Astrological Elements (Fire, Earth, Air, Water)
Astrological elements and modalities are fundamental concepts in astrology that provide insights into personality traits and behaviour patterns of each sign.
There are four elements in astrology, each associated with specific qualities and characteristics:
- Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius):
- Passionate, energetic, and enthusiastic.
- Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn):
- Practical, grounded, and reliable.
- Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius):
- Intellectual, communicative, and social.
- Water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces):
- Intuitive, emotional, and nurturing.
Fire Signs
The fire signs of the Zodiac are Aries Leo, and Sagittarius. They rule the head and face by Aries, the heart and back by Leo, and the hips and thighs by Sagittarius. They give the Bilious, or Choleric Temperament. People born under these signs require more sunlight. The Sun and Mars, the fiery planets, are closely affiliated with the Fire Signs.
These signs are connected to the vital heat of the body, oxygen, and also rule the Spirit, and are known to give increased physical strength and vitality when rising on the Ascendant. They are the strongest signs for vitality when upon the Ascendant at birth, or the Sun in them. They are not good signs for the Moon, as they are not in harmony with the nature of the Moon, as the Moon is cold and watery by nature.
The Sun in a fire sign gives a strong constitution and vitality, with much Prana, or internal force, and great power to resist disease, but with the danger of excess of force. The Moon in a fire sign tends to a hasty and excitable nature, and to impeded, retarded, prevented, slow and difficult functions, especially with females.
When strong on the Ascendant at birth, or with many planets in them, these signs tend to fever, hot diseases, inflammation.
Water Signs
The Water Signs of the Zodiac — Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces. The watery signs dispose to fluxes, colds, dropsy, catarrh, and to excess of fluid in the body. They give the Lymphatic, or Indolent Temperament. They rule and influence the Blood, and relate to fluids, both in the body, and outside.
The watery signs have much to do with the emotions, desires, romance, the physical sensations, self-protection, and self-preservation.
The Cancer sign has to do with the stomach, assimilation, and digestion. The Scorpio sign with elimination, excretion, sex, and reproduction. The Pisces sign with the Lymphatics, and the Lymphatic Temperament. These signs are related to Hydrogen.
The Sun in water signs tends to give a weak constitution, and lowered vitality, except when in Scorpio, or rising in the Ascendant in a watery sign, and tends to diseases of the glands, fluids, and Lymphatic System. Also, the Cancer and Pisces signs when upon the Ascendant tend to give low vitality. The Scorpio sign gives both vitality and constitutional power, but is susceptible to catching bugs. When upon the Ascendant at birth, the Scorpio sign gives the strongest vitality of the water signs, and a hardy and ruddy constitution.
The Scorpio sign is the worst position for the Moon, having her fall in this sign, which tends to painful and irregular functions, especially in females, and to lower the natural powers, the vitality, and the whole tone of the body. The Moon is very strong in Cancer and Pisces, and in these signs tends to good and regular functions, and the absorbent and lymphatic systems and vessels are regular in their respective functions and actions. These signs are also said, under certain conditions, to cause impediments of speech, and especially when Mercurius is also afflicted at the same time. The Water Signs are also known as the Terminal Signs, being related to the 4th, 8th, and 12th Houses.
Air Signs
The Air Signs—Sweet Signs—Whole Signs—Nervous Signs—The Air signs are Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius, which signs are in trine aspect to each other, and in harmony.
The fiery and airy signs are opposed to each other in the Zodiac, as Aries and Libra, Gemini and Sagittarius, Leo, and Aquarius.
The Air Signs relate to Gases, Air Cells, Intercellular Spaces, Arteries, Veins, and the Capillaries of the body. The Airy and Earthy signs are the least excitable. They are related to the Intellect, and tend to worry and nervous troubles, and are classed as Nervous Signs.
Air is cooperative, self-conscious, and impersonal. The Sun in an airy sign gives a strong constitution, but of a refined and mental character rather than physical. These signs are next to the fiery signs in degree of vitality. The Air Signs are good for the Moon, and the Moon is better placed in these signs, than in fire signs, and tends to more normal and regular functions and secretions, as the airy signs are moist and warm, and especially Aquarius. The Moon in these signs also gives a tendency to worry, anxiety, and mental strain.
People born under Air Signs, and with many planets in these signs, should sleep and work in well- ventilated rooms, as they require more oxygen, and it is also well to live in a high altitude. Collectively the Air Signs rule the Lungs (Gemini), the Kidneys (Libra) and the Blood (Aquarius).
Earth Signs
The Earthy Signs are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn, and they are cold and dry signs. Taken collectively they rule the neck, throat, bowels, bones, knees, skin, the flesh, the carbon in the body, and relate to the mineral salts of the body, the osseous structures, and the concretions.
They give the Nervous and Melancholic Temperament. When on the Ascendant they tend to give a compact body, but with less vitality and physical power than is given by the Airy or Fiery Signs. Capricorn on the Ascendant tends to give low vitality, an ill-shaped body, and a melancholic temperament, being the sign of Saturn. The Taurus and Virgo Signs tend to strengthen the general health when containing the Sun and benefics. The earthy signs are freer from fevers than other signs.
The action of the Moon is different in all three of the earthy signs. The Moon well-aspected in Taurus tends to good health, regular functions, and methodical habits. The Moon in Virgo tends to bowel disturbances and irregularities, irregular intestinal functions, and digestive disorders. The Moon is very weak in Capricorn, and tends to irregular functions, which may be impeded and uncertain. Despondency and melancholy easily result, which tends to lower the vitality and weaken the functional activities. The airy and earthy signs are the least excitable.