Four Elements: Fire, Earth, Air, Water

The easiest way to learn astrology is to start with simplicity. Once you get the foundation down, then building is just knowledge.

Remember that planets are what is going on, houses are where it's going on, and signs are how it's going on.

The signs are related to the four basic elements which are fire, earth, air, and water.

Let's use Venus and the concept of beauty because it's easy to relate to. Suppose that in your chart Venus shows up in a fire sign. How that might express could be as passion, motivation, and inspiration because those are things that Venus in a fire sign would find beautiful.

If Venus was in an earth sign, you'd want to see beauty on the physical level. This means things that are tangible and that you can see and touch. Maybe it's your physical home that's so important to you and you make sure it's always beautiful and ready for people to visit you.

Venus in an air sign will find beauty in the intellect -- in communication, thoughts, ideas, learning. If this is going on in the 9th House (relating to life's purpose) you could be enjoying amazing conversations all of the time, and higher education is likely a high value level for you.

In a water sign Venus would find beauty in emotion, tenderness, and nurturing. Imagine this configuration in the area of relationship, and you'd naturally want to cultivate these experiences with your partner.

The sign in which a planet appears influences how that planet is expressed - fire, earth, air, water.

Photo Credit: Moises Villarreal