Qualities

≙ Cardinal, ⊟ Fixed or ≘ Mutable?

As you delve into astrology, you will discover that human attributes follow the natural rhythms of nature. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the way characteristics of the three ≙ ⊟ ≘ Qualities are derived.

Each sign of the Zodiac is assigned to one of three ≙ ⊟ ≘ Qualities--categories professional astrologers call the "quadruplicies." There are four signs to each category: ≙ Cardinal, ⊟ Fixed and ≘ Mutable. Each Quality has a special role to play in relationship to their placement within the four seasons.

If this is difficult to understand (and if you find yourself rereading what you just read)-- relax--you will "get it" when you check out your sign and compare your profile to other signs within your Quality group.

If you know your rising sign (also called the ascendent) check that description out too, for it will complete your profile accurately.

What Quality Are You?

To understand your Quality, you must first know what Element you are. If you don't know if you are an 🌄Earth, 🌪Air, 🔥Fire or 🌊Water sign, check out The Elements.

Once you've read about your Element, come back here to check out more information about your personality and that of people you know. Find out if you are a real ≙ Cardinal, ⊟ Fixed or ≘ Mutable sign.

≙ Cardinal Signs: If you are a ≙ Cardinal sign your job is to initiate the season. You are the leader which brings forth that season. ≙ Cardinal signs are pioneering and enterprising. ♈Aries (spring), ♋Cancer (summer), ♎Libra (autumn), and ♑Capricorn (winter), are the ≙ Cardinal signs.

⊟ Fixed Signs: If you are a ⊟ Fixed sign, you are the second month in that season and it is your job to maintain that season. ⊟ Fixed signs concentrate energy and solidify ideas. ♉Taurus (spring), ♌Leo (summer), ♏Scorpio (autumn), and ♒Aquarius (winter), are the ⊟ Fixed signs.

≘ Mutable Signs: If you are a ≘ Mutable sign, your sign is the third (and final) month within each season. The role for these signs is to prepare for the transition to the next season and their traits are communication, flexibility, and destruction. ≘ Mutable signs are ♊Gemini (late spring), ♍Virgo (late summer), ♐Sagittarius (late autumn) and ♓Pisces (late winter).

≙ Cardinal Signs:

♈Aries, ♋Cancer, ♎Libra and ♑Capricorn

As the "scout signs" which generate the seasons, ≙ cardinal signs govern creativity. These signs are restless, active, self-motivated, ambitious, and they often are the leaders in their communities.

They can be a bit domineering, but that comes part and parcel with their best qualities of being enterprising, independent, creative, spontaneous and forceful.

Here's how each sign's unique mix of Quality and Element influence how they express their ≙ Cardinal nature.

♈Aries: ≙ Cardinal & 🔥Firemore...

An Aries' role is to project himself upon the world through firsthand experiences. Self-expression is paramount to this pioneering sign, and Aries likes to see how far he can go in exploring, discovering and experimenting with the world around him.

Aries' fire element gives him supreme faith in himself along with a fierce sense of courage. His Cardinal nature makes him restless and in need of change for the sake of change.

He is assertive too, and manages to get himself known in a fairly short time. Says Aries, "If I don't attract some attention to myself, how is anyone going to know me?" Right on, Aries! We can all learn from you. True to form, Aries does get to know the right people. (In Aries' case, the "right" ones tend to be venture capitalists or high level muckety-mucks who can make some splendid introductions for them!)

Where would we be without Aries daredevils to push us forward?

♋Cancer: ≙ Cardinal & 🌊Watermore...

Cancer's role is to actively explore the entire realm of human emotion.

That Cancer is both Cardinal and Water motivates this sign to explore new emotional states and experiences.

As a Water sign, Cancer is the most subtle of the Cardinal signs when expressing his independence and ambition. But don't be fooled--those qualities are just as powerful within Cancer as in the other Cardinal signs, no matter how gentle a Cancer outwardly appears.

Astrologers often describe Cancer as moody, which can be true at times, but that description oversimplifies Cancers' rich textural nature and their ability to accept, initiate or even embrace change when they feel it is necessary.

They have a capacity for sympathy and compassion that is unmatched by any other sign except fellow water sign Pisces.

Cancers have a wide emotional spectrum, and they generally experience an inner life that combines higher highs and lower lows than the rest of us. Cancer wouldn't have it any other way!

♎Libra: ≙ Cardinal & 🌪Airmore...

Libras are great matchmakers and know how to get things cooking by introducing individuals to one another in relaxed social situations. This sign mixes with lots of people and communicates often, so a Libra alone is a bit of an oxymoron, or a bit like the sound of one hand clapping! Bewildered Libra would wonder what happened to the other hand. Trying to do anything without the "other half" of the unit seems pointless to them.

Libras do their best work bouncing ideas off others and working in partnerships or team situations.

