Qualities

Hey again :) Soo, as I mentioned earlier, along with the elements in astrology (fire, earth, air, water), there are also qualities, of which there are three: cardinal, fixed, and mutable. To break it down:

Cardinal
Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn
Fixed
Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius
Mutable
Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces

Each quality has one sign from each element. This means that each particular sign is it's own unique combination of the two. Capricorn, for example, is of the earth element and cardinal quality. But what does this mean?

Cardinal signs begin each season, and share the quality of brainstorming amazing ideas, implementing projects and said ideas, and being a driving force at the start of endeavors. While you have a lot of drive when initiating something, after getting through the initial hump you may lose some ambition. This could be because you don't know where to go from that point on, and/or because you are perfectionists at heart, which can lead to procrastination or fear of making the wrong decision. But don't be so hard on yourself! You're very capable once you truly commit to something, and your first impressions are usually right on. Don't fall into the trap of second-guessing your smart self. Taking some time to sit down and map out a plan can keep you from being short-sighted, and to keep you on track when things start to feel boring, or not happening fast enough. You don't have to do everything at once, and there's nothing wrong with taking baby steps to reach your goals.


Fixed signs occur in the middle of each season. Your specialty is keeping things going and perfecting that which already exists. That's not to say that you don't have new and revolutionary ideas- you are definitely capable of that! It's just that you  feel most satisfied when you feel like you are actually doing, as opposed to just sitting around and thinking about it. You're hard workers, and are typically pretty set in your routine and committed to your work, studies, and/or hobbies (whichever is your true calling). You may have a tendency to get caught up in the details, so keeping a visual handy of the big picture- may be it a photo, written phrase, etc.- will help you to not get bogged down, and be able to keep moving forward. A sense of balance between work and play is very important for fixed signs, as you have a tendency to get caught up in one or the other and thus pour all of your energy into it, tiring yourself and actually making it so you have less to give. Or on the flip side, trying to do everything at once and spreading yourself way too thin. Don't feel guilty about taking time for yourself (even if it's only a sliver a month) to do something non work related, relax, and reward yourself for all that you do accomplish. Enjoy the life that you've created for yourself. :)


Mutable signs occur when seasons are changing. And so, these signs are very adaptable to different situations and people, and are often flexible in plans, careers, and different lines of thought. This lets you be more open to ideas and more willing to explore, on many planes. You may in some sense feel like a drifter or drawn to a bohemian lifestyle. However, some sort of structure is actually important for these signs, as much as you may lament feeling tied down and boring. It's a bit of a paradox, but otherwise you may feel something along the lines of (to quote the movie Party Monster); "I'm just like a balloon, unless someone holds my string, I'll float away." Of course, this is true in different degrees, but having some semblance of a routine or daily practice doing things that actually matter to you can really help mutable signs (or someone heavily weighted with  mutable planets), to have a greater sense of accomplishment. What works for you, works for you. A sense of balance is important, so you don't feel like you're compromising yourself by giving into the mainstream. 


You can get a little more in depth with this if you know where your other planets and rising sign are. This site breaks it down into a nice little chart, as shown to the left in the columns, so you can see where you have the most pull. If it's more varied between the three, your approach could shift between different aspects of your life.