Anonymous sent:

How do you think the brothers zodiac signs play into their personalities/characters? Like were their birthdays randomly picked or was there a specific reason for those dates?

thalfox:

A quick disclaimer to say that I’m no expert on astrology (I did study astrophysics tho!), so this is definitely more in the realm of headcanon and character interpretation than canon based theory 🤓

(Also I tried to add a “read more” but it keeps messing up 😭)

Obey Me: Zodiac Signs

In demonology at least, there isn’t really any connection between months/zodiac and demon. There is a list I’ve seen come up a few times that does specify which demon is more powerful in each of the twelve months, but I’ve never seen an actual source for it beyond “some people in the 16th century said so”.

Additionally, there are Old Persian links between demon precursors and measures of time, but I’m not super familiar with those (eg Abu Nuh Maimun, sole amongst the Seven Kings to have wings, is associated with gold, and has an interest in humans, rules over Saturdays, and is potentially one of the pre-Mammons). There are definitely manuscripts floating around that link demons/precursors with the western zodiac, but often those shown are the ones with pretty art, that are only a hundred years old or so. And again, different demons, or precursors thereof.

There also isn’t any connection between zodiac/months and the seven deadly sins, or with any sins for that matter. (Except PRIDE baby! 🌈)

~

Having said all that(!), there’s certainly much we can look at when it comes to the personalities of each character, and the more historical associations of each sign.

First up, lets look at the brothers:

♊ Lucifer - Jun 6 - Gemini

♍ Mammon - Sep 10 - Virgo

♈ Levi - Apr 09 - Aries

♎ Satan - Oct 20 - Libra

♉ Asmo - May 15 - Taurus

♓ Beel - Mar 11 - Pisces

♓ Belphie - Mar 11 - Pisces

The ones that jump out to me immediately are Lucifer and Satan, so I’m gonna go with the historical traits of their signs, to dig out a bit more info.

~

♊ Lucifer - Gemini

Gemini is both an air sign, and a mutable sign, which is the historical root of the idea that geminis can never make their minds up. But that’s not really what it actually means - instead, it suggests a person who might refrain from making a fixed conclusion, and is always looking for and willing to accept new information and new methods to deal with old problems.

Air signs are analytical by nature, seeking intellectual answers to any problem. They are prone however to seeing deeper meanings to everything, and have a tendency to see some (not all!) issues in black and white. With Lucifer being mutable however, he has these air tendencies but he will still adapt to different situations. This can lead to some rather mixed messages, and what he says might not be as final as it sounds.

Geminis are not, as some would say, two-faced. They’re just very capable of holding conflicting opinions, as well as presenting both a serious front while still enjoying humour and mischief. They are also very focused on gaining knowledge, both because of their willingness to entertain new ideas, and a love of trickery.

Modern traits of Gemini are: versatile, curious, expressive, kind.

So we have a sign of the air, fitting for a fallen angel and the Morning Star himself; a mutable sign, signalling one who adapts to new circumstances and is resourceful; and the idea of two sides to the whole that may very well be in conflict.

As we saw in Arcadia, it’s this tension that Lucifer endures between being who he is expected to be, and being who he wants to be, that causes a lot of his own sadness and grief. The fact that it is mostly himself hanging that expectation over his head particularly fits this contradictory personality.

And yet, he is open to learning from MC and - most importantly! - to changing his ways. His memory loss also reveals that playful side to him, and a real curiosity about those around him.

~

♎ Satan - Libra

As I mentioned, it was both Lucifer and Satan that jumped out to me, and that’s mostly because the ruling planet of Libra is… Venus, aka the Morning Star, aka the other name of Lucifer, Satan’s father 👀

Libra is also an air sign, but instead of mutable, it’s a cardinal sign - also known as a reacting sign. Cardinal signs are signs of action, initiative, and great force, and are associated with being a leader, valuing order, being competitive, but also with finding it very, very hard to let go of a grudge. A cardinal sign is also said to be able to conjure a spark of inspiration from nothing at all.

Traditionally, libras are known for intelligence, balance, being social and courteous. Like geminis they have an unfair reputation for being indecisive, but they simply like to take their time to consider all elements in play to find the correct balance.

With the ruling planet of Venus, libras tend towards harmony and cooperation, however a desire for justice burns very bright which combined with a reluctance to let grudges go can be… explosive 👀

Modern traits of Libra are: social, fair-minded, gracious, diplomatic

So we have a sign of the air, like his father’s; a personality heavily influenced by Venus and therefore the Morning Star himself; a cardinal sign that favours action and can produce something (say a demon…) from nothing (no other demon was “born” this way); and someone who values knowledge and socialising, finding a balance that keeps everyone happy, but struggles to let old wounds ever heal.

How many times have we seen Satan smooth his brothers’ ruffled feathers, mothering them and nipping arguments in the bud? Quite probably as often as we’ve seen him plot against Lucifer, the one resentment he can never quite get past.

Satan’s quest for emotional intelligence has been largely successful - consider he began as pure wrath! But he struggles to define himself exclusively from his father, the star ever present in his own sky with a staggering reputation that casts a long, long shadow.

~

♍ Mammon - Virgo

If I was to sum up the traditional aspect of Virgo in one sentence, it just so happens to equally sum up Mammon: a love of humans.

Virgo is the first of two earth signs amongst the brothers, and is a mutable sign like Lucifer’s. As with his elder brother, this signifies adaptability and resourcefulness, and a preference of avoiding conflict - however, when beliefs are challenged, mutable signs will stand and fight, and if they do so in defense of another, they will fight all the harder.

Mammon exemplifies one other aspect of a mutable sign, one that Lucifer perhaps used to but now struggles with - being an emotional support system to those around you. The one weakness of such a sign is a reluctance to speak up for yourself, instead of for others. Mutable signs are prone to suffering in silence (this Lucifer does as well!), convinced they’re emotionally strong enough to take it. But it ain’t healthy.

Earth signs are practical and pragmatic. They know what they want, and they will work out the most seamless way of getting there. Personal gain is no stranger. This often leads to earth signs being accused of materialistic, but one often recognises the difference between a want and a need.

Modern traits of Virgo are: loyal, gentle, practical, analytical.

Amusingly, virgos are said to be prone to less mischief than geminis, which makes me wonder what Lucifer would be like without his responsibilities. Up on the roof during the school simulator, he skips class in favour of bunking off and doing what he wants - having fun. And in recent lessons where he lost his memory, a very fun and playful side of Lucifer could be seen.

Mammon though is certainly fond of mischief, but as a virgo, he also fulfils the role of being a good judge of character, and an emotional protector of those he loves. Virgos have a very discerning eye, no matter how well they hide it 😇

As has been proven time and again, Mammon sees far more than he lets on, and as for a discerning eye - he has thousands of them 🐦

Last but not least, all three of the signs for Lucifer, Mammon, and Satan share one classical aspect - they are three of the four Humane signs, also known as “manly” or “courteous” signs, recognised for social graces and intellectual skills.

~

♉ Asmo - Taurus

Sticking with earth signs we have Taurus, a sign that is equally practical and pragmatic, focusing on what they want as well as connections to whom and what they love. Unlike Mammon though, Asmo’s sign is fixed, and this is the type most different from the other two (cardinal and mutable).

Fixed signs are extremely resistant to change and have tremendous willpower. They are stubborn af but also the most trustworthy and even the most reliable. This doesn’t mean that change can’t be adapted to, but if there’s a way to switch back to how things were, a fixed sign will find it. Routines, stability, and a disregard of others’ advice are all quite common. Oh, and if they are talked into trying something new, you’d best believe they might complain the whole time!

