Introducing the Crosses Part I: The Mutable Signs

Given that the current lunations (New Moon and Full Moon) are in the mutable sign of Virgo, I thought it might be appropriate to write an introduction to this most interesting aspect of the signs: The Crosses. Virgo rules technique, "how-to's" and is related to the process of writing and communications. What better time to share knowledge about how our inner motivations work.

The crosses, or quadruplicities, or modes, as they have been called, are a division of the zodiac wheel into 3 groups: Cardinal, Fixed and Mutable. Each sign belongs to one of these groups. For example Aries is Cardinal, Taurus is Fixed and Gemini is Mutable, and so on around the wheel. In this article, you will dicover what makes the Mutable signs tick, and hopefully in the process, you will gain a better understanding of those near and dear to you.

The Mutable Signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces)
Exerpt from Astrological Crosses in Relationships, Understanding Cardinal, Fixed & Mutable Energies by Pauline Edward, Published by Llewellyn, 2002.

When I first began to study astrology, it seems like a lifetime ago now, there were very few books available on the subject in our local occult bookstore, the New Age not having yet been born. So it was that my very first astrology book, was a hardcover edition of Margaret Hone's excellent textbook, "The Modern Textbook of Astrology." I was young at the time, certainly naive about life and the world and perhaps a little bit green for studies in astrology, since, as I later learned, a certain degree of maturity and life experience are essential to fostering an understanding of human nature, an essential ingredient in astrological interpretation.

Nevertheless, proud of my find, and so eager to learn, I set myself to study my first official textbook. When I reached the section describing the quadruplicities (or qualities) I was disappointed to read that the fixed signs: ". . . will not be so good at getting things going, but will guard and conserve that which is started. . . Their faults may be those of inertia, of lack of imagination, a lack of quick adaptability to circumstances."

However, on reading the description of the Mutable signs, I was a bit relieved to have been born fixed, apparently the lesser of two evils. "These signs are also called the 'Common' signs. The common people are the people in general, hence the word has come to mean those who are usual or ordinary and those who serve." The description is qualified with the following statement: "From this it must not be gathered that there are no distinguished people in whose maps mutability predominates. Nevertheless, there is a desire to serve in many of these." The lack of mutables in my own chart no doubt spoke of my youthful lack of fondness for the idea of servitude; interestingly enough however, I ended up with a profession in a service industry. Perhaps there is some truth to the idea that we seek that which we lack.

For the most part, the mutable sign have traditionally been described as changeable, uncertain, versatile, unstable and easily influenced, traits which can be found in these signs, but by far, not the only characteristics of this complex cross. Mutables have the ability to experiment with multiple facets as well as multiple versions of reality; they are not tied to their perceptions as are the fixed or to their principles and ideals as are the cardinal signs. What some perceive as inconstancy or unreliability in the mutable signs are in fact versatility and flexibility.

One of the principle strengths of the mutable signs stems from their ability to deal with circumstances and people through a process of association or relation. In any given situation, each cross will respond to and interpret reality in its own unique manner. The cardinal cross will respond to "the impact" of a situation, this touches me, makes me feel happy, sad, elated, excited; the fixed cross will respond through identification with itself or through personal experience, this is like me, I know this, or I like this, I dislike this. The mutable cross individual will respond by immediately making associations, I saw this in a book, this is common knowledge, so-and-so experienced the same circumstances, then depending on the individual''s motives, needs or desires at the time, will process the information and classify it for immediate or later use.

Mutable signs can be very quick at processing information, even trivial information, consequently, the learning aspect of the experience may occur much more quickly for the mutable than for the cardinal or the fixed sign individual. They can be very quick witted and versatile, they tend to be skilled at the art of repartee and some make excellent standup comics such as Pisces Billy Crystal, Sagittarian Rich Little and Gemini Bob Hope. They are usually articulate, quite capable at handling the most complex arts of protocol and have good communication skills. This ability to quickly establish relationships under a variety of circumstances endows the mutable signs with an important advantage in many social situations.

The application of mental energy for the purposes of analysis, rationalization and reasoning belongs to the mutable signs. The mutable cross allows us to analyze the various components of a situation, to measure and compare them to a standard or model of experience, to rationalize a sequence of actions and then to formulate a conclusion. The scientific processes of collecting, analyzing and classifying data, performing tests and creating models of reality from tests and observations, as well as the process of acquiring, recording and storing knowledge are mutable activities. Based on models and acquired knowledge, we are able to make reasonable assumptions about life, which allows for the furthering of knowledge and the human experience.

Clearly, the mutable signs represent qualities that make for an interesting life experience. We all have something in our charts in the mutable signs. To learn more about your chart and your mutable influence, please contact me for a consultation. Click here.

To read more about the Mutable signs, or to read about the Cardinal and Fixed signs, order your copy now: Astrological Crosses in Relationships, by Pauline Edward.