The Zodiac is divided three different ways: Polarity, Element, and Modality. Each method of division defines the qualities of the signs, their personalities, and their overall drive. The overlap of these divisions creates each signās unique identity.
The largest division, splitting the Zodiac in half, is polarity. Commonly referred to as Masculine and Feminine, polarity will be referred to as Yin and Yang in this article. Yin represents both the idea of Feminine and Negative. Yang, both Masculine and Positive. And the symbol of the Yin-Yang, the unity and perfection of the circle, truly embodies the polarities.
For some background, the Yin-Yang is a symbol in Chinese philosophy used to represent how seemingly opposing or contradictory forces in nature may actually be interconnected and interdependent. This applies to the concepts of light and dark, fire and water, earth and air, and so on. Just as the image itself suggests, these two forces are united, and they each contain a part of the other. This is true of the polarities within the Zodiac.
As summarized in this post, polarity is often confounded with gender for obvious reasons, but in reality the association with āMasculineā and āFeminineā is outdated. Yin is not Feminine or Negative, but introverted.
āIntroverts are drained by social encounters and energized by solitary, often creative pursuits.ā
As they are introverts, the Yin signs are typed as receptive for Earth signs or passive for Water signs. In truth, those with Yin Sun Signs rely on their inner strength, emotions, and knowledge. They may enjoy working alone, or with others, but they need time alone to recharge.
As for Yang, extroversion is more natural. Fire is active and Air objective. Yang signs are outgoing, they seek out others, and they work best when not alone. They are more reliant upon what is outside of themselves, less on what is within. These are the the kings to Yinās kingmakers.
The difference between these signs is inner and outer focus.
Doesnāt sound like you? You shouldnāt consider your sun sign alone in this. Just as you may have dominant signs in your chart, youāll have a dominant polarity. If youāre an extroverted Water or Earth sign, youāre likely influenced by Air or Fire elsewhere in your chart and vice versa.
The division most often discussed, the Elements are highly influential, and perhaps more personal than the other divisions as they are more specific. Unlike the other divisions, the elements make four groups of three, narrowing the meaning of what makes an element.
Traditionally, these elements - Fire, Earth, Air, and Water - were considered the building blocks of the universe itself, so perhaps itās fitting that they are now the building blocks of the personality. In astrology, they are considered to be the four basic constructions of the psyche, or personality. The elements and their presence or lack of presence in a chart reveals the nativeās character.
Fire, a Yang element, is the birth of the Zodiac. The initiator, the leader, the seeker - Fire is an element of great energy and response. Those with strong Fire influences in their natal chart will be outgoing, optimistic, determined, and energetic.
To learn more about Fire, click here.
Earth, one of the elements that makes up Yin, is the source of endurance in the Zodiac. It represents hard work, practicality, and control. When there is a strong influence of Earth in the natal chart, natives will be reliable, logical, and responsible.
To learn more about Earth, click here.
Air, the other Yang element, is highly versatile. This element is associated with intellect, wit, and communication. In the natal chart, Air indicates a native will be open-minded, animated, and sharp.
To learn more about Air, click here.
Water, the final element, is of Yin. This element is represented by the concept of mother, the creator. Strong Water influences in the natal chart indicate an intuitive, emotive, and compassionate native.
To learn more about Water, click here.
The Zodiac is divided into three groups or modes of four signs each, referred to as Quadruplicities or Modes. These are determined by the position of the sign in the movement of the wheel, the evolution of the Zodiac signs.
Cardinal Mode: leaders, determined, magnetic, manipulative, creative, selfish, demanding, charming
The Cardinal signs make up the beginning of each section of the Zodiac, where the seasons traditionally shift and change. The name itself stems from the Latin cardinalis, āto serve as a hinge.ā The Cardinal signs act as a hinge, a joint which connects what is linked to it, a door which opens.
These signs are literally the starters of the Zodiac. They are leaders, creators, and makers. Naturally, they seek to control, not to be controlled.
Fixed Mode: stubborn, focused, uncompromising, tenacious, inflexible, slow and steady, controlled
The Fixed signs are the stabilizers of the Zodiac. They take what has been initiated by the sign before them and ensure that it stays. The change brought by Cardinal signs can be chaotic, underdeveloped, and messy. The Fixed signs are those that take the chaos of life and hold it together, ensure there is no change for the worst.
This manifests in different ways depending on the sign: For Taurus, it is material they seek to maintain; for Leo, power; for Scorpio, the emotions of both themselves and others must be controlled; and for Aquarius, it is their unyielding beliefs. Nothing makes the mix of Element, Polarity, and Mode more clear than these signs.
Mutable Mode: flexible, volatile, complex, tolerant, open-minded, indecisive, social, impatient
Mutable Signs bring about the end of each quadrant of the Zodiac and, with Pisces, the entire Zodiac cycle. They are here to expand, to move on from what has already been formed. These are the signs that roll with the punches, that are bendable, and highly adaptable. They let go of the control kept by the signs that came before them, letting the natural course of things to take place.
Cardinal creates, Fixed persists, and Mutable relinquishes.
They, in some ways, bring about the same change as Cardinal Signs as their role is to detach from old ways to explore the new. Part of their role requires them to have blind faith and confidence in themselves and others.
What division do you belong to?
2. In the top right hand corner youāll see āMy Astroā. Click there and create your own profile or simply fill out your information as a guest
3. You will be brought to a page full of various reports. Scroll to the very bottom where you will see a square split into quadrants of yellow, green, red, and blue titled āExtended Chart Selectionā
4. Select āMethods: Pullen/Astrologyā
5. When prompted to āPlease select the type of chart you want:ā choose the very last option: āSimple chart delineation by Walter Pullenā
6. Wade through all the information until you are a little past halfway down the page
Youāll see something similar to this image.
To determine the influence of Yin and Yang elements, add up the percentage of one polarity. In this example using my chart, Yang is 58.7% and Yin is 41.3% - I lean towards extroversion.
