Pisces rules the ocean, the source of all life on this water planet. It teaches us that like so many drops of water in the ocean, we are all individuals and at the same time we are all one. Pisces challenges us to find a balance between defining the boundaries of our identity and physical experience, and dissolving our self-hood and merging into oneness. Pisces asks us to be aware of our universal connections as we live our individual lives.
A changeable and adapting mutable sign of negative polarity, receptive Pisces experiences the world through an emotional and idealistic filter. It receives images, impressions and visions that are subtle, undefined, or nebulous. Knowledge and insights seep into its mind through osmosis. Pisces has an active and creative imagination and is adept in visualization. Images, metaphors, archetypes and symbols hold deeper, richer, more spiritual meaning for Pisces than literal descriptions of objects and events. Artistic and romantic, Pisces expresses itself through poetry, painting and music.
Pisces’ sensitive and intuitive nature is strongly affected by the emotions and energies of others. Because it merges effortlessly with other people, it has difficulty discerning its own feelings from the emotions of others. Empathetic Pisces has much sympathy and forgiveness for humanity with all its imperfections. Its generous nature is devoted to easing grief and suffering in the world.
Impressionable and susceptible to outside influences, Pisces can feel overwhelmed and inadequate dealing with the physical world and the day-to-day realities of life. It can be impractical, careless, or delusional.Pisces can feel fearful and retreat into itself or seek escape through addictive substances and behaviors. In relationships Pisces can be timid and submissive, naive and co-dependent.
Being humble, Pisces feels guilt, shame and consequently a need to atone for past sins. It deludes itself by believing that in order to become spiritual it must place itself “above” a material world it believes is imperfect and tainted. However Pisces must learn to trust and have faith while keeping its feet firmly planted in the physical world.
Pisces rules mystical experiences where the boundaries that define us and our material reality become foggy or hazy. Spiritual practices fall in this realm, including meditation, prayer, and vision quests. In these practices we merge into oneness and connect with Source. Pisces also rules sleep and our dream world, our subconscious and the collective unconscious, karma and spiritual debts. Dream analysis, past life regression, hypnotherapy, and other methods of accessing the other-than-conscious mind fall under its jurisdiction.
This final sign of the zodiac governs the final stage of life, when that which is corporal or material falls away, dies, and dissolves. The physical realm is transcended and we return as spirit to Source. Pisces teaches us to let go and have faith. The key phrase for Pisces is “I Believe.”
The symbol for Pisces is two fish swimming in opposite directions, symbolizing the struggle to reconcile the polarity of the material and spiritual worlds. Pisces asks us to balance and integrate our spiritual self with our physical existence. We can swim in cosmic consciousness as we live in a corporeal body and navigate life on earth.
Colors for Pisces are lavender and aquamarine. Platinum is its metal. The gem for Pisces is amethyst. Water lilies and lavender are its flowers. Parts of the body ruled by Pisces are the feet and toes, lymph and white blood cells. Fish, whales and dolphins are Pisces animals. Archetypes for Pisces include artists, religious pilgrims and spiritual seekers, slaves, beggars and the poor, drug addicts and alcoholics, social and welfare workers. Sanctuaries, hospitals, charities, convents and monasteries, prisons and penal colonies are Pisces places.
“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin