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. Finding your life's work - a concrete means of self-expression - and discovering your place in the world is one of your fundamental challenges. You tend to feel out of place in the world, with no solid sense of security. You often live in the private world of your imagination and though you may have a very rich inner life, you tend not to actualize or do anything productive with it. The more prosaic, material side of life either baffles or disinterests you, yet you need to develop that aspect of yourself. Constancy, patience, and practicality are qualities you need to cultivate. Your outward manner, which as we shall see in the next chapter, is rather light, intelligent and reasonable, can be very deceiving since, overall, you are quite an emotional, deeply feeling, often irrational person. Astrological influences analyzed in Chapter 1: Water is Strong, Earth is Weak (F,E,A,W Scores = 7,1,10,31) Water is Strong and Ascendant is in Air sign