Sabian Symbol Teachings

1. Aries
2. Taurus
3. Gemini
4. Cancer
5. Leo
6. Virgo
7. Libra
8. Scorpio
9. Sagittarius
10. Capricorn
11. Aquarius
12. Pisces

Introduction

Here are 360 said symbols, one for each degree of the Zodiac. The question is what you can make out of it. At any rate, these so-called Sabian symbols were furnished by the clairvoyant and a spiritualist medium Elsie May Wheeler (1887-1938) in 1925, and the American astrologer, Dr Marc Edmund Jones (1888-1980).

Elsie was crippled with arthritis and had been in a wheelchair since she was three. She moved to San Diego in the early 1920's, living with her uncle there. She used to say to a less cripped friend, "Don't give up - there's lots to live for."

In 1925, Jones carried Elsie to a section of Balboa Park, in San Diego, California, where a park lane with little traffic was within feet through a fringe of trees of one of the city's busiest intersections. Together they brought forth the Sabian Symbols in one day. They were sitting in a parked car, attracting no attention. Beforehand, Jones had prepared 360 white, unlined index cards for the session by writing the astrological degrees on them.

A quarter of the cards were taken at random for each session and the cards were shuffled continuously during the process. Each card was placed face down before Elsie Wheeler, and "she reported on the picture she saw by inward vision." Neither of them knew which degree was being dealt with during the time she was describing the picture. Jones hurriedly wrote down the brief description on each card as she described the image.

The first session took about two hours. Then, after a brief break, another ninety symbols were recorded. And then, after a noon dinner, the sessions were resumed at the same spot in the park and the other degree symbols were forthcoming by the same method.

The Sabian symbols consist of the few words that Elsie Wheeler spoke to each random card in the fleeting seconds she had to describe it, and Jones wrote down the notes.

After the session, Jones put the cards away in a trunk, but published a mimeographed version of the Sabian symbols in 1931, and later there were revisions too. Jones furnished short elaborations on each symbol [Ssa]. Lynda Hill has extended that again [Dow]. Others too work on this set of astrological degree symbols.

These word-painted images are thought to be for the astrologer and nonastrologer alike. The term Sabian has been added to them at a later date. Here is Elsie Wheeler's imagery:

Aries

1-2 Ari.   A comedian reveals human nature

2-3 Ari.   The cameo profile of a man, suggesting the shape of his country

3-4 Ari.   Two lovers strolling on a secluded walk

4-5 Ari.   A triangle with wings

5-6 Ari.   A square, with one of its sides brightly illumined

6-7 Ari.   A man succeeds in expressing himself simultaneously in two realms

7-8 Ari.   A large woman's hat with streamers blown by an east wind

8-9 Ari.   A crystal gazer

9-10 Ari.   A teacher gives new symbolic forms to traditional images

10-11 Ari.   The ruler of a nation

11-12 Ari.   A triangularly shaped flight of wild geese

12-13 Ari.   An unexploded bomb reveals an unsuccessful social protest

13-14 Ari.   A serpent coiling near a man and a woman

14-15 Ari.   An Indian weaving a ceremonial blanket

15-16 Ari.   Nature spirits are seen at work in the light of sunset

16-17 Ari.   Two dignified spinsters sitting in silence

17-18 Ari.   An empty hammock stretched between two trees

18-19 Ari.   The "magic carpet" of oriental imagery

19-20 Ari.   A young girl feeding birds in winter

20-21 Ari.   A pugilist enters the ring

21-22 Ari.   The gate to the garden of all fulfilled desires

22-23 Ari.   A pregnant woman in light summer dress

23-24 Ari.   Blown inward by the wind, the curtains of an open window take the shape of a cornucopia

24-25 Ari.   The possibility for man to gain experience at two levels of being

25-26 Ari.   A man possessed of more gifts than he can hold

26-27 Ari.   Through imagination a lost opportunity is regained

27-28 Ari.   A large audiences confronts the performer who disappointed its expectations

