In the most BASIC sense…the qualities of The Zodiac are characterizing the fundamental process of Beginning, Middle, and End. They are also analogous to “Separation, Initiation, and Return”…the three stages of Joseph Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey” concept.
However, when describing the three qualities of The Zodiac (Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable), I like to use the analogy of the three “stages” of an airplane’s flight.
Cardinal is the beginning of the flight…when the pilot “floors it,” pushing the engines to “full throttle.” For me, this is a major thrill…to be pushed back against my seat and watch out the window as the plane gathers more and more speed, until it noses up and…voilá!…“just like that” I am FLYING!!! Thus, Cardinal could be characterized by the term, “movable.”
This stage lasts until the airplane reaches “cruising altitude,” at which time the pilot will ease the throttle back to a “cruising speed” and, probably, engage the autopilot. This “cruising” phase is…usually…very calm, quiet, and the motion of the airplane is…more-or-less…undetectable or Fixed. Thus, Fixed could be characterized by the term, “firm.”
Finally, in preparation for landing, the pilot will ease the throttle back and the airplane will, noticeably but slowly…juxtaposed against the rapid ascent of the Cardinal/liftoff phase…begin to descend back towards the ground. Energetically, this is the beginning of the Mutable phase…which ends when, after the airplane “touches down,” the pilot briefly pushes the throttle back up to full power, again, to slow and finally stop the airplane. Thus, Mutable could be characterized by the term, “flexible.”
Cardinal. Fixed. Mutable. = Generation. Operation. Dissolution. GOD is an acronym!
-Santos Bonacci-
Next Piece: Episode Astrology, Section A, Part 4 ~ The Five Elements of Creation: Earth, Air, Water, Fire & Ether.
