THREE X FOUR

The 12 zodiac signs can be divided up into categories. One category consists of the 12 signs gathered into groups of 3 according to the 4 astrological elements, Fire, Air, Earth and Water. These 4 groups of 3 signs each, are called in astrology the ‘Triplicities’. [See earlier blogg]

A further division of our 12 zodiac signs is by ‘mode’ of action. These are the inherent qualities of differentiated matter. There are 4 signs gathered together according to each of the 3 ‘modes’ of action. These modes are possibly best described by the Hindu classification as put forward by the Astrologer and Theosophist Alan Leo. In Hindu they are called the ‘Guanas’, and are as follows:-

Rajas: which gives a direct motion of desire and activity.

Tamas: which gives a rotary motion that tends to firmness and building.

Sattva: a vibratory motion, which gives rhythm and harmony.

In the western world we give these modes of activity the names of Cardinal [Rajas] Fixed [Tamas] and Mutable [Sattva]. Cardinal signs get things started; Fixed signs give the endurance to make the action sustained and worthwhile; Mutable signs allow for change and variety when the thing considered needs to move on. A little imagination will allow one to get a grip on these states of being and expand them fully.

The 3 modes of action may be represented by the Hindu Trinity of:-

BRAHMA symbolising the action of Rajas as the first out-pourings of creative energy to stimulate life, seen in the Cardinal signs, Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.

SHIVA symbolising the action of Tamas, the moving around in a circle or cycle of conservation, destruction and regeneration. It is the dance of life, symbolised in the Fixed motion of the Fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius.

VISHNU symbolising the activity of Sattva, as the god of many and varied aspects of form. The shape shifter of the Mutable quality seen in the signs Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces.

The Cardinal quality [Rajas] energises, the Fixed quality gives stability [Shiva], the Mutable quality allows for adjustment [Vishnu].