How many patterns of signs do you know - I mean patterns like "the Fire
signs", "the Autumn signs", "the nocturnal signs" etc.? Being able to
recognize major groups of signs is important for several reasons: it can
help us read ancient texts; it can help us notice similarities and
differences in our practice. I don't imagine many people know all the
groupings that have been used in Western astrology. The following, culled
mainly from DeVore's encyclopaedia, are listed roughly from the more
familiar to the more exotic.
I would like commentators to add any other patterns they may know
about, including variant definitions or names attested in literature.
Spring signs: ar, ta, ge. Applicable only in tropical
context.
Summer or Aestival signs: cn, le, vi. Applicable only in
tropical context.
Autumnal signs: lb, sc, sg. Applicable only in tropical
context.
Winter or Hiemal signs: cp, aq, ps. Applicable only in
tropical context.
Commanding signs, also called Northern = Spring + Summer
signs.
Obeying signs, also called Southern = Autumnal +
Winter signs.
Ascending signs, also called signs of Short ascension
= Winter + Spring signs.
Descending signs, also called signs of Long ascension
= Summer + Autumn signs.
--The following groups can be used in tropical or sidereal contexts.
Cardinal signs, also called Moveable, Leading, or
Initiating = ar, cn, lb, cp.
Fixed signs, also called Conceptive, = ta, le, sc,
aq.
Mutable signs, also called Common, Dual, or
Bicorporeal = ge, vi, sg, ps.
Fire signs, also called Bitter = ar, le, sg.
Earth signs, also called Melancholy = ta, vi, cp.
Air signs, also called Whole, Perfect, or
Sweet = ge, lb, aq.
Water signs, also called Fruitful, Mute or
Hoarse = cn, sc, ps.
Diurnal signs, also called Positive or
Masculine = Fire + Air signs.
Nocturnal signs, also called Negative or
Feminine = Earth + Water signs. Note: I much prefer the
designations "Diurnal" and "Nocturnal".
Dry signs = Fire + Earth signs.
Moist signs = Air + Water signs.
Equinoctial signs = ar, lb.
Tropical signs = cn, cp. Note: there seems to be no term for
the four signs which border on the equinoctial points, nor for the four
which border on the solstitial points.
Crooked signs = ta, cp, ps.
Human signs = ge, vi, aq and the first half of sg. Note: do
some authors include lb?
Imperfect signs, also called Broken or
Mutilated = le, sc, ps.
Brutish signs = le and the second half of sg.
Barren signs = ge, le, vi.
Quadrupedal signs, also called Four-footed = ar, ta, le,
sg, cp.
Ruminant signs = ar, ta, cp.
Feral signs, also called Bestial = cp + Brutish +
Ruminant signs.
Strong signs = sc, aq.
Violent signs = ar, lb, sc, cp, aq.
Weak signs = cn, cp, ps.
