Preface: As I do every month for each of the signs, I want to emphasize that if your birthday does not fall during the Pisces timeframe for the year you were born, this DOES NOT mean that you do not experience the energy of Pisces, because somewhere in your natal birth chart, it is present. All twelve signs of the zodiac are expressed in your being, although some signs, and therefore their corresponding energies, may be more emphasized than others. The Sun sign is about your essence, your vitality (what makes you feel alive), and your self-image.
Whatever your Sun sign, you are on a life-long journey to discover and fully embrace this sign’s energy. You may be tested in life to experience the meaning of your Sun sign’s energy.
The Sun began its transit of the sign of Pisces at 10:18 pm PST on February 18, 2012.
Introduction
“I believe in intuition and inspiration. Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution. It is, strictly speaking, a real factor in scientific research.”
Albert Einstein
Born March 14, 1879
(Einstein on Cosmic Religion and Other Opinions and Aphorisms, 1931[i])
“Steve was a very emotional person. And he was able to make products that emotionally connected to people…That makes him more inspirational, as a character, than most business leaders. Every person who had an iPod or an iPhone felt an emotional connection. He was able to connect art and technology in an inspiring way.”
“And he ranks with Walt Disney, for having a feel for mystery as well as technology. Disney's phrase about the miracle of the imagination — that applies equally to Steve Jobs.”[ii]
Biographer Walter Isaacson commenting on Piscean Steve Jobs
Born February 24, 1955
Pisces Symbolism and Rulerships
The name for this zodiac sign derives from the Latin word for fish. The symbol for Pisces is two fish bound together by a cord and curving in opposite directions. In Greek mythology, Aphrodite and Eros escape the monster Typhon by transforming themselves into two fish, tying themselves together to ensure they do not lose one another.
Astrologer Bruce Nevin says the fish represent the higher and lower natures, with one fish being the reflection underwater for the other fish swimming above. He explains that in abstraction, these fish represent crescents of the moon, which symbolizes the path of subconscious unfoldment from the familiar world into the realm of the unknown. Humans undertake this process from the conscious state into the sleep state.[1] Piscean author Jack Kerouac, spoke to this sign’s theme of dreaming when he said, “All human beings are also dream beings. Dreaming ties all mankind together.”[2] Piscean American mystic, Edgar Cayce, became known as the “Sleeping Prophet,” gaining notoriety for his accurate readings in which he communicated medical diagnoses and health recommendations while in a self-induced sleep state.[3]
Expanding upon the symbolism, astrologer Dana Gerhardt posits that the two fish are really gods in disguise. One fish travels toward the heavens for spiritual transcendence while its partner travels a more secular path along the material plane.[4] Hence, we may conclude that the cord represents binding the paths of earthly existence with that of the mystical.
On a more practical level, astrologer Deborah Houlding sees this dualism of the bound fish as a weakening principle, with the energy of the two fish at odds with each other, rather than in unity. This represents the vacillation in the thought processes of Pisces, yet, it also reinforces the sign’s receptivity to multiple sources. Consequently, the Piscean remains open to external sources, for better or for worse. The impressionable Pisces personality changes its course depending upon the environment and its own moods. Because Pisces lacks a purposeful self-will, they survive and thrive by developing their instincts. As emotional creatures, Pisceans follow their intuition.[5]
In astrology’s classification system, Pisces is a mutable water sign. The ocean is Pisces’ home, and water symbolizes emotional and spiritual energy. The ocean is vast and water has tremendous power to cause ripple effects with everything else, thereby reflecting the connectedness of life. This perspective of “oneness” is a key Piscean theme, both in the mystical realm as well as in the way Pisces energy interacts on the earthly plane. The late Beatle musician, George Harrison, a Sun Sign Pisces, expressed this desire for transcendence and for living the divine within earthly existence. His music, influenced by Hindu mysticism, speaks of devotion and peace, exemplified in his works “Give me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)" and "My Sweet Lord.”[6]
The planet Jupiter is the traditional ruler of Pisces, while modern day astrology suggests a rulership by the planet Neptune. Among Jupiterian urges is that of freedom from restraint and earthly obligations. While Jupiter begins activities with initial inspiration, this planet may not sustain steady energy over time to fulfill objectives (unless earth energies come into play). On the other hand, Neptune’s energy force brings the softening quality often demonstrated in the Piscean approach. Neptune dissolves boundaries in order to bring about greater equality and communality. With Jupiter’s tendency to move away from mundane responsibilities and Neptune’s erasure of boundaries, persons with Piscean energy may escape reality using drugs or dreams. While remaining in a drugged or perpetual dream state can be problematic, the use of the imagination is a necessary and healthy process. The Piscean writer of children’s books, Dr. Seuss, utilized this energy constructively. Regarding imagination he said, “I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living; it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities.”[7]
Often compared to the Wheel of Life, the astrological chart consists of 12 houses, with the 12th, house ruled by Pisces. The movement around the 360-degree chart is one that reflects a shift from the individualism of the first sign of Aries to the collectivism of Pisces. Traditionally the 12th house represents service at a large institutional level, particularly ones characterized by seclusion or removed from the mainstream. Astrologer Maurice Fernandez, in his analysis of Pisces, Neptune and the 12th House, says the Pisces archetype shows us how a person taps into the needs of the public and collective consciousness. He encourages astrologers to consider this when analyzing client charts as it relates to career and vocation.[8] It’s interesting to note that Johnny Cash, the late singer with a Pisces Sun, performed regularly at prisons, which corresponds to astrology’s definition of the 12th house.
