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Modalities (Modes)

If you've been following my posts, you know the twelve zodiac signs and their elements. But modalities are another way to categorize the signs, albeit less known than elements. The three modalities are cardinal, fixed, and mutable. Let's go over them!

If you are an Aries, Capricorn, Libra, or Cancer, you are a cardinal sign. Cardinal signs are expressive, assertive, leading, and self-starting, but they struggle with resting and turning off "go mode".

Aries is the cardinal fire sign (for obvious reasons); Aries energy involves two things: being first and going fast

Capricorn is the cardinal earth sign: Capricorns are ambitious and driven to achieve their goals.

Libra is the cardinal air sign: Libra is all about one-on-one partnerships and taking forward steps to make connections.

Cancer is the cardinal water sign: Cancer represents motherhood and the drive to nurture and sustain life.

If you are a Leo, Taurus, Aquarius, or Scorpio, you are a fixed sign. Fixed signs are stable, dependable, determined, and persistent, but their unwillingness to change can cause problems.

Leo is the fixed fire sign: Leos are loyal and proud, and nothing an outside person says can change their opinion of themselves or their friends/partner.

Taurus is the fixed earth sign: Stubborn, inflexible, and reliable.

Aquarius is the fixed air sign: Aquarius has their own fixed ideals and their own fixed opinions.

Scorpio is the fixed water sign: Powerful and determined, nothing can stop Scorpio when it really wants something.

If you are a Sagittarius, Virgo, Gemini, or Pisces, you are a mutable sign. Mutable signs are flexible, tolerant, pleasing, and selfless, but tend to struggle with distractions.

Sagittarius is the mutable fire sign: Sagittarius is good at seeing the big picture and inspiring other people.

Virgo is the mutable earth sign: The ultimate multitasker, Virgo often struggles with distractions and having their energy in too many places at once

Gemini is the mutable air sign: Mentally flexible, Gemini can mold to fit any situation they're in.

Pisces is the mutable water sign: Pisces is very sensitive and also absorbs others' feelings

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Elements in Astrology

So if you’re a bit more experienced in astrology (or if you’ve watched Avatar, the Last Airbender), you know about the four elements. Fire, earth, water, and air. Or whatever order you’ve heard them in. If you’re just beginning to dabble in astrology, you’ve probably heard people saying things like ��fire sign” and “water sign” and whatnot. That’s what I’m going to be going over today.

There are twelve zodiac signs (refer to my last post if you’re unfamiliar), and four elements. If you passed math in primary school (I sure didn’t), you know that twelve divided by four is three. Twelve signs, four elements, three signs for each element. Three earth signs, three air signs, et cetera et cetera. Let’s get started.

FIRE SIGNS

If you’re an Aries (born between March 21 and April 19), a Leo (born between July 23 and August 22), or a Sagittarius (born between November 22 and December 21), you are a fire sign.

In short, fire signs are...uh...fiery. Think energetic, enthusiastic, outgoing, and restless. Let’s look at Aries, for example. Aries is the very first out of the zodiac signs (even though Aries season starts in March. I know, it’s confusing at first). Aries is all about being first. When you think about fire signs, people usually think of Aries traits. Loud, unashamed, and competitive. That’s that Aries energy. Now onto Leo. You’ve probably heard stories about Leos. They’re not always the drama queens that stereotypes make them out to be. Leo is a fixed fire sign (more on that later). When you think of Aries, you probably think of, like, a wildfire. Or a flamethrower. Or both. But Leo is more like a cozy fire burning in a fireplace. (A rather grand fireplace. In an extravagant manor.) Leos don’t like change. It’s just a fact. Though fire is a difficult element to contain, Leos know what they want and don’t have any intention of changing their ways. Okay, Sagittarius. Sagittarius fire is like a beach bonfire at three in the morning with the entire population of your city invited. If there’s only one word (or phrase, I guess) to describe Sagittarius, it’s people person. Or chill. It’s all good in Sagittarius town. Sagittarius is a fire sign though, and they’re absolutely burning up at the idea of adventure, or exploration. Sagittarius is desperate to soak up every bit of knowledge or cool fact that it can get its hands on. 

EARTH SIGNS

If you’re a Taurus (born between April 20 and May 20), a Virgo (born between August 23 and September 22), or a Capricorn (born between December 22 and January 19), you are an earth sign.