28-29 Ari.   The music of the spheres

29-30 Ari.   A duck pond and its brood

Taurus

1-2 Tau.   An electrical storm

2-3 Tau.   Natural steps lead to a lawn of clover in bloom

3-4 Tau.   The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow

4-5 Tau.   A widow at an open grave

5-6 Tau.   Cantilever bridge across a deep gorge

6-7 Tau.   The woman of Samaria at the ancestral well

7-8 Tau.   A sleigh on land uncovered by snow

8-9 Tau.   A fully decorated Christmas tree

9-10 Tau.   A Red Cross nurse

10-11 Tau.   A woman watering flowers in her garden

11-12 Tau.   A young couple window shopping

12-13 Tau.   A porter carrying heavy baggage

13-14 Tau.   On the beach, children play while shellfish grope at the edge of the water

14-15 Tau.   Head covered with a rakish silk hat, muffled against the cold, a man braves a storm

15-16 Tau.   An old teacher fails to interest his pupils in traditional knowledge

16-17 Tau.   A symbolical battle between "swords" and "torches"

17-18 Tau.   A woman airing an old bag through the open window of her room

18-19 Tau.   A new continent rising out of the ocean

19-20 Tau.   Wisps of wing-like clouds streaming across the sky

20-21 Tau.   A finger pointing to a line in an open book

21-22 Tau.   White dove flying over troubled waters

22-23 Tau.   A jewelry shop filled with valuable gems

23-24 Tau.   An Indian warrior riding fiercely, human scalps hanging from his belt

24-25 Tau.   A vast public park

25-26 Tau.   A Spanish gallant serenades his beloved

26-27 Tau.   An old Indian woman selling the artifacts of her tribe to passerby

27-28 Tau.   A woman, past her "change of life" experiences a new love

28-29 Tau.   Two cobblers working at a table

29-30 Tau.   A peacock parading on the terrace of an old castle

Gemini

1-2 Gem   Santa Claus furtively filling stockings hanging in front of fireplace

2-3 Gem   The garden of the Tuileries in Paris

3-4 Gem   Holly and mistletoe reawaken old memories of Christmas

4-5 Gem   A revolutionary magazine asking for action

5-6 Gem   Workmen drilling for oil

6-7 Gem   A well with bucket and rope under the shade of majestic trees

7-8 Gem   Aroused strikers surround a factory

8-9 Gem   A quiver filled with arrows

9-10 Gem   An airplane performing a nose dive

10-11 Gem   Newly opened lands offer the pioneer new opportunities for experience

11-12 Gem   A negro girl fights for her independence in the city

12-13 Gem   A famous pianist giving a concert performance

13-14 Gem   Bridging physical space and social distinctions, two men communicate telepathically

14-15 Gem   Two Dutch children talking to each other, exchanging their knowledge

15-16 Gem   A woman activist in an emotional speech dramatizing her cause

16-17 Gem   The head of a robust youth changes into that of a mature thinker

17-18 Gem   Two Chinese men converse in their native tongue in an American city

18-19 Gem   A large archaic volume reveals a traditional wisdom

19-20 Gem   A modern cafeteria displays an abundance of food, products of various regions

20-21 Gem   A tumultuous labour demonstration

21-22 Gem   Dancing couples in a harvest festival

22-23 Gem   Three fledglings in a nest high in a tree

23-24 Gem   Children skating over a frozen village pond

24-25 Gem   A gardener trimming large palm trees

25-26 Gem   Frost-covered trees against winter skies

26-27 Gem   A gypsy emerging from the forest wherein her tribe is encamped

27-28 Gem   Through bankruptcy, society gives to an overburdened individual the opportunity to begin again

28-29 Gem   The first mockingbird of spring

29-30 Gem   A parade of bathing beauties before large beach crowds

Cancer

1-2 Can   A man on a magic carpet hovers over a large area of land

2-3 Can   A man bundled in fur leads a shaggy deer

3-4 Can   A cat arguing with a mouse

4-5 Can   At a railroad crossing, an automobile is wrecked by a train

5-6 Can   Game birds feathering their nests

6-7 Can   Two nature spirits dancing under the moonlight

7-8 Can   A group of rabbits dressed in human clothes walk as if on parade

8-9 Can   A small naked girl bends over a pond trying to catch a fish

9-10 Can   A large diamond in the first stages of the cutting process

10-11 Can   A clown caricaturing well-known personalities

11-12 Can   A Chinese woman nursing a baby whose aura reveals him to be the reincarnation of a great teacher

