Houses of the Zodiac - “Living in a Cosmic Subdivision”

Astrology, like any other field, has lots of buzz words and jargon. 

The Star, from
Barbara Moore and Aly Fell's
Steampunk Tarot©

Understanding the concepts represented by these words not only deepens our understanding of astrology, but also our appreciation for the three demential form of the Zodiac.  As we know, there are twelve signs that represent thirty degrees of the Zodiac’s wheel.  We also know that there are twelve houses and each one of them is ruled by a particular sign.  For example, Aries rules the first house and Pisces rules the twelfth.

Each house governs a specific area of life and is grouped into one of three categories: Angular, Succedent and Cadent.  Angular houses show us the strongest influences on our lives. Succedent houses represent our resources such as our friends, skill set, possessions, etc.  Last, but certainly intriguing, are Cadent houses.  These houses represent our human experience in terms of relationships, growth and transitions.

Ciro Marchetti's depiction of The Star
from Legacy of the Divine Tarot©

These house categories also correspond to the three modalities of signs: cardinal (first sign of each season), fixed (mid-season signs) and mutable (the ending or transitional sign for a season).  All this sounds pretty complicated, doesn’t it?  Many of us are content to simply know our birth sign and to read our horoscope every now and then.  Nothing wrong with that at all. Still, isn’t it nice to understand just a tiny portion more of what astrologers take into consideration when mapping a birth chart? 

Below is a handy, dandy chart of houses, their category, ruling sign, sign modality, ruling planetary body and tarot associations.  Check you out and enjoy!

LADY ORACLE

Exciting News!  The ever amazing and always inspiring Baba Studio announced they are working on a third re-print of their astounding "Bohemian Gothic Tarot"© . Some minor changes will be made, but with Alex and Karen you know it will rock.  Stay tuned for updates!


(Keep scrolling down for  2nd chart with 11th and 12th houses
Click the images to enlarge!)

June 22nd to July 22nd, The Zodiac Sign of Cancer the Crab - "They're All They're Cracked Up to Be"

Rising above obstacles, adventurous and commanding

Cancerians are an extremely complex sign – compassionate, romantic, adaptable and loyal on one hand, yet withdrawn and touchy on the other.  They make great friends and staunch allies. They also live in a shell and seek protection from life's travails by hiding in the cooler, but darker recesses of their minds. Dichotomy, much? A Cancerian’s home is their sanctuary. It shelters them from the stresses of the outside world whether that home is a man-cave, or plushly feathered nest.  Crabs may enjoy socializing, but they enjoy their solitude more. 

The sign of Cancer the Crab is a water, as well as a cardinal sign.  Cardinal signs are any signs occurring at the beginning of each season.  It is the nature of cardinal signs to enjoy starting new projects or ventures.  This is also typical of the Crab.  People borne under the sign of Cancer the Crab also carry yin or, indirect energy.  This energy is more withdrawn than its yang counterpart.  Yin energy will eek its way forward gently, attracting desired outcomes and people into its path.

If you are fortunate enough to become close to a Crab, you will find them romantic, sensitive and very sympathetic to the plights of friends and families.  When a Cancerian loves, they love without reservation – loyally and forever.  In many ways they give sixty percent in a relationship and are content to receive only forty percent in return.  Although their tendency to dream and fantasize about the next new and exciting thing can get waring on their partner. Crabs make great mates for other waters signs (Scorpio, Cancer, Pisces) as well as for earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn).  However, no one is immune from a Cancerian’s moods and touchiness.  The dark side of Cancer the Crab is the stuff of legends. (I am a Scorpion married to a Crab – very happily but, at times there’s lots of sparkage. Not necessarily a bad thing).  When Crabs start to brood the best thing to do is to let them retreat.  They may have a hard exterior, but they are very soft inside and easily hurt.

Cancer the Crab is ruled by the Moon (tarot’s High Priestess–intuitive and introspective) and they have an innate sense of timing and intuition as a result.  Their ruling tarot card is # 7, The Chariot (adventure-loving and persistent).  There’s a marvelous creativity in Cancerians, whether it be writing, performing, or crafting something by hand.  (My husband is building a forty foot sail boat) Crabs must have a creative outlet no matter how steeped in tradition they may be personally.  Creativity helps them stave off their moodiness. On the job they use their innovative, intuitive side to great advantage.  They are consistent and persistent in both goal setting and achievement, often subtly making the difference between a venture’s success or failure.

Cancerians have rich, deep personalities.  They will continually intrigue and surprise you. Their withdrawn nature can make them difficult to understand, but they are truly worth the effort.  

LADY ORACLE

Note:  As much as you edit, typos still happen and I made a beauty on my last blog entry, "Full Strawberry Moon in Perigee."  For some reason I decided to type the Sun ruled Cancer, instead of The Moon.  I've corrected it and apologize to all those who thought I'd lost my mind.  Well, you may still be right on that one.

L.O.

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Palladini Tarot

Gemini, May 21st through June 22nd - “They Talk the Talk, But Do They Walk the Walk?"

