This post is the third in a four-part series exploring the four elements - earth, air, fire, and water - from an intuitive standpoint, correlating their sensory, emotional, and metaphorical associations with common expressions like "down to earth," "up in the air," "on fire," or "swimming in the deep end of the pool." Plenty of examples and sample charts are given, including Virginia Woolf (earth), Jimi Hendrix (fire), Nelson Mandela (water), and Julie Andrews (air). It was originally published as an article in the June/July issue 2011 of The Mountain Astrologer.
As with our senses, our emotions often yield an immediate understanding of something, even when we can’t articulate exactly what it is we feel. In the previous post, I described an astropoetic approach to the elements through the senses. A second dimension of this approach to the elements can be found in their emotional tone. When we correlate our emotions with their astrological referents, we have an intuitive language to better understand both our feelings and the chart that reflects their expression. Nowhere is this easier to do than with the elements, each with its own distinct nexus of emotions.
As with the sensory dimension of the elements, their emotional dimension also has historical precedence. The concept of the four elements – introduced by Empedocles and further developed by Aristotle and others – gradually evolved to encompass a much broader medical and psychological profile. Circa 460 BCE, the concept was adopted by Hippocrates, and discussed in terms of the four humors: sanguine, melancholic, choleric, and phlegmatic.
The four humors gradually became a key tool in early medical diagnosis, which by the 2nd century BCE, was thoroughly integrated with astrology, thanks largely to the seminal work, Prognostication of Disease by Astrology, written by Galen of Pergamon. Eventually, the four humors were associated not just with physiological predispositions, but also proto-psychological profiles. Sanguine (or air) types were thought to be buoyant and enthusiastic. Choleric (or fire) types were irascible, impulsive, and angry. Melancholic (or earth) types were sad, serious, and nervous. Phlegmatic (water) types were indolent and lethargic [1].
Such keyword descriptions are, of course, condensed from voluminous discussions, which engaged early medical physicians the same way more sophisticated systems of typology encompassed by the MMPI, California Psychological Inventory, Myers-Briggs or other more contemporary psychological tests do today. The problem with these, and all typologies, is that they fail to take into account the complexity of a living, evolving soul, which will in some way encompass all four types, emphasizing one or the other at various levels and in various situations. Many hybrid situations are also possible, in which two or more humors combine to produce some not so easily categorized synthesis. Nonetheless, it is possible – as these early philosopher-physicians demonstrated – to assign various emotions and psychological attributes to each of the four elements, with the understanding that how the emotions are expressed in any given moment will be a function of a complex set of variables.
More simply, and aside from their association with the four humors, emotions can also be assigned to the elements astropoetically by extending their sensory correlates as metaphors.
EARTH: If, for example, we consider earth to be heavy, then earth can also be associated with “heavy” emotions: depression, despair, regret, guilt, and self-recrimination. The solid, inert, compact, self-contained nature of earth lends itself to emotions that are introverted, dark, bitter, suffocating, and slow to mutate. At other times, the stability of earth can contribute to positive feelings such as contentment, serenity, and peace; while the rich fertility of earth can correlate with enjoyment, a sense of abundance, and well being.
Consider in this regard, the high earth author Virginia Woolf (with 6 planets in earth signs, and Sun square Saturn in Taurus), one of the foremost literary figures of the 20th century. Woolf suffered from periodic mood swings, severe depression, and suicidal tendencies all her life, despite her prodigious literary output. Her emotional difficulties started in 1895 at age 13, when her mother suddenly died – as transiting Saturn began its 2-year sojourn opposed her natal 4-planet Taurus stellium. By the time Saturn had completed this transit, her half-sister was also dead. Finally, in 1904 her father died – when transiting Saturn was square her Taurus stellium – and she was institutionalized for a nervous breakdown. On the day of her suicide – March 28, 1941 – transiting Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus were all moving through her Taurus stellium, while transiting Mars and Neptune were trine it from Capricorn and Virgo respectively, thus tipping her already earthy chart into overload and excess. To commit suicide, Woolf put on a “heavy” overcoat, filled its pocket with “stones” and walked into the river to drown.