However, fixed signs are an essential factor of the other signs’ lives: a fixed sign sees the cardinal sign’s desire to do something new, and makes it reality; a fixed sign sees the mutable sign’s dream and builds the framework for them to make it happen. 

What makes a fixed sign happy, is maintaining the happiness of those around them, often offering practical help and using high emotional intelligence to discern the roots of the other people’s issues.

For anyone familiar with Taurus, you can maybe guess that this is basically a multiplier of the sign itself - or rather, it is the source of those traits. Stubbornness, loyalty, a resolute will, appear alongside an appreciation of the fine and comforting things in life. These are deep thinkers, who will contemplate things in the background before presenting their opinion. If pushed and prodded before they’re ready however, beware a fiery temper at being disturbed from their preferred habits - let sleeping bulls lie!

Taurus is by and large a peace-seeking sign, save for two exceptions: a challenge to what they strongly hold to be true and fair; and when offended either for themselves or on behalf of another. See the fiery temper above, which when combined with the resolute will can be devastating.

Like Satan’s Libra, Asmo’s Taurus is also ruled by Venus, the Morning Star, Lucifer. Simeon mentions that Asmo was always at Lucifer’s side in the Celestial Realm, and in demonology, Asmodeus is regularly referred to as the King of Hell, here instead following the lead of his elder brother. 

Modern traits of Taurus are: strong, sensual, dependable, creative.

So! For Asmo here we have the sensual, creative, and strong sign, the lover of beauty and the fine things in life, the relisher of routine, and the stubborn ass, who nonetheless gains happiness from those around them, and in supporting others. This is a sign who keeps much beneath the surface with those deep thoughts, and may be mistaken for materialistic on the surface.

Some parts may sound less fitting for Asmo until you consider how he regards MC - seeking to improve their happiness, to share his beauty and pampering routines, and thankful for MC’s approval that Asmo doesn’t need to change at all!

(Note, as with all the signs mentioned, negative traits can be worked against! This Taurus writer is very open to hearing other people out ^^)

~

♓ Beel & Belphie - Pisces

It’s perhaps no surprise that Venus and thus Lucifer feature largely in the twins’ sign, the mutable waters of Pisces. Not the ruling planet, as that honour goes to Jupiter, also an extremely fitting choice. But Venus is what brings tenderness to Pisces, and a desire for peace. 

Lucifer we know was very close to the twins (and Lilith) as angels, with Beel becoming his bodyguard, and Belphie hero-worshipping him even as demons until he felt betrayed. Jupiter though, if we turn to the gods of old, is the King of the ancient Roman gods, the sky father and god of thunder (see also Zeus!). Ba'al Zəbûl and Ba'al Pə'ôr were ancient gods themselves, corrupted by a younger religion and banished to hell as demons. Ba'al Zəbûl, Lord of the Heavens, god of thunder, would perhaps approve of the association with Jupiter.

A mutable sign, like Lucifer and Mammon, Pisces is adaptable and resourceful, which are traits the twins needed more than almost any other brother. Beel lost his angel wings in exchange for fragile wings weighed down by his punishing sin, while Belphie lost his wings and his love for humans in one awful moment, both brothers hurled into guilt and grief. 

Pisces is known for being the most flexible sign, but it is also the most impressionable. Highly tuned to emotions, recognising that a simple feeling can have complex and conflicting origins, the two fish fighting beneath an unclear surface represent a sign that can be hard to comprehend from the outside.

Water signs listen to their heart before their head, which can make them very self-aware of their own emotions. However, with logic given second place, negative feelings can grow unchecked, leading to self-destruction. High empathy is the upside to this increased sensitivity, but it can be tricky to avoid becoming an emotional sponge. These signs can become overwhelmed, resulting in sheer panic… or complete shutdown.

Modern traits of Pisces are: empathetic, affectionate, wise, artistic.

