The Enigma of Pisces
Stop a moment and think about the Pisces people that you know. How would you describe them in three to five words? Can you do it? I would love to see your lists!
Pisces is not an easy sign to describe instantaneously. It’s a bit of an enigma quite frankly. Why is that? I’m going to do my best to try and explain. For starters the time of the year that we say is under the influence of Pisces falls generally between February 21st and March 20th. Here in the Northern Latitudes we are experiencing the shift from winter to spring with some days becoming mild and almost balmy, while other days are wild, stormy, and freezing. Such extremes can be unsettling. Dane Rudhyar says in his book The Pulse of Life, “Pisces is an era of storms and of wholesale disintegration.” This apt description implies the dilemma of the soul incarnated into this sign. The journey of the Piscean’s life must often be one of moving through periods when everything seems to be falling apart and nothing yet has come together into a new form. The future may beckon, but the past is still unraveling.
The glyph often used for Pisces is the two fish tied together but swimming in opposite directions. Here is the symbol of involution and evolution. Does the Pisces soul descend into flesh or ascend into spirit? Perhaps the Christian ethos of ‘being in the world, but not of the world’ attempts to integrate this paradox. It certainly can be both a struggle and a quest for one actually living out this dualistic path.
So think, again, about those Pisces people in your life. Aha! They’re not quite so dreamy, mild, and wishy-washy as one would stereotype them to be. Pisces is a Water Sign, and the kind of water most associated with this sign is the Ocean. Start describing the ocean and you’re getting closer to describing Pisces. Words like vast, deep, powerful, ever-changing come to mind perhaps.
Where does the cliche of Pisces being wimps come from? The elusive quality of this Mutable Sign, Pisces can certainly give that impression when issues of confrontation are at hand. Many Pisces would prefer to evade head-on collisions and leave the head butting for their Aries kinfolk. They, also, often prefer to be in the background rather than center-stage like more fiery types. But never underestimate the power of a Pisces, for like the element of Water, Pisces can gather a formidable force of watery emotional strength, when necessary, and move through, over, or under any obstacle.
I remember well an early boyfriend who certainly reflected some of the dreamier qualities of Pisces. He loved to dance in candlelight trailing long chiffon scarves after him like Nijinsky in Afternoon of the Faun. One time, however, I got a glimpse of that deeper power and strength. My roommate’s boyfriend had been drinking and was getting abusive and violent with her. Mr. Pisces calmly and quietly walked over and pinned the man’s arms behind his back and started twisting. Without fanfare he told him to leave if he knew what was good for him. End of story.
The key here is how the Pisces individual harnesses the great collective force they are born with which can, at times, overwhelm them like a tidal wave and make them feel lost and afraid. Developing their opposite polarity, Virgo, through some specific skill or technique will help to stabilize and focus their emotional body into a form that can be used in service to others. It is then that they can truly shine and feel good about themselves.
I think of a famous Pisces type, Elizabeth Taylor. She was hot stuff when I was young and considered one of the most beautiful actresses to light up the silver screen. She certainly did characterize the oceanic in all the variety of roles she played as an actress, the endless personal dramas she got swept away with, and the countless times she struggled with her own tidal forces of loss, suffering, and amazing rebounds. However, it was when she fully harnessed her vast emotional body into the Virgoan task of championing AIDS that she gained the balance and sense of humanitarian service that she is now acknowledged for. Good for her. She did it.
Pisces are the great chameleons of the Zodiac. They often survive through the art of camouflage. Well, doesn’t Water do that? Bodies of water take on the qualities and characteristics of their surroundings, the climate zone, etc. A fjord in Norway is one kind of water. A blue lagoon in the South Pacific is another. Both are water, but what a difference in kind and quality.
The great mythological stories, which have evolved since ancient Babylonian times, have many versions of the myth of Aphrodite and her little boy, Eros, acting out the art of evasion and shape-shifting that Pisces is known for. One version of the story tells of a ghoulish monster, Typhon, who is destroying eveything in sight. Aphrodite, in her love for her child, binds him to her with a cord and then magically turns them into fishes so that they can escape below the surface of the water to elude this demonic force wrecking havoc amongst the gods on the surface of the earth. Of course, Zeus, one of the ancient rulers of Pisces, ends up both rescuing them from their watery deep darkness, and rewarding them, which is what he loves doing best, by sweeping them up into the starry sky as the constellation of Pisces.
