A crab, a lion and a young maiden
Learning Astrology
The zodiac signs reveal profound meanings when their symbols or images are contemplated. Zodiac signs are represented by animals, some by humans, and one by a figure that is part human and part animal. These images unravel a rich mythology that often forms the basis of recurring storylines across generations and cultures.
This article will focus on three signs: Cancer, symbolized by the crab in water; Leo, symbolized by the lion; and Virgo, symbolized by a young girl before puberty. Cancer is the fourth sign and correlates with the number four. Leo is the fifth sign and correlates with the number five, while Virgo is the sixth sign and correlates with the number six.
Cancer, the crab, is ruled by the Moon (refer to my article on the Moon for more details). The Moon exclusively rules Cancer, giving the sign strong associations with motherhood, parenthood, nurturing, and emotional attachment. The qualities of Cancer are naturally influenced by this lunar rulership.
The crab is a creature capable of surviving in powerful oceans, rivers, various forms of water, and on land. It has a thick protective shell and sharp pincers to defend itself and navigate its environment. Similarly, Cancerian individuals are drawn to deep emotional bonds and exhibit a natural resilience in life. As a cardinal sign, Cancer has the ability to initiate, develop quickly, and begin new cycles. Being part of the water element, Cancer embodies emotional, spiritual, sensitive, perceptive, and receptive qualities. Cancerian individuals often dwell in their emotions.
As the fourth zodiac sign, Cancer focuses on building security and developing strong emotional bonds. Secure emotional connections and the home environment are central to this sign. In contrast, Capricorn, Cancer’s opposite sign, focuses on societal roles, responsibilities, and a more serious, less emotional outlook. While Gemini is associated with the teenager, Cancer represents the young parent beginning a family and creating a nurturing home.
Healthy emotional bonding between couples and their children is deeply enhanced when individuals feel secure within themselves. The ability to form healthy emotional connections relies on secure attachment styles, free from narcissistic or controlling behaviors. As the fourth sign, Cancer supports the conscious development of emotional intelligence and healthy relationships.
The security one seeks in external relationships and environments must first be rooted in a secure sense of self. Young adults in this phase often balance work, careers, and parenthood while striving to maintain strong, enduring relationships with their partners. Early career motivations are frequently driven by the desire to establish security for the family nucleus. During this time, supportive relationships provide comfort and nurture emotional well-being.
The number four represents happiness and fulfillment, as loving emotional bonds feed heart energy. Emotional maturity at this stage fosters the development of higher consciousness. As an even-numbered zodiac sign, Cancer expresses itself with a more passive and feminine energy.
Leo, the lion, is ruled by the Sun (please see my article on the Sun). The Sun exclusively governs Leo, imparting solar qualities such as leadership, authority, pride, protective instincts, purifying energy, ambition, and strength. While Aquarius, Leo’s opposite sign, focuses on liberty and humanitarian ideals, Leo is deeply concerned with its own “tribe” and fiercely protective of it.
The lion, symbolizing Leo, is regarded as the king of the jungle. The lioness, in particular, is known for her brutal protectiveness over her cubs and will even join male lions to defend her family when necessary. Lions are also renowned hunters, emphasizing the natural strength and determination associated with Leo.
Leo corresponds to a stage in life when an adult begins to gain recognition—whether through a promotion, an award for years of effort, or acknowledgment for skill and dedication in parenting, work, or marriage. This phase often brings pride, such as seeing a child go to school, celebrating a long-term relationship, or earning peer recognition.
As a fixed sign, Leo tends to be strong, stubborn, and slow to embrace change, while not being easily swayed by others. Leo falls within the fire element, which is associated with abundant energy capable of both destruction and creation.
The number five, linked with Leo, represents greater freedom to make choices. After establishing security in number four through family, home, career, and relationships, number five introduces confidence and the ability to be selective. Secure and confident adults tend to screen friendships and opportunities more carefully. At this stage, individuals may encounter tempting career offers, the possibility of affairs, or decisions about ending or beginning significant relationships. Choices also extend to selecting secondary schools for children, the best locations to raise a family, or settling into a permanent home. These decisions often have long-lasting consequences and shape the transition into the next stage of life, represented by number six.
Leo, as an odd-numbered zodiac sign, expresses a more active and masculine energy.
Virgo, the maiden, is ruled by Mercury (please see my article on Mercury). Mercury imparts Virgo with exceptional attention to detail, a talent for numbers and words, and practical skills. The maiden symbolizes innocence (not yet in puberty), yet she is keenly alert and attentive as she interacts with her environment.
In Vedic Astrology symbolism, Virgo is depicted with a boat and torch, signifying her ability to navigate waterways and dark nights. The torch represents Virgo’s focus on detail, contributing to her being keenly alert. The boat symbolizes Virgo’s capacity to navigate across waterways, which is symbolic of Virgo managing emotions, as water often represents emotional depth. Additionally, Virgo is sometimes portrayed as a maiden holding shafts of wheat, symbolizing fertility and agriculture. Our agricultural sectors support clusters of people settling on lands, to be physically active, healthy and productive.
Virgo, like Gemini, is a human sign of the zodiac, and both share Mercury as their planetary ruler. However, Virgo is a mutable sign, showcasing adaptability and flexibility. Its opposite sign, Pisces, focuses on divine loving consciousness and is less concerned with the small details that captivate Virgo.
Virgo belongs to the earth element, which is characterized by stability, hard work, and nurturing energy. Number six, associated with Virgo, represents a search for fulfillment in career, work, and daily tasks. After the freedom and choices of number five, number six involves making peace with the life one has created. The mature adult seeks less materialism and more inner satisfaction, focusing on the quality of daily life.
This stage of life is comparable to the pre-retirement phase, where the individual no longer feels the need to prove themselves, yet their contributions remain valuable. With children leaving the home, the focus shifts to simpler routines and house chores. The more an individual aligns with their current life circumstances, the more fulfillment they experience. However, if earlier stages of life were marked by poor choices, mismanagement of resources, or unhealthy relationships, this stage may bring dissatisfaction and a reckoning with the consequences of past decisions, especially those made during number five.
Unlike Gemini, Virgo is an even-numbered zodiac sign and expresses a more passive and feminine energy.
The zodiac signs hold profound symbolic meanings. For the purpose of understanding zodiac signs through stages of consciousness, this article connects them to phases of an average human life. As you become familiar with the zodiac, it becomes fascinating to imagine how each planet expresses its energy in a particular sign. Consider the gender, elemental nature, and essence of each planet within any given sign, recognizing that each sign has a unique tone, element, and ruling planet.
By
Anastacia Sampson
COSAPA Specialist Astrologer
D.N. Med. BA(Hons) Psych
Images sourced from Pinterest
References:
• Jaimini Upadesa Sutras
• Yavana Jataka
Translations and interpretations credited to Michael Douglas Neely and Ryan Kurczak