Okay, earth signs. Think about a tree’s roots. Earth signs are grounded, stable, and happiest when they’re secure and comfortable. Let’s talk Taurus. If you’ve heard zodiac stereotypes at all, you’ve definitely heard the Taurus-is-stubborn trope. And it’s true. But not necessarily a bad thing. Think of a dandelion in a sidewalk crack. Taurus is attached and has no intention of being uprooted. Taurus is materialistic. Cooking dinner for their spouse, cuddling, bubble baths, or...getting intimate is a dream for a Taurus. It loves having physical things and hates losing them. Alright, Virgo. Virgo is unbelievably independent. Taurus might be stubborn about sharing, but a Virgo will not let you do them any favors. Virgos can and will do it all themselves. Constantly analyzing, moving from place to place, listing, counting, cleaning, etc. is a regular Tuesday for a Virgo. Virgos are control freaks because they want to feel safe. And a Virgo feels safest when they rely on someone they can always trust--themselves. On to Capricorn. (The sea-goat. But it’s an earth sign. If you’re distraught about this, wait until you hear about Aquarius). Capricorns are career gals. They have goals and they know how to get after them. “Do it here, do it now, get it done, no second chances” is a Capricorn’s mantra. Capricorns strive to remained focused and present. They’re ambitious and relentlessly pursue the things they want.

AIR SIGNS

If you’re a Gemini (born between May 21 and June 20), a Libra (born between September 23 and October 22) or an Aquarius (born between January 20 and February 18), you are an air sign. 

Air signs are intellectual and communicative. The person who told you about astrology was probably an air sign, honestly. Oh boy, time to talk about Gemini. If there’s any zodiac sign who is unjustly slandered, it’s Gemini. Geminis are masters of code-switching. They’ve got “work mode”, “phone voice”, etc. Air molecules are constantly twisting and moving around each other, and that’s Gemini. Ruled by Mercury (like Virgo), they’re always talking, gossiping, thinking, reading, chatting......what was I saying? Libra! Libra represents the scales. If Gemini is all about being one or the other, Libra is the complete opposite. It strives for complete balance and harmony. Libra, like Taurus, is ruled by Venus, and boy, does Libra exhibit that Venusian energy! Libra is a lover of all things fine arts. Though it can come across as self-absorbed and superficial, Libra has a deep appreciation for beauty, poetics, rhythm, etc. Now, Aquarius (yes, AQUARIUS is an air sign. Internal screaming). Aquarius is a really deep thinker. They’re unique and innovative, and the ones on the front lines of protests. If Gemini is about identity and Libra is about partnership, Aquarius is about the bigger picture, and are often thinking about something far bigger than themselves, which they express in their creativity.

WATER SIGNS

If you’re a Cancer (born between June 21 and July 22), a Scorpio (born between October 23 and November 21), or a Pisces (born from February 19 to March 20), you are a water sign.

“Emotional” and “intuitive” are two words I would use to describe these signs. Water is feminine, receptive, hidden, and...”deep”. Pun not intended. Cancer is the shallowest water of the three. This doesn’t mean Cancer is superficial. Cancer is the shoreline, brimming with coral and minnows and such. Cancer is considered the “mother�� of the zodiac; nurturing, caring, protective...but also kind of like one of those helicopter parents. Often unfairly portrayed as a crybaby, Cancer is rightly represented as a crab---tucked inside its shell, but with massive claws at the ready. Scorpio is at the very bottom of the ocean, buried under its intense feelings. Living in an ocean of a Scorpio’s passion and emotion can be intimidating but also kind of magnetic. It has the memory of an elephant and an unrivaled secret-keeping skill, but this also means Scorpio’s rarely forgive and certainly never forget. Pisces is the last sign of the zodiac, and also an “old soul”. If Cancer is the shore and Scorpio is the ocean floor, Pisces is the undiscovered bits of the ocean we have yet to explore. If Aries is the infant of the zodiac and Aquarius the grandfather, Pisces is something between life and death altogether. Pisceans exist in realms of art, sensitivity, and dreams. It’s hard to get Pisces out of its own head sometimes. Out of all of the signs, Pisces is most connected to its unconscious mind.

TL;DR? In this post I’m discussing zodiac signs and their elements. If you want a simpler start to astrology, check out my last post. And don’t be afraid to follow...although I’m a Cancer, I won’t pinch. ;)

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Introduction to Astrology

Astrology can definitely seem like a daunting subject to study. Looking at my notebook would be enough to send a baby astrologer into cardiac arrest. So that’s where I come in, and there’s no better place to start than the beginning.