12-13 Can   A hand with a prominent thumb is held out for study

13-14 Can   A very old man facing a vast dark space to the northeast

14-15 Can   In a sumptuous dining hall guests relax after partaking of a huge banquet

15-16 Can   A man studying a mandala in front of him, with the help of a very ancient book

16-17 Can   The unfoldment of multilevel potentialities issuing from an original germ

17-18 Can   A hen scratching the ground to find nourishment for her progeny

18-19 Can   A priest performing a marriage ceremony

19-20 Can   Venetian gondoliers giving a serenade

20-21 Can   A famous singer is proving her virtuosity during an operatic performance

21-22 Can   A young woman awaiting a sailboat

22-23 Can   The meeting of a literary society

23-24 Can   A woman and two men castaways on a small island of the south seas

24-25 Can   A wilful man is overshadowed by a descent of superior power

25-26 Can   Guests are reading in the library of a luxurious home

26-27 Can   A violent storm in a canyon filled with expensive homes

27-28 Can   An Indian girl introduces her white lover to her assembled tribe

28-29 Can   A Greek muse weighing newborn twins in golden scales

29-30 Can   A daughter of the American revolution

Leo

1-2 Leo.   An epidemic of mumps

2-3 Leo.   A middle-aged woman, her long hair flowing over her shoulders and in a braless youthful garment

3-4 Leo.   A formally dressed elderly man stands near trophies he brought back from a hunting expedition

4-5 Leo.   Rock formations tower over a deep canyon

5-6 Leo.   A conservative, old-fashioned lady is confronted by a "hippie" girl

6-7 Leo.   The constellations of stars shine brilliantly in the night sky

7-8 Leo.   A communist activist spreading his revolutionary ideals

8-9 Leo.   Glass blowers shape beautiful vases with their controlled breathing

9-10 Leo.   Early morning dew sparkles as sunlight floods the field

10-11 Leo.   Children play on a swing hanging from the branches of a huge oak tree

11-12 Leo.   An evening party of adults on a lawn illumined by fancy lanterns

12-13 Leo.   An old sea captain rocking himself on the porch of his cottage

13-14 Leo.   A human soul seeking opportunities for outward manifestation

14-15 Leo.   A pageant, with its spectacular floats, moves along a street crowded with cheering people

15-16 Leo.   The storm ended, all nature rejoices in brilliant sunshine

16-17 Leo.   A volunteer church choir singing religious hymns

17-18 Leo.   A chemist conducts an experiment for his students

18-19 Leo.   A houseboat party

19-20 Leo.   Zuni Indians perform a ritual to the sun

20-21 Leo.   Intoxicated chickens dizzily flap their wings trying to fly

21-22 Leo.   A carrier pigeon fulfilling its mission

22-23 Leo.   In a circus the bareback rider displays her dangerous skill

23-24 Leo.   Totally concentrated upon inner spiritual attainment, a man is sitting in a state of complete neglect of bodily appearance and cleanliness

24-25 Leo.   A large camel is seen crossing a vast and forbidding desert

25-26 Leo.   After the heavy storm, a rainbow

26-27 Leo.   The luminescence of dawn in the eastern sky

27-28 Leo.   Many little birds on a limb of a big tree

28-29 Leo.   A mermaid emerges from the ocean waves ready for rebirth in human form

29-30 Leo.   An unsealed letter

Virgo

1-2 Vir   A large white cross dominates the landscape

2-3 Vir   Two guardian angels

3-4 Vir   Black and white children play together happily

4-5 Vir   A man becoming aware of nature spirits and normally unseen spiritual agencies

5-6 Vir   A merry-go-round

6-7 Vir   A harem

7-8 Vir   A five-year-old child takes a first dancing lesson

8-9 Vir   An expressionist painter at work

9-10 Vir   Two heads looking out and beyond the shadows

10-11 Vir   In her baby a mother sees her deep longing for a son answered

11-12 Vir   After the wedding, the groom snatches the veil away from his bride

12-13 Vir   A powerful statesman overcomes a state of political hysteria

13-14 Vir   An aristocratic family tree

14-15 Vir   A fine lace handkerchief, heirloom from valorous ancestors

15-16 Vir   In the zoo, children are brought face to face with an orangutan

16-17 Vir   A volcanic eruption

17-18 Vir   An Ouija board

18-19 Vir   A swimming race

19-20 Vir   A caravan of cars headed to the west coast

20-21 Vir   A girls' basketball team

21-22 Vir   A royal coat of arms enriched with precious stones

22-23 Vir   A lion tamer displays his skill and character

23-24 Vir   Mary and her little lamb

24-25 Vir   A flag at half-mast in front of a public building

25-26 Vir   A boy with a censer serves the priest near the altar

26-27 Vir   A group of aristocratic ladies meet ceremonially at a court's function