Virginia Woolf
WATER: Water, in general, is associated with emotion, that is to say, the movement of feelings into some form of expression that provides or at least begs for relief – particularly through the shedding of water, i.e. tears of grief, sorrow, regret, loneliness, and despair. Water can be moody and tumultuous, as an emotional reflection of the sensory experience of wet and stormy weather. In contrast to earth emotions, difficult water emotions tend to be more fluid, bittersweet in offering release in the midst of pain, often cathartic and accompanied by melodrama. At the positive end of the spectrum, the soothing, cleansing and refreshing aspect of water lends itself to emotions like forgiveness, compassion, empathy, caring, and love.
Although his time of birth is in some dispute, high water Nelson Mandela (Sun in Cancer, Moon in Scorpio [2], plus 2 other planets in water signs) fits the profile. Mandela is famous for his resistance to the apartheid regime in South Africa, his 27 years imprisonment, and his reemergence to reunite his country as its first black president. Despite his imprisonment, he held no animosity toward his captors, and worked tirelessly to promote forgiveness, reconciliation and unity between blacks and whites. Although Mandela was no saint, he does epitomize water at its best, embodying the spirit of forgiveness, compassion, and cooperation across lines of difference.
Nelson Mandela
FIRE: Not surprisingly, fire emotions are at the hot end of the spectrum: anger, outrage, temper, aggression, competitiveness, and passion. When fire sparkles or glows, it can correlate with pride, radiant vitality, joy, charisma, and/or flamboyance. Fire’s shine can be narcissistic; its expansive roar, bombastic; its brightness, illuminating and inspirational. In general, fire emotions are hot, fast, volatile, expansive, intense, hypnotic, and dramatic – all in keeping with similar or identical sensory characteristics.
Contrast Mandela’s watery style with that of fiery dictators like Napoleon Bonaparte (Sun and Mercury in Leo); Benito Mussolini (Sun and Mercury in Leo); Josef Stalin (Sun in Sagittarius, Moon in Aries, and 2 other planets in fire signs); Nikita Khrushchev (Sun and Mercury in Aries); Fidel Castro (Sun, Mercury and Neptune in Leo); Che Guevara (4 planets in fire signs); and Cesar Chavez (Sun and Uranus in Aries, Neptune in Leo).
Fidel Castro, whose omnipresent cigar makes an apt astropoetic symbol for fire, epitomizes the proud confident bravado of this element. While being carted off to prison in the wake of an early failed coup against Batista, he said, “I know that there will be a conspiracy to bury me in oblivion. But my voice will not be stifled – it will rise from my breast even when I feel most alone, and my heart will give it all the fire that callous cowards deny it...” [3].
Cold War Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushschev is famous for an astropoetic moment depicting fire’s angry aggression called the Shoe Incident, in which he began pounding the table in front of him with his shoe during a Filipino delegate’s speech denouncing Soviet foreign policy. The Shoe Incident took place on October 12, 1960 as transiting Jupiter and Uranus were forming a grand fire trine to Khrushchev’s natal Sun in Aries. Later in speaking about a similar incident, Khrushchev said, “I decided to add a little more heat. I took off my shoe and pounded it on desk so that our protest would be louder"[4].
At the other end of the high fire spectrum are the philanthropists – those who give generously of themselves and their money. Generosity, in this regard, can be understood as an emotional correlate to fire’s expansive warmth on the sensory level. Pierre Omidyar, founder of Ebay, and the world’s top philanthropist [5] has Leo rising, Moon in Sagittarius (regardless of time), and 3 other planets in fire signs. Seventh on the list is Bill Gates (Moon in Aries and 2 other planets in fire signs), known for his business savvy and aggressive competitiveness as well as his philanthropy – and his wife Melinda (chart unknown). Bill (Sun plus 3 other planets in Leo) and Hillary Clinton (at least 4 planets in fire signs[6]) are thirteenth, both charismatic masters of the “bully pulpit.”
AIR: In many ways, air is the least emotional of all the elements, often associated more with mental than emotional processes. Yet, to the extent that mental processes – such as beliefs, thoughts, and self-concepts – influence emotions, then air also contributes greatly to emotion in its more cognitive dimension. In contrast to the heaviness of earth, air is light, giving rising to light-heartedness, optimism, and casual friendliness. Air’s mobility can make it restless, discontent, scattered or disoriented. When the movement of air becomes windy, gusty, or tempestuous on the sensory level, it can be accompanied by cerebral emotions that are agitated, worried, or anxious.
Air is embodied astropoetically by the character Mary Poppins in the 1964 movie of the same name – played by Libra Sun actress Julie Andrews. The movie begins with an airy image of the main character perched on a cloud high above London. Mary Poppins descends to earth in response to an ad for a “fun, kind-hearted and caring” nanny, when the ad is thrown into a fireplace, and its ashes “drift up” the chimney to Mary Poppin’s “cloud”. As their nanny, Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical “airborne adventures”, including a tea party “in mid-air”, and a memorable “flight over the rooftops” of London with her talking umbrella as a vehicle. Andrews made this movie – which launched her film career – as her progressed Sun was completing its passage through her natal Mercury-Uranus opposition (conjunct Mercury and opposed Uranus). Mercury and Uranus are both quite airy; Mercury rules Andrews 10th house of career, while Uranus rules her 6th house of work.
Julie Andrews
1. Lehman, J. Lee. Classical Astrology for Modern Living: From Ptolemy to Psychology and Back Again. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Whitford Press, 1996, p 41.
2. Nelson Mandela’s birth information is considered “Dirty Data” by the Rodden Rating system. However, regardless of what time of day Mandela was born, his Moon would still be in Scorpio. Similarly, other examples with DD ratings that I have used in this article – Joseph Stalin, Nikita Khrushchev and Fidel Castro – maintain stable elemental distributions, regardless of what time of day they were born.
3. Tabío, Pedro Álvarez, Translator, “History Will Absolve Me,” Castro Internet Archive. Editorial de Ciencias Sociales, La Habana, Cuba, 1975. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
4. Memoirs of Nikita Khrushchev. Vol. III: Statesman, Penn State Press, 2007, p. 269. Quoted in “Shoe-banging incident,” Wikipedia. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
5. McGee, Suzanne. “The 25 Best Givers,” Barron’s Online, November 30, 2009. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
6. Hillary Clinton’s birth data is in some dispute, and rated DD by the Rodden Rating system. Regardless of the time of her birth, however, she has at least 4 planets in fire signs. If she were born toward the end of the day, it is possible that her Moon would also be in Aries.
Chart data:
Julie Andrews – 6:00 AM GDT, October 1, 1935, Walton on Thames, England, Rodden Rating B (Bio/ autobiography)
Napoleon Bonaparte – 11:30 AM LMT, August 15, 1769, Ajaccio, Corsica, Rodden Rating A (From memory)
Fidel Castro – 2:00 AM EST, August 13, 1926, Colonia Biran, Cuba, Rodden Rating DD (Conflicting/unverified)
Cesar Chavez – 3:00 PM PST, March 31, 1927, Yuma, AZ, Rodden Rating AA (BC/BR in hand)
Bill Clinton – 8:51 AM CST, August 19, 1946, Hope, AR, Rodden Rating A (From memory)
Hillary Clinton – 8:02 AM CST, October 26, 1947, Chicago, IL, Rodden Rating DD (Conflicting/unverified)
Bill Gates – 10:00 PM PST, October 28, 1955, Seattle, WA, Rodden Rating A (From memory)
Che Guevara – 3:05 AM AST, May 14, 1928, Rosario, Argentina, Rodden Rating B (Bio/autobiography)
Nikita Khrushchev – 12:30 PM LMT, April 15, 1894, Kursk, Russia, Rodden Rating DD (Conflicting/unverified)
Nelson Mandela – 2:54 PM EET, July 18, 1918, Umtata, South Africa, Rodden Rating DD (Conflicting/unverified)
Benito Mussolini – 1:10 PM GMT, July 29, 1883, Dovia Il Predappio, Italy, Rodden Rating AA (Quoted BC/BR)
Pierre Omidyar – 8:30 AM MET, June 21, 1967, Paris, France, Rodden Rating AA (Quoted BC/BR)
Joseph Stalin – 12:00 PM LMT, December 18, 1878, Gori, Russia, Rodden Rating DD (Conflicting/unverified)
Virginia Woolf – 12:15 PM GMT, January 25, 1882, London, England, Rodden Rating A (From memory)
Links to posts in this series
Part 1: An Astropoetic Approach to the Elements
Part 2: Approaching the Elements Through the Senses
Part 3: The Emotional Correlates of the Elements
Part 4: Going Deeper Into the Astropoetic Imagery
