People were saying how they wouldn't really like to be called a "GAS" sign .. lol or a "Plasma" sign 
I didn't really explain this at the time - but what I was wondering is whether we could attribute new (or more complex) personality-traits to the different signs based on the modern elements (rather than the outdated water/earth/air/fire). Any thoughts on this?
quote:
DIRT, JELL-O, WINDY, AND HOT SIGNS Copyright Gerald Baron 2003
A few years ago I attended an unusual lecture on the four elements of astrology (earth, water, air, and fire) by a famous astrologer from London, England. The famous astrologer said I could use the lecture content if I didn't use the astrologer's name. I accepted the condition, although I didn't understand the reason for it at the time. I only knew the astrologer was concerned about some repercussions if these astrology ideas were publicized with the astrologer's name attached. Later, I learned from gossip in my local astrology community that the famous astrologer had gotten (or I should say stolen) these ideas from a secret society of Hermetic magicians in London.
As with much magical knowledge, the learning tools are very simple and common. To help you understand and use the four elements of astrology, collect the following:
q glass of water;
q matches
q incense
q plate/ashtray
q piece of paper
q houseplant.
_____EARTH: Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo
Look at the houseplant for a few minutes -- or a few hours, the plant and its earth don’t seem to change. Move it around the room. Shake the plant a bit. Think about a patch of grass covered earth in a nearby park or backyard.
As you looked at the houseplant and thought about the patch of earth, the earth just seemed to sit there. When viewed for a few minutes, a patch of earth seems solid and stable without much activity; but under the thin visible crust of the patch of earth, insects, animals, and plant roots are very active.
Also, when viewed over a full year of seasons, a piece of earth with the right amounts of fire, air, and water produces plants and supports animal life. Rhythmic changes can be seen with the season changes. Earth is really very active and productive when viewed over a long time; remember those time lapse movies of plants with one frame shot every hour for a few days.
When we switch our time frame back to a few minutes, earth appears very stable and consistent. Shaking and moving did not disturb the plant. Earth people will shrug off minor surface disturbances; they are not easily distracted from their goals by minor physical, mental, and emotional shocks.
However, this stability is only skin deep. If you probe deeper down below the calm exterior, the earth is compressed under fantastic pressures which are continually adjusting themselves and occasionally escape in magmatic fury. Just like the contrast between the earth's calm exterior and its very active interior, the earth person is also a duality. You'll be destroyed by a volcanic eruption if you attempt to break through earth's reserved manner, go against its sense of justice, or force it to break its natural rhythms.
Earth people are here to learn the lesson of service. Earth's goal is to master work and the material world, and then use that mastery to serve their fellows better. As earth people move along their development path they are:
Good at finishing -- turn dreams to reality;
Enjoy applying experience to problems;
In touch with physical senses & material world;
Practical, patient, and dependable;
Stable, and resist change;
Endure and last; hang in there to finish up even the most unpleasant job.
_____WATER: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Move a glass of water around quickly enough so some water spills.
As the glass of water is moved around, it is easily agitated by physical shock. Water people are easily upset by rough handling -- in contrast to the relative stability of earth. Water can be a paradox however: a violent surface storm can belie a calm stable depth -- or the reverse.
Because water is so sensitive to physical and emotional shock, it looks outside itself for security and stability. The glass gives the water shape and stability. Water people are attracted to discipline and structure. Sometimes a strong, dominant partner or demanding life style serves this purpose.
Another way water finds security and stability is to stay within its family. If some of the water spills on the table top, it will form blobs. The blobbing of the water is the clannishness of water people -- they like to be in groups.
Even though water is very sensitive to its environment, water takes a long time to heat up or cool down. Remember the last time you jumped into a swimming pool on a hot summer morning; the water was still cool from the night. Also, remember how long it seemed to take to boil the big pot of water for the pasta. Water people need a lot of stimulation before they get going (hot), but once going, they tend to stay hot. The reverse is also true: water needs a lot of cooling down time before it stops seething.
Steam gives a much worse burn than boiling water -- even though both are at the same temperature. When VERY heated up over something water is dangerous and difficult to handle.
Even without being heated up, water has much power to achieve its goals. Water will always seek its own level and reach its destination (often the sea). If an obstacle blocks water sign people in the pursuit of their goals, they will use slow, constant pressure to wear the obstacle down (a river wears down rocks). Water expands when freezing, so very strong containers can't hold water forever. Water can seep under and evaporate over barriers.
The next time you are with a water person, keep in mind how much power is latent in the seemingly placid water. It has a potential to do great amounts of work, as when it is directed to flow through a generator in a dam.
As well as being a source of vast potential energy, water also serves as a mirror. You can see your reflection in water. Because water people quickly absorb the character of people they contact, others can see themselves mirrored in the water people. Often this mirroring is therapeutic.
