There are two classifications of the Signs of the Zodiac —— Elements and Qualities——and they each refer to core human characteristics. The Elements, which are also known as Triplicities (as in groupings of three), speak to the basic nature and temperament of a Sign, whereas Qualities address their manner of expression.
The Elements (Fire, Earth, Air and Water) are based on ancient Greek philosophy. The ancients took it back to square one, the building blocks of life: the solid earth upon which we stand, the running water we use as a resource, the air we breathe and the fire which keeps us warm and aids in the creation of additional resources. It's easy to see a kinship to science in this elemental plan.
With the individual in mind, the Greeks started philosophizing a bit. In this scenario, the body is considered earthy, feelings are fluid, thoughts often airy and activity animated and energetic. As Astrology developed, the ancients attached these elemental characteristics to the Signs, seeing as how it made sense to place a watery label on a more emotional sort. Thus evolved the classification of the Signs to their corresponding Elements.
The four Elements and their corresponding Signs are Fire (Aries, Leo and Sagittarius), Earth (Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn), Air (Gemini, Libra and Aquarius) and Water (Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces)。 While the Elements in and of themselves help to describe our basic nature, once combined in our overall astrological chart, they help to define us as a whole and complex person.
In looking at an individual's astrological chart, the presence of more Fire Signs may well indicate a fiery, combustible personality. Along the same lines, the absence of Earth Signs would indicate someone who is not very grounded or practical. The presence of a mix of all of the Elements would be a sign of a well-rounded individual.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
中文大意:
本位、固定和變動(dòng)的三分法是各星座行為舉止的反映;而古希臘哲學(xué)體系從自然因素出發(fā),把12星座按生命原理分為四類:即穩(wěn)固的“地”相星座,寧靜的“水”相星座,靈活的“風(fēng)”相星座和激情的“火”相星座。在這些先哲們的眼中,人是擁有堅(jiān)實(shí)身板、復(fù)雜情感、多變的想法和旺盛的精力的生命個(gè)體。隨著占星術(shù)的發(fā)展,這些最基礎(chǔ)的因素被運(yùn)用于星座學(xué)中,更多地體現(xiàn)了人的情感特征。
按照四分法,火相星座包括白羊、獅子和射手座;地相星座包括金牛、處女和魔羯座;風(fēng)相星座包括雙子、天秤和水瓶座;水相星座則涵蓋巨蟹、天蝎和雙魚座。不同的自然特質(zhì)反映了各類星座不同的天然稟性?;鹣嘈亲娜司Τ渑?,感情奔放激烈,有十足的行動(dòng)力,但來的快去的也快,有時(shí)較草率和粗心。地相星座的人慎重、冷靜,對(duì)待感情真誠持久,做事也腳踏實(shí)地,但有時(shí)過于保守和自信心不強(qiáng)。風(fēng)相星座的人思維發(fā)達(dá),想象力豐富,有思想家的傾向,擅長社交,語言表達(dá)能力強(qiáng),但性格變化多端,有喜新厭舊和情緒化的毛病。水相星座的人溫柔寧靜、感情細(xì)膩,對(duì)事物的洞察力極強(qiáng),直覺也很敏感,但有時(shí)想法不切實(shí)際且喜憑感情用事。搞清楚各類星座的特點(diǎn),有助于我們?nèi)娴亓私庖粋€(gè)復(fù)雜的人。