#quadruplicities

This is a standalone post about modalities in astrology. Each sign of the classical Western zodiac is assigned an element (sometimes also called a triplicity¹) and a modality (sometimes called a quality or quadruplicity²), two traits that, when taken together, describe the most basic characteristics of that sign. The intersection of the four elements and three modalities creates twelve iterations of substance (element) and motion (modality) that give each sign a unique expression.

The four elements– Earth, Air, Fire, and Water– are normally well understood, and information about their symbolism and energy is abundant and accessible.³ But most popular texts on astrology tend to gloss over modality, giving it only a perfunctory explanation, if any is offered at all. We are told that the cardinal signs are the leaders, the fixed signs are organizers, and the mutable signs are the communicators. This is a gross oversimplification of a concept that can lend us a greater understanding of the signs of the zodiac if we take the time to understand it. Throughout this and future posts, I’ll be describing the signs as conscious archetypes, so when I say “Gemini likes such-and-such” or “Virgo wants ___”, keep in mind that I’m referring to the sign itself, not natives of that sign (although certainly, as a native of a sign, those traits are expressed to some degree and in some manner or other).

The word “modality” refers to the way in which a sign’s essence (whose most basic descriptor is its element) is expressed; its energy patterns and the way they flow. The basic concept is this:

• Cardinal energy moves from inside out

• Fixed energy moves from outside in

• Mutable energy goes back and forth

To illustrate this, you can imagine that you’re about to throw a punch. The force explodes outwards in the fist (cardinal) but it is supported and driven and initiated through the shoulder (fixed), and this energy is transferred between them by the elbow (mutable).

Cardinal signs can and certainly do make excellent leaders, but to describe them as the “leadership signs” is a bit misleading; the characteristic of cardinal energy is that it is expressed from the inside out. It is a driving force that explodes forward, initiates things, and pushes its way outward into the world. In Aries, fire is channeled outward. Cardinally directed fire energy is explosive, aggressive, and loud; it is no wonder that Aries is ruled by Mars, the god of war. But, as an Aries myself, I can assure you that these qualities do not automatically a great leader make; the cardinal mode initiates energy in a directed way, a very “me first!” way, and so cardinal energy can just as often be put to use on the front lines as in the captain’s chair; in fact, many natives of cardinal signs prefer it that way. Observe Cancer and its cardinally directed water; the medium of the emotions, when expressed outwardly, becomes a nurturing rather than a bold, directing force. Likewise, Libra directs air to create social networks and connections…something we might associate with mutable air Gemini. But Libra weaves the social fabric together, and its cardinal energy is expressed in directing social flow and relationship dynamics in a way that generally doesn’t interest Gemini. Capricorn’s cardinal earth is especially well-suited to bringing about its traditional associations with career and success; Capricorn excels at directing earth, the element of the real, the material, the tangible, into lasting structures. When you think of cardinal energy, remember that the element of the sign will be expressed outward into the world in a direct, often forceful manner. The progression of cardinal energy through the elements takes us from the most wild and fleeting to the most durable and lasting; the cardinal signs are initiators in the sense that they are the first to experience each element.⁴

Fixed signs are traditionally coded as “organizers,” and yet I find fixed energy has many properties about it that lends itself well to leadership; fixed signs often excel at causing others to act around them, and can thus be very comfortable (and very effective) in positions of power. Fixed signs draw outward energy in and center it. If cardinal signs are out doing things, fixed signs are often creating the places where things happen. They are excellent at conserving and allocating this energy to effect change in their surroundings, often via directing and delegating others. Taurus’s fixed earth pulls in the material comforts of life to create a stable security characterized by luxury and sensual pleasure. Leo’s fixed fire draws the passionate, creative energy of those around it into a circle that resembles a royal court more than Tauran den of hedonism. Scorpio draws water energy around itself to create a vortex of secrecy and power, a whirlpool of deep emotional experience. Aquarius’s fixed air gathers information and fashions it into a new understanding of the human condition; its “circle” is really a lens. So you see that the progression of fixed energy through the signs and their respective elements goes from most concrete to most abstract. So you can see that describing fixed signs as “organizers” is the truth, but not the whole or most useful truth. They fix things into a new organization of reality, based on the material (the element) in which they work.⁵

