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There are many ways to understand the astrological signs: You can envision them as a wheel that begins with Aries — the infant of the zodiac, screaming to be heard — and ends with wise and knowing Pisces. (Virgo, the teenager, falls in the middle.) Or you can learn about their qualities by associating them with people you know or celebrities. But probably the easiest and most convenient way to get a grasp on all 12 is to understand the zodiac elements.
Our ancient ancestors believed that all the world was comprised of these four elements, and that each zodiac sign had a specific role and purpose within the greater cosmic order. Et voilà: The signs are grouped into four elements — fire, water, earth, and air — with three signs in each that express the element’s nature in unique ways. The fire signs (Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius) are bold, brash, creative, and daring; they can burn too brightly, though, and their tempers run hot. The water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces) are emotional, intuitive, and deeply in touch with their subconscious. At times, they can get overwhelmed by all the big feels. The air signs (Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius) are communicative, sharp, and intellectual but also prone to overindulging in fantasy and theory. The earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn) are solid and practical but also get stuck in routines and overly obsessed with material goods. They can be stubborn and unyielding.
In each element, there’s always one sign associated with initiation (the cardinal sign), one sign associated with stability (the fixed sign), and one sign associated with transformation (the mutable sign). These three groups, referred to as “the modalities,” play an incredibly important role in astrology — they’re used to help determine everything from personality to aspects. Each group contains its own common traits and associations that give us a broad, easy-to-remember sketch of the signs it contains. Think of these groupings as a starting place for understanding the complexities of each sign.
Below, an in-depth guide to each element and its three corresponding signs within each modality.
The Fire Signs: Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius
When it comes to fire signs, it’s easy to describe the qualities of this element based on metaphors alone. We still call people “fiery,” both as a compliment and an insult. The consequences of fire — creation and destruction — are obvious and overt. Fire can heat your home … or burn it to the ground. Read the full guide here.
The Earth Signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
Unlike the other elements of the zodiac, the earth signs are real, corporeal. The stuff that emerges from the earth — precious stones, harvests, clay — has tangible value in the material world. We can touch it, we can build with it, we can share it. The physical world exists beyond our personal psyches as something we can actually rely on, in a nonexistential way. Read the full guide here.
The Air Signs: Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius
Air signs are intellectual and communicative. They are experts in the ephemeral, the things of this world that lack physical form. The air element is our breath, the most necessary and invisible function of the human body. Air is thoughts. Air is language. Air is ideas, possibilities, conversations, connections, and transmission. Read the full guide here.
The Water Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces
We all need water to survive; it’s an essential component of life. Water can be used as a tool for cleansing and purification … but it can also create floods, deluges, and catastrophic devastation. Likewise, there’s a powerful association between the water element and the subconscious realm — they’re both impenetrably deep, infinitely expansive, and flow in a variety of ways. Water is emotion. Read the full guide here.
This story has been updated. Additional reporting by Liana Mack.
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By Aliza Kelly , 2024-04-05 22:00:00
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