Sabian Symbols

Depiction of a Sibyl

General

The Sabian symbols are 360 short pithy descriptions which are associated with the 360 degrees of the zodiac, so that each degree had its own symbolic meaning. The symbols were developed by the astrologer Marc Edmund Jones (1888-1980). Jones himself wrote that he discovered them in 1925 "with the help of clairvoyant powers". Dane Rudhyar played a major role in introducing the symbols to a wider public.

The following small selection of Sabian symbols gives an impression of the style in which they were written:

1 degree Taurus: A clear mountain stream flows through a rocky defile

13 degrees Virgo: A powerful statesman wins to his cause a hysterical mob

20 degrees Libra: Old Rabbi sits contentedly in room crowded with books

8 degrees Scorpio: A high mountain lake is bathed in the full moonlight

2 degrees Aquarius: Unexpected thunderstorm brings relief to parched fields

18 degrees Pisces: In a huge tent a famous revivalist conducts his meeting

The Sabian symbol is attributed to the next full degree after a particular horoscope factor. For example, the appropriate symbol for a planet at 16 degrees and 1 minute of Aries is 17 degrees Aries.

The Sabian symbols are useful in an intuitive approach to interpretation. Both Jones and Rudhyar offered esoteric meanings for each symbol, although they differ in their details. For example, the revival meeting of 18 degrees Pisces indicates "the completeness with which man is able to see his experience both steadily and whole..." (Jones) or a "reinforcement of faith which can open up a new environment" (Rudhyar).

See also

• Divination
• Monomoiria

Weblinks

• Sabian Symbols Degree Meanings (Cafe Astrology; all degrees listed)
  • Critical & Anaretic Degrees (Cafe Astrology)
• Look Up a Symbol (just put in the degree and the sign, without rounding up; sabiansymbols.com)
  • The Sabian Symbols Story (Lynda Hill)
• Homepage of the Sabian Assembly (founded by Jones in 1923)
• Sabian Mysteries by James Burgess, an extensive commentary on the 360 Sabian Symbols
• Symbols of the Degrees of the Zodiac in Four Versions (rockymountainastrologer.com)
• inside degrees (so-called Chandra Symbols, fused with rebirth; Ellias Lonsdale, 1997)
• The Secret History & Power of Degree Meanings (David Cochrane; ISAR 2017)

Bibliography

• Marc Edmund Jones, 1953 (reprinted 1993,) The Sabian Symbols in Astrology, Sabian Publishing Company
• Diana E. Roche: The Sabian Symbols. A Screen of Prophecy, Trafford Publishing, Victoria (Canada) 1998. ISBN 978-1933303345
• Dane Rudhyar, 1936 (reprinted 1991,) The Astrology of Personality, Aurora Press