Sagittarius is the ninth zodiac sign and is symbolised by the Centaur. If you have a Sagittarius Sun, Moon or rising sign, you will probably be reading this in an airport lounge. Jupiter ruled Sagittarius exists to explore, and that makes them not only every airline’s dream customer, but also fills the ranks of our academic institutions and media outlets. Sagittarius lives to learn more, go further and educate we mere mortals in the process. Similar qualities can also be seen in those who have a ninth house emphasis in their natal chart, or a well-placed Jupiter. What makes you such adventurous individuals?
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Sagittarius: Energy Type
The answer to the question above is your energy type. The zodiac signs represent fundamental energy types, and each sign determines how those energies are expressed – ‘how’ being the key word. When the Sun, Moon, planets, cardinal points and house cusps in your natal chart fall in Sagittarius, they express in that sign’s unique style. The luminaries and planets represent ‘what’ is being expressed and the natal chart houses signify ‘where’, but the ‘how’ part of the equation is always governed by the zodiac sign’s particular qualities.
In astrology, energy types are defined by the zodiac sign’s element (fire, earth air or water). Each element has a characteristic form of motivation and influence on behaviour. In addition, elemental energy is expressed in a particular mode: energy is one thing, but how it’s applied is something else. Modality (cardinal, fixed, mutable) determines how the raw energy functions. And then there’s polarity: is the sign positive or negative? Polarity determines how energy is processed, by being externalised (extroverted) or internalised (introverted). Sagittarius’s energy type is fire-mutable-positive. What does that mean?
Sagittarius: Key Qualities
Fire
Sagittarius is the most enthusiastic of the fire signs: no problem seems intractable, no boundary is too far and no idea too unworkable. Life’s problems can be resolved by positivity alone. They are the optimists of the zodiac and will press ahead with their creative, far-sighted plans, leaving others to work out the detail. They can easily feel constrained and need both mental and physical space. However, It’s easy for Sagittarius fire to burn out of control if unchecked by any form of restraint.
Mutable
Sagittarius marks the end of autumn and the transition into winter. Without Sagittarius’s roaring fires we would perish in the winter cold. Sagittarius has a vision of a better, warmer world – and that vision can be yours if you believe hard enough. If you meet a visionary whose intellectual arguments are based on profoundly held beliefs and delivered with messianic zeal, that person is a Sagittarius. Or an eternal optimist – they are often the same creature.
Positive
Positive signs are active and Sagittarius is active on a grand scale. Often sporty or keen on outdoor pursuits, Sagittarius often embodies the masculine ideal and female Sagittarians may appear ‘masculine’ in nature, in that they don’t often conform to society’s traditional notions of femininity. Intellectually confident and outgoing, Sagittarius folks are not just thinkers but doers; they push society’s boundaries in more ways than you can imagine as they pursue their quest to understand more of the world in which we live.
The Sagittarius Myth
Sagittarius is represented by the centaur and the archer – and the myth is as hybrid as the mutable nature of this zodiac sign would suggest. It appears the debate around the Sagittarius legend is almost as old as time, but the myth seems to have settled on a figure called Crotus – a centaur who also happened to be an archer. Crotus was the offspring of the centaur, Chiron, and Eupheme, a nurse to the Muses, and he lived on Mount Helicon. What else do we know of Crotus? Not a great deal other than he seemed to be a prototypical Sagittarius: he travelled, raced, hunted and hung out with satyrs.
The wilder side of life is a well-documented Sagittarius trait, but there was more to the centaur life than having half-man, half-beast drinking buddies. Crotus may have loved the wild life, but he was also devoted to the Muses of Mount Helicon, and to their arts. Crotus was a highly cultured centaur, and Sagittarius is associated with a wide interest in culture, the arts and intellectual pursuits. The symbolism of the archer – the human half of Crotus’s body – alludes to all of us having the power to go far in life, if we rise above the beast within.
Sagittarius: Ruled by Jupiter
Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, King of the gods. Expansive, magnanimous and prone to throwing thunderbolts when crossed, Jupiter’s myth pretty much sums up the Sagittarian disposition. Jupiter makes us aim high and Sagittarius people are found in abundance in those fields of human endeavour that push the human experience on towards greater achievement, learning and understanding. However, those born under this sign also swell the ranks of self indulgent, reckless, arrogant entitled and greedy – and the mythology surrounding Jupiter explains why there are two sides to this changeable, mutable sign.
