My summary of Zodiac Sign Meanings Part 2: Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces

I finished watching The Astrology Podcast episode 180 titled The Signs of the Zodiac: Qualities and Meaning — Part 2. Kelly Surtees, Austin Coppock, and Chris Brennan completed the second of our two-part series on the signs of the zodiac and the qualities and meanings of each sign. The second six signs they spoke about were Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.

They prefaced that they would use the traditional or original rulership instead of modern sign rulers. They all felt that traditional rulership made more sense to them conceptually and practically. Specifically, regarding Scorpio, Aquarius, and Pisces traditional assignment to Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter, respectively, and each having second ruling signs of Pluto, Uranus, and Neptune.

Similar to what I shared in my previous post My summary of Zodiac Sign Meanings Part 1: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, I’ll share the categories, symbolism, and a few of the impactful examples, descriptors, or explanations for each of the second set of six signs, beginning with Libra.

Libra

1. Gender — Masculine / Yang
2. Modality — Cardinal
3. Element — Air
4. Planetary Ruler — Venus

The Libra symbol is ‘the scales’, ‘a figure holding scales’, ‘the scales of commerce’, ‘the scales of justice’, and ‘weighing in the marketplace’ to represent a passion for equality and justice. This signs is orientated to the other person and may play ‘devil’s advocate’ to ensure that other perspectives are consider even if it’s not a perspective they hold. Aside from justice they’re known for being social, ‘social flightiness’, ‘social intuition’, ‘social justice’, and ‘social butterfly’. Saturn is exalted here, the Sun has it fall, and Mars is in detriment here.

Scorpio

1. Gender — Feminine / Yin
2. Modality — Fixed
3. Element — Water
4. Planetary Ruler — Mars

Known as a strategic sign that plays the long game utilizing their curiosity to dig deeper underneath the surface just as a Scorpion does. Scorpio is the second domicile of Mars with Aries. Due to being a fixed Mars sign Scorpios have the endurance and mindset that life is a marathon, not a sprint.

Sagittarius

1. Gender — Masculine / Yang
2. Modality — Mutable
3. Element — Fire
4. Planetary Ruler — Jupiter

Sagittarius’ symbol as a ‘half-horse/half-man’ with a ‘bow and arrow’, as an ‘archer’, or ‘centaur’ signify the primal or animal instinct interaction with human intellect. Or a harmonious relationship between the mechanical (bow and arrow) and organic (centaur). As a fire sign, they are goal-directed that is consistently travelling. Due to Jupiter’s influence, they want to raise the energy or spirit of those around them. They have a visionary element that can be motivating and inspiring and have them label as ‘the sage’ or ‘the wise man’. If they’re not balanced, they can be seen as being judgmental or zealotry.

Capricorn

1. Gender — Feminine / Yin
2. Modality — Cardinal
3. Element — Earth
4. Planetary Ruler — Saturn

In both modern and traditional rulership schemes, Saturn rules Capricorn. Mars is exalted here, the Moon is in detriment, and Jupiter in fall. With Saturn’s cautious or conservative quality, Capricorn is concerned with long-term and how what’s done today will set them up for the future based on what occurred in the past. This concern unchecked can lead to them to being ‘stuck in the past’ with a sense of pessimism of what could happen. Capricorn planets in a chart tend to bloom when a person gets in their 30s and aim to ‘create and connect’.

Aquarius

1. Gender — Masculine / Yang
2. Modality — Fixed
3. Element — Air
4. Planetary Ruler — Saturn

Aquarius also begin ruled by Saturn, they acknowledge there are rules, but there are additional rules to be discovered, whereas Capricorn understand that there are rules to be learned. They’re known to think ‘outside the box’ as they discover the new rules and as a fix sign they can be rigid in their thinking. The image of Aquarius as the ‘water-bearer’ signifies them pouring out the ‘water of reason’ as they put ideas out into the world as an Air sign.

Pisces

1. Gender — Feminine / Yin
2. Modality — Mutable
3. Element — Water
4. Planetary Ruler — Jupiter

Pisces ruled by Jupiter and is exalted in Venus. With Jupiter being trusting, expansion, and faith Pisces may end up developing a ‘martyr’ complex with a lack of boundaries. This also contributes to their ability to be a good listener, compassionate, and high level of emotional intelligence. Pisces are interested in what’s deep, mysterious, ‘the unseen’, and the ‘intangible things’. Thus leading to a craving for ‘spiritual togetherness’ and at times seek it through escapist behaviors.

The last six signs wraps up my learning of the zodiac signs. I have a deeper appreciation and insight into what they represent. Reading through the characteristics allowed me to better understand how the signs are expressed in my natal chart. Now I’m moving to learning about Aspects, major, minor, and patterns.

-LaShawn Jaynay