Zodiacal forms of awareness (Astrology)

The zodiac may be seen as a symbol of unity and wholeness encompassing twelve different conditions of being, each of which offers different strengths and sensitivities. These conditions may be looked upon as twelve streams of divine energy, the forces and influences of which are reflected in the body of man as a temple into which a divine being can extend. Two sequences of experience are involved: the progressive embodiment of spiritual consciousness; and the progressive liberation to that maturer and fuller consciousness of transformed spiritual individuality. It is said that every individual has the capacity for wholeness represented by the wheel of the zodiac.

The twelve different conditions may be considered as four [triplicities]

corresponding to the four elements of [earth]

, [water]

, [fire]

and [air]

. Individuals influenced by a particular element will have that element's characteristics in common. The twelve may also be subdivided into the [cardinal]

, [fixed]

and [mutable quadruplicities]

, also referred to as the [common cross]

, the [fixed cross]

and the [cardinal cross]

; the qualities inherent in each of these quadruplicities will be evident in the nature of persons united in them. The individual is said to be born onto the common cross, to the wheel of incarnation; to come under the influence of the fixed cross as the wheel of incarnation is reversed, and to be liberated under the influence of the cardinal cross as the wheel is transcended. Again, the signs of the zodiac are alternately positive and negative (or masculine and feminine) - the fire and air signs coming under the former classification and demonstrating different qualities of the archetypal masculine; and the earth and water signs under the latter grouping and demonstrating qualities of the archetypal feminine.

All twelve conditions may be present and playing its proper part in an individual who, by self-discipline, practice and meditation, has allowed all twelve conditions to arise within himself. The particular signs and their groupings are treated more fully in separate entries.