Foundations of Astrology.
The Elements and Modalities.

“And the motion of things to the central, ie., lowest, region of the cosmos, and the motion of other things from the middle to the upper regions, and the circular orbit of others around this mid point all combine to make the nature of the cosmos a single and continuous whole. And since there are four kinds of bodies, nature is rendered continuous by their mutual interchange. For water comes from earth, air from water and aither from air; then in reverse air comes from aither, then water and from water comes earth, the lowest element. Thus the union of the parts of the cosmos is held together because the elements from which everything is composed move up and down and back and forth.”

(Circero pg 113 Hellenistic Philosophy Translated by B. Inwood and L. Gerson).

The basic building blocks of astrology are the four elements and 3 modalities. 4 x 3 = 12 (the 12 signs of the zodiac).

The Elements

Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius)

These signs are concerned with self-development and actualisation. Keywords: identity principle, inspiration, creative, life force, intuitive, action orientated.

Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn)

These signs are to do with the material or physical dimensions and are concerned with substance. They deal with tangible and practical matters. Keywords: substance principle, physicality, practical, stable, concrete, enjoyment of the tangible, takes time.

Air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius)

These signs are related to the social and intellectual spheres of life. Air signs are concerned with the receiving and transmission of knowledge. Keywords: mental principle, communicative, detached, abstract.

Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces)

These signs vibrate to the emotional and psychic planes of experience. Water signs are concerned with the subtle undercurrents that lie behind, or motivate, other people and the general psychological environment they are connected with. Keywords: feeling principle, sensitive, instinctual, psychic, inner.

Analogy

- the creative process. Fire signs seed the idea. Earth signs make the idea tangible. Air signs refine and extend the idea. Water signs smooth out the edges and make the idea more poetic or flowing.

The Modalities

Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn)

These signs are concerned with self-motivation and meaningful involvement in a number of activities. Cardinal signs display a pure impulse of being. Their purpose is to start something new. These are the pioneering signs of the zodiac. Keywords: starting from scratch and inspiring with originality, initiating, creating, conceiving, linking, structuring, generating activity, self motivation.

Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius)

These signs are focused and persevering. Fixed signs are concerned with making sure that what they are involved with is properly seen through. Keywords: focuses energy and helps to make this into a reality, shapes in concrete ways, concentrates, purposeful, determined, preserves, focused, continues on or destroys, objectifies, likes to carry on or work with projects that are already underway.

Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces)

These signs are concerned with going with the flow and being open to change and variety. Mutable signs adapt to what is. They can see what is and the different possibilities therein. Keywords: adaptive, changeable, versatile, visualising, intellectualising, conceptualising, modifying, exploring and providing dynamic alternatives and ranges of expressions.

Analogy

- building a house. Cardinal signs begin the preparatory work. They lay out the ground-plan, do the surveys and erect the basic structure. Fixed signs do the bulk of the building. They see through what the cardinal signs envisioned. Mutable signs put in the finishing touches such as decoration, fitting the curtains and electrical power points etc.

Element and modality diagram

Copyright. Stephen Winder.