Astrology and the classical elements
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225227946
2008-07-12T15:59:30Z
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[[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 225123342 by [[Special:Contributions/24.81.134.124|24.81.134.124]] ([[User talk:24.81.134.124|talk]]) – signs are divided by placement, not element
{{astrology}}
[[Astrology]] has used the concept of [[classical element]]s from antiquity up until the present. In [[Western astrology]] and [[Indian astrology]] four elements are used, namely [[Fire (classical element)|Fire]], [[Earth (classical element)|Earth]], [[Air (classical element)|Air]] and [[Water (classical element)|Water]]. [[Chinese astrology]] uses a different system of elements totalling five, namely [[Metal (classical element)|Metal]], Water, [[Wood (classical element)|Wood]], Fire and Earth.
==Western astrology==
{{Main|Triplicity}}
[[Image:Four elements representation.png|left|Four Classical Elements; this classic diagram has two squares on top of each other, with the corners of one being the classical elements, and the corners of the other being the properties]]
In [[Western astrology|Western tropical astrology]], there are always 12 astrological signs; thus, each of the four elements is associated with 3 signs of the [[Zodiac]] which are always located exactly 120 degrees away from each other along the [[ecliptic]] and said to be in ''[[Astrological aspect|trine]]'' with one another. Most modern [[astrologers]] use the four classical elements extensively, (also known as [[Triplicity|triplicities]]) and indeed it is still viewed as a critical part of interpreting the [[natal chart|astrological chart]].
Beginning with the first sign Aries which is a Fire sign, the next in line Taurus is Earth, then to Gemini which is Air, and finally to Cancer which is Water – in Western astrology the sequence is always Fire, Earth, Air, & Water in that exact order{{Fact|date=July 2007}}. This [[rotation|cycle]] continues on twice more and ends with the twelfth and final [[astrological sign]], Pisces. The elemental rulerships for the twelve [[astrological sign]]s of the [[zodiac]] (according to Marcus Manilius) are summarised as follows:
* '''Fire''' — 1 - [[Aries (astrology)|Aries]]; 5 - [[Leo (astrology)|Leo]]; 9 - [[Sagittarius (astrology)|Sagittarius]] - hot, dry, ardent
* '''Earth''' — 2 - [[Taurus (astrology)|Taurus]]; 6 - [[Virgo (astrology)|Virgo]]; 10 - [[Capricorn (astrology)|Capricorn]] - heavy, cold, dry
* '''Air''' — 3 - [[Gemini (astrology)|Gemini]]; 7 - [[Libra (astrology)|Libra]]; 11 - [[Aquarius (astrology)|Aquarius]] - light, hot, wet
* '''Water''' — 4 - [[Cancer (astrology)|Cancer]]; 8 - [[Scorpio (astrology)|Scorpio]]; 12 - [[Pisces (astrology)|Pisces]] - wet, soft, cold
===Elements in classical astrology===
====Triplicity rulerships====
In traditional astrology, each triplicity has several planetary ''rulers,'' which change with conditions of [[astrology of sect|sect]] – that is, whether the chart is a day chart or a night chart. Triplicity rulerships are a very important [[essential dignity]] – one of the several factors used by traditional astrologers to weigh the strength, effectiveness and integrity of each planet in a chart.