Their active, authoritative, Cardinal quality brings them in contact with successful over-achievers like themselves, so they quickly build a data base of influential friends, associates, and contacts. (Need an introduction to advance your pet project? Ask a Libra for help--they will throw a party or arrange a lunch.)

Since they're Cardinal, Libras can be bossy, but they express their dominance in such a charming way that others become easily (sometimes joyfully) wrapped around Libra's little fingers.

♑Capricorn: ≙ Cardinal & 🌄Earthmore...

Capricorn is a Cardinal sign who initiates activity with the end result in mind.

They are not impulsive or impetuous--the Capricorn Earth nature sets goals and plans carefully. Unlike fellow Earth sign Taurus, a sign motivated by money, Capricorn's motivation is to maintain and improve their reputations. Prestige is candy to Capricorn, for they love being respected for their work.

Anything they put their name on has to be the best they can do. They work with almost the same dedication and obsession of a Virgo (OK, I concede that Virgo is hard to beat in area of obsession and perfection.)

Gaining honor or fame for its own sake will always interest Capricorn, especially if the position allows them to use their substantial leadership abilities.

Why would a practical Capricorn accept a high profile position without a big salary attached? Earthy Capricorn realizes they can leverage the title for more responsibility and compensation later. Some people say that each of us is only two phone calls away from people in power.

If that is true, and you want to reach someone high up in the stratosphere (the White House?) call your Capricorn first. They know all the right people--and eventually become part of the inner circle themselves.

⊟ Fixed Signs:

♉Taurus, ♌Leo, ♏Scorpio, and ♒Aquarius

The role of the ⊟ Fixed signs is to maintain, uphold and defend positions, responsibilities, goals or desires in everyday situations. These signs are the least welcoming of change. Their role in the zodiac is to preserve tradition.

⊟ Fixed signs are not easily distracted--they keep their hands on the steering wheel and their eyes on the road. They can be a bit stubborn or stuck in a rut, a down side of their ability to stay the course.

Yet these signs are valued for their consistent, loyal, devoted, reliable and patient natures. Yes, they do hold strong opinions and at times they can be inflexible, but there are some areas in life that those traits are needed and even encouraged.

How each sign expresses the ⊟ Fixed Quality depends on their own characteristics:

♉Taurus: ⊟ Fixed & 🌄Earthmore...

The Earth element of a Taurus' Fixed nature makes them focus on the accumulation of material possessions, and moves Taurus' to guard what they earn or accumulate.

Since Tauruses have sensuous natures, they enjoy the tactile quality of tangible objects. They care for other people's property in the same responsible manner as their own, and often wind up in positions of professional guardianship.

The insurance business is a perfect industry for Taurus, because of its focus on security. Tauruses are oriented to the here-and-now and need to see tangible fruits of their labors.

In short, some signs don't mind being more famous than rich, but not Taurus. Being a practical earth element, they want to see the cash.

♌Leo: ⊟ Fixed & 🔥Firemore...

The Fire element of Leo's Fixed nature makes this sign powerfully self-expressive and many Leos are highly artistic and creative.

This sign will latch on to an idea and wrestle it to the ground, not stopping until it is expressed in a manner which Leo believes is best.

The lion is known as "King of the Jungle," and Leo will assert his or her masterful authority at all times--whether that authority be real or imagined.

Their efforts are buttressed by one overwhelmingly attractive quality--self confidence. Few signs are as a good at psyching out their competitors and uncovering the secret to their success!

♏Scorpio: ⊟ Fixed & 🌊Watermore...

Due to the Water element of this sign, Scorpio's role is to strengthen emotions and feelings--theirs and others--and make them permanent. Since their goal is to get others to reach a final agreement, commit to a strategy, and move forward, it is easy to see why they do so well in sales, negotiations, and interpersonal relationships.

Scorpio's need for control can make them jealous or possessive. This can be a charming or not-so-charming trait, depending on whether or not they go off the deep end with it. ("There was a little girl with a little curl right in the middle of her forehead. When she was good, she was very, very good and when she was bad she was horrid." Very Scorpio, male or female.)

Scorpios work in purposeful ways. You can always sense a wellspring of power simmering just under the surface.

Want to change a Scorpio's mind? Good luck! Their Fixed nature can be maddening, yet their steadfast loyalty to those they love is also one of their endearing qualities. Their intense, smoldering passion (Water sign) makes them mesmerizing.

♒Aquarius: ⊟ Fixed & 🌪Airmore...

Aquarius's foundation in Air--a communicative element--mixed with their Fixed quality drives this sign to make their friendships permanent. Few signs take friendship as seriously as Aquarius, and they tend to keep, defend, and care for their friends over a lifetime.

Another role of Aquarius is to create and found groups and organizations, for their natural domain is over the 11th sector.

