it's elementary!
by Jill Kirby | 13 april, 1999
The basic underlying principles of life, and therefore of Astrology, are the four elements, Fire, Earth, Air and Water. These are the four fundamental manifestations of energy. Astrologically, they represent specific types of consciousness and perception.
Cultures throughout the world have incorporated the four elements into their philosophical, religious or mythological traditions. For example, a Zen Buddhist tract written in 1004 A.D., represents our traditional elements as the four qualities that make up creation: light, airiness, fluidity and solidity.
"Knowing the unique elemental balance in yourself and others can contribute to greater understanding, acceptance and compassion."
The Greeks equated the elements with the four human faculties: moral (fire), physical (earth), intellectual (air) and aesthetic and soul (water). These were imported by Medieval and Renaissance Europe and correlated with the four "humours", which in turn gave rise to the specific human temperaments found in early medical texts of Europe as well as in the literary works of Shakespeare and others.
An understanding of the elements can be extremely helpful in understanding human nature and relationships. Each of the signs of the Zodiac belongs to one of the four elements, and planets placed in a given sign partake of that essence. Each of us has all of the signs of the Zodiac in our birth chart, with the placement of the Planets emphasizing some elements more than others, creating a unique balance in each person.
Fire brings light into darkness. It is the spark of life. Its volatility and unpredictability make it impossible to contain in any one shape, size or form. The Fire signs, Aries, Leo and Sagittarius, all exhibit some degree of the high spirits, direct honesty, enthusiasm, strength and spontaneity characteristic of this fiery family. They need freedom. They sometimes come across as willful and lacking in self-control, as their endearing childlike qualities, when exaggerated, can appear as simply childish.
Earth is about the here-and-now reality of material existence. It is the matter of which everything, including the human body, is composed. The Earth signs, Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn, emphasize the physical senses. They have an innate understanding of how the material world functions, which gives them more patience and self-discipline than other signs. Earth is stable and unmoving, and the Earth signs demonstrate endurance, strength and dependability. They can be too inflexible, stodgy, conservative and may appear to lack imagination and excitement because of their need for practicality.
Air is the breath of life and "in the beginning there was the word". Air is the realm of ideas, concepts, energy actualized into patterns of thought. The Air signs, Gemini, Libra and Aquarius, are concerned with relationships in an abstract sort of way. Like Fire, Air is without shape or form and, being invisible, it even appears to lack substance altogether. The Air signs have the ability to detach from the immediate experience of daily life, giving them objectivity, perspective and a rational approach. They can appear ungrounded, lacking practicality, and their detachment can make them seem aloof and lacking in emotional sensitivity.
Water is the source of life. Water is fluid, taking the shape of its container. Temperature can alter its constitution to ice or steam. The Water signs, Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces emphasize the emotional realm. Emotions, by their very nature, are partly unconscious, and the Water signs can be very aware of the power of the unconscious mind, and at the same time unconscious of their own motivations. They are the most intuitive and psychically sensitive of the signs. If they are not aware of their own feelings, they can find themselves driven by compulsive desires, irrational fears and oversensitivity to perceived threats.
Knowing the unique elemental balance in yourself and others can contribute to greater understanding, acceptance and compassion. Even if you only know a person's Sun Sign, you will better understand their attitudes and behaviour if you can visualize the element of that sign of the Zodiac.
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