My Element ... Fire ... Aries
FIRE modifies Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
EARTH modifies Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
AIR modifies Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
WATER modifies Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
FIRE
The element of fire corresponds to the active life force, the principle that animates and energizes. Fire represents the energy of spirit. Individuals with an emphasis on fire often express themselves through direct action and inspire others with their visions. Fire seeks to realize its identity.
The energy of fire is hot, moving, and dramatic. It is an energy we exhibit with fiery passions, flaring tempers, heated debates, blazing beliefs, and great warmth. The fire type lives from the heart, approaching life with natural confidence and and optimism, inspired by the quest in life. There is a true romanticism in fire, which is greatly excited by what lies just over the fence or across the world--the greatest adventure, the perfect lover, the enlightened teacher. The fire signs have different goals but they share a similar style in pursuing them.
The fiery perception is visionary and intuitive. When operating from fire energy we go with the hunch, follow our initial response impetuously and enthusiastically, leaving our rationalizations until later. To be in tune with this way of operating we need to be in tune with ourselves; in other words, we need to be self-centered. The latter term is often used as an accusation against fire types, but to be centered within ourselves is not in fact a negative process; it is something we can all benefit from. It is true, however, that being over-fiery can result in a lack of sensitivity in relating to others. When fired up, we revel in our own dynamism and intensity, and can easily forget that not everyone is so strong in their sense of personal identity and mission. We can best use our fieriness to inspire ourselves and others with the belief that anything and everything is possible. This is the talent which lies behind the leadership qualities of the fire signs.
The fire signs enjoy the limelight and are not self-conscious. It is the fire part of ourselves which demands to be recognized and which feels angry and frustrated when taken for granted. When we feel this way it is important to express and act upon it, otherwise our fiery self can become bitter and low in energy. Fire needs fuel, and the fire in us needs new experiences, recognition, and joy to prevent burnout and apathy. Without fire life can become meaningless, and identity crises may immobilize us. To feed our fire we must greet each day as an opportunity to create our life anew.
Fire Keywords
ENERGY, ANIMATION, ENTHUSIASTIC, ARDENT, FORCEFUL, CREATIVE, EXCITING, EGO
MODES: Also known as The Quadruplicities
Each of the four Elements manifests in three vibrational modalities: cardinal, fixed, and mutable. Each mode reflects a stage in the life cycle: birth (Cardinal), sustained life (Fixed), and transformation (Mutable). Hence, when we combine the four elements with the three modalities, we have twelve primary patterns of energy which are called the zodiacal signs. Each of the twelve signs has a unique element/mode combination.
Cardinal signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn
Fixed signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius
Mutable signs are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces
The Cardinal signs are also important points in the yearly cycle of the sun's passage through the zodiac. The Spring or Vernal Equinox occurs at the point when the Sun enters Aries, Summer Solstice when the Sun enteres Cancer. The Autumn Equinox occurs when the Sun enters Libra, and the Winter Solstice when the Sun enters Capricorn.
The three modalities describe a 3-fold cyclic process. The Cardinal phase initiates and generates energy. The Fixed phase stabilizes and concentrates energy. The Mutable phase adapts and distributes energy.
The elements and modes may be distinguished in the following manner: the ELEMENTS describe how energy manifests as form; the MODES depict how energy manifests as movement (specifically centrifugal, centripetal, and spiralic).
CARDINAL
Cardinal comes from the Latin word for hinge, and it is on the four signs Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn that the zodiac hinges. Aries and Libra begin at the equinoxes, while Cancer and Capricorn start at the solstices, so they mark the seasons in the same way as the cardinal points of the compass mark the directions.
Cardinal activity is initiating, being geared toward making a new start, as often happens with the arrival of each season. Astrologically the cardinal signs are intensely active, enthusiastic in their pursuit of life's experiences. When a chart has a strong emphasis on the cardinal signs, the person's life is lived at a rapid action-packed pace. Cardinal sign people prefer to channel their energy into external events, and the way they respond is to react immediately. This can lead to a crisis-driven way of life. However, this is preferable to boredom for a cardinal type.
The cardinal signs represent centrifugal radiating energy and correlate with the principle of "action in a definite direction". The essential nature of Cardinal energy movement is to initiate action, start things, get things going. The POSITIVE cardinal signs--Aries and Libra--are concerned with action in the present, based upon future considerations. The NEGATIVE cardinal signs--Cancer and Capricorn--are concerned with the past.
[C's Note: Positive and Negative Signs are covered next.]
Cardinal Keywords
FORCEFUL. The real sense of cardinality is difficult to cram into one word (and forceful itself isn't the greatest). A compass has four PRINCIPAL points on its face: east, west, north, south. These are the "cardinal" points; they are the important points which initiate the naming of directions around these points. In general the cardinal quality provides an ENERGY and a sense of OUT-GOINGNESS; it will INITIATE action but will LACK FOLLOW-THROUGH.
THE POLARITIES: Also known as The Sextuplets.
Think of the 4 elements, and how they interact between themselves. What other element is most supportive of Fire? What element literally feeds the flames? The answer is AIR. On the other hand, if you planted a seed in the parched earth, and wanted another element to nourish the soil and the plant, which would you pick? WATER, of course.
Thus, Fire and Air can be grouped into one category, and Earth and Water into another.
What distinguishes these categories from one another?
There are a few ways to look at it.....
Fire-Air signs are more out-going and self-expressive--pouring forth their energies into the world. Their keyword is FREEDOM.
Earth-Water signs are more in-going and self-repressive--magnetizing what they need and conserving their energies within themselves. Their keyword is SECURITY.
Think also in terms of gravity vs. levity. Earth and Water if released from a height would fall or flow rapidly straight down. On the other hand, Air expands when released at a greater pressure than its surroundings, and Fire rises.
This distinction is found in all ancient cosmologies which describe the universe as formed by the interplay of two opposing forces or polarities--Light and dark, POSITIVE and NEGATIVE, etc. The ancient Chinese philosophers called the active, positive energy pole YANG, while the receptive, negatively charged energy pole was called YIN. Yang implies an outpouring of energy; yin, a containment. As you will most often see positive/negative in astrology books, we'll use this terminology here.
The best way to think of the polarities is: the Yang/positive is more OUTGOING and GIVING and the Yin/negative is more PASSIVE and RECEIVING. The positive is manipulative and extensional expression of energy; the negative is sustaining and intensive.
Further research can be done at this site