#6, The Lovers, from "OSHO Zen Tarot"©
by Deva Padma - This card is tarot's
association for Gemini

Gemini, the third sign of the zodiac, is the sign of the twins.  No, this doesn’t mean people born under this sign have multiple personality disorder - well, not necessarily, that is.  It means a Gemini is outgoing, quick witted, intelligent and curious enough for two people.  Go to a party and the person with the largest knot of people around them is probably a Gemini.  Twin people are ruled by Mercury and therefore naturally born communicators.  They can tell a story like none other and can persuade, even manipulate, any situation with their the gift of gab.  

The Sign of The Twins is ruled by the element of air (tarot’s Swords) which correlates to matters of intellect and the mind.  These people know a little bit about many things and are always seeking information that improves their store of knowledge. They are highly effective in communications, Gemini tends to commit more time to talk and less time to action.  (Which can be really annoying during romantic moments) The twins are very analytical, able to see all sides of an issue.  However, it’s that very ability to thoroughly dissect a subject that can prevent them from making true progress towards a goal.  

A Gemini can be a highly effective member of a sales team. 

Mercury, ruler of the sign Gemini, has
#1,The Magician for its tarot card. This
depiction from "Wizard's Tarot"©
by Corrine Kenner and John J. Blumen

They are also good at managing, though they may have a tendency to act impulsively and allow their focus to drift. Their only serious flaw is their tendency to be superficial.  They are social and easy going, but not given to looking at any person or situation with a great deal of depth.  They are the quintessential ‘glad-handers’ or ‘baby-kissers’ - exuberant, but always with an eye towards the popular and the expedient.  They have an uncanny ability to match and mirror other people’s traits and viewpoints.  Again, this makes them highly successful communicators and sales people, but the downside is that you can easily find yourself maneuvered into a position in their chess game. Gemini is not above using deception to put you where they want you to be.

People born under the sign of the Twins become easily bored and are not known for bearing it gracefully. Although they are good at friendships, they prefer the flavor to be light and easy-going.  They avoid emotional subtext like the rest of us avoid a trans-fats.  They give great advice, but don’t expect them to get down in the emotional trenches with you, because Gemini avoids topics and situations that they find to be depressing.  Still, when all is said and done, they are the people you seek out for adventure, wit and that all around ‘happy to know you’ feeling.  

LADY ORACLE

The Sign of Pisces - February 19th Through March 21st

On February 19th, the Sun enters the sign of Pisces and will

remain there until March 21st.  People born under the sign of Pisces are water babies and filter much of their life experience and intuition through their emotions.  The sign of Pisces is symbolized by two fish.  There’s a reason for using two fish when one would do.  Cancer has one crab and Scorpio, one scorpion.  The sign of Pisces exists has a natural duality.  It is ruled by two planets, Jupiter and Neptune and people born under this sign exist in two worlds - the world of their reality and the world of their illusions.  Often, they get lost between the two worlds.  Some astrologers theorize that Pisces, being the last sign of the zodiac year, borrows traits from all the other signs.  Note that it is in the twelfth house of the zodiac that astrologers look for secrets and secrets are intricate to the make up of a Pisces.

  

#18, The Moon is the tarot association
for the sign of Pisces. From
Corrine Kenner and John J. Blumen's
"Wizard's Tarot"©

Fish folk are the most mystically charged members of the zodiac.  They are both highly empathic and deeply spiritual.  On one hand, Piscesans give selflessly to friends and family - often too much and to your own detriment.  On the other hand, they guard their secrets within their emotional depths, sometimes making it difficult for non-fish people to understand their reasoning and motivations. When life become too difficult for them, Pisces retreats into silence - shutting down and shutting out the world.  They believe it’s easier that way.  Unfortunately, for these empathetic souls, their inward turns can too easily lead to depression, self-pity and lethargy. 

Pisces draw their impressive creative power from Neptune, the planet of dreamers.  They do very well in both visual and performance arts.  In tarot, the sign Pisces is ruled by the Major Arcana card, # 18, The Moon.  This card serves to remind them that while it is easy for them to get lost in the world of illusion, they can use their inner guides and intuition to return to them to their life path and get moving again.  Their tendency towards self-sacrifice and being easily stagnated also comes from Neptune whose tarot card is #12, The Hanged Man.  

#10, The Wheel of Fortune is
Jupiter's ruling card.  From US Games©

Jupiter, whose tarot card is #10, The Wheel of Fortune, offers Pisces the chance for growth and expansion of their real world.   Pisces, being highly intuitive, has the capacity to make their own luck.  It is when they are ungrounded (out of their tank?) that the Wheel takes a downward turn. If they follow tarot’s advise, stay on their path, don’t be distracted by the illusion and follow their intuition, they will be highly successful.

Neptune's tarot card, #12, The Hanged Man
from Stephanie Pui-Mun Law and Barbara
Moore's "Shadowscapes" ©

In relationships, fish folk do well with high-energy signs.  Fire signs are their opposite, but opposites attract. ( Aires, Leo, Sagittarius) Air signs also work. ( Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) Earth is not the natural state for Pisces.  These signs make it easy for them to surrender too much of themselves and their dreams. (Capricorn, Virgo and Taurus) Pisces must remember that they do not need to take second place to anyone.  As with everything in life, it is a matter of balance.  If you are fortunate enough to be in a relationship with highly imaginative, creative and compassionate Pisces, love them, care for them, but don’t drain their tank.  

LADY ORACLE