by Robert Ayres |
One of the most important areas within the study of the stars is the investigation of the four elements—earth, air, fire and water. We are told that these four elements are the building blocks of creation. In Ezekiel’s vision of the throne of the Supreme Being, we are introduced to the Four Holy Animals, the Chayoth ha Chodesh. These four animals—The Bull, The Lion, The Eagle, and The Man—surround the throne of God.
These animals symbolically represent the four fixed signs of the zodiac: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius. Each sign of the zodiac has an elemental rulership of earth, air, fire or water. Each of these four fixed signs is connected with one of these four elements. Taurus is fixed earth; Leo is fixed fire; Scorpio is fixed water; and Aquarius is fixed air. Fixed signs embody the force or power of love. Love expresses as desire, so we find that the elements are permeated by the energy of love, desire, and attraction.
The four holy animals, corresponding to the four elements, form the primary building blocks of creation. In truth, these elements are light vibrating at distinctly different frequencies. They possess different energies, qualities and functions. Everything in creation is constituted of varying combinations of these elements.
It is at the level of the earthy, dense, physical dimension that the elements play their most significant role. With the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, the tenth and lowest Sephiroth is a sphere divided into four parts. These four parts represent the primary rulership of the elements. When we examine the human being, we will discover that the four elements play a significant role. We are conditioned by these elements.
In looking at our natal chart, we find that one of the basic pieces of information that is extrapolated from the horoscope is the balance of the elements. There will be a list of the elements and which of your natal planets are in which element. There is also a weighted score, with a numerical value, showing the strength or weakness of that element in your total make-up. Generally, most people have one or two elements that are stronger than the others.
You want to make a note of your strongest and weakest elements. Determine whether you are more fiery, watery, earthy, or airy. These each relate to an emphasis of specific types of consciousness. Fire corresponds with spirit, which is passionate; air corresponds to mind, which is reason; water corresponds with soul, which is love; and earth corresponds to the body, which is will.
The ancients related the elements to the health of the human being and called them the humors. The analysis of the humors was a fundamental part of a physician’s approach to healing, up to the beginning of the 1700’s. From that point, a non-spiritual paradigm for healing grew to dominance. It is not a consideration today, except in the Ayurvedic medicine of India. It is something that needs to be intelligently reinvestigated as it can provide answers to situations that are difficult to diagnose.
The ancient doctors and healers that were established in the star wisdom, identified four types of personality based on the balance of the elements within the individual. These four humors are believed to be related to subtle functioning of the bodily system. The dominance of the fire element results in a choleric disposition; the air element expresses as a sanguine disposition; the water element manifests as a phlegmatic disposition; and the earth element expresses as a melancholic disposition. These are distinctly different principles, elements, and vibrational frequencies influencing the well-being of the bodily constitution.
For true health at every level of our being, we are striving for perfect balance between these elemental forces and principles. The more closely the elemental score in your natal chart is balanced, the more truly healthy you will be. The more imbalanced the elements are, the more health problems you may have. You want to take a note of your strongest and weakest elements and know that in principle you want to lessen the intensity of expression of the strongest element and strengthen the energetic expression of the weakest element.
For example, if you are too strong in earth and weak in air then you want to stimulate your mind and reduce your focus on your financial affairs. Read a book, go to a lecture, do a crossword puzzle, and try to lighten up on the heavy responsibilities of life. These patterns cannot be sporadic to show results. They need to become new habit patterns.
Below are examples of how these dispositions might manifest:
- Choleric: hot tempered, combative, rash, thoughtless, bold, brave, active, flushed in the face. Mars is the planet corresponding to this disposition.
- Sanguine: optimistic, active, kind, just, cheerful, companionable and of a rosy complexion. Jupiter is the ruling planet.
Phlegmatic: dull, stolid, passive, methodical, lethargic, and pale of complexion. The Moon is the ruling planet. Melancholic: sad, unsuccessful, unfortunate, discontented, servile and of dark complexion. Saturn is the ruling planet.
From an energetic perspective, each of the elements and temperaments have specific combinations of the principles of hot/dry and cold/moist. They are as follows:
- Fire/choleric = hot/dry
- Air/sanguine = moist/hot
- Water/phlegmatic = cold/moist
- Earth/melancholic = dry/cold
Do your own research and find out if there is truth to the wisdom of the stars. There are many ways that this can be done. Be creative.
2008 All Rights Reserved, Robert Ayres. Robert Ayres is an internationally known astrologer with over 40 years of experience. He can be reached for personal consultations at (530) 550-1118 or at his website at astrologicalalchemy.com.
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