Astrology Elements & The Three Qualities
(This is an excerpt from a University Of Metaphysical Sciences course at www.umsonline.org,
please feel free to visit the school website)
Elements: Other important astrological divisions have to do with Elemental Nature, Quality, and Dignity. The 12 Signs are divided into four Elemental Natures: fire, water, air, and earth. These elementary energies are akin to their physical literal counterparts only in the most general way. Fire is active and energetic. Water is sensual, reflective, and changing. Air is nimble, moving, and agitated. Earth is stable and practical. The three fire signs are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. The three water signs are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. The three air signs are Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. The three earth signs are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.
The Three Qualities: Within this, the signs are further classified into three Qualities. These Qualities are called Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable. The Cardinal Signs represent original creative energy within the elemental group. The Fixed Signs represent a sustaining or passive energy. The Mutable Signs act as a changeable, connecting or catalytic force. One sign from each element group is assigned to one of the triplicities. The Cardinal Signs are Aries, Libra, Cancer, and Capricorn. The Fixed Signs are Leo, Aquarius, Scorpio, and Taurus. The Mutable Signs are Sagittarius, Pisces, Gemini, and Virgo.
When planets travel the cosmic skyway through the Zodiac and its 12 Signs, their influence can be either strengthened or weakened according to their relationship to the energies of the Sign. This relation is called Dignity. Dignity has four categories: Rulership, Exaltation, Fall, and Detriment. Rulership refers to planets and signs that most nearly correspond to one another. Exaltation is enhancement of planetary qualities by the Sign. A Planet in the sign opposite its Rulership cannot express itself and is in its Fall. A planet in the sign opposite its Exaltation is frustrated in its activities and is in its Detriment.