Illustrated by Sue Robertson
Sagittarius the archer
guides his fiery steed
man and horse fused into one
He perceives the vision
and aims his arrow high
that shaft of light
and races onwards towards his goal
(c) Anne Robertson 1987
The illustration in the astrology card depicts Arjuna, warrior and seeker of spiritual truth in the Indian epic song Bhagavad Gita, and Lord Krsna, his teacher. Krsna urges Arjuna to adopt a path of action freed from fear, reaction and inner conflict, offering a vision of the Self which is shining, limitless and untouched by sorrow.
Esoteric Keyword Phrases for Sagittarius
The Personality sounds his note: Let food be sought.
The Soul sounds it clarion call: I see the goal, I reach the goal and then I see another.
Happy birthday to all the Sagittarians who celebrate their birthdays from 22 November to 21 December. Sagittarius is one of the four mutable signs, the others being Gemini, Virgo and Pisces. It forms the triplicity of fire signs along with Aries and Leo.
Symbolism of Sagittarius
Sagittarius is depicted as the immortal Centaur half man/half horse. It is therefore a dual sign as Centaur is endowed with the creative higher mental attributes of man as well the physical power of the horse to carry out and manifest Man’s ideas. It’s duality is also evident in the glyph of the arrow with sign divided by a line on the lower part of the shaft. This duality symbolises the battle between the higher aspirations of man versus the lower natures of our animal nature.
Sagittarius, the domain of Jupiter which rules over the higher mind represents travel both literally and metaphorically – his thoughts shoot out in all directions inspiring humanity with his far-reaching vision and understanding. The glyph on the physical plane corresponds to the haunches, loins, thighs and the upper limbs. The head of the arrow depicts the fusion of the legs into one thrusting unit and the line of the bottom of the shaft represents the knees. Therefore, Sagittarius is the seat of locomotion in the body as it the action of both moving legs that propels him toward achieving his goal. This represents the single pointedness of Sagittarius who has the potential to transcend his dualism and become focused and achieve synthesis in fusing his duality into wholeness.
In the Northern hemisphere Sagittarius is the last sign to complete its cycle before the beginning of the new year. There it marks a period of long nights and short days with autumn taking its leave followed by the hibernation of the winter months. Sagittarius also marks a period of celebration with the winter solstice which brings thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Years Day all under the auspices of the following sign of Capricorn.
The Constellation of Sagittarius
In his book Alan Oken’s Complete Astrology, Alan Oken elaborates on the constellation of Sagittarius. “The constellation which outlines the Archer-Centaur is composed of eight bright but otherwise undistinguished stars, divided into two subgroupings: the Milk dipper representing the Centaur’s body and the Bow. There is an additional frontal star called Al Naal – the point which is the head of the arrow. The Milk Dipper (Ursa Minor) which contains Polaris, the North Star. It is inverted and gets its name because its handle is placed in a star cloud of the Milky Way. The Archer is eternally after the Scorpio with his arrow aimed directly at Antares, the great red heart of the Scorpion. Although the actual constellation is not spectacular from an astronomical point of view, the region in space in which this asterism is placed most certainly is. Within the Archer’s range is the huge Sagittarius stellar cloud, composed of million of suns. The constellation Sagittarius is unique in that it points toward the Galactic Centre. Sagittarius is easily found low in the southern sky of summer. It is bordered on the east by Capricorn, on the west by Scorpio, on the north by Aquila, the Eagle, and on the northwest by the Serpent.
Alice Bailey in her book, The Labours of Hercules, explains the esoteric symbolism of the constellations associated with Sagittarius. The three constellations Bailey alludes to are Lyra, Draco and Aquila. Lyra is the seven stringed harp upon which the aspirant learns to play and make music with his life. Ara is the altar upon which the aspirant places all, detaching himself so that he may more perfectly and fully serve. Draco is the serpent of wisdom, Summing up the role of Sagittarius, Bailey says: “Music in the life of harmony, sacrifices in the personality reactions and desires, and wisdom. And hovering over two other constellations: Aquila, spirit: and Cygnus, the soul.”
