THE TWELVE CELESTIAL SIGNS


    The sky containing the fixed stars was divided by the ancient astronomers into twelve parts, and they called each part a house; and each house was called a sign, namely a sign of one specific part of the sky, and that sign was signified by the stars found in that house.
    The first sign is Aries, the second Taurus, the third Gemini, the fourth Cancer, the fifth Leo, the sixth Virgo, the seventh Libra, the eighth Scorpio, the ninth Sagittarius, the tenth Capricorn, the eleventh Aquarius, and the twelfth sign is Pisces.
    By these twelve signs, astronomers consider all of celestial nature, and to each sign they attribute its own natural conditions, different from those of the other signs. So we will now speak of each sign according to its own natural condition. And first, about the first sign...

    1. Aries, 2. Taurus, 3 Gemini, 4. Cancer, 5. Leo, 6. Virgo,

    7. Libra, 8. Scorpio, 9. Sagittarius, 10. Capricorn, 11. Aquarius, 12. Pisces.
     
     

    1. ARIES

    ARIES is a sign deemed to have a fiery complexion which is hot and dry, and the complexion of fire is signified by the letter B. in this treatise. Fire is hot with its own heat, and it is dry through the dryness which it receives from earth. However, Aries is neither hot nor dry in its own essential nature, but it naturally increases the heat and dryness of fire, inasmuch as the heavens naturally shed their influence and virtue upon things below. Like the Sun, for instance, with its natural virtue for increasing the heat of fire with its splendor and brightness, which is similar to the brightness of fire. With its heat, Aries multiplies the instances of heat in the corporeal things below it, and destroys instances of cold: and with its dryness it multiplies instances of dryness and consumes those of moisture. And we say that it has heat and dryness, because its nature has a greater concordance with fire than with any other element. And so, whenever some planet is in the house of Aries, judgment is to be made according the complexion attributed to Aries, and according to the complexion attributed to that planet.Aries is diurnal, and this is because its own natural virtue has greater concordance with daytime, than with nighttime. And so astronomers say that people born during daytime in the constellation of Aries, are more choleric than those born at night, and that they have, through Aries, greater and stronger virtue by day than by night. Aries is masculine, which is to say that the natural virtue it has on its own, has a greater concordance with the bodies of the beings below it that are of the masculine sex, than with bodies of the feminine sex. And so, one born in the constellation of Aries, is more fortunate in things that are of masculine sex, than in things of the feminine sex; and someone conceived in this constellation, would be naturally disposed to be a male, but only if the nature of Aries is not impeded by some planet existing in its house and in conjunction with it, with a complexion contrary to the complexion of Aries: such as Venus, and the Moon, that naturally tend to generate female bodies, which are closer to the complexion of water than of fire..     Aries is mobile, and this is because it has a greater concordance with the bodies below it through their movement, than through their mere existence. And thus, although people conceived in, or born in the constellation of Aries are lighter, and run about more than others who are either conceived, or born in the constellation of Taurus; nonetheless the things they do are not as lasting as the things that are done by people either conceived or born in the constellation of Taurus; but they are more prompt to act on things they want done, than those conceived or born in the constellation of Taurus..  Aries has Mars as its planet, with which it is more concordantly disposed to shed its influence and virtue on things below, than with any other planet, because Mars is the messenger of the appetites that the lower bodies have for receiving the virtue of Aries. Mars receives and transmits this virtue to bodies below along with its own virtue, according to their needs, through the hot and dry influence, the masculinity, mobility and diurnal nature of Aries; and according to their needs for things of the nature with which Mars can influence them.     Aries has three parts: the First part is called the head, or face and is signified by the letter E., and this is its rising part; the other part is called the middle, and is signified by F. and this is the standing part; the third part of Aries is called the tail, signified by G., and this is the descending part. And the things we say about the rising, standing and descending that occur by day, also apply to the rising, standing and falling movements that happen by night. And thus astronomers say that Aries has thirty degrees, namely ten as it rises in E., and ten as it stands in F., and ten as it descends in G. And Aries has its own intensive judgment in each of these degrees, each degree in turn is divided into even smaller parts such as minutes. And the most difficult of all things in this science is to know the diversity of these degrees and to make judgments according to these degrees; the same also applies to the diversity of the degrees of the other signs.  In the human body, Aries influences the head and face, and in the world its region is that of Persia and Babylon, which is said because its nature has greater power in the head and face of man, and similarly in the said regions, than in any other parts of the human body, or any other regions of the earth.  Aries simply has the said conditions as its own, and with these it gives its virtue and communicates its nature to bodies below it, in the way that its natural virtue is conditioned by the natural condition of the planet or planets in conjunction with it. Because, if the said planet or planets have concordance with its nature, they transmit its nature to the bodies below them. But, if the planet or planets in conjunction with it are opposed to its nature, then they transmit its natural virtue to things below, in an altered form according to the subject through which they transmit it. This is like an ailing sense of taste, that signals bitterness when tasting a sweet apple, even though this sweet apple is not bitter at all.--And the same follows regarding the other signs, following the complexions and the properties attributed to them.

