The Elements

The twelve zodiac signs are grouped into four elements – fire, earth, air and water. All four elements speak of certain tendencies each zodiac sign has simply because it belongs to that element.

Roughly interpreted, Earth will go well with Water, and Fire will go well with Air. This is quite logical because Water gives Earth its fertility and brings things to life, while Air keeps the Fire burning and sparks the light.

Fire Signs

Signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

Houses: First (Aries), Fifth (Leo) and Ninth (Sagittarius)

Characteristics

• Action oriented
• Great at overcoming mental barriers
• Creative
• Passion for life and everything they do
• Dynamic
• Fiery
• Enthusiastic
• Larger than life
• Temperamental
• Can be destructive
• Tendency to burn out quickly if no fuel to keep it going
• Can also “burn” out of control if not careful
• Courageous
• Lively spirit
• Can be bossy and forceful
• Strong
• Self-assured
• Fun
• Sexy, frequently referred to as the sexiest signs of the zodiac!
• Great at seizing opportunities
• Driven by instinct
• Independent
• Freedom loving

Fire represents the desire for life, the will to be and to become. It’s no mistake that a Fire sign – Aries – launches the cycle of the Zodiac, as Fire signs often embody leadership, initiative and courage. People with a fiery emphasis tend to be impulsive, spontaneous, creative and enthusiastic. Fire signs usually serve as an inspiration to others, stimulating creative action based on high ideals. When negatively expressed, there can be an over-emphasis on self-expression without consideration for others’ feelings, resulting in selfishness, egotism or fanaticism. Fire can “burn itself out” when it lacks a practical outlet for its high-voltage energy. If someone is lacking in Fire, they may need to cultivate self-confidence, vitality, courage and passion.

This is the first element and has a strong masculine energy, which means it sometimes neglects the feminine within. To find balance, Fire signs have to respect and acknowledge their emotional side which translates to their relation to women and suppression of the feminine principle. The biggest challenge for anyone guided by the element of Fire is to remain calm and peaceful along the journey. With a strong need to move forward, people born with this sign tend to forget that a passive approach is needed as much as an active one.

Air Signs

Signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

Houses: Third (Gemini), Seventh (Libra) and Eleventh (Aquarius)

Characteristics

• Substance
• Practical
• Intellectual
• Alert
• Curious
• Perceptive
• Inventive
• Clever
• Ideas people
• Communicative
• Can consider all sides of the argument
• Balanced
• Smart
• Handles abstract reasoning well
• Analytical

Air signs bring everyone a breath of fresh air. Like the breeze, you can’t quite catch them, and you never know where they’ll drop you once they sweep you up. Being around them will almost always be an adventure. People who fall under this sign are the connectors of the zodiac, linking up diverse people with each other and with new ideas and information. Air signs are typically intellectual, objective, curious, socially-oriented, cooperative and communicative. Air signs bring the gift of detachment and perspective – the ability to step back from a situation and see it from different points of view, with neutrality. Air signs can truly put themselves in someone else’s shoes. They are objective, cooperative and really want to help make a better world. There’s no prejudice with these people. However, when negatively expressed, Air signs can take impartiality to the extreme and can become cold and aloof. There can also be the “all talk, no action” type of people.

The biggest challenge for this group is to find grounding and to understand the importance of their body. They have a strong tendency to remain in higher spheres or in their mind, where everything is lighter and seems possible. It is not easy to find a way to implement their ideas, intelligence and knowledge into practical things and truly make them alive. To truly succeed in personal growth and overall development, the most important thing for Air signs is to stop talking and start making concrete, practical moves towards fulfilment of their ideas. They are balanced by the element of Earth and need a healthy daily routine which incorporates nature and physical activity. The importance of fulfilling their physical needs is primal and irreplaceable.

Earth Signs

Signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

Houses: Second (Taurus), Sixth (Virgo) and Seventh (Capricorn)

Characteristics

• Grounded and down to earth
• Slow and steady
• Sense of duty
• Responsible
• Reliable
• Dependable
• Indulges in the finer things in life
• Stubborn
• Wary of change
• Builders
• Loyal
• Stable
• Practical
• Materialistic
• Goal setters
• Persistent
• Patience
• Committed
• Disciplined

Earth signs aren’t risk takers. They prefer a sure thing. They are the builders of the zodiac. Whether it’s building jobs, a home or creating comfortable rooms within that home through the acquisition of possessions, Earth signs are all about what is solid around them. Those influenced by this element feel best once they have accumulated a good number of worldly possessions. They possess the gift of bringing dreams into reality, therefore represent manifestation in the physical world. Pragmatism, endurance, ambition and sensuality are typical Earth-sign qualities. An unbalanced Earth sign can lead to materialism, greed, over-indulgence, stagnation and fear. The Earth signs sometimes forget that there is more to life than the five senses, and that the inner or mystical world is as “real” as the physical plane.

Earth signs who are out of balance need to shake off their stubborn habits, make changes to their life, break up their routine and stop questioning every decision they make. Their sense of purpose has to be clear and their contact with emotions strong and unshakeable, and this takes a special effort. The best exercise for anyone pressured by Earth is dance which is spontaneous and carefree.

Water Signs

Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

Houses: Fourth (Cancer), Eighth (Scorpio) and Twelfth (Pisces)

Characteristics

• Emotional
• Intuitive
• Nurturing
• Compassionate
• Resourceful
• Creative
• Imaginative
• Very sensitive
• Mysterious
• Refreshing
• More likely to be Psychic than any other sign
• Security is important
• In touch with their, and everyone else’s, emotions
• Paranoia
• Escapists
• Over-reactive tendencies
• Fluid and flowy

Water signs are the emotional people of the zodiac – something not generally held in high regard in our contemporary culture. They are extremely sensitive to their environment, are in touch not only with their own deep feelings, but with everyone else’s as well. They are usually the psychics of the zodiac. Water signs are intuitive and sensitive, and they feel more intensely than the rest. They are emotional and nurturing, and like a river, they run deep. How things feel is what matters to these people, and they base their actions on sense, rather than on logic or intellect. Water signs are also about compassion and understanding, since the receptive talents of these individuals are remarkably high. Water signs can take in the feelings of others, process them and put forth a plan or solution that will be conscientious to all. The down side to this sensitivity is the potential for absorbing other people’s emotions to the point of feeling overwhelmed. It is important that water signs take time out alone to recharge regularly.

Water signs also have a tendency to be susceptible to mood swings and can become self-indulgent, controlling and hostage to a fantasy world. Because water signs feel everything intensely they can be incredible lovers, but they can also be fickle too. The most faithful of the water signs is Scorpio because it is a fixed sign. The least is Pisces because Pisces loves everyone and everything and finds it difficult to limit their affections. Of course, these are sweeping generalisation! If a Pisces has a Leo ascendant and a Taurus Moon you can bet they will be faithful to the point of possessiveness and if a Scorpio has a Sagittarius ascendant and a Gemini Moon they may not be possessive at all.

See Ales: Part 1 – Introduction to Astrology, Part 2 – The Planets, Part 3 – The 12 Houses, Part 5 – The Qualities