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 Overview & Personality Traits
Pisces represents two fishes swimming in opposite directions, bound by a
cord. The dualism implicit in its symbolism is a weakening principle, because
the fishes strain against each other rather than support each other's motion.
This adds an element of vacillation to the way a Piscean thinks and acts, but it
also suggests the ability to receive influences from multiple sources which,
whilst tending to undermine self-will, gives the capacity for rounded awareness
and instinctive understanding of how gain in one area results from loss in
another.
As such a trait suggests, Pisceans are not known for being quick and decisive
problem solvers. They are apt to see everything as a dilemma, riddled with
numerous options and shades of possibility. A complex and idealistic sign,
Pisces sets a high store on conscience and consequence, with the fear of causing
upset to others often gaining the upper hand over the desire to assert one's own
interests. Highly sensitive and impressionable, Pisceans are either commended
for their compassionate humility and sympathetic consideration, or berated for
being weak-willed, gullible and lacking in focus.
Kindness, trust and a 'willingness to believe' has contributed to Pisces'
reputation as one of the most spiritual signs of the zodiac. This is not some
modern derivation from the attributes of Neptune; its ancient history is riddled
with allegiance to spiritual principles, and the symbol for fishes is often
taken as an icon for churches and priests, predating the sign's traditional
connection with Jupiter, (itself a significator for priests and religious
matters); and the adoption of the sign of the fish by Christianity, where it is
seen as an emblem for gentility, peace and denial of the ego in favour of the
collective's needs.
The notion of meekness arises from the creature's easy representation of the
pacifist - the fish is not an aggressive animal and has no natural defences
except its fluid movement, coupled with an instinct to swim away from trouble.
Its astrological reputation acknowledges the noble attributes of personal
sacrifice and resolution to suffering without retribution, but it also
recognises that human beings seldom live up to highest principles - timidity
often appearing at a lower scale under the guise of cowardice, avoidance of
personal responsibility or, as Lilly would have it, 'idle effeminacy' … 'representing
a party of no action'.*
Pisceans certainly don't fit comfortably in the role of challenging hero who
rushes headlong into battle. Their strength is borne from reflection,
consideration, and resistance to actions that perpetuate pain.
But pacifism only represents one element of Pisces' spiritual reputation. A
deeper significance lies in the fact that the fish is a creature of the ocean,
which since ancient times has been taken as the symbolic realm of emotional and
spiritual energy that lies beneath physical existence, where all is connected
and nothing moves without creating a tide of motion that pulls or pushes against
another. The sea as the magna mater, the primary source, signifies the
boundless essence of soulful creativity and elemental life force from which
everything emerges and eventually returns. Fishes, as intrinsic parts of this
fertile yet deeply mysterious realm, were regarded as sacred representations of
the soul and the spiritual connection that animates society.
Being natives of the world of water, Pisceans are highly responsive to their
environment, easily influenced by the moods and expectations of others. The
element of water signifies dissolution of personal barriers that exist to detach
us from the physical pain and emotional suffering of others. Lacking the
hardened shell of Cancer and Scorpio, Pisces has least resistance amongst the
water-signs to surrounding impressions, making them almost as responsive to
excitement, fear, anticipation, joy, hurt and laughter originated from without
as that generated from within. If they see tears they will cry, if they see a
smile they will smile back; no other sign is so prone to the infectious nature
of human emotion.
The 'boundless ocean' represents a very open and fluid environment where
instincts reign. Changeable and unpredictable, it lacks structure, control and
conformity. So too the Piscean finds it hard to cope with discipline, routine
and order. Their emotional capacity gives a strong imagination that often finds
expression through escapist tendencies or dreamy, hopeful visions. Capable of
great inspiration and idealism, they are often accused of lacking realism and
being too trusting in the conviction that the power of belief, hope, or love can
transcend all bounds and borders. Jupiter, as the traditional ruler of the sign,
promotes the urge for freedom from restraint and mundane obligations. But
Jupiter struggles to find conscious direction in Pisces, where the emphasis
falls upon faith over reason, and freedom of the soul through denial of earthly
shackles. Unless a proclivity for self-imposed structure and regulation are
suggested by more earthy qualities in the chart, Pisces often wastes its
potential by failing to give lasting definition to its latent creativity. It
will 'go with the flow' and when interest or energy levels drop, so too does
application. Pisceans are great starters of projects and initiators of ideas,
but they lack the sustained energy that is required to fulfil many of their long
term objectives.