     
    BCD BCE BCF BCG BCH BCI BCK
    BCTB BCTB BCTB BCTB BCTB BCTB BCTB
    BCTC BCTC BCTC BCTC BCTC BCTC BCTC
    BCTD BCTE BCTF BCTG BCTH BCTI BCTK
    BDTB BETB BFTB BGTB BHTB BITB BKTB
    BDTC BETC BFTC BGTC BHTC BITC BKTC
    BDTD BETE BFTF BGTG BHTH BITI BKTK
    BTBC BTBC BTBC BTBC BTBC BTBC BTBC
    BTBD BTBE BTBF BTBG BTBH BTBI BTBK
    BTCD BTCE BTCF BTCG BTCH BTCI BTCK
    CDTB CETB CFTB CGTB CHTB CITB CKTB
    CDTC CETC CFTC CGTC CHTC CITC CKTC
    CDTD CETE CFTF CGTG CHTH CITI CKTK
    CTBC CTBC CTBC CTBC CTBC CTBC CTBC
    CTBD CTBE CTBF CTBG CTBH CTBI CTBK
    CTCD CTCE CTCF CTCG CTCH CTCI CTCK
    DTBC ETBC FTBC GTBC HTBC ITBC KTBC
    DTBD ETBE FTBF GTBG HTBH ITBI KTBK
    DTCD ETCE FTCF GTCG HTCH ITCI KTCK
    TBCD TBCE TBCF TBCG TBCH TBCI TBCK

     
     
     


    2. TAURUS


    TAURUS is of the complexion of earth, which is cold and dry, and whose complexion is signified by the letter C. in this treatise. And Taurus is nocturnal, feminine an fixed, its planet is Venus.--The reason why astronomers say that Taurus has the complexion of earth, is that earth receives greater virtue from it through C., than through B.A.D.. Another reason why astronomers assert that Taurus is feminine, is that it helps feminine substances more than others which are not of a feminine nature. astronomers also say, that Taurus is nocturnal, as it has greater virtue by night than by day. They furthermore say, that it is fixed, inasmuch as it does not send its influence and virtue to the bodies below it that are mobile. They also say that Venus is its planet, inasmuch as it has a greater natural concordance with it than with any other planet.--Astronomers say, that Taurus influences the neck and adam's apple in man, as well as trees that have been planted. And they say that it rules the lower parts of things, as they accept greater influence and virtue from it, than from any other sign. And it rules over regions inhabited by the Black race.

     
     
    BDE BDF BDG BDH BDI BDK BEF
    BDTB BDTB BDTB BDTB BDTB BDTB BETB
    BDTD BDTD BDTD BDTD BDTD BDTD BETE
    BDTE BDTF BDTG BDTH BDTI BDTK BETF
    BETB BFTB BGTB BHTB BITB BKTB BFTB
    BETD BFTD BGTD BHTD BITD BKTD BFTE
    BETE BFTF BGTG BHTH BITI BKTK BFTF
    BTBD BTBD BTBD BTBD BTBD BTBD BTBE
    BTBE BTBF BTBG BTBH BTBI BTBK BTBF
    BTDE BTDF BTDG BTDH BTDI BTDK BTEF
    DETB DFTB DGTB DHTB DITB DKTB EFTB
    DETD DFTD DGTD DHTD DITD DKTD EFTE
    DETE DFTF DGTG DHTH DITI DKTK EFTF
    DTBD DTBD DTBD DTBD DTBD DTBD ETBE
    DTBE DTBF DTBG DTBH DTBI DTBK ETBF
    DTDE DTDF DTDG DTDH DTDI DTDK ETEF
    ETBD FTBD GTBD HTBD ITBD KTBD FTBE
    ETBE FTBF GTBG HTBH ITBI KTBK FTBF
    ETDE FTDF GTDG HTDH ITDI KTDK FTEF
    TBDE TBDF TBDG TBDH TBDI TBDK TBEF

     
     


    3. GEMINI


    GEMINI is of the complexion of air, whose complexion is signified by the letter A., because astronomers say that it sends out its influence and virtue more strongly through it than through any other complexion.--They also say, that it has virtue by day, and this is why they call it a diurnal sign. And they say that it is masculine, because it is more helpful to masculine substances, than to any others. They also say, that it is common in movement, meaning that it has no natural inclination either to move or not to move substances below it. And its planet is Mercury, as it transmits its virtue to things below more strongly with Mercury, than with any other planet. They also say that it rules the shoulders, arms and hands of the human body; and that Armenia and Germany are its regions; and that it is a liberal sign and produces a good frame of mind in people.

