Astrology

The Astrological Elements: an Overview

Copyright © 2005 Sasha Fenton

The Element of Fire
Aries, Leo and Sagittarius

These signs are associated with ancient images of initiative, courage and leadership. Fire sign people are courageous and they won’t hesitate to plunge headlong into everything that life has to offer. Unfortunately, these folk can’t always understand why the other zodiac types lack their ability to grasp an opportunity when it arises, nor that taking chances and succeeding against the odds are not everybody’s karmic pathway to the future.

Fire people are quick, intelligent and generous, and they love their friends, family members and their lovers with great passion, but they are more sensitive than they appear on the outside. These subjects can be cut to the quick when the affection and generosity that they so unstintingly give to others isn’t appreciated or returned in the same measure, and when crossed, they are angry, depressed and even bitter. Fire sign subjects don’t appreciate poverty or having to go without the best things in life, but they are usually prepared to work for the standard of living that they require. These subjects can be arrogant with those whom they consider inferior, and they can make others feel inadequate if they are not careful.

The Element of Earth
Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn

Earth subjects are practical, diligent and hard working, and they are often happiest when they are doing something useful. Earth people can be relied upon, and even though it might take a Taurean or a Capricorn a while to get around to things, they usually do what they say they will. These folk are sensual and they have a creative streak, although this manifests itself in different ways with each of the three signs. Shrewd and cautious, these subjects need material and emotional security, and they will put up with a lot in order to get it. Many earth types appear stingy to outsiders, but this is often driven by a real or imagined fear of future poverty.

Shy and sensitive, earth people cling to their families and keep outsiders at a distance, but once they make a friend, they are loyal, unless they are taken for a ride financially. When they fall deeply in love, earth types are dependable, but it can take these subjects half a lifetime to find the right partner.

The Element of Air
Gemini, Libra and Aquarius

The air triplicity is said to be the intellectual group, with mental activity and abstract ideas taking precedence over physical activity. Although each one of them operates on a mental level, they do so in a different way. Gemini and Libra are sociable signs, often found on the phone dealing with others as part of their day’s work or chatting with their friends. Aquarians are great ones for deep discussions, but they need to spend time alone to delve into their inner world of ideas. Some air sign folk are happier dealing with machinery, computers and electrical gadgets than with people, but most of them love company.

If an idea is needed, the air sign person can come up with the answer. Air people are excellent communicators who work in fields where they can liaise with others or create connections between groups of people. They are restless and often tense, and they need a change of scene and an outlet for their tensions. Air sign faults vary a little with each of the signs, but many of them find it hard to empathise with the feelings of others. Geminis worry about totally inconsequential matters, while Librans can be so confused at times that even they can’t work out what is going on in their own heads. Aquarians can lose touch with reality, and they can be extremely hostile when things don’t go their way.

The Element of Water
Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces

Water people often respond slowly when asked a question, and they need time to grasp a new situation or idea, because these need to be filtered through their feelings before they can make a logical assessment. Water subjects’ feelings run deep and they can be very emotional. Even if they don’t appear emotional to outsiders, their loved ones will know what it is like to live alongside their spells of boundless excitement and joy or their terrible depressions. Water folk are extremely intuitive, they feel everything that is going on in the atmosphere around them, and they can use this knowledge to smooth their pathway through whatever conditions of life they find themselves in. All the water signs can make use of intuition in business situations, although Pisceans are less ambitious or business-minded than the other two, so they sometimes miss out on opportunities.

Watery people attach themselves strongly to those they love, and they are especially close to their children. Even if life takes them away to other realms, they usually keep in close touch with them. Water subjects don’t approach matters in a direct manner, they will test out a situation and see if there is some way they can manoeuvre themselves into, out of, or around things. They keep most of their feelings hidden, sometimes even from themselves, which allows resentment to build up, and this resentment can be expressed in anger at an inappropriate moment.