Initially every young Pisces learns to survive by blending and adapting to their surroundings and circumstances. As they age, however, this can become a problem for they don’t really know who they are. A number of years ago Patty Hearst, the heiress, was captured by the SLA and later emerged in a photograph while robbing a bank. She’s the perfect example of how Pisces survive as chameleons. First she’s this pampered girl from the newspaper dynasty family, next she’s playing Bonnie and Clyde in full regalia with her abductors, and finally—yep—she marries her bodyguard and settles into yet another role.
Remember, Pisces is the very last sign and thus all of the other signs are contained within it. No wonder it gets confusing being a Pisces! So how does a Pisces ever figure out who they really are? I always encourage my Pisces clients to spend time either alone or out in nature. Either way they will gradually separate out subject from object and gain a deeper sense of themselves in the process. The practices of contemplation can help Pisces: stilling the mind, being quiet, listening to the small inner voice. These are ways to come to know themselves better. Once they connect with their core, they can then turn outwards again and help a lot of people.
Serve or suffer is yet another famous cliche for Pisces. I remember a dear happy Leo woman saying once, “Oh you Pisces just lo-o-ove to suffer!” Certainly there was a ring of truth to what she said. Yet suffering is common to us all. It seems to be part of life here on planet Earth. What Pisces do best is to address that suffering and serve those who do. I know so many Pisces involved in the Healing Arts. One woman is a fine Acupuncturist with the most up-lifting sunny attitude. She has a lot of Aries fire in her nature to bring inspiration and spunk to her bedside manner. I know another Pisces who is a Homeopath. He has the patience and technical knowledge to listen quietly and assess accurately the right remedy from the thousands possible. He has more Aquarian planets to meld with his Pisces Sun. I know another amazing healer who works with sound. Her business card says “a harmonic approach to well-being”, Acutonics’ Sound Therapy.
A lot of Pisces are drawn to music and the performing arts. Here all the Dionysian qualities can often be expressed where mystical ecstasy and madness can be unleashed through sound, lights, and multi-media effects. Jon Bon Jovi and Kurt Cobain of Nirvana (what a Piscean name!) come to mind in the music world. In the world of dance both Nijinsky and Rudolph Nureyev expressed the fluidity and power of this sign. There are so many very fine actors and actresses who are Pisces: Glen Close, Holly Hunter, Bruce Willis, Billy Crystal, Glenda Jackson, Joanne Woodward, Drew Barrymore, Juliette Binoche, Queen Latifah, etc.
Michelangelo was a Pisces, but if you want to see a wonderful contemporary artist who totally conveys the nature of mysticism through his magical works, visit the site of Ernest Caballero. Ernest is a Pisces through and through. He epitomizes the Pisces who has found a Virgoan container, his sculptures, for his visionary connection with the unseen realms.
There are many myths and stories connected with this sign, but I have especially always liked the fairytale Cinderella. It’s such a classic Piscean tale. The humble Cinderella serving day and night the harsh and greedy stepmother and her daughters. The enchanted visitation by her fairy godmother from the astral realm. The handsome, utterly romantic Prince of her dreams. The dancing until the stroke of midnight when the enchantment ends. The dropped glass slipper. The search for the right and true foot.
Shoes, feet, slippers are all under Pisces’ ruler ship. Last, but not least, the feet. They support the rest of us. They are under us. Pisces must learn to Understand. And, of course, this fairy tale ends with the happy ever after redemption theme that is such a part of the mythos of Pisces. Take a look at Ernest Caballero’s Risen Christ. There is the perfect image of Ascension and Redemption that Pisces yearns for even as the inevitable descent is taking place. There is a longing for absolute oneness and bliss in this enigmatic of all signs, Pisces.
I would like to close by bringing your attention to possibly the highest aspiration of Pisces, Kuan Yin. She is the female Goddess of Compassion known far and wide in the East as “The One Who Hears the Cries of the World.” The Lotus Sutra translated by Kumarajiva, possibly a Pakistani prisoner sold into slavery in China, somewhere between A.D. 397 and 415 introduced her and from there she evolved into the accepted role of the divine feminine by the 9th Century AD.
Kuan Yin epitomizes the qualities of Pisces, a Yin sign, as its best. Her compassion knows no boundaries and extends universal love to all, including animals and plants. Her appeal is that she extends her compassion and love to ordinary people. There are so many myths and stories abounding that tell of her great deeds of grace, but none are more fitting to our theme than her connection with the sea.
Tales are often told of her ability to calm the turbulence of typhoons as she descends from the heavens in her flowing white robes. Here is a quote described in one such tale from a beautifully written book about her, Kuan Yin, Myths and Prophiscies of the Chinese Goddess of Compassion by Martin Palmer and Jay Ramsay with Man-Ho Kwok, “… Closing her eyes, she raised her hands before the raging waters, which immediately ceased their turbulence. Turning to face the winds, she opened her eyes and the winds died down and the storm clouds dispersed” Then she disappeared.
