Astrology is defined by the Oxford compendium as, “The study of the movements and relative positions of astronomical bodies construed as having an influence on human affairs and the natural world”. These classical elements play an important and influential part in both Western and Sidereal astrology. The great majority of people with an abiding interest in the art know they're some of it, but perhaps don't have such a clear idea of what effects the elements have, why they do and how they are organised. In fact, if astrology is primarily the discipline of astronomical bodies then how can four terrestrial elements intercede? Students of philosophy and numerology have long thought the number three is an incredibly significant, even sacred number – a number that at it’s purest, illustrates the cycle of all life.
3 are the sides of a triangle and if one examines one side of the triangle as being representative of birth and the concurrent descent of the soul, then you're presented with a shape that ultimately shows birth – life – death. 3 is a number of harmony, fulfilment and balance and as such resonates through each of our lives in ways that we often don’t notice. The Trinity has been present throughout most of human history and development – Christianity begins with the Daddy, the Child and the Almighty Spirit, Hinduism has the ‘Trimurti ‘ – Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver) and Shiva (the destroyer). Pythagoras, the famous Greek thinker and mathematician stated that ‘Three is the noblest of digits) ‘. Now that's the highest advice any number can hope for! Naturally, the significance of the number 3 reaches to the heavens and astronomical bodies that govern us on a regular basis and as such, every one of the elements has been assigned with a triplicity of three signals of the zodiac, these are allotted by the balanced nature that each sign has with the corresponding elements. Fire (Aries, Leo and Sagittarius) is connected with being intuitive, strong, spontaneity, inspiration, passion, drama and passion. Water (Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces) has strong associations with empathy, intuition, emotional responses, being nurturing and secretive.
Earth (Capricorn, Taurus and Virgo) is seen as being practical, productive, solid, real, dependable, tactile and sensuous. Air (Libra, Aquarius and Gemini) is connected with logic, curiosity, exhibiting intellectual instead of emotive reactions and being a little ethereal and detached. In addition each component is connected with several astronomical rulerships : Fire – Sun (day ruler), Jupiter (night ruler) and Saturn (participating ruler). Air – Saturn (day ruler), Mercury (night ruler) and Jupiter (participating ruler). Earth – Venus (day ruler), Moon (night ruler), Mars (participating ruler). As you can clearly see from this very broad overview, the number three occurs time and time again within astrology.
The triplicities, organisation and harmonies contained within each grouping are very important as they define the astrological properties attached to each sign in the zodiac. Without these, accurate horoscopes cannot be made as these elements have great influence on astrology charts and the divination that may be gained from a fortune teller.