In traditional astrology, a zodiac signs rules particular parts of the anatomy. The sign of Pisces rules the feet. Religions often view the touching of the feet of a great teacher, like Christ, as an expression of devotion. As the Avatar of the Piscean Age, Christ was symbolized by the symbol of the two fish.[9]
More about the Personality and Perspective of Pisces
Astrologer Steven Forrest observes that Pisces often expresses through types represented by the poet, the dancer, the musician, and the religious devotee.[10] However, astrologer Dana Gerhardt cautions us against restricting our thinking that Pisces is not suited for careers that seem counter to the Piscean personality. Gerhardt believes that because Pisces is so good at sensing their surroundings and adjusting to their environment that they can “go with the flow.” Gerhardt views this “shape-shifting” quality as being central to an understanding of Pisces.[11]
Scientist Albert Einstein successfully solved major gaps in knowledge about physics with his theories of relativity, in part because his “Pisces processing” allowed him to see how disparate parts could fit into a whole theory. Yet, Einstein did poorly in school in his younger years, preferring to daydream (utilizing Piscean imagination) in class. Throughout his illustrious career, he was known for being disorganized.[12]
As previously noted, Pisces can tap into the place of oneness and connectedness. Pisces extends this perspective into the realm of everyday existence. A Piscean belief system might incorporate the concepts of shared space and interests between human beings, whether in living situations such as communal living, or economic interests organized in worker collectives. This may also be reflected in a local community’s identification of “the commons,” and the sharing of online information in the public domain (e.g. Wiki), or perhaps in the advocacy efforts on behalf of the “public interest.” As one example, Piscean consumer advocate Ralph Nader has promulgated the public interest concept in modern times.
The fluidity of the Pisces personality, open to multiple external influences, can cause vacillation in thinking and behavior. Pisceans are often characterized as being sensitive and impressionable. Pisces energy often demonstrates kindness, trust, and openness to limitless possibilities. Have you ever had someone sit you down to tell you some “bad” news in a very compassionate manner, perhaps filled with some palatable distortions in order to have the least painful impact on you? That person was using their Piscean energy in this situation. Astrologer Deborah Houlding’s proposes that Pisces’ reputation for deception stems not from dishonesty, but rather from a reluctance to face uncomfortable issues head on, thereby minimizing distress.[13] Bohemian writer and Piscean Anais Nin once said, “I don't tell the truth any more to those who can't make use of it. I tell it mostly to myself, because it always changes me.”[14]
Snapshot Profiles of Persons with Sun Sign Pisces
Note to readers: Unless otherwise referenced, material for these profiles is abstracted from AstroDatabank, Bio.com or Wikipedia
Rudolf Steiner
Born February 27, 1861
The ultimate Renaissance man, Rudolf Steiner became well known as a philosopher/occultist, educator, and architect. Born and raised in Austria, he studied as a young adult at the Vienna Institute of Technology, taking classes in mathematics, physics, chemistry, botany, biology, augmented by courses in philosophy and literature. Through a referral by one of his teachers, Steiner began work as a natural science editor of a new edition of Goethe’s works. Steiner later earned a doctorate in philosophy at the University of Rostock in Germany.
Already aware of spiritualism at a young age, he recalled in his writings:". . . the reality of the spiritual world was as certain to me as that of the physical. I felt the need, however, for a sort of justification for this assumption.” Steiner’s scientific and philosophical training led him to synthesize mysticism with science in a movement he called Anthroposophy. Simply put by Steiner, “Anthroposophy is a road to knowledge leading the spiritual part of the human being to the spirit of the universe.”[15] The Wikipedia entry further elaborates on his philosophy: “Steiner believed that through freely chosen ethical disciplines and meditative training, anyone could develop the ability to experience the spiritual world, including the higher nature of oneself and others. Steiner believed that such discipline and training would help a person to become a more moral, creative and free individual - free in the sense of being capable of actions motivated solely by love.” He founded the Anthroposophy Society in 1912. Eclectic in his approach, he synthesized perspectives from Theosophy, Rosicrusianism, Goethe, Plato, and Christianity.
The second phase of Steiner’s Anthroposophy movement incorporated the philosophy’s concepts into various realms of life, including dance (eurythmy), biodynamic agriculture, Anthroposophical medicine, schooling (Waldorf education), and architectural form. It’s interesting to observe that Steiner’s architectural projects emphasize curvature and rounded forms, in contrast to most structures, which have square and sharp angles. We can see how this approach reflects the gentleness and inclusiveness of the Pisces personality.
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Born March 6, 1928
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The winner of the 1982 Nobel Prize for Literature, Gabriel Garcia Marquez won international acclaim for his novels One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera. The Columbian journalist and writer grew up enjoying family tales of war and romance, which influenced his later penchant for storytelling. Marquez became known for the genre of magical realism, a literary genre blending facts with fantasy.