Triplicty rulerships (using the "Dorothean system") are as follows:<ref> ''Late Classical Astrology: Paulus Alexandrinus and Olympiodorus (with the Scholia of later Latin Commentators)''. [Translated by Dorian Gieseler Greenbaum.] Archive for the Retrieval of Historical Astrological Texts [ARHAT] [http://www.robhand.com/availpub.htm], 2001. P.6. (This is a translation of [[Paulus Alexandrinus|Paulus]]' ''Introduction'' along with the ''Commentary'' by [[Olympiodorus the Younger|Olympiodorus]] and related Byzantine scholia.)</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Triplicity Rulerships'''
|-
! Triplicity
! Day Ruler
! Night Ruler
! Participating Ruler
|-
| '''Fire''' ([[Aries (astrology)|Aries]], [[Leo (astrology)|Leo]], [[Sagittarius (astrology)|Sagittarius]])
| [[Sun (astrology)|Sun]]
| [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]]
| [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]]
|-
| '''Air''' ([[Gemini (astrology)|Gemini]], [[Libra (astrology)|Libra]], [[Aquarius (astrology)|Aquarius]])
| [[Saturn (astrology)|Saturn]]
| [[Mercury (astrology)|Mercury]]
| [[Jupiter (astrology)|Jupiter]]
|-
| '''Earth''' ([[Taurus (astrology)|Taurus]], [[Virgo (astrology)|Virgo]], [[Capricorn (astrology)|Capricorn]])
| [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]]
| [[Moon (astrology)|Moon]]
| [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]]
|-
| '''Water'''* ([[Cancer (astrology)|Cancer]], [[Scorpio (astrology)|Scorpio]], [[Pisces (astrology)|Pisces]])
| [[Venus (astrology)|Venus]]*
| [[Mars (astrology)|Mars]]
| [[Moon (astrology)|Moon]]
|-
|}
{{small|* ''([[Claudius Ptolemy|Ptolemy]]<ref> [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Ptolemy/Tetrabiblos/home.html] Claudius Ptolemy, ''Tetrabiblos'' online [tr. by Frank Egleston Robbins] in the Loeb Classical Library, 1 volume, Greek text and facing English translation: Harvard University Press, 1940. Pp. 79-83. </ref> later modified the rulerships of Water triplicity, making '''Mars''' the ruler of the water triplicity for both day and night charts--and [[William Lilly]] concurred.)''<ref> William Lilly, ''Christian Astrology, Book 3: An Easie And Plaine Method Teaching How to Judge upon Nativities'', 1647. 2nd ed., 1659. Re-published by Astrology Classics (Bel Air, Maryland), 2004; by Ascella Publications, ed. D. Houlding, London, 2000; and [in facsimile of 1647 edition] by Regulus Press, London, 1985. [orig.] P. 104. </ref>}}
"Participating" rulers were not used after the [[Hellenistic]] period. <ref> Joseph Crane, ''A Practical Guide to Traditional Astrology.'' ARHAT publications (Reston, VA). 1997, 2007. ISBN 9-780966-226614. Pp.6-10. </ref>
====Triplicities by season====
In ancient astrology, triplicities were more of a seasonal nature, so a season was given the qualities of an element, which means the signs associated with that season would be allocated to that element. The seasonal elements of ancient astrology are as follows:
* [[Spring (season)|Spring]] - Earth - Aries, Taurus, Gemini
* [[Summer]] - Fire - Cancer, Leo, Virgo
* [[Autumn]] - Air - Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius
* [[Winter]] - Water - Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces
These associations are not given any great importance in modern astrology, although they are prominent in modern Western [[neopaganism]], [[druidism]] and [[wicca]]
===Elements in modern astrology===
In modern astrology each of the elements are associated with different personality types. The following table summarizes their characteristics as follows:
{| class="wikitable"
!Element
!Horoscope
!Description
!Misused...
|-
|[[Fire (classical element)|Fire]]
|Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
|These signs are fiery, bright, ardent, enthusiastic, leaders, confident, proud, spontaneous, self-sufficient, and romantic.
|They can be very arrogant, self-centered, bossy, and forceful; and hungers for attention. These signs don't have time to sympathize and comfort others; they have no patience for emotionalism or heaviness. They also tend to take credit for things that others have also taken part in.
|-
|[[Earth (classical element)|Earth]]
|Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
|These signs are practical, stable, consistent, rigid, determined, dependable, patient, conservative, and sensual. They love material comforts and have good recuperative powers.
|They can be dull and too materialistic.
|-
|[[Air (classical element)|Air]]
|Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
|These signs can talk and communicate well; they tend to be intellectual, and they are able to handle abstract reasoning. They are logical, objective, talkative, social, spontaneous, flexible, cautious, idealistic, and unprejudiced.
|They can be cold, superficial, and impractical. These signs fear something new and hunger for freedom. They can also be very insensitive to other people's emotions.
|-
|[[Water (classical element)|Water]]
|Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
|These signs are feeling, sustaining, and receptive. They are emotional, intuitive, responsive, sensitive, psychic,deep, kind, and caring. They tend to be susceptible to mood swings, and it takes a while to get to know them. They are also nurturing and base many actions they take on sense.
|They can be self-protective and like to spoil themselves. If their emotions become too strong, these signs can become addicted to drugs, alcohol, food, or anything that keeps them from being overloaded. Along with their empathy, also comes a tendency to actually absorb the emotions of others.
|-
|}
==Indian astrology==
{{Main|Jyotisha}}
Indian astrology shares the same system as Western astrology of linking zodiac signs to elements. The following table gives the correspondences:
{{Rashi table}}
In addition, in Vedic thought each of the five planets are linked to an element (with ether as the fifth). It was said in the Veda that everything emanated from the one basic vibration of
"Om" or "[[Aum]]." From "Om" the five elemental vibrations emerged representing the
five different tattwas (or elements). The five planets represent these
five vibrations – [[Jupiter]] for [[Ether]], [[Saturn]] for [[Air]], [[Mars]] for [[Fire]],
[[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]] for [[Earth]], and [[Venus]] for [[Water]].