Peace, Love, and Compassion: these are the highest qualities that Pisces aspires towards. To get to such a lofty goal they must often wallow through a lot of mud and storms along the way. That is why Kuan Yin is often depicted standing upon a full blown lotus flower. Perhaps there are really no words now to further attempt to define what can only be contemplated. I leave you, dear readers, with that beautiful image. Who or what is Pisces must perhaps ever remain a mystery, an enigma.
54 comments
A beautiful piece of writing! I am sceptical to the newspapers and some of the rubbish you read on the web. Also cant believe how stereotyped this sign is. You have truly seen the inner beauty, complexity and individuality of this sign though! Being a piscean i appriciate that you have put in words what i could not!
x
Well, bless your heart, Jody! It’s nice when a Piscean speaks out. I appreciate your confirmation.
Hi solar twin! Happy Birthday Were you remembering this happy acupuncturist in this wonderful portrayal of Piscean diversity? It put a large smile on my face all day just to think so. Hope you and yours are well and thriving. Love, B
Yes, Barbara, you’re the one. And you’re the best! If you want folks to find you in the golden hills of the Sierras, please give us a link or phone number. You have the true ‘touch of a healer’.
Thanks Genevieve, this helps a bit with my feeling like I’m in a storm on the seas of life with my new love. Now I need to understand Virgo to point him in that direction.
Great article. It evades the other side of Pisces, but I guess that’s very, well–Piscean.
Katie,
I WILL eventually get to Virgo. Patience.
Thankyou for this piece. I am a pisces and am still trying to understand myself. every piece of writing like this brings me a little more knowledge.
You’re welcome, Cassandra. Your feed-back gives me reason to keep writing!
My oh my.
What a significant impact this writing has had on me. Thank you so much for introducing me to Kuan Yin. I too hear the cries of the world. Growing up i used to honestly think that for some reason i felt all the pain that anyone in the world felt. Then i realized I’m just an extremely compassionate person. Also, thank you for helping me realize another reason to why i have so much frustration and confusion in my life. I honestly cherish this writing, thank you. :]
thank you! im a pisces && i believe all u said was true && very touching!
god bless && much love*
you must be a person who can see very deep into people. because pisceans are taken to be very dreamy n shy n quiet basically useless people;) but you have got a very special n great gift i must say.as we slowlygrow up,we(pisceans) slowly get self- confidence n a sense of contentment with what god has blessed this sign with. i say this as a piscean,who’s just very recently started accepting herself n slowly realizing an identity i did not know i had.i’m not wallowing in self-pity or anything but it was pretty hard for me to accept myself the way i am n get peace of mind. all i can give in gratitude is 2 words;’THANK YOU’,for trying to go beyond the stereotype.
Sitara—
I feel blessed just to get your feed-back. Yes, I try to go beyond the cliches. I hope you will have a wonderful year as your birthday approaches. You’re accepting who you are and next will come sharing your enormous gifts.
This is the first article i read which portrays my sign as what it really is…rest all are so keen on portraying the Pisces as too compassionate and cry-baby type sign, which is definitely not true as far as I’m concerned. I greatly appreciate the author.
Genevieve,
I am reading your words and liking them and thinking them to describe me as I am. It is true that some days I wake up feeling not so much like I did the day before, as if I am changed and different. Thank you for telling me this is normal for me as I was born on 17th of March 1951.
Peace and love
Siegfried
Siegfried,
Good! Self-acceptance is so important, and flowing with yourself and life is perfect for a Pisces.
Genevieve thank you for this little bit of writing…..it made a world of difference to me today…..
I absolutely cannot wait until Scorpio is up! I am so anxious! :]
Well, Natasha, November isn’t that far off!
Genevieve,
Thank you so much for the indepth insight you have shared so beautifully about those of us who are Pisces. I have always known that what is inside me is often hard to express & even harder for most others to understand. Your descriptions through out this writing are spot on & verbalize what I know, & what I am, or what I am becoming, but I could never have said it so well. Thanks also for the introduction of Kuan Yin, I must read more about her.
Blessings & much thanks,
Sue
Great writing and damn accurate. Where’s Aquarius though? I was born Feb. 20….I look forward to reading it. Thanks for the wonderful work!
