Signs 10, 11 and 12 - The final dance of discipline, detachment and grace

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But don’t take my word for it. See for yourself the quality of the work produced by students on the program. Today’s blog post is a paper written by Michaela and is featured in an episode of "The Vedic Astrology Podcast" entitled "Exploring the Imagery at the End of the Vedic Zodiac - Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces".

We hope you enjoy reading this paper and find it informative and insightful. If you are inspired by what you see and want to join our program, please visit the Asheville Vedic Astrology Apprenticeship Program on teachable.com or contact me for more information. I look forward to hearing from you and helping you on your journey of learning Vedic Astrology.

Signs 10, 11 and 12: The final dance of discipline, detachment and grace by Michaela

This essay will focus on the evolution of signs 10, 11 and 12 based on descriptions from Jaimini Upadesa and Yavana Jataka. All information is sourced from the Asheville Vedic Astrology Apprenticeship Program, with some additional resources provided at the end of the document.

As we arrive at sign 10, from a numerological perspective, we embark on a new phase of our evolution. A cycle was completed from 1 to 9. With 10 being the first two-digit number, we now enter a territory that can build up on the learnings of the first cycle to create a cycle 2.0. 10, 11 and 12 are those signs that can see the larger picture and work for the larger good, based on the personal experience gathered in signs 1 to 9. 

Sign 10: Capricorn

In 9, Sagittarius, we take aim for our path in life, in 10, Capricorn, we are asked to act and accomplish it. In Sagittarius, the hips or glutes of the Cosmic Being, we source our strength, in Capricorn, the knees of the Creator, we transform and translate this force into our life. This is where the rubber hits the road. And this is also where Saturn, Capricorn’s ruler, can teach us his lessons as what is a bigger invitation to surrender than one’s own incapacity to move (e.g. because of a knee injury). It is for this reason that Jaimini associated Capricorn with “itches, defects, guilt and joints”. Saturn is a planet that points out - in a clear and sometimes radical way - what you still need to deal with. He does this to make you responsible while at the same time teaching you the ability to let go. It’s this mix of effort and acceptance, in yogic terms tapah (discipline) and Isvara Pranidhani (trust towards a bigger force) that Capricorn with its ruler Saturn requires of us. Ideally, svadhyaya (study of Self) as part of the previous signs (mostly 7 to 9) will have built the necessary discernment as to when to apply which. However, when this flow between effort and ease cannot be achieved, Capricorn is associated with “granta”, which can be translated as difficulty, doubt, swelling or tumor. This is a result of rigidity, focusing on the problems and not seeing the bigger picture. On the contrary, in sign 10, we are invited to enter a stage of evolution where the bigger picture plays the primary role. 

Sign 10 is called Capricorn in the West and Makara in Sanskrit. Makara is a legendary sea creature and is sometimes translated as sea-animal or crocodile. These seem to be contradictory ideas, one living in the mountains, the other one in water. How can we reconcile their characteristics? In Yavana Jataka itself, this double nature is taken up by describing sign 10 as having the front of a deer and the hind of a fish. Fish is capable to navigate water – our inner emotional landscape, deer is capable to translate our inner motivations into concrete actions within this mundane reality. Jaimini also talks about “aquatic animals” which are symbols of all the things that stir up our emotions, as in order to act appropriately in this world, we first need to know and manage our deepest emotional nature. At the same time “things moving in the air, planets, birds, demons”, i.e. our incessant thoughts, negative tendencies and conditioned actions, can prohibit us from accomplishing our goals. Sign 10 with its ruler Saturn invite us to keep these in check and get to action. At the end of the day, Capricorn is about a simple approach to life and doing the hard work as best as we can, whatever it takes. As noted in Yavana Jataka, “marshes” and “pits” might get in our way, but there are also “woods” to obtain resources and “paths” to guide us on our way. Life might not be easy, but if we stay true to our path (defined in 9), Capricorn will help us reach our goals. 

