A Cardinal Sign

The 1st Zodiac sign – here is your geometric arrow designed by me. I incorporate lots of information into the design so read on to find the secrets encoded in Aries’ arrow.

Aries is first of the four CARDINAL signs (the other three are Cancer, Libra and Capricorn). Cardinal signs have the need for action in common and can be fairly ambitious but the trait shows in different ways.  Cardinal signs like to take action and can be quite ambitious.  Aries likes to be first in everything.  The glyph or symbol for cardinal is like an upward pointing arrow with a dot in the middle of the open part of the arrow. On my Aries arrow, you see the symbol almost at the top.

A Fire Sign

Aries is a fire sign – energetic, enthusiastic and volatile. The glyph or symbol for this element is an upward pointing triangle. The other Fire signs are Leo and Sagittarius. Fire signs are adventurers and innovators but can burn themselves out quickly.  You can see the glyph or symbol for fire near the bottom of the arrow.

Ruling Planet(s)

Each sign of the Zodiac is ruled by a planet (or co-ruled by two) Aries is ruled by Mars – the planet of action.  Its symbol is the same as the symbol for male – a circle with an arrow pointing from it to the upper right. Mars is to do with energy and although Aries is not always the loudest, it is the first and fastest of the signs. All the planets of our solar system are in each person’s chart and Mars shows where and how your energy is directed.

Groups of Planets

The planets in a chart are described as personal (The “Luminaries” Sun and Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars) and are the more inner planets. Social planets come next (Jupiter and Saturn).   Transpersonal or outer planets are Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. (Yes, Pluto is now classed as a dwarf planet but it still functions as a planet in Astrology. Other bodies such as Eris, Ceres etc can also be taken into account in a chart.)  Aries’ ruling planet of Mars is a personal planet and close to the Earth in terms of the Solar System. Almost at the top of the arrow directly below the arrowhead  I have drawn a single diagonal line to show this. (I draw one for the personal, two for social and three for the transpersonal planets.)

Aries’ Glyph

Although each sign has its own glyph or symbol, rather than stay traditional all the way I have incorporated my own idea into each arrow.  For Aries I have the rune Mannaz – the Self, or starting point. Above this I have drawn a curve to signify the ram’s horns. The ram is noted to be headstrong and aggressive.  Aries is not known for its subtlety and when it encounters an obstacle is more likely to bang its head against it than work around it.

Aries Arrowhead

The arrowhead emphasises that forward motion. Part of the design is a black outline of a diamond shape to give some weight behind the arrowhead. This is to show Aries love of being in leadership and of being in control.

The ‘tail’ of the arrow is the traditional Aries glyph reversed – this way Aries can be leading from both ends!

The constellation for Aries completes the geometric design. The stars are drawn in red to represent fire and the red of planet Mars.