The Ninth Labour of Hercules – Killing the Stymphalian Birds
Hercules’ task in the ninth Labour is to get rid of the hideous, raucous, predatory birds of Stymphalus that are wreaking havoc in the marshes of Acadia. Three birds, on perceiving Hercules, swoop down upon him but Hercules holds his ground warding off their attacks with his heavy club. At first he tries to kill them with a quiverful of arrows but to no avail. Then he remembered the wise counsel given to him by his Teacher: “The flame that gleams beyond the mind reveals direction sure.” He gets rid of the man-eating birds dwelling in the marshes of Acadia by repeatedly clashing the cymbals given to him by Athena, the goddess of wisdom. Frightened by this terrible noise the birds arise out of the marshes and Hercules mounts onto his winged horse and shoots them with his arrows. Bailey explains the esoteric symbolism of the myth. She states that Sagittarius is the sign preparatory to Capricorn and it is called in some ancient books “the sign of silence”. In ancient mysteries the newly admitted brother had to sit in silence, he was not allowed to walk or speak: he had to be, to work and to watch, because one cannot enter the spiritual kingdom, or climb the mountain of Capricorn, until there has been restraint of speech and control of thought. That is the lesson of Sagittarius: restraint of speech through control of thought. Sagittarius is the little gate to Capricorn. There are two cosmic gates: Cancer, the gate into incarnation: Capricorn, the gate into the spiritual kingdom. Bailey says she likes to think of it as the little gate at the foot of the hill through which one passes before climbing the mountain and in passing through that little gate, we demonstrate our ability to rightly use the arrows of thought. That is the great test. Alice Bailey explains the esoteric symbolism behind the three man-eating birds and the marshes. The marshes are a symbol of the mind plus emotions. The birds that did the most harm were three in number. In one book they are enumerated: cruel gossip, talk of the self, selfish talk; and casting pearls before swine. Symbolically, the role of the Sagittarian is to get these birds out of the marshes where they can be seen and conquered.
Sagittarian Hall of Fame
Sagittarius rules the ninth house of the birth chart which has dominion over philosophy, religion, metaphysics, law, publishing, higher education, long distance travel and sport. Jupiter, its ruling planet, is the giant of our solar system, 318 times larger than our planet Earth. It also spins faster than any other planet. Like the other fire signs Aries and Leo, Sagittarians are extroverts. Their role is to disseminate their knowledge and this they do with great enthusiasm, no matter what career they undertake. Sagittarius is known as “the sign of the prophet” Prophet and guru are larger than life labels that have been attached to some very famous Sagittarians. Nostradamus, the famous French seer, was one such Sagittarian whose famous quatrains predicted the future. Another prophet of the new millennium is Arthur C. Clarke whose 2001: A Space Odyssey captured the imagination of the collective. His 3001: The Final Odyssey actually takes place on one of the moons of Jupiter, the ruling planet of Sagittarius. Clarke took his writing very seriously, believing that science fiction writers performed an important role in predicting the future and raising the moral issues arising from the technological and space age.
Steven Spielberg
Another very visionary and creatively gifted Sagittarian is Steven Spielberg who was inspired by the imagination of Walt Disney and is now acknowledged as much as his former childhood hero through such movies as ET.
Sai Baba
Another Sagittarian whose spiritual teachings and healings have inspired millions of seekers is Sai Baba. Sagittarians, with their natural predilection to think big, can become very successful entrepreneurs and philanthropists. One such famous Sagittarian is Andrew Carnegie who donated hundreds of millions of dollars amassed from his fortune made in steel to typical Jupiterian causes, such as libraries, education and peace. The renowned French philosopher, Voltaire, wrote ‘Candide’ which is a biting satire on optimism, one of the main Sagittarian traits. The Sagittarian, like the Centaur he represents, can be prone to bawdiness and boisterousness. These qualities are epitomised by the two show business icons, Billy
Bette Midler
Connelly and Bette Midler, whose larger than life jovial personalities have entertained millions with their downright bawdy and often outrageous jokes and antics. Tina Turner, Dionne Warwick, Jimi Hendrix, Maria Callas, Edith Piaf, Joan Armatrading and Frank Sinatra demonstrate the typical Sagittarian ardour in their performances. Other notable Sagittarian celluloid heroes include Jane Fonda, Kim Basinger, John Malkovich, Kirk Douglas, Sir Ralph Richardson, and Kenneth Branagh. Sagittarians can also be attracted to a career in politics such as Sir Winston Churchill, Benjamin Disraeli, and locally Kim Beazley, Cheryl Kernot and Amanda Vanstone.
Sagittarian Health and Anatomy
As well as ruling the hips and gluteal muscles, Sagittarius rules the sciatic nerve, iliac arteries and veins. It also has considerable influence over the liver, lungs and motor nerves. Structurally it rules the four vertebrae of the coccyx, the sacral bones and femur. Afflictions associated with this sign are rheumatism, sciatica, nervous disorders, hypersensitivity, heart and lung disease and eye disorders. In her book, ‘Astrology and Biochemistry’ Vanda Sawtell, writes that the biochemic cell salt allocated to Sagittarius is Silica. Under the microscope the molecules of this cell salt are pointed and triangular like an arrow head, the symbol for Sagittarius. Silica has been called the lancet of biochemistry acting as Nature’s surgeon. Wherever there is pus to be discharged such as in boils, abscesses, carbuncles etc., this salt is indicated. Silica has a very definite action upon the sweat glands of the skin, and is a remedy for perspiration of the feet; copious night sweats and insufficient perspiration. Other indications for this cell salt are red eyelids; caries of the bones; tonsillitis; ulceration of the throat; styes of the eyelids; cataracts; dullness of hearing with catarrh of the eustachian tubes. Silica gives the glossy finish to hair and nails. It is found in the connective tissues of the brain and nervous system, and lack of Silica causes inability to connect one’s thoughts, bad memory, and nervous disorders. Individuals born under this sign need to guard against chest or lung troubles, being the polar opposite sign of Gemini which rules the chest and lungs, blood disorders, and poor digestion.
