They are depicted symbolically in the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and are builded into the Paris Notre
Dame Cathedral, which is as completely an astrological edifice as is the great Pyramid. In Revelation V:7 one
reads that "the first beast was ne a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man,
and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle." Later on are described horses with the faces of men, the teeth of
lions, wings, and a sting in the tall like unto a scorpion. In Chaucer, Shakespeare and all the writers of the
Elizabethan age, astrological allusions are frequent; in fact, the symbolism of the fixed signs as representing the
four elementary types of the genus homo, are the subject of innumerable allusions in art and literature.
The "earthiness" of the materialistic or practical Earth sign group is quite generally represented by the thick-
necked bull - the Taurus. In Hindu lore the chariot of Vishnu is symbolized by a Bull. The Legend of St.
George and the Dragon depicts the opposition of Taurus to Scorpio.
In Chinese astrology, Taurus was the White Tiger: Leo, the Red Bird; Scorpio, the Black Dragon; and
Aquarius, the Black Warrior - again a "human" sign.
The inspirational Fire sign group are almost universally symbolized by the Lion.
The sympathetic, sensitive and often vindictive, emotional Water sign group are frequently represented by the
Scorpion, not only because of its "sting" but also for the frequency with which it was anciently supposed to
sting itself to death rather than face a ring of fire. It is also symbolized by the serpent - perhaps connotating the
"wisdom of the serpent" of the Garden of Eden. In the Roman Sphynx it is represented by the asp on the man's
forehead. Its "lone wolf" proclivities, and the frequency with which strength in Scorpio is reflected in a Roman
nose - the eagle's beak - have been symbolized at some periods of antiquity by the Eagle, as evidenced by the
eagle's wings on the Egyptian Sphynx.
The intellectual or mental Air sign group is almost universally represented by a man, usually pouring out water
from a jug - symbolizing the giving of the water of knowledge to a thirsting world. The three air signs have
been spoken of as the "triangle of harmony, peace and equilibrium."
Signs, and the Disciples. It is commonly considered from the many New Testament pronouncements of
astrological doctrine, that the Twelve Disciples were chosen, each to represent a different one of the twelve
fundamental types and qualities with a ruling Trinity of the central Sun (the Father) whose spiritual and
intellectual light (the Holy Spirit) reflected by the Moon (the Son) flowed out through these twelve apostles
into all the world-representing humanity divided into its twelve basic types. The disciples considered this order
so important that after Judas's betrayal Mathias took his place as one of the twelve.
Aries: Peter, the fiery, impulsive, changeable, pioneering leader, who eventually became the rock upon which
was founded the New Church "of the Lamb." (Initiating: inspirational)
Taurus: Simon Zelotes, the dogmatic, determined zealot; who was concerned with property and finances,
rebelled against the payment of taxes, and received from Jesus the admonition - "Render unto Caesar the things
that are Caesar's." (Fixed: materialistic)