In many aspects of the craft, we see correlations or correspondences between the elements and everything in this physical realm. In my practice, the elements are a huge part of everything; magick, people, Stones, crystals, candles, incense, and even food.

People have been the focus of my work lately through projects that I am working on and while learning the Tarot not to mention Astrology. One of my biggest things that I love in this world is people. The way we all experience this physical existence can be influenced by the attributes of the elements.

So, when I think about the correspondences between people and the elements, I often think of them being ruled by a particular element. I see my personality traits as being ruled by the element of Air. As I look to connect with others it helps me to know what element they are ruled by so I look for identifying personality traits.

In Tarot, I am finding that the one difficulty that I have with reading for others is to identify personality traits and how the card definitions interact with that. The Archetypes are the biggest issue for me at the moment. In Tarot, the suits are associated with the elements and the elements rule a sun sign in astrology. The two work together for me in the way of understanding a personality type. It tells me how the querent connects with others. It tells me how a person might respond to receiving a message. It may simply help me to understand the reactions of someone whom I am having difficulty connecting with.

Understanding how the elements work within personality types can help in negotiations as well as social encounters. At least it seems to help me, so, I thought I would share my perspective.

One of the first things that one must do in understanding the elements in correlation to personality is to understand one’s self. What element rules you? I started out with that by looking up my Astrological sun sign. Sun signs correspond to the four basic elements that encompass the fifth element of Spirit.

All the Astrological signs sort of bleed over to others as far as some of the traits of the elements, however, certain traits are more prominent for certain signs. Let’s take a look at the signs as interpreted by me to give an example for the purpose of this post.

Elements

  • Ruled by Earth — We see these people as steady and grounded in the physical or material world. This brings to mind the song Material Girl by Madonna. I look at them as being very stubborn or headstrong. When they make a decision it is difficult to sway them from it. They will often push forward with brunt force as opposed to using the art of gentle persuasion. Their success and failures are both dependent on their determination. The astrological signs that are ruled by Earth are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.
  • Ruled by Air — People who are ruled by air tend to be creative and communicative. Writers, poets, and even programming or other forms of creative ways of expression is a giveaway to the secrets of this type. People ruled by air are often ruled by the mind or intellect. They love to learn new things and find that the challenge of new discoveries fuels their motivations toward a goal. They are quick-witted, and they make quick decisions. They move so quickly that they can make you feel like you were just hit by a tornado. The astrological signs ruled by air are Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. 
  • Ruled by Fire — This is a very interesting one to me. Fire people tend to be very passionate. They often seem self-motivated in most things and they tend to function with a lot of willpower. As it is obvious fire can be equally healing as it can be destructive. To me, this element speaks to me of transformation in the fact that through its destructive forces, anything it touches can be transformed into a different type of energy. The aspects of Spirit is obvious in this element. The Astrological signs ruled by fire are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius.
  • Ruled by Water — Out of all the elements, water is the most interesting to me. People who are ruled by water tend to be ruled by emotions. They tend to wear their feelings on their sleeves and definitely connect through the heart. These sensitive people are very intuitive and creative. They often dream big and work well in the subconscious mind. They have their head in the clouds while they struggle to keep their feet on the ground. However, this element is the basis of humanity from my perspective. If you want anything to grow, just add water. The Astrological signs ruled by water are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.

It is important to understand how you communicate before trying to figure out someone else. Once you figure out how the elements play a role in your interactions with other human beings it helps to understand how each of the elements plays a role in communication and connecting with others. When it comes to Astrology and dealing with others, I like to use The Only Astrology Book You’ll Ever Need by Joanna Martine Woolfolk. That is my go-to reference resource for Astrology. For me, social skills are my weakness that I constantly try to improve and when dealing with others. Astrology only plays a portion of this role in society.

Keep in mind that when dealing with others it is important to take into consideration their cultural influences as well. In the United States, there are many cultures within the American Culture and our interactions are dependent on how well we understand cultures outside of our own. Expanding your perceptions to include the perception of others can assist you when interacting with others.  Learning how to communicate often begins by understanding the foundations of humanity.

In love and light,

Summer Song