27-28 Vir   A bald-headed man who has seized power

28-29 Vir   A seeker after occult knowledge is reading an ancient scroll which illumines his mind

29-30 Vir   Totally intent upon completing an immediate task, a man is deaf to any allurement

Libra

1-2 Lib   The transmutation of the fruits of past experiences into the seed-realizations of the forever creative spirit

2-3 Lib   The dawn of a new day reveals everything changed

3-4 Lib   Around a campfire a group of young people sit in spiritual communion

4-5 Lib   A man revealing to his students the foundation of an inner knowledge upon which a "new world" could be built

5-6 Lib   A man watches his ideals taking a concrete form before his inner vision

6-7 Lib   A woman feeding chickens and protecting them from the hawks

7-8 Lib   A blazing fireplace in a deserted home

8-9 Lib   Three "old masters" hanging on the wall of a special room in an art gallery

9-10 Lib   Having passed through narrow rapids, a canoe reaches calm waters

10-11 Lib   A professor peering over his glasses at his students

11-12 Lib   Miners are surfacing from a deep coal mine

12-13 Lib   Children blowing soap bubbles

13-14 Lib   In the heat of the noon hour a man takes a siesta

14-15 Lib   Circular paths

15-16 Lib   After a storm a boat landing stands in need of reconstruction

16-17 Lib   A retired sea captain watches ships entering and leaving the harbor

17-18 Lib   Two men placed under arrest

18-19 Lib   A gang of robbers in hiding

19-20 Lib   A rabbi performing his duties

20-21 Lib   A Sunday crowd enjoying the beach

21-22 Lib   A child giving birds a drink at a fountain

22-23 Lib   Chanticleer's voice heralds sunrise

23-24 Lib   A butterfly with a third wing on its left side

24-25 Lib   The sight of an autumn leaf brings to a pilgrim the sudden revelation of the mystery of life and death

25-26 Lib   An eagle and a large white dove change into each other

26-27 Lib   An airplane sails, high in the clear sky

27-28 Lib   A man becoming aware of spiritual forces surrounding and assisting him

28-29 Lib   Mankind's vast and enduring effort to reach for knowledge transferable from generation to generation

29-30 Lib   Three mounds of knowledge on a philosopher's head

Scorpio

1-2 Sco   A delicate bottle of perfume lies broken, releasing its fragrance

2-3 Sco   A house-raising party in a small village enlists the neighbors' cooperation

3-4 Sco   A youth carries a lighted candle in a devotional ritual

4-5 Sco   A massive rocky shore resist the pounding of the sea

5-6 Sco   The gold rush tears men away from their native soil

6-7 Sco   Deep-sea divers

7-8 Sco   A calm lake bathed in moonlight

8-9 Sco   A dentist at work

9-10 Sco   A fellowship supper reunites old comrades

10-11 Sco   A drowning man is being rescued

11-12 Sco   An official embassy ball

12-13 Sco   An inventor performs a laboratory experiment

13-14 Sco   Telephone lineman at work installing new connections

14-15 Sco   Children playing around five mounds of sand

15-16 Sco   A girl's face breaking into a smile

16-17 Sco   A woman, fecundated by her own spirit, is "great with child"

17-18 Sco   A path through woods brilliant with multicoloured splendour

18-19 Sco   A parrot repeats the conversation he has overheard

19-20 Sco   A woman draws away two dark curtains closing the entrance to a sacred pathway

20-21 Sco   Obeying his conscience, a soldier resists orders

21-22 Sco   Hunters shooting wild ducks

22-23 Sco   A rabbit metamorphoses into a nature sprit

23-24 Sco   After having heard an inspired individual deliver his "sermon on the mount," crowds are returning home

