Before the signs, there are the elements. Each of the twelve signs belongs to one of four: fire, earth, air or water. And that element is like the background color of its energy. Understanding them is the fastest way to grasp what any sign is about.
Fire: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Fire is impulse, enthusiasm, action. Fire signs ignite, inspire and throw themselves forward. They live facing ahead, with warmth and courage. Their challenge is not to burn out nor to scorch everything on the way.
Earth: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
Earth is body, steadiness, result. Earth signs build, tend to what is concrete and make things last. They give security and firm ground. Their challenge is to loosen control and open up to the new.
Air: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
Air is mind, idea, connection. Air signs think, connect, communicate and seek perspective. They live in the realm of relationships and concepts. Their challenge is to come down from the head into the body and the emotion.
Water: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Water is emotion, intuition, depth. Water signs feel everything deeply, perceive the invisible and create intimacy. Their challenge is to set boundaries and not drown in what they feel.
No one is of a single element: your chart is a unique recipe of all four.
What is revealing appears in the balance. If your chart has a lot of fire and little water, you may have impulse to spare and struggle with the emotional pause. If you lack earth, you may have brilliant ideas that are hard to land. To read your balance of elements is to read your base temperament.