Sagittarius is an astrological sign transitted by the Sun from approximately November 23rd to December 22nd. The name is derived from the astronomical constellation Sagittarius, meaning “archer” in Latin. The sign of Sagittarius is associated with the greek myth of the centaur Chiron, who was the product of a union between a nymph and the god Cronus, who turned into horse to seduce her.

Centaurs are immortal half-man and half-horse creatures who are aggressive, athletic and wild. Chiron, however, was also wise. He was experienced in the arts and medicine, and knew how to control his animal tendencies because he lived apart from all other centaurs. Those born under this sign exhibit a great love for the pleasures of life and tend to function on instinct; qualities that are kept in check by reason and reflection. Chiron became the teacher for many ancient Greek heroes, including Hercules who accidentally hit him with an arrow dipped in the poisonous blood of the monster Hydra.

Because of the suffering inflicted upon him, Chiron asks Zeus, king of the gods, to help him become a mortal. In order to die, however, he must exchange his immortality for the life of a mortal, Prometheus, a brave hero who gave fire to humans against the wishes of the gods. Zeus rewards Chiron’s noble sacrifice by placing him in tshe sky as a constellation. Overcoming one’s limitations is, therefore, a trait assocaited with those born under the sign of Sagittarius. They also know how to sacrifice everything to plant a seed of knowledge in a more youthful and fertile soil. In it’s Astrological iconography, the centaur is about to shoot an arrow. The depiction of an arrow about to be launched is symbolic of a Sagittarius’s attraction to distant destinations and his or her desire to research new frontiers. This never ending search for answers makes a Sagittarius condusive to becoming a teacher. Notable individuals born under the sign of Sagittarius include the prolific German composer Ludwig Van Beethoven, the versatile Greek soprano Maria Callas, and the highly educated Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure.