3 modes of FIRE

 To return to the ‘Triplicities’ or sign groupings according to element, let us look again at the qualities of Fire when combined with each of the 3 modes of Cardinal, Fixed and Mutable.

Primal God of Fire – TEFNUT

 [From Lamy, ‘Egyptian Mysteries’]

ARIES is the first fire sign of the zodiac and it is a cardinal sign, so it is going very fast – full on active fire and once let loose there is no stopping it Think of the Ram in full flight ramming at the fence that is blocking its path, think of the racing car flat out around the track, think of the barrister in peak form fighting with the mind for the right to be heard and win. This is the first outpouring of primal energy that kick starts the creative process and symbolised by the Ram.

[From Budge, ‘The Egyptian Zodiac’]

LEO is the second fire sign of the zodiac and it is a fixed sign. We are not going so fast now. There is still all the enthusiasm and dynamism of fire but it is more settled, more focused, more willing to stay put in one place, like a good fire in the hearth. Enthusiasm anchored to the spot makes a good leader, whether leading others tramping through the jungle on an expedition, or sitting in the directors chair giving out decisions, or commanding a little troop of workers, edging them on to do their best. The proud Lion/Lioness caring for the family is a good symbol.

[From Budge, ‘The Egyptian Zodiac’]

SAGITTARIUS is the third fire sign of the zodiac and it is a mutable sign. Well fire combined with a searching for direction can be a bit of a problem if it gets out of control and wanders all over the place. When given focus, direction or knowing where it is going that same wonderful adaptable fiery enthusiasm can get an awful lot done. Mutable fire will adapt to what is needed in a moment and this is why it needs to know its own mind. Like Aries it will fight its way for that all important freedom, like Leo it will command attention for achievement, but like itself it will follow its dreams which can take it far and wide. Think of the explorer into space, think of the horseman galloping to freedom or spinning down the highway on a motorbike. The freedom of the Archer’s arrow is a good symbol.

[From Budge, ‘The Egyptian Zodiac’]

“There is nothing new except what has been forgotten”. A good read is ‘The Dawn of Magic’, by Lois Pauwels and Jacques Bergier.

4 ELEMENTS X 3 MODES = 12

There are 4 zodiac signs gathered together in a group according to 3 ‘modes’ of action. They are the Hindu ‘Guanus’, or western ‘Quadruplicities’ of Cardinal, Fixed and Mutable modes of action. The whole natal chart may be classified under one of these headings, or more briefly one can look at the combination of the Sun sign, the Moon sign and the Earth sign, which is the rising sign of the nativity.

Cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, hold the angles of the natural zodiac, indicating the first out rushing of each of the elements at their purest and most forceful form. These signs correspond to the 4 quarters of the year and the beginning of our seasons where the Equinox and Solstice points are located. The Cardinal signs are active doers of practical accomplishment; the Will of the individual accomplishes by rapid movement, by impulse and enthusiastic outbursts of energy. The faults of Cardinal energy are restlessness, interfering, frequently changing aim and policies. All of which can be changed by looking at oneself and seeing the effect of one’s actions on other people.

 

          

Fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius follow on from the Cardinal signs in the order of the zodiac and give stability to the previous initiative action. They may be likened to the midway points of the seasons when the air and conditions are well established. The Fixed signs are of a ‘feeling’ nature, it is the desire of the passions and the senses to find expression. The individual accomplishes by the Will of enduring strength, indomitable and determined self-mastery. The faults of Fixed energy is inertia, stubbornness, slowness at adapting to new circumstances or seeing another point of view. All of which can be changed by self-reflection and inner growth.

 

Mutable signs of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces follow on from a Fixed sign and precede the next Cardinal sign. The mutable sign therefore allows for change to take place between these two conditions and allows for a new start in the next cycle of three signs. They may be likened to the change of seasons, allowing a new influx of energy, yet quite unstable as they search for the new condition. The Mutable signs are of the intellect, which strives to make connections. Individuals achieve by the Will of the mind, by applying foresight and adaptability. The faults of Mutable energy are in their instability, unreliability and irresponsibility. All of which can be changed by self-reflection and inner growth.

Each of the 3 qualities or modes of action draws from the others what it needs, so that the whole can work efficiently in the mundane world.

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].

PREDICTION

With all the hype of the predicted ‘End of the World’ according to Western interpretation of the Mayan calendar, it might be as well to remember our history, which is full of such predictions.

Going way back to the 12^th Century it may be noted that an abbot of Calabria in Italy by the name of Joachim of Fiore, depressed everyone with a prediction of the end of the world in 1260. Dante accredited him with praise for his spirit of prophecy.

Albrecht Durer 'The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse'

As a Medieval mystic Joachim held thoughts that the ages of history ended in a ‘Last Judgment’. Every new age, he thought, was ushered in by a period of incubation, which necessarily saw great disturbances in the existing order of things. It was at such times of instability that bloody wars and chaotic conditions existed and preceded the unsealing of the next seal of the ‘Book of Seven Seals’.  It is said that each of the Biblical Apocalyptic 7 seals represents a new age of increased consciousness for humanity, following on from a period of upheaval.