Being a radical sign ruling the future, some readers may be surprised to hear Aquarius is a Fixed sign--one would expect them perhaps be Mutable. However, Aquarius' Fixed nature is demonstrated in their scientific and orderly minds and their insistence on maintaining strict procedures to insure they obtain the most accurate results.

Aquarius does forge into the future, but not in the rash, impulsive way an Aries might. Rather, Aquarius insists on total objectivity--you won't find any emotionality or preconceived ideas.

Their Fixed quality makes them dogged in their pursuit of discovery--and it is a rare Aquarian that does not eventually hit pay dirt with that kind of intent! After all, Aquarius is the sign of the inventor!

≘ Mutable Signs:

♊Gemini, ♍Virgo, ♐Sagittarius, ♓Pisces

The ≘ Mutable signs' prepare for change into the next season. This makes the people of this group highly adaptable, flexible and communicative. Throw a curve to a ≘ Mutable sign and they can turn on a dime, coming up with solutions faster than you can bat an eye.

≘ Mutable signs are restless and embrace change. They are the most resourceful of all the signs, and thus, they make much from little.

They are highly detail-oriented, but should take care not to get so wound up in tiny particulars that they lose sight of the whole.

♊Gemini: ≘ Mutable & 🌪Airmore...

Gemini's need for stimulation can not be overstated. Highly intellectual, Gemini needs news and information like oxygen.

Being an Air sign, Gemini enjoys the exchange of ideas with others--this is no loner. The sound of a phone's dial tone is as comforting to Gemini as the sound of a mama's heartbeat to a baby.

One Gemini friend has confessed that her fax machine going off sounds like the love call between two mating whales, a sound that thrills her because it means news is on the way (we will be sure to get my friend professional help soon).

Seriously, being an adaptable Mutable sign, Gemini's mind is always going at the speed of light. They can put various pieces of information together in a multitude of ways, and this makes them quite good at figuring things out, be they instructions to the VCR, the facts of a murder case, or the intricacies of the Congressional budget.

Gemini can change their position as quickly as they assimilate new information, remaining at all times objective.

Gemini's downfall? Their adeptness at handling several things at once can lead them to assume too much responsibility. At that point they can become scattered or begin to procrastinate.

If they stay focused, they can accomplish more in a day than most of us do in a week.

♍Virgo: ≘ Mutable & 🌄Earthmore...

Virgo is more practical than Gemini and just as intelligent.

This sign seeks to devote its substantial communicative talents to concrete goals. Virgo is less likely than Gemini to become scattered by trying to do too many things, and yet more likely than Gemini to become bogged down in the details.

Virgo's fastidiousness and precision is unmatched by any other sign. They polish their work until it shines, for Virgo's overwhelming desire is to feel productive.

Don't tell a Virgo to relax and chill out, for most members of this sign have not quite mastered that ability. They feel badly if they waste time.

Being an Earth sign, their powers of organization are amazing and it's this skill which gets Virgo tangible results they can measure, compare, assess and perfect (a Virgo word if there ever was one).

But Virgo isn't rigid--far from it. Virgo's Mutability allows for a willing flexibility and razor-sharp course corrections mid-way, an asset Virgo keeps hidden up their laundered and starched white sleeve.

♐Sagittarius: ≘ Mutable & 🔥Firemore...

Sagittarius expresses its hefty intellect in the realms of philosophy and spirituality. People of this group also enjoy delving into the differences and similarities of various cultures.

Sagittarius' Fire nature craves adventure and likes to feel a sense of exploration in the projects he takes on. Whereas Gemini focuses on the daily details of current events, Sagittarius focuses on the underlying moral or ethical implications of issues, past or present.

Like all Mutable signs, Sadge is curious, but it's pro-active Fire element makes Sadge the sign most likely to explore and debate hypothetical situations (communication being the dominant quality of a Mutable sign).

For a fun time, they listen to National Public Radio and watch Meet the Press. Keeping up with this high octane Mutable/Fire sign is hard, but well worth the effort.

♓Pisces: ≘ Mutable & 🌊Watermore...

Pisces use their Mutable nature to explore and adjust to the feelings (Water's domain) of others around them.

Since Mutable signs are communicative, Pisces takes the concerns of those around them seriously and will always offer information, sympathy, advice--whatever is appropriate to the situation. Pisces' ability to adapt is so strong that he almost literally becomes the person he is trying to help and he often does not see the borders of where he stops and the other person begins.

This can be hard on Pisces, for long after the other person has settled whatever has troubled them, Pisces' strong intellect continues to chew on the ramifications and various issues involved. They need closure, so if you ask a Pisces for advice, be sure to let him know later what action you took and the results you experienced.

If you don't, your Pisces will be in a perpetual state of anxiety over your condition. One last word: show appreciation to your Pisces. Taking too big an advantage of Pisces' good nature is a cosmic no-no.