The mutable signs are AC/DC. They go both ways, transferring energy between cardinal and fixed points of reference, and are therefore traditionally designated as the communicators of the zodiac. Certainly, they excel at communication in all its forms, but again, this is not the whole story; who could accuse Libra of being uncommunicative? Mutable energy, as I mentioned, comprises both cardinal and fixed, and it switches back and forth based on the circumstances. Gemini’s mutable air is certainly communicative, and Gemini as a sign deals with the transference of air-energy; thoughts, words, telecommunications, etc. Observe that at times, Gemini energy is outwardly expressed as if it were cardinal (in a Gemini native or a person with strong Gemini in their chart, this can manifest as chattiness, writing a lot, etc.). But other times, it can withdraw and absorb information from outside itself, processing it internally. Hence, Gemini is not always talkative. Mutable Earth Virgo is certainly intellectual (being co-ruled by Mercury⁶) but concerns itself mostly with transferring its energy to where it’s most needed in order to effect the most good; certainly it is not a fixed sign, and yet no one could accuse Virgo of not being an organizer; when Earth moves, it tends to move in an orderly fashion. Sagittarius’s mutable fire concerns itself with zipping back and forth between ideals and reality, bringing humanity to the stars and the stars to humanity. And finally, Pisces’ mutable water flows wherever it is needed to heal and provide spiritual sustenance.⁷

It can be extremely helpful, when conceptualizing how the elements express themselves through the modalities within the chart, to describe how these forces might interact; a Libra friend of mine with a heavy Scorpio influence to his chart described himself as “a hurricane,”– a very good description of Libra’s cardinally directed air when blended with Scorpio’s fixed, watery cyclone!

I hope that this article has been helpful in shedding some light on a subject that is central to the understanding of astrology, but which is often overlooked or underexplored in popular texts. Getting to know modality and element is an excellent way for a beginner to gain a greater understanding of the signs, as well as illuminating to the more advanced student the spiritual progression that occurs through the twelve signs of the zodiac. If you have any questions, feel free to ask us.

-Benefica

Notes (by the Admin)⁸:

1. The name “triplicity” comes from the fact that there are three signs bearing each element. In a standard circular chart, if you draw a line from the 1st degree of a fire sign to the 1st degree of the next fire sign, and from there to the next, the result is an equilateral triangle. The same is true with any other element.

2. The term “quadruplicity” is similar in implication to “triplicity.” There are four signs of each modality, and if you draw a line from the 1st degree or a mutable sign to the 1st degree of the next, and repeat this until your line connects, you will draw a perfect square.

3. I would venture to say that even this information is often rudimentary in most cases. The elements are a small building block in a fairly complex symbolic hierarchy of constituents of nature, but even then, there are smaller building blocks which build the elements, and they have a close symbolic relationship with the four humors in particular, and if you study them well enough, you’ll also start to understand how elements and other things interact and react without having to put much thought into it.

4. There are further associations with each quality in astrological magic, astrological prediction, and mundane astrology. In those contexts, the cardinal quality generally represents overcoming obstacles, obtaining things, or fulfilling goals.

5. In the contexts of astrological magic, prediction, and mundane astrology, the fixed quality represents an event, work, or trait which will be rigid and have lasting effects. It can also represent endurance or stubbornness in any school of astrology.

6. Some astrologers consider Gemini to be the primary sign which Mercury rules over, and Virgo to be its secondary domain. This appears to be a relatively recent concept, as older sources (especially when there were only seven planets used) give each non-luminary planet two signs which are equally under its rulership. Virgo is not only under Mercury’s rulership, but is also the sign where Mercury is exalted. This means Virgo is Mercury’s highest dignity (where its influence as a planet is most powerful), but not that either sign is more or less “of Mercury” than the other.

7. In the non-natal astrological practices mentioned in notes 4 and 5, the mutable quality represents intangible achievements, mysticism, spiritual revelation, mass enlightenment (especially in mundane astrology), and miracles. It also represents the working of the will of Tetragrammaton (the unpronounceable four-letter name of God). It would also be accurate to say that in addition to adaptability, mutable signs represent things which work effectively with no demonstrable or logical reason why.

8. Benefica requested that I edit this post and add any additional information on this subject that I thought might be useful before it goes up, so aside from some very minor edits in the main body of the text, I did most of this in the form of footnotes to avoid altering her work too severely. I agree with everything she has said about the quadruplicities, but I also have a much more classical approach to nearly all occult practice, so she and I agreed that we would both have some different useful thoughts to contribute to the subject.