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Page 1 of 3 The Four
Astrological
Elements in Relationships
by Hajo Banzhaf
and Brigitte Theler
According
to traditional teachings, there are two elements
respectively that fit well together, while the other
combinations are more difficult. Fire and air are
considered to be masculine elements that are related to
each other and harmonize well, as do the feminine
elements of earth and water.
Popular
astrological partnership predictions, usually follow
this simple basic pattern. It’s obvious that we can
get along well with the signs of the same element. After
all, we are in our own element with them, which means we
look at the world in the same way. Moreover, we have a
good understanding of people with the related element so
that in this very fundamental consideration of the
twelve signs there are six masculine and six feminine
signs, each of which harmonize well with the others of
the same group.
| Masculine
and Feminine Elements |
|
MASCULINE
|
FEMININE
|
| FIRE |
AIR |
EARTH |
WATER |
| Aries |
Libra |
Capricorn |
Cancer |
| Leo |
Aquarius |
Taurus |
Scorpio |
| Sagittarius |
Gemini |
Virgo |
Pisces |
Whether
we should take a simplistic approach to an essential
area of life such as partnership is an open question.
Even everyday language has two extremely contradictory
opinions about this situation. On the one hand it says
that “birds of a feather flock together”, but then
there is also the following expression: “opposites
attract”. So which of these two elemental theories
should we believe?
“Birds
of a feather flock together” is certainly a good basis
for the friendships we cultivate, and for the
experiences we have within a group. This is also where
we can apply the statements about elements that
harmonize with each other. By way of comparison, “opposites
attract” is the motto for a relationship — or is
there a greater contrast than between a man and a woman?
This is why it is very questionable when astrological
statements about partnership are made only according to
this basic pattern. In fact, it has been demonstrated
often enough that although we get along well with our
own and the related element, such connections may not
create enough excitement to keep a relationship full of
life. Understood in this manner, relationships between
all the elements — and all the astrological signs —
are obviously possible without the difficult ones
necessarily being any worse than others or even
hopeless.
Since we
can ultimately become whole only by developing the four
elements within us, we must first understand the nature
of each individual element, how it gets along with the
other element, and how these complement it. In the
following descriptions, each element will be described
as if a person were to consist of just this element
alone. However, there is no such extreme form, since we
are all mixed types. One element is so strongly
developed in each of us that we appear to primarily
represent this type of element.
The
Fire Element:
The Strong-Willed Individual
The fire
person lives in a world of optimism, enthusiasm, and has
a great capacity for exuberance. His courage in taking
risks and a strong belief in himself are the basis of
his nearly inexhaustible drive. He trusts the power of
his intuition, follows his will, his convictions, and at
the same time, likes to place himself at the center of
all events. Attention is simply important; this is why
he also does a great deal in order to be seen.
With his
fire power, he may also spark other’s interest and
enthuse them for his goals. This is how he sets
developments in motion, gives dynamic impulses,
motivates and spurs others on, and is a master at
playing to an audience. His passion is expressing his
will. This is why he loves the still unstructured
future, which he can form according to his own will. He
likes to risk the big success or new beginning, which
causes the blood to surge through his veins. He looks
for challenges and, even if he happens to fail at some
point, he quickly recovers, gets up, and tries it again.
For him there is always a next time, a new try.
He is
the master of the beginning, yet his fire sometimes
flags when translating his projects into concrete terms.
Impatience is his distinguishing feature, and the time
between the sowing and the harvest often becomes a hard
trial of patience for him. Fire ignites easily, but
staying power and a careful treatment of energy reserves
are not his strength. Routine work is not at all to his
taste because it leaves no room for spontaneity, and
also sets tiresome limits on his urge for freedom and
desire for what is new.
The past
is extremely uninteresting and boring for a fire person
because it can no longer be changed, even with the best
of will. This is why consideration means little since he
prefers to charge forward and wants to be the first.
Believing in the goal is the engine that drives him on.
Fiery
people prefer to actively intervene in life instead of
waiting and taking what’s in store for them. More than
any other element, fire individuals have a more
difficult time tolerating inner tensions, which is why
they translate impulses and drives into action as
quickly as possible and work them off. This direct power
of expression, the sometimes childlike spontaneity, and
the uninhibited way of always claiming the entire pie
has something very winning about it. However, the high
degree of willingness to take a risk, the lack of
self-control, and the deep aversion to any type of
criticism — not to even mention self-criticism — in
connection with fiery impatience can let some of the
noble plans turn into an unimagined adventure that may
also end with everything razed to the ground.
Continued
This
article was
excerpted from
"Secrets of Love &
Partnership"
by Hajo Banzhaf & Brigitte Theler.
by Hajo Banzhaf & Brigitte Theler.
Info/Order
this book
Recommended
books on Astrology
About The
Author
  Hajo
Banzhaf has been writing, lecturing, and working as an astrologer since
1985. He presents tarot seminars, and lectures on astrology and tarot.
Mr. Banzhaf's website is www.tarot.de
Further info can also be found at http://maja.com/HajoBanzhaf.htm.
Co-author Brigitte Theler has worked with her own practice for many
years, is the editor of "Astrologie Heute" [Astrology Today],
and heads astrology seminars in Zurich and Munich. This article was
reprinted with permission from their book "Secrets of Love &
Partnership" ©1998, published by Samuel Weiser Inc., York
Beach, ME. http://weiserbooks.com
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