The attributes of the (Western) signs or rashis (Vedic) is the most complex subject for Southern Hemisphere astrology. To determine the attributes of the signs, we must analyze how the Western and Vedic traditions assigned their attributes in the northern hemisphere. If we apply the same logic to the Southern Hemisphere, we can determine the qualities of the signs/eruptions.
We see that each sign/rashi derives its attributes from five roots:
- Constellation
- House/Bhava
- Fashion
- planetary ruler
- Element
When we look at the zodiac from the southern hemisphere, we immediately see that the constellations and natural houses are reversed. The sign containing the vernal equinox is associated with the first house. The next sign is associated with the second house, and so on. Libra (Thula) is the vernal equinox in the southern hemisphere, so Libra is the first house, while Aries (Mesha) is the seventh. Capricorn (Makara) is the fourth house, Cancer (Karkata) the tenth. So our first conclusion is that the constellation and the houses are reversed or opposite. The other three fundamental roots (mode, ruler, element) must align with the constellation or house.
We note the lucky symmetry of the mode. Cardinal signs are still cardinal. If a sign is on an equinox or solstice in the northern hemisphere, it is on a cardinal point in the southern hemisphere. The same symmetry applies to fixed and mutable signs. The hemisphere makes no difference to the mode. Our second conclusion is that there is no mode change. The assignment of cardinal, fixed, and mutable modes remains the same as in the northern hemisphere.
However, we must think more about the planetary rulers of the signs. The ancients assigned planetary rulers according to the seasons. The luminaries (Sol/Surya and Luna/Chandra) were assigned the hottest signs/eruptions. The other planets were assigned rulerships moving outward in Ptolemaic order (Mercury/Buddha, Venus/Sukra, Mars/Mangala, Jupiter/Guru, Saturn/Sani) until Saturn/Sani (and Uranus) were assigned to the older months. cold. If we do this in the Southern Hemisphere, we begin by assigning the Moon’s rulership over Capricorn and the Sun’s rulership over Aquarius. Mercury rules over Sagittarius and Pisces. We continue until Saturn (Western) rules over Cancer, Uranus over Leo, and Sani (Vedic) over Karkata and Simha. Our next conclusion is that the planetary rulership is associated with the house, not the constellation.
If we temporarily ignore the element, we see that the only difference between the southern and northern hemisphere signs is a reversal of the constellation. Therefore, the first house, ruled by Mars, the cardinal sign (rashi) is Libra, not Aries. We need to integrate the symbolism of the Scales with that of Mars, the first house and the cardinal mode to define Libra. However, the final and most intriguing root is the element. Would Libra (Thula) be air or fire in the Southern Hemisphere? This is the most controversial aspect of the southern hemisphere signs/eruptions.
Copyright (c) 2012 Franz Josef Stern