Beel exemplifies the emotionally honest and tender-hearted traits of this sign, easily adapting to new situations, and happy to try new things, albeit hiding a very deep sadness of his own. Belphie is the more negative side of this sign - Beel might be the still waters that run deep, but his twin is the turbulent waves of unknown direction. 

Belphie is highly tuned to Beel’s emotional state, but when a Pisces feels misunderstood, that emotional honesty can instead become an emotional wall. Closed off, unknowable, trapped in their own heads, this sign can fall into a spiral of negative thought in which conclusions are assumed, fixed, and thus unavoidable. Why would Belphie talk things out with Lucifer? He already knows it can only end with his death, or the death of humans. Nobody knows him and nobody ever will, or so his thoughts will say.

Pisces are very, very strong. But the dual nature of Venus (tender), and Jupiter (storm), can lead down some pretty dark paths when they struggle to open up to others. This Pisces needs to learn to allow others to make mistakes, to let his own guard down, and to give himself permission to love others - instead of thinking love can only ever end in loss and grief.

~

♈ Levi - Aries

Last but certainly not least, it’s ya boy Levi! As a fire sign, Aries is full of passion, quick and powerful responses and a whole lot of outspokenness. Fire signs are impulsive and reactionary, first to defend what they love as angrily and loudly as possible.

Doesn’t sound like Levi? Try insulting Ruri-chan <_<

Like Satan, Levi’s sign is cardinal, ie a sign of action, initiative, great force, strong reactions, high key competitiveness, and one hell of a talent for keeping grudges burning bright. While his younger brother channels much of his competitiveness (and his grudges) against Lucifer, Levi is the physical embodiment of competitive glee and rage in one - Envy. After all, it’s easy for MC to prod his competitiveness to engineer a trivia battle that MC wins, unleashing the full fury of the jealous otaku.

Modern traits of Aries are: competitive, eager, quick, dynamic.

Funnily enough, Aries is rules by Mars, and thus is the sign of the warrior and hero, often expressed through the traits of being rash, impulsive, a quick temper, and an ability to escalate any situation into higher tensions. The influence of the sun itself gives courage, bravado, brutal forthrightness, and a burning desire for glory.

Along with Leo, this is by far the most dangerous sign for a demon to have, and thus is extremely fitting for the third-born demon lord. I’ve written before about how Levi is likely far more powerful than we know - his casual summoning of an ancient sea dragon/serpent/monster, itself a god/demon in its own right and his own demonological predecessor only one small hint - which is why Lucifer is far softer on him than on any of the other brothers.

Levi is allowed to be a shut-in, to live in a 2D world of anime and games, to expend all his envy in the realm of fiction instead of reality, and the brothers are usually pretty careful not to cross over any lines with him. He has turned his own warrior traits against himself, as well as his ability to maintain a grudge, lavishing self-hatred on himself to such an extent that he has practically no sense of self left. 

This extreme lack of self-esteem could have led to even more opportunity for Envy, and yet his demolition of self is so complete, he doesn’t believe he can be envious of anyone else. Unless, of course, the issue at hand is that which he loves and is most passionate about, the one area that has been deemed safe for him to rule over - fiction.

All the elements were there to make one scary yandere Levi, but instead we have a warrior in gaming, a hero in his fictional realities, and the sense that Lucifer knows exactly which of his brothers is truly the most dangerous.

Leviathan is a lethal weapon, kept carefully holstered.

~

And there you have it! I dug into the historical interpretations of these signs, as the old stories are always my realm of choice. In ancient times, astrology, astronomy, gods, and myths were all interwoven and alas records only go back so far.

Whether or not you place any belief in astrology, I’ve approached it here much like demonology - these are stories that humanity has told time and time again, and therein lies the lesson ^^

~

Further reading:

In Defence of Lucifer

Mammon the Protector (& Lucifer the Guardian)

Leviathan: The Grand Admiral of Hell

Obey Me: The Theory of Sloth

Obey Me: The Theory of Demon Symbols