FIRE SIGNS
Positive attributes:
United as they are by the element of fire, those born under the zodiacal signs of Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius are said to have certain characteristics in common.
Just as we are drawn to a fire when we are feeling chilly, or gather around this bright focal point, so fiery people are said to be warmhearted, generous, and magnetic, to relish being the center of attention (notably Sun-governed Leos), and to be stimulated and energized by contact with others, particularly airy individuals, whose ideas act like oxygen on fire, as well as their fire-sign fellows.
When their imaginations are fired up, they can be highly creative, and when their enthusiasm has been kindled, their vitality, exuberance, ardor, and passion enlivens those around them.
Like fire's unpredictable, leaping flames, Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius individuals are adventurous, outgoing, impulsive, and spontaneous, and often inspirational, experimental trendsetters who are blessed with a masculine confidence and the courage of their convictions.
If a headstrong, fiery character's flame is to burn brightly, he or she needs self-autonomy and freedom of action. However, watery or earthy influences may dampen or suppress a fiery type's high spirits.
Along with having a gift for making things happen (and Ariens are spirited initiators), those whose element is fire are furthermore typically honest and optimistic (particularly jovial Sagittarians).
Negative Attributes:
Fire can be dangerous, however, for it can swiftly burn out of control, damaging or consuming everything in its path.
In the same way, when fueled by excitement, a fiery temperament can often either become overstimulated and then rashly and unthinkingly overstep certain boundaries, or else a spark of annoyance may rapidly escalate into furious rage.
Fiery individuals may therefore lack self-control, and are prone to burnout if they are unable, or unwilling, to rein in their energies. They may be hot-tempered, but their heated outbursts are usually short-lived, and once vented, their fury generally quickly subsides.
Further unappealing fiery traits include a tendency to be aggressive and domineering, (particularly Mars-ruled Ariens), arrogant and egotistical (especially Sun-governed Leos), and abrupt and impatient (notably mutable Sagittarians).
Indeed, despite their often heart-warming demonstrativeness, all have a tendency to be the exhibitionists of the zodiac, which others may find tiresome.
THE EARTH SIGNS
Positive attributes:
The earth signs are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn, and, as their element suggests, all have fundamentally down-to-earth natures.
These are level-headed individuals, who, like their element, are stable and supportive. Even when an earthquake, in the form of personal catastrophe, rocks the very foundations of their existence, their resilience and practical approach generally soon reassert themselves, enabling them to rebuild their world steadily, patiently, and productively, in typically earthy fashion.
Those born under earth signs are furthermore logical and straightforward, and prefer to deal with facts rather than waste their time on others' flights of fancy or abstract notions (especially Mercury-governed Virgos), which is why they sometimes find airy types unsettling.
Additionally hardworking, loyal, and dependable, they can be relied upon to see a job through to the end, and, once committed, to remain faithful to their friends and loved ones.
From this description, it may sound as though sensible, earthy people are rather boring, yet while their constancy and love of routines may make them predictable, it is no coincidence that earthy can mean sensual, or lusty, and, indeed, Venus-ruled Taureans have a pronounced relish for indulging their senses.
All earth-sign characters enjoy spending time outside, too, be it lazing around, hiking, or tending their gardens, for they feel grounded when they are in physical contact with their element.
And if you think of the way water seeps into the earth, encouraging growth, it is clear that despite their imperturbable appearance, earthy personalities have a lot going on under the surface, which those whose element is empathetic water have a talent for bringing out.
Negative Attributes:
Some of the disadvantages of having earth as an element include the passiveness that it bestows on its children, a characteristic that is compounded by having a feminine polarity, which means that Taureans, Virgoans, and Capricorneans can be somewhat stolid and inactive, and, because they are naturally prudent and cautious too, may do little on joyous impulse (which is why they frequently disapprove of spontaneous, fiery individuals) and may rarely take the initiative.
They can also be hard-headed materialists (especially saturnine Capricorns) who sometimes take greater pleasure in working hard to accumulate the money and possessions that make them feel secure than in simply having fun, which is why they may seem depressingly upright, serious, and ambitious to playful, air-sign individuals, and miserly to generous, fire-sign people.
Another trait that may irritate others is their slow, considered, plodding approach and refusal to be rushed, even if their thoroughness, attention to detail, and tenacity bring concrete results in the end.
THE AIR SIGNS
The zodiacal signs of Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius all have the element of air in common, and because air is associated with the intellect in astrological thought, they are believed to be united in their analytical, logical, and rational way of thinking.
These coolly cerebral people are stimulated by ideas, be they those that they think up themselves or those that spring from the minds of creative, fiery characters, artistic, watery individuals, or their ingenious, airy brethren (they often consider practical, earthy types unimaginative and uninspiring, however).
Indeed, they themselves tend to come up with the most inventive of concepts, and none more so than groundbreaking, Uranus-governed Aquarians.
And just as the air in Earth's atmosphere is both everywhere and moves around freely, so do they, partly because they are constantly in search of new and interesting viewpoints, partly because they are curious about others and enjoy evaluating their personalities, and partly because they are fluent and articulate communicators who feel the urge to impart their news and views to others.
About the Author
Clare Gibson is the author of numerous books on dreams and astrology. This article is part of an extract from her book: The Ultimate Book of Relationships. The full extract can be read at http://www.browsebooksforfree.com/books4-4
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