Myth of the Modalities

Cardinal, Fixed and Mutable Signs

The grouping of zodiacal signs into three modalities, qualities or quadruplicities and the associated psychological traits are taken for granted in both east and west. But digging into the past and the origin of these qualities brings to light some surprising questions. Unlike the trinal relationship of signs which are pre-Hellenistic of Mesopotamian origin, these astrological groupings apparently first appeared in the writings of Claudius Ptolemy in the 2^nd century C.E.. They were directly linked to the motion of the Sun and the seasons:

12: Concerning Tropical, Equipartite, Solid and Bicorporal Zoidia: Now, the more general mixtures from each of them are analogous to the seasons which arise in them...The first distinctions, then are of the so-called tropical, the first thirty degree interval from the summer tropic, that of Cancer, and the first from the winter tropic, that of Capricorn. These have received their names from an accident, for, the Sun turns when he comes to be at the beginnings of them...

And two are called equipartite, the first twelfth-part from the spring equipartition, that of Aries, and the one from the autumn equipartition, that of the Claws. These again, have been named from an accident since when the sun comes to be at the beginning of them, he makes the nights everywhere equal to the days.

Of the remaining eight twelfth-parts, four are called solid, and four are called bicorporal. And those following the tropical and equparatite twelfth-parts are solid, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, since the wetness, hotness, dryness and coldness of the seasons that begin in those preceding twelfth-parts bear down upon us more firmly when the Sun comes to be in these twelfth-parts, not because the conditions naturally arising at that time are more unmixed, but rather after we have already continued a long time in them, we also for that reason perceive their power more sensibly.

Those following the solid twelfth-parts are bicorporal, Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces because of being in between the solid and tropical and equipartite twelfth-parts, as it were, sharing the specific natural characteristics of the two states of weather at the ends and at their beginnings. (Robert Schmidt translation, Tetrabiblos, Book 1, Project Hindsight, 1994, pp. 27, 28)

In a note accompanying the text on page 28 Rob Hand says of what became today’s “mutable” signs:

It is also interesting to see that the “mutability” of the bicorporeal signs is here not something shared as a quality by the whole zoidion, but common in its having a different character at opposite ends.

Vettius Valens, a younger contemporary of Ptolemy, mentions these categories—tropical, solid, bi-corporeal—but has little else to say about them.

Paulus Alexandrinus (378 C.E.) has given us a good overview of late Hellenistic astrology. He lists the qualities, but with no words on their astrological use:

Aries: masculine, equinoctial, tropical, spring...
Taurus: feminine, solid, spring...
Gemini: masculine, bicorporal, spring...
Cancer: feminine, tropical, summer...etc...

The psychological traits listed by Al Biruni (1029 C.E.) are an anomaly as well as a mystery, since other authors commonly mention only the seasonal periods. Al Biruni also retains the seasonal connection, however:

...The first sign of each season is called tropical as it is the turning point, the second fixed, because when the sun is in it the season is established, and the third bicorporal. Each of these is related by quartile to the others of its kind. [The tropical signs indicate] gentleness, purity and sociability with a tendency to science and details. [The fixed signs indicate] mildness, thoughtfulness and justice. In many cases litigiousness and pugnacity, and sometimes of endurance in adversity and patience in trouble and injustice. [The bicorporeal signs] indicate amiability, levity, playfulness, thoughtlessness, discord in business, capriciousness and duplicity.

The influence of the fixed signs according to what has been said is obvious, that of the bicorporal more obscure, and that of the tropical between the two. (Astrology Classics edition, 2006, p. 25)

Ibn-Ezra (1148 C.E.) Retains the seasonal connotation, and does not mention psychological traits. For example: “Leo [is] fixed (for time is stationary in it), and its [temporal] hours are longer than the even ones. Its steps (ascension) are even and its steps are long...” (The Beginning of Wisdom, trans. Meira B. Epstein, Arhat, 1998, p. 41)

In the medieval period, the seasonal connection still remains: From Guido Bonatti (1210-1290 C.E.):

On the Signs: Movable, Fixed and Common:
Know therefore that of the aforesaid twelve signs, four are movable, namely Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. Four are fixed, namely Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. The remaining four, namely Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces are common. The movable signs are so-called, not because they are moved, except insofar as all signs are, but they are called moveable because at the time when the Sun enters them the disposition of the air is changed, and it does not remain in the same condition as it was. The fixed signs are so-called because when the Sun enters them the disposition of the air is fixed and it lasts and remains in the same state of fixity and firmness, although sometimes, perhaps, it is changed by chance, but not by nature.

