Sagittarius
Its symbolism: instincts put to the service of an ideal
December 14th 2017
In the Zodiac, Sagittarius, an archer on horseback, symbolizes the human being in whom reason has triumphed over the dark forces of instinct. This idea is also expressed by the mythological figure of the Centaur, which has the torso of a man mounted on the body of a horse.
The Sagittarius and the Centaur are symbols of human beings who are made up of two natures: inferior and superior, and they must learn how to control them. They cannot rid themselves of their inferior nature but must learn to master it and put it to work. What is more, illustrations of the Centaur or Sagittarius show the body of the horse in motion and galloping. But this motion is not without purpose or direction; it serves a well-considered action, the arrow flies, but not in any direction, it must reach its target. You are aware of the mastery it takes to draw a bow and aim accurately. Sagittarius thus represents one who places the movements of their inferior nature – represented by the galloping horse – at the service of an ideal: symbolized by the arrow which goes precisely to its mark.