Notes On How To Use The Sabian Symbols
Notes for Astrologers
How does one use the Sabian Symbols in astrology?
When looking up the Symbol for a planet or placement in a chart – or for any degree – one must round up the degree to the next whole number. This is because the zodiac starts at 00.00 Aries and the Symbols begin at Aries 1. Imagine when a baby is turning one – they are going into their second year. Using the first degree of the zodiac as an example, if you’re looking at, say, 1.38 of Aries, that is read as Aries 2 in the Symbols. So, even if the degree you’re looking at is Aries 00.00, you would still read Aries 1. Same goes if the degree is 01.59 – that is Aries 2.
Remember: It’s simple – always add 1 to the degree that you’re looking up.
Karmic and Quest Degrees
Whether you see a particular degree as being ‘good or bad’ depends on your point of view; it is up to your conscious, and probably subconscious, mind. Regardless, they are all useful in guiding us towards a better understanding of the unfolding of life and one’s possibilities. A degree that might sound ‘negative’ might show a particular characteristic or talent that you might have to bring out the best in the situation. For instance, it might be a degree that sounds rather difficult however through the consciousness that it operates, it could work for the good such as being a guide, a counsellor, teacher, healer or whatever around that particular theme.
The Karmic and Quest degrees add another dimension. They add depth and meaning and will no doubt answer some questions, and, probably, give rise to more questions as you plumb the depths that the sequence of Symbols can bring up. Realisations can bring amazing and insightfully real breakthroughs in understanding. Check them out!
The Karmic Condition is the degree before a planet or a point. They can and will show something you’re good at, something perfected, something you’ve brought through from a past life, perhaps, something that’s a habit or a talent. Whether you see a particular Karmic degree as being ‘good or bad’ depends on your point of view. It may bring up things that you really like, or it can show areas that you may need to work on or let go in some measure. The Karmic degree is often, depending on the planet or point, what was happening right before birth – the expression of that planet or point right before birth. You can see the Karmic Condition Symbol somewhat like the general interpretation of how the Moon’s north node works in our lives.
The Quest Degree is the degree after a planet or a point. It shows something we often need to grow towards, to integrate, to realise, to accept into our lives perhaps. It can be something that comes easily, it can be an ability or a talent, or, it can be quite a lesson or a challenge. Straight after you were born, the planet or point moved over this degree, and it was deposited into your very being both by transit and progression. You can see the Quest Symbol somewhat like the general interpretation of how the Moon’s north node works in our lives.
The Symbols can be used in every aspect of astrology, including horary, mundane, electional and indeed for any of the zodiacal systems such as heliocentric, sidereal or draconic. A great exercise that helps one to see more into these Symbols is to look up the symbol for the Sun at sunrise and watch what happens throughout the day. You can also tune into the degree of the new or full moon for clues to what’s going on during that period.
The Symbols can be applied to any point in the zodiac. They will reveal at times, brilliantly and clearly, added layers of meaning to the degree of any of the planets, any asteroids that one might use, the ascendant, the angles—in fact anywhere there’s a zodiacal degree.
My belief is that wherever one seeks meaning, one will find meaning.