Astrology and The Classical Elements - Western Astrology

Western Astrology

In Western tropical astrology, there are always 12 astrological signs; thus, each of the four elements is associated with 3 signs of the Zodiac which are always located exactly 120 degrees away from each other along the ecliptic and said to be in trine with one another. Most modern astrologers use the four classical elements extensively, (also known as triplicities) and indeed it is still viewed as a critical part of interpreting the astrological chart.

Beginning with the first sign Aries which is a Fire sign, the next in line Taurus is Earth, then to Gemini which is Air, and finally to Cancer which is Water. This cycle continues on twice more and ends with the twelfth and final astrological sign, Pisces. The elemental rulerships for the twelve astrological signs of the zodiac (according to Marcus Manilius) are summarised as follows:

  • Fire — 1 - Aries; 5 - Leo; 9 - Sagittarius - hot, dry, ardent
  • Earth — 2 - Taurus; 6 - Virgo; 10 - Capricorn - heavy, cold, dry
  • Air — 3 - Gemini; 7 - Libra; 11 - Aquarius - light, hot, wet
  • Water — 4 - Cancer; 8 - Scorpio; 12 - Pisces - wet, soft, cold

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