The First Degrees of the Twelve Signs

The seal rising out of the collective ocean of the unconscious opens the zodiac: pure emergence, with the whole ocean still carried within it. The degree lies in Jupiter's term, roughly the first to sixth degree of Aries, and in the first decan of Aries, ruled by Mars.

A clear mountain stream opens Taurus, an image of spontaneous welling up from one's own source, honored before it is shaped into value. The degree lies in Venus's term, roughly the first to eighth degree of Taurus, and in the first decan, ruled by Mercury.

A glass-bottomed boat revealing undersea wonders opens Gemini, an image of the mind looking into submerged structures without being immersed in them. Mercury holds the term, roughly the first to sixth degree, and Jupiter rules the first decan of Gemini.

Sailors lowering an old flag and raising a new one open Cancer, a change of allegiance made concrete in a public act. Mars holds the term, roughly the first to seventh degree, and Venus rules the first decan of Cancer.

Blood rushing to a man's head under the spur of ambition opens Leo, with vital energy irrupting into the ego's field of consciousness. Jupiter holds the term, roughly the first to sixth degree of Leo, and Saturn rules the first decan.

A portrait in which the significant features of a man's head are artistically emphasized opens Virgo, an image of discrimination that picks out what is essential. Mercury holds the term, roughly the first to seventh degree, and the Sun rules the first decan of Virgo.

A butterfly displaying its wings, its body impaled by a fine dart, opens Libra, a specimen fixed at the moment of perfection that points to an eternal pattern. Saturn holds the term, roughly the first to sixth degree of Libra, and the Moon rules the first decan.

A crowded sightseeing bus on a city street opens Scorpio, an image of the eagerness to widen one's social horizon and be shaped by shared achievement. Mars holds both the term, roughly the first to seventh degree, and the rulership of the first decan of Scorpio.

Retired army veterans gathering to reawaken old memories open Sagittarius, honoring the past struggles on which the collective order was built. Jupiter holds a long term, roughly the first to twelfth degree of Sagittarius, and Mercury rules the first decan.

An Indian chief claiming power from the assembled tribe opens Capricorn, an image of the responsibility that comes with any claim to leadership. Mercury holds the term, roughly the first to seventh degree, and Jupiter rules the first decan of Capricorn.

An old adobe mission in California opens Aquarius, a humble structure that outlasts its builders and so images the lasting reach of genuine works. Mercury holds the term, roughly the first to seventh degree, and Venus rules the first decan of Aquarius.

Farmers and middlemen displaying a great variety of products in a crowded marketplace open Pisces, an image of the interchange on which a community's well-being depends. Venus holds a long term, roughly the first to twelfth degree of Pisces, and Saturn rules the first decan, closing the cycle.