Astrology: Elements, Modes, and Polarities

Jump to: Elements | Modes | Polarities

THE POLARITIES

Also known as The Sextuplets.

Think of the 4 elements, and how they interact between themselves. What other element is most supportive of Fire? What element literally feeds the flames? The answer is AIR. On the other hand, if you planted a seed in the parched earth, and wanted another element to nourish the soil and the plant, which would you pick? WATER, of course.

Thus, Fire and Air can be grouped into one category, and Earth and Water into another.

What distinguishes these categories from one another?

There are a few ways to look at it.....

Fire-Air signs are more out-going and self-expressive--pouring forth their energies into the world. Their keyword is FREEDOM.

Earth-Water signs are more in-going and self-repressive--magnetizing what they need and conserving their energies within themselves. Their keyword is SECURITY.

Think also in terms of gravity vs. levity. Earth and Water if released from a height would fall or flow rapidly straight down. On the other hand, Air expands when released at a greater pressure than its surroundings, and Fire rises.

This distinction is found in all ancient cosmologies which describe the universe as formed by the interplay of two opposing forces or polarities--Light and dark, POSITIVE and NEGATIVE, etc. The ancient Chinese philosophers called the active, positive energy pole YANG, while the receptive, negatively charged energy pole was called YIN. Yang implies an outpouring of energy; yin, a containment. As you will most often see positive/negative in astrology books, we'll use this terminology here.

The best way to think of the polarities is: the Yang/positive is more OUTGOING and GIVING and the Yin/negative is more PASSIVE and RECEIVING. The positive is manipulative and extensional expression of energy; the negative is sustaining and intensive.

ELEMENTS, MODES AND POLARITIES SUMMARIZED

In Astrology for Yourself, Demetra George gives a wonderful summary of the elements, modes, and polarities. I'll quote it in whole....

"Let us summarize what we have learned about element, polarity, and modality by following the evolution of energy from unity to differentiation. Refer to [the figure above] while reading the following passage.

"The primordial nature of all substance is unified, whole, and undifferentiated. However, as energy transforms into matter, it takes on the appearance of distinct material forms. The One divides, polarizing itself into Two, which spawns dualistic reality.

"This first division of energy into two is known as polarity. In astrology, POLARITY divides the signs into two groups of opposite energy impulses: Yang (+) charge and Yin (-) charge. The six signs Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, and Aquarius (every other one on the zodiacal wheel) correspond to the positive electrical charge, while the six signs Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Pisces correspond to the negative electrical charge. This alternating energy pulse regulates the exhale and inhale breath which animates life.

"The next step in the differentiation from the One occurs when each of these two polarities again subdivides to create four basic energy forms. These forms of energy are known as the ELEMENTS: Fire, Air, Earth, and Water. Each element corresponds to a group of three signs.

"The final classification is that of MODALITY. As polarity refers to the electrical *charge* of energy, and the element to the organic *forms* of energy, modality describe the *movement* of energy. There exist three basic modes or movements of energy--centrifugal (outward), centripetal (inward), and spiralic. These modalities manifest through the zodiac as the Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable signs. Each Modality corresponds to a group of four signs.

"The meaning of the twelve signs of the Zodiac arise from the "combination" of these principles.

"Look at the right-hand side of the figure above, and observe the table formed by the elements (Fire, Air, Earth and Water) and the modalities (Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable). Note that when we combine the three modalities, or movement of energy, with the four elements, or the forms of energy, we create the 12 primary patterns of energy which are called the zodiacal signs. In each elemental row, there exists one Cardinal sign, one Fixed sign, and one Mutable sign. Likewise in each modality column, there exists one Fire sign, one Air sign, one Earth sign, and one Water sign. Thus each sign is a unique combination of modality and element.

"...These interactions of element and mode produce the basic structure of the astrological alphabet--the 12 signs of the Zodiac."

CREDITS:
Portions by Terrastel, aka Jamie Brydone-Jack
Astrology, Psychology, and the Four Elements by Steven Arroyo
Astrology for Yourself by Demetra George and Douglas Bloch
Your Super-Star Course: Natal Astrology by Ove Sehested
The Knot of Time by Rivers and Gillespie

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