Ask, and you will receive! Voila. I’ve just published my Aquarian article Part I. I appreciate your support.
hi Genevieve im a pisces male and can i ask you, what’s the use of being pisces? is there any qualities that are useful at all? Cuz all i see is my weaknesses
thank you
interesting stuff
My house (sagittarius) has been in Pisces for the last 4 months now, and I have definately seen a difference in the perception of life that has been placed before me. It is equivalent to living a dream in real time. It’s beautiful if I may say so, yet it does have it’s woes, such as uncontrollable body functions while asleep and sudden bouts of pure sadness. I have a couple of pisces associates that I have made contact with or hang with, and yes, they are definately not what i had pictured them to be before I met one. In two words, I would best describe them as being- SO ICEY!
What a wonderful article. This is the most accurate description I have ever read about my sign. It’s commonplace to make us sound weak and ineffectual, and few seem to understand that we do literally have the “strength of the ocean” within us, and will channel that strength when we need it. But like the ocean, we can remain calm and seemingly placed otherwise.
Thank you so much for this analysis, you truly are gifted.
This is a lovely piece. One thing that I struggle with as Pisces is that people always feel confident to try to get over on me. I am not a push over, but take the time to observe people. Once I see where you are coming from, you will not get away with crap twice. It is very sad to see how people do not have a conscious and wil TRY YOU as though you are an idiot. I am not one to play with when I deal with matters, but it is overwhelming what people try. I usually let people get away with an injustice the first time because I will be baffled or in shock while it is happening. This causes me to get PISSED at myself afterwards for not saying anything. But I will deal with them properly the next time. It is very sad the way people are and they usually fear Pisces becuase of our quiet – yet powerful inner strength and BEAUTY. I always wind up dealing with catty, petty, jealous female issues. Oh well, I am ME and the rest of the world better move over or make space. The best part of your article was the analogy of the ocean. That is Pisces to a tee and still water run deep. The ocean is a force to ne reckoned with …..imagine …a cruise ship is a small pea compared to that vast ocean full of untapped mysteries and unforseen powers with the abilty to swallow you whole. LOOK OUT!
sorry for some of my typos above – I was typing fast and forgot to proofread.
Thanks to both Bill and Lily for your comments, especially regarding the oceanic qualities that abide in every Pisces. Yes, the power of MAAT is part of that dynamic which can be like a tsunami when the Pisces’ inner strength emotionally is engaged full-on, be it wrath or beatific love. The exploration of the oceanic depths is telling us a lot now about the deeper meanings of this sign.
Well, as a Pisces, i get an impression that most people assume we are push overs all lovely and mushy. They tend to take advantage of our good natures and treat us like stepping stones to gain their goals. However, i would like to differ from that. We all have a dark side to us and as a Pisces, we have the advantage of knowing all the weakness and strengths of all the signs. Most sites label us as weak and addiction prone or unrealistic dreamers. It is time to change that.
Pisceans have a terrifying dark side in that we can manipulate the deepest psychic realms of the other signs and yet we draw suspicions away from after any deed. It is like we can puppet anyone if we put our skills to it. It is a matter of whether we want to or not
We just have to harden our hearts at times and maintain an inner core of strength and identity, while we weave illusions to confuse the enemy. Pisceans have an instant alluring halo effect upon us and the darkest creatures know how to use it. Instead of a double fish, we can be a double shark sign ruling the seas or even a double siren sign where we can sway the masses and draw them to the rocks like doom bound ships .
As we already have a lot of energies within our souls, we should release them to prevent imploding. We do not retort with fiery words but we can drown the disrespectful. The dark Pisces can even instigate someone else to commit the crime without staining his/her hands.
Very astute observations of the shadow side of this sign. The Pisces’ ability to be a chameleon is one of it’s defense mechanisms all right. Nothing is stronger than water because it can go over, under, and through any obstacle; this is true. So the responsibility of Pisces is very great to renounce the temptations of ego for power and control over someone. Pisces is able to align with its deeper and more universal sources of wisdom and compassion because it does know all the ‘weakness and strength of all the signs’. This great power to heal the fragmentations created by desires turned addictive is truly awesome when seen in the more evolved Piscean soul.