     
     
    BEG BEH BEI BEK BFG BFH BFI
    BETB BETB BETB BETB BFTB BFTB BFTB
    BETE BETE BETE BETE BFTF BFTF BFTF
    BETG BETH BETI BETK BFTG BFTH BFTI
    BGTB BHTB BITB BKTB BGTB BHTB BITB
    BGTE BHTE BITE BKTE BGTF BHTF BITF
    BGTG BHTH BITI BKTK BGTG BHTH BITI
    BTBE BTBE BTBE BTBE BFTF BFTF BFTF
    BTBG BTBH BTBI BTBK BTBG BTBH BTBI
    BTEG BTEH BTEI BTEK BTFG BTFH BTFI
    EGTB EHTB EITB EKTB FGTB FHTB FITB
    EGTE EHTE EITE EKTE FGTF FHTF FITF
    EGTG EHTH EITI EKTK FGTG FHTH FITI
    ETBE ETBE ETBE ETBE FTBF FTBF FTBF
    ETBG ETBH ETBI ETBK FTBG FTBH FTBI
    ETEG ETEH ETEI ETEK FTFG FTFH FTFI
    GTBE HTBE ITBE KTBE GTBF HTBF ITBF
    GTBG HTBH ITBI KTBK GTBG HTBH ITBI
    GTEG HTEH ITEI KTEK GTFG HTFH ITFI
    TBEG TBEH TBEI TBEK TBFG TBFH TBFI

    4. CANCER


    CANCER is of the complexion of water, which is cold and moist, and whose complexion is signified by the letter D.Astronomers say, that Cancer is of a watery complexion, because it gives of its virtue to water and to those substances that are of the complexion of water. They also say, that it is feminine, because it helps the feminine substances below it; and mobile, because it gives them a natural appetite for movement. It is also nocturnal, because with it, the night has virtue in the substances found in it.--astronomers also say, that Cancer rules the chest and the stomach in the human body, inasmuch as it influences them with its virtue. And it rules those trees, which are naturally equal in height. And its region is eastern Armenia and Germany.

     
     
     
     


    5. LEO


    LEO is of the complexion of B., and is a fixed sign. And astronomers say that it is fixed, because it gives of its nature to those bodies below that are firm, without any natural appetite for moving.--And they say, that it is masculine and diurnal; and its planet is the Sun, and in the human body it rules the heart, the ribs and the spine; it also rules large trees, and its region is Tunisia, the habitable regions above the Sahara desert and the regions where silk is found. 


    6. VIRGO


    VIRGO is a sign, which has the complexion of C. and it is said to be common, because it is common both to movement and non-movement; also, it is nocturnal and feminine, and its planet is Mercury. And in the human body it rules the belly, the armpits, the tissues, the diaphragm and the intestines. And it rules the seeds that are sown in earth. And it has generosity and a good frame of mind; its region is that of Jerusalem. 


    7. LIBRA


    LIBRA is of the complexion of A., which strengthens heat and moisture in elemented bodies. And it is of the masculine sex, diurnal and mobile, and its planet is Venus. In the human body it has the front part from the navel down to the thighs. Libra also rules trees that are equal in quantity; and it is liberal, and its region is Rome and Greece. 


    8. SCORPIO


    SCORPIO is of the complexion of D., it is a watery sign which fortifies moisture and cold in substances here below; it is stable because by its natural virtue bodies below it are firm and have no appetite to move. Scorpio is nocturnal as it has more virtue by night than by day, and feminine, because it helps the feminine substances below it, its planet is Mars. In the human body, it rules the penis, the genitals and the anus; it also has long trees equal in measure; and its region is Arabia.


    9. SAGITTARIUS


    SAGITTARIUS is a sign of the complexion of fire, common, diurnal and masculine, its planet is Jupiter. In the human body it rules the thighs, and it rules India, and the regions inhabited by Jews; it is an ingenious and daring sign.


    10. CAPRICORN


    .CAPRICORN is of the complexion of C., which belongs to the element earth, dry in its proper quality, and cold in its appropriate quality and it fortifies dryness and cold in substances here below. Capricorn is a mobile sign, which means that it has a greater concordance with the bodies below it through their movement, than through their mere existence. It is a nocturnal and feminine sign, its planet is Saturn. It rules the knees in the human body, its region is Ethiopia. 


    11. AQUARIUS


    AQUARIUS is of the complexion of A., because it strengthens moisture and heat. It is a fixed sign, because by its natural virtue bodies below it are firm and have no appetite to move. It is masculine and diurnal, its planet is Saturn. In the human body it rules the shins and ankles. Its region is in the third part of Egypt, and it has other regions as well. 


    12. PISCES


    PISCES has the complexion of D., because it fortifies coldness and moisture in the bodies below it. It is a common, feminine and nocturnal sign, its planet is Jupiter. It rules the feet in the human body, and endows people with a humorous and discreet nature. Pisces also rules the mixtures of colors, with which bodies below it are colored in different ways. It rules the northern region, and it has an influence on the Romans. 
    We have spoken about the twelve celestial signs with their complexions and natures, according to the influences that they transmit to things below them. Now let us speak about the seven planets with their complexions and natures, whereby they send their influence down to things below.
     
     

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