The common signs are so-called because when the Sun enters any of these signs, it makes the time common, neither truly fixed nor truly moveable, but it partakes of both fixed and moveable. Whence part of that time it is of one [nature] and part of the other. For when the Sun enters Aries, which is a moveable sign, then the season is changed, to wit, the disposition of the air, because it is then that winter is turned into spring...(etc.) (Liber Astronomiae, Part II, Trans. Robert Zollar, Project Hindsight, 1994, pp. 2-3)

By the Renaissance Johannes Schoener (b. 1477 C.E.) continues to list the qualities, but does not link them to the seasons per se. He uses the terms movable, fixed and common or bicorpoeral.

From the Renaissance period we move to the English period and William Lilly (1647 C.E.), who re- caps the seasonal connection:

The Signs again are divided into moveable, fixed and common, Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn are called moveable and cardinal: moveable because when the Sun enters Aries and Libra, the weather and season of the year quickly varies and changes; they are called cardinal because when the Sun enters into any of those signs, from that time we denominate the quarters of the year...

The fixed signs do in order follow the equinoctial and tropics; and they are called fixed, for that then Sun enters into them, the season of the year is fixed, and we do more evidently perceive either heart or cold, moisture or dryness.

[Those between movable and fixed] retain a property or nature, partaking both with the preceding and consequent sign: and they are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces. They are called bicorporal or double bodied because they represent two bodies: as Gemini two twins, Pisces two fishes.

William Lilly is the first to bring in the constellational pictures while talking about the seasons. Lilly also gives examples of the qualities in the context of horary charts, but keeps their application to behavior to a minimum:

Let us admit the ascendant to be fixed, and the lord of that sign also in a fixed sign, you may judge the party to be of firm resolution, no changeling; or as we say, one that will stand to maintain what he has said or done, be it good or ill.

If the sign ascending be common, and the lord of that sign also in a common sign, you may judge the man or woman to be neither very wilful or easily variable, but between both.
(Christian Astrology, Astrology Classics, 2004, pp. 88-89)

From Lilly we jump to Alan Leo (1860-1917) whose writing is the foundation of modern tropical astrology. Leo was also published and read in India. A former traveling salesman with an obvious love for words and skill in using them, Leo apparently found his reason to be with astrology. In Leo’s writing we find the complete transfer of formerly straightforward seasonal qualities to personal psychology. Examples:

[Aries is] the first of the fiery triplicity and of the cardinal cross. We find persons born under the rule of this sign always looking forward, they are leaders in ideals and pioneers of advanced thought...they are fond of constant change, loving novelty, romance and speculation...

[Taurus is] the first of the fixed signs, and in this sign is concealed will and desire...This being the sign of solidity, it makes those born in it exceedingly solid, practical and substantial. (Astrology for All, “The Character of the Signs.”)

So we see that Alan Leo has basically manufactured/invented an entirely new system of sign interpretation in part based on the three qualities. Leo doesn’t mention that the origin of these three groups of signs lies in seasonal weather and temperature conditions. He may not even have been aware of that connection.

We continue to lose the tight link of the qualities to the seasons in Charles Carter’s (1887-1968) writing. In fact, Carter considers these sign groups to have been introduced to the astrological world from India!

2: The Qualities are also called the quadruplicities, because each comprises four signs. This, in fact, is their true astrological name; the use of the term Qualities is derived from the Gunas or Qualities of Hindu philosophy, and has been introduced by astrologers of the Theosophic school. They are also sometimes referred to as the Three Modes.

The Cardinal Signs stand for activity or doing. They show free manifestation in the outer world, and produce energy, push and enterprise...

The Fixed Signs are concerned chiefly with feeling and the “pleasure-pain” aspect of things...The fixed sign persons are conservative, stable, set in their habits and opinions, strong in their likes and dislikes, and obstinate.

The Mutable Signs are intermediate between the two other qualities...They stand for Thought and the impartial mental attitude toward things...seeking to understand without bias.