Jupiter may have been king of the gods, but he was also capricious, reckless, arrogant and entitled. A sky god, he flew around, picking fights, seducing nymphs and mortals and fathering numerous children outside of his marriage. He was serially faithless to his long-suffering wife, he did whatever he wanted to do, whenever he wanted to do it. So, why do we associate this heavenly man-child with wisdom and understanding? They are core traits we associate with Jupiter and Sagittarius, yet they seem absent from Jupiter’s repertoire.
The answer is found in his daughter, the product of his liaison with Metis, the goddess of thought and counsel. Zeus learned that the child would become more powerful than him, so he swallowed the pregnant Metis whole. However, Zeus then developed a splitting headache and Athena – the goddess of wisdom – emerged fully formed from his head. And the prophecy was borne out: wisdom, justice, civility and strategy are far more powerful than impulse or recklessness ever could be. Athena, therefore, represents a higher order of Jupiter. And Metis remained in his head to give good counsel when required.
Sagittarius Archetype: The Seeker
Sagittarius Character
Sagittarius Keywords
The keywords associated with this sign provide you with a useful checklist of all of the qualities we associate with Sagittarius. The keywords are categorised as ‘positive’ or ‘negative’ and if you have planets or natal chart angles in this sign, the parts of your life that they represent will manifest in ways that accord with the keywords set out below. You will recognise many of those qualities in yourself.
Positive
Adventurous, Athletic, Bold, Broad minded, Buoyant, Enthusiastic, Expansive, Freedom loving, Generous, Good humoured, Honest, Idealistic, Inspirational, Intellectual, Intelligent, Jovial, Magnanimous, Optimistic, Philosophical, Talkative, Tolerant, Spontaneous, Straightforward, Versatile.
Negative
Argumentative, Arrogant, Blunt, Careless, Changeable, Dictator, Dissatisfied, Exaggerates, Extravagant, Gambling, Gluttonous, Gullible, Hot headed, Indulgent, Lawless, Outspoken, Pretentious, Procrastination, Reckless, Restless, Tactless, Unreliable.
Sagittarius in Love
it’s often difficult to see how Sagittarius can stay in one place long enough – or be able to find a space in their heart – for anything resembling a romantic relationship. However, do not underestimate Sagittarius in love as their enthusiasm for love is as direct and overwhelming as their enthusiasm for everything else. Like other fire signs they love the thrill of the chase and woo ardently using their abundant charm to great effect. They can be one of the lotharios of the Zodiac, however, to say they are untrustworthy in love is a gross generalisation
Sagittarius truly in love is as faithful as anyone. Just in their own way. They will often have a long term partner – but are not averse to dalliances, as they are easily bored. So, to avoid giving offence in the love department Sagittarius, you really need to choose carefully. You need a stimulating, yet self sufficient partner. One who shares your interests is good, one who will give you space is better and one who will be your travelling companion is best of all. Some Sagittarians favour long distance relationships or choose partners from other countries; their need to be true to themselves is paramount – even in love.
Sagittarius & Family
Sagittarius & Money
Sagittarius Careers
Sagittarius: What To Look For
Books, Broadcasting, Media, Journalists, Writers, Explorers, Travel Guides, Travelling, Moving to a different country, Foreign partner, Foreign languages, Pilots, Mavericks, Soldiers of fortune, Diplomats, Academics, Universities, Spies, Gamblers, Bookmakers, Risk taking, Horses, Horse riding, Outdoor pursuits, Veterinary Surgeons, Lawyers, Judges, Courts.
Next: Capricorn | Aquarius | Pisces | Aries | Taurus | Gemini | Cancer | Leo | Virgo | Libra | Scorpio
Go To : Planets in Sagittarius
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Sara Shipman
Sara Shipman is an astrologer and writer. She created Starcrazypie.com in 2020 and writes the content on this site. Sara Shipman is the author of the Predictive Astrology and Real Life Astrology series of astrology books.
© Sara Shipman
Picture Credit: Image by Alessandro Squassoni from Pixabay