The twelve Rashis

The sidereal zodiac contains twelve Rashis of 30 degrees each. Every Rashi has a planetary lord and a characteristic element and mode of expression.

The twelve are Mesha, Vrishabha, Mithuna, Karka, Simha, Kanya, Tula, Vrischika, Dhanu, Makara, Kumbha and Meena. Their lords should eventually become second nature to a student.

A planet does not become the sign it occupies. The sign provides an environment through which the planet expresses its own significations.

Fire signs tend toward initiative and purpose, earth signs toward materialisation and stability, air signs toward exchange and ideas, and water signs toward feeling and absorption. These are broad qualities, not standalone predictions.

Movable, fixed and dual classifications add another dimension: initiating and changing, sustaining and consolidating, or adapting and transitioning. Combining element and modality creates a richer vocabulary for expression.

Learning the sequence and lords makes house-lord analysis easier because the Lagna determines which sign governs each house.

Signs also contain Nakshatras and degree-specific conditions. Two planets in the same Rashi can therefore behave differently because of degree, Nakshatra, conjunction, aspect, dignity and house context.