The elements in astrology

The key to temperament, the innate component of the psychological profile that is part of one's biological makeup, is portrayed in the balance of elements in the birth chart, based on the number of planets each person has in fire, earth, air, and water signs.

Even if you don’t know your birth chart, you can read the description of each psychological profile to identify those you believe are most relevant in you, in order to understand more about this fundamental aspect of your personality.

Fire

Intuition

Fire marks the Ascendant point in the natal chart. It is associated with the moment of birth, and is therefore associated with vitality, energy, spontaneity, the instinct to play - and the confidence necessary to do so, creativity, and an interest in potential and infinite future possibilities.

Fire illuminates, and is associated with the understanding, inspiration, and discovery that arise from being in touch with the centre of being, which is profound and intensely unique and personal.

Intuitives perceive manifest forms and see symbols between which they generate connections that unite experiences and images, because they are interested in the universal patterns of meaning in stories to extract their essence. Fire people ask themselves: there must be something more than this, where does it come from, how did it get here, what does it mean?

This element is associated in alchemy with the process of calcination, through which the extract of a substance is obtained, which connotes that this element is interested in the essential meaning of life experience. With this understanding, those with this predominant element focus on the future, in which they perceive constant potentials.

Earth

Sensitivity

In the circle of the natal chart, the second stage, after birth, relates to the establishment of values, beginning with one's own body and the sensations that all the senses enable.

Those with planetary placements associated with the earth element or the mathematical divisions of the sky associated with Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn instinctively understand the laws of the material world. Therefore, they are practical, realistic about their limits, and dedicated to applying skills to be productive, conserve resources, and leave their mark on the world.

Full of common sense, those with a sensitive psychological profile are organised, interested in money, security, and status—aspects they can develop naturally, as they are builders, providers, and are dedicated to serving the needs of those they love.

People with an emphasis on earth understand the laws of the ecosystem, the interconnectedness of living things, and the cycles by which, as in agriculture, everything is born, grows, matures, and dies, while ensuring that those who respect these cycles receive the peace and abundance of nature.

Air

Intellect

The third stage of life, according to the path marked in the birth chart, is associated with Air, which is associated with perceiving, thinking, understanding, conceptualising, communicating, learning, comparing, and relating as equals with others in order to establish balance and develop systems of ideas.

People with this element strong in their birth chart, associated with the signs of Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius, process experiences and seek logic that connects them to a preconceived structure.

The psychological profile associated with this element is associated with an appreciation for objectivity, classification, analysis, evaluation of situations, adherence to principles, justice, and social ideals.

The symbols representing these zodiac signs are the only ones without a reference to an animal icon, which connotes the predominance of reason over instinctive nature, with its strength in education, balanced relationships, and ideas that make progress possible.

Water

Sentiment

The fourth stage of the birth chart wheel is associated with the element of water, which indicates the realm in which we encounter a past that connects us to a family, a sense of belonging, and a country of origin, all of which have enormous power at the emotional level.

The psychological profile associated with water is related to empathy, compassion, the ability to instinctively connect and evaluate experiences based on the wisdom and understanding passed down from generation to generation.

This element is associated with the broad spectrum of emotions, from the need for roots to the most passionate desires and the most universal aspirations that connect people to the sense of the source of life.

The emphasis of this element in the birth chart indicates the ability to tune into the emotions, passions, and dreams that unite us through vessels that capture feelings and the collective imagination, just as music does.

It often happens that a person with an emphasis on one element, as the natal chart "progresses" throughout life, begins to develop the qualities of another, thus developing a balance of complementary qualities.