The law can be seen as the force which creates order out of chaos when it is truly understood and administered with awareness. It has the authority to punish and exact restitution from those who offend; it also clears peoples' names, awards damages and settles disputes.

The figure of Justice above the Old Bailey symbolises the principles of law inaction. The woman is the human element who passes sentence: she is blindfolded to demonstrate the aim of impartial judgement and has no respect of persons who will get equal treatment be they duke or dustman; she will take the necessary action however painful.

The sword is the instrument of decision, (the judge) two edged to represent mercy and punishment, protection and retribution. The point here is precise action, only one judgement can be made and it must be swift clear and decisive.

It also represents a clean cut: once the debt is paid the matter is finished; there should be only one punishment and it should fit the crime and not take revenge by exacting more than a person can stand. The scales represent the act of weighing up the evidence as the jury does to reach the balance point of decision or innocent or guilty. If the law is implemented for secular benefit in society it can result in oppression, fear and injustice and sets up disharmony; the exact opposite of its intended purpose.

It is the consequence of action and the result is always immediate-"every sin ye commit one by one ye shall pay for two by two"

To explore is to reveal or discover that which has always been there but is yet unknown.

The symbol of the water diviner with a hazel stick can represent this function quite precisely. The diviner uses the wood to amplify the subconscious knowledge of the presence of water. Consequently he locates and reveals a vital necessity for the future sustenance of others. In effect the diviner can tap the subconscious and bring to light that which is hidden to increase awareness.

The opposite is the charlatan who uses his knowledge of the subconscious for personal gain by manipulation others.

The principle of nurture is to foster growth by giving selflessly that which is necessary and understanding and empathising with that which is growing.

The symbol for this sign is a gardener with a watering can and secateurs. The human element decides when to nourish and when to prune: he knows exactly to what extent is needed from his experience, understanding and the sense contact he has made with plant and the soil. He will provide exactly the environment the plant needs and protect the young plant from predators weeds and extremes of temperatures in all weathers and may train the plant to grow in a suitable way. In general he takes responsibility for the well-being of that which is growing by understanding all its needs – the natural cycles and the tides of the seasons – and attending to these needs, even if they conflict with his own.

The opposite takes place when the gardener acts for his own benefit and in consequence allows the plants to suffer. The progress of growth can often be hindered by lack of care, thus producing irregularity, disorder and even destruction.

The principle of building is to create order out of chaos by structuring and organising raw materials into a functional and beautiful shape.

This action defines a limited space creatively and usefully.

The symbol is that of an architect at a drawing board with a set square and compasses. The tools represent geometrical precision and definition and the drawing board, space planning and preparation. The practitioner utilises these skills to shape the abandon of nature into particular order to reflect in his inner vision. The resulting edifice is not just for the use of the present generation but as monument of his age for generations to come.

The act of building brings together craftsmen of many disciplines to raise a masterpiece which will embody the ideal of an age or glorify God. The gerry builder uses the cheapest materials and cuts corners in order to make money, it is of no concern to him if his building leaks or subsides and fails to stand the test of time.

To have business acumen a trader recognises and can manipulate a variety of principles.

He knows the law of supply and demand, can anticipate trends and fashions and consequently can calculate the value of an object in these terms and buy and sell at the right time. His reputation will bring him the number and type of customers he deserves. If he provides an efficient service and is a man of his word who does not lie by omission or break his side of the bargain he will be known to have integrity and his customers will deal with him in good faith. His insight into human nature will enable him to convince customers that their decision to buy is a wise one and he will be able to persuade and convince them that his goods are the best that money can buy.

The image of a market trader at his stall with weighing scales and an abacus dealing with a customer and his bag of money summarises all these principles. The market place is an arena full of hustle and bustle and recognisable to all. The two figures show the interchange which takes place during all trading activities such as bargaining, bartering & the exchange of money for goods and services. The weighing scales demonstrate the principles of weighing and measuring goods and different qualities to the value of an equivalent amount of money. The abacus represents the calculations involved in working out profit and loss, cost and retail price, net and gross outlay, worth and value. The shady used-car salesman is opposite in his main aim to trick people into parting with as much money as possible for as little return on his part.

The time to collect at harvest is the end of a cycle, the time when one reaps benefits from the efforts put in during the growing season. The harvester knows exactly the right time when the fruits of his labours are ready: "as you sow, so you shall reap".

