So what is a "fixed, water sign," anyway?

I must have had the concept of "Modes and Elements" explained and re-explained to me in at least a hundred different ways over the passing of time. The methods of teaching that invariably "speak" to me most clearly are those using "images" and/or "stories." So here goes my meager attempt...

Modes of Reaction
There are 3 different "modes" of reaction:

• Cardinal (active) - adapts to external demands
• Fixed (steadfast) - adapts to internal demands
• Mutable (flexible) - adapts back and forth to both external and internal demands

Cardinal, Fixed and Mutable?... Huh? Boring, eh?... Chances are...  what I've said so far means less than zero to you? Okay! Let's back up and try a more visual explanation...

Imagine
Imagine there's someone standing in front of you. Now imagine, this person is holding a rock in their hand. Finally, imagine this person has just thrown the rock at you....

A "cardinal reaction" (active) would be to throw a rock back at the jerk.

A "fixed reaction" (steadfast) would be to stand there unaffected and taunt them with something like: "Hey, go ahead and hit me again! That didn't hurt at all, you little wuss!"

Finally, a "mutable reaction" (flexible) would be to cleverly dodge the rock and then "thumb your nose" at their lousy aim.

Now remember, all I'm saying here is that these are different kinds of reactions. Not every person with a mutable sign -- if actually faced with this situation -- would have this particular "mutable reaction."

And guess what, gang? Since there are 12 astrological signs -- then

• 4 are Cardinal or "active" (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn)
• 4 are Fixed or "steadfast" (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius)
• 4 are Mutable or "flexible" ( Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces)

(Looking at a zodiac wheel, you'll notice the 4 members of each Mode form a square in the circle. The individual members of these Mode groups have an "uncomfortable" connection with each other.)
 
 

Elements

We've already talked about the "3" reactions (cardinal, fixed, and mutable).

So let's talk about the "4" elements which are at the heart and soul of astrology:

• The element of Fire is outgoing, action oriented, impulsive, and "fiery" 
• The element of Earth is physical, practical, sensual, and material 
• The element of Air is mental perceptions, thought, communication, distance, and abstract ideas 
• The element of Water is sensitive, feeling, empathic, and healing

And guess what, gang? Since there are 12 astrological signs - then:

• 3 are Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) outgoing, action oriented, impulsive, and "fiery"
• 3 are Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) physical, practical, sensual, and material
• 3 are Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) mental perceptions, thought, communication, distance, and abstract ideas
• 3 are Water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) sensitive, feeling, empathic, and healing

(Looking at a Zodiac wheel, you'll notice the three members of each Element form an equilateral triangle in the circle. Individual members of these Element groups have a "comfortable" connection with each other.)
 
 

Fire
Fire is outgoing, impulsive and, of course, "fiery." And since the above "imagined action scenario" with the rocki belonged to the action oriented element of "fire":

• the "cardinal" (active) + "fire" reaction was a typical Aries reaction.
• the "fixed" (steadfast) + "fire" reaction was a typical Leo reaction.
• the "mutable" (flexible) + "fire" reaction was a typical Sagittarius reaction. (And again, not every Sagittarian would dodge the rock!)

Got it so far?

• Aries = Cardinal (Active) + Fire = "Here's a bigger rock for you, jerk!"
• Leo = Fixed (Steadfast) + Fire = "Hit me with your best shot, sucker! That didn't hurt!"
• Sagittarius = Mutable (Flexible) + Fire = "Missed me, missed me, now you gotta kiss me!"

And by the way - we've ALL got Aries energy, when and if we really, really need it. It's just that some folks tend to act and react more typically "Aries" than other folks.

Fixed, Water Sign?
So what about a fixed, water sign? (Which is how you got here in the first place...) Try throwing a "feeling" at a water sign:

• Cancer = Cardinal (Active) + Water = They'll throw another bigger, more powerful feeling back at you = Flowing Rivers.
• Scorpio = Fixed (Steadfast) + Water = They'll take you deeper into your own feeling = Bottomless Lakes.
• Pisces = Mutable (Flexible) + Water = They'll take over the feeling, adapt it, and make it a part of themselves = Vast Oceans.

(back to Eagle's Nest)