They are liable to suffer from nerve depletion from over-exhaustion. Bush walking and mountain climbing are ideal exercises for these free spirited individuals, enabling them to exercise their hips and thighs and promote deep breathing to strengthen any possible chest weakness. Being a hot and choleric sign they should avoid stimulants and intoxicating beverages. Their diet should include fruits that have cooling effect on their system such as citrus, berries and bananas. Grains such as oats, wheat and barley are beneficial for the nervous system of the highly-strung Sagittarian. Other suitable foods include asparagus, corn, endive, cucumber, red cabbage and apples. Aromatherapy oils that can be a balm for the highly active Sagittarian include bergamot, calendula, lemon balm, and rosemary.
2017 – 2018 Overview for Sagittarians
Saturn in Sagittarius
Saturn continues its sojourn through your sign until 20 December 2017 bringing you an opportunity to restructure your life and build strong foundations for a secure future. Not easy for freedom loving Sagittarians for whom the sky is the limit! You may sometimes feel that you are overwhelmed with work and responsibility but the extra effort will pay dividends in the long run. The hard slog of Saturn will be offset by lucky Jupiter your ruling planet, which is in your social sector enabling you to balance your hard work and responsibility with much needed downtime with friends and associates.
Romance and Relationships
With Uranus, the planet of sudden change, still moving though your romance sector in the volatile sign of Aries there could be a bit of spark in your love life. If you are looking for a steady commitment you may be disappointed as the erratic energy of retrograde Uranus may bring some surprises. It could be a case of expect the unexpected and not the time to make firm commitments but rather just go along for the ride. This sector also rules children and creativity so there can be upheavals in this area of your life. Positively you may impress everyone with your unique creativity.
Your marriage and relationship sector will be highlighted by a solar partial eclipse on 13 July 2018. Some cosmic visitors make an appearance in your relationship and marriage sector. Mercury, the planet of communication pays a visit here from 7 – 21 June 2017 facilitating communication with your partner. Venus, the goddess of love, graces your partnership sector with her presence from 6 – 31 July 2017 and 7 – 31 March 2018 enhancing your powers of attraction and opportunities for romance.
Finances
Pluto, the lord of the Underworld, continues his journey through your finance sector. Pluto can push you out of your comfort zone and you may feel that making enough money is a matter of life and death as Pluto challenges your deepest primal fears. However, Pluto’s Greek counterpart Hades means wealth so it can also work in your favour, resulting in increased wealth. Whichever way the dice falls for you from rags to riches or vice versa you are sure to be re-evaluating your attitude to finances and possessions and in the process re-evaluating you self-worth. Mercury, the planet of communication and commerce, visits your finance sector from 1-5 January 2017 and then again from 13 January to 7 February 2017 making it an ideal period to do your book-keeping to stay informed of the current state of your finances. Part of Mercury’s time in your finance sector will be in retrograde motion from 19 December 2016 to 7 January 2017 and from 12 – 31 January 2018 making it an ideal time to review your finances. Venus will enhance your finances when she graces your finance sector with her presence from 25 December 2017 to 18 January 2018.
Home and Family
Neptune and Chiron continue their sojourn through your domestic sector. Neptune, the planet of losses and sacrifices, continues its 14 year sojourn in your sector of home and family. You may find that you have to surrender some ideals regarding your home and family and formulate new ones. The fourth house also represents your core self so you may undergo a deep inner transformation and feel the need to withdraw to do some soul-searching. You may experience ‘divine discontent’ or confusion around issues to do with the family. You may have to sacrifice your time and energy to look after a sick loved one. There may be dissolution of the family through divorce or loss of a family member. However its presence is felt, Neptune will be teaching you the lesson of non-attachment with regard to your home and family. Other cosmic visitors to your domestic sector include Chiron, the planetoid concerned with wounding and healing, as well as Mercury and Venus. Mercury visits from 26 February – 13 March 2017 and from 19 February to 6 March 2018 which will facilitate communication among family members and is also an excellent time to organise tradespeople to do repairs. Gentle Venus will grace your domestic sector with her presence from 4 january to 3 February 2017 and from 11 February to 6 March 2018 bringing harmony on the domestic front.
