BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality New Age The Sabian Symbols

Hi!

A lesser known aspect of Astrology is the degree symbols (sometimes known as the Sabian symbols). The 360 degree symbols of a chart paint an archetypal portrait of personal mythology and orientation.

I've just posted a review of a book coming out next month called The Zodiac By Degrees - 360 New Symbols, which illuminates each of the degree symbols. It can be found here.

Hi Janet!

Thanks for posting this! Sabian Symbols are yet another 'happy accident' I found online while doing some natal charts for friends. To paraphrase Al Bundy: "Can I get a 'Whoa, Internet'?" :love:

Here are a few links to sites:
Sabian Symbols, courtesy of About.com

This is my Sabian symbol: Sag 08 -- In the caldron of the universe the rocks and world stuff are in the process of formation; the metals glint within.

I've always loved volcanos, metal work, glass work, and there's the caudron reference ~ LOL! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

y

All right, I just don't get this! LOL I looked up mine on one of the oracles. It's Cancer 8: a group of rabbits dressed in clothes and on parade. What the heck is that supposed to mean?

The oracle thingy said it meant this: Someone may be trying to be more than they really are. It's difficult to disguise the attempt, but the effort of trying to advance one's self may be appreciated and rewarded with their abilities taking a leap ahead of normal development. Projecting into the future a higher sense of being. Forward thinking into a more intelligent, successful, higher form of life. Emulation of higher forms. If negative - pretending to be what one is not. Sublimating one's instinctual (or animal) needs to maintain a dignified, straight front to the world.

So what are we supposed to do with these symbols? Heather

Hey, I want to find out mine! Is it on my Natal chart? I have a copy of that here.... I hit the link that Yerba posted..is there a different symbol, then for each month, varying year to year?

Are all these questions the reason why I should buy the book??? LOL :beamedup:

As for your question, Janey: the symbols in this book are not 100% Sabians, mind you. (The Sabian symbols themselves were a channeled work.) As I mentioned in the review, the author uses empirical research and intuition to enhance and clarify other degree symbol systems (including the Sabians); as a result, his system stands on its own as a new work.

No one has just one degree symbol (as I also mentioned in the review). Both the astrologer and the individual can compare the symbols for ANY of the degree lines on a chart. This means all the planets, asteriods, cusps, Nodes, and so on.

The link that yerbatera posted listed the symbols from 1-360. In the book The Zodiac By Degrees, the author lists 1-30 for each of the Signs, making it easy to see which symbol matches which degree element from your natal chart. Also, the author of this book bases some of the symbols on the Sabians, but he greatly expands upon and addes to them (as well as other symbol systems.)

Now, those catchphrases listed on that site aren't very helpful, are they? What Goldsmith does in this book is re-word the Sabians OR introduce his own (for example, 8 Cancer is Animals dressed as human courtiers are performing a satirical comedy of manners). But then he goes on to use descriptive phrases. Continuing to use Heather's exaample of Cancer 8, the author goes on to elaborate:

Then, the author goes on to give examples of those with this Sabian symbol, and where the symbols is located. Continuing with 8 Cancer:

The author lists many more examples for 8 Cancer.

Heather, you ask what the purpose of the symbols are. They are yet another way we can see our life symbolically and holographically. As I mentioned in the review, this is an imagistic way of using astrology...not the cut and dried "Venus means love", let's say. Even with Tarot, there are some readers that memorize the meanings from a book and "read" that way, while others read intuitively. Same way with astrology. This book gives an astrologer or an individual a way to see their astrological chart symbolically, imagistically, and archetypically.

I'll use Archetypes as an example. When I say Detective, someone may think of the literal description: One who solves mysteries. However, we can take that one Archetype, and stretch it symbolically to better see how that pattern may show up in our life. Same way with Prostitute, Child, Damsel, or any other Archetypal pattern.

Let's look at how we can see your particular symbol of 8 Cancer, Heather:

Irreverent parody of the human animal and his bestial institutions Jester

confronting society with its unconscious assumptions, as if in a mirror Scapegoat; Trickster

epitomizing human behavior and human character in art or drama (see life as a moral fable) Actor; Shapeshifter; Storyteller

showing up phonies and pretense; exposing the artificiality of conventional sex-roles Trickster

wittiness vs slander Gossip; Communicator; Jester

amorous indiscretion (need to rein in their impulses and occasionally bite their tongues) Femme Fatale; Prostitute; Seductress

savvy and penetrating soliloquies Poet; Jester

Those are just a few examples of how those phrases could be interpreted. They're highly individualistic and symbolic, as you can see! Taking the associations further, you could look at these descriptive phrases and see them through the eyes of the placement; is 8 Cancer your Sun? Or is it another planet or placement? How does that planet, asteroid, Node, etc. modify the meaning of the descriptive phrases? How can you apply what you know about the House the planet resides in to understand the symbol further?

See how the degree symbols can had many rich layers to an astrological interpretation?

I hope this helps! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Hi all,

I've discovered a fascinating new book that uses the Sabian Symbols as an oracle:

360 Degrees of Wisdom - Charting Your Destiny With The Sabian Oracle

My review has more information on the Symbols themselves, as well as my experience with this chillingly accurate oracle. Guys, I think I've found a new favorite here... <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hello Janet,
It was great to see the subject of the Sabian Symbols. I get together with a group on each new moon and we use the specific symbol from the degree of the new moon sign and degree. It has never failed to be right on for all of us. I really enjoy having these symbols to work with.

Hello Song of Joy! Good to "see" you again. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

What an interesting way to use the Sabian Symbols!

I'm really enjoying using Lynda Hill's oracle book. I asked a question about my novel last night, and for the first time, I received a Symbol that has me stumped as to its relevance! Probably one of those things I'll have to sit on until the meaning bubbles to surface.

Have you ever compared the Sabians to the degrees of your natal chart placements? Do you find them accurate?

Hello again,

No I haven't use these symbols for my chart, however I am really excited to try it out. I also wondered at the full moon. Seems there is no end of ways to use them. I am glad you are doing better - it is good to know boundaries when our health is down and then - I speak for myself - and then I can enjoy some of the wonderful things even more.