García Márquez's grandmother influenced his upbringing, and her worldview inspired his writing style. He said she "treated the extraordinary as something perfectly natural." His grandmother regularly told stories of ghosts and premonitions, omens and portents, which were ignored by the grandfather. According to García Márquez, she was "the source of the magical, superstitious, and supernatural view of reality.” He reveled in his grandmother's unique style of telling stories, always delivered in a deadpan style as if they were the absolute truth. Three decades later, his most popular novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude, reflected this very style.
Some literary critics believe that Garcia Marquez’s career as a journalist allowed him to understand the lives of everyday people. As a foreign correspondent, he was assigned to Europe. Because of his admiration for the author William Faulkner, he journeyed with his family through
the American South on a Greyhound bus.
The recipient of many accolades, Gabriel Garcia Marquez is acclaimed by Mexican author Carlos Fuentes as "the most popular and perhaps the best writer in Spanish since Cervantes.” The grantors of the Nobel Prize stated that the author earned this recognition "for his novels and short stories, in which the fantastic and the realistic are combined in a richly composed world of imagination, reflecting a continent's life and conflicts.”
Nina Simone
Born February 21, 1933
Known as the “High Priestess of Soul,” Nina Simone performed as a musical storyteller with her songs of liberation, passion, empowerment, and love. One writer describes her influence in this way: “…she could weave a spell so seductive and hypnotic that the listener lost track of time and space as they became absorbed in the moment.”[16]
Nina Simone grew up in North Carolina, the daughter of Methodist ministers. She learned to play the piano by ear by the age of three. Under tutelage, she learned to perform a full repertoire of classical musical. Denied entry to a prestigious school of music, she taught music in her neighborhood. She began playing the piano and singing at a local club, and soon her deep velvety vocals and piano mastery caught the attention of record producers. She brought a new sound to the club circuit and to recording, with her synthesis of jazz, blues, and classical music. As she performed at clubs on the East Coast, she also recorded, beginning with the Bethleham label. In the late 1950’s her recording “My Baby Cares for Me” brought her international recognition.
The killing of civil rights activist Medgar Evers and the four young girls in the Birmingham church brought a transformation in Nina Simone’s life. She began writing and performing songs with messages about racism and the quest for social justice. Her “Mississippi Goddamn” was banned throughout the South.
After leaving the RCA label, she lived abroad in Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. She continued to tour with live performances across the globe. In her autobiography, Nina Simone once said that her function as an artist is “…to make people feel on a deep level. It’s difficult to describe because it’s not something you can analyze; to get near what it’s about you have to play it. And when you’ve caught it, when you’ve got the audience hooked, you always know because it’s like electricity hanging in the air.”
The famed poet Maya Angelou said this about Nina Simone: "In every era as well as in every area, great artists are born who speak to and for the people. Poets, sculptors and singers, offer the human truth to the world. Nina Simone and her song, spoke of the loneliness of trust betrayed, the bitterness of heartbreak, the anguish of racial prejudice and the beauty of the melody when the human heart speaks lovingly of love.
ENDNOTES
[1] Bruce Nevin. Astrology Inside Out. Rockport, Massachusetts: Para Research, 1982, pp.87-88.
[2] .Jack Kerouac. (n.d.). BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved February 16, 2011, from BrainyQuote.com Web site: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jackkeroua384511.html
[3] Edgar Cayce. Biography at AstroDatabank. Retrieved on 2/25/12: http://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Cayce,_Edgar
[4] Dana Gerhardt. February/March 2009. “Pisces’ Labor: Capturing Unlimited Possibilities.” The Mountain Astrologer, #143, pp.11-15.
[5] Houlding, Deborah. October/November 2008. “Pisces the Fish.” The Mountain Astrologer, #141, pp.25-31.
[6] George Harrison. George Harrison Lyrics. Lyrics.Info.com. Retrieved on 2/25/12: http://georgeharrison.lyrics.info/
[7] Dr. Seuss. (n.d.). BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved February 16, 2011, from BrainyQuote.com Web site: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/d/drseuss106019.html.
[8] Fernandez, Maurice. October/November 2007. “Neptune, the 12th House, and Pisces.” The Mountain Astrologer, #135, pp.40-46.
[9] Bruce Nevin. Op.Cit.
[10] Steven Forrest (1988). The Inner Sky. San Diego: ACS Publications, p91-95.
[11] Dana Gerhardt. Op.Cit.
[12] Deborah Houlding. Op.Cit.
[13] Ibid.
[14]Anais Nin. (n.d.) Famousquotesandauthors.com. Retrieved February 16, 2011, from Famousquotesand authors.com. Website: http://www.famousquotesandauthors.com
[15]Carl Unger. What is Anthroposophy? The Rudolf Steiner Archive. Retrieved on 2/25/12 :http://www.rsarchive.org/RelAuthors/UngerCarl/anthroposophy.php
[16] Nina Simone. Nina Simone LLC. Retrieved on 2/26/12 from: http://www.ninasimone.com/
