Polarity, Triplicity & Quadruplicity

Source: Unsplash

Source: Unsplash

POLARITY

Polarity refers to the motivation of a sign. Masculine signs are action-oriented and dynamic, while Feminine signs are receptive and won’t act unless provoked. Like all things, too much of one and not enough of another leads to imbalance. Too masculine and you could be too impulsive and rash in your actions. Too feminine and you lose the motivation to build up your life.

MASCULINE: Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, Aquarius

FEMININE: Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces

QUADRUPLICITY

Each sign has a different approach to life which is reflected in its house position in the archetype and they are designated Cardinal, Fixed or Mutable with 4 signs in each.

CARDINAL: These are the goal-oriented signs that have to do with building up your life: Aries, Libra, Cancer and Capricorn. They may start out unsteady but build momemtum over time. Their positions in the archetype are on houses 1, 7, 4 & 10, like the points of a compass.

FIXED: The fixed signs represent the strength of stability and consistency: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. They conserve their energy instead of directing it towards an external goal and are found on houses 2, 5, 8 and 11.

MUTABLE: The mutables have a fluctuating energy without a strong direction: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces. It may sound scattered, but their strength is in breaking down the old to bring new things together. These signs are found on houses 3, 6, 9 and 12.

TRIPLICITY

You’ve probably heard things like “Leo is a fire sign” or “Cancer is a water sign.” This refers to the triplicity. Each sign falls into one of four elements, three in each, which represent the goals of life. Each sign in the element is similar but expresses itself in a unique way. 

EARTH: Earth signs are feminine and focused on security and survival, humanity’s first goal. Earth signs are primarily concerned with practical, “down-to-earth” matters, like reputation, acquisition of material comforts, and a steady income. Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.

WATER: Water signs are highly emotional and intuitive to others, connecting through moods and feelings. They represent pleasure through love, family and sex. As feminine signs, they too are receptive and connect with others through the emotions.  Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.

AIR: Air signs represent relationships and communication to help the other signs come together for a common purpose. All Air signs are masculine, reflecting their need to affect others and act through ideas and ethics. Gemini, Libra, Aquarius.

FIRE: Fire signs represent inspiration and action in pursuit of freedom, humanity’s ultimate goal. As masculine signs, they are active and dynamic. Aries, Leo, Sagittarius.