The elements of the birth chart

The Elements of the Birth Chart

Since long before written history, there’s been an understanding of the elemental balance needed to sustain life. Many indigenous traditions honor the sacred circle, formed by the four elements, and seen in the Zodiacal wheel. In your own birth chart, the mix of elements shows you what you’re working with in life. Are you grounded in earth, but subject to the tide of emotions from water? Understanding how the elements come into play in your chart can help you better understand your nature.

The Greek philosophers found the four elements in all of life, and their Zodiacal wheel of cosmic energies reflected that balance. And yet, knowlege of the elements reaches back into the primal past, as the building blocks of ancient Earth. Ptolemy is credited with making the association between the four elements and the signs of astrology in the 2nd Century AD. Using longstanding theories of the four elements, he assigned three signs to each element.

Fire signs: Aries, Leo and Sagittarius are known for being inspired, energetic, instinctual, outgoing, and active. Aries are known to be natural born leaders with a strong sense of self. Leo’s embody the fire element through their warmth and compassion. Sagittarius expresses the fire element through their quick-wits, bravery, and take-action attitude, allowing them to embrace the unknown.

Air signs: Libra, Gemini and Aquarius are known for the mind, intellect, ideas, being detached, and conceptual. Libra’s believe in justice, and hearing all sides to bring balance to all aspects of life. Gemini is well-known for its flexibility and changeability. Aquarius is slow in processing and understanding situations as they think in-depth to find ways to help and support people and communities worldwide.

Water signs: Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces are known for their emotions, being imaginative, nurturing, and introverted. Cancer is a cardinal sign, which makes them able to take decisive action and manifest their dreams swiftly. Scorpio is the only fixed water sign of the zodiac. Because of their passionate nature, they’re often mistaken for a fire sign. Pisces tender hearts emotions change rampantly, it also takes them a long time to make a permanent decision preferring to day dream before finally committing.

Earth Signs: Capricorn, Taurus and Virgo are known for being practical, sensual, and grounded.  Capricorns are the initiators of the earth signs they’re known to be ambitious and hardworking, enjoying control and status. Taurus’s are persistent, hard workers, reliable, and stable. Virgo’s take a systematic approach to life and they value truth and justice using their finely tuned minds to investigate situations and decipher alibis through reason.