Mindful Heart Astrology: Sagittarius

The Ninth Sign

Our ninth sign in the zodiac is Sagittarius, the sign of the Archer. This is the half human and half horse centaur of mythology. He is represented by the glyph of bow and arrow, reflecting that Sagittarius is brave and adventurous, always on the move. This is a forward looking and vision oriented sign than doesn’t tend to dwell on the past.

In general, Sagittarians are generous, outgoing, optimistic, and have a great sense of humor. They love to travel and enjoy the company of other people, with the chance to learn different perspectives. Open minded and curious, Sagittarius is a great explorer often delving curiously into different cultures and philosophies. Known as “truth-seekers” and truth tellers, Sagittarius tends to have a very straightforward and honest approach. At times seemingly blunt, the need for unrestrained self-expression causes them to come across as somewhat impatient and tactless. These are certainly not the world’s great diplomats.

Freedom and Independence

There is a strong need for freedom and independence with this sign.  Ease of movement and choice of pursuit is exceedingly important for Sagittarius. One of the most challenging things for this sign is being faced with restrictions or feeling pinned down. An expansive quality to their nature, they are always looking to learn and grow, they want to experience life in a huge way and generally see the bigger picture.

Knowing that this is sign is ruled by Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, allows us to draw an immediate correlation to Sagittarius’ often “larger than life” presence. In Roman mythology Jupiter was the “King of Gods”, a noble, generous and just leader. Knowledge and understanding are of paramount importance with these natives who are forever searching for truth. These are qualities that often lead Sagittarians to careers in law or justice, higher learning and philosophical teaching.

Sagittarius is generally “all go” and they love to be active. Many are quite athletic with a fondness for sports. There is lots of energy, optimism and enthusiasm to move forward without the inhibition of restrictions, they love the freedom to run…both figuratively and physically. This can be considered somewhat opposite to Saturn-ruled signs which tend to be bound by rules, regulations, boundaries and structure. Sagittarius sees no limitations but rather limitless opportunity. This particular trait can lead them to take risks that others will not even entertain.

Ruled by benevolent Jupiter, these natives may seem to be quite lucky. Their positive and optimistic outlook tends to attract good things. The opposite can also be true though, in that they will be so quick to act and respond to opportunities they see in front of them, they may not always take into account the potential negative repercussions.

Higher Learning, Travel, and Philosophy

This third Fire sign can be just as prone to quick and unfettered action, as both Leo and Aries. Their enthusiasm and fun-loving nature can be infectious and will draw others to them. They approach life full-on and, to support that, they generally have a degree of stamina to be admired. Outwardly expressive Sagittarius can sometimes overstep their bounds or the limits of propriety, particularly in how they communicate their thoughts and ideas. They have lots of confidence, speak quickly and may not always recognize the full meaning or magnitude of what they say.

Telling it like it is seems to be the way they operate, leading to them occasionally wounding the feelings of others. This doesn’t seem to create long term problems for them however, as people will ultimately respect their honesty and straightforwardness.  You always know where you stand with a Sagittarius. Furthermore, their sense of humor, fun-loving spirit and energy naturally tend to engage others and create significant followership and they tend to have lots of friends.

Sagittarius rules the 9th House of the Horoscope, the domain of Higher Learning, Overseas (long distance) Travel, Foreign Languages, Philosophy and Religious Occupations. One can guess that an ongoing search for adventure, wisdom or knowledge is a factor with individuals who have the Sun or their Ascendant in this sign, or even a number of planets in the 9th House.

Planets in Sagittarius tend to exhibit a degree of expansiveness, forward movement and optimism in the way they express. For example, Mercury in Sagittarius suggests the possibility of broad and optimistic thinking and a need for freedom of thought, or the need to seek knowledge. There is also the possibility of having big ideas with lots of enthusiasm behind them, though not always the discipline to follow through.

The Sagittarian Influence

Similarly, Sagittarius on a House Cusp will reflect something of a focus on growth or freedom in a particular area, or it may be where one tends to be quite enthusiastic or where they like to have fun. For example, Sagittarius on the 2nd House Cusp may reflect someone continually seeking ways to grow one’s financial resources, or increase their material worth and expanding their portfolio. It could also be indicative of someone who likes to spend lots of money on big purchases, perhaps not the type to consider a more conservative “saving for a raining day” type of frugality.

Whether it’s a search for wisdom, a love of travel and adventure, or a joy of fun, the Sagittarius in our charts can show where we seek the opportunity for personal growth and development. The more spiritual side of the sign can reflect a focus on philosophical or religious beliefs and perhaps a desire to enhance the lives of others one meets along life’s path. Either way, we can all benefit from a little more optimism and positivity. What does Sagittarius in your chart say about you?

~ Jayne Logan