==Chinese astrology==
{{Main|Wu xing}}
Chinese astrology uses the [[Five elements (Chinese philosophy)|Five Elements]] of ([[Wood (classical element)|Wood]], [[Fire (classical element)|Fire]], [[Earth (classical element)|Earth]], [[Metal (classical element)|Metal]],and [[Water (classical element)|Water]], ) on top of the twelve animal signs in a [[Sexagenary cycle|sixty year cycle]]. These are [[modifiers]] and affect the characteristics of each of the 12 [[Astrological sign#Chinese zodiac|animal signs]]. Thus, each of the 12 animals are governed by an element plus a Yin Yang Direction.
Although it is usually translated as 'element' the Chinese word ''xing'' literally means something like 'changing states of being', 'permutations' or 'metamorphoses of being'. <ref> Wolfram Eberhard, ''A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols'', pg 93, pg 105, pg 309, Routledge and Keegan Paul, London, 1986 </ref> In fact Sinologists cannot agree on one single translation. The Chinese conception of 'element' is therefore quite different from the Western one. The Western elements were seen as the basic building blocks of matter. The Chinese 'elements', by contrast, were seen as ever changing and moving forces or energies - one translation of ''xing'' is simply 'the five changes'.
The balance of yin and yang and the five elements in a person's make-up has a major bearing on what is beneficial and effective for them in terms of [[feng shui]], the Chinese form of geomancy. This is because each element is linked to a particular direction and season, and their different kinds of [[qi|qì]] or life force. Each of the elements are also linked to a different planet.
===木 Wood===
*The planet [[Jupiter]]
*The east, spring
*The color green
*Liver and gallbladder
*Generous, warm, persuasive, co-operative, seeks to expand and grow
*Idealistic, ethical, enthusiastic, seeks to explore
Wood governs the Tiger, Rabbit, and Dragon.
===火 Fire===
*The planet [[Mars]]
*The south, summer
*The color red
*Circulatory system and heart
*Dynamic, energetic, passionate, enterprising, adventurous, restless
*Competitive, leadership skills, strong, single-minded, loves a good laugh
Fire governs the Snake, Horse and Sheep.
===土 Earth===
*The planet [[Saturn]]
*Center, three enclosures, change of seasons
*The color yellow
*Digestive system, spleen and stomach
*Patient, prudent, stable, reliable, hard-working, ambitious, stubborn, and very energetic
*Disciplined, logical, governed by service and duty to others
Earth governs the Dragon, Rat, and Ox. It is the central balance of the elements and can lend qualities to all 12 animals as well.
===金 Metal===
*The planet [[Venus]]
*The west, autumn
*The color white
*Respiratory system and lungs
*Determined, self-reliant, unyielding, strong, persistent, forceful
*Reserved, needs personal space, sophisticated, seeks pleasure
Metal governs the Monkey, Rooster, and Dog.
===水 Water===
*The planet [[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]]
*The north, winter
*The color blue
*Skeletal/excretory system and lungs
*Diplomatic, charming, intuitive, compassionate, sensitive, creative
*Flexible, compliant, good at communication, intellectual
Water governs the Pig, Rat, and Ox.
===Element cycles===
[[Image:FiveElementsCycleBalanceImbalance.jpg|thumb|right|Interactions of Five Chinese Elements - Cycles of Balance and Cycles of Imbalance]]
The doctrine of five phases describes two '''Cycles of Balance''', a generating or creation (生, ''shēng'') cycle and an overcoming or destruction (克, ''kè'') cycle of interactions between the phases.
'''Generating''':
*Wood feeds Fire;
*Fire creates Earth (ash);
*Earth bears Metal;
*Metal collects Water and
*Water nourishes Wood.
'''Overcoming''':
*Wood parts Earth;
*Earth absorbs Water;
*Water quenches Fire;
*Fire melts Metal and
*Metal chops Wood.
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Alchemy]]
[[Category:Esoteric cosmology]]
[[Category:Classical elements]]
[[Category:History of astrology]]
[[Category:Astrological triplicities|+]]
[[Category:Technical factors of astrology]]
[[es:Elementos del zodíaco]]