Symbols by Aedites

Puzzle explanation

The 12 groups of letters in clashing cells formed the signs of the zodiac in order, as listed in Chambers, and were replaced by their conventional symbols (some common variants were accepted). The highlighted E in the centre cell stood for Earth.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

Answer Explanation
AMEBA ME in ABA
APIARY À + PIA + RY
ARABIA AA around RABI
ARENA (K)AREN A(llen)
ARTISTRIES ART + IS + TRIES
ASHES 2 meanings
ASSUAGING PASS UP − P − P + AGING
ASTER RATES *
BIOPICS SUBSCRIPTION * − TURNS *
BLENDE BLEND + E
CAUSALLY CAU(l) + SALLY
CRANING NIN(e) in CRAG
EDEN (Repentanc)E (an)D (th)E (villai)N
ELANCE E + LANCE
ELBE (Heid)ELBE(rg)
EMBER EMBER(-goose)
ENCIRCLE (R + LICENCE) *
ENCORES EN + CORES
INACCESSIBLE (BASIL + SCIENCE) *
IN-BOND INBOUND − U
IN THE WAY IN-TRAY with HEW for R(eporter)
ITERANCE (pol)ITER ANCE(stors)
LABORERS (g)LAS(s) around BORER
LAP PAL <
LEARNED LEAR + NED
LOORDS LOO + R(ampage) D(own) S(tairs)
MANUALS M(ention) + AN(n)UALS
MARBLE RAMBLE *
MARQUIS MAR + QUIS
MUCOSA (Ed)MU(nd) (wel)CO(mes) (reu)SA(ble)
NASCENCY (C after ASCEN(t)) in NY
NERISSA SIRE < in NSA
OBANG O + BANG
PASTURAL PAST + URAL
POAS PO + AS
PORTIÈRES PORES around TIER
PRAWN PAWN around R(azorclam)
PREMIER EM in PRIER
RADIOGRAPHY RADIO + GRAPH + Y
SANNYASI ABYSSINIAN * − B − I
SERIAL SERAIL with AI <
SITARS I in STARS
SOREHON ONSHORE *
STEEPENED PE(n)NE in STEED
STEMLESS STEM + LESS
STYLES 2 meanings
TAIRAS (AIR + A) in ST <
TANNA TAN + N/A
TESSA ASSET <
UTAS UT + AS
VAN 2 meanings
VAPORISABLE (ABOVE SPIRAL) *
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