The Elements or Modalities

ELEMENTS AND MODALITIES

These are all techniques used by astrologers to gain a general picture of how a person measures up. How do your planets and houses total up? Which do you have in abundance, and which do you lack, if any? Those with high totals show what we can or must do in life. These are qualities we have. However, most people are more interested by what they lack or want -- their lowest totals. They tend to study their "wants," imitate, and even pretend to have them. The old adage is: we become what we want (or lack), while we do what we can (or have to do).

The 12 zodiac signs have different qualities. Certain groups of signs share similar qualities. The two most popular methods for sign grouping are elements and modalities. Astrologers like to see which of the groups their natal planets fall in and add them up to produce counts, or totals. It's fun to tally up your Sun, Moon, and planets and check out your elemental and modality balance.

The basic thing to keep in mind while doing this is that we become what we want (or lack) and we do what we can (or have to do). Our highest totals, which show what we can or have to do, are often not held dear. Most people are obsessed by what they lack or want -- their lowest totals. They tend to study their wants, imitate, and even fake them. They become or turn towards what they want or lack.

Elements

Fire: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

· Fire – Emphasis - Your positivism lets you get right to the point, and you have little patience with those who shilly-shally. You've plenty of enthusiasm and warm up to things and people quickly. You have an inner self-confidence which burns with its own light.

· Fire – Want - Your inner self-confidence may be lacking, and you could try to overcome this by defensive aggressiveness. You probably wish you had more of the self-assurance your fiery acquaintances have.

Earth: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

· Earth - Emphasis - You're concerned with preserving the status quo and are stable and methodical in your ways of going on. You resist change and may have trouble getting started, but once on the move are indomitable. You mistrust that which is new or untried.

· Earth – Want - Common sense and the ability to deal with practical matters may be lacking, and you may wonder at those who spend much time making money, doing life's chores, and attending to basic necessities. You depend on mental activity and confidence.

Air: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

· Air Emphasis - There is an emphasis on communication, expression of ideas, and the connections between things, places, and people. What goes on in your mind is the all-important motivation in your life. You tend towards mental pursuits and admire intelligence.

· Air Want - You could have difficulty getting your ideas across to others, sometimes feeling inadequate in matters that require logic or the use of your mental powers. You may have doubts about those who talk too much and seem "long" on ideas.

Water: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

· You experience life mostly through your emotions and how you "feel" about someone or something. Your intuition is strong and can guide you accurately in making forecasts or decisions. Your sensitivity makes you recoil from aggressive types.

· You may have trouble understanding those who seem emotional or sentimental, yet your own practicality and factuality may attract just such types into your life. You may try to balance your lack of intuitiveness with logic and common sense.

MODALITIES

Modalities. Popular way of grouping the zodiac signs is by cardinal, fixed, and mutable.

Cardinal Signs: Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn

Cardinal Sign Emphasis

You are an aggressive prime mover, a starter, able to initiate and get things moving. Not always hot on the follow-up, you may tend to get the ball rolling and get out to move on to other things. Your energies run effectively toward making yourself felt in the material, tangible outer world. You are an "action" person who gains the attention of others and seems to get things moving. The circumstances of your life suggest extroversion.

Lacks Cardinal Sign Emphasis

Not a great starter, you may have trouble initiating things and getting them moving. You may need help from friends or others in learning how to be more aggressive and outgoing.

You could have difficulty getting outer recognition for your efforts or accomplishments. This doesn't mean they're worthless. It does mean you should throw your efforts into work or ventures you really love doing, not for others.

Fixed signs: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius

Fixed Sign Emphasis

A solid supporter, always gravitating to the heart of things. You may have trouble getting moving, but once rolling, others better watch out. You have a stick-to-itiveness that always finds you in the thick of things, toughing it out

Your feelings need to be stirred before you can throw yourself whole-heartedly into any venture. Love, ideals, and a strong sense of your own worth are vital to your wellbeing and ability to function.

Lacks Fixed Sign Emphasis

Not too centered, perhaps not always able to hang in there for the long haul. You might not make a good linebacker. You may tend to be all over the place rather than front and center.

You are inclined to do things from outer necessity rather than for emotional or idealistic reasons. Your theories and mental activities may be fine, but you may lack heart or the fixedness (or the necessary time) to let things ripen.

Mutable signs: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces

Mutable Sign Emphasis

Very communicative, flexible, mental, and other-oriented. Perhaps you can be all things to all people, giving them what they require. Probably a smooth talker with a quick wit and ready tongue.

Circumstances can throw you into positions where you must use your mind and deal with communications, service, or enclosed hidden interests. You may deal with education, psychology, spiritual enlightenment or teaching principles and techniques.

Lacks Mutable Sign Emphasis

You may lack flexibility, managing a foot-in-the-mouth when you least need it. You could have trouble adapting to situations or to the demands of those around you. Perhaps it is not easy for you to communicate or smooth over things.

You may complain of never having any privacy or time to think -- your pattern seems to throw you much in contact with people and the outer world. Being an extrovert, you may have difficulty understanding reclusive types.