What's Your Sign?
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Aries |
Taurus |
Gemini |
Cancer |
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Leo |
Virgo |
Libra |
Scorpio |
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Sagitarius |
Capricorn |
Aquarius |
Pisces |
Zodiac
The term zodiac denotes an annual cycle of twelve stations along the ecliptic, the apparent path of the sun across the heavens through the constellations that divide the ecliptic into twelve equal zones of celestial longitude. The zodiac is the first known celestial coordinate system. There are two apparently independently created zodiacs. Babylonian astrology, inherited by Hellenistic and Indian astrology, developed the zodiac of twelve signs familiar in the West. In Chinese astrology, months and years pass through a cycle of twelve animals that imply certain fortunes or misfortunes related to events occurring within those signs. The Chinese zodiac is not linked to constellations, however.
The etymology of the term zodiac comes from the Latin zōdiacus, from the Greek ζῳδιακός [κύκλος], meaning "[circle] of animals", derived from ζῴδιον, the diminutive of ζῷον "animal". However, the classical Greek zodiac also includes signs (also constellations) that are not represented by animals (e.g., Libra, Virgo, Gemini). Another suggested etymology is that the Greek term is cognate with the Sanskrit sodi, denoting "a path", i.e., the path through which the Sun travels.
The zodiac is also understood as a region of the celestial sphere that includes a band of eight arc degrees above and below the ecliptic, and therefore encompasses the paths of the Moon and the naked eye planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn). The classical astronomers called these planets wandering stars to differentiate them from the fixed stars of the celestial sphere (Ptolemy). Astrologers understood the movement of the planets and the Sun through the zodiac as a method to explain and predict events on Earth. (Wikipedia)
Astrological sign
Astrological signs represent twelve equal segments or divisions of the zodiac. According to astrological beliefs, celestial phenomena reflect or govern human activity on the principle of "as above, so below", so that the twelve signs at the same time are held to represent twelve basic personality types or characteristic modes of expression.
In Western and Indian astrology, the twelve signs are associated with constellations, while in Chinese astrology there is no connection with constellations, as it is simply the line of the equator that is divided into twelve equal segments.
In Western and Indian astrology, the emphasis is on space, and the movement of the sun, moon and planets in the sky through each of the zodiac signs. In Chinese astrology, by contrast, the emphasis is on time, with the zodiac operating on cycles of years, months, and hours of the day. A common feature of all three traditions however, is the significance of the ascendant or rising sign, namely the zodiac sign that is rising (due to the rotation of the earth) on the eastern horizon at the moment of a person's birth. (Wikipedia)
The three traditions
The three main traditions of astrology, the Western, Indian and Chinese, share the same fundamental idea of a twelve sign zodiac with the signs divided into four basic types. It is possible to match up the twelve signs across the traditions, and despite differences, a basic similarity can be seen in their characteristics. The following table shows the twelve signs and their sub-division into four categories as they correspond across the three traditions:
Western Sign |
Element |
Indian Sign |
Element |
Chinese Sign |
Trine |
Aries |
Fire |
Mesha |
Tejas (fire) |
Dragon (5) |
1st |
Taurus |
Earth |
Vrishabha |
Prithivi (earth) |
Snake (6) |
2nd |
Gemini |
Air |
Mithuna |
Vayu (air) |
Horse (7) |
3rd |
Cancer |
Water |
Karka |
Jala (water) |
Sheep (8) |
4th |
Leo |
Fire |
Simha |
Tejas (fire) |
Monkey (9) |
1st |
Virgo |
Earth |
Kanya |
Prithivi (earth) |
Rooster (10) |
2nd |
Libra |
Air |
Tula |
Vayu (air) |
Dog (11) |
3rd |
Scorpio |
Water |
Vrishchika |
Jala (water) |
Pig (12) |
4th |
Sagitarius |
Fire |
Dhanus |
Tejas (fire) |
Rat (1) |
1st |
Capricorn |
Earth |
Makara |
Prithivi (earth) |
Ox (2) |
2nd |
Aquarius |
Air |
Kumbha |
Vayu (air) |
Tiger (3) |
3rd |
Pisces |
Water |
Meena |
Jala (water) |
Rabbit (4) |
4th |