The Elements in Astrology Series: Earth
Part 3
I have to tell you that looking at each element is kind of like looking at each eyebrow in a focused way. They start to look really weird.
For example, I can’t be the only one who forgets that Earth is a planet as well as an element, and to anyone doing astrology from Mars, when Earth transits, it has an energy just like we feel a certain energy when Mars transits our planet.
But rather than get into non-Earth based astrological practices, let’s just stick to the element we call earth. This is the element of the first chakra, the root chakra. If you look at an illustration of nerves imposed on this chakra, it reaches from the tailbone down through the legs and feet. It is what grounds us. It is the only element of the four that we can use as a foundation. It could also be thought of as the most limited because it is the structure and is not quickly changeable like the others. For that reason, its predictability and reliability, it is pretty darn comforting. Think of people kissing the Earth after a frightening experience on a ship or an airplane. If you haven’t tried standing on grass barefoot lately, please try it. You will have an immediate sense of comfort. One of my herbalist teachers says he was taught that if you are stuck in anxiety or if you are constipated, go stand on the grass for a while and you will get unstuck from both.
Maybe we could think of the earth signs as a construction company. I could see Taurus digging the foundation, Virgo in charge of quality control of the building materials, and Capricorn in charge of the finances.
I'll start with Taurus, and I can't help but think of Ferdinand the Bull from The Story of Ferdinand when I think of Taurus. Maybe because my dad was a Taurus as we both loved that story, and honestly, my dad was a bit like Ferdinand. He was quiet and when he wasn't reading books one after another, he liked to be out in the yard, clipping the grass slowly and methodically.
Taurus energy loves nature and doesn’t like anything rushed or too busy. It is extremely sensual, often capable of using all of the senses to perceive a person or situation, as opposed to only what the eyes see. Taurus energy uses heightened sensual perception to enjoy fine food, fabrics, flowers, music, and snuggly animals. Remember, it is ruled by Venus, so it will seek beauty. And it not only enjoys all of these things in a sensual way, it values the resources which can secure them.
Taurus is associated with the second house, which is about gathering and securing personal resources in order to be secure. Where you find Taurus in your chart, you will likely crave stability and solidity. It can also be a nudge to be especially rooted in your body to best use your senses and to keep things simple in that part of life in order to live with ease.
Next is Virgo, a much maligned sign of the zodiac. In an audition for dancers for her tour, Jennifer Lopez reportedly asked anyone with a Virgo sun sign to raise their hands. Then she told them to leave the audition!
Why might this sign be hated by J-Lo? Well, for one thing, she doesn't strike me as a particularly nice person, but that aside, it could be that Virgos want everything to be perfect, and they will not be quiet about it if someone tells them to just let it go and move on. Funny thing is that Beyonce is a Virgo Sun, so if she didn’t have a natural kinship with J-Lo, well, she has enough reason to not hang with her.
The reason why Virgo wants everything perfect is because it knows there is an ultimate state, remember it is on the axis with Pisces, which is the side of the polarity of uniting with all there is. And while Mercury rules both Gemini and Virgo, Gemini is yang or outward, and Virgo is yin, or inward. The strength of perception is therefore focused into the self often, and how the one can become closer to an ultimate which is defined by the creator of the Universe.
Given that is always in the back of Virgo’s mind, you can see how it would be easy to be not only humble, but rather hard on oneself. Virgo is associated with the sixth house of the zodiac, which is linked to daily activities, service, health, and the mentor/mentee relationship. All of those things can benefit from humility, as long as the growing skill and knowledge gained are periodically acknowledged.
To embody Virgo energy is also to be a craftsman. In our culture of overcomparison, we tend to want shortcuts to achieve status, or we do not want to even try because we compare ourselves to someone with extraordinary innate talent or decades of experience. In our culture, the selling or showing off of the thing is where it is at. But it important for the collective to have people who appreciate the time and attention to detail it takes to craft something worthwhile. That is how lineages are formed and knowledge and skill are passed down.
Where you have Virgo in your chart may be where you have this dedication to detailed work or service, or where you strive for perfection yet feel you always fall short.
Now onto Capricorn, ruled by Saturn and associated with the 10th house. All business, all about the Benjamins, party poopers… you likely know all the stereotypes. The kernel of truth in all that is that Capricorn is associated with the passing of time, with boundaries, and with ambition.
However, I must say that one of my best friends is a double Cappy and she has the biggest, most generous heart and spiritual mind. As someone with the Sun conjunct Mars in the 10th house, we had an automatic understanding of each other. Mindless fun is just not really a thing for us, but that doesn’t mean we cannot be fun. For us, work is fun.
However, part of Capricorn’s lesson is to use time to mature into responsibility and self-mastery and to not forget to stoke the young and wild heart within. Without heart in the work, Capricorns can become bitter (think Ebenezer Scrooge). Remember that they share an axis with Cancer, also a mature sign, and one that can also become burned out if they are always the nurturing grown up one in every situation. People with heavy Capricorn energy are often looked to as the expert, so they are set up to have to intentionally pull back and allow others to lead.
If you weren’t aware, we have all been living in Capricorn energy for since 2008 while Pluto has been in this sign. It has honestly been a bit too literal for some of us here in the United States. Boundaries? Think walls being built and redistricting. Maturity? Think endless streams of old men as leaders everywhere you turn. It may surprise you to know that Capricorn is a yin sign, and meant to be inwardly focused. Before harnessing the energy outward and possibly climbing the wrong mountain, one has to go inward to know which mountain is the right one to spend all of that time and dedication on climbing.
I started with the analogy of the earth sign construction company. We could make a similar analogy with a different type of company using the sister signs of any given element, because they are meant to complement one another. They each have something slightly different from their sister sign, but readily understood and collaborated with. Knowing this, you can look at your chart to see if there are concentrations of planets in any given element, and see how this has played out for you. Has it been perhaps too easeful and you have taken some of the synergies for granted? Or are you just feeling the flow begin now that you may have found a heart-centered calling?
I hope this has been a helpful perspective and that you are now consciously curious about the element of earth in astrology!
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