Chapter 1: General Characteristics

Your fundamental needs, values, and orientation towards life are symbolized by the four astrological elements. Each person has their own unique balance of these four basic energies: fire (warmth, inspiration, enthusiasm), earth (practicality, realism, material interests), air (social and intellectual qualities), and water (emotional needs and feelings). Your "elemental make-up" is described below. Remember that most people are "unbalanced" or lopsided, and if you are lacking or deficient in a certain element (or elements), it simply means that you need to consciously develop that aspect of yourself to learn to appreciate and/or to work harder in that dimension of life. Sometimes we overvalue the element that we are least endowed with, sensing it as a lack within ourselves, but more often we neglect or ignore it. The qualities described below will be reiterated and explained in more detail in the following chapters. You have a great capacity to relate to, appreciate, and understand different people and points of view, and you tend to be quite liberal in your attitudes. You are primarily a thinking person who requires much intellectual and social stimulation, conversation, and interaction. You comprehend abstract reasoning and concepts very quickly and like ideas, language, and culture. You can't imagine being happy in a world without books, films, or interesting companions. There is an androgynous quality to you, and you relate equally well to men and women, having both male and female characteristics in nearly equal measure yourself. You tend to see someone as a person first, rather than identifying them solely with their gender. Friendship is very important to your sense of well-being. You thrive on camaraderie, teamwork, social participation and sharing. However, you are also quite objective about them and there is often a touch of impersonality or detachment to your relations with others. Your mind is your real gift: thinking clearly, logically, and creatively, planning and organizing efficiently, and communicating intelligently. However, you tend to live in your head - reading about, talking about, and observing life without becoming completely immersed in it. Avoid becoming a dabbler. You need to develop constancy, stability, and depth. Fortunately, as you will read in the next chapter, you have a down-to-earth attitude towards life which prevents you from becoming lost in your airy ideas, concepts, or ideals. You have a healthy touch of practicality. Astrological influences analyzed in Chapter 1: Air Element is Strong (F,E,A,W Scores = 11,8,23,7) Air is Strong and Ascendant is in Earth sign