(The Principles of Astrology, London: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1963, p. 62 )

By 1924 in Carter’s An Encyclopedia of Psychological Astrology, the former seasonal qualities have become full blown doctrine: “Changeableness is usually a characteristic of maps wherein many planets are in mutable signs.” (p. 50) “Firmness results from strong good aspects in the fixed signs, and from their rulers, and Uranus..” (p. 83) (Theosophical Publishing House, 1924-1963)

What has happened with Leo, Carter and most western astrologers who followed them is that traits rightfully belonging to planets have been inadvertently shifted to the signs. This has resulted in all sorts of questionable or even imaginary attributes assigned to signs of the zodiac. Of course, astrology being what it is, an astrologer can always find birth charts of individuals to fit these accidental sign traits. It’s only careful and methodical research that will show that a trait such as firmness or stubbornness can appear approximately equally in all the 12 zodiacal signs depending on the condition of Mars in the horoscope. We can also find the opposite traits in signs such as vacillation and change in tropical Scorpio or great firmness in tropical Virgo.

The Three Qualities and the Sidereal Zodiac

By tracing the history of the three astrological qualities, it’s painfully obvious that they belong only to the tropical zodiac. The fact that these qualities appear in very early India texts devoid of their seasonal origin is a clear indication that a portion (if not all) of India’s horoscopic astrology came from the west.

In Robert Schmidt’s translation of Ptolemy (Book 1) Rob Hand adds this note on page 28: “The reader should note that the logic of either solid or fixed has no connection with the symbolism of the constellations. It has meaning only in the context of a seasonal zodiac...”

Yet by the second century C.E. this classification had already made its way to India, and quickly became part of the doctrine of India’s sidereal zodiac. This transfer is reflected in the early 2^nd century Indian astrological text, the Yavanajataka:

45. The twelve signs beginning with Aries are of three sorts, called movable, immovable, and two-natured, with four (in each group); at every fourth (sign) is interposed a dividing line. They are influential (respectively) at the beginning, the middle, and the end of one’s life. (Yavanajataka, trans. David Pingree, Harvard University Press,1978 p. 4)

This error of adopting seasonal categories of signs is repeated in India’s classic texts down to the present in numerous newer renditions of India’s astrology. India’s great classic, Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra takes the qualities for granted:

Classification of Signs: Movable, fixed and dual are the names given to the 12 signs in order. These [signs] are again known as malefic and benfic successively. (Trans. R. Santhanam, Ranjan Publications, 1984, p. 49)

And in a text that many consider to be a modern classic on India’s astrology, David Frawley’s Astrology of the Seers:

Signs by Quality: Each sign relates to one of the three major qualities, called in Western astrology “Cardinal,” “Fixed,” and “Mutable.” In Sanskrit they are called Chara, “active,” Sthira, firm or “immovable,” and Dwiswebhava, dual or “both natured.” These qualities relate to the manner whereby the individual directs his or her energy in life and is often reflected in the nature of the character...(Passage Press, 1990, p. 109)

For the astrologer who uses sidereal calculations, the way is clear. The three seasonal categories have no place in the sidereal zodiac. This doesn’t mean, however, that symbolism that can be connected to the constellational figures may not have their place in interpretation. For example, Pisces can be seen as a dual sign, not because it belongs to a seasonal category termed mutable or bicorporeal, but because the constellation of Pisces is pictured as two fish swimming at right angles to each other. Sidereal Gemini may be dual in some way because the sign Gemini is against the backdrop of the stellar twins.

Summming Up the Qualities

Even in the west the current use of the qualities is very far removed from their original meanings. I think we can rightfully question whether these seasonal periods can have any relationship at all to psychology.

A survey of contemporary charts will tell us that firmness, perseverence, obstinacy and other traits that have been assigned to fixed signs in the tropical zodiac actually belong to the planet Mars. The Gauquelins were most likely accurate when they linked changeableness and capricious behavior to the Moon. An impartial mental attitude belongs to a well situated Mercury rather than to the so-called mutable signs.

One could take any trait supposedly attributed to one of the three astrological qualities and find a better fitting planetary connection. This is an example of why research has never been able to show any linkage of signs to psychological traits. Quite possibly the majority of traits simply aren’t there. Taking as an example only this one small segment of astrological symbolism, the Qualities, it’s obvious that as astrologers we have a great deal of sorting out to do in relation to the true nature of signs of the zodiac.

© 2008 Therese Hamilton
Posted 27 November 2008

Return to Lost Zodiac Home Page