Joachim prophesied 3 epochs in human history corresponding to the 3 Persons of the Trinity. The first was the ‘Age of the Father’ as recorded in the Old Testament, the second the ‘Age of the Son’ as recorded in the New Testament, and a future ‘Age of the Spirit’ would be heralded by a new order of monks and the demise of the existing corrupt Church.

After the upheaval comes a new sunrise.

Song of the Dawn

Salutation to the Rising Sun

Listen to the exhortation of the Dawn!

Look to this Day, for it is life, the very life of life.

In its brief course, lie all the verities and realities of your existence;

The glory of action, the bliss of growth, the splendour of beauty.

For yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision.

But today well-lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness,

And every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Look well, therefore, to this Day.

 [Excerpt from sacred Sanskrit text]

CAPRICORN SOLSTICE

In its yearly course, the Sun now crosses from the zodiac sign of Sagittarius into the sign of Capricorn. This marks the final quarter of the natural year which reaches its end and new beginning in March, a time when a new influx of energy is given to the world as the sun ingresses into the zodiac sign of the Ram.

The 4 points of the natural year ‘cross’ the circle of the heavens, marking out the beat of life on Earth. These 4 points marked by 4 zodiac signs correspond to the changing seasons. As we all know, these seasons are opposed on the opposite sides of the globe due to the angle of the earth sphere at any particular time.

There are several emblems or pictographs representing the sign of CAPRICORN. One is the goat and the design below comes from that ancient culture of Knossos in Crete. D.A. Mackenzie says on page 139 of his 1917 book called ‘Myths of Crete & Pre-Hellenic Europe’,

The faience relief of the wild goat and its young is one of the triumphs of Cretan art. It is of pale-green colour, with dark sepia markings…One of the kids is sucking…The nimble-footed mother ….. is the watchful protector and constant nourisher of her young – a symbol of maternity.

We could add that the figure just as well symbolises the nurturing and caring father figure, or symbol of paternity in the cosmic sense. There is always an element of sacrifice when the welfare of other people is a concern.

ELEMENTARY

PYTHAGOREAN FORM

Based on Pythagoras’ work with numbers, Plato very artfully constructed 5 geometrical forms to symbolise our 4 plus one most subtle elements: Fire, Air, Water, Earth and the Æther.

 The 12 astrological zodiac signs are grouped according to the 4 elements of Fire, Air, Water, and Earth; so there are 3 zodiac signs to each element. Each sign takes up the characteristics of that element to which it belongs.

The salamander of FIRE: Aries Leo Sagittarius

FIRE crackles and burns, it is impatient to eat everything up, it wants to endlessly consume, it wants to be somewhere ahead of itself.

FIRE warms in the winter and destroys in the summer.

FIRE lights our way and transforms our food through the alchemical processes;

it may do the same for us.

FIRE is quick moving, fast, ignoring surrounding pleas for consideration.

FIRElight glows softly and benignly in the candle and the touch and the light bulb,

to guide our actions by.

FIRE blazes in the full glory of our sun and wants to be a hero for the world.

But FIRE needs AIR to make it breath and function well.

The sylph of AIR:  Gemini Libra Aquarius

AIR is invisible until it moves.

AIR moves in the smile of a light summer breeze,

AIR moves in the rustle of the trees, it moves in the lashing of a storm, it moves in the devastation of a hurricane.

How can something so invisible have so much power?

AIR supports us all

with the magic that it contains and which we breath in and out every day.

AIR circulates and runs between all things, drawing invisible lines of communication, tying things and people together, provoking ideas.

But how dry and unproductive these would be without some WATER moisture to aid mixture and fermentation.

The Undine of WATER:  Cancer Scorpio Pisces

WATER, the universal solvent, it cleans and refreshes, moistens and oils.

WATER aids the process of reproduction, of generation, of seed forming and awakening.

The morning dew gently touches the petal and makes it sparkle, the summer showers refresh its roots, the thunder-storm weighs down everything and the furious cyclone washes all away.

WATER quenches the thirst and bathes the babe, then dashes all hopes when it reaches beyond saturation point and drowns that oh so necessary anchor and support bed of EARTH.

The Gnome of EARTH:  Taurus Virgo Capricorn

EARTH, rock solid, allowing us to put down roots like a healthy plant, somewhere to anchor, somewhere to call home, somewhere to give form to our airy thoughts, our wet emotions, our fiery activity and enthusiasm.

EARTH who produces from her bosom all that might be needed to keep physical existence viable.

EARTH is fine white sand that trickles pleasingly though the toes.

EARTH is fecund soil.

EARTH is the rock and mountain that resists all and blocks the way.

EARTH is the substratum of life.

But EARTH needs to be ignited by FIRE, moistened by WATER, and stirred by AIR.

All 4 elements need to cooperate to keep the wheel endlessly turning.

It is a story of alchemy really, as seen through the principles of astrology, and all can use their charts to understand themselves and change the pattern of their being. We all have lessons to learn as indicated in our astrological natal chart. It is well to remember the wise words from an old text, ‘The 12 Keys‘, that ‘if the fruit of a tree be plucked before it is ripe, it is unfit for use; and if the potter fails to harden his vessels in the fire, they cannot be employed for any good purpose. In the same way you must exercise considerable patience in preparing your own self.’