The Three Modalities
The element says what a sign is made of. The modality says how it moves. There are three, and each one appears four times around the zodiac, once in every element.
- Cardinal: starts Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn
- Fixed: sustains Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius
- Mutable: adapts Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces
The modalities come from the seasons. The zodiac begins at the spring equinox, and each season spans three signs.
- Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) open a season: the equinoxes and the solstices. They start things.
- Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) hold the middle of a season, when it is at its fullest. They sustain things.
- Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) close a season and prepare the next. They adapt.
Signs of the same modality sit 90 or 180 degrees apart, in square or in opposition. That is why they understand each other's drive and still rub against each other: they want the same kind of thing in four different ways.
Cardinal Signs in Astrology — Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn
The cardinal signs open the four seasons, and their energy is initiative. Learn how Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn each start things, what a strong or missing cardinal emphasis means, and how to work with it.
Fixed Signs in Astrology — Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius
The fixed signs hold the middle of each season, and their energy is staying power. Learn how Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius each sustain things, what a strong or missing fixed emphasis means, and how to work with it.
Mutable Signs in Astrology — Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces
The mutable signs close each season and prepare the next, and their energy is adaptability. Learn how Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces each adapt, what a strong or missing mutable emphasis means, and how to work with it.