Fundamental to any study of Western Astrology are the twelve zodiac signs. The term Zodiac comes from the Ancient Greek word “zodiakos” which literally meant “circle of little animals.” The modern word “zoo” shares the same origin. In ancient times people lived and worked more directly with animals, so the symbology of the zodiac allowed people to understand specific energetic patterns.

According to Esoteric Astrology by Alice Bailey our Soul’s journey begins in the first Zodiac sign Aries as “a point of light in the mind of God” and travels on a journey through each of the twelve Zodiac signs culminating in the twelfth sign of Pisces. Some astrologers believe we spend up to eight lifetimes in each sign. So a good understanding of the energy patterns represented by each sign is essential to a thorough understanding of your Soul Astrology, especially the energy of your Sun, Moon and Rising Sign.

The Twelve Signs

The Twelve Zodiac Signs in order as they appear throughout the year are:

Aries – Taurus – Gemini – Cancer – Leo – Virgo – 

Libra – Scorpio – Sagittarius – Capricorn – Aquarius – Pisces 

The Six Polarities

The Zodiac is made up of twelve signs arranged in a circle. Each sign therefore has it’s polar opposite on the other side of the circle. So although we have twelve signs, they are grouped into six pairs of opposites. These are called the six polarities. The six polarities are:

• Aries-Libra

• Taurus-Scorpio

• Gemini-Sagittarius

• Cancer-Capricorn

• Leo-Aquarius

• Virgo-Pisces

Because of the illusion of separation, we tend to think of them as separate, but it is important to remember that they are inherently connected. In Soul Astrology, not only are they connected but they are an important key to unlocking your spiritual journey: your healing journey to wholeness and personality-Soul fusion.

Because we are creatures of habit, we tend to ‘solidify’ at one end of a polarity. Through our social conditioning and brain wiring we will tend to have a default set of behaviors and psychological patterns.

The Nature of The Six Polarities

Aries-Libra

The Aries-Libra polarity is about the initial impulse to exist, and then the natural balancing of that impulse as all ‘things’ find their right relationship to one another in the manifest universe. For individuals this comes down to finding the balance between our individual will and right relationship with each other.

Taurus-Scorpio

The Taurus-Scorpio polarity is all about overcoming our human tendencies for desire and attachment – both of which lead to suffering when taken to extremes.

When these energies are ‘tamed’ they become powerful catalysts for spiritual advancement.

Gemini-Sagittarius

The Gemini-Sagittarius polarity is about integrating the esoteric paths of idealism, knowledge, wisdom and love, to arrive at the true state of Divine Union, which the Tibetan Master DK called “Love-Wisdom.”

Cancer-Capricorn

The Cancer-Capricorn polarity teaches us about how to manage and appropriately use the most precious resources of all: our spiritual resources, such as empathy, caring, love, compassion, and our abilities to engineer light to illuminate the darkness and create heaven on earth.

Leo-Aquarius

The Leo-Aquarius polarity teaches us a lot about the importance of individuality, and higher group consciousness. Mastery of this polarity is about integrating the heart-centered leadership of Leo, with the higher group consciousness of Aquarius, so that we realize that we are both connected as one, and within that we have an individual experience. We are one body of humanity, each having an individual experience.

Virgo-Pisces

he Virgo-Pisces polarity teaches us a lot about love and connection: how we use discernment to keep our attention on flowing Divine Love through the heart, and then by so doing, we awaken the Sacred Heart of Humanity, which eventually ends all suffering.

In studying the twelve zodiac signs and especially your Sun, Moon, Rising Sign (and their opposites), never lose sight of the fact that you are always studying energy patterns. 

Soul Astrology is simply a way of giving language to describe the underlying energetic reality of the Universe, and your natural place, at home, within it.

There is more explanation and discussion on this topic in the Living Soul Astrology Program