Pisces is the most mutable, changeable, adaptable, dynamic and scattered sign of the Zodiac (the Indian Zodiac/Western Zodiac, that is). I also believe that Pisces is the most diverse sign of the Zodiac in the sense that we Pisceans can pass ourselves as ANY other sign of the Zodiac with relative ease. We can be schizophrenic and/or have multiple personalities, just like that OTHER Zodiac sign that’s represented by two of something instead of just one (Gemini, of course). But these traits are even more prominent with Pisceans than with Geminians because water is the most mutable element and that which water represents (i.e. emotion) is, therefore, correspondingly more mutable than that which air represents (i.e. intellect). In fact, out of emotion (represented by water), intellect (represented by air), sensation (represented by earth) and will (represented by fire), emotion is the most mutable. Pisces is the last of the water signs, the last of the mutable signs, the last of the universal signs and, of course, the last of the 12 signs in general. So is it any wonder that we are utterly, utterly unfathomable? Our depth cannot be penetrated. Our depth is infinite. Pisces has long been symbolised by a pair of intertwined fishes, but what TYPE of fishes? There are not many types of bulls and lions (for example), at least in comparison to fishes. There are almost 28,000 known extant fish species, although that number may grow to exceed 32,500. HUNDREDS of new fish species are discovered EVERY year. There are many trillions and trillions of fishes on Earth. In fact, only insects are more numerous than fishes (and insects are ALSO represented by another water sign – Scorpio). So I think the sheer number of fishes on Earth symbolises the diversity of qualities, appearances, shapes and sizes found among Pisceans.
Some of us are predominantly simple and freedom-loving like goldfishes, some of us are predominantly patient like guppies, some of us are predominantly mesmerising, sophisticated and youthful like angelfishes, some of us are predominantly friendly like clownfishes, some of us are predominantly energetic, complex and independent like electric eels, some of us are predominantly fierce, domineering and powerful like sharks, some of us are predominantly child-like, playful and innocent like dolphins, some of us are predominantly gentle, charismatic and majestic like whales, some of us are predominantly primitive and old like coelecanths, some of us are predominantly enigmatic, otherworldly and unworldly like koi carps etc. We can also change from one type of fish to another. We can go from ancient to modern to futuristic and vice-versa and everything in-between in general. We cannot be pigeonholed.
I believe that Jesus Christ was a Piscean in terms of his Western zodiac sign and an Earth Dragon in terms of his Chinese zodiac sign. I am also a Piscean Earth Dragon. First of all, it’s widely recognised that the 25th of December isn’t necessarily when Jesus was born – it’s merely when His birthday is celebrated. The 25th of December was chosen as the day of celebrating the birth of Jesus because it corresponds with the winter solstice. However, many scholars believe that Jesus was ACTUALLY born sometime in March (the Sun is in Pisces for most of March). This would make sense, as Jesus is considered to be the avatar who ushered in the Age Of Pisces. Throughout His life, He demonstrated unconditional love, forgiveness, peace, grace, tolerance and acceptance. These traits are commonly associated with Pisces. Also, for the first 300 years of the Christian era, the symbol of Christianity was not a cross but a fish (which symbolises Pisces). Jesus Christ Himself states in the Bible that the sign that represents Him is ‘the sign of Jonah’. That sign is the whale and the whale represents Pisces. Also, ‘Ichthus’ means ‘fish’ in Greek and can also be read as an acrostic (which is a word formed from the first letters of several words). Therefore, ‘Ichthus’, when read in this particular way, means ‘Jesus Christ, God’s son, saviour’. Also, as already mentioned, the birthday of Jesus is celebrated on the 25th of December and 2 + 5 = 7. The number 7 is generally associated with Pisces. Baptism in water and fisher-men disciples are also references to Pisces. Furthermore, Jesus Himself was known as ‘the fisher of men’. There is also the story of how Jesus and His 12 disciples fed thousands of hungry people with only two fish and five loaves. The two fish represent the two fish of the zodiac sign Pisces and also represent the Sun and the Moon as well as Sunday and Monday respectively. The five loaves represent the five visible planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn) as well as Tuesday (corresponding to Mars), Wednesday (corresponding to Mercury), Thursday (corresponding to Jupiter), Friday (corresponding to Venus) and Saturday (corresponding to Saturn). The 12 disciples of Jesus fed the hungry people with 12 baskets of left-overs being collected. The 12 disciples and the 12 baskets of left-overs represent the 12 signs of the zodiac and also Pisces, which is the 12th and final sign of the zodiac. Pisces is 12 signs rolled into one, because, first of all, Pisces is ALL of the previous 11 signs rolled into one plus its own sign as well. So Pisces is all 12 signs rolled into one and, in my opinion, was the Sun sign of Jesus Christ when He lived on this planet.
