillness, the inner restlessness expressive of the desire to live and survive is ever present.

Capricorn is represented by the two variations of the the Mountain-Goat and the Sea-Goat. Its glyph is more symbolic of the Sea-Goat. The top of the glyph represents the horns and the head of the animal while the curvature of the lower half of the figure can be seen as the curving fishtail.

The knee is the part of the human body which the Capricorn emblem represents. It is that important joint which enables man to be agile on his upward climb, for only limited locomotion can be generated when the legs are stiff and unbending. In the higher type of Capricorn the knee yields in order to allow man to kneel in front of the Divinity so that through his humility may come inspiration.

Capricorn faces calculated risks in his climb to heights with patient persistence. Capricorn people can exemplify the highest or the lowest qualities of which human nature is capable. They are capable of great strength and have a strong sense of purpose. How they use that strength and what that purpose will be is the critical issue. "How can I use this?" differs from "How can this be of use to others?"

Materialism is very strong in the people of Capricorn. Money is extremely important to them, not for the money itself, but for the power it wields in the outer world. They fear being dependent on others when they are old and this need for security may cause them to be frugal, if not penurious. Respect and reward have to be earned in the sign of Capricorn.

The positive qualities of the Capricorn people are leadership, patience, persistence, efficiency and practicality. They are ambitious and willing to work and to work hard for what they want. There is strength and integrity in the higher type of Capricorns. They are dependable and are the disciplinarians of the zodiac. "Do it because I say so" is what they say because they do not easily or readily understand the other fellow's feelings.

They have great faith in their own power and never voluntarily step backward. They move up by alternating security and ambition as their goals. They are old when they are young and young when they are old. Because Saturn rules Capricorn, the natives have a tendency to be melancholic and, at times, lonely. But they have sensitive personalities and want very much to be appreciated.

AQUARIUS

The Sun is in the sign Aquarius from approximately January 20th to February 19th. Although, in the Northern Hemisphere, there is an abundance of snow and rain during the period of the Water Bearer's influence, the waxing of the day becomes increasingly apparent. One feels the growing movement toward spring and is certain that warmer and more pleasant weather is on its way. The babe born in Capricorn develops, and with its growth, humanity's hopes, wishes, and plans for a renewed and better life will also come to pass.

The glyph on the physical plane stands for the motion of the ankles, the part of the body ruled by this sign. On another, symbolic, level the two lines are the serpents of wisdom. The one above is the intuitional mind which reflects great concepts onto the rational serpent below. The symbol is the Water-Bearer who signifies the consciousness which is being dispensed from his urn. He pours out to mankind the life-force of spiritual energy. It awakens the understanding that all men are brothers, a concept which can be understood intellectually but only "seen" intuitively.

Aquarians are the mental pioneers, the forward- thinking individuals who live in the future and not in the past. They are outgoing and impersonally friendly and appear to have a great deal of confidence. Their fixed nature is not apparent on the surface, but Aquarians are inflexible in their ideas and cannot be pushed into anything they do not want to do.

There is a detachment in their personality which can be maddening to those immersed in their emotions. Aquarians approach life through their intellects and it is difficult for them to understand those who respond to life emotionally. Aquarians function exceptionally well in the scientific fields or in research work of any kind.

When Aquarians are evolved and their emotions are tenderized, no sign is more magnanimous or as monumental. When they "feel" love instead of "think" it they are great souls. No one can "think" love; one has to "feel" it.

Aquarians usually have two types of friends, and never the twain do meet. They have the conservative, traditional type (Saturn) and the unconventional type (Uranus).

Aquarians do their best work with others or with organizations that attempt to bring about some ideal. In such pursuits, their excellent memory, creativity, knowledge, love of freedom, and humanitarianism find their outlet. Aquarians are involved with people; humanity is "their thing." To them there are no boundaries between countries: down with passports and visas they say. To them there are no real differences between the races and no such thing as bosses. It is vital for them that all people be treated alike and that all people work together, for the individual goal must reside within the group's efforts.

What they have to do in order to balance their desires and visions with reality is to understand that although all men are created equal, they are not all born equal, nor do they all share the Aquarian's conceptions and ideals. Each person is not capable of performing all of the tasks necessary to human life, nor has everyone evolved to the same level of consciousness.

PISCES

The Sun is in Pisces from approximately February 20 to March 20. Late February and March are times of atmospheric turbulence as torrents of rain and gale winds descend upon the land. There is a great purpose for those activities, since the rain and the warmer temperatures which accompany them will serve to wash away winter's snow and ice. The land will become moist and fertile as the earth absorbs the heavenly water. It will become receptive to the spring planting and allow the seeds and buds of Aries to blossom forth with life. Humanity is now in full anticipation of the coming of the warmer months. It is anxious to finish and put aside his current tasks in order to activate new thoughts and projects. This is a period of restlessness, for while it is not quite spring, it is definitely not winter.

The part of the body under the influence of Pisces is the feet. The glyph represents the two heels tied together, signifying limitation of movement, the paying of one's dues, one's karma, to the earth. The feet are the only part of the body which are in constant physical contact with the Earth and they therefore absorb the vibrations of our mother planet. The feet support the weight of the entire body, so it is little wonder that Pisceans often feel wholly responsible for the well-being of those they love or for all aspects of any project in which they involve themselves.

Pisces is the last sign of the zodiac and the inner self is preparing to retreat from the world. It is cleaning up the odds and ends that have not been cleared in the other eleven signs. In Pisces, one fish swims downstream representing the personality, the other fish swimming upstream represents the soul. Either the soul captures the personality and it becomes the servant, or the soul is bound and made captive by the personality. This can bring suffering to the people born in Pisces. The spiritual motto of Pisces is "serve or suffer." The choice is there and it is one or the other.

Pisces is the most sensitive sign of the zodiac and emotions run strong and deep, and they may manifest as moodiness. The world is not their habitat and the need to escape from it is very great. Pisceans need to be alone and do need to retreat from contact with the world in order to retain their equilibrium. For renewal everything must return to its source. When Pisceans are not connected with the inner source of their Being, they may try to escape through alcohol or drugs.

Pisceans have a deep love of music and are fine musicians when they pursue music as a lifework. They make wonderful doctors and in any area of the medical field do excellent work.

Pisceans are unselfish, lovable, devoted, and eager to sacrifice themselves for those who surround them. They are in fact blind to all defects in those they love and trust.

Pisceans feel disoriented if they do not recognize and confront all complexities within their own lives. Once they have done so, the self becomes absorbed in service and the whole world is transformed into a radiant sphere where even commonplace things seem to glow.

--Barbara Joiner