Just as Fire inspires and ignites us, it can be fleeting and ephemeral. The paradox of nature allows us to flirt with impermanence with the rise and fall of form and substance. Earth is by definition – ‘soil, ground’ and it affords the eternal, ineffable Spirit to manifest.
Just as we explored the three expressions of the element of Fire, so do does Earth find its representation in a variety of ‘styles’. Our planet IS Earth, and as such, each of the earth signs have a particular appreciation
Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn – Tangible Expressions of the Intangible
TAURUS, the first of the Earth signs is the STOP! to Aries’ GO! Because Taurus is the second sign, it can serve to consider it in relation to the first, where Aries is bolting into identity and creation, Taurus is setting up shop, measuring the parameters and staking a claim. It’s all about consolidation, rooting, growing and sloooooooooooow motion.
Symbolised by ‘The Bull’, it has two horns and broad shoulders, fit for the purpose of creation, generative and balanced. In contrast to its fiery predecessor, Taurus is solid and often stolid and slow to rouse.
This unhurried pace has much to recommend it insofar as there is time to linger, to literally smell the roses and appreciate the lusciousness of life and promise of Spring. Sensually driven, Taurus revels in beauty (as it is Ruled by the Goddess of Beauty herself – Venus), comfort, good food and the natural world.
Typically conservative and measured in its approach, The Bull can seem immovable and obstinate when challenged or feeling uncertain. Better to hold one’s ground than to risk (<—- DANGER!) what is unknown… If threatened, Taurus is a formidable foe…powerful and determined, patient and unrelenting.
VIRGO – Like Taurus, follows a fire sign… but in this instance we see a development in form, of the creative impulse that is Leo. Virgo is the Queen of refinement, adjustment, precision and perfection. Where the glorious swathe of colour is splashed by the enthusiastic Lion, Virgo with its ability to understand ‘what works’ emerges, to adjust the shading and arc of the design.
Virgo, of all the signs, gets a bit of a bad rap. It is it symbolised by The Virgin and as such does not boast a glamorous, sexy kind of vibe. She is Mistress of teh Harvest and as such is responsible for sorting the wheat from the chaff. She is thoughtful and ruled, as she is, by Mercury is keen to understand and analyse. This iteration of ‘Earth’ signs is consumed with practical application and the drive for meticulous examination and perfecting the minutiae of form so that it may serve the larger vision or intention. Service is a key element in the understanding of Virgo.
One of the affinities of Virgo is a keen interest in health, hygiene and natural lifestyle. Again, earth… herbalism, homoeopathy, nutrition… These are all disciplines that illustrate the connection with Chiron (The Wounded Healer), the ‘other’ planetary ruler of Virgo.
When stressed, Virgo is very prone to stress because of their exquisite sensitivity, the default setting can be critical, perfectionistic and very tense.
CAPRICORN – The third and final development of the earth element by sign. Capricorn is the ultimate CEO. This is a sign that combines the innate practicality and no nonsense groundedness of the earth signs with POWER and ambition. Not content with smelling the roses and appreciating the bounty of nature, nor with the intensive scrutiny of detail, Capricorn wants to take charge and direct.
The symbol associated with Capricorn is the Fish Goat, an arcane and unlikely combination of a mountain goat, scaling the heights of mountains with surety and strength, with the tail of a fish extending down into the waters of the unconscious, drawing on the primordial intuition of the seas.
To ‘drill down’ into the symbol, the heights that Capricorn aspires to are informed by experience, and a formidable interest in proving ‘what is possible’. Magnificent strategists, they have an exalted view (informed by the idealism of Sagittarius) that enables them to orchestrate the unfolding vision. This is THE sign of achievement, because achievement is evidence, it is irrefutable proof of what might have been a dream. Reality actualised, proof of concept. These are ideas that perfectly echo the qualities of Saturn, Capricorn’s ruler.
Like the other earth signs, Capricorn can seem a somewhat sober sign, serious, focussed and dedicated. There is BUSINESS to attend to, dependable and thorough they can sometimes lose sight of the importance of emotional connection and might be accused of a lack of empathy.
Earth is the ballast, the embodiment of all that is desired with Fire. If Fire reaches UP, Earth grabs us by the ankles and demands that our feet stay connected to what is REAL and tangible. Earth is the matter of creation.
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