As far as Jesus being a Dragon is concerned, many scholars don’t believe that Jesus was actually born in the year 0. Instead, many of these scholars instead claim that Jesus was born in the year 4 B.C. The year 4 B.C. is a Dragon year (an Earth Dragon year, to be precise!). Also, like with Pisces, the Dragon sign is 12 signs rolled into one, because, first of all, the Dragon sign is ALL of the other 11 signs rolled into one plus its own sign as well. It is also ironic that Satan is referred to in the Bible as a ‘Dragon’. So perhaps Jesus represents the Good Dragon and Satan represents the Bad Dragon? Even Paula Delsol states in her book ‘Chinese Horoscopes’ that Jesus might have been a Dragon as far as His Chinese zodiac sign is concerned! It’s also ironic that Charles Darwin is a Dragon as far as His Chinese zodiac sign is concerned and a symbol of a fish is used to represent not only creationism (and Christianity in general) but also evolution as well.
Furthermore, the next Dragon year is 2012 and some people believe that by the end of 2012, the Piscean Age will be complete and the Aquarian Age will begin.
Here are more reasons why I believe that Jesus Christ was an Earth Dragon just like me:
* The five elements of Chinese astrology and Chinese philosophy in general are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Each of these five elements correspond to a certain type of creature. Wood corresponds to scaly creatures, Fire corresponds to feathered creatures, Metal corresponds to furry creatures, Water corresponds to shell-covered creatures and Earth corresponds to human beings. Jesus Christ is widely considered to be simultaneously completely a human being and completely God. Jesus Christ is also widely considered to be a perfect human being.
* Earth is the ONLY element out of the five elements to contain a PERFECT and COMPLETE balance of both Yin and Yang. This corresponds to how Jesus is the second member of the Trinity, in-between God as the Father (the cosmic masculine principle) and God as the Holy Ghost (the cosmic feminine principle). Jesus is the union between the Father and the Holy Ghost, the midpoint between the cosmic masculine principle and the cosmic feminine principle. Similarly, Earth is the third element out of the five elements and lies in-between the Wood element and Fire element to its left and the Metal element and Water element to its right.
* The positive emotion of the Earth element is love and the message of Jesus Christ is love.
* Earth corresponds to the time of harvest. Jesus Christ said: “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.”
* A lamb is a young sheep. Jesus Christ is known as the ‘Lamb of God’. The Sheep is one of the four creatures of the Chinese zodiac that has Earth as its fixed element (the other three are the Ox, the Dog and the Dragon – ALL of which have been HISTORICALLY associated with Jesus Christ).
* The Earth element is associated with the relationship that a mother has toward her child. This corresponds to the relationship between the Holy Ghost (Virgin Mary) and the Son (Jesus Christ).
Many people are accustomed to thinking of Pisces as the final sign of the zodiac (which it is), however, Pisces is also the sign before the first sign. When looking at Pisces from this perspective, it becomes clear that Pisces represents not only the most elderly stages in life (including death) but also the conception, embryonic and fetal stages of life as well (since Aries represents birth and the infancy stage of life). When we get older, we become more and more helpless like babies because that is what most of us will become again in the future. Birth is the opposite of death, not life – because life is eternal. Death is followed by reincarnation. From the womb to the tomb and back to the womb. Pisces is the womb. Pisces is the tomb.
I’ve always felt something about the water signs and it’s about their natures. For example, it has always seemed to me that Scorpio is the most ‘fiery’ water sign and, indeed, the most ‘fiery’ non-fire sign in general. With Cancer, it has always seemed to me that Cancer is the most ‘earthy’ water sign and, indeed, the most ‘earthy’ non-earth sign in general. And finally, with Pisces, it has always seemed to me that Pisces is the most ‘airy’ water sign and, indeed, the most ‘airy’ non-air sign in general. Well, these thoughts of mine turned out to apparently be quite accurate because I remember reading in an astrology book (I forgot the name of it, sorry) that the natures of the water signs are reflected by the three different states of water that they symbolise. Cancer symbolises water in its liquid state, Scorpio symbolises water in its solid state and Pisces symbolises water in its gaseous state. Water in its liquid state is, of course, rivers, lakes, oceans etc. Liquid water seems to be the only state of water which can bond with earth and when liquid water bonds with earth, mud is formed (of course). Water in its solid state is, of course, ice, snow, hail etc. Solid water seems to be the only state of water which can burn, because ice can burn (just like fire). Water in its gaseous state is, of course, fog, mist, vapour, smoke, clouds etc. Gaseous water seems to be the only state of water which dwells in the air. And there you have it.
Zowie Rishi!!!
You’ve contributed an enormous amount of material for other Pisceans to read and digest. Thanks for being so passionate and engaged.
Yo, you’re welcome Ms G! I have a LOT more material for my fellow Pisceans and my fellow Dragons to digest!!!!!!!!! ^_____^
As always, you eloquently synthesize the influences of the planets and their interactions. Thank you for illuminating the processes of the year.