There are twelve signs in the zodiac. Maybe you knew that already. Maybe you didn’t. I’m assuming you’ve never even heard of zodiac signs, so I’m gonna go over them.

ARIES (“THE RAM”): MARCH 21 - APRIL 19

POSITIVE TRAITS: courageous, confident, enthusiastic, fearless, competitive, independent, passionate, pioneering

NEGATIVE TRAITS: short-tempered, impatient, combative, rude, selfish, inconsiderate, argumentative, insensitive

TAURUS (“THE BULL”): APRIL 20 - MAY 20

POSITIVE TRAITS: devoted, affectionate, reliable, patient, productive, sensual, trustworthy, resourceful

NEGATIVE TRAITS: materialistic, possessive, stubborn, lazy, unreasonable, greedy, predictable, inflexible

GEMINI (“THE TWINS”): MAY 21 - JUNE 20

POSITIVE TRAITS: clever, curious, adaptable, intelligent, witty, versatile, inquisitive, chatty

NEGATIVE TRAITS: anxious, nervous, indecisive, immature, easily bored, inconsistent, sarcastic, nosy

CANCER (“THE CRAB”): JUNE 21 - JULY 22

POSITIVE TRAITS: imaginative, comforting, caring, sympathetic, empathetic, nurturing, protective, sentimental

NEGATIVE TRAITS: defensive, manipulative, moody, clingy, nagging, over-emotional, insecure, clannish

LEO (“THE LION”): JULY 23 - AUGUST 22

POSITIVE TRAITS: generous, faithful, brave, creative, entertaining, vibrant, joyful, dignified

NEGATIVE TRAITS: bossy, domineering, lazy, overbearing, conceited, vain, patronizing, dramatic

VIRGO (“THE MAIDEN”): AUGUST 23 - SEPTEMBER 22

POSITIVE TRAITS: modest, analytical, organized, helpful, careful, skillful, sensible, conservative

NEGATIVE TRAITS: petty, judgmental, over-critical, fussy, never satisfied, skeptical, cynical, irritable

LIBRA (“THE SCALES”): SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 22

POSITIVE TRAITS: romantic, cooperative, fair, charming, easygoing, peaceful, elegant, polite

NEGATIVE TRAITS: gullible, indecisive, unemotional, vain, passive-aggressive, superficial, insincere, self-absorbed

SCORPIO (“THE SCORPION): OCTOBER 23 - NOVEMBER 21

POSITIVE TRAITS: intense, passionate, seductive, magnetic, powerful, mysterious, driven, renewing

NEGATIVE TRAITS: obsessive, jealous, vindictive, deceptive, controlling, resentful, scheming, secretive

SAGITTARIUS (“THE ARCHER”): NOVEMBER 22 - DECEMBER 21

POSITIVE TRAITS: honest, optimistic, spontaneous, adventurous, philosophical, moral, humorous, outspoken

NEGATIVE TRAITS: over-confident, impatient, impulsive, preachy, superficial, reckless, careless, pretentious

CAPRICORN (“THE SEA-GOAT”): DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 19

POSITIVE TRAITS: responsible, realistic, ambitious, diligent, disciplined, mature, reserved, productive

NEGATIVE TRAITS: controlling, pessimistic, brooding, prideful, shy, snobbish, unforgiving, insecure

AQUARIUS (“THE WATER-BEARER”): JANUARY 20 - FEBRUARY 18

POSITIVE TRAITS: honorable, original, innovative, sincere, friendly, inventive, independent, eccentric

NEGATIVE TRAITS: aloof, erratic, unpredictable, distant, sarcastic, detached, unemotional, rebellious

PISCES (“THE FISH”): FEBRUARY 19 - MARCH 20

POSITIVE TRAITS: imaginative, compassionate, unselfish, artistic, hospitable, inspirational, gentle, kind

NEGATIVE TRAITS: impractical, delusional, self-destructive, evasive, self-sacrificing, self-pitying, deceptive, unreliable

Of course, not all of these keywords will apply to you, because there’s so much more to astrology than just your sun sign. (If you’re asking “What’s a sun sign?” there’ll be more on that later.) But here is just a basic idea of what each sign represents. Follow if you’re interested :)