Until the harvest is safely stored there is always insecurity because the crop can be ruined at any time, which contains the seed for all future crops as well as for the next year. The collected crop can be stored or preserved in some way such as jam wine or pickles which is security for the coming barren winter.

The harvest is a time of celebration and thanksgiving and recognition of the laws of cycles are understood and propitiated. It is also a time of endings and new beginnings, death and rebirth.

This can be represented by the symbol of a female harvester with a sickle or scythe surrounded by gathered sheathes of corn. The scythe indicates time and its swift cutting action the necessary end of one cycle and the beginning of another. The corn is the fruit of a whole year's labour and provides the basis of life and seed for future crops. Conversely a thief takes what others have grown and can never appreciate the value of things because he is a parasite upon the work of others.

Dis-ease means that the body is not working in harmony and that there is a disturbance in the physiological structure, which needs to be recognised at root cause.

The healer needs to have the ability to decide and to act without hesitation in order to help the sick person gain from the physical attention he gets as well as the faith he has in the healer. He also needs skill in his diagnosis as well as courage and precision in order to make the first incision which represents an assault upon the individuality of the patient.

Possession of understanding and sensitivity to patients whilst maintaining a certain detachment are necessary otherwise he would be ineffective if he took upon himself the ills of his clients. His ability to inspire confidence if he was worried or troubled by their fears.

The image for this sign is a surgeon with a scalpel, bowl and a light or X-ray picture. The scalpel cuts away the diseased part of the body and the bowl represents the receptacle into which the poisoned part is placed thus making the body whole again.

The body maybe likened to a temple - a unity.

The establishment of a figurehead is necessary in any organic fellowship; for one to assume responsibility by popular consent, for its direction, guidance and integrity.

The king is the focus of the nation's attention who rules but does not govern he holds and administers the land in trust from God.

The true king may be the master of all but he is also the slave of all because his life must be lived selflessly, the ultimate concern being the needs of the nation; a duty from which there is no rest. He belongs to the people and so has no private life. The symbol is a crowned man seated on a throne holding an orb and sceptre which are the symbols of office and authority.

The interpreter needs to have a clear, concise meaning of the translated facts, without personal colouring.

He acts as a channel or mediator between god for the people and is concerned with transmission and the change which this transmission effects in man. He adds or subtracts nothing of his own but is merely the link and to fulfil this function he must live a life of poverty, obedience and humility.

This function can be carried out by the priest who is the conductor of rituals and ceremonies and who administers the sacraments. As a messenger of God possessing the language of symbols he can interpret the word of God to the people on the one hand, and on the other mediates between them and God. His life is dedicated an act of selfless service.

Teaching is concerned with creating conditions favourable to intellectual and spiritual growth by drawing out and inspiring the creative potential in the pupil. Knowledge is passed down through the myths and legends of the culture recreating for each generation a link with the past. This function can be represented by the storyteller who sitting near a bookcase holds a group of listeners spellbound with his stories and, through his art, passes on a dynamic heritage.

The teacher has access to knowledge which he emits to those who are ready and he requires the wisdom and understanding to discern this. Knowledge imparted too freely can be wasted and its true meaning distorted and lost as well as bringing the recipient into danger.

There is a need to protect and cherish that which is sacred.

The protector must be responsible and discriminating in order to carry out his function without the interference of personal feeling or involvement. It is his duty to be vigilant at all times.

The principles of this sign can be expressed through the image of the guard standing a gateway holding a staff and a bunch of keys.

The guard's role is to allow passage only to those with permission. He does not personally concern himself with who should or who should not pass. He is the custodian of whatever lies beyond the gateway and is not personally concerned with what lies on either side, only with what passes through, the comings and goings. He could be described as a catalyst because whoever he permits passage through the gate is transformed while he himself remains unchanged.

Art works directly on the senses and is a dynamic expression of that power which is fundamental to all. The true artist is spontaneous and compelling and can fathom the symbolic utterance of the subconscious and transmit the experience in his unique way.

The suggested image is a musician the musical instrument has universally been used at all stages of man's evolution not only literally and metaphorically as a means of transmitting messages over distances. Art carries the same message regardless of the language spoken because it operates in the sphere of feelings and the subconscious mind.

This page, and all contents, are Copyright (C) 1996 by the Astrological Society. The material may be used freely providing the source is acknowledged.