Elements
Fire
Passionate & InspiringSigns: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Motivation: to find meaning, explore possibilities, feel fully alive, seek adventure and challenge, to be authentically oneself
Strengths: confidence, energy, passion, enthusiasm, inspiring others, warmth, joy, faith, decisiveness
Struggles: self-absorption, fear of feeling ordinary, being overly dramatic or attention-seeking
Growth: develop self-awareness & empathy, get feedback on impact
Earth
Practical & ReliableSigns: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
Motivation: to create stability, sensuality, and order, manage resources effectively, build enduring structures
Strengths: stability, reliability, practicality, sensuality, resourcefulness, persistence
Struggles: resistance to change, inflexibility, being overly cautious, stagnation
Growth: learn to adapt to change while maintaining core values, practice taking reasonable risks
Air
Intellectual & CommunicativeSigns: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
Motivation: to understand rationally, to communicate & exchange ideas, to seek intellectual stimulation
Strengths: analysis, problem-solving, mediating conflicts, objectivity, fairness, seeing all sides of an issue
Struggles: emotional detachment or avoidance, overthinking, intellectualizing emotions, indifference
Growth: develop emotional intelligence & empathy, validate others subjective experiences
Water
Intuitive & EmotionalSigns: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Motivation: to feel, to connect emotionally, seek intimacy, form meaningful relationships
Strengths: empathy, intuition, nurturing ability, emotional depth, creativity
Struggles: mood swings, difficulty setting healthy boundaries, hypersensitivity
Growth: develop emotional resilience, learn to self-validate & self-empathize around sensitivity, release expired situations and feelings
Modes
Cardinal
Initiating & ProactiveSigns: Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn
Motivation: to initiate, create, and develop new things, to move forward, to start projects
Strengths: boldness, assertiveness, determination, persistence, inspirational leadership
Struggles: lack of follow-through or maintaining systems if there is no challenge or excitement
Growth: take time for long-term planning, be mindful of power dynamics around leadership roles, delegate
Fixed
Stable & PersistentSigns: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius
Motivation: to sustain, protect, and intensify existing conditions
Strengths: stability, persistence, commitment, follow-through, maintaining projects
Struggles: resistance to change, stubbornness or inflexibility, difficulty adapting to new situations or letting go of outdated ideas or relationships
Growth: soften rigid boundaries, learn to embrace change when necessary, release attachment to outcome
Mutable
Adaptable & FlexibleSigns: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces
Motivation: to change, transform, and discover new things
Strengths: adaptability, flexibility, being open to new experiences and ideas, adjusting to changing circumstances, finding creative solutions to problems
Struggles: inconsistency, difficulty in committing to one path, scattered energy, indecisiveness
Growth: ground excess energy, prioritize amongst possibilities, practice mindfulness to increase focus and calm the mind
Polarities
Yang
Active & IndividualFire & Air Signs: Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, Aquarius
Values: The mind, thinking, challenging limits, innovation, achievement, excitement, movement, progress, novelty, self-expression, taking action, leadership, inspiration, change
Shadow: Ignoring real limits, bypassing, hubris, indifference, insensitivity, impatience, lack of introspection, burnout, chaos
Yin
Receptive & CollectiveEarth & Water Signs: Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces
Values: The body, feeling, instinct, nurturing, belonging, collective survival, tradition, family, wellbeing, patience, allowing what is, receptivity, depth, stability, sensitivity to suffering
Shadow: Fixed mindset, conformity, passivity, stagnation, lack of imagination, enduring what could be changed, resistance to new ideas