Astrology… there are SO many facets to it. No longer do we identify ourselves solely by our Sun Sign (corresponding to the time of year we are born). In the past few years there has been a dramatic upswing in the interest in astrology, fuelled by social media and online astrologers. This is all ‘perfectly on point’, as we have been moving, incrementally into the Age of Aquarius (no longer just a song from the swinging 60’s!) and Aquarius IS the sign of Astrology!! This is the year when we have, at last, tipped into Aquarius fully, without a backward glance.
So… you know your Sun sign, all well and good to recognise the characteristics that are typically associated… Taurus is stubborn/loyal, Cancer is sensitive/emotional, Virgo is particular/fussy. Incomplete generalisations that lead to a skewed sense of simplicity.
If you dive into the subject, seeking a nuanced understanding one of the ‘organising principles’ that emerge, we discover the Elements. When we think of the Elements we are talking about the basic building blocks of life, these are abstract principles that inform our expression as human beings. There are four elements represented in Astrology… FIRE, EARTH, AIR and WATER. These primary forces inform our experience on many complex levels and reveal a subtle face to what we understand as The Signs. Each of the twelve signs are divided between the four elements and provide us with an expanded and developed understanding of the unique characters associated with the element.
FIRE – what do we know? FIRE is inherently Yang, it’s going to capture your attention! Radiant, warming, inspiring, comforting, action-oriented, passionate, creative, innocent, child-like, generative, scorching, raging, burnishing. These are common qualities of Fire signs. HOWEVER… there are distinctive characters in this box of matches!
STYLES OF FIRE – Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius
ARIES, is first out of the blocks… always. Headstrong, lusty, BURSTING with Life, Spring anyone? As the first of the Signs of the zodiac and it is the PERFECT demonstration of I’M FIRST! and READY or NOT! No surprises that the dates for Aries coincide with Spring Equinox (in the Northern hemisphere). We have been carefully schooled to think of December 31 as the beginning of the new cycle, when in truth, the beginning of the new year is March 21. I certainly feel as though the first couple of months of the year are like an ending of sorts, the shorter days, colder temperatures, time to withdraw and rest.
Aries is the epitome of leap first, look later… rushing headlong into the new, to discover what is and what isn’t – in a very direct way. Sometimes thought of as brash, The Ram is forthright but NOT calculating- PASSION and excitement, an adrenalin rush all in one packet. If you see one coming, either get out of the way or put on your running shoes to follow in their wake.
LEO, the second of the fire signs is a TOTALLY different kind of cat. Much of the warmth of Leo is radiant, bright, enthusiastic and cheerful. Just as the Sun is the star in the centre of our galaxy, so is Leo the centre of the story, the world gravitates and surrounds the life-giving Lion. And so we have a fixed expression of fire, it resides in its place, welcoming those who draw near. Sharing, benevolent, generous and encouraging. Majestic and regal, you may find yourself wanting to take your place at their feet.
Just as the ego is the lens though which our personality is projected, if it is neglected or humiliated or ignored Leo can display an inflated sense of self and be demanding, churlish and dramatic or, just as worryingly, a diminished sense of self-worth…anxious, unconfident, flat and unengaged.
When the Beatles wrote, ‘All You Need is Love’… they were singing Leo’s song.
SAGITTARIUS, if Aries is first out of the blocks rushing headlong into the next adventure and Leo is steady, is occupying the centre of the universe, the third of the fire signs is on the run, aiming his arrow to the next frontier. But with Sagittarius, make no mistake, THERE IS NO FINAL FRONTIER… The Quest is the whole story. Searching, seeking, exploring, questioning ALWAYS expanding into the next step, pushing the boundaries. This is so beautifully summed up by the child’s eternal and exhausting question WHY?
Restlessness is Sagittarius’ M-O. Always on to the next… freedom loving, philosophising, expect BIG, dreams, visions, ideas… Sagittarius also includes a healthy dollop of intuition and ENTHUSIASM writ large. Because the quest is so compelling, there can be a woeful lack of awareness for mundane matters, commitments or the feelings of others. IMPULSIVE and occasionally outspoken to the point of crudeness, the half man/half horse sometimes succumbs to his animal nature and speaks before he thinks. The bluntness of delivery is seldom intended to offend but can ruffle feathers and feelings nonetheless in his relentless pursuit of the TRUTH.
So… FIRE?! It can burn, sizzle, warm and inspire… Draw near and be advised that it will never be boring! Fire is ALWAYS aspiring, moving up and reaching… raising our gaze and inviting us to ‘Up our game’.
marlowpurves.net 