Astrology is a multifaceted discipline that I use during the character development phase of my writing. This short series attempts to clearly explain the basics over a few blogs.
In the previous two posts covering the signs of the zodiac, readers learned a little bit about what makes the first eight signs of the zodiac tick. This post explores the final four signs in the zodiac—Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.
Catch up on previous astrology blogs
Astrology- The Planets Astrology- The Signs (part 1)Astrology- The Signs (part 2)
Categorizing the Signs
The astrological signs of the zodiac are represented by constellations in the night sky. Each is affiliated both with an element (earth, air, fire, or water) and with a modality (fixed, cardinal, or mutable).
*More details about the elements and modalities are available in part 1 of Astrology- The Signs
Sagittarius
If you were born between November 22nd and December 21st, your sun sign is Sagittarius.
Sagittarius, the ninth sign in the zodiac, is a mutable fire sign that is symbolized by the archer. The fire that drives this sign ignites their thirst for knowledge but their ever-changing focus means that many Sagittarian-minded characters only bother to learn superficial information on one topic before moving on to a new topic. Most depictions of the Sagittarian archer are that of a centaur, although it has been occasionally depicted as a man on horseback as well. This sign is ruled by the largest planet in the solar system, and those influenced by the energy of Sagittarius have an equally sizable zest for life and travel. In fact, one of the few ways to actually anger the happy-go-lucky Sagittarius archetype is to try and restrict their freedoms in any way. They tend to be plain-spoken individuals, often to the point of becoming crass or tactless, but you can always count on them speaking their truth.
Capricorn
If you were born between December 22nd and January 19th, your sun sign is Capricorn.
The sign that represents the cardinal modality of earth is Capricorn, sitting at the tenth spot in the zodiac. This zodiac sign, symbolized by a strange looking creature with the head of a goat and the hind parts of a fish, has the practicality of an earth sign, but like the other cardinal signs they also have a powerful forward drive that pushes them to go further, faster. These combined components often result in a very ambitious individual who prizes power and money over more sentimental things, a trait which would please the Roman god of wealth, agriculture, and commerce that bears the same name as Capricorn’s ruling planet, Saturn. The archetypal Capricorn is a very serious person, practical and business minded, but you will notice their dry sense of humor fairly quickly. Those who take the time to get to know the Capricornian individual will find that they also have a hidden over-the-top absurd side, which is rarely revealed.
Aquarius
If you were born between January 20th and February 18th, your sun sign is Aquarius
Aquarius is the second to last sign of the zodiac, symbolized by the Water Bearer, a human character who carries life-giving water in order to distribute it to those who need it. While the symbol of Aquarius is related to water, this zodiac sign is actually the fixed modality of air rather than water. As an air sign, they tend to be most concerned with the realm of the mind, and of all of the fixed signs they are the most likely to become bored or restless. Like Gemini and Libra, Aquarius loves conversation and mental stimulation, but they prefer to avoid small talk and would rather delve deep into the topic, particularly if the topic involves progressive or humanitarian ideals. Like Scorpio, Aquarius has two ruling planets, Uranus and Saturn, and both exert their ideals on this archetype, giving the Aquarian character a generally steady and reliable nature from Saturn’s influence, but at the same time a wildly unpredictable and eccentric nature due to the involvement of Uranus.
Pisces
If you were born between February 19th and March 20th, your sun sign is Pisces.
The final sign in the zodiac is Pisces, the mutable expression of the water element, and it is also ruled by two planets, this time Jupiter and Neptune. Pisces is represented in symbology as fish, usually depicted as two fish swimming in opposite directions. Those who are heavily influenced by Pisces in their chart are drawn to both natural beauty and aesthetically pleasing art and they tend to have a keen eye for what people will like visually, but they can be overly critical towards that which they find discordant in any way. The Piscean archetype is extraordinarily intuitive, and they deal with life’s ebbs and flows rather handily in most cases, but they are also idealistic, and they may be prone to bouts of depression when their ideals are not upheld. Depression in Piscean-type individuals tends to be cyclical and may be more likely to lead to addictive behaviors than for other signs, but it is relatively short-lived in most cases, due to the mutability of the sign.
As you can see, each sign in the zodiac has it’s own distinct characteristics, with very different motivations and modes of expression. These distinct characteristics, when applied to an actual chart, give me a basic framework for my most prominent characters, with both strengths and weaknesses. When studying astrology, be careful not to define living, breathing beings by these archetypes. Get to know people. None of us can be fully defined by any label, whether that be a personality type, a psychiatric diagnosis, a job, a relationship, or an astrological sign.
*All zodiac images created by Numerology Sign at numerologysign.com
The next astrology post will cover the types of aspects that can occur between planets in a chart, and why they matter.
2 Responses
I love how your astrological insights provide clarity and guidance in my life. Your blog has become my go-to source for understanding the cosmic influences that shape our journey.
Thank you! I appreciate the kind comment.