Sign 11: Aquarius

We have worked hard in Sign 10 to overcome our internal barriers and progress whatever it takes. In sign 11, Aquarius, another Saturn ruled sign, we can see how our work can benefit the larger community. Therefore, Jaimini describes Sign 11 as the “maker of ponds and tanks”, providing water, the most crucial of resources, to the community. In Yavana Jataka, this idea is confirmed. If well mastered, Sign 11 will create “areas suitable for women”, where peace and nurturing prevail. However, as with everything, there is a negative polarity, and Aquarius not working for the larger good will be characterized by “fields of poor grain”, “liquor” and “gambling”. Liquor and gambling can be seen as the effects or consequences of not realizing our inner peace in the previous signs. 

“Hunts of birds”, i.e. mastering our mind stuff and psychological patterns, is a prerequisite to serve the larger community. It is only when we stop acting from what we tell ourselves in our minds and start aligning our actions to our inner knowing of Oneness that the community can be benefited. This is best visualized when looking at the symbol of Sign 11, a pot carried on the shoulder of a man being poured out. This pot and its contents are representative of all our mental concepts and all the things we have identified with in our lives. Now is the time to empty ourselves of all these notions and preconceptions and let everything go. Only when we’re emptied can we be of service and benefit to others. At the same time, this imagery can be seen as the pouring out of love to the entire humanity. This, however, is not an easy task. The pot is heavy and there is a big weight on our shoulders. This is our final psychological battle before we can experience pure consciousness. As such, sign 11 is a boundary line that Jaimini describes as ”things related to shores”. In Aquarius, it will become clear whether we are going to be stuck on the shore because we still have things to work through, or whether we have matured appropriately throughout the earlier signs to board the ship and enter the ultimate stage of this lifetime in the ocean of Pisces (sign 12).

Sign 12: Pisces

The symbol of sign 12 is a pair of fish swimming alongside each other in opposite directions. This is where duality finds balance, where all opposites have their right to exist, at the same time. Brihat Parashara divides signs into front-rising and back-rising. Pisces, next to being a dual sign, is the only sign that rises both ways, which can be understood as ultimate adaptability. As a fish in water, this is exactly where we’re supposed to be at the end of our journey. We have been through hard times, have gathered resources, proven our skills, created value, shown deep understanding of life, have been able to share this with others and fully relinquish our sense of “I”. Having gone through the school of the Zodiac successfully, we are now here, in sign 12, at an “auspicious place”. In the waters of Pisces, there is enough water and fish to keep us both clean and nourished, as Jupiter, the ruler of Pisces and the greatest benefic as well as the most benevolent planet, holds us in his arms and provides unwavering support.   

As described in Yavana Jataka, this is a place of “gods” and “knowers of Brahman”, a place of “ceremonies”, “jewels”, “pearls”, “offerings”, “ornaments”, “objects relating to the Puranas and Vedas” and other positive elements. Here the sound of Shankha can be heard, the sacred sound of Vishnu, the Preserver. In the ocean of Pisces, “law” and “righteousness” rule, and the perpetual dharma of the world is experienced. It is where we have undisturbed “views” of the surroundings, where we can appreciate the bigger picture of everything than we have gone through. Jaimini confirms: “In Pisces, elevation, perpetual dharma and kaivalya”. As we arrive in this final sign of the Zodiac, we are invited to rise above, now understanding fully, having direct experience of absolute unity, seeing ourselves as the entire ocean, beyond the individualized expression as a single wave. This is where Heaven and Earth come together, and if we’re ready, sign 12 is an invitation to let go fully of any further transmigration. As is affirmed in Yavana Jataka, Pisces is “said to be the best sign”, because it is the sign of the ultimate potential of moksha. 

To close the evolution of the Zodiac, we need to wander through two signs ruled by Saturn – Capricorn and Aquarius, to finally arrive at the receptive polarity of Jupiter in Pisces. If we have not learned this up until now through the school of the Zodiac, Saturn gives us the final opportunity for discipline AND detachment, so that we can be finally immersed in the grace of Jupiter, attaining moksha. 

References:

• Iyengar B.K.S. (2002) Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Thorsons.

• Kurczak, R. (Accessed January 2025) Asheville Vedic Astrology Apprenticeship Program. Rasi and Signs Course. Available at: https://vedic-astrology.teachable.com/courses/

• Kurczak, R. and Fish, R. (2012) The Art and Science of Vedic Astrology. The Foundation Course. Asheville Vedic Astrology. 

• Sharma, G.C. (1994) Maharishi Parasara’s Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra. A Compendium in Vedic Astrology. Sagar Publications.