Rescue remedy in hand, I go forward!
Genevieve, Thank you.
Other than that, I’ve been up all night trying to express exactly what I liked and trying to figure out how to build upon what you’ve written. We understand matter and spirit and all the signs of the zodiac. I hear we are good artists and writers. Why then is it so difficult for us to express what it is to pisces? I’m afraid I’ve failed, but one thing I’ve come to learn over the past few years is not to be ashamed of failure. In many ways, the greatest failure a pisces can have is never to have tried.
I have found that, although I often don’t know what I’m doing, as long as I do it, it gets done. In fact, usually what I’ve done is received rather well. Is everyone confused yet? Anyway, this is one of the facts that got me thinking that Pisces is the sign of finishing. I know we’re not very good at starting, but when we can finish, don’t we just finish with the best of them?
I often wonder why people see us as being mysterious. I think people see we are a water sign and they see how Cancer and Scorpio often hide in their shells. Then they get confused when we fish, although not obviously outgoing, are so quick to offer up everything of ourselves to those who bother to get close to us. I think they assume there must be some sort of trickery afoot, but honestly, I just want to be understood (and loved).
Lastly and most certainly, I’d like to point my fellow pisceans to the story of King Canute on the seashore. I think it speaks volumes about, what seems to me, like pisces personality.
Thank you, Curt, for your insights and truly helpful observations. As a ‘sister-Pisces’ I try to live my life so I won’t have any regrets when I leave, especially in my relationships with other people. That seems to fit also with what you say about finishing things. I’m not familiar with King Canute. Can you enlighten me?
King Canute was the ruler of Denmark, England, Norway and Sweden. He lived from about 985 until 1035. I can’t find his birth date, so I’m not certain he actually was a pisces, but in the story I see some very Piscean traits.
The story goes like this:
Like all powerful men king Canute was surrounded by people who would constantly sing his praises and tell him how great he was. They said he was the greatest man ever to walk the face of the earth. They said he was the lord of all land and sea. Nothing was beyond the great King Canute. One day King Canute grew tired of all their adoration. As he walked along the beach, he saw that the tide was coming in and called for his servants to bring his chair to the shore.
After they did so, Canute said to his advisors “Do you think that the water will dare wet my feet?”
“Surely not,” his advisors answered. “For even the water must fear your power!”
The king nodded and turned to the water. “Water! I command you not to wet my feet!” He then sat in his chair.
Before long a small wave lapped at the king’s foot. The king grew outraged and thrashed about wildly. His servants feared their king was going insane. “Water! I demand that you never again wet my feet!” he then sat in his chair. Soon, another small wave came and wet the king’s feet. This continued throughout the day until not only the king’s feet were under water, but his robe was wet as well. Despite the king’s commands, the tide rose as it has always done.
Finally the king rose and turned to his advisors, who now thought he was insane. With a sigh he said “It seems, my friends, that I am not so powerful as you would have me think. Perhaps now you will remember that there is only one king who is all-powerful, and it is he who rules the land and sea.”
As a pisces, I like to look at the story from multiple perspectives. The sea shows the reserved strength of the Pisces quit well, I think. It doesn’t grow angry at the king and shows neither malice nor jealousy. Like Pisces at it’s finest, the sea rises because that is what the sea does. (I sometimes laugh that pisces is “mutable”, knowing that we are also always the same.) Also like the spiritual Pisces, the sea is following the will of a greater power.
For Canute’s part, I like how he doesn’t just come out and tell his servants they are wrong or try to correct them, but instead he shows them it would be good for them to correct themselves. He shows diplomacy and creativity, even though he is king and certainly has the authority to take a more direct approach. Also, who but a pisces would ask for less praise? and again there is Canute’s spiritual belief that there is a force greater than even the greatest man on earth.
Wow! That’s such a beautiful story illustrating so many truths about Pisces. Thank you, Curt, for sharing it.
I think you did well speaking of Pisces, Genevieve. The comments and ensuing discussion got me thinking why we can’t define ourselves… and this is my theory:
I think the reason why Pisces have always remained so undefinable is because a lot of Pisces see differences in all the people around them. So obviously there’s differences in other Pisces, I know I don’t like to generalize. Why would we generalize all of the great qualities we see in us and others, knowing that we’d leave some out?
I don’t like being defined, and I dislike being ill-defined even worse, I wouldn’t want to do it to someone else. Being defined tends to give us pictures of our potential, ability, and limitations. But as I know, there is no limit to what one can do, and what can be. So maybe it’s a dislike of limitations and boundaries that make it near impossible for a Pisces to define a group of Pisces. After all, water can get anywhere.
Have a wonderful life, lots of love and luck
-Aspiringtobesomeone
I just love how you have ‘defined’ the undefinable qualities of Pisces. That you! This sign has gotten more comments than any other on my blog and I, too, am a Pisces.
Genevieve, you might be a Piscean like me but are you a Dragon like me?
I was amused by the discussion guys! Well, I’m also a pisces and I’m at the stage of my life where I still don’t know who I am. When I was younger, I kept on imitating qualities of people I admired the most and now, I don’t know who I am, I don’t even know my own capabilities, so much that it surprises me in certain situations. But even when I’m imitating their traits, I never lose my intuition, and I love how it reminds me of things I should do or not do. Anyway, how did any of you came to know your own self identity? Cause I’ve noticed that current deep inside which point out to two different directions and I just can’t decide which to follow. Your answers would help me a lot.
Lizzie, don’t follow any direction. Become directionless. And make me a cup of coffee.
Ah, yes, humor will continue to float our boats. The ocean truly is vast and I have learned to ‘go with the flow’, Lizzie. Also, to Rishi: I am sadly not a dragon, but I dream of them constantly.
Why do you dream of dragons constantly?
This is a poem I’ve made called ‘Return Of The Dragon’:
I descend from Pure Energy
To set all realms of matter free
If evil will dominate
Then goodness I must create
Fly with me
Worlds we’ll see
You should never have any regrets
Because on me, you should place your bets
Across universes I soar
I have returned to you once more
Lizzie, for me it took 10 years of lonely nights and a prayer. I hope that no one has to take as long on their voyage to self-discovery as I did, or at least that they might get far more accomplished on the way. (I got practically nothing accomplished in all that time). The only good things I can say about my personal story of development are that it’s my own and it’s in the past.. mostly. Oh.. and one more thing. It’s helped me to understand the dark places where people sometimes find themselves, which I think is the true strength of pisces.
One night I looked around and I saw that I was in the same place I was ten years before, doing the same thing. I was always happy.. or at least not sad (and maybe I just thought I wasn’t sad. I was comfortable). Still, everything around me had gotten older and was slowly decaying. It struck me that as happy as I was, everything was doomed to fall apart and I would be unable to save myself, let alone anyone else. That’s when I prayed desperately. I don’t want to reveal the details of the prayer, But after blaming the Lord all night, I realized that in spite of all the pain, and anguish, and rage, there was never once a moment where I questioned the existence of a power greater than myself. I asked for one last chance at bliss, then promised my life if that chance were given to me. (at this point, I had very literally set two paths ahead of myself.) Several months later, I was walking home from my job, which I loved but couldn’t support myself with, and I realized that I still hadn’t made any progress in life. I looked up and asked “why?”. Then it occurred to me that I had gotten the chance I had asked for, but I ignored possible bliss in favor of my addiction to playing games (literally all day every day for ten years). Anyway, I sat down and seriously thought about my promise to dedicate my life to the Lord. I wondered what a lowly being like myself could ever possibly hope to contribute to the infinite power that runs this universe. Surely there isn’t much. Whatever could an infinite being want from me? There was nothing I could think of. Then another opportunity opened itself up to me, of the same nature I had prayed for earlier. Then I felt understanding like I never had before. I realized that I was never meant to choose one path or the other. I was supposed to strive for both a complete dedication to earthly hopes AND a complete dedication to spiritual hopes.
Every step we take along one path can equip us better to follow the other. If we lose track on one path or get to a point where we simply can’t go along that path at the moment, then it’s good for us to have something else to focus on. We never get very far along either path if we don’t decide to move, but by moving along either path we can better prepare ourselves for both. Should we be happy if we are physically perfect but spiritually decayed?, or would it be better to be spiritually perfect and physically corrupt? The pisces should answer “no” to a question such as that, because in our heart we realize that it is wrong to sacrifice either Physicality or Spirituality. When you see two paths set out before you, the answer is as likely to be “both” or “neither” as it is to be “one” or “the other”.
Perfectly indited content , appreciate it for information .
I have gotten to to astronomy, so I’ve been looking up signs lately. Pisces is my sign, and a lot of the sites out there are just scams. Im so glad for this, While reading it I realized how much it was like me. I kept going “Oh wow, that’s kind of what I do..” or something along those lines. My mother also gave me “the book of birthdays” which is about astronomy too, and It has information rather similar to this. So thank you for describing this sign!
Thanks for your feedback Brianna. Yes, Pisces isn’t the easiest of signs to fully grasp.
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