Skyscript Astrology Forum

How many patterns of signs do you know - I mean patterns like "the Fire signs", "the Autumn signs", "the nocturnal signs" etc.? Being able to recognize major groups of signs is important for several reasons: it can help us read ancient texts; it can help us notice similarities and differences in our practice.

Spring signs: ar, ta, ge. Applicable only in tropical context.

Summer or Aestival signs: cn, le, vi. Applicable only in tropical context.

Autumnal signs: lb, sc, sg. Applicable only in tropical context.

Winter or Hiemal signs: cp, aq, ps. Applicable only in tropical context.

Commanding signs, also called Northern = Spring + Summer signs.

Obeying signs, also called Southern = Autumnal + Winter signs.

Ascending signs, also called signs of Short ascension = Winter + Spring signs.

Descending signs, also called signs of Long ascension = Summer + Autumn signs.

--The following groups can be used in tropical or sidereal contexts.

Cardinal signs, also called Moveable, Leading, or Initiating = ar, cn, lb, cp.
Fixed signs, also called Conceptive, = ta, le, sc, aq.

Mutable signs, also called Common, Dual, or Bicorporeal = ge, vi, sg, ps.

Fire signs, also called Bitter = ar, le, sg.

Earth signs, also called Melancholy = ta, vi, cp.

Air signs, also called Whole, Perfect, or Sweet = ge, lb, aq.

Water signs, also called Fruitful, Mute or Hoarse = cn, sc, ps.

Diurnal signs, also called Positive or Masculine = Fire + Air signs.

Nocturnal signs, also called Negative or Feminine = Earth + Water signs.

Note: I much prefer the designations "Diurnal" and "Nocturnal".

Dry signs = Fire + Earth signs.

Moist signs = Air + Water signs.

Equinoctial signs = ar, lb.

Tropical signs = cn, cp. Note: there seems to be no term for the four signs which border on the equinoctial points, nor for the four which border on the solstitial points.

Crooked signs = ta, cp, ps.

Human signs = ge, vi, aq and the first half of sg. Note: do some authors include lb?

Imperfect signs, also called Broken or Mutilated = le, sc, ps.

Brutish signs = le and the second half of sg.

Barren signs = ge, le, vi.

Quadrupedal signs, also called Four-footed = ar, ta, le, sg, cp.

Ruminant signs = ar, ta, cp.

Feral signs, also called Bestial = cp + Brutish + Ruminant signs.

Strong signs = sc, aq.

Violent signs = ar, lb, sc, cp, aq.

Weak signs = cn, cp, ps.

Why are Taurus, Capricorn and Pisces 'crooked'?

Why are Scorpio and Aquarius 'strong'?

Why are Cancer, Capricorn and Pisces 'weak'?

Why are Aries, Libra, Scorpio, Capricorn and Aquarius 'violent'?

Leo, Scorpio and Pisces 'broken', 'imperfect' or 'mutilated'?

One definition (and I have a hard time with this) says they are so named because anyone born with the Moon or ASC in one of these signs and either the Moon or ASC is afflicted by malefics, the native's body will be "crooked" or imperfect.

They are said to give strong athletic bodies.

They are said to give weak bodies. This stuff is long out of use, and probably for good reason.

Probably because they are all Mars and Saturn signs. Aries is the domicile of Mars and fall of Saturn. Libra the exaltation of Saturn and the detriment of Mars. Capricorn the rulership of Saturn and exaltation of Mars. Aquarius is the rulership of Saturn, but has no major Mars connection.

These signs were considered the most likely to produce imperfect bodies. I don't know why.

Well I am Pisces rising, but as far as I am aware, I wasn't born 'crooked'.

I see, but why Scorpio and Aquarius in particular?

Still, it seems odd that Libra is considered 'violent', it would seem obviously the most civilised, diplomatic and peaceful of signs.

I have often wondered why Libra has never been singled out for special significance, being that it is the only sign represented by a man-made object. Has it never been called anything such as an 'inanimate' or 'unconcious' sign?

In most of the Arabic era texts and the Latin ones derived from them, the word "crooked" is used to denote short ascension because the signs do not rise upright in the East but instead rise obliquely with respect to the Eastern horizon. "crooked" as opposed to "upright."