At least half a dozen esoteric systems parallel the twelve Tribes of Yisra’el with other duodecads (sets of 12 elements), including that of the twelve signs of the zodiac.  My account of the relationship between these two particular sets follows.

My reckoning of the zodiacal assignments for the twelve Yisra’eli tribes is based upon the encampment configuration of the twelve tribes as directed by YHWH to Mosheh and Aharon in Ba-Midbar (Numbers), chapter 2.  In this configuration, the twelve tribes encamp about the Levites’ central camp, in four “banners” of three tribes, each positioned along the four cardinal directions, each banner to face from a different direction.

Along the east side of the Levites’ camp are the camps of the tribes of Yehudah, Issachar, and Zevulun.  Yehudah occupies the centre of the three, with Issachar on his right (facing toward the Levites’ camp), and Zevulun on his left.

Along the south side of the Levites’ camp are stationed the camps of the tribes of Reuven, Shimeon, and Gad.  As with the eastern tribes, the first of these, Reuven, occupies the centre of the banner’s encampment.  Shimeon, the second tribe, is stationed at Reuven’s right hand (facing the Levites’ camp), and Gad, at his left.

The western tribes, following the same reckoning for relative positioning, are Efra'im, Menashe, and Benyamin.  The northern tribes, similarly named, are Dan, Asher, and Naftali.

The chief tribe of each banner of three is assigned to one of the kerubic (fixed) signs of the zodiac:  Yehudah is assigned to Aryah (Leo), the Lion; Reuven, to Deli (Aquarius), the Bucket; Efra'im, to Shor (Taurus), the Bull; Dan, to Aqrav (Scorpio), the Scorpion.

Our attention now turns to the eight remaining tribes.  As in many Western mystical/esoteric followings, the four compass points (the cardinal directions) correspond to the four elements, or states of matter.  The East corresponds to elemental Air; the South, to elemental Fire; the West, to elemental Water; the North, to elemental Earth.  In this particular reckoning, the three tribes of each banner (the entire encampment for one quarter) define the elemental association of their cardinal direction via exclusivity.  This simply means that the three eastern camps correspond to three zodiacal signs whose elemental associations are not elemental Air.  The other three banners would be similarly configured according to their respective elemental correspondences, utilising similar exclusionary notions.

With respect to the particular zodiacal assignment for each tribe, this arrangement shows a functioning symmetry when show graphically:

The proof of the symmetry (along the diagonal above) of this configuration is as follows:

• The zodiacal sign Leo is ruled by the Sun.
• The Tribe of Yehudah is associated with the sign Leo, based on Ya'aqov’s final blessing (in which he metaphorically called Yehudah a lion), as well as the fact that the Sun rules Leo.  The Sun is the centre of the solar system, Leo is the “centre” of the zodiac, and Yehudah is the royal tribe, hence the “centre” of the nation of Yisra'el.
• Dividing this diagram as given above in half with an invisible NW-SE axis of symmetry, the signs reflected across that axis are equidistant from Leo, with respect to their positions on the ecliptic.  The sign Aquarius is positioned opposite Leo in this symmetry, since it is opposite (furthest from) Leo on the ecliptic.  One will also note that the four non-kerubic signs on the northeast side of this axis (i.e., Libra, Aries, Capricorn, and Cancer) are all cardinal signs, while the four non-kerubic signs on the southwest side of the axis (i.e., Virgo, Pisces, Sagittarius, and Gemini) are all mutable signs.