24-25 Sco   An x-ray photograph

25-26 Sco   American Indians making camp after moving into a new territory

26-27 Sco   A military band marches noisily on through the city streets

27-28 Sco   The king of the fairies approaching his domain

28-29 Sco   An Indian squaw pleading to the chief for the lives of her children

29-30 Sco   Children in Halloween costumes indulge in various pranks

Sagittarius

1-2 Sag   White-capped waves display the power of wind over sea

2-3 Sag   Two men playing chess

3-4 Sag   A little child learning to walk with the encouragement of his parents

4-5 Sag   An old owl sits alone on the branch of a large tree

5-6 Sag   A game of cricket

6-7 Sag   Cupid knocks at the door of a human heart

7-8 Sag   Within the depths of the earth new elements are being formed

8-9 Sag   A mother leads her small child step by step up a steep stairway

9-10 Sag   A theatrical representation of a golden-haired goddess of opportunity

10-11 Sag   In the left section of an archaic temple, a lamp burns in a container shaped like a human body

11-12 Sag   A flag turns into an eagle; the eagle into a chanticleer saluting the dawn

12-13 Sag   A widow's past is brought to light

13-14 Sag   The great pyramid and the sphinx

14-15 Sag   The ground hog looking for its shadow on ground hog day

15-16 Sag   Sea gulls fly around a ship in expectation of food

16-17 Sag   An Easter sunrise service draws a large crowd

17-18 Sag   Children playing on the beach, their heads protected by sunbonnets

18-19 Sag   Pelicans menaced by the behaviour and refuse of men seek safer areas for bringing up their young

19-20 Sag   In an old-fashioned northern village men cut the ice of a frozen pond for use during the summer

20-21 Sag   A child and a dog wearing borrowed eyeglasses

21-22 Sag   A Chinese laundry

22-23 Sag   A group of immigrants as they fulfil the requirements of entrance into the new country

23-24 Sag   A bluebird perched on the gate of a cottage

24-25 Sag   A chubby boy on a hobby-horse

25-26 Sag   A flag bearer in a battle

26-27 Sag   A sculptor at his work

27-28 Sag   An old bridge over a beautiful stream is still in constant use

28-29 Sag   A fat boy mowing the lawn of his house on an elegant suburban street

29-30 Sag   The pope blessing the faithful

Capricorn

1-2 Cap   Three rose windows in a gothic church, one damaged by war

2-3 Cap   A human soul, in its eagerness for new experiences, seeks embodiment

3-4 Cap   A group of people outfitting a large canoe at the start of a journey by water

4-5 Cap   Indians on the warpath. While some men row a well-filled canoe, others in it perform a war dance

5-6 Cap   Ten logs lie under an archway leading to darker woods

6-7 Cap   A veiled prophet speaks, seized by the power of a god

7-8 Cap   In a sunlit home domesticated birds sing joyously

8-9 Cap   An angel carrying a harp

9-10 Cap   An albatross feeding from the hand of a sailor

10-11 Cap   A large group of pheasant on a private estate

11-12 Cap   An illustrated lecture on natural science reveals little-known aspects of life

12-13 Cap   A fire worshipper meditates on the ultimate realities of existence

13-14 Cap   An ancient bas-relief carved in granite remains a witness to a long-forgotten culture

14-15 Cap   In a hospital, the children's ward is filled with toys

15-16 Cap   School grounds filled with boys and girls in gymnasium suits

16-17 Cap   A repressed woman finds a psychological release in nudism

17-18 Cap   The union jack flag files from a British warship

18-19 Cap   A five-year-old child carrying a bag filled with groceries

19-20 Cap   A hidden choir is singing during a religious service

20-21 Cap   A relay race

21-22 Cap   By accepting defeat gracefully, a general reveals nobility of character

22-23 Cap   A soldier receiving two awards for bravery in combat

23-24 Cap   A woman entering a convent

24-25 Cap   A store filled with precious oriental rugs

25-26 Cap   A nature sprit dancing in the iridescent mist of a waterfall

26-27 Cap   Pilgrims climbing the steep steps leading to a mountain shrine

27-28 Cap   A large aviary

28-29 Cap   A woman reading tea leaves

29-30 Cap   A secret meeting of men responsible for executive decisions in world affairs

Aquarius

1-2 Aqu   An unexpected thunderstorm

2-3 Aqu   A deserter from the navy

3-4 Aqu   A Hindu yogi demonstrates his healing powers

4-5 Aqu   A council of ancestors is seen implementing the efforts of a young leader

