Earth Air Fire Water - The Elements
Astrological signs can be broken down by elements (triplicities) and qualities (quadruplicities). The elements represent thematic principles of life, and in Wester Astrology, we focus on four elements: Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. Your predominant element tells a lot about the way you run your energy, the primary qualities of your personality, and your general temperament.
If you add up the elements in your chart, you’ll find one predominant one. We look beyond the sun sign for this, even though the sun sign is important! For example, if you have more planets in air signs (Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius) than any other element, that would be your predominant one.
Fire Signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Think about Fire for a moment. It’s intense and smoldering like the kind that burns coal for fuel. It’s romantic and passionate like the fire in a fireplace. It spreads like sparks to a wildfire. It is wild and free like a bonfire. It needs to be contained. It is energizing and alive.
Here in Southern California, we have to be very careful because, with heavy winds and not much moisture, fire can spread rapidly. Air carries fire, water extinguishes it. So, too, fire and air signs tend to be compatible, elementally speaking.
Fire signs are action-oriented, spontaneous, creative, passionate, and courageous. They take the lead and can inspire others. This is a creative element that seeks expression. People who are predominant in fire tend to inspire others. They are motivators. They also have a lot of energy to expend and need a lot of physical activity as a result.
When fire becomes out of balance, it can become overwhelmed, overconfident, selfish, or dominant. This is when compassion is key.
Earth Signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
The earth is a container, holding roots that support all life. It is a stable source of support. It’s material, physical, and tangible. Unlike air, you can touch and see it. You can hold it, unlike water, which needs a container. Earth is our stuff, and it’s also what takes our waste as compost, churning it into nourishment and food.
Earth signs emphasize the material realm. They are stable, grounded, and focused on taking one step at a time. They are practical and tactile. Earth signs are sensual, and they have heightened bodily awareness. They cringe at bad smells and cheap fabrics. They are masters of materiality, and because of this, they can be excellent manifestors, grounding dreams into the real world.
Earth provides a container for water, and these two elements support one another. Blended together, they can make adobe or clay.
When out of balance, earth signs can feel stuck or resistant to change. They can become stubborn or feel stagnant. They can also become so grounded in the practical, they lose sight of the spiritual or emotional aspects of life.
Air Signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
Air carries sound waves. It is always in motion, transporting molecules from one place to another. It lifts invisible particles or supports birds in flight. The element of air is the element of connections. Air can fan fire’s flames, and these two elements support one another.
Air signs are intellectually curious, communicative, and social. These signs love sharing ideas, chatting with others, and learning new things. They like to be in motion and can be restless. Air signs privilege the mental realm and ideas. This makes them excellent in times of crisis, as they can adopt a neutral perspective. They like collaboration.
When out of balance, air signs can be too detached and aloof. They can disconnect from their hearts and emotions. They could also lack grounding and be “spaced” out, which can be challenging for manifesting ideas.
Water Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces
Water trickles like a fountain, rages like white water rapids, or freezes like ice. Water symbolizes emotions, and our emotional landscape can shift from calm to angry in a short period of time, depending on life circumstances. We can see and feel it, but it needs a container for us to focus and use it. Earth and water support one another in this way.
Water holds and conducts energy. So, too, water signs are empathic. They can feel others’ emotions and energies. Water signs are intuitive and sensitive. Even when they try to limit or control their emotions, they feel them nonetheless. Water signs can be nurturing and creative. They seem to be tapped into the current of collective thought. Because they can be sensitive, they need outlets in times when emotions run intense.
When out of balance, water signs can be self-protective or guarded. They can restrict or judge their emotional expression. They can be too sensitive and get their feelings hurt easily. It’s easy for a water sign to take everything personally, and this often needs to be balanced.
Element Dominant - Element Deficient
When someone lacks an elemental expression in their charts, they often attract relationships with people who embody that element. When someone is water deficient, they may be insensitive or be detached from their emotions. When someone is earth deficient, they may be spacy, impulsive, or have a difficult time manifesting their goals. When someone is air deficient, they may need help structuring logical ideas or need to refine their communication skills. When someone is fire deficient, they may need to access courage, build their sense of confidence, or find more inspiration and passion in life.
If you have a good balance of elements, that suggests you have a balanced personality!
To find out which one element is your dominant one, fill out the form below.
Sign Element
Planet
Sun
Moon
Ascendant
Mercury
Venus
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
Count the elements. Which one has the most? Which one has the least? Do you have a good balance?