Creativity and Children
Unpredictable Uranus continues its sojourn in your 5th house of creativity, children and romance making the motto “Expect the unexpected” an apt theme. Other celestial influences here are Venus and Mercury. Mercury pays a visit here from 14 – 31 March 2017 and for an extended visit from 7 March to 13 May 2018 facilitating communication and playfulness with your children. Part of Mercury’s visit here will be retrograde from 23 March to 14 April. Gentle Venus’s presence here from 4 February to 3 April 2017 and from 7 to 31 March 2018 will bring harmony and enhance creative inspiration.
Travel and Education
In 2017 2018 your travel and education sector will be highlighted by the karmic North Node and two eclipses a total lunar eclipse on 31 January and a solar eclipse on 11 August 2018. Two other cosmic visitors will be Mercury and Venus. Mercury will pay a visit here from 7 – 15 July 2017 and an extended visit from 30 June to 6 facilitating communication in your travel and study zone. Part of Mercury’s visit here will be retrograde from 26 July to 18 August 2018 so it is important that you check all dates to avoid confusion with travel plans. Gentle Venus will grace this sector with her presence from 27 August to 20 September 2017 and 14 June to 10 July 2018 making it an ideal time for a romantic getaway.
Relatives, Neighbours & Short Distance Travel
Your 3rd House of immediate environment and short distance travel will be highlighted by the karmic South Node and two eclipses the first a solar eclipse on 15 February and the second a lunar eclipse on 27 July 2018 bringing issues to a head. This sector will be activated by the presence of dynamic Mars from 17 May to 13 August and then again from 12 September to 15 November 2018. Mars will imbue you with the energy to tackle any issues with siblings, relatives or neighbours. You could also be busy making short journeys. Part of Mars’s visit here will be retrograde from 26 June to 13 August which turns the normally dynamic Martian energy inward.
Friends and Groups
Your social sector will be activated by the presence of dynamic Mars from 23 October to 9 December 2017 promising you a social whirl for the festive season. Other cosmic players include quicksilver Mercury and gentle Venus. Mercury pays two visits here first from 1 – 17 October 2017 and 23 September to 10 October 2018 and from 7 August to 9 September 2018. Mercury’s presence here will facilitate communication and networking. Venus’s presence here from 15 October to 7 November 2017 and from 7 August to 9 September 2018 will add extra sparkle to your social life.
New Moon in Scorpio – 17/18 November
The New Moon occurs in regenerative Scorpio 17/18 November at 10.42 pm. There is a line up of planets in Scorpio – Sun, Moon, Jupiter and Venus will encourage deep soul searching and elicit intense emotions. The Sun and Moon form a strong trine with Chiron, the wounded healer. This primal energy affords us an opportunity to face our shadow in order to heal and transform ourselves rising like the phoenix from the ashes.
The conjunction of Venus and Jupiter augurs well for love and relationships bringing opportunities for new romance or the deepening of an existing relationship. It also fosters sociability as well as enhancing finances.
Australia says YES to same sex marriage
The Jupiter Venus conjunction also coincides with the celebration of the success of the yes campaign for same sex marriage postal survey in Australia which was announced on 15 November. Venus and Jupiter make a lovely trine with Neptune inspiring compassion. The New Moon is a time to set intentions, make new goals initiate new projects which will come to fruition at the Full Moon.
Retrograde Mercury – 3 December 2017
Mercury, the winged messenger of the gods and the planet of communication and short distance travel turns retrograde on 3 December at 29 degrees 18 in Sagittarius. This can cause all manner of confusion and delays in communication and travel. Therefore, it is important that you dot your Is and cross your Ts to avoid misunderstandings and missed appointments. Mercury will be conjunct Saturn which will give a serious tone to communications. However, Mercury also trines Uranus so there could be some inspirational ideas. Mercury will turn direct again 23 December at 13 degrees Sagittarius normalising communications for the festive season.
Full Moon Supermoon – 4 December 2017
This Full Moon It will occur 4 December at 2.46 am AEDT at 11 degrees Gemini 40. Being in the sign of Gemini it is about communication. This Supermoon will appear much bigger than normal being the only visible Supermoon this year. Things will come to fruition that were seeded at the New Moon.
Sources
Sagittarius Greeting Card Illustrated by Sue Robertson
Sagittarius Poem by Anne Robertson
Esoteric Astrology Volume 3 Treatise on the Seven Rays by Alice A. Bailey
Soul-Centred Astrology: A Key to your Expanding Self by Alan Oken
Alan Oken’s Complete Astrology by Alan Oken
The Labours of Hercules by Alice A. Bailey
Astrological Keys to Self-actualization & Self-realization by Clara A. Weiss
Astrology and Biochemistry by Vanda Sawtell
Annefertiti's AstroMusings 
