BESTIALSIGNS
The bestial signs are the signs of the zodiac represented by animals. Those classified as
bestial vary, but always include Aries the Ram, Taurus the Bull, Leo the Lion, and
Capricorn the Goat. The three water signs are also symbolized by animals, but water
sign animals are not four-footed “beasts.” Hence, the water triplicity—Cancer the
Crab, Scorpio the Scorpion (sometimes the Eagle), and Pisces the Fish—is sometimes
included in the bestial list. Sagittarius the Archer is often represented as a centaur—
half human and half horse. When represented as an archer, Sagittarius is classified as
nonbestial; when represented as a centaur, bestial.
The signs that are not bestial are human signs. They are Gemini the Twins,
Virgo the Virgin, Aquarius the Water Bearer, and, when considered as the Archer,
Sagittarius. Only Libra is represented by a nonliving artifact, the Scales (although the
old symbol for Libra was a woman holding a scale, which would make it a human
sign). This grouping of signs into bestial and nonbestial contrasts with the signs found
in East Asian astrological systems (e.g., Chinese astrology), all of which are bestial.
Unlike most other schemes of classification, such as the elements (earth, air,
fire, and water) and the qualities (mutable, cardinal, and fixed), the bestial/nonbestial
contrast does not carry practical consequences for interpretation (i.e., persons born
under animal signs are not more “beastly” than others). For this reason, as well as
because of the negative connotation of the term beast, the expression bestial sign has
dropped out of general usage in modern astrology.Sources:
Bach, Eleanor. Astrology from A to Z: An Illustrated Source Book.New York: Philosophical
Library, 1990.
Lee, Dal. Dictionary of Astrology.New York: Paperback Library, 1969.BETTINA
Bettina, asteroid 250 (the 250th asteroid to be discovered, on September 3, 1885), is
approximately 128 kilometers in diameter and has an orbital period of 5.6 years. It was
named after the baroness Rothschild, who, according to Jacob Schwartz, “purchased
the right to name the asteroid for the fifty pounds the discoverer needed to finance a
solar eclipse expedition.” In a natal chart, Bettina may show where one gives or is oth-
erwise generous with an expectation of reward.Sources:
Kowal, Charles T. Asteroids: Their Nature and Utilization.Chichester, West Sussex, UK: Ellis
Horwood Limited, 1988.
Room, Adrian. Dictionary of Astronomical Names.London: Routledge, 1988.
Schwartz, Jacob. Asteroid Name Encyclopedia.St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1995.BHARANI
Bharani (or the Bearer) is one of the Nakshatras (lunar mansions) of Vedic astrology.
Symbolized by a female sex organ, this Nakshatra can be found from Aries 13°20’ toBestial Signs
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