The Four Elements

The Elements and Their Source

Many cultures and traditions include the four elements at the heart of their mythological, philosophical or religious traditions.

Most are based on a single source energy, from which the 4 elements are derived and become the energies which are the building blocks of matter and the manifest world.

The source energy is known by many names, including: universal energy, prana, qi/chi, ether, life force and God.

Traditions using these concepts include Indian, Tibetan, Chinese, Zen Buddhism, the ancient Sumerians and the Druids, as well as the ancient Egyptians and Greeks from which western astrology is derived.

The Four Elements

The four elements are fire, earth, air and water. They are the building blocks of all matter and material structures and combine to create all that is manifest in our world.

They represent an energy and a consciousness within us.

All 4 elements’ energies exist within each one of us, although each individual is naturally more attuned to one or more types of energy than the others.

Fire energy – and therefore fire signs – express the life principle; they are energising and warming and tend to be enthusiastic, creative and outgoing.

Earth energy is grounded and slower; earth signs are attuned to the physical and material world and are practical and reliable.

Air energy is focussed on the mind and thought processes, with perception and communication; they are social, analytical and rational.

Water energy is healing and cooling, it is based on sensitivity, emotions and feelings; water signs are responsive.

In some traditions, such as the Chinese, a 5^th element, ether, is included; in western traditions this is regarded as the source of the elements and in that sense is of a different nature.

The Elements and Zodiac Signs

Each zodiac sign carries the energy of one of the elements.

The Fire signs are

Aries
Leo
Sagittarius

The Earth signs are

Taurus
Virgo
Capricorn

The Air signs are

Gemini
Libra
Aquarius

The Water signs are

Cancer
Scorpio
Pisces

The Elements Pairs

The elements are traditionally separated into 2 groups, with natural synergy.

Fire and Air are active and expressive energies; Earth and Water are passive and receptive. They may be described as ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ respectively; these are not gender identities as such, but correlate to Chinese Yin and Yang energies.

The Greeks described them as Apollonian – fire and air, which consciously create life – and Dionysian – water and earth, which represent unconscious and instinctive forces.

The Elements and Qualities

Each element is expressed through 3 modalities, or qualities – cardinal, fixed and mutable. Together they combine to provide the 12 archetypal energies of the zodiac.

Cardinal energy represents action and is a positive, initiating energy, which radiates outwards, in a clear direction.

Fixed energy is centred and is about maintaining structures, it operates mostly in the present and radiates inwards.

Mutable energy is changeable, flexible and adaptable; it correlates with harmony and spiral energies.