Introduction Into the Astrological Signs of the Zodiac

The Energy Cycle of Life

Astrological signs are a beautiful way to represent the changing, cyclical patterns of energy that we all feel as we go through life. Each segment of our life-whether it's a day, a week, a month, or a year-and our life as a whole, has a beginning, a middle, and an end.

These time periods have very different energy qualities. At 7:00 a.m. we feel full of energy and ready to begin our day. By 10:00 p.m. we look forward to restful sleep to recharge our energy. Monday feels very different from Wednesday and Sunday, doesn't it? In spring we come out of our hibernation and feel infused with energy. By November in the Northern Hemisphere we look forward to curling up by the fire with a hot cup of tea and a good book as we enter a slower, more contemplative period.

Each phase of the life cycle has its own qualities that can be enhanced by understanding the energy pattern of that period. The astrological signs will teach you how to maximize your potential throughout the year and in each phase of your life.

The Twelve Astrological Signs

There are 12 astrological signs, named for constellations. On a horoscope they are arranged around the outer ring of the chart. The planets are on the turning zodiac ring inside the ring of signs. As that ring turns, the planets move through each of the astrological signs in the course of one year. The 12 signs are:

1. Aries
2. Taurus
3. Gemini
4. Cancer
5. Leo
6. Virgo
7. Libra
8. Scorpio
9. Sagittarius
10. Capricorn
11. Aquarius
12. Pisces

The Signs as the Theater of Life
As you look up at the sky at night, you can imagine the planets as actors on a stage. In a sense, the astrological signs are the "stage" where the planets act out their roles. Each stage has its own particular energy pattern that influences the planets as actors. As a planet enters a sign, it comes under the influence of the energy pattern of that sign.

So we might say that "Mars is in Leo now," which means that Mars is now being influenced by the energy pattern of the sign of Leo. When Mars has finished its role in Leo it will move on to its next stage, Virgo, where things will be quite different for Mars! So Mars always retains its own qualities, but those are modified according to the sign that Mars is in.

The Character & Energy Patterns of the Signs
The signs get their characteristics from where they fall in the yearly cycle of one revolution of the zodiac, which represents one revolution of the Earth around the Sun. During that year, all life on Earth goes through one cycle of evolution.

If you live in a place that has four seasons, you can strongly sense that your life has an ebb and flow related to the seasons. You may be acutely aware of changes in your energy, emotions, sleep patterns, and ambitions as the seasons change. The astrological signs represent that cycle of evolution of energy.

The energy patterns of the signs almost constitute a personality type, a typical mode of expression of the sign. For example, Aries, because it is the first sign of the zodiac and is associated with spring, symbolizes new energy, new beginnings, new growth, expansion of all creation. Those energy qualities are correlated with personal qualities such as courage, extroversion, aggression, and so on. It is not hard to see why Aries is called "the warrior," and how an astrological sign can take on human personality characteristics.

The Dates of the Signs
Viewed from the Earth, the Sun appears to change its position in the sky as it moves through the year (actually it's the Earth that tilts on its axis). The Sun moves into each constellation on a specific date. So when we say that the dates for Aries are March 21 to April 20, we mean that the Sun appears in Aries on those dates.

The Genders & Elements of Signs
Each sign is considered either masculine or feminine and is associated with one of the four elements, Earth, Air, Fire, or Water. As you might already have guessed, Aries, for example, is a masculine fire sign.

Your Birth Sign
At the moment of your birth-the most important day of your life-you come into the world under the influence of the energy of that specific moment generated by the heavenly bodies, how they stand in relation to each other, and the astrological sign of your birth date. You are infused with those energies and will be influenced by them throughout your lifetime. This is not at all surprising, given that you are an energy being! All of these energy relationships and their meaning are revealed by your horoscope.

When you are born you are like a seed that contains all the information and potential that will make it grow into a specific plant. Your horoscope is a chart of the beginning of your life (or of an event later in life). Like a seed, it contains information about the energy pattern that makes you who you are and points to your recurring life themes.

Learning about your sign can help you understand the themes that you experience in your personality, challenges and successes, relationships, health, and goals and dreams. Seeing those patterns will help you find ways to get around your challenges and work with your best qualities.

In my book Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eyes & Strengthen the Soul I teach you about how to read your horoscope and how to find the main themes in your chart. You will get a deeper understanding about your part in the bigger picture of the universe. Then you will be able to balance yourself with your 12 main healing gemstones, you could call your true birthstones.

You can also visit me at the Astrological Signs Weather Report & Healing Gems Blog where I discuss the actual universal, astrological forces and inspire you to use them wisely for a successful and joyful life. Healing gemstones are suggested as tools to balance and come into alignment with the cosmic flow and can be used to create custom designed soul jewelry.

I hope you enjoyed this look into the mysterious workings of the heavens and how we are a part of that. To look at the specific qualities of the signs see my other article: The Astrological Signs of the Zodiac - A Description.

Aloha and many blessings, Shakti.

Many people listen to the weather report on the radio before they head out the door in the morning so they can be prepared for the day to come. My Astrological Signs Weather Report and Healing Gems blog will prepare you the same way: it will make you aware of the universal forces at work in the present moment so you can maximize your response to all that you encounter and align your efforts with the current cosmic trends for a successful and joyful life.

As any surfer here in Hawaii will testify, it is always easier to go with the flow than against it. Life also has a flow, which emanates from the universal forces. With the right awareness and understanding, you can learn to be in harmony with the flow of the universal forces in your life, using them to achieve your goals and dreams. Using astrology to read and interpret the universal forces at work in any given period will give you a real advantage in your ability to deal with challenges in your life and take advantages of the opportunities that present themselves.

One way to align yourself with the universal forces is to work with the metaphysical qualities of gemstones and crystals for health, energy, and balance. I invite you to enter into the sparkling, mystical world of gemstones, connecting us with the whole of creation, from microcosm to macrocosm. Come and visit me at [http://www.jewelryandgemsforselfdiscovery.com/blog/]http://www.jewelryandgemsforselfdiscovery.com/blog/.

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