5-6 Aqu   A masked figure performs ritualistic acts in a mystery play

6-7 Aqu   A child is seen being born out of an egg

7-8 Aqu   Beautifully gowned wax figures on display

8-9 Aqu   A flag is seen turning into an eagle

9-10 Aqu   A man who had for a time become the embodiment of a popular ideal is made to realize that as a person he is not this ideal

10-11 Aqu   During a silent hour, a man receives a new inspiration which may change his life

11-12 Aqu   On a vast staircase stand people of different types, graduated upward

12-13 Aqu   A barometer

13-14 Aqu   A train entering a tunnel

14-15 Aqu   Two lovebirds sitting on a fence and singing happily

15-16 Aqu   A big businessman at his desk

16-17 Aqu   A watchdog stands guard, protecting his master and his possessions

17-18 Aqu   A man's secret motives are being publicly unmasked

18-19 Aqu   A forest fire is being subdued by the use of water, chemicals and sheer muscular energy

19-20 Aqu   A large white dove bearing a message

20-21 Aqu   A disappointed and disillusioned woman courageously faces a seemingly empty life

21-22 Aqu   A rug is placed on the floor of a nursery to allow children to play in comfort and warmth

22-23 Aqu   A big bear sitting down and waving all its paws

23-24 Aqu   A man, having overcome his passions, teaches deep wisdom in terms of his experience

24-25 Aqu   A butterfly with the right wing more perfectly formed

25-26 Aqu   A garage man testing a car's battery with a hydrometer

26-27 Aqu   An ancient pottery bowl filled with fresh violets

27-28 Aqu   A tree felled and sawed to ensure a supply of wood for the winter

28-29 Aqu   A butterfly emerging from a chrysalis

29-30 Aqu   Deeply rooted in the past of a very ancient culture, a spiritual brotherhood in which many individual minds are merged into the glowing light of a unanimous consciousness is revealed to one who has emerged successfully from his metamorphosis

Pisces

1-2 Pis   A squirrel hiding from hunters

2-3 Pis   Petrified tree trunks lie broken on desert sand

3-4 Pis   Heavy car traffic on a narrow isthmus linking two seashore resorts

4-5 Pis   A church bazaar

5-6 Pis   A parade of army officers in full dress

6-7 Pis   Illumined by a shaft of light, a large cross lies on rocks surrounded by sea

7-8 Pis   A girl blowing a bugle

8-9 Pis   A jockey spurs his horse, intent on outdistancing his rivals

9-10 Pis   An aviator pursues his journey, flying through ground-obscuring clouds

10-11 Pis   Men traveling a narrow path, seeking illumination

11-12 Pis   In the sanctuary of an occult brotherhood, newly initiated members are being examined and their character tested

12-13 Pis   An ancient sword, used in many battles, is displayed in a museum

13-14 Pis   A lady wrapped in a large stole of fox fur

14-15 Pis   An officer instructing his men before a simulated assault under a barrage of live shells

15-16 Pis   In the quiet of his study a creative individual experiences a flow of inspiration

16-17 Pis   An Easter parade

17-18 Pis   In a gigantic tent, villagers witness a spectacular performance

18-19 Pis   A master instructing his disciple

19-20 Pis   A table set for an evening meal

20-21 Pis   Under the watchful and kind eye of a Chinese servant, a girl fondles a little white lamb

21-22 Pis   A prophet carrying tablets of the new law is walking down the slopes of Mount Sinai

22-23 Pis   A "materializing" medium giving a séance

23-24 Pis   On a small island surrounded by the vast expanse of the sea, people are seen living in close interaction

24-25 Pis   A religious organization succeeds in overcoming the corrupting influence of perverted practices and materialized ideals

25-26 Pis   Watching the very thin moon crescent appearing at sunset, different people realize that the time has come to go ahead with their different projects

26-27 Pis   The harvest moon illumines a clear autumnal sky

27-28 Pis   A fertile garden under the full moon reveals a variety of full-grown vegetables

28-29 Pis   Light breaking into many colours as it passes through a prism

29-30 Pis   A majestic rock formation resembling a face is idealized by a boy who takes it as his ideal of greatness, and as he grows up, begins to look like it . . .