The Polarities in Astrology
In astrology, polarity denotes duality: positive and negative, masculine and feminine, yin and yang, proactive and reactive. In astrology, the fire and air signs are positive or masculine, and the water and earth signs are negative and feminine. The polarities alternate between positive and negative for each zodiac sign starting with Aries (positive), then Taurus (negative), etc. This oscillating or pulsating effect creates and sustains balance and harmony in nature and the cosmos. Too much of either polarity can be destructive or a hindrance to the evolutionary process on a macro and a micro level. Positive and Negative do not mean good or evil, nor do they denote morality, rather they indicate how energy is directed.
The ancient yin and yang symbol is a perfect depiction of how opposite polarities can be integrated (not merged) or balanced to create cohesion, unity, and strength. The fire signs have the most yang energy and the water signs have the most yin energy – it is not a coincidence that fire and water signs are semi-sextile (30°) away: Pisces/Aries, Cancer/Leo, and Scorpio/Sagittarius.
| Positive (Masculine) | Negative (Feminine) |
|---|---|
| Aries: Cardinal Fire (Yang) | Taurus Fixed Earth (Yin) |
| Gemini: Mutable Air (Yang) | Cancer: Cardinal Water (Yang) |
| Leo: Fixed Fire (Yang) | Virgo: Mutable Earth (Yin) |
| Libra: Cardinal Air (Yang) | Scorpio: Fixed Water (Yin) |
| Sagittarius: Mutable Fire (Yang) | Capricorn: Cardinal Earth (Yin) |
| Aquarius: Fixed Air (Yang) | Pisces: Mutable Water (Yin) |
If you have spent any time around these signs you can see how the masculine signs are usually extroverted, assertive, objective, and confident, while the feminine signs appear to be more introverted, reactive, and subjective in nature.
Masculine (expressive) signs/houses initiate and project outward and feminine (impressive) signs/houses reflect and respond. Masculine energy is extroverted and diurnal and feminine energy is introverted and nocturnal. However, each of the traditional planets have both masculine and feminine expressions, which is why all of the planets, except the luminaries of the Sun and Moon, (which represent the father/mother/masculine/feminine archetype) each rule a masculine and feminine sign. For example:
- Mercury rules masculine Gemini (air) and feminine Virgo (Earth)
- Venus rules feminine Taurus (earth) and masculine Libra (air)
- Mars rules masculine Aries (fire) and feminine Scorpio (water)
- Jupiter rules masculine Sagittarius (fire) and feminine Pisces (water)
- Saturn rules feminine Capricorn (earth) and masculine Aquarius (air)
Questions:
- How many planets in your natal chart are in masculine signs?
- How many planets in your natal chart are in feminine signs?