Earth Wind and Fire. And Water.

The first thing about astrology is the elements. Out of the 12 signs, three of each are either Fire, Earth, Air, or Water. Once you get how each element works, you get a basic idea how those signs operate.

The Fire signs are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. Fire operates from Instinct. Fire can be expressed as Creativity, Passion, Energy, Anger, Spirituality, Motivation, or Lust. Fire can be warm and generous, it can be a hot temper. Fire signs are typically outgoing and extroverted but they can also be still and focused in pursuit of their passion. Fire can engulf or it can be a flicker, Fire spreads, but it can also be contained and used as a tool.

The Earth signs are Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn. Earth operates from the Senses. Earth signs understand what they can see and touch and prove. Earth can be expressed as Practicality, Foundation, Work, Materialism, Ambition or Sensuality. Earth can be soft and sensual, it can be cold and unyielding. Earth signs are typically reticent and introverted but they can also be charming and welcoming. Earth can be solid, muddy, shaky, dirty or pure.

The Air signs are Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. Air operates from Thought. Air can be expressed as Communication, Logic, Conversation, Nerves, or Gossip. Air can be fast and furious or gentle and reassuring. A breeze, or a hurricane. Air signs, like Fire, are typically outgoing and extroverted - but sometimes the constant chatter of the Air stays mostly in the thoughts and the nerves.

The Water signs are Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. Water operates from Feeling. Water can be expressed as Emotion, Compassion, Depth, Mystery, Mire or Melancholy. Water can be infinite and unknown, it can be the very most comfortable place to be. Water signs are introverted and receptive but they can be as powerful and overwhelming as thunderstorms.

It's important to remember a couple of things. First ~ these are just a few of billions of words that could be used to describe each element. It's kind of like trying to describe the color Blue. Just like a color, an element has endless ways it can be expressed ~ it's more about getting the gist of its basic nature.

Second, it's impossible to sum up any one person based on their Sun Sign alone. Every one of us has each of the 12 signs somewhere in our basic make-up. The Sun is in one sign, but so is the Moon, and Venus and Mars and Mercury, and all sorts of planets and points. That said, we're all influenced by the four elements in varying degrees. Which Element feels most comfortable to you?

Think about the Element of your Sun Sign vs. that of your Moon Sign. If you know your Rising Sign, throw that in there as well. If you're an Aries with Virgo Rising and a Capricorn Moon that makes you Fiery as well as Earthy: you operate from Instinct and Passion but there's a certain Practicality in your make up as well that helps to ground you. If you're a Gemini with Libra Rising and an Aquarius moon you're all Air and chances are you spend most of your time thinking and communicating and thinking some more. A Sagittarius with Cancer Rising and a Libra Moon would be Passionate, Emotional and Social all at the same time but the Practical element of Earth would be missing and they might never have a sense of stability. And that's just one possibility. Again with the color Blue.

***Beginning with the first sign, Aries, the elements occur in the same sequence throughout the Zodiac. Earth follows Fire, Air follows Earth, Water follows Air, and we go back to Fire again:

ARIES FIRE
TAURUS EARTH
GEMINI AIR
CANCER WATER
LEO FIRE
VIRGO EARTH
LIBRA AIR
SCORPIO WATER
SAGITTARIUS FIRE
CAPRICORN EARTH
AQUARIUS AIR
PISCES WATER

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