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Oct 19, 2013 · The 12 zodiac signs are subdivided into 3 qualities or modalities: Cardinal, Mutable and Fixed signs. Knowing yours can help you find ease, harmony and a happy place in any group setting. What role do you play on a team? Are you a starter, a producer, or a finisher?
- Overview
- Zodiac Modalities at a Glance
- Cardinal Signs & Traits
- Fixed Signs & Traits
- Mutable Signs & Traits
- Interpreting Modality
You’ve heard of the zodiac signs being split up into elements like Fire, Water, Air, and Earth before, but now you’re hearing about even more sign categories like Cardinal or Mutable. What do those terms even mean? There are lots of ways to look at the constellations that make up the zodiac, and a sign’s modality (whether it’s Cardinal, Fixed, or Mutable) is another layer of analysis that helps astrologers understand the folks born under that sign. In this article, we’ll walk you through the traits of all 3 modalities and what they mean for the signs they govern. Get ready to understand your zodiac sign on a whole new level!
Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) begin each season. They’re natural leaders who initiate things, make plans, and move projects forward.
Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) are mid-season. They’re reliable, persistent people who stick to the plan and can be seen as stubborn.
Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) end each season. They’re adaptable folks who like change, are spontaneous, and always look forward.
The zodiac signs are split into 3 modalities: Cardinal, Fixed & Mutable.
Each modality (or quality) encompasses 1 sign from each of the 4 elements (Air, Water, Fire, and Earth), meaning no signs of the same element also have the same modality. Cardinal signs are the first sign of each season of the year, followed by Fixed signs. Mutable signs end each season and prepare for the next.
The modalities repeat themselves in order around the zodiac circle, beginning with Aries as the first Cardinal sign.
For example, Aries is the only Cardinal Fire sign. The other Fire signs, Leo and Sagittarius, are Fixed and Mutable, respectively.
Modality is how the zodiac signs express themselves.
It determines how people born under each sign interact with the world and display the unique traits related to their sign’s element. Cardinal signs are typically bold initiators, Fixed signs are enduring followers, and Mutable signs are dynamic changers.
Cardinal signs initiate the beginning of a new season.
This makes people born under Cardinal signs natural leaders who initiate plans and move things forward. They have a knack for getting things done and prefer to get to work on a problem than to sit around and ponder it. Cardinal signs generally love uniqueness and aren’t afraid to set a new trend or stand out from the crowd.
Those born under Cardinal signs have great planning skills and little trouble getting others to rally around them.
Cardinal signs, like all signs, have
They may struggle to slow down, appreciate the present, and enjoy themselves.
The 4 Cardinal signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn.
Fixed signs follow Cardinal signs and span the middle of each season.
People born under Fixed signs feel comfortable following a stable path that’s set for them by tradition. They’re generally persistent and reliable, but can be seen as rigid or set in their ways (like Taurus, the notoriously stubborn Bull of the zodiac). It can be hard for Fixed signs to let go of things, even if it has negative consequences (like staying in a toxic relationship).
Fixed sign folks often make dedicated friends and partners for life, no matter the circumstances.
Fixed signs have more endurance to see things through and persevere through adversity than Cardinal or Mutable signs.
The 4 Fixed signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius.
All signs of the same modality are 90-degrees apart on the zodiac wheel, giving them a square relationship (this means they don’t have much in common and struggle to get along). This tension is pronounced among Fixed signs, who are set in their ways and have a hard time understanding others.
Mutable signs end one season and prepare for the next.
They’re the signs of change, carrying a mix of the old and new with them. People born under Mutable signs are dynamic and can be spontaneous or even unpredictable. They’re more flexible and adaptable than Fixed or Cardinal signs, doing whatever needs to be done to wrap up one phase and move on to something new. Their ever-changing nature makes it easy to
guess who’s a Mutable sign
Mutable signs aren’t associated with “the end” of something so much as the transition or transformation of one thing into another.
People born under Mutable signs are said to have the ability to sense new things before they arrive.
The 4 mutable signs are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces.
A sign gets its unique traits from it element and modality.
Signs of the same element share similar traits, but their individual modalities change how those traits come across. For example, the Air signs—Libra, Aquarius, and Gemini—are all intellectual, communicative, and quick-witted due to their element, Air. However, they display these traits in different ways:
Libra (Cardinal) is more assertive than the other Air signs. They communicate more clearly and directly and have confidence in their ideas.
Aquarius (Fixed) is more rigid than Libra or Gemini. They believe their ideas are the correct ones and have more niche, specific hobbies and interests.
Gemini (Mutable) has a reputation for being the “flaky” Air sign. Their modality accents their indecision and varied interests.
Sharing a modality helps opposite signs see eye-to-eye.
If you are a Leo, Taurus, Aquarius or Scorpio, you are a fixed sign. The fixed signs are not as interested in manipulating their environment as their Cardinal brothers and sisters- they are happy to concentrate on personal matters and will resist outside attempts at trying to change their lives.
Every sign is influenced by one of three qualities: Cardinal, Fixed, or Mutable. Each of the qualities is defined by a point within each season: Cardinal signs begin a new season, Fixed signs carry the weight of the season, and Mutable signs conclude the season.
May 16, 2024 · Fixed signs: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius. Mutable signs: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces. Fixed is defined as “rooted,” “set,” and “secure.” These signs are the stabilizers of the zodiac...
Western astrology divides the 12 zodiac signs into three modalities: Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable. They are operating systems also known as quadruplicities.
May 31, 2024 · Fixed signs represent the midpoint of a calendar season, offering qualities that consolidate and solidify the energy initiated by the Cardinal signs.