The same is suggested by Pisces' highly fertile reputation. Pisces and Jupiter
are both prime significators for fruitfulness, easy conception, an abundance of
offspring, creativity and ideas. Whilst offering a blessing for pregnancy
matters, multitudinous fecundity suggests problems through being too easily
impressed, too quickly receptive to a host of potentials - to the detriment of
the one worthy project that demands singular attention. As the fish spawns
numerous eggs, Pisceans are never short of creative possibilities to explore and
develop. Most will admit that they abound with inspirational ideas and
imaginative thoughts, but they lose motivation once projects begin to require
more mundane maintenance than creative investment.
This can present itself as restlessness and unreliability. Most professional
Pisceans need to find a career path that allows for flexibility and a constant
exploration of new interests and emotional stimulation. They excel in design and
development, but suffer in management and administration. Their fields are the
arts and the caring professions, where they can fulfil their urge to nurse, heal
or soothe, or absorb and reflect the power of the psyche. Although they may be
unreliable in time-keeping, often best when working to their own agendas or
allowed flexible hours, once roused to action they will give their all, because
everything they do is invested with feeling and emotion.
The modern rulership of Neptune over the sign demonstrates the close affinity
that exists between Pisces' soft and subtle nature and the observable effects of
this nebulous outer planet. Neptune's principle is dissolution into
collectiveness. Although often marvelled as a planet of great spiritual
mysticism, mundane astrology accepts that part of its influence is to weaken
vital force and strive towards communism, where all are equalled, segregations
and barriers are broken down and no one shines brighter than the rest. Neptune
can bring depression and Pisceans are known for having low vitality which makes
them easy prey to lethargy. Their temperament is defined as phlegmatic, which is
associated with delicate constitutions, pale complexions and inertia. The poor
generation of heat describes the sign as one that is slow to rouse to temper,
but easily susceptible to emotional hurt. Other negative Piscean traits include
carelessness, inattention to details, manipulation, and an easy dependence upon
drugs, alcohol, and artificial stimulants. Part of the latter problem is due to
a casual disregard for regulation and self-imposed limitation, the rest is due
to their extreme sensitivity which makes them readily responsive to addictive
substances. The reputation for manipulation arises less as a result of an
inclination towards dishonesty, but as reluctance to deal directly with
uncomfortable issues that feel too painful and distressing to tackle head-on.
Instead the Piscean will introduce a softening principle, distorting little
realities so that the truth seems easier to swallow.
Pisceans are rarely motivated by pure self-interest but they are easily
distracted, effortlessly led, and subject to the powerful temptation of aroused
emotion. Venus has played an important part in the ancient myths surrounding the
constellation Pisces and is considered exalted in this sign because its delicate
and tender nature is so responsive to romanticised visions of love and
attraction. Pisces needs a soul mate, and they take no greater pleasure than
when sacrificing everything for that which they find attractive and beautiful.
Unfortunately, Pisces is not a sign of clear and rational vision. When they fall
in love they often, quite literally, fall into an abyss of intense
confusion and distorted reality that allows no room for critical reasoning.
Pisceans can make the most generous, open and tender-hearted lovers but they can
suffer in relationships, either by clinging to false dreams that bear no basis
in actuality, or through the inability to deal with the practical rules of
engagement that remain in relationships once the initial blush of romantic
sensation has faded.
The modern world, with its message that anyone can have anything they want so
long as they demand it aggressively enough, take no prisoners and impress their
will firmly upon everyone else, can be a hard and hostile environment for the
gentle, non-confrontational Piscean. But this sign has been blessed with great
intuition and a deep spiritual source from which to draw calm resolution. The
cord that binds the two opposing fishes shows that although they are open to a
wide range of emotions and psychic impressions, they are forever tied to the
process of centering themselves and bringing equilibrium to their own lives, and
those of others around them. Top
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