Elements Overview

The Four Elements. The elements describe the basic temperament of a sign, its underlying nature and the kind of energy it runs on. They are the oldest and most fundamental way of grouping the zodiac. There are four of them, fire, earth, air, and water, and each contains three signs, a grouping known as a triplicity. Fire signs are spirited and active, earth signs practical and grounded, air signs mental and social, and water signs emotional and intuitive. The three signs that share an element are spaced evenly around the chart and form a natural harmony, which is why planets in the same element link easily through the flowing trine aspect. The elements also divide into two polarities. Fire and air are active and outward, while earth and water are receptive and inward. The balance of elements in a chart says a lot about a person. A strong element shows where they are most at home, while a missing or weak element often points to a quality they need to develop. The entries here define each of the four in turn.