Water people are swayed by feeling and emotions. The goal of water people is to control their emotions so they can find peace. Water has a lot to offer on its path to peace:
· Sensitive to atmosphere;
· Strong sense of values in human relationships;
· Capacity to bring individuals together and instinctually understand their needs;
· Personal, subjective judgment;
· Can persuade, sell, and teach;
· Empathy, compassion, feeling for others;
· Senses inter-dependence and connectedness of all life;
· Feelings are very strong, but dealt with internally;
· Focuses on security; on their own needs if into dependency, on protecting others if into nurturing.
_____AIR: Libra, Aquarius, Gemini
Light an incense stick. Watch the smoke rise. Notice how quickly people can smell the incense. Although air is invisible, the behavior of the visible smoke shows the air currents and the motion of the air molecules. The smoke moves in ever expanding complex patterns, eventually spreading out all over -- just like the invisible air molecules are doing.
Just like the smoke, air people want to see more, do more, hear more, and travel more. Even when seemingly at rest, air is thinking about a myriad of things. While fire only moves to what interests it (fuel), and water runs off water-resistant materials (things it can't get emotionally involved with), air approaches all surfaces equally (truly egalitarian -- but doesn't stay long).
Air people should be encouraged to explore. To see what happens if air is trapped, inflate a balloon and let it go. This is what happens to air people in a confined mental and physical space. Air can be compressed and contained in a specific space such as a balloon, but when an escape is permitted, the air will quickly leave.
Air people want others to know about their explorations. Air is an excellent communicator. Although the smoke is visible, air itself is transparent. Air people generally transmit facts clearly, easily, and without emotional distortion.
We need air to speak to each other. A vacuum doesn’t transmit sound, air is needed to carry sound. Air people enjoy speaking and listening; they often dislike writing because a written message is fixed and unchangeable.
When speaking to air people use logic, not emotional and practical argument. Air must be related to through its mind and intellect. Air doesn't buoy very much solid matter (practical concerns) unless air is approached properly. Hold up a book and let it go. It falls to the ground. However, a plane wing can support tons because it is designed to approach air in a way air can "understand".
Air people's goal is to learn how to use their mental gifts to create connections between people. Unfortunately some air people use their mental gifts to manipulate others or isolate themselves from their fellows. When air is clearly communicated with, it will show its best qualities:
· Fair, assesses situations impersonally;
· Appreciates culture, structure, and systems;
· Courageously adheres to principles;
· Objective, detached judgment;
· Doesn't get heavily involved in other's worries and emotions;
· Lives in head; thinks about logical and abstract ideas -- which may not be practical;
· Enjoys people, ideas, communications, but not absorption or intensity of feeling;
· Understands and accepts, without having to change anything or anyone.
____FIRE: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Rub a match lightly a few times on the ignition strip of a matchbook -- no ignition. Next, apply more pressure until the match ignites and suddenly burns brightly. Hold the burning match for a few seconds, then light a piece of paper with the burning match. Let the match go out after it is placed on a fire resistant surface (plate, ashtray, etc.). Light other matches and extinguish them by putting in water, blowing on, and smothering.
At first, the match does not ignite when lightly struck, but with harder rubbing (more friction, thus higher ignition temperature) does start burning. Fire people need the proper amount of stimulation before they will show any interest in a situation, but once "ignited", fire people get intensely involved. Before ignition, fire seems completely disinterested. The only speeds on the fire gearshift are stop and ahead fast; the gear shift is made suddenly.
Once the fire has started to burn, the flame only burns along the match (fuel), not out into the air or along the plate when the match is placed on the plate. Fire only moves toward what interests it personally (fuel) and ignores the rest (non-fuel: air, plate) as if it didn't exist.
The lit match gives off heat and light. Fire can warm and inspire those nearby. Unfortunately too much heat burns up others -- all that is left is ashes. Fire is best as a stimulator when it enthuses people, rather than burning them up. If too enthusiastic and left to burn unchecked, fire can completely consume and destroy all the human and material resources.
A fire can't control its own burning. Fire people are often very generous with their time, energy, and money -- provided the activity interests them (fuel)
Fire people are here to learn the lesson of love and wisdom. Love can cleanse, purify, heal, and inspire, but love without wisdom can destroy. Encourage fire's creativity, passion, and enthusiasm, but also help fire see the results of their "burning", so that fire can learn wisdom. Fire people on the path of love and wisdom are
· Vital and spontaneous -- envied and sometimes resented by more peaceable types;
· Children at heart;
· Burns, often very quickly, and then is gone;
· Confident, generous, outgoing, active (physically and emotionally); -Impulsive and gets bored quickly;
· Loves starting projects and relationships, but may grow tired and leave rather then finish;
· Can lack self-control and sensitivity to others;
· Dramatic, intense, likes change;
· Brings up new possibilities;
· Sees how to prepare for future.
The natural world has many lessons about the elements of astrology. Next time you're barbecuing think about fire sign people. What does champagne have to do with water people? To learn more about earth people, take a close look at the park next time you take a walk there. Contemplate what air has to offer the next time a breeze cools you off on a hot day.
Lindaland
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posted August 17, 2011 03:59 PM
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