Your Zodiac Element Explains Why You Have So Much in Common With Other Signs

We’re in the midst of an astrological renaissance. I mean, it seems like everywhere you turn, talks of horoscopes and lunar forecasts are in the limelight. And if you’ve been keeping up with the latest cosmic trend, you may have the confidence to say that astrology has an answer to all of our pressing questions. From our quirks to our impulses, you can learn a lot by just knowing your sun, moon, and rising sign. But you don’t need to be a seasoned astrologer to make meaningful revelations in your birth chart. In fact, you can learn a lot about your sun sign as well as others that share your zodiac element.

What Is a Zodiac Element?

If you’ve read your horoscopes or scrolled through astrology content online, you may have heard about zodiac elements. In astrology, the 12 signs of the zodiac can be broken up into four groups that share fundamental tendencies and motivations known as astrological elements. These four groups consist of fire, water, air, and earth.

These elements all share different underlying motivations or tendencies. So even though each individual sign is independently unique, you share some basic impulses as two other zodiacs within your element. For example, if you’re a fire sign, it’s likely you’ve been described as passionate or a bit impulsive. Conversely, if you’re a water sign, you’ve probably heard that you’re emotional or intuitive. That’s because each element is composed of foundational traits of your individual sign. So you may be a brave and confident Leo, but just like an Aries, you can be assertive, adventurous, and super persistent.

Fire Signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius)

Fire signs are bona-fide risk-takers. Just like their element of fire suggests, they’re bold, passionate, creative, and spontaneous. Fire signs are most likely to be strong leaders since they metaphorically light the path for others to follow. They love to live life on the edge and live it to the very fullest. Telling a fire sign that something is impossible fuels them. That’s because they’re always up for a challenge, and their fiery and self-assured attitude is what makes them unique. The shadow side of fire elements is that they tend to be impulsive and rash and have a bit of a temper. This often leads fire signs to say or do things they eventually regret down the line.

Water Signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces)

Those who fall under water signs are naturally intuitive and caring and have a keen sense of their emotions. Because water signs feel deeply, they’re often considered empaths, allowing others to trust them easily. They enjoy taking care of others and can read a room with ease. Water signs are deep and can hold a meaningful conversation to help others feel heard and understood. They’re sensitive and super sentimental, so you can be sure that water signs are sincere. The shadow side of a water sign is they can be overly sensitive, which may cause them to act out of impassioned feelings. They can also be cautious to a fault and overprotective of their heart.

Air Signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius)

Air signs are free-spirited, curious, and driven by intellect. These signs are smooth talkers who love to engage in conversations about the universe and other abstract concepts, so you’ll never be bored when talking to an air sign. Air-sign natives pride themselves on being interesting and clever, and you can count on them to keep your mind running – if you can keep up, that is! Let an air sign help you come up with unconventional solutions to your mundane problems, because that’s what they do best. Just like air, they are wild and free and will go anywhere the wind takes them. The shadow side to air signs is their unpredictability and tendency to detach emotionally. They can be difficult to pin down and can be quite cold if they get bored.

Earth Signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn)

Those who fall within the earth element are practical, responsible, and grounded. Earth signs are deeply connected with the material world and are often considered sensual beings since they represent the physical realm. These signs need security and structure to function and work best when they have a schedule. They’re ambitious, headstrong people who are determined to achieve all of their material desires. Because earth signs are the most dependable of the zodiac, you can count on them to be there for you and to follow through. The shadow side of an earth sign is that they can get stuck in habitual routine to a fault. They can be overly pragmatic and might find it difficult to think outside of the box.