Who created the Sabian Symbols?

The Sabian Symbols were brought forward in 1925 through the combined work of Elsie Wheeler, who perceived the 360 images clairvoyantly, and astrologer Marc Edmund Jones, who designed the experiment and recorded her words. Dane Rudhyar later popularized and reinterpreted the set [1].

How many Sabian Symbols are there?

There are exactly 360 Sabian Symbols, one for each degree of the zodiac. The set runs from Aries 1 through Pisces 30, covering all twelve signs at thirty degrees per sign [1][4].

Are the Sabian Symbols predictive?

No. The symbols are not predictions and do not describe fixed outcomes. Each image is a symbolic picture associated with a degree, intended as a prompt for reflection and pattern recognition. Readers sit with the image and notice what it illuminates, rather than treating it as instruction.

Which version of the Sabian Symbols is the original?

The closest thing to an original is the brief wording Elsie Wheeler spoke in 1925, as Jones penciled it onto 360 index cards. Jones's 1953 book and Rudhyar's 1973 reinterpretation both revise that wording to different degrees. Moonlit Zones uses Wheeler's original recorded phrasing [1].

Do I need to know astrology to use the Sabian Symbols?

No prior knowledge is required. Each symbol stands alone as an image you can contemplate directly. Astrological context, such as which planet or angle occupies a degree, adds depth, but the basic practice of sitting with one picture is open to anyone.

What Are the Sabian Symbols? The Story Behind 360 Images

The Sabian Symbols are 360 symbolic images, one for each degree of the zodiac, received by Elsie Wheeler in 1925. Learn their story and how to use them.

Category: Sabian Symbols
Published: August 2026
Author: Moonlit Zones
Read time: 7 min

Frequently asked questions

Who created the Sabian Symbols?: The Sabian Symbols were brought forward in 1925 through the combined work of Elsie Wheeler, who perceived the 360 images clairvoyantly, and astrologer Marc Edmund Jones, who designed the experiment and recorded her words. Dane Rudhyar later popularized and reinterpreted the set [1].
How many Sabian Symbols are there?: There are exactly 360 Sabian Symbols, one for each degree of the zodiac. The set runs from Aries 1 through Pisces 30, covering all twelve signs at thirty degrees per sign [1][4].
Are the Sabian Symbols predictive?: No. The symbols are not predictions and do not describe fixed outcomes. Each image is a symbolic picture associated with a degree, intended as a prompt for reflection and pattern recognition. Readers sit with the image and notice what it illuminates, rather than treating it as instruction.
Which version of the Sabian Symbols is the original?: The closest thing to an original is the brief wording Elsie Wheeler spoke in 1925, as Jones penciled it onto 360 index cards. Jones's 1953 book and Rudhyar's 1973 reinterpretation both revise that wording to different degrees. Moonlit Zones uses Wheeler's original recorded phrasing [1].
Do I need to know astrology to use the Sabian Symbols?: No prior knowledge is required. Each symbol stands alone as an image you can contemplate directly. Astrological context, such as which planet or angle occupies a degree, adds depth